Digital transformation and carbon intensity reduction in transportation industry: Empirical evidence from a global perspective.

Digital transformation has become an inevitable trend in industrial development, but research on its environmental benefits has not been conducted in-depth. This paper focuses on the impact and mechanisms of the digital transformation of the transportation industry on its carbon intensity. Empirical tests are conducted based on the panel data of 43 economies from 2000 to 2014. The results show that the digital transformation of the transportation industry reduces its carbon intensity, but only the digital transformation that relies on domestic digital sources is significant. Second, technological progress, upgrading the industry's internal structure and improving energy consumption are the main channels through which the digital transformation of the transportation industry reduces its carbon intensity. Third, in terms of subdividing industries, the digital transformation of basic transportation has a more significant effect on reducing carbon intensity. For segmentation digitization, the carbon intensity reduction from digital infrastructure is more significant. This paper serves as a reference for countries to formulate development policies for the transportation industry and implement the Paris Agreement.

Shikonin Could Be Used to Treat Tubal Pregnancy via Enhancing Ferroptosis Sensitivity.

Background: Albeit oxidative stress has been implied in the pathogenesis of tubal pregnancy (TP), there are scant data to suggest that ferroptosis occurs in TP. Shikonin plays a pivotal role in redox status, but whether it can regulate ferroptosis to treat TP remains unknown. Methods: We collected and analyzed ferroptosis-related indices from the villous tissue (VT) of women suffering from TP and from women with a normal pregnancy. In vitro, we used shikonin and/or RAS-selective lethal 3 (RSL3) to intervene HTR-8/SVneo cells and further detected ferroptosis indices and cell functions. Finally, the expression of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is pharmacologically activated to explore the effect of Nrf2 on shikonin regulating ferroptosis. Results: Increased malondialdehyde content, reduced levels of glutathione and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and upregulated protein expression which promoted ferroptosis were observed in the VT of TP patients, suggesting that ferroptosis occurred during TP. In vitro, shikonin enhanced ferroptosis sensitivity in HTR-8/SVneo cells induced by RSL3 via amplifying lipid peroxidation, which mainly included increasing cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid ROS and Fe2+ level. RSL3 and/or shikonin inhibited Nrf2 and downregulated protein expression of SLC7A11 and GPx4 caused by RSL3 + shikonin co-treatment, which could be reversed under activation of Nrf2. Hence, shikonin facilitated lipid peroxidation by inhibiting Nrf2 signaling. Additionally, shikonin and/or RSL3 potently inhibited the invasion and migration of HTR-8/SVneo cells. Conclusion: This study firstly showed that ferroptosis may be involved in TP pathogenesis and shikonin potentially targeted ferroptosis to treat TP.

LncRNA GATA3-AS1 promoted invasion and migration in human endometrial carcinoma by regulating the miR-361/ARRB2 axis.

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is a kind of fatal female malignancy. lncRNA GATA3-AS1 has been identified as an oncogene in various cancers. However, the functions and mechanisms of GATA3-AS1 in EC remain to be explored. Human EC tissues and four EC cell lines were used. Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate the expression of GATA3-AS1, miR-361, and ARRB2. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to validate the interaction among GATA3-AS1, miR-361, and ARRB2. Flow cytometry, colony formation assay, scratch assay, and transwell assay were used to examine the cell apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion of EC cells, respectively. In vivo tumor growth was monitored in nude mice. GATA3-AS1 and ARRB2 were upregulated while miR-361 was downregulated in human EC tissues and EC cells. GATA3-AS1 knockdown constrained cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT while promoting the apoptosis of EC cells by upregulating miR-361. GATA3-AS1 negatively regulated miR-361 expression. ARRB2 was the direct target of miR-361 and could activate the Src/Akt pathway. In vivo, GATA3-AS1 knockdown suppressed tumor progression by upregulating the miR-361 expression. lncRNA GATA3-AS1 promoted EC invasion and migration by the miR-361/ARRB2 axis, which indicated that GATA3-AS1 might be a promising therapeutic option for advanced EC progression. KEY MESSAGES: GATA3-AS1 knockdown suppressed EC proliferation, invasion, and migration. GATA3-AS1 directly inhibited miR-361 as a ceRNA. MiR-361 knockdown reversed the tumor suppressive effect caused by GATA3-AS1 knockdown. MiR-361 bound to ARRB2 directly and suppressed its expression. The GATA3-AS1/miR-361/ARRB2 axis regulated EC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration.

