Herein, we assayed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of caffeine in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-injected mouse model of neurodegeneration and synaptic impairment. For this purpose, LPS was injected for two weeks on an alternate-day basis (250 µg/kg/i.p. for a total of seven doses), while caffeine was injected daily for four weeks (30 mg/kg/i.p/four weeks). According to our findings, there was a significant increase in the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as evaluated from the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and ROS assays. Also, we evaluated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the enzyme hemeoxygenase 1 (HO-1) in the mouse groups and found reduced expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the LPS-treated mice brains, but they were markedly upregulated in the LPS + caffeine co-treated group. We also noted enhanced expression of toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4), phospho-nuclear factor kappa B (p-NF-kB), and phospho-c-Jun n-terminal kinase (p-JNK) in the LPS-treated mice brains, which was significantly reduced in the LPS + caffeine co-treated group. Moreover, we found enhanced expression of Bcl2-associated X, apoptosis regulator (Bax), and cleaved caspase-3, and reduced expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) in the LPS-treated group, which were markedly reversed in the LPS + caffeine co-treated group. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of synaptic proteins in the treated groups and found a marked reduction in the expression of synaptic markers in the LPS-treated group; these were significantly upregulated in the LPS + caffeine co-treated group. In summary, we conclude that caffeine may inhibit LPS-induced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and synaptic dysfunction.
When assessing sustainability performance, researchers often ignore the implications of combining energy, economic, and environmental factors. To address this void, we assess the consequence of energy dis-aggregation proceeding carbon emissions in SAARC nations. The majority of energy resources are renewable and non-renewable, which contributes to a rise in carbon dioxide emissions. This study aims to provide a thorough understanding of the energy utilization dioxide emissions nexus. The panel data sets covering the period 1971-2020 for the SAARC nations have been used for analysis. The data set was used to assess the effect of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption on emissions of carbon dioxide by factoring in other CO2-producing variables such as urbanization, primary and secondary education, globalization, and economic development. Panel Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) was used to examine the connection. According to research comparing the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption upon Carbon dioxide emission, whereas non-renewable energy consumption increases CO2 emissions, renewable energy consumption decreases them. Urbanization, globalization, primary education, and economic growth increase carbon emissions, while secondary education contributes to environmental quality improvement via CO2 reduction. Therefore, increasing the usage of renewable energy and enhancing awareness through higher education may help SAARC nations to reduce pollution emissions.
In recent years, numerous countries have embarked on a transformative journey to reshape their energy portfolios by transitioning from fossil-based resources to renewable sources, significantly impacting economic growth. This study aims to scrutinize the influence of renewable energy consumption (REC) on GDP growth responsiveness in the top 20 renewable energy-consuming countries over the period from 1990 to 2021. To ensure robust panel analysis, the study addresses cross-sectional dependence using the diagnostic test proposed by Pesaran (2004). The long-run perspective reveals that both conventional factors of production, encompassing both renewable and non-renewable energy (Fossil Fuel Energy - FEF) consumption, make positive contributions to GDP growth in the sampled countries. Single-country time series analyses further underscore the positive long-run output elasticities concerning renewable energy in the majority of these nations. These findings highlight the pivotal role of renewable energy as a key determinant of sustained GDP growth, indicating that these countries are on a trajectory of sustainable development. The study's implications extend to policy considerations, urging collaborative efforts among governments, international organizations, and energy planners. There is a pressing need for the implementation of strategic renewable energy initiatives across nations. Governments are encouraged to adopt incentive-based policies to optimize the harnessing of renewable energy resources, fostering not only economic growth but also contributing to the global pursuit of sustainable and environmentally conscious practices.
Abstract Changes in international crude oil prices can significantly impact economic outcomes. This study tested the impact of oil price fluctuations on macroeconomic variables in Indonesia. The data used is annual data from 1990 to 2021 with the specific purpose of solving the current research deficiency about swings in oil prices. study adds five macroeconomic variables as explanatory factors to accomplish this purpose. We use five macroeconomic variables: economic growth, inflation, interest rates, industrial production, and exchange rates. The impact of oil price fluctuations on GDP, inflation, exchange rates, interest rates, and industrial production indices in Indonesia is examined within a structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) framework. Research shows that oil price shocks significantly impact GDP, inflation, and exchange rate. The results also show that oil price shocks hurt two other variables: the interest rate variable and the industrial production index. The findings derived from the analysis of the impulse response function indicate a detrimental effect on the growth of production, while exerting a favourable influence on inflation. However, the impact on industrial production, interest rates, and exchange rates is very modest and characterised by a degree of uncertainty.
The current study was undertaken to unveil the protective effects of Luteolin, a natural flavonoid, against amyloid-beta (Aβ1-42)-induced neuroinflammation, amyloidogenesis, and synaptic dysfunction in mice. For the development of an AD mouse model, amyloid-beta (Aβ1-42, 5 μL/5 min/mouse) oligomers were injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) into mice's brain by using a stereotaxic frame. After that, the mice were treated with Luteolin for two weeks at a dose of 80 mg/kg/day. To monitor the biochemical changes, we conducted western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis. According to our findings, the infusion of amyloid-beta activated c-Jun N-terminal kinases (p-JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and ionized calcium adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) in the cortex and hippocampus of the experimental mice; these changes were significantly inhibited in Aβ1-42 + Luteolin-treated mice. Likewise, we also checked the expression of inflammatory markers, such as p-nuclear factor-kB p65 (p-NF-kB p65 (Ser536), tissue necrosis factor (TNF-α), and Interleukin1-β (IL-1β), in Aβ1-42-injected mice brain, which was attenuated in Aβ1-42 + Luteolin-treated mice brains. Further, we investigated the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic cell death markers such as Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and Cox-2, which was significantly reduced in Aβ1-42 + Lut-treated mice brains compared to the brains of the Aβ-injected group. The results also indicated that with the administration of Aβ1-42, the expression levels of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE-1) and amyloid-beta (Aβ1-42) were significantly enhanced, while they were reduced in Aβ1-42 + Luteolin-treated mice. We also checked the expression of synaptic markers such as PSD-95 and SNAP-25, which was significantly enhanced in Aβ1-42 + Lut-treated mice. To unveil the underlying factors responsible for the protective effects of Luteolin against AD, we used a specific JNK inhibitor, which suggested that Luteolin reduced Aβ-associated neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration via inhibition of JNK. Collectively, our results indicate that Luteolin could serve as a novel therapeutic agent against AD-like pathological changes in mice.
This study investigates the impact of real exchange rate (RER) misalignments on Turkey's economic growth, emphasizing threshold effects. Incorporating Hansen's ["Sample Splitting and Threshold Estimation." Econometrica 68 (3): 575–603] threshold model, we explore specific levels where misalignment affects growth. Our contributions are threefold: revisiting the symmetric influence of the Turkish Lira on growth, examining asymmetric effects of RER misalignments using the NARDL model to capture non-linear relationships, and applying Hansen's methodology to pinpoint thresholds where overvaluation or undervaluation fosters or hinders growth. Key findings include: (i) deviations from equilibrium exchange rates negatively impact Turkey's economic growth; (ii) RER misalignments exhibit asymmetric effects, with overvaluation and undervaluation harming growth in distinct ways; and (iii) thresholds exist for RER misalignment impacts on growth. Moderate misalignments initially boost growth, but excessive deviations reverse these benefits. Overvaluation up to 5.88% supports growth by reducing import costs, but beyond this point, export competitiveness suffers, stifling growth. Undervaluation between 1.10% and 5.88% enhances export competitiveness and attracts investment, yet surpassing 5.88% leads to inflationary pressures and inefficiencies that undermine performance. These findings highlight the importance of managing exchange rates to mitigate adverse effects of excessive misalignment on economic growth.