Mandatory Practice Research Articles

Validation of the professional self-identity questionnaire for medical students during clinical practice in Japan.

ObjectivesTo validate the Professional Self Identity Questionnaire (PSIQ) for medical students during clinical practice. MethodsWe conducted a single-year longitudinal questionnaire study using the PSIQ. The PSIQ rates the nine items of "teamwork", "communication", "conducting assessment", "cultural awareness", "ethical awareness", "using records", "dealing with emergencies", "reflection", and "teaching" on a scale of 1-7 points. The study participants consisted of 118 fifth- and sixth-grade medical students who completed a mandatory 4-week clinical practice in a community-based medical education (CBME) curriculum. The data were collected before and after the CBME curriculum and after clinical practice at the time of graduation. To validate the internal structure of the PSIQ, we calculated Cronbach's alpha in the three phases. Additionally, to assess construct validity, we analyzed the trends and differences in each of the nine items of the PSIQ using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). We also showed the differences in effect size before and after the CBME curriculum. ResultsThe data of 105 medical students were analyzed. Cronbach's alpha in the three phases was 0.932, 0.936, and 0.939, respectively. PSIQ scores increased progressively for all items, and the F-test for repeated measures ANOVA of nine items' average score across the three phases showed a significant difference F(2,208) = 63.59, p<0.001. The effect size for professional identity of cultural awareness before and after the CBME curriculum was 0.67, or medium. ConclusionsWe validated the PSIQ for medical students during clinical practice. Reflecting on professional identity may provide an opportunity for meaningful feedback on readiness to become a doctor.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of female genital mutilation among health care workers in Somali region of Ethiopia

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a global challenge with estimated over two hundred million girls and women worldwide having undergone the procedure and another three million girls are at risk of being cut yearly. The prevalence of FGM among women and girls aged 15-49 years in Somali region of Ethiopia is 99% compared to the national average of 65%. The study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of health care workers on FGM practices in the region.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey and used quantitative method.Results: 36 (17.8%) of the health workers believed FGM was a mandatory religious practice, while 158 (78.2%) regarded it as a cultural practice. All the respondents knew it caused health problems, 32 (15.8%) believed it was a good practice though 176 (87.1%) of the respondents believed it violated human rights of the girls/women and 99 (49%) wanted the practice to continue. 15 (40.5%) had conducted FGM on a girl before, 5 (13.5%) claimed medicalization made FGM practice safer and 5 (13.5%) of the respondents intended to circumcise their daughters in future.Conclusions: Health care workers still have attitudes and practices that positively promote and could encourage FGM practices in spite of their knowledge of the health consequences and their acceptance as a violation of the rights of women and girls. This attitude has high tendencies of depriving the community members of access to accurate information that will enable them to make informed decision about FGM and efforts to eradicate the practice.

Strengthening Laboratory Functions in Improving the Quality of Islamic Education Management Study Program IAIN Curup

The study program has many practical courses and wants to graduate to have real skills. The IAIN Curup Islamic Education Management study program directs its graduates to become educational staff at Islamic education institutions and agencies that handle education, become institutional managers, become Islamic education management researchers, and become planners and developers of ICT-based learning resources. So the existence or availability of a laboratory is a must. The research objectives were to determine the needs of lecturers and students of the IAIN Curup Islamic Education Management Study Program for laboratories and to determine the strengthening of laboratories in improving the quality of the IAIN Curup Islamic Education Management Study Program. This type of field research (Field Research) with qualitative research methods. Sources of data from the Head of Study Program, lecturers, laboratory managers and students of the MPI IAIN Curup study program, observation data collection techniques, interviews and documentation. Researchers analyzed the data with the stages of reducing data, presenting data, and drawing conclusions. The results of the research are the need for lecturers and students of the IAIN Curup Islamic Education Management Study Program to strengthen the function of labor because there is a mandatory leadership practice course for Islamic Education Management students, and students are required to have various abilities, both work skills, knowledge, and the ability to become leaders. Strengthening the labor function of the IAIN Curup Islamic Education Management Study Program is carried out in a number of stages, namely (1) creating a labor organization structure consisting of the Chair of the Labor, secretary, laboratory assistant, technicians and students, (2) making laboratory administration, (3) preparing laboratory facilities and infrastructure. study program, (3) create a labor curriculum. And (4) study program labor is designed with a U-shape model.

Концепція тактики у сучасних олімпійських спортивних єдиноборствах

The article is devoted to the theoretical and methodological substantiation of tactics in modern Olympic martial arts. The urgency of the work is due to the needs of the training system of athletes and the mandatory practice of organizing and conducting specialized activities to achieve results in specific conflict situations, taking into account current trends in Olympic martial arts. The purpose of the research is theoretical and methodological substantiation of tactics in modern Olympic martial arts. Methods: theoretical analysis and generalization, study of documentary materials, sociological survey methods (expert assessment), ascertaining pedagogical experiment, methods of mathematical statistics. Results. Tactics in modern Olympic martial arts should be considered as a system that covers the theory and practice of organizing and conducting special activities of the subjects of the personalized subsystem of the training system, the main purpose of which is to achieve sports results by using various schemes and tools according to certain rules. specific sport, and current environmental conditions. The springboard, or the most important starting position, which dictates the nature of special activities (tactics) are the current trends in the development of Olympic martial arts. At each of the seven levels, tactics are implemented in the following areas: perception of the environment and search for information needed to understand the situation, analysis of information and its comparison with previous experience and purpose, selection and decision-making, implementation of decisions and evaluation. Conclusions. The concept of tactics in modern Olympic martial arts is a system of views on it as a multilevel and multidimensional phenomenon that exists in several areas - competitive and non-competitive activities. The levels of implementation of tactics are as follows: tactical interaction (during the technical reception); duel; team meeting; tournament and its stages; competition systems - during the season, the Olympic cycle and their totality. At each of the seven levels, tactics are implemented in the following areas: perception of the environment and search for information needed to understand the situation, analysis of information and its comparison with previous experience and purpose, selection and decision-making, implementation of decisions and evaluation

Outlining the challenges of Covid-19 health crises in Africa's maritime industry: the case of maritime operations in marine warranty surveying practice.

The relevance of carrying out marine warranty surveys (MWS) as mandatory insurable practice in mitigating associated operational risks within the offshore oil and gas industry, during the Covid-19 crises, was examined against the potential health risk and the various Covid-19 restrictions resulting from newly formed regulations. The health risk concerns to the surveyor and the impact of the Covid-19 policy restrictions for the surveyor’s business measured are against the risk of excluding MWS in assessing the suitability of procedures, analyses, and vessels involved in typical offshore marine operations. The purpose of any MWS undertakings ensures that all risks in operations, with potential to destroy property, life, and environment, are minimized—if not eliminated. A series of remote interviews across Africa and direct field observations were respectively conducted at the Takoradi port to develop an understanding of the MWS service product, to ascertain the conditions resulting from current challenges, and to determine contingencies and innovations to ensure full service. The study finds MWS service as paramount to the energy industry with its range of risk control checks for high-value assets and operations. Surveyors demonstrated high-levels of awareness for Covid-19 crises and regulatory policies while in adherence but noted challenges of high-cost and delays as by-products of the restrictions. Surveyors deemed site attendances as crucial in their practice at all time, though recognized the several social and technologically innovative approaches adopted industry-wide to facing the pandemic. The study highlights the need for ‘essential worker’ status and the introduction of innovative insurance packages.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40152-021-00220-7.

