Persistent Mesodermal Differentiation Capability of Bone Marrow MSCs Isolated from Aging Patients with Low-Energy Traumatic Hip Fracture and Osteoporosis: A Clinical Evidence.

A low-energy hit, such as a slight fall from a bed, results in a bone fracture, especially in the hip, which is a life-threatening risk for the older adult and a heavy burden for the social economy. Patients with low-energy traumatic bone fractures usually suffer a higher level of bony catabolism accompanied by osteoporosis. Bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) are critical in osteogenesis, leading to metabolic homeostasis in the healthy bony microenvironment. However, whether the BMSCs derived from the patients who suffered osteoporosis and low-energy traumatic hip fractures preserve a sustained mesodermal differentiation capability, especially in osteogenesis, is yet to be explored in a clinical setting. Therefore, we aimed to collect BMSCs from clinical hip fracture patients with osteoporosis, followed by osteogenic differentiation comparison with BMSCs from healthy young donors. The CD markers identification, cytokines examination, and adipogenic differentiation were also evaluated. The data reveal that BMSCs collected from elderly osteoporotic patients secreted approximately 122.8 pg/mL interleukin 6 (IL-6) and 180.6 pg/mL vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but no PDGF-BB, IL-1b, TGF-b1, IGF-1, or TNF-α secretion. The CD markers and osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capability in BMSCs from these elderly osteoporotic patients and healthy young donors are equivalent and compliant with the standards defined by the International Society of Cell Therapy (ISCT). Collectively, our data suggest that the elderly osteoporotic patients-derived BMSCs hold equivalent differentiation and proliferation capability and intact surface markers identical to BMSCs collected from healthy youth and are available for clinical cell therapy.

Revisit economic growth and CO2 emission nexus in G7 countries: mixed frequency VAR model.

Applying a mixed frequency vector autoregressive (MF-VAR) approach, we examine relationships between CO2 emissions and economic growth from 1970Q1 to 2019Q4 among G7 countries. We incorporate primary energy consumption as a control variable, to avoid any bias from an omitted variable. Our empirical results, using forecast error variance decomposition and a Granger causality check, suggest that MF-VAR exhibits better explanatory ability over the more commonly used VAR model employing single frequency data. Results from LF-VAR exhibit a feedback loop connecting economic expansion and emissions of CO2 with one-way Granger causality from primary energy consumption to growth of the economies studied. MF-VAR model results also indicate that, in G7 countries, economic expansion exhibits a one-way causal link to CO2 emissions in Canada, UK, and US cases. Interestingly, MF-VAR shows feedback between economic expansion and primary energy use in Germany, while LF-VAR quantifies the link from economic growth to CO2 emissions in Canada and from CO2 to economic growth in the UK. Results raise implications for the G7 samples' policymakers.

Degree of persistence of energy mix diversification of the US states: fresh evidence using LM unit root tests with sharp or smooth breaks and cross-sectional dependence.

Diversification of energy mix is related to the heterogeneity of contributions of energy sources in the energy consumption basket of nations. Its persistent degree reveals the efficiency of energy-related policies or shocks to diversify the contributions of energy sources in the energy mix. For the first time, the current study measures the diversification level of energy mix of the USA and its 51 states and examines its stochastic behavior to analyze its degree of persistence. To this end, we calculated the diversification of energy mix using Herfindahl-Hirschman index over the period 1960-2020. Then, we applied two novel versions of LM unit root tests that can incorporate sharp or smooth breaks and common factors (to control for cross-sectional dependence) to quantify the stochastic behavior of time series of Herfindahl-Hirschman index. Our results indicate (i) the energy mix of most of the US states diversified over the period. (ii) Most parts of diversification of energy mix occurred from mid of the 1970s to first half of the 1990s. (iii) Sharp breaks of deterministic part (intercept and slope of the linear trend) of Herfindahl-Hirschman indexes occurred coinciding with oil prices shocks in two decades 1970 and 1980. (iv) The Herfindahl-Hirschman index of most of states display stationary behavior, which indicate the pro-diversification policies, e.g., which are implemented to develop renewable energy sources, have transitory effects and policymakers should implement long-horizon policies to achieve their targeted level of diversification.

The relationship between health expenditure, CO2 emissions, and economic growth in the BRICS countries-based on the Fourier ARDL model.

In this paper, we use (Yilanci et al. 2020) Fourier autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to study the correlation between health expenditures, CO2 emissions, and GDP fluctuations in BRICS countries from 2000 to 2019. The Fourier ARDL model has the function of bootstrap repeated simulation calculations, so that small samples can also achieve the advantages of finer inspection results. In this paper, we find that in the long term, Brazil and China are countries that both have cointegration relationships in health expenditure, CO2 emissions, and economic growth. With CO2 emissions as the dependent variable and health expenditure and economic growth as independent variables, in the short term, there is a negative causal relationship between India's CO2 emissions and health expenditure; other countries only show the relationship between CO2 emissions, health expenditure, or economic growth one-way relationship. This paper also has some policy suggestions on health expenditures and CO2 emissions in the BRICS countries at the end.

The correlation between economic fluctuation, workforce employment and health expenditure in the BRICS countries.

