As climate change intensifies, urban transportation infrastructure faces unprecedented challenges from extreme weather events, such as floods. This study investigates the resilience and vulnerability of such infrastructure under extreme rainfall conditions in Changchun City. Utilizing Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Analysis (MCDM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, we comprehensively assess the physical, functional, and service vulnerabilities of the transportation network. Our analysis reveals that only 3.57% of the area is classified as highly resilient, demonstrating effective flood management capabilities. In contrast, a significant 61.73% of the area exhibits very low resilience, highlighting substantial vulnerabilities that could impact urban operations. Based on our findings, we propose specific strategies to enhance resilience, including optimizing drainage systems, upgrading infrastructure standards, implementing green infrastructure initiatives, and integrating disaster risk factors into urban planning. These strategies and insights provide valuable references for global cities facing similar climatic challenges. Full article

Rapid advancements in gene technology have raised concerns regarding the potential abuse of techniques, such as gene doping, for enhancing athletic performance. To identify this possibility, a reliable procedure for detecting doping genes is required. Although detection methods for doping genes have been created, there are still areas for further improvement. One significant challenge is the high storage and transport costs of the test samples. For this issue, the dried blood spot (DBS) method can be a cost-effective solution. This study aimed to assess the practicality of incorporating DBSs into the gene doping detection process as a pilot study. Whole-blood samples were initially collected from mice engineered to express human erythropoietin from the rAAV vector. Then, the blood was placed in filter papers and left to dry at room temperature for five hours to form DBSs. These DBSs were subsequently preserved in sealed plastic bags at room temperature. After the extraction of DNA, DBSs were formed, and TaqMan-qPCR was utilized to detect the presence of rAAV vector-derived DNA. The finding confirmed that doping gene-specific fragments were successfully detected in DBSs. This outcome suggests that the DBS method is an effective approach to be considered when developing a comprehensive protocol for gene doping detection. Full article

To address the challenges associated with achieving high-fidelity printing of complex 3D bionic models, this paper proposes a method for spatially resolved defect characterization and fidelity assessment. This approach is based on 3D printer-associated optical coherence tomography (3D P-OCT) and GCode information. This method generates a defect characterization map by comparing and analyzing the target model map from GCode information and the reconstructed model map from 3D P-OCT. The defect characterization map enables the detection of defects such as material accumulation, filament breakage and under-extrusion within the print path, as well as stringing outside the print path. The defect characterization map is also used for defect visualization, fidelity assessment and filament breakage repair during secondary printing. Finally, the proposed method is validated on different bionic models, printing paths and materials. The fidelity of the multilayer HAP scaffold with gradient spacing increased from 0.8398 to 0.9048 after the repair of filament breakage defects. At the same time, the over-extrusion defects on the nostril and along the high-curvature contours of the nose model were effectively detected. In addition, the finite element analysis results verified that the 60-degree filling model is superior to the 90-degree filling model in terms of mechanical strength, which is consistent with the defect detection results. The results confirm that the proposed method based on 3D P-OCT and GCode can achieve spatially resolved defect characterization and fidelity assessment in situ, facilitating defect visualization and filament breakage repair. Ultimately, this enables high-fidelity printing, encompassing both shape and function. Full article

In recent years, the invasive pleco fish has emerged as a global concern due to its adverse effects on ecosystems and economic activities, particularly in various water bodies in Mexico. This study introduces an innovative solution, employing microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization (MHTC) to synthesize hydrochar from pleco fish biomass. The research aimed to optimize synthesis conditions to enhance hydrochar yield, calorific value, and adsorption capacities for fluoride and cadmium in water. MHTC, characterized by low energy consumption, high reaction rates, and a simple design, was employed as a thermochemical process for hydrochar production. Key findings revealed that through response surface analysis, the study identified the optimal synthesis conditions for hydrochar production, maximizing yield and adsorption capacities while minimizing energy consumption. Physicochemical characterization demonstrated that hydrochars derived from pleco fish biomass exhibited mesoporous structures with fragmented surfaces, resembling hydroxyapatite, a major component of bone. Hydrochars derived from pleco fish biomass exhibited promising adsorption capacities for fluoride and cadmium in water, with hydrochar from Exp. 1 (90 min, 160 °C) showing the highest adsorption capacity for fluoride (4.16 mg/g), while Exp. 5 (90 min, 180 °C) demonstrated superior adsorption capacity for cadmium (98.5 mg/g). Furthermore, the utilization of pleco fish biomass for hydrochar production not only offers an eco-friendly disposal method for invasive species but also addresses fluoride and cadmium contamination issues, contributing to sustainable waste management and water treatment solutions. The resulting hydrochar, rich in solid fuel content with low pollutant emissions, presents a promising approach for waste management and carbon sequestration. Moreover, the optimized synthesis conditions pave the way for sustainable applications in energy production, addressing critical environmental and public health concerns. This research provides valuable insights into the potential of microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization for transforming invasive species into valuable resources, thereby mitigating environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development. Full article