Association Between White Blood Cells at Baseline and Treatment Failure of MTX for Ectopic Pregnancy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate white blood cell (WBC) count as a risk factor related to methotrexate (MTX) treatment failure in patients with ectopic pregnancy (EP). Methods: A total of 236 women diagnosed with EP and treated with a single dose of MTX were included. The exposure variable was WBC count at baseline, and the outcome was MTX treatment outcome. Both a multivariate binary logistics regression model and subgroup analysis were performed to evaluate the association between WBC and MTX non-response. Results: WBC count was associated with the risk of treatment failure, and the odds ratio (OR) in different multivariate models was stable [minimally adjusted model: OR 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0-1.3, p = 0.008; fully adjusted model: OR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.0-1.4, p = 0.026]. For WBCs in group T3 (>8.9 × 109/L), the association between WBC count and treatment failure was significant (minimally adjusted model: OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.0-3.8, p = 0.050; fully adjusted model: OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-5.6, p = 0.034). Subgroup analysis showed that in participants with regular menstruation (OR 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.3), WBC count was significantly different from irregular menstruation (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.8); p for interaction was 0.031. Conclusions: We found a reliable and non-linear relationship between WBC count and MTX treatment failure for EP.

Non-Lactobacillus-Dominated Vaginal Microbiota Is Associated With a Tubal Pregnancy in Symptomatic Chinese Women in the Early Stage of Pregnancy: A Nested Case-Control Study.

The features of the vaginal microbiota (VM) community can reflect health status, and they could become new biomarkers for disease diagnosis. During pregnancy, domination of bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus in the VM community is regarded as a keystone because they stabilize the VM by producing antimicrobial compounds and competing adhesion. An altered VM composition provides a marker for adverse pregnancy outcomes. This nested case-control study aimed to characterize the VM in women with a tubal pregnancy (TP) presenting with pain and/or uterine bleeding in early pregnancy. Chinese women with a symptomatic early pregnancy of unknown location were the study cohort. 16S rDNA gene-sequencing of V3-V4 variable regions was done to assess the diversity, structures, taxonomic biomarkers, and classification of the VM community. The primary outcome was the location of the early pregnancy. The VM community in women with a TP showed higher diversity (PD-whole-tree, median: 8.26 vs. 7.08, P = 0.047; Shannon Diversity Index, median: 1.43 vs 0.99, P = 0.03) and showed different structures to those in women with an intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) (R = 0.23, P < 0.01). Bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus were significantly enriched in the IUP group, whereas bacteria of the genera Gardnerella and Prevotella were significantly enriched in the TP group. Lactobacillus abundance could be used to classify the pregnancy location (AUC = 0.81). Non-Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota (≤ 0.85% Lactobacillus) was significantly associated with a TP (adjusted odds ratio: 4.42, 95% confidence interval: 1.33 to 14.71, P = 0.02). In conclusion, among women with a symptomatic early pregnancy, a higher diversity and lower abundance of Lactobacillus in the VM is associated with a TP.

A Clinical Study of Early Intervention with Coralline Hydroxyapatite on Fresh Extraction Sockets.

To clinically, histologically and radiologically evaluate the effects of early intervention on fresh extraction sockets, 30 patients were selected and assigned evenly into group A (blood clot) and group B (coralline hydroxyapatite). All participants underwent clinical examination. Oral plaster casts and panoramic radiographs were undertaken before tooth extraction and at 3-4 months after socket grafting. A 6-8 mm sample of longitudinal bone core was obtained using a 2 mm diameter trephine 3-4 month's post-operatively. Group A had a greater decrease in interdental papilla height, which was about 2-3 times more than that of group B (P >0.001). The buccal-lingual alveolar ridge width also absorbed more in group A (P >0.001). Radiological findings were similar. Group B had less new bone formation (P >0.001), and the residual rate was a little high. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of new bone formation rating grade. Clinical, histological and radiological tissue differences were observed between sockets with and without biomaterial grafts 3-4 months after surgery. This indicates that early intervention of extraction sockets is clinically advantageous.

