An analysis of the effects of human capital on green growth: effects and transmission channels.

In this digitalized world, economies have energetically encouraged green transformation. The empirical findings regarding the nexus between human capital and green growth are relatively inconclusive. The study originally explores the effect of human capital on the green growth of a digital economy like China from 1991 to 2019. To investigate the model empirically, we have applied the ARDL technique. Our results indicate that there is a positive impact of different levels of education on the green growth of China in the long run. Regression results also show that renewable energy consumption, internet use, and financial development lead to expansion in green growth in the long run. Our findings can strengthen the belief of the Chinese government on the advancement of green growth.

Assessment of the effect of perineural dexmedetomidine on oxidative stress during peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion: a randomized, controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the addition of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine on oxidative stress during transversus abdominis plane (TAP) and rectus sheath (RS) blockades for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter insertion. METHODS: Sixty patients with ESRD undergoing PD catheter insertion to receive left ultrasound-guided TAP and RS blockades were randomly divided into two groups: the dexmedetomidine plus ropivacaine group (25 mL of 0.3% ropivacaine + 1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine) and the ropivacaine group (25 mL of 0.3% ropivacaine). Primary outcomes were oxidative stress marker levels during the procedure. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients (30 patients in each group) were evaluated. Compared with the ropivacaine group, the dexmedetomidine plus ropivacaine group had significantly lower serum malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05) and increased glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.01) and superoxide dismutase levels at 24 h after the procedure (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The addition of 1 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine for ultrasound-guided TAP and RS blockades could inhibit oxidative stress in patients with ESRD undergoing PD catheter insertion. Trial registration This study was registered at www.chictr.org.cn on June 7, 2021 (ChiCTR2100047050).

[Ecological security characteristics of main irrigated agricultural areas on the Loess Plateau based on remote sensing information]. / åŸºäºŽé¥æ„Ÿä¿¡æ¯çš„é»„åœŸé«˜åŽŸä¸»è¦çŒæº‰å†œä¸šåˆ†å¸ƒåŒºç”Ÿæ€å®‰å ¨ç‰¹å¾.

Ecological security is an important guarantee for the sustainable development of regional economy and society. We analyzed the change characteristics of fraction vegetation coverage (FVC) and remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) of four irrigated agriculture regions of the Loess Plateau (Yinchuan Plain, Hetao Plain, Fenhe River Valley and Weihe River Plain) based on the remote sensing data from 2000 to 2018. The results showed that the FVC decreased in the study area from 2000 to 2018. The variation trend of FVC differed among the four irrigated agricultural distribution areas. The RSEI of the whole area showed an overall downward trend, the RSEI of Yinchuan Plain (down 0.06) and Weihe River Plain (down 0.07) decreased significantly, and the RSEI of Hetao Plain remained stable. The RSEI of Fenhe River Valley showed an increased trend. The ecological stability of Yinchuan Plain and Fenhe River Valley was relatively low, the ecological environment of Hetao Plain was relatively stable, and the ecological environment of Weihe River Plain continued to degrade. The results were important for regional ecological environment protection and agricultural sustainable development.

Risk assessment concerning the heavy metals in sediment around Taihu Lake, China.

The present study sought to determine the systematic pollution status of the heavy metals (HMs) found in the sediment around Taihu Lake, China. The concentrations and speciations of the HMs in the sediment were measured. The Ni and Cr concentrations exceeded the probable effect level (PEL), while the concentrations of the other HMs (except Hg) were between the threshold effect level and the PEL. The enrichment factor values for all HMs indicated slight enrichment. The geoaccumulation index revealed that the HMs represented light pollution, while the average contaminant factor value of the HMs indicated moderate pollution. The ecological risk factor value indicated a medium ecological risk, with Cd and Hg being associated with a high and considerable potential ecological risk, respectively. The ecological risk index indicated that the ecological risk posed by the HMs was high. The contamination degree revealed a moderate level of metal pollution, while the pollution load index indicated a heavy pollution level. The extractable proportion of the HMs (except for Cr and As) exceeded 50%. In the case of Cd, the exchangeable proportion was 51.11%, which indicated it to be extremely unstable. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Heavy metals (except for Cr and As) have a high potential ecological risk. All selected heavy metals implying varying degrees of instability. Cd was the most serious pollutant based on the Igeo, Cf and EF analyses.

Eliciting women's preference for prenatal testing in China: a discrete choice experiment.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy tests can be used for the early diagnosis of fetal problems and can prevent abnormal birth in pregnancies. Yet, testing preferences among Chinese women are poorly investigated. METHODS: We developed a Discrete Choice Experiment with 5 attributes: test procedure, detection rate, miscarriage rate, time to wait for result, and test cost. By studying the choices that the women make in the hypothetical scenarios and comparing the attributes and levels, we can analyze the women's preference of prenatal testing in China. RESULTS: Ninety-two women completed the study. Respondents considered the test procedure as the most important attribute, followed by detection rate, miscarriage rate, wait time for result, and test cost, respectively. The estimated preference weight for the non-invasive procedure was 0.928 (P < 0.0001). All other attributes being equal, the odds of choosing a non-invasive testing procedure over an invasive one was 2.53 (95% confidence interval, 2.42-2.64; P < 0.001). Participants were willing to pay up to RMB$28,810 (approximately US$4610) for a non-invasive test, RMB$6061(US$970) to reduce the miscarriage rate by 1% and up to RMB$3356 (US$537) to increase the detection rate by 1%. Compared to other DCE (Discrete Choice Experiment) studies regarding Down's syndrome screening, women in our study place relatively less emphasis on test safety. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has shown that Chinese women place more emphasis on detection rate than test safety. Chinese women place great preference on noninvasive prenatal testing, which indicate a popular need of incorporating noninvasive prenatal testing into the health insurance coverage in China. This study provided valuable evidence for the decision makers in the Chinese government.

Assessment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Use of low-dose whole pancreatic CT perfusion and individualized dual-energy CT scanning.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to investigate the value of low-dose whole pancreatic computed tomography (CT) perfusion integrated with individualized dual-energy CT (DECT) scanning in the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Twenty patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent pancreatic CT perfusion as well as individualized dual-phase DECT pancreatic scans. Perfusion characteristics of non-tumourous pancreatic parenchyma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma were analysed. Weighted-average 120 kVp images and the optimal monoenergetic images in dual phase were reconstructed and the contrast noise ratio (CNR) of pancreas-to-tumour were compared. RESULTS: There were significant difference on blood flow as well as blood volume between pancreatic adenocarcinoma and the non-tumourous pancreatic parenchyma (P < 0.05), whereas no difference on permeability (P > 0.05). CNRs of pancreas-to-tumour in individualized pancreatic phase were significantly higher than those in venous phase (P < 0.05), and CNRs of optimal monoenergetic images were higher than those on weighted-average 120 kVp images (P < 0.05) in both phase. Total effective radiation dose of CT examination was around 9.32-13.75 mSv. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose whole pancreatic CT perfusion can provide functional information, and the individualized pancreatic phase DECT scan is the optimal method for detecting pancreatic adenocarcinomas. The integration of the two techniques has great value in clinical application.