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Change detection (CD) is an important research direction in the field of remote sensing, which aims to analyze the changes in the same area over different periods and is widely used in urban planning and environmental protection. While supervised learning methods in change detection have demonstrated substantial efficacy, they are often hindered by the rising costs associated with data annotation. Semi-supervised methods have attracted increasing interest, offering promising results with limited data labeling. These approaches typically employ strategies such as consistency regularization, pseudo-labeling, and generative adversarial networks. However, they usually face the problems of insufficient data augmentation and unbalanced quality and quantity of pseudo-labeling. To address the above problems, we propose a semi-supervised change detection method with data augmentation and adaptive threshold updating (DA-AT) for high-resolution remote sensing images. Firstly, a channel-level data augmentation (CLDA) technique is designed to enhance the strong augmentation effect and improve consistency regularization so as to address the problem of insufficient feature representation. Secondly, an adaptive threshold (AT) is proposed to dynamically adjust the threshold during the training process to balance the quality and quantity of pseudo-labeling so as to optimize the self-training process. Finally, an adaptive class weight (ACW) mechanism is proposed to alleviate the impact of the imbalance between the changed classes and the unchanged classes, which effectively enhances the learning ability of the model for the changed classes. We verify the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method on two high-resolution remote sensing image datasets, WHU-CD and LEVIR-CD. We compare our method to five state-of-the-art change detection methods and show that it achieves better or comparable results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Scene Reconstruction, Modeling and Analysis Using Remote Sensing)

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Architecture diagram of DA-AT. It includes the supervised branch, the unsupervised branch, and sub-modules of the semi-supervised change detection model. Full article ">Figure 2
Data augmentation is used for remote sensing images. (a) is the original image, (b) is the weak augmentation, and (c) is the result of the strong augmentation. Full article ">Figure 3
Effectiveness of channel-level data augmentation in our proposed method. (a) IoU, (change) (b) F1, (c) Kappa, (d) TPR, (e) TNR. Full article ">Figure 4
Detection results of different algorithms on the WHU-CD dataset: (a) im0 (b) im1 (c) ground truth (d) S4GAN (e) SemiCDNet (f) SemiCD (g) RCL (h) FPA (i) Ours. The red dashed area highlights the significant differences between methods. Full article ">Figure 5
Detection results of different algorithms on the LEVIR-CD dataset: (a) im0 (b) im1 (c) ground truth (d) S4GAN (e) SemiCDNet (f) SemiCD (g) RCL (h) FPA (i) Ours. The red dashed area highlights the significant differences between methods. Full article ">

25 pages, 481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beyond Colonial Legacies: (Re)Conceptualising Rural Development Through the RDGI in South Africa

by Kgomotso Jackson Phillip Sebola-Samanyanga

Land 2025, 14(1), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14010099 (registering DOI) - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

Despite constitutional recognition, significant barriers remain to the integration of traditional authorities into formal planning and development decision-making processes in South Africa. Observing resistance from traditional authorities towards what they deem as exclusive and restrictive planning instruments, this study interrogates the intricate power dynamics between traditional leadership structures and imposed local government entities in rural development, planning, and governance processes to propose a cooperative governance framework within the South African context. The proposed framework is termed the “Rural Development and Governance Initiative” (RDGI), which aims to bridge the divide between traditional and local authorities. This study applied qualitative methods to investigate the relations between authorities in Limpopo province, South Africa. The findings reveal ongoing disputes between traditional and local authorities regarding decision-making powers, legitimacy in development and planning, and the capacity limitations and constraints faced by traditional authorities. The implications of this work extend to the (re)conceptualisation of policies and future research directions in rural governance, land development, and planning in South Africa, advocating for a shift from foreign models to those that reflect African realities and aspirations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Governance and Spatial Planning for Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)

