How does green finance affect the low-carbon economy? Capital allocation, green technology innovation and industry structure perspectives

The development of green finance and social low-carbon transformation is an essential concern for academia and industry. Based on Chinese provincial panel data spanning the period 2005–2019, we introduce the Cobb-Douglas production function and spatial Durbin and dynamic panel threshold models to deeply analyse the impact of green finance on the low-carbon economy. The mechanism test demonstrates that the scale, technique, and structural effects of green finance play a significant role in the low-carbon economy: they correct capital mismatch, promote green technology innovation, and optimise industrial structure. Meanwhile, green finance not only promotes the local low-carbon economy construction process, but also generates spatial spillover effects on neighbouring regions; however, there is regional heterogeneity in the impact of the transmission mechanism. Furthermore, only when capital mismatch is severe, and the low-end industrial structure poor is the positive impact of green finance on the low-carbon economy highlighted based on scale and structural effects; the ability of green finance to contribute to the low-carbon economy through the technique effect has been more stable and significant. This emphasises that green technology innovation is key to supporting low-carbon development in the long run

Assessment of habitat suitability and connectivity across the potential distribution landscape of the sambar (Rusa unicolor) in Southwest China

Habitat suitability assessment is the basis for wildlife conservation management and habitat restoration. It is a useful tool to understand the quality of wildlife habitat and its potential spatial distribution. In order to reveal the habitat suitability and connectivity of sambar (Rusa unicolor) to promote species and biodiversity conservation, this study collected records of sambar (Rusa unicolor) from over 2,000 camera traps in the forests of Southwest China in the past 5 years to assess the overall situation of their habitat. The results of the species distribution model revealed that the suitable habitat area for sambar in the five major mountain ranges (Minshan, Qionglai, Daxiangling, Xiaoxiangling, and Liangshan) in Southwest China is 18,231 km2, accounting for 17.02% of the total area. The most suitable habitat of sambar is primarily distributed in Qionglai, as well as the intersection areas of Daxiangling, Xiaoxiangling, and Minshan. The temperature annual range, temperature seasonality, elevation, and distance to road were important factors affecting the distribution of suitable habitat for sambar. Analysis of landscape pattern shows that there were 273 habitat patches, with a maximum patch area of 9,983 km2, accounting for 54.8% of the total suitable habitat area. However, the segmentation index and separation index of each habitat patch were 0.99 and 106.58, respectively, indicating a relatively high habitat fragmentation in the study area. The results of habitat connectivity analysis showed that the Qionglai mountains have the largest suitable habitat area and the highest connectivity among habitat patches. However, habitat connectivity between the five mountains is very low, suggesting that gene flow among these mountain ranges is probably limited. We therefore recommend strengthening protection of sambar and their habitat, with special attention to the establishment of corridors between the different mountain populations

The Impact of Equity Financing on the Performance of Capital-Constrained Supply Chain under Consumers’ Low-Carbon Preference

The reduction in carbon emissions by industrial enterprises is an important means for promoting environmental protection and achieving sustainable development. To determine the impact of carbon emissions reduction on supply chain operation and financing decision-making, in this study we designed three financing strategies, i.e., bank loan financing, equity financing, and hybrid financing (a combination of bank loan financing and equity financing), for a manufacturer (leader) and a low-carbon supply chain composed of a capital-constrained retailer, constructed Stackelberg game models, solved the equilibrium results under each financing strategy using the reverse recursion method, and revealed the financing preference of the supply chain member companies through comparative analysis. The results showed that the increase in the consumers’ low-carbon preference and equity financing ratio have positive impacts on supply chain equilibrium, a result that is opposite that for the impact of the interest rate of bank loan financing; additionally, the abovementioned three factors jointly determine the profit of the manufacturer of the low-carbon supply chain, while the retailer’s profit is affected by the equity dividend ratio. Finally, we present the conditions for the financing preference of the manufacturer and the retailer. The findings of this study can provide references for low-carbon supply chain companies to make appropriate management decisions

Genomic Identification and Expression Analysis of the Cathelicidin Gene Family of the Forest Musk Deer

The forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) is a small-sized artiodactyl species famous for the musk secreted by adult males. In the captive population, this species is under the threat of infection diseases, which greatly limits the increase of individual numbers. In the present study, we computationally analyzed the repertoire of the cathelicidin (CATHL) family from the genome of forest musk deer and investigated their expression pattern by real-time PCR. Our results showed that the entire genome of forest musk deer encodes eight cathelicidins, including six functional genes and two pseudogenes. Phylogenetic analyses further revealed that all forest musk deer cathelicidin members have emerged before the split of the forest musk deer and cattle and that forest musk deer CATHL3L2 and CATHL9 are orthologous with two cattle pseudogenes. In addition, the gene expression results showed that the six functional genes are not only abundantly expressed in the spleen and lung, but are also differently expressed in response to abscesses, which suggests that forest musk deer cathelicidins may be involved in infections. Taken together, identification and characterization of the forest musk deer cathelicidins provide fundamental data for further investigating their evolutionary process and biological functions

