Challenges of higher education related to e-learning in developing countries during COVID-19 spread: a review of the perspectives of students,instructors, policymakers,and ICT experts

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about many critical issues in all aspects such as economy, environment, health, and lifestyle, but people always try to find some response to crisis in different conditions. E-learning is defined as an elaborate response aiming at continuing education during the COVID-19 pandemic. It seems that developed countries have established and adjusted their technological infrastructures for the transition from a face-to-face education to a digital one. In contrast, developing countries were not completely prepared for this transition. Improper and deficient technological and practical fundamentals have been causing problems for all students, instructors, and other involved individuals. Therefore, we reviewed the challenges that have arisen from e-learning during the COVID-19 outbreak in different parts of tertiary education focusing on underprivileged countries.

     

“First Things First”: Application of Islamic Principles of Priority in the Ethical Assessment of Genetically Modified Foods

Advancement of modern agricultural biotechnology has brought various potential benefits to humankind, but at the same time ethical concerns regarding some applications such as genetically modified foods (GMF) have been raised among the public. Several questions are being posed; should they utilize such applications to improve quality of their life, or should they refrain in order to save themselves from any associated risk? What are the ethical principles that can be applied to assess these applications? By using GMF as a case study, this paper discusses possible answers to these questions from Islamic perspective. Such answers are based on the understanding of the Islamic concept of maslahah (benefit) and mafsadah (harm) as well as the Islamic principles of priority. There is no specific GMF that has been declared as unlawful by Muslim scholars thus far. Nevertheless, they generally state that any GMF that contains unlawful substance is prohibited in Islam. Such statement can be understood since Islam puts highest priority to preserve shari’ah (Islamic law) which prescribes the lawful and unlawful things in human life. Priorities have also been given to preserve human health and environment therefore any GMF that may inflict harm on both entities is also considered as unlawful.     

Ligand-less in situ surfactant-based solid phase extraction for preconcentration of silver from natural water samples prior to its determination by atomic absorption spectroscopy

A simple and rapid ligand-less in situ surfactant-based solid phase extraction method for preconcentration of silver from water samples is developed. In this method, a cationic surfactant containing a proper alkyl group (n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide) is dissolved in the aqueous sample and then a proper ion-pairing agent (ClO₄^?) is added. Due to the interaction between surfactant and ion-pairing agent, solid particles are formed and used for adsorption of silver carbonate. After centrifugation, the sediment is dissolved in 2.0 mL 1 M HNO₃ in ethanol and then aspirated directly into the flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Variables affecting the extraction efficiencies such as pH, concentrations of surfactant and CO₃^2?, ion pair concentration, and extraction time, are optimized. Under such conditions, the calibration curve is linear from 3 to 700 μg L^?1. Detection limit is 1.1 μg L^?1 with an enrichment factor of 37. The relative standard deviation for eight replicate measurements of 100 μg L^?1 is 2.1%. The method has been applied for the determination of silver in water samples.     

Characteristics of granular sludge developed in an upflow anaerobic sludge fixed-film bioreactor treating palm oil mill effluent.

In the present study, characteristics of the granular sludge (including physical characteristics under stable conditions and process shocks arising from suspended solid overload, soluble organic overload, and high temperature; biological activity; and sludge kinetic evaluation in a batch experiment) developed in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket fixed-film reactor for palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment was investigated. The main aim of this work was to provide suitable understanding of POME anaerobic digestion using such a granular sludge reactor, particularly with respect to granule structure at various operating conditions. The morphological changes in granular sludge resulting from various operational conditions was studied using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images. It was shown that the developed granules consisted of densely packed rod- (Methanosaeta-like microorganism; predominant) and cocci- (Methanosarsina) shaped microorganisms. Methanosaeta aggregates functioned as nucleation centers that initiated granule development of POME-degrading granules. Under the suspended solid overload condition, most of the granules were covered with a thin layer of fiberlike suspended solids, so that the granule color changed to brown and the sludge volume index also increased to 24.5 from 12 to 15 mL/g, which caused a large amount of sludge washout. Some of the granules were disintegrated because of an acidified environment, which originated from acidogenesis of high influent organic load (29 g chemical oxygen demand [COD]/L d). At 60 degrees C, the rate of biomass washout increased, as a result of disintegration of the outer layer of the granules. In the biological activity test, approximately 95% COD removal was achieved within 72 hours, with an initial COD removal rate of 3.5 g COD/L d. During POME digestion, 275 mg calcium carbonate/L bicarbonate alkalinity was produced per 1000 mg COD(removed)/ L. A consecutive reaction kinetic model was used to simulate the data obtained from the sludge activity in the batch experiment. The mathematical model gave a good fit with the experimental results (R2 > 0.93). The slowest step was modeled to be the acidification step, with a rate constant between 0.015 and 0.083 hours(-1), while the rate constant for the methanogenic step was obtained to be between 0.218 and 0.361 hours(-1).     

Developing a sustainable operational management system using hybrid Shapley value and Multimoora method: case study petrochemical supply chain

Environment, Development and Sustainability - In this research, a new method to determine the supply chain performance based on its sustainable strategies is proposed. This method consists of a...     

Recycling of spent mushroom compost using earthworms Eisenia foetida and Eisenia andrei

A 90-day study conducted to explore the potential of epigeic earthworms Eisenia foetida and Eisenia andrei to transform the different types of agricultural wastes and spent mushroom compost into value-added product, i.e., vermicompost. Vermicomposting resulted in significant reduction in C:N ratio, pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, TK; and increase in total Kajeldahl nitrogen, TP, and various micro and macronutrients compared to those in the worm feed. Our trials demonstrated that the vermicomposting could be considered as an alternate technology for recycling and environmentally safe disposal/management of the mushroom cultivation complexes’ residues mixed with different types of agricultural waste using epigeic earthworms E. foetida and E. andrei.     

Manual Material Handling Assessment Among Workers of Iranian Casting Workshops

Manual material handling (MMH) tasks can be found in most workplaces and they may constitute a risk factor for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of WMSDs and to compare MMH loads with the acceptable weight and force limits among Iranian casting workers. Data were collected from 50 workers of casting workshops who performed MMH tasks. The Nordic musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire and the Snook tables were used as tools for data collection. Hand/ wrist symptoms were the most prevalent problems among the workers (84%). The results of the Snook tables showed that the loads in lifting (84%), lowering (86%), carrying (66%), pushing with initial (43%) and sustained force (59%), and pulling tasks with initial (48%) and sustained force (93%) exceeded recommended limits. WMSDs occurred in high rates among the workers and, thus, ergonomics interventions should focus on decreasing WMSDs and redesigning MMH tasks.     

Assessment of food-energy-environmental pollution nexus in Iran: the nonlinear approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Iran’s agricultural production has expanded significantly in recent years. Environmental pollution caused by the use of energy and chemical...     

Using artificial intelligence to make sustainable development decisions considering VUCA: a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Sustainable development emergent subfields have been rapidly evolving, and their popularity increased in recent years. Sustainable development is a...