Financing and Business Models for Scaling Up Sustainable Business Networks—Building a Circular Economy

Transition towards a circular economy (CE) requires collaboration amongst stakeholders. Sustainable Business Networks bring together different organisations to learn and disseminate CE innovations. However, without proper financing models, networks struggle to survive and attain financial independence. In this paper, we explore the different models which are used by African networks to finance their activities. The methodological approach involved nine case studies from three African countries (Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa) and selected regional networks. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with key informants of the networks, and a questionnaire was sent to each network. Content analysis of networks was undertaken, and documents were assessed for each network in order to evaluate network activities under different funding regimes. The main funding models that were observed include membership subscriptions, donor funding, conference fees for network events, consultancy services, crowdfunding and selling knowledge products. The challenge of low payments of subscriptions is common in all countries, and networks devised innovative ways of generating funds such as consultancy fees for services rendered by the network. We conclude that there is still a high level of involvement of donor agencies in financing Sustainable Business Networks. However, this donor-funded approach is failing to steer networks to sustainability beyond projects and programmes which involve networking. Based on the existing literature and the information collected during the interviews, it was possible to recommend a hybrid financing model that is based in two crucial elements, (i) on country specific actors and (ii) on ownership of the network at national level

The value of precedent : appellate briefs and judicial opinions in the U.S. courts of appeals.

This study of appellate advocacy examines factors that affect judicial treatment of precedents identified in litigant briefs. Although we find some attorney and party characteristics influence whether a court addresses precedent cited by a party, legal resources are not as influential in determining whether the court adopts a party’s use of a precedent. At times, ideological congruence between the circuit panel and the litigant can increase the likelihood that the court’s opinion will use a precedent in the same way as presented by the litigants. There is also some support for the importance of attorney experience. Even when their clients ultimately win the case, attorneys with no experience before the circuit are less likely to see the court use litigant-cited precedents in a similar way to the party brief. Even when their clients lose, there is some support to show that attorneys with more experience are more likely to see the court’s opinion address the precedents the attorneys have raised positively. This suggests that attorney experience has some influence in shaping legal policy, regardless of whether the litigant wins or loses

Enterprise development through networks:a case study of PETRECOZIM and the beverages sector networks in Zimbabwe

Inter-organisational networks contribute towards attainment of a Circular Economy (CE). Through effective collaboration, enterprise development can be achieved. In Zimbabwe, plastic waste, mainly PET is a major challenge in the quest for attaining sustainable development of the country. This research focuses on the role of collaboration between bottlers, manufacturers and brand owners in facilitating enterprise development in the context of waste recycling. A case study research design was undertaken of a PET Recycling Company commonly known as PETRECOZIM, which is located on the southern part of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. Interviews were undertaken with key informants and experts in the field of waste management. Document review was carried out on key documentation from the recycling centre in order to assess activities, business models, barriers, challenges, opportunities and core aspects of the operations of PETRECOZIM. The research concludes that organisations can collaborate as private sector players in a particular economic sector such as beverages, manufacturing and brand owners; to form enterprises that can thrive and undertake recycling activities. The research concludes that networks can facilitate enterprise development and self-regulation. It can also be concluded that in certain contexts, networks can operate without external interference and yield significant benefits in circular economy thematic areas such as waste management. The research also concludes that the business model of recycling networks requires blended financing models beyond network partners of one sector, to ensure sustainability. Key barriers identified include lack of participation in the network by organisations which operate in the bottling sector, but are not part of the PETRECOZIM initiative. These firms also lack technical capacity for advanced PET recycling as well as lack of financing to complete recycling stages beyond bales and flakes. The research also concludes that in order to attain circularity and “close the loop”, PETRECOZIM should recycle the waste further into usable products. The Case study also concludes that, without the support of the network members who finance the enterprise PETRECOZIM, its survival is not guaranteed beyond the network. It is recommended that, networks develop models which are sustainable beyond network support, in order to ensure long-term viability

The role of sustainable business networks in promoting a Circular Economy in Africa—A systematic literature review