[Sleep disorder of schizophrenia treated with shallow needling: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effective differences between shallow needling and medication for the sleep disorder of schizophrenia. METHODS: Ninety-six patients with the sleep disorder of schizophrenia were randomly divided into a shallow needling group and a medication group, 48 cases in each one (one case dropping in the shallow needling group and two cases dropping in the medication group). The same dose paliperidone tablets were adopted in the two groups. In the shallow needling group, the main acupoints were Baihui (GV 20), Shangenxue (Extra) and Ezhongxian (MS 1), and the acupoints based on syndrome differentiation were selected. The shallow needling manipulation was used once a day, 5 times a week. In the medication group, 3 mg eszopiclone tablets were prescribed orally before sleep once every night. The patients were treated for 6 weeks in the two groups. Sleep condition was evaluated by Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy and the adverse reaction were assessed by positive and negative symptoms scale (PANSS) and treatment emergent symptom scale (TESS) before and after 2-week, 4-week and 6-week treatment. The clinical effects between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: After treatment in the two groups, both the total scores and the each factor score of the PSQI and the PANSS were apparently decreased (P<0. 05, P<0. 01). As for the PSQI scale, after treatment the daytime dysfunctional score of the shallow needling group was reduced more obviously than that of the medication group (P<0. 05), and the falling asleep time in the medication group was declined more markedly compared with that in the shallow needling group (P<0. 05). Regarding the PANSS, the improvement of the pathological factor in the shallow needling group was better than that in the medication group after treatment (P<0. 05), and the improvement of the positive factor in the medication group was superior to that in the shallow needling group after treatment (P<0. 05). The total scores and each factor score of the PSQI and the PANSS were not statistically different between the two groups after treatment (P>0. 05). At the end of the 6th week, the curative and effective rate was 63. 9% (30/47) and the total effective rate was 95. 8% (45/47) in the shallow needling group;the curative and effective rate was 58. 7% (27/46) and the total effective rate was 91. 3% (42/46) in the medication group. The difference of the effect was not statistically significant between the two groups (P>0. 05). The scores of TESS in the shallow needling group were lower than those in the medication group (P<0. 01, P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: The effect of shallow needling for assisting the sleeping disorder of schizophrenia is reliable and it is similar with the efficacy of eszopiclone. Also, the shallow needling can improve the daytime dysfunction and the pathological factor apparently without adverse reaction and pain. Its safety is obviously better than that of eszopiclone.

Quality of reporting on randomized controlled trials on recurrent spontaneous abortion in China.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing numbers of RCTs done in China, detailed information on the quality of Chinese RCTs is still missing. The aim of this study was to assess the reporting quality of RSA RCTs and to identify significant predictors of reporting quality. METHODS: A literature review was conducted with the aim of identifying published RCTs on RSA conducted in China. In order to rate the report quality, we scored 1 for the item of CONSORT 2010 if it was reported and 0 if it was not stated or unclear. An overall quality score (OQS) with a range of 0-15 and a key methodological index score (MIS) with a range of 0-3 were calculated for each trial. RESULTS: A total of 98 relevant RCTs were included in the final analysis. The median OQS was 7, with a minimum of 1 and maximum of 12. The general level of OQS was not high, especially among 'sample size,' 'baseline data,' 'outcomes and estimation,' and 'ancillary analyses,' all of which had a positive rate of less than 10%. The median MIS was 1 with a minimum of 0 and maximum of 1. 'Allocation concealment,' 'blinding,' and 'intention-to-treat analysis' were mentioned in 1 (1%), 1 (1%) and 69 (70%) of the studies, respectively. In univariate analysis, funding was the only factor associated with an increased OQS. Specifically, the mean OQS increased by approximately 1.52 for manuscripts supported by funding (95% CI: 0.12 - 2.92; p = 0.03). With regard to the MIS, no association was found for any variable. CONCLUSION: RCTs of RSA conducted in China need improvement in order to meet the level of "reporting quality" required by the CONSORT statement.

Is obstructive sleep apnea associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality?

BACKGROUND: Studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and future risks of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate whether OSA is an independent predictor for future cardiovascular and all-cause mortality using prospective observational studies. METHODS: Electronic literature databases (Medline and Embase) were searched for prospective observational studies published prior to December 2012. Only observational studies that assessed baseline OSA and future risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were selected. Pooled hazard risk (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for categorical risk estimates. Subgroup analyses were based on the severity of OSA. RESULTS: Six studies with 11932 patients were identified and analyzed, with 239 reporting cardiovascular mortality, and 1397 all-cause mortality. Pooled HR of all-cause mortality was 1.19 (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.41) for moderate OSA and 1.90 (95% CI, 1.29 to 2.81) for severe OSA. Pooled HR of cardiovascular mortality was 1.40 (95% CI, 0.77 to 2.53) for moderate OSA and 2.65 (95% CI, 1.82 to 3.85) for severe OSA. There were no differences in cardiovascular mortality in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment compared with healthy subjects (HR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.50 to 1.33). CONCLUSIONS: Severe OSA is a strong independent predictor for future cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. CPAP treatment was associated with decrease cardiovascular mortality.