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Triple helix model of the Rural Development and Governance Initiative (RDGI). Source: Adapted from Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff [<a href="#B64-land-14-00099" class="html-bibr">64</a>]. University: Engages in research, education, and knowledge dissemination. In this context, universities also play a role in studying traditional authorities and their impact on society, as well as in developing policies or programs that bridge modern governance with traditional values. Traditional Authority: Represents established societal structures that influence community norms, behaviours, and decision-making processes. Traditional authorities interact with universities to integrate modern knowledge with traditional wisdom and collaborate with governments to ensure policies consider and incorporate local traditions and values. Government: Regulates society, enacts policies, and provides public services. Governments work with universities to understand the role of traditional authorities in society and collaborate with both entities to develop inclusive policies that balance modern governance with traditional values. Full article ">

18 pages, 4750 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Efficient Coordinated Observer LQR Control in a Platoon of Vehicles for Faster Settling Under Disturbances

by Nandhini Murugan and Mohamed Rabik Mohamed Ismail

World Electr. Veh. J. 2025, 16(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj16010028 (registering DOI) - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of vehicles globally presents significant challenges to road transportation efficiency and safety, including accidents, emissions, energy utilization, and road management. Autonomous vehicle platooning emerges as a promising solution within intelligent transportation systems, offering benefits like reduced fuel consumption and emissions, and optimized road use. However, implementing autonomous vehicle platooning faces obstacles such as stability under disturbances, safety protocols, communication networks, and precise control. This paper proposes a novel control strategy coordinated Kalman observer–Linear Quadratic Regulator (CKO-LQR) to ensure platoon formation stability in the presence of disturbances. The disturbances considered include vehicle movements, sensor noise, and communication delays, with the leading vehicle’s movement serving as the commanding signal. The proposed controller maintains a constant inter-gap distance between vehicles despite the disturbances utilizing a coordinated Kalman observer to estimate preceding vehicle movements. A comparative analysis with conventional PID controllers demonstrates superior performance in terms of faster settling times and robustness against disturbances. This research contributes to enhancing the efficiency and safety of autonomous vehicle platooning systems. Full article

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14 pages, 882 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A DFT Study of the Mechanical Properties of a Lizardite Slab Reinforced by Graphene and Hexagonal Boron Nitride

by Anne Karollynne Castro Monteiro, Consuelo Alves da Frota, Cicero Mota, Angsula Ghosh and Hidembergue Ordozgoith da Frota

Minerals 2025, 15(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15010053 (registering DOI) - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

The stacking of two-dimensional atomic-level thickness materials onto hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and graphene (Gr) not only significantly enhances their properties, but also exhibits a multitude of exceptional characteristics, promising widespread applications across various fields. Clay minerals hold profound significance in scientific research not only because of their abundance but also because of their application in geology, environmental science, materials science, and biotechnology. We present a study that uses density functional theory (DFT) to analyze the effect on the mechanical properties of lizardite slab-reinforced Gr or h-BN monolayers. In addition to the reference lizardite slab (Liza-2D), six composites were studied: a monolayer of Gr (h-BN) over the octahedral face of a pristine lizardite slab (Liza-Gr1 (Liza-BN1)), a monolayer of Gr (h-BN) under the tetrahedral face of a pristine lizardite slab (Liza-Gr2(Liza-BN2)), and a pristine lizardite slab sandwiched between two Gr (h-BN) monolayers (Liza-Gr3(Liza-BN3)). We observed that reinforcement by Gr or h-BN significantly increased the bulk, Young’s and shear moduli of the composites. Taking into account that the Gr and h-BN sheets interact weakly by van der Waals interactions with the lizardite slab surface, we estimated the Young’s and shear moduli of the composites by the Rule of Mixtures and obtained a reasonable agreement with those from DFT calculations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials)

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The superstructures to study the contribution of graphene and h-BN for the reinforcement of lizardite: (a) Liza—a slab extracted from the pristine lizardite layered crystal; (b,e) Liza-Gr1 (Liza-BN1)—a monolayer of Gr (h-BN) over the octahedral face of the pristine lizardite slab; (c,f) Liza-Gr2 (Liza-BN2)—a monolayer of Gr (h-BN) under the tetrahedral face of the pristine lizardite slab; (d,g) Liza-Gr3 (Liza-BN3)—a slab of pristine lizardite sandwiched between two monolayers of Gr (h-BN). Full article ">Figure 2
Comparison of the bulk, Young’s and shear moduli of the composites with the reference Liza-Gr: (a) Liza-Gr1, Liza-Gr2 and Liza-Gr3; (b) Liza-BN1, Liza-BN2 and Liza-BN3. The reinforcement by both Gr and h-BN sheets significantly increases the mechanical properties of lizardite slab. Full article ">Figure 3
Comparison of the Young’s and shear moduli of the composites obtained by the DFT method and estimated by the Rule of Mixtures (ROM): (a) lizardite slab reinforced by Gr; (b) lizardite slab reinforced by h-BN. In both figures, Y(DFT) and G(DFT) (Y(ROM) and G(ROM)) represent the Young’s and shear moduli obtained by DFT (estimated by ROM). Full article ">

25 pages, 2503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Mechanism Framework for Clearing Prices in Electricity Market Based on Trusted Capacity of Power Generation Resources

by Yuanyuan Lou, Jiekang Wu, Zhen Lei, Xinmiao Liu, Junlei Liu and Xun Lu

Energies 2025, 18(2), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020223 (registering DOI) - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

A reasonable capacity market mechanism is conducive to exploring the capacity value of different power generation resources and ensuring the adequacy of power supply capacity in power systems. In response to the challenges faced by the existing capacity market mechanism under the background of energy transformation, such as the unreasonable quantification of the support effect of different power generation resources on the power capacity of power system and the imperfect pricing mechanism of power capacity, a capacity market mechanism for power systems with high proportion renewable energy has been designed. To quickly clarify the capacity support effect of different power generation resources, a capacity credibility factor is introduced to quantify the actual contribution of different power generation resources in capacity supply and to deeply explore the capacity value of power generation resources. Based on the uniform marginal clearing price in the capacity market, the marginal clearing price of different power generation resources is corrected by using the cost ratio factor, which includes the difference in the cost structure of power generation resources. By comparing and analyzing examples, the proposed cost ratio factor can effectively optimize the capacity price; the maximum price difference is 18.2 yuan/MW, the overall capacity cost of the system is reduced by 53.70%, and the effective connection between fixed cost and variable cost of power generation resources is realized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section C: Energy Economics and Policy)

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30 pages, 1046 KiB

Open AccessReview

The SHIELD Framework: Advancing Strength-Based Resilience Strategies to Combat Bullying and Cyberbullying in Youth

by Stephanie F. Dailey and Rosellen R. Roche

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(1), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010066 (registering DOI) - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

Bullying and cyberbullying are critical global issues that significantly affect the mental health and behavioral well-being of youth. This article explores the complex challenges posed by these forms of aggression and introduces a strength-based model for health and mental health professionals to address these issues with impacted youth holistically. Grounded within findings from a scoping review of the literature, the SHIELD framework emphasizes Strengths, Healing, Interventions, Empowerment, Learning, and Development, offering a comprehensive approach for identifying and supporting youth impacted by bullying and cyberbullying. SHIELD emphasizes collaboration among health professionals, schools, families, and communities. By integrating empirical evidence and best practices from school-based approaches to bullying prevention, such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), this framework provides a roadmap for creating safer, more inclusive environments for youth while prioritizing their mental health and overall well-being in the face of bullying and cyberbullying. A case study illustrates the framework’s practical application and future directions are proposed to guide further empirical investigation and stimulate innovative approaches to addressing the complexities of bullying and cyberbullying. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Bullying and Cyberbullying, Mental Health and Behavioral Difficulties)

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Conceptual map of the SHIELD framework and review themes. Full article ">