In this paper, we use the Fourier ARDL method (data from 2000 to 2019) to examine whether there is a correlation between economic fluctuation, health expenditure, and employment rate among BRICS countries. Fourier ARDL's model, the same as Bootstrap ARDL model, is to test the long-term cointegration relationship of variables; when there is cointegration, it will test whether there is a causal relationship. When there is no cointegration, short-term Granger causality between variables is tested. Our study shows that, in the long-term, whether South Africa takes economic fluctuation, employment rate or health expenditure as the dependent variable, there is a cointegration relationship with the other two independent variables, but the causal relationship is not significant. In short-term Granger causality tests, the effects of economic fluctuation in Brazil, China, and South Africa on health expenditure lag significantly by one period. Economic fluctuation in Brazil, India and China had a negative effect on employment rate, while South Africa had a positive effect. Health expenditure in Russia and India has a negative effect on employment rate, while China has a positive effect. Employment rates in China and South Africa have a significant positive effect on economic fluctuation, while Russia has a negative effect. India's employment rate has a negative effect on health expenditure, while South Africa's has a positive effect. In short-term causality tests, different countries will exhibit different phenomena. Except for economic fluctuation, where health spending is positive, everything else is negatively correlated, and all of them are positive in South Africa. Finally, we make policy recommendations for the BRICS countries on economic fluctuation, employment rates, and health expenditure.

Impact of Two Types of Board Games on Drug-Use Prevention in Adolescents at Senior High Schools.

Objective: A technology-assisted teaching tool with interactive features may improve the outcomes of illegal drug-use prevention strategies. This study explores augmented reality (AR) and paper board games incorporating a brief antidrug educational program for students without drug-use problems to increase their antidrug knowledge, attitude, life skills, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention to avoid using drugs. Materials and Methods: A total of 600 students were recruited, and 578 completed the intervention program and pre-and post-tests. The participants were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: AR board game, paper board games, and comparison groups. The brief educational program consisted of two sessions. Generalized estimation equations were used to assess group differences in outcome variables. The paired t-tests were used to assess improvements in outcome variables of the two experimental groups. Results: The study found that the students who received the brief educational program featuring the AR board game was significantly different from the comparison group in outcome variables, including antidrug knowledge (P = 0.001), life skills (P = 0.004), subjective norms (P < 0.001), perceived behavioral control (P < 0.001), and intention (P = 0.02). The group with the paper board games also revealed similar findings as to the AR board game group in outcome variables, except for antidrug knowledge. There were no group differences in antidrug attitude between experimental and comparison groups. Conclusion: The results of this study support the efficacy of the two types of board games incorporated with a brief educational program. Results suggest that schools can adopt AR or paper board games as learning tools to assist in drug-use prevention programs and reduce the likelihood of students using illegal drugs.

Are Healthcare Expenditures Related to Economic Growth in China? Bootstrap ARDL Approach.

This study attempts to investigate whether healthcare expenditures (HCE) are related to economic growth in China using a newly developed Bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) test for China over the period of 1990-2019. To avoid omitted variable bias, we use the ratio of the population of 65 years old over the total population (aging ratio) as a control variable. Empirical result indicates that no cointegration among these three variables. Granger causality test based on Bootstrap ARDL model demonstrates that one-way Granger causality running from HCE to aging ratio and from economic growth to both HCE and aging ratio. Empirical results have important policy implications for China understudy.

A Well-Designed Implement for Promoting Population Health and Property via Insurance.

The frequency and intensity of catastrophes (including natural disasters and pandemics) rise and damage the population's health, life and property more seriously. In order to protect population health and wealth via full insurance indemnity, many countries set up a public catastrophe insurance scheme (PCIS) to maintain the function of catastrophe insurance markets. Little literature discusses the smart payment way of contributions charged by PCIS. This article design a model to describe the upward trend and cyclic frequency and intensity of catastrophic events. Such characteristics also promote the business cycle of the insurance industry. We analyze the changes in catastrophic insurer's capital structures under three cases of that the volume-based charges to the PCIS may come from equity holders or policyholders or both. PCIS may entail a shift of equity capital toward minimum solvency requirements, and then adverse incentives regarding insurer's security level arise. Various numerical experiments illustrate the changes in equity position, default probabilities, or expected policyholder deficits. The results show that the payment way of contributions should be designed carefully, not only with regard to PCIS's finance balance but also the resultant incentives and effects.

Pandemic Risk Management for Public Health Care Schemes.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has caused a large death, a range of serious health problems, and significant economic costs in many countries around the world. This study analyzes statistical characteristics of pandemic disasters using historical records since the Middle Ages. Compared to literature which studies the effect of the COVID- 19 pandemic on the financial market, this paper attempts to find two financial instruments in the financial market to hedge pandemic risks. Two instruments could be useful for public health care schemes to increase their assets or decrease their liabilities during the pandemic period, namely, assets in the form of a biotechnology investment portfolio and liabilities in the form of pandemic bonds. Empirical results show the feasibility of such instruments and the informational efficiency of the U.S. stock market.

Pain-Administrable Neuron Electrode with Wireless Energy Transmission: Architecture Design and Prototyping.

Back pain resulted from spine disorders reaches 60-80% prevalence in humans, which seriously influences life quality and retards economic production. Conventional electrical pain relief therapy uses radiofrequency to generate a high temperature of 70-85 °C on the electrode tip to destroy the neural transmission and stop the pain. However, due to the larger area of stimulation, eliciting significant side effects, such as paralysis, contraction, and a slightly uncomfortable feeling, our study aimed to design a tiny and stretchable neural stimulatory electrode that could be precisely anchored adjacent to the dorsal root ganglion which needs therapy and properly interfere with the sensory neural transmission. We also designed a subcutaneously implantable wireless power transmission (WPT) device to drive the neural stimulatory electrode. Through the study, we elaborated the design concept and clinical problems, and achieved: (1) the architecture design and simulation of the transdermal wireless power transferred device, (2) a wrap-able pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulatory electrode, (3) an insulation packaging design of the titanium protection box. The feasibility study and hands-on prototype were also carried out.

Longevity and Economic Growth in China and India Using a Newly Developed Bootstrap ARDL Model.

In this study, we use a recently developed Bootstrap ARDL model to examine the influence of longevity (life expectancy after giving birth) and alcohol consumption on economic progression (GDP) in both China and India during the years between 1992 and 2015. Empirical results have shown an extended link across economic development, longevity, and alcohol use in both China and India. The Granger causality test, derived from the Bootstrap ARDL model, demonstrates a unidirectional relationship between economic growth and longevity in China. However, a bidirectional causality exists between longevity and alcohol use in India. Results have important implications for Indian and Chinese governments' public health policies, focused on alcohol consumption reduction specifically, and population health generally.

Revisiting the Relationship Between Suicide and Unemployment in Mexico: Evidence From Linear and Non-linear Co-integration.

This study attempts to investigate if suicide is interlinked with unemployment in Mexico by making use of a recently developed Bootstrap ARDL bound test over the years of 1981-2016. To avoid omitting variable bias, we use economic growth rate as a control variable. The empirical results indicate that no co-integration among these three variables and there is a positively bidirectional causality between suicide rate and the unemployment rate. This study will showcase that the economic growth rate negatively affects unemployment rate and unidirectional Granger causality running from economic growth rate to the unemployment rate in Mexico. The findings presented in this study could provide with valuable information for society and health policy makers to formulate the policies on suicide prevention in Mexico.

Bio-Compatibility and Bio-Insulation of Implantable Electrode Prosthesis Ameliorated by A-174 Silane Primed Parylene-C Deposited Embedment.

Microelectrodes for pain management, neural prosthesis or assistances have a huge medical demand, such as the application of pain management chip or retinal prosthesis addressed on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Due to lifelong implanted in human body and direct adhesion of neural tissues, the electrodes and associated insulation materials should possess an ideal bio-compatibility, including non-cytotoxicity and no safety concern elicited by immune responses. Our goal intended to develop retinal prosthesis, an electrical circuit chip used for assisting neural electrons transmission on retina and ameliorating the retinal disability. Therefore, based on the ISO 10993 guidance for implantable medical devices, the electrode prosthesis with insulation material has to conduct bio-compatibility assessment including cytotoxicity, hemolysis, (skin) irritation and pathological implantation examinations. In this study, we manufactured inter-digitated electrode (IDE) chips mimic the electrode prosthesis through photolithography. The titanium and platinum composites were deposited onto a silicon wafer to prepare an electric circuit to mimic the electrode used in retinal prosthesis manufacture, which further be encapsulated to examine the bio-compatibility in compliance with ISO 10993 and ASTM guidance specifically for implantable medical devices. Parylene-C, polyimide and silicon carbide were selected as materials for electrode encapsulation in comparison. Our data revealed parylene-C coating showed a significant excellence on bio-insulation and bio-compatibility specifically addressed on implantable neuron stimulatory devices and provided an economic procedure to package the electrode prosthesis. Therefore, parylene C encapsulation should serve as a consideration for future application on retinal prosthesis manufacture and examination.

p53 target DDA3 binds ASPP2 and inhibits its stimulation on p53-mediated BAX activation.

The p53 tumor suppressor functions in maintaining the integrity of the genome. We have previously reported that DDA3 is an oncoprotein transcriptionally regulated by p53. To explore mechanisms underlying DDA3 action, we searched for its interacting proteins by yeast two-hybrid screening, and identified ASPP2, a p53 binding protein, as its binding partner. The DDA3/ASPP2 binding was confirmed in vitro by GST pull-down and in vivo by immunofluorescence assay, which indicated colocalization of DDA3 and ASPP2. Interacting domain of DDA3 was mapped to amino acids 118-241, whereas both the N- and C-terminal regions of ASPP2 were capable of binding to DDA3. DDA3 dose-dependently inhibited ASPP2 in stimulating the p53-mediated BAX promoter activation without interfering the binding of ASPP2 to p53. Together these results identify ASPP2 as a bona fide DDA3 interacting protein, and suggest that the ASPP2/DDA3 interaction may inhibit ASPP2 in stimulating the apoptotic signaling of p53.