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800 | Long non-coding RNA CCL2 promoted gastric cancer function via miR-128/ PARP2 signal pathway | Amounts of studies have revealed long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) was related to the development of gastric cancer. Here, our results suggested the function and regulatory mechanism of CCL2 in gastric cancer. Quantitative polymerase-chain reaction (qPCR) was employed to inspect lncRNA CCL2 and miR-128 expression in normal gastric cell line (GES-1) and tumor cell lines (HGC-27 and MKN-45). The effects of CCL2 and miR-128 were measured via Luciferase reporter test. Western blot was used to check PARP2 protein expression. CCL2 expression and PARP2 protein levels were up-regulated, while miR-128 expression was obviously lower. Meanwhile, CCL2 down-regulating significantly repressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion by regulating miR-128. In addition, we proved miR-128 was a direct target of CCL2 through double luciferase assay and bioinformatics analysis. Moreover, miR-128 markedly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion in gastric cancer. More importantly, miR-128 could reverse the effects of lncRNA CCL2 knocked down. PARP2-si obviously suppressed in gastric cancer proliferation, migration, and invasion. Meanwhile, miR-128 mimic and the knockout of CCL2 distinctly decreased PARP2 protein level. Additionally, luciferase report experiments certificated that PARP2 targeted miR-128, implying PARP2 directly interacted with miR-128 in gastric cancer. More interestingly, the downregulation of PARP could reverse the trend triggered by miR-128 inhibitor in gastric tumor. All over these results showed lncRNA CCL2 played importance of role in gastric tumor via miR-128/PARP2 axis signal pathway. LncRNA CCL2 accelerated gastric cancer progression by regulating miR-128/PARP2 signaling pathway, providing a novel possible strategy for the treatment of gastric cancer. |
801 | Does Economic Policy Uncertainty Affect CO2 Emissions? Empirical Evidence from the United States | This paper aims to examine the effects of economic policy uncertainty (measured by the World Uncertainty Index-WUI) on the level of CO2 emissions in the United States for the period from 1960 to 2016. For this purpose, we consider the unit root test with structural breaks and the autoregressive-distributed lag (ARDL) model. We find that the per capita income promotes CO2 emissions in the long run. Similarly, the WUI measures are positively associated with CO2 emissions in the long run. Energy prices negatively affect CO2 emissions both in the short run and the long run. Possible implications of climate change are also discussed. |
802 | Relation of parenting child abuse based on attachment styles, parenting styles, and parental addictions | The purpose of this study was to complete the cycle of recognizing these relationships. In this regard, the effect of parenting styles, attachment styles, and the mediating variable of addiction was investigated on child abuse (CA). Multi-stage random sampling and sample size were selected based on the sample size estimation software (510 people) and according to the 20% probability of a drop in the number of subjects, 530 people (265 boys and 265 girls) and 1060 parents were selected. The available method was selected from a sample of 530 people who were selected based on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and answered Baumrind's Parenting Styles Questionnaire (PSQ), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Adult Attachment Scale (AAS). Data were assessed by analysis of variance, mediator analysis, and path analysis. The results showed that differences in parenting styles cause differences in their attachment styles. The results supported only the relationship between the two components of parental affection and control with the attachment avoidance index, and no relationship was observed between these components and the anxiety index. Perceived emotional abuse, mediates the relationship between parental parenting components and the child attachment avoidance index. Finally, it was achieved to a model that shows how the two factors of affection and control simultaneously affect the avoidance index, mediated by parental addiction. |
803 | Rethinking Social Relationships in Adulthood: The Differential Investment of Resources Model | Empirical evidence about the development of social relationships across adulthood into late life continues to accumulate, but theoretical development has lagged behind. The Differential Investment of Resources (DIRe) model integrates these empirical advances. The model defines the investment of time and energy into social ties varying in terms of emotional closeness and kinship as the core mechanism explaining the formation and maintenance of social networks. Individual characteristics, acting as capacities, motivations, and skills, determine the amount, direction, and efficacy of the investment. The context (e.g., the living situation) affects the social opportunity structure, the amount of time and energy available, and individual characteristics. Finally, the model describes two feedback loops: (a) social capital affecting the individual's living situation and (b) different types of ties impacting individual characteristics via social exchanges, social influences, and social evaluations. The proposed model will provide a theoretical basis for future research and hypothesis testing. |
804 | A survey of group decision making methods in Healthcare Industry 4.0: bibliometrics, applications, and directions | Healthcare Industry 4.0 refers to intelligent operation processes in the medical industry. With the development of information technology, large-scale group decision making (GDM), which allows a larger number of decision makers (DMs) from different places or sectors to participate in decision making, has been rapidly developed and applied in Healthcare Industry 4.0 to help to make decisions efficiently and smartly. To make full use of GDM methods to promote the developments of the medical industry, it is necessary to review the existing relevant achievements. Therefore, this paper conducts an overview to generate a comprehensive understanding of GDM in Healthcare Industry 4.0 and to identify future development directions. Bibliometric analyses are conducted in order to learn the development trends from published papers. The implementations of GDM methods in Healthcare Industry 4.0 are reviewed in accordance with the paradigm of the general GDM process, which includes information representation, dimension reduction, consensus reaching, and result elicitation. We also provide current research challenges and future directions regarding medical GDM. It is hoped that our study will be helpful for researchers in the field of GDM in Healthcare Industry 4.0. |
805 | Optimal operation of water-energy microgrids; a mixed integer linear programming formulation | Increasing energy efficiency in water distribution systems is one of the most important aspects of a sustainable water infrastructure. Additionally, providing this energy from renewable sources is an essential step towards a cleaner production in energy infrastructures. Therefore in this paper, an optimization model is developed to minimize the energy consumption of a water-energy microgrid system. A day-ahead economic dispatch model is developed to minimize the daily cost of energy in the waterenergy microgrid. The energy consumption of water system is minimized using tank's and pump's scheduling and operation, hydraulic factors, and daily demand. Particularly, the electricity consumption of the pump is minimized by adjusting its head gain and flow rate via a variable speed. The energy unit is composed of an aggregated conventional power generation, solar photovoltaic, wind generation, and battery energy storage system. To offer a global optimum for the proposed non-linear programming formulation, bivariate piecewise linear approximation is used to linearize the pump's power consumption and gain, and conservation of energy-mass. In addition, univariate piecewise linear approximation is used to linearize the energy consumption function of conventional power generation systems. The optimization results of the mixed integer linear programming and mixed integer non-linear programming formulations for the studied water-energy microgrid system are compared and discussed. These models are developed to concurrently minimize the electricity consumption of a micro water-energy distribution network in two scenarios of (1) standalone water distribution system operation and (2) an integrated islanded micro water-energy system with electrical loads. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
806 | Analysis of the spatial association network structure of China's transportation carbon emissions and its driving factors | Using the social network analysis method, this paper explores the characteristics of the spatial association network structure of China's provincial transportation carbon emissions from 2005 to 2015 and its driving factors. The results are as follows: (1) The spatial association of China's provincial transportation carbon emissions exhibits an intuitive network structure. The degree of closeness which were 0.2253 and 0.2333 in 2005 and 2015 respectively shows an increasing trend on the whole. However, it hit the bottom in 2011, reaching a minimum of 0.2230, which is the "low closeness degree inflection point". (2) The spatial association network presents a significant "core-edge" distribution pattern. Specifically, in the central and eastern regions of China, Henan and Jiangsu have degrees of up to 58.621 and 44.828, which are at the network center. However, some remote regions, like Jilin and Hainan, have degrees of less than 20.000, which are marginalized. (3) The geographical adjacency, the expansion of the difference in R&D investment, and the narrowing of the difference in economic development promote the formation of the interprovincial spatial association. Therefore, in the process of controlling carbon emissions from transportation, the government should focus on the provinces at the network center and pay attention to the impact of the R&D investment on the spatial association of transportation carbon emissions. |
807 | Serum Compatible Spermine-Based Cationic Lipids with Nonidentical Hydrocarbon Tails Mediate High Transfection Efficiency | Cationic lipids are widely used as nonviral synthetic vectors for gene delivery as a safer alternative to viral vectors. In this work, a library of L-shaped spermine-based cationic lipids with identical and nonidentical hydrophobic chains having variable carbon lengths (from C10 to C18) was designed and synthesized. These lipids were characterized and the structure-activity relationships of these compounds were determined for DNA binding and transfection ability when formulated as cationic liposomes. The liposomes were then used successfully for the transfection of HEK293T, HeLa, PC3, H460, HepG2, SH-SY5Y and Calu'3 cell lines. The transfection efficiency of lipids with nonidentical hydrocarbon chains was greater than the identical analogue. These reagents exhibited superior efficiency to the commercial reagent, Lipofectamine3000, under both serum-free and 10-40 % serum conditions in HEK293T, HeLa and H460 cell lines. The lipids were not toxic to the tested cell line. The results suggest that L-shaped spermine-based cationic lipids with nonidentical hydrocarbon tails could serve as efficient and safe nonviral vector gene carriers in further in vivo studies. |
808 | Life-Cycle Assessment and Monetary Measurements for the Carbon Footprint Reduction of Public Buildings | Energy consumption in public buildings increased drastically over the last decade. Significant policy actions towards the promotion of energy efficiency in the building sector have been developed involving sustainable low-CO2-emission technologies. This paper presents the results of an economic-environmental valuation of a standard energy retrofit project for a public building in a Mediterranean area, integrating a life-cycle assessment (LCA) into the traditional economic-financial evaluation pattern. The study results show that simple retrofit of sustainable low-CO2-emission strategies such as wooden double-glazed windows, organic external wall insulation systems, and green roofs can reduce energy needs for heating and cooling by 58.5% and 33.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the implementation of an LCA highlights that the use of sustainable materials reduces the building's carbon footprint index by 54.1% after retrofit compared to standard materials, thus providing an additional increase in the socio-environmental-economic-financial results of 18%. Some proposals are made about the accounting of the replacement costs and the residual value as requested in the logic of life-cycle cost (that is the economic extension of the LCA), namely concerning the method to take into account the replacement costs and the residual value. The economic calculation highlights the fundamental role played by tax benefits supporting the building energy retrofit, also in temperate climate zones, thus allowing the creation of environmental benefits in addition to remarkable cost savings. |
809 | The Associations between Family-Related Factors and Excessive Internet Use in Adolescents | This study examined the relationship between Excessive Internet Use (EIU) in adolescents and their family environment, namely the family type, the family economic status, the effect of parental care, the level of parental control, the amount of parental monitoring, the quality of communication, and the time spent together. The study was based on data from an international survey, Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC), conducted in Slovakia. The sample representative for adolescents included 2547 participants (51% boys) aged 13-15. Multiple-step linear regression revealed that higher parental care and parental monitoring predicted lower EIU, while higher parental overprotection and lower socioeconomic status predicted higher EIU. The results suggest that both so-called optimal parenting (i.e., the balance of emotional warmth and protection) and the adolescent ' s autonomy lower the risk of EIU. Family factors explained about 14% of the variance, which suggests that aside from personal, cognitive and affective factors, a close social environment also plays an important role in adolescence EIU. |
810 | Creating work environments where people of all genders in gynecologic oncology can thrive: An SGO evidence-based review | Equality, equity, and parity in the workplace are necessary to optimize patient care across all aspects of medicine. Gender-based inequities remain an obstacle to quality of care, including within the now majority women subspecialty of gynecologic oncology. The results of the 2020 SGO State of the Society Survey prompted this evidence-based review. Evidence related to relevant aspects of the clinical care model by which women with malignancies are cared for is summarized. Recommendations are made that include ways to create work environments where all members of a gynecologic oncology clinical care team, regardless of gender, can thrive. These recommendations aim to improve equality and equity within the specialty and, in doing so, elevate the care that our patients receive. |
811 | Updating the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid towards Sustainability: Focus on Environmental Concerns | Background: Nowadays the food production, supply and consumption chain represent a major cause of ecological pressure on the natural environment, and diet links worldwide human health with environmental sustainability. Food policy, dietary guidelines and food security strategies need to evolve from the limited historical approach, mainly focused on nutrients and health, to a new one considering the environmental, socio-economic and cultural impact-and thus the sustainability-of diets. Objective: To present an updated version of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid (MDP) to reflect multiple environmental concerns. Methods: We performed a revision and restructuring of the MDP to incorporate more recent findings on the sustainability and environmental impact of the Mediterranean Diet pattern, as well as its associations with nutrition and health. For each level of the MDP we provided a third dimension featuring the corresponding environmental aspects related to it. Conclusions: The new environmental dimension of the MDP enhances food intake recommendations addressing both health and environmental issues. Compared to the previous 2011 version, it emphasizes more strongly a lower consumption of red meat and bovine dairy products, and a higher consumption of legumes and locally grown eco-friendly plant foods as much as possible. |
812 | A 66-Year-Old Man With Subacute Cough and Worsening Dyspnea Previously Diagnosed With COVID-19 Pneumonia | A 66-year-old man presented with subacute cough and worsening dyspnea. Labs were notable for moderate peripheral eosinophilia, and computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated extensive crazy-paving throughout bilateral upper lung fields. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) revealed macrophages with lipid-filled vacuoles and negative periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain. Further history obtained from the patient and family was notable for daily application of commercially available vapor rub to nares and intentional deep inhalation of nebulized fluids containing scented oils. The patient was diagnosed with exogenous lipoid pneumonia through an unusual route of lipid administration. |
813 | Catatonic Episodes Related to Substance Use: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Electronic Healthcare Records | Objective: Substance use has increasingly been linked to the onset of catatonic episodes; however, no large observational studies have examined this association. This study aimed to identify catatonic episodes temporally associated with acute intoxication, withdrawal or chronic substance use, investigate which substances were involved, and compare clinical characteristics of substance-related and non-substance-related catatonic episodes. Methods: This study retrospectively identified all catatonic episodes recorded in an electronic case register hosted at a large secondary mental health trust in London, UK. Episodes were categorized as substance-related if the clinical record reported either a positive urine drug screen, an ICD-10 diagnosis of a mental or behavioral disorder due to substance use, or documented substance use between two weeks prior to the catatonic episode and the date of the catatonic episode. Results: 108 of 2130 catatonic episodes (5.1%) were deemed substance-related. The number of contemporaneously reported substance-related episodes increased between 2007 and 2016 [r = 0.72, p = 0.02]. Episodes in the context of acute intoxication (n = 54) were most frequently related to cannabis (n = 31) or cocaine (n = 5) use, whilst those in the context of drug withdrawal (n = 8) were most commonly related to alcohol, opioids and benzodiazepines. There were 50 episodes of catatonia associated with chronic substance use without intoxication or withdrawal, of which the majority were related to cannabis use (n = 37). 21 episodes had overlapping intoxication, withdrawal and chronic use of different substances within an episode. Compared to catatonic episodes not related to substance use, episodes of substance-related catatonia occurred in individuals who were younger (mean age 31.3 years [SD 12.2] vs 35.7 years [SD 16.3], p = 0.01) and more likely to be men (74.0% vs 54.3%, p < 0.001). The clinical features of catatonia were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: A relatively small proportion of catatonic episodes were temporally associated with reported substance use within their electronic records. Substance-related catatonic episodes were mostly related to cannabis use, but other substances including cocaine, alcohol, opioids and benzodiazepines were sometimes implicated. This is likely an underestimate of substance-related catatonia use due to issues with documentation and appropriate investigation. |
