Near-real-time daily estimates of fossil fuel CO2 emissions from major high-emission cities in China

Cities in China are on the frontline of low-carbon transition which requires monitoring city-level emissions with low-latency to support timely climate actions. Most existing CO₂ emission inventories lag reality by more than one year and only provide annual totals. To improve the timeliness and temporal resolution of city-level emission inventories, we present Carbon Monitor Cities-China (CMCC), a near-real-time dataset of daily CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel and cement production for 48 major high-emission cities in China. This dataset provides territory-based emission estimates from 2020-01-01 to 2021-12-31 for five sectors: power generation, residential (buildings and services), industry, ground transportation, and aviation. CMCC is developed based on an innovative framework that integrates bottom-up inventory construction and daily emission estimates from sectoral activities and models. Annual emissions show reasonable agreement with other datasets, and uncertainty ranges are estimated for each city and sector. CMCC provides valuable daily emission estimates that enable low-latency mitigation monitoring for cities in China.

Measurement(s)	carbon dioxide emissions
Technology Type(s)	fossil fuel consumption

Electricity-consumption data reveals the economic impact and industry recovery during the pandemic

Coping with the outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many countries have implemented public-health measures and movement restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the strict mobility control also brought about production stagnation and market disruption, resulting in a severe worldwide economic crisis. Quantifying the economic stagnation and predicting post-pandemic recovery are imperative issues. Besides, it is significant to examine how the impact of COVID-19 on economic activities varied with industries. As a reflection of enterprises' production output, high-frequency electricity-consumption data is an intuitive and effective tool for evaluating the economic impact of COVID-19 on different industries. In this paper, we quantify and compare economic impacts on the electricity consumption of different industries in eastern China. In order to address this problem, we conduct causal analysis using a difference-in-difference (DID) estimation model to analyze the effects of multi-phase public-health measures. Our model employs the electricity-consumption data ranging from 2019 to 2020 of 96 counties in the Eastern China region, which covers three main economic sectors and their 53 sub-sectors. The results indicate that electricity demand of all industries (other than information transfer industry) rebounded after the initial shock, and is back to pre-pandemic trends after easing the control measures at the end of May 2020. Emergency response, the combination of all countermeasures to COVID-19 in a certain period, affected all industries, and the higher level of emergency response with stricter movement control resulted in a greater decrease in electricity consumption and production. The pandemic outbreak has a negative-lag effect on industries, and there is greater resilience in industries that are less dependent on human mobility for economic production and activities.

The synthesis of brominated-boron-doped PAHs by alkyne 1,1-bromoboration: mechanistic and functionalisation studies

The synthesis of a range of brominated-B n -containing (n = 1, 2) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is achieved simply by reacting BBr3 with appropriately substituted alkynes via a bromoboration/electrophilic C-H borylation sequence. The brominated-B n -PAHs were isolated as either the borinic acids or B-mesityl-protected derivatives, with the latter having extremely deep LUMOs for the B2-doped PAHs (with one example having a reduction potential of E 1/2 = -0.96 V versus Fc+/Fc, Fc = ferrocene). Mechanistic studies revealed the reaction sequence proceeds by initial alkyne 1,1-bromoboration. 1,1-Bromoboration also was applied to access a number of unprecedented 1-bromo-2,2-diaryl substituted vinylboronate esters directly from internal alkynes. Bromoboration/C-H borylation installs useful C-Br units onto the B n -PAHs, which were utilised in Negishi coupling reactions, including for the installation of two triarylamine donor (D) groups onto a B2-PAH. The resultant D-A-D molecule has a low optical gap with an absorption onset at 750 nm and emission centered at 810 nm in the solid state.

[A clinical trial of oxymatrine in treating chronic viral hepatitis type B]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the therapeutic effect of oxymatrine on chronic viral hepatitis type B.

METHODS

303 patients were randomly allocated either to a treatment group or a control group. The treatment group consisted of 253 patients treated with intravenous or intra-muscular injection of oxymatrine and oral oxymatrine capsule. Oral tiopronin was used in the control group.

