Electricity portfolio innovation for energy security: the case of carbon constrained China

China’s energy sector is under pressure to achieve secure and affordable supply and a clear decarbonisation path. We examine the longitudinal trajectory of the Chinese electricity supply security and model the near future supply security based on the 12th 5 year plan. Our deterministic approach combines Shannon-Wiener, Herfindahl-Hirschman and electricity import dependence indices for supply security appraisal. We find that electricity portfolio innovation allows China to provide secure energy supply despite increasing import dependence. It is argued that long-term aggressive deployment of renewable energy will unblock China’s coal-biased technological lock-in and increase supply security in all fronts. However, reduced supply diversity in China during the 1990s will not recover until after 2020s due to the long-term coal lock-in that can threaten to hold China’s back from realising its full potential

Downgrading of a G3 Neuroendocrine Tumor to a G2 Tumor: Can First-Line Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Change the Tumor Biology?

The antiproliferative treatment options for neuroendocrine tumors (NET)/neuroendocrine carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract critically depend on the proliferation rate, evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67. According to their grading, tumors are treated with somatostatin analogs, mTOR inhibitors, or cytotoxic substances. This case illustrates downgrading of a primarily highly proliferative NET achieved by a variation of cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens, followed by a combination therapy using everolimus together with lanreotide. The latter medication might lead to a good clinical response as far as tumor growth is concerned

Members of the endocannabinoid system are distinctly regulated in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer

Preclinical studies have demonstrated that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in the protection against intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer (CRC); however, human data are scarce. We determined members of the ECS and related components of the ‘endocannabinoidome’ in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and CRC, and compared them to control subjects. Anandamide (AEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA) were increased in plasma of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) patients while 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) was elevated in patients with CD, but not UC. 2-AG, but not AEA, PEA and OEA, was elevated in CRC patients. Lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) 18:0 showed higher levels in patients with IBD than in control subjects whereas LPI 20:4 was elevated in both CRC and IBD. Gene expression in intestinal mucosal biopsies revealed different profiles in CD and UC. CD, but not UC patients, showed increased gene expression for the 2-AG synthesizing enzyme diacylglycerol lipase alpha. Transcripts of CNR1 and GPR119 were predominantly decreased in CD. Our data show altered plasma levels of endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-like lipids in IBD and CRC and distinct transcript profiles in UC and CD. We also report alterations for less known components in intestinal inflammation, such as GPR119, OEA and LPI

Regionale Klimaschutzprogramme – Zur integrierten Analyse von Kosten des Klimawandels und des Klimaschutzes auf regionaler Ebene

Auch wenn die im Rahmen des Kyoto-Protokolls von Deutschland eingegangene Verpflichtung zur Reduktion von Treibhausgasen nur auf der Bundesebene völker- bzw. EU-rechtlich bindend ist, sind die Bundesländer zunehmend gefordert, regionale Strategien als Antwort auf das globale Klimaproblem zu entwickeln. In diesem Beitrag wird gezeigt, welche methodischen Anforderungen an die Konzeption eines integrierten regionalen Klimaschutzprogramms aus ökonomischer Sicht zu stellen sind und welche praktischen Umsetzungsspielräume angesichts der globalen Dimension des Klimaproblems und des nationalen und internationalen klimapolitischen Rahmens auf regionaler Ebene existieren. Zunächst wird das ökonomische Entscheidungskalkül eines Bundeslandes bei der möglichst kosteneffizienten Erreichung klimapolitischer Ziele und bei der Auswahl geeigneter Anpassungsmaßnahmen gegenüber drohenden Klimaschäden erläutert. Es folgt eine Darstellung der Methodik regionaler Klimaprognosen am Beispiel Hessens bis zum Jahr 2100 sowie der regionalen Auswirkungen des Klimawandels. Erste Schadensabschätzungen für Hessen, Konzepte zur Quantifizierung und Bewertung von Klimaschäden sowie Kategorien und Kosten von Anpassungsmaßnahmen werden aufgezeigt. Einen weiteren Schwerpunkt stellt die Identifizierung regional verfügbarer CO2-Vermeidungsmaßnahmen und deren Kosten dar. Bei der klimapolitischen Zielfestlegung sollte die hohe Mobilität der Produktionsfaktoren über die Landesgrenzen hinweg berücksichtigt werden. Die Korridore für klimapolitische Maßnahmen sind bei der Einführung regionaler Klimaschutzprogramme entsprechend moderat und flexibel zu gestalten. Abstract Since the Kyoto protocol has come into force, Germany's federal states are increasingly confronted with the task of undertaking own climate protection measures. This paper introduces the conception of integrated regional climate protection programmes from an economic point of view and points out the scope for their practical implementation at regional level. At first, we explain the federal state's decision problem with respect to a cost-efficient realisation of climate policy targets and the choice of adequate adaptation measures to reduce potential climate damages. The paper continues with an introduction of the methodology of regional climate forecasts (considering as example the development in Hessen until 2100) and with a presentation of the regional impacts of climate change. After providing preliminary estimates of climate damages in Hessen, we discuss concepts for the quantification and evaluation of climate damages as well as categories and costs of adaptation measures. A further main focus is the identification of regionally available CO2-emission reduction measures and their costs