Does FDI increase product innovation of domestic firms? Evidence from China

Exploiting a change in policy governing the entry of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2002, we apply the difference-in-differences model to estimate the effect of FDI on the product scope of domestic Chinese firms. In industries that experienced relaxation in FDI regulations, the average product scope increased by 5% which indicates a rise in product innovation. FDI's spillovers along vertical linkages are also important, as we find that the product scope of firms is positively affected by FDI in upstream industries, but negatively affected by FDI in downstream industries. Further analysis shows that the negative effect of FDI in downstream industries is mainly concentrated in industries with a high level of processing trade, as firms in those industries rely more on imported inputs and have less contact with domestic suppliers. The main channels of effect are firm-level R&D and industry-level technological distance, as the entry of FDI leads to an improvement in these variables. Positive effects are found in medium- and low-tech industries but not in high-tech industries, indicating that indigenous effort is important for product innovation in high-tech industries

Investigation and analysis of psychological stress and professional identity of nursing students during COVID-19 pandemic

426-432Certain diseases or infections affect large number of people in short span of time. A local endemic disease can outbreak into an epidemic affecting the whole population or region which at times extend to other countries and continents and become pandemic. Pandemics results in loss of life as well as economy. Pooled efforts and resources, effective sharing of data, parallel multiple approaches as well as physical and mental state of front line staff influence management of pandemics. The coronavirus disease COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 started in December 2019 from Wuhan in China, is now a worldwide public health emergency affecting millions of people. It affects many frontline healthcare workers too. Here, we studied psychological stress and professional identity of nursing students for possible correlations, if any, and analyze influencing factors. We used purposive sampling technique with 415 nursing students in Nanjing, China through a general information questionnaire, perceived stress scale and nursing professional identity questionnaire. Students' origin, monthly living expenses and their knowledge on epidemic prevention and treatment have shown a significant impact on their psychological stress (P <0.01). Similarly, students' gender, origin, clinical practices and knowledge of prevention and treatment, and whether they actively learn such knowledge impact significantly on their professional identity (P <0.01). The overall score of psychological stress was (24.47±7.35) and professional identity had 72.47±8.07. The stress condition exhibited negative correlation with the degree of professional identity (P <0.01，r = -0.457). Increased psychological stress, had lower sense of professional identity. Overall, analysis of data on perceived stress and professional identity pandemic suggests that stress levels are inversely proportional to knowledge in effective ways of handling the pandemic. Students with clinical practice fared better in terms of professional identity. The study suggests nursing students to stay focused on studies, clinical practice and counselling, if required

Dynamic Development of Fecal Microbiome During the Progression of Diabetes Mellitus in Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats

Background: Although substantial efforts have been made to link the gut microbiota to type 2 diabetes, dynamic changes in the fecal microbiome under the pathological conditions of diabetes have not been investigated.Methods: Four male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats received Purina 5008 chow [protein = 23.6%, Nitrogen-Free Extract (by difference) = 50.3%, fiber (crude) = 3.3%, ash = 6.1%, fat (ether extract) = 6.7%, and fat (acid hydrolysis) = 8.1%] for 8 weeks. A total of 32 stool samples were collected from weeks 8 to 15 in four rats. To decipher the microbial populations in these samples, we used a 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach.Results: Microbiome analysis showed that the changes in the fecal microbiome were associated with age and disease progression. In all the stages from 8 to 15 weeks, phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria primarily dominated the fecal microbiome of the rats. Although Lactobacillus and Turicibacter were the predominant genera in 8- to 10-week-old rats, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, and Allobaculum were the most abundant genera in 15-week-old rats. Of interest, compared to the earlier weeks, relatively greater diversity (at the genus level) was observed at 10 weeks of age. Although the microbiome of 12-week-old rats had the highest diversity, the diversity in 13–15-week-old rats was reduced. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that F/B was negatively correlated with age. Random blood glucose was negatively correlated with Lactobacillus and Turicibacter but positively correlated with Ruminococcus and Allobaculum and Simpson’s diversity index.Conclusion: We demonstrated the time-dependent alterations of the abundance and diversity of the fecal microbiome during the progression of diabetes in ZDF rats. At the genus level, dynamic changes were observed. We believe that this work will enhance our understanding of fecal microbiome development in ZDF rats and help to further analyze the role of the microbiome in metabolic diseases. Furthermore, our work may also provide an effective strategy for the clinical treatment of diabetes through microbial intervention

