Unidirectional Effect Research Articles

Energy consumption, technological innovation, and economic growth in BRICS: A GMM panel VAR framework analysis

The growing interdependence between environmental resources, financial development, technological advancements, and energy consumption poses significant challenges for sustainable growth in emerging economies. This study investigates these dynamics in the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) from 1990 to 2023 using the GMM panel VAR framework, with the aim of understanding how these factors interact and shape economic outcomes. The analysis shows that environmental rents positively impact financial growth, countering the traditional "resource curse" belief. Technological innovation is negatively linked to both economic growth and environmental sustainability, while energy consumption is positively correlated with economic growth and exhibits a weak correlation with the environment. Furthermore, primary energy consumption is strongly connected to resource utilization and financial growth, although technological advancements negatively affect this relationship. Causality tests reveal mutual influences between energy consumption and technological innovation, alongside unidirectional effects of natural resources on financial and technological growth. Policy implications underscore the need for BRICS nations to balance resource management and technological progress to foster sustainable economic and environmental development.

Bidirectional associations between parenting stress and coparenting: A longitudinal actor-partner interdependence analysis.

Although parents' parenting stress has been found to be related to coparenting, existing research has mostly focused only on one parent or examined the unidirectional effects between the two factors. The present study investigated the actor and partner effects as well as the bidirectional association between parents' parenting stress and coparenting in Chinese society. The study participants were 522 Chinese father-mother dyads with elementary school-aged children who followed for two measurement occasions (half a year apart). The cross-lagged actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) was used to examine the actor effects and partner effects in the bidirectional associations between both parents' parenting stress and coparenting. The findings revealed that both fathers' and mothers' parenting stress significantly negatively predicted their spouses' coparenting (partner effects), and mothers' coparenting significantly negatively predicted their spouses' parenting stress (partner effects). However, the actor effects between parents' parenting stress and coparenting were not significant. Furthermore, there were significant bidirectional associations between fathers' parenting stress and mothers' coparenting. Findings from the present study reveal the dynamic interaction between parenting stress and coparenting. The results point to the need for providing preventive interventions to parents with high levels of parenting stress and establishing a collaborative interaction framework between parents.

Cheers to anxiety: Granger causality insights on alcohol consumption patterns across 13 South American countries.

The relationship between alcohol consumption and mental health is complex; drinking may exacerbate anxiety, and in turn, anxiety can lead to excessive drinking. This study explores the relationship betweenalcoholconsumption patterns including wine, beer, and spirits,and anxiety prevalence in selected 13 South American nations. This study utilises secondary data spanning 29years from 1991 to 2019 obtained from the Our World in Data database. It investigates the causal link between the prevalence of anxiety and alcohol consumption in the selected countries using the Granger causality test. Anxiety was found to have a unidirectional effect on wine and beer consumption in Chile, Suriname, Uruguay, and Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, drinking alcohol consumption appears to impact anxiety levels in Brazil. Argentina demonstrates a bidirectional relationshipbetween anxiety and all three types of alcohol consumption, with similar patterns observed in Brazil (wine and beer), Chile (spirits), and Paraguay (spirits). No significant causal relationships for alcohol consumption patterns were found in other nations. The identified Granger causal links follow four distinct directions in this study. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, governments, and international investors for informed decision-making regarding regulation and policy tools.

Bridging the Connection between Fluency in Reading and Arithmetic.

This study examines the contribution of early executive functions (EFs) in the association between fluency in reading and arithmetic. Kindergarten children (N = 1185) were assessed on executive functions skills and on reading and arithmetic fluency in Grade 1 and Grade 3. The analysis revealed that beyond the connection within each domain there is a unidirectional effect between fluency measures, with Grade 1 reading fluency significantly influencing the development of arithmetic fluency in Grade 3. Furthermore, the findings indicate that kindergarten EFs significantly contribute to arithmetic fluency at both time points and to reading fluency in the first grade. Early EF skills also emerged as significant contributors to the associations between fluency performance in reading and arithmetic, suggesting that the influence of EFs extends beyond individual academic domains. These findings have implications for understanding the cognitive mechanisms that underlie the relations between these academic skills.