12 pages, 559 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Girls and the Risk of Unplanned Pregnancies

by Florina Rad, Alexandra Mariana Buică and Nicolae Gică

Children 2025, 12(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12010062 (registering DOI) - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Although ADHD in adults has become visible and inclusive in recent years in diagnostic manuals, research is still limited regarding the long-term outcomes of patients with this disorder. The main objective of this research was to address the many facets of predictor variables in girls with ADHD facing unplanned pregnancies at young ages in order to improve the management of pre-, peri-, and postnatal complications that may occur, as well as for early psychiatric diagnosis and effective intervention. Methods: PubMed and Web of Science Databases were used to perform literature research, and a total of 27 records were selected and used for data extraction. Results: Related articles have included the persistence of ADHD symptoms comorbid with other disorders among girls with ADHD as a risk factor for teenage pregnancies. Conduct disorders and substance use disorders are the main co-occurrent diagnoses that increase the likelihood for teenage childbirth. Unplanned pregnancies at young ages are associated with unfavorable psychosocial trajectories both for the mother and the child. Conclusions: In this review, we emphasize the importance of predisposing factors for risky sexual behaviors and unplanned pregnancies in cases of girls with ADHD. The topic of the article draws attention to the need for uniform national individualized care of girls with ADHD, the implementation of programs to prevent academic failure and early parenthood as well as addressing comorbid obstetrical and psychiatric conditions, especially in regions where the rate of adolescent births continues to be high. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in Pediatric Mental Healthcare)

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PRISMA flow diagram. Full article ">

18 pages, 1571 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Blended Learning on Learning Engagement in Physical Education Among University Students in China: The Mediating Role of Attitudes

by Yanan Yu, Khairudin Bin Che Tak, Richard Peter Bailey, Nadia Samsudin and Ce Ren

Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020378 (registering DOI) - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

Under the pedagogical concept of sustainable development, an increasing number of interdisciplinary pedagogies are being applied in physical education, moving away from traditional face-to-face teaching methods. This study investigated the influence of blended learning on students’ engagement in physical education and the role of attitudes in this process. A questionnaire was used to validate the model based on a comprehensive literature review. PLS-SEM was used to assess the direct relationship between blended learning and learning engagement in physical education and the mediating influence of attitudes toward blended learning on these factors. The findings revealed that face-to-face sessions and students’ attitude toward blended learning positively affect their engagement in physical education. The results also indicated that students’ attitudes significantly mediate course design, learning experience, and face-to-face sessions with learning engagement. Based on the variable relationship, this study proposes a blended learning strategy rooted in the Five-star Teaching Model. By stimulating students’ initiative in learning, their attitude improved, enhancing their engagement in physical education classes. This research holds both theoretical and practical significance by improving the quality of physical education teaching and learning methods, offering novel insights into instruction in this field. Full article

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Developed research model. Note: ATT = attitude; LEPE= learning engagement in physical education. Full article ">Figure 2
The results of the structural model. Note: ATT = attitude; LEPE= learning engagement in physical education. Full article ">Figure 3
Construction diagram of the five-star teaching method. Full article ">Figure 4
The strategy of blended learning in physical education. Note: Red dashed is what distinction between online and offline; blue dashed is the distinction between teacher and student tasks. Full article ">

8 pages, 908 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Efficient Synthesis of cis,cis-Muconic Acid by Catechol Oxidation of Ozone in the Presence of a Base

by Kohtaro Katayama, Hiroki Hotta and Yoshio Tsujino

Molecules 2025, 30(1), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30010201 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

Muconic acid, a crucial precursor in synthesizing materials like PET bottles and nylon, is pivotal for the anticipated growth in the textiles and plastics industries. This study presents a novel chemical synthesis route for cis,cis-muconic acid (ccMA) using catechol. Biochemical methods face scale-up challenges due to microorganism sensitivity and complex extraction processes, while chemical methods involve environmentally harmful substances and have low yields. Our research introduces a method that enhances ccMA yield to 56% by employing ozonation in the presence of an alkali, significantly simplifying the synthesis process. This one-step synthesis reduces reagent use and labor, aligns with green chemistry principles, and avoids using toxic chemicals. The methodology, involving the low-temperature ozonation of catechol with base addition, reduces ccMA degradation and improves yield, as confirmed by an HPLC analysis and replicated experiments. This promising approach could lead to sustainable industrial synthesis of muconic acid derivatives. Further investigations will focus on refining this method for larger-scale applications and testing its economic viability, aiming to optimize conditions for maximum efficiency and yield. Full article

