[Coordinated Control of Carbon Emission Reduction and Air Quality Improvement in the Industrial Sector in Hunan Province]

Climate warming and air pollution are the main environmental problems in China. This study used China's Carbon Accounting Database, energy economic model, and air quality model to analyze the potential carbon emission peaking path and synergistic air quality improvement gain in the industrial sector in Hunan Province. Based on China's Carbon Accounting Database and the local industry/energy statistical yearbooks in Hunan, the total CO2 emissions in Hunan Province in 2019 were 310.6 Mt, of which the industrial sector accounted for over 70% of the emissions, mainly from the production and supply of electricity, steam, and heat; the production of non-metallic minerals; and the smelting and pressing of ferrous metals. Three potential industrial carbon emission peaking scenarios were analyzed using the LEAP energy economic model, including the business-as-usual scenario (peaking by 2030), moderate emission reduction scenario (peaking by 2028), and aggressive emission reduction scenario (peaking by 2025), by employing different economic growth rates, energy technology progress, and energy structures of the industrial sector. Furthermore, by combining the anthropogenic air pollutant emission inventory and the regional air quality model WRF-Chem, we analyzed the air quality improvement associated with various carbon emission peak paths. The results showed that the annual mean concentrations of major air pollutants had decreased in the three scenarios, especially in the Chang-Zhu-Tan Region. The aggressive emission reduction scenario was the most effective scenario, followed by the moderate emission reduction scenario and the business-as-usual scenario. Manufacturing was the sector with the most significant synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reduction. When carbon emission peaks were achieved, the annual average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 in Hunan Province could be synergistically reduced by 0.6-1.8 μg·m-3 and 1.8-8.9 μg·m-3, respectively. Our findings offer important insights into carbon emission peaking and can provide useful information for potential mitigation actions.

Investigation of porcine endogenous retrovirus in the conservation population of Ningxiang pig

Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) varies between pig breeds. Screening and analysis of PERV in putative pig breeds may provide basic parameters to evaluate the biological safety of xenotransplantation from pigs to humans. In this study, PERV was investigated among the conservation population of the Ningxiang pig. The result revealed that the genotype of PERV distribution was subtype A, 100%; subtype B, 100%; and subtype C, 100%. The env sequences of PERV-A and -B showed 11 clones detected by KpnI and MboI digestion, indicating that there existed multiple variants of PERV-A and -B in the Ningxiang pig. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction results showed that PERV had transcriptional activity in these individuals. In addition, PERV A/C recombinant was detected in most individuals of Ningxiang pig. Because PERV A/C recombinants increase the potential infectious risk, the breed may not be a proper donor for xenotransplantation.

Effects of testosterone on cytokines and left ventricular remodeling following heart failure

AIMS

To investigate the effects of testosterone treatment on cytokines, ventricular remodeling in rats with heart failure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sprague-Dawley male rats with heart failure were divided into testosterone (n = 22) and placebo (n = 22) group. Pseudo surgery was performed on a third group of 15 male rats as control.

RESULTS

Compared with the placebo group, the testosterone group had a greater LVEF (P <0.05), a higher serum IL-10 level (P <0.05) and a lower serum TNF-alpha level (P<0.05). The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA, MMP-9 mRNA and the myocardial hydroxyproline contents in the testosterone group were also lower than in the placebo group (P<0.05). The mortality rate in the testosterone and placebo group was 31.8% and 68.2%, respectively (P <0.05).

CONCLUSION

Serum testosterone levels were decreased significantly in male rats with heart failure. Testosterone treatment diminishes the imbalance between interleukin-10 and TNF-alpha, suppresses ventricular remodeling and improves cardiac function.

[Rapid identification of human testis spermatocyte apoptosis-related gene, TSARG2, by nested PCR and draft human genome searching]

Cloning apoptosis-related novel genes is a key to further understanding of apoptosis mechanism and the biology process of germ cells, and is of momentous significance on clarifying physiological and pathological process of spermatogenesis. To rapidly attain human novel gene full-length cDNA sequence, the gene-specific primers and the vector-specific primers were designed for nested PCR, and draft human genome searching was performed to rapidly identify the TSARG2 (GenBank accession number AY040204) 5' end from a human testis cDNA library, by using a cDNA fragment (GenBank accession number BE644542) as an electronic probe, which was significantly changed in cryptorchidism and represented a novel gene. Furthermore, a mouse homologue of this gene was identified (GenBank accession number AF395083) by lab on-line. TSARG2 with a 1 233 bp length was composed of 6 exons and spanned about 115 kb of genomic DNA, The putative protein encoded by this gene was 305 amino acid with a theoretical molecular weight of 34 751 dalton and did not share significant homology with any known protein in databases. TSARG2 was expressed in many tissues and mapped to chromosome 4q33-34.1 by database analyses. Therefore, we propose that nested-PCR and draft human genome searching are rapid, sensitive, accurate and efficient method for isolating gene 5' end, even full-length gene from cDNA library.