This study investigated butterfly communities in riparian zones adjacent to dams, comparing agricultural (AG) and non-agricultural (NAG) areas. From April to October 2024, biweekly butterfly surveys were conducted using a standardized line transect method across three dam regions in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. NAG sites consistently showed higher species richness and total abundance than AG sites, although these differences were not statistically significant. Extrapolated diversity estimates indicated variations between the two areas, except for species richness. Seasonal patterns of species richness and abundance differed between land-use types. Rank-abundance distribution analysis revealed that NAG areas had more even species distributions, best described by the Log-normal model, while AG areas exhibited steep dominance patterns consistent with the Zipf-Mandelbrot model. The five most dominant species comprised 73.4% of individuals in AG sites, compared to just 51.4% in NAG sites. NMDS ordination illustrated distinct community clustering between NAG and AG sites, though PERMANOVA and MRPP did not identify statistically significant group differences. These findings suggest that reduced disturbance and greater habitat heterogeneity in NAG areas promote more resilient and balanced butterfly communities. The study emphasizes the ecological importance of natural riparian zones and highlights the potential of butterfly assemblages as indicators for biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning.

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.) is a key horticultural vegetable in East Asia, particularly in South Korea. It is an important ingredient in traditional fermented foods like kimchi. With climate change and agricultural diversification, such as crop rotation, becoming increasingly relevant globally, examining the productivity of different Chinese cabbage varieties in new regions is crucial. This study evaluated the feasibility of cultivating Chinese cabbage in Bolivia, where the highland regions present unique environmental conditions, including temperature and soil characteristics. We conducted an experiment to grow five different Korean varieties of Chinese cabbage for three months in Sipe Sipe, Cochab amb a, w here t he KOPIA B olivia c enter is located, t o assess t heir a daptability to t he l ocal environment. A s a result, we i dentified two Korean v arieties a s the most s uitab le f or c ultivation i n Bolivia. We expect that this research will serve as a foundational reference for further exploration of the possibilities for cultivating different Chinese cabbage varieties in Bolivia.

While potatoes are a representative crop in Bolivia, their cultivation requires a significant amount of chemical pesticides. Some seed treatment chemicals used for seed potatoes in Bolivia can be highly toxic. Additionally, farmers face financial constraints that make it difficult to use these pesticides. In this paper, we investigated the potential of applying plant ash to seed potatoes as an eco-friendly alternative for seed potato disinfection. We also examined the effects of seed tuber cutting in combination with the ash treatment. The potato variety used was “Jatun Puka,” a new variety developed in Peru that has been studied at the Bolivian National Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF). The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four repetitions in Sipe Sipe and Sapanani o f Cochab amb a, and Mairana of S anta Cruz. The r esults s howed that the e ffects of the ash treatment and tuber cutting were significantly influenced by the local environment of each region in Bolivia. The ash treatment was more effective than the others only in the Sapanani region, where the soil pH was low enough to fall within the optimal range for potatoes after the ash treatment. Generally, cutting seed potatoes had a negative effect on yield across all three regions, with the negative impact increasing in proportion to the humidity or precipitation of each area. However, considering the cost of seed potatoes per unit area, cutting them remains an adoptable option under certain circumstances. We hope this research will serve as an important reference for future studies on eco-friendly potato cultivation in Bolivia.

Phase change materials (PCM) with enhanced thermal conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties are vital for applications in electronic devices, energy storage, and aerospace. However, achieving a synergistic improvement in both thermal and EMI shielding performance remains a significant challenge. This study presents the development of phase change composites reinforced with 3D Ag foam and short carbon fibers (SCF) to address this challenge. Ag@SCF/ PCM composites were fabricated using a vacuum-assisted impregnation and curing process. Polyethylene glycol and epoxy resin formed the PCM matrix, while SCF and Ag foam created a dual-scale interpenetrating network to provide channels for phonon and electron transmission. The dual-scale network significantly improves thermal conductivity (2.24 W/m·K) and EMI shielding (69.7 dB), while maintaining latent heat storage (melting: 71.5 J/g, freezing: 68.7 J/g). These multifunctional properties make Ag@SCF/PCM composites promising candidates for applications requiring simultaneous thermal management and electromagnetic performance optimization.