Evaluation on substitution of energy transition—An empirical analysis based on factor elasticity

The study explores into the dynamic change features and technological differences in substitution between factors and energy sources for various types of China’s technological progresses from 1990 to 2020. The measurement for such a study is conducted from the perspective of factor substitution by employing the transcendental logarithmic production function. The results reveal that the sources of contribution to China’s economic development are mainly attributed to non-energy factors such as capital and labor, as capital and labor can effectively substitute energy, and non-fossil energy sources possess certain comparative advantages over fossil energy sources in terms of technology within energy factors. With such an increase in substitution, the trend of clean energy substitution for fossil energy is irreversible. Accordingly, it is proposed that the path for energy conservation and consumption reduction via energy transformation be achieved by increasing input into capital and labor to improve the utilization efficiency of these two factors from the perspective of factor substitution. Meanwhile, preferences should be delivered for the development of non-fossil energy sources in terms of technology bias and input scale

Neuroprotective Effect of Sonic Hedgehog Mediated PI3K/AKT Pathway in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Model Mice

The Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway is related to the progression of various tumors and nervous system diseases. Still, its specific role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), remains studied. This research investigates the role of SHH and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway proteins on ALS development in a SOD1-G93A transgenic mouse model. After injection of SHH and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitors or agonists in hSOD1-G93A (9 weeks of age) transgenic mice, we studied skeletal muscle pathology using immunohistochemical staining and Western blot methods. In addition, recorded data on rotation time, weight, and survival were analyzed for these mice. Our study showed that the expression of SHH, Gli-1 and p-AKT in ALS mice decreased with the progression of the disease. The expression of p-AKT changed together with Gli-1 while injecting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitor or agonist; SHH and Gli-1 protein expression remained unchanged; p-AKT protein expression significantly decreased while injecting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitor. These results indicate that SHH has a regulatory effect on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In behavioral experiments, we found that the survival time of hSOD1-G93A mice was prolonged by injection of SHH agonist while shortened by injection of SHH inhibitor. In conclusion, we confirmed that the SHH pathway played a neuroprotective role in ALS by mediating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Evaluation on substitution of energy transition—An empirical analysis based on factor elasticity

The study explores into the dynamic change features and technological differences in substitution between factors and energy sources for various types of China’s technological progresses from 1990 to 2020. The measurement for such a study is conducted from the perspective of factor substitution by employing the transcendental logarithmic production function. The results reveal that the sources of contribution to China’s economic development are mainly attributed to non-energy factors such as capital and labor, as capital and labor can effectively substitute energy, and non-fossil energy sources possess certain comparative advantages over fossil energy sources in terms of technology within energy factors. With such an increase in substitution, the trend of clean energy substitution for fossil energy is irreversible. Accordingly, it is proposed that the path for energy conservation and consumption reduction via energy transformation be achieved by increasing input into capital and labor to improve the utilization efficiency of these two factors from the perspective of factor substitution. Meanwhile, preferences should be delivered for the development of non-fossil energy sources in terms of technology bias and input scale

Dominant Factors in the Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Precipitation Change in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration

Urbanization has a significant influence on precipitation, but existing studies lack the spatial and temporal heterogeneity analysis of its impact on precipitation in urban areas at different levels. This study investigates the spatial heterogeneity of precipitation and the influencing factors on six dimensions in 156 urban areas in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration from 2000 to 2018, utilizing a mixed-methods analytical approach. The results show that the change in the natural factor layer caused by urbanization was the most important factor, affecting urban precipitation variation in summer and over the whole year, accounting for 34.5% and 10.7%, respectively. However, the contribution of the urban thermal environment in summer cannot be ignored, and the change in the urban thermal environment caused by human activities in winter is an important influencing factor. When considering the optimal combination of factors, relative humidity was shown to be significant in the spatial variations in precipitation during summer, which contributed 26.2%, followed by human activity as indicated by night-time light intensity. Over the whole year, aerosol optical depth makes the substantial contribution of 21.8% to urban precipitation change. These results provide benchmarks for improving the adaptability of urban-environment change and urban planning in the context of urbanization

Granzyme B-loaded, cell-selective penetrating and reduction-responsive polymersomes effectively inhibit progression of orthotopic human lung tumor in vivo