How life events may confer vulnerability to addiction: the role of epigenetics.

Substance use disorder (SUD) represents a large and growing global health problem. Despite the strong addictive potency of drugs of abuse, only a minority of those exposed develop SUDs. While certain life experiences (e.g., childhood trauma) may increase subsequent vulnerability to SUDs, mechanisms underlying these effects are not yet well understood. Given the chronic and relapsing nature of SUDs, and the length of time that can elapse between prior life events and subsequent drug exposure, changes in SUD vulnerability almost certainly involve long-term epigenetic dysregulation. To validate this idea, functional effects of specific epigenetic modifications in brain regions mediating reinforcement learning (e.g., nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex) have been investigated in a variety of animal models of SUDs. In addition, the effects of epigenetic modifications produced by prior life experiences on subsequent SUD vulnerability have been studied, but mostly in a correlational manner. Here, we review how epigenetic mechanisms impact SUD-related behavior in animal models and summarize our understanding of the relationships among life experiences, epigenetic regulation, and future vulnerability to SUDs. Despite variations in study design, epigenetic modifications that most consistently affect SUD-related behavior are those that produce predominantly unidirectional effects on gene regulation, such as DNA methylation and histone phosphorylation. Evidence explicitly linking environmentally induced epigenetic modifications to subsequent SUD-related behavior is surprisingly sparse. We conclude by offering several directions for future research to begin to address this critical research gap.

Assessment of health risks posed by heavy metal contamination of wild mushrooms and berries

BACKGROUND: One of the primary objectives in ensuring food security for the population is to reduce the mitigate the risk of chemical contamination in food. Wild mushrooms and berries have the potential to accumulate heavy metals from the environment, posing a threat to human health if consumed. AIM: To assess the risk of developing general toxic effects associated with the consumption of wild mushrooms and berries on health of the adults living in the Arkhangelsk region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The amount and frequency of mushroom and berry consumption by the adult population of the Arkhangelsk region was assessed by a survey (n=445). Intake of heavy metals contaminating mushrooms and berries was calculated using four scenarios. Hazard Quotients (HQ) were used to characterize the risk of developing overall toxic effects due to exposure to mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium. Hazard Indexes (HI) for substances with unidirectional effects were employed to assess the risk of non-cancerous effects on critical organs and systems. Quantitative data were presented as medians (Me) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and the 90th percentile (P90). RESULTS: In total, 82% and 70% of respondents were engaged in collection of mushrooms and wild berries, respectively. On average, they reported consuming 180 grams of fresh or frozen berries, 133 grams of berries with juice, and 50 grams of mushrooms in soup or boiled/fried form per week. The Hazard Quotients (HQ) for all heavy metals did not exceed 1.0. The Hazard Index (HI) calculated for the average consumption of mushrooms and berries, as well as the average heavy metal contamination of wild plants was below 1.0. However, at high levels of mushroom (P90 — 417 g/week) and berry (P90 — 900 g/week) consumption, along with high levels of heavy metal contamination, elevated risk of developing general toxic effects on the endocrine- (HI=2.27), cardiovascular- (HI=2.0), digestive- (HI=2.0), nervous- and immune systems (HI =1.81 for both) and kidneys (HI=1.25) were detected. Forest mushrooms and wild berries can be consumed without restriction at an average level of their contamination. However, in cases of heavy metal contamination of mushrooms and berries at the P90 level or above, it is not recommended to exceed daily consumption of 400 grams of forest mushrooms and 650 grams of wild berries. CONCLUSION: Consuming high amounts of wild mushrooms and berries at the upper limit of exposure to heavy metals, may lead to an elevated risk of developing toxic effects on endocrine, nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems.