814 | Financial development, globalization and ecological footprint in G7: further evidence from threshold cointegration and fractional frequency causality tests | This paper empirically explores the dynamic relationships between financial development, globalization, energy consumption, economic growth, and ecological footprint in G7 countries over the period 1980-2015. Using a recently introduced threshold cointegration test with an endogenous structural break, the paper aims primarily to determine the effects of financial development and globalization on environmental degradation. The results confirm the presence of cointegration in Canada, Italy, and Japan. The long-run estimates indicate that globalization significantly reduces ecological footprint in Canada and Italy, while financial development reduces pollution in Japan. The findings also demonstrate that energy consumption stimulates environmental degradation in these three countries. Furthermore, the causality test that considers smooth structural breaks via a fractional frequency flexible Fourier function indicates that globalization causes ecological footprint in all the G7 countries except France, while financial development causes ecological footprint in France, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Finally, the overall results suggest that globalization is a more effective tool than financial development in regulating ecological footprint for G7 countries. Therefore, we recommend that policymakers should make use of the opportunities that globalization offers to solve environmental problems. |
815 | Past, present, and future of sustainable finance: insights from big data analytics through machine learning of scholarly research | Sustainable finance is a rich field of research. Yet, existing reviews remain limited due to the piecemeal insights offered through a sub-set rather than the entire corpus of sustainable finance. To address this gap, this study aims to conduct a large-scale review that would provide a state-of-the-art overview of the performance and intellectual structure of sustainable finance. To do so, this study engages in a review of sustainable finance research using big data analytics through machine learning of scholarly research. In doing so, this study unpacks the most influential articles and top contributing journals, authors, institutions, and countries, as well as the methodological choices and research contexts for sustainable finance research. In addition, this study reveals insights into seven major themes of sustainable finance research, namely socially responsible investing, climate financing, green financing, impact investing, carbon financing, energy financing, and governance of sustainable financing and investing. To drive the field forward, this study proposes several suggestions for future sustainable finance research, which include developing and diffusing innovative sustainable financing instruments, magnifying and managing the profitability and returns of sustainable financing, making sustainable finance more sustainable, devising and unifying policies and frameworks for sustainable finance, tackling greenwashing of corporate sustainability reporting in sustainable finance, shining behavioral finance on sustainable finance, and leveraging the power of new-age technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, internet of things, and machine learning for sustainable finance. |
816 | The clinical course of Rathke's cleft cysts in pediatric patients: impact on growth and pubertal development | Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) are non-neoplastic epithelial lesions in the sellar or suprasellar regions. RCCs are usually asymptomatic; however, some patients experience headaches, visual disturbances, and endocrine disorders. The best treatment for associated endocrinopathy remains elusive. We aimed to investigate the clinical course, magnetic resonance imaging findings, and response to therapy in 10 pediatric patients with RCCs and endocrinopathy. Growth impairment and precocious puberty were observed to be prevalent. One patient with suprasellar extension of RCC underwent surgery, while the others were treated medically. Of the nine patients, seven patients showed stable cyst size, while two patients displayed reduction in cyst size. Hormone replacement and gonadotropin suppression therapy were found to be effective. Imaging and endocrine follow-ups are warranted because of the potential for changes in the cyst size and hormonal changes. |
817 | Long-distance migration is a major factor driving local adaptation at continental scale in Coho salmon | Inferring the genomic basis of local adaptation is a long-standing goal of evolutionary biology. Beyond its fundamental evolutionary implications, such knowledge can guide conservation decisions for populations of conservation and management concern. Here, we investigated the genomic basis of local adaptation in the Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) across its entire North American range. We hypothesized that extensive spatial variation in environmental conditions and the species' homing behaviour may promote the establishment of local adaptation. We genotyped 7829 individuals representing 217 sampling locations at more than 100,000 high-quality RADseq loci to investigate how recombination might affect the detection of loci putatively under selection and took advantage of the precise description of the demographic history of the species from our previous work to draw accurate population genomic inferences about local adaptation. The results indicated that genetic differentiation scans and genetic-environment association analyses were both significantly affected by variation in recombination rate as low recombination regions displayed an increased number of outliers. By taking these confounding factors into consideration, we revealed that migration distance was the primary selective factor driving local adaptation and partial parallel divergence among distant populations. Moreover, we identified several candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with long-distance migration and altitude including a gene known to be involved in adaptation to altitude in other species. The evolutionary implications of our findings are discussed along with conservation applications. |
818 | Primary salivary acinar cell carcinoma of the parotid gland with parietal skull metastasis: A case report | Acinar cell carcinoma of the salivary gland (AciCC) is a rare low-grade epithelial malignant tumor of the salivary gland. The primary site of the disease is often in the parotid gland, followed by the submandibular gland and small salivary gland. In the early stage of the disease, there are no obvious symptoms, most of which are slow enlargement of the mass, accompanied by local pain or discomfort, or facial paralysis involving the facial nerve. Although the disease is a low-grade malignant tumor, it is invasive to a certain extent and prone to recurrence and metastasis. The metastasis sites are usually liver, lung, stomach and other visceral organs, while the metastasis of brain and skull is rarely reported by other authors. This paper reports a case of skull tumors, unlike other skull tumors, the patients had typical clinical manifestations and imaging findings are not ideal at the same time, considering the history of patients with parotid gland tumor, in the process of diagnosis for us to produce a large disturbance, single-shot, due to the lesions in the exclusion of the patients with other diseases, we decided to surgery was performed in patients with the treatment, The patient's condition improved after surgical treatment and was diagnosed as salivary adenocarcinoma with skull metastasis by pathology. This article summarizes the diagnosis and treatment of the patient, and summarizes some of the author's treatment experience, in order to increase the understanding of the disease, improve the accuracy of diagnosis, and accumulate relevant clinical experience. |
819 | Re-examining the environmental kuznets curve hypothesis in the economic community of West African states: A panel quantile regression approach | This study investigates the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis for six West African countries over 1970-2017 while using human capital and biocapacity as additional determinants of carbon emissions. It uses the panel quantile regression method that provides robust results in case the classical econometric assumptions fail. The empirical results revealed that a U-shaped relationship between economic growth and Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions holds in the low, middle and high-emissions countries as opposed to the inverted U-shaped EKC hypothesis. Trade openness reduces environmental performance in low-emission countries. Financial development has mixed impacts on CO2 emissions across the quantiles. While financial development enhances environmental quality in the low-emissions countries, it exerts a detrimental impact in the middle and high-emissions countries. Human capital has significantly positive effects on the lower, middle and upper quantiles. The obtained results highlight the need for raising environmental awareness and promoting green R&D. In addition, relevant incentives are required to redirect private credits towards green projects and renewable energy development. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
820 | Cell Adhesion and Migration on Thickness Gradient Bilayer Polymer Brush Surfaces: Effects of Properties of Polymeric Materials of the Underlayer | In the field of tissue engineering and biomaterials, controlling the surface properties and mechanical properties of scaffold materials is crucial and has attracted much attention. Here, two types of bilayer polymer brushes composed of a hydrophilic underlying layer and a cationic surface layer [made of poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate)] with a thickness gradient were prepared by surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization. To investigate the influence of the stiffness as a mechanical property of the polymer brush on cell behavior, the underlayer was prepared from either 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine or oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, with the bilayers designated as gradient poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine)-block-poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate) [grad-pMbA] and gradient poly(oligo[ethylene glycol] methyl ether methacrylate)-block-poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate) [grad-pEGbA], respectively. Characterization of these surfaces was performed by spectroscopic ellipsometry, X-ray reflectivity, and determination of the zeta potential, static contact angle, and force curve. These diblock copolymer brushes with a thickness gradient helped to distinguish the effects of the mechanical and surface properties of the brushes on cell behavior. The attachment and motility of L929 fibroblasts and epithelial MCF 10A cells on the fabricated brushes were then assessed. L929 cells had a round shape on the thin surface layer of grad-pMbA and spread well on thicker areas. In contrast, MCF 10A cells spread well in areas of any thickness of either grad-pMbA or grad-pEGbA. Single MCF 10A cells migrated randomly on grad-pMbA, whereas grouped cells started to climb up along the thickness gradient of grad-pMbA. In contrast, both single and grouped MCF 10A cells migrated randomly on grad-pEGbA. These thickness gradient diblock copolymer brushes are simple, reproducible, and reasonable platforms that can facilitate practical applications of biomaterials, for example, in tissue engineering and biomaterials. |
821 | Are BRICS countries pollution havens? Evidence from a bootstrap ARDL bounds testing approach with a Fourier function | The goal of this paper to determine whether the effect of foreign direct investment inflows on the environment is pollutive or pollution-reducing for BRICS countries-Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa-using annual data for the period 1982-2014. For that purpose, this study examines the long-run impact of FDI inflow and energy use on ecological footprint and its components-crop land, grazing land, forest land, fishing ground, built-up land, and carbon footprint-by introducing and utilizing the bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag model with a Fourier function (FARDL) for cointegration. The findings demonstrate that although the effect of FDI inflows on the footprints is mixed in Brazil and Russia, it is positive on environmental degradation regarding ecological footprint and carbon footprint in India. Furthermore, it is found that FDI inflows increase environmental quality in China for cropland and grazing land footprints and in South Africa for crop land, grazing land, fishing ground, and built-up footprints. Furthermore, the long-run effect of energy consumption is mostly pollutive for BRICS countries. |
822 | Compatibility of Achyranthes bidentata components in reducing inflammatory response through Arachidonic acid pathway for treatment of Osteoarthritis | Achyranthes bidentate is a common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used in treating osteoarthritis (OA). The compatibility between effective components has now become a breakthrough in understanding the mechanism of TCM. This study aimed at determining the optimal compatibility and possible mechanism of Achyranthes bidentate for OA treatment. Results showed that the adhesion score of the OA group is higher than NC group, and showed a trend of down-regulation in the intervention group. The CHI3L1 and IL-1β in joint fluid of the OA group was significantly increased compared to the sham operation group (NC group). Group G, I, and L exhibited significantly down-regulated CHI3L1, while groups C, F, I, K, and L exhibited reduced IL-1β. Joint adhesion, damage in cartilage, and synovial tissue was found in the OA model, cartilage tissue was found recovered in groups I, J, and L, and synovial tissue was recovered in group G, I, and L. Thus, group I and L were chosen for metabolite analysis, and indole-3-propionic acid was slightly up-regulated, while koeiginequinone A, prostaglandin H2, and 1-hydroxy-3-methoxy-10-methylacridonew were down-regulated in group I and L. According to functional analysis, the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolic pathway is enriched. Down-regulated expression of vital proteins in the AA metabolism pathway, such as PGE2 and COX2 in group I and L were verified. In conclusion, Hydroxyecdysone, Oleanolic acid, Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide at a compatibility of 0.03-μg/mg, 2.0-μg/mg, 20.0-μg/mg or 0.03-μg/mg, 2.0-μg/mg, 10.0-μg/mg, respectively, may be the optimal compatibility of Achyranthes bidentate. |
823 | Distributed Event-Triggered Secondary Control for Economic Dispatch and Frequency Restoration Control of Droop-Controlled AC Microgrids | With the increasing integration of renewable and sustainable energy in microgrids, the prediction errors of these energy resources may degrade the economic efficiency of a microgrid because there is a time-scale gap between the large time-scale economic dispatch and the small time-scale frequency restoration control. In this paper, a distributed event-triggered secondary control method is proposed to deal with the economic dispatch and frequency restoration control for droop-controlled AC microgrids. The proposed control strategy can ensure economic dispatch and frequency restoration control at the same time, which reduces the operation cost of AC microgrids by bridging the time-scale gap between them. Furthermore, a simple event-triggered condition is designed to implement the proposed event-triggered secondary control, which only requires the communication between the neighboring agents when a significant change of state in the microgrid occurs, which is easy to implement and can reduce the communication burden. |
824 | Effects of environmental conditions on the emission and odor-active compounds from Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr | Being one of the most common wood in furniture and decoration, Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. (F. mandshurica) is a frequently used material for wood products. However, the resulting odor problem has not yet been solved so far. Thus, this study focused on exploring odor-active compounds and investigating the effect of environmental conditions on emission and odor attributes. F. mandshurica was studied via TD-GC-MS/O combined with microchamber. Totally, 15 kinds of key odor-active compounds were detected from F. mandshurica. The main odorous components were found to be aromatics, aldehydes and ketones, esters, alcohols and acids. Six kinds of attributes played a key role in the overall odor character of F. mandshurica. Fragrant was the predominant odor impressions, followed by vinegar and antiseptic solution. The proportion of the odor-active compounds concentration to total concentration decreased with an increase in the temperature and relative humidity, while the ratio of air exchange rate to the loading factor had little effect on this. The total concentration of F. mandshurica increased as the temperature and relative humidity increased, but these decreased as the ratio of air exchange rate to the loading factor increased, while the total odor intensity reduced with the rise in the ratio of air exchange rate to the loading factor. Time was found to be the most effective factor for eliminating emissions. Considering the environmental conditions in this study, 40 °C, 60% relative humidity and a 1.0 m3·m-2 h-1 ratio of air exchange rate to loading factor are recommended to accelerate the emission of F. mandshurica. The optimum condition was found to be higher temperature, higher relative humidity and higher ratio of air exchange rate to loading factor. |
825 | The effect of consuming different proportions of hummer fish on biochemical and histopathological changes of hyperglycemic rats | Hammour fish (grouper fish) are known to be of great nutritional value for human consumption, as their protein has a high biological value and contains all the essential amino acids. Grouper fish are also a good source of minerals, vitamins, and fats that contain essential fatty acids. Thus, the current study aims to know the effect of different proportion of hummer fish on biochemical and histopathological changes of hyperglycemic rats. Twenty-four (24) Sprague Dawley-strain male albino rats, which weighed 150 ± 10 g, were divided into four groups. One group served as the negative control (normal), while the others were rendered diabetic using alloxan. One of the diabetic groups was considered the positive control and fed a standard diet, whereas the remaining two groups were fed with a 20% and 25% hammour fish diet for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken from all the rats, and their organs were removed and subjected to biochemical analysis. The results indicated that the group fed with the 25% hammour fish diet exhibited significantly lower levels of liver, kidney, and heart damage, along with lower levels of serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, GOT, GPT and ALP, as compared to the positive control. The urea and creatinine levels were significantly higher for the rats that were fed the 20% hammour fish diet than for those in the positive control. The histopathological study of the heart showed a slight improvement of the heart tissues with the increase of hammour fish intake compare to the positive control, while kidney of rat from group 4, which were fed 25% hammour fish, showed granularity of epithelial lining glomerular tufts. |
