Processing Site Research Articles

Getting Hedgehogs Where They Need to Go: Furin Cleavage Activates Dispatched for Sonic Hedgehog Transport

Hedgehog ligands activate an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that provides instructional cues during tissue morphogenesis, and when corrupted, contributes to developmental disorders and cancer. The transmembrane protein Dispatched is an essential component of the machinery that deploys Hedgehog family ligands from producing cells, and is required for Hedgehog morphogen gradient formation and signaling to long-range targets. Molecular mechanisms that regulate Dispatched to control Hedgehog release are not yet defined. We reveal that Dispatched is activated by Furin-mediated cleavage at a conserved processing site in its first extracellular loop. Disruption of Furin cleavage alters Dispatched membrane trafficking and attenuates Sonic Hedgehog release from ligand-producing cells. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing was used to generate transgenic mice harboring a cleavage site mutation in the endogenous Dispatched locus. Homozygous animals show neuronal patterning phenotypes and decreased viability, confirming a requirement for Dispatched processing in vivo. As such, Furin serves as a crucial post-translational regulator of Dispatched activity in Hedgehog-producing cells during tissue morphogenesis.

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work: A Cyanobacterial RNA Helicase Is Regulated by Multiple Cis‐Regulatory Elements in Response to Low Temperature

RNA helicases are enzymes involved in, and necessary for, the proper functioning of all aspects of RNA metabolism, working as molecular motors by interacting with, and modifying, RNA and ribonucleoprotein secondary structures. Thus, they are ideally situated to function as regulators of gene expression. In bacteria, the expression of a DEAD-box RNA helicase is often responsive to particular abiotic stress(es), which allows them to fulfill vital roles in coordinating the cell's genetic response to altered environmental conditions. The freshwater cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 encodes a single DEAD-box helicase, crhR, which accumulates in response to multiple abiotic stresses, including low temperature (20°C). While crhR deletion does not affect cell viability at its optimal growth temperature, 30°C, crhR mutants exhibit an extreme cold sensitive phenotype. Although the accumulation of transcript and protein during cold stress have been characterized, we predicted that the temperature regulatory mechanism would involve a combination of DNA and RNA cis-acting elements. crhR is encoded within the dicistronic rimO-crhR operon. Previous analysis has indicted the presence of two promoters, an operonic rimO promoter (PrimO) and an internal promoter (PcrhR). We hypothesized that crhR transcript abundance could therefore be modulated by the promoter-associated 5’ untranslated regions (UTRs), the 3’ UTR, and an RNA processing site between the two open reading frames. In order to characterize the regulatory effects of these RNA sequences, plasmids were constructed in which these elements were deleted from the wild type operon or inserted downstream of a constitutive promoter. These constructs were analyzed in a complete crhR deletion strain to determine how low temperature stress (20°C) and return to normal growth temperature (30°C) alters protein and transcript accumulation. We observed that expression of crhR is regulated in a complex manner involving temperature-dependent modulation of both transcription and translation. PrimO is a cold-inducible promoter while its 5’ UTR imposes a robust inhibitory effect which attenuates transcription at 30°C but is relieved at 20°C, together resulting in 5- and 15-fold increases in transcript and protein abundance, respectively. PcrhR, on the other hand, is constitutively active and its 5’ UTR does not alter transcript abundance, regardless of temperature. Instead, the crhR 5’ UTR appears to modulate translation, resulting in a 5-fold enhancement of protein accumulation during cold stress. Deletion of this 5’ UTR severely diminishes CrhR accumulation, without a corresponding loss of transcript accumulation, suggesting that its role is to ensure efficient translation of crhRduring cold stress. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that crhR expression is tightly regulated by a series of DNA- and RNA-derived regulatory elements which cooperate to control this integral component of the Synechocystis abiotic stress response, maintaining CrhR abundance at basal levels at 30°C or initiating rapid accumulation at lower temperatures.

Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide Stress on the Nucleolar Redox Environment and Pre-rRNA Maturation.

