Turfgrasses are essential landscape plants with social, environmental, and aesthetic services for urban ecosystems. However, more is needed to know how to establish them so that they can benefit from their ecosystem services in urban environments. This research examined some quality and morphological and physiological factors for the establishment and social and environmental service assessment of three warm-season turfgrasses, including Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), and buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides), compared to the cool-season grass of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). The experiment was split-plot in time, based on a randomized complete block design with eight replications. The main plot was the season with four levels, and the subplot was the four turfgrass species types. The results indicated that seasons and turfgrass types and their interaction significantly impacted most measured variables (p ≤ 0.01). Some quality measurements like turf density, color, texture, coverage, and quality after clipping and establishment confirmed the superiority of Buchloe dactyloides over the other species. Also, kikuyu grass showed higher turfgrass density, more potential for weed control, and higher coverage and growth rate but also showed invasiveness features. Tall fescue had the lowest visual aesthetic compared with the other turfgrass species. Warm-season turfgrasses adaptable to the ecology of the region should be used compared to tall fescue to achieve better turfgrass quality and social and ecosystem services for the sustainable development of arid urban environments. Full article

This article presents some views on the subject of self- or residual stresses, trying to clarify some erroneously seemingly ingrained formulations in the introduction, which are widely used in castings and their classification (thermal, shrinkage, and phase stresses). For example, the location of their occurrence is often not specified, nor in which cross sections (volumes) they balance. In thin bars there are uniaxial stresses and in thin plates, stresses in two orthogonal directions are considered, while in castings, which are always three-dimensional objects, stresses in all planes should be considered. Meanwhile, to make matters worse, the complexity of calculations and possible experiments is rapidly increasing from the 1-axis to the 3-axis condition. A detailed analysis is made of how tensile and compressive stresses are calculated as a function of casting wall thickness, taking into account heat flow between walls of different thicknesses. The article presents selected methods of stress and strain testing, with particular emphasis on elasto-optical testing. Full article

Improving the drought resistance of rice is of great significance for expanding the planting area and improving the stable yield of rice. In our previous work, we found that ROLLED AND ERECT LEAF1 (REL1) protein promoted enhanced tolerance to drought stress by eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and triggering the abscisic acid (ABA) response. However, the mechanism through which REL1 regulates drought tolerance by removing ROS is unclear. In this study, we identified REL1 interacting protein 5 (RIP5) and found that it directly combines with REL1 in the chloroplast. We found that RIP5 was strongly expressed in ZH11 under drought-stress conditions, and that the rip5-ko mutants significantly improved the tolerance of rice plants to drought, whereas overexpression of RIP5 resulted in greater susceptibility to drought. Further investigation suggested that RIP5 negatively regulated drought tolerance in rice by decreasing the content of ascorbic acid (AsA), thereby reducing ROS clearance. RNA sequencing showed that the knockout of RIP5 caused differential gene expression that is chiefly associated with ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. Furthermore, multiple experimental results suggest that REL1 is involved in regulating drought tolerance by inhibiting RIP5. Collectively, our findings reveal the importance of the inhibition of RIP5 by REL1 in affecting the rice’s response to drought stress. This work not only explains the drought tolerance mechanism of rice, but will also help to improve the drought tolerance of rice. Full article

Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), the microorganism responsible for bovine tuberculosis (bTB), is transferred to people by the ingestion of unpasteurized milk and unprocessed fermented milk products obtained from animals with the infection. The identification of M. bovis in milk samples is of the utmost importance to successfully prevent zoonotic diseases and maintain food safety. This study presents a comprehensive description of a highly efficient molecular test utilizing recombinase-aided amplification (RPA)–clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein (Cas) 13a–lateral flow detection (LFD) for M. bovis detection. In contrast to ELISA, RPA–CRISPR–Cas13a–LFD exhibited greater accuracy and sensitivity in the detection of M. bovis in milk, presenting a detection limit of 2 × 10⁰ copies/μL within a 2 h time frame. The two tests exhibited a moderate level of agreement, as shown by a kappa value of 0.452 (95%CI: 0.287–0.617, p < 0.001). RPA–CRISPR–Cas13a–LFD holds significant potential as a robust platform for pathogen detection in complex samples, thereby enabling the more dependable regulation of food safety examination, epidemiology research, and medical diagnosis. Full article

