Identification of sensitive endpoints for the assessment of phthalates-induced reproductive and developmental toxicity: A literature mining study.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), two common types of phthalates, are known to cause reproductive and developmental toxicity in animals and humans. The reference doses (RfD) of DBP and DEHP should be determined by sensitive endpoints. We here aimed to identify sensitive endpoints for DBP- and DEHP-induced such toxicity using published literatures. By examining the impacts of maternal exposure to DBP or DEHP on anogenital distance (AGD) and semen quality of offspring, we discovered that DBP or DEHP caused AGD decline in boys but increase in girls with DBP being more potent and the first 14weeks of pregnancy being more susceptible, suggesting a chemical- and time-dependent phenomenon. We also identified AGD shortening and total sperm count reduction as two sensitive endpoints for DBP- or DEHP-induced reproductive and developmental toxicity, respectively. Based upon these two endpoints and the employment of the Bayesian benchmark dose approach with an uncertainty factor of 3,000, we estimated the RfD values of DBP and DEHP were 15 µg/kg/day and 36 µg/kg/day, respectively. Thus, we uncover previously unrecognized phenomena of DBP- or DEHP-induced reproductive and developmental toxicity and establish new and comparable or more conservative RfDs for the risk assessment of phthalates exposure in humans.

Spatial and temporal variations in environmental impacts of heavy metal emissions from China's non-ferrous industry: An enterprise-specific assessment.

In China, the non-ferrous metal industry is the sector with the highest emissions of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead, causing serious impacts on human health and the ecosystem. However, current heavy metal emission inventories are inadequate for figuring out their exposures and associated environmental impacts due to the lack of detailed data. Here, we constructed a high-resolution, enterprise-specific, and long-term dataset detailing heavy metal emissions from the non-ferrous industry in China from 1981 to 2020, using comprehensive enterprise information. Furthermore, an environmental impact assessment was performed using the characterization factors of the IMPACT World + model. Results show that: (1) from 1981 to 2020, the total heavy metal emissions of China's non-ferrous industry reached 144,697 tons (t), with atmospheric emissions (104,524 t) exceeding aquatic ones (40,173 t). (2) The industry's emissions showed a rising and then declining trend, with significant spatial heterogeneity, where heavy metal emissions concentrated in the central and western parts of Yunnan, the southern part of Hunan, the northern part of Guangxi, Henan along the Yellow River, the intersection of Gansu and Shaanxi, the central and eastern parts of Liaoning, and the eastern part of Inner Mongolia. (3) The environmental impact on human health was 1.19 × 107 DALY, and the value of ecosystem quality was 7.26 × 109 species·yr. The top 10 % of enterprises with the largest environmental impacts contributed over 60 % of human health risks and 62 % of ecosystem quality impacts. Improving the removal efficiency of heavy metals by 10 % within the four major industry classes could lead to a 9.92 % reduction in human health impacts and a 9.77 % reduction in ecosystem quality impacts within the non-ferrous metals industry. The findings of this study can provide insights for pollution control, environmental risk reduction, and sustainable development in the non-ferrous metals industry.

MRI-Based Machine Learning Radiomics for Preoperative Assessment of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Status in Urothelial Bladder Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) has recently emerged as hotspot in targeted therapy for urothelial bladder cancer (UBC). The HER2 status is mainly identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC), preoperative and noninvasive methods for determining HER2 status in UBC remain in searching. PURPOSES: To investigate whether radiomics features extracted from MRI using machine learning algorithms can noninvasively evaluate the HER2 status in UBC. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: One hundred ninety-five patients (age: 68.7 ± 10.5 years) with 14.3% females from January 2019 to May 2023 were divided into training (N = 156) and validation (N = 39) cohorts, and 43 patients (age: 67.1 ± 13.1 years) with 13.9% females from June 2023 to January 2024 constituted the test cohort (N = 43). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3 T, T2-weighted imaging (turbo spin-echo), diffusion-weighted imaging (breathing-free spin echo). ASSESSMENT: The HER2 status were assessed by IHC. Radiomics features were extracted from MRI images. Pearson correlation coefficient and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were applied for feature selection, and six machine learning models were established with optimal features to identify the HER2 status in UBC. STATISTICAL TESTS: Mann-Whitney U-test, chi-square test, LASSO algorithm, receiver operating characteristic analysis, and DeLong test. RESULTS: Three thousand forty-five radiomics features were extracted from each lesion, and 22 features were retained for analysis. The Support Vector Machine model demonstrated the best performance, with an AUC of 0.929 (95% CI: 0.888-0.970) and accuracy of 0.859 in the training cohort, AUC of 0.886 (95% CI: 0.780-0.993) and accuracy of 0.846 in the validation cohort, and AUC of 0.712 (95% CI: 0.535-0.889) and accuracy of 0.744 in the test cohort. DATA CONCLUSION: MRI-based radiomics features combining machine learning algorithm provide a promising approach to assess HER2 status in UBC noninvasively and preoperatively. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

[Traceability Analysis and Environmental Quality Assessment of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution in West Hunan Province].

In order to explore the status of soil heavy metal pollution and environmental quality in west Hunan, relevant areas of Phoenix County were selected as the study area. Using data from 440 soil samples collected in the study area from June to August 2022, the pH value of the soil and contents of eight heavy metal elements, namely, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn, were analyzed. The PMF model was used for traceability analysis and geochemical evaluation of soil environmental quality. The results showed that the average values of soil heavy metals ω(Zn), ω(Cr), ω(Pb), ω(Ni), ω(Cu), ω(As), ω(Cd), and ω(Hg) were 81.02, 64.67, 31.63, 29.27, 25.52, 9.93, 0.28, and 0.13 mg·kg-1, respectively. The soil in the study area was mainly weakly acidic, and the contents of the Cd and Hg elements were relatively high compared to the national soil background values and were highly variable. The contents of the Hg and Cd elements in forest land were higher than that in other land uses. The PMF model results showed that the contribution rates of heavy metal pollution sources in the study area were mining sources (37.4%), atmospheric sedimentation sources (7.7%), natural sources (41.1%), and agricultural activity sources (13.8%) and provided suggestions on pollution control measures according to the spatial distribution of the four types of pollution sources. Through the comprehensive assessment of soil environmental geochemistry, the study area was divided into three types of plots, namely, non-risk areas (94.27 km2), accounting for 76.38%; risk-controllable areas (27.45 km2), accounting for 22.24%; and high-risk areas (1.7 km2), accounting for 1.38%. This study provided data support for the prevention and control measures of land pollution in the research area, as well as the delineation of the prevention and control scope.

Recent advances in swine wastewater treatment technologies for resource recovery: A comprehensive review.

Swine wastewater (SW), characterized by highly complex organic and nutrient substances, poses serious impacts on aquatic environment and public health. Furthermore, SW harbors valuable resources that possess substantial economic potential. As such, SW treatment technologies place increased emphasis on resource recycling, while progressively advancing towards energy saving, sustainability, and circular economy principles. This review comprehensively encapsulates the state-of-the-art knowledge for treating SW, including conventional (i.e., constructed wetlands, air stripping and aerobic system) and resource-utilization-based (i.e., anaerobic digestion, membrane separation, anaerobic ammonium oxidation, microbial fuel cells, and microalgal-based system) technologies. Furthermore, this research also elaborates the key factors influencing the SW treatment performance, such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, hydraulic retention time and organic loading rate. The potentials for reutilizing energy, biomass and digestate produced during the SW treatment processes are also summarized. Moreover, the obstacles associated with full-scale implementation, long-term treatment, energy-efficient design, and nutrient recovery of various resource-utilization-based SW treatment technologies are emphasized. In addition, future research prospective, such as prioritization of process optimization, in-depth exploration of microbial mechanisms, enhancement of energy conversion efficiency, and integration of diverse technologies, are highlighted to expand engineering applications and establish a sustainable SW treatment system.

Quantitative ultrasound image assessment of the optic nerve subarachnoid space during 90-day head-down tilt bed rest.

The elevation in the optic nerve sheath (ONS) pressure (ONSP) due to microgravity-induced headward fluid shift is the primary hypothesized contributor to SANS. This longitudinal study aims to quantify the axial plane of the optic nerve subarachnoid space area (ONSSA), which is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and expands with elevated ONSP during and after head-down tilt (HDT) bed rest (BR). 36 healthy male volunteers (72 eyes) underwent a 90-day strict 6° HDT BR. Without obtaining the pre-HDT data, measurements were performed on days 30, 60, and 90 during HDT and at 6 recovery time points extended to 180-days (R + 180) in a supine position. Portable B-scan ultrasound was performed using the 12 MHz linear array probe binocularly. The measurements of the ONS and the calculation of the ONSSA were performed with ImageJ 1.51 analysis software by two experienced observers in a masked manner. Compared to R + 180, the ONSSA on HDT30, HDT60, and HDT90 exhibited a consistently significant distention of 0.44 mm2 (95% CI: 0.13 to 0.76 mm2, P = 0.001), 0.45 mm2 (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.75 mm2, P = 0.001), and 0.46 mm2 (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.76 mm2, P < 0.001), respectively, and recovered immediately after HDT on R + 2. Such small changes in the ONSSA were below the lateral resolution limit of ultrasound (0.4 mm) and may not be clinically relevant, possibly due to ONS hysteresis causing persistent ONS distension. Future research can explore advanced quantitative portable ultrasound-based techniques and establish comparisons containing the pre-HDT measurements to deepen our understanding of SANS.

Quantitative multi-parameter assessment of age- and gender-related variation of back extensor muscles in healthy adults using Dixon MR imaging.

OBJECTIVES: Investigate sex differences in age-related back extensor muscle degeneration using Dixon MRI and analyze the relationship between quantitative muscle parameters and back muscle strength in healthy adults. METHODS: 105 healthy subjects underwent lumbar Dixon MRI. Fat fraction (FF), cross-sectional area (CSA), functional CSA (FCSA), and relative FCSA (RFCSA) of multifidus muscle (MF) and erector spinae (ES) were quantified. Back extension muscle strength was measured using an external fixation dynamometer. ANOVA with post hoc Tukey correction was used for age group comparisons. Partial and Spearman's correlation analyzed relationships between age, muscle parameters, and muscle strength. RESULTS: MF and ES FF significantly increased with age in both genders (r = 0.55-0.85; p < 0.001). Muscle FF increased prominently for females (40-49 years, MF and 50-59 years, ES) and males (60-73 years, MF and ES). In females, total ES FCSA and RFCSA (r = - 0.42, - 0.37; p < 0.01) correlated with age. While in males, all MF and ES muscle size parameters, except total MF CSA, correlated with age (r = - 0.30 to - 0.58; p < 0.05). Back extension muscle strength correlated with mean FF, total CSA, and total FCAS for MF and ES individually (p < 0.001). The combined MF + ES FCSA correlation coefficient (r = 0.63) was higher than FF (r = - 0.51) and CSA (r = 0.59) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Age-related back extensor muscle degeneration varies by muscle type and sex. FCSA has the highest association with back muscle strength compared to FF and CSA. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The investigation of sex differences in age-related back extensor muscle degeneration utilizing Dixon imaging may hold significant implications for evaluating spine health and enabling earlier intervention. Muscles' FCSA could contribute to acquiring additional evidence for reflecting muscle function change. KEY POINTS: • The multifidus muscle (MF) and erector spinae (ES) fat fraction (FF) increased with age at all lumbar disc levels in females and males. • Age-related changes in muscle morphological quantitative parameters of healthy adults were specific by muscle type and gender. • The muscle functional cross-sectional area (FCSA) measured by Dixon imaging may better monitor back extensor muscle strength changes than muscle FF and cross-sectional area (CSA).

Land use and habitat quality change in the Yellow River Basin: A perspective with different CMIP6-based scenarios and multiple scales.

Studying the spatial distribution of land use/land cover (LULC) and habitat quality (HQ), influenced by both climate change and socio-economic factors, holds immense importance for fostering ecological sustainability. The previous scale setting was based on changes in granularity and division of spatial ranges, without considering the differences in land quantity structure and spatial expansion under different spatial ranges. Therefore, this study is based on climate and economic data at different spatial scales to determine the various land demands of provinces (YRB-P) and integration of provinces (YRB-I) in the Yellow River Basin, and to limit the expansion of LULC in corresponding regions. At the same time, we have also established three future scenarios representing different development speeds based on the latest path of shared socio-economic development in CMIP6. We found exhibit significant characteristics in ecological responses under combinations of different scales and scenarios. Shandong and Henan Provinces are the main gathering (38.7-41.7%, 24.1-26.5%) and expansion (68.54-85.99 × 102km2, 18.89-34.12 × 102km2) provinces of built-up land under the YRB-P scale, and their HQ (0.260-0.397) are significantly lower than the average HQ (0.619-0.654). Forest land, grassland, and high value regions of HQ show "45°" distribution at two scales, with high and low values clearly clustered (Moran's I is 0.5440-0.580). The HQ evolution region is larger and more dispersed at the YRB-P scale, but accumulates in local areas at the YRB-I scale. In addition, the highest and lowest HQ mean values appear under the low speed development scenario at the YRB-P scale (0.721) and the rapid development scenario at the YRB-I scale (0.689), respectively. This study helps decision-makers control different scales and development scenarios to improve the ecological level of the study area.

Stabilization of low-cost phase change materials for thermal energy storage applications.

Sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na2SO4.10H2O, SSD), a low-cost phase change material (PCM), can store thermal energy. However, phase separation and unstable energy storage capacity (ESC) limit its use. To address these concerns, eight polymer additives-sodium polyacrylate (SPA), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Fumed silica (SiO2), potassium polyacrylate (PPA), cellulose nanofiber (CNF), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS)-were used to explore several stabilization mechanisms. The ESC of PCMs deteriorated when thickeners, SPA, PPA, and CNF, were added. DSS-modified PCMs exhibited greater stability up to 150 cycles. Rheology measurements indicated that DSS did not impact SSD viscosity significantly during stabilization. Dynamic light scattering showed that DSS reduces SSD particle size and electrostatically suspends salt particles in a stable homogeneous solution, avoiding phase separation. This study proposes a promising method to improve the thermal stability of salt hydrate PCMs by utilizing polyelectrolyte-salt hydrate mixture for thermal energy storage applications.

[Pollution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Dusts and Surrounding Green Land Soils from Yellow River Custom Tourist Line in Lanzhou].

In order to investigate the contamination levels of dust and its surrounding green land soil heavy metal pollution and potential ecological and health risks in the scenic areas of urban waterfront parks, the gardens, squares, and theme parks of the Yellow River Custom Tourist Line in Lanzhou were selected as the research area, using 27 dust samples and 26 soil samples from its surrounding green lands. The contamination characteristics and potential ecological risks of eight heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) were evaluated using the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), single-factor pollution index (Pi), Nemerow integrated pollution index (PN), and improved potential ecological risk index (RI). The human health risk assessment was also evaluated using the exposure risk model. The results showed that the average concentrations of the other heavy metals in the surface dusts were higher than the background values of Gansu Province and Lanzhou City, except that the As mean concentrations in the surface dusts and the surrounding green land soils were slightly lower than the Gansu Province background values. For its surrounding green land soils, the mean concentrations of the other heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Pb) exceeded the soil background values of Gansu Province and Lanzhou City, whereas the Cr and Ni mean concentrations were lower than their corresponding soil background values of Gansu Province and Lanzhou City. The geo-accumulation and single-factor pollution indices demonstrated that a slight to moderate pollution of Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Pb occurred in surface dusts, and Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Pb appeared in varying degrees of contamination levels in its surrounding green land soils. The Nemerow integrated pollution index analysis manifested that the overall contamination status of the study areas was between slightly and heavily polluted. The potential ecological risk index suggested that Cd and Hg were recognized as significant pollutant elements and that the RI of the other heavy metals were all below 40, presenting slight ecological risk. The health risk assessment indicated that ingestion was the dominant exposure pathway for heavy metals from the surface dusts and the surrounding green land soils, and no carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks posed threats to adults and children.