In order to achieve transition toward a Circular Economy (CE), multiple stakeholder partnerships are required. Although the CE shows proven potential and impact, the implementation is still very low in developing and transition countries. The role of networks in promoting the CE is assessed, including the impact which network participation has on the implementation of a CE at company level. Although firm level capabilities can be enhanced by network participation, a lot of knowledge gaps exist regarding the orientation and structure of networks; governance models for networks and the high impact activities that can be implemented. A systematic literature review was undertaken to characterize the role of sustainable business networks in green industrial transformation. The approach to literature review included keyword search, title analysis, search title analysis, abstract analysis and systematic review of contents for full review of 50 research articles from Web of Science, Scopus and literature. Barriers, cognitions and challenges in the operation of sustainable business networks were clearly analyzed, including knowledge gaps existing in literature. Database search and document review was undertaken to determine the role and impact of sustainable business networks in promoting a CE in comparison to idiosyncratic organizations without any affiliation. The review enabled determination of the policies which promote sustainable business networks, network structure, governance, and success factors. We conclude that sustainable business networks have an impact on the CE transformation in selected African countries. Implementation success could be explained by contextual factors within sustainable business network boundaries. This article is categorized under: Climate and Environment &gt; Pollution Prevention Climate and Environment &gt; Circular Economy Policy and Economics &gt; Green Economics and Financing.</p

Humanized microbiota mice as a model of recurrent \u3ci\u3eClostridium difficile\u3c/i\u3e disease

Background: Clostridium difficile disease is the leading antibiotic-associated cause of diarrhea and nosocomial acquired infection in the western world. The per annum burden in the USA alone amounts to 250,000 cases with 14,000 ascribed deaths and medical costs in excess of a billion dollars. Novel models for the study of C. difficile infection are therefore pertinent. Results: Germ free C57BL/6 mice gavaged with a healthy human fecal microbiota maintained a stable “humanized” microbiota over multiple generations when housed under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions. As with mice containing a conventional microbiota, treatment with a five-antibiotic cocktail followed by a single dose of clindamycin renders the animals susceptible to C. difficile infection (CDI). Interestingly, after recovery from the initial CDI infection, a single intraperitoneal injection of clindamycin is sufficient to induce CDI relapse. Relapse of CDI can be induced up to 35 days postinfection after recovery from the initial infection, and multiple episodes of relapse can be induced. Conclusions: This model enables the study of recurrent C. difficile disease in a host containing a human-derived microbiota. Probiotic treatments using human-derived microbes, either prophylactic or curative, can be tested within the model. The identification and testing of human-derived microbial communities within a humanized microbiota mouse model may enable a higher rate of successful transfer of bacteria-based treatments from the lab to human patients due to the microbes involved initiating from, and being adapted to, the human GI tract

DeWitt Wallace Library Annual Report 2014-2015

Summary of library and media services activities for 2014-201

DeWitt Wallace Library Annual Report 2015-2016

Summary of library and media services activities for 2015-201

Lactobacillus reuteri 6475 increases bone density in intact females only under an inflammatory setting

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The Halos and Environments of Nearby Galaxies (HERON) Survey

We have used dedicated 0.7m telescopes in California and Israel to image the halos of ~200 galaxies in the Local Volume to 29 mag/sq arcsec, the sample mainly drawn from the 2MASS Large Galaxy Atlas (LGA). We supplement the LGA sample with dwarf galaxies and more distant giant ellipticals. Low surface brightness halos exceeding 50 kpc in diameter are found only in galaxies more luminous than L* and classic interaction signatures are relatively infrequent. Halo diameter is correlated with total galaxy luminosity. Extended low surface brightness halos are present even in galaxies as faint as M_V=-18. Edge-on galaxies with boxy bulges tend to lack extended spheroidal halos, while those with large classical bulges exhibit extended round halos, supporting the notions that boxy or barlike bulges originate from disks. Most face-on spiral galaxies present features that appear to be irregular extensions of spiral arms, although rare cases show smooth boundaries with no sign of star formation. Although we serendipitously discovered a dwarf galaxy undergoing tidal disruption in the halo of NGC 4449, we found no comparable examples in our general survey. A search for similar examples in the Local Volume identified hcc087, a tidally disrupting dwarf galaxy in the Hercules Cluster, but we do not confirm an anomalously large half-light radius reported for the dwarf VCC 1661