Identifying biologically relevant molecular targets of oxidative stress may provide new insights into disease mechanisms and accelerate development of novel biomarkers. Ribosome biogenesis is a fundamental prerequisite for cellular protein synthesis, but how oxidative stress affects ribosome biogenesis has not been clearly established. To monitor and control the redox environment of ribosome biogenesis, we targeted a redox-sensitive roGFP reporter and catalase, a highly efficient H2O2 scavenger, to the nucleolus, the primary site for transcription and processing of rRNA in eukaryotic cells. Imaging of mouse 3T3 cells exposed to non-cytotoxic H2O2 concentrations revealed increased oxidation of the nucleolar environment accompanied by a detectable increase in the oxidative damage marker 8-oxo-G in nucleolar RNA. Analysis of pre-rRNA processing showed a complex pattern of alterations in pre-rRNA maturation in the presence of H2O2, including inhibition of the transcription and processing of the primary 47S transcript, accumulation of 18S precursors, and inefficient 3′-end processing of 5.8S rRNA. This work introduces new tools for studies of the redox biology of the mammalian nucleolus and identifies pre-rRNA maturation steps sensitive to H2O2 stress.

Responsibility of Manufacturers in Waste Management of Plastic Packaged Drink Products Based on Law Number 18 of 2008 Regarding Waste Management (Case Study in Ambon City, Maluku Province)

This article is motivated by the large number of irresponsible use of plastic waste in Ambon city, Maluku Province. This research is a normative legal research. The results obtained in this paper are Waste Management of plastic packaging beverage products carried out by Ambon city producers in accordance with Law Number 18 of 2008 concerning Waste. Management to reclaim packaging that has been consumed by consumers so that they can be recycled systematically, thoroughly and in a sustainable manner. and produce goods using materials that are environmentally friendly and reusable. Apart from doing this, producers are also responsible for waste management in collaboration with the Ambon City Government as stated in Article 44 paragraph (1) of Ambon City Regulation Number 11 of 2015 which includes the provision / construction of Temporary Shelters (TPS) or TPS 3R. (Reduce Reuse). , Recycling), Final Disposal Site (TPA) or Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST), as well as supporting facilities and infrastructure, in this case providing a vehicle for transporting waste from TPS or TPS 3R to TPA or TPST, TPA or TPST management and / or management other processed products. This cooperation takes the form of sorting, collecting, transporting, processing, and / or final processing of waste.

Экспериментальное определение биологически активных соединений в выжимках свеклы и моркови, районированных в Сибирском регионе

Introduction. With the development of the food and processing industry, the matter of environmental pollution is becoming more
 and more acute. Environmental protection is based on the principle of rational use of natural resources and sustainable technology. Vegetable pomace is a secondary raw material; its amount depends on the production technology and equipment. The observed
 positive trend in the gross harvest of vegetables in open ground can increase the number of vegetable processing enterprises and
 the capacity of existing enterprises. Eventually, waste will start accumulating at processing sites, and it will have to be used as raw
 materials. The present paper features the content of biologically active substances in pomace of carrots and beets grown on the
 territory of the Siberian region and introduces options for their further use in functional foods.
 Study objects and methods. The research featured carrot pomace of the varieties Losinoostrovskaya, Nantskaya, and Queen of
 Autumn, as well as beet pomace of varieties Cylinder and Bordeaux. All the samples were harvested in the Kemerovo region in 2019.
 Determination of physical and chemical parameters was carried out using standard methods. Carotenoids, flavonoids, β-cyanine were
 studied using spectrometry and photocolorimetric method.
 Results and discussion. The experiment featured the content of bioactive substances in pomace of carrots and beets obtained during
 industrial processing. The content of carotenoids in carrots (mg of β-carotene per 100 g of dry weight): for Losinoostrovskaya variety
 – 23.56 ± 0.23; Nantskaya – 25.32 ± 0.18; Queen of Autumn – 20.78 ± 0.25. Flavonoid content (mg of catechol equivalent per
 100 g of dry weight): Losinoostrovskaya – 12.02 ± 0.37; Nantskaya – 13.45 ± 0.56; Queen of Autumn – 11.50 ± 0.48. The content
 of β-cyanine in beets (mg per 100 g of dry weight): Cylinder – 100.0 ± 8.5; Bordeaux – 35.0 ± 1.8. The nutritional value of carrot
 and beet pomace with a mass fraction of moisture was 10%. The nutritional value of vegetable pomace is due to the high content
 of dietary fiber; therefore, the raw materials can be considered for functional food production. The content of biologically active
 substances in vegetable pomace (flavonoids, carotenoids, β-cyanines) can enhance the functional orientation of this secondary raw
 material when used in food technologies for the production of food of high nutritional value.
 Conclusion. The results obtained will make it possible to use the biochemical potential of plant raw materials in many aspects, as well
 as to obtain new functional food products, thereby expanding the range of healthy foods.