Research on en route capacity evaluation model based on aircraft trajectory data

For the sake of refined assessment of airspace operation status, improvement of the en route air traffic management performance, and alleviation of the imbalance of demand-capacity and airspace congestion, an en route accessible capacity evaluation model (based on aircraft trajectory data) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, from the perspective of flux, the en route capacity is defined and expanded from a two-dimensional concept to a three-dimensional concept. Secondly, based on the indicators of spatial flow and instantaneous density, an evaluation model of en route capacity is given. Finally, a case study is performed to validate the applicability and feasibility of the model. Results show that the en route accessible capacity, instantaneous density, and spatial flow can describe the temporal and spatial distribution of air traffic flow more precisely, as compared to the conventional indicators, such as route capacity, density, and flow. The proposed model envisages three innovations: (ⅰ) the definition of airspace accessible capacity with reference to capacity of road traffic, (ⅱ) the computation model for flux-based airspace accessible capacity and en route accessible capacity, and (ⅲ) two indicators of en route characteristics named instantaneous density and spatial flow are introduced for evaluating the micro-state of the en route. Furthermore, because of the capacity depiction of the spatial and temporal distribution of air traffic congestion within an airspace unit, this model can also help air traffic controllers balance the distribution of traffic flow density, reduce the utilization rate of horizontal airspace, and resolve flight conflicts on air routes in advance

Transfusion of Resting Platelets Reduces Brain Hemorrhage After Intracerebral Hemorrhage and tPA-Induced Hemorrhage After Cerebral Ischemia

BackgroundExacerbated blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage is related with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-induced brain hemorrhage after stroke. Platelets have long been recognized as the cellular orchestrators of primary haemostasis. Recent studies have demonstrated further that platelets are required for supporting intact mature blood vessels and play a crucial role in maintaining vascular integrity during inflammation. Therefore, we sought to investigate whether platelets could reduce tPA-induced deterioration of cerebrovascular integrity and lead to less hemorrhagic transformation.MethodsMice were subjected to models of collagenase-induced intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. After 2 h of MCA occlusion, tPA (10 mg/kg) was administered as an intravenous bolus injection of 1 mg/kg followed by a 9 mg/kg infusion for 30 min. Immediately after tPA treatment, mice were transfused with platelets. Hemorrhagic volume, infarct size, neurological deficit, tight junction and basal membrane damages, endothelial cell apoptosis, and extravascular accumulation of circulating dextran and IgG, and Evans blue were quantified at 24 h.ResultsPlatelet transfusion resulted in a significant decrease in hematoma volume after ICH. In mice after ischemia, tPA administration increased brain hemorrhage transformation and this was reversed by resting but not activated platelets. Consistent with this, we observed that tPA-induced brain hemorrhage was dramatically exacerbated in thrombocytopenic mice. Transfusion of resting platelets ameliorated tPA-induced loss of cerebrovascular integrity and reduced extravascular accumulation of circulating serum proteins and Evans blue, associated with improved neurological functions after ischemia. No changes were found for infarct volume. Inhibition of platelet receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI) blunted the ability of platelets to attenuate tPA-induced BBB disruption and hemorrhage after ischemia.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate the importance of platelets in safeguarding BBB integrity and suggest that transfusion of resting platelets may be useful to improve the safety of tPA thrombolysis in ischemic stroke

Growth Differentiation Factor 11 Promotes Neurovascular Recovery After Stroke in Mice

Background: Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), a member of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, was shown to rejuvenate cardiac and skeletal muscle function and to improve cerebral vasculature and neurogenesis in old mice. However, recent experimental data reported that raising GDF11 levels inhibited skeletal muscle regeneration and had no effect on cardiac hypertrophy. Our aim was to investigate the effects of GDF11 on brain repair during the recovery phase after stroke.Methods: Mice were subjected to distal middle cerebral artery occlusion, and recombinant GDF11 (rGDF11) was injected intraperitoneally once a day during days 7–13 after stroke. Neuronal precursor cells (NPCs) proliferation and angiogenesis were assayed at 14 days. Neuronal regeneration was assayed at 42 days. The beam-walking test and CatWalk were used to evaluate behavioral functions. Downstream pathways of GDF11 were also investigated.Results: GDF11 was upregulated in the ipsilateral peri-infarct cortex and subventricular zone (SVZ) at 14 days after stroke. Treatment with rGDF11 enhanced the number of newborn NPCs and endothelial cells, microvascular length and area, and brain capillary perfusion. Western blots showed that rGDF11 upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and increased the levels of proangiogenic factor angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). We also found that rGDF11 upregulated the transcription factors Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylation, but these activations were blocked by a TGF-β receptor inhibitor SB431542. Moreover, rGDF11-induced angiogenic remodeling and NPCs proliferation were reversed by injection of SB431542, suggesting that GDF11 may exert its effect via the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Finally, treating mice with rGDF11 resulted in a significant increase in neuronal regeneration and functional recovery.Conclusion: GDF11 promoted neurogenesis and angiogenesis and contributed to functional recovery after stroke in mice