The Protective Effect of Citronellol against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats.

Citronellol has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antihypertensive activities, but its effect on myocardial ischemia is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects and pharmacological mechanisms of citronellol on ischemia. Therefore, a rat model of myocardial ischemia was established using the doxorubicin (DOX) model. To induce cardiotoxicity, the rats were given DOX (2.5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally over a 14-day period. Group I served as the control and received tween 80 (0.2%), group II received the vehicle and DOX, group III received the standard drug dexrazoxane and DOX, whereas groups IV, V, and VI were treated orally with citronellol (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) and DOX, respectively. After treatment, the rats were euthanized, and blood samples were collected to assess the levels of serum cardiac markers, lipid profiles, and tissue antioxidant enzymes. The gene expressions of eNOS, PPAR-g, IL-10, VEGF, and NFkB-1 were also determined using real-time polymerase chain reactions. Simultaneous treatment with DOX and citronellol reduced cardiac antioxidant enzymes and lipid biomarkers in a dose-dependent manner. Citronellol also increased the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines while reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, it can be concluded that citronellol may have potential cardioprotective effects in preventing DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Greenhouse gas emissions and corporate social responsibility in USA: A comprehensive study using dynamic panel model.

This study addresses the issues of Greenhouse Gas Emission and corporate social responsibility of firms in USA. This paper estimates various econometrics estimations varying from multivariate regression, static panel modes and dynamic panel models. Finally, to control the endogeneity problem dynamic panel model is preferred to capture the relationship of greenhouse gas emissions and corporate social responsibility. The result of the study shows a positive and significant relationship between greenhouse gas emission and corporate social responsibility. Further, it is also observed that firms with better corporate social responsibility performance can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is the first research that attempts to explore two-way relationships between greenhouse gas emission and corporate social responsibility by using various estimation techniques varying from multivariate, OLS to dynamic panel GMM. From a policy point of view, corporate social responsibility plays an important role in managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately creating a secure environment for all parties while improving business performance. Policymakers should create policies to control greenhouse gas emissions and enhance corporate social responsibility.

Environmental sustainability assessment of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas L. seeds oil in Pakistan.

According to IPCC Annual Report (AR-5), environmental impact assessment of any product prototype is recommended before its large-scale commercialization; however, no environmental profile analysis of any biodiesel prototype has been conducted in Pakistan. Therefore, objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA), water footprint and cumulative energy demand (CED) of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas L. (JC) seeds oil in Pakistan. A cradle-to-gate LCA approach was applied for 400 liter (L) JC biodiesel produced in Pakistan. JC biodiesel production chain was divided into three stages i.e., 1). cultivation of JC crop 2). crude oil extraction from JC seeds and 3). crude oil conversion to biodiesel. Primary data for all the stages were acquired through questionnaire surveys, field visits and measurements in the field. Potential environmental impacts were calculated in SimaPro v.9.2 software using Eco-indicator 99 methodology. Results showed that crude oil extraction stage accounted for highest emissions (77%) to the overall environmental impact categories evaluated, followed by oil conversion stage (21%) and JC cultivation stage (02%), respectively. The three stages of JC biodiesel production chain are major contributor to ecotoxicity with a contribution of 57% to this impact category. Higher contribution to ecotoxicity was due to agrochemicals used in the JC cultivation. Similarly, fossil fuels impact category was responsible for 38% of overall environmental impacts. In addition, water footprint of JC biodiesel production chain was 2632.54 m3/reference unit. Cumulative energy required for 400L JC biodiesel production chain was 46745.70 MJ in Pakistan. Fossil diesel consumption, synthetic fertilizers use and purchased electricity were major hotspot sources to environmental burdens caused by JC biodiesel production in Pakistan. By performing sensitivity analysis at 20% reduction of the baseline values of fossil diesel used, synthetic fertilizers and purchased electricity, a marked decrease in environmental footprint was observed. It is highly recommended that use of renewable energy instead of fossil energy would provide environmental benefits such as lower greenhouse gases and other toxic emissions as compared to conventional petroleum fuels. It is also recommended that JC as a biofuel plant, has been reported to have many desired characteristics such as quick growth, easy cultivation, drought resistance, pest and insect resistance, and mainly great oil content in JC seeds (27-40%). Therefore, JC plant is highly recommended to Billion Tree Afforestation Project (BTAP) for plantation on wasteland because it has multipurpose benefits.

A gravity model analysis of international migration from BRIC to OECD countries using Poisson Pseudo-maximum likelihood Approach.

This article postulates an inclusive study on the international migration from Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) countries to developed world (OECD Countries). This study used the data on BRIC during the period 2000-2013 to investigate the interaction between trade, foreign direct investment (both inward and outward) along with international migration in single framework. The results are obtained by using panel fixed effects and Poisson Pseudo-maximum likelihood (PPML) approach to cater heterogeneity issue. These results indicate that common official languages, trade and FDI significantly encourage international migration, indicating complementary relationship. The GDP of host nations is very important and encouraging factor for BRIC's migrants referring it as, most serious push factor of migration.