Cognitive impairment and depression precede increased HDL-C levels in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: cross-lagged panel analyses

BackgroundHigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is widely recognized for its protective effects against cognitive decline. However, recent studies have presented conflicting results, with some suggesting no significant cognitive benefits or even an increased risk of dementia associated with high HDL-C levels. For those who suffer from depression, the cognitive benefits of HDL-C may be diminished or reversed. The purpose of this study is to investigate the associations between HDL-C, cognitive ability, and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older Chinese adults.MethodsThe datasets utilized were sourced from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) for the years 2011 and 2015, comprising 4,302 participants. Cross-lagged models were employed to explore the temporal sequence between cognitive performance and HDL-C levels, and to examine the interplay among depression, cognition, and HDL-C. Confounding factors such as sociodemographic characteristics, sleep conditions, and history of chronic diseases were controlled for.ResultsThe analysis revealed unidirectional effects of baseline impaired cognition and greater severity of depression on increased HDL-C levels at follow-up (β = − 0.036 and β = 0.028, respectively, P < 0.05). However, higher baseline HDL-C levels did not significantly predict cognitive performance or depression 4 years later (β = − 0.008 and β = 0.023, respectively, P > 0.05). Depressive symptoms and cognition were found to have a significant bidirectional association (β = − 0.026 and β = − 0.053, respectively, P < 0.05).ConclusionsCognitive impairment and depression are associated with higher HDL-C levels, whereas higher HDL-C levels do not appear to protect against cognitive decline or depressive symptoms. These findings underscore the importance of preserving cognitive and mental health, which may lower the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and dementia. Future studies should validate these findings and develop targeted interventions tailored to specific populations.

Revisiting democracy-growth nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa with macroeconomic variables modelling

PurposeA popular convention in the political-economy literature is that causality runs from democracy to economic growth. That thinking has continued to evoke significant debates among scholars. This study aims to propose a new research experiment by investigating whether macroeconomic variables cause democratisation.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a panel data set of 48 carefully selected economies in Sub-Saharan Africa spanning 1991 to 2020 and uses the PVAR system generalised method of moment (GMM) approach.FindingsWith the application of three macroeconomic indicators: economic growth, full employment and balance of payment equilibrium, the study suggests that economic growth has a negative implication on the democratisation process and that the incentives that increase national income provide in the global South enable autocratic rulers to impede democratic growth. The Granger causality test demonstrates a unidirectional effect from economic growth to democracy. The eigenvalue stability condition, impulse response function and forecast-error variance decomposition all confirmed the validity of the findings with the PVAR system GMM. Finally, the study proposed policy and theoretical implications for the political stakeholders.Social implicationsRobust development of economic institutions (particularly the anti-corruption and rule of law) in the global South is required to tame the potential for the state actors to turn public resources into personal use to further their parochial political interest in the form of perpetuating themselves in office which negates the ideals of democracy and social norms. Strong institutions could prevent the misuse of national income and enhance a good quality of life for the citizenry, making them grow confidence in the democratisation process.Originality/valueThe research paper makes an insightful contributions from the methodological perspective and the sampling perspective. The author uses a new research method, the PVAR system GMM becoming the first attempt of such a method to be applied in determining the causal effects of macroeconomic variables on democracy in the literature. Another relevant contribution of the study relates to the sample technique of selecting economies from the Sub-Saharan Africa with notable weak or slow democratisation process.

Increases in sense of purpose predict future positive changes in personality traits.

This longitudinal study examined the reciprocal relationship between the Big Five personality traits and sense of purpose over a 13-year period using a nationally representative sample of American adults (N = 11,010). The random intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed unidirectional effects: increases in sense of purpose predicted subsequent increases in openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion, as well as decreases in neuroticism. Conversely, changes in personality traits did not predict future changes in sense of purpose. One potential mechanism underlying this effect might involve the link between sense of purpose and optimal self-regulatory processes and outcomes, such as successful planning, goal-directed behaviour, and self-control, which promote gradual positive changes in personality traits. Another plausible mechanism may be the association between purpose and improved subjective well-being and reduced psychological distress, which have been found to predict positive changes in personality traits. These findings challenge previous research that has interpreted cross-sectional associations as evidence that personality traits are predictive of purpose, rather than the other way around. The findings that intentionally cultivating a strong sense of purpose may facilitate positive personality change in adulthood.

