As solid wastes are generated during coal mining, waste rocks can be backfilled into goaf so as to reduce geological hazards and environmental damage caused by coal mining; however, under different stress regimes, the sensitivities of factors influencing compression-induced deformation (CID) of waste rocks for backfilling (WRBs) are different. In order to control the compression-induced deformation of waste rocks for backfilling more efficiently, compression characteristics of waste rocks for backfilling under four different stress levels were tested by using a homemade loading test system for granular materials based on an orthogonal experiment. The influences of lithology, particle size distribution (PSD), lateral stress, and number of lateral loading cycles on compression-induced deformation of waste rocks for backfilling and sensitivities ranks of the four factors were analysed. The test results showed that: (1) under an axial stress of less than 10 MPa, lateral stress was considered the main factor influencing compression-induced deformation of waste rocks for backfilling; when the axial stress ranged from 10 to 20 MPa, particle size distribution was the main influencing factor; (2) under four different axial stress levels, the optimal combination of influencing factors is sandstone, a particle size distribution from 0 to 10 mm, 3 MPa lateral stress, and 7 lateral loading cycles; (3) to control the compression-induced deformation of waste rocks for backfilling, it was necessary to optimise the lateral stress under an axial stress of less than 10 MPa; while the axial stress was between 10 and 20 MPa, it was essential to optimise the particle size distribution.

Individuals with higher contaminant burdens are expected to be in poorer physical health and be of lower individual body condition and energetic status, potentially resulting in reduced ornamentation or increased asymmetry in bilateral features. The degree and magnitude of this effect also would be expected to vary by sex, as female birds depurate contaminants into eggs. We tested for relationships among mercury in feathers, sex, and elaborate feather ornaments that relate to individual quality in crested auklets (Aethia cristatella), small planktivorous seabirds in the North Pacific Ocean. We found no relationships between mercury and the size of individuals’ forehead crest or degree of measurement asymmetry in auricular plumes, both of which are favoured by intersexual selection. Females had significantly greater mercury concentrations than males (females. 1.02 ± 0.39 μg/g; males, 0.75 ± 0.32 μg/g); but concentrations were below that known to have physiological effects, as expected for a secondary consumer. Sex differences in overwintering area for this long-distance migrant species (more females in the Kuroshio Current Large Marine Ecosystem than males) could be the reason for this seemingly counterintuitive result between sexes. Further research relating mercury burden to overwintering ecology and diet contents would build on our results and further elucidate interrelationships between sex, sexually selected feather ornaments and contaminant burden.

Removal of toxic Cr(VI) from contaminated water is significant for environmental protection. High efficient adsorbents with outstanding adsorption performance are highly demanded. Herein, we reported that window-like structured carbon hollow fibers (WL-CHF) derived from Enteromorpha prolifera could capture toxic Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions with high adsorption capacity, fast adsorption rate, and excellent recyclable performance. The excellent adsorption performance could be attributed to the unique structure that combines a variety of advantages: large specific surface area, fast diffusion processes, and easy access of adsorption sites for Cr(VI). In addition, the adsorption process was fitted well with pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model. The potential mechanism on Cr(VI) removal includes reduction-cation exchange and electrostatic interaction with surface oxygen-containing functional groups. This study highlights new opportunities for designing adsorbents for Cr(VI) removal from Cr-polluted water.

Against the increasingly serious haze pollution in China, this paper is to compare the impacts of different factors on haze pollution in different regions, and understand the causes of regional inequality of haze pollution. In doing so, quantile regression and regression-based Shapley value decomposition are employed in this paper. The main results are as follows. (1) Population density and industrialization level have positive impacts on haze pollution, while economic development negatively influences haze pollution, however, the impact of environmental regulation on haze pollution is ineffective. (2) With quantile increasing, the effect of foreign direct investment on haze pollution changes from positive to negative, and the influence of energy intensity on haze pollution changes from negative to positive. (3) The decomposition results specify that the regional inequality in population density is the main cause of the regional disparities of haze pollution. The inequalities in industrialization level and regional factors are also important reasons, and the contribution of energy intensity cannot be ignored either. The regional gap of economic development is conducive to reducing the regional disparities of haze pollution.

Cancer remains as the major cause of death worldwide. The main reason why available therapies fail is that a vicious cycle in established which initiates multiple pathways and recurrence after metastasis. Hyperthermic treatment, which involves heating tumor tissues to a moderate temperature of 40–43 °C, has emerged as an effective strategy for treating tumors. This method is highly efficient at destroying tumor cells and does not induce the side effects of conventional cancer treatments. On the other hand, hyperthermic treatment method can be co-administered with conventional treatments. Nanotechnology had created huge opportunities in almost all areas of research, including the field of hyperthermic treatment. The utilization of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) offers functionalities not possible using conventional magnetic materials. In this review, we detail recent developments and applications of MNPs for hyperthermic treatment and discuss future possibilities.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a sustainable wastewater treatment technology which facilitates energy, nutrient, and water recovery from organic wastes. The agricultural and industrial wastes are suitable substrates for the AD, as they contain a high level of biodegradable compounds. The aim of this study was to examine the AD of three different concentrations of phenol (100, 200, and 300 mg/L) containing wastewater with and without co-substrate (acetate) at four different temperatures (25, 35, 45, and 55 °C) to produce methane (CH₄)-enriched biogas. It was observed that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and phenol removal efficiencies of up to 76% and 72%, respectively, were achieved. The CH₄ generation was found higher in anaerobic batch reactors (ABRs) using acetate as co-substrate, with the highest yield of 189.1 μL CH₄ from 500 μL sample injected, obtained using 200 mg/L of phenol at 35 °C. The results revealed that the performance of ABR in terms of degradation efficiency, COD removal, and biogas generation was highest at 35 °C followed by 55, 45, and 25 °C indicating 35 °C to be the optimum temperature for AD of phenolic wastewater with maximum energy recovery. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the morphology of the anaerobic sludge depends greatly on the temperature at which the system is maintained which in turn affects the performance and degradation of toxic contaminants like phenol. It was observed that the anaerobic sludge maintained at 35 °C showed uniform channels leading to higher permeability through enhanced mass transfer to achieve higher degradation rates. However, the denser sludge as in the case of 55 °C showed lesser permeability leading to limited transfer and thus reduced treatment. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed a more noteworthy change in the population of the microbial communities due to temperature than the presence of phenol with the methanogens being the dominating species at 35 °C. The findings suggest that the planned operation of the ABR could be a promising choice for CH₄-enriched biogas and COD removal from phenolic wastewater.

Due to the environmental impact associated with the products’ use, sustainable design has extended consideration of products’ production to consumption. This study puts forward the concept of sustainable design for users (SDfUs). Using related keywords of sustainable design and user-centered design, we identify a total of 447 usable articles published during 1992–2019 from Scopus. Results of bibliometric analysis show that the number of SDfUs articles has generally continuously increased since 2007. The most productive scholars are from the USA, the UK, and China, while the top three organizations are Loughborough University, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and Delft University of Technology. Different focuses of SDfUs appear among developed and developing countries. Green building design has emerged as one key area that uses the concept of SDfUs in developed countries such as the USA and the UK. SDfUs studies in developing countries such as China focus on design for end-of-life products’ treatment and disposal. Most SDfUs studies examine how design can contribute to environmental performance through emission reduction and energy saving during products’ use, and articles in one of five clusters from co-word analysis explore users’ behaviors for sustainable design in the textile industry. This paper is the first study that systematically reviews the literature on SDfUs. It provides valuable insights for scholars in the SDfUs-related fields to identify their research directions and partners. Results on clusters from network analysis also offer practical implications for enterprises to learn from the construction and textile industries.

The increasing concern about the environmental issue and its serious adverse effects on human health has made China’s industrial green transformation being a matter of public concern. In this study, a network slack-based measure (NSBM) was applied to explore China’s industrial green development level from the perspective of environmental welfare efficiency (EWE), considering not only the impact of industrial development on environment and economy, but also the impact on human well-being. Based on the data of 30 provincial administrative regions in China from 2004 to 2017, the comprehensive efficiency (CE) of China’s industrial sector was measured and decomposed. The results show that the industrial production efficiency (IPE) is much higher than the EWE, and the improvement of the EWE will be the key to realize the green transformation of China’s industry. On this basis, considering the effects of spatial interaction, the spatial Durbin model was established to analyze the driving factors of EWE. Finally, this research puts forward promotion path of industrial green development.

Cadmium (Cd), a highly toxic heavy metal, adversely affects human and animal health. Quercetin (Que) is a kind of flavonoid that can protect many tissues from the toxic effect of heavy metals. Although many studies have explored the adverse effects of cadmium on rats and other animals, the mechanism of Cd-induced testicular autophagy and the antagonistic effect of Que on cadmium remain unclear. In this study, Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with Cd, Que or Cd, and Que supplements to explore the mechanisms of Que-alleviated testis injury caused by Cd exposure. The rat body weight and relative testicular weight were measured. Morphological changes in testes and indices of oxidative stress were also examined. The expression levels of autophagy-related genes were detected as well. Results showed that Cd decreased the rat body weight and relative testicular weight and induced pathological changes in testes. Conversely, Que alleviated these changes. We also found that Cd increased the malondialdehyde content and decreased the contents of total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione. Moreover, the protein expression levels of P62 and LC3-II increased under Cd exposure conditions. Conversely, Que obviously alleviated these toxic activities induced by Cd. Overall, this study showed that Cd accumulated in rat testes, leading to oxidative stress and autophagy. Que can reduce cadmium toxicity by reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting autophagy. The specific mechanism of Que antagonizing Cd toxicity can provide new insights into countering cadmium toxicity.

Mine tailings are a characteristic of landscapes where mineral extraction has occurred and provide a prime opportunity for vegetation succession. In this study, soil heavy metal concentrations, plant composition and biodiversity, heavy metal accumulation, and their relationships were studied in the tailings of the Pingle Mn mine (abandoned for over 15 years) in South China. The total heavy metal concentrations ranged from 440 to 15,590 mg kg⁻¹ for Mn, 5.01 to 20.7 mg kg⁻¹ for Cd, 101 to 319 mg kg⁻¹ for Pb, 546 to 1693 mg kg⁻¹ for Zn, and 116 to 180 mg kg⁻¹ for Cu. According to soil contamination assessment by single contamination indexes and the Nemerow multifactor index, the tailing soil had a heavy pollution level. According to ecological risk assessment by monomial potential ecological risk factors and potential ecological risk indexes, the tailing soil presented a high ecological risk level, to which Cd was the key contributor. A total of 13 plant species from 2 families (Gramineae and Compositae) successfully colonized the tailings. Importance values based on relative height, relative coverage, relative abundance, and relative frequency indicated that Neyraudia reynaudiana K. and Paspalum orbiculare F. were the dominant species. The species were multi-metal-tolerant species, and most of them were shoot accumulators, as their translocation factor values were above 1. Plants exhibited the highest bioconcentration factor for Pb, and the average values for roots, stems, and leaves were 2.56, 1.45, and 1.70, respectively. There were positive relationships (P < 0.01) between soil Mn, Cd, Zn, and Cu and plant Pb; similar results were found for soil heavy metals and leaf/stem Mn. The species composition in the tailings of the Pingle Mn mine was reflective of long-term vegetation succession, and the results obtained in this study provide insight for selecting plant species and reconstruction practices for Mn wasteland restoration.