The Impact of Energy Prices on Green Innovation

Based on patent data and industry specific energy prices for 18 OECD countries over 30 years we investigate on an industry level the impact of energy prices on green innovation activities. Our econometric models show that energy prices and green innovation activities are positively related and that energy prices have a significantly positive impact on the share of green innovations in non-green innovations. More concretely, our main model shows that a 10% increase of the average energy prices of the previous five years results in a 2.7% and 4.5% increase of the number of green innovations and the share of green innovations in non-green innovations, respectively. We also find that the impact of energy prices increases with an increasing lag between energy prices and innovation activities. Robustness tests confirm the main results

Uncovering the Cardioprotective Potential of Diacerein in Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity: Mitigating Ferritinophagy-Mediated Ferroptosis via Upregulating NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 Axis

Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) is a life-threatening clinical issue with limited preventive approaches, posing a substantial challenge to cancer survivors. The anthraquinone diacerein (DCN) exhibits significant anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and antioxidant actions. Its beneficial effects on DIC have yet to be clarified. Therefore, this study investigated DCN’s cardioprotective potency and its conceivable molecular targets against DIC. Twenty-eight Wister rats were assigned to CON, DOX, DCN-L/DOX, and DCN-H/DOX groups. Serum cardiac damage indices, iron assay, oxidative stress, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, ferritinophagy, and ferroptosis-related biomarkers were estimated. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) DNA-binding activity and phospho-p53 immunoreactivity were assessed. DCN administration effectively ameliorated DOX-induced cardiac cytomorphological abnormalities. Additionally, DCN profoundly combated the DOX-induced labile iron pool expansion alongside its consequent lethal lipid peroxide overproduction, whereas it counteracted ferritinophagy and enhanced iron storage. Indeed, DCN valuably reinforced the cardiomyocytes’ resistance to ferroptosis, mainly by restoring the NRF2/solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling axis. Furthermore, DCN abrogated the cardiac oxidative damage, inflammatory response, ER stress, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis elicited by DOX. In conclusion, for the first time, our findings validated DCN’s cardioprotective potency against DIC based on its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-ferroptotic, and anti-apoptotic imprint, chiefly mediated by the NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis. Accordingly, DCN could represent a promising therapeutic avenue for patients under DOX-dependent chemotherapy

Effects of kinesiology taping in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review

Abstract Introduction: Cerebral Palsy is a group of non-progressive movement and posture disorders. There are many rehabilitation methods for children and adolescents with these disorders. Kinesiology Taping(KT) is becoming a popular as an option of rehabilitation method for these children. Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to summarize evidence regarding the methods of Kinesiology Taping use in children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy and its effects. Materials: A search of scientific papers in the databases Medline, Scielo and PEDro was conducted with no data or language restriction. For this search the keywords “Kinesio taping”, “Kinesiology Taping”, “Taping”, and “Bandages” combined with “Cerebral Palsy” were used. The search was conducted between May of 2015 and November of 2016. Results: Eleven studies were included in the review, six were randomized controlled clinical trials, four were quasi-experimental studies, and one was a case study. In general, the studies followed the guidelines proposed by the Kinesiology Taping creator; they used corrective techniques and muscle contraction facilitation/inhibition techniques. Results varied according to techniques used and outcomes chosen. Conclusion: There is strong to insufficient evidence of KT effects in motor function related outcomes. Stronger quality level studies are necessary to support use of KT in clinical practice