Assessment of lung function and pulmonary disorders among women involved in palm kernel oil processing in Cape Coast, Ghana

Background: Does exposure to methods employed during local palm kernel oil processing affect lung function and increase pulmonary disorders in the women processors? Fifty test participants from palm kernel processing sites constantly exposed to processing hazards and fifty unexposed women from the general population in Cape Coast, Ghana were used for the study.Methods: Participants after filling questionnaires were subject to clinical chest examination, anthropometry and spirometry. Data were analyzed descriptively using percentages, means, standard deviation and inferentially using independent sample t-test and chi-square test.Results: Exposed participants complained of respiratory symptoms such as chest pain, phlegm production, burning and tearing of eyes and skin irritations. Chest examination also revealed significant reduced air entry and increase in bronchial and bronchovesicular sounds. Spirometry showed significant decreases in Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), with increase in restrictive lung disorders in the exposed participants (p<0.05). Chi-square analysis further showed association between length of exposure to emissions from processing and increased lung disorder.Conclusions: Our study shows that the methods employed in palm kernel processing sites coupled with lack of hazardous knowledge and use of protective equipment exposes the women extractors to pollutants which results in increased respiratory symptoms, decreased lung function and significant presence of lung disorders.

Cryo-EM structures of human coagulation factors V and Va

Coagulation factor V (fV) is the precursor of fVa, which, together with fXa, Ca2+, and phospholipids, defines the prothrombinase complex and activates prothrombin in the penultimate step of the coagulation cascade. We solved the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of human fV and fVa at atomic (3.3 Å) and near-atomic (4.4 Å) resolution, respectively. The structure of fV reveals the entire A1-A2-B-A3-C1-C2 assembly, but with a surprisingly disordered B domain. The C1 and C2 domains provide a platform for interaction with phospholipid membranes and support the A1 and A3 domains, with the A2 domain sitting on top of them. The B domain is highly dynamic and visible only for short segments connecting to the A2 and A3 domains. The A2 domain reveals all sites of proteolytic processing by thrombin and activated protein C, a partially buried epitope for binding fXa, and fully exposed epitopes for binding activated protein C and prothrombin. Removal of the B domain and activation to fVa exposes the sites of cleavage by activated protein C at R306 and R506 and produces increased disorder in the A1-A2-A3-C1-C2 assembly, especially in the C-terminal acidic portion of the A2 domain that is responsible for prothrombin binding. Ordering of this region and full exposure of the fXa epitope emerge as necessary steps in the assembly of the prothrombin-prothrombinase complex. These structures offer molecular context for the function of fV and fVa and pioneer the analysis of coagulation factors by cryo-EM.

A Study on the Deformation due to High Speed Processing of Aircraft Wing Structure

Residual stresses generated during high-speed machining of spoiler beams used in aircraft cause product deformation and dimensional mismatch, which increases the defect rate and leads to material waste. To overcome this problem, the processing site uses manual modification techniques that stretch part of the workpiece according to the experience of skilled workers. However, due to the nature of the aviation parts industry, there are no established methods for modification of product shapes and parts. Studying the modification process would allow for increased productivity, such as shorter working hours, throughout the aviation industry. In this study, a method of predicting residual stress due to frictional heat generated during high-speed machining and applying a tensile force to a model deformed by residual stress was used to modify the product. Our analysis showed that a degree of deformation similar to the measured value was produced, and that the product was modified by applying a tensile load.

Development of Automatic Control System for Cutting Fluid Filtration

Cutting fluid by which the cutting tools and workpieces can be cooled and lubricated play an important role. The filtration and recycling for cutting fluid will effectively remove the iron filings, dust and impurities from the cutting fluid, reduce the secondary pollution to the processing site in the process of recycling, and improve the result of cutting fluid recycling. The paper provides a kind of the design of automatic filtering control system for cutting fluid, the system can recycle and filter the cutting fluid which has been used in the process of production, and recycle again, so as to save energy greatly, protect the environment and increase economic benefits. meanwhile the whole recycling and filtering process can be controlled automatically or manually on the touch screen, and the status of each working part of the system can be displayed in real time, and the judgment algorithm for filter belt replacement has been optimized, so as to improve the operating efficiency of the system further, enhance the convenience, stability and reliability.

