This paper analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in 30 Chinese provinces from 2002 to 2013, and systematically examines the relationship between government and CO₂ emissions from the level of regional legal regulation, the level of public expenditure, and corruption. Research results show that the global Moran’s I values of carbon emissions from 2002 to 2013 falls between 0.2 and 0.3, and spatial lag coefficient ρ stands at 0.2340, indicating that CO₂ emissions in the region increase by 0.234% for each additional 1% of CO₂ emissions in the adjacent areas, which means carbon emissions exist in a remarkable spatial autocorrelation and spatial clustering phenomenon. Then the empirical results find that the level of legal regulation and the level of regional corruption are significantly negatively correlated with regional CO₂ emissions, while the level of public expenditure is significantly positively correlated with regional CO₂ emissions. The results also demonstrate the inverted “U”-shaped relationship between economic income and CO₂ emissions. Based on empirical results, this paper provides beneficial policy recommendations for reducing carbon emissions.
A split-plot design was used to study the physiological responses of anti-oxidative enzymes and carbohydrate contents of bermudagrass to different durations (0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days) and depths of submergence (0, 1, 5 and 15 m). The results suggest that submergence caused a higher production of malondialdehyde and more significant changes in the different submerged treatments. The activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) in roots increased with the increase of the durations and depths of submergence, implying an integrated pathway involving CAT, SOD, POD, GR and APX for protection against the detrimental effects of activated oxygen species under submergence. Total soluble carbohydrate and starch contents of shoots and roots decreased with the increase of the depth and duration of submergence, but remained at relatively high level at the end of the study, showing quiescence is one of the major strategies of bermudagrass under the stress of submergence. The results suggest that bermudagrass can endure long-term and deep submergence by balancing between the formation and detoxification of activated oxygen species, lowering metabolism and reserving high amounts of carbohydrate.
Based on the statistical data of 30 provinces in China from 2003 to 2014, this paper uses the spatial Durbin model to empirically test the influence of China’s urban environmental regulation on the introduction of foreign direct investment (FDI). The results show that there is significant spatial correlation between environmental regulation and FDI. Environmental regulation has a negative impact on the introduction of FDI, but the impact is not significant across the country, indicating that the evidence of the pollution haven hypothesis is insufficient in China. Then, the influential effect of environmental regulation on the introduction of FDI has obvious regional differences. The level of environmental regulation in the eastern region is positively correlated with the convenience in FDI introduction, while in the central and western regions, environmental regulation pose a hindrance to the introduction of FDI, which is remarkable only in the central area. In addition, labor costs and human capital levels have a direct effect on the introduction of FDI in the region. The level of regional economic development and R&D investment have a significant indirect impact on the introduction of FDI in surrounding areas, and economic openness has a significant impact on the introduction of FDI in all regions.
Newly discovered specimens of the orthothecide hyoliths in Hebei Province of North China reveal new data on diversity, skeletal microstructure and palaeoecology of the order Orthothecida. Decoritheca cyrene possesses a well-defined skeletal structure consisting of rows of tubercles in the shell wall, which correspond to dimples on the internal surface of the conch. We describe a new species Cupitheca convexa sp. nov. characterised by a planar and interior convex operculum with a pair of bilobate cardinal processes, which differs from the more widespread C. holocyclata in opercular morphology and overall ornamentation of the conch, highting the significance of operculum in the classification of hyoliths. First discovery of the presumed unusual protoconch of C. convexa sp. nov. implies a possible lecithotrophic development to adapt to nutrient-fluctuant environments. Pitting structure on the operculum and shell as well as lamellar- fibrillar structure on the internal mould of C. convexa sp. nov. are observed herein.
This study aims to investigate the enzymatic hydrolysis of waste-activated sludge (WAS) using free and immobilized alkaline protease. Alkaline protease was immobilized on graphene oxide (GO) sheets using glutaraldehyde as cross-linking reagent. The storage stabilities, kinetic parameters, physical properties, and the free amino acid (FAA) profiles of the WAS protein hydrolysates from free and immobilized enzyme were analyzed. The immobilized enzyme showed significantly improved storage stability, whereas kinetic analysis showed that the apparent Km for the immobilized alkaline enzyme was about 1.8-fold higher than that of free protease. Alkaline protease immobilized on GO showed significant activity towards WAS protein hydrolysates, attractive for practical applications. The FAAs formed by free protease and enzyme immobilized on GO were generally similar.
Cell wall components such as pectin and hemicelluloses have been proposed to be involved in aluminum resistance mechanisms in plants. However, whether hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs), one of the most abundant proteins of the cell walls, are involved in Al resistance mechanisms remains elusive. In this study, two rice cultivars Xiushui 03 (Al resistant) and Xiushui 128 (Al sensitive) significantly differing in Al resistance were identified. In the absence of Al, no significant difference was observed in contents of glycoproteins and hydroxyproline in cell wall fractions of these two cultivars. At the early stage of Al toxicity, glycoproteins and hydroxyproline were significantly induced in these two cultivars, but levels of their accumulation in cell walls were much higher in cv. Xiushui 03 than in cv. Xiushui 128. At the late stage of Al toxicity, their accumulation in cell walls dramatically decreased in cv. Xiushui 128 and, however, still kept a high level in cv. Xiushui 03. The finding that Al-induced changes of glycoproteins and hydroxyproline were completely consistent indicates that Al-induced glycoproteins are HRGPs. Further observation utilizing transmission electron microscope showed that HRGPs were greatly accumulated in cell walls leading to thickening of cell walls in cv. Xiushui 03, however, HRGPs and cell walls greatly decreased in cv. Xiushui 128. These data suggest that Al-induced HRGP accumulation in cell walls is involved in alleviating Al toxicity in rice.
In this study, we report the cloning and characteristics of an adiponectin-like receptor gene from Bombyx mori (BmAdipoR) with highly conserved deduced amino-acid sequences and similar structure to the human adiponectin receptor (AdipoR). Structural analysis of the translated cDNA suggested it encoded a membrane protein with seven transmembrane domains. BmAdipoR was found to be expressed in multiple tissues and highly expressed in Malpighian tubules, fat body and testis. BmNPV (Bombyx morinucleopolyhedrovirus) bacmid system combined with confocal microscopy revealed that BmAdipoR was targeted to the cell membrane. We also found that infection with BmNPV did not have an effect on BmAdipoR mRNA quantity in the midgut of susceptible Bombyx moristrain (306) at 48 h, but BmAdipoR mRNA quantity increased significantly at 72 h. We concluded that BmAdipoR gene was a membrane protein ubiquitously expressed in Bombyx moritissues and that its expression was altered by treating with BmNPV.
The aim of this study was to construct and evaluate the immunity efficacy of the DNA multivalent vaccine pVIVO2SjFABP-23. The vaccine was constructed and produced as follows. Forty BALB/c mice were divided into four groups designated pVIVO2, pVIVO2Sj23, pVIVO2SjFABP and pVIVO2SjFABP-23. Each mouse was immunized with 100 µg of the corresponding plasmid DNA by intramuscular injection. 28 days postvaccination, the mice were challenged with S. japonicum cercariae, and the worm and egg burdens were determined 42 days post-challenge. Serum samples were collected from all the mice before and after vaccination and at the end of the experiment, and used for antibody detection. The IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were quantified in the supernatants of specifically stimulated spleen cells. The number of worms was reduced by 52%, 40% and 42% in mice respectively immunized with pVIVO2SjFABP-23, pVIVO2Sj23 or pVIVO2SjFABP. A respective 61%, 38% and 39% egg reduction was determined relative to those mice that only received the empty pVIVO2 plasmid. pVIVO2SjFABP-23 immunization increased IgG levels against SWAP and SEA. Increased IFN-γ levels were detected in the supernatant of specific stimulated spleen cells from mice immunized with the 3 different constructs. The multivalent DNA vaccine developed induced higher levels of protection than the two monovalent tested vaccines.