Are smart cities green? The role of environmental and digital policies for Eco-innovation in China

In this paper, we employ negative binomial and quasi-natural experimental methods (i.e., Difference-in-Differences and Propensity Score Matching), whereby we examine the joint impact of environmental and digital policies (for designing smart cities) upon the generation of eco-innovations in China. Using longitudinal data for the period 2006–2018, we examine the changes in green patents granted: (i) due to the implementation of various levels of stringency of environmental policies across all cities; and (ii) after the introduction of smart city policies in 2012 in China. The prior literature stresses the importance of environmental policies, yet less attention has been paid to digital policies required to drive eco-innovation and their spatial dimension in the context of a developing economy. Our results show that, when digital policies (artificial intelligence and internet of things) are implemented in cities that have adopted strict environmental policies, the production of green patents increases. We contribute to debates in the literature of policy mix for sustainability transitions in the context of a developing economy by illustrating the importance of both types of policy for eco-innovation, as they correct two market failures and, more importantly, address the systemic coordination problems that occur during the production of green patents

The use of environmental enrichments affects performance and behavior of growing rabbits housed in collective pens

This study assessed the effects of an elevated plastic-slatted platform and/or a plastic hiding tube in collective pens with large group sizes (27 or 36 rabbits/pen; 16 rabbits/m2) on the performance and welfare of rabbits kept from weaning (at 33 days of age) to slaughter (at 68 or 75 days of age). Growth performance, injuries, and behavior (video recorded for 24 h) of rabbits (n = 504) were recorded. The platform allowed rabbits to adopt the rearing position more frequently (+0.14 events during 2 min every 30 min across 24 h) and to rest with stretched body for longer (+3.8% of observed time) (p < 0.001). Production parameters and reactivity at the open field test were not modified, but the occurrence of injured rabbits at the trial end was higher in pens with platforms (+8.9%; p < 0.01). This result was possibly related to the higher group size in pens with platforms (36 rabbits) compared to those without platforms (27 rabbits). The inclusion of the tube decreased growth (-2.2 g/d; p < 0.05), whereas it was scarcely used by rabbits and it did not substantially change their behavior or the occurrence of injuries. In conclusion, under the experimental conditions of this study, elevated platforms worked as a useful structural enrichment in view of animal behavior but negatively impacted on the rate of injuries, whereas the usefulness of the tube was not confirmed

Effect of genotype, gender and feed restriction on growth, meat quality and the occurrence of white striping and wooden breast in broiler chickens

Due to their importance for the control of meat quality in broiler chickens, the present study aimed at identifying the factors associated with the occurrence of myopathies and characterizing the meat properties when affected by myopathies. To this aim, a total of 768 broiler chickens were reared until slaughter (46 d) to evaluate the effect of genotype, gender, and feeding regime (ad libitum vs. restricted rate, 80% from 13 to 21 d of age) on performance and meat quality. Standard broilers were heavier (3,270 vs. 3,139 g; P &lt; 0.001) and showed lower feed conversion (1.56 vs. 1.61; P &lt; 0.001) than the high-yield broilers. Males showed higher final live weight (3,492 vs. 2,845 g) and lower feed conversion (1.54 vs. 1.63) than females (P &lt; 0.001). Feed restriction decreased final live weight (3,194 vs. 3,142 g; P &lt; 0.01) and feed conversion (1.60 vs. 1.57; P &lt; 0.01) compared to ad libitum feeding. At gross examination, feed restriction tended to increase white-striped breasts (69.5 vs. 79.5%; P &lt; 0.10), whereas females showed less wooden breasts than males (8.0 vs. 16.3%; P &lt; 0.05). White-striped fillets had higher pHu (5.87 vs. 5.83), and lower a* (-0.81 vs. -0.59) and b* color indexes (13.7 vs. 14.5) (P &lt; 0.05), whereas wooden breast fillets exhibited higher cooking losses (25.6 vs. 22.1%) and AK-shear force (4.23 vs. 2.84 kg/g) compared with normal fillets (P &lt; 0.001). At histological examination, 3.1% of pectoralis major were normal, 26.6% mildly degenerated, 45.3% moderately degenerated, and 25.0% severely degenerated. In conclusion, genotype had a moderate effect on growth without modifying myopathy occurrence. In contrast, gender and feed restriction affected performance, meat quality, and breast abnormalities

Linking early-life NMDAR hypofunction and oxidative stress in schizophrenia pathogenesis.