826 | Water quality and probabilistic non-carcinogenic health risk of groundwater: a half decadal scenario change in Vadodara | Groundwater is essential to secure the safety of water supply in Vadodara, Gujarat. In this study, groundwater samples were collected from various part of the city which separated in 12 wards. The present study contains analyses of 720 groundwater samples gathered from various tube and open wells and analyzed for fluoride and other physicochemical parameters during 2014 and 2019. The results indicated that fluoride and TDS were high and the overall water quality was poor in the study area. Gastrointestinal and other health-related issues increased due to higher TDS in east, north and northeast regions. Likewise, hierarchical cluster analysis also indicated that TDS and chloride-rich water. Fluoride concentration was observed in the range of 0.66-1.61 mg/l (2014) and 0.86-1.77 mg/l (2019) which indicates that 62% samples are unfit for drinking purpose, which could cause dental and skeletal fluorosis. The water quality index (WQI) indicated lack of excellent water in the studied area in the last half-decade. As per WQI calculation suggest that 82.12% (2014) and 69.00% (2019) of groundwater samples represent poor, very poor and unsuitable categories, whereas remaining 17.85% (2014) and 31.00% (2019) of the samples represent good category for drinking purposes in entire Vadodara, Gujarat. Marginal improvement in the groundwater quality is reported due to good rainfall in 2019. Health risks associated with high fluoride drinking water were assessed for various age groups of inhabitants such as children, infants and adults. The non-carcinogenic hazard quotient estimated by oral intake was 1.38-3.36 (2014) and 1.79-3.70 (2019) for infants; 0.69-1.68 (2014) and 0.90-1.85 (2019) for children, whereas 0.07-0.18 (2014) and 0.10-0.20 (2019) for adults. Therefore, infant and children are relatively at higher health risk due to the intake of fluoride-rich drinking water than adult in the studied region. Both indices were indicated contaminated water or closer to contamination which induced non-carcinogenic health risk on citizens. Thus, the comprehensive results of present study can be used as a baseline data and valuable tool for government authorities for long-term monitoring, health monitoring and sustainable development of Vadodara, Gujarat. |
827 | Analysis of Pharmacist Interventions in Adult COVID-19 Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital | Background: Pharmacists are integral members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team who, with their skills, knowledge, and training, are well positioned to prevent, identify, and manage medication-related issues. Many published articles related to COVID-19 management have highlighted the important role of the pharmacists in assuring the safe, effective, and cost-effective use of medications. During such challenging times of COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in a high demand on medical resources and healthcare providers, pharmacists are well positioned to contribute and add more efforts to the healthcare system to achieve best use of the available resources including medications and providing high quality pharmaceutical care to help the patients and support the healthcare providers. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review included all admitted adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis from 1 March 2020 till 30 June 2020. The documented clinical pharmacist interventions were extracted from the EMR and reviewed by multiple clinical pharmacists to identify type, number, frequency, outcome, and physician's acceptance rate of documented interventions. Results: A total of 484 pharmacist interventions included in the final analysis. Antimicrobial stewardship interventions were the most reported (149, 30.8%) and antibiotics were the most reported class of medication, constituting 31.1% of the total interventions. "Optimized therapy" was the most commonly reported outcome (58.8%). Overall, 50.8% (246) of the interventions were rated as having "moderate" clinical significance using the clinical significance scoring tool. The physicians' acceptance rate was 94.7%. Conclusion: Pharmacist interventions are associated with improved communication and medication use in admitted adult patients with COVID-19. Clinical pharmacists can play a crucial role in optimizing medication use in patients with COVID-19 through prevention, identification, and resolving existing or potential drug-related problems. |
828 | Long-run system value of battery energy storage in future grids with increasing wind and solar generation | With declining costs of battery storage, there is growing interest to deploy them in power systems to provide multiple grid services that directly support integration of variable renewable energy (VRE) generation. Here, we assess the holistic system value of energy storage in future grids with increasing wind and solar generation. We also identify the major sources of storage value and their dynamics under different system settings and at increasing storage and wind and solar penetration levels. We use a high temporal resolution capacity expansion model to study least-cost integration of storage in two variants of an abstract power system that is populated with load and VRE profiles consistent with the U.S. Northeast (North) and Texas (South) regions. For both systems, storage value originates primarily from deferring investments in generation capacity (VRE, natural gas) and transmission, and generally declines with increasing storage penetration. Increasing VRE penetration from 40% to 60% increases the value of storage, but only enough to make storage capacity up to 4% of peak demand cost-effective at current Lithium-ion capital costs. With future capital costs of $150/kWh for 4 h duration storage, the cost-effective storage penetration ranges between 4% and 16% of peak demand across the system scenarios studied here. Storage substitution of natural gas capacity is dependent on the VRE resource mix and penetration level, but is less than 1 GW per GW of storage added for the durations (2, 4 or 8 h) considered here. Increasing storage duration increases storage value in some cases, but this increase in value may be insufficient to compensate for the increase in capital cost per kW even under the future cost scenario. |
829 | Associations between sociodemographic factors, health spending, disease burden, and life expectancy of older adults (70 + years old) in 22 countries in the Western Pacific Region, 1995-2019: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 | The needs of the aging populations are putting increasing burden on healthcare particularly in the Western Pacific Region (WPR), which is the home of aging economies such as Hong Kong and Japan alongside rapid increases in older people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, little is known about the associations between sociodemographic factors, disease burden, and life expectancy in WPR. The current study conducted secondary analysis on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) estimates of populations aged 70 years and older in WPR countries between 1995 and 2019. Correlation tests, linear mixed regressions and generalized additive mixture models were run to examine the associations of interest. Unsupervised machine learning was conducted to segment the data automatically, at cluster analysis. The sociodemographic development index was found an important factor to the disease burden in terms of Years Lived with Disability (YLD) rate and mortality rate among older adults. YLD rate and mortality rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to different risk groups were significant contributors to higher expectation of Lost Healthy Years (LHE) and shorter life expectancy respectively in the context of rising YLD rate, particularly in LMICs. Three clusters of countries with similar characteristics were identified. NCDs were the most significant contributors to shorter life expectancy within which the time living in poor health did not improve. Better management of NCDs in aging populations should be emphasized in all countries. The country clusters may help in a more regional strategic planning. |
830 | High Energy Density in Combination with High Cycling Stability in Hybrid Supercapacitors | Hybrid supercapacitors are considered the next-generation energy storage equipment due to their superior performance. In hybrid supercapacitors, battery electrodes need to have large absolute capacities while displaying high cycling stability. However, enhancing areal capacity via decreasing the size of electrode materials results in reductions in cycling stability. To balance the capacity-stability trade-off, rationally designed proper electrode structures are in urgent need and still of great challenge. Here we report a high-capacity and high cycling stability electrode material by developing a nickel phosphate lamination structure with ultrathin nanosheets as building blocks. The nickel phosphate lamination electrode material exhibits a large specific capacity of 473.9 C g-1 (131.6 mAh g-1, 1053 F g-1) at 2.0 A g-1 and only about 21% capacity loss at 15 A g-1 (375 C g-1, 104.2 mAh g-1, 833.3 F g-1) in 6.0 M KOH. Furthermore, hybrid supercapacitors are constructed with nickel phosphate lamination and activated carbon (AC), possessing high energy density (42.1 Wh kg-1 at 160 W kg-1) as well as long cycle life (almost 100% capacity retention after 1000 cycles and 94% retention after 8000 cycles). The electrochemical performance of the nickel phosphate lamination structure not only is commensurate with the nanostructure or ultrathin materials carefully designed in supercapacitors but also has a longer cycling lifespan than them. The encouraging results show the great potential of this material for energy storage device applications. |
831 | Testing validity of the EKC hypothesis in South Korea: role of renewable energy and trade openness | This paper investigates the dynamic short-term and long-term relationships among per capita GDP, per capita energy consumption, per capita renewable energy consumption, trade openness, and per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions within the framework of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for Korea from 1971 to 2017. According to the empirical findings of the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing procedure, although increases in per capita GDP and per capita energy consumption increase per capita CO2 emissions, per capita renewable energy consumption and trade openness decrease per capita CO2 emissions. Furthermore, according to the empirical results, an N-shaped relationship has been identified between per capita CO2 emissions and per capita GDP. This indicates that our empirical findings do not support the EKC hypothesis in Korea. Thus, economic growth alone is not sufficient to address environmental pollution; in response, active environmentally friendly policies should be implemented, and the energy matrix should be transformed in favor of renewable energy in Korea. |
832 | Large scale tropical deforestation drives extreme warming | Accelerating deforestation rates in Earth's tropical rainforests have dramatic impacts on local public health, agricultural productivity, and global climate change. We used satellite observations to quantify the local temperature changes in deforested patches of rainforests across the tropics and found local warming larger than that predicted from more than a century of climate change under a worst-case emissions scenario. We show that the most extreme warming is typically found in large patches of deforestation; the combined effects of deforestation and climate change on tropical temperatures present a uniquely difficult challenge to the long term public health, occupational safety, and economic security of tropical populations. |
833 | Heterogeneous dependence between crude oil price volatility and China's agriculture commodity futures: Evidence from quantile-on-quantile regression | This paper investigates volatility dependence between global crude oil and China's agriculture futures by employing a quantile-on-quantile approach. The time-varying parameter stochastic volatility in mean model is used to evaluate the conditional volatility. The empirical results demonstrate the heterogeneous dependence between crude oil volatility and volatility in China's agricultural futures across quantiles. The absolute volatility spillover exhibits an overall increasing trend with higher quantiles of agricultural volatility, and the volatility dependence is asymmetric across violent/stable market situations. Moreover, extremely high or low quantiles of oil volatility exert a considerable influence, while crude oil volatility does not influence the agricultural volatility in the normal mode of the crude oil market. Furthermore, a high persistence is noted in the volatility dynamics, and the impacts of volatility on the returns exhibit substantial time variation. These findings could have important economic implications for portfolio managers and policymakers in different economic and financial circumstances. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
834 | How to achieve a win-win situation between economic growth and carbon emission reduction: empirical evidence from the perspective of industrial structure upgrading | Over the past 40 years since China's reform and opening up, the industrial structure has undergone tremendous changes. The rapid development of the economy has been accompanied by a surge in carbon emissions. How to achieve a win-win situation for economic growth and carbon emissions reduction has aroused widespread concern from all sectors of society. Here, this paper discusses the dynamic relationship of industrial structure upgrading, economic growth, and carbon emission reduction. Results show that there is a long-term equilibrium relationship among industrial structure upgrading, economic growth, and carbon emissions. In the short term, when the three variables deviate from the long-term equilibrium state, the non-equilibrium state will be pulled back to equilibrium with the adjustment strength of - 0.0633, - 0.0097, and 0.0013. Carbon emission reduction promotes industrial structure upgrading. Industrial structure upgrading has a greater positive impact on economic growth. Industrial structure upgrading and economic growth have a negative impact on carbon emissions, thereby promoting emission reduction. And at the 10% significance level, there is a one-way Granger causality from carbon emissions to industrial structure upgrading, economic growth can cause one-way changes in carbon emissions, and industrial structure upgrading is a one-way Granger cause of economic growth. Finally, several carbon emission reduction policies are proposed promote industrial restructuring and sustainable economic development. |
835 | Study the Effect of P. minor Seaweed Crude Extract as a Biostimulant on Soybean | <b>Background and Objective:</b> Seaweed biostimulants are often used in agriculture because of their benefits in increasing growth, production and quality of plants and are safe for the environment. <i>Padina minor</i> is one of the potential seaweeds that contains high macro and micronutrients and has also been shown to increase the vegetative growth of several plants. This study aims to determine the effect of <i>P. minor</i> seaweed extract in various concentrations and frequencies as a biostimulant on the growth and production of soybean plants. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> <i>Padina minor</i> extract was applied to soybean plants with several concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%) at three different application times. Where 1 application (2 weeks after planting), 2 applications (2 and 4 weeks after planting) and 3 applications (2, 4 and 5 weeks after planting). <b>Results:</b> <i>Padina minor</i> extract with a concentration of 40% with 1 application was able to increase plant height and shorten soybean harvest life. While the <i>P. minor</i> extract with a concentration of 40% with two and three applications was able to increase the gross and dry weight of plants, the number of pods, gross and dry mass of whole seeds. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Padina minor</i> seaweed extract with a concentration of 40% was able to increase the growth and production of soybean plants. |
836 | Interface Defect Detection and Identification of Triboelectric Nanogenerators via Voltage Waveforms and Artificial Neural Network | To provide a robust working environment for TENGs, most TENGs are designed as sealed structures that isolate TENGs from the external environment, and thus their operating conditions cannot be directly monitored. Here, for the first time, we propose an artificial neural network for interface defect detection and identification of triboelectric nanogenerators via training voltage waveforms. First, interface defects of TENGs are classified and their causes are discussed in detail. Then we build a lightweight artificial neural network model which shows high sensitivity to voltage waveforms and low time complexity. The model takes 2.1 s for training one epoch, and the recognition rate of defect detection is 98.9% after 100 epochs. Meanwhile, the model successfully demonstrates the learning ability for low-resolution samples (100 × 75 pixels), which can identify six types of TENG defects, such as edge fracture, adhesion, and abnormal vibration, with a high recognition rate of 93.6%. This work provides a new strategy for the fault diagnosis and intelligent application of TENGs. |
837 | Sustainable energy transition readiness: A multicriteria assessment index | With climate change mainly originating from the extensive use of fossil fuels and having impacts on many aspects of life, changing the way energy is utilised constitutes a challenge that the world collectively must tackle. In this respect, all countries should implement a variety of measures focusing on energy efficiency and use of sustainable energy sources towards decarbonising their economies and achieving effective greenhouse gas emission reductions and sustainable development. Technological innovations, economic growth, societal compliance, and the regulatory and institutional frameworks constitute prominent factors that could promote, hinder or shape energy transitions as well as indicate the capacity of energy systems to be transformed. Therefore, investigating energy transitions and the extent to which countries are prepared to carry out such transitions requires the consideration of insights into multiple dimensions. This study outlines a multicriteria analysis framework to assess a country's sustainable energy transition readiness level, drawing from four pillars-social, political/regulatory, economic and technological-comprising a consistent set of eight evaluation criteria. The proposed decision analysis framework builds on the PROMETHEE II and AHP methods. Fourteen countries of different profile and level of progress towards sustainable development are evaluated and ranked, in an effort to highlight areas for improvement, and to support policymakers in designing appropriate pathways towards a greener economy. |
838 | The Combined Effects of Propionic Acid and a Mixture of Bacillus spp. Probiotic in a Plant Protein-Rich Diet on Growth, Digestive Enzyme Activities, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immune-Related Genes mRNA Transcript Abundance in Lates calcarifer Fry | A 7-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of propionic acid (PA, 5 or 10 g/kg) and a multi-strain Bacillus spp. (Bacillus subtilis IS02 (accession no. JN856456) and B. licheniformis IBRC-M 11,319) (1.7 × 107 CFU/g) probiotic in a plant protein source (PP)-rich diet (∼70% of dietary protein derived from PP sources) on performance of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) fry (initial body weight 2.97 ± 0.11 g). In this regard, six isoproteic (∼48%) diets were formulated as follows: a control (without supplementation of the additives); probiotic (only contained Bacillus spp. mixture); 5 g PA/kg diet; 10 g PA/kg diet; probiotic + 5 g PA/kg diet, and probiotic + 10 g PA/kg diet. Specific growth rate in fish fed with 10 g PA/kg (2.84 ± 0.1%) and diets contained blends of probiotic and PA (2.76 ± 0.19% in probiotic + 5 g PA, and 2.79 ± 0.04% in probiotic + 10 g PA) was better than in the control (2.45 ± 0.1%) (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio in fish fed with 10 g PA/kg (0.92 ± 0.12) and diets contained blends of probiotic and PA (0.94 ± 0.06 in probiotic + 5 g PA and 0.91 ± 0.02 in probiotic + 10 g PA) was better than in the control (1.24 ± 0.08) (P < 0.05). Digestive enzymes including α-amylase, total alkaline proteases, and bile salt dependent lipase activities improved in fish fed diets contained additives. The activity of glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione reductase enhanced in the liver of fish fed diets contained additives. The relative abundance of lysozyme, interleukin 1β, and insulin-like growth factor-1 genes mRNA transcript showed multifold increase in the liver of fish fed with the 10 g PA/kg and diets contained blends of probiotic and PA (P < 0.05). By considering the above mentioned results, supplementing a PP-rich diet with 10 g PA/kg diet or combination of PA and a mixture of Bacillus spp. probiotic recommended for L. calcarifer. |
839 | Type III cutaneous atypical meningioma of the scalp | Meningiomas occur rarely in extracranial sites, including the skin, where they may pose a diagnostic challenge because of their histopathologic overlap with several other spindle-cell tumors. Cutaneous meningiomas are divided into type I (congenital), type II (ectopic), and type III (via direct extension) lesions. We present a rare case of atypical meningioma of the skin in a 71-year-old woman who presented with a painful and enlarging lesion on the left central frontal scalp. Biopsy showed bone and soft tissue with involvement of a spindle cell neoplasm, consisting of whorled nests with atypical features, including variably increased mitotic index, areas of hypercellularity, and sheeted architecture. The overall findings were consistent with an atypical meningioma (World Health Organization grade 2). Atypical meningiomas constitute only 5% to 15% of all meningiomas. Magnetic resonance imaging of the skull later demonstrated a left frontal tumor consistent with an atypical meningioma that had eroded through the skull. Dermatopathologists should consider cutaneous meningioma as a differential diagnosis of spindle-cell neoplasms of the skin and subcutaneous tissue in head and neck. |
840 | Feasibility assessment of the carbon emissions peak in China's construction industry: Factor decomposition and peak forecast | The carbon emissions from the construction industry have a significant impact on China's ability to successfully achieve its 2030 carbon peak target. The paper reports the feasibility of carbon peaks in China's construction industry based on two perspectives of factor decomposition and peak prediction. First, the Generalized Dividing Index Method factorizes the carbon emissions of China's construction industry from 2001 to 2017, and quantifies the contribution rate of each influent factor. Second, a baseline scenario, a low-carbon energy-saving scenario, and a technology breakthrough scenario are constructed. The carbon peaks of the China's construction industry in the three scenarios are then predicted for 2018-2045. The results are as follows: Firstly, GDP has the highest cumulative contribution rate to China's construction industry carbon emissions, and labor productivity and the output carbon intensity have a depressing effect on carbon emissions in that industry. The contribution rate of energy consumption to carbon emissions is always positive and grows year by year, whereas the energy intensity and carbon intensity of energy consumption have great potential for reducing carbon emissions in the future. The number of laborers and the per capita carbon emissions of the construction industry, the total labor force in each industry, and the proportion of the labor force in the construction industry have contributed to the carbon emissions of the construction industry. Second, under the baseline scenario, China's construction industry achieves carbon peaks in 2045, with a peak of 50,935,390 tons. Under the low-carbon energy-saving scenario, the carbon peak of the construction industry occurs in 2030, with a peak value of 31,685,580 tons. Under the technological breakthrough scenario, the carbon peak time of the construction industry is the earliest (2020), and the peak value is the lowest (29,008,400 tons). This study has important implications for the carbon peaks at the national macro level. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
841 | MiR-192-5p-Modified Tumor-Associated Macrophages-Derived Exosome Suppressed Endometrial Cancer Progression Through Targeting IRAK1/NF-κB Signaling | Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a major regulator in the development of endometrial cancer (EC). It was indicated that TAMs could crosstalk with cancer cells via transferring exosomes which carrying microRNAs (miRNAs). Firstly, we found that TAMs could promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of EC cells and inhibit its apoptosis. Next, we further found that TAMs regulated the EMT and apoptosis of EC cells through transferring exosomes into EC cells. Then, lowly expressed miR-192-5p in TAMs-derived exosomes was proved. Moreover, our data demonstrated that upregulation of miR-192-5p in TAMs-derived exosomes could significantly promote the apoptosis of EC cells and impede its EMT. IRAK1 was proved to be a downstream target of miR-192-5p. Importantly, we indicated that miR-192-5p-overexpressed TAMs-derived exosomes regulated the EC cells apoptosis and EMT through inhibiting IRAK1/NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, we also revealed that overexpression of miR-192-5p in TAMs-derived exosomes obviously limits the growth of tumors. Overall, in TAMs-derived exosomes, our data demonstrated that overexpression of miR-192-5p could effectively suppress the progression of EC. Our data provid a new target for EC treatment. |
842 | A Modular Synthesis of Substituted Cycloparaphenylenes | Herein, we report a modular synthesis providing access to substituted cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) of different sizes. A key synthon introducing two geminal ester units was efficiently prepared by [2+2+2] cycloaddition. This building block can be conveniently converted to macrocyclic precursors controlling the ring size of the final CPP. Efficient reductive aromatization through single-electron transfer provided the substituted nanohoops in a straightforward manner. The tBu ester substitution pattern enables a tube-like arrangement in the solid-state governed by van der Waals interactions that exhibits one of the tightest packings of CPPs in tube direction, thus opening new avenues in the crystal design of CPPs. |
843 | Fungicidal synergistic effect of biogenically synthesized zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles against Alternaria citri causing citrus black rot disease | Citrus black rot disease being caused by Alternaria citri is a major disease of citrus plants with 30-35% economic loss annually. Fungicides had not been effective in the control of this disease during last few decades. In the present study, antifungal role of green synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) were studied against Alternaria citri. Alternaria citri was isolated from disease fruits samples and was identified by staining with lacto phenol cotton blue. Furthermore, CuO and ZnO NPs were synthesized by utilizing the lemon peels extract as the reducing and capping agent. Nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. From the XRD data, the calculated size of CuO NPs was to be 18 nm and ZnO NPs was16.8 nm using Scherrer equation. The SEM analyses revealed the surface morphology of all the metal oxide NPs synthesized were rounded, elongated and or spherical in the shape. The zone of inhibition was observed to be 50 ± 0.5 mm by CuO NPs, followed by 51.5 ± 0.5 mm by ZnO NPs and maximum zone of antifungal inhibition was observed to be 53 ± 0.6 mm by mix metal oxide NPs. The results of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the synthesized nanoparticles showed that at the certain concentrations (80 mg ml-1), these NPs were capable of inhibiting the fungal growth, whereas above that specified concentrations (100 mg ml-1), NPs completely inhibited the fungal growth. Based on these findings, the green synthesized NPs can be used as alternative to fungicide in order to control the citrus black rot disease. |
844 | Iodinated cyanine dye-based nanosystem for synergistic phototherapy and hypoxia-activated bioreductive therapy | Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been applied in cancer treatment by utilizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill cancer cells. However, the effectiveness of PDT is greatly reduced due to local hypoxia. Hypoxic activated chemotherapy combined with PDT is expected to be a novel strategy to enhance anti-cancer therapy. Herein, a novel liposome (LCT) incorporated with photosensitizer (PS) and bioreductive prodrugs was developed for PDT-activated chemotherapy. In the design, CyI, an iodinated cyanine dye, which could simultaneously generate enhanced ROS and heat than other commonly used cyanine dyes, was loaded into the lipid bilayer; while tirapazamine (TPZ), a hypoxia-activated prodrug was encapsulated in the hydrophilic nucleus. Upon appropriate near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, CyI could simultaneously produce ROS and heat for synergistic PDT and photothermal therapy (PTT), as well as provide fluorescence signals for precise real-time imaging. Meanwhile, the continuous consumption of oxygen would result in a hypoxia microenvironment, further activating TPZ free radicals for chemotherapy, which could induce DNA double-strand breakage and chromosome aberration. Moreover, the prepared LCT could stimulate acute immune response through PDT activation, leading to synergistic PDT/PTT/chemo/immunotherapy to kill cancer cells and reduce tumor metastasis. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated improved anticancer efficacy of LCT compared with traditional PDT or chemotherapy. It is expected that these iodinated cyanine dyes-based liposomes will provide a powerful and versatile theranostic strategy for tumor target phototherapy and PDT-induced chemotherapy. |
845 | Association of atopic dermatitis with delinquent behaviors in US children and adolescents | Childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with chronic itch, pain and sleep disturbance, which may predispose children to high-risk behaviors in their school and home environments. We examined the association between AD and delinquent/high-risk behaviors in children and adolescents. Data were analyzed from The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a longitudinal birth cohort study consisting of 4898 children born in urban cities between 1998 and 2000. A 1-year history of AD was associated with ≥ 75th percentile of mean delinquent behavior scores at age 9 (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) [95% confidence interval] 1.39 [1.14-1.68]), but not age 15 (1.05 [0.86-1.29]). At age 9, a 1-year history of AD was associated with a higher number of delinquent behaviors (adjusted risk ratio [95% CI] 1.12 [1.03-1.23]). AD at ages 5 (aOR [95%CI] 1.31 [1.04-1.64]) and 9 (1.38 [1.14-1.67]) was associated with the highest quartile of mean delinquent behavior scores at ages 9 or 15. Children with AD persisting at multiple age groups had significantly increased odds of ≥ 75th percentile of mean delinquent behavior scores at age 15 (aOR [95%CI] 1.41 [1.09-1.81]). AD was found to be associated with the following delinquent problems: damaging property (aOR [95%CI] 1.38 [1.08-1.77]), cheating on a test (1.62 [1.17-2.26]), fist fight involvement (1.47 [1.21-1.79]) and school suspension (1.36 [1.08-1.71]). This study suggests that childhood AD may precede the onset of delinquent and high-risk behaviors later in childhood and adolescence. |
846 | A GIS-based novel approach for suitable sanitary landfill site selection using integrated fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and machine learning algorithms | Disposal of waste without treatment is the least preferable way of sustainable solid waste management (SWM). But most cities in developing nations still use open dumps, causing negative impacts on the environment and human health. This study offered a novel approach for selecting landfill sites and sustainable SWM in Aligarh city, India. This was done through data collection, selecting models for criterion weighting, and validation. In order to prepare a landfill site suitability map, a geographic information system (GIS)-based ensemble fuzzy analytic hierarchy process-support vector machine (FAHP-SVM) and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process-random forest (FAHP-RF) models were implemented. Considering the previous studies and the study area characteristics, eighteen thematic layers were selected. The result revealed that land value; distance from residential roads, hospitals and clinics, and waste bins; and normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) have a fuzzy weight greater than 0.10, indicating significant factors. In contrast, land elevation, land slope, surface temperature, soil moisture index, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and urban classification have a zero fuzzy weight, indicating these criteria have no importance. The result further revealed that FAHP-RF with an area under curve (AUC) value of 0.91 is the more accurate model than FAHP-SVM. According to the final weight-based overlay result, seven potential landfill sites were identified, out of which three were determined as most suitable by considering current land cover, public opinions, and environmental and economic concerns. This research proposed a zonal division model based on landfill sites location for sustainable SWM in Aligarh city. However, the findings may provide a guideline to the decision-makers and planners for optimal landfill site selection in other cities of developing countries. |
847 | Evaluation of the efficiency and sustainability of timber-based construction | This research is focused on the much-debated issues regarding the low degree of efficiency and sustainability in the construction industry. The objective of this work is to present an evaluation of the efficiency and sustainability of buildings, and to determine, based on analyses of socio-economic research and theoretical assumptions, the degree of efficiency of modern methods of construction based on wood. The socio-economic research relies on the reports of users of completed constructions, which allowed a comparison of efficiency as perceived by users with efficiency as declared by manufacturers. The analysed constructions and the opinions of their users were identified in cooperation with various organizations operating in the wood-based construction sector and using databases of buildings already in use. A total of 160 constructions were analysed along with the opinions of their users. This comparison of the efficiency of construction systems in terms of selected sustainability parameters suggests that wood-based panel constructions constructed by a supplier company have the highest degree of efficiency. Constructions completed using a combined construction method are the least efficient (a combination of completion by a supplier firm with do it yourself completion). The work's main contribution is an innovative approach to evaluating modern methods of construction based on wood by collecting information from users, as users can give the most valuable feedback that is based on their own experience after purchasing their houses. This approach to addressing the issues allowed identification of the advantages and disadvantages of wood-based constructions, which can have a positive impact on the practices and companies in the construction sector. The presented research delivers a number of results produced by the analyses and the socio-economic research, possibly boosting awareness of the advantages of wood-based constructions in terms of sustainability. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
848 | Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry of Potassium Stable Isotopes | Stable potassium isotopes are one of the emerging non-traditional isotope systems enabled in recent years by the advance of Multi-Collector Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Mass-Spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). In this review, we first summarize the geochemical and cosmochemical properties of K, its major reservoirs, and the analytical methods of K isotopes. Following this, we review recent literature on K isotope applications in the fields of geochemistry and cosmochemistry. Geochemically, K is a highly incompatible lithophile element, and a highly soluble, biophile element. The isotopic fractionation of K is relatively small during magmatic processes such as partial melting and fractional crystallization, whereas during low-temperature and biological processes fractionation is considerably larger. This resolvable fractionation has made K isotopes promising tracers for a variety of Earth and environmental processes, including chemical weathering, low-temperature alteration of igneous rocks, reverse weathering, and the recycling of sediments into the mantle during subduction. Sorption and interactions of aqueous K with different clay minerals during cation exchange and clay formation are likely to be of fundamental significance in generating much of the K isotope variability seen in samples from the Earth surface and samples carrying recycled surface materials from the deep Earth. The magnitude of this fractionation is process- and mineral-dependent. Comprehensive quantification of pertinent K isotope fractionation factors is currently lacking and urgently needed. Significant fractionation during biological activities, such as plant uptake, demonstrates the potential utility of K isotopes in the study of the nutrient cycle and its relation to the climate and various ecosystems, enabling new and largely unexplored avenues for future research. Of significant importance to the cosmochemistry community, K is a moderately volatile element with large variations in K/U ratio observed among chondrites and planetary materials. As this indicates different degrees of volatile depletion, it has become a fundamental chemical signature of both chondritic and planetary bodies. This volatile depletion has been attributed to various processes such as solar nebula condensation, mixing of volatile-rich and -poor reservoirs, planetary accretional volatilization via impacts, and/or magma ocean degassing. While K isotopes have the potential to distinguish these different processes, the current results are still highly debated. A good correlation between the K isotope compositions of four differentiated bodies (Earth, Mars, Moon, and Vesta) and their masses suggests a ubiquitous volatile depletion mechanism during the formation of the terrestrial planets. It is still unknown whether any of the K isotopic variation among chondrites and differentiated bodies can be attributed to inherited signatures of mass-independent isotopic anomalies. |
849 | Sustainability evaluation and sensitivity analysis of district heating systems coupled to geothermal and solar resources | District heating systems assisted by renewable energy harness local energy sources, save fossil fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Here, geothermal and solar resources are integrated into district heating through a geothermal heat pump and an absorption heat pump by employing vapor-compressor and absorption cycles, respectively. A quantitative sustainability assessment model was constructed for the resulting hybrid district heating systems. Indicators on energy, environment, economic, and societal aspects were used to evaluate the composite sustainability index of hybrid systems with information entropy method. The results demonstrate that a district heating system coupled to compound parabolic concentrator-photovoltaic/thermal solar collector system with 100% photovoltaic coverage ratio is the ideal system for the case study when the annual cost saving ratio is given the highest impact in the composite sustainability index. A detailed analysis on the annual cost saving ratio shows that a higher ambient temperature, solar beam irradiance and grid electricity price would have a positive impact on the annual cost saving ratio. It can be concluded that the quantitative sustainability evaluation approach proposed helps to select the ideal hybrid system. |
850 | Performance analysis and multi-objective optimization of an integrated gas turbine/supercritical CO2 recompression/transcritial CO2 cogeneration system using liquefied natural gas cold energy | A novel power/cooling cogeneration system integrated with a gas turbine, a supercritical CO2 recompression power system (SCRPC) and a transcritical CO2 power system (TCPC) using liquefied natural gas (LNG) cold energy is proposed and investigated. This new combined system can improve the electrical capacity of gas turbine, and it can maximize the electrical output under different gas turbine load conditions by adjusting the split ratio. A steady-state mathematical model is developed to further understand the performance of the proposed system. It is shown that under the given conditions the combined thermal efficiency and the combined exergy efficiency are 52.94% and 30.27%, respectively. And the exergy analysis shows that the exergy destruction mainly occurs in the combustor, followed by condenser and NG terminal, respectively. Parametric study shows that the engine load conditions, the turbine I inlet temperature, the SCRPC and TCPC highest pressures and the effectiveness of HTR, LTR and regenerator have significant effects on the net work output, the cooling capacity, the combined thermal and exergy efficiencics, and the capital investment cost. Furthermore, multi-objective optimizations considering both thermodynamic and economic aspects are carried out to obtain the Pareto frontier solutions for different multi-objectives, and the optimal design condition is found out by means of the TOPSIS method based on entropy weight. These findings could be helpful in improving the utilization rate of the gas turbine exhaust waste heat and thus boost the system efficiency. |
851 | The COVID-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity to Foster the Sustainable Development of Teaching in Higher Education | The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound consequences on the social, economic and cultural life at the global level. The educational dimension has also been affected in the schools' regular functioning, with the temporary closure of educational institutions, as well as the impediment of face-to-face classes. This perspective paper aims to add to the knowledge already produced on this topic, by arguing that these challenging conditions can be a pivotal moment of opportunity for reshaping higher education, with the implementation, development and diffusion, among academics and students, of digital technologies. The paper also discusses the role of leadership in the transformation of organizational culture in higher education. The methodology used to carry out this study is qualitative, and the technique employed to analyze the data collected was content analysis. Research studies, in diverse formats, already published on the COVID-19 topic and its impacts were the elected data sources. The results of this document analysis allow us to conclude that there is the need to improve the digital sustainable development in teaching in higher education, which entails profound challenges that higher education institutions need to face and overcome if they want to be at the forefront of success in the international education market. This is where the authors seek to contribute, by offering insights on the challenges-but also the opportunities-that COVID-19 poses to higher education at a time when it needs to redefine its teaching methods, leadership models, and interaction channels, by going digital towards the improvement of the sustainable development of its teaching. |
852 | The Race for Lowest Costs of Electricity Production: Techno-Economic Analysis of Silicon, Perovskite and Tandem Solar Cells | Approaching efficiency limits for silicon photovoltaics and impressive efficiency gains for new perovskite and perovskite silicon tandem solar cells trigger the question, which technology will be the most economically attractive option in the future. With a bottom-up approach we estimate the manufacturing costs of modules based on silicon, perovskite single junction, and perovskite silicon tandem solar cells. We determine levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) based on current costs, and because the perovskite technology is not readily available yet, project as well future LCOE considering the ongoing dynamic system cost reductions. Furthermore, we use an empirical link between perovskite single junction efficiency and resulting tandem efficiency, to estimate LCOE for both technologies for a given status of the perovskite technology. We find that if the perovskite technology matures to a level within the next 5-6 years where single junction module efficiency exceed 22% and tandem device efficiency 30% using low-cost industrial scale processes, while module lifetimes are comparable to silicon, perovskite silicon tandem devices are especially promising for residential applications, while in utility installations perovskite silicon tandems and perovskite singlejunction devices promise a cost advantage over pure silicon. LCOE reductions of 10% 20% compared to pure silicon photovoltaics are possible. |
853 | Anatomical position of the palmar/plantar nerves at the metacarpal/metatarsal distal level in horses: An in vivo study by means of ultrasonography | The neurovascular bundle of the equine distal cannon can dynamically vary with limb position, and this can affect the performance of low 4- or 6-point block. This study aims to identify and describe the anatomical position and variations of the lateral and medial palmar/plantar nerve at the metacarpal/metatarsal distal level in horses by ultrasonography. Eight mares underwent ultrasound examination on the lateral and medial palmar/plantar sides of the metacarpus/metatarsus. Images were obtained for measurements of the cross-sectional area of the nerve, distances between the nerve and the skin surface, branch of the suspensory ligament (SL), deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) and superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) with limbs supported and elevated. The distance to the skin for forelimbs was higher on the lateral side when the limb was elevated (p < 0.001). The comparisons between supported and elevated limbs on the same side showed longer distances to the skin with the limb supported on the medial side (p < 0.001). Hindlimbs showed longer distances to the skin with the limb supported on the medial face (p = 0.027). The anatomical position of palmar/plantar nerves was similar between the lateral and medial sides of the limb, generally being in contact with the dorsal edge of DDFT. The strategy of elevating the limb during the injection of the low 4- or 6-point block can lead to a higher risk of puncture of the digital sheath. |
854 | Meeting the needs of patients with ultrarare diseases | Patients with ultrarare diseases present unique challenges to the health care systems of developed economies that demand novel approaches, beginning with achieving a diagnosis and concluding with long-term treatment. The challenges derive from numbers. On the one hand, the rarity of the disease phenotypes means that the vast majority of ultrarare patients are never diagnosed, and for the fortunate few who are diagnosed, the journey to a genetic diagnosis is long and perilous. On the other hand, as more human genomes are sequenced, the number of these patients identified is growing logarithmically. Once patients are diagnosed, personalized medicines must be rapidly developed and delivered. Here I define the problems and propose a nonprofit model to meet the needs of some of these patients. |
855 | Trichodysplasia spinulosa polyomavirus small T antigen synergistically modulates S6 protein translation and DNA damage response pathways to shape host cell environment | TSPyV is a viral agent linked to Trichodysplasia spinulosa, a disfiguring human skin disease which presents with hyperkeratotic spicule eruption in immunocompromised hosts. This proliferative disease state requires extensive modulation of the host cell environment. While the small T (sT) antigen of TSPyV has been postulated to cause widespread cellular perturbation, its specific substrates and their mechanistic connection are unclear. To identify the cellular substrates and pathways perturbed by TSPyV sT and propose a nuanced model that reconciles the multiple arms of TSPyV pathogenesis, changes in expression of several proteins and phospho-proteins in TSPyV sT expressing and TSPyV sT deletion mutant-expressing cell lysates were interrogated using Western blot assays. TSPyV sT expression exploits the DNA damage response pathway, by inducing hyperphosphorylation of ATM and 53BP1 and upregulation of BMI-1. Concurrently, sT dysregulates the S6 protein translation pathway via hyperphosphorylation of CDC2, p70 S6 kinase, S6, and PP1α. The S6S244/247 and p-PP1αT320 phospho-forms are points of overlap between the DDR and S6 networks. We propose a mechanistic rationale for previous reports positioning sT antigen as the key driver of TSPyV pathogenesis. We illuminate novel targets in the S6 and DDR pathways and recognize a potential synergy between these pathways. TSPyV may sensitize the cell to both unrestricted translation and genomic instability. This multi-pronged infection model may inform future therapeutic modalities against TSPyV and possibly other viruses with overlapping host substrates. |
856 | Techno-enviro-economic assessment of household and community energy storage in the UK | Residential electricity demand is expected to rise in the next few decades due to the electrification of heating and transport. Both European and UK national policies suggest that efforts should be made to reduce carbon emissions and increase the share of renewable energy, an important element of which is encouraging generation, typically PV, in partnership with energy storage systems in the residential sector. The scale of the energy storage system is important, i.e. in individual properties or as a community resource. Many advantages of community energy storage (CES) over household energy storage (HES) have been identified, but the design and operation of CES has received significantly less attention. Most existing research has analysed CES at community level only, but the performance and impact on individual households has yet to be fully explored. In this study an agent-based model is proposed to investigate and analyse CES based on a range of criteria. Results indicate that both HES and CES can significantly reduce the grid peak power import and export, improve the community self-consumption rate (SCR) and self-sufficiency rate (SSR), and contribute to much higher energy saving. Furthermore, optimising the CES capacity leads to more effective use of PV power and better demand localisation during high PV-generation periods. It is found that an important challenge for CES systems is to realise the value of the shared electricity equitably amongst the participants and potentially to seek other revenue streams. |
857 | Therapeutic prospects of endophytic Bacillus species from Berberis lycium against oxidative stress and microbial pathogens | Endophytes are microorganisms residing within plant tissues. Bacterial endophytes are important sources for production of pharmaceutically important metabolites. Berberis lycium is an important medicinal plant and there exist no report regarding isolation and determination of bioactive potential of its bacterial endophytes. Therefore the present study was aimed to isolate and identify bacterial endophytes from Berberis lycium. The study resulted in isolation of 20 strains of bacterial endophytes. Based on their antibacterial activity three strains were identified as Bacillus cereus (LBL6), Bacillus thuringiensis (SBL3) and Bacillus anthracis (SBL4) on basis of 16SrRNA gene using universal primers. Crude ethyl acetate extracts of LBL6, SBL3 and SBL4 were further evaluated for antioxidant and antifungal activities. Moderate antioxidant activity (56 %) at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL was observed for LBL6 followed by 45 and 43 % activity by SBL4 and SBL3 respectively. Significant antifungal activity was observed against Aspergillus niger (60 %) and Aspergillus flavus (56 %) at concentration of 4 mg/mL of SBL3 and SBL4 respectively. GCMS analysis of extract (LBL6) exhibited presence of 12 bioactive secondary metabolites corresponding to antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antitumor and anticancer activities. In conclusion, present study highlighted the importance of Berberis lycium to host diverse bacterial endophytes of pharmaceutical importance. |
858 | Localized peripheral neuropathic pain: topical treatment with lidocaine 700 mg medicated plaster in routine clinical practice | Aim: To provide real-world evidence for the effectiveness and tolerability of lidocaine 700 mg medicated plaster (LMP) in localized peripheral neuropathic pain (l-PNP) treatment compared with first-line oral medications (OM). Patients & methods: This was a noninterventional, retrospective 6-month cohort study in patients refractory to at least one recommended OM, using anonymized medical care data from the German Pain eRegistry. Treatment groups were matched by propensity scoring, considering seven predefined confounding factors. The primary effectiveness end point was the absolute change in average pain intensity index from baseline at weeks 4, 12 and 24 of treatment and over the treatment period. Results: A total of 3081 datasets were retained per treatment group. LMP provided superior pain reductions and significantly greater improvements in pain-related impairments of daily living and quality of life with significantly better tolerability (p < 0.001 for all parameters) than OM. Conclusion: These real-world data confirm the effectiveness and good tolerability of LMP for l-PNP treatment under routine medical care. |
859 | Behavioural changes and flight response of a mosquito (Culicidae) and an earthworm (Lumbricidae), respectively, after exposure to imidacloprid | A major point of concern in ecotoxicology is the effects of pesticides on nontarget organisms. This can impact the ecological role played by certain beneficial species in nature. Regarding neonicotinoid insecticides such as imidacloprid (IMI), several measures, including limited trade, restrictive use, and ban have been implemented in Europe and the USA but not globally. The goal of our study was to evaluate the potential risk of this still widely used agrochemical on the behaviour of mosquito larvae (Culicidae) and the escape behaviour of earthworms (Lumbricidae). Changes in breathing, swimming and resting were recorded in mosquitoes postexposure to 0, 1 and 2 mg IMI/L for 10 min. Earthworms were topically exposed in water for 2 minutes to 0, 5, 10 and 20 mg IMI/L. The escape behaviour (initial escape distance and speed) of the earthworms were recorded. In culicids, resting particularly was significantly increased by the exposure to imidacloprid (p < 0.05). In earthworms, the initial escape distance was statistically longer (p < 0.05) when fleeing from the 5 mg IMI/L solution than the solutions with the two highest concentrations. The worms exposed to the 5 mg IMI/L reacted faster than those exposed to the higher concentrations, which explained the long distance covered in the same amount of time. These results point to the relatively quick onset of the neurotoxic effects of imidacloprid, crippling earthworms and altering the buoyancy of mosquito larvae. The ecological consequences of these findings on the completion of life cycles and the survival of these species in nature are yet to be established. |
860 | A possible indicator for removal of a large foreign body from the esophagus via a cervical approach: a case report with literature review | Foreign body intake in adults is more common among people with mental illness. Edentulous adults are at increased risk for foreign body ingestion, including of dentures. We experienced a patient who aspirated a large denture that we removed via a cervical surgical approach. A 72-year-old woman presented complaining of chest discomfort. Her medical history revealed that she suffered from schizophrenia and deafness. She had previously visited another hospital for possible loss of her denture. Chest discomfort and pain began the next day. Computed tomography showed the accidentally swallowed denture in her esophagus. Upper gastroendoscopy was attempted to remove the denture via endoscopic forceps, but it was too large to be removed and was strongly stuck. As it was difficult to perform open right thoracotomy due to left pneumonia and there was no perforation or mediastinitis, we decided to remove the denture via a left neck skin incision under general anesthesia. The denture was located in a gap between the aortic arch and vertebral body. The denture was grasped with pean forceps and extracted. The patient was discharged from hospital 18 days postoperatively. This case suggests how high a foreign body in the esophagus can be reached from a cervical incision. |