The aircraft wake vortex is an important factor affecting flight safety; as an important part of the aircraft, the powered nacelle will inevitably have an important impact on the aircraft wake vortex, so it is of great practical significance to research it. The present study focused on the numerical simulation of the wake flow of large aircraft (as the front aircraft) and the comparative analysis of the influence of engine jets on the wake flow. In order to meet the accuracy requirements and control the consumption of computing resources, LES and RANS methods were compared, and the RANS method was finally selected for subsequent calculation. The dynamic effect of jet flow was simulated by simplifying the boundary conditions of the inlet fan and outlet bypass as the mass flow boundary condition. The simulation results showed that the engine nacelle will have a significant impact on the morphology of the aircraft wake flow (position and strength of the main vortex in the wake flow system), which is caused by the vortices formed under the shear flow and separated flow of the nacelle. However, the nacelle will not significantly change the total strength of the wake vortex (half-plane circulation). The engine jet intensity causes additional turbulent mixing, which will accelerate the fusion of the nacelle vortex and ultimately change the intensity ratio of the inner wing vortex and the wingtip vortex, affecting the trajectory of the wake of the mean vortex. The study provides a corresponding reference for the following research on a wake vortex by a powered nacelle. Full article

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), due to their many advantageous features, have been utilized in food manufacturing for centuries. Spontaneous fermentation, in which LAB play a fundamental role, is one of the oldest methods of food preservation. LAB survival and viability in various food products are of great importance. During technological processes, external physicochemical stressors appear often in combinations. To ensure the survival of LAB, adjustment of optimal physicochemical conditions should be considered. LAB strains should be carefully selected for particular food matrices and the technological processes involved. The LAB’s robustness to different environmental stressors includes different defense mechanisms against stress, including the phenomenon of adaptation, and cross-protection. Recently established positive health effects and influence on human wellbeing have caused LAB to be some of the most desirable microorganisms in the food industry. A good understanding of LAB defense and adaptation mechanisms can lead to both optimization of food production and storage conditions, as well as to obtaining LAB strains with increased tolerance to stressors. Hopefully, as a result, the final food product with naturally present or added LAB can achieve outstanding quality and safety with health benefits that meet consumer expectations. Full article

The process of development, recurrence, and exacerbation of the inflammatory process depends on the cytokine levels in IBD. For that reason, many cytokine therapies have been developed for treating IBD patients. Researchers employ various techniques and methodologies for cytokine profiling to identify cytokine signatures in inflamed mucosa. These include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), multiplex immunoassays, flow cytometry, and gene expression analysis techniques (i.e., microarray, RNA-seq, single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq), mass cytometry (CyTOF), Luminex). Research knowledge so far can give us some insights into the cytokine milieu associated with mucosal inflammation by quantifying cytokine levels in mucosal tissues or biological fluids such as serum or stool. The review is aimed at presenting state-of-the-art techniques for cytokine profiling and the various biomarkers for follow-up and treatment. Full article

Evaporative water concentration takes place in arid or semi-arid environments when stationary water bodies, such as lakes or ponds, prevalently lose water by evaporation, which prevails over outflow or seepage into aquifers. Absence or near-absence of precipitation and elevated temperatures are important prerequisites for the process, which has the potential to deeply affect the photochemical attenuation of pollutants, including contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Here we show that water evaporation would enhance the phototransformation of many CECs, especially those undergoing degradation mainly through direct photolysis and triplet-sensitized reactions. In contrast, processes induced by hydroxyl and carbonate radicals would be inhibited. Our model results suggest that the photochemical impact of water evaporation might increase in the future in several regions of the world, with no continent likely being unaffected, due to the effects of local precipitation decrease combined with an increase in temperature that facilitates evaporation. Full article