Molecular, genetic and pathological evidence suggests that deficits in GABAergic parvalbumin-positive interneurons contribute to schizophrenia pathophysiology through alterations in the brain's excitation-inhibition balance that result in impaired behaviour and cognition. Although the factors that trigger these deficits are diverse, there is increasing evidence that they converge on a common pathological hub that involves NMDA receptor hypofunction and oxidative stress. These factors have been separately linked to schizophrenia pathogenesis, but evidence now suggests that they are mechanistically interdependent and contribute to a common schizophrenia-associated pathology

Mechanical Properties of Alumina Nextel-TM 720 Fibres at Room and Elevated Temperatures: Tensile Bundle Testing.

Abstract not availableJRC.F-Institute for Energy (Petten

Combined Effects of External Coating and Fibre Contraction upon the Tensile Creep Behaviour of Nicalon/CVI SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites.

Abstract not availableJRC.(IAM)-Institute For Advanced Material

Erlotinib-associated rash in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Relation to clinicopathological characteristics, treatment response, and survival

Systematic treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) includes targeted treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The development of skin rash and its intensity have been associated with EGFR TKI&apos;s efficacy. The main purpose of this study was to further investigate the potential value of erlotinib-associated rash as a predictor of prognosis and treatment response in a real-world cohort of patients with advanced NSCLC. The medical records of all NSCLC patients treated with erlotinib at the Oncology Unit of GPP, Sotiria Athens General Hospital between January 1, 2014 and August 31, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Seventy-nine patient medical records fulfilled the criteria and were included in the study. Development of erlotinib-associated rash was correlated with clinicopathological characteristics of patients, treatment response, and overall survival (OS) using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The number of patients with rash was greater in the responders group (90% vs. 46.4%, p = 0.015). In univariate analysis, there was a statistically significant association between rash development and time to progression (TTP) [HR: 0.32 (0.17-0.57), p &lt; 0.001]. With multivariate Cox regression analysis, it was found that PS ≥ 2 (HR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.12-3.60, p = 0.018) and rash (HR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.18-0.63, p = 0.001) were independently associated with TTP and also that the duration of treatment with erlotinib (HR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.42-0.80, p = 0.001) and rash (HR: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.20-0.48, p = 0.004) was an independent predictor of survival. Our results suggest that erlotinib-associated rash may represent a clinically valuable biomarker for the prediction of treatment response and OS in patients with advanced NSCLC. © 2018 Cognizant, LLC

Prestaciones productivas y comportamiento en conejos de engorde alojados en recintos colectivos con o sin enriquecimiento ambiental

Se ha evaluado el efecto de la presencia de una plataforma elevada o un tubo de plástico sobre el crecimiento y el comportamiento de 504 conejos de engorde criados en grupos numerosos (27 o 36 conejos) desde el destete (33 d) hasta el sacrificio (68 o 75 d). Los conejos alojados en recintos con plataforma presentaron similares prestaciones productivas durante el ciclo pero una mayor presencia de lesiones atribuibles a agresiones al final del ciclo comparados con los recintos sin plataforma (26,6% vs. 11,7%; P<0,01). En los recintos con plataforma, los conejos permanecieron un 20,6% del tiempo total de observación sobre este elemento, reposaron más con el cuerpo extendido y dedicaron menos tiempo al allo-grooming (P<0,001). La presencia de un tubo de plástico en los recintos disminuyó el crecimiento medio (39,7 g/d vs. 43,4 g/d; P<0,001) y el peso al sacrificio (2467 g vs. 2600 g; P<0,01) y tuvo un efecto limitado en el repertorio comportamental

Acute severe asthma in adolescent and adult patients: Current perspectives on assessment and management

Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease that is associated with variable expiratory flow, variable respiratory symptoms, and exacerbations which sometimes require hospitalization or may be fatal. It is not only patients with severe and poorly controlled asthma that are at risk for an acute severe exacerbation, but this has also been observed in patients with otherwise mild or moderate asthma. This review discusses current aspects on the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of acute severe asthma exacerbations and provides the current perspectives on the management of acute severe asthma attacks in the emergency department and the intensive care unit. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland