Preprocessing of Biomass Using Mechanical, Chemical and Microbial Techniques

Biomass-derived fuels have acquired a lot of attention recently due to increasing emphasis on energy independence, efforts to utilize abundance of green resources and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Grasses, agricultural residues, animal residues and waste, used oils, etc., can be used as starting materials in the production of biofuels. Various preprocessing techniques used in the preprocessing of biomass, such as microbial preprocessing, mechanical preprocessing and chemical pretreatment, are used for enhancing the digestibility of biomass to sugars for ethanol production. In this work, studies were conducted to improve the microbial, chemical and mechanical preprocessing of switch grass by decreasing the treatment time, optimizing the pretreatment temperature and enzyme requirements, and by developing a mechanical method to identify the heterogeneous fractions of switch grass. Switch grass was preprocessed with the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium and enzyme profiles were determined for various cellulase and lignin related enzymes. The enzyme profiles peaked at the 7th day during the 28 day treatment. Following the enzyme profile results, a seven day enzyme hydrolysis of switch grass resulted in a 5 % w/w increase in total sugar yields and 5 % increase in glucan % w/w by composition, and decreased the treatment time fourfold when compared to previous literature. A mechanical size separation method was developed for switch grass to identify the heterogeneous fractions in bulk and the pretreatment and enzyme requirements were estimated for individual fractions using design of experiments. This study demonstrated that each fraction had different composition in terms of glucan, xylan and lignin, and had different pretreatment and enzyme requirements for hydrolysis. The recalcitrant fraction, \u3c1 mm, was identified based on greater pretreatment and enzyme requirements, lower glucose yields and higher crystallinity, suggesting biomass enrichment by about 10 % through its elimination from unpartitioned switch grass. Microbial preprocessing on size separated fractions of switch grass shohigher enzyme activity for \u3e1 mm size fraction. The activity profiles varied by enzyme and by peak times during a 12 day preprocessing period for each of the fractions. Size separated fractions had lower glucose yields compared to the unpartitioned switch grass after microbial preprocessing. However, preprocessed samples had higher glucose yield compared to the raw samples for all fractions. The studies, improved the glucose yield of switch grass through various preprocessing techniques, decreased the microbial preprocessing time, and identified the recalcitrant fraction of switch grass

How did Amazon achieve CSR and some sustainable development goals (SDGs)-climate change, circular economy, water resources and employee rights during COVID-19?

Stakeholders’ demand for corporate social responsibility (CSR) not only creates pressure on the corporation, but corporations are also themselves aware about leading CSR activities’ reporting and embedding sustainable activities to create value for the short, medium, and long-term. This research investigates the sustainable development and corporate social responsibility of Amazon as one of the most influential multinational enterprises in the world. In this regard, this study sheds light on how Amazon has combined its own interests with corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, and how they have responded to a series of challenges brought by economic globalization to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. The results of this detailed investigation of Amazon from 2018 to 2020 show that Amazon has performed very well in terms of social responsibility and sustainable development. In particular, climate, environment, carbon emissions and other natural measures. However, there are some shortages in terms of human rights, such as insufficient protection and care for employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, and labor union issues. In addition, the study concluded that Amazon has sufficient experience to balance profit and corporate social responsibility. In response to the challenges of globalization, Amazon has also adjusted its sustainable development strategy in a timely manner, which can be used as a reference for other multinational enterprises

CSR Implication and Disclosure in Higher Education:Uncovered Points. Results from a Systematic Literature Review and Agenda for Future Research