Novel dalfampridine-selective green potentiometric membrane sensors for in-line dissolution profiling of its extended release tablets

Dissolution profiling of solid oral dosage forms is currently a mandatory analytical practice in pharmaceutical industry worldwide. Classically, this test is performed employing time-consuming, destructive and high waste generating conventional off-line separation-based techniques. Accordingly, this work is motivated with the ultimate objective of exploiting the unique capabilities of in-line potentiometric ion selective electrodes (ISEs) as greener alternative for monitoring the drug dissolution pattern. Novel Dalfampridine (FAM) potentiometric polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane sensors were fabricated with different cation exchangers, ionophores and plasticizers, and systematically optimized via comparing the sensors performance. Fabricated sensor based on potassium tetrakis (4-chlorophenyl) borate as cation exchanger plasticized with 2- nitrophenyl octyl ether and calix[6]arene as ionophore in a PVC matrix proved to possess high sensitivity with limit of detection of 1.78 × 10−5 mol L−1, a Nernstian slope of 57.40 mV/decade and fast response time within a concentration range of 2.0 × 10−5–1.0 × 10−2 mol L−1. Sensor performance was assessed as per IUPAC recommendation and applied successfully for determination of FAM in its pure form and Fampyra® tablets without the need for any sample pretreatments. Additionally, real time in-line monitoring of the dissolution profile of Fampyra® tablets using U.S Food and Drug Administration dissolution parameters was attained. Finally, the environmental impact of the proposed method was compared to a classical off-line HPLC dissolution strategy using newly developed tool for assessing method greenness; green analytical procedure index (GAPI).

Podstawy odpowiedzialności za uszkodzenie lub zniszczenie drzewa

The article focuses on applicable legal solutions regulating liability for the destruction and damage of a tree. Its main purpose is to show the whole spectrum of doubts that arise in practice, in particular when interpreting the concepts that shape this responsibility. Lack of precision of regulations forces public administration bodies and courts to reach for sophisticated interpretative instruments that allow to rationalize their content and formulate directives adequate to the system assumptions of nature protection law. The author argues that this formula of „legal action” is undesirable and should be temporary, only until the necessary amendment is adopted. Under no circumstances should it become mandatory practice.

Venous Thromboembolism Risk and Adequacy of Thromboprophylaxis in Surgical Patients

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the most prevalent potentially preventable complication amongst surgical patients. Appropriate prophylaxis is quite effective in its prevention. Mechanical and pharmacological thromboprophylaxis can be instituted based on risk categorisation. This study was undertaken to assess the risk for development of VTE in surgical patients and to assess the adequacy of thromboprophylaxis. A descriptive research design was used and was conducted in the general surgical wards of a tertiary hospital in South India. All 385 patients who were admitted in the surgical wards during the data collection period were included in the study, and the VTE Risk Assessment Tool by the Department of Health (2008b), UK, was used to assess the VTE risk in these patients. Eighty per cent of the patients were at high risk for developing VTE, and majority (62.7%) of them were not on any method of thromboprophylaxis. Only a minority (11.7%) of those who belonged to moderate or low risk were found to be on thromboprophylaxis. Majority of the patients who were found to be at high risk and were on prophylaxis for VTE were on anti-embolism stockings. More than half of the patients who were at low or moderate risk for VTE were found to be on injection heparin administered subcutaneously. There was a statistically significant association between age, type of occupation, the number of days of hospital stay, type of surgery, mobility level of patients and the VTE risk. Implementation of VTE risk assessment tool and a protocol for thromboprophylaxis helps in prevention of VTE and the complications associated with thromboprophylaxis. Incorporating this topic as a regular in-service education can ensure its mandatory learning and practice by nurses – the front line caregivers.

