Search

The study involves the use of commercial cellulase Cellic CTec2 in combination with two in-house xylanases, PxXyn10A (XynA), a recombinant purified enzyme from Paenibacillus xylanivorans A59, and a xylanase enzymatic extract from native Moesziomyces aphidis PYCC 5535T (MaPYCC 5535T), for the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated blue agave bagasse (BAB) at the high solids load of 20% (w/v). Three different combinations of cellulase and xylanases were evaluated. When Cellic® CTec2 was used at a dosage of 10 FPU/g oven-dried solids (ODS) supplemented with XynA or MaPYCC 5535T at an endo-xylanase dosage of 100 U/g ODS, increases in the xylose yield of 30% and 33%, respectively, were obtained. When applying in-house xylanases alone (at an endo-xylanase dosage of 100 U/g ODS), xylan in BAB was selectively hydrolyzed into xylose with 5% yield with MaPYCC 5535T, while no xylose was detected with XynA. Interestingly, a synergic effect of Cellic® CTec 2 with both xylanases was observed when using a low dosage of 1 FPU/g ODS (allowing for some liquefaction of the reaction mixture), promoting xylose and glucose release by either xylanase. A higher concentration of monomeric sugars was obtained with 10 FPU/g ODS of Cellic® Ctec 2 supplemented with 100 U/g ODS of MaPYCC 5535T, followed by XynA. The improvement in saccharification through the synergistic combination of in-house xylanases and commercial cellulases allows for the obtention of sugar-rich hydrolysates, which enhances the technical sustainability of the process. Hydrolysates were then fermented using recombinant Cellux 4TM yeast to yield 45 g/L ethanol, representing an increase of about 30% with respect to the control obtained with only the commercial cellulase cocktail. The surface modification of agave biomass with the different combinations of enzymes was evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the relationship between technology, entertainment, and the environment to understand urban tourists’ receptivity to ecogamified transport and mobility apps. Rather than providing conclusive solutions, this study follows an exploratory approach to establish relevant grounds for tourist clusters regarding their potential receptivity to ecogamification, an area that is still under explored. This study follows a segmentation approach, using a self-administered online questionnaire. The data, stemming from 572 adult respondents who have travelled to urban destinations in the past 3 years, were analysed through a combination of non-hierarchical and hierarchical cluster analyses. The results reveal four clusters of urban tourists with different types of potential receptivity to ecogamification: “Mobi Wholeheartedly”; “Mobi Whatever”; “Mobi Profiter”; and “Mobi Utilitarian”. This study adds to current research by adopting new segmentation approaches and more open assumptions concerning the potential receptivity to (eco)gamification. It also provides fresh evidence regarding tourist receptivity typologies and the existence of differences (and overlaps) among these types of tourists. It explores how that receptivity might occur based on the intersection between technology, entertainment and the environment. It examines the implications of tourist segments in ecogamification strategies, providing overall useful insights to destination management organizations, destination marketers and game designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strength of the association between hope and academic outcomes has not been systematically evaluated. To provide a summarization of the extant research, findings from 45 primary studies (N = 9250) investigating the relationship between hope and academic achievement, as well as between hope and student assets and liabilities were synthesized using meta-analysis. Academic performance outcomes, including grade point average, had a moderate, positive relationship with hope. Corrected correlations were consistent with a moderate, positive relationship between hope and student assets and a moderate, negative relationship between hope and liabilities. Moderator analyses revealed that the link between hope and academic outcomes was stronger for elementary, middle, and high school students than for undergraduate and graduate students. Given the strong evidence that hope predicts academic outcomes, our findings suggest that future research should examine whether interventions that increase hope may have secondary positive effects on academic indicators of student success".

Researchers have noted the need, particularly when working with young people, to examine positive processes of development and how they can be considered protective factors of child development under adverse conditions. This study aims to investigate whether high levels of hope and life satisfaction during childhood are associated with a reduced risk of developing mental health problems and academic difficulties 5 years later. Measures of hope, life satisfaction, stressful life events, mental health, and students' engagement were administered to 367 students on two occasions, separated by 5 years. Results showed that participants with lower levels of hope and life satisfaction who experienced several stressful events had a higher risk of developing diminished mental health and difficulties of school engagement 5 years later, while those with higher levels of hope and life satisfaction were not exposed to this vulnerability. These findings reveal that hope and life satisfaction operate as protective psychological strengths in the transition from childhood to/and during adolescence.