Comprehensive competitiveness assessment of four typical municipal sludge treatment routes in China based on environmental and techno-economic analysis.

To find a sustainable and effective municipal sludge treatment route requires a systematic assessment of the comprehensive competitiveness of diverse sludge treatment routes. Four typical treatment routes in China including co-incineration in coal power plants (CIN), mono-incineration (IN), anaerobic digestion (AD) and pyrolysis (PY) were selected in this study. A novel assessment model integrating life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis (TEA) with analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-Entropy method was established, and comprehensive competitiveness indicated by comprehensive index (CI) of the four routes was deeply evaluated. Results displayed CIN route (CI = 0.758) showed the best comprehensive performance for its best environmental and economic performance. This was followed by PY route (CI = 0.691) and AD route (CI = 0.570), indicating the enormous potential of sludge PY technology. IN route showed the worst comprehensive performance (CI = 0.186) owing to its high environmental impact and lowest economic benefit. It was noted that greenhouse gas emissions and severe toxic potential were the main environmental challenges faced by sludge treatment. Besides, result of sensitivity analysis revealed that the comprehensive competitiveness of diverse sludge treatment routes was improved with the increase of sludge organic content and sludge reception fee.

Isokinetic strength assessment of trunk muscle and its relationship with spinal-pelvic parameters in patients with degenerative spinal deformity.

BACKGROUND: The incidence rate of degenerative spinal deformity (DSD) has gradually increased in the elderly. Currently, the relationship between the functional status of trunk muscle and the spinal-pelvic parameters of DSD patients remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to explore the relationship between the two factors and provide new clues for exploring the mechanism of the occurrence and development of DSD. METHODS: A total of 41 DSD patients treated in our hospital (DSD group) and 35 healthy volunteers (control group) were selected. Muscle strength was evaluated using an IsoMed-2000 isokinetic dynamometer, and the trunk flexor and extensor peak torque (PT) of subjects was measured at a low, medium, and high angular velocity of 30∘/s, 60∘/s, and 120∘/s, respectively. Hand grip strength (HGS) was assessed using an electronic grip dynamometer and Surgimap software was used to measure the spinal-pelvic parameters, including the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), pelvic incidence rate (PI), and PI-LL, and the relationship between trunk muscle function and various parameters was analyzed. RESULTS: Under the three angular velocities, the flexor and extensor PT values in the DSD group were lower than those in the control group, and only the extensor PT showed a statistically significant difference (P< 0.05). There was no significant difference in HGS between the two groups (P> 0.05). In the DSD group, the extensor PT at 30∘/s was significantly negatively correlated with SVA (P< 0.05). At 60∘/s and 120∘/s, the extensor PT was significantly negatively correlated with SVA and PT (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Trunk extensor strength is significantly lower in DSD patients than in normal controls. The decline in trunk extensor strength in DSD patients is a type of local muscle dysfunction more closely related to the deformity, which is likely involved in the compensatory mechanism of DSD and may reflect the overall imbalance of the trunk.

Interpreting regional ecological security from perspective of ecological networks: a case study in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.

The rapid economic development and intense human activities have seriously restricted the sustainable development of ecology and the maintenance of ecosystem services. Ecological network can effectively connect fragmented habitats and is an important way to couple landscape structure, ecological process, and function. This study proposes a multimodel coupling framework to explore the ecological security status of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR) under different development scenarios from the perspective of ecological networks. The conclusions are as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2030, grassland and arable land were the main land types of NHAR. Grassland is the main expansion land type under the ecological land protection (ELP) scenario, while construction land is the main expansion land type in two other scenarios. (2) The main gather and change of the ecological sources occurred in the central region, and the ecological expansion should develop from the middle to the south. (3) The average area of ecological sources under BAU and RED scenarios is smaller than that under ELP scenario, and more ecological corridors are needed to connect. (4) The centrality of the ecological sources under the BAU scenario is generally high, but the ecological sources under ELP and RED scenarios have undergone spatial migration. In addition, the urbanization trend of NHAR is different under different scenarios, and more attention should be paid to the maintenance and protection of ecological networks in typical areas. This study can provide important reference for NHAR's ecological space planning and ecological protection policy formulation.

Occurrence and ecological risk assessment of 16 phthalates in surface water of the mainstream of the Yangtze River, China.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs), a class of typical endocrine disruptors, have received considerable attention due to their widespread applications and adverse effects on biological health. In this study, 30 water samples, along the mainstream of the Yangtze River (YR), were collected from Chongqing (upper stream) to Shanghai (estuary) from May to June in 2019. The total concentrations of 16 targeted PAEs ranged from 0.437 to 20.5 µg/L, with an average of 1.93 µg/L, where dibutyl phthalate (DBP, 0.222-20.2 µg/L), bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, 0.254-7.03 µg/L), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP, 0.0645-0.621 µg/L) were the most abundant PAEs. According to the pollution level in the YR to assess the ecological risk posed by PAEs, the results showed medium risk level of PAEs in the YR, among which DBP and DEHP posed a high ecological risk to aquatic organisms. The optimal solution for DBP and DEHP is found in ten fitting curves. The PNECSSD of them is 2.50 µg/L and 0.34 µg/L, respectively.

Effect of different MIT rainfall event division methods on volume capture ratio of annual rainfall based on bioretention assessment.

Volume capture ratio of annual rainfall (VCRAR) is the key parameter of low-impact development (LID) facilities design, which is significantly affected by the rainfall event division method. However, there is no universal agreement on how to determine an optimal division method to achieve it. A modified minimum inter-event time (MIT) method based on MATLAB software was proposed to find an optimal MIT value. The result showed that the optimal MIT value in Beijing is 200 min based on the daily rainfall data from 1987 to 2016, and the annual average rainfall events were 34.2 with an average rainfall depth of 13.7 mm. Taking bioretention facilities as an example, the errors of design VCRAR under different MIT values were compared based on a Stormwater Management Model (SWMM). The results showed that when design VCRAR was ≤50, 55-60, 60-75, 75-80 and >80%, the optimal MIT value for LID facilities design was 60, 120, 200, 360 and 1,440 min, respectively. Therefore, the optimal MIT should be flexibly selected with the changing of design VCRAR, to ensure that LID facilities meet the design goals.

The Effects of Subjective Social Class on Subjective Well-Being and Mental Health: A Moderated Mediation Model.

In recent decades, China's rapid economic growth has substantially improved average living standards; however, this has not been accompanied by greater happiness among the Chinese population. This phenomenon is known as the Easterlin Paradox (i.e., there is no link between a society's economic development and its average level of happiness) in Western countries. This study examined the effects of subjective social class on subjective well-being and mental health in China. Consequently, we found that individuals in a relatively low social class had lower levels of subjective well-being and mental health; self-class discrepancy partially explains the relationship between subjective social class and subjective well-being and fully explains the relationship between subjective social class and mental health; and subjective social mobility moderates the path from self-class discrepancy to subjective well-being and mental health. These findings suggest that enhancing social mobility is an important method for reducing class differences in subjective well-being and mental health. These results have important implications, indicating that enhancing social mobility is an important method for reducing class differences in subjective well-being and mental health in China.

Pathways to carbon neutrality: how do government corruption and resource misallocation affect carbon emissions?

The government corruption and resource misallocation are important factors that inhibit economic transformation and environmental governance. Using a study sample of 30 provinces in China, this study employs the spatial econometric methods and threshold model to investigate the relationship between regional corruption, resource misallocation, and CO2 emission. The results show that there is a clear spatial dependence and correlation of CO2 emissions. Government corruption is a neglected contributor to carbon emissions, and this promotion effects are attributed to a promotion in resource misallocation. Moreover, the CO2 emissions are significantly promoted by local labor misallocation and capital misallocation, and the increasing effect is more pronounced in areas with high corruption. For spatial spillover effects, there is also no evidence that local CO2 emissions are significantly promoted by capital misallocation of surrounding areas. Additionally, the promoting effect of corruption on CO2 emissions is more pronounced in regions with weak environmental regulation, low marketization process, and the central and western of China. This work elucidates the mechanism of the impact of corruption on environmental pollution from the perspective of resource allocation, and provides an important reference for the effective management of environmental pollution.

Life cycle assessment of material footprint in recycling: A case of concrete recycling.

Meeting the current demand for concrete requires not only mining tons of gravel and sand, but also burning large amounts of fossil fuel resources in cement kilning. Consequently, concrete recycling is crucial to achieving a material-efficient society, especially with the application of various categories of concrete and the goal of phasing out fossil fuels. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) is used to assess the engineering material footprint (EMF) and the fossil fuel material footprint (FMF) in closed-loop recycling of three types of concrete: siliceous concrete, limestone concrete, and lightweight aggregate concrete. This study aims to investigate the impact of (i) concrete categories, (ii) methods to model recycling, and (iii) using renewable energy sources on the material footprint in concrete recycling. The results highlight that the concrete recycling system can reduce 99% of the EMF and 66-93% of the FMF compared with the baseline system, in which concrete waste is landfilled. All three recycling modeling approaches indicate that concrete recycling can considerably reduce EMF and FMF compared with the baseline system, primarily resulting from the displacement of virgin raw materials. Using alternative diesels is more sensitive than adopting renewable electricity in reduction of the FMF in concrete recycling. Replacing diesel with electrolysis- and coal-based synthetic diesel for concrete recycling could even increase the FMF, while using biodiesel made from rapeseed and wood-based synthetic diesel can reduce 47-51% and 84-89% of the FMF, respectively, compared to the virgin diesel-based recycling system. Finally, we discussed the multifunctionality and rebound effects of recycling, and double-counting risk in material and energy accounting.

Family Subjective Socioeconomic Status and University Students' Online Shopping Addiction: A Gender-Based Analysis.

Online shopping addiction has surged among today's university students. Previous studies have focused on individual and network factors, whereas neglecting family-related roles. This study examined the relationship between subjective socioeconomic status (SSES) and university students' online shopping addiction (OSA) using the life course model of consumer behavior, and explored the chain-mediating role of vanity and materialism, and the moderating role of gender. We surveyed 635 students from two universities in Henan Province, China, using self-administered scales and questionnaires assessing subjective SES (SSES), OSA, materialism, and vanity. The results showed that SSES is negatively associated with OSA. Materialism played a mediating role, whereas vanity and vanity-materialism played a suppressing role between SSES and OSA. A direct relationship between SSES and OSA was found only in men, whereas the indirect path of SSES-vanity-materialism-OSA was found only in women. These results enable better recognition and understanding of the family's role, including family economic status, in university students' gender-specific OSA. They also advance the understanding of the transmission mechanism between family economic status and university students' OSA and promote better recognition and awareness of the family's role in university students' gender-specific OSA.