With the development and application of vehicle-infrastructure cooperative technology, the traffic regional safety related to intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) has become the hotspot of the intelligent transportation system (ITS), and the integration of mixed autonomous and non-autonomous vehicles that are not cooperative in intersection areas has become a significant challenge due to the rapid advancement of autonomous vehicle technology. Autonomous vehicles in intersections with strong-structure and weak-rule characteristics pose a potential hazard in complex traffic situations. Studying the driving behavior of vehicles in intersections is of great significance due to the complex traffic environment, frequent traffic signals, and traffic violations, which can optimize the vehicle driving behavior and improve the safety and efficiency of intersection traffic. By using naturalistic driving data from the DAIR V2X-Seq dataset and general vehicle dynamic parameters, it is possible to obtain the joint-probability-density distribution of the bivariate dynamic parameters of a vehicle. This distribution represents the driving characteristics of vehicles in intersection traffic. The three vehicle dynamic parameters that have an impact on vehicles driving through the intersection area are velocity, angular velocity, and acceleration. The driving behavior characteristics of human-driven vehicles (HVs) and autonomous vehicles (AVs) were analyzed using the multivariate kernel density estimation (MKDE) method to establish the vehicle-behavior boundary. The assessment of the boundary model showed that it accurately characterizes the driving characteristics of HVs and AVs. This boundary can be used to improve the safety detection of intersection areas, enhancing the performance of autonomous vehicles and optimizing intersection traffic. Full article

Salient object detection aims to distinguish the most visually conspicuous regions, playing an important role in computer vision tasks. However, complex natural scenarios can challenge salient object detection, hindering accurate extraction of objects with rich morphological diversity. This paper proposes a novel method for salient object detection leveraging multi-visual perception, mirroring the human visual system’s rapid identification, and focusing on impressive objects/regions within complex scenes. First, a feature map is derived from the original image. Then, salient object detection results are obtained for each perception feature and combined via a feature fusion strategy to produce a saliency map. Finally, superpixel segmentation is employed for precise salient object extraction, removing interference areas. This multi-feature approach for salient object detection harnesses complementary features to adapt to complex scenarios. Competitive experiments on the MSRA10K and ECSSD datasets place our method in the first tier, achieving 0.1302 MAE and 0.9382 F-measure for the MSRA10K dataset and 0.0783 MAE and and 0.9635 F-measure for the ECSSD dataset, demonstrating superior salient object detection performance in complex natural scenarios. Full article

The growing number of online users commenting on review platforms has fueled the development of electronic word–of–mouth (eWOM). At the same time, merchants have improved their requirements for the length and frequency of online reviews. However, few studies have examined the updating mechanism of online reviews length and frequency from the perspective of businesses. This study explores the relationship between online commenting platform users and eWOM and examines how eWOM information richness affects online user review behavior. We used media richness theory (MRT) to quantify the information richness of eWOM content (linguistic, textual, and photographical) to build an empirical framework. For the research data, we used advanced big data analytics to retrieve and analyze TripAdvisor data on restaurant services in nine major tourist destinations, the United States, Mexico, and mainland Europe (including UK, Spain, Netherlands, etc.), over a long period of time. Based on >10 million eWOM, this study used multiple regression to examine the impact of eWOM information richness on online user review behavior, considering the moderating effect of information ambiguity. Our research results show that content information richness positively affects online user review behavior, increasing their frequency and length. Information ambiguity play a moderating role that strengthens this relationship. This supports our theoretical hypothesis. Finally, for greater applicability and reliability, we conducted a comparative study on the degree of differences in the relationship between eWOM and users based on different cultural backgrounds across countries. Full article

In 2022, Greece became the fifth country in the world to legally ban Intersex Genital Mutilation (IGM). The bill was prepared by the Ministry of Health and the intersex-led organisation “Intersex Greece”. Even though the organisation was only established in 2021, it was actively engaged in the whole law-making process, which resulted in a legal text that became a best practice worldwide. This article tracks the history of the intersex movement in Greece and shows that the movement emerged around 2009. Then, based on online interviews, blogs, videos and articles, all strategies and alliances used by the movement over the years to advocate for intersex rights are explored, especially in the year 2017 when the law on Legal Gender Recognition (LGR) was passed and in 2022 when IGM was banned. Furthermore, online public documents from the Greek Parliament are consulted to provide a comprehensive analysis of how the social, cultural, economic, and political environment in the country affected these legal developments. Based on the above evidence, this article shows that the law-making process on IGM in Greece started 13 years before the law and was the outcome of a long process of multiple and unique intersecting factors. Full article

