The dual environmental and economic effects of the emission trading scheme under local fiscal pressure: “efficient markets” and “promising governments”

Compared with developed economies, China implements the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) within a fundamentally distinct political-economic-institutional context. This study aims to investigate the internal mechanisms and external constraints of emission trading scheme in achieving the dual benefits of environmental preservation and economic advancement within the institutional context of fiscal decentralization. We demonstrate that the transmission from emission reduction to economic returns inherently facilitates the realization of dual benefits, and further propose a restrictive effect of local fiscal pressure on the effectiveness of the emission trading scheme. Using panel data of 284 prefectural-level cities from 2003 to 2017, we conduct a quasi-experiment based on China’s emission trading scheme pilot policy in 2007. The results indicate three primary conclusions: First, the implementation of emission trading scheme in China generally yields dual environmental-economic benefits, with emission reduction serving as a transmission channel for realizing economic gains. Second, high fiscal pressure on local governments not only directly undermines policy effects but also indirectly affects the transmission channel. Finally, the dual benefits have been realized in eastern China, but not yet in the central and western regions. This study contributes to the research on market-oriented environmental governance under fiscal decentralization. The theoretical logic of this study can be applied to a wide range of market-based mechanisms for green factors trading, providing valuable insights for countries facing similar challenges

A Cross-Tissue Investigation of Molecular Targets and Physiological Functions of Nsun6 Using Knockout Mice

The 5-methylcytosine (m5C) modification on an mRNA molecule is deposited by Nsun2 and its paralog Nsun6. While the physiological functions of Nsun2 have been carefully studied using gene knockout (KO) mice, the physiological functions of Nsun6 remain elusive. In this study, we generated an Nsun6-KO mouse strain, which exhibited no apparent phenotype in both the development and adult stages as compared to wild-type mice. Taking advantage of this mouse strain, we identified 80 high-confident Nsun6-dependent m5C sites by mRNA bisulfite sequencing in five different tissues and systematically analyzed the transcriptomic phenotypes of Nsun6-KO tissues by mRNA sequencing. Our data indicated that Nsun6 is not required for the homeostasis of these organs under laboratory housing conditions, but its loss may affect immune response in the spleen and oxidoreductive reaction in the liver under certain conditions. Additionally, we further investigated T-cell-dependent B cell activation in KO mice and found that Nsun6 is not essential for the germinal center B cell formation but is associated with the formation of antibody-secreting plasma cells. Finally, we found that Nsun6-mediated m5C modification does not have any evident influence on the stability of Nsun6 target mRNAs, suggesting that Nsun6-KO-induced phenotypes may be associated with other functions of the m5C modification or Nsun6 protein

Postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio change predicts survival of patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing radiofrequency ablation.

BackgroundAn elevated preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to be a prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after treatment. However, the clinical implication of postoperative NLR change remains unclear.Materials and methodsFrom May 2005 to Aug 2008, a cohort of consecutive 178 small HCC patients treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was retrospectively reviewed. The NLR was recorded within 3 days before and 1 month after RFA. Baseline characteristics, overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) were compared according to preoperative NLR and/or postoperative NLR change. Prognostic factors were assessed by multivariate analysis.ResultsCompared with preoperative NLR level, postoperative NLR decreased in 87 patients and increased in 91 patients after RFA. No significant differences were identified between two groups in commonly used clinic-pathologic features. The 1, 3, 5 years OS was 98.8%, 78.6%, 67.1% for NLR decreased group, and 92.2%, 55.5%, 35.4% for NLR increased group respectively (PConclusionThe postoperative NLR change was an independent prognostic factor for small HCC patient undergoing RFA, and patients with decreased NLR indicated better survival than those with increased NLR

Graphs show the overall survival curves for patients with postoperative NLR decreased and increased after RFA.

<p>The difference between groups were statistically significant (log-rank test, <i>P</i><0.001).</p

A Cross-Tissue Investigation of Molecular Targets and Physiological Functions of Nsun6 Using Knockout Mice

The 5-methylcytosine (m5C) modification on an mRNA molecule is deposited by Nsun2 and its paralog Nsun6. While the physiological functions of Nsun2 have been carefully studied using gene knockout (KO) mice, the physiological functions of Nsun6 remain elusive. In this study, we generated an Nsun6-KO mouse strain, which exhibited no apparent phenotype in both the development and adult stages as compared to wild-type mice. Taking advantage of this mouse strain, we identified 80 high-confident Nsun6-dependent m5C sites by mRNA bisulfite sequencing in five different tissues and systematically analyzed the transcriptomic phenotypes of Nsun6-KO tissues by mRNA sequencing. Our data indicated that Nsun6 is not required for the homeostasis of these organs under laboratory housing conditions, but its loss may affect immune response in the spleen and oxidoreductive reaction in the liver under certain conditions. Additionally, we further investigated T-cell-dependent B cell activation in KO mice and found that Nsun6 is not essential for the germinal center B cell formation but is associated with the formation of antibody-secreting plasma cells. Finally, we found that Nsun6-mediated m5C modification does not have any evident influence on the stability of Nsun6 target mRNAs, suggesting that Nsun6-KO-induced phenotypes may be associated with other functions of the m5C modification or Nsun6 protein

Graphs show the recurrence free survival curves for patients with postoperative NLR decreased and increased after RFA.

<p>The difference between groups were statistically significant (log-rank test, <i>P</i><0.001).</p

Cox proportional hazards model of baseline prognosticators for overall survival in 178 patients with small HCC undergoing RFA.

<p>AFP, a-fetoprotein; CI, confidence interval; HBeAg, hepatitis B e-antigen; HR, hazard ratio; NLR, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio; RFA, radiofrequency ablation.</p

Graphs show the overall survival curves for patients with preoperative NLR≥1.9 and NLR<1.9.

<p>The difference between groups were statistically significant (log-rank test, <i>P</i> = 0.030).</p

Cox proportional hazards model of baseline prognosticators for new recurrence in 178 patients with small HCC undergoing RFA.

<p>AFP, a-fetoprotein; CI, confidence interval; HBeAg, hepatitis B e-antigen; HR, hazard ratio; NLR, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio; RFA, radiofrequency ablation.</p