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The globe has faced technological affluence that enormously revolutionized the lives of humankind. Today, the manufacturing process of the energy sector, production sector, agriculture sector, and service sector is exclusively or partially based on ICT tools. The key intention of this investigation is to find out the impacts of the utilization of ICT on CO 2 emission. However, this investigation also evaluates the influence of investment in ICT and the trade of ICT tools on CO 2 emission. Further, the estimation examined the subsistence of environment Kuznets curve (EKC) theory, for the nation of Pakistan. The investigation employed an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and found that the utilization of ICT has a negative impact on CO 2 emission. Moreover, the long-run results revealed that the import of ICT equipment is more beneficial for the environment quality of Pakistan. However, ICT apparatus manufactured in Pakistan might produce electronic waste due to non-utilization of green technology. The study reported bidirectional causality between ICT and CO 2 emission. These results point towards that the emergence of ICT in industries and daily life possesses a significant and positive role in climate change in Pakistan. Also, this study corroborates the veracity of EKC in Pakistan.

This study employs the ADCC-GARCH approach to investigate the dynamic correlation between bitcoin and 14 major financial assets in different time-frequency dimensions over the period 2013–2021, for which the risk diversification, hedging and safe-haven properties of bitcoin for those traditional assets are further examined. The results show that, first, bitcoin is positively linked to risk assets, including stock, bond and commodity, and negatively linked to the U.S. dollar, which is a safe-haven asset, so bitcoin is closer in nature to a risk asset than a safe-haven asset. Second, the high short-term volatility and speculative nature of the bitcoin market makes its long-term correlation with other assets stronger than the short-term. Third, the positive linkage between the prices of bitcoin and risk assets increases sharply under extreme shocks (e.g., the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020). Fourth, bitcoin can hedge against the U.S. dollar, and in the long term, bitcoin can hedge against the Chinese stock market and act as a safe haven for the U.S. stock market and crude oil. However, for most other traditional assets, bitcoin is only an effective diversifier.

This study employs the network connectedness approach to examine the risk spillover between the economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and exchange rate volatility (ERV) of 21 countries. Using monthly data from January 1997 to August 2022, we find that the spillover effect of ERV on EPU is greater than that of the inverse. In addition, the spillover effect of EPU on ERV is mainly concentrated in the foreign exchange markets of developing countries. This finding indicates that the foreign exchange markets of developing countries are more susceptible to shocks of global economic risk, and the spreading of risk contagion between EPU and ERV mainly follows the pathway “increase in global ERV → rising global EPU → further intensified volatility in the foreign exchange markets of developing countries.” A rolling-window analysis shows that the spillover between global EPU and ERV is time-varying. The cross-market spillovers between EPU and ERV in the post-crisis period continued to rise and further increased sharply after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inner Mongolia is located in China’s arid and semi-arid regions, with sensitive and fragile ecosystems at risk of increased desertification, necessitating ecological restoration. However, economic resources for large-scale ecological restoration are often scarce, so it is vital to identify key areas for ecological restoration. Previous desertification research has focused mainly on the condition and changes in soil or vegetation. However, not all changes in soil or vegetation directly impact humans. New perspectives are increasingly needed to bridge the gap between biophysical and human well-being. We construct a framework to identify priority restoration areas based on ecosystem services and ecosystem vulnerability over a long time series. The results show that: (1) soil conservation services in northeast and southwest Inner Mongolia have degraded. Sand fixation services in central and eastern Inner Mongolia have shown a degradation trend. Habitat quality has been generally stable and sporadic in the past 20 years. (2) The areas with higher ecosystem vulnerability are concentrated in the northeast, mainly due to higher climate exposure and climate sensitivity but relatively lower climate resilience in the northeast. (3) Compared with the results of ecological restoration areas identified based on the trends of traditional vegetation indicators (fractional vegetation cover and net primary productivity), we found a greater proportion of land in northeastern Inner Mongolia in need of restoration. Additionally, there was identified a decreased restoration proportion in southwestern Inner Mongolia to ensure the self-restoration and regulation of desert ecosystems, which is conducive to realizing nature-based solutions.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibits profound immune dysregulation, driven in part by the opposing roles of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells. Tregs facilitate tumor progression through immune suppression, angiogenesis, and checkpoint engagement, while Th17 cells display dual effects depending on the tumor microenvironment, either promoting anti-tumor responses or enhancing malignancy. Importantly, plasticity between these subsets, orchestrated by cytokines such as TGF-β, IL-6, and IL-1β, allows dynamic interconversion that shapes immune outcomes. This review comprehensively summarizes the differentiation, molecular mechanisms, and functions of Tregs and Th17 cells in NSCLC. We highlight recent advances in targeting the Th17/Treg axis via immune checkpoint inhibitors, Treg depletion, and metabolic reprogramming. Understanding this immunological balance offers promising avenues for restoring anti-tumor immunity and improving therapeutic efficacy in NSCLC patients.