Accurate urban land cover information is crucial for effective urban planning and management. While convolutional neural networks (CNNs) demonstrate superior feature learning and prediction capabilities using image-level annotations, the inherent mixed-category nature of input image patches leads to classification errors along object boundaries. Fully convolutional neural networks (FCNs) excel at pixel-wise fine segmentation, making them less susceptible to heterogeneous content, but they require fully annotated dense image patches, which may not be readily available in real-world scenarios. This paper proposes an object-based semi-supervised spatial attention residual UNet (OS-ARU) model. First, multiscale segmentation is performed to obtain segments from a remote sensing image, and segments containing sample points are assigned the categories of the corresponding points, which are used to train the model. Then, the trained model predicts class probabilities for all segments. Each unlabeled segment’s probability distribution is compared against those of labeled segments for similarity matching under a threshold constraint. Through label propagation, pseudo-labels are assigned to unlabeled segments exhibiting high similarity to labeled ones. Finally, the model is retrained using the augmented training set incorporating the pseudo-labeled segments. Comprehensive experiments on aerial image benchmarks for Vaihingen and Potsdam demonstrate that the proposed OS-ARU achieves higher classification accuracy than state-of-the-art models, including OCNN, 2OCNN, and standard OS-U, reaching an overall accuracy (OA) of 87.83% and 86.71%, respectively. The performance improvements over the baseline methods are statistically significant according to the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Despite using significantly fewer sparse annotations, this semi-supervised approach still achieves comparable accuracy to the same model under full supervision. The proposed method thus makes a step forward in substantially alleviating the heavy sampling burden of FCNs (densely sampled deep learning models) to effectively handle the complex issue of land cover information identification and classification. Full article

The aerosol–cloud–precipitation correlation has been a significant scientific topic, primarily due to its remarkable uncertainty. However, the possible modulation of aerosol on the precipitation capacity of clouds has received limited attention. In this study, we utilized multi-source data on aerosol, cloud properties, precipitation, and meteorological factors to investigate the impact of aerosols on precipitation efficiency (PE) in the Sichuan Basin (SCB) and Yun-nan-Guizhou Plateau (YGP), where the differences between terrain and meteorological environment conditions were prominent. In the two study regions, there were significant negative correlations between the aerosol index (AI) and PE in spring, especially in the YGP, while the correlations between the AI and PE in other seasons were not as prominent as in spring. In spring, aerosol significantly inhibited both the liquid water path (LWP) and the ice water path (IWP) in the YGP, but negatively correlated with the IWP and had no significant relationship with the LWP in the SCB. Aerosol inhibited precipitation in the two regions mainly by reducing cloud droplet effective radius, indicating that warm clouds contributed more to precipitation in spring. The suppressive impact of aerosols on precipitation serving as the numerator of PE is greater than that of the cloud water path as the denominator of PE, resulting in a negative correlation between aerosol and PE. The AI–PE relationship is significantly dependent on meteorological conditions in the YGP, but not in the SCB, which may be related to the perennial cloud cover and stable atmosphere in the SCB. In the future, as air quality continues to improve, precipitation efficiency may increase due to the decrease in aerosol concentration, and of course, the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the aerosol–cloud–precipitation relationship may become more significant. Full article