The Effect of Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR) and Non-Performing Loan (NPL) Against Return on Asset (ROA) With Net Interest Margin (NIM) as an Intervening Variable in BUMN Bank Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange 2018-2022

This study aims to determine the effect of Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR) and Non- Performing Loan (NPL) in the Return on Asset (ROA) with Net Interest Margin (NIM) as an Intervening Variable in BUMN Bank Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange 2018-2022. The independent variable used in this study is Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR) and Non-Performing Loan (NPL). The dependent variable used is Return On Asset (ROA). The intervening variable used is Net Interest Margin (NIM). The method used in this study uses nonprobability sampling technique, using secondary and quantitative data. The analysis technique in this research uses Smart PLS 3.0 by analysing the inner model such as the coefficient of determination, hypothesis testing and path analysing. The research show that, CAR has a significant and positive effect on NIM, LDR and NPL have no significant and unidirectional effect on NIM, CAR and LDR have no significant and unidirectional effect on ROA, NPL and NIM have a significant and unidirectional effect on ROA, NIM can mediate the influence of the variable CAR on ROA, NIM cannot mediate the influence of the LDR and NPL variables on ROA.

Thiazolium salt mimics the non-coenzyme effects of vitamin B1 in rat synaptosomes

Long-term studies have confirmed a causal relationship between the development of neurodegenerative processes and vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. However, the biochemical mechanisms underlying the high neurotropic activity of thiamine are not fully understood. At the same time, there is increasing evidence that vitamin B1, in addition to its coenzyme functions, may have non-coenzyme activities that are particularly important for neurons. To elucidate which effects of vitamin B1 in neurons are due to its coenzyme function and which are due to its non-coenzyme activity, we conducted a comparative study of the effects of thiamine and its derivative, 3-decyloxycarbonylmethyl-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-1,3-thiazolium chloride (DMHT), on selected processes in synaptosomes. The ability of DMHT to effectively compete with thiamine for binding to thiamine-binding sites on the plasma membrane of synaptosomes and to participate as a substrate in the thiamine pyrophosphokinase reaction was demonstrated. In experiments with rat brain synaptosomes, unidirectional effects of DMHT and thiamine on the activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) and on the incorporation of radiolabeled [2–14C]pyruvate into acetylcholine were demonstrated. The observed effects of thiamine and DMHT on the modulation of acetylcholine synthesis can be explained by suggesting that both compounds, which interact in cells with enzymes of thiamine metabolism, are phosphorylated and exert an inhibitory/activating effect (concentration-dependent) on PDC activity by affecting the regulatory enzymes of the complex. Such effects were not observed in the presence of structural analogues of thiamine and DMHT without a 2-hydroxyethyl substituent at position 5 of the thiazolium cycle. The effect of DMHT on the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase was similar to that of thiamine. At the same time, DMHT showed high cytostatic activity against neuroblastoma cells.

Вредные вещества в воздухе рабочей зоны горнодобывающего сектора металлурги-ческой промышленности как факторы риска для здоровья работников (аналитический обзор)