861 | Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method for assessing the sustainability of end-of-life alternatives for waste plastics: A case study of Norway | Plastic, and its pollution of marine ecosystems, has emerged as a global concern. Among the several other sources, plastics from abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gears (ALDFG), and ropes are considered the most dangerous for marine wildlife. In EU states, the management ALDFG is prioritized through a dedicated action plan owing to the hazardous nature of ALDFG and the increase in commercial fishing activity in EU waters.The action plan demands to close the loop of plastics from fishing to ensure sustainable resource management using strategies of the circular economy (CE). Commercial fishing is a crucial sector in Norway, generating 4000 tons of waste plastic annually from fishing gears and ropes. While recycling, landfilling, and incineration are the standard end-of-life management options, the recycling industry in the region is immature. The lack of recycling capacity and inadequate infrastructure results in exporting most of the recyclable fraction out of Norway for further processing. Although within the framework of CE, the transboundary export of waste for recycling misses the opportunity to create value out of waste within the region. Therefore, in the pursuit of CE strategies, it is essential to ensure regional sustainability. In this study, we assess the environmental, economic, and social impacts of landfilling, incinerating, and recycling of waste fishing gears in Norway. To represent the current state, we include two existing recycling scenarios for the assessment, namely, recycling (inland) and recycling (export). Based on qualitative and quantitative data from relevant stakeholders, we adapted multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to rank the end-of-life (EOL) alternatives through their ability to sustainably manage 4000 tons of waste plastics from fishing gears in Norway. The ranking and insights from stakeholder interaction were used to ascertain potential barriers in realizing principles of CE and to further recognize opportunities for establishing circular business models in the region. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. [GRAPHICS] . |
862 | Circadian transcription factor NPAS2 and the NAD+ -dependent deacetylase SIRT1 interact in the mouse nucleus accumbens and regulate reward | Substance use disorders are associated with disruptions to both circadian rhythms and cellular metabolic state. At the molecular level, the circadian molecular clock and cellular metabolic state may be interconnected through interactions with the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ )-dependent deacetylase, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). In the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a region important for reward, both SIRT1 and the circadian transcription factor neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2) are highly enriched, and both are regulated by the metabolic cofactor NAD+ . Substances of abuse, like cocaine, greatly disrupt cellular metabolism and promote oxidative stress; however, their effects on NAD+ in the brain remain unclear. Interestingly, cocaine also induces NAc expression of both NPAS2 and SIRT1, and both have independently been shown to regulate cocaine reward in mice. However, whether NPAS2 and SIRT1 interact in the NAc and/or whether together they regulate reward is unknown. Here, we demonstrate diurnal expression of Npas2, Sirt1 and NAD+ in the NAc, which is altered by cocaine-induced upregulation. Additionally, co-immunoprecipitation reveals NPAS2 and SIRT1 interact in the NAc, and cross-analysis of NPAS2 and SIRT1 chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing reveals several reward-relevant and metabolic-related pathways enriched among shared gene targets. Notably, NAc-specific Npas2 knock-down or a functional Npas2 mutation in mice attenuates SIRT1-mediated increases in cocaine preference. Together, our data reveal an interaction between NPAS2 and SIRT1 in the NAc, which may serve to integrate cocaine's effects on circadian and metabolic factors, leading to regulation of drug reward. |
863 | Evaluating the cost and carbon footprint of second-life electric vehicle batteries in residential and utility-level applications | The volume of end-of-life automotive batteries is increasing rapidly as a result of growing electric vehicle adoption. Most automotive lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are recycled but could be repurposed as second-life batteries (SLBs) since they have 70-80% residual capacity, which can be adequate for stationary applications. SLBs have been proposed as potential, inexpensive, low-carbon energy storage for residential and utility-level applications, with or without photovoltaics (PV). However, it is unknown whether SLBs will be better than new batteries and whether SLBs will provide similar cost and carbon emission reduction for the different stationary applications in all locations. This work compared the levelized cost of electricity and life-cycle carbon emissions associated with using SLBs and new LIBs in the US for three energy storage applications: (1) residential energy storage with rooftop PV, (2) utility-level PV firming, and (3) utility-level peak-shaving, leading to a total of 41 scenarios. SLBs reduced the levelized cost of electricity by 12-57% and carbon emissions by 7-31% compared to new LIBs in the considered applications, with higher reductions for utility-level applications. SLBs still provided benefits at the residential level when compared to rooftop PV alone by reducing the levelized cost by 15-25% and carbon emissions by 22-51%, making SLBs attractive to residential consumers as well. SLBs offer an opportunity to utilize an end-of-life product for energy storage applications, provided the uncertainty in SLB quality and availability is addressed. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
864 | The income inequality and carbon emissions trade-off revisited | This paper investigates the marginal effect of income inequality on carbon emissions per-capita. We use a panel consisting of 68 countries over a 50-year period from 1961 to 2010. We report estimates that support the hypothesis that there is a trade-off between carbon emissions per-capita and income inequality. This trade-off is not homogeneous across countries and depends upon the level of development measured by income per-capita. Using panel smooth transition regression, we find that this relationship is negative for countries with low to moderate income per-capita but becomes slightly positive after passing a threshold located around fifteen thousand 2011 US dollars. Moreover, the inequality elasticity of emissions per-capita is comparable in magnitude to its income elasticity. Therefore, both inequality and income levels are crucial to define policies to reduce carbon emissions. This implies a challenge to policymakers who pursue to reduce both income inequality and carbon emissions. |
865 | Feasibility analysis of grid-connected and islanded operation of a solar PV microgrid system: A case study of Iraq | Iraq has massive potential for electricity generation from solar energy. Because the country currently suffers from daily electricity shortages, a grid-connected PV system is an unsuitable option since the PV cannot serve the load during the electricity blackouts. This paper aims to analyze the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of a solar PV microgrid system which is able to supply the load during both grid availability and outage periods. A household in Baghdad was selected as a case study. HOMER software was used to carry out the overall analysis using five different control strategies. The results indicated that the most economical configuration was achieved by allowing the grid to charge the batteries at all rates, with a net present cost (NPC) of $29,713. A sustainability assessment revealed that preventing the grid from charging the battery resulted in the highest renewable fraction and the lowest CO2 emissions with 64.9% and 4533 kg/year, respectively. Furthermore, inserting a diesel generator to an economically optimized system was found to reduce the NPC by 11.6%, while increasing the CO2 emissions by 32.7%. This study showed that implementing this sort of project can provide clean, economical, and continuous electricity production in countries with daily blackouts. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd. |
866 | The reliability, validity and sensitivity of an individualised sub-maximal fitness test in elite rugby league athletes | We aimed to examine the reliability, validity and sensitivity of an individualised sub-maximal fitness test (SMFTIFT60). Nineteen elite rugby league players performed a one-week test-retest of SMFTIFT60. Typical Errors and ICCs were: small (<3.5%) and extremely high (>0.90) for accelerometer-derived variables; moderate (<2.5% points) and moderate to very high (0.71-0.89) for exercise and recovery heart rate (HRex and HRR, respectively). Convergent validity correlations with the 10-week pre-season change in 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test performance were large for changes in SMFTIFT60 HRex (r = -0.57) and HRR (0.60), and very large for changes in accelerometer measures (range: -0.71 to -0.79). For sensitivity, within-player dose-response relationships between SMFTIFT60 HRex and prior 3-day training loads were negative and ranged from moderate (session ratings of perceived exertion [sRPE-TL], r = -0.34), to large (high-speed running distance, -0.51; acceleration load, -0.73) and very large (heart rate Training Impulse [TRIMP], -0.83). All other relationships were unclear or trivial to small. Physiological and accelerometer-derived measures from the SMFTIFT60 are reliable and valid for the assessment of fitness in rugby league players. Only HRex appears sensitive to acute changes in training load. The SMFTIFT60 could be a useful monitoring tool in team sports. |
867 | Export trade, embodied carbon emissions, and environmental pollution: An empirical analysis of China's high- and new-technology industries | China's export trade has been expanding steadily in recent years, significantly increasing resource consumption and environmental pollution. Highand new-technology industries are essential for achieving sustainable economic development and improving environmental quality. This study employs a multi-regional input-output model to estimate the economic benefits and environmental costs of export trade in highand new-technology industries. Then, it analyzes the impact of economic benefits and technological levels on environmental pollution using the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology model. An input-output multi-objective linear programming model and a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II are adopted to combine economic development with environmental pollution and determine the optimal path for export trade. The results show that technological progress in China's highand new-technology industries is conducive to reducing embodied carbon emissions in developed countries while increasing emissions in developing countries. Moreover, a nonlinear three-stage accompanying relationship exists between the economic benefits and environmental costs of highand new-technology exports; this is because exports with low economic benefits generate fewer carbon emissions whereas exports with high economic benefits generate significant carbon emissions. An increase in exports with ultra-high economic benefits will generate excessive embodied carbon emissions that hinder coordinated economic-environmental development. Lastly, technological progress in the electrical and optical equipment sector can effectively promote pollution reduction; thus, it should be further developed to improve the comprehensive benefits of exports. |
868 | High-Performance Broadband Phototransistor Based on TeOx/IGTO Heterojunctions | Ultraviolet to infrared broadband spectral detection capability is a technological challenge for sensing materials being developed for high-performance photodetection. In this work, we stacked 9 nm-thick tellurium oxide (TeOx) and 8 nm-thick InGaSnO (IGTO) into a heterostructure at a low temperature of 150 °C. The superior photoelectric characteristics we achieved benefit from the intrinsic optical absorption range (300-1500 nm) of the hexagonal tellurium (Te) phase in the TeOx film, and photoinduced electrons are driven effectively by band alignment at the TeOx/IGTO interface under illumination. A photosensor based on our optimized heterostructure exhibited a remarkable detectivity of 1.6 × 1013 Jones, a responsivity of 84 A/W, and a photosensitivity of 1 × 105, along with an external quantum efficiency of 222% upon illumination by blue light (450 nm). Simultaneously, modest detection properties (responsivity: ∼31 A/W, detectivity: ∼6 × 1011 Jones) for infrared irradiation at 970 nm demonstrate that this heterostructure can be employed as a broadband phototransistor. Furthermore, its low-temperature processability suggests that our proposed concept might be used to design array optoelectronic devices for wide band detection with high sensitivity, flexibility, and stability. |
869 | An analysis of the relation between water pollution and economic growth in China by considering the contemporaneous correlation of water pollutants | The study of the relationship between water pollution and economic growth holds great significance for sustainable development. Under Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, this paper focuses attention on a Chinese context and investigates the relationship between water pollution discharge-waste water (WW), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) and economic growth-per capita Gross Domestic Production (GDPPC), based on a comparison of the results from two variable coefficient panel data modelse-a Locally Weighted Smoothed Regression Estimator and Smoothing Scatterplots Model (LOWESSM) which is a nonparametric model, and a Semi-parametric Seemingly Unrelated Regression Model (SSURM) which considers the contemporaneous correlation of water pollutants that most previous studies have ignored. The empirical results indicate that there exist differences that can be represented by the characteristics of different EKC types, or different turning points under the same EKC type and that the SSURM may be more conducive to reflecting the real relationship between water pollution and economic growth. The study also finds that there are eight types of EKC which can be categorized as "good EKCs" (negative monotonic shape, inverted N-shape, inverted U-shape and M-shape), "bad EKCs" (positive monotonic shape, N-shape and U-shape) and "transition EKC" (positive monotonic and flat-tailed shape) and the proportion of "good EKCs" in economically developed areas (71.43%) is lower than that in the less economically developed areas (76.47%) in terms of COD discharge. Results suggest that addressing the state of water pollution will not occur automatically as GDPPC increases, but requires the regulatory power of government environmental policies. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
870 | Role of proliferative marker index and KBTBD4 mutation in the pathological diagnosis of pineal parenchymal tumors | Pineal parenchymal tumors (PPTs) are clinically rare and a biopsy is often required for a definitive diagnosis. To improve the accuracy of histological assessment of PPTs, we examined the proliferative capacity of PPT cells and investigated DICER1 expression and KBTBD4 mutations. This study included 19 cases of PPTs [3 pineocytomas (PCs), 10 PPTs of intermediate differentiation (PPTID), and 6 pineoblastomas (PBs)]. Immunohistochemistry for Ki-67, PHH3, and DICER1, as well as Sanger sequencing analysis for KBTBD4 mutations, was performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens that were resected during surgery. Tumor cell proliferation was quantified using an image analysis software. For the PHH3 and MIB-1 indices, a significant difference was observed between the PPTIDs and PBs (P < 0.05). Loss of DICER1 was not specific for PB; 0/3 PCs (0.0%), 2/9 PPTIDs (22.2%), and 2/4 PBs (50.0%). KBTBD4 mutations were detected in 1/3 PCs (33.3%), 6/9 PPTIDs (66.7%), and 0/4 PBs (0.0%). Thus, combined application of the proliferative marker index and KBTBD4 mutation analysis may be useful for the differential diagnosis of PPTs. Furthermore, detection of KBTBD4 mutations using Sanger sequencing analysis may support the diagnosis of PPTID. |
871 | Do drivers of CO2 emission growth alter overtime and by the stage of economic development? | The rapid increase in anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in recent decades is a major concern because CO2 emissions are the main precursor of global warming. Thus, a clear understanding of the factors behind this increase is crucial for the design of policies that limit or at least stabilize global concentrations of CO2. In this study, we investigate factors driving the growth in global CO2 emissions over the last two decades (between 1997 and 2015) using the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method. The analysis shows that economic growth is the main driver of CO2 emissions during the 1997-2015 period. Population growth is also responsible for increased CO2 emissions, mainly in low-income countries. Without lowering energy intensity and increasing the deployment of clean and renewable energy, CO2 emissions during 1997-2015 would have been almost 50% higher than the observed level. The analysis also shows that the factors driving CO2 emission growth vary among countries from different per-capita income brackets. The analysis emphasizes the need to reduce CO2 more rapidly in highly industrialized countries and to continue to support reduction of CO2 in developing countries, per the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) Common But Differentiated Resposibilities. |
872 | In-vitro examination and isolation of antidiarrheal compounds using five bacterial strains from invasive species Bidens bipinnata L | Bidens bipinnata is widely utilized medicinal plant for treatment of diseases like malaria, sore throat, acute nephritis and dysentery. However, despite its traditional uses Bidens bipinnata is not widely explored for its antimicrobial effect. Thus, the current study is aimed to form antimicrobial activity report of Bidens bipinnata extracts, along with isolation and evaluation of antibacterial activity of the isolated compounds through bioassay-guided purification. Hexane extract of its leaves has appeared to be most active thus it is exposed to automated column chromatography. Further purification using High-performance liquid chromatography has led to isolation of active peaks, identified by Gas Chromatography-mass spectrometry, as 16-Pregnenolone and 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester. Their antimicrobial activity was confirmed via broth dilution procedure on Staphylococcus aureus, 16-Pregnenolone revealed a strong antimicrobial activity with MIC50 of 72 μg/mL whereas 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester display an MIC50 of >250 μg/mL. Present study is the first report on isolation of these compounds from Bidens bipinnata. |
873 | Knee subchondroplasty for management of subchondral bone cysts: a novel treatment method | Knee subchondroplasty (SCP) is one of the most novel minimally invasive methods for treating bone marrow lesions. The literature suggests that it is safe, with few complications and good outcomes. However, no studies have documented its usage for managing large subchondral bone cysts. This article outlines a case report and details the pearls and pitfalls of SCP in treating large subchondral bone cysts. Our patient underwent arthroscopic debridement with medial femoral condyle SCP. Mild posterior extravasation of synthetic bone substitute was observed on Postoperative Day 1, which was immediately rectified on revision arthroscopy. Gradual escalation of weight bearing and good pain relief were subsequently achieved, and the patient has remained complication-free after two years. No further extravasation were observed on repeat radiography. SCP is a feasible temporising measure that may help to delay the need for bone allograft or immediate knee arthroplasty in younger patients while retaining function and delaying loss of productivity. |