The clinical use of protein therapeutics with intracellular targets is hampered by its in vivo fragility and low cell permeability. Here, we report that cell-selective penetrating and reduction-responsive polymersomes (CPRPs) mediate high-efficiency targeted delivery of granzyme B (GrB) to orthotopic human lung tumor in vivo. Model protein studies using FITC-labeled cytochrome C (FITC-CC) revealed efficient and high protein loading up to 17.2 wt% for CPRPs. FITC-CC-loaded CPRPs exhibited a small size of 82-90 nm, reduction-responsive protein release, as well as greatly enhanced internalization and cytoplasmic protein release in A549 lung cancer cells compared with the non-targeted FITC-CC-loaded RPs control. GrB-loaded CPRPs showed a high potency toward A549 lung cancer cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 20.7 nM. Under the same condition, free GrB was essentially non-toxic. Importantly, installing cell-selective penetrating peptide did not alter the circulation time but did enhance tumor accumulation of RPs. Orthotopic A549-Luc lung tumor-bearing nude mice administered with GrB-loaded CPRPs at a dosage of 2.88 nmol GrB equiv./kg showed complete tumor growth inhibition with little body weight loss throughout the treatment period, resulting in significantly improved survival rate over the non-targeted and non-treated controls. These cell-selective penetrating and reduction-responsive polymersomes provide a targeted protein therapy for cancers

Granzyme B-loaded, cell-selective penetrating and reduction-responsive polymersomes effectively inhibit progression of orthotopic human lung tumor in vivo

The clinical use of protein therapeutics with intracellular targets is hampered by its in vivo fragility and low cell permeability. Here, we report that cell-selective penetrating and reduction-responsive polymersomes (CPRPs) mediate high-efficiency targeted delivery of granzyme B (GrB) to orthotopic human lung tumor in vivo. Model protein studies using FITC-labeled cytochrome C (FITC-CC) revealed efficient and high protein loading up to 17.2 wt% for CPRPs. FITC-CC-loaded CPRPs exhibited a small size of 82-90 nm, reduction-responsive protein release, as well as greatly enhanced internalization and cytoplasmic protein release in A549 lung cancer cells compared with the non-targeted FITC-CC-loaded RPs control. GrB-loaded CPRPs showed a high potency toward A549 lung cancer cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 20.7 nM. Under the same condition, free GrB was essentially non-toxic. Importantly, installing cell-selective penetrating peptide did not alter the circulation time but did enhance tumor accumulation of RPs. Orthotopic A549-Luc lung tumor-bearing nude mice administered with GrB-loaded CPRPs at a dosage of 2.88 nmol GrB equiv./kg showed complete tumor growth inhibition with little body weight loss throughout the treatment period, resulting in significantly improved survival rate over the non-targeted and non-treated controls. These cell-selective penetrating and reduction-responsive polymersomes provide a targeted protein therapy for cancers

Interaction status, victimization and emotional distress of left-behind children: A national survey in China

The problems of left-behind children in China have attracted widespread attention from researchers. However, previous empirical studies on left-behind children have mostly been based on small samples and small-scale surveys and have not covered all age groups. Whether left-behind children fare worse than their non-left-behind counterparts remains unknown. We conducted the first nationwide survey to examine whether left-behind children aged 0-6 years old have poorer interactions with primary caregivers and whether left-behind school-age children experience higher levels of victimization and emotional distress than their non-left-behind counterparts. A total of 25,297 children or primary caregivers from 27 counties in 12 provinces of China participated in our survey. The results indicated that left-behind children aged 3-6 years old had poorer interactions with primary caregivers and that left-behind school-age children experienced higher levels of victimization and emotional distress than their non-left-behind counterparts. Multiple linear regression analyses further found that being left behind was a significant predictor of interaction status, victimization and emotional distress. The present study provides important perspectives for improving the well-being of left-behind children, particularly regarding the need to focus on the quality of care, victimization and emotional distress of left-behind children

River health assessment, ecological restoration and management system

Healthy river ecosystems maintain an integrity of their structural composition (including physical, chemical and biological composition), ecological processes and ecosystem functions. They have the ability to resist disturbance and restore their structure and function, and also provide ecological services in accordance with natural and human needs. River health assessment can identify water bodies with poor health and their belonging watersheds, and provide possible causes affecting river ecological conditions. In Europe and the United States and other developed countries, river health assessment has turned out to be an effective method for environmental water management