32 research outputs found

    Measuring and decomposing TFP incorporating environmental components: applications for rice farmers in Hubei Province, China

    No full text
    This study is aimed at assessing agricultural and environmental performance and analyzing whether observable productivity changes stem from technologically induced or environmentally induced components. Based on individual farm household data from Hubei Province covering the period 2004 to 2010, we decompose total factor productivity (TFP) into technical efficiency change (TEC), technical change (TC), scale effect (SE), and the environmentally related allocative effect (AE) as a means of evaluating environmental performance. The empirical results indicate that the average TFP decrease rate is 2.8%, which reflects the comprehensive outcome of all relevant components. Regarding direct pollution-related inputs (fertilizer and land), improving nitrogen (N) fertilizer application efficiency and land use efficiency can contribute not only to less cropland expansion and greater productivity growth but also to N loss reduction and N pollution abatement in the short and long term. Concerning indirect pollution-related inputs (labor, intermediate input, etc.), although increases in quasi-fixed inputs (labor and intermediate input) can lead to both N and productivity growth, the magnitude of the positive effects of quasi-fixed inputs on productivity cannot offset the negative effect of fertilizer on productivity; thus, more scientific and economical fertilizer application is the key to improving agricultural productivity and benefiting the environment and the ecosystem.</p

    DataSheet_1_Burden of psoriasis in young adults worldwide from the global burden of disease study 2019.docx

    No full text
    BackgroundTo determine the global burden of psoriasis in young adults, i.e., those aged 15–49, from 1990 to 2019 and predict trends in this burden for 2020 to 2030MethodsAge-standardized disease burden indicators and their estimated annual percentage changes were assessed and used to compare the estimated burden between regions. In addition, generalized additive models were used to predict the burden in this population from 2020 to 2030.ResultsFrom 1990 to 2019, the overall burden of psoriasis in young adults worldwide trended downward, as the age-standardized incidence rate and the age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rate decreased. From 1990 to 2019, there were gender differences in the burden of psoriasis between regions with different Socio-demographic index. Specifically, there was a smaller increase in the burden in young men than in young women in middle- and low–middle-Socio-demographic index areas. In 2019, Western Europe, Australasia, and Southern Latin America had the highest age-standardized incidence rate of psoriasis in young adults, whereas age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rates of psoriasis in young adults were highest in high-income North America. In 2019, the psoriasis burden in young adults was the highest in high-Socio-demographic index areas and the lowest in low-Socio-demographic index regions. We predict that from 2020 to 2030, the incidence rate and disability-adjusted life year rate of psoriasis in all age groups of young adults will continue to decline, but the burden in those aged 30–39 will increase.ConclusionFrom 1990 to 2019, the overall burden of psoriasis in each age group trended downward in this period. We predict that from 2020 to 2030, the burden of psoriasis in those aged 30–39 will increase.</p

    The long non-coding RNA LSINCT5 promotes malignancy in non-small cell lung cancer by stabilizing HMGA2

    No full text
    <p>Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can actively participate in tumorigenesis in various cancers. However, the involvement of lncRNA long stress induced non-coding transcripts 5 (LSINCT5) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains largely unknown. Here we showed a novel lncRNA signature in NSCLC through lncRNA profiling. Increased LSINCT5 expression positively correlates with malignant clinicopathological features and poor survival. LSINCT5 can promote migration and viability of various NSCLC cells <i>in vitro</i> and also enhance lung cancer progression <i>in vivo</i>. RNA immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry has identified that LSINCT5 interacts with HMGA2. This physical interaction can increase the stability of HMGA2 by inhibiting proteasome-mediated degradation. Therefore, LSINCT5 may possibly contribute to NSCLC tumorigenesis by stabilizing the oncogenic factor of HMGA2. This novel LSINCT5/HMGA2 axis can modulate lung cancer progression and might be a promising target for pharmacological intervention.</p