Tumor cells can induce important cellular and molecular modifications in the tissue or host where they grow. The idea that the host and tumor interact with each other has led to the concept of a tumor microenvironment, composed of immune cells, stromal cells, blood vessels, and extracellular matrix, representing a unique environment participating and, in some cases, promoting cancer progression. The study of the tumor immune microenvironment, particularly focusing on the role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), is highly relevant in oncology due to the prognostic and therapeutic significance of TILs in various tumors and their identification as targets for therapeutic intervention. Canine splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a common tumor; however, its immune microenvironment remains poorly understood. This retrospective study aimed to characterize the histological and immunohistochemical features of 56 cases of canine splenic HSA, focusing particularly on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). We assessed the correlations between the lymphocytic response, the macroscopic and histological characteristics of the tumor, and the survival data. Our study demonstrated that FoxP3 distribution was associated with tumor-related death and survival, while the CD20 count was associated with metastasis. This study provides an in-depth characterization of the tumor immune microenvironment in canine splenic HSA and describes potential prognostic factors. Full article

Given the past limitations on clinical practice training during the COVID-19 pandemic, a hybrid format program was developed, combining a time-lapse unfolding case study and high-fidelity simulation. This study assesses the effectiveness of a new form of clinical training from the perspective of student nurses. A questionnaire was administered to 159 second-year nursing students enrolled in the “Basic Nursing Practice II” course. Text mining was performed using quantitative text analysis for the following items: (1) aspects that were learned more deeply, (2) benefits, and (3) difficulties encountered with the new practice format. The new clinical practice format enhanced participants’ learning related to the daily changes required in nursing care and improved their nursing competency through simulated patient interactions. However, the participants faced difficulties dealing with patients accompanied by secular changes. Moreover, they found remote group work challenging. These findings can be applied to the development of new educational strategies. Full article

The activation of CD40-mediated signaling in antigen-presenting cells is a promising therapeutic strategy to promote immune responses against tumors. Most agonistic anti-CD40 antibodies currently in development require the Fcγ-receptor (FcγR)-mediated crosslinking of CD40 molecules for a meaningful activation of CD40 signaling but have limitations due to dose-limiting toxicities. Here we describe the identification of CD40 antibodies which strongly stimulate antigen-presenting cells in an entirely FcγR-independent manner. These Fc-silenced anti-CD40 antibodies induce an efficient upregulation of costimulatory receptors and cytokine release by dendritic cells. Finally, the most active identified anti-CD40 antibody shows activity in humanized mice. More importantly, there are no signs of obvious toxicities. These studies thus demonstrate the potent activation of antigen-presenting cells with anti-CD40 antibodies lacking FcγR-binding activity and open the possibility for an efficacious and safe combination therapy for cancer patients. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped our daily lives and the way we interact with urban green–blue spaces (UGBS), particularly in the economically challenged regions of Northwest China. Our study, utilizing surveys and social media, delves into the pandemic’s impact on UGBS engagement in this area, offering critical insights for urban planning amidst a global health crisis. We found a gender-balanced but preference-specific engagement in UGBS, with women and married couples in the Chengguan District of Lanzhou city showing affinity. Moreover, educational levels and proximity to academic institutions emerged as key factors influencing UGBS use, pointing to the importance of educational attainment in engagement diversity. Enhancing safety, creating child-friendly and leisure facilities for families, and designing vibrant spaces for socializing are vital, and placing UGBS near educational districts could also promote environmental awareness and scientific learning. Furthermore, the pandemic has reshaped public priorities, elevating the value of accessible, safe UGBS. This shift is evidenced by varied motivations for UGBS visits, with an emphasis on health, nature connectivity, and leisure. Women, older adults, and families, each with their distinct reasons, were drawn to UGBS for activities ranging from recreation to relaxation. Our findings advocate for the creation of multifunctional UGBS that cater to these varied interests, incorporating features such as air-purifying plants, scenic pathways, and zones for family activities, all underpinned by enhanced safety and accessibility. The study also highlights distinct transportation preferences among residents of Chengguan’s northern and southern parts, suggesting a tailored approach to urban infrastructure that accommodates pedestrian access and public transit use. To prevent overcrowding, adjusting facility hours and event timings based on peak visitation times is recommended. Moreover, improving walkways and public transport connectivity is essential not just for convenience but also for ensuring that these green spaces are equitable and financially accessible, fostering inclusive access to these essential urban areas. During the pandemic, social media revealed a growing search for spiritual fulfillment within UGBS, highlighting their importance in societal well-being and coping mechanisms. In response, there’s a compelling opportunity for UGBS to evolve by incorporating designated areas for spiritual relaxation, along with mental health support services. By actively monitoring social media feedback and trends, these spaces can adapt and refine their offerings, ensuring that they meet the community’s changing needs more effectively. Our study highlights the importance of tailoring UGBS to meet diverse community needs, especially during crises. It emphasizes creating multifunctional, accessible UGBS that reflect demographic trends, transportation habits, and public preferences, aiming to boost community resilience and well-being. Drawing from research conducted amidst a worldwide crisis, our study provides key recommendations for the future evolution of UGBS, urging the creation of inclusive environments that bolster the health and well-being of urban populations. Full article

