Association between maternal lipid profiles and vitamin D status in second trimester and risk of LGA or SGA: a retrospective study

BackgroundAccumulating evidence has linked dyslipidemia during pregnancy to the risk of delivering infants born either large for gestational age (LGA) or small for gestational age (SGA). However, the effects of the vitamin D status on these relationships require further investigation. This study investigated whether the relationship between lipid profiles and the risk of LGA or SGA was influenced by vitamin D levels during the second trimester.MethodsMaternal lipid profile levels, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and vitamin D levels, were measured in a cohort of 6,499 pregnant women during the second trimester. Multivariate regression models and subgroup analyses were employed to evaluate the potential associations between maternal lipid profiles, vitamin D levels, and the risk of LGA or SGA.ResultsThe prevalence of SGA infants was 9.8% (n=635), whereas that of LGA infants was 6.9% (n=447). Maternal TG levels were found to be positively associated with the risk of LGA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.17–1.70), whereas a negative association was observed between maternal TG, TC, LDL-C levels, and risk of SGA. Additionally, mothers with higher HDL-C levels were less likely to give birth to an LGA infant (OR=0.58, 95% CI:0.39–0.85). Importantly, associations between TG, TC, LDL-c, and SGA as well as between TG and LGA were primarily observed among pregnant women with insufficient vitamin D levels. As for HDL-C, the risk of LGA was lower in mothers with sufficient vitamin D (OR = 0.42, 95% CI:0.18–0.98) compared to those with insufficient vitamin D (OR = 0.65, 95% CI:0.42–0.99).ConclusionVitamin D status during the second trimester exerts a modifying effect on the association between lipid profiles and the risk of LGA and SGA infants

Productivity of Chinese Regions and the Location of Multinational Research and Development

This article examines the determinants and interregional spillovers of regional productivity and multinational enterprise (MNE) research and development (R&D) in China. The authors apply a two-equation recursive model to a panel data set of thirty provinces and equivalents from 1998 to 2005. The estimated MNE R&D location equation indicates that the main determinants of MNE R&D location are supply-side factors—the availability of scientists and engineers, the average salary of R&D personnel, regional infrastructure, and spillovers of MNE R&D in the neighboring regions, but not demand-side factors such as the size of regional market and the previous foreign direct investment (FDI). Moreover, MNE R&D has a strong tendency to locate in regions with an export-oriented economy. The productivity equation reveals a significant causal relationship between MNE R&D investment and regional productivity. The estimates further indicate that regional productivity is determined not only by factor inputs within own region but also by productivity in the neighboring regions. In conclusion, the authors briefly discuss the policy implications of the findings for increasing the productivity of different regions and using MNE R&D.multinational enterprise R&D; regional productivity; spillover effects; spatial econometrics; Chinese regions

Spatial Characteristics and Dynamics of Provincial Total Factor Productivity in China.

This paper explores the influence of spatial effects on the convergence of total factor productivity (TFP) across Chinese regions. We use the Moran index, Markov transition matrix and panel data techniques to analyse spatial dependence, transition dynamics and disparities in TFP across Chinese provinces over the period from 1978 to 2004. We find that in the period following 1978, there has been an increase in spatial dependence in provincial-level TFPs across the various regions in China. However, the extent of this dependence is not the same across regions and the direction of movement of provincial TFP does not show convergence. On the contrary, provincial TFPs at the middle quintile level moved to the quintile levels at the highest and lowest levels, suggesting divergence and polarization in TFP across Chinese regions. The ‘New Eastern Region’ appears to be a TFP convergence club over the sampling period but no evidence is found suggesting convergence of TFP between provinces in the other subgroups. Policy implications are discussed

The transmission effects of iron ore price shocks on China's economy and industries: a CGE approach

This paper assesses the transmission impacts of world iron ore price fluctuation on China's macroeconomics and industries. The analytical framework is a computable general equilibrium model. The results demonstrate that a sharp increase in imported iron ore price will exert certain negative effects on macroeconomic and industries in China. It exerts a negative chain-effect on regional output and employment in Beijing, Tianjin, Liaoning, Shanghai and Hainan province, while a slight impact on Gansu and Qinghai province. Finally, we carry out the systematic sensitivity analysis, and found that the sensitivity of the model results with respect to import trade function is not strong.iron ore; computable general equilibrium; CGE; FOB price; systematic sensitivity analysis; SSA; price shocks; China; price fluctuation; macroeconomics; regional output; regional employment; imports.

Double-edged effects of the technology gap and technology spillovers: Evidence from the Chinese industrial sector

This paper proposes a new insight that the technology gap plays double-edged roles in the technology spillovers of foreign direct investment (FDI) through two channels, technology choice set and technology absorptive capability. Applying a multiple-threshold model, we examine the non-linear relationship between the technology gap and technology spillovers based on the provincial panel data of the Chinese industrial sector during 1993-2006. The empirical results support the hypothesis of two thresholds, which are 0.3071 and 0.5214 in terms of the technology gap respectively. The estimated thresholds indicate the sufficient absorptive capability is the premise for FDI technology spillovers. Moreover, it implies the marginal decrease of FDI technology spillover effects in the long run.FDI technology gap technology spillovers multiple-threshold model

Economic and Environmental Effects of Water Pollution Abatement Policy in China: A Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

The rapid economic growth in China over two decades has unfortunately been accompanied by severe pollution problems. The environment pollution has increased dramatically and environmental cost wherefrom is enormous. In particular, water pollution situation remains a challenge in China despite substantial pollution control investments in recent years. Chinese government has been seeking effective policy instruments to curb the increase of pollution while seeking high economic growth. Implementation of environmental pollution control policies such as command-and-control measures, pollution charge levy system and voluntarily measures play a big part in leveling off or even reducing pollution loads, particularly in certain targeted industrial sectors. However, to date, very little quantitative evidence is provided for which policy is actually effective and suitable in China. Therefore, exploring the pollution situation and control practice in the past years and evaluating effect of a series of abatement policy is a big concern and what are sustainable mechanisms for financing water pollution control is an imperative question for policy makers. This paper aims to examine a series of water pollution abatement policy alternatives applied in paper &pulp industry using MCHUGE-WAT for China--- a dynamic general equilibrium model of the Chinese economy incorporated with environmental module. All of these policies alternatives are focused on reducing COD. For model specification, in this study, we integrate various water pollution control activities with economic activities in a CGE framework. The environmental module includes mainly: (1)various pollution indicators including the levels of pollution abatement and water COD intensity, linking water pollution with production activities by pollution intensity, upgrading this intensity to 2010;(2) decomposition effect of water pollution discharge ;(3)water pollution abatement module disaggregating the industry into two types-“new industry” which adopts the water pollution abatement measure and “old industry “ which does not, to depict the policy of closing old and small-scale industry and the activity of purchase of wastewater abatement facilities by new industry, simulating the historical change of wastewater discharge standardmeeting rate; (4) water pollution taxes, i.e. production pollution emission taxes. The model can be characterized as an integrated economic and environmental model in the line of the CGE approach. Taking paper &pulp industry as an example, it is disaggregated as new and old industry and the database of water pollution discharge and water pollution tax is built in reference of data of Environmental Yearbook. The historical baseline of macro-economy and water pollution discharge is upgrading basing on the data from 2005 to 2010 and the forecast baseline is developed as well. For simulation design, firstly, the business-as-usual scenario is presented as baseline without any shock. This paper divides the paper industry into two groups: treated industries and untreated industries and assigns them to different pollution intensity. Then a historical simulation is presented to explain the big drop of total pollution intensity for paper industry. Then in scenario 1 ， this paper simulates the economic and environmental effect of cumulative environment investment as the fixed capital ---water treatment equipment. Scenario 2 the effect of increase of operational costs like energy consumption and labor costs for water treatment is simulated. In scenario 3, environmental service is bought by government which is financed by pollution tax. In scenario 4, the increasing pollution tax rate is simulate