China’s hog production is facing the dual pressures of the market and environment. A systematic analysis of the ecological efficiency (eco-efficiency) of hog cultivation is of great significance for the development of sustainability and distribution optimization in the industry. This paper investigates the eco-efficiency of hog production and the determinants of eco-efficiency in China using panel data (2004–2018). An optimal super efficiency slacks-based measure (SBM)-Malmquist–Tobit model is adopted for hog production analysis, and the empirical results show a great variation in eco-efficiency across provinces, ranging from 0.557 to 1.19 with a mean value of 0.937 in 2018. The predominant production area of hogs is found being transferred from north to south, with small- and medium-scale predominant production areas shifted from East China to Southwest China, and large-scale predominant production areas shifted from North China to South Central China. Another finding is that eco-efficiency increased by the improvement of technical efficiency. In addition, the Tobit regression results show that rural economic development, the government’s investment in environmental control, the market advantage index, and transportation conditions had positive effects on the eco-efficiency; meanwhile, the forbidden policy for livestock cultivation in certain areas, the structure of the hog breeding industry, the density of slaughtered fattened hogs, and the prices of hogs had negative effects on the eco-efficiency.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution has led to a serious deterioration in soil quality, plant growth, and human health. Therefore, restoration of soil quality is imperative. Phytoremediation is inexpensive and yields acceptable outcomes. Phytoremediation involves interaction between plant physiology and microbial activity and has been widely used in the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil. In the present study, Lolium perenne L. (perennial ryegrass) was planted in Cd-spiked soil and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was used to explore the physiological and biochemical characteristics of ryegrass as well as soil enzyme activity to remove Cd. The present study provides a theoretical basis for the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil. The study investigated the effect of 30-mg/kg Cd-spiked soil on ryegrass (C) and 30-mg/kg Cd-spiked soil on ryegrass treated with 10-mg/kg IAA (CI) compared with uncontaminated soil and ryegrass as the control. At the end of the experiment, the ryegrass biomass, total chlorophyll, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and soil invertase activity in C group were decreased by 33.7%, 23.0%, 29.7%, and 18.3%, respectively, whereas the peroxidase (POD) activity and soil basal respiration increased by 17.1% and 87.9%, respectively, compared with the control. In the CI group, the biomass of ryegrass, chlorophyll content, SOD activity, sucrase activity, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolase activity, and Cd removal rates increased by 14.5%, 19.9%, 24.3%, 12.1%, 20.4%, and 15.1%, respectively, whereas the POD activity, soil basal respiration, and Cd residues in the soil declined by 8.0%, 15.0%, and 17.0%, respectively, compared with the C group. Therefore, exposure to exogenous IAA alleviated the Cd stress on ryegrass and soil microorganisms and improved Cd absorption by ryegrass from the contaminated soil.

To reduce carbon emissions, the Chinese government is considering introducing a differentiated industrial carbon tax on enterprises outside the carbon trading market in the future. An efficient carbon tax must consider not only how carbon taxes impact the current economy but also how the size of the tax should be adjusted across time due to external changes. To calculate the optimal industrial carbon tax for China which is subject to certain constraints, this paper investigates the economic and environmental effects of four possible industrial carbon tax rate models under carbon intensity constraints from 2021 to 2030 by a dynamic input–output optimization model. The results show that the dynamic tax rate model leads to larger fluctuations in GDP growth than the other tax models, with a low initial tax rate in the beginning and a high tax rate exceeding ¥180/t in 2030. Second, a large quantity of capital stock is distributed across the energy-intensive industries, which leads the existing capital investment structure to be path-dependent. This offsets the performance of carbon taxes. Third, indirect energy-intensive industries such as construction and transport are insensitive to the industrial carbon tax. Finally, comparing the impacts of the four tax rate models, the optimal industrial carbon tax for China is found to be a fixed differentiated tax rate, in which energy-intensive sectors are taxed ¥75/t and low-carbon sectors are taxed ¥50/t.

Demand for particleboards keeps increasing and as such more trees are fell for its production, engendering deforestation. For the purpose of reducing falling of trees, this study, focused on recycling of waste paper in the development of paperboard as alternative to particleboards used for furniture and interior household applications. Kenaf fiber (KF) was blended at varying proportions of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 wt.% with 20 wt.% constant cement and 20 wt.% constant coconut shell powder while the remaining was paper pulp. Board specimen developed were cured for 14, 28, and 90 days and mechanical properties were examined. Results obtained showed that fiber dosage improved bond strength and screw holding strengths as compared with the control mix. Similarly, modulus of rupture was enhanced with KF loading as compared with control mix while 1 to 3 wt.% KF spawned enhancement of modulus of elasticity. However, 4 and 5 wt.% KF led to a reduction in the modulus. Infusion of the fiber enhanced tensile strength from 1 to 3 wt.% content. 14-day and 28-day curing periods were observed to improve properties while the 90-day curing period is detrimental to all properties. Optimization via signal-to-noise ratio revealed an optimum mix of 2 wt.% obtained for fiber and an optimum curing duration of 28 days.

Alkylphenols are a type of endocrine disruptors, which are commonly found in personal care products, food, and water and are more harmful to the human body. To investigate the relationship between exposure of alkylphenols in serum of pregnant women during early pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes, a total of 2035 healthy pregnant women and their neonates were recruited in the birth cohort of Zhuang nationality in Guangxi from 2015 to 2018. The peripheral venous blood samples were collected from pregnant women in early pregnancy; the concentrations of nonylphenol (NP), 4-nonylphenol (4-N-NP), 4-tert-octylphenol (4-T-OP), and 4-n-octylphenol (4-N-OP) in serum were detected by ultra-performance liquid performance chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Binary logistic regression showed that NP [OR = 1.40 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.94)] was positively associated with preterm birth. Restricted cubic spline analyses showed that logNP and log4-T-OP had non-linearity associations with preterm birth (logNP: Pₒᵥₑᵣₐₗₗ = 0.006, Pₙₒₙ₋ₗᵢₙₑₐᵣ = 0.003; log4-T-OP: Pₒᵥₑᵣₐₗₗ = 0.004, Pₙₒₙ₋ₗᵢₙₑₐᵣ = 0.002). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that maternal serum concentration of NP was negatively associated with birth weight of perinatal infants (β = −14.68, 95% CI: −29.18, −0.19), which may be sensitive in male neonates (β = −26.18, 95% CI: −47.33, −5.02). The findings demonstrate that nonylphenol is a risk factor of preterm birth, and nonylphenol is negatively associated with the birth weight in male infants.

Waste management is the protection of the environment and the health of the population. Paper waste sludge is produced during paper production and sepiolite is a natural clay mineral. The aim of the study was to investigate the usability of sepiolite-added paper waste sludge as a bedding material in the broiler production. Two hundred eighty-eight 1-day old male broiler chicks were divided into the 6 bedding material groups (wood shavings (control), paper waste sludge, sepiolite, mix of 25% paper waste sludge and 75% sepiolite, mix of 50% paper waste sludge and 50% sepiolite, and mix of 75% paper waste sludge and 25% sepiolite) with 6 replicate pens per group. Litter quality, performance, and some welfare parameters of broilers were assessed during the 6 weeks’ period. Body weight at 42 days of age and body weight gain from 0 to 42 days of broilers reared on the wood shavings and mix of 50% paper waste sludge and 50% sepiolite were found higher than those of the sepiolite and paper waste sludge groups. Feed consumption and feed to gain ratio from 0 to 42 days, yields of carcass and carcass parts, percentages of organs and abdominal fat, IgG, percentage of bursa Fabricius, burns of foot pad and breast, litter pH and meat properties of broilers reared on the wood shavings, paper waste sludge, and sepiolite litter groups were not found to be statistically different. Litter moisture was found higher in the paper waste sludge group than that in the sepiolite group at the 42 days of rearing. As a conclusion, usage of mix of 50% paper waste sludge and 50% sepiolite as a litter does not have any negative effects on performance, welfare, and litter quality. This result is important in terms of utilizing a waste product.

The role of ionic excretions and hyper-accumulation of salts through alterations of structural and functional traits in five populations of Suaeda vera Forssk. ex J.F. Gmel., a halophytic salt-indicator species of saline environments, was explored. Differently adapted populations of S. vera exhibited specific structural and functional responses for the survival in hyper-saline conditions. Better growth in population from moderately saline habitat (25–30 dS m⁻¹) was linked to high shoot and root K⁺ and increased ion selectivity (K⁺/Na⁺ and Ca²⁺/Na⁺). Increased excretion of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ with increasing salinity level was a critical mechanism in maintaining ionic balance. Drastic differences were observed for anatomical characteristics in populations inhabiting differentially salt-affected lands. The plants from highly saline sites were characterized by narrow metaxylem vessels, low proportion of cortical parenchyma, and reduced phloem area leading to stunted growth. Contrariwise, root area significantly increased due to high proportion of sclerified xylem tissue, which was associated with easier conduction of solutes and protection of roots from collapsing. Root sclerification particularly at the highest salinity regime was a key factor in the survival of this species in salt-affected compact soils. Leaf anatomical characteristics showed reduction with increasing salinity, but the leaf thickness responded otherwise. This contributed to increased leaf succulence because of high proportion of storage parenchyma in populations colonizing hyper-saline habitats. It was concluded that moderate salinity conditions were more suitable for the growth of S. vera, though some populations of this species were able to tolerate much higher salinity levels.

Construction industry, though is the backbone of any economy, still add a significant portion of emissions, utilising energy supplies, and reasoning in bulk of waste production. The sustainable construction practices are the only solution considering the global climatic challenges. Owing its enormous benefits, a lot of sustainable constructions projects are built around the world, both in developed and developing countries. However, considering the innovative material and technological involvement, and lack of knowledge and expertise, such sustainable construction projects are not always successful. This research aims to investigate the barriers and factors impacting sustainability in the construction projects. More specifically, its primary purpose is to have the perspective of managers on the actors and barriers of sustainable construction in the UK. A mixed method was used to collect the data, one in the mean of questionnaire survey, and the second through the case study. To acquire quantitative data, a snowball sampling was applied to collect the questionnaire survey based data from 128 UK construction managerial positions, such as system managers, sustainability managers, project managers and construction managers, etc. The quantitative acquired data was analysed using mean analysis, relevant importance index (RII), correlation and multiple hierarchical regression. The RII analysis discovered that sustainable construction designs is a top drivers of sustainable construction practices, whereas excessive concentration on price is found as the top impediment of sustainable construction practices. It was also shown by the hierarchical regression analysis that stakeholders factors, project management factors and technological factors significantly impact to sustainable construction practice. However, surprisingly the role of barriers was not observed in the sustainable construction practices of the UK. The same findings were also confirmed with the case study analysis of the Kier Group plc, which believes in the sustainable construction practices. Hence, it is needful for the positive sides of these factors be considered and duly exploited. The research findings provide interesting industrial insights towards sustainable construction projects, while providing useful directions to the industrialists, policymakers and construction professionals, not only by reducing the unfavourable effects, but also by proposing the intention of restoring factors of the environment, economic and social sustainability.

Ferrocene-based metal–organic framework with different transition metals (M-Fc-MOFs, M = Fe, Mn, Co) was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for persulfate activation. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray electron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Meanwhile, the influences of factors such as catalyst dosage, persulfate concentration, and pH on the degradation of acid orange 7 (AO7) were studied in detail. The results showed that hollow cobalt-based ferrocenyl metal–organic framework microspheres (Co-Fc-MOFs) exhibited the best catalytic performance, which is closely related to the synergy of Fc/Fc⁺ and Co(II)/Co(III) cycles in persulfate activation. Free radical quenching studies indicated that both sulfate and hydroxyl appeared to contribute to the degradation of AO7.

Waste wigs are often disposed off in their volume on landfills, thus constituting a nuisance to the environment. Recycling these wigs in masonry bricks is a way via which they can be recycled and reused. On such premise, waste wig fiber (WWF) was recycled by incorporating into the cement-sand-clay composite mix for masonry bricks production. The challenges masonry bricks face include shrinkage and water susceptibility; hence, the contributory effect of WWF on physio-hydric properties was assessed in this study. Sample preparation entailed blending of cement, sand, clay soil, and waste wig fiber. The control mix was prepared by commixing clay with 10% cement (by clay volume) and 20% sand (by clay volume). Other mix proportions were reinforced with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% WWF by clay volume. Prepared composite brick samples were cured for 28 and 56 days and tested for physio-hydric properties. Results revealed WWF contributed significantly in improving hydro-resisting properties by minimizing porosity, water and moisture absorption, capillary suction, and water permeability. Furthermore, WWF contributed to dimensional stability by reducing shrinkages and weight loss. Hydration time impacts significantly in reducing apparent porosity, water permeability coefficient, moisture and water absorption, and capillary suction coefficient and increasing apparent density, weight loss, linear, and volumetric shrinkage. The general outcome depicts that WWF showed promising performance in bricks developed in enhancing water and moisture susceptibility resistance and promoting mass and dimensional stability, hence can be employed in reinforcing cement adobe bricks at an optimum mix of 5% vol fraction.