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Scheme 1
(a) Synthesis of cis,cis-muconic acid (ccMA) by oxidative cleavage of catechol with peracids [<a href="#B15-molecules-30-00201" class="html-bibr">15</a>], (b) synthesis of ccMA from catechol oxidation by ozone [<a href="#B23-molecules-30-00201" class="html-bibr">23</a>], and (c) synthesis of ccMA from catechol oxidation by ozone in the presence of an alkali. Full article ">Scheme 2
Reaction of ccMA with ozone in alcohol. Full article ">Scheme 3
Reaction of muconic acid in alcohol with ozone. Full article ">Scheme 4
Preparation of ccMA. Full article ">

17 pages, 3610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Level Feature Dynamic Fusion Neural Radiance Fields for Audio-Driven Talking Head Generation

by Wenchao Song, Qiong Liu, Yanchao Liu, Pengzhou Zhang and Juan Cao

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010479 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

Audio-driven cross-modal talking head generation has experienced significant advancement in the last several years, and it aims to generate a talking head video that corresponds to a given audio sequence. Out of these approaches, the NeRF-based method can generate videos featuring a specific person with more natural motion compared to the one-shot methods. However, previous approaches failed to distinguish the importance of different regions, resulting in the loss of information-rich region features. To alleviate the problem and improve video quality, we propose MLDF-NeRF, an end-to-end method for talking head generation, which can achieve better vector representation through multi-level feature dynamic fusion. Specifically, we designed two modules in MLDF-NeRF to enhance the cross-modal mapping ability between audio and different facial regions. We initially developed a multi-level tri-plane hash representation that uses three sets of tri-plane hash networks with varying resolutions of limitation to capture the dynamic information of the face more accurately. Then, we introduce the idea of multi-head attention and design an efficient audio-visual fusion module that explicitly fuses audio features with image features from different planes, thereby improving the mapping between audio features and spatial information. Meanwhile, the design helps to minimize interference from facial areas unrelated to audio, thereby improving the overall quality of the representation. The quantitative and qualitative results indicate that our proposed method can effectively generate talk heads with natural actions and realistic details. Compared with previous methods, it performs better in terms of image quality, lip sync, and other aspects. Full article

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Overview of the proposed MLDF-NeRF. Full article ">Figure 2
Audio feature extraction: Using the sliding window approach, we split the provided audio stream into several parts. Following the ASR classification of each audio clip, we apply 1D convolution and self-attention modules to temporally smooth the audio clips in order to produce the final audio feature <math display="inline"><semantics> <msub> <mi>α</mi> <mi>s</mi> </msub> </semantics></math>. Full article ">Figure 3
Visualization of the audio-visual fusion module. We display the attention map visualized through the norm of the attention vector in the generated head space image. Full article ">Figure 4
The comparison of the generated portraits with the Obama video. Full article ">Figure 5
The comparison of the details. We show the generated details of the baselines (AD-NeRF, RAD-NeRF, and ER-NeRF) to compare with our method. Full article ">Figure 6
User study. The rating is on a scale of 1–5 (the higher the better). Full article ">

17 pages, 1240 KiB

Open AccessTechnical Note

MAL-Net: Model-Adaptive Learned Network for Slow-Time Ambiguity Function Shaping

by Jun Wang, Xiangqing Xiao, Jinfeng Hu, Ziwei Zhao, Kai Zhong and Chaohai Li

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(1), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17010173 (registering DOI) - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

