Microwave-assisted and conventional hydrothermal carbonization of lignocellulosic waste material: comparison of the chemical and structural properties of the hydrochars

This study compares the chemical and structural properties of the hydrochars prepared from microwave-assisted and conventional hydrothermal carbonizations of Prosopis africana shell, a waste plant material. The preparation involved heating the raw material in de-ionized water at 200 °C for 5-20 min, and 120-240 min in the microwave and conventional oven respectively. The prepared hydrochars were characterized using the scanning electron microscope, nitrogen sorption measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, CHN analyzer, thermogravimetric analysis, and nuclear magnetic resonance. The results showed that the microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization process is fast in the carbonization of the Prosopis africana shell as shown by the level of conversion attained within the short time. This study presents new data on the comparison of the hydrochars from microwave-assisted and conventional hydrothermal carbonization processes of the same lignocellulosic material in terms of their properties

Biomass derived mesoporous carbon monoliths via an evaporation-induced self-assembly

Evaporation-induced self-assembly has been applied in the synthesis of crack-free mesoporous carbon monolith with good mechanical stability using a waste plant material as carbon precursor and triblock copolymer F127 as template. The carbon monolith was characterized using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurement, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that the carbon monolith is mesoporous, has a surface area of 219 m²/g, and a narrow pore size distribution of 6.5 nm

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization of rapeseed husk: A strategy for improving its solid fuel properties

Hydrothermal carbonization of a waste biomass material is a green and promising technique for improving its solid fuel properties, which does not require pretreatment procedure such as drying of the biomass. In this study, hydrothermal carbonization of rapeseed husk, a waste plant material was carried out under microwave heating and the effect of process parameters, such as reaction temperature and residence time on the mass yields and energy properties of the hydrochars was studied. The procedure involved the heating of the feedstock in deionized water in a microwave oven at temperatures of 150 to 200 °C for a specified period of time. The results indicated that the mass yields decreased, as the reaction temperature and residence time were increased, which led to improvement in the energy properties of the prepared hydrochars. The reaction was rapid within the first 20 min, and stabilized afterwards. The energy properties of the prepared hydrochars are consistent with previous studies, showing that the hydrochars have the potential of being used as solid fuel. The structural and morphological analysis carried out revealed that the feedstock was transformed during the process

Building capacities for evidence and outcome-based food policy planning and implementation

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is an Africawide framework for revitalizing agriculture and rural development in order to accelerate economic growth and progress toward poverty reduction and food and nutrition security. This study reviews CAADP and its strategic objectives, key players, implementation modalities, and approach to ensuring evidence and outcome-based policy planning and implementation. The study also lays out CAADP’s common analytical framework at the country level and shares economic modeling results from member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in which analysis was conducted to examine agricultural growth and investment options for meeting CAADP growth and expenditure targets and the Millennium Development Goal target of halving poverty. Finally, the paper discusses CAADP’s review and dialogue mechanisms and knowledge support systems that have been put in place to facilitate benchmarking, mutual learning, and capacity strengthening that will improve agricultural policy, program design, and implementation.CAADP, ECOWAS, growth options, MDG 1, Poverty reduction, public expenditure,

Data Analytics, Power BI and Emerging Technologies in the Accounting Classroom

The American Accounting Association (AAA) hosted a three-day conference in May 2019 focusing on the impact of emerging technologies and data analytics in the accounting profession and higher education. Attendees participated in hands-on training and discussions about emerging technologies, received instructional materials to assist in classroom activities, and connected with leading researchers, educators, and professionals

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of carbon monolith via a soft-template method using resorcinol and formaldehyde as carbon precursor and pluronic F127 as template

A new microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of carbon monolith is reported in this work. The process uses microwave heating at 100 °C under acidic condition by employing a triblock copolymer F127 as the template, and resorcinol–formaldehyde as the carbon precursor. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen sorption measurements, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray studies and thermogravimetic analysis were used to characterize the synthesized material. The carbon monolith is crack-free, mesoporous and has a high surface area of 697 m²/g. The results demonstrate that the microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis is a fast and simple approach to obtain carbon monoliths, as it reduces effectively the synthesis time from hours to a few minutes which could be an advantage in the large scale production of the material

Typology of Legislative Assemblies

This paper explores the types of legislative assemblies analysis the suitabilities of each type to the known democratic systems. It is essentially an explanatory discuss and was guided by information drawn from the secondary sources

