Environmental performance rating and disclosure - China's green-watch program

This paper describes a new incentive-based pollution control program in China in which the environmental performance of firms is rated and reported to the public. Firms are rated from best to worst using five colors-green, blue, yellow, red, and black-and the ratings are disseminated to the public through the media. The impact has been substantial, suggesting that public disclosure provides a significant incentive for firms to improve their environmental performance. The paper focuses on the experience of the first two disclosure programs, in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province and Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Successful implementation of these programs at two very different levels of economic and institutional development suggests that public disclosure should be feasible in most of China. The Zhenjiang and Hohhot experiences have also shown that performance disclosure can significantly reduce pollution, even in settings where environmental nongovernmental organizations are not very active and there is no formal channel for public participation in environmental regulation.Environmental Economics&Policies,Public Health Promotion,Decentralization,Water and Industry,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Environmental Economics&Policies,Water and Industry,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,National Governance,Health Economics&Finance

Energy consumption and economic growth in China: A multivariate causality test

a b s t r a c t This study takes a fresh look at the direction of causality between energy consumption and economic growth in China during the period from 1972 to 2006, using a multivariate cointegration approach. Given the weakness associated with the bivariate causality framework, the current study performs a multivariate causality framework by incorporating capital and labor variables into the model between energy consumption and economic growth based on neo-classical aggregate production theory. Using the recently developed autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach, a long-run equilibrium cointegration relationship has been found to exist between economic growth and the explanatory variables: energy consumption, capital and employment. Empirical results reveal that the long-run parameter of energy consumption on economic growth in China is approximately 0.15, through a long-run static solution of the estimated ARDL model, and that for the short-run is approximately 0.12 by the error correction model. The study also indicates the existence of shortrun and long-run causality running from energy consumption, capital and employment to economic growth. The estimation results imply that energy serves as an important source of economic growth, thus more vigorous energy use and economic development strategies should be adopted for China

Peran Gaya Kepemimpinan Transformasional Memoderasi Pengaruh Motivasi Intrinsik dan Kecerdasan Emosional terhadap Kinerja Guru (Studi Kasus pada SMA Negeri di Kecamatan Pati Kabupaten Pati)

This research is intended to examine the influence of motivation intrinsic and emotional intelligence to the state senior high school teachers\u27 work performance with the moderation of transformational leadership style. The specific purpose of this research is to examine the role of transformational leadership style moderates the influence of intrinsic motivation and emotional intelligence to the teachers\u27 work performance. The USAge of this research is to explain and expand the previous research about the role of transformational leadership style moderates the influence of intrinsic motivation and emotional intelligence to the teachers\u27 work performance. This research used the population of 116 teachers of state senior high school in Pati District, Pati Regency. The technique of sample collection used in this research is non-probability sampling with the purposive method. The analysis technique used in this research is regression model moderate quasi. Based on the research result can be conduded that: intrinsic motivation influences teachers\u27 work performance, emotional intelligence influences the teachers\u27 work performance, transformational leadership style do not moderate the influence of intrinsic motivation to teachers\u27 work performance, , transformational leadership style strengthen the influence of emotional intelligence to the teachers\u27 workperformance

Paeoniflorin Attenuated Oxidative Stress in Rat COPD Model Induced by Cigarette Smoke

Paeoniflorin (PF), a monoterpene glucoside, might have an effect on the oxidative stress. However, the mechanism is still unknown. In this study, we made the COPD model in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by exposing them to the smoke of 20 cigarettes for 1 hour/day and 6 days/week, for 12 weeks, 24 weeks, or 36 weeks. Our findings suggested that smoke inhalation can trigger the oxidative stress from the very beginning. A 24-week treatment of PF especially in the dosage of 40 mg/kg·d can attenuate oxygen stress by partially quenching reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulating antioxidant enzymes via an Nrf2-dependent mechanism

Impact of Water Saving Policy on Water Resource and Economy for Hebei, China Based on an Improved Computable General Equilibrium Model

Hebei Province of China is facing a severe water resource shortage, making it urgent to formulate economical and effective water conservation policies. However, few studies have focused on analyzing the resource and economic impacts of a water policy. This study developed an improved computable general equilibrium (CGE) model with an extended water resources module as a policy analysis tool. The extended water resources module includes different water resources as commodities and water sectors, and introduces a substitution mechanism among the water resources. Policy scenarios containing different policy types and policy objects were established, including water price, technology (tech) improvement, structure adjustment, and water reuse policies in primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors. The impact on the water resource and economy of the scenarios was analyzed using the CGE model. The recommended policies include: an agricultural technology improvement policy that decreases groundwater usage by 240 hm3; an industrial technology improvement policy under which water usage per 10,000 CNY of industrial added value decreases by 13%; an industrial water reuse policy that increases unconventional water usage by 20%; and a structure adjustment policy to increase the proportion of the tertiary sector. The study provides an analysis tool for simulating and evaluating a water resource policy

