CO2 emission driving forces and corresponding mitigation strategies under low-carbon economy mode: evidence from China’s Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region

On account of the background of China’s “new normal” characterized by slower economic growth, this paper analyses the low-carbon economy status quo in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region and empirically investigates the relationship between carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and its various factors for China’s Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region using panel data econometric technique. We find evidence of existence of Environmental Kuznets Curve. Results also show that economic scale, industrial structure, and urbanization rate are crucial factors to promote CO₂ emissions. However, technological progress, especially the domestic independent research and development, plays a key role in CO₂ emissions abatement. Next, we further analyze the correlation between each subregion and various factors according to Grey Relation Analysis. Thereby, our findings provide important implications for policymakers in air pollution control and CO₂ emissions reduction for this region.     

Fate of antimicrobial resistance genes in response to application of poultry and swine manure in simulated manure-soil microcosms and manure-pond microcosms

This study aimed to determine the occurrence, abundance, and fate of nine important antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) (sul1, sul2, tetB, tetM, ermB, ermF, fexA, cfr, and Intl1) in the simulated soil and pond microcosms following poultry and swine manure application. Absolute quantitative PCR method was used to determine the gene copies. The results were modeled as a logarithmic regression (N?=?mlnt?+?b) to explore the fate of target genes. Genes sul1, Intl1, sul2, and tetM had the highest abundance following the application of the two manure types. The logarithmic regression model fitted the results well (R ² values up to 0.99). The reduction rate of all genes (except for the genes fexA and cfr) in manure-pond microcosms was faster than those in manure-soil microcosms. Importantly, sul1, intl1, sul2, and tetM had the lowest reduction rates in all the samples and the low reduction rates of tetM was the first time to be reported. These results indicated that ARG management should focus on using technologies for the ARG elimination before the manure applications rather than waiting for subsequent attenuation in soil or water, particularly the ARGs (such as sul1, intl1, sul2, and tetM investigated in this study) that had high abundance and low reduction rate in the soil and water after application of manure.     

Spatial variation and toxicity assessment for heavy metals in sediments of intertidal zone in a typical subtropical estuary (Min River) of China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Sediment samples were collected in five marshes (C1, Phragmites australis marsh; C2, P. australis and Cyperus malaccensis marsh; C3, C. malaccensis...     

长三角城市群“空间流”网络结构特征——基于公路运输、火车客运及百度指数的综合分析

信息技术的应用与社会信息技术的传输,使大量的要素(人流、物流、信息流)在城市群空间内集聚与扩散,加密城市群空间内城市联系。在基于公路运输、普通列车、高速列车以及百度指数4个要素的综合分析基础上,对长三角城市群"空间流"网络结构特征进行探析。研究结果表明:(1)长三角城市群区域内城市联系虽具备了网络化规模,但城市间的联系不均衡,以上海、南京、杭州等城市为多中心的协调网络发展格局特征明显;(2)长三角城市群16个核心城市"空间流"特征呈现三角形网络结构,其三角形的顶角分别由上海(沪)、南京(宁)与杭州(杭)3个核心节点城市构成。在空间结构内部,形成若干次级城市网络连线;在空间分布上,北翼网络化程度较高于南翼线性联系程度,区域联系强度以"沪—宁"、"沪—杭"沿线向两侧递减;(3)上海、南京、杭州、苏州、无锡5个核心城市排名处于网络中心的前列,扬州、南通、泰州、舟山等周边城市相对靠后,这与区域经济发展过程的"吸虹效应"有关,随着区域经济一体化程度的加深,中心城市会向周边地区提供服务与经济辐射,完善整个长三角城市群网络体系。     

Simultaneous separation of apigenin,luteolin and rosmarinic acid from the aerial parts of the copper-tolerant plant Elsholtzia splendens

Elsholtzia splendens is a copper-tolerant plant species which grows on copper deposits in China. The generation of a valuable E. splendens biomass on specific contaminated sites has become one of the promising phytotechnologies. The simultaneous separations of apigenin, luteolin, and rosmarinic acid yielded in the ethyl acetate extracts of the flowering aerial parts was achieved by the use of a macroporous resin, polyamide, and silicagel columns during chromatography. Chemical identification confirmed the structures based on the spectra of FTIR, NMR, and HPLC/ESI-MS. The isolated compounds of purity above 98.3 % were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against human cancer cell lines including A549 (non-small lung), A431 (skin), and Bcap37 (breast). Among these compounds, luteolin and apigenin presented the best cytotoxic activities against A549, A431, and Bcap37 cells and, therefore, both could be the valuable products for the post-harvest processing of E. splendens biomass.     

Molecular and physiological characterization of fluoroquinolone resistance in relation to uropathogenicity among Escherichia coli isolates isolated from Wenyu River, China

Increasing antibacterial resistance and pathogenicity in the environment is of growing concern due to its potential human risk. In the present study, 236 Escherichia coli isolates were collected from Wenyu River in China on drugless (48 isolates) and quinolone-containing plates (189 isolates). Their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined ranging from 0.125 μg mL⁻¹ to 128 μg mL⁻¹. Mutation points related to fluoroquinolone resistance were observed at S83 to L and D87 to N or Y in the GyrA subunit and S80 to R or I and E84 to G in the ParC subunit. Generally, MICs of LEV and GAT are dependent on the patterns of these mutation points. The profile with three mutation points was related to LEV-resistant E. coli isolates, and the (S83L, D87N + S80I) mutation profile was most prevalent (65.7%) in LEV-resistant isolates, while a large proportion of isolates, even those with three mutation points, were susceptive to GAT. The incidence of virulence factors in LEV-resistant isolates (44.7%, 59/132) was much higher than in nonresistant isolates (23.1%, 24/104) (χ² = 11.925, 1° of freedom, p < 0.001) indicating that fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli would pose a potential risk. A similar distribution was also found in isolates resistant to GAT (χ² = 7.843, 1° of freedom, p = 0.0079).     

Glyphosate application increased catabolic activity of gram-negative bacteria but impaired soil fungal community

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Glyphosate is a non-selective organophosphate herbicide that is widely used in agriculture, but its effects on soil microbial communities are highly...     

Simultaneous adsorption and immobilization of As and Cd by birnessite-loaded biochar in water and soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A novel biochar was prepared by loading birnessite to improve its capability to simultaneously adsorb As(III), As(V), and Cd(II) in water and soil....     

SBR法降解有机物规律的研究

本研究是以处理啤酒废水的试验为基础展开的。试验结果进一步验证了SBR法具有简易,快速、低耗等优点。除此之外,还得出以下结论:增加间歇反应时起始污泥浓度可以提高处理效率或减少反应时间;非限制曝气方式耐冲击负荷,需氧均匀,能缩短反应周期;间歇反应中微生物细胞的合成代谢占主导地位,对氮与磷的需要量大于传统的理论值。本文还指出SBR法是很适合我国国情的一种废水处理工艺,应当加强对它的研究和推广应用。