코로나 19상황에서 가상현실(VR) 소프트웨어를 활용한 초등학생 생존수영교육이 운동자기효능감과 수상안전의식에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of survival swimming education using survival swimming virtual reality VR software on elementary school students’ exercise self-efficacy and water safety awareness in situations where the mandatory survival swimming education practice was suspended due to Corona 19. In order to clarify the purpose of the study, virtual reality VR survival and swimming education software was used in the experiment, and frequency analysis, technical statistics, reliability analysis, and response T-test were performed using the SPSS 22.0 statistical package. Based on the derived research results, the following conclusions were drawn. First, it was found that education through virtual reality survival swimming VR had a positive effect on the formation of exercise self-efficacy in elementary school students. Second, it was found that education through virtual reality survival swimming VR had a positive effect on the formation of awareness of water safety in elementary school students. Third, it was found that education through virtual reality survival swimming VR had a positive effect on the formation of water safety prevention consciousness of elementary school students. Fourth, it was found that education through virtual reality survival swimming VR had a positive effect on the formation of water safety education consciousness of elementary school students. Survival swimming VR education using virtual reality technology is an alternative method for improving the effectiveness of the mandatory survival swimming education policy for elementary school students in the situation where students’ survival swimming education practice has been suspended according to the government’s social distancing prevention guidelines due to Corona 19. Feed.

Pesquisa na graduação médica: produção científica de uma unidade curricular obrigatória

Introdução: Em oposição à inserção pontual que ocorre nos projetos de pesquisas desenvolvidos em iniciações científicas, no Curso de Medicina da Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, as atividades que contemplam a execução de práticas de pesquisa estão concentradas na Prática de Investigação Científica (PIC), uma unidade curricular obrigatória na qual um grupo de alunos deve iniciar um projeto de pesquisa e finalizá-lo passando por todas as etapas de sua construção. Objetivo: Quantificar a produção científica gerada pela unidade curricular obrigatória em prática de pesquisa no curso de Medicina em uma Universidade Federal. Métodos: A coleta de dados foi realizada por entrevistas e análise do currículo Lattes dos docentes do Pic. Para análise estatística, utilizaram-se testes Qui-Quadrado de Fisher entre variáveis quantitativas relacionadas à produção científica da disciplina e informações acadêmicas dos orientadores. Resultados: Foram selecionados 30 docentes que orientaram 47 grupos de pesquisa ao todo, sendo possível identificar como produção científica 19 artigos publicados, 32 apresentações em congresso, 09 iniciações científicas, 01 premiação em congresso, 01 patente e 01 tese de mestrado, totalizando 63 trabalhos. Os resultados apontaram uma produção científica relevante da unidade, que foi influenciada pelo grau acadêmico, participação em programas de pós-graduação e regime de dedicação exclusiva do docente. Conclusão: A inclusão da prática de pesquisa obrigatória no currículo de Medicina durante a graduação pode ser uma estratégia eficiente para gerar produção científica para a universidade.

Å utvikle yrkeskompetanse gjennom arbeidslivspraksis i helsesekretærutdanningen

This article presents findings from a three-year research and development project where a high school and a hospital collaborated on the education of medical secretaries. The aim was to strengthen the medical secretary students’ development of vocational competence through close collaboration between the school and the hospital on practice periods for the students. The results are based on qualitative data from observations of the students during practice, observations of students when experiences from practice were presented at school, group interviews with students, teachers and instructors, and analyses of students’ reflection logs. The findings show that cooperation between the parties to define key functions and tasks in the work of medical secretaries, and to structure practice periods around these tasks, contributed to the students getting a great learning benefit from practice. The students expressed that they understood what the vocation was about, began to identify with it and felt the need to learn theory. However, they wanted better coherence between learning in practice and at school. The results suggest that mandatory practice periods and common structure for learning content in practice and at school should be main principles in the new curriculum for education of medical secretaries from autumn 2020.