Working conditions at non-ferrous metallurgical enterprises typically involve exposure to a whole set of harmful chemicals present in occupational air. These chemicals contribute to the development of pathologies in workers, respiratory diseases in particular. Research literature was analyzed using bibliographic databases in order to summarize available information on effects produced by harmful chemicals in workplace air on health of workers employed at mining enterprises. Respiratory diseases such as pneumoconiosis, acute and chronic dust bronchitis prevail among occupational pathologies typical for underground miners. Acute and chronic bronchitis prevail among respiratory diseases as health disorders resulting in temporary disability of miners dealing with non-ferrous metal mining. Huge amounts of dust appear in occupational air at mining enterprises due to drilling, blasting and ore crushing. Priority chemicals found in workplace air in mining industry include several carcinogens such as nickel, lead, formaldehyde, cadmium, and benzo(a)pyrene. There is a unidirectional effect produced by sulfur dioxide, nickel, nitrogen oxides, acrolein, formaldehyde, cadmium, and particular matter on the respiratory organs. The nervous system can be affected by manganese, lead, and selenium; the blood, by nickel, lead, and carbon oxide; the cardiovascular system, by carbon oxide and selenium. Working conditions of underground miners in non-ferrous metallurgy involve intensive exposure to chemicals in occupational air, which create health risks of occupational respiratory diseases and malignant tumors. Diseases of the nervous, immune, cardiovascular systems and the blood are also possible. When planning a set of preventive activities, it is advisable to identify groups of work-related diseases caused, among other things, by a specific chemical factor.

Harmful chemicals in occupational air in the ore mining sector of the metal industry as occupational health risk factors (Analytical review)

Working conditions at non-ferrous metallurgical enterprises typically involve exposure to a whole set of harmful chemicals present in occupational air. These chemicals contribute to the development of pathologies in workers, respiratory diseases in particular. Research literature was analyzed using bibliographic databases in order to summarize available information on effects produced by harmful chemicals in workplace air on health of workers employed at mining enterprises. Respiratory diseases such as pneumoconiosis, acute and chronic dust bronchitis prevail among occupational pathologies typical for underground miners. Acute and chronic bronchitis prevail among respiratory diseases as health disorders resulting in temporary disability of miners dealing with non-ferrous metal mining. Huge amounts of dust appear in occupational air at mining enterprises due to drilling, blasting and ore crushing. Priority chemicals found in workplace air in mining industry include several carcinogens such as nickel, lead, formaldehyde, cadmium, and benzo(a)pyrene. There is a unidirectional effect produced by sulfur dioxide, nickel, nitrogen oxides, acrolein, formaldehyde, cadmium, and particular matter on the respiratory organs. The nervous system can be affected by manganese, lead, and selenium; the blood, by nickel, lead, and carbon oxide; the cardiovascular system, by carbon oxide and selenium. Working conditions of underground miners in non-ferrous metallurgy involve intensive exposure to chemicals in occupational air, which create health risks of occupational respiratory diseases and malignant tumors. Diseases of the nervous, immune, cardiovascular systems and the blood are also possible. When planning a set of preventive activities, it is advisable to identify groups of work-related diseases caused, among other things, by a specific chemical factor.

Detecting the interactions between vegetation greenness and drought globally

Drought changes can profoundly influence vegetation growth while vegetation, in turn, may impact drought by modulating water and energy exchanges between the land and atmosphere. Previous studies have primarily focused on the unidirectional effects of drought on vegetation dynamics. However, the impacts of vegetation on drought and their bidirectional dependencies have remained underexplored. In this study, we employ the Leaf Area Index (LAI) and two drought indices (the Standardized Precipitation Index, SPI, and, the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, SPEI) to investigate the interaction between vegetation greenness and drought globally over the period 2001 to 2020. The results demonstrate a statistically significant and consistent trend between LAI and SPI (SPEI) in 66.9% (54.01%) of global vegetated lands. SPI commonly displays a 2-month delayed response to LAI, whereas SPEI shows no evident lag, implying a more rapid response of SPEI to LAI compared to SPI. A substantial proportion of global vegetated areas, around 66% for LAI-SPI and 52% for LAI-SPEI, exhibit a significant positive relationship. The Granger causality test reveals a bidirectional causal relationship between vegetation greenness and drought across approximately 20% of global vegetated areas. Vegetation greenness is identified as the Granger cause of SPI (SPEI) in >60% (30%) of global vegetated lands, providing statistical observational evidence indicating that vegetation can influence drought in many regions within terrestrial ecosystems. Interestingly, the ratio of areas where LAI serves as the Granger cause of SPI is more extensive than the corresponding ratio where SPI is identified as the Granger cause of LAI, a pattern opposite to that observed with SPEI. Overall, our investigation into the interactions between vegetation greenness and drought holds significance for enhancing our understanding of land-atmosphere interplays in the context of climate change and contributes to advancing sustainable development for ecosystem services.