Justification of transport and logistics routes for the movement of natural resources in order to minimize the impact on the environment

Resolving environmental issues is one of the most important challenges facing the world community. The modern development of industry, on the contrary, tends to maximize the negative impact on nature. The growth of productive forces in Russia is increasingly aimed at the removal of natural resources, which is associated with a negative impact on nature. At the same time, a negative impact is exerted through the abandonment of vast territories contaminated with waste and the results of production activities, as well as the transportation of seized resources to processing sites. The work shows that in order to minimize the impact on the environment, waste should be maximally involved in the production process, and transportation should be carried out by the most optimal routes. As a result of the study, an algorithm for solving the problem of using various natural resources in order to minimize the impact on the environment has been developed, and the stages of working with natural raw materials in order to minimize the impact on the environment and their potential effectiveness are presented.

From the history of the problem of oil transportation and storage. Contribution of Shukhov V.G.

A significant part of the oil consumed in the world is transported from production and processing sites to consumers via tankers and pipelines. According to experts' forecasts, the demand for oil and petroleum products in the coming years will be significantly higher than in 2020. In Russia, the oil transportation market is developing in several directions. The main directions are investing in pipeline transport and improving the design of tanks for storing oil and petroleum products. The article considers the contribution of the great Russian engineer V.G. Shukhov to the solution of the problem of oil transportation and storage and in general to the development of the oil industry. In the article "Oil Pipelines" (1884) and in the book "Pipelines and their application in the oil industry" (1894), V.G. Shukhov gave precise mathematical formulae for describing the processes of oil and fuel oil flowing through pipelines, creating a classical theory of oil pipelines. He is the author of the projects of the first Russian main pipelines: Baku-Batumi with a length of 883 km (1907) and Grozny-Tuapse with a length of 618 km (1928). Shukhov V.G. designed and then supervised the construction of oil pipelines of the companies "Branobel", "G.M. Lianozova and sons" and the world's first heated fuel oil pipeline. Working in the oil fields in Baku, Shukhov V.G. developed the basics of lifting and pumping oil products, proposed a method of lifting oil using compressed air — airlift, developed a calculation method and technology for the construction of cylindrical steel tanks for oil storage facilities.

Genotypic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistant Salmonella spp. Strains from Three Poultry Processing Plants in Colombia.

The poultry industry in Colombia has implemented several changes and measures in chicken processing to improve sanitary operations and control pathogens’ prevalence. However, there is no official in-plant microbial profile reference data currently available throughout the processing value chains. Hence, this research aimed to study the microbial profiles and the antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates in three plants. In total, 300 samples were collected in seven processing sites. Prevalence of Salmonella spp. and levels of Enterobacteriaceae were assessed. Additionally, whole-genome sequencing was conducted to characterize the isolated strains genotypically. Overall, the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in each establishment was 77%, 58% and 80% for plant A, B, and C. The mean levels of Enterobacteriaceae in the chicken rinsates were 5.03, 5.74, and 6.41 log CFU/mL for plant A, B, and C. Significant reductions were identified in the counts of post-chilling rinsate samples; however, increased levels were found in chicken parts. There were six distinct Salmonella spp. clusters with the predominant sequence types ST32 and ST28. The serotypes Infantis (54%) and Paratyphi B (25%) were the most commonly identified within the processing plants with a high abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes.

Rapid detection of total bacteria in foods using a poly-l-lysine-based lateral-flow assay

Food safety and freshness are evaluated according to microbiological load. To analyze this load rapidly, a poly-l-lysine-based lateral-flow assay (PLFA) was developed. A total of 90 strains of bacteria that are often detected in spoiled foods, including Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus were detected using the PLFA. A positive signal was obtained when the bacterial concentration was ≥6 log10 (cfu/test). A total of 36 fresh foods (meats, pastries, lettuces, cabbages, radishes, and sprouts) and corresponding spoiled foods were cultured for 0, 3, 6, and 9 h to investigate how many hours were required for microbial detection using PLFA. The higher the number of bacteria in a food, the shorter was the culture time required for PLFA-positive results to be obtained, so the distinction between fresh and spoiled food could be made based on the time taken for the culture to become PLFA-positive. The coefficient of determination of the least squares regression between the time to become PLFA-positive and the initial log10 (cfu/g) bacterial count for the food was 0.9888. The test time for the PLFA, including pretreatment, was approximately 15–30 min. This novel method will enable the detection of total bacteria on the food processing site.