Industrial solid waste is characterized by complex mineral phases and various components. Low-carbon cementitious materials can be prepared through precise regulation based on the material composition and properties of various industrial solid wastes. In this study, electrolytic manganese residue (EMR), carbide slag (CS), and granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) were used as alternatives to cement to prepare multicomponent solid waste cementitious materials. The effects of the proportions of EMR and CS on the cementitious activity of GBFS and the activation mechanism of alkali and sulfur were studied. The results showed that with increasing EMR content, the strength first increased and then decreased. At a GBFS content of 20%, CS content of 2%, and EMR content of 8%, the compressive strength was highest, reaching 45.5 MPa after 28 days of curing, mainly because the OH⁻ in CS and SO₄²⁻ in EMR synergistically stimulated the active components in GBFS. Hydrated products such as ettringite and hydrated calcium silicate (C–S–H gel) were generated and interlaced with each other to improve the densification of the mortar. Overall, the proposed system provides an avenue to reduce or replace the production of cement clinker and achieve the high-value-added utilization of industrial solid waste. Full article

During the temporary plugging fracturing (TPF) process, the pressure response and pumping behavior significantly differ from those observed during conventional fracturing fluid pumping. Once the temporary plugging agent (TPA) forms a plug, subsequent fracture initiation and propagation become more intricate due to the influence of the TPA and early fractures. Factors such as concentration, particle size, and ratio of the TPA notably affect the effectiveness of TPF. This study employs a true triaxial hydraulic fracturing simulation system to conduct TPF experiments with varying particle size combinations and concentrations at both in-fracture and in-stage locations. The impact of different TPA parameters on the plugging effectiveness is assessed by analyzing the morphology of the induced fractures and the characteristics of pressure curves post experiment. Results indicate that combining dfferent particle sizes enhances plugging effectiveness, with a combination of smaller and larger particles exhibiting superior plugging effectiveness, resulting in a pressure increase of over 25.9%. As the concentration of the TPA increases, the plugging fracture pressure rises, accompanied by rapid pressure response and significant plugging effects, leading to more complex fracture morphology. For shale reservoirs, the density of bedding planes (BPs) influences the morphology and width of conventional hydraulic fractures, thereby affecting the effectiveness of subsequent refracturing. Rock samples with a relatively low BP density demonstrate effective plugging initiation both in-fracture and in-stage, facilitating the formation of complex fracture networks. Conversely, specimens with a relatively high BP density exhibit superior plugging effectiveness in-stage compared to in-fracture plugging. Full article

The following semi-linear elliptic equations involving Hardy–Sobolev critical exponents $-\Delta u-\mu \frac{u}{{\left|x\right|}^2}=\frac{{\left|u\right|}^{2^{*}\left(s\right)-2}}{{\left|x\right|}^s}u+g(x,u),x\in \Omega \setminus \left\{0\right\},u=0,x\in \partial \Omega$ have been investigated, where $\Omega$ is an open-bounded domain in ${\mathbb{R}}^N\left(N\ge 3\right)$, with a smooth boundary $\partial \Omega$, $0\in \Omega ,0\le \mu <\overline{\mu }:={\left(\frac{N-2}{2}\right)}^2,0\le s<2$, and $2^{*}\left(s\right)=2\left(N-s\right)/\left(N-2\right)$ is the Hardy–Sobolev critical exponent. This problem comes from the study of standing waves in the anisotropic Schrödinger equation; it is very important in the fields of hydrodynamics, glaciology, quantum field theory, and statistical mechanics. Under some deterministic conditions on $g,$ by a detailed estimation of the extremum function and using mountain pass lemma with ${\left(PS\right)}_c$ conditions, we obtained that: (a) If $\mu \le \overline{\mu }-1$, and $\lambda <{\lambda }_1\left(\mu \right),$ then the above problem has at least a positive solution in $H_0^1\left(\Omega \right)$; (b) If $\overline{\mu }-1<\mu <\overline{\mu }$,then when ${\lambda }_{*}\left(\mu \right)<\lambda <{\lambda }_1\left(\mu \right)$, the above problem has at least a positive solution in $H_0^1\left(\Omega \right)$; (c) if $\overline{\mu }-1<\mu <\overline{\mu }$ and $\Omega =B(0,R)$, then the above problem has no positive solution for $\lambda \le {\lambda }_{*}\left(\mu \right).$ These results are extensions of E. Jannelli’s research ($g(x,u)=\lambda u$). Full article