RESULTS

At the end of treatment, the rate of normal ALT was similar among the different groups. The rate of normal ALT was 53.3% - 58.3% in the three oxymatrine groups six months after the end of treatment. It was higher than that of the tiopronin group (P < 0.05). After a follow up of six months, the rate of negative HBeAg was 30.0% - 40.9% in the three oxymatrine groups. It was higher than that of the tiopronin group (16.7%). The rate of negative HBV DNA was 39.2% - 49.5% in the three oxymatrine groups. It was also higher than that of the tiopronin group.

CONCLUSION

Oxymatrine can improve the liver function and increase the negative rate of HBeAg and HBV DNA in the patients with chronic hepatitis B. The therapeutic effect of oxymatrine will persist after the cessation of administration.

[Cloning and sequence analysis of truncated S gene from circulation of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection]

OBJECTIVE

To find different mutated status of HBV DNA in circulation from chronic HBV patients.

METHODS

Specially designed primers and polymerase chain reaction method were applied to amplify the whole S gene of HBV from the serum of 2 patients. After being sequenced, 4 clones were compared with HBV adr subtype (China strain) to identify the mutant sites.

RESULTS

Sequencing results implied that there was a truncated large/middle S gene in the serum of the patients. Besides that, HBsAg and HBV DNA polymerase defective clones were also detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Truncated middle S gene is found in the circulation of patients with chronical HBV infection, suggestive of a poor prognosis.

[A prospective study of histological changes after AraAMP treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the histological changes in liver biopsy tissue induced by AraAMP therapy for 50 days in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.

METHODS

Eleven patients were enrolled into this prospective study. All the patients had liver biopsy performed within 1 week before starting AraAMP therapy. A second liver biopsy was taken for comparison six months after the end of therapy. Blinded biopsies were scored according to Knodell's histology activity index (HAI), and examined for HBeAg and alpha-smooth muscle actin with immunohistochemistry as well as HBV DNA by using in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

Histological improvement of >or=2 points decrease in the necroinflammatory HAI scores was seen in 8 of the 11 (72.7%) of patients after treatment. In these patients histological assessment revealed a significant improvement in intralobular inflammation and fibrosis as compared with pretreatment values(P < 0.05). There was significant difference of HAI changes in 6 cases graded as G3 based on the degree of periportal interface hepatitis and spotty parenchymal injury, but not in 5 cases graded as G2. HBeAg disappeared from liver tissue in 4 of the 9 cases and a significant reduction of activated liver stellate cells was demonstrated in the second biopsy(P = 0.018). Of the nine cases with HBV DNA positive at the first biopsy with in situ hybridization examination, 4 were negative at the second biopsy.

CONCLUSION

Significant improvement in intralobular inflammation and fibrosis can be observed in liver tissue from patients with chronic hepatitis B infection treated with AraAMP.

[Cloning and sequence analysis of a pseudogene of liver regeneration augmenter in rats]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the status of the augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) in rat's genome.

METHODS

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the genomic DNA of rat, with a set of specific primers designed according to the cDNA sequence of ALR. The products were ligated into pGEM Teasy vector. Two positive clones were sequenced separately.

RESULTS

Two products were amplified from the rat's genome by PCR. After sequencing, one pseudogene was identified. The homology of the amino acid sequence between the ALR and its pseudogene was 88.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

ALR pseudogene is found in rat's genome, implying that there is an ALR multigene family. This finding lays a foundation for further study of ALR molecular evolution mode.