This study, utilizing high-throughput technologies and Machine Learning (ML), has identified gene biomarkers and molecular signatures in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). We could identify significant upregulated or downregulated genes in IBD patients by comparing gene expression levels in colonic specimens from 172 IBD patients and 22 healthy individuals using the GSE75214 microarray dataset. Our ML techniques and feature selection methods revealed six Differentially Expressed Gene (DEG) biomarkers (VWF, IL1RL1, DENND2B, MMP14, NAAA, and PANK1) with strong diagnostic potential for IBD. The Random Forest (RF) model demonstrated exceptional performance, with accuracy, F1-score, and AUC values exceeding 0.98. Our findings were rigorously validated with independent datasets (GSE36807 and GSE10616), further bolstering their credibility and showing favorable performance metrics (accuracy: 0.841, F1-score: 0.734, AUC: 0.887). Our functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis provided insights into crucial pathways associated with these dysregulated genes. DENND2B and PANK1 were identified as novel IBD biomarkers, advancing our understanding of the disease. The validation in independent cohorts enhances the reliability of these findings and underscores their potential for early detection and personalized treatment of IBD. Further exploration of these genes is necessary to fully comprehend their roles in IBD pathogenesis and develop improved diagnostic tools and therapies. This study significantly contributes to IBD research with valuable insights, potentially greatly enhancing patient care. Full article

Globally, huge amounts of cotton and sunflower stalks are generated annually. These wastes are being underutilized since they are mostly burned in the fields. So, in this work, we proposed a three-step method consisting of acid pre-treatment, alkaline hydrolysis, and bleaching for the extraction of cellulose pulps. These pulps were characterized to assess their morpho-structural and thermal properties. The design of experiments and response surface methodology were used for the optimization of the acid pre-treatment in order to achieve maximum removal of non-cellulosic compounds and obtain pulps enriched in cellulose. For cotton stalks, optimal conditions were identified as a reaction time of 190 min, a reaction temperature of 96.2 °C, and an acid (nitric acid) concentration of 6.3%. For sunflower stalks, the optimized time, temperature, and acid concentration were 130 min, 73.8 °C, and 8.7%, respectively. The pulps obtained after bleaching contained more than 90% cellulose. However, special care must be taken during the process, especially in the acid pre-treatment, as it causes the solubilization of a great amount of material. The characterization revealed that the extraction process led to cellulose pulps with around 69–70% crystallinity and thermal stability in the range of 340–350 °C, ready to be used for their conversion into derivatives for industrial applications. Full article

This study aimed to assess genetic parameters for ewe productivity in a Tunisian Barbarine sheep line. The traits studied were litter size (LS), birth weight (BW), weight at 90 days (W90), and average daily gain between 10 and 30 days (ADG13). A total of 3804 growth and 2726 lambing records were used. Bivariate linear and threshold animal models were fitted and analyzed using the Gibbs sampling methodology. Heritabilities for LS obtained with univariate threshold, bivariate linear, and threshold models were around 0.15, higher than the estimate obtained by a univariate linear model (0.09 ± 0.03). Direct heritability for growth traits remained consistent across models, except for W90 in the bivariate linear threshold model. Maternal heritability for growth traits was higher than direct heritability, ranging from 0.07 to 0.15, except for BW. The covariances between the direct and maternal effects of growth traits were slightly negative. Repeatability oscillated between 0.16 and 0.62. Direct genetic correlations between LS and the other traits were negative, varying from −0.18 (LS-BW) to −0.83 (LS-W90). Our results suggest that the threshold model may be the most appropriate for LS. A selection index including LS and growth traits may be proposed for routine genetic evaluation in this population. Full article

This study aims to provide a scientific basis for the development of county-level agricultural industries through a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental and economic benefits of agricultural products. Focusing on Hancheng City in Shaanxi Province, this paper calculates and analyzes the carbon emission intensity per unit output value and the economic benefits of major agricultural products, assessing their comprehensive advantage indices. The research methods include data collection, data processing, and model construction, utilizing a bi-factor matrix analysis to explore the balance between environmental sustainability and economic profitability of different agricultural products. The results indicate that pepper and vegetables have the highest comprehensive advantages, demonstrating significant economic and environmental benefits, while soybeans show lower comprehensive advantages, requiring improvements in cultivation techniques and management practices. Based on the research findings, this paper proposes policy and management recommendations for different agricultural products, including focusing on the development of high-comprehensive-advantage products, improving cultivation techniques for low-comprehensive-advantage products, promoting green agricultural technologies, establishing a carbon footprint monitoring system for agricultural products, and strengthening agricultural infrastructure construction. The study’s conclusions provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the agricultural development strategies of Hancheng City and similar regions, contributing to the achievement of sustainable agricultural development and carbon reduction goals. Full article

The serological surveillance of bluetongue in bulk tank milk is an efficient and cost-effective method for the early detection of bluetongue virus incursions in unvaccinated free areas of the disease. In addition, the availability of standardized and reliable reagents and refined diagnostic procedures with high sensitivity and specificity are essential for surveillance purposes. However, no available reference materials for bluetongue virus serological surveillance in bulk tank milk exist. This study shows the production and characterization of reference material for the implementation of a commercially available bluetongue milk ELISA test in official laboratories, as well as the evaluation of a procedure to increase the sensitivity in samples with low levels of antibodies. This procedure, based on milk protein concentration, allowed us to notably increase the ELISA test’s analytical sensitivity, which is useful for milk samples from farms with low within-herd prevalence or pools of bulk tank milk samples. The standardized milk reference material produced here, together with the evaluated procedure to improve analytical sensitivity, could be applied as tools to ensure an accurate diagnosis by official laboratories in bluetongue unvaccinated free areas. Full article

Titanium alloys are widely used in various fields, but milling titanium alloy materials often leads to problems such as high milling forces, increased milling temperatures, and chip adhesion. Thus, the machinability of titanium alloys faces challenges. To improve the milling performance of titanium alloy materials, this study analyzes the effective working area on the surface of the milling cutter through mathematical calculations. We design micro-grooves in this area to utilize their friction-reducing and wear-resisting properties to alleviate the aforementioned issues. The effective working area of the ball end milling cutter’s cutting edge is calculated based on the amount of milling and the installation position between the milling cutter and the workpiece. By observing the surface structure of seashells, micro-grooves are proposed and designed to be applied in the working area of the milling cutter surface. The impact of the micro-groove area on the milling cutter surface and spindle speed on milling performance is discussed based on milling simulation and experimental tests. Experimental results show that the cutting force, milling temperature, and chip resistance to adhesion produced by micro-groove milling cutters are superior to conventional milling cutters. Milling cutters with three micro-grooves perform best at different spindle speeds. This is because the presence of micro-grooves on the surface of the milling cutter improves the friction state, promoting a reduction in milling force, while the micro-grooves also serve as storage containers for chips, alleviating the phenomenon of chip softening and adhesion to the cutter. When conducting cutting tests with a milling cutter that has three micro-grooves, the milling force is reduced by 10% to 30%, the milling temperature drops by 10% to 20%, and the surface roughness decreases by 8% to 12%. Full article

Ethane dehydroaromatization (EDA) is a potentially attractive process for converting ethane to valuable aromatics such as benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX). In this study, a Pt₃Mn/SiO₂ + ZSM-5 bifunctional catalyst was used to investigate the effect of dehydrogenation and the Brønsted acid catalyst ratio, hydrogen partial pressure, and reaction temperature on the product distributions for EDA. Pt₃Mn/SiO₂ + ZSM-5 with a 1/1 weight ratio showed the highest ethane conversion rate and BTX formation rate. Ethylene is initially formed by dehydrogenation by the Pt₃Mn catalyst, which undergoes secondary reactions on ZSM-5, forming C₃+ reaction intermediates. The latter form final products of CH₄ and BTX. At conversions from 15 to 30%, the BTX selectivities are 82–90%. For all bifunctional catalysts, the ethane conversion significantly exceeds the ethane–ethylene equilibrium conversion due to reaction to secondary products. Low H₂ partial pressures did not significantly alter the product selectivity or conversion. However, higher H₂ partial pressures resulted in increased methane and decreased BTX selectivity. The excess hydrogen saturated the olefin intermediates to form alkanes, which produced methane by monomolecular cracking on ZSM-5. With an increasing reaction temperature from 550 °C to 650 °C, the benzene selectivity increased, while the highest BTX selectivity was obtained at 600 to 650 °C. Full article

A body may have a structural, thermal, electromagnetic or optical role. In wave propagation, many models are described for transmission problems, whose solutions are defined in two or more domains. In this paper, we consider an inverse source hyperbolic problem on disconnected intervals, using solution point constraints. Applying a transform method, we reduce the inverse problems to direct ones, which are studied for well-posedness in special weighted Sobolev spaces. This means that the inverse problem is said to be well posed in the sense of Tikhonov (or conditionally well posed). The main aim of this study is to develop a finite difference method for solution of the transformed hyperbolic problems with a non-local differential operator and initial conditions. Numerical test examples are also analyzed. Full article