874 | Impact of Income Distribution on Social and Economic Well-Being of the State | Income distribution can cause large-scale transformations in human resources structure, essential changes of economic outputs via its impact on life satisfaction and motivation of work. Thus, the overall objective of this research is to improve methodological tools of income distribution analysis based on identifying the links between different structural indicators of income inequality and the most essential features of social and economic well-being. We conducted comparative analysis of EU Member States and Ukraine. We used structural analysis based on two forms of income distribution-functional (share of "labour" in Gross domestic product - GDP) and household one (ratio of incomes measured by special decile coefficients) to identify income inequality and inconsistencies in distributive strategies. By grouping European countries according to economic well-being (described as GDP per capita) and inequality in income distribution (based on Gini coefficient), we determined apparent tendencies in distributive policies and revealed links between income distribution and connected social-economic features of well-being. We conclude that countries with the most stable and clear patterns in income distribution have distinct connections between the share of labour costs in GDP and successes in social and economic spheres, including human development level, property rights protection, GDP growth, possibilities for taxation and budgeting of social programmes. |
875 | Quality Management of Prehospital Airway Programs: An NAEMSP Position Statement and Resource Document | Prehospital airway management encompasses a multitude of complex decision-making processes, techniques, and interventions. Quality management (encompassing quality assurance and quality improvement activities) in EMS is dynamic, evidence-based, and most of all, patient-centric. Long a mainstay of the EMS clinician skillset, airway management deserves specific focus and attention and dedicated quality management processes to ensure the delivery of high-quality clinical care.It is the position of NAEMSP that:All EMS agencies should dedicate sufficient resources to patient-centric, comprehensive prehospital airway quality management program. These quality management programs should consist of prospective, concurrent, and retrospective activities. Quality management programs should be developed and operated with the close involvement of the medical director.Quality improvement and quality assurance efforts should operate in an educational, non-disciplinary, non-punitive, evidence-based medicine culture focused on patient safety. The highest quality of care is only achieved when the quality management program rewards those who identify and seek to prevent errors before they occur.Information evaluated in prehospital airway quality management programs should include both subjective and objective data elements with uniform reporting and operational definitions.EMS systems should regularly measure and report process, outcome, and balancing airway management measures.Quality management activities require large-scale bidirectional information sharing between EMS agencies and receiving facilities. Hospital outcome information should be shared with agencies and the involved EMS clinicians.Findings from quality management programs should be used to guide and develop initial education and continued training.Quality improvement programs must continually undergo evaluation and assessment to identify strengths and shortcomings with a focus on continuous improvement. |
876 | Relational Approaches to Community-Based Health Promotion Across Scales of Practice | In this article, we describe a personalized approach to meeting individual and community health needs that foregrounds relational learning. This article analyzes how relational approaches to learning expand participants' objectives and result in more enduring learning. We report on mixed methods data from interviews, focus groups, surveys, and goal setting and monitoring. Analyses reveal that relationships de confianza served as a central tool in supporting participants' agency to enact change across scales of practice to promote the health of themselves, their families, and their communities. |
877 | Multi-agent evolutionary game in the recycling utilization of construction waste | The recycling utilization of construction waste (CW) is of great importance to reduce waste discharge and protect natural resources. This study investigated the evolutionary decision making process and stable strategies among three stakeholders, including the government agency (GA), waste recycler (WR) and waste producer (WP), involved in CW recycling industry based on the game theory. The main factors that affected the strategies of the stakeholders were analyzed and the tripartite evolutionary game model is provided. The evolutionary stability strategy and stability conditions were analyzed subsequently. A numerical simulation illustrated the effectiveness of the proposed method, with which the evolutionary decision making process and stable strategies among the three stakeholders are simulated. It is shown that the GA plays different roles in different stages of the development of CW recycling industry. In the early stage, the supervision and policies of the GA are critical to improve the proportion of enterprises that implement the recycling strategy. With the mature of the CW recycling industry, it is profitable for enterprises to implement waste recycling, and a high proportion of enterprises choose to implement recycling strategy. Under this circumstance, the GA will gradually decrease their interventions to enterprises, and finally evolve into no supervision. Besides, it also concludes that low penalties and subsidies are not conducive to the evolution of the optimal strategy among the three participants, and excessive supervision costs will reduce the regulatory willingness of the GA, hindering the enthusiasm of WRs and WPs to implement the recycling strategy. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
878 | Economic analysis of grid-connected residential rooftop PV systems in Turkey | This study presents an economic analysis of grid-connected residential rooftop PVs in Turkey under the current feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme. Three solar parts are formed on the solar map of Turkey to discuss the effect of solar radiation differences between regions on the feasibility of the systems. Nine provinces are selected for a nationwide analysis. 5 kW rooftop PVs are simulated using HOMER Grid. Discounted Payback Period (DPBP), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Profitability Index (Pl) are used to ensure the viability of the systems from all aspects. DPBP below 8 years, IRR above 13.12%, and PI above 2 are considered feasible. The results showed that current DPBP, IRR, and Pl of the systems are in the range of 7.75-14.43 years, 13.68%-6.87%, and 2.02-1.28, respectively. The systems are attractive only in one province in the southern part, and far from being investable in the northern part. A sensitivity analysis is performed to analyze the effect of varying FiT and PV initial cost on the feasibility of the systems and make policy implications. It is recommended to increase the amount of residential PV incentives in Turkey and develop a regional support mechanism, considering solar differences between regions. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
879 | An integrated approach to the selection of municipal solid waste landfills through GIS, K-Means and multi-criteria decision analysis | Selecting the proper site for disposing of solid waste is one of the serious environmental and public health concerns in metropolises. This multifaceted issue encompasses environmental, economic, social, geographical, technical, and legal criteria. Some of these criteria, however, are less influenced by experts' subjective judgments because they display scientific specifications. This study drew on a novel, integrated method for the selection of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills in the Iranian metropolis, Shiraz; the study relied on the GIS and multi-criteria decision-making methods, which helped to reduce the number of comparisons in collecting experts' opinions, simplified the selection process, and enhanced the assessment method. The method proposed was regulated by DEMATEL and ANP. Primarily 13 criteria were identified in five groups through the Delphi method. Next, using the integrated method, the weight of each criterion was determined and was assigned to the corresponding layer in ArcGIS 10.5. By combining these layers through a fuzzy logic, the sites satisfying the disposal conditions were identified. The sites were then divided into six areas through the k-means clustering algorithm, while MOORA, WASPAS and COPRAS methods were used to discover the best sites based on their priorities. Finally, to confirm the reliability of the results, compare and verify them, and conduct sensitivity analysis on them, 13 scenarios were used. |
880 | Determinants of the ecological footprint: Role of renewable energy, natural resources, and urbanization | In recent years the investigation of ecological footprint and its determinants has remained a hot issue of debate among policy analysts. But some of the important determinants of ecological footprint have not been adequately covered in the literature. The present study explores the relationship between real income, renewable energy, urbanization, natural resource rent, and ecological footprint in BRICS economies. The panel data estimators such as fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) long-run estimators are employed for the period from 1992 to 2016 to yield reliable estimations. Empirical findings document that natural resource rent, renewable energy, and urbanization decrease ecological footprint, implying that they have a positive contribution to environmental quality. Results approve the Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for BRICS countries in case the ecological footprint is employed as an indicator of environmental degradation. Based on the empirical results, the study develops important policy implications for BRICS countries to achieve sustainable development targets. |
881 | Cleaner recycling of cathode material by in-situ thermite reduction | The extensive application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) generates a large amount of hazardous spent LIBs, for which sustainable recycling is seriously required by the demand of both environmental protection and resources conservation. An environmental friendly, economic effective and industrial applicable process has been developed for spent LiNixCoyMnzO2 (x + y + z = 1) cathode recycling. Here, the current collector of aluminium preforms as the in-situ reductant of thermite reduction transforming valuable metals in LiNixCoyMnzO2 cathode into LiAlO2, Li2O, NiO, CoO, and MnO. Then, Al in the in the thermite reduction product can be removed by alkaline leaching without large amount of explosive H-2 emission. Afterwards, valuable metals of Li, Ni, Co, and Mn were effectively leached into H2SO4 solution with leaching efficiencies of 99.78%, 98.62%, 99.29% and 99.91%, respectively. Comparing with the traditional carbothermic reduction methods, this method enjoys advantages of no need for peeling off the cathode materials, none adding of carbonaceous materials, avoiding large amount of H-2 emission and lower reduction temperature. The in-situ thermite reduction process demonstrates a greener, simpler, safer, more energy conserving and industrial applicable approach for sustainable recycling of spent LIBs. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
882 | Examination of a coupling coordination relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment: a case study in Qingdao, China | A better understanding of the relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment is necessary to guide sustainable urban development and formulate environmental policies. In this study, the city of Qingdao was taken as an example. We evaluated the quantitative evolution of the relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment development from 2000 to 2018 by establishing the comprehensive index system and applying it to the coupling coordination model. Results showed the following: (1) The economic urbanization and eco-environment states offer the greatest contribution to the urbanization and eco-environment systems, respectively. (2) The coupling coordination relationship between urbanization and eco-environment conforms to an S-shaped curve, and the two systems have gradually moved from a "seriously uncoordinated and urbanization lag" stage at the beginning into a "good coordination and eco-environment lag" stage by the end of the research period. (3) Finally, the economic urbanization and response subsystems are essential determinants in the coupling relationship between urbanization and eco-environment. The research results can help the government better understand the complex coupling relationship and then formulate sustainable urbanization development strategies to better balance urbanization and eco-environmental protection. |
883 | Analysis of China's oil and gas consumption under different scenarios toward 2050: An integrated modeling | China's oil and gas consumption, which is not only significant to the industry but also related with national energy security, faces uncertainties in the future. This paper analyzes China's oil and gas consumption under five representative scenarios toward 2050 using an integrated modeling. In the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) scenario, China's oil consumption peaks at 705 million tons by 2035, and gas consumption ramps steadily up to reach 780 billion cubic meters by 2050. Oil provides 18% of China's primary energy by 2030 and 15% by 2050, and gas 14% by 2030 and 17% by 2050. The 2 degrees C and the 1.5 degrees C scenarios control China's 2050 oil consumption to 10% and 45% below the NDC level, respectively. Interestingly, more stringent mitigation tends to upscale China's gas consumption before 2040. Compared with the NDC scenario, the oil-price scenarios present limited influences on China's total energy consumption and end-use electrification but mainly feature a substitution between oil, gas and coal, non-fossil energy. Particularly, across our scenarios, China's oil import dependence is projected to largely fluctuate around 70% toward 2050, and gas import dependence to reach 50-60% beyond 2030, implying a continuously high risk of energy resource supply and national energy security. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
884 | Physiological Responses to a Haunted-House Threat Experience: Distinct Tonic and Phasic Effects | Threats elicit physiological responses, the frequency and intensity of which have implications for survival. Ethical and practical limitations on human laboratory manipulations present barriers to studying immersive threat. Furthermore, few investigations have examined group effects and concordance with subjective emotional experiences to threat. The current preregistered study measured electrodermal activity in 156 adults while they participated in small groups in a 30-min haunted-house experience involving various immersive threats. Results revealed positive associations between (a) friends and tonic arousal, (b) unexpected attacks and phasic activity (frequency and amplitude), (c) subjective fear and phasic frequency, and (d) dissociable sensitization effects linked to baseline orienting response. Findings demonstrate the relevance of (a) social dynamics (friends vs. strangers) for tonic arousal and (b) subjective fear and threat predictability for phasic arousal. |
885 | Structural Racism and Quantitative Causal Inference: A Life Course Mediation Framework for Decomposing Racial Health Disparities | Quantitative studies of racial health disparities often use static measures of self-reported race and conventional regression estimators, which critics argue is inconsistent with social-constructivist theories of race, racialization, and racism. We demonstrate an alternative counterfactual approach to explain how multiple racialized systems dynamically shape health over time, examining racial inequities in cardiometabolic risk in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. This framework accounts for the dynamics of time-varying confounding and mediation that is required in operationalizing a "race" variable as part of a social process (racism) rather than a separable, individual characteristic. We decompose the observed disparity into three types of effects: a controlled direct effect ("unobserved racism"), proportions attributable to interaction ("racial discrimination"), and pure indirect effects ("emergent discrimination"). We discuss the limitations of counterfactual approaches while highlighting how they can be combined with critical theories to quantify how interlocking systems produce racial health inequities. |
886 | Gasoline fume inhalation induces apoptosis, inflammation, and favors Th2 polarization in C57BL/6 mice | Gasoline exposure has been widely reported in the literature as being toxic to human health. However, the exact underlying molecular mechanisms triggered by its inhalation have not been thoroughly investigated. We herein present a model of sub-chronic, static gasoline vapor inhalation in adult female C57BL/6 mice. Animals were exposed daily to either gasoline vapors (0.86 g/animal/90 min) or ambient air for 5 days/week over 7 consecutive weeks. At the end of the study period, toxic and molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory, oxidative, and apoptotic effects triggered by gasoline vapors, were examined in the lungs and liver of gasoline-exposed (GE) mice. Static gasoline exposure induced a significant increase (+21%) in lungs/body weight (BW) ratio in GE versus control (CON) mice along with a pulmonary inflammation attested by histological staining. The latter was consistent with increases in the transcript levels of proinflammatory cytokines [Interleukins (ILs) 4 and 6], respectively by ~ 6- and 4-fold in the lungs of GE mice compared to CON. Interestingly, IL-10 expression was also increased by ~ 10-fold in the lungs of GE mice suggesting an attempt to counterbalance the established inflammation. Moreover, the pulmonary expression of IL-12 and TNF-α was downregulated by 2- and 4-fold, respectively, suggesting the skewing toward Th2 phenotype. Additionally, GE mice showed a significant upregulation in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspases 3, 8, and 9 with no change in JNK expression in the lungs, suggesting the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Static gasoline exposure over seven consecutive weeks had a minor hepatic portal inflammation attested by H&E staining along with an increase in the hepatic expression of the mitochondrial complexes in GE mice. Therefore, tissue damage biomarkers highlight the health risks associated with vapor exposure and may present potential therapeutic targets for recovery from gasoline intoxication. |