ЗНАЧЕННЯ ФІНАНСОВИХ ПУЛІВ ДЛЯ ФІНАНСУВАННЯ ЦІЛЕЙ СТАЛОГО РОЗВИТКУ

This paper is devoted to the research of the effectiveness of pool funding as a scientific concept and practical approach to finance sustainable development goals at international and national levels. The essence of the concept is grouping together funds of different economic agents in order to increase the financial capacity and to minimize risks in financing sustainable development goals.According to authors' research, this approach is particularly relevant for countries with transition economies or developing countries, where most of the sustainable development goals are unsolved and require significant resources to finance them. The institutional and economic mechanism for implementing such approach is the creation of national Pool Funds for financing sustainable development programs. A prerequisite for the creation of such funds is the development of a national strategy for financing sustainable development programs in accordance with socio-economic realities and the possibilities of involving various economic agents and partners in the joint financing of programs to provide a secure future for the next generations. Other important prerequisites for the foundation of Pool Funds for sustainable development are: determination of sources of accumulation of financial resources; selection of effective and adequate financial instruments; conducting control of purposeful use of funds and determination of socio-economic effect from financing of projects and programs of sustainable development. According to this approach it will contribute to the concentration and unification of sources and mechanisms for financing sustainable development programs at the national level, as well as for monitoring the use of funds for their intended purposes.Посвящено исследованию механизма эффективности пул финансирования как научной концепции и практического подхода финансового обеспечения целей устойчивого развития на международном и национальном уровнях. Институциональный и экономический механизмы реализации такого подхода национальном уровне заключаются в создании национальных пул фондов для финансирования программ устойчивого развития. Важными предпосылками создания пул фондов для финансирования устойчивого развития являются: формирование национальной стратегии финансирования целей устойчивого развития; определение источников формирования и концентрация финансовых ресурсов; выбор эффективных и адекватных финансовых инструментов; проведение контроля за целевым использованием средств и определения социально-экономического эффекта от финансирования проэктов и программ устойчивого развития.Присвячена дослідженню ефективності механізму пул фінансування як наукової концепції та практичного підходу фінансового забезпечення цілей сталого розвитку на міжнародному і національному рівнях. Суть концепції полягає в об’єднанні фінансових ресурсів різних економічних агентів з метою збільшення фінансової спроможності та мінімізації ризиків при фінансуванні цілей сталого розвитку.Згідно з дослідженнями авторів, цей підхід особливо актуальний для країн із перехідною економікою або країн, що розвиваються, де більшість цілей сталого розвитку є невирішеними і потребують значних ресурсів для їх фінансування. Інституційний та економічний механізми реалізації такого підходу полягають у створенні національних пул фондів для фінансування програм сталого розвитку. Передумовою створення таких фондів є розроблення національної стратегії фінансування програм сталого розвитку відповідно до соціально-економічних реалій і можливостей залучення різних економічних суб’єктів для спільного фінансування програм, спрямованих на забезпечення безпечного майбутнього для наступних поколінь.Важливими передумовами для створення пул фондів для сталого розвитку є такі: визначення джерел формування та концентрації фінансових ресурсів; вибір ефективних і адекватних фінансових інструментів; проведення контролю за цільовим використанням коштів та визначення соціально-економічного ефекту від фінансування проектів і програм сталого розвитку. Такий підхід сприятиме концентрації та уніфікації джерел і механізмів фінансування програм сталого розвитку на національному рівні, а також моніторингу використання коштів за їхнім призначенням

Impaired tumor growth and angiogenesis in mice heterozygous for Vegfr2 (Flk1)

Abstract VEGF signaling through its tyrosine kinase receptor, VEGFR2 (FLK1), is critical for tumor angiogenesis. Previous studies have identified a critical gene dosage effect of VegfA in embryonic development and vessel homeostasis, neovascularization, and tumor growth, and potent inhibitors of VEGFR2 have been used to treat a variety of cancers. Inhibition of FGFR signaling has also been considered as an antiangiogenic approach to treat a variety of cancers. Inhibition of VEGFR2 with neutralizing antibodies or with pharmacological inhibitors of the VEGFR tyrosine kinase domain has at least short-term efficacy with some cancers; however, also affects vessel homeostasis, leading to adverse complications. We investigate gene dosage effects of Vegfr2, Fgfr1, and Fgfr2 in three independent mouse models of tumorigenesis: two-stage skin chemical carcinogenesis, and sub-cutaneous transplantation of B16F0 melanoma and Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC). Mice heterozygous for Vegfr2 display profound defects in supporting tumor growth and angiogenesis. Unexpectedly, additional deletion of endothelial Fgfr1 and Fgfr2 in Vegfr2 heterozygous mice shows similar tumor growth and angiogenesis as the Vegfr2 heterozygous mice. Notably, hematopoietic deletion of two alleles of Vegfr2 had minimal impact on tumor growth, with little effect on angiogenesis, reinforcing the importance of endothelial Vegfr2 heterozygosity. These studies reveal previously unrecognized Vegfr2 gene dosage effects in tumor angiogenesis and a lack of synergy between VEGFR2 and endothelial FGFR1/2 signaling during tumor growth

E-Banking in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges

The aim of this study was to assess issues and challenges of e-banking in Nigeria. The specific objectives were to ascertain the effect of e-banking on workers, job security in Nigeria banking industry, examine the relationship between e- banking and quality of service delivery of commercial banks in Nigeria, evaluate the relationship between e-banking and security of financial transactions and to find out if e-banking influences customers satisfaction in the Nigerian banking industry. The survey and descriptive research design were adopted in the methodology of the study. The population consists of all the customers and staff of three selected banks branches in the Benin metropolis. A sample of three hundred respondents was selected using the convenience random sampling techniques. The study employs primary data using questionnaires as the research instrument. The data analysis was carried out using summary statistics and ordinary least square regression analysis. The study findings indicate that employees’ job security has a positive relationship with E-banking and significantly influence E-banking in Nigeria; customers’ satisfaction was ascertained to have a positive relationship with e-banking and also influence e-banking penetration in Nigeria; security of financial transactions was found to have a positive relationship with e-banking, it however had inverse significant impact on e-banking; services delivery has a positive relationship with e-banking. It is therefore recommended that for effective ebanking penetration, investors education and marketing of e-banking products should be the key strategy banks should use to attract more customers towards embracing e-banking and increasing security for e-banking products, reduction of charges on e-banking products and increasing more ATM outlets in Nigeria as part of measures towards enhancing quality services delivery and promotion of e-banking as this will further enhance the recent need for financial inclusion as part of the monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria