Direct contact condensation (DCC) is a phenomenon observed when steam interacts with subcooled water, exhibiting higher heat and mass transfer rates compared to wall condensation. It has garnered significant interest across industries such as nuclear, chemical, and power due to its advantageous characteristics. In the context of pressure-relief tanks, understanding and optimizing the DCC process are critical for safety and efficiency. The efficiency of pressure-relief tanks depends on the amount of steam condensed per unit of time, which directly affects their operational parameters and design. This study focuses on investigating the direct gas–liquid contact condensation process in pressure-relief tanks using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Through experimental validation and a sensitivity analysis, the study provides insights into the influence of inlet steam parameters and basin temperature on the steam plume characteristics. Furthermore, steady-state and transient calculation models are developed to simulate the behaviour of the pressure-relief tank, providing valuable data for safety analysis and design optimization. There is a relatively high-pressure area in the upper part of the bubble hole of the pressure-relief tube, and the value increases as it is closer to the holes. The steam velocity in the bubbling hole near the 90° elbow position is higher. This study contributes to the understanding of steam condensation dynamics in pressure-relief tanks. When the steam emission and pressure are fixed, the equilibrium temperature increases linearly as the initial temperature increases (where a = 1, b = 20 in y = a x+ b correlation), the equilibrium pressure increases nearly exponentially, and the equilibrium gas volume decreases. When the steam emission and initial temperature are fixed, the equilibrium temperature does not change as the steam discharge pressure increases. The correlations between the predicted equilibrium parameters and the inlet steam parameters and tank temperature provide valuable insights for optimizing a pressure-relief tank design and improving the operational safety in diverse industrial contexts. Full article

The optimization algorithm plays a crucial role in image recognition by neural networks. However, it is challenging to accelerate the model’s convergence and maintain high precision. As a commonly used stochastic gradient descent optimization algorithm, the momentum method requires many epochs to find the optimal parameters during model training. The velocity of its gradient descent depends solely on the historical gradients and is not subject to random fluctuations. To address this issue, an optimization algorithm to enhance the gradient descent velocity, i.e., the momentum reacceleration gradient descent (MRGD), is proposed. The algorithm utilizes the point division of the current momentum and the gradient relationship, multiplying it with the gradient. It can adjust the update rate and step size of the parameters based on the gradient descent state, so as to achieve faster convergence and higher precision in training the deep learning model. The effectiveness of this method is further proven by applying the reacceleration mechanism to the Adam optimizer, resulting in the MRGDAdam algorithm. We verify both algorithms using multiple image classification datasets, and the experimental results show that the proposed optimization algorithm enables the model to achieve higher recognition accuracy over a small number of training epochs, as well as speeding up model implementation. This study provides new ideas and expansions for future optimizer research. Full article

Abundant light and heat in the Hexi Oasis Irrigation Area in China provide superior natural conditions for agricultural development. To study the maize–soybean planting system of intercropping and determine superior group yield and economic benefits in the Hexi Oasis Irrigation Area, eight treatments were set up in 2022–2023: maize–soybean intercropping with a bandwidth of 1.8 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M1S3), a bandwidth of 1.8 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M1S4), a bandwidth of 2.0 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M2S3), a bandwidth of 2.0 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M2S4), a bandwidth of 2.2 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M3S3), a bandwidth of 2.2 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M3S4), monocropping maize (M), and monocropping soybean (S). We analyzed the effects of changes in bandwidth–row ratios on photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and interspecific relationships in these treatments during two crop reproductive periods. Our results showed the following: (1) Under the intercropping system, the photosynthetic capacity of maize was highest when the row ratio was 2∶3 and bandwidth was 1.8 m. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) increased by 1.72% to 48.90%, the transpiration rate (Tr) increased by 5.53% to 118.10%, and stomatal conductance (Gs) increased by 2.82% to 86.49% compared with other planting systems. Increasing the bandwidth from 1.8 m to 2.2 m improved the photosynthetic characteristics of soybean, increasing Pn, Tr, and Gs by 3.44% to 74.21%, 3.92% to 53.69%, and 2.41% to 55.22%, respectively. (2) The yield of maize and soybean under monocropping was significantly higher than that under intercropping. In the intercropping treatments, the average yield of crops in the M3S3 system was 16,519.4 kg ha⁻¹, an increase of 6.48% compared with the M3S4 system, indicating that the reduction of one row of soybean in the same bandwidth system increases crop yield; The average economic benefit of the M3S3 system over two years was 35,171.73 CNY ha⁻¹, which increased by 13.3 and 80% compared with the average economic benefit of maize and soybean monocropping, indicating that the intercropping system leads to better economic results for farmers than monocropping. (3) In the two-year experiment, the land equivalent ratio (LER) was highest in the M3S3 model, averaging 1.25 over the two years, showing better land productivity compared with other intercropping systems. (4) When bandwidth was 1.8, 2.0, or 2.2 m, the LER decreased by 8.3, 5.9, and 5.6% when planting an additional row of soybeans, the relative crowding coefficient of soybeans in the respective bandwidths increased by 4.59, 4.72, and 0.75%, the competition ratio of maize (CR_M) increased by 22.94, 16.97, and 12.74%, the competition ratio of soybean (CR_S) decreased by 20.47, 17.61, and 16.78%, and the competitive power of maize was greater than that of soybean, indicating that the increase in soybean rows in the same bandwidth system would weaken the competitive advantage of soybean, resulting in crop yield and economic benefit reduction. When the row ratio was 2:3 or 2:4, bandwidth increased from 1.8 m to 2.2 m, LER decreased by 3.31 and 0.86%, intercropping maize aggressiveness (A_M) decreased by 7.55 and 12.50%, CR_M decreased by 18.04 and 24.84%, and CR_S increased by 17.32 and 22.77%, respectively, which indicated that the increase in bandwidth under different row ratio systems could improve the competitive advantage of intercropping soybean, thereby improving crop yield and economic benefits. (5) The AHP method, entropy weight method, and TOPSIS analysis showed that M3S3 ranked first, with the highest comprehensive evaluation (0.6017). In conclusion, the M3S3 planting system can better coordinate crop interspecies relationships, with higher land yield and economic benefit, and can be used as a suitable maize–soybean intercropping system in the Hexi oasis irrigation area. Full article

During the operation of the longitudinal axis flow threshing device of a combine harvester, the threshed materials form accumulations and blockages on both sides of the screen surface, severely affecting the harvesting process. To evenly distribute the materials on the screen and solve the blockage issue, a multi-wing curved combination centrifugal fan is designed to match the mass distribution of the threshed materials. The movement mechanism of rice threshed materials in the cleaning shoe of a longitudinal axis flow combine harvester is investigated using the coupled CFD-DEM simulation method. The cleaning efficiency and performance of the traditional straight-blade fan screen device and the newly designed cleaning device are compared and analyzed, and field tests are conducted. The results show that the trajectory of the threshed materials cleaned by the device equipped with the multi-wing curved combination centrifugal fan is consistent with the mass distribution of the materials separated by the longitudinal axis flow threshing device. The absolute value of the centroid velocity of the material group in the X/Y direction is greater than that of the traditional fan, indicating that the movement speed of the particle group in the optimized fan is greater than that of the traditional fan. Therefore, in the actual cleaning process, the optimized fan’s air flow distribution more effectively accelerates the movement speed of the threshed materials, increasing the amount of materials cleaned per unit time, thereby improving the cleaning efficiency. Field comparative tests show that the designed cleaning device reduced the cleaning loss rate by up to 25.00% and the impurity content rate by 32.20%, achieving efficient and low-damage cleaning of the combine harvester. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method for evenly distributing the materials and provides important reference for the study of other piled particle distribution systems. Full article

Elasmobranchs have an ancestral reproductive system, which offers insights into vertebrate reproductive evolution. Despite their unchanged design over 400 million years, they evolved complex mechanisms ensuring reproductive success. However, human activities induced a significant decline in elasmobranch populations worldwide. In the Mediterranean basin, the smooth-hound shark (Mustelus mustelus) is one of the species that are considered vulnerable to human activities. Conservation efforts necessitate a thorough understanding of its reproductive strategy. This study focused on mature male specimens of smooth-hound sharks that were captured in the Adriatic area and successively analyzed to provide, for the first time, a histologically detailed description of testicular development in the species. Seven phases of the spermatogenesis process were identified, along with the macromolecular characterization of cells obtained using Fourier-transform infrared imaging. Histological analysis showed structural and cellular features similar to those documented in the spermatocysts of other elasmobranchs. The examination of the evolution and migration of both germinative and Sertoli cells at each phase revealed their close connection. Furthermore, different expression levels of lipids, proteins, and phosphates (DNA) at each spermatogenesis stage were observed. This research provided new information on spermatogenesis in the common smooth-hound shark, which is crucial for conservation efforts against population decline and anthropogenic pressures. Full article

LaFeO₃ thin films were successfully epitaxially grown on single-crystalline SrTiO₃ substrates by the one-step hydrothermal method at a temperature of 320 °C in a 10 mol/L KOH aqueous solution using La(NO₃)₃ and Fe(NO₃)₃ as the raw materials. The growth of the films was consistent with the island growth mode. Scanning electronic microscopy, elemental mapping, and atomic force microscopy demonstrate that the LaFeO₃ thin films cover the SrTiO₃ substrate thoroughly. The film subjected to hydrothermal treatment for 4 h exhibits a relatively smooth surface, with an average surface roughness of 10.1 nm. X-ray diffraction in conventional Bragg–Brentano mode shows that the LaFeO₃ thin films show the same out-of-plane orientation as that of the substrate (i.e., (001)_LaFeO3||(001)_SrTiO3). The in-plane orientation of the films was analyzed by φ-scanning, revealing that the orientational relationship is [001]_LaFeO3||[001]_SrTiO3. The ω-rocking curve indicates that the prepared LaFeO₃ films are of high quality with no significant mosaic defects. Full article

In recent years, the prevalence of and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases have been rising in most countries and regions. AF is the most common arrhythmic condition, and there are several treatment options for AF. Pulmonary vein isolation is an effective treatment for AF and is the cornerstone of current ablation techniques, which have one major limitation: even when diagnosed and treated at a facility that specializes in ablation, patients have a greater chance of recurrence. Therefore, there is a need to develop better ablation techniques for the treatment of AF. This article first compares the current cryoablation (CBA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) techniques for the treatment of AF and discusses the utility and advantages of the development of pulsed-field ablation (PFA) technology. The current research on PFA is summarized from three perspectives, namely, simulation experiments, animal experiments, and clinical studies. The results of different stages of experiments are summarized, especially during animal studies, where pulmonary vein isolation was carried out effectively without causing injury to the phrenic nerve, esophagus, and pulmonary veins, with higher safety and shorter incision times. This paper focuses on a review of various a priori and clinical studies of this new technique for the treatment of AF. Full article