Expression of HGF, MMP-9 and TGF-beta 1 in the CSF and cerebral tissue of adult rats with hydrocephalus

Xiamen UniversityObject: The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) are important cytokines with modulatory actions in the nervous system. In this study, we attempted to investigate the role and expression of HGF, MMP-9 and TGF-beta 1 in the cerebral tissue and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of adult rats with hydrocephalus induced via intraventricular kaolin injection. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group (n=12) and experimental group (n=20). Kaolin was injected into the lateral ventricle of experimental animals. Control rats underwent the same procedure but received sterile saline injection instead of kaolin. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess ventricle size. The CSF was studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the excised brains were studied by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses to measure the messenger RNA and protein expression level of HGF, MMP-9 and TGF-beta 1. Results: Hydrocephalus was induced in all the rats after kaolin injection into the lateral ventricle. After 2 weeks, the expressions of HGF, MMP-9 and TGF-beta 1 in the CSF and cerebral tissue were significantly increased in the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusions: This results indicated that HGF, MMP-9 and TGF-beta 1 may participate in the formation and prognosis of hydrocephalus after kaolin induction

Minocycline reduces reactive gliosis in the rat model of hydrocephalus

Abstract Background Reactive gliosis had been implicated in injury and recovery patterns associated with hydrocephalus. Our aim is to determine the efficacy of minocycline, an antibiotic known for its anti-inflammatory properties, to reduce reactive gliosis and inhibit the development of hydrocephalus. Results The ventricular dilatation were evaluated by MRI at 1-week post drugs treated, while GFAP and Iba-1were detected by RT-PCR, Immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The expression of GFAP and Iba-1 was significantly higher in hydrocephalic group compared with saline control group (p ). Minocycline treatment of hydrocephalic animals reduced the expression of GFAP and Iba-1 significantly (p ). Likewise, the severity of ventricular dilatation is lower in minocycline treated hydrocephalic animals compared with the no minocycline group (p ). Conclusion Minocycline treatment is effective in reducing the gliosis and delaying the development of hydrocephalus with prospective to be the auxiliary therapeutic method of hydrocephalus.</p

Minocycline reduces reactive gliosis in the rat model of hydrocephalus

Natural Science Foundation of China [81271332]Background: Reactive gliosis had been implicated in injury and recovery patterns associated with hydrocephalus. Our aim is to determine the efficacy of minocycline, an antibiotic known for its anti-inflammatory properties, to reduce reactive gliosis and inhibit the development of hydrocephalus. Results: The ventricular dilatation were evaluated by MRI at 1-week post drugs treated, while GFAP and Iba-1were detected by RT-PCR, Immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The expression of GFAP and Iba-1 was significantly higher in hydrocephalic group compared with saline control group (p < 0.05). Minocycline treatment of hydrocephalic animals reduced the expression of GFAP and Iba-1 significantly (p < 0.05). Likewise, the severity of ventricular dilatation is lower in minocycline treated hydrocephalic animals compared with the no minocycline group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Minocycline treatment is effective in reducing the gliosis and delaying the development of hydrocephalus with prospective to be the auxiliary therapeutic method of hydrocephalus

Predicted Climate Change Impacts on Distribution and Habitat Structure of Forest Ungulates in Southwest China

Climate change will impact the distribution of species and their preferred habitat, thereby influencing the ecological processes intrinsic to these species. To investigate these phenomena, we analyzed the habitat distribution, structure, and connectivity of 6 forest ungulate species in Southwest China under current and future climate scenarios. Habitat projections indicate that forest ungulates will migrate to the southwest at higher elevations and the northwest at higher latitudes and elevations in the study area under climate change. The extent to which climate change affects the 6 forest ungulates is quite different. By 2050, there will still be a certain range of habitats for migration in the study area, but the habitat quality of species will have decreased to varying degrees after migration. By 2070, most forest ungulates will begin to experience significant habitat loss and habitat quality decline. The migration of species habitat also leads to a change in species habitat structure. Habitat landscape quality declines for most forest ungulate species. The loss of patches at the junction habitat has a huge impact on species habitat connectivity. The number and distance of corridors between the marginal habitat patches and the core habitat patches increase to a certain extent. To better achieve biodiversity conservation, we should strengthen the restoration and connectivity management of fragmented habitats to protect and restore the current habitats of species. Examples include the management of specific key areas and the establishment of large-scale integrated protected areas such as the Giant Panda National Park