Designing waveforms with a Constant Modulus Constraint (CMC) to achieve desirable Slow-Time Ambiguity Function (STAF) characteristics is significantly important in radar technology. The problem is NP-hard, due to its non-convex quartic objective function and CMC constraint. Existing methods typically involve model-based approaches with relaxation and data-driven Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) methods, which face the challenge of dataimitation. We observe that the Complex Circle Manifold (CCM) naturally satisfies the CMC. By projecting onto the CCM, the problem is transformed into an unconstrained minimization problem that can be tackled using the CCM gradient descent model. Furthermore, we observe that the gradient descent model over the CCM can be unfolded as a Deep Learning (DL) network. Therefore, byeveraging the powerfulearning ability of DL and the CCM gradient descent model, we propose a Model-Adaptive Learned Network (MAL-Net) method without relaxation. Initially, we reformulate the problem as an Unconstrained Quartic Problem (UQP) on the CCM. Then, the MAL-Net is developed toearn the step sizes of allayers adaptively. This is accomplished by unrolling the CCM gradient descent model as the networkayer. Our simulation results demonstrate that the proposed MAL-Net achieves superior STAF performance compared to existing methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Remote Sensing, Radar Techniques, and Their Applications)

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Gradient descent model over the CCM. Full article ">Figure 2
The structure of the Model-Adaptive Learned Network (MAL-Net). Full article ">Figure 3
Convergence performance of different networkayers. Full article ">Figure 4
Comparisons of the nulling STAF: (a) UniAFSIM [<a href="#B20-remotesensing-17-00173" class="html-bibr">20</a>]; (b) QGD [<a href="#B21-remotesensing-17-00173" class="html-bibr">21</a>]; (c) MOEM [<a href="#B22-remotesensing-17-00173" class="html-bibr">22</a>]; (d) ResNet [<a href="#B25-remotesensing-17-00173" class="html-bibr">25</a>]; (e) proposed method. Full article ">Figure 5
STAF with range cut at (a) r = 2, (b) r = 3, (c) r = 4. Full article ">Figure 6
Range−velocity planes of the CAF for (a) non-optimized, (b) proposed method. Full article ">

22 pages, 349 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Compact Multi-Identity Fully Homomorphic Encryption Scheme Without Fresh Ciphertexts

by Ziwei Wang, Ruwei Huang and Xiyi Wei

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010473 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

The lattice-based multi-identity fully homomorphic encryption scheme combines the quantum security of lattice cryptography with the advantage of identity-based encryption. However, existing schemes face challenges such as large key sizes, inefficient ciphertext expansion processes, and reliance on outdated trapdoor designs, limiting their compactness and practicality. In this study, we propose a novel Compact Multi-Identity Fully Homomorphic Encryption Scheme (WZ-MIBFHE) that eliminates the need for fresh ciphertexts during expansion. First, we construct a compact identity-based encryption scheme by combining the YJW23 trapdoor and ABB10 under the standard model, proving its IND-sID-CPA security. The scheme is then adapted to ensure correctness and security when integrated with the decomposition method for ciphertext expansion. This adaptation also utilizes approximation errors to reduce overall noise. Finally, we expand the modified IBE scheme’s ciphertext using the decomposition method to construct the WZ-MIBFHE scheme. Compared to existing methods, WZ-MIBFHE reduces the lattice dimension to

n log q + {log}_{b} q

, improves public and private key sizes, and significantly lowers ciphertext expansion rates by removing the need for fresh ciphertexts. These improvements enhance both the compactness and efficiency of the scheme, making it a promising solution for multi-identity homomorphic encryption. Full article

12 pages, 4190 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Study of Coal Gangue Pulverization for Slurry Making and a Field Test on Hulusu Coal Mine Overburden Grouting

by Jian Li, Dayang Xuan, Jialin Xu and Jianchao Xu

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010475 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

