This paper contributes to the existing literature as well as policy debates by examining energy intensity and its determinants in China's regional economies. The analysis is based on a comprehensive ...database of China's regional energy balance constructed for this project. Through its focus on regional China, this study extends the existing literature, which mainly covers nationwide studies. It is found in this paper that energy intensity declined substantially in China. The main contributing factor is the improvement in energy efficiency. Changes in the economic structure have so far affected energy intensity modestly. Thus there is considerable scope to reduce energy intensity through the structural transformation of the Chinese economy in the future.
► First study examining energy intensity and its determinants using sectoral data in Chinese regions. ► Major findings. ► Decline in energy intensity is due to the rise in energy efficiency. ► Economic structural change has played little role. ► Growth in capital intensity alone would not lead to the decline in energy consumption.
This study utilizes a time-varying parameter Bayesian vector autoregressive model to investigate the dynamic interactions between geopolitical risk (GPR) and renewable energy consumption growth ...(RECG). The identification strategy is flexible to accommodate cases both with and without restrictions of the direction of impact. It is shown that GPR shocks have positive impacts on RECG over time. In contrast, RECG shocks decrease GPR in the whole sample period. These results show that renewable energy is a useful tool to reduce geopolitical risks. Meanwhile, the increasing geopolitical risks tend to augment renewable energy consumption. We also provide the responses at different time horizons and during particular geopolitical events. The estimating results are robust when industrial production growth is used as a control variable. Lastly, several implications for economic policy making are discussed.
Many scholars have argued that the huge increase in regional inequality in China can be attributed greatly to the disparity in industrialization. This paper contributes to the literature by providing ...empirical evidence on the transitional dynamics of industrial output by employing a new framework of distribution dynamics analysis, namely, the mobility probability plot (MPP), and a county-level database made up of counties and county-level cities. The new framework can address several inadequacies of the traditional display tools used in the distribution dynamics literature. Stochastic kernel analyses are performed for the nation, the economic zones, and the provinces individually so as to provide an in-depth understanding of the evolution and convergence of industrial output. This study fills the gap in the literature and provides information on mobility of the county-level units, which can greatly aid the policy making process.
•We examined the convergence and transitional dynamics of China's industrial output.•A new framework of distribution dynamics analysis, namely, the mobility probability plot, was developed.•Convergence to the mean secondary output per capita was not feasible for the county-level units.•Most of the county-level units in China exhibited a higher tendency of moving downwards in the income distribution.•The provinces exhibited different characteristics in transitional dynamics.
Growing evidence suggests that micronutrient status may have some impact on the course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, micronutrient deficiencies are easily overlooked during the ...treatment of IBD patients. There have been many studies on micronutrient supplementation, in which several clinical trials have been conducted targeting vitamin D and iron, but the current research is still preliminary for other vitamins and minerals. This review provides an overview of the adjunctive therapeutic effects of micronutrient supplementation in IBD, to summarize the available evidence, draw the attention of clinicians to micronutrient monitoring and supplementation in patients with IBD, and also provide some perspectives for future research directions.
Electricity market integration in East Asia is an important component of the energy market integration (EMI) initiatives supported by the East Asian Summit (EAS) group. The objectives of this study ...are twofold, namely, a) to present a review of the trends in regional electricity market integration and b) to draw implications for electricity market development in the EAS area. Specifically, this project will review the trends of integration in the world's major electricity markets and analyze the experience and lessons in those markets. It will provide an examination of the electricity sectors in East Asia in terms of market development and connectivity. The findings in this study lead to several policy recommendations. First, the findings imply that all EAS members should strengthen their national electricity markets and hence promote internal market integration. Second, members are encouraged to explore the possibility of sub-regional interconnectivity and cross-border electricity trade. Third, it is proposed that regulatory standards and rules should be harmonized over time. Finally, it is suggested that coordination in national policy making and development planning in the electricity sector could lead to more efficient allocation of resources within the region.
► Review the trend in regional electricity market integration. ► Present a brief survey of electricity market in the EAS region. ► Draw policy implications for the EAS electricity market integration.
Abstract
Background
Lifestyle change plays a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In recent years, diet soft drinks that ...emphasize “zero sugar and zero calories” have become all the rage, but whether diet soft drink consumption is associated with MASLD is not clear.
Methods
This study included data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) in 2003–2006. The assessment of MASLD status primarily relied on the Fatty Liver Index (FLI). Weighted multiple Logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate the association between diet soft drink consumption and MASLD. Additionally, mediation analysis was performed to examine the mediating effect of body mass index (BMI).
