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Energy security, characterized by equitable distribution of sustainable, acceptable and affordable energy sources, carries significant social, economic,\ and environmental consequences. Achieving energy security is influenced by unanticipated shocks, such as oil price volatility, and policy decisions, including diversifying energy sources and developing green technologies. To gauge the efficiency of shocks and policies in altering energy security dynamics of E7 countries, the present study uses the Energy Security Risk Index (ESRI) as a proxy of energy security and employs panel Lagrange multiplier (LM) with smooth breaks and univariate LM unit root test with sharp breaks. In addition, both tests allow for cross-sectional dependence. Our findings reveal distinct dynamics across countries over the period 1980–2018. Specifically, Brazil, India, Indonesia and Turkey exhibit stationary behaviour in their ESRI, while China shows a unit root process. The stochastic properties of Mexico are inconclusive. Our results have important implications, which are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion implantation is used to create nanodiamonds (NDs) with embedded magnetic ions for use in a wide range of biological and medical applications; however, the effectiveness of this process depends heavily on separating magnetic NDs from nonmagnetic ones. In this study, we use secondary ion mass spectrometry to verify the implantation of magnetic ions in NDs and the success of separation. When applied to a series of NDs with embedded iron or manganese ions, the sorting tool used in this study proved highly effective in selecting magnetic NDs. Besides, multienergy ion implantation and precise thickness control of NDs coating on the silicon wafer were suggested to improve this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) has been implicated in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes and various human cancers, including skin cancer. Skin cancer is an aggressive human malignancy with increasing incidence worldwide; however, the underlying mechanisms involved in VEGF-C-induced skin cancer stemness and metastasis remain unclear. Here, we report that VEGF-C enhances skin cancer migration, invasion and stemness through Slug up-regulation. Oncomine database analysis indicated that the KRAS/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinases) pathway and YAP1 (yes-associated protein 1) expression are positively correlated with metastatic skin cancer. We show that VEGF-C triggers the activation of KRAS/MAPK signaling to increase YAP1 and downstream Slug expression, which are suppressed by an anti-VEGFR3 (VEGF receptor 3) peptide, a specific peptide targeting VEGFR3. The VEGF-C-induced migration, invasion and stemness of skin cancer cells are also abrogated by the anti-VEGFR3 peptide. Based on these data, we reveal the role of the VEGF-C/VEGFR3-mediated KRAS/MAPK-YAP1/Slug pathway in skin cancer progression and propose that the VEGF-C/VEGFR3 axis is a promising target for the anti-VEGFR3 peptide.