Algeria is one of the most important CO2 emitters among developing countries and the third among African countries. It pledged to curb carbon emissions by at least 7% by 2030. However, complying with ...this target may be a difficult task without compromising economic growth. The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between CO2 emissions and economic growth in Algeria, taking into account energy use, electricity consumption, exports and imports. The validity of the EKC hypothesis, throughout the period from 1970 to 2010, is tested by using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model extended to introduce the break points. Results confirm the EKC for Algeria. Nevertheless, the turning point is reached for a very high GDP per capita value, indicating that economic growth in Algeria will continue to increase emissions. Results also indicate that an increase in energy use and electricity consumption increase CO2 emissions, and that exports and imports affect them negatively and positively, respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to promote renewable energies and energy efficiency policies. Regulatory reforms are needed to facilitate foreign investments with which to carry out these policies. Likewise, it may be appropriate to decrease subsides in energy prices to encourage energy efficiency.
•Algeria pledged to curb carbon emissions by at least 7% by 2030.•EKC is tested by using the ARDL model with breakpoint for 1970–2010.•Results show that EKC is confirmed but the threshold level of income is not reached yet.•Results indicate that energy use and electricity consumption increase emissions.•Exports and imports affect emissions negatively and positively, respectively.
The bacterial epigenome Sánchez-Romero, María A; Casadesús, Josep
Nature reviews. Microbiology,
01/2020, Letnik:
18, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
In all domains of life, genomes contain epigenetic information superimposed over the nucleotide sequence. Epigenetic signals control DNA-protein interactions and can cause phenotypic change in the ...absence of mutation. A nearly universal mechanism of epigenetic signalling is DNA methylation. In bacteria, DNA methylation has roles in genome defence, chromosome replication and segregation, nucleoid organization, cell cycle control, DNA repair and regulation of transcription. In many bacterial species, DNA methylation controls reversible switching (phase variation) of gene expression, a phenomenon that generates phenotypic cell variants. The formation of epigenetic lineages enables the adaptation of bacterial populations to harsh or changing environments and modulates the interaction of pathogens with their eukaryotic hosts.
Highlights • Bacterial genomes contain C5 -methyl-cytosine, N4 -methyl-cytosine, and N6 -methyl-adenine. • Base methylation controls DNA–protein interactions. • DNA methylation plays roles in ...bacterial virulence. • Methylome analysis may open a new era in bacterial epigenomics.
Cadmium (Cd) toxicity has been widely studied in different plant species; however, the mechanism involved in its toxicity as well as the cell response against the metal have not been well ...established. In this work, using pea (Pisum sativum) plants, we studied the effect of Cd on antioxidants, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO) metabolism of leaves using different cellular, molecular, and biochemical approaches. The growth of pea plants with 50 μM CdCl₂ affected differentially the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) isozymes at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, giving rise to a SOD activity reduction. The copper/zinc-SOD down-regulation was apparently due to the calcium (Ca) deficiency induced by the heavy metal. In these circumstances, the overproduction of the ROS hydrogen peroxide and superoxide could be observed in vivo by confocal laser microscopy, mainly associated with vascular tissue, epidermis, and mesophyll cells, and the production of superoxide radicals was prevented by exogenous Ca. On the other hand, the NO synthase-dependent NO production was strongly depressed by Cd, and treatment with Ca prevented this effect. Under these conditions, the pathogen-related proteins PrP4A and chitinase and the heat shock protein 71.2, were up-regulated, probably to protect cells against damages induced by Cd. The regulation of these proteins could be mediated by jasmonic acid and ethylene, whose contents increased by Cd treatment. A model is proposed for the cellular response to long-term Cd exposure consisting of cross talk between Ca, ROS, and NO.
The residential energy sector is crucial to achieving CO2 emission reductions as it has an important energy-saving potential, and its environmental controls are difficult to displace to other ...countries. Using the latest available data, this short paper provides a concise analysis of residential energy consumption trends for the period 1993–2013 in a double perspective, by main world regions and by per capita gross national income levels in 2013. Residential energy has been divided into three types: non-renewable, direct renewable and indirect renewable. Annual rates of change, energy intensity, energy in per capita terms and some ratios have been analyzed. Notable regional differences and trends were observed in the studied variables. Therefore, different energy policies are recommended for the regions. Eastern and Southern Asian countries, the EU15 and other developed countries, are the regions which should make the greatest effort to reduce residential energy consumption. The promotion of direct and indirect renewable energies is recommended.
•The residential energy sector is crucial to achieving CO2 emission reductions.•This paper provides a concise analysis of residential energy consumption trends 1993–2013.•Different energy policies are recommended for the regions.•EAS, SAS, EU15 and ODC should make the greatest effort to reduce residential energy use.
Ecological and biophysical economists and historians of economics consider that availability of energy inputs has played a key role in driving economic growth in industrialized and emerging ...economies. Nevertheless, being very sensitive to structural characteristics or stages of economic development, the strength of this link differs among countries. This study analyzes the role of energy in economic growth from a geographical standpoint by estimating an aggregate translog production function, with human and physical capital and productive energy use as production factors, within a growth framework. Panel data of 38 major countries for the period from 1995 to 2007 were used. The strength of the link between energy and growth is analyzed for the whole sample and the following relevant country groups: OECD, BRIC, NAFTA, East Asian, East European and EU15 countries. Obtained results show that the calculated productivity elasticities with respect to energy use are positive for all country groups. BRIC countries have higher elasticities, around 0.37, and EU15 countries have lower elasticities, around 0.12. Weak substitutability relationships between energy and capital are observed for all groups, except for BRIC and East European countries, which show complementarity relationships.