Energy consumption and economic growth in China: A multivariate causality test

This study takes a fresh look at the direction of causality between energy consumption and economic growth in China during the period from 1972 to 2006, using a multivariate cointegration approach. Given the weakness associated with the bivariate causality framework, the current study performs a multivariate causality framework by incorporating capital and labor variables into the model between energy consumption and economic growth based on neo-classical aggregate production theory. Using the recently developed autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach, a long-run equilibrium cointegration relationship has been found to exist between economic growth and the explanatory variables: energy consumption, capital and employment. Empirical results reveal that the long-run parameter of energy consumption on economic growth in China is approximately 0.15, through a long-run static solution of the estimated ARDL model, and that for the short-run is approximately 0.12 by the error correction model. The study also indicates the existence of short-run and long-run causality running from energy consumption, capital and employment to economic growth. The estimation results imply that energy serves as an important source of economic growth, thus more vigorous energy use and economic development strategies should be adopted for China.Energy consumption Autoregressive distributed lag China

The pip1s Quintuple Mutants Demonstrate the Essential Roles of PIP1s in the Plant Growth and Development of Arabidopsis

Plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) transport water, CO2 and small neutral solutes across the plasma membranes. In this study, we used the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 system (CRISPR/Cas9) to mutate PIP1;4 and PIP1;5 in a pip1;1,2,3 triple mutant to generate a pip1;1,2,3,4,5 (pip1s−) quintuple mutant. Compared to the wild-type (WT) plant, the pip1s− mutants had smaller sized rosette leaves and flowers, less rosette leaf number, more undeveloped siliques, shorter silique and less seeds. The pollen germination rate of the pip1s− mutant was significantly lower than that of the WT and the outer wall of the pip1s− mutant’s pollen was deformed. The transcriptomic analysis showed significant alterations in the expression of many key genes and transcription factors (TFs) in the pip1s− mutant which involved in the development of leaf, flower and pollen, suggesting that the mutant of PIP1s not only directly affects hydraulics and carbon fixation, but also regulates the expression of related genes to affect plant growth and development

Establishment and Evaluation of a Rat Model of Sidestream Cigarette Smoke-Induced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common cause of mortality worldwide. The current lack of an animal model that can be established within a certain time frame and imitate the unique features of the disease is a major limiting factor in its study. The present study established and evaluated an animal model of COPD that represents the early and advanced stage features using short-, middle-, and long-term sidestream cigarette smoke (CS) exposure. One hundred and nine Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into 10 groups for different periods of sidestream CS exposure or no exposure (i.e., normal groups). The rats were exposed to CS from 3R4F cigarettes in an exposure chamber. Histological analysis was performed to determine pathological changes. We also conducted open-field tests, lung function evaluations, and cytokine analysis of the blood serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung tissue. The lung tissue protein levels, blood gases, and were also analyzed. As the CS exposure time increased, the indicators associated with oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and airway remodeling were greater in the CS exposure groups than in the normal group. At 24 and 36 weeks, the COPD model rats displayed the middle- and advanced-stage features of COPD, respectively. In the 8-week CS exposure group, after the CS exposure was stopped for 4 weeks, inflammatory responses and oxidative responses were ameliorated and lung function exacerbation was reduced compared with the 12-week CS exposure group. Therefore, we established a more adequate rat model of sidestream CS induced COPD, which will have great significance for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of COPD and drug effectiveness evaluation

Baicalin Exerts Anti-Airway Inflammation and Anti-Remodelling Effects in Severe Stage Rat Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a worldwide epidemic. Current approaches are disappointing due to limited improvement of the disease development. The present study established 36-week side stream cigarette smoke induced rat model of COPD with advanced stage feature and evaluted the effects of baicalin on the model. Fifty-four Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups including room air control, cigarette smoke exposure, baicalin (40 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg, and 160 mg/kg), and budesonide used as a positive control. Rats were exposed to cigarette smoke from 3R4F research cigarettes. Pulmonary function was evaluated and pathological changes were also observed. Cytokine level related to airway inflammation and remodelling in blood serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung tissue was determined. Blood gases and HPA axis function were also examined, and antioxidant levels were quantified. Results showed that, after treatment with baicalin, lung function was improved and histopathological changes were ameliorated. Baicalin also regulated proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory balance and also airway remodelling and anti-airway remodelling factors in blood serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung tissue. Antioxidant capacity was also increased after treatment with baicalin in COPD rat model. HPA axis function was improved in baicalin treated groups as compared to model group. Therefore, baicalin exerts lung function protection, proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine regulation, anti-airway remodelling, and antioxidant role in long term CS induced COPD model