The main contribution of this paper is the proposal of a six-degree-of-freedom (6-DoF) refueling robotic arm positioning and docking technology guided by RGB-D camera visual guidance, as well as conducting in-depth research and experimental validation on the technology. We have integrated the YOLOv8 algorithm with the Perspective-n-Point (PnP) algorithm to achieve precise detection and pose estimation of the target refueling interface. The focus is on resolving the recognition and positioning challenges of a specialized refueling interface by the 6-DoF robotic arm during the automated refueling process. To capture the unique characteristics of the refueling interface, we developed a dedicated dataset for the specialized refueling connectors, ensuring the YOLO algorithm’s accurate identification of the target interfaces. Subsequently, the detected interface information is converted into precise 6-DoF pose data using the PnP algorithm. These data are used to determine the desired end-effector pose of the robotic arm. The robotic arm’s movements are controlled through a trajectory planning algorithm to complete the refueling gun docking process. An experimental setup was established in the laboratory to validate the accuracy of the visual recognition and the applicability of the robotic arm’s docking posture. The experimental results demonstrate that under general lighting conditions, the recognition accuracy of this docking interface method meets the docking requirements. Compared to traditional vision-guided methods based on OpenCV, this visual guidance algorithm exhibits better adaptability and effectively provides pose information for the robotic arm. Full article

The IMERG data product is an optimal combination of precipitation estimates from the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM), making use of a variety of data types, primarily data from various spaceborne passive instruments. Previous versions of the IMERG product have been extensively validated by comparisons with gauge data and ground-based radars over land. However, IMERG rain rates, especially sub-daily, over open ocean are less validated due to the scarcity of comparison data, particularly with the relatively new Version 07. To address this issue, we consider IMERG V07 30-min data acquired in tropical cyclones over open ocean. We perform two tasks. The first is a straightforward comparison between IMERG precipitation rates and those retrieved from the GPM Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR). From this, we find that IMERG and DPR are close at low rain rates, while, at high rain rates, IMERG tends to be lower than DPR. The second task is the assessment of IMERG’s ability to represent or detect structures commonly seen in tropical cyclones, including the annular structure and concentric eyewalls. For this, we operate on IMERG data with many machine learning algorithms and are able to achieve a 96% classification accuracy, indicating that IMERG does indeed contain TC structural information. Full article

This study demonstrates the design and field implementation of an innovative servo concrete bracing system in foundation pit excavation. The bracing system comprises concrete struts, revised purlins, and hydraulic jacks, and its field performance is evaluated in a deep foundation pit project in Shanghai, China. The field measurements demonstrate that the servo bracing system effectively reduces the maximum lateral displacement of the retaining wall by up to 31%. Moreover, the servo jacks modify the wall’s flexural behavior by introducing local inflection points at certain depths and driving the displacement peak upward. Furthermore, the system’s performance varies with strut configuration, and servo forces influence not only the corresponding acting strut but also the adjacent struts’ behavior, implying that the monitoring scope should be expanded when applying the servo bracing system in actual engineering. This study provides a meaningful technical reference for future servo concrete bracing system applications in foundation pit engineering. Full article

Fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) plays key roles in promoting the transition from the anagen to catagen during the hair follicle cycle. The sheep serves as an excellent model for studying hair growth and is frequently utilized in various research processes related to human skin diseases. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate four FGF5-edited Dorper sheep and only low levels of FGF5 were detected in the edited sheep. The density of fine wool in GE sheep was markedly increased, and the proportion of fine wool with a diameter of 14.4–20.0 μm was significantly higher. The proliferation signal in the skin of gene-edited (GE) sheep was stronger than in wild-type (WT) sheep. FGF5 editing decreased cortisol concentration in the skin, further activated the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and regulated the expression of Wnt signaling pathways containing Wnt agonists (Rspondins, Rspos) and antagonists (Notum) in hair regeneration. We suggest that FGF5 not only mediates the activation of antioxidant pathways by cortisol, which constitutes a highly coordinated microenvironment in hair follicle cells, but also influences key signals of the Wnt pathway to regulate secondary hair follicle (SHF) development. Overall, our findings here demonstrate that FGF5 plays a significant role in regulating SHF growth in sheep and potentially serves as a molecular marker of fine wool growth in sheep breeding. Full article