[Transcription of antisense RNA of hepatitis B virus through retroviral mediated gene transfer]

To probe the ways by which the antisense gene of hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be transferred and transcripted in eukaryotic cells to inhibit HBV replication and expression. Two retroviral vectors that carried antisense gene of hepatitis B virus (HBV) PreC/C or PreS/S region were constructed. The HBV ayw PreC/C and PreS/S fragments were inserted into the vector pDO. R cloning site in the sense or antisense orientation and the recombinant retroviral vectors were then transfected into PA317 packaging cells by calcium phosphate coprecipitation, respectively. The stably transformed G418-resistant PA317 cells were selected and the recombinant retroviruses released from transfected G418-resistant PA317 cells were assayed by G418 selection method, using NIH 3T3 cells as target cells. Southern blot and RNA Dot blot analysis showed that the recombinant retroviral vector sequences were stably integrated into the chromosome of transfected PA317 cells and the antisense RNA of HBV PreS/S or PreC/C gene also transcripted in the transduced NIH 3T3 cells. These results suggested that antisense gene of HBV can be successfully transferred and transcripted in target cells through retroviral vector mediated gene transfer and the antisense retroviral vectors may be potentially useful for anti-HBV gene therapy.

[A study on the effects of three kinds of treatment in chronic hepatitis B]

To study the effects of three kinds of treatment: Zhuling polysaccharides combined with hepatitis B vaccine (group I), LAK cells, induced by interleukin-2 (IL-2) in vitro, transfusion therapy, (group II), bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) combined with persatin (group III) in chronic hepatitis B and the mechanism of their effects, we observed 286 patients with chronic hepatitis B, diagnosed according to the criteria made by The 6th National Meeting for Viral Hepatitis and Substantiated by the results of liver biopsy. The patients were divided into 3 treatment groups randomly, with interferon 3 MIU, thrice a week and 10% glucose 500 ml (i.v.) dripping everyday as two different control groups. The ALT recovery rates in group I, II, III were 64%, 35% and 57%, respectively. At the end of the treatment, the HBeAg and HBV DNA clearence rates in group I, II, III were 43% and 44%, 34% and 30%, 57% and 61%, respectively. After one year of follow up, the HBeAg and HBV DNA clearence rates in group I, II, III were 59%, 58%, 61% and 55%, 70%, 60%, respectively. The effects of these kinds of treatment were similar to these of interferon. We also injected Zhuling polysaccharides combined with hepatitis B vaccine, Zhuling polysaccharides alone and normal saline as control to DHBV vertical transmission duck. It was shown that serum DHBV DNA was cleared and the results were also proved by liver histologic change in the two treatment groups. According to these data, it is suggested that the three kinds of treatment for hepatitis B could restore the ALT level, suppress the replication of HBV and improve the liver histologic change. Their effects were similar to those of interferon.

[The evaluation of cefmetazole in clinical use. The study group of cefmetazole in clinical use]

To study the clinical effect of cefmetazole (CMZ), we treated with CMZ 1,926 patients with various infections involving the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, liver and biliary tract, skin and soft tissue and others. The marked effect rate was 56.5%, and the effect rate 33.7%. The sensitivity test of CMZ was also performed in vitro. Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus, staphylococcus epidermis, E. coli, S. typhi, B. salmonella, B. shigella, B. Klebsiella pneumoniae, B. proteus, etc. were sensitive to CMZ. Injecting CMZ can prevent the infection of operation. The study of the adverse reaction of CMZ showed, an adverse reaction rate of 4.2% (the gastrointestinal tract, allergy, kidney and nervous system). These results suggested that CMZ is an antibiotic of broad spectrum, high efficacy and low toxicity. It is effective in treating sensitive bacterial infection, unknown pathogenic infection and mixed bacterial infection, and preventing infection in surgery.

[The effect of cytokines on the liver necrosis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of cytokines on liver necrosis.

METHODS

We injected IL-1, IL-6, IFN gamma, TNF alpha with or without D-galactosamine (D-GAL) into the abdominal cavity of mice separately.

RESULTS

There was no effect on hepatocyte of normal mice after injection of IL-1, IL-6, IFN gamma alone or together. The serum total bilirubin (TBIL) and liver necrosis of mice increased more markedly by using of TNF alpha, IL-6 or IFN gamma separately with D-GAL (TBIL: 46.2 +/- 10.6 micromol/L, 44.6 +/- 12.9 micromol/L, 41.9 +/- 14.9 micromol/L), then by D-GAL alone (TBIL: 27 +/- 11 micromol/L) also the serum TBIL of mice and liver necrosis also increased after injection of IL-1, IL-6 with D-GAL and TNF alpha.

