Regional Government Competition

This monograph provides a coherent and systematic explanation of China’s regional economic development from the perspective of regional government competition. It gives an almost unknown exposition of the mechanisms of China's regional economic development, with numerous supporting cases drawn from both China and elsewhere. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested to learn more particularly the development and transformation of China’s regional economy from both the Chinese and global perspectives

Regional Government Competition

This monograph provides a coherent and systematic explanation of China’s regional economic development from the perspective of regional government competition. It gives an almost unknown exposition of the mechanisms of China's regional economic development, with numerous supporting cases drawn from both China and elsewhere. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested to learn more particularly the development and transformation of China’s regional economy from both the Chinese and global perspectives

China’s Foreign Aid and Sustainable Growth of Recipient Countries: Mechanism and Evaluation

Since the beginning of the 21st century, emerging donors have developed a suite of aid innovations that play a significant role in the international financing arrangements of recipient countries. Using the OECD Creditor Reporting System (CRS) aid classification to categorize China’s foreign aid by sector, this paper examines the impact of China’s foreign aid on the economic growth of 121 recipient countries from 2000 to 2017. Our findings indicate that (1) the relationship between China’s foreign aid and recipient countries’ economic growth is “U-shaped”, with a threshold effect and primarily due to growth aid; (2) the relationship between recipient countries’ economic growth and their dependence on China’s foreign aid is “inverted U-shaped”, in both growth aid and welfare aid; (3) there is discernible regional heterogeneity in the economic impact of China’s foreign aid, and the impact may be underestimated if the endogeneity problem is not taken into account; and (4) China’s foreign aid, especially growth aid, promotes the economic growth of recipient countries through factor mobility, foreign direct investment (FDI), and international trade

China’s Foreign Aid and Sustainable Growth of Recipient Countries: Mechanism and Evaluation

Since the beginning of the 21st century, emerging donors have developed a suite of aid innovations that play a significant role in the international financing arrangements of recipient countries. Using the OECD Creditor Reporting System (CRS) aid classification to categorize China’s foreign aid by sector, this paper examines the impact of China’s foreign aid on the economic growth of 121 recipient countries from 2000 to 2017. Our findings indicate that (1) the relationship between China’s foreign aid and recipient countries’ economic growth is “U-shaped”, with a threshold effect and primarily due to growth aid; (2) the relationship between recipient countries’ economic growth and their dependence on China’s foreign aid is “inverted U-shaped”, in both growth aid and welfare aid; (3) there is discernible regional heterogeneity in the economic impact of China’s foreign aid, and the impact may be underestimated if the endogeneity problem is not taken into account; and (4) China’s foreign aid, especially growth aid, promotes the economic growth of recipient countries through factor mobility, foreign direct investment (FDI), and international trade

Association of Serum Vitamin D With Periodontal Disease

Objective: There are conflicting reports on the relationship between vitamin D and periodontal disease. Our research is intended to further analyse the association between serum 25(OH)D3, a vitamin D precursor and periodontal disease based on a large national survey sample in Japan. Methods: We downloaded the 2009–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycle, which included a total of 23,324 samples. Logistic regression of factors influencing perioral disease including periodntal disease, and subgroup logistic regression were performed to analyse the relationship between serum vitamin D and perioral disease, using WTMEC2YR as weights for regression analysis. Then machine learning model–based prediction of perioral disease onset was performed, and the machine learning algorithms used included boost tree, artificial neural network, AdaBoost, and random forest. Results: We evaluated the vitamin D, age, sex, race, education, marriage, body mass index, ratio of family income to poverty (PIR), smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, and hypertension as variables in the included samples. Vitamin D was negatively associated with perioral disease; compared with Q1, the odds ratios and 95% CI were 0.8 (0.67–0.96) for Q2, 0.84 (0.71–1.00) for Q3, and 0.74 (0.6–0.92) for Q4 (P for trend <.05), respectively. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the effect of 25(OH)D3 on periodontal disease was more pronounced in women younger than 60 years. Based on the accuracy and receiver operating characteristic curve, we concluded that a boost tree was a relatively good model to predict periodontal disease. Conclusions: Vitamin D might be a protective factor for periodontal disease, and boost tree analysis we emplyed was a relatively good model to predict perioral disease

Association between Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Occupations and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis

<div><h3>Objectives</h3><p>To estimate the relationship between exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by a meta-analysis.</p> <h3>Methods</h3><p>Through searching PubMed databases (or manual searching) up to April 2012 using the following keywords: “occupational exposure”, “electromagnetic fields” and “amyotrophic lateral sclerosis” or “motor neuron disease”, seventeen studies were identified as eligible for this meta-analysis. The associations between ELF-EMF exposure and the ALS risk were estimated based on study design (case-control or cohort study), and ELF-EMF exposure level assessment (job title or job-exposure matrix). The heterogeneity across the studies was tested, as was publication bias.</p> <h3>Results</h3><p>Occupational exposure to ELF-EMF was significantly associated with increased risk of ALS in pooled studies (RR = 1.29, 95%CI = 1.02–1.62), and case-control studies (OR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.05–1.84), but not cohort studies (RR = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.80–1.69). In sub-analyses, similar significant associations were found when the exposure level was defined by the job title, but not the job-exposure matrix. In addition, significant associations between occupational exposure to ELF-EMF and increased risk of ALS were found in studies of subjects who were clinically diagnosed but not those based on the death certificate. Moderate heterogeneity was observed in all analyses.</p> <h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Our data suggest a slight but significant ALS risk increase among those with job titles related to relatively high levels of ELF-EMF exposure. Since the magnitude of estimated RR was relatively small, we cannot deny the possibility of potential biases at work. Electrical shocks or other unidentified variables associated with electrical occupations, rather than magnetic-field exposure, may be responsible for the observed associations with ALS.</p> </div

Graphene-encapsulated sulfur (GES) composites with a core-shell structure as superior cathode materials for lithium-sulfur batteries

Relatively uniform sized graphene-encapsulated sulphur (GES) composites with a core (S)-shell (graphene) structure were synthesized in one pot based on a solution-chemical reaction-deposition method. These novel GES particles were characterized by XRD, Raman spectrometry, SEM, TGA, EDS and TEM. The electrochemical tests showed that the present GES composites exhibit high specific capacity, good discharge capacity retention and superior rate capability when they were employed as cathodes in rechargeable Li-S cells. A high sulphur content (83.3 wt%) was obtained in the GES composites. Stable discharge capacities of about 900, 650, 540 and 480 mA h g(-1) were achieved at 0.75, 2.0, 3.0 and 6.0 C, respectively. The good electrochemical performance is attributed to the high electrical conductivity of the graphene, the reasonable particle size of sulphur particles, and the core-shell structures that have synergistic effects on facilitating good transport of electrons from the poorly conducting sulphur, preserving fast transport of lithium ions to the encapsulated sulphur particles, and alleviating the polysulfide shuttle phenomenon. The present finding may provide a significant contribution to the enhancement of cathodes for the lithium-sulphur battery technology

Investigation of the Effect of Extra Lithium Addition and Postannealing on the Electrochemical Performance of High-Voltage Spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 Cathode Material

The LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) spinel is an attractive cathode candidate for next generation lithium-ion batteries as it offers high power and energy density. In this paper, the effects of extra amounts of lithium addition and postannealing process on the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of the spherical LNMO material were investigated. The experimental results show that the amount of lithium and the postannealing process have significant impacts on the Mn3+ content, phase impurity (rock-salt phase) and phase structures (Fd3m and P4(3)32) of the spherical LNMO cathode materials, so as their electrochemical performance. In particular, the phase transition from Fd3m to P4(3)32 and the Mn3+ content of the LNMO spinels were found to be adjusted by lithium additions and the postannealing process. With the presence of Mn3+, the absence of the impurity phase (rock-salt phase) and the cation ordering in the spinels, the electrochemical rate performance and capacity retention of the products could be significantly improved. In a half cell test, LNMO cathode material with 5% of lithium excess (based on theoretical formula calculation) displays a high specific discharge capacity of 123 mAh g(-1) at 2 C rate with excellent capacity retention of 84% after 500 cycles at 55 degrees C. All these findings show the important roles of the synergic effects of Mn3+ content, phase impurity (rock-salt phase) and phase structures (Fd3m and P4(3)32) on the electrochemical performance improvement of LNMO-based cathode materials, which will guide the preparation of LNMO-based cathode material with excellent electrochemical performance

Caries prevalence of the first permanent molars in 6-8 years old children.

Dental caries is one of the most common infectious diseases affecting 6-8-year-old children, especially their first permanent molars (FPMs). This study explored the prevalence of dental caries on FPMs by analyzing the oral health status of 1,423,720 children aged 6-8 years in Zhejiang Province, China. The data were extracted from the dental electronic records of the schoolchildren attending the Oral Health Promotion Project (OHPP), conducted during 2013-2017 in Zhejiang Province. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the factors affecting dental caries. Boys and girls accounted for 53.2% and 46.8% of the subjects, respectively. From 2013 to 2017, the prevalence of dental caries on FPMs increased: 2013: 20.4%; 2014: 25.3%; 2015: 24.5%; 2016: 27.0%; and 2017: 29.0%, despite the OHPP conducted. Based on multiple logistic regression model, girls had a significantly higher risk of FPM caries compared to boys (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.37-1.39, p < 0.0001); compared with the caries rates in urban areas, the caries risk was significantly higher in rural areas (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.14-1.16, p < 0.0001). In terms of geographic location in Zhejiang Province, the odds ratios of the caries risk of the east, south, west, and north were 1.35 (1.33-1.36), 1.3 (1.28-1.31), 0.81 (0.8-0.83), and 0.82 (0.81-0.84), respectively (p < 0.0001), by considering the central region as a reference. The caries prevalence of FPMs was high, with an increasing tendency and gender, social, cultural, and environmental factors affecting the caries prevalence