A vehicle-mounted solar occultation flux–Fourier transform infrared spectrometer uses the sun as an infrared light source to quantify molecular absorption in the atmosphere. It can be used for the rapid three-dimensional monitoring of pollutant emissions and the column concentration monitoring of greenhouse gases. The system has the advantages of high mobility and a capacity for noncontact measurement and measurement over long distances. However, in vehicle-mounted applications, vehicle bumps and obstacles introduce aberrations in the measured spectra, affecting the accuracy of gas concentration inversion results and flux calculations. In this paper, we propose a spectral data preprocessing method that combines a self-organizing mapping neural network and correlation analysis to reject anomalous spectral data measured by the solar occultation flux–Fourier transform infrared spectrometer during mobile observations. Compared to the traditional method, this method does not need to adjust the comparison threshold and obtain the training spectra in advance and has the advantage of automatically updating the weights without the need to set fixed correlation comparison coefficients. The accurate identification of all anomalous simulated spectra in the simulation experiments proved the effectiveness of the method. In the vehicle-mounted application experiment, 342 anomalous spectra were successfully screened from 1739 spectral data points. The experimental results show that the method can improve the accuracy of gas concentration measurement results and can be applied to a vehicle-mounted solar occultation flux–Fourier transform infrared spectrometer system to meet the preprocessing needs of a high number of spectral data in mobile monitoring. Full article

In this study, a novel strain for degrading chitin was identified as Bacillus paralicheniformis HL37, and the key chitinase CH1 was firstly mined through recombinant expression in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HZ12. Subsequently, the sequence composition and catalytic mechanism of CH1 protein were analyzed. The molecular docking indicated that the triplet of Asp526, Asp528, and Glu530 was a catalytic active center. The enzymatic properties analysis revealed that the optimal reaction temperature and pH was 65 °C and 6.0, respectively. Especially, the chitinase activity showed no significant change below 55 °C and it could maintain over 60% activity after exposure to 85 °C for 30 min. Moreover, the optimal host strain and signal peptide were obtained to enhance the expression of chitinase CH1 significantly. As far as we know, it was the first time finding the highly efficient chitin-degrading enzymes in B. paralicheniformis, and detailed explanations were provided on the catalytic mechanism and enzymatic properties on CH1. Full article

A variety of mathematical models have been developed to simulate the biochemical and physico-chemical aspects of the anaerobic digestion (AD) process to treat organic wastes and generate biogas. However, all these models, including the most widely accepted and implemented Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1, remain incapable of adequately representing the material balance of AD and are therefore inherently incapable of material conservation. The absence of robust mass conservation constrains reliable estimates of any kinetic parameters being estimated by regression of empirical data. To address this issue, the present work involved the development of a “framework” for a mass-conserving atomistic mathematical model which is capable of mass conservation, with a relative error in the range of machine precision value and an atom balance with a relative error of ±0.02% whilst obeying the Henry’s law and electroneutrality principle. Implementing the model in an Excel spreadsheet, the study calibrated the model using the empirical data derived from batch studies. Although the model shows high fidelity as assessed via inspection, considering several constraints including the drawbacks of the model and implementation platform, the study also provides a non-exhaustive list of limitations and further scope for development. Full article

Berberine (BBR) is used to treat cancer, inflammatory conditions, and so on. But the side effects of BBR causing constipation should not be ignored. In clinical application, the combination of Amomum villosum Lour. (AVL) and BBR can relieve it. However, the effective ingredients and molecular mechanism of AVL in relieving constipation are not clear. A small intestine propulsion experiment was conducted in constipated mice to screen active ingredients of AVL. We further confirmed the molecular mechanism of action of the active ingredient on BBR-induced constipation. Quercetin (QR) was found to be the effective ingredient of AVL in terms of relieving constipation. QR can efficiently regulate the microbiota in mice suffering from constipation. Moreover, QR significantly raised the levels of substance P and motilin while lowering those of 5-hydroxytryptamine and vasoactive intestinal peptide; furthermore, it also increased the protein expression levels of calmodulin, myosin light-chain kinase, and myosin light chain. The use of QR in combination with BBR has an adverse effect-reducing efficacy. The study provides new ideas and possibilities for the treatment of constipation induced by BBR. Full article

The ectoparasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) exhibits a broad parasitic capability towards various lepidopteran pests, with venom serving as a crucial virulent factor ensuring successful parasitization and subsequent host mortality. Analyzing the constituents of its venom is essential for elucidating the mechanisms underlying efficient host killing by this parasitoid and for exploring potentially functional venom proteins. Through a transcriptomic analysis, a total of 34 venom proteins were identified within the venom of H. hebetor, encompassing known components such as serine protease, metalloproteinase, esterase, and serine protease inhibitors commonly present in parasitoid venoms. Unique components like paralytic protein and ion transport peptide-like were identified, possibly specific to certain parasitoids, along with novel proteins with uncharacterized functions. Spatial gene expression profiling of the identified venom proteins using transcriptomic data, corroborated by quantitative PCR validation for 13 randomly selected proteins, revealed abundant expression levels in the venom apparatus, affirming them as genuine venom components. Notably, the paralytic protein exhibited prominent expression, with the highest FPKM (fragments per kilobase of transcript per million fragments mapped) value of 24,704.87 in the venom apparatus, indicative of its significant role in successful parasitism by H. hebetor. The identification of these venom proteins establishes a foundation for the further exploration of bioactive agents for pest management strategies. Full article

Forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services which are important for achieving sustainable development. Anthropogenic climate change has led to the increased frequency and severity of forest fires, which imply losses of valuable ecosystem services. This paper provides a methodological framework based on Multiple Criteria Decision Aid methods for determining relative regional vulnerabilities associated with forest fires. Different notions of ex-post vulnerability are defined based on the forest area burned and the frequency of forest fires, and their relation to the regions’ area and certain socioeconomic characteristics. The climatic drivers of forest fire occurrence are explored by linking forest fires with summer and spring temperatures and precipitation, using econometric count data analysis. The methodology is applied to Greece and its administrative regions for the period 2000–2022. Ex-post vulnerability of regions to forest fires based on physical and socioeconomic characteristics is calculated, and expected changes in the frequency of fires of specific size classes conditional on the evolution of mean seasonal regional temperature and precipitation according to IPCC scenarios are predicted. Relative vulnerability estimates and the impact of specific climatic drivers on forest fires will be useful in designing policies for preserving forests as natural capital and promoting sustainability. Full article

In this study, experimental and numerical investigations were conducted to examine the time-dependent creep and earthquake performance of the historical Plaka stone bridge, which was constructed in 1866 in Arta, Greece. During the original construction of the bridge in 1866, Khorasan mortar with an egg white additive was used between the stone elements. Furthermore, when the bridge underwent restoration in 2015, Khorasan mortar with an eggshell additive was employed between the stone elements. Consequently, two distinct 3D finite-difference models were developed for this study. In the first bridge model, egg white was used in the Khorasan mortar, replacing water at various proportions of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. In contrast, for the second model, eggshell was incorporated into the Khorasan mixture at percentages of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, relative to the lime amount. Subsequently, the mortars were subjected to curing periods of 1 day, 7 days, and 28 days, and their mechanical properties were determined through unconfined compression strength experiments. Taking into account the determined strengths of the mortars, the kn and ks stiffness values of the interface elements between the stone elements and Khorasan mortar were calculated. In the 3D model, each stone element was individually represented, resulting in a total of 1,849,274 stone elements being utilized. Non-reflecting boundary conditions were applied to the edge boundaries of the bridge model, and the Burger creep and Mohr–Coulomb material models was employed for time-dependent creep and seismic analyses, respectively. Subsequently, time-dependent creep analyses were conducted on the bridge, and seismic events that occurred in the region where the bridge was located were simulated to assess their impact. Based on the results of the time-dependent creep and seismic analyses, we observed that the use of 50% eggshell-mixed Khorasan mortar between the stone elements had a positive influence on the earthquake and creep behaviors of both restored and yet-to-be-restored historical bridges. Full article