Sustainability analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Management Programme in GMADA cluster, Punjab

Solid waste management (SWM) is one of the important components of “Swachh Bharat Mission”, a campaign taken up by the Government of India with an aim to clean up the streets of Indian cities/towns and make them open defecation free. This paper analyses the action plans taken up by the government of Punjab in response to the new SWM Rules, 2016, for developing waste processing facilities. Mohali is particularly focused, for it is emerging as an educational hub, and coming up with a plan for developing a centralized waste processing facility to generate Refuse derived Fuel (RDF). Through this study, we try to highlight that the current chosen technology: RDF may not sustain, for a larger fraction of the wastes in Mohali is wet organics (62%), while the dry combustible fraction required for RDF is only 17%. Further, it has been observed that Mohali plans to connect 15 urban local bodies (ULBs) to a single processing site and a few of them are far (~70 km) and generate low daily wastes (5-7 TPD). Thus, looking at the obvious difficulties, the current study thus concludes that the SWM plan needs a revision with the more focus on anaerobic digestion (AD) or composting as they are best suited for handing wet organic wastes.

Visuo-Motor Feedback Modulates Neural Activities in the Medulla of the Honeybee, Apis mellifera.

Behavioral and internal-state modulation of sensory processing has been described in several organisms. In insects, visual neurons in the optic lobe are modulated by locomotion, but the degree to which visual-motor feedback modulates these neurons remains unclear. Moreover, it also remains unknown whether self-generated and externally generated visual motion are processed differently. Here, we implemented a virtual reality system that allowed fine-scale control over visual stimulation in relation to animal motion, in combination with multichannel recording of neural activity in the medulla of a female honeybee (Apis mellifera). We found that this activity was modulated by locomotion, although, in most cases, only when the bee had behavioral control over the visual stimulus (i.e., in a closed-loop system). Moreover, closed-loop control modulated a third of the recorded neurons, and the application of octopamine (OA) evoked similar changes in neural responses that were observed in a closed loop. Additionally, in a subset of modulated neurons, fixation on a visual stimulus was preceded by an increase in firing rate. To further explore the relationship between neuromodulation and adaptive control of the visual environment of the bee, we modified motor gain sensitivity while locally injecting an OA receptor antagonist into the medulla. Whereas female honeybees were tuned to a motor gain of -2 to 2 (between the heading of the bee and its visual feedback), local disruption of the OA pathway in the medulla abolished this tuning, resulting in similar low levels of response across levels of motor gain. Our results show that behavioral control modulates neural activity in the medulla and ultimately impacts behavior.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT When moving, an animal generates the motion of the visual scene over its retina. We asked whether self-generated and externally generated optic flow are processed differently in the insect medulla. Our results show that closed-loop control of the visual stimulus modulates neural activity as early as the medulla and ultimately impacts behavior. Moreover, blocking octopaminergic modulation further disrupted object-tracking responses. Our results suggest that the medulla is an important site for context-dependent processing of visual information and that placing the animal in a closed-loop environment may be essential to understanding its visual cognition and processing.

Strategi Pengelolaan tempat pemrosesan akhir (TPA ) Sampah Batu Canai di Kelurahan Pematang Reba Indragiri Hulu

To solve the waste problem in Indragiri Hulu Regency, the Regency Government built a Landfill (TPA). This waste Landfill (TPA) is located at Jalan Batu Canai, Pematang Reba Village, Rengat Barat District. However, the management of this TPA has experienced various obstacles so that it does not run optimally so it is interesting for further research.This research was conducted in August 2020 at the Batu Canai waste landfill (TPA) using survey methods, literature study and interviews. The type of data used in the form of a combination of quantitative and qualitative research will be described descriptively. The variables of this study include 1.) The existing condition of Batu Canai Waste Landfill (TPA) Pematang Reba Village, 2) The impact of the existence of Batu Canai Final Disposal Site (TPA) of Batu Canai Garbage in Pematang Reba Village on the environment, social and economy according to the perceptions of the community around the TPA , 3) Management strategy of Batu Canai waste landfill (TPA) Pematang Reba Village. The existing condition of TPA Batu Canai in terms of facilities and infrastructure is quite adequate, although some infrastructure and operational facilities are damaged. From the calculation results, the estimated service life of Batu Canai waste landfill (TPA) is 8 years and 9 months. For the impact of the existence of TPA Batu Canai, according to the community's perception around the TPA, from a socio-economic perspective, their response was positive and from an environmental perspective, their response was negative. Meanwhile, the alternative management strategies for Batu Canai waste landfill were analyzed through SWOT analysis. From the results of the SWOT analysis, it was found that the condition of the TPA was in Quadrant III and the right alternative strategy for managing the Batu Canai Final Processing Site (TPA) in Pematang Reba Village was a WO (Weaknesses-Opportunities) strategy, namely 1) Optimizing the Controlled landfill system, 2) Support Government to establish a special agency for managing TPA, 3) Utilizing good waste processing technology to process organic waste into bio energy, 4) Empowering and fostering communities to establish a Waste Bank.

