Direct and indirect effects of wastewater use and herd environment on the occurrence of animal diseases and animal health in Pakistan

Fintech, Bank Risk-Taking, and Risk-Warning for Commercial Banks in the Era of Digital Technology

Fintech risks commercial banks in three ways, particularly operational efficiency, financial innovation, and risk management. Based on the data of 37 Chinese-listed commercial banks from 2011 to 2020, the study empirically analyzes the impact of fintech on bank risk-taking, and the intermediary effects of the three channels, such as operational efficiency, financial innovation, and risk management. The results show that fintech can effectively reduce the risk of banks. The results of heterogeneity analysis revealed that fintech strongly affects the risk-taking of state-owned banks but not obviously for rural commercial banks. Financial efficiency, financial innovation, and risk management indirectly affect the risk-taking of banks that contributed 8.51, 7.18, and 5.77%, respectively. We also constructed the commercial bank risk-warning index. Based on the quarterly data of banks from 2011 to 2020, we empirically tested the early warning effect of the bank risk-warning index. The results showed that when the signal month is set to 12 months, the bank risk-warning index can have a warning effect in this period.

Impact of Manufacturing Servitization on Factor Productivity of Industrial Sector Using Global Value Chain

The current study estimates the impact of manufacturing servitization on industrial productivity from the perspective of global value chain division. For this purpose, from 2000 to 2014, the study uses the World Input–Output Database (WIOD) to measure the servitization level of China’s manufacturing industry based on the non-competitive input–output model. Moreover, it develops a unified framework of source and structural differences in service factors and explores the mechanism and impact of manufacturing servitization on industrial productivity from the perspective of global value chain division. The results showed that if the division status of the manufacturing industry in the global value chain is higher, there will be a higher productivity effect of servitization. Regarding service factor country difference, foreign service factor input positively strengthened the industrial productivity effect, whereas domestic service factor input had no obvious effect on industry productivity. Furthermore, it was found that distribution and transportation services do not play a significant role in promoting industry productivity, whereas modern service factors such as information technology, finance, and business services have significant driving effects on industry productivity. The study suggests optimizing the layout of the industrial chain and improving the servitization of the manufacturing industry.

Protection of Cultivated Land Resources and Grain Supply Security in Main Grain-Producing Areas of China

Land is a main factor in food production, and cultivated land resources provide opportunity for the national food security. This study empirically estimates the impact of farmland protection on the security of grain supply in major grain-producing areas of China. For this purpose, from 2010 to 2019, panel data was collected from 13 main grain-producing provinces of China. The results revealed that the protection of cultivated land resources in the main grain-producing areas with direct means, incentives, and technological progress, significantly and positively impacted the security of grain supply. Furthermore, a mismatch was found between resource conditions and their use for grain production in the Northern region, and the lack of protection of cultivated land resources in the Southern region, which leads to the insignificant positive promotion of grain supply security. The results of the study strongly suggest that central and national governments of China need to provide a proper policy for the protection of cultivated land resources with equal emphasis on quantity, quality, and sustainability to ensure food security.

A systematic review on antibiotics misuse in livestock and aquaculture and regulation implications in China

China is one of the largest producers and consumers of antibiotics, and China is a larger producer of livestock farming and aquaculture in the world. The livestock farming and aquaculture industry is a major area of antibiotic misuse, which has caused serious antibiotic residues and environment pollution. The antibiotic residues exceeding the standard may lead to antibiotic resistances in animals or human bodies, which poses a threat to human health. In this context, this study tries to systematically review the current situation of antibiotic misuse in livestock and aquaculture in China, and put forward corresponding regulatiory measures for the central government. Based on the status quo of livestock farming and aquaculture in China, this study reviewed antibiotic misuse in livestock farming and aquaculture and antibiotic resistance in China, introduced China's current policies on antibiotic regulation and the gap between China and developed countries, and analyzed the implications of current regulatory policies on animal health and productivity. At last, we put forward suggestions for the future antibiotic regulation, including strictly implementing the relevant laws and regulations, formulating specific supporting measures, encouraging the research and development of antibiotic substitutes, introducing advanced technologies for supervision and regulation, strengthening the publicity of science popularization and enhancing the public's awareness of the rational use of antibiotics. If these policy recommendations can be implemented, they will significantly promote the regulation of antibiotic abuse.

Do Green Finance and Environmental Regulation Play a Crucial Role in the Reduction of CO2 Emissions? An Empirical Analysis of 126 Chinese Cities

Green finance and environmental regulation can reduce CO2 emissions and promote the sustainability of economic development. Based on panel data of 126 resource-based prefecture-level cities in China from 2005 to 2017, the current study used a dynamic panel data model to empirically determine the CO2 emission reduction effects of different green finance instruments under different environmental regulatory intensities. The results showed that green finance tools had significant negative effects on the intensity of CO2 emissions, and green finance can adapt to environmental regulations of different intensities, which cooperated to promote carbon emission reduction. Moreover, in comparison, the debt-based green finance instrument had a stronger effect than the equity-based green finance instrument, and they did not show a coupling relationship. An administrative adjustment in green finance and environmental regulation is required to reduce environmental emissions and to improve sustainable development.

Internet Development, Level of Industrial Synergy, and Urban Innovation

Innovation increases total factor productivity and leads to economic development. Based on panel data of 284 prefecture-level cities from 2001 to 2018, the current study uses a dynamic panel data model to empirically test the global and heterogeneous effects of internet development and industrial synergy on the level of urban innovation. Results found that the internet development significantly promoted the urban innovation level, and industrial collaboration was found to have a positive impact on the urban innovation level. Moreover, it was determined that the regulatory effect of the internet promoted industrial collaboration to improve the level of urban innovation. Variations in the impact of internet development and the industrial collaboration level on the urban innovation level were found in cities. Particularly, the impact of internet development and the industrial collaboration level on the urban innovation level in high-level cities was less significant. A positive role of the government is required to improve the level of urban innovation. Particularly, it is required to connect enterprises with universities to exchange scientific and technological knowledge, thereby improving urban innovation.

Air pollution risks human mental health: an implication of two-stages least squares estimation of interaction effects

The study investigates the relationship between air pollution and the status of human mental health using the data of the China Migrant Dynamic Survey (CMDS), 2014. Various econometric methods were used. Particularly, the ordinary least square (OLS) was used to estimate the parametric impact of mental health. Moreover, a robustness test was used to estimate negative impact of air pollution on mental health. Results found that air pollution significantly increased psychological disorder. The concentration of PM2.5 in the air leads to higher prominence of the four negative emotions such as nervous, depression, powerless, and restless or fidgety. After introducing the instrumental variable to solve the endogenous problem, the impact of air pollution on the level of the mental illnesses was still significant and negative. Results are also evident that air pollution has heterogeneity to the negative status of residents' mental health. Specifically, it has a significant and negative impact on women, rural and urban population, and middle- and low-income groups. The study results suggest that the government must have to revise the environmental regulation policy reduce the negative impact on human health.

Human health damages related to air pollution in China

In recent years, air pollution in China has posed serious threats to human health. In this study, we investigate the relationship between air pollution and residents' health by nesting the household registration data of the China Migrant Dynamic Survey in 2014 with city characteristic data and pollution data. The results indicated that an increase in the concentration of air pollution significantly reduced residents' health levels. After using the instrumental variable (IV)-Oprobit model to solve endogenous problem, we have found that the negative impact of air pollution on residents' health remained significant. Moreover, the lag term of environmental indexes was introduced and found that air pollution significantly increased health risk. The results also demonstrated that the impact of air pollution on human health was heterogeneous. Men and urban residents were more sensitive to air pollution and more adversely affected. In addition to air pollution, the study found that, among the influencing factors at the individual level, males' health was better than females' health, and education positively impacted on residents' health. The health effects were consistent with the theoretical predictions of the Grossman model. The financial expenditure and medical input were negatively correlated with residents' health levels. Based on the results, we suggest the Chinese government should implement rigorous air pollution laws and regulations.

Effects of phoxim-induced hepatotoxicity on SD rats and the protection of vitamin E

Currently, public pay more attention to the adverse effect of organophosphate pesticides on human and animal health and on the environment in developing nations. Vitamin E may protect the hepatocyte and increase the function of liver. The study was to investigate the effects of phoxim-induced hepatotoxicity on Sprague Dawley (SD) rats and the protection of vitamin E. SD rats received by gavage 180 mg kg^-1 (per body weight) of phoxim, 200 mg kg^-1 (per body weight) of vitamin E, and phoxim + vitamin E. The results showed that exposure to phoxim elevated liver coefficient; glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, total bile acid, and alanine aminotransferase in the serum; ROS in the liver; and the expression of p53, Bax, CYP2E1, ROS, caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3, while phoxim caused a reduction of total protein, albumin, and cholinesterase in the serum; acetylcholinesterase, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione in the liver; and the expression of Bcl-2. Vitamin E modified the phoxim-induced hepatotoxicity by reducing the GGT in the serum, malondialdehyde in the liver, and the expression of CYP2E1 significantly. There were no significant changes of globulin in the serum, the activity of catalase in the liver, as well as expression levels of Fas and Bad in the liver. Overall, subacute exposure to phoxim induced hepatic injury, oxidative stress damage, and cell apoptosis. Vitamin E modified phoxim-induced hepatotoxicity slightly. And, vitamin E minimized oxidative stress damage and ultrastructural changes in rat hepatocytes notably.

The use of wastewater in livestock production and its socioeconomic and welfare implications

Although epidemiological studies have found a significant amount of toxins in surface water, a complex link between animals' access to wastewater and associated animal and human welfare losses needs to be explored. The scarcity of safe water has put stress on the utilization of wastewater for crops and livestock production. The access of animals to wastewater is related to the emergence of dangerous animal's diseases, hampering productivity, increasing economic losses, and risking human health along the food chain. This review explores use of wastewater for agriculture, epidemiological evidence of microbial contamination in wastewater, and animal and human welfare disruption due to the use of wastewater for crop and livestock production. More specifically, the review delves into animals exposure to wastewater for bathing, drinking, or grazing on a pasture irrigated with contaminated water and related animal and human welfare losses. We included some scientific articles and reviews published from 1970 to 2017 to support our rational discussions. The selected articles dealt exclusively with animals direct access to wastewater via bathing and indirect access via grazing on pasture irrigated with contaminated wastewater and their implication for animal and human welfare losses. The study also identified that some policy options such as wastewater treatments, constructing wastewater stabilization ponds, controlling animal access to wastewater, and dissemination of necessary information to ultimate consumers related to the source of agricultural produce and wastewater use in animal and crop production are required to protect the human and animal health and welfare.