(1) Background: Sepsis-induced muscle atrophy is characterized by a loss of muscle mass and function which leads to decreased quality of life and worsens the long-term prognosis of patients. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it relieves muscle wasting caused by several diseases, whereas its effect on sepsis-induced muscle atrophy has not been reported. The present study investigated the effect of NAC on sepsis-induced muscle atrophy and its possible mechanisms. (2) Methods: The effect of NAC on sepsis-induced muscle atrophy was assessed in vivo and in vitro using cecal ligation and puncture-operated (CLP) C57BL/6 mice and LPS-treated C2C12 myotubes. We used immunofluorescence staining to analyze changes in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of myofibers in mice and the myotube diameter of C2C12. Protein expressions were analyzed by Western blotting. (3) Results: In the septic mice, the atrophic response manifested as a reduction in skeletal muscle weight and myofiber cross-sectional area, which is mediated by muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases—muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx)/Atrogin-1 and muscle ring finger 1 (MuRF1). NAC alleviated sepsis-induced skeletal muscle wasting and LPS-induced C2C12 myotube atrophy. Meanwhile, NAC inhibited the sepsis-induced activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling pathway. Furthermore, using 4-Phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) to inhibit ER stress in LPS-treated C2C12 myotubes could partly abrogate the anti-muscle-atrophy effect of NAC. Finally, NAC alleviated myotube atrophy induced by the ER stress agonist Thapsigargin (Thap). (4) Conclusions: NAC can attenuate sepsis-induced muscle atrophy, which may be related to downregulating ER stress. Full article

Dried porous materials can be found in a wide range of applications. So far, they are mostly prepared from inorganic or indigestible raw materials. The aim of the presented study was to provide a proof of concept for (a) the suitability of mealworm protein gels to be turned into dried porous biomaterials by either a combination of solvent exchange and supercritical drying to obtain aerogels or by lyophilization to obtain lyophilized hydrogels and (b) the suitability of either drying method to retain trace elements such as zinc in the gels throughout the drying process. Hydrogels were prepared from mealworm protein, subsequently dried using either method, and characterized via FT-IR, BET volume, and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. Retention of zinc was evaluated via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results showed that both drying methods were suitable for obtaining dried porous biomaterials and that the drying method mainly influenced the overall surface area and pore hydrophobicity but not the secondary structure of the proteins in the gels or their zinc content after drying. Therefore, a first proof of concept for utilizing mealworm protein hydrogels as a base for dried porous biomaterials was successful and elucidated the potential of these materials as future sustainable alternatives to more conventional dried porous materials. Full article

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is becoming omnipresent in contemporary business environments given the growing awareness of the social role of business entities and their contribution to sustainable development. The research was conducted in order to explore the relationships between the perceived organizational engagement in CSR, job satisfaction due to CSR, organizational pride, and employees’ involvement in the company’s CSR activities. The research was conducted on a sample of employees in the life insurance department of a leading insurance company in Serbia, using a structured web questionnaire. Data analysis was performed on a sample of 138 respondents. Data were processed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), given the relatively small size of the sample, asymmetric data distribution, and the complexity of the relations. The study results point to a more influential role of CSR engagement in fostering organizational pride, compared to job satisfaction, with the latter as the most influential determinant of organizational involvement. Full article

We continue the study of Terracini loci formed by x points of a variety embedded in a projective space. Our main results are a refined study of Terracini loci arising from linear projections, the description of the maximal x with a non-empty Terracini locus for Hirzebruch surfaces, and the maximal “weight”, “corank”, or “defect” in several cases. For low x, we even show which defects can occur. Full article