SARS-CoV-2 S protein:ACE2 interaction reveals novel allosteric targets.

The spike (S) protein is the main handle for SARS-CoV-2 to enter host cells via surface angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. How ACE2 binding activates proteolysis of S protein is unknown. Here, using amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics simulations, we have mapped the S:ACE2 interaction interface and uncovered long-range allosteric propagation of ACE2 binding to sites necessary for host-mediated proteolysis of S protein, critical for viral host entry. Unexpectedly, ACE2 binding enhances dynamics at a distal S1/S2 cleavage site and flanking protease docking site ~27 Å away while dampening dynamics of the stalk hinge (central helix and heptad repeat [HR]) regions ~130 Å away. This highlights that the stalk and proteolysis sites of the S protein are dynamic hotspots in the prefusion state. Our findings provide a dynamics map of the S:ACE2 interface in solution and also offer mechanistic insights into how ACE2 binding is allosterically coupled to distal proteolytic processing sites and viral-host membrane fusion. Thus, protease docking sites flanking the S1/S2 cleavage site represent alternate allosteric hotspot targets for potential therapeutic development.

EFFECT OF FAMILY FACTOR AND CHILDREN’S SCHOOL READINESS IN INTEGRATED WASTE TREATMENT PLACES: PATH ANALYSIS

Many factors can affect children's school readiness, one of which is the family as their closest environment. This research aimed to analyze the effect of family socioeconomic status, family stress, and parental involvement on children's school readiness. This research involves 113 parents and students of group B Kindergarten in the Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) in Bantargebang District, Bekasi City, West Java Province. This sample was obtained using the multistage random sampling technique. This study uses path analysis techniques. This study indicates that socioeconomic status, family stress, and parental involvement do not directly affect Children’s school readiness. However, family socioeconomic status has a negative direct effect on family stress, and family stress can also have a negative direct effect on parental involvement in children's education. These findings imply that it is important to create a warm and supportive family environment to optimally carry out their roles and functions in children's education.

EFFECT OF FAMILY FACTOR AND CHILDREN’S SCHOOL READINESS IN INTEGRATED WASTE TREATMENT PLACES: PATH ANALYSIS

Many factors can affect children's school readiness, one of which is the family as their closest environment. This research aimed to analyze the effect of family socioeconomic status, family stress, and parental involvement on children's school readiness. This research involves 113 parents and students of group B Kindergarten in the Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) in Bantargebang District, Bekasi City, West Java Province. This sample was obtained using the multistage random sampling technique. This study uses path analysis techniques. This study indicates that socioeconomic status, family stress, and parental involvement do not directly affect Children’s school readiness. However, family socioeconomic status has a negative direct effect on family stress, and family stress can also have a negative direct effect on parental involvement in children's education. These findings imply that it is important to create a warm and supportive family environment to optimally carry out their roles and functions in children's education.

Rising Metals Concentration in the Environment: A Response to Effluents of Leather Industries in Sialkot.

Many leather processing industries in Sialkot, Pakistan, discharge their wastes freely into the environment which then enters nearby water bodies. Irrigation practices with these polluted waters pose a great threat to the soil quality. Hence, the soils and effluent waters of five famous leather processing sites were evaluated for the presence of As, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn, Mn, Mg, Na, K, and Ca. High mean concentrations of As (112.6 mgkg-1), Cr (45.9 mgkg-1), Cd (2.0 mgkg-1), Ni (58.2 mgkg-1), Zn (117.6 mgkg-1), Mn (12.8 mgkg-1), Mg (34,511 mgkg-1), Na (16,292 mgkg-1), K (1765 mgkg-1), and Ca (4387 mgkg-1) were found in soils at our study sites. Effluents were found to be highly acidic with high TDS content and high EC values. Index of Geoaccumulation (Igeo) confirmed the extremely toxic nature of these soils. Plants growing at these sites also showed high concentrations of As, Cr, and Cd in their leaves.