The role of; Aspergillus flavus during the deterioration of brake fluids; was identified. The impact of; A. flavus on used and unused brake fluids; were studied. This research was carried out at the University of Port Harcourt from September 2019 to November 2020. Abro and Jenox DOT3 brake fluids were the samples used for this research. The sample included their unused and used counterpart. Tests to identify microorganisms and physico-chemical parameters; were done. Total viable count, pH and optical density; were tested to check for the level of biodeterioration. Biodeterioration rate was more in Jenox brake fluid than Abro brake fluid. Aspergillus flavus is a major biodegrader in the brake fluid samples. Total viable count and optical density increased as the days progressed during biodeterioration while pH decreased. Brake fluid is an essential fluid needed by most vehicles to function. It is necessary to top-up brake fluid or substitutes; at the appropriate time. No two brands of brake fluid are the same. Therefore, it is advisable not to mix.

Introduction: Quantum Dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals that are increasingly used in biology due to their good optical properties. QDs, especially cadmium based QDs, play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer due to their intrinsic fluorescence. The first event after cells encounter QDs is the entry of these nanomaterials into the cell, so understanding the mechanisms of uptake is essential. The aim of the present study is evaluation of the cellular uptake mechanisms of CdTe QDs in ovarian cancer cell lines.\nMethods: In this study, we used CdTe QDs coated with thioglycolic acid (TGA). The ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3 and OVCAR3) were treated with different concentrations of QDs, triamterene, chlorpromazine and nystatin, and cell viability was evaluated through MTT test. To find way of cellular uptake CdTe QDs, we used MTT test and interfering compounds in endocytic pathways. Based on intrinsic fluorescence of CdTe QDs, fluorescence images were taken and cellular internalization of them was assessed using flowcytometry.\nResults: MTT results of CdTe QDs showed a dose-dependent decrease in percentage of cell viability of treated cells in comparison to untreated cells (control). To evaluate the cellular uptake pathways of CdTe QDs, in the most cases, a significant difference ( P < 0.05 ) was observed when the two ovarian cancer cell lines were pretreated with nystatin. The results of flowcytometry showed that the cellular uptake of CdTe QDs is a dose-dependent and time-dependent process.\nConclusion: Nystatin had a significant influence on cellular uptake. This finding suggest that caveola-mediated endocytosis has large portion on internalization of CdTe QDs. According to the results of this study, CdTe QDs can be used in laboratory studies and finally in diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Human trafficking is one of the cruelest crimes against humanity and other goods protected by international law and one of the most brutal violations of fundamental human rights. Modus operandi of recruiting and exploiting victims of trafficking has become increasingly perfidious and brutal. Trafficking in human beings is a global problem and a phenomenon of today\'s society and time. The paper provides an overview of the international legal framework for combating trafficking in human beings and provides a comparative overview of the solution of national criminal legislation with an analysis of case law in the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia. The criminal offenses of trafficking in human beings, forms and types of exploitation were investigated, with special reference to the victims of trafficking in human beings in Croatia and Serbia. The authors point out the criminal law solutions of Croatia and Serbia in the suppression of human trafficking, as well as the similarities and distinctions in terms of incriminations and prescribed criminal sanctions. In the concluding remarks, an assessment of the de lege lata situation in Croatia and Serbia was given, and, accordingly, possible proposals for a de lege ferenda in the fight against human trafficking were given.

The Chinese government has incorporated green accounting in the national sustainable development plan indicating the great value of standardizing corporate environmental accounting. Using a sample of thirty-four listed mining companies, the authors utilized secondary data from 2000 to 2018. The authors identified twelve variables to measure firm performance and employed the Principal Component Analysis (CPA) to reduce the factors to four. The authors then utilized the Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) for the regression analysis. The findings revealed a positive connection between environmental accounting information disclosure (EAID) and return on assets equity. A positive relationship was found between EAID and quick ratio. Only return on assets revealed an affirmative but insignificant link with EAID. The research findings contribute to previous literature on environmental accounting and give clues to policy-makers and stakeholders in ensuring green accounting disclosures adherence as it influences financial performance.

The article’s novelty is in it being the first to examine the impact of economic variables on CO2 emissions in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries by testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and the Pollution Haven Hypothesis (PHH). The rebirth of the BRI programme have necessitated the study as it has a vast potential to promote economic growth, yet, marred with numerous energy use and ecological concerns. The Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCEMG) estimates the results. Income (GDP) and GDP2 positively and negatively impact CO2 emissions in the three panels, validating the EKC. Foreign direct investment (FDI) significantly affects CO2 emissions for the global and BRI panels, supporting the PHH. However, the PHH is refuted for the OECD panel as FDI has a significant negative effect on CO2 emissions. GDP and GDP2 decline by 0.029% and 0.0446%, respectively, for BRI countries, compared to OECD countries. It is recommended that BRI countries enact new and stringent environmental laws and use more tidal energy, solar energy, wind power, bioenergy, and hydropower instead of fossil fuels, for the sustainable attainment of higher economic growth, devoid of pollution. The move will reduce the overreliance on costly fossil fuels and boost economic growth in the long run among BRI countries, especially as the energy consumption of the BRI panel results in 0.0676% more CO2 emissions than the OECD panel.