Bone healing occurs through three consecutive and interdependent phases. While the acute inflammatory response is vital to fracture healing, chronic and systemic inflammation negatively affect the healing process. The bone tissue relies heavily on the immune system for its normal physiology and turnover. The interactions are more pronounced in injury states, such as fractures and autoimmune disorders. Recently, the field of osteoimmunology, the study of the molecular interplay of the immune and skeletal systems, has gained much-needed attention to develop new therapeutic strategies to accelerate fracture healing and prevent the complications of fracture healing. This review provides an overview of the process of fracture healing and discusses the role of immune cells, their interplay with the released cytokines, and the current state of the art in the field of osteoimmunology. Full article

Here, the taxonomy of the genus Rhagastis Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae, Macroglossinae, Macroglossini) from China is revised based on differences in wing morphology, male and female genitalia, and the phylogenetic relationship of the DNA barcodes. Subspecies of Rhagastis albomarginatus (Rothschild, 1894) and R. castor (Walker, 1856) are treated as “good” species, namely Rhagastis dichroae Mell, 1922 stat. nov.; R. everetti Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 stat. nov.; R. aurifera (Butler, 1875) stat. rev.; R. chinensis Mell, 1922 stat. nov.; R. formosana Clark, 1925 stat. nov.; and R. jordani Oberthür, 1904 stat. rev. The distribution maps, biological notes, and ecological records of the genus Rhagastis Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 from China are given, and a species inventory of genus Rhagastis in the world is also included. Full article

Iron deficiency in infants can impact development, and there are concerns that the use of baby food pouches and baby-led weaning may impair iron status. First Foods New Zealand (FFNZ) was an observational study of 625 New Zealand infants aged 6.9 to 10.1 months. Feeding methods were defined based on parental reports of infant feeding at “around 6 months of age”: “frequent” baby food pouch use (five+ times per week) and “full baby-led weaning” (the infant primarily self-feeds). Iron status was assessed using a venepuncture blood sample. The estimated prevalence of suboptimal iron status was 23%, but neither feeding method significantly predicted body iron concentrations nor the odds of iron sufficiency after controlling for potential confounding factors including infant formula intake. Adjusted ORs for iron sufficiency were 1.50 (95% CI: 0.67–3.39) for frequent pouch users compared to non-pouch users and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.45–1.87) for baby-led weaning compared to traditional spoon-feeding. Contrary to concerns, there was no evidence that baby food pouch use or baby-led weaning, as currently practiced in New Zealand, were associated with poorer iron status in this age group. However, notable levels of suboptimal iron status, regardless of the feeding method, emphasise the ongoing need for paying attention to infant iron nutrition. Full article

A spacecraft power processing unit (PPU) is utilized to convert power from solar arrays or electric batteries to the payload, including electric propulