The impact of macroeconomic policy uncertainty on micro-enterprise investment efficiency-Empirical evidence from China.

The impact of macroeconomic policy uncertainty (EPU) on micro-level entities has garnered increasing attention in economic circles. This study examines the influence of EPU on the efficiency of investments made by China's A-share listed companies between 2016 and 2021. Using a panel fixed effect model for analysis, the research reveals that EPU has a notable adverse effect on the investment efficiency of enterprises. Furthermore, it suggests that advancements in digital finance, strong ESG performance, and enhanced entrepreneurial confidence can mitigate this negative impact effectively. The study also highlights that enterprises with lower valuation, shareholder control, limited audit reputation, and no bank connections are more vulnerable to the impact of EPU on investment efficiency compared to those with higher valuation, manager control, strong audit reputation, and bank connections. Consequently, future efforts should be directed towards enhancing the stability and relevance of economic policies, promoting digital finance, and enhancing corporate governance structures.

Key Social Determinants to Narrow the Gap between Health-adjusted Life Expectancy and Life Expectancy in Megacities.

Objective: Improvement in the quality of life is reflected in the narrowing of the gap between health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and life expectancy (LE). The effect of megacity expansion on narrowing the gap is rarely reported. This study aimed to disclose this potential relationship. Methods: Annual life tables were constructed from identified death records and population counts from multiple administrative sources in Guangzhou, China, from 2010 to 2020. Joinpoint regression was used to evaluate the temporal trend. Generalized principal component analysis and multilevel models were applied to examine the county-level association between the gap and social determinants. Results: Although LE and HALE in megacities are increasing steadily, their gap is widening. Socio-economic and health services are guaranteed to narrow this gap. Increasing personal wealth, a growing number of newborns and healthy immigrants, high urbanization, and healthy aging have helped in narrowing this gap. Conclusion: In megacities, parallel LE and HALE growth should be highly considered to narrow their gap. Multiple social determinants need to be integrated as a whole to formulate public health plans.

Measurement of size-segregated airborne particulate bound polycyclic aromatic compounds and assessment of their human health impacts - A case study in a megacity of southwest China.

Particle size distribution of particulate polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) is one of the important factors controlling human exposure to PACs in air. In this study, size-segregated airborne particle samples were collected in a megacity in southwest China to analyze PACs concentrations and evaluate related health risks. Annual average concentrations of Σ19PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 17.4 ng/m3) and Σ10OPAHs (oxygenated PAHs, 15.3 ng/m3) were one order of magnitude higher than those of Σ9MPAHs (methyl PAHs, 0.97 ng/m3) and Σ27NPAHs (nitrated PAHs, 1.54 ng/m3). More than 55% of PACs masses were associated with fine particles (aerodynamic diameter Dae < 2.1 µm). Inhalation exposure assessment showed that less than 60% of particulate bound PACs could deposit in the respiratory tract, which implies that the traditional model using ambient concentration of PACs would overestimate the inhalation risk. On the other hand, incremental lifetime cancer risks from dermal absorption (ILCRderm) were comparable to those from inhalation (ILCRinh) exposure despite the much lower daily dermal absorption dose than the daily inhalation dose, which implies that the health impact might be underestimated if only considering inhalation exposure. Cancer risks from inhalation exposure were mainly attributed to fine particles while those from dermal exposure were mostly associated with coarse particles. Although neither ILCRderm nor ILCRinh exceeded the threshold value of 10-6 set by USEPA, the total ILCR exceeded this criterion, manifesting potential health risks from exposure to airborne particulate PACs in this region.

A simple and low-cost screen printed electrode for hepatocellular carcinoma methylation detection.

There is a great demand for robust diagnostic and prognostic approaches for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). DNA methylation, a common epigenetic modification, has been found in many promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes. Hypermethylation of these gene promoters will repress the gene transcription and lead to the occurrence of cancers. The abnormal methyation level of the p16 gene promoter could be a promising marker for the detection of HCC. The adsorption affinities between different DNA bases and AuNPs are not the same. After bisulfite treatment and asymmetric PCR, methylation and unmethylation sequences can be changed into guanine-enriched and adenine-enriched sequences, respectively. A home-made gold nanoparticle modified screen printed carbon electrode (AuNP-SPCE) was employed to distinguish the adsorption affinities between guanine-enriched and adenine-enriched sequences, which could be used to analyze the level of DNA methylation. Several key experimental factors were investigated and optimized. The results had shown that the optimal AuNP electrodeposition time was 100 s and 15 min of adsorption could distinguish guanine-enriched and adenine-enriched sequences with a concentration of 100 nM at 25 °C. The detection limit of our AuNP-SPCE was 1.1 ng, and the assay had a good sensitivity of 10% methylation change and was able to distinguish only one methylated CpG site. What's more, the RSD over three assays with a disposable AuNP-SPCE was ≤7.2%. The assay was applied to real samples including cell lines and clinical tissues. Compared with normal hepatic cell lines and normal tissues, lower signals of HCC cell lines and cancer tissues were observed, respectively. It had shown a good discrimination of the abnormal methylation level of the p16 gene promoter.

Berberine, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reduces Inflammation in Adipose Tissue, Polarizes M2 Macrophages, and Increases Energy Expenditure in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

BACKGROUND The uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) gene has a role in mitochondrial energy expenditure in brown adipose tissue. This study aimed to investigate the effects of berberine, a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine, on energy expenditure, expression of the UCP1 gene, the cell stress protein inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), apoptosis genes, and macrophage phenotype (M1 and M2) in white and brown adipose tissue in an obese mouse model fed a high-fat diet. MATERIAL AND METHODS Four-week-old C57BL/6J male mice (n=20) were divided into a high-fat diet group, a normal diet group, a group treated with berberine at 100 mg/kg/d in 0.9% normal saline, and a non-treated group. Whole-body fat mass, blood glucose, insulin resistance, and oxygen expenditure during physical activity were measured. After 16 weeks, the mice were euthanized for examination of liver and adipose tissue. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis genes, thermogenic genes (including UCP1), and IRE1α, were investigated using immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), in white and brown adipose tissue. Magnetic cell sorting harvested M1 and M2 macrophages in adipose tissue. Clodronate liposomes were used to inhibit macrophage recruitment. RESULTS Berberine treatment in mice fed a high-fat diet increased energy metabolism, glucose tolerance, and expression of UCP1, and reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, macrophage recruitment, and resulted in M2 macrophage polarization in white adipose tissue. Polarized M2 macrophages showed reduced expression of apoptotic genes and IRE1α. CONCLUSIONS Berberine improved metabolic function in a mouse model fed a high-fat diet.

Correction to: Rational design of engineered microbial cell surface multi-enzyme co-display system for sustainable NADH regeneration from low-cost biomass.

In the original publication, the author group has been published incorrectly. All authors have agreed to add Aihua Liu as co-author of this article, since the original idea for the experiments, the experimental expertise and some of the plasmids originated from him.

Rational design of engineered microbial cell surface multi-enzyme co-display system for sustainable NADH regeneration from low-cost biomass.

As an important cofactor, NADH is essential for most redox reactions and biofuel cells. However, supply of exogenous NADH is challenged, due to the low production efficiency and high cost of NADH regeneration system, as well as low stability of NADH. Here, we constructed a novel cell surface multi-enzyme co-display system with ratio- and space-controllable manner as exogenous NADH regeneration system for the sustainable NADH production from low-cost biomass. Dockerin-fused glucoamylase (GA) and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) were expressed and assembled on the engineered bacterial surfaces, which displayed protein scaffolds with various combinations of different cohesins. When the ratio of GA and GDH was 3:1, the NADH production rate of the whole-cell biocatalyst reached the highest level using starch as substrate, which was three times higher than that of mixture of free enzymes, indicating that the highly ordered spatial organization of enzymes would promote reactions, due to the ratio of enzymes and proximity effect. To confirm performance of the established NADH regeneration system, the highly efficient synthesis of L-lactic acid (L-LA) was conducted by the system and the yield of L-LA (16 g/L) was twice higher than that of the mixture of free enzymes. The multi-enzyme co-display system showed good stability in the cyclic utilization. In conclusion, the novel sustainable NADH system would provide a cost-effective strategy to regenerate cofactor from low-cost biomass.

In silico assessment of genetic variation in KCNA5 reveals multiple mechanisms of human atrial arrhythmogenesis.

A recent experimental study investigating patients with lone atrial fibrillation identified six novel mutations in the KCNA5 gene. The mutants exhibited both gain- and loss-of-function of the atrial specific ultra-rapid delayed rectifier K+ current, IKur. The aim of this study is to elucidate and quantify the functional impact of these KCNA5 mutations on atrial electrical activity. A multi-scale model of the human atria was updated to incorporate detailed experimental data on IKur from both wild-type and mutants. The effects of the mutations on human atrial action potential and rate dependence were investigated at the cellular level. In tissue, we assessed the effects of the mutations on the vulnerability to unidirectional conduction patterns and dynamics of re-entrant excitation waves. Gain-of-function mutations shortened the action potential duration in single cells, and stabilised and accelerated re-entrant excitation in tissue. Loss-of-function mutations had heterogeneous effects on action potential duration and promoted early-after-depolarisations following beta-adrenergic stimulation. In the tissue model, loss-of-function mutations facilitated breakdown of excitation waves at more physiological excitation rates than the wild-type, and the generation of early-after-depolarisations promoted unidirectional patterns of excitation. Gain- and loss-of-function IKur mutations produced multiple mechanisms of atrial arrhythmogenesis, with significant differences between the two groups of mutations. This study provides new insights into understanding the mechanisms by which mutant IKur contributes to atrial arrhythmias. In addition, as IKur is an atrial-specific channel and a number of IKur-selective blockers have been developed as anti-AF agents, this study also helps to understand some contradictory results on both pro- and anti-arrhythmic effects of blocking IKur.

A framework for the assessment of the spatial and temporal patterns of threatened coastal delphinids.

The massively accelerated biodiversity loss rate in the Anthropocene calls for an efficient and effective way to identify the spatial and temporal dynamics of endangered species. To this end, we developed a useful identification framework based on a case study of locally endangered Sousa chinensis by combining both LEK (local ecological knowledge) evaluation and regional boat-based survey methods. Our study investigated the basic ecological information of Sousa chinensis in the estuaries of eastern Guangdong that had previously been neglected, which could guide the future study and conservation. Based on the statistical testing of reported spatial and temporal dolphins sighting data from fishermen and the ecological monitoring analyses, including sighting rate, site fidelity and residence time estimations, some of the current Sousa chinensis units are likely to be geographically isolated and critically endangered, which calls for much greater conservation efforts. Given the accelerated population extinction rate and increasing budgetary constraints, our survey pattern can be applied in a timely and economically acceptable manner to the spatial and temporal assessment of other threatened coastal delphinids, particularly when population distributions are on a large scale and traditional sampling methods are difficult to implement.

Incidence of online health information search: a useful proxy for public health risk perception.

BACKGROUND: Internet users use search engines to look for information online, including health information. Researchers in medical informatics have found a high correlation of the occurrence of certain search queries and the incidence of certain diseases. Consumers' search for information about diseases is related to current health status with regard to a disease and to the social environments that shape the public's attitudes and behaviors. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the extent to which public health risk perception as demonstrated by online information searches related to a health risk can be explained by the incidence of the health risk and social components of a specific population's environment. Using an ecological perspective, we suggest that a population's general concern for a health risk is formed by the incidence of the risk and social (eg, media attention) factors related with the risk. METHODS: We constructed a dataset that included state-level data from 32 states on the incidence of the flu; a number of social factors, such as media attention to the flu; private resources, such as education and health insurance coverage; public resources, such as hospital beds and primary physicians; and utilization of these resources, including inpatient days and outpatient visits. We then explored whether online information searches about the flu (seasonal and pandemic flu) can be predicted using these variables. We used factor analysis to construct indexes for sets of social factors (private resources, public resources). We then applied panel data multiple regression analysis to exploit both time-series and cross-sectional variation in the data over a 7-year period. RESULTS: Overall, the results provide evidence that the main effects of independent variables-the incidence of the flu (P<.001); social factors, including media attention (P<.001); private resources, including life quality (P<.001) and health lifestyles (P=.009); and public resources, such as hospital care utilization (P=.008) and public health funds (P=.02)-have significant effects on Web searches for queries related to the flu. After controlling for the number of reported disease cases and Internet access rate by state, we estimate the contribution of social factors to the public health risk perception levels by state (R(2)=23.37%). The interaction effects between flu incidence and social factors for our search terms did not add to the explanatory power of our regression models (R(2)<1%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a practical way to measure the public's health risk perception for certain diseases using online information search volume by state. The social environment influences public risk perception regardless of disease incidence. Thus, monitoring the social variables can be very helpful in being ready to respond to the public's behavior in dealing with public health threats.

Halogenated organic contaminants (HOCs) in sediment from a highly eutrophicated lake, China: occurrence, distribution and mass inventories.

Halogenated organic contaminants (HOCs) including 16 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 37 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in 49 surfacial sediments from Chaohu Lake, a highly eutrophicated lake, China. PBDEs were detected in almost samples with the range of the total concentration (defined as Σ(16)PBDEs) from 0.84 to 86.6 ng g(-1). Compared with the occurrence of PBDEs in Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta in China, lower percentage of BDE-209 over the concentration of Σ(16)PBDEs was inferred by the high-volume application of penta-BDE mixture product for local domestic furniture purpose. The total concentration of 37 PCBs (Σ(37)PCBs) ranged from 0.05 to 3.36 ng g(-1) with the most detection of PCB-1, -4, -52 and -71. Both the concentrations of Σ(16)PBDE and Σ(37)PCB poorly correlated with total organic carbon (TOC), suggesting the significant contribution of phytoplankton organic carbons to sediment TOC. The contamination by PBDEs and PCBs in western region of the lake was significantly more serious than in eastern lake. Our findings about the higher residues of PBDEs and PCBs in sediments at the estuary of Nanfei River compared to the other estuaries also supported the conclusion that urban area (Hefei city) was the main source of PBDEs and PCBs. The comparison with the concentration of HOC in the present study with those in other lacustrine sediments around the world suggested the contamination by PBDEs in Chaohu Lake is at middle of the global concentration range, whereas PCBs is at low end of the global range which could be elucidated by local economic development and historical usage of PBDEs and PCBs. The mass inventories of HOCs in the lake were estimated at 561 and 38 kg, which corresponds to only 0.000006% and 0.0001% of these global historical produce volumes, respectively.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in upstream riverine runoff of the Pearl River Delta, China: an assessment of regional input sources.

Water samples collected from upstream tributaries of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and from locations within the PRD (South China) were analyzed for 27 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Average concentrations (aqueous plus particulate) of total 27 PAHs (Σ(27)PAH), 16 priority PAHs designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) except naphthalene (Σ(15)PAH), and the seven carcinogenic PAHs (Σ(7)PAH) classified by the USEPA were 260 ± 410, 130 ± 310, and 15 ± 12 ng/L, respectively. Riverine PAHs were predominantly generated from coal and vegetation combustion, coke production, vehicle exhausts, and petroleum residues, accounting for 28%, 25%, 22% and 21%, respectively, on average. Upstream riverine fluxes of Σ(27)PAH and Σ(15)PAH amounted to 38.9 and 12.9 tons/year, respectively. The net contributions of Σ(27)PAH and Σ(15)PAH from sources within the PRD were estimated at 21.4 and 21.0 tons/year, respectively.

Assessment of aquatic wastewater pollution in a highly industrialized zone with sediment linear alkylbenzenes.

Forty-five sediment samples collected from Dongjiang River, which drains one of the most industrialized and urbanized regions in South China, were analyzed for 19 linear alkylbenzene (LAB) components. The sample dry weight-based concentrations of total LABs (ΣLAB) ranged from 1.5 to 410 ng/g. Comparison of the relative abundances of n-dodecylbenzenes (or C(12) -LABs) and internal to external ratio (I/E) values in riverine sediment, wastewater, and sediment samples from the outfalls of paper mills, as well as three brands of domestic detergents obtained from the present and previous studies, implicated the occurrence of untreated wastewater in the sampling sites. Levels of ΣLAB were significantly linear correlated with those of total organic carbon (TOC) but not with those of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Multiple linear regression integrated principal component analysis indicated that 56% of LABs in wastewater in the study area were treated, but the extent of degradation of LABs was low. Finally, it is proposed that ineffective law enforcement and loopholes in the current regulations for wastewater discharge account for the substantial amount (44%) of untreated wastewater discharged in the study region.

Occurrence, source apportionment and toxicity assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of Chaohu, one of the most polluted lakes in China.

In order to evaluate the effect of local anthropogenic activities on Chaohu Lake, one of the most eutrophicated lakes in China, surface sediments have been collected from the whole lake with 0.05 × 0.05 degree latitude/longitude resolution and in the estuaries of three main inflowing rivers. The concentrations of the 28 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) determined were in a range 82.4-13,000 ng g(-1) with an average value of 1670 ng g(-1) dry weight for total 28 PAHs (referred to as Σ(28)PAH). Amongst the 28 PAHs, 16 are listed as high priority PAHs by the USEPA and they were in the range of 60.8-10,200 ng g(-1) with an average value of 1230 ng g(-1) for the total of them (referred to as Σ(16)PAH); 7 are known as carcinogenic PAHs and their levels ranged from 34.2 to 6400 ng g(-1) with an average of 815 ng g(-1) in total (referred to as Σ(7)PAH). Chaohu Lake was considered significantly polluted by PAHs through the comparison with the PAH burdens in fresh-water lakes both in China and worldwide. Toxic units (TUs) evaluation showed some sampling locations possibly were over the median lethal level for benthic invertebrate. The highest PAH concentrations were found in sediments from the Nanfei River estuary, suggesting the major contributor of PAHs contamination to the lake. The PAHs with four and five rings were found to be dominant among the PAHs detected in all of the sediment samples, and perylene was the most abundant. Σ(16)PAH had a good correlation with those PAHs from pyrogenic sources, such as anthracene and phenanthrene, but a poor correlation with perylene. The results demonstrated that the environmental behavior of PAHs from pyrogenic sources is significantly different to that of perylene from diagenetic sources. The PAHs in sediments were mainly from traffic-related emission by qualitatively assessing with the diagnostic ratios of PAH isomers, and the ratios for low molecular weight PAHs were strongly altered during their transport.

[Multi-slice spiral CT imaging in the post-operative assessment of cochlear implanted electrode].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in the post-operative assessment of cochlear implanted electrode. METHODS: Twenty-three cochlear implant recipients were enrolled in this study. All patients were examined with a SOMATOM Sensation 16-slice CT scanner (Siemens) using the following parameters: 120 kV, 100 mAs, 0. 75 mm collimation, 1 mm reconstruction slice thickness and increment, a pitch factor of 1, and a FOV of 100 mm. The axial images of interested ears were reconstructed with 0.1 mm increment and a FOV of 50 mm, and then volume rendering technique (VRT) reconstruction were done on the work station. RESULTS: The electrode arrays were detected on axial CT images. Both inner ear and electrode array could be displayed on one image simultaneously. VRT provided an intuitionistic view of the relationship between electrode array and cochlea VRT showed the number of the electrode array in 20 patients implanted with Combi 40 + standard electrode array and demonstrated the shape, position, and insertion depth. The electrode array number determined by VRT was in accordance with the surgical findings in 18 patients, and was underestimated in two patients. In 3 patients with Combi 40 + compressed electrode array, only 4 to 5 electrodes arrays were clearly identified and others were not observed. CONCLUSION: MSCT with VRT can provide useful three-dimensional information of the electrode array and indicate the exact relationship between electrode array and cochlea.