High-altitude platform (HAP) drones and satellites collaborate to form a network that provides edge computing services to terrestrial internet of things (IoT) devices, which is considered a promising method. In this network, IoT devices’ tasks can be split into multiple parts and processed by servers at non-terrestrial nodes in different locations, thereby reducing task processing delays. However, splitting tasks and allocating communication and computing resources are important challenges. In this paper, we investigate the task offloading and resource allocation problem in multi-HAP drones and multi-satellite collaborative networks. In particular, we formulate a task splitting and communication and computing resource optimization problem to minimize the total delay of all IoT devices’ tasks. To solve this problem, we first transform and decompose the original problem into two subproblems. We design a task splitting optimization algorithm based on deep reinforcement learning, which can achieve online task offloading decision-making. This algorithm structurally designs the actor network to ensure that output actions are always valid. Furthermore, we utilize convex optimization methods to optimize the resource allocation subproblem. The simulation results show that our algorithm can effectively converge and significantly reduce the total task processing delay when compared with other baseline algorithms. Full article

This study is the result of the debate sessions held at the 1st International Conference on Human Rights and Territories at the Pablo de Olavide University in Seville, aimed at analyzing the impact and the agenda itself in the territorial and local contexts. To conduct the research, five focus groups were organized, focusing on the five elements of the agenda: People, Peace, Planet, Prosperity, and Partnerships, with the participation of over 30 international academics, followed by an analysis of the recorded speeches. The results provide a critical epistemic perspective on the 2030 Agenda and its connection with territories, concluding the difficulty of establishing human rights processes in territories from agendas that are centered from the global to the local level. Full article

Anchor cable prestressing is one of the key factors in maintaining the stability of the supporting structure and controlling ground deformation. In order to further understand the influence of anchor cable prestress loss on the stability of the foundation pit, an underground station pit of Qingdao Metro Line 6 is taken as the engineering background, and numerical simulation research is carried out by using FLAC3D, which calculates the surface settlement, the deformation of enclosing piles, the support axial force, and the axial force of anchor cables in the process of excavation of the foundation pit and compares it with the on-site monitoring data, to get the law of the impact of prestressing force on the stability of the foundation pit in order to provide a reference for the design of the soil–rock Combined pit support system design and engineering construction to provide reference. Full article

One of the primary concerns and challenges encountered in the construction industry is the emergence of crucial factors instigating project delays throughout the construction project lifecycle (CPL). The critical delay factors (CDFs) are the significant factors that not only cause project delays but also create obstacles and bottlenecks for the projects. Hence, the current study aims to determine CDFs affecting project completions and ameliorates the adverse situation by developing relevant bottleneck management strategies. To achieve this goal, a desktop review of previous research studies was undertaken to identify the CDFs in the CPL. The brainstorming technique was further utilized to filter the identified CDFs and match them to the context of developing countries, using Iran as a case example. Finally, an empirical questionnaire was created that included 22 CDFs divided into three distinct groups. The questionnaire’s validity and reliability were checked and validated before massive distribution to target respondents. Sixty industry experts appraised the identified CDFs in the CPL based on two assessment criteria: the severity of impact and probability of occurrence. The findings revealed that the groups with the most significant level of impact (out of 5 points) are project planning and design (2.29), construction and delivery (1.99), and policymaking and legislation (1.72). Similarly, the groups of project planning and design (2.30), construction and delivery (2.20), and policymaking and legislation (1.5) were ranked from first to third based on the probability of occurrence. According to the survey findings, the project planning and design stage is the most optimal time to mitigate the impact of project delays. Moreover, the study posited some pragmatic recommendations as bottleneck management strategies for ameliorating the identified CDFs for future projects. The study deliverables can serve as an effective tool for project stakeholders and decision makers to diminish the impact on and penetration of CDFs into building construction projects and enhance the delivery path leading to project success. Full article