The infectiousness of COVID-19 is high among the susceptible population, making the calculation of the reproduction number (R) an essential step to implement preventive measures. We aim to estimate COVID-19 transmission to determine if the disease is successfully controlled or extra measured should be adopted to attain this goal. The daily incidence data of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia from March 2ⁿᵈ, 2020, to April 4ᵗʰ, 2021, were obtained from the continuously updated Saudi Ministry of Health COVID-19 repository. To get accurate estimation of the situation over the last 4 months (from December 1ˢᵗ, 2020, to April 4ᵗʰ, 2021), we calculated the weekly (every 7 days) R starting from March 2ⁿᵈ, 2020, and till the last week of the available data. The calculated values of R were represented as median, first quantile (Q1), and third quantile (Q3). As early as the first week of December 2020, the median R was 0.81 (0.80–0.83) which means that each existing infected case would transmit infection to only one person. This was followed by fluctuations over the next few weeks around R value of 1, reaching its highest level of 1.45 (1.42–1.47) between December 31ˢᵗ, 2020, and January 6ᵗʰ, 2021. This was followed by a relatively steady decline over the following weeks, with some till mid-March where the R values started to slightly rise again. Social distancing, protective precautions, avoiding abuse of the partial lifting, expanding the screening process, and other Saudi measures sound to be successful and should be replicated in similar communities. This measure should be continued till the vaccination process is completed, to reduce the number of contacts and to avoid uncontrolled transmission of the disease.

Organophosphate (OP) pesticides may accumulate in pregnant agricultural workers, resulting in adverse effects on the growth and development of the fetus and neonates. This study aims to evaluate a possible association between prenatal urinary OP metabolite levels among pregnant agricultural workers and birth outcomes of infants. This study also investigated the factors associated with urinary OP metabolites among pregnant agricultural workers. The spot urine samples were collected and analyzed for six OP metabolite levels. Birth outcomes data were abstracted from medical records. Multiple regression analysis found that gestational age at childbirth was negatively associated with diethylphosphate (DEP) levels (β = −0.073; 95% CI, −0.121, −0.024). Apgar score at 1 and 5 min after birth were negatively associated with diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP) levels (β = −0.036; 95% CI, −0.069, −0.003; and β = −0.034, 95% CI, −0.057, −0.011, respectively). In addition, DEDTP levels were negatively associated with maternal age (β = −0.181; 95% CI, −0.339, −0.023), and dimethylphosphate (DMP) levels were positively associated with frequency of agricultural work during pregnancy (β = 31.554; 95% CI, 0.194, 62.914). Our results indicate that prenatal OP exposure can cause adverse birth outcomes in babies. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective strategy for reducing prenatal exposure to OP pesticides.

Nine hydrothermal carbonization process waters (PWs) of poultry litter were prepared at 180, 220, and 260 °C for 1, 4, and 8 h, respectively. They were characterized with pH, EC (electric conductivity), DOC (dissolved organic carbon), TN (total nitrogen), NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, etc. After diluted according to TN, the PWs were supplied as liquid nitrogen fertilizers and their phytotoxic and nutrition effects on lettuce germination and growth were studied. The results showed that the PWs from short time (1 h) were with low DOC/TN and DOC/NH₄⁺-N and high NH₄⁺-N/TN. Compared with the PWs from long time 4 and 8 h, they provided more NH₄⁺-N and less DOC and resulted in lettuce with relatively high germination index (GI), dry biomass, and low antioxidant enzyme activities. Especially, the PW from 220 °C and 1 h significantly enhanced the dry weight by 196.3% relative to negative control of nitrogen deficiency. However, all the PWs led lettuce to an unhealthy condition, which decreased GI and the chlorophyll content and increased antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, it was confirmed by linear regression that the ratios of DOC/TN, NH₄⁺-N/TN, and DOC/NH₄⁺-N were the determining indexes for evaluating the phytotoxicity and nutrition behavior of the PWs as liquid nitrogen fertilizers.

Interest in phytochemical therapy methods in the treatment of diabetes is increasing day by day. Although the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of Cistus laurifolius L. (CL) have been mentioned, the systemic effects remain unknown. The present study aims at evaluating the antidiabetic effects of the CL aqueous extract via metformin on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Forty male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups of eight animals each: control, diabetic group (55mg/kg STZ), STZ+125mg/kg CL, STZ+250mg/kg CL, and STZ+100mg/kg metformin. The effects of CL and metformin on oxidative, apoptotic, and inflammatory pathways were comparatively investigated. In addition, nuclear factor-κB (NFκB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-1β expressions analysis were carried out. CL treatment resulted in a significant improvement in blood glucose levels, lipid profile, pancreatic markers, and liver and kidney function tests. A 250mg/kg CL treatment decreased by 67.9%, 31.6%, 66.8%, 28.3%, and 31.4% in the total oxidant capacity, NFκB, TNF-α, IL-1β, caspase3, and cytochrome c levels, respectively, compared to the diabetic group. Additionally, CL treatments showed a dose-dependent reduction in NFκB, TNF-α, and IL-1β expression levels. A 250mg/kg CL treatment exhibited a greater increase (by 9.6%) in total antioxidant capacity than metformin. CL treatment provided histologically more improvement in the brain, heart, pancreas, spleen, liver, kidney, and testicular tissues compared to the metformin group. Our results suggest that the single treatment of CL aqueous extract at the low doses may have stronger short-term anti-diabetic effects than metformin. Therefore, further studies are needed regarding the long-term hypoglycemic effect or treatment of CL aqueous extract.

Solar photovoltaic panels are green products that can alleviate the threat of global warming, but the rate of adoption remains low. This research explores the social influence on consumers’ purchase willingness or intention of solar photovoltaic panels in the online context. According to social influence theory, we identify two social influence dimensions: informational social influence and normative social influence. Moreover, we analyze the antecedents of social influence: source credibility and social support and the moderating effects of perceived monetary benefits and environmental concerns. Data were collected from individuals, and A.M.O.S. is used to analyze the data. The results reveal that both informational social influence and normative social influence positively affect purchase willingness. When perceived monetary benefits or environmental concerns are higher, the positive relationships are stronger. Moreover, we find that source credibility (including expertise and trustworthiness of peers) and social support (including informational social support and emotional social support) positively affect two social influence types. The findings provide insights into enhancing individuals’ willingness or intention to purchase solar photovoltaic panels.

Glyphosate is the most used herbicide worldwide. Many studies have reported glyphosate risks to aquatic organisms of different trophic levels. Moreover, evidence suggests flaws in countries’ legislation that may imply the non-protection of aquatic species exposed to glyphosate. Therefore, we aimed to investigate glyphosate concentrations in freshwater ecosystems worldwide based on a systematic literature review, to discuss the results considering each country’s legislation, and to assess the relative tolerance and risk for aquatic species. Only articles providing in situ concentrations of glyphosate in freshwater systems were included in our study. In total, 73 articles met the inclusion criteria and were used in our analysis. The studies comprised freshwater ecosystems from 21 countries. Most countries evaluated (90%) did not have restrictive legislation for aquatic glyphosate concentrations, resulting in a potential non-protection of aquatic organisms. Glyphosate may pose a moderate to high risk in 95% of the countries investigated, reaching a maximum concentration of 105 mg L⁻¹. Additionally, the risk analysis showed that glyphosate concentrations below 0.1 μg L⁻¹ represent a low risk, whereas glyphosate concentrations above 1 μg L⁻¹, which is below the limit established by some countries’ legislation, represent a high risk to aquatic organisms. Therefore, we strongly recommend a revision of the countries’ legislation for glyphosate concentration in freshwater systems.

Since mobile sources are one of the most important sources of air pollution, this paper tries to estimate the health effects and economic burden due to fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) concentrations from motor vehicles. In this regard, we calculate the economic costs of air pollution emitted by vehicles in Isfahan over the period from March 2018 to March 2020. The concentration of urban traffic pollution based on the generalized additive model (GAM) as well as spatial distribution of pollution is estimated. Health effects are evaluated using AirQ⁺ updated by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health. Economic burden of mortality attributable air pollution from traffic is calculated using value of a statistical life (VOSL), and the value of life years (VOLY) approach. The results indicated that the number of deaths attributable to PM₂.₅ from motor vehicles in these two consecutive years was 136 (95%CI: 89–179), and 147 cases (95%CI: 96–194), respectively. The number of years of life lost due to premature death from air pollution was 2079 years annually. The economic costs imposed under VOSL approach were on average USD 51.7 (95%CI: 43–75) million per year, and according to VOLY approach USD 11.5 (95%CI: 9–13) million per year. These results help to analyze the cost-benefit and prioritize control measures to reduce air pollution. In addition, combination of these results with other externality cost of road traffic can take account for urban transportation planning.

Restriction measures against COVID-19 caused the environmental panorama of cities to change, especially in relation to air pollution. This scenario of severe reduction in the emission of air pollutants led to a flurry of studies about their behavior during the pandemic. The vast majority of studies pointed to a decrease in all pollutants, with the exception of ozone. However, was this highlighted ozone trend really the global trend? This discussion seeks to answer this question while addressing two major considerations that led to this trend: (1) the process of ozone formation and behavior and (2) the main reasons that led to the findings of this trend (region of the studies, meteorological conditions, and the time scale adopted for data collection). From our observations, we emphasize that a trend is not unanimity! The global trend turned out to be the opposite of what the initial studies showed, all this because the observed trend was a regional trend, affected by the reasons discussed. Thus, we raise awareness and concern with the way in which the initial “fever” of the behavior of air pollutants occurred and also toward the act of sampling highly populated areas, as this attitude could have caused biased estimations and disinformation.

In this study, we examine the promotion of eco-efficiency from a novel perspective by analyzing whether a city’s environmental image contributes to its eco-efficiency. Specifically, we examine the causal effect of the country-level garden city image (CGCI) program on eco-efficiency by using a data set of Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2005 to 2016. We estimate the effects of this program by combining propensity score matching with the difference-in-differences method. Results show the program significantly increases a city’s eco-efficiency by expanding its urban green coverage, optimizing its industrial structure, and attracting talented inhabitants. The CGCI certification effects are heterogeneous. Specifically, while its effects in the western regions are positive, its effects in eastern developed cities are insignificant. These results generally point toward the effectiveness and efficiency of the CGCI program in increasing eco-efficiency.

Beijing, as the capital of China, still has soil pollution problems that cannot be ignored. However, there are few studies on the overall ecological risks of heavy metals in farmland soils in Beijing. This study selected 432 soils and crops heavy metal content data of eight districts in Beijing from academic papers and academic journal papers. In this study, the improved Hakanson method, improved analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and integrated quality impact index (IICQ) comprehensively were used to evaluate the impact of Pb, As, and Cd pollution on the farmland soil environment, and the applicable conditions of these methods were discussed. The results by improved Hakanson method showed that both Pb and As were at the normal ecological risk level, while Cd was the largest contributor to potential ecological risk which accounted for 72.54% of the total risk and is mainly at a moderate ecological risk level. The analysis by improved AHP showed that the average comprehensive index of soil heavy metal pollution in the study area was 0.2317, which was at a light pollution level. The IICQ of soil and agricultural products were between 0 and 1 demonstrating that the soil was clean. In summary, the pollution of heavy metals Pb, As, and Cd in the study area is at a relatively low level, and there is no significant risk to the surrounding environment and human health. IICQ method is suitable for the evaluation of soil heavy metal composition and individual impact and can be more accurately used for the overall ecological evaluation of soil-crop-human health system.