Coal gangue is a solid waste produced in the coal mining process. During the mining process, mining-induced overburden fractures are a favorable place for the storage of coal gangue; therefore, coal gangue can be incorporated into filling materials for harmless disposal. Overburden isolated grout filling is a better technology for solid waste reduction, which is currently in development. This paper delves into the methodology of large-scale coal gangue disposal, utilizing this specific technology. With reference to fly ash granules and their slurry characteristics that have been previously applied successfully, raw gangue was pulverized and transformed into a slurry. This experiment then investigated the fundamental characteristics of the gangue powder solids and slurry. This study’s findings reveal that the composition types of granule oxides following gangue pulverization closely resemble those of fly ash, with minimal content differences observed between identical oxides. Regarding slurry characteristics, the plastic viscosity of fly ash slurry ranged from 0.45 to 145.2 mPa·s, whereas the plastic viscosity of gangue slurry varied between 2.1 and 56.4 mPa·s. Notably, the stability and fluidity of the gangue slurry surpassed those of the fly ash slurry. Furthermore, regarding the filling efficiency, the compaction coefficient of gangue slurry is less than that of fly ash. Consequently, under identical grouting conditions, a larger mass of solids can be disposed of using gangue slurry compared to fly ash. The research findings facilitate the implementation of a practice involving the overburden isolated grout filling of over million tons of coal gangue in the 21404 working face of the Hulusu coal mine, located in Inner Mongolia, China. This practice has demonstrated a daily filling capacity of up to 4000 t, accumulating to a total gangue filling mass of 1,068,000 t. This study’s findings present a viable and efficient approach to the large-scale, environmentally friendly disposal of coal gangue. Full article

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21 pages, 3139 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling Tree Mortality Induced by Climate Change-Driven Drought: A Case Study of Korean Fir in the Subalpine Forests of Jirisan National Park, South Korea

by Wontaek Lim, Hong-Chul Park, Sinyoung Park, Jeong-Wook Seo, Jinwon Kim and Dongwook W. Ko

Forests 2025, 16(1), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16010084 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

Increased drought frequency due to climate change is intensifying tree mortality, a critical issue in forest ecosystem management, especially in vulnerable subalpine ecosystems. Korean fir (Abies koreana E.H. Wilson), an endemic species of South Korea that grows in subalpine areas, is threatened by climate change-induced drought. However, our understanding of drought’s impact on tree mortality, particularly its seasonal and legacy effects, remains limited. To better understand drought-related mortality of Korean fir, we conducted annual mortality surveys, starting in 2012, at 10 fixed transects in Jirisan National Park, identified seasonal and legacy effects using redundancy analysis, and modeled Korean fir mortality, incorporating biotic and abiotic factors, using random forests. We found that early growing season drought had the greatest impact on Korean fir mortality, with legacy effects extending up to three years, while late growing season drought affected mortality only in the previous year. The mortality model achieved high predictive accuracy (94%) and revealed significant site- and size-dependent mortality patterns. These findings provide critical insights into the complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors affecting tree mortality and offer valuable guidance for conservation strategies aimed at preserving climate-sensitive species in the face of ongoing climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Dieback, Tree Mortality Risks and Post-disturbance Resilience to Environmental Changes)

18 pages, 4627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DBD-Net: Dual-Branch Decoder Network with a Multiscale Cascaded Residual Module for Ship Segmentation

by Xiajun Ding, Xiaodan Jiang and Xiaoliang Jiang

Electronics 2025, 14(1), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14010209 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

The segmentation of visible ship images is an important part of intelligent ship monitoring systems. However, this task is faced with many difficulties in practical applications, such as complex background environments, variations in illumination, and target scale changes. In view of these situations, we present a dual-branch decoder network with a multiscale cascaded residual module for ship segmentation. Specifically, in the encoding stage, we introduce a multiscale cascaded residual module as a replacement for traditional convolution layers. By leveraging its multiscale architecture, the module effectively captures both the global context and fine-grained details. In the decoding phase, our framework incorporates two parallel branches, both of which utilize the cascading residual module to enhance feature extraction and representation. Additionally, one of the branches is equipped with spatial attention and channel attention mechanisms. Finally, comprehensive tests were conducted on the publicly available ship datasets MariBoatsSubclass and SeaShipsSeg. Our proposed network achieved impressive results, with Dice, Recall, Mcc, and Jaccard scores of 0.9003, 0.9105, 0.8706, and 0.8197 on the MariBoatsSubclass dataset. Similarly, it demonstrated outstanding performance on the SeaShipsSeg dataset, attaining Dice, Recall, Mcc, and Jaccard scores of 0.9538, 0.9501, 0.9519, and 0.9129, respectively. These results highlight the superior accuracy and robustness of DBD-Net in segmenting and detecting ships across diverse scenarios and datasets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Image Processing Based on Convolution Neural Network)

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