Experiences in a tutoring programme for BEd Foundation Phase isiXhosa first-language students

Background: IsiXhosa students enrolled for the BEd Foundation Phase qualification at a university in South Africa failed their first year in identified at-risk subjects, namely Mathematics in Education, Language in Education and Computer Literacy. The students stated the reasons for failure as not understanding the concepts and terms of the subjects presented to them in English. Objectives: A tutoring programme was initiated in the home language of the students with the aim of improving their understanding and chances at success. Method: Semi-structured interviews and reflective journals within a qualitative case study were used to understand how the tutees and tutors as key role players, the programme coordinator, lecturers in the three subjects and the tutor trainer experienced the tutoring programme. The study was framed within social constructivist theory and an interpretative paradigm employed for analysis of data. Results: The findings suggested that tutoring in their home language grants isiXhosa students an improved understanding of the concepts and terms of the course material, which they had difficulty understanding. Conclusion: Tutoring in the home language should become a mandatory practice for students whose home language is not the language of learning and teaching in the institution. The study contributes to knowledge on how tutoring in the home language provides isiXhosa students access to the curriculum by assisting them in minimising their struggles with English as the language of learning and teaching.

Religious Leader’s Views Living Hadith Practices in Malaysia

Living Hadith is a cultural phenomenon of society based on the hadith of the Prophet saw. It is a pattern of behavior that is part of the interaction of Muslims with hadith. This study is to examine the extent to which the practice of sunnah is still practiced among the Muslim community in Malaysia. In addition to explaining the practice of sunnah in the perspective of Living Hadith. The research methodology is based on the interviews of five respondents consisting of muftis, academics, religious figures who are active with the community. The findings show that living tradition phrase less is known in the Muslim community in Malaysia, there is a Sunnah practice in perspective Living in Malaysia Hadith and Sunnah is a customary practice that is often practiced by the Malays in Malaysia. It is a pure practice that needs to be applied in society in order to be in line with the religious and moral demands of Rasulullah saw. However, the community also needs to be guided to accept this practice of sunnah as an encouragement and encouragement of goodness that must be implemented. It is not a mandatory practice such as the law of performing prayers and fasting in the month of Ramadan. Therefore, the Malaysian society still sees the living hadith in the context of the practice of sunnah which is still related to the hadith and sunnah of the Prophet saw

Rebuilding trust: sustainability and non-financial reporting and the European Union regulation

PurposeThis paper introduces the special issue “Rebuilding trust: Sustainability and non-financial reporting, and the European Union regulation”. Inspired by the studies published in the special issue, this study aims to examine the concept of accountability within the context of the European Union (EU) Directive on non-financial disclosure (hereafter the EU Directive) to offer a critique and a novel perspective for future research into mandatory non-financial reporting (NFR) and to advance future practice and policy.Design/methodology/approachThe authors review the papers published in this special issue and other contemporary studies on the topic of NFR and the EU Directive.FindingsAccountability is a fundamental concept for building trust in the corporate reporting context and emerges as a common topic linking contemporary studies on the EU Directive. While the EU Directive acknowledges the role of accountability in the reporting practice, this study argues that regulation and practice on NFR needs to move away from an accounting-based conception of accountability to promote accountability-based accounting practices (Dillard and Vinnari, 2019). By analysing the links between trust, accountability and accounting and reporting, the authors claim the need to examine and rethink the inscription of interests into non-financial information (NFI) and its materiality. Hence, this study encourages research and practice to broaden mandatory NFR practice over the traditional boundaries of accountability, reporting and formal accounting systems.Research limitations/implicationsConsidering the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis, this study calls for further research to investigate the dialogical accountability underpinning NFR in practice to avoid the trap of focusing on accounting changes regardless of accountability. The authors advocate that what is needed is more timely NFI that develops a dialogue between companies, investors, national regulators, the EU and civil society, not more untimely standalone reporting that has most likely lost its relevance and materiality by the time it is issued to users.Originality/valueBy highlighting accountability issues in the context of mandatory NFR and its linkages with trust, this study lays out a case for moving the focus of research and practice from accounting-based regulations towards accountability-driven accounting change.

Strategies for applying gray water effluent on ornamental sunflower crops.

In a context of scarcity of good quality water, reuse is a mandatory practice to increase water availability, thus allowing the exploitation of more cropland. Although several studies have evaluated the hydric potential of domestic gray water to promote the economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture, the focus of this study was to evaluate the application of this effluent on an ornamental plant, the sunflower. The experiment was conducted in a protected environment using a completely randomized block design with split plots and four replicates. Irrigation solutions containing different mixtures of treated gray water effluent (TGW) and drinking water (DW) (100% DW, 25% TGW + 75% DW, 50% TGW + 50% DW, 75% TGW + 25% DW, and 100% TGW) were arranged in the plots, while the ornamental sunflower cultivars (Bonito de Outono Sortido and Sol Vermelho) were arranged in the split plots. Irrigation with treated gray water did not affect the growth of the plants and the quality of the flowers until the dilution of 55% in drinking water. The cultivar Sol Vermelho showed better plant growth and flower quality when fertigated with dilutions of treated gray water. The principle of mixing fresh with gray water, applied to the production of ornamental sunflowers, allows obtaining flowers of good quality while saving drinking water and decreasing the deposition of effluents in the environment.

The Role of Sensor-Activated Faucets in Surgical Handwashing Environment as a Reservoir of Legionella.

Surgical handwashing is a mandatory practice to protect both surgeons and patients in order to control Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). The study is focused on Legionella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa contamination in Surgical Handwashing Outlets (SHWOs) provided by sensor-activated faucets with Thermostatic Mixer Valves (TMVs), as correlated to temperature, technologies, and disinfection used. Samples were analyzed by standard culture techniques, comparing hot- and cold-water samples. Legionella isolates were typed by an agglutination test and by mip sequencing. Legionella contamination showed the same distribution between hot and cold samples concerning positive samples and mean concentration: 44.5% and 1.94 Log10 cfu/L vs. 42.6% and 1.81 Log10 cfu/L, respectively. Regarding the distribution of isolates (Legionella pneumophila vs. Legionella non-pneumophila species), significant differences were found between hot- and cold-positive samples. The contamination found in relation to ranges of temperature showed the main positive samples (47.1%) between 45.1–49.6 °C, corresponding to high Legionella concentrations (2.17 Log10 cfu/L). In contrast, an increase of temperature (>49.6 °C) led to a decrease in positive samples (23.2%) and mean concentration (1.64 Log10 cfu/L). A low level of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found. For SHWOs located in critical areas, lack of consideration of technologies used and uncorrected disinfection protocols may lead to the development of a high-risk environment for both patients and surgeons.

Is Institutional Environment the Only Force Behind Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure? An Insight into Indian Companies

Purpose: Companies Act, 2013, has brought a revolution in the regime of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in India, making it a mandatory practice for the corporate sector. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of statutory provisions on the extent of CSR disclosure in India. Design/methodology/approach: This article considers an effective sample of 144 companies selected on the basis of average market capitalisation. The study relates to the year 2015–2016, which represents the time period when companies started reporting CSR issues mandatorily. CSR disclosure scores are calculated by using content analysis. Both univariate and multiple regression models are applied to check the effect of statutory provisions on CSR disclosure. Findings: The results indicate that variables namely NETWORTH, TURNOVER and DOMESTIC dummy have positive and statistically significant impact on CSR disclosure scores. However, TOBINSQ, representing profitability of companies, has negative and statistically significant impact on CSR disclosure scores, thus leading to anxious results. Research limitations/implications: Factors affecting CSR disclosure score have been selected on the basis of new statutory provisions introduced by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Certain other vital attributes, especially related to corporate governance variables, too can be controlled for so that results have strong implications for companies. Practical implications: The empirical findings of this article implicate that institutional setup of a country has a strong bearing on the disclosure practices of the corporate sector. Thus, the authors strongly recommend to the statutory bodies that it is not sufficient just to make statutes but their implementation too should be ensured. Originality/value: With specific reference to India, mandating CSR disclosure is a recent law; so, the current study being first of its kind, would definitely add to the available literature and open gateways for future research.

Methodical Practice of Teaching Croatian Language and Literature During the Covid-19 Pandemic

In exceptional circumstances, such as those that have been caused by the COVID-19 virus pandemic, when schools were closed in order for the protection of human health and teaching were moved to an online environment, the implementation of methodological practice proved to be particularly challenging. Distance learning disabled the usual ways of implementing methodological practice, which automatically encouraged the design and application of new ways and methods of implementation. This allowed the students to realization methodical practice even in extraordinary circumstances, such as those caused by COVID-19. The goal of these new ways and methods, despite the extraordinary circumstances, environment and ways in which teaching is being implemented, is to enable students to acquire the practical knowledge, skills, experience and competencies that are necessary in the teaching profession. The paper deals with the methodical practice of students the Department of Croatistics who have mandatory methodological practice within their university study program of the Croatian Language and Literature at the graduate level. Under normal circumstances, these students, under the guidance of a university professor and a mentor teacher in training schools, implement methodical practice in primary and secondary schools where they get aquainted with the work of teachers and activitely participate in the teaching process. Among other things, the students follow pilot mentoring classes, prepare and conduct classes and actively participate in analyzing the same, which is all part of the methodological practice.

Mandatory pre-abortion counseling is a barrier to accessing safe abortion services.

Empirical research showcases that pre-abortion counseling scarcely reverses the woman’s decision either to terminate a pregnancy or not. Growing evidence regarding the high levels of decisional certainty among women seeking abortions renders a careful rethink of the place of mandatory pre-abortion counseling packages. Mandatory counseling packages, when inscribed in the laws, at times contain false information that can deter women from going in for safe abortions. Mandatory waiting times indirectly label opting for an abortion as not being the right thing to do. In areas where abortion stigma from health care providers and communities remains highly prevalent, women are forced to incur extra expenses by travelling to other countries. I argue that pre-abortion counseling on opting-in grounds is ethically sound (enhances the woman’s reproductive autonomy), since most clients in need of abortions are certain on their decisions before the abortion care provider and do not regret these decisions after the process. Regrets are prone to be more prevalent in areas with high unsafe abortion practices, generally due to complications from excessive bleeding, pain, and post abortion infections. Allowing systematic mandatory pre-abortion counseling practice as the rule in a competent adult is unjustified ethically and empirically, is time consuming and presents the legality of abortions in most settings an oxymoron.

Element concentrations in pelagic Sargassum along the Mexican Caribbean coast in 2018-2019.

The massive influx of pelagic Sargassum spp. (sargasso) into the Mexican Caribbean Sea has caused major deterioration of the coastal environment and has affected the tourism industry as well as livelihoods since 2015. Species of Sargassum have high capacity to absorb metals; thus, leachates of sargasso may contribute to contamination by potentially toxic metals when they drain into the sea and into the groundwater when dumped in inadequate land deposits. Valorization of sargasso would contribute to sustainable management; therefore, knowledge on potentially toxic metal content is necessary to define possible uses of the algae. We present concentrations of 28 elements measured using a non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analyzer (XRF) in 63 samples of sargasso collected between August 2018 and June 2019 from eight localities along ∼370 km long coastline of the Mexican Caribbean Sea. The sargasso tissues contained detectable concentrations of Al, As, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, P, Pb, Rb, S, Si, Sr, Th, U, V, and Zn. The element concentration in sargasso varied on spatial and temporal scales, which likely depended on the previous trajectory of the pelagic masses, and whether these had (or had not) passed through contaminated areas. Total arsenic concentration varied between 24–172 ppm DW, exceeding the maximum limit for seaweed intended as animal fooder (40 ppm DW) in 86% of the samples. For valorization, we recommend analyses of metal contents as a mandatory practice or avoiding uses for nutritional purposes. The high arsenic content is also of concern for environmental contamination of the sea and aquifer.