ahmedabdelwahed/Medical_papers_title_and_abstract_NLP_dataset huggingface dataset:
Guanidinoacetate-creatine in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: a case report

Acute secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) is characterized by escalating neurological disability, with limited disease-modifying therapeutic options. A 48-year-old woman with acute SPMS being treated with interferon beta-1a and oral corticosteroids presented as a clinical outpatient with no disease-modifying effects after treatment. A decision was made to treat her with a combination of guanidinoacetate and creatine for 21 days. She had made clinical progress at follow-up, with the intensity of fatigue dropping from severe to mild. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed increased brain choline, creatine, N-acetylaspartate, and glutathione. Patients with SPMS may benefit from guanidinoacetate-creatine treatment in terms of patient- and clinician-reported outcomes; this requires additional study.
New media environment, environmental information disclosure and firm valuation: Evidence from high-polluting enterprises in China

With firms gradually becoming the subject for energy consumption and environment pollution, it is pivotal that they disclose corporate environmental information for social supervision and fulfillment of social responsibility. Thus, it has been a hot topic as to how to improve the quality of corporate environmental information disclosure (EID). Drawing on the data of listed companies in the high-polluting industries between 2014 and 2017 in China, this paper conducts an empirical study on three questions with an in-depth investigation: (1) does the new media environment help in improving corporate EID quality; (2) whether this relationship is influenced by the property ownership of the corporate and local economic pressure; (3) what is the economic consequence of corporate EID. Our findings indicate that new media environment has a significantly positive effect on corporate EID quality, especially to state-owned enterprises. And firms with higher environmental disclosure quality enjoy better firm valuation. These findings help identify new driving factors of corporate EID and confirm that new media environment has performed a supplementary role in regulating corporate environmental behaviors, which can help develop green finance and promote ecological civilization. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
How will the Chinese national carbon emissions trading scheme work? The assessment of regional potential gains

The implementation of a national emissions trading scheme (ETS) in China is likely to have an important effect on potential regional gains. This study proposes a unified analytical framework for anticipating such gains in 2020 and estimates the key factors involved using data envelopment analysis based models. The results indicate that: (1) when the value of the marginal abatement cost is higher than the carbon price, no regions will have an incentive to reduce emissions by technological improvements. The only source of direct potential gains is from the amounts of carbon quota. (2) As carbon price increases from CNY 10 to 4000 per ton, the indirect potential gains will increase because the strategies for carbon reduction are technological innovation or limit economic activities. However, Jiangsu and Shanghai will suffer potential losses even though the price is high because they have no more carbon reduction potential. (3) Most central provinces will have potential gains when the carbon price is lower in ETS, while regions rich in fossil energy sources will suffer potential losses. However, a middle-price interval of CNY 1000-2000/ton is more rational, because it helps motivate market transactions and benefits low-carbon technological innovations.
Assessment of Green Methanol Production Potential and Related Economic and Environmental Benefits: The Case of China

Adopting a new paradigm for social development implies a transition to a circular economy. The above requires the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the utilization of wastes, and the use of renewable energy sources. The most promising way is the use of methanol for industrial and transport applications. China is experiencing a boom in methanol production and its use in almost every sector of the economy. The purpose of this study was to reveal economic benefits, carbon dioxide emissions and the potential production of green methanol. Fuel price history, energy costs and fuel economy were used for economic assessment. Life cycle analysis to evaluate carbon dioxide emissions was applied. It was revealed that only the use of green methanol as a fuel results in decreases in well-to-wheel CO(2)emissions compared to fossil fuels. The potential methanol production by using recycled waste and wind power was determined. Its annual production can range from 6.83 to 32.43 million tones. On this basis, a gradual transition to a circular and methanol economy is possible. Policymakers are recommended to support green methanol production in China. It can result in boosting the application of vehicles fueled by methanol and can control CO(2)emissions.
Willingness to pay for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in China: A choice experiment analysis

The hydrogen energy is considered to be main power source of transport sector in the future, and a huge amount of funds have been invested into developing hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Since FCEVs are in initial development stage and there're few FCEVs on the road, before their expansion this paper intends to conduct an economic analysis for FCEVs by using the choice experiment method. In the choice experiment, 1072 participants were required to select among two FCEVs and one conventional fuel vehicle. Logit models were estimated and then the results were used to calculate the willingness to pay for FCEVs. Results showed that purchase price, driving range, refueling time, fuel cost, emissions reduction, refueling accessibility are significant influences, and the marginal values for every 200 km improvement in driving range, 5 min reduction in refueling time, RMB 0.5/kilometer reduction in fuel cost, 20% reduction in emissions, and 20% improvement of refueling accessibility were estimated to be RMB 49,091, 12,727, 3818, 47,818, and 12,909, respectively. A range of FCEV configurations were calculated, and compared to a gasoline-powered counterpart the extra value that customers were likely to pay for a FCEV ranged from RMB 20,810 to 95,310. These results have significant implications for promoting FCEVs and contribute to better sustainability in transport sector. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Trade and technological innovation: The catalysts for climate change and way forward for COP21

Following the adaptation of the Paris Agreement at COP21, it was noted that the traditional measures of carbon emissions have several limitations; and a reliable and relevant carbon emissions measurement is important to formulate a response to the challenge of climate change. This study, therefore, explores the relationship between international trade and consumption-based carbon emissions, which is a trade adjusted indicator; and measures the outflow and the inflow of emissions through exports and imports separately. We also include technological innovation in the model to understand its impact on consumption-based carbon emissions. The results show that exports and consumption-based carbon emissions are negatively associated, and technological innovation helps reducing the adverse effect of CO2 growth. In contrast, Imports and gross domestic product are positively linked with consumption-based carbon emissions. The findings also suggest the countries which embraced the Paris Climate Agreement must focus on consumption-based carbon emissions rather than the production-based carbon emissions.
A Deep Learning Approach for Burned Area Segmentation with Sentinel-2 Data

Wildfires have major ecological, social and economic consequences. Information about the extent of burned areas is essential to assess these consequences and can be derived from remote sensing data. Over the last years, several methods have been developed to segment burned areas with satellite imagery. However, these methods mostly require extensive preprocessing, while deep learning techniques-which have successfully been applied to other segmentation tasks-have yet to be fully explored. In this work, we combine sensor-specific and methodological developments from the past few years and suggest an automatic processing chain, based on deep learning, for burned area segmentation using mono-temporal Sentinel-2 imagery. In particular, we created a new training and validation dataset, which is used to train a convolutional neural network based on a U-Net architecture. We performed several tests on the input data and reached optimal network performance using the spectral bands of the visual, near infrared and shortwave infrared domains. The final segmentation model achieved an overall accuracy of 0.98 and a kappa coefficient of 0.94.
Composite dietary antioxidant index and the risk of colorectal cancer: Findings from the Singapore Chinese Health Study

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major contributor to cancer death globally. Several studies showed some protections by certain individual dietary antioxidants against CRC development. Epidemiologic data on the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) in relation to CRC risk are sparse. Using the Singapore Chinese Health Study, an ongoing prospective cohort consisting of 61 321 cancer-free participants aged 45 to 74 years at baseline, a food-based CDAI was calculated according to a previously established and validated method that included six food-sourced antioxidants including vitamins A, C and E, manganese, selenium and zinc. Cox proportional hazard regression method was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CRC associated with various levels of CDAI with adjustment for multiple potential confounders. After an average of 17.5 years of follow-up, 2140 participants developed CRC. HRs (95% CIs) of CRC for quartiles 2, 3 and 4 of CDAI were 0.94 (0.83-1.07), 0.86 (0.75-1.00) and 0.80 (0.66-0.98), respectively, compared to the lowest quartile (Ptrend = .02). This inverse association between CDAI and CRC risk was more apparent in women or those without a history of diabetes, without family history of CRC, never smokers or overweight/obese individuals. However, none of the heterogeneity tests for the CDAI-CRC risk association reached statistical significance. Our findings suggest that food-based antioxidants may be beneficial for reducing the risk of CRC in the general population.
Bioassay Directed Fractionation of Petroleum Ether Extract of Aerial Parts of Ceriops tagal: Isolation of Lupeol as the Nematicidal Agent against Cyst Nematode Heterodera zeae

Plant parasitic cyst nematode Heterodera zeae is a pest, causing substantial economic losses in agriculture. Organic pesticides, based on plant products have emerged as eco-benign nematicidal agents. Ceriops tagal is a well-known marine medicinal plant which has not been evaluated against any nematode. Petroleum ether extract of the aerial parts of the plant (CTP), exhibited promising activity against infective stage larvae of H. zeae. On subjecting to classical solvent-solvent separation, it afforded petroleum ether soluble (CTP-S), methanol soluble (CTPMS-1, CTPMS-2) and insoluble (CTPM-IN-2) fractions, which exhibited activity against the cyst nematode within 24 h exposure. GC, GC/MS and HR-ESI-MS analyses of CTPMS-1 and CTPMS-2 fractions resulted in the identification of a number of compounds, including pentacyclic triterpenoids, lupeol (1), betunal (2), betulin (3), lupenone (4), betulonaldehyde (5), betulonic acid (7), methyl 3-acetoxy-27-O-(3,4-dihydroxy-E-cinnamoyl)-20(29)-lupen-28-oate (8) and β-amyrin, along with phenylpropanoid esters, fatty acids and their derivatives, benzamide, and indole derivatives. CTPM-IN-2 which mainly contained lupeol (1) exhibited maximum nematicidal activity, with 91 % and 93 % mortality of the larvae of H. zeae, after exposure for 72 h at the concentration of 0.5 % and 1 %, respectively. Its fractionation and purification through column chromatography resulted in the isolation and identification of four lupane-type triterpenoids 1, 3, 4 and betulinic acid (6). One of its most abundant column fractions CC-9-18 (145 mg) which exhibited substantial activity, with 81 % mortality at the lowest concentration of 0.125 % after 48 h of incubation mainly contained lupeol. It seems lupeol, a wide spread bio-privileged triterpenoid is the nematicidal principle of the plant as its authentic sample showed LC50 value of 0.061 after 72 h exposure. It is for the first time that nematicidal activity is reported for any part of C. tagal and that of lupeol against H. zeae. Pentacyclic triterpenoids 1-8 are biosynthetically related. Of the twenty-four compounds isolated or identified in the present investigation only five constituents 1, 3, 6, 7 and palmitic acid have been isolated previously from C. tagal.
Central Nervous System Lesions in COVID-19

This review discusses current data on CNS lesions in infections with the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The pathogenetic mechanisms leading to infection of the brain and spinal cord are presented. Published studies and meta-analyses published by autumn 2020 are assessed. The authors present results from their own clinical observations of various types of CNS infection in COVID-19 virus disease. Particular attention is paid to certain common forms of CNS lesion such as encephalitis, cerebrovascular pathology, and headache. A form of acute hemorrhagic necrotic encephalopathy is identified, which is a quite rare but fatal pathology comorbid with COVID-19. A description of our own clinical observation of acute necrotic encephalopathy is presented. The importance of further studies of the effects of the coronavirus on the CNS and possible approaches to treatment and rehabilitation of this category of patients is emphasized.
Construction of ecological security pattern based on the importance of ecosystem service functions and ecological sensitivity assessment: a case study in Fengxian County of Jiangsu Province, China

The construction of ecological security pattern is one of the important ways to alleviate the contradiction between economic development and ecological protection, as well as the important contents of ecological civilization construction. How to scientifically construct the ecological security pattern of small-scale counties, and achieve sustainable economic development based on ecological environment protection, it has become an important proposition in regulating the ecological process effectively. Taking Fengxian County of China as an example, this paper selected the importance of ecosystem service functions and ecological sensitivity to evaluate the ecological importance and identify ecological sources. Furthermore, we constructed the ecological resistance surface by various landscape assignments and nighttime lighting modifications. Through a minimum cumulative resistance model, we obtained ecological corridors and finally constructed the ecological security pattern comprehensively combining with ecological resistance surface construction. Accordingly, we further clarified the specific control measures for ecological security barriers and regional functional zoning. This case study shows that the ecological security pattern is composed of ecological sources and corridors, where the former plays an important security role, and the latter ensures the continuity of ecological functions. In terms of the spatial layout, the ecological security barriers built based on ecological security pattern and regional zoning functions are away from the urban core development area. As for the spatial distribution, ecological sources of Fengxian County are mainly located in the central and southwestern areas, which is highly coincident with the main rivers and underground drinking water source area. Moreover, key corridors and main corridors with length of approximately 115.71 km and 26.22 km, respectively, formed ecological corridors of Fengxian County. They are concentrated in the western and southwestern regions of the county which is far away from the built-up areas with strong human disturbance. The results will provide scientific evidence for important ecological land protection and ecological space control at a small scale in underdeveloped and plain counties. In addition, it will enrich the theoretical framework and methodological system of ecological security pattern construction. To some extent, it also makes a reference for improving the regional ecological environment carrying capacities and optimizing the ecological spatial structure in such kinds of underdeveloped small-scale counties.
The Importance of Renewable Energy Sources in Poland's Energy Mix

Exploitation of renewable energy sources for power generation has been more and more important in recent years. This results from the economic issues and the measures taken to ensure the energy security. The aim of this research was to determine the significance of renewable energy sources (RES) in the energy mix of Poland, and to elicit the opinions and the level of knowledge of the society on the use and development of non-conventional energy. The article also presents advantages and disadvantages of types of RES, the obstacles which hinder the progress of green energy in Poland, and the proposed measures to expand the share of the RES in the overall energy mix. The research relied on the statistical data gathered by Statistics Poland. The opinions of respondents were elicited through a diagnostic survey based on a questionnaire. The research has demonstrated that the respondents support the development of RES in Poland. However, they also maintain that the purchase and installation of devices for the production of non-conventional energy are too expensive. The respondents believe that in order to increase the number of green power plants, subsidies to encourage RES investment and tax reliefs related to this investment should be bigger.
Do energy technology innovations contribute to CO2 emissions abatement? A spatial perspective

With growing concerns about global warming, energy technology innovation has attracted attention from scholars. Many studies have explored the relationship between energy technology innovations and energy consumption, while the influence of energy technology innovation on carbon emissions (CEs) has not received enough attention. Utilizing the spatial econometric model, this study aims to examine whether energy technology innovations are beneficial for CO2 emissions abatement in China. The results indicate that, first, renewable energy technology innovation facilitates CO2 abatement, while fossil energy technology innovation is ineffective in reducing CEs. Second, the influences of energy technology innovations on CEs are trans-regional. Third, economic growth would agglomerate CEs from low-growth province to neighboring high-growth provinces; mandatory environmental regulation in China would transfer CEs from provinces with strict regulations to neighboring provinces with loose regulation. Based on these findings, a series of policy recommendations are put forward to tackle China's CEs. One possible innovation is that this study considers geographic location when investigating how energy technology innovations affect CEs. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Exploring the capacity of renewable energy consumption to reduce outdoor air pollution death rate in Latin America and the Caribbean region

The impact of renewable energy consumption on reducing the outdoor air pollution death rate, in nineteen Latin America & the Caribbean countries, from 1990 to 2016, using the econometric technique of quantile regression for panel data, was researched. Results show that economic growth and fossil fuel consumption are positively related to CO(2)emissions, while renewable energy consumption bears a negative relationship with it. Furthermore, fossil fuel consumption has a positive impact on the mortality rate and economic growth a negative one. The negative effect of renewable energy consumption on the mortality rate is only observable on the right tail of its distribution. The modelisation reveals two ways in which the consumption of renewable energy can reduce the outdoor air pollution death rates: (i) directly, by increasing renewable energies, and (i) indirectly because the increase in the consumption of renewable energies implies a decrease in the consumption of energy from fossil fuels. The phenomenon of increasing urbanisation is a point where the action of public policymakers is decisive for the reduction of outdoor air pollution death rates. Here, the question is not to reduce the level of urbanisation but to act on the "quality" of urbanisation, to make cities healthier. The research concludes that public policymakers must focus on intensifying the transition from fossil to renewable energies and improving the quality of cities.
Host glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-mediated iron acquisition is hijacked by intraphagosomal Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Availability of iron is a key factor in the survival and multiplication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) within host macrophage phagosomes. Despite host cell iron regulatory machineries attempts to deny supply of this essential micronutrient, intraphagosomal M.tb continues to access extracellular iron. In the current study, we report that intracellular M.tb exploits mammalian secreted Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (sGAPDH) for the delivery of host iron carrier proteins lactoferrin (Lf) and transferrin (Tf). Studying the trafficking of iron carriers in infected cells we observed that sGAPDH along with the iron carrier proteins are preferentially internalized into infected cells and trafficked to M.tb containing phagosomes where they are internalized by resident mycobacteria resulting in iron delivery. Collectively our findings provide a new mechanism of iron acquisition by M.tb involving the hijack of host sGAPDH. This may contribute to its successful pathogenesis and provide an option for targeted therapeutic intervention.
Solar energy potential of urban buildings in 10 cities of China

The solar energy potential of urban buildings is important for China's sustainable economic development. Previous studies have focused on creating regional solar maps or estimating the irradiation of building roofs. This study estimates the practical potential of solar energy in cities with a novel roof-facade framework. Improvements have been made to make it more practical by integrating roofs and facades, considering view shading effects, and correcting weather impacts. The developed framework was applied to calculate the solar energy potential for 10 cities in China on a microscopic scale. The annual solar irradiation ranges from 41.39 to 772.94 TWh, with an electric capacity of 6.21-115.94 TWh. A dataset of the annual solar irradiation for more than 1.44 million buildings of the 10 cities is now available as a free download (http://gis.nju.edu.cn/rs_01.asp?ID=74&type_1=425). The results can support decision-making related to reducing reliance on conventional energy sources and reducing carbon emissions. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.