This article presents the results of experimental studies of the stress–strain state of volumetric blocks based on the underlying frame structures. The aim of the research is to evaluate the stress–strain state and the nature of damage development as a result of an increase in the load up to a critical level. Based on the analysis of the nature of the damage, recommendations have been developed to strengthen the destruction zone. Data were collected on the redistribution of stresses and deformations, the formation of cracks and joint openings, the magnitude of horizontal displacements, and the failure mode of volumetric blocks and floor frames. Five full-scale volumetric blocks were tested under the loading of hydraulic jacks, differing in concrete type, reinforcement, presence of doors, and dimensions of the stylobate beams. When the volumetric modules were supported by a frame floor the results revealed that the maximum destructive load of 10,462 kN was observed in the first specimen; the horizontal displacements of the walls decreased by 13–18 mm, and there was a decrease in the crack opening width to 0.5 mm. The cracks decreased the strength of the walls, leading to a redistribution of the compressive stresses and their increase in the support zone. The most significant compressive strains in concrete in the corner parts of longitudinal walls were in the range of (600–620) × 10⁻⁶, and in the middle part of the walls, 370 × 10⁻⁶ were observed. Furthermore, the largest cracks caused significant horizontal displacements (deplanation) of the walls, which decreased the stiffness of the conjunction of longitudinal walls with the floor slab and created an additional eccentricity of the vertical force. Based on the findings, the correlation between the measured parameters of each specimen at all stages of vertical load increase is demonstrated and illustrated in graphs of the measured parameters. The importance of quantity compliance with the initial rigid connection between the longitudinal wall and ceiling plate has been estimated. Full article

The invasive pest, Bactrocera tsuneonis (Miyake), has become a significant threat to China’s citrus industry. Predicting the area of potentially suitable habitats for B. tsuneonis is essential for optimizing pest control strategies that mitigate its impact on the citrus industry. Here, existing distribution data for B. tsuneonis, as well as current climate data and projections for four future periods (2021–2040, 2041–2060, 2061–2080, and 2081–2100) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) were obtained. The distribution of B. tsuneonis under current and different climate change scenarios in China was predicted using the optimized MaxEnt model, ArcGIS, and the ENMeval data package. Model accuracy was assessed using ROC curves, and the primary environmental factors influencing the distribution of the pest were identified based on the percent contribution. When the regularization multiplier (RM) was set to 1.5 and the feature combination (FC) was set to LQH, a model with lower complexity was obtained. Under these parameter settings, the mean training AUC was 0.9916, and the mean testing AUC was 0.9854, indicating high predictive performance. The most influential environmental variables limiting the distribution of B. tsuneonis were the Precipitation of Warmest Quarter (Bio18) and Temperature Seasonality (standard deviation ×100) (Bio4). Under current climatic conditions, potentially suitable habitat for B. tsuneonis in China covered an area of 215.9 × 10⁴ km², accounting for 22.49% of the country’s land area. Potentially suitable habitat was primarily concentrated in Central China, South China, and East China. However, under future climatic projections, the area of suitable habitat for B. tsuneonis exhibited varying degrees of expansion. Furthermore, the centroid of the total suitable habitat for this pest gradually shifted westward and northward. These findings suggest that B. tsuneonis will spread to northern and western regions of China under future climate changes. The results of our study indicate that climate change will have a major effect on the invasion of B. tsuneonis and have implications for the development of strategies to control the spread of B. tsuneonis in China. Full article

The integrity of product assembly in the precision assembly industry significantly influences the quality of the final products. During the assembly process, products may acquire assembly defects due to personnel oversight. A severe assembly defect could impair the product’s normal function and potentially cause loss of life or property for the user. For workpiece defect inspection, there is limited discussion on the simultaneous detection of the primary kinds of assembly anomaly (missing parts, misplaced parts, foreign objects, and extra parts). However, these assembly anomalies account for most customer complaints in the traditional hand tool industry. This is because no equipment can comprehensively inspect major assembly defects, and inspections rely solely on professionals using simple tools and their own experience. Thus, this study proposes an automated visual inspection system to achieve defect inspection in hand tool assembly. This study samples the work-in-process from three assembly stations in the ratchet wrench assembly process; an investigation of 28 common assembly defect types is presented, covering the 4 kinds of assembly anomaly in the assembly operation; also, this study captures sample images of various assembly defects for the experiments. First, the captured images are filtered to eliminate surface reflection noise from the workpiece; then, a circular mask is given at the assembly position to extract the ROI area; next, the filtered ROI images are used to create a defect-type label set using manual annotation; after this, the R-CNN series network models are applied to object feature extraction and classification; finally, they are compared with other object detection models to identify which inspection model has the better performance. The experimental results show that, if each station uses the best model for defect inspection, it can effectively detect and classify defects. The average defect detection rate (1-β) of each station is 92.64%, the average misjudgment rate (α) is 6.68%, and the average correct classification rate (CR) is 88.03%. Full article

The aim of this study was to examine athlete engagement and its relationships with indicators of the quality of the athlete’s sport experience, exploring potential differences according to gender, age, and competitive level. Furthermore, this study validated the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire (AEQ) in young athletes and confirmed its factor structure. A total of 1188 athletes (43.90% girls) from Argentina participated in the study, with a mean age of 15.92 (SD = 2.50). The participants completed the AEQ along with other measures of athletes’ quality of experience, such as motivation, enjoyment, and burnout. This study confirmed the multidimensional nature of engagement, showing positive associations with high-quality athlete experiences and revalidating the inverse relationship with burnout. Moreover, the study found differences in engagement dimensions (i.e., confidence, vigor, dedication, and enthusiasm) based on the interplay of gender, age, and competitive level. In general, male athletes, younger athletes, and those with a higher competitive level showed more engagement and interactions between these sociodemographic variables. The Argentinian version of AEQ exhibited optimal fit and reliability and good indexes of measurement invariance across gender, age, and competitive level. These findings validate the AEQ as a reliable tool for evaluating sport engagement among adolescents in Argentina. Engagement constitutes an indicator of an optimal experience linked to positive youth development through sports participation. Full article

Calcareous mudstone, a type of red-bed soft rock, is prevalent in the surrounding rock of the Central Yunnan Water Diversion Project (CYWDP) in Yunnan Province, China, significantly impacting both construction and operation. The mechanical properties of calcareous mudstone vary with depth. This study investigates its mechanical properties, permeability characteristics, energy evolution, and macro- and micro-failure characteristics during deformation using triaxial compression tests under different confining pressures. Results reveal distinct stage characteristics in the stress–strain behavior, permeability, and energy evolution of calcareous mudstone. Crack propagation, permeability evolution, and energy dissipation are closely linked, elucidating the deformation and failure process, with fluid pressure playing a crucial role. The confining pressure σ₃ increased from 2 MPa to 4 MPa and 6 MPa, while the peak stress σ_c (P_w = 1 MPa) of the calcareous mudstone increased by 84.49% and 24.89%, respectively. Conversely, the permeability at σ_c decreased from 11.25 × 10⁻¹⁷ m² to 8.99 × 10⁻¹⁷ m² and 5.72 × 10⁻¹⁷ m², while the dissipative energy at σ_c increased from 12.39 kJ/m³ to 21.14 kJ/m³ and 42.51 kJ/m³. In comparison to those without fluid pressure (P_w = 0), the value of σ_c at P_w = 1 MPa was reduced by 36.61%, 23.23%, and 20.67% when σ₃ was 2, 4, and 6 MPa, respectively. Increasing confining pressure augments characteristic stresses, deformation and failure energy, and ductility, while reducing permeability, crack propagation, and width. These findings enhance our understanding of calcareous mudstone properties at varying depths in tunnel construction scenarios. Full article

Considering energy harvesting, the ergodic data rates for both in band full-duplex (FD) and half-duplex (HD) wireless communications were studied. The analytic expressions of downlink and uplink ergodic rates for the proposed system were first derived with independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) Rayleigh fading link. It was revealed that the uplink data rate can be improved by decreasing the downlink data rate. Furthermore, the uplink/downlink data rates are also shown to be influenced by some significance parameters, for example, the power split parameter and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (i.e., P_S/σ²) of each link. Additionally, unlike the HD, the proposed FD node is capable of harvesting energy during the communication process; however, this is at the cost of performance loss induced by the residual self-interference (RSI), which is caused by the essence of simultaneous uplink and downlink transmissions in a single frequency band. Full article