CONCLUSION

Cytokines like IL-1, IL-6, IFN gamma and TNF alpha joined the process of hepatocyte necrosis. They can enhance the degree of liver necrosis induced by D-GAL.

[The effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha on hepatic necrosis in viral hepatitis]

In order to investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) on hepatocyte necrosis in viral hepatitis, TNF alpha with or without D-galactosamine (D-Gal) was injected into the abdominal cavity of rats. No effect was observed after injection of TNF alpha alone. After injection of TNF alpha with D-Gal, the total bilirubin level in rat blood increased and hepatocyte necrosis appeared (P < 0.05). Moreover, anti-TNF alpha McAb blocked the effect of hepatocyte necrosis produced by D-Gal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). 130 samples of hepatic tissue were stained with anti-TNF alpha McAb by using ABC immunohistochemistry method. It was found that more severe the hepatocyte necrosis, more the positive cells expressing TNF alpha. There were more TNF alpha positive cells in the tissue of severe hepatitis. These results suggested that TNF alpha is a mediator in hepatocyte necrosis.

[Human interleukin-2 gene transfer and expression inhibits hepatitis B virus surface antigen expression and enhances LAK activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of normal adults]

Using molecular cloning techniques, we constructed and transfected human interleukin-2 gene expressive retroviral vector into a packaging cell line PA317. Geneticin resistant cell clones were identified and pseudoviral particles titred as 3.75 x 10(6)CFU/ml in their culture supernatants. Human interleukin-2 expression level was 5.71IU/ml for NIH3T3, 6IU/ml for both 2. 2. 15 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells after infection with pseudoviral particles with 8 of multiplicity of infection (M. O. I). Low level interleukin-2 expression potentially inhibited hepatitis B virus surface antigens expression of 2. 2. 15 cell line and enhanced cytotoxicity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells against K562 and Raji as target cells, but neither pseudoviral particles without interleukin-2 cDNA nor reccombinant interleukin-2 at 6 IU/ml. These results indicated that retroviral vector-packaging cell line can efficiently transfer and express interleukin-2 cDNA in human somatic cells and low level expression of interleukin-2 potentially inhibits hepatitis B virus surface antigens expression and enhances LAK activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of normal persons.

[The effects of zhuling-duotang, hepatitis B vaccine and bacillus Calmette-Guerin on immunoactivities of peripheral blood mononuclear cells: an in vitro research]

"Zhuling-duotang (a polysaccharide preparation of the Chinese traditional herb medicine polyporusum bellatus) and hepatitis B vaccine (HB vaccine)" and "Persantin and bacillus calmeteguerin (BCG)" have been used to treat chronic hepatitis B. To elucidate their therapeutic mechanism, we studied the effects of zhuling-duotang, HB vaccine and BCG on immunoactivities of nomal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Cytotoxicity of PBMCs incubated with such drugs against target cells K562, HepG2 or 2.2.15 was detected by using 3H-TdR release assay. IL-2 and IFN-gamma activities of the supernatant were assayed. Immunofluorescent analysis of molecular CD4, CD8, CD16, IL-2R on the surface of PBMCs were done. The results showed that: (1) Zhuling-duotang and BCG could significantly increase the cytotoxicity of PBMCs. They could induce PBMCs to produce IL-2 but not IFN-gamma. They also could stimulate PBMCs to express IL-2R. Zhuling-duotang and BCG did not affect the percentage of CD4+, CD8+, CD16+ cells among PBMCs. (2) HB vaccine did not significantly increase the cytotoxicity of PBMCs. (3) The cytotoxicity of PBMCs induced by Zhuling-duotang combined with HB vaccine was not significantly higher than that of PBMCs induced by Zhuling-duotang alone.