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Ecosystem services (ES) are the important component supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) realization. In recent decades, rapid urbanization has strongly affected the relationship between ES and SDGs, resulting in the decoupling of ES and SDGs. However, the key urbanization factors dominating the relationship between ES and SDGs are still unclear. In this study, a structural equation model was constructed to explore the impact path and its change of urbanization structure and scale factors on the relationship between ES and SDGs. The results showed that the economic urbanization structure indicator (Engel coefficient) under the influence of technology import significantly impacted the relationship between ES and SDGs in different periods. Under the influence of changes in urban and rural population, population urbanization structure indicator (labor force population proportion) had significant impact on the relationship between ES and economic SDGs, which was significantly stronger in the period of 2010-2015 than in the period of 2000-2005. Land urbanization scale indicators (construction land proportion, and protected natural area proportion) also significantly impacted the relationship between ES and SDGs. Especially for ecological SDGs, the negative impact of construction land on protected natural area increased significantly in the period of 2010-2015, which might further weaken the ES's contribution to SDGs. This study highlighted that along with the continuous transformation of China's society, the key impacts on the relationship between ES and SDGs resulted from the urbanization indicators of scale as well as structure, which provided an extensive support for the sustainable development and social transformation of developing countries and regions.

Exploring the cost-effective pathways for restoring ecosystems is a fundamental aspect for scientific communities and policy-makers aiming for a sustainable future. The South China karst region has experienced severe environmental degradation because of unsustainable management practices in this vulnerable social-ecological context. However, it has also become one of the most stunning areas following its remarkable vegetation recovery over recent decades as a result of large-scale ecological restoration programs. There is an extensive body of literature focusing on how ecological restoration programs have altered the degraded environment in this region. By searching and comparing the published peer-reviewed articles, we reviewed the studies related to the effects of ecological restoration programs from the point of view of ecological, socio-economic, and integrated social-ecological impacts, as well as influencing factors and restoration approaches. We found independent evidence to support that large-scale ecological restoration programs increased biomass and carbon sequestration since 2000 across this region. The farmers’ livelihoods have spontaneously transited from agriculture into forestry or non-farming sectors without financial compensation or incentive schemes, which coincided with a positive correlation between the implementation of ecological restoration programs and poverty alleviation. However, due to a lack of clear “before and after” comparisons, many studies have indirectly determined the impacts of ecological restoration with non-negligible uncertainties. In addition, considering the critical interactions between belowground and aboveground processes in karst regions, special attention should be given to the selection of tree species and restoration measures according to different bedrock types. In the future, to better understand the impacts of ecological restoration on social-ecological systems, research could be advanced by considering data access, context-based analysis, measurement-targeted assessment, and cross-scale integration.

Ecological epidemiology suggests that hospital admissions for schizophrenia are associated with an increased environmental PMWe used a repeated-measures design to prospectively assess the association of environmental PMWe import the data using EpiData software, and collate and analyze of the data using R software. The increase of PMIncreased environmental PM

Background Ischemic stroke is an acute cardiovascular disease with high disability and mortality. Extreme precipitation has been reported to increase the risk of some cardiovascular diseases and further increase the burden of disease. At present, no studies have evaluated the relationship between extreme precipitation and ischemic stroke. Objective The aim of this study was to quantitatively analyze the association between extreme precipitation and ischemic stroke hospitalizations and further explore disease burden and its associated susceptible population. Methods In this study, we used Poisson generalized linear model combined with distributed lag nonlinear model to investigate the relationship between extreme precipitation (≥95th percentile) and ischemic stroke and further explored the lag effect of extreme precipitation for population with different individual characteristics. Results Ischemic stroke hospitalizations were significantly associated with extreme precipitation. The single-day effect occurred on lag 3 (RR = 1.040, 95% CI: 1.058–1.073) lasted until lag 8 (RR = 1.036, 95% CI: 1.004–1.068). The cumulative lag effects of extreme precipitation on ischemic stroke lasted six days (lag 6–lag 11). Male and people aged ≥65 years were more sensitive to extreme precipitation. The attributable fraction (AF) and numbers (AN) of extreme precipitation on hospitalizations for ischemic stroke were 1.38% and 236.4, respectively. Conclusion Our study suggested that extreme precipitation may increase the risk of hospital admissions for ischemic stroke, emphasizing the need for society and families to pay more attention to male and people aged ≥65 years.

Plantations can significantly improve the ecological environment of arid areas. However, in the arid area of Northwestern China, plantations consume several thousand cubic meters of water per hectare per year, which also has a negative effect. By evaluating the relationship between the supply and demand of ecosystem services, the positive and negative benefits of plantations can be effectively identified for regional sustainable development. This study took typical arid regions as examples and evaluated the changes in ecosystem services before and after the conversion of a desert shrub system to a plantation system based on emergy analysis. The relationship between the supply and demand of various ecosystem services from different stakeholder perspectives was investigated and combined with the degree of ecosystem service demand obtained from the participatory survey. Results showed the following. (1) The ecosystem services provided by vegetation increased, the ecosystem services provided by water resources decreased, and the total service decreased by 6.89E+17 sej. (2) The relationship between the supply and demand of ecosystem services provided by water resources was of the "low-high" type. Dust purification was of the "high-high" type, and carbon sequestration and soil conservation were of the "high-low" type. (3) From the perspective of citizens, the matching degrees of the supply and demand of dust purification and soil conservation services were 21.75% and 9.38% higher than those of farmers, respectively. From the perspective of farmers, the matching degrees of the supply and demand of water supply, water purification, power supply and sediment transport, and carbon sequestration were 9.90%, 10.96%, 3.22%, and 18.28% higher than those of citizens, respectively. In summary, attention should be given to the efficient use and conservation of water resources and the promotion of the coordinated development of ecosystem services by comparing the differences in matching degrees of supply and demand among different stakeholders when constructing plantations. Meanwhile, the distribution of water resources should be given attention to protect the water demand of citizens in a targeted manner for effectively improving the level of regional well-being.

Background With global climate change, there is growing concern about the effects of temperature changes on childhood asthma. However, current research only focuses on the effects of temperature, while ignoring the adverse effects of humidity on children. Objectives Our study aimed to quantify the impact of humidex on childhood asthma hospitalizations, which combined temperature and humidity, and further to assess how the effect is modified by individual-factors, such as age and gender. Methods Poisson generalized linear models combined with distributed lag nonlinear models were used to estimate the association between daily childhood asthma hospitalizations and humidex from 2013 to 2016. Air pollutions (CO, O3, and NO2) and wind velocity were modelled simultaneously using DLNM, as well as day of week, seasonality and long-term trend. Results Low humidex was associated with an increased risk of admissions for asthma in children. The adverse effect appeared on the 4th day, with the RR of 1.045 (95%CI: 1.007–1.084) and lasted until the 7th day (RR: 1.045, 95%CI: 1.006–1.085). Compared with the male, there was an immediate effect on female exposed to low humidex. And the female seems to be more sensitive to low humidex. Besides, the significant effects of humidex on children asthma were detected in the children with preschool and school-age, whereas not for the subgroup of infants. And the school-age children are most sensitive to low humidex. Conclusions Low humidex was associated with the increased risk of admissions for childhood asthma in Hefei. Children suffering from asthma should avoid exposure to the low humidex environment, especially in female and school-age children. In addition, the index of humidex was more significant for disease prevention and public health than the average temperature. These findings may provide epidemiology evidence for formulating precaution guidelines to reduce the risk of childhood asthma hospitalizations.

Background Many studies have investigated the association between schizophrenia and daily mean temperature, but the conclusions were not consistent. Apparent temperature (AT), a comprehensive indicator of temperature and humidity, reflected human thermal sensation more objectively than temperature. We aimed to investigate the relationship between high/low AT and schizophrenia hospitalizations in Hefei, China, and further to identify vulnerable subpopulations. Methods Poisson generalized linear regression model combined with distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was applied to quantify the relationship between AT and schizophrenia hospitalizations, compared with the AT of minimum admissions (3.3 °C). Stratified analysis was conducted by sex, marital status and age. Separate models for AT and temperature were compared as well. Results The high AT (90th, 28.3 °C) exerted the greatest effect at lag0, with RR = 1.062 (95%CI, 1.019–1.106). The effect of the low AT (10th, −4.7 °C) was first observed at lag3 (RR = 1.007, 95%CI: 1.000–1.015), and increased to the maximum at lag7 (RR = 1.018, 95%CI: 1.009–1.027). The male patients, the married patients and patients aged 41–60 years appeared to be more vulnerable to both high and low ATs. The values of Akaike Information Criterion and mean squared error (MSE) in model with AT were smaller than that with temperature. Conclusions Both high and low ATs were associated with increase in schizophrenia hospitalizations. More protective measures should be taken to avoid adverse AT exposure in susceptible groups.

Background Some studies have reported that cold weather is associated with the development of allergic rhinitis (AR), but the study of extreme cold temperatures and AR is scarced. This study was conducted to find out the optimal definition of the cold spells in Hefei and to explore the relationship between cold spells and childhood AR, further to identify potential susceptible populations. Methods Data of daily AR, meteorological variables and air pollutants from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 were collected in Hefei. Poisson generalized linear regression with a distributed-lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to explore the relationship between cold spells and daily pediatric outpatient with allergic rhinitis, by comparing the number of the admission during the cold spells with those during non-cold spells in cold seasons (December to April), after adjusting for relative humidity, air pollutants, seasonality, long-term trends, calendar month, holiday and day of the week (DOW). Results All definitions of cold spells both had a certain impact on children with allergic rhinitis, and the trend of their effects was similar. The optimal cold spells was defined as the daily average temperature for below 10th with two consecutive days during the study period, and the greatest impact of cold spells was at lag0, with a 12.5% (95%CI: 6.3%–19.1%) increase of AR than non-cold spell days, and its impact could last for 2 days. Male children, children aged 5–18 years and non-scattered children were considered to be more vulnerable to AR in cold spell days. Conclusions There was evidence showed that the cold spells may significantly increase the pediatric outpatient admission for allergic rhinitis, especially for male children, children aged 5–18 years and non-scattered children. For the serious threat posed by cold spells, caregivers and health practitioners should strengthen their awareness of the prevention of vulnerable people.

Background Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is an important component of air pollution, adversely impacting human health worldwide. This study aimed to examine the association between short-term exposure to SO2 and childhood hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in Hefei, China. Methods A Poisson generalized additive model (GAM) combining the time-series regression analyses was used to fit the SO2-HFMD association. The effect of SO2 was estimated using the single-day lag models (lag0, lag1, lag2) and the moving average lag models (lag01, lag02) We also conducted stratified analyses by season, ages (0–4 years old, 5–14 years old), gender (male, female), childcare patterns (scattered children, kindergarten children) and residence areas (urban, rural). Two-pollutant models were adopted to test the robustness of the results. Results There was a statistically significant association between SO2 and the risk of childhood HFMD. For total cases, the relative risk (RR) at lag0 was 1.038 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.018–1.057) in whole-period and 1.088 (95% CI: 1.059–1.118) in cold season. During cold season, we observed significant associations between SO2 and HFMD among all subgroups except for children aged 5–14 years old and the adverse effects occurred on lag0, lag1, lag01, lag02. However, in hot season, SO2 were significant only for females (lag01 with RR = 1.054; 95%CI = 1.007–1.101) and scattered children (lag01 with RR = 1.054; 95%CI = 1.007–1.101). In general, females and scattered children appeared to be more vulnerable to SO2. Conclusions This study suggests a significant association between SO2 and HFMD. especially during cold season. Compared with males and kindergarten children, females and scattered children are at higher risk of developing HFMD.

Background Much of the research has shown an increased risk of psychiatric disorders in association with elevated exposure to air pollution, such as NO2, PM10 and SO2. However, few studies investigate the effect of these air pollution on the risk of schizophrenia admissions and the lagged effect among different subgroups. Methods A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) combined with a Poisson generalized linear regression model was applied to analyzing the relationship between schizophrenia and air pollution. At first, according to the minimum AIC criterion, we discussed the lagged effect of NO2, PM10 and SO2 for 5 days, 4 days and 10 days, respectively. Then, we chose benchmarks as references (25th) to conduct comparisons with different levels of pollutant concentrations (90th and 95th). All patients were retrieved from the Psychiatric Hospital of TongLing (n = 3469) from January 2014 to December 2016. Daily air pollutants and meteorological data were collected from the Chinese national air quality monitoring (NAQM) and Meteorological Bureau. Subgroup analysis was conducted by gender (male and female), age (0–19 ages, 20–39 ages, 40–59 ages and ≥ 60 ages) and occupation (farmer, worker and unemployed). Results The effects of the three air pollutants were statistically significant to schizophrenia admissions. We found that NO2 and PM10 have short-term effects of 4 days and 3 days (NO2: lag 0–4 RR, 1.84(95% CI: 1.49–2.27), PM10: lag 0–3 RR, 1.97(95%CI: 1.57–2.36)), respectively. SO2 had longer effects for 10 days (SO2: lag 0–10 RR, 2.93(95%CI: 2.10–4.10)). Additionally, it significantly increased the risk of schizophrenia episode in subjects with male, 20–59 ages, farmer and worker. Conclusion We find adverse effects of ambient air pollutants on schizophrenia admissions in TongLing, China, which may provide valuable information for the policy makers and local health authorities to conduct effective intervention of air pollution on schizophrenia.