Bovine milk is an essential supplement due to its rich energy- and nutrient-rich qualities. Caseins constitute the vast majority of the proteins in milk. Among these, β-casein comprises around 37% of all caseins, and it is an important type of casein with several different variants. The A1 and A2 variants of β-casein are the most researched genotypes due to the changes in their composition. It is accepted that the A2 variant is ancestral, while a point mutation in the 67th amino acid created the A1 variant. The digestion derived of both A1 and A2 milk is BCM-7. Digestion of A2 milk in the human intestine also forms BCM-9 peptide molecule. The opioid-like characteristics of BCM-7 are highlighted for their potential triggering effect on several diseases. Most research has been focused on gastrointestinal-related diseases; however other metabolic and nervous system-based diseases are also potentially triggered. By manipulating the mechanisms of these diseases, BCM-7 can induce certain situations, such as conformational changes, reduction in protein activity, and the creation of undesired activity in the biological system. Furthermore, the genotype of casein can also play a role in bone health, such as altering fracture rates, and calcium contents can change the characteristics of dietary products. The context between opioid molecules and BCM-7 points to a potential triggering mechanism for the central nervous system and other metabolic diseases discussed. Full article

Portuguese companies are increasingly responding to the demand of stakeholders for transparent information about companies’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance by issuing non-financial reports (NFRs). While the number of NFRs published annually has been increasing over the last two decades, their quality and companies’ ESG performance have been questioned, especially in times of crisis. To address these concerns, several jurisdictions have introduced mandatory NFR rules, such as the European Directive 2014/95/EU. Employing an institutional theory lens, this paper’s research objective is to evaluate whether the last decade’s crises and whether the fact that NFRs became mandatory for certain entities positively affected companies’ activities covered in the ESG reporting scope. We used panel data regression models on 45 listed companies in Portugal during the period 2008–2021. Our results show that the ESG reporting scope is not positively influenced by the transition from NFRs to a mandatory and global financial crisis (GFC). However, the COVID-19 crisis positively affected NFR quality. These results have major implications for practitioners, reflecting the importance of promoting these tools in an organization to improve non-financial performance and companies’ sustainability. Full article

The work is devoted to the development of a method for neural network approximation of helicopter turboshaft engine parameters, which is the basis for researching engine energy characteristics to improve efficiency, reliability, and flight safety. It is proposed to use a three-layer direct propagation neural network with linear neurons in the output layer for training in which the scale conjugate gradient algorithm is modified by introducing a moment coefficient into the analytical expression. This modification helps in calculating new model parameters to avoid falling into a local minimum. The dependence of the energy released during helicopter turboshaft engine compressor rotation on the gas-generator rotor r.p.m. was obtained. This enables the determination of the optimal gas-generator rotor r.p.m. region for a specific type of helicopter turboshaft engine. The optimal ratio of energy consumption and compressor operating efficiency is achieved, thereby ensuring helicopter turboshaft engines’ optimal performance and reliability. Experimental data support the high efficiency of using a three-layer feed-forward neural network with linear neurons in the output layer, trained using a modified scale conjugate gradient algorithm, for approximating parameters of helicopter turboshaft engines compared to the analogues. Specifically, this method better predicts the relations between the energy release during compressor rotation and gas-generator rotor r.p.m. The efficiency coefficient of the proposed method was 0.994, which exceeded that of the closest analogue (0.914) by 1.09 times. Full article

Lichen amyloidosis (LA) is a type of cutaneous amyloidosis characterized by brownish hyperkeratotic and itchy papules on the lower leg, back, forearm, or thigh. It is associated with itching and atopic dermatitis (AD) according to an etiopathogenetic mechanism that has not yet been fully elucidated. Currently, the available therapies for this condition include oral antihistamines, laser, cyclosporine, topical corticosteroids, and phototherapy, but, in light of the overlap with AD, Dupilumab may also be indicated. We report the case of a female, 52 years old, who had been suffering from AD and LA for about 27 years. She had lesions attributable to both diseases on the trunk and lower limbs associated with severe itching and had proved resistant to cyclosporine therapy. It was decided to opt for Dupilumab with the induction of 2 fl of 300 mg and maintenance with 1 fl every other week. The therapy proved to be effective, returning a total resolution of both diseases one year after the beginning of the treatment. Dupilumab demonstrated efficacy and safety in the LA related to AD and led to clinical and quality of life improvements in this patient. Therefore, Dupilumab should be considered when treating LA. Further studies should be conducted focusing on the efficacy of the drug on LA (whether or not related to AD), changes in the skin lesions after discontinuation, and the safety of long-term application. Full article

Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) is a key cell cycle regulator, with essential roles during G1/S transition. The clinicopathological significance of CDK2 in ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) and early-stage invasive breast cancers (BCs) remains largely unknown. Here, we evaluated CDK2’s protein expression in 479 BC samples and 216 DCIS specimens. Analysis of CDK2 transcripts was completed in the METABRIC cohort (n = 1980) and TCGA cohort (n = 1090), respectively. A high nuclear CDK2 protein expression was significantly associated with aggressive phenotypes, including a high tumour grade, lymph vascular invasion, a poor Nottingham prognostic index (all p-values < 0.0001), and shorter survival (p = 0.006), especially in luminal BC (p = 0.009). In p53-mutant BC, high nuclear CDK2 remained linked with worse survival (p = 0.01). In DCIS, high nuclear/low cytoplasmic co-expression showed significant association with a high tumour grade (p = 0.043), triple-negative and HER2-enriched molecular subtypes (p = 0.01), Comedo necrosis (p = 0.024), negative ER status (p = 0.004), negative PR status (p < 0.0001), and a high proliferation index (p < 0.0001). Tumours with high CDK2 transcripts were more likely to have higher expressions of genes involved in the cell cycle, homologous recombination, and p53 signaling. We provide compelling evidence that high CDK2 is a feature of aggressive breast cancers. The clinical evaluation of CDK2 inhibitors in early-stage BC patients will have a clinical impact. Full article

Previous studies have shown that natural window views are beneficial for mental health, but it is still unclear which specific features constitute a ‘natural’ window view. On the other hand, studies on image analysis found that low-level visual features (LLVFs) are associated with perceived naturalness, but mainly conducted experiments with brief stimulus presentations. In this study, research on the effects of window views on mental health was combined with the detailed analysis of LLVFs. Healthy adults rated window views from their home and sent in photographs of those views for analysis. Content validity of the ‘ecological’ view assessment was evaluated by checking correlations of LLVFs with window view ratings. Afterwards, it was explored which of the LLVFs best explained variance in perceived percentage of nature and man-made elements, and in ratings of view quality. Criterion validity was tested by investigating which variables were associated with negative affect and impulsive decision-making. The objective and subjective assessments of nature/sky in the view were aligned but objective brightness was unreliable. The perceived percentage of nature was significantly explained by green pixel ratio, while view quality was associated with fractals, saturation, sky pixel ratio and straight edge density. The higher subjective brightness of rooms was associated with a lower negative affect, whereas results for impulsive decision-making were inconsistent. The research highlights the validity to apply LLVFs analysis to ecological window views. For affect, subjective brightness seemed to be more relevant than LLVFs. For impulsive decision-making, performance context needs to be controlled in future studies. Full article

Introduction: The development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has immensely improved the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. Despite such a change, concerns continue to persist regarding the safety of the latest drugs added to the regimens. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and weight gain in individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy containing dolutegravir at a general hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at RDDMH from 1 February to 30 March 2022. The study included PLHIV who had dolutegravir substituted into their combined regimen in November 2019. Collected data underwent cleaning, entry, and analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v. 26.0 and R programing. Descriptive statistics were employed for univariate and bivariate analysis. The Kaplan–Meier model in R was used to illustrate the hazard function. A significance level of p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were employed for statistical reporting. Results: The study followed 185 PLHIV who were on ART who either substituted their previous regimens or initiated a new dolutegravir-based regimen for 12 months. Most were females (59.5%), aged over 38 years (57.5%), married (50.8%), and had lived with HIV for 7 or more years (51.9%). The incidence proportion of T2DM in this sample was 7.0% (95% CI: 3.8–10.3). The age category (X²(1, N = 185) = 12.29, p < 0.001) exhibited a statistically significant relationship with the incidence of T2DM. The cumulative rate of T2DM in the age group over 38 years was approximately 15.4%. The pairwise Wilcoxon signed rank test revealed statistically significant differences in BMI scores between time points. Conclusion: This study observed a noteworthy incidence of T2DM among PLHIV receiving a dolutegravir-based first-line ART. Healthcare providers should prioritize early follow-up and management options for PLHIV who are on dolutegravir-based ART regimens. Full article

In this study, to investigate the problem of contact fatigue and the damage mechanism of an AD180 high-carbon semi-steel roll, rolling contact fatigue tests were conducted using specimens cut from the periphery of a roll ring. These specimens were characterized under different contact stresses using SEM, a profile system, an optical microscope, and a Vickers hardness tester. The results indicates that the main forms of fatigue damage of an AD180 high-carbon semi-steel roll are peeling, pitting corrosion, and plowing. Moreover, the surface of the roll exhibits delamination and plastic deformation characteristics under high contact stress. Meanwhile, the size and depth of peeling, as well as the amount of pitting corrosion, increase with the contact stress. Peeling is mainly caused by a crack that originates at the edge of the specimen surface and propagates along the pearlite structure and the interface between pearlite and cementite. High contact stress can lead to an increase in the crack propagation depth and angle, resulting in the formation of larger peeling. Under cyclic loading, the near-surface microstructure of the specimen hardens due to grain refinement and dislocation strengthening, and the depth of the hardened layer increases with the increase in contact stress. When the contact stress reaches 1400 MPa, the near surface structure of the specimen changes from pearlite to troostite. Full article

Older adults who use digital technology are desired to adapt to digitalization and literacy. One required aspect is eHealth literacy, measured with the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). Many studies on eHealth literacy have used the eHEALS to examine the health behaviors of college students, relatively younger adults, and Internet users. However, the relevance of eHealth literacy to social activity has not yet been studied in older adults. The purposes of this study were to examine the relationship between eHealth literacy and health behaviors and social activities (community, cultural, and sports activities) and to investigate the factors associated with eHEALS scores among community-dwelling older adults. The mean eHEALS score was 12.4 points (SD 8.2), with the majority (73.3%) having the lowest score (the lowest score is 8 points). Males (17.6, SD 10.5) scored significantly higher than females (11.8, SD 7.7). The eHEALS score had a significant relationship with both cultural and community activity. Five factors significantly associated with having the lowest eHEALS score were cultural activity at least once a week, no cultural activity, no community activity, total IADL score, and intellectual activity. These results suggest that eHealth literacy is associated with community activity and cultural activity among older adults. Full article

Enriching cats’ living environment in shelters is crucial in reducing their stress. Easier access to resources allows cats to display natural behavior. This study aimed to assess whether cats staying in an enriched environment would be less stressed than cats staying in a standard environment. The first group consisted of cats living in an environment with fewer resources (standard environment)—103 cats. The second group consisted of cats living in an enriched environment—76 cats. The research material consisted of hair collected to determine the cortisol level. The results indicate that cats from a more enriched environment have almost half the level of cortisol in hair than cats from an environment with fewer resources (0.059 ng/mg vs. 0.101 ng/mg; p = 0.000001). Full article

The efficient design of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs) is crucial for their operational performance. A key design parameter, cogging torque, is significantly influenced by various structural parameters of the motor, complicating the optimization of motor structures. This paper proposes an optimization method for PMSM structures based on heuristic optimization algorithms, named the Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Self-Optimization Lift Algorithm (PMSM-SLA). Initially, a dataset capturing the efficiency of motors under various structural parameter scenarios is created using finite element simulation methods. Building on this dataset, a batch optimization solution aimed at PMSM structure optimization was introduced to identify the set of structural parameters that maximize motor efficiency. The approach presented in this study enhances the efficiency of optimizing PMSM structures, overcoming the limitations of traditional trial-and-error methods and supporting the industrial application of PMSM structural design. Full article

Antimicrobial susceptibility tests, achieved through the use of antibiotic-impregnated disks in a suitable laboratory environment, are conducted to determine which antibiotics are effective against the bacteria present in the body of an infected patient. The Kirby–Bauer method, a type of disk diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility test, is currently widely applied in microbiology laboratories due to its proven effectiveness. In our study, we developed an algorithm that utilizes image processing techniques to detect the inhibition zones of bacteria. A certain color depth acts as the threshold for the inhibition zone, with its radius determined according to the size of the reference object. This approach facilitates the measurement of inhibition zones and employs machine learning and deep learning to categorize antibiograms, followed by determination of whether a bacterium on the disk is sensitive or resistant to the antibiotics applied. The focus of this research is creating an automated interpretation system for antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the disk diffusion technique, thus simplifying the measurement and interpretation of inhibition zone sizes. Full article

With the rising popularity of fitness supplements, understanding the factors driving their consumption behaviors is crucial. This study investigated the actual consumption of fitness supplements utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Health Belief Model (HBM), and the Theory of Effort Minimization in Physical Activity (TEMPA) frameworks. The TPB provided insights into how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence individuals’ intentions to consume fitness supplements. Additionally, the HBM sheds light on perceived effectiveness, benefits, barriers, and health motivation related to supplement consumption. Integrating the TEMPA framework further investigated the role of effort minimization in physical activity contexts. Through an online questionnaire, data were collected from a sample of 250 fitness supplement-consuming respondents. SEM analysis revealed significant associations between behavioral intentions and attitudes, perceived behavioral control, health motivation, and controlled precursors. However, it was seen that subjective norms, perceived effectiveness, perceived benefits, and automatic precursors were deemed insignificant. The findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping actual consumption behaviors, offering valuable implications for marketers, health professionals, and policymakers seeking to promote informed and responsible supplement use among health and fitness enthusiasts. Full article

Lung cancer, characterized by its heterogeneity, presents a significant challenge in therapeutic management, primarily due to the development of resistance to conventional drugs. This resistance is often compounded by the tumor’s ability to reprogram its metabolic pathways, a survival strategy that enables cancer cells to thrive in adverse conditions. This review article explores the complex link between drug resistance and metabolic reprogramming in lung cancer, offering a detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms and treatment strategies. It emphasizes the interplay between drug resistance and changes in metabolic pathways, crucial for developing effective lung cancer therapies. This review examines the impact of current treatments on metabolic pathways and the significance of considering metabolic factors to combat drug resistance. It highlights the different challenges and metabolic alterations in non-small-cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer, underlining the need for subtype-specific treatments. Key signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK, and AMPK, have been discussed for their roles in promoting drug resistance and metabolic changes, alongside the complex regulatory networks involved. This review article evaluates emerging treatments targeting metabolism, such as metabolic inhibitors, dietary management, and combination therapies, assessing their potential and challenges. It concludes with insights into the role of precision medicine and metabolic biomarkers in crafting personalized lung cancer treatments, advocating for metabolic targeting as a promising approach to enhance treatment efficacy and overcome drug resistance. This review underscores ongoing advancements and hurdles in integrating metabolic considerations into lung cancer therapy strategies. Full article

The application of a two-phase ejector allows for the mixing of liquid and gas and provides effective heat transfer between phases. The aim of the study is a numerical investigation of the performance of a water-driven, condensing two-phase ejector. The research was performed using CFD methods, which can provide an opportunity to analyze this complex phenomenon in 2D or 3D. The 2D axisymmetric model was developed using CFD software Siemens StarCCM+ 2022.1.1. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach with the Realisable k-ε turbulence model was applied. The multiphase flow was calculated using the mixture model. The boiling/condensation model, where the condensation rate is limited by thermal diffusion, was applied to take into account direct contact condensation. Based on the mass balance calculations and developed pressure and steam volume fraction distributions, the ejector performance was analyzed for various boundary conditions. The influence of the suction pressure (range between 0.812 and 0.90) and the steam mass flow rate (range between 10 g/s and 25 g/s) is presented to investigate the steam condensation phenomenon inside the ejector condenser. The provided mixture of inert gas (CO₂) with steam (H₂O) in the ejector condenser was investigated also. The weakening of the steam condensation process by adding CO₂ gas was observed, but it is still possible to achieve effective condensation despite the presence of inert gas. Full article

Automotive parts are usually subjected to random loads with large mean tensile/compressive stresses under working conditions. It is important for automotive parts to have a long fatigue life under mean stress in practical engineering applications. An equivalent strain model is established here to predict fatigue life considering the influence of mean strain and stress under asymmetric cycles. To predict the fatigue life more accurately, the coefficient of surface roughness and temperature correction is introduced in this model. The effectiveness of the improved equivalent strain (IES) model is verified by comparing it with multiple sets of experimental data. The IES is also compared with Smith–Watson–Topper (SWT), Manson–Coffin, and equivalent strain models. The results show that the developed model has a higher prediction accuracy than the other models. An improved fatigue strength exponent is introduced to modify the equivalent strain model, and the effectiveness of the model is verified by experimental data. The IES model demonstrates significantly reduced standard deviations under various strain ratios (−0.06, 0.06, 0.5), with measurements of 0.0936, 0.0721, and 0.0636, respectively. The method provides a certain reference for the life prediction of automotive parts. Full article

Watermelons are one of the most important crop species, and they are enjoyed across the globe; however, the cultivation of watermelon commercial varieties in arid regions is challenging, as they are highly susceptible to water deficit. Conversely, their wild relatives and traditional landraces have shown a higher tolerance to water deficit, which makes them important study material. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the potential roles of two compatible osmolytes (citrulline and arginine) in the tolerance of local watermelon accessions to drought stress. Four commonly cultivated watermelon accessions were used in this study to evaluate their response when exposed to water deficit stress. The accessions were planted in stress boxes in the greenhouse and allowed to grow until the fourth leaf was fully open and then the water deficit stress was initiated by withholding water for a period of nine days, before rewatering for three days. Data and leaf samples were collected at three-day intervals. The common drought indicators that were assessed, like chlorophyll fluorescence, showed that Clm-08 (wild watermelon) had significantly different results when compared to the other accessions; the Fv/Fm values for days 3, 6, and 9 were significantly higher than those of the other accessions, while phiNPQ was higher in the Clm-08 with average values of 0.41 and 0.41 on days 6 and 9 of the drought stress, respectively. This suggests that the wild watermelon responded differently to drought stress when compared with the other accessions. Arginine and citrulline are important osmolytes that play an important role in stress tolerance, and the results of the current study correlate with the common physiological indicators. The expression pattern for both the biochemical and molecular analyses of the two compatible osmolytes was higher in Clm-08 in comparison with that of the other accessions. The gene expressions of the enzymes in the citrulline and arginine pathways were higher in Clm-08; Cla022915 (CPS) recorded a 6-fold increase on day 6 and Cla002611 (ASS) recorded an 11-fold increase. This suggests that citrulline and arginine play an important role in watermelon tolerance to drought stress. Full article

More research is needed to understand how the maternal consumption of fish and fish-borne toxicants impacts infant neurodevelopment. The present analysis was conducted over 460 mother–infant pairs within the ECLIPSES study. Dietary intake of metals and persistent organic pollutants from fish (including white fish, blue fish, and seafood) was estimated in pregnant women. The infants underwent cognitive, language, and motor function assessments using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III at the 40-day postpartum. Associations between dietary toxicants and outcomes were assessed using multivariable linear regression models. Estimated prenatal exposure to fish-borne toxicants, such as arsenic, inorganic arsenic, methylmercury, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs), and non-DL-PCBs, was associated with poorer language functions in infants, whereas no significant associations were found with motor or cognitive functions. Maternal fish consumption exceeding the Spanish recommendation of no more than 71 g per day was linked to these adverse effects on language abilities without affecting motor or cognitive development. This highlights the importance of vigilant monitoring of environmental toxicants and the provision of dietary guidance for pregnant women, with potential implications for public health and child development. Full article

In a renewable-energy-penetrated power system (RPPS), inverter-based resources (IBRs) pose serious challenges to power system stability due to their completely different dynamic characteristics compared with conventional generators; thus, it is necessary to study the dynamic interactions between IBRs and power systems. Although many research efforts have been dedicated to this topic from both power electronics and power system researchers, some research from the power electronics field treats the external power system as a voltage source with an impedance, therefore ignoring the dynamic characteristics of a power system, while most of the research from the power system field applies simulation-based methods, for which it is difficult to directly interpret the interaction mechanism of IBRs and external system dynamics. Thus, none of these studies can explore the accurate dynamic interaction mechanism between IBRs and power systems, leading to performance degradation of IBR-integrated power systems. Our study takes into account the dynamic characteristics of both IBRs and the external power system, resulting in the development of a new open-loop transfer function for RPPSs. Based on this formulation, it is observed that under certain operating conditions, the dynamic interactions between the inverter and the power system help enhance IBR-penetrated power system stability compared with the case for which the external power system is controlled as a voltage source. The study also reveals how the inverter (phase-locked loop, control parameters, etc.), external power system (network strength) and penetration ratio in an IBR-penetrated power system affect the dynamic interactions between IBRs and the external power system using the proposed quantified interaction indices. Full article

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have achieved promising results in many tasks, and evaluating the model’s generalization ability based on the trained model and training data is paramount for practical applications. Although many measures for evaluating the generalization of CNN models have been proposed, the existing works are limited to small-scale or simplified model sets, which would result in poor accuracy and applicability of the derived methods. This study addresses these limitations by leveraging ResNet models as a case study to evaluate the model’s generalization ability. We utilized Intersection over Union (IoU) as a method to quantify the ratio of task-relevant features to assess model generalization. Class activation maps (CAMs) were used as a representation of the distribution of features learned by the model. To systematically investigate the generalization ability, we constructed a diverse model set based on the ResNet architecture. A total of 2000 CNN models were trained on the ImageNet subset by systematically changing commonly used hyperparameters. The results of our experiments revealed a strong correlation between the IoU-based evaluation method and the model’s generalization performance (Pearson correlation coefficient more than 0.8). We also performed extensive experiments to demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the evaluation methods. Full article

G115 steel is a novel martensitic heat-resistant steel, primarily utilized in the main steam pipelines and collectors of ultra-supercritical thermal power units. However, the oxidation resistance of martensitic steels in the high-temperature steam environment is usually suboptimal, significantly affecting the efficiency of power plants. In this paper, shot peening (SP) is employed as a surface treatment method for G115 steel, and the oxidation kinetics, oxide layer thickness, and microstructure of shot-peened G115 samples are compared with those of G115 steel. The results indicate that in the 650 °C steam environment, the oxidation kinetics of the shot-peened samples follow the parabolic law and that the oxidation weight gain is significantly smaller than that of the non-shot-peened samples. The higher the SP intensity, the smaller the oxidation weight gain and the better the oxidation resistance. This can be attributed to the fragmentation of the grains in the surface layer caused by external stress during SP, which creates a multitude of grain boundaries that can provide rapid diffusion pathways for corrosion-resistant Cr atoms, resulting in the accelerated outward diffusion of Cr atoms from the substrate. Simultaneously, a continuous and dense FeCr₂O₄ protective layer is produced at the interface between the SP layer and the substrate, obstructing the inward diffusion of oxygen and enhancing the oxidation resistance of G115 steel. Full article

Human activities have had a profound impact on the environment, particularly in relation to surface erosion and landslides. These processes, which are natural phenomena, have been exacerbated by human actions, leading to detrimental consequences for ecosystems, communities, and the overall health of the planet. The use of lignin (LIG) as a biopolymer soil additive material is regarded as an eco-friendly solution against soil erosion and slope failure which holds immense promise. However, significant research gaps currently hinder a comprehensive understanding of its mechanisms and effectiveness. Experimental studies offer a robust platform to address these gaps by providing controlled conditions for assessing soil stability, exploring mechanisms, and evaluating adaptability. Bridging these research gaps will contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable strategies for mitigating soil erosion and preventing slope failure, thereby promoting environmental resilience and resource conservation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the LIG biopolymer on mitigation of soil erosion, slope failure and the enhancement of soil strength by conducting laboratory tests (UU triaxial, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and soaking) as well as flume experiments under uniform rainfall events. The alterations in the engineering characteristics and erosion resistance of silty soil mixed with a LIG additive at concentrations of 1% and 3.0% by weight have been examined. The results show that the LIG-treated samples demonstrated an enhanced resistance to surface erosion and an enhanced prevention of slope failure, as well as improved shear stress, cohesion, stiffness, and resistance to water infiltration. Full article