Search

Seaweeds or marine algae with their three main taxa are recognized as a potential pot for numerous products. This has been imperative to valorize their components at an industrial scale in the context of the sustainability goals of the United Nations (UN). Biorefinery approaches have been attempted for several decades to produce bioactive, biofuels, fine chemicals, and nutritional products from seaweeds. However, with the recent UN goals, climatic changes, and the global economic situation, it is essential to assess all the production processes involved concerning several factors. Numerous steps are performed following algae collection, including optimization of downstream processing (e.g., drying, extraction, and purification), in addition to suitable preservation to maintain products' integrity till their usage. Moreover, breakthroughs in biotechnologies and the biological sciences are also targeted to achieve the goals of the blue circular bioeconomy which focuses on renewable resources of foods, drug discovery, and energy, while preserving the ocean ecosystem. Hence, the current article provided new insights into the various processes to valorize marine algae in the frame of circular bioeconomy and sustainability concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the curvilinear relationship between tangible investment and sustainable firm growth in the MENA region, as well as the moderating role of financial inclusion on this connection. To achieve this, we selected a sample of 465 firms over the period 2007–2020. Employing a system GMM model for the empirical analysis, the findings reveal that there is a curvilinear (inverted U-shaped) nexus between tangible investment and sustainable firm growth. Moreover, this study employs a moderating effect model to demonstrate that financial inclusion can enhance sustainable firm growth. The system GMM model further indicates that financial inclusion moderates the curvilinear relationship between tangible investment and sustainable firm growth. This study offers valuable insights for strategic firm planning and policy development, highlighting the role of financial inclusion in promoting firm sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to contribute to the existing literature by examining the relationship between corporate governance (CG) attributes and real-based earnings management (REM) in the context of an emerging market economy. The study employs a sample of 78 Egyptian Exchange (EGX)-listed companies covering the period from 2008 to 2017, yielding a total of 780 observations. To address dynamic endogeneity concerns between CG mechanisms and REM, the dynamic panel system-generalized method of moments (SGMM) estimator is used as the main analytical tool. The findings reveal that managerial and family ownership are negatively and significantly correlated with REM proxies, except for the ABCFO measure. By contrast, government and institutional ownership exhibit contrasting results, depending on the REM proxies used. The CG-EM relationship is influenced by several conflicting theoretical perspectives, including agency theory, institutional theory, stewardship theory, and resource dependence theory, resulting in inconsistent empirical findings. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to detect Real-earnings manipulation practices (REM) in the Egyptian context using six models to confirm the validity, reliability, and robustness of the findings. Additionally, the study employs an advanced statistical technique that considers endogeneity, heteroscedasticity, and simultaneity in the relationship between CG mechanisms and earnings quality. The results highlight the importance of considering the institutional and legal context of a country when analyzing the impact of corporate governance mechanisms on earnings quality, as the practice and implementation of governance mechanisms vary across countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, the hepatoprotective activity of vanillic acid, silymarin, and vanillic acid-loaded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was tested in male rats for four weeks. Thirty male rats were divided into five groups (n = 6). The 1st group was a negative control, the 2nd group was a positive control, the 3rd group was treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of vanillic acid, the 4th group was treated with 100 mg/kg b.w. of vanillic acid–AgNPs, and the 5th group was treated with 50 mg/kg b.w. of silymarin. The CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity in the 2nd group was revealed by the liver function and all other biochemical tests. Liver enzymes, bilirubin, lipid peroxidation, lactate dehydrogenase, and interleukin-6 were elevated, whereas, total protein, antioxidant enzymes, and irisin were decreased compared to the negative control. The hepatic tissues were also injured as a result of the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Treating the hepatotoxic rats with vanillic acid moderately protected the rats of the 3rd group, whereas treatment with vanillic AgNPs and silymarin in G4 and G5, respectively, greatly protected the rats against the CCl4 hepatotoxicity, approaching the normal biochemical levels and liver tissue appearance. The biochemical tests were confirmed by the histological investigations of liver tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]