•This study analyses the role of energy on economic growth within a growth framework.•It is analyzed for OECD, BRIC, NAFTA, East Asia, East Europe and EU15.•A translog production function with productive energy use was estimated.•BRIC countries have higher elasticities with respect to energy and EU15 lower.•Energy is weakly substitutable with physical capital and stronger with human capital.
Peroxisomes are highly dynamic and metabolically active organelles that play an important role in cellular functions, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. Peroxisomal dynamics, such as ...the proliferation, movement, and production of dynamic extensions called peroxules, have been associated with ROS in plant cells. However, the function and regulation of peroxules are largely unknown. Using confocal microscopy, we have shown that treatment of Arabidopsis leaves with the heavy metal cadmium produces time course-dependent changes in peroxisomal dynamics, starting with peroxule formation, followed by peroxisome proliferation, and finally returning to the normal morphology and number. These changes during Cd treatment were regulated by NADPH oxidase (C and F)-related ROS production. Peroxule formation is a general response to stimuli such as arsenic and is regulated by peroxin 11a (PEX11a), as Arabidopsis pex11a RNAi lines are unable to produce peroxules under stress conditions. The pex11a line showed higher levels of lipid peroxidation content and lower expression of genes involved in antioxidative defenses and signaling, suggesting that these extensions are involved in regulating ROS accumulation and ROS-dependent gene expression in response to stress. Our results demonstrate that PEX11a and peroxule formation play a key role in regulating stress perception and fast cell responses to environmental cues.
Controlling residential energy consumption is crucial to reduce CO2 emissions, as it has an important energy-saving potential, and its environmental controls are difficult to displace offshore. The ...aim of this study is to analyze the relationships between residential energy consumption and income for the EU-28 countries, in the period 1990–2013. For this purpose, residential energy environmental Kuznets curves (EKC) are estimated by using panel data techniques. In order to take into account the heterogeneity among countries, a multilevel mixed-effects model is used. The elasticities of residential energy consumption with respect to income are calculated for each year and country, analyzing the different behavior between countries. Obtained results show that the EKC hypothesis is confirmed for the residential sector in the EU-28 countries. Moreover, the results also show that the turning point has been reached in Denmark, Luxembourg, Finland, The Netherlands, and Sweden. Eastern EU-28 countries average elasticity evolution is almost constant through the period, being around 0.25. The rest of the EU-28 countries have a clear decreasing average elasticity evolution trend with lower values around 0.10 at the end of the period.
•The relationships between residential energy consumption and income are analyzed.•The EKCs are estimated by using a multilevel mixed-effects model.•The EKC hypothesis is confirmed for the residential sector in the EU-28 countries.•Elasticities of residential energy consumption with respect to income are calculated.•Clear differences among countries are observed, mainly between Eastern countries.
Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrosylated derivatives are produced in peroxisomes, but the impact of NO metabolism on organelle functions remains largely uncharacterised. Double and triple NO‐related ...mutants expressing cyan florescent protein (CFP)‐SKL (nox1 × px‐ck and nia1 nia2 × px‐ck) were generated to determine whether NO regulates peroxisomal dynamics in response to cadmium (Cd) stress using confocal microscopy. Peroxule production was compromised in the nia1 nia2 mutants, which had lower NO levels than the wild‐type plants. These findings show that NO is produced early in the response to Cd stress and was involved in peroxule production. Cd‐induced peroxisomal proliferation was analysed using electron microscopy and by the accumulation of the peroxisomal marker PEX14. Peroxisomal proliferation was inhibited in the nia1 nia2 mutants. However, the phenotype was recovered by exogenous NO treatment. The number of peroxisomes and oxidative metabolism were changed in the NO‐related mutant cells. Furthermore, the pattern of oxidative modification and S‐nitrosylation of the catalase (CAT) protein was changed in the NO‐related mutants in both the absence and presence of Cd stress. Peroxisome‐dependent signalling was also affected in the NO‐related mutants. Taken together, these results show that NO metabolism plays an important role in peroxisome functions and signalling.
A tight regulation of NO is required for optimal peroxisomal function and dependent signalling. NO is essential for peroxule production and peroxisome proliferation occurring in plant response to Cd. Additionally, peroxisome number and distribution as well as the oxidative metabolism of the organelle are altered by different levels of NO under control and stress conditions.
In epidemics such as COVID‐19, major changes need to be made to the population's behavior to prevent infection and stop disease transmission. The three most recommended preventive measures are ...wearing a mask, washing hands with soap or hydroalcoholic gel, and watching an interpersonal distance of at least two meters (3W) from other people. This study aimed to assess adherence to these COVID‐19‐related three preventive measures and its association with knowledge, attitudes, risk perception, and practices in Spain. The COSMO‐Spain survey, based on the WHO Behavioral Insights questionnaire on COVID‐19, was conducted in the general Spanish population using an online questionnaire (n = 1,033). Sociodemographic, knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perception variables were included. A multivariable logistic regression model was carried out to evaluate the factors associated with compliance with the three preventive measures. Half of the respondents (49.8%) were women with a median age of 45 (Inter‐quartile Range, IR = 21) years. In the logistic regression, the factors associated with 3W compliance were being over 45 years; knowing about how COVID‐19 spreads and wearing masks properly; appropriate attitudes towards COVID‐19 (greater agreement with mandatory mask use); high risk perception (feeling that the coronavirus is spreading rapidly, being concerned about non‐mask wearers), and adherence to other preventive measures against COVID‐19, such as staying at home. Adequate knowledge, attitudes and risk perception are determinants of 3W compliance. Developing effective health education programs and frequent communication strategies are necessary, particularly for those who adhere less to preventive measures.
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