Investigation of Carbon Tax Pilot in YRD Urban Agglomerations—Analysis and Application of a Novel ESER System with Carbon Tax Constraints

AbstractThis paper attempts to explore the dynamic behavior of energy-saving and emission-reduction (ESER) system in Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomerations, which has not yet been reported in present literature. The novel YRD urban agglomerations carbon tax attractor is achieved. A scenario study is carried out. The results show that, the ESER system in YRD urban agglomerations is superior to the average case in China, in which the impacts on economic growth are almost the same. The economic property of YRD urban agglomerations is the main cause why the ESER system of YRD urban agglomerations being superior

Effects of the gut microbiota and its metabolite short-chain fatty acids on endometriosis

In recent years, a growing body of research has confirmed that the gut microbiota plays a major role in the maintenance of human health and disease. A gut microbiota imbalance can lead to the development of many diseases, such as pregnancy complications, adverse pregnancy outcomes, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and cancer. Short-chain fatty acids are metabolites of specific intestinal bacteria and are crucial for maintaining intestinal homeostasis and regulating metabolism and immunity. Endometriosis is the result of cell proliferation, escape from immune surveillance, and invasive metastasis. There is a strong correlation between the anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of short-chain fatty acids produced by gut microbes and the development of endometriosis. Given that the mechanism of action of gut microbiota and Short-chain fatty acids in endometriosis remain unclear, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the complex interactions between intestinal flora, short-chain fatty acids and endometriosis. In addition, we explored potential microbial-based treatment strategies for endometriosis, providing new insights into the future development of diagnostic tests and prevention and treatment methods for endometriosis

Studies of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Candidate Genes and the Developing Fetal Ovary

The cause of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not well understood and hence there are no syndrome-specific treatments nor prevention strategies. PCOS appears to have both genetic and fetal origins. The polycystic ovary is fibrous with expanded amounts of stroma and it is not known why and if this represents a fibrosis later in life or merely altered stroma formation and growth during fetal ovary development. The work in this thesis attempts to link these facts to begin to understand the aetiology of PCOS. Previously our group had identified the origin and examined the growth of ovarian stroma in the fetal ovary. They had also identified a second somatic cell type, the gonadal ridge epithelial-like (GREL) cells that are likely progenitors of granulosa cells and surface epithelial cells. No one had previously isolated these GREL cells and cultured them. A procedure for purifying bovine GREL cells and fetal ovarian fibroblasts was established. The optimised procedure includes culture of fetal ovarian cells on collagen type I-coated surfaces in the presence of EGF and clonal expansion of pure GREL cell or fibroblast clones. The cells exhibited different morphologies. We examined gene expression in these cells and in their adult cell counterparts that include adult ovary fibroblasts, granulosa cells and surface epithelial cells. We discovered that the GREL cells differ in expression of a number of genes to fetal fibroblasts and that both cells are also different to their adult counterparts. Thus, clearly the fetal somatic cells are of two lineages. We examined the expression of PCOS candidate genes that were in loci identified previously by GWAS and microsatellite mapping. We looked in control and PCOS ovaries from adults and across gestation in bovine and human fetal ovaries. By far the most exciting data were in the fetal ovaries with genes expressed either early, late or continuously across gestation. In the former two groups the expression levels of genes were highly correlated with each other. However, there were very few differences in expression between GREL cells and fetal ovarian stromal cells. Finally, we cultured fetal fibroblasts with a range of growth factors. Importantly, TGFβ1 regulated a number of the PCOS candidate genes inhibiting the expression of 7 of the 25 PCOS candidate genes as well as of AR, and stimulating expression of the AR co-activator TGFB1I1. TGFβ is a master regulator of stromal fibroblasts stimulating in the adult collagen deposition, cell replication and fibrosis. In summary, these studies provide further understanding of the cells involved in fetal ovarian development and the development of a predisposition to PCOS. Importantly, they suggest that alterations in TGFβ signalling during fetal ovary development are a likely candidate to be involved in the aetiology of PCOS.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Adelaide Medical School, 202

Comparison of different treatment strategies for T3N1-3 stage gastric cancer based on the SEER database