Laser-processing technology has been widely used in the ultra-precision machining of diamond materials. It has the advantages of high precision and high efficiency, especially in the field of super-hard materials and high-precision parts manufacturing. This paper explains the fundamental principles of diamond laser processing, introduces the interaction mechanisms between various types of lasers and diamond materials, focuses on analyzing the current development status of various modes of laser processing of diamond, briefly discusses the relevant applications in diamond cutting, micro-hole forming, and micro-groove machining, etc., and finally discusses the issues, challenges, and potential future advancements of laser technology in the field of diamond processing at this point. Full article

This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of vaccination against HPV. An age–sex structured dynamic disease transmission model was created to estimate the spread of HPV and the HPV-related incidence of cervical cancer (CC) in Iran. Sixteen age groups of men and women were incorporated to reflect the differences in sexual preferences, vaccination uptake, and disease-related outcomes. Three scenarios were evaluated by using an Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) with gained quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). ICER values below one gross domestic product (GDP) per capita are evaluated as highly cost-effective. Vaccination reduces the number of infections and CC-related mortality. Over time, the vaccinated group ages and older age groups experience protection. An initial investment is required and savings in treatment spending reduce the impact over time. Vaccinating girls only was found to be cost-effective, with an ICER close to once the GDP per capita. Vaccinating both sexes was shown to be less cost-effective compared to girls only, and vaccinating boys only was not found to be cost-effective, with an ICER between once and three times, and greater than three times the GDP per capita, respectively. The estimates are conservative since societal cost-saving and the impact of other HPV-related illnesses were not considered and would likely reduce the ICERs. Full article

The huge demand for sand and gravel resources in road engineering construction leads to excessive consumption of resources and environmental damage. Recycling waste concrete and industrial solid waste as a road material is a promising alternative. In order to explore the application of these solid wastes in the road base, this paper studies the effect of adding lithium slag activated by an alkaline activator, fly ash (FA) and a combination of the two on the compressive strength, splitting strength and shrinkage performance of recycled cement-stabilized macadam mixture (RCSM). The optimum content of recycled aggregate (RA), alkali-activated lithium slag (AALS) and FA in composite-improved RCSM was optimized using a response surface method (Box–Behnken), and the microscopic characteristics of the mixture were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the optimum dosage of AALS, FA and RA determined by the response surface method is 15%, 10% and 40%, respectively. Compared with the cement-stabilized macadam mixture (CSM) with 40% RA, the 28 d compressive strength and 28 d splitting strength of the composite-improved RCSM are increased by 26.8% and 22.9%, respectively, and the dry shrinkage coefficient and average temperature shrinkage coefficient are decreased by 25.8% and 14.8%, respectively. Microscopic tests show that AALS and FA participate in the hydration reaction, generate more hydrated silicate (C-S-H) and ettringite (AFt), refine pores, effectively improve the performance of the internal interface transition zone of the mixture, make the microstructure of the mixture denser, and improve the strength and shrinkage performance of RCSM. This study provides technical support for the reuse of resources and the sustainable development of road construction. Full article

The dysfunction of phospholipid metabolism enzymes and the change in membrane phospholipid composition are associated with insulin resistance, indicating that phospholipids play an important role in the regulation of insulin sensitivity. The reflection of phospholipid changes in blood might provide clues for both mechanism understanding and intervention. Using a targeted phospholipidomic approach, 199 phospholipid molecular species were identified and quantified in the plasma of 1053 middle-aged participants from a national investigation. The associations of the phospholipid matrix, clusters, and molecular species with insulin resistance were investigated. A significant association was confirmed between the phospholipid matrix and the homeostatic-model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) by a distance-based linear model. Furthermore, three clustered phospholipid modules and 32 phospholipid molecular species were associated with HOMA-IR with the strict control of demographic and lifestyle parameters, family history of diabetes, BMI, WC, and blood lipid parameters. The overall decline in lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), the decrease in saturated lysophosphatidylethanolamines (LPEs), the decrease in polyunsaturated/plasmenyl phosphatidylcholines (PCs), and the increase in polyunsaturated phatidylethanolamines (PEs) were the prominent characters of plasma phospholipid perturbation associated with insulin resistance. This suggested that PC- and PE-related metabolic pathways were widely involved in the process of insulin resistance, especially the disorder of LPC acylation to diacyl-PC. Full article

Hypocalcemia is a common occurrence in pediatric patients, attributed to various causes and presenting with diverse clinical manifestations. A prompt evaluation is necessary to determine its underlying cause, whether it presents acutely or chronically, and to tailor treatment based on its severity. Among the potential causes of chronic hypocalcemia, primary hypoparathyroidism stands out. The case of a seven-year-old male patient with hypocalcemia reported in this article serves as an illustration, wherein targeted next-generation sequencing revealed a homozygous p.R257X mutation in the AIRE gene, indicative of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1). It poses challenges due to its multisystemic nature and involvement of specific autoantibodies, often leading to underdiagnosis, owing to its rarity, varied manifestations, and incomplete penetrance. A comprehensive review of the APS-1 literature was conducted to provide insights into the clinical manifestations, genetic spectrum, potential immunological mechanisms, and current medical strategies. Additionally, the recognition of AIRE gene mutations is crucial for facilitating genetic diagnosis, prognosis, and potential treatment strategies for APS-1. The management of such cases involves individualized approaches to treatment, regular monitoring, medication adjustments, and the early identification of associated conditions. Full article

The increasing importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors has sparked scholarly interest in how company reputation influences stock market investment decisions. Most ESG research has focused on secondary data from public firms, ignoring the potential of surveys as a research tool. Addressing this gap, our study investigates the relationship between retail investors’ perceptions of corporate ESG performance and their investment attitude, as well as the impact on intention, with social self-efficacy serving as a moderator. The theoretical framework of this research was adopted from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and previous studies that used TPB to measure intention reveal a range of explanations for the connection between the factors influencing intention through attitude. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis was used in this study, and the new findings show that Chinese investors’ perceptions of corporate ESG performance positively influence their investment attitudes and intentions. Furthermore, social self-efficacy moderates the relationship between the corporate environment and governance performance, attitudes, and intentions. Accordingly, this study identifies the contribution of explaining how investment intentions are related to corporate ESG performance, which has been based on past ESG studies, to lay a platform for sustainable corporate practices in the Chinese stock market. Full article

Hepatitis B virus is a substantial contributor to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) globally. Vaccination is the most effective method for prevention of hepatitis B and its associated morbidity and mortality, and the only method to prevent infection with hepatitis D virus. The hepatitis B vaccine has been used worldwide for more than four decades; it is available in a single- or triple-antigen form and in combination with vaccines against other infections. Introduction of the vaccine and administration at birth led to sustained decline in mother-to-child transmission, chronic hepatitis B, and HCC, however, global birth dose coverage remains suboptimal. In this review we will discuss different hepatitis B vaccine formulations and schedules, vaccination guidelines, durability of the response, and vaccine escape mutants, as well as the clinical and economic benefits of vaccination. Full article

Using a combination of experimental and numerical methods, this study examines the stability of the slope of Waste Dump#1 in Ziluoyi Iron Mine. We conducted direct shear tests on soil samples taken from the waste dump, which provided important insights into slope stability. The tests identified key mechanical parameters, including an average cohesion of 4.80 kPa and an internal friction angle of 25.63°. By implementing GEO-SLOPE software, we could determine that the slope stability factor is 1.047, which is far from the required safety standards. To address this issue, we proposed an appropriate rectification strategy including the construction of safety platforms and reconfiguration of the slope structure. This approach effectively improved the slope stability factor to 1.219 and met the safety criteria. In addition, particle flow code (PFC) simulations were methodically performed to model the slope morphology and particle displacement before and after rectification. The obtained results revealed a remarkable reduction in sliding areas and particle displacement post-rectification, enhancing mine safety and efficiency. Our findings provide valuable insights into the application of combined experimental and numerical methods to assess and improve slope stability in open-pit mines, which will substantially contribute to the field of geotechnical engineering and mining safety. Full article