This paper explores the transformative impact of blockchain technology and smart contracts on the dynamics of trust within the financial sector. Trust is a cornerstone of financial transactions, traditionally established through centralized intermediaries and legal frameworks. However, the advent of blockchain technology introduces a decentralized, transparent, and tamper-resistant trust mechanism. This study aims to analyze how blockchain and smart contracts redefine financial trust by eliminating reliance on third-party intermediaries and automating trust through programmable agreements. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, including case studies such as JP Morgan’s Quorum blockchain platform, we examine the practical applications of these technologies and their effects on transactional efficiency, data privacy, and trust realization. Key findings reveal that blockchain significantly reduces transaction costs, enhances transparency, and increases security, paving the way for innovative financial products and services. The paper contributes to the understanding of how decentralized technologies are reshaping the future of financial trust and offers insights for regulators and financial institutions navigating this technological shift.

This investigation utilized the VARX-DCC-MEGARCH model assimilated with skewed-t density to analyze the time-different (i.e., daytime, overnight, and daily) connectedness among S&P 500, DAX 30, FTSE-100, Nikkei 225, and Shanghai Composite Index. This investigation discovered that the current daytime returns transmission from the DAX 30, FTSE 100, and Nikkei 225 index to ensuing overnight returns of the S&P 500 index was inconsequential during the stable period. The study also quantified that shocks befallen in the current overnight returns of the S&P 500 partake bidirectional and negative ties with shocks that occurred in subsequent day-wise returns of the DAX 30 index. Moreover, during crises, only the Shanghai composite index spillovers the volatility of the FTSE 100 index. The study revealed a leverage effect for the day-wise return of the S&P 500, DAX 30, and overnight returns of the FTSE 100 index.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected all aspects of life and poses a severe threat to human health and economic development. New York City administration enacted a strict isolation decision at the end of March 2020 to tackle the COVID-19, creating a unique opportunity to assess air quality. Therefore, we investigated the impact of the lockdown on air quality in New York City. We evaluated the air pollutants concentration, i.e., PM 2.5 , CO, NO 2 , SO 2 , and O 3, during the lockdown and compared them with pre-COVID-19. We explored the first phase of lockdown through a spatial approach, then formulated the air quality index (AQI) of each pollutant before and during the lockdown. Our findings revealed that (1) there was a significant decline in the concentration level of PM 2.5 from 10.3 to 4.0 μg/m 3 during phase one of lockdown. (2) NO 2 concentrations have been decreased by up to 52% in 1st phase of lockdown. (3) O 3 concentration has been increased by 44.4%. (4) Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island County encountered 18.75%, 55.62%, 47.14%, and 47% diminution in AQI due to lockdown as compared to 2018, respectively. Our key findings can provide critical environmental implications for policymakers, researchers, academics, and the US government.

The occurrence of nonenzymatic glycosylation reactions in skin fibroblasts can lead to severe impairment of skin health. To investigate the protective effects of the major functional ingredient from Gentianaceae, gentiopicroside (GPS) on fibroblasts, network pharmacology was used to analyse the potential pathways and targets underlying the effects of GPS on skin. At the biochemical and cellular levels, we examined the inhibitory effect of GPS on AGEs, the regulation by GPS of key ECM proteins and vimentin, the damage caused by GPS to the mitochondrial membrane potential and the modulation by GPS of inflammatory factors such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and IL-6 via the RAGE/NF-κB pathway. The results showed that GPS can inhibit AGE-induced damage to the dermis via multiple pathways. The results of biochemical and cellular experiments showed that GPS can strongly inhibit AGE production. Conversely, GPS can block AGE-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in skin cells by disrupting AGE-RAGE signalling, maintain the balance of ECM synthesis and catabolism, and alleviate AGE-induced dysfunctions in cellular behaviour. This study provides a theoretical basis for the use of GPS as an AGE inhibitor to improve skin health and alleviate the damage caused by glycosylation, showing its potential application value in the field of skin care.

Diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) is increasingly recognized as a critical complication of diabetes. The complex pathology of DACD remains unknown. Here, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) to demonstrate unique cellular and molecular patterns of the hippocampus from a mouse model of diabetes. More in-depth analysis of oligodendrocytes (OLs) distinguished five subclusters, indicating different functional states of OLs and transcriptional changes in each subcluster. Based on the results of snRNA-seq and experiments in vivo, we observed demyelination and disharmony of oligodendroglial lineage cell composition in male diabetic mice. Serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) expression was significantly increased in the hippocampus OLs of male diabetic mice, and SGK1 knockdown in hippocampus reversed demyelination and DACD via N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1)-mediated pathway. The findings illustrated a transcriptional landscape of hippocampal OLs and substantiated impaired myelination in DACD. Our results provided direct evidence that inhibition of SGK1 or the promotion of myelination might be a potential therapeutic strategy for DACD. Diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) is increasingly recognized as a critical complication of diabetes. Here, the authors show that SGK1 drives hippocampal demyelination and DACD via regulating NDRG1 phosphorylation.