Abstract Treatment options for T3N1 stage gastric cancer exhibit regional variation, with optimal approach remaining unclear. We derived our data from the SEER database, using Cox proportional risk regression models for univariate and multivariate analyses of 5-years overall survival (5yOS) and 5-years cancer-specific survival (5yCSS). The results showed that younger age, female, non-white race, highly differentiated histologic grade, non-Signet ring cell adenocarcinoma, low N stage, lesser curvature of the stomach, OP followed by adjuvant C/T with or without RT, partial gastrectomy, C/T and others, Radiation therapy, and Chemotherapy were significantly associated with better 5yOS and 5yCSS. For patients with stage T3N1-3 gastric cancer, multimodal treatment regimens demonstrate superior survival outcomes compared to surgery or radiotherapy alone. Among them, OP followed by adjuvant C/T with or without RT emerges as particularly efficacious, potentially offering enhanced benefits for non-Asian populations

Recent advances in fire-retardant rigid polyurethane foam

Driven by global environmental concerns, many efforts have been made to develop halogen-free flame retardants for rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF). These environmentally benign flame retardants are mainly divided into (i) reactive, (ii) additive, and (iii) coating types. The last decade has witnessed great progress of these three strategies, which enhance the fire safety of RPUF and maintain even improve the thermal insulation properties. This comprehensive review focuses on the up-to-date design of the reactive, additive, and coating flame retardants, and their effects on flame retardancy and thermal conductivity of RPUF. Moreover, the practical applications of the as-prepared flame-retardant RPUFs are highlighted. Finally, key challenges associated with these three kinds of flame retardants are discussed and future research opportunities are also proposed

Scalable, Robust, Low-Cost, and Highly Thermally Conductive Anisotropic Nanocomposite Films for Safe and Efficient Thermal Management

Recently, soaring developments in microelectronics raise an urgent demand for thermal management materials to tackle their overheating concerns. Polymer nanocomposites are promising candidates but often suffer from their inability of mass production, high-cost, poor mechanical robustness, and even flammability. Hence, it is desirable to scalably fabricate low-cost, robust polymeric nanocomposites that are highly thermally conductive and fire-retardant to ensure safe and efficient thermal management. Herein, the scalable production of nacre-like anisotropic nanocomposite films using the layer-by-layer assembly of phenylphosphonic acid@graphene nanoplatelets (PPA@GNPs)-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) layer and GNPs layers, is demonstrated. The PPA serves as interfacial modifiers and fire retardants for flammable PVA (film-forming agent) and GNPs (inexpensive conductive nanofillers) via hydrogen-bonding and π–π stacking. The resultant nanocomposite exhibits a high flexibility, high tensile strength of 259 MPa, and an ultrahigh in-plane thermal conductivity of 82.4 W m-1 K-1, making it effectively cool smartphone and high-power light emitting diode modules, outperforming commercial tinfoil counterparts. Moreover, the as-designed nanocomposites are intrinsically fire-retardant and can shield electromagnetic interference. This work offers a general strategy for mass production of thermally conductive nanocomposites holding great promise as thermal management materials in electronic, military, and aerospace fields

Dynamic Nanoconfinement Enabled Highly Stretchable and Supratough Polymeric Materials with Desirable Healability and Biocompatibility

Lightweight polymeric materials are highly attractive platforms for many potential industrial applications in aerospace, soft robots, and biological engineering fields. For these real-world applications, it is vital for them to exhibit a desirable combination of great toughness, large ductility, and high strength together with desired healability and biocompatibility. However, existing material design strategies usually fail to achieve such a performance portfolio owing to their different and even mutually exclusive governing mechanisms. To overcome these hurdles, herein, for the first time a dynamic hydrogen-bonded nanoconfinement concept is proposed, and the design of highly stretchable and supratough biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with well-dispersed dynamic nanoconfinement phases induced by hydrogen-bond (H-bond) crosslinking is demonstrated. Because of H-bond crosslinking and dynamic nanoconfinement, the as-prepared PVA nanocomposite film exhibits a world-record toughness of 425 ± 31 MJ m−3 in combination with a tensile strength of 98 MPa and a large break strain of 550%, representing the best of its kind and even outperforming most natural and artificial materials. In addition, the final polymer exhibits a good self-healing ability and biocompatibility. This work affords new opportunities for creating mechanically robust, healable, and biocompatible polymeric materials, which hold great promise for applications, such as soft robots and artificial ligaments