Non-parametric research methods to measure energy efficiency and renewable energy nexus: evidence from emerging economies

This study aims to analyse the connection between energy efficiency and renewable energy consumption in the emerging seven (E7) economies during the period 1990–2020. This study also examines the impact of economic growth, carbon emissions and technological innovation on renewable energy. This study employs various panel data approaches that validate the irregular distribution of data and the heterogeneous slopes coefficients. The cross-section dependence test confirms that cross-section dependence is present in the study variables. While these variables are cointegrated. Using non-parametric panel data approaches, the moments’ quantile regression results unveil that economic growth is positively associated with renewable energy in all quantiles. Whereas energy efficiency and carbon emissions showed mixed results, negatively affect renewable energy consumption in the lower quantiles, insignificant in the medium quantiles and positive in the higher quantiles. On the other hand, technological innovation is found negatively related to renewable energy consumption. Bidirectional causal association is found between explanatory variables and renewable energy consumption. Based on the empirical findings, this study suggests policies to divert economic growth from fossil fuel energy consumption, enhancing investment in the renewable energy sector, promoting energy efficiency and investment in environmental-related technologies to promote renewable energy

Enhanced CNN for image denoising

Owing to flexible architectures of deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs), CNNs are successfully used for image denoising. However, they suffer from the following drawbacks: (i) deep network architecture is very difficult to train. (ii) Deeper networks face the challenge of performance saturation. In this study, the authors propose a novel method called enhanced convolutional neural denoising network (ECNDNet). Specifically, they use residual learning and batch normalisation techniques to address the problem of training difficulties and accelerate the convergence of the network. In addition, dilated convolutions are used in the proposed network to enlarge the context information and reduce the computational cost. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the ECNDNet outperforms the state-of-the-art methods for image denoising.Comment: CAAI Transactions on Intelligence Technology[J], 201

Mechanism of Stochastic Resonance in a Quorum Sensing Network Regulated by Small RNAs

Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) is an important process of cell communication and more and more attention is paid to it. Moreover, the noises are ubiquitous in nature and often play positive role. In this paper, we investigate how the noise enhances the QS though the stochastic resonance (SR) and explain the mechanism of SR in this quorum sensing network. In addition, we also discuss the interaction between the small RNA and the other genes in this network and discover the biological importance

Arp2/3 Complex Regulates Asymmetric Division and Cytokinesis in Mouse Oocytes

Mammalian oocyte meiotic maturation involves oocyte polarization and a unique asymmetric division, but until now, the underlying mechanisms have been poorly understood. Arp2/3 complex has been shown to regulate actin nucleation and is widely involved in a diverse range of processes such as cell locomotion, phagocytosis and the establishment of cell polarity. Whether Arp2/3 complex participates in oocyte polarization and asymmetric division is unknown. The present study investigated the expression and functions of Arp2/3 complex during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation. Immunofluorescent staining showed that the Arp2/3 complex was restricted to the cortex, with a thickened cap above the meiotic apparatus, and that this localization pattern was depended on actin. Disruption of Arp2/3 complex by a newly-found specific inhibitor CK666, as well as by Arpc2 and Arpc3 RNAi, resulted in a range of effects. These included the failure of asymmetric division, spindle migration, and the formation and completion of oocyte cytokinesis. The formation of the actin cap and cortical granule-free domain (CGFD) was also disrupted, which further confirmed the disruption of spindle migration. Our data suggest that the Arp2/3 complex probably regulates oocyte polarization through its effect on spindle migration, asymmetric division and cytokinesis during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation

Perspective of monochromatic gamma-ray line detection with the High Energy cosmic-Radiation Detection (HERD) facility onboard China's Space Station

HERD is the High Energy cosmic-Radiation Detection instrument proposed to operate onboard China's space station in the 2020s. It is designed to detect energetic cosmic ray nuclei, leptons and photons with a high energy resolution ($\sim1\%$ for electrons and photons and $20\%$ for nuclei) and a large geometry factor ($>3\,{ m^2\,sr}$ for electrons and diffuse photons and $>2\,{ m^2\,sr}$ for nuclei). In this work we discuss the capability of HERD to detect monochromatic $\gamma$-ray lines, based on simulations of the detector performance. It is shown that HERD will be one of the most sensitive instruments for monochromatic $\gamma$-ray searches at energies between $\sim10$ to a few hundred GeV. Above hundreds of GeV, Cherenkov telescopes will be more sensitive due to their large effective area. As a specific example, we show that a good portion of the parameter space of a supersymmetric dark matter model can be probed with HERD.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, matches version published in Astropart.Phy

Serotonin-mediated modulation of Na+/K+ pump current in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to investigate whether serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) can modulate Na⁺/K⁺pump in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>5-HT (0.1, 1 mM) showed Na⁺/K⁺pump current (Ip) densities of 0.40 ± 0.04, 0.34 ± 0.03 pA/pF contrast to 0.63 ± 0.04 pA/pF of the control of 0.5 mM strophanthidin (Str), demonstrating 5-HT-induced inhibition of Ip in a dose-dependent manner in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. The effect was partly attenuated by ondasetron, a 5-HT₃receptor (5-HT₃R) antagonist, not by WAY100635, a 5-HT_1AR antagonist, while 1-(3-Chlorophenyl) biguanide hydrochloride (m-CPBG), a 5-HT₃R specific agonist, mimicked the effect of 5-HT on Ip.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>5-HT inhibits neuronal Na⁺/K⁺pump activity via 5-HT₃R in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. This discloses novel mechanisms for the function of 5-HT in learning and memory, which may be a useful target to benefit these patients with cognitive disorder.</p

Future Healthy Oil: Precision Nutrition and Moderate Processing

Oil is a significant source of fatty acids and various trace functional components, and plays a vital role in regulating human health. The macro- and micro-components in oils are closely related to nutritional health. This paper introduces the future development goals and strategies of healthy oils from two aspects of precise nutrition and moderate processing. Firstly, precise nutrition based on life cycle and physiological state is a priority research area of lipid science. On the other hand, moderate processing will retain nutrients such as vitamin E, phytosterols, and squalene to a greater extent, and avoid the formation of risk factors such as trans fatty acids, 3-chloropropanol esters, and glycidyl esters. Moderate processing not only ensures the safety of oil, but also reduces the loss of healthy and beneficial fat concomitants, which is the development direction of oil engineering research. Therefore, under the dual demands of nutrition and safety, accurate nutrition and moderate processing of oils will help the implementation of "Healthy China" and "Double- Carbon" strategies. Future healthy oils will not only provide basic nutrition and flavor, but also give specific health functions to people with different life cycles, such as infants, children, adolescents, adults and the elderly, and maintain the homeostasis of people with different physiological states including pregnant and lactating women