This research reviews and analyzes prior corporate social responsibility (CSR) studies centered on its implications and disclosure in higher education institutions (HEIs). Nine major databases were analyzed to review research articles from various business, management, higher education, and accounting journals for the period of 2004\u20132020. We follow the seven-step systematic review guidelines developed by Fink 2019 and we base our review analysis on fifty-eight journal articles. The systematic literature review results show a significant increase in the number of CSR article publications and the extent and trend of disclosure. The majority of prior research was based on questionnaires to evaluate the HEIs curriculum and focus on the CSR implication process. However, HEIs are still lagging behind in CSR implication and disclosure, and with a long way to go to obtain sustainability goals. From the study, several opportunities for future research emerged. This study can be useful for HEIs policymakers and practitioners to access the usefulness of CSR implications and disclosures in HEIs. In addition, this analysis assists scholars to explore in-depth the uncovered points related to CSR in HEIs context. This is the first systematic review of CSR implications and disclosures that comprehensively covers higher education institutions as a sector and presents a reference for academic literature from 2004 to 2020

Protective effect of Solanum torvum on monosodium glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in mice

Solanum torvum is a well known traditional herbal medicinal plant used in many neurological disorders. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of S. torvum on monosodium glutamate (MSG) induced neurotoxicity. Swiss albino mice received MSG (1000 mg/kg, p.o) followed by a methanolic and hydroalcoholic extract of S. torvum(100 and 300 mg/kg, p.o) for 14 days. MSG-treated mice showed significant (p<0.05) behavioural changes, decrease in relative organ weight of brain, a decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels and significant (p<0.05) increase in lipid peroxidation in brain tissue. Histopathological changes observed in brain tissue were vacuolated cells, pyknotic nuclei, decreased neuronal density and distorted layers of brain tissue. Both extracts of S. torvum (100 and 300 mg/kg) showed normal behavior, significant (p<0.05) increase in relative organ weight of brain, significant (p<0.05) decrease in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and significant (p<0.05) increase in reduced glutathione (RGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) concentration in brain tissue as compared to MSG-treated mice. Treatment with S. torvum extracts reversed the histopathological changes induced by MSG. The study suggests that S. torvum seed extracts have the potential to ameliorate neuronal damage induced by MSG. Total flavonoid content of methanolic and hydroalcoholic extract of S. torvum was found to be44±1.2,and32±0.8 µg of rutin equivalent/mg of extracts and total phenolic content was found to be 70±0.28 and 52±0.62 µg of gallic acid equivalent/mg of extracts respectively

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF LINEZOLID TOPICAL PREPARATIONS ON DIABETIC RATS

Objective: The aim of the study is to formulate and evaluate the topical preparations of antibacterial formulation for the treatment of diabetic wound infection. Methods: Different types of topical formulations were prepared and evaluated for in vitro release. The prepared formulations were also tested for its antibacterial activity against the pathogens existing in diabetic wound infection. Based on in vitro drug release and antimicrobial activity, two formulations were selected as optimized formulations. Optimized formulations were tested for wound healing activity in diabetic rats. Results: Based on in vitro drug release and antimicrobial activity two formulations (F8, F10) were selected as optimized formulations. FTIR studies of pure drug and optimized formulation shown absence of any incompatibility between drug and excipients. Optimized formulation shown good physicochemical properties and passed short-term stability study. F8 and F10 formulations were applied to untreated diabetic rats for diabetic wound infection, the rate of wound healing was quite faster. These results indicate that the linezolid semisolid dosage form could provide an adjunctive antimicrobial formulation for the management of diabetic wounds. Conclusion: Further studies are required on chronic diabetic wounds with and without diabetic medications to confirm its effectiveness. Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, Linezolid, Semisolid dosage forms, Wound healing activit

Integrated reporting implementation and core activities disclosure in UK higher education institutions

Through integrated reporting (IR) and integrated thinking (IT), higher education institutions (HEIs) can engage future students, staff and other key stakeholders. This paper examines the impact of IR framework implementation on core activities disclosure within the UK HEIs. In particular, the authors explore the influence of the integrated thinking approach, intended to enhance the extent of the IR content elements, teaching and learning, internationalisation and research activities disclosure. The study is based on the annual reports of 123 UK HEIs over 3 years—2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18. Consistent with the predictions of legitimacy theory and the integrated thinking approach, the results show the extent that integrated reporting content elements and HEIs core activities disclosure practices have increased over the study period. The results also indicate that adoption of the IR framework, league table ranking position, key performance indicator reporting, size, research quality and graduate prospects all have significant positive influences on HEIs core activities disclosure. Based on the findings, the recommendations are that UK HEI governing and other regularity bodies, such as British Universities Finance Director Groups, Leadership Foundation in Higher Education and the Higher Education Funding Council, should consider development of voluntary integrated reporting guidelines and a core activities disclosure framework