    Methyl Cinnamate-Derived Fluorescent Rigid Organogels Based on Cooperative π–π Stacking and CO···π Interactions Instead of H‑Bonding and Alkyl Chains

    No full text
    A new class of rigid low-molecular-mass organic gelators (LMOGs) was synthesized by McMurry and Heck reactions, and their gels and photophysical properties were investigated. The LMOGs lacked alkyl chain and H-bonding units and produced good gelation ability in selected mixed organic solvents facilitated by cooperative π–π stacking and CO···π interactions. Sensitive gel–sol transformation by molecular aggregation and disaggregation was easily achieved upon heating and cooling. H–H 2D NOESY and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed the π–π stacking and CO···π interactions between tiny methyl acrylate groups as “tails”. Importantly, this soft interaction model offers a useful tool for the future design and construction of supramolecular structures. At present, the LMOGs reported herein offer a sensitive gel-formation ability and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property and thus have promising application potentials as functional soft matter in amorphous materials, photoelectric materials, and so on

    Dual-Stimuli-Responsive Nanoassemblies as Tunable Releasing Carriers

    No full text
    Two end-decorated homopolymers, methoxy polyethylene glycol-ferrocene (mPEG-Fc) and poly­(<i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide)-β-cyclodextrin (PNIPAM-β-CD), were further orthogonally self-assembled into stable micelles in aqueous solution by controlling the temperature of the solution via terminal host–guest interactions. Because of the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> cleavable CD/Fc connection and thermoresponsive PNIPAM, an H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and thermo dual-controlled drug release based on this system was also achieved. Interestingly, the cytotoxicity evaluation of mPEG-Fc/PNIPAM-β-CD indicated good biocompatibility. Compared with free doxorubicin, the doxorubicin-loaded supramolecular micelles exhibited equal cellular proliferation inhibition toward A549 cells. This supramolecular complex is thus anticipated to serve as a promising new type of alternative drug-delivery system

    Deep learning and random light structuring ensure robust free-space communications

    No full text
    Having shown early promise, free-space optical communications (FSO) face formidable challenges in the age of information explosion. The ever-growing demand for greater channel communication capacity is one of the challenges. The inter-channel crosstalk, which severely degrades the quality of transmitted information, creates another roadblock in the way of efficient FSO implementation. Here we advance theoretically and realize experimentally a potentially high-capacity FSO protocol that enables high-fidelity transfer of an image, or set of images through a complex environment. In our protocol, we complement random light structuring at the transmitter with a deep learning image classification platform at the receiver. Multiplexing novel, independent, mutually orthogonal degrees of freedom available to structured random light can potentially significantly boost the channel communication capacity of our protocol without introducing any deleterious crosstalk. Specifically, we show how one can multiplex the degrees of freedom associated with the source coherence radius and a spatial position of a beamlet within an array of structured random beams to greatly enhance the capacity of our communication link. The superb resilience of structured random light to environmental noise, as well as extreme efficiency of deep learning networks at classifying images guarantees high-fidelity image transfer within the framework of our protocol

    Patterning of Nanocrystalline Cellulose Gel Phase by Electrodissolution of a Metallic Electrode

    No full text
    <div><p>At high concentration or in the presence of electrolytes and organic solvents, solutions of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can form gels exhibiting optical properties similar to the ones of liquid crystal phases. In an attempt to pattern such a gel phase, we have studied the electrodissolution of a metallic electrode in a water suspension of carboxylated CNCs (cCNCs). Depending on the metal used, the electrodissolution process was observed at a different positive potential. In the case of copper the minimum potential at which we could observe optically the growth of the gel phase was 200 mV. The growth rate was current limited indicating that the process was controlled by the electrodissolution of the copper electrode. This hypothesis was confirmed by using circular and square copper patterns as positive electrodes. In both cases, the consumption of the electrode material was observed optically and correlated with the growth of the gel phase.</p></div
    corecore