Beyond the resource curse: The multifaceted impact of mineral resources, financial systems, and workforce competence

This research provides a fresh perspective by examining the impact of natural resources and the financial development index on the economic growth of the USA from 1983 to 2021. It utilizes foreign direct investment (FDI) and the human capital index as control variables. Several methodological approaches were employed, including DF-GLS and ADF with breaks for unit root testing, Bayer-Hanck for long-run co-integration, and FMOLS, DOLS, and CCR to ascertain the long-run elasticities among the variables. Robustness checks were performed using various techniques, including least squares regression—with and without breaks—robust least squares and quantile regression as non-parametric methods. To determine the causality, Granger causality analysis was employed. Results identified stable differences in the variables, confirming long-run equilibrium. Principal findings suggest that natural resources positively and significantly impact long-term economic growth, underscoring the ‘resource blessing’ effect in the USA. Moreover, the financial development index was found to stimulate economic growth. Findings from control variables notably affirmed the economic growth in the USA. These outcomes remained consistent and valid across both parametric and non-parametric robustness checks. Causality analysis revealed that FDI, the financial development index, and total natural resources have an uni-directional effect on economic growth, while human capital has a bi-directional causality with economic growth. This study suggests policies to utilize natural resources in tangible sectors further, emphasizing the role of financial development, human capital enhancement, and FDI stimulation.

The Use of E-commerce on the Behaviour and Lifestyle of Buying Products Online among Students of the University of Sumatera Utara

This study aims to determine the effect of using E-Commerce on online buying behavior among North Sumatra University students, the effect of using E-Commerce on the lifestyle of North Sumatra University students, and the effect of using E-Commerce on product buying behavior and lifestyle. University of North Sumatra students. This study uses quantitative methods using correlational methods. The results showed that there was an effect of using E-Commerce as a medium for buying products online with the buying behavior of University of North Sumatra students with a correlation value of 0.293 which shows a low but definite level of influence. There is an influence of the use of E-Commerce in the lives of students at the University of North Sumatra with a correlation value of 0.296 indicating a low but definite level of influence. There is an effect of using E-Commerce as a medium for buying products online with the buying behavior and lifestyle of North Sumatra University students of 0.284 which shows a low but definite level of influence. In addition, the results of the positive correlation value show a unidirectional effect.

Exploring the impact of renewable energy on economic growth and carbon emissions: Evidence from partial least squares structural equation modeling

The concern for environmental sustainability comes along with sustainable energy for consumption. Therefore, this study aims to explore the direct and indirect effects of renewable energy on economic growth and carbon emissions by employing Partial Least Square Structure Equation Modeling and Granger Causality Test and the data for this study is from 1990 to 2021. The results from the Partial Least Squares Structure Equation Modeling indicate that renewable energy consumption causes carbon emissions and has no effect on economic growth. Financial inclusion and foreign direct investment have positive effects on carbon emissions. However, renewable energy has an indirect negative effect on carbon emissions through economic growth. Foreign direct investment affects economic growth positively. Furthermore, the results from the Granger causality test indicate that renewable energy has a unidirectional causality relationship with financial inclusion and foreign direct investment and has a feedback causality relationship with economic growth. In addition, there is a feedback causal effect between financial inclusion and carbon emissions, a unidirectional effect running from carbon emissions to foreign direct investment, and a causal effect from economic growth to foreign direct investment. This study has suggested comprehensive policy recommendations for policymakers based on the findings.

Relations between early majority language and socioemotional development in children with different language backgrounds.

This study explored whether the directionality of the relation between majority language and various facets of socioemotional development (three to 5 years old) differs between children with different language backgrounds. 12,951 children (49% girls; 85% White, 6% Pakistani and Bangladeshi, 3% Black, 3% Mix, 2% Indian) from the British Millennium Cohort Study (2001-2006) were included in two-time-point cross-lagged analyses. Models controlling for important covariates found a bidirectional association for monolinguals (βs = .05, -.07, -.04), a unidirectional effect of majority language on socioemotional difficulties for dual language learners (DLLs) speaking English and minority language(s) at home (β = .14), and a unidirectional effect of socioemotional strength on majority language for DLLs speaking only minority language(s) at home (β = -.17).

How does new-type urbanization affect total carbon emissions, per capita carbon emissions, and carbon emission intensity? An empirical analysis of the Yangtze River economic belt, China

The coordination of the relationship between new-type urbanization (NTU) and carbon emission reduction has become China's primary strategic goal. However, previous studies on this topic mainly examined the unidirectional impact of NTU on carbon emissions, while disregarding their potential relationship. This study establishes an evaluation system for measuring NTU and explores the bidirectional impact between NTU and total carbon emissions (TCE), per capita carbon emissions (PCE), and carbon emission intensity (CEI). The Yangtze River Economic Belt of China is selected as the study area, and the period from 2005 to 2019 is studied. The results show that: (1) The NTU levels in the upstream, midstream, and downstream regions of the Yangtze River increase from 0.148, 0.208, and 0.365 in 2005 to 0.465, 0.503, and 0.675 in 2019, suggesting that NTU levels tend to be balanced in these three reaches. (2) A positive bidirectional impact is found between NTU and TCE, as well as PCE in midstream and upstream regions, whereas in downstream regions, only a positive unidirectional effect of NTU on TCE and PCE is found. (3) Specifically, TCE plays the most significant role in promoting NTU in upstream regions, while NTU exerts the greatest pulling force on TCE and PCE in midstream regions. (4) Unlike the positive impact between NTU and TCE or PCE, there is a significant two-way inhibitory effect between NTU and CEI. (5) A three-step carbon emission reduction law is found in the process of NTU, where NTU towards low carbon development will experience NTU inhibits CEI, PCE, and TCE in sequential order. These findings provide an important reference for promoting a harmonious relationship between NTU and carbon emission reduction, helping governments formulate reasonable measures to achieve high-quality urban development and carbon emission reduction goals.

Association of Abnormal Sleep Duration and Sleep Disturbance with Physical Activity in Older Adults: Between- and within-Person Effects

ObjectivesSleep is associated with physical activity (PA), yet the nature and directions of this association are less understood. This study aimed to disentangle the long-term temporal sequences between sleep duration/disturbance and PA in older adults, distinguishing between- and within-person effects. DesignLongitudinal panel study. Setting and ParticipantsWe conducted a longitudinal study using 3 waves of data collected in 2008/09 (T1), 2012/13 (T2), and 2016/17(T3) from adults aged ≥50 years in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N = 10,749 individuals). MeasuresSleep duration, sleep disturbance, and PA were assessed by self-reported questionnaires. We used cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) to examine between-person effects and random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) to examine within-person effects. ResultsOur analyses revealed a reciprocal relationship between abnormal sleep duration and low PA levels at between-person level (abnormal sleep duration to PA: βT1-T2 = −0.053, βT2-T3 = −0.058, all P < .001; PA to abnormal sleep duration: βT1-T2 = −0.040, βT2-T3 = −0.045, all P < .05), with abnormal sleep duration being the driving force in the dynamic association. In addition, there was a unidirectional effect of more severe sleep disturbance on lower levels of PA at both between- and within-person levels (between-person level: βT1-T2 = −0.032, βT2-T3 = −0.028, all P < .001; within-person level: βT1-T2 and T2-T3 = −0.031, all P = .011). Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study adds novel insights into the temporal directionality of sleep and PA among community-dwelling older adults and highlights poor sleep as a potential risk factor for PA. Intervention strategies should aim to improve sleep to promote PA levels and successful aging.