Results
A total of 2,378 participants were included in the study, among which 1,089 individuals had MASLD, and the weighted prevalence rate was 43.64%. After adjusting for variables related to demographic, lifestyle, and metabolic syndrome, excessive diet soft drink consumption (the “always” frequency) remained significantly associated with the occurrence of MASLD (
OR
= 1.98, 95%
CI
= 1.36–2.89,
P
= 0.003). It was estimated that 84.7% of the total association between diet soft drink consumption and MASLD was mediated by BMI (
P
< 0.001).
Conclusions
Excessive diet soft drink consumption was associated with the occurrence of MASLD. BMI may play a mediating role in the association between diet soft drink consumption and MASLD.
In 2003, China's energy consumption amounted to 1678 million tonnes coal equivalent (MtCE), making China the world's second largest consumer behind only the United States. China is now also one of ...the largest oil importers in the world. With an economy that is expected to maintain a rate of growth of 7–8% for decades, China's role in the world energy market becomes increasingly influential. This makes it important to predict China's future demand for energy. The objective of this paper is to apply the Bayesian vector autoregressive methodology to forecast China's energy consumption and to discuss potential implications. The results of this paper suggest that total energy consumption should increase to 2173 MtCE in 2010, an annual growth rate of 3.8%, which is slightly slower than the average rate in the past decade. The slower growth reflects expected slower economic growth and a decline in energy consumption due to structural changes in the Chinese economy.
Dietary fiber is a functional substance with strong antioxidant activity that plays an important role in human health. Dietary fiber has been shown to reduce the risks of many types of cancers, but ...whether it can reduce the risk of death in cancer survivors remains undetermined.
This study included the dietary data of cancer survivors who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2001 to 2018. Firstly, the relationship between fiber intake and composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) was explored by weighted multiple regression and smooth curve. Subsequently, multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to explore the effects of dietary fiber intake and CDAI level on the risks of all-cause, tumor, and cardiovascular death among cancer survivors.
A total of 2077 participants were included in the study, representing approximately 11,854,509 cancer survivors in the United States. The dietary fiber intake of tumor survivors had a nonlinear positive relationship with CDAI levels (β = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08-0.40,
= 0.004). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models showed that high dietary fiber intake and CDAI levels were associated with reduced risks of all-cause and tumor death in tumor survivors, but were not associated with the risk of cardiovascular death.
An increased dietary fiber intake can enhance the body's antioxidant capacity. A higher dietary fiber intake and CDAI level may reduce the risk of all-cause and tumor death in tumor survivors.
In recent years, there has been a global trend of aging, which has resulted in significant changes to the burden of gastritis and duodenitis (GD). Using the global burden of disease (GBD) database ...spanning 1990 to 2019, we evaluated the temporal trends of age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardized death rates (ASDR), and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (AS-DALYs) for GD using estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC). Additionally, we examined the burden of GD across various strata, including social demographic index (SDI), age, and sex. Finally, the risk factors linked to the incidence and mortality of GD, utilizing Pearson correlation analysis. In 2019, there were 31 million GD patients globally, a notable increase of 12 million from 1990, while the ASIR, ASDR, and AS-DALYs for GD all showed a decrease. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between ASIR and SDI. Factors like hand hygiene and vitamin A deficiency had significant positive correlations with ASIR and ASDR in 2019. Over the past thirty years, the burden of GD has increased alongside global population aging. Future efforts should focus on exploring prevention for GD, with special attention to the elderly population in low SDI regions.
Reducing environmental pressure is a major concern for China but despite the improvements in energy efficiency, its gross carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have maintained an upward trend, consistent ...with the Jevons Paradox. A fundamental shift is thus needed at all levels, including the household.
This paper explores the embedded carbon footprint (ECF) of Chinese urban households associated with activities, such as food, personal transport, communications, education, recreation, health and hygiene. It uses an input–output model for carbon emissions and 2003–2009 urban household data. The results show that the total ECF emission intensity increases when an individual's consumption is higher than 10,000 Yuan (¥). Structural changes are further observed with consumption expenditure above ¥10,000: food, clothing and other survival-oriented emissions intensities as well as education, health and development-oriented emissions intensities reduce; transport, recreation, housing and enjoyment-oriented emissions intensities increase or remain stable and the total emissions intensity increases. Currently per capita consumption expenditure of Chinese urban residents exceeds ¥10,000 and as income continues to rise, China will remain on a high-carbon track. There is a need for better policies, management and behavioural change and the study provides some policy suggestions, including a carbon quota system to guide individual consumption.
► A new methodology is proposed to study the embedded carbon footprint of households. ► A study of Chinese urban households' embedded carbon footprint (ECF) is conducted. ► The changes in the households' ECF as they relate to increasing income are discussed. ► Policy recommendations are formulated, including a potential carbon quota system.
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