The impact of digital transformation on green total factor productivity of heavily polluting enterprises.

Introduction: Digital transformation has become an important engine for economic high-quality development and environment high-level protection. However, green total factor productivity (GTFP), as an indicator that comprehensively reflects economic and environmental benefits, there is a lack of studies that analyze the effect of digital transformation on heavily polluting enterprises' GTFP from a micro perspective, and its impact mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, we aim to study the impact of digital transformation on heavily polluting enterprises' GTFP and its mechanism, and explore the heterogeneity of its impact. Methods: We use Chinese A-share listed enterprises in the heavily polluting industry data from 2007 to 2019, measure enterprise digital transformation indicator using text analysis, and measure enterprise GTFP indicator using the GML index based on SBM directional distance function, to investigate the impact of digital transformation on heavily polluting enterprises' GTFP. Results: Digital transformation can significantly enhance heavily polluting enterprises' GTFP, and this finding still holds after considering the endogenous problem and conducting robustness tests. Digital transformation can enhance heavily polluting enterprises' GTFP by promoting green innovation, improving management efficiency, and reducing external transaction costs. The improvement role of digital transformation on heavily polluting enterprises' GTFP is more obvious in the samples of non-state-owned enterprises, non-high-tech industries, and the eastern region. Compared with blockchain technology, artificial intelligence technology, cloud computing technology, big data technology, and digital technology application can significantly improve heavily polluting enterprises' GTFP. Discussion: Our paper breaks through the limitations of existing research, which not only theoretically enriches the literature related to digital transformation and GTFP, but also practically provides policy implications for continuously promoting heavily polluting enterprises' digital transformation and facilitating their high-quality development.

A monitoring survey and health risk assessment for pesticide residues on Codonopsis Radix in China.

In recent years, the safety of Codonopsis Radix (CR) has attracted considerable attention. Pesticide residues is an important index to evaluate the safety of CR. The purpose of this study was to monitor pesticide residues in 164 batches of CR in China and assess dietary risk assessment. Firstly, a combined method of QuEChERS-GC-MS/MS and QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS was established for determination of 155 pesticide residues in CR. Second, 155 Pesticide residues in 3 CR cultivars from Gansu, Shanxi, Hubei, Guizhou and Chongqing were determined by this method. Finally, the risk score of pesticide residues in CR was evaluated, and the dietary health risk was evaluated based on the pesticide residues in CR. The results demonstrated that one or more pesticide residues were detected in 39 batches (23.78%) of 164 batches of CR. Of the 155 pesticide residues, 20 were detected. The most frequently detected pesticide residue was dimethomorph with a detection rate of 5.49%. Risk scores showed that 6 pesticides were at higher risk. Risk assessment based on the hazard quotient/hazard index (HQ/HI) approach revealed that exposure to pesticide residues which detected in CR were far below levels that might pose a health risk.

Trade openness and urbanization impact on renewable and non-renewable energy consumption in China.

China has witnessed significant growth in trade through vide range trade liberalization strategies and urbanization has also been entered in advanced stage. Based on these dynamics, how much energy consumption of both renewable and none renewable account for energy consumption in whole system is a point of higher attention for the researchers. To understand this salient emerging debatable concern, we investigate the impact of trade openness and urbanization effect on renewable and non-renewable energy consumption in China for the period 1990-2018. We apply the quantile regression technique for the analysis; our results show that trade significantly increases the non-renewable energy consumption in all quintiles while partially increasing renewable energy consumption. This shows that trade activities in production and export commodities heavily rely on non-renewable energy inputs instead of renewable energy inputs. Urbanization affects non-renewable energy consumption only in three quintiles, while its effect is insignificant in most of the quintiles. Similarly, urbanization does not affect renewable energy consumption as in almost all quantiles the coefficients are statistically insignificant. This implies that urbanization is one of the determinants of energy consumption in China. The empirical findings of this study suggest some policy recommendations; first, the government needs to implement certain regulations while expanding trade to minimize the negative effect of non-renewable energy consumption; besides government should provide incentives to industrial units and traders for using renewable energy which may help to attain long term sustainable development goals. The government should also put certain limitations on population moving from rural to urban destinations.

