Digital Economy and Environmental Sustainability: Do Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and Economic Complexity Matter?

In the current era of digital economy, the role of information communication and technology (ICT) and economic complexity are important for controlling environmental unsustainability and formulating policies to deal with ecological concerns. However, the relationship between digital economy and environment has been studied widely; nevertheless, the relationship between ICT-based digital economy, economic complexity, and ecological footprint has not been studied extensively. Therefore, the aim of current study is to fill the existing gap by investigating the relationship between ICT, economic complexity, and ecological footprint in the case of G-seven (digital) economies. Furthermore, the past research studies were usually based on carbon emissions to measure environmental sustainability, while this study fills the gap using ecological footprint as a proxy for environmental degradation. By using the panel data over the period of 2001-2018 for G-seven economies, this study performs first-generation as well as second-generation unit root testing methods. Findings of both Pesaran's and B&P's cross-sectional dependence testing approaches confirm the presence of cross-sectional dependence across all G-seven economies. The empirical findings of cointegration (Pedroni and Kao) tests verify a stable long-run association between ecological footprint, ICT import, ICT export, economic complexity, economic growth, and other control grouped variables. The empirical evidence obtained from the fully modified OLS model suggests that ICT export, economic complexity, and economic growth enhance the intensity of ecological footprint, while ICT import, research and development (RD), and trade are helpful in reducing ecological footprint in G-seven economies. These empirical findings obtained are verified by pooled mean group-ARDL (PMG-ARDL) methodologies and confirm that there is no inconsistency in the results. On the basis of these results, some policy implications for ecological footprint, ICT, and economic complexity are discussed.

Association of polymorphisms of miR-146a rs2910164 locus with clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) with clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).@*METHODS@#In 126 patients with RA and 102 matched healthy controls, SNPs of miR-146a rs2910164 locus were determined with a high-resolution melting method. The association of such polymorphisms with disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) and clinical features of RA was assessed.@*RESULTS@#The distribution of SNPs of miR-146a rs2910164 among RA patients did not differ from that of the control group. No significant association was found between miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism with DAS28. However, RA patients with a GG genotype had a greater chance to develop extra-articular manifestations (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Polymorphisms of miR-146a rs2910164 locus is not an independent risk factor for RA, though its GG genotype may be associated with extra-articular manifestations of RA.

Cigarette smoking in different manners induces acute lung injury in rats / 浙江大学学报·医学版

To investigate the effects of cigarette smoking in different manners on acute lung injury in rats.The commercially available cigarettes with tar of 1,5, 11 mg were smoked in Canada depth smoking (health canada method, HCM) manner, and those with tar of 11 mg were also smoked in international standard (ISO) smoking manner. Rats were fixed and exposed to mainstream in a manner of nose-mouth exposure. After 28 days, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from left lung were collected for counting and classification of inflammatory cells and determination of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. The right lungs were subjected to histological examination and determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and glutathione, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.In both HCM and ISO manners, the degree of lung injury was closely related to the tar content of cigarettes, and significant decrease in the body weight of rats was observed after smoking for one week. In a HCM manner, smoking with cigarette of 11 mg tar resulted in robust infiltration of macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils into lungs, significant increase in IL-1β and TNF-α levels and MPO activities, and significant decrease in GSH levels and SOD activities and increase in ROS and MDA levels (all<0.05). Smoking with cigarette of 5 mg tar led to moderate increase in IL-1β and TNF-α levels, and MPO activities (all<0.05), and moderate decrease in GSH levels and SOD activities and increase of ROS and MDA levels (all<0.05). However, smoking with cigarette of 1 mg tar affected neither inflammatory cell infiltration nor IL-1β and TNF-α levels.Cigarette smoking in nose-mouth exposure manner can induce acute lung injury in rats; and the degree of lung injury is closely related to the content of tar and other hazards in cigarettes.

Simultaneous Determination of Toxic Alkaloids and Rat Poisons in Toxic Samples by Dispersive Liquid-liquid Micro-extraction Combined with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / 分析化学

A novel method for simultaneous determination of 3 rat poisons ( tetramine, bromadiolone, brodifacoum) and 5 toxic alkaloids ( hyoscyamine, scopolamine, gelsemine, strychnine, brucine ) in toxic samples by dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction ( DLLME ) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was established. A mixture extractant containing 100 μL trichloromethane and 600 μL methanol was injected into the prepared sample to form an emulsion and the extraction process was accomplished. After centrifuged at 8000 r/min for 5 min, the settled drop of trichloromethane solvent was transferred to a conical insert within a GC autosampler vessel, and analyzed by GC-MS. Factors affecting extraction efficiency such as the type and volume of extractant, dispersive agent, extraction time, pH value and salt concentration of extraction system were studied. The limits of detection(LODs) were from 0. 003 to 1 μg/L in water sample, urine sample and rice wine sample. LODs were from 0. 002 to 0. 2 μg/kg in rice sample. The recoveries of toxic samples were in the range of 81. 0%-110%. The relative standard deviations( RSDs) were lower than 7%. The proposed method was sensitive, effective, and suitable for the simultaneous determination of toxic alkaloids and rat poisons in food poisoning sample.

Effects of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine on apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells and on expression of mismatch repair genes / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine on proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cell lines(SKOV3 and 3AO)and on expression of mismatch repair(MMR)genes(hMLH1 and hMSH2)in SKOV3 and 3AO cells.Methods:Human ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and 3AO were treated for 3 d with 5-aza-CdR(0.5,5,50 ?mol/L),a specific demethylation agent,and then cultured in RPMI 1640 medium for another 7 d.The cells growth was observed by MTT assay before and after 5-aza-CdR treatment and the cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 mRNA was examined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results:5-aza-CdR(0.5,5,50 ?mol/L)obviously inhibited the growth of SKOV3 and 3AO cells compared in a concentration dependent manner.The apoptosis rates of SKOV3 cells were(10.59?1.57)%,(17.52?1.72)%,(34.10?1.45)% after treated with 0.5,5,50 ?mol/L 5-aza-CdR,respectively;and the apoptosis rates of 3AO cells were(11.11?2.21)%,(17.24?1.11)%,and(26.53?2.00)%,respectively,which were all markedly higher than those of control group(P

Identification of Testosterone and Methyltestosterone in Cosmetics by HPLC-MS / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To establish an LC-MS method for identification of testosterone and methyltestosterone in cosmetic.Methods Testosterone and methyltestosterone in cosmetic were determined by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry system which can incorporate electrospray ionization interface,post-column addition agent of formic acid.Results The condition of determination was investigated and optimized.The structure of testosterone and methyltestosterone were identified by direct comparison of the observed mass spectra or by the characteristic ions in the selected-ion monitoring as well as MS2 mode.A doubtful testosterone positive cosmetic was identified by this method,it was negative.Conclusion This method has a high sensitivity and a good reproducibility.It is proved that the method is especially suitable for detection of testosterone and methyltestosterone in cosmetics.