Reducing fuel consumption to decrease CO₂ emissions has become a key development factor in the automotive industry. An effective way to decrease fuel consumption is to reduce the influence of various sources of energy loss. One way to increase engine efficiency is to use low-viscosity engine oils to reduce friction losses in the engine’s tribological systems. The aim of the article was to analyze the relationship between the type of engine oil and fuel consumption in a group of 12 passenger cars. This was a homogenous group of identical cars, equipped with the same engine, operated under very similar conditions. Three groups of engine oils (Revline, Total, Orlen) were tested in vehicles and stressed with comparable workloads. The experiment was conducted over two years (two stages of research). The collected results were presented using graphs and compared using statistical tests, split into two stages of research, with four seasonal temperature groups. The study provides a detailed description of fuel consumption differences taking into account variations in ambient temperature. The analyses were focused on finding answers to two research questions: does the type of engine oil affect the variation in combustion levels, and what is the variability of fuel consumption in different seasons due to the ambient temperature variability? Briefly, in both stages of the study, vehicles using Revline oil attained the highest average fuel consumption throughout the study period. Vehicles using Total oil showed similar results to those using Revline oil, with the difference in fuel consumption not as noticeable during warmer months. Conversely, vehicles using Orlen oil demonstrated the lowest fuel consumption values during colder months, but higher levels during warmer months. Full article

Recent years have been characterized by increasing interest in graph computations. This trend can be related to the large number of potential application areas. Moreover, increasing computational capabilities of modern computers allowed turning theory of graph algorithms into explorations of best methods for their actual realization. These factors, in turn, brought about ideas like creation of a hardware component dedicated to graph computation; i.e., the Graphcore Intelligent Processor Unit (IPU). Interestingly, Graphcore systems are a hardware implementation of the Bulk Synchronous Parallel paradigm, which seemed to be a mostly theoretical concept from the end of last century. In this context, the question that has to be addressed experimentally is as follows: how good are Graphcore systems in comparison with standard systems that can be used to run graph algorithms, i.e., CPUs and GPUs. To provide a partial response to this broad question, in this contribution, PageRank, Single Source Shortest Path and Breadth-First Search algorithms are used to compare the performance of IPU-deployed algorithms to other parallel architectures. Obtained results clearly show that the Graphcore IPU outperforms other devices for the studied heterogeneous algorithms and, currently, provides best-in-class execution time results for a range of graph sizes and densities. Full article

Hydrotalcite/bismuth solid solution (2D/2D CoAl-LDH/BiO(OH)_XI_1−X) heterojunction photocatalysts were fabricated through a hydrothermal route. Because of their identical layered structure and interlayer hydroxides, CoAl-LDH(2D) and BiO(OH)_XI_1−X(2D) form a tightly bonded heterojunction, resulting in efficient light absorption, excitation, and carrier migration conversion. At the same time, the large specific surface area and abundant hydroxyl groups of the layered structure make the heterojunction catalyst exhibit excellent performance in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Under visible light irradiation and in the presence of 1 g/L of the catalyst, 10 mg/L of methyl orange (MO) in water could be completely degraded within 20 min, and the degradation rate of tetracycline (TC) reached 99.23% within 5 min. CoAl-LDH/BiO(OH)_XI_1−X still maintained good photocatalytic degradation activity of tetracycline after five cycles, and the structure of the catalyst did not change. The reaction mechanism related to the degradation of TC by photocatalytic reactions was explored in detail, and the photoexcitation of the semiconductor heterojunction, as well as the subsequent free radical reaction process and the degradation pathway of TC were clarified. This work provides a promising strategy for the preparation of efficient photocatalytic materials and the development of water purification technology. Full article

Herein, a new starch film incorporating laver was developed to address issues related to inadequate water resistance and suboptimal preservation quality in food packaging. The integration of laver into starch film formulations offers a compelling avenue for creating biodegradable, active, and smart food packaging. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that the starch film with a laver concentration of 70% exhibited a uniformly flat microstructure, as expected. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of intermolecular interactions and hydrogen bonding between the starch and laver. Viscoelastic tests demonstrated the superior film-forming performance of the starch/laver composite films. Moreover, it was found that the most favorable concentration of incorporated laver was 10%. Specifically, the S7-3 film emerged as a promising candidate for food packaging applications, boasting the highest contact angle (CA) value of 114.98 ± 1.28°, the lowest water solubility (WS) value of 15.38%, and a reduced water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) value of 2.52 g/m² × h. Additionally, the S3-7 film displayed an extraordinary tensile strength of 32.47 MPa, an elongation at break of 19.04%, and a Young’s modulus of 606.83 MPa. Furthermore, the starch/laver composite films exhibited outstanding UV-blocking capabilities, exceptional pH-responsive behavior, and significant antioxidant activity, underscoring their potential for packaging applications with laver integration. Full article

Among the different techniques for monitoring the flow rate of various fluids, thermal flow sensors stand out for their straightforward measurement technique. However, the main drawback of these types of sensors is their dependency on the thermal properties of the medium, i.e., thermal conductivity (k), and volumetric heat capacity ($\rho c_p$). They require calibration whenever the fluid in the system changes. In this paper, we present a single hot wire suspended above a V-groove cavity that is used to measure k and $\rho c_p$ through DC and AC excitation for both pure gases and binary gas mixtures, respectively. The unique characteristic of the proposed sensor is its independence of the flow velocity, which makes it possible to detect the medium properties while the fluid flows over the sensor chip. The measured error due to fluctuations in flow velocity is less than ±0.5% for all test gases except for He, where it is ±6% due to the limitations of the measurement setup. The working principle and measurement results are discussed. Full article

Background/Objectives: As heart failure (HF) patients face increased vulnerability to respiratory infections, optimizing pneumococcal and influenza vaccination coverage becomes pivotal for mitigating additional health risks and reducing hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality rates within this population. In this specific subpopulation of patients, vaccination coverage for pneumococcal and influenza holds heightened significance compared to other vaccines due to their susceptibility to respiratory infections, which can exacerbate existing cardiovascular conditions and lead to severe complications or even death. However, despite the recognized benefits, vaccination coverage among HF patients remains below expectations. The aim of the present systematic review was to assess the vaccination coverage for influenza and pneumococcus in HF patients from 2005 to 2023 and the vaccination’s effects on survival and hospitalizations. Methods: The authors developed the protocol of the review in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, and the search was performed in databases including PubMed and Scopus. After the initial search, 851 studies were found in PubMed Library and 1961 in Scopus (total of 2812 studies). Results: After the initial evaluation, 23 publications were finally included in the analysis. The total study population consisted of 6,093,497 participants. Regarding the influenza vaccine, vaccination coverage ranged from low rates of 2.5% to very high rates of 97%, while the respective pneumococcal vaccination coverage ranged from 20% to 84.6%. Most studies demonstrated a beneficial effect of vaccination on survival and hospitalizations. Conclusions: The present systematic review study showed a wide variety of vaccination coverage among patients with heart failure. Full article

Background: Arrhythmias in pregnancy are complex to manage due to the teratogenic effects of many antiarrhythmic drugs and the common use of ionizing radiation during catheter ablation procedures. Furthermore, pregnant women are extremely vulnerable and difficult to treat because of the progressive physical and hormonal changes that occur during the nine months of pregnancy. Case Presentation: In this case report, we describe a complex clinical case of a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was affected by an incessant right atrial tachycardia, with signs and symptoms of initial hemodynamic instability. This tachycardia was refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs, so a zero-fluoroscopy ablation was performed. The first procedure was complicated by cardiac tamponade, quickly resolved without further complications for the mother or the fetus. In the following days, a deep venous thrombosis occurred at the femoral venous access. After a few days, the patient underwent a second procedure that was successful and resulted in the restoration of a sinus rhythm. Conclusions: The management of this clinical case was complex both from a procedural and a clinical (cardiological and gynecological) point of view. Finally, the integration of the various skills led to an excellent result. Full article

No published studies have investigated the correlation between religiosity, spirituality, mental health, and idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) or systemic autoimmune myopathy. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between religiosity/spirituality, sociodemographic factors, and the mental health of IIM patients. This is a multicenter case–control study that included 151 patients with IIMs and 95 individuals without autoimmune diseases (controls), held between August 2022 and April 2023. This study used a semi-structured questionnaire that included sociodemographic information and the juxtaposition of the following questionnaires: the Attitudes Related to Spirituality Scale (ARES); the Duke University Religion Index (DUKE), which is composed of the organizational religious affiliation (ORA), non-organizational religious affiliation (NORA), and intrinsic religiosity (IR) domains; and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Data were analyzed using Epi Info software 7.2.5 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA). A comparison between the mean values of the ARES, DUKE, and GHQ-12 scales was made using the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests. A logistic regression test was used with the variables whose difference was statistically significant in the univariate analysis. Correlation analysis was performed using the Spearman rho coefficient. A higher prevalence of evangelicals and a lower prevalence of Catholics (p < 0.050) were seen in the IIM group compared to controls. Positive association was demonstrated between IIMs and the pardo ethnicity (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.20–4.25, p = 0.011), highest ORA (OR = 2.81, 95% CI = 1.53–5.15, p < 0.001), NORA (OR = 3.99, 95% CI = 1.94–8·18, p < 0.001), IR (OR = 5.27, 95% CI = 2.32–11.97, p < 0.001), and ARES values (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.04–1.13, p < 0.001). Mental health levels were compared between the groups (p > 0.999). Therefore, higher levels of religiosity and spirituality were observed in the IIM group than in the control group, but there was a similar distribution of mental health levels. The following can be cited as advantages of the present study: (i) the large sample for a rare disease with the presence of a control group; (ii) the multicenter characteristic with participation from three regions of Brazil; (iii) being the first study to map aspects of religiosity, spirituality, and mental health in IIMs. Full article

This study investigates a controlled synthesis and particle size optimization of nanocalcite particles using phosphogypsum, a waste byproduct from the phosphate fertilizer industry, and cesium carbonate (Cs₂CO₃), a common carbonate source. The effects of synthesis parameters, including temperature and pH, on the size, morphology, and crystallinity of the synthesized nanocalcite particles were systematically examined. The optimized synthesis conditions for obtaining nanocalcite particles with desired properties are discussed. The synthesized nanocalcite particles were characterized using various techniques, such as XRD, FTIR, and SEM, to analyze their crystal structure, morphology, and elemental composition. Particle sizes were determined using the Debye–Scherrer method, and accordingly, nanometric sizes were achieved. The potential applications of the synthesized nanocalcite particles in cementitious materials, agriculture, and drug delivery are highlighted. This research provides valuable insights into the sustainable synthesis and size optimization of nanocalcite particles from phosphogypsum and Cs₂CO₃ at a controlled temperature and pH. Full article

The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of a gentle shampoo and a mousse containing Adelmidrol, tapioca starch and a non-prescription antimicrobial complex on seborrhoea and other clinical signs secondary to canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). Forty-six dogs with cAD-associated seborrhoea and/or pruritus > 4 cm on the pruritus visual analogue scale (P-VAS) and/or bacterial/Malassezia overgrowth were enrolled. The mousse was applied twice daily, and dogs were evaluated at days (D)0, 7, 14 and optionally 28, by means of a skin seborrheic index (SSI), P-VAS, cAD lesion index (CADLI), and a semiquantitative cytological score. The mean SSI value improved during the first two weeks (4.1 ± 0.37 to 1.9 ± 0.30; p < 0.0001). The mean P-VAS score (cm) decreased from 6.6 ± 0.19 at D0 to 3.8 ± 0.31 at D14 (p < 0.0001). The mean CADLI score dropped from 13.7 ± 1.24 to 8.5 ± 1.14 at D14 (p < 0.001). The cytological score for bacteria and Malassezia decreased from 3.2 ± 0.10 and 3.2 ± 0.11, respectively, to 1.2 ± 0.19 and 1.2 ± 0.24 (p < 0.0001). All the investigated signs further improved at D28. Altogether, these observations suggest that the tested protocol might be useful in managing cAD-associated signs. Full article

Currently, urban areas are confronting considerable challenges stemming from climate change. These challenges possess the potential to have profound implications for the well-being of residents, their means of making a living, and their own assets. Consequently, it is imperative to identify effective solutions that mitigate these effects on the urban environment. Nature-based solutions (NBSs), involving the utilization of natural resources and ecosystem services to alleviate the effects of climate change, have the potential of enhancing our capacity to develop cities that are more resistant to these challenges. To this end, this paper aims to extract some bibliographic data from available research articles on NBSs and climate resilience sought from the common search engines of Scopus, Web of Science, and Lens Base, and then the RStudio version 2022.12.00+353, VoSviewer version 1.6.20, and Biblioshiny-Bibliometrics version 2017 software tools were adopted to collate and analyze the literature data through science mapping analysis. In doing so, it was advocated that these two topics have not been extensively studied in their relationship to each other and that there is a large extent of existing knowledge gaps, the filling of which can foster the development of these ideas and thus help develop our cities in combating against climate change. Exploring the effectiveness of NBSs in boosting climate resilience is a critical research gap. More empirical studies are envisaged to assess the scalability and transferability of those effective NBSs in various regions or countries. Another research gap exists in comprehending the long-term effects on ecosystem services and community welfare. Research on socio-economic advantages, trade-offs, and unintended outcomes is essential for making well-informed decisions when applying various NBSs worldwide. Full article

This study investigates potential financing and management strategies that the Energy Corporation, a Chinese renewable energy company, could adopt in order to expand its green development projects. While China has made significant advancements in renewable energy, its heavy reliance on fossil fuels necessitates a shift towards a more sustainable energy system. To analyze the factors driving and impeding sustainability, this article provides an overview of China’s energy sector and policies. Through case studies of the Energy Corporation and other prominent renewable energy companies, the study showcases a range of demonstration projects, financing models, and management technologies that have the potential to accelerate the growth of sustainable initiatives. Recommendations from expert interviews are also provided, covering areas such as optimizing investment, monitoring distributed assets, and balancing social and environmental impacts. The results show that the Energy Corporation can effectively develop wind, solar, and energy efficiency projects nationwide by leveraging partnerships, utilizing green bonds, employing big data platforms, and engaging stakeholders, while also setting sustainability benchmarks. With a strategic approach, Energy Corporation aims to invest USD 1 billion over the next five years, targeting a renewable energy capacity of 5000 MW and a 20% reduction in CO₂ emissions. Achieving these goals would position Chinese companies as global leaders in the transition to renewable energy. The study also utilized an artificial neural network (ANN) to analyze the impact of increasing green jobs and renewable energy capacities on CO₂ emission reduction and economic growth. The results indicate that green jobs have a more significant effect on reducing CO₂ emissions compared to renewable energy capacities. When green jobs increased while energy capacities remained constant, substantial CO₂ reductions were observed, but the economic growth was only 1%. However, when there was a moderate increase in jobs alongside a four-fold increase in renewable energy capacities, economic growth reached 4%. The neural network’s prediction errors were deemed acceptable based on linear regression analysis and experimental results. Full article

The species–area relationship is important for understanding species diversity patterns at spatial scales, but few studies have examined the relationship using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. We investigated amphibian diversity on 21 islands of the Zhoushan Archipelago and nearby mainland areas in China using the combination of eDNA metabarcoding and the traditional line transect method (TLTM) and identified the species–area relationship for amphibians on the islands. The mean detection probability of eDNA is 0.54, while the mean detection probability of TLTM is 0.24. The eDNA metabarcoding detected eight amphibian species on the islands and nine species in the mainland areas, compared with seven species on the islands and nine species in the mainland areas that were identified by TLTM. Amphibian richness on the islands increased with island area and habitat diversity. The species–area relationship for amphibians in the archipelago was formulated as the power function (S = 0.47A^0.21) or exponential function (S = 2.59 + 2.41 (logA)). Our results suggested that eDNA metabarcoding is more sensitive for the detection of amphibian species. The combined use of eDNA metabarcoding and the traditional line transect method may optimize the survey results for amphibians. Full article

Blasting is a prevalent technique in deep rock excavation, with the state of rock fragmentation under high in-situ stress conditions being distinct from that under low in-situ stress conditions. A new material point method framework utilizing the generalized interpolated material point and convective particle domain interpolation functions was implemented to simulate the single-hole blasting process, analyze the stress distribution around the blasting hole, and elucidate the mechanism of how ground stress influences the expansion of blasting cracks through the interaction with the blasting load. In addition, the dynamic relaxation method realizes the stress’s initialization. It was concluded that the in-situ stress can increase the compressive stress induced by blasting load, whereas it decreases the caused tensile stress. With the increase in the ground stress, the scale of the cracks decreases. Under the non-isobaric condition, the blast-induced cracks preferentially expand along the high stress with the increase in the stress difference between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and the blast-induced cracks are suppressed to the greatest extent in the direction of the minimum ground stress. Full article

As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) rises globally, ensuring the safety and reliability of EV battery systems becomes paramount. Accurately predicting the state of health (SoH) and state of charge (SoC) of EV batteries is crucial for maintaining their safe and consistent operation. This paper introduces a novel approach leveraging deep learning methodologies to predict battery SoH, focusing on implementing a system prototype for real-world applications. The proposed system integrates an extended Kalman filter (EKF) with a deep learning framework, forming a system prototype known as FELL, aimed at EV battery diagnosis and prediction. We devise an algorithm utilizing the EKF to estimate the SoH of the battery. We present a detailed overview of the system architecture and implementation, showcasing its predictive capabilities. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the system in accurately estimating battery SoH with notable improvements in prediction accuracy. Additionally, the FELL system provides users with real-time predictions and comparative analysis across multiple prediction models, offering valuable insights for EV battery management. Full article