Lead Biosorption Characterisation of Aspergillus piperis

In this study, the Pb(II) adsorption capabilities of the heavy metal tolerant strain of fungus, Aspergillus piperis, were studied. This study involved finding optimal growth conditions using a plating technique, and optimal adsorption conditions using submerged fermentation and fractional factorial experimental design. The adsorption behaviour was then elucidated using isotherm and kinetic models, of which the one surface Langmuir isotherm provided the best fit, with a maximum predicted adsorption capacity of 275.82 mg g−1. The kinetic models suggested that internal mass transfer is the driving force behind the reaction rate. After adsorption, biomass surface characterisation was undertaken using FESEM, EDS, and ATR-FTIR to explain observations. The system was characterised by a cation exchange mechanism with strong carboxyl and organophosphorus group interactions. This study demonstrates that due to the ease of propagation and high adsorption capacity, this locally sourced fungal strain is an ideal adsorbent for industrial Pb(II) bioremediation.

Correlation between enhancing stresses and trends of self-medication among young girls in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, a U.T., is an educational hub in North India having all types of professional and non-professional institutions invites recurring gush of students from all its adjoining states and countries. The city with its two satellite towns hosts many universities, more than two dozen of colleges and numerous other training institutions. The city has witnessed an exponential growth of native and migrant female’s population in the past 2-3 decades. Majority of these female have been found to be the first generation migrants from their native places. This fair sex population was found subjected to multi-factorial distresses which manifest in the form of varied types of health issues that push them to get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-medication. The present study was an outcome of personal interactions, group interactions and collection of data through questionnaires from 150 young females comprising of undergraduate and postgraduate students and young employees (50 each). The results were presented in the form of percentages within their respective group and amongst total respondents. The study revealed the prevalence of maximum distress (>85%) amongst young professionals or early age employees followed by final year P.G. students (>60%) and UG students (>50%). Prevalence of self-medication has also been found in parallel lines with the stress levels of the respondents. [Professionals (82.6%) > P.G. (69.7%) >UG (42.8%)]. The most commonly used drugs by them were belonging to various categories like analgesic, antipyretics, antibiotics, weight reduction formulations, dermatological applications, anti-anxiety drugs etc. The results projected that such an indiscriminate use of these drugs is a matter of social, medical and economic concerns. Present study also purposes some of the suggestive measures to check this menace.

Effects of Cool-Down Exercise and Cold-Water Immersion Ther-apy on Basic Fitness and Sport-Specific Skills among Korean College Soccer Players

Background: We aimed to examine the effects of cool-down exercise and cold-water immersion therapy on agility, speed, power, balance, and sport-specific skill performance in college soccer players, and to provide baseline data for the development of effective recovery programs. Methods: In August 2020, 21 male college soccer players in Seoul, Korea, were randomly divided into the following groups: control group (CG, n=7), cool-down exercise group (CDG, n=7), and cool-down exercise plus cold-water immersion group (CDCWG, n=7). Agility, speed, power, balance, and sport-specific skill performance were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: No significant differences in Southeast Missouri (SEMO) Agility Test, 20-m sprint test, vertical jump test, or Y-balance test (right) were observed among the groups; however, there was a significant effect of time (P<0.05) and a significant time × group interaction (P<0.05). Significant effects of time (P<0.001), group (P=0.043), and a time × group interaction (P=0.009) were observed in the Y-balance test (left). There were no between-group differences in the 22-m dribble test, shooting test (left), or shooting test (right); however, there were significant effects of time (P<0.05) and significant time × group interactions (P<0.05). No significant effects of group or time × group interactions were observed for the kicking test (left or right); however, there were significant effects of time (P<0.001). Conclusion: Addition of cold-water immersion therapy to a recovery program including cool-down exercise can promote recovery of basic and sport-specific abilities among college soccer players.

Integrating Tubb’s Engagement Model with Critical Reading

Since critical reading has been assumed as critical, there are actually certain ideas and concepts that reflect how critical is this critical reading. Critical does not mean critical as in difficulty or failure in reading but more of looking into the skills, processes and the activities when reading. Group engagement has been said to improve team members’ critical thinking skills. This study is done to explore how group interactions facilitate critical reading activities. Specifically, this study explores how group work encourages critical reading through the processes of orientation, conflict, consensus, and closure. 72 participants responded to the instrument (a questionnaire). The questionnaire has 5 sections, demographic profile, orientation, conflict, consensus and also closure. Data is analyzed using SPSS version 26 to reveal percentage for the demographic profile and mean score for the variables. Findings indicate that group engagement facilitates critical reading in several ways. The study suggests that communication during group interaction improves learners’ critical reading.

How Wisdom Emerges from Intellectual Development: A Developmental/Historical Theory for Raising Mandelas

This paper invokes cognitive developmental theory as a means for preparing citizens to deal with and resolve conflicts within or across nations. We take the centuries-old Greek–Turkish dispute as an example. We first outline a theory of intellectual development postulating that mental changes emerge in response to changing developmental priorities in successive life periods, namely, interaction control in infancy, attention control and representational awareness in preschool, inferential control and cognitive management in primary school, and advanced forms of reasoning and self-evaluation in adolescence. Based on this model, we outline a control theory of wisdom postulating that different aspects of wisdom emerge during development as different levels of control of relations with others: trust and care for others in infancy, taking the other’s perspective, reflectivity, and empathy in preschool, rationality and understanding the rules underlying individual and group interactions in primary school, and understanding the general principles of societal operation explaining the differences in approach and interest between groups in adolescence and early adulthood. We also outline the educational implications of this theory for the education of citizens by capitalizing on intellectual strengths at successive developmental periods to comprehensively understand the world and to act prudently when dealing with interpersonal and social or national conflict. Finally, the paper discusses the political constraints and implications of this theory. This is the first attempt to derive wisdom from the development of cognitive and personality processes from infancy through early adulthood and to connect it to serious world problems.

E-Learning as a basis for the development of media competences in students

The study describes the structure of media literacy and its key aspects: digital literacy, content interpretation, content generation and digital awareness. The results of the survey at the end of the training course confirmed the effectiveness of educational practices on digital media platforms in developing media competencies. According to self-assessment results, learning activities have improved digital skills. The study made it possible to determine the key success factors for the development and consolidation of modern media competencies in the context of online learning. The involvement of each student in the generation of educational content has formed the teaching tactics for the stable development of target media competencies and skills. Group interactions of students associated with the course met student demand for socialisation and contributed to educational progress. It was concluded that media literacy is the result of well-planned and well-organised practical activities of students in the digital media space.