In order to realize sustainable development, ecological efficiency is particularly important and deserving of further study and discussion in China. Thus, the study proposed a comprehensive index for ecological efficiency in Jiangsu and evaluated the ecological efficiency of 13 cities in the year of 2007, 2012, and 2017 by using entropy-weighting TOPSIS method. Based on coupling model, the study discussed the interaction between economic growth and ecological efficiency in Jiangsu. The results indicated that the ecological efficiency of Jiangsu in these three years differed considerably. Ecological efficiency is the highest in central Jiangsu, whereas ecological efficiency in the northern and southern parts of Jiangsu is relatively low from the perspective of horizontal space. In terms of coupling, Wuxi and Suzhou were the stablest in southern Jiangsu. Economic growth in the central Jiangsu fluctuated, Suqian lagged. Furthermore, based on the findings, the industrial structure should be adjusted to improve ecological efficiency. In addition, the use of innovation and rational foreign direct investment and other measures should be promoted. These proposals aim at improving ecological efficiency and achieving overall sustainable development in Jiangsu, China.

Exposure to contaminants is one of the main threats to all living organisms. In this context, bats have been used to indicate environmental contaminants in urban and agricultural environments, since they are extremely sensitive to changes in the ecosystem and easily accumulate waste in their body tissues. Among bats, Sturnira lilium, is a frugivorous species widely distributed and abundant in Brazil that uses an extensive variety of habitats and shelters. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the oxidative state of S. lilium individuals in agricultural and urban areas in southern Brazil. Individuals were sampled in agricultural and urban areas from November 2017 to March 2018 through the mist-net method. Parameters of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity, non-protein thiols (NPSH), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) were determined based on liver tissue. A total of 46 individuals were captured, 29 of them in urban areas and 17 in agricultural areas. We found that S. lilium individuals from agricultural areas showed a significant increase in TBARS, NPSH, and SOD activity, compared to individuals from urban areas. The activity of the antioxidant enzyme CAT did not differ. The present findings suggest that the species S. lilium, which are widely distributed and abundant in Brazil in urban and agricultural areas, can usefully be employed in biomonitoring programs. Further studies are to be encouraged to refine our knowledge on the potential DNA damage caused by environmental contamination, as well as identify potential contaminants to bats.

In this paper, we revisit the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis by using estimations that account for cross-sectional dependency (CSD) and asymmetry effect in 76 countries for the period 1971–2014. Our results lend moderate support to the EKC hypothesis. The country-specific results unfold that a total of 16 out of 76 countries support the EKC hypothesis using CCEMG estimator. Results from AMG reveal that the EKC hypothesis holds in 24 out of 76 countries. It is worth highlighting that 11 countries (Australia, China, Congo Dem. Rep., Costa Rica, Gabon, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Myanmar, Turkey, and Uruguay) exhibit an inverted U-shaped curve regardless of whether CCEMG or AMG is used. The asymmetry analysis using PMG is also able to support the EKC hypothesis. We conclude that the EKC hypothesis does not fit all countries. Policy implication and recommendation in designing appropriate energy and economic policies are provided.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are considered to be emerging contaminant for plant-soil systems. AM arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can alleviate the negative effects of a variety of pollutants on their hosts, but its potential roles in influencing the toxicity of AgNPs and the underlying mechanisms are still an open question. This study investigated the responses of maize (Zea mays L.) inoculated with or without AM fungi and soil microorganisms to different concentrations of AgNPs (0, 0.025, 0.25, and 2.5 mg kg⁻¹). The inoculation of AM fungi helps to alleviate the AgNP-induced phytotoxicity. Compared to the non-AM fungal inoculated treatments, AM fungal inoculation significantly increased the mycorrhizal colonization, biomass and phosphorus (P) acquisitions of maize, with an upregulation of P transporter gene expression under AgNP treatments. AM fungal inoculation decreased Ag content in plant shoots and roots, downregulated expression levels of genes involved in Ag transport and gene encoding a metallothionein involved in metal homeostasis. The beneficial role of AM fungi extended to soil microbes. Compared to the non-AM fungal inoculated treatments, AM fungal inoculation decreased the toxicity of AgNPs to soil microbial activities and bacterial abundance. AM fungal inoculation increased the bacterial diversity and induced changes in the soil bacterial community composition. Altogether, the present study revealed that AM fungal symbiosis can play beneficial roles in mediating the negative effects exposed by AgNPs on plants probably through changing the expressions of potential Ag transporters and cooperating with soil bacterial community.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contaminate 19% of US Superfund sites and represent a serious risk to human and environmental health. One promising strategy to remediate PCB-contaminated sediments utilizes organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) that dechlorinate PCBs.However, functional genes that act as biomarkers for PCB dechlorination processes (i.e., reductive dehalogenase genes) are poorly understood. Here, we developed anaerobic sediment microcosms that harbor an OHRB community dominated by the genus Dehalococcoides. During the 430-day microcosm incubation, Dehalococcoides 16S rRNA sequences increased two orders of magnitude to 10⁷ copies/g of sediment, and at the same time, PCB118 decreased by as much as 70%. In addition, the OHRB community dechlorinated a range of penta- and tetra-chlorinated PCB congeners including PCBs 66, 70 + 74 + 76, 95, 90 + 101, and PCB110 without exogenous electron donor. We quantified candidate reductive dehalogenase (RDase) genes over a 430-day incubation period and found rd14, a reductive dehalogenase that belongs to Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain CG5, was enriched to 10⁷ copies/g of sediment. At the same time, pcbA5 was enriched to only 10⁵ copies/g of sediment. A survey for additional RDase genes revealed sequences similar to strain CG5’s rd4 and rd8. In addition to demonstrating the PCB dechlorination potential of native microbial communities in contaminated freshwater sediments, our results suggest candidate functional genes with previously unexplored potential could serve as biomarkers of PCB dechlorination processes.