887 | Alcohol Consumption Reported during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Initial Stage | Physical health is not the only area affected by the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic. There are also other consequences that have globally affected many millions at other levels, namely: Societal, political, economic, and cultural. This study aims to survey alcohol drinking throughout the pandemic so as to investigate those factors considered most relevant; i.e., sociodemographic and clinical. A longitudinal study was designed. The first (or initial) stage was completed between April 10-20 2020 on 443 subjects during the enforcement of the "Lockdown" in Poland. The second stage will be due in June 2020. As well as an in-house questionnaire, the study used: The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Brief COPE Inventory (Mini COPE). Alcohol was the most commonly used psychoactive substance (73%) identified. More than 30% changed their drinking habits because of the pandemic, with 16% actually drinking less, whilst 14% did so more. The former group was significantly younger than the latter. Amongst the stress-related coping strategies, it was found that current alcohol drinkers were significantly less able to find anything positive about the pandemic situation (positive reframing) and were mentally less able to cope. Those drinking more now were found to have been drinking more intensively before the pandemic started. |
888 | Perceptions of offsite construction in the United States: An investigation of current practices | New offsite construction practices are emerging in the construction industry to address a broad set of productivity issues that cut across organizational, technological, and strategic domains. Despite all its benefits from sustainable and economic perspectives, offsite construction still faces significant resistance from both the construction industry and the built-environment market. Evaluating advances in this industry is critical, especially because there is a need to determine the factors that are preventing the industry from more fully and rapidly adopting offsite strategies. This paper aims to investigate the industry perspective regarding the adoption of offsite strategies and provide an understanding of the development of the offsite construction industry over time. In this regard, the "State-of-the-Art of Modular Construction Symposium" was held in May 2017 at the University of Florida with the intent to bring together stakeholders engaged in multi-trade prefabrication to debate the drivers, challenges and future directions of the offsite industry. During this event, data was collected by means of unstructured interviews and a questionnaire for the purpose of determining the characteristics the U.S. offsite construction industry. A SWOT framework was used to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the industry adopting offsite strategies as well as the external opportunities and threats. The questionnaire survey data analysis showed the current drivers, core elements, barriers, and possible solutions to the barriers of further implementation of offsite construction. The results are intended to help construction organizations understand the potential benefits of offsite construction and assist them in creating a roadmap for their future strategic development. |
889 | Heart Failure Spending Function: An Investment Framework for Sequencing and Intensification of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapies | Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is managed with increasing numbers of guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMT). Benefits tend to be additive. Burdens can also be additive. We propose a heart failure spending function as a conceptual framework for tailored intensification of GDMT that maximizes therapeutic opportunity while limiting adverse events and patient burden. Each patient is conceptualized to have reserve in physiological and psychosocial domains, which can be spent for a future return on investment. Key domains are blood pressure, heart rate, serum creatinine, potassium, and out-of-pocket costs. For each patient, GDMT should be initiated and intensified in a sequence that prioritizes medications with the greatest expected cardiac benefit while drawing on areas where the patient has ample reserves. When reserve is underspent, patients fail to gain the full benefit of GDMT. Conversely, when a reserve is fully spent, addition of new drugs or higher doses that draw upon a domain will lead to patient harm. The benefit of multiple agents drawing upon varied physiological domains should be balanced against cost and complexity. Thresholds for overspending are explored, as are mechanisms for implementing these concepts into routine care, but further health care delivery research is needed to validate and refine clinical use of the spending function. The heart failure spending function also suggests how newer therapies may be considered in terms of relative value, prioritizing agents that draw on different spending domains from existing GDMT. |
890 | Unemployment rate, clean energy, and ecological footprint in OECD countries | OECD countries have encountered the challenges of improving the environmental sustainability while maintaining economic growth by not impairing employment. This study attempts to reexamine the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis by using ecological footprint as an indicator of environmental degradation. Besides, our study aims to test the validity of environmental Phillips curve (EPC) and role of clean energy on ecological footprint. Our data cover a panel of 36 OECD countries from 1995 to 2015. We adopt the second-generation panel unit root and cointegration test to account for the presence of cross-section dependence (CSD). Moreover, the long-run relationship is estimated using Common Correlated Effect Mean Group (CCEMG) and Augmented Mean Group (AMG) that are robust to CSD. Our findings reveal that the EKC hypothesis is not valid while EPC is confirmed in OECD countries. Though there is a trade-off between unemployment and environmental degradation in OECD countries, the development of new technologies, especially in the clean energy sector, could be a key factor contributing to sustainable growth and better environmental quality. Thus, it is recommended that OECD countries should focus on the development of innovative green technologies and strengthen the initiatives that promote renewable energy consumption. |
891 | Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Improved Cerebral Infarction via Transferring miR-23a-3p to Activate Microglia | Mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosome (MSCs-exo) is a potential method for cerebral infarction (CI) treatment. Here, western blot and qRT-PCR were carried out to measure the expression of proteins and genes, respectively. Modified neurological severity score and TTC staining were used to evaluate the brain injury of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of Iba-1, iNOS, and Arg-1 in tissues. Moreover, the rate of M1/M2 microglia was ensured by flow cytometry, and the concentration of pro-inflammatory factors in medium was measured using ELISA. Here, we found that miR-23a-3p is increased in human umbilical cord blood MSCs-exo. Bone marrow MSCs-exo (BMSCs-exo) could improve the injury in neuronal function and reduce the infarct size in vivo. However, the improvement of BMSCs-exo to CI was reversed by miR-23a-3p knockdown. The inhibition of BMSCs-exo to MCAO-induced microglia activation and M1 polarization and the upregulation of pro-inflammatory factors were limited by miR-23a-3p knockdown, which also confirmed in lipopolysaccharide-induced microglia. Overall, our data indicated that MSCs-exo improves CI via transferring miR-23a-3p, thus to induce the deactivation of microglia and M2 polarization. Our study revealed a new regulatory mechanism of CI. |
892 | Maternal mood moderates the trajectory of emotional and behavioural problems from pre- to during the COVID-19 lockdown in preschool children | The COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown have dramatically impacted families' life, raising serious concerns about children's emotional wellbeing. However, few studies have investigated whether the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on psychological adjustment in youngest can be moderated by maternal mood and, to our knowledge, none of them has adopted a longitudinal design. The main aim of the current study was to explore if the intensity and directionality of maternal mood symptoms moderated the trajectory of emotional and behavioural problems in Italian pre-schoolers from pre- to during the lockdown adopting a longitudinal design. To assess maternal anxiety and depression symptoms, the EPDS and the STAI-Y were filled in by 94 and 88 women before the lockdown, when their children were 1 (Wave P1) and 3 years old (Wave P2), respectively, and by 74 women during the lockdown, when their children were 4 years old (Wave L). Mothers also filled in the CBCL/1 ½-5 to assess their children's emotional and behavioural problems at each assessment wave. As a whole, children's emotional and behavioural problems significantly increased from pre- to during the lockdown. Furthermore, maternal mood moderated this trajectory. In particular, greater maternal mood symptoms were significantly associated with a greater increase in emotional reactive, anxious-depressed, withdrawn and aggressive symptoms during the lockdown. These results contribute to shed light on the role played by maternal emotional wellbeing in buffering the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on children's behavioural development. Albeit preliminary, the current findings highlight the need to provide timely psychological interventions to distressed mothers to help their children to better cope with the effects of the pandemic. |
893 | Recurring outbreaks by the same Escherichia coli ST10 clone in a broiler unit during 18 months | The current investigation aimed at characterizing the cause of multiple disease outbreaks in the same broiler production unit during a course of 18 months. The outbreaks had mortality rates of up to 22%. Escherichia coli was diagnosed as the responsible agent. Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis showed that all chicken isolates had identical band patterns. Core genome comparisons demonstrated that the 36 chicken isolates differed with maximum of nine nucleotides indicating that the same E. coli clone was responsible for all seven disease outbreaks despite adherence to the all-in-all production principle and rigorous cleaning and disinfection procedures. |
894 | Tracking urban sustainability transition: An eco-efficiency analysis on eco-industrial development in Ulsan, Korea | The ecologically efficient transformation of natural resources into economic output is a critical pathway to achieve urban and industrial sustainability. Eco-efficiency approach offers an effective tool to uncover both the status and trends of such a transformation. This paper applied a modified eco-efficiency approach in combination with data envelopment analysis, to analyze the sustainability transition of Ulsan metropolis, Korea, under a fifteen years' promotion (2000-2015) of eco-industrial development (EID). In the design for analysis, eco-efficiency change e both at industrial park level and the regional level e was investigated to analyze whether eco-efficiency improvements at the park level coincide with those at the regional level. Our main findings were highlighted as: At the regional level, from 2000 to 2015, eco-efficiency of industrial waste generation and energy use has improved by 35.0% and 21.4%, respectively, driven by a significant reduction in waste and energy intensities attributable to technological improvements (EID promotion and urban-industrial symbiosis). At the industrial park/complex level, two national eco-industrial parks (EIPs) in Ulsan showed highest eco-efficiency (pure technical efficiency was 1.0) in analytical years, compared with nine regional industrial complexes. At both levels of analysis, EIPs stood out as eco-efficient and their contribution to urban sustainability transition was overwhelming. Moreover, EIP implementation and urban-industrial symbiosis in Ulsan were identified as the major drivers of regional EID policy. Based on our critical findings, EID was highlighted as a preventative and regenerative approach to improve eco-efficiency at the regional and industrial park level, enlightening other regional and local initiatives towards urban sustainability. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
895 | Prehospital Cardiac Arrest Airway Management: An NAEMSP Position Statement and Resource Document | Airway management is a critical component of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitation. Multiple cardiac arrest airway management techniques are available to EMS clinicians including bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilation, supraglottic airways (SGAs), and endotracheal intubation (ETI). Important goals include achieving optimal oxygenation and ventilation while minimizing negative effects on physiology and interference with other resuscitation interventions. NAEMSP recommends:Based on the skill of the clinician and available resources, BVM, SGA, or ETI may be considered as airway management strategies in OHCA.Airway management should not interfere with other key resuscitation interventions such as high-quality chest compressions, rapid defibrillation, and treatment of reversible causes of the cardiac arrest.EMS clinicians should take measures to avoid hyperventilation during cardiac arrest resuscitation.Where available for clinician use, capnography should be used to guide ventilation and chest compressions, confirm and monitor advanced airway placement, identify return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and assist in the decision to terminate resuscitation. |
896 | Massive cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 serum: case report of a successful multidisciplinary approach | We report a case of massive cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in the contest of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia that required the rapid coordination of many specialists from different departments, notably emergency, neurology, neuroradiology, hematology, and neurosurgery. The patient was rapidly treated with steroids, immunoglobulin, and fondaparinux. She underwent within 6 h after hospital admission a mechanical thrombectomy in order to allow flow restoration in cerebral venous systems. Neuroendovascular treatment in cerebral venous thrombosis related to VITT has never been described before. It can represent a complementary tool along with the other therapies and a multidisciplinary approach. |
897 | Development of High Performance Computing Tools for Estimation of High-Resolution Surface Energy Balance Products Using sUAS Information | sUAS (small-Unmanned Aircraft System) and advanced surface energy balance models allow detailed assessment and monitoring (at plant scale) of different (agricultural, urban, and natural) environments. Significant progress has been made in the understanding and modeling of atmosphere-plant-soil interactions and numerical quantification of the internal processes at plant scale. Similarly, progress has been made in ground truth information comparison and validation models. An example of this progress is the application of sUAS information using the Two-Source Surface Energy Balance (TSEB) model in commercial vineyards by the Grape Remote sensing Atmospheric Profile and Evapotranspiration eXperiment - GRAPEX Project in California. With advances in frequent sUAS data collection for larger areas, sUAS information processing becomes computationally expensive on local computers. Additionally, fragmentation of different models and tools necessary to process the data and validate the results is a limiting factor. For example, in the referred GRAPEX project, commercial software (ArcGIS and MS Excel) and Python and Matlab code are needed to complete the analysis. There is a need to assess and integrate research conducted with sUAS and surface energy balance models in a sharing platform to be easily migrated to high performance computing (HPC) resources. This research, sponsored by the National Science Foundation FAIR Cyber Training Fellowships, is integrating disparate software and code under a unified language (Python). The Python code for estimating the surface energy fluxes using TSEB2T model as well as the EC footprint analysis code for ground truth information comparison were hosted in myGeoHub site https://mygeohub.org/ to be reproducible and replicable. |
898 | The establishment and maintenance of dominance hierarchies | Animal groups are often organized hierarchically, with dominant individuals gaining priority access to resources and reproduction over subordinate individuals. Initial dominance hierarchy formation may be influenced by multiple interacting factors, including an animal's individual attributes, conventions and self-organizing social dynamics. After establishment, hierarchies are typically maintained over the long-term because individuals save time, energy and reduce the risk of injury by recognizing and abiding by established dominance relationships. A separate set of behaviours are used to maintain dominance relationships within groups, including behaviours that stabilize ranks (punishment, threats, behavioural asymmetry), as well as signals that provide information about dominance rank (individual identity signals, signals of dominance). In this review, we describe the behaviours used to establish and maintain dominance hierarchies across different taxa and types of societies. We also review opportunities for future research including: testing how self-organizing behavioural dynamics interact with other factors to mediate dominance hierarchy formation, measuring the long-term stability of social hierarchies and the factors that disrupt hierarchy stability, incorporating phenotypic plasticity into our understanding of the behavioural dynamics of hierarchies and considering how cognition coevolves with the behaviours used to establish and maintain hierarchies. This article is part of the theme issue 'The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies'. |
899 | Examining the linkages between electricity consumption and economic growth in African economies | As global energy consumption continues to increase, an increasing attention is also being drawn to the need to embrace cleaner energy despite ensuring energy security and efficiency in production. This study examines the relationship between economic growth and electricity consumption in sub-Sahara African economies between 1971 and 2017. It employs the System Generalized Methods-of-Moments (System GMM) techniques so as to address the issues of endogeneity in the data generating process. We also examine whether the impact of electricity consumption differs by the level of energy intensity, by employing an advanced dynamic panel threshold regression model to ascertain the degree of threshold level of energy intensity and the potential of threshold asymmetric of energy consumption on economic growth. Our results show significant positive relationship between electricity consumption and growth, including a threshold level of energy intensity which stood at 0.48%. This suggests that energy consumption beyond 0.48% will reduce growth, while consumption below this level will stimulate growth. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
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