Direct and indirect implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Amazon’s financial situation

We provide theoretical and empirical insights into the impact of COVID-19 on Amazon’s financial position. A longitudinal case study of Amazon’s financial situation during the 2016–2020 period, and time-series analysis, ratio analysis, and DuPont analysis, are employed as a quantitative methodology to explore Amazon’s financial situation changes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. As for the robustness of the in-depth analysis, we compare Amazon’s financial performance and position with Walmart. The result shows that the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a huge negative impact on the companies’ financial performance because of its promotion of their development. However, this study provides an in-depth analysis of the influence of COVID-19 on Amazon’s financial situation, which financial aspects are most affected by COVID-19, which are not, and the company’s response to COVID-19. Therefore, this study sheds light on the accounting literature to demonstrate the impact of COVID-19 on Internet companies’ financial performance and provides some reference values for subsequent academic research

STABILITY ENHANCEMENT OF PROTON PUMP INHIBITOR IN STOMACH: FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF STABILIZED PROTON PUMP INHIBITOR

Objective: The aim of the present study was to prepare a pantoprazole rosin complex tablet which would stabilize the drug in the mild acidic condition (pH 5) of the stomach during the fed state.Methods: The method of slow solvent evaporation and anti-solvent was used for the preparation of pantoprazole rosin complex.Results: The prepared pantoprazole rosin complex exhibited decreased solubility than that of pure drug. FTIR and DSC studies confirmed the formation of a complex between the pantoprazole sodium and rosin via weak ionic bonds. The in-vitro release studies of the pantoprazole rosin complex showed more than 80% release at the end of 90 minutes. Tablets were formulated using direct compression method and the prepared tablets were evaluated in-vitro. The tablets were found to be within official limits with respect to hardness, weight variation, drug content, friability etc.Conclusion: The tablet formulated with croscarmellose sodium as super disintegrant showed 97% drug release within 60 minutes. The optimized tablets were found to be stable in accelerated study conditions for a period of 1 month with respect to physical characteristics and drug content. If this process can be scaled up to manufacturing level, this technique has the potential to develop into an invaluable technology in future.Â

Measuring the impact of corporate governance on non-financial reporting in the top HEIs worldwide

Purpose: This study aims to measure the relationship between corporate governance and non-financial reporting (NFR) in higher education institutions (HEIs). Board effectiveness, student engagement, audit quality, Vice-Chancellor (VC) pay and VC gender are targeted for analysis.Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on content analysis. The authors used the EU NFR Directive (2014/95/EU) to measure NFR. This includes environmental, corporate social responsibility, human rights, corporate board effectiveness and corruption and bribery. Cross-sectional data was collected from 89 HEIs worldwide across 15 different countries over three years. Content analysis, the weighted scoring method and panel data analysis are used to obtain the results.Findings: Through a neo-institutional theoretical lens, this study provides a broader understanding of NFR content disclosure practices within HEIs. The findings reveal that the audit quality, VC pay and VC gender are significantly and positively associated with NFR content disclosure. However, board effectiveness has a significant negative impact on NFR content disclosure. More interestingly, the findings reveal that student engagement has an insignificant association with NFR content disclosure and there significant difference on the level of NFR content disclosure across universities situated in the different geographical region such as the USA, Australia, the UK and EU, Asia and Canada. The findings have important implications for regulators and policymakers. The evidence appears to be robust when controlling for possible endogeneities.Originality/value: The study contributes to the literature on corporate non-financial disclosure as it provides new insights of corporate governance mechanisms and NFR disclosure within HEIs.</p