Ambient particulates of Shanghai with 5-stage particle sizes were firstly determined in spring, 2017. The particles’ mass concentrations were mainly observed in fine particle matter (PM₁.₁) and coarse particles (diameter > 7.0 μm). Water-soluble ionic contents were also more distributed in PM₁.₁ with the great contents of secondary particles (NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, and NH₄⁺). Higher ratios of NO₂/SO₂ and NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ indicated that the vehicle emissions might be made more greater contribution rather than coal combustions to the fine particles. Crustal enrichment factors (EFcs) of trace elements (V, Cr, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Cd, Pb, and Bi) in PM₁.₁ in that called slight air pollution events were always higher than those in that called severe air pollution events and EFcs of Se were up to 2.5 × 10⁴, while EFcs of Pb, Bi, and Cd were over 100. Based on kinds of elemental ratios in PM₁.₁ and PM₁.₁–₂.₀, atmospheric pollutants in Shanghai might be mainly from coal and oil combustions, diesel, and gasoline vehicles. Air masses backward trajectories also showed that the air masses from the northern part of China were one important air pollutant origins, but other ones might be the local sources, such as traffic and industries. Based on carcinogenic risk analysis of PM₂.₀, it was considerable that 12–60 children and 37–87 adults among millions of people living in Shanghai might be attacked by cancer during their lifetime. Moreover, the great carcinogenic risk was also observed according to the high concentrations of elemental Cr and As in PM₁.₁.

In the present study, the biochemical effect of nanocurcumin (nanoCUR) compared with Gliclazide (GLZ) on the diabetic rats was studied. Forty male albino rats (Sprague Dawley) weighted 110 ± 20 g were used. Rats were randomly separated into two groups. Control, received no treatment. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic groups take 5 ml/kg of STZ in normal saline daily for 30 days, further divided into diabetic non-treated group, did not receive any treatment: diabetic group treated by nanoCUR, received 15 mg/kg/day of nanoCUR orally for 30 days; diabetic group treated by GLZ, received 2 mg/kg/day of GLZ for 30 days. The mean body weights of all rats were registered and serum samples were collected for determination of fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin concentration, liver glucokinase (GK), and glycogen synthase (GS) activities. Liver tissues were collected for determination of mRNA expression of insulin (INS), insulin receptor A (IRA), glucokinase (GK), and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2). The results revealed a significant reduction of body weight in diabetic rats, with no significant differences in nanoCUR and GLZ groups. There was a decline in FBG levels and significant elevation of INS levels, GK, and GS activities in diabetic rats received nanoCUR and GLZ. mRNA expression of INS, IRA, GK, and GLUT2 significantly upregulated in diabetic rats received nanoCUR and GLZ. The amazing observation was a non-significant difference in all measured parameters between nanoCUR and GLZ groups. In conclusion, nanoCUR is able to improve cellular uptake of glucose, the hepatic insulin signaling, and insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats. Its effect was similar to standard hypoglycemic drug (GLZ).