Exploring determinants of financial system and environmental quality in high-income developed countries of the world: the demonstration of robust penal data estimation techniques.

The financial system development has got considerable attention due to its association with the environment of the country. To address the apprehension of the researchers about the effect of the determinants of the financial system on the environmental quality of high-income developed countries, we analyze the data of twenty developed countries with sound and strong financial systems for the period 2001 to 2018. We consider both banking development and stock market development as the main key determinants of the financial system. We employ numerous modern-day penal data estimation techniques, namely Dynamic Penal GMM in both linear and non-linear form, Common Correlated Effect Mean Group (CCEMG), and Dynamic Fixed Effect for capturing the issues of heterogeneity, endogeneity, and cross-sectional dependence. Our results show that banking development substantiates the environmental quality in high-income developed countries. The positive gesture of the banking development on environmental quality could be the reason for the established environmentally friendly policies in the developed part of the world. Hence, we conclude that banking development in high-income developed countries significantly reduces the emissions of dangerous gases, which resultantly enhances the environmental quality. The study reveals an insignificant and tenuous impact of the market development on the environmental quality that might be due to the adoption of cleaner technologies by firms in the developed world that are environmentally friendly. The results of our long-term estimations also predict the significant effect of banking development and an insignificant effect of the market development on environmental quality. In addition, our results also demonstrate an inverted U-shaped relationship of the determinants of the financial system and environmental quality. More institutional and legal initiatives must be made for a more robust banking and stock market development framework by the policy makers with a view to substantiating the quality of the environment to a more sustainable level in the developed world.

An expedient synthesis of highly functionalized 1,3-dienes by employing cyclopropenes as C4 units.

An efficient method has been described to synthesize dicarbonyl functionalized 1,3-dienes by cleaving the C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond of enaminones with cyclopropenes in the presence of a rhodium catalyst. The acetate-substituted cyclopropenes are judiciously chosen as standard C4 units of 1,3-diene precursors. The reactions are believed to undergo a unique cutting and insertion process, involving a C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond cleavage of the enaminone and insertion of a new C(sp2) source with the formation of two C-C single bonds. A broad range of substrates can be used to synthesize the corresponding 1,3-dienes under very mild reaction conditions, including low catalyst-loading, ambient temperature, and a neutral reaction solvent.

Exploring Asymmetric Nexus Between CO2 Emissions, Environmental Pollution, and Household Health Expenditure in China.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the nexus between household health expenditure, CO2 emissions and environmental pollution in China. We analyzed the asymmetric dynamic relationship between CO2 emissions, environmental pollution and household health expenditure for the period 1990 to 2019 in China. METHODS: This study adopted nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) and Granger causality following the diagnostic test. Furthermore, we applied Dickey-Fuller (ADF), PP unit root tests, Zivot and Andrews test for structural breaks in our analysis. The NARDL is the most suitable econometric technique for estimations, especially if the asymmetric relationship exists among the variables. NARDL technique is capable to explore the dynamic relationship between CO2 emissions, environmental pollution and household health expenditure. RESULTS: The empirical results verify the asymmetric nexus between CO2 emissions, environmental pollution and household health expenditure in the context of China. The outcomes revealed that in the short run and long run positive shocks of CO2 emissions and environmental pollution positively affecting health expenditure, while negative shocks reduce health spendings. The results also demonstrate bi-directional causality among household health spendings, CO2 emissions and environmental pollution. CONCLUSION: Our results support many previous studies, documenting that CO2 emissions positively contribute to the amount of household health expenditure, confirming the asymmetric relationship between CO2 emissions and household health expenditure. The results also confirm the statistically significant and asymmetrically positive relationship between environmental pollution and household health expenditure. This implies that Chinese residents have to bear more household health expenditure, in the case of more CO2 emissions and a greater amount of environmental pollution.

Lewis Acid Catalyzed [4 + 2] Cycloaddition of N-Tosylhydrazones with ortho-Quinone Methides.

A formal [4 + 2] cycloaddition of N-tosylhydrazones with ortho-quinone methides was developed, affording the facile synthesis of diverse 1,3-oxazine derivatives under mild conditions. In this transformation, N-tosylhydrazones are used as a 1,2-dipole synthon under base-free conditions. Moreover, the substrate scope is broad, and the products are formed with high diastereoselectivities in most of the cases.

Site-Selective α-Alkoxyl Alkynation of Alkyl Esters Mediated by Boryl Radicals.

A novel method for site-selective C-H functionalization of ethyl acetate mediated by pyridine-boryl radicals is presented, delivering a variety of 4-phenylbut-3-yn-2-yl acetate derivatives under mild conditions. A distinguishing feature of this reaction is that the pyridine-ligated boryl radicals can abstract the inactive α-hydrogen of the alkoxyl group instead of the α-hydrogen of carbonyl groups described in a previous report using amine-ligated boryl radicals. Significantly, substrates with halogen atoms are compatible under the reaction conditions.

Alkylation of Allyl/Alkenyl Sulfones by Deoxygenation of Alkoxyl Radicals.

A challenging deoxygenation of alkoxyl radicals from readily accessible alcohol derivatives was developed, affording facile synthesis of functionalized alkenes with good functional group tolerance under mild reaction conditions. Because alkoxyl radicals can easily undergo ß-fragmentations or hydrogen abstractions, this new strategy for deoxygenation of alkoxyl radicals is highly valuable. Moreover, mechanistic studies revealed that the electron-neutral phosphine acts as the deoxygenation reagent.

Boryl Radicals-Triggered Selective C-H Functionalization for the Synthesis of Diverse Phenanthridine Derivatives.

A boryl radical-triggered C-H functionalization of aliphatic ethers/amines or DMF with isocyanides is developed to deliver diverse phenanthridine derivatives in good to excellent yields. The substrate scope is broad, and a wide range of functional groups are tolerated under the standard conditions. The rapid removal of HBPin species by 4-cyanopyridine 1-oxide provides the driving force for this reaction. This new method should make boryl radicals widely applicable in organic synthesis.

Nickel-Catalyzed Trifluoromethylselenolation of Aryl Halides Using the Readily Available [Me4N][SeCF3] Salt.

A convenient and efficient method for the construction of aryl trifluoromethyl selenoethers from the corresponding aryl halides in the presence of Ni(COD)2 and an appropriate ligand is reported. Various aryl iodides, bromides, and chlorides were smoothly converted in this reaction by simply varying the ligand, which afforded aryl and heteroaryl trifluoromethyl selenoethers in good to almost quantitative yields. The reaction was also applicable to the synthesis of druglike molecules. This work is the first report for trifluoromethylselenolation of aryl chlorides. Advantages of the present Ni-catalyzed approach include mild reaction conditions, good functional group tolerance, inexpensive reagents, easy operation, and no use of additional additives. This protocol allows for a straightforward and reliable access to trifluoromethyl selenides that are latent screening candidates for new pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.

Expeditious trifluoromethylthiolation and trifluoromethylselenolation of alkynyl(phenyl)iodoniums by [XCF3]- (X = S, Se) anions.

Trifluoromethylthiolation and trifluoromethylselenolation of alkynyl(phenyl)iodonium tosylates by [XCF3]- (X = S, Se) ions was accomplished in 5-10 minutes at room temperature under a N2 atmosphere and provided a variety of alkynyl trifluoromethyl sulfides and selenides in good yields. Compared to the known methods, this approach has several advantages such as short reaction times and metal- and additive-free conditions without needing excess [Me4N][XCF3] reagents. Moreover, the less efficient reactions of (phenylethynyl)benziodoxol(on)e with [Me4N][XCF3] under the standard conditions demonstrate that acyclic alkynyl(phenyl)iodoniums are more powerful alkynyl sources in the conversion. This protocol allows for a fast and convenient access to numerous alkynyl trifluoromethyl sulfides and selenides.

Silver-mediated direct trifluoromethoxylation of α-diazo esters via the (-)OCF3 anion.

Silver-mediated direct trifluoromethoxylation of α-diazo esters and ketosteroid was disclosed. The reactions of alkyl α-diazo arylacetates with AgOCF3 or CF3SO2OCF3/AgF at -30 to 10 °C under a N2 atmosphere provided α-trifluoromethoxyl arylacetates in up to 90% yield, while alkyl α-diazo vinylacetates reacting with CF3SO2OCF3/AgF or AgOCF3 afforded γ-trifluoromethoxyl α,ß-unsaturated esters in up to 94% yield. The α-diazo ketosteroid was also trifluoromethoxylated under the standard reaction conditions. This protocol allows for an effective and convenient access to a large number of synthetic building blocks, which are promising in the development of new functional OCF3-molecules.

A Metal-Free Diverse Synthesis of Difluoromethylthioethers and Difluorobis(arylthio)methanes from RSX (X = SR, Cl, SO2Ph) and TMSCF2H.

Construction of difluoromethylthioethers (2) and difluorobis(arylthio)methanes (3) from RSX (X = SR, Cl, SO2Ph) and TMSCF2H in the absence of transition metals has been explored. The reaction is dramatically influenced by the nature of the base and the molar ratio of the reactants. Reactions between RSX and TMSCF2H in the presence of CsF provided 2 in good yields, whereas the reaction of RSX with TMSCF2H in the presence of t-BuOK afforded 3 in good yields. These protocols allow for convenient and efficient access to both difluoromethylthioethers and difluorobis(arylthio)methanes.

Temperature and injection water source influence microbial community structure in four Alaskan North Slope hydrocarbon reservoirs.

A fundamental knowledge of microbial community structure in petroleum reservoirs can improve predictive modeling of these environments. We used hydrocarbon profiles, stable isotopes, and high-density DNA microarray analysis to characterize microbial communities in produced water from four Alaskan North Slope hydrocarbon reservoirs. Produced fluids from Schrader Bluff (24-27°C), Kuparuk (47-70°C), Sag River (80°C), and Ivishak (80-83°C) reservoirs were collected, with paired soured/non-soured wells sampled from Kuparuk and Ivishak. Chemical and stable isotope data suggested Schrader Bluff had substantial biogenic methane, whereas methane was mostly thermogenic in deeper reservoirs. Acetoclastic methanogens (Methanosaeta) were most prominent in Schrader Bluff samples, and the combined δD and δ(13)C values of methane also indicated acetoclastic methanogenesis could be a primary route for biogenic methane. Conversely, hydrogenotrophic methanogens (e.g., Methanobacteriaceae) and sulfide-producing Archaeoglobus and Thermococcus were more prominent in Kuparuk samples. Sulfide-producing microbes were detected in all reservoirs, uncoupled from souring status (e.g., the non-soured Kuparuk samples had higher relative abundances of many sulfate-reducers compared to the soured sample, suggesting sulfate-reducers may be living fermentatively/syntrophically when sulfate is limited). Sulfate abundance via long-term seawater injection resulted in greater relative abundances of Desulfonauticus, Desulfomicrobium, and Desulfuromonas in the soured Ivishak well compared to the non-soured well. In the non-soured Ivishak sample, several taxa affiliated with Thermoanaerobacter and Halomonas predominated. Archaea were not detected in the deepest reservoirs. Functional group taxa differed in relative abundance among reservoirs, likely reflecting differing thermal and/or geochemical influences.