Microhabitat variables are determinants for animals to select forage patches and evaluate the cost/benefit tradeoffs of habitat switching. Optimal foragers would weigh habitat quality by giving-up net energy intake rate (GUN), which includes the energy intake rate and cost rate. The GUNs, energy intake rate, and cost rate can be influenced by variations in different microhabitat factors and interactive effects. In this study, we assessed the GUN patterns of wintering Bewick’s swans and the effects of microhabitat factors on their foraging strategy in three different habitats: foxnut ponds, paddy fields, and shallow lake. The foraging behaviors and microhabitat variables of the swans were investigated during the winters of 2016–2018 and 2017/2018 at Huangpi and Shengjin Lakes in Anhui Province, southeastern China. The results showed that the percentage of disturbance time and the giving-up food density in shallow water had significant negative effects on GUNs. In contrast, water depth and the giving-up food density in deep water showed positive effects on GUNs. GUNs were significantly different among the three habitats. GUNs also decreased as winter progressed. Swans would decrease their GUNs under unfavorable foraging conditions such as more disturbances; however, GUNs would increase with water depth and food availability in patches with deep water. The swans demonstrated diverse GUN patterns in different foraging habitats, driven by the tradeoffs between energy intake rates and energy cost rates that were influenced by microhabitat variables. It implies that waterbirds exposed to decreasing GUNs may mitigate energy demand and environmental stress by switching foraging habitat while in subprime foraging habitat if alternative habitats that offered higher net rates of energy gain were available.

Livestock and poultry (LP) pollution affects water quality of water resources. In this study, spatio-temporal variations in amount, structure, and discharge of LP pollutant in the water source area of the Middle Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MR-SNWDP) in China on the county scale were analyzed. In this regard, the gray water footprint (GWF) was employed as an indicator for quantitative evaluation of LP pollution to measure the impact of these parameters on local water resources. Based on the statistical data for the time period of 2000–2017, the results showed that the total amount of LP farming has steadily increased, except for a slight decrease in the years 2007 and 2014. Also, the counties, Dengzhou (DZ), Neixiang (NX), and Xichuan (XC), are found to be the biggest polluters. The GWF of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was calculated to be 12.7, 8.6, and 2.8 billion m³ in 2017, respectively, with GWFTN > GWFTP > GWFCOD. The pollution of TN caused by LP has a greater impact on water quality than COD and TP. In 2017, the water pollution level (WPL) of water source area is 0.28, it means LP pollution required 28% of the total local water resources to be diluted. Additionally, the WPL for DZ, NX, and XC was found to be greater than 1, and it is concluded that the water resources of these regions face an environmental threat. Based on the area scale of the water sources, policies and incidence of diseases mainly affected the changes in the number of LP farming. On the county scale, the total amount and structure of LP was affected by factors such as terrain, traffic, economic level, and breeding mode. It is recommended that different policies and disposal methods should be adopted based the LP farming conditions in different cities.

The different techniques like spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching were used to study the interactive effect of carbendazim (CARB) and catalase (CAT) at the molecular level. The results showed that conditions were beneficial to the quenching mechanism at 25.0 °C, pH 7.0, while the binding constant k was 1.92 × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹ and the number of binding site was 1.0385. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that CARB could interact spontaneously with CAT to form a complex mainly by van der Waals’ interactions and hydrogen bonds. The interaction mechanism between CARB and CAT was that the effects of CARB on CAT in soil were activated and then restore stability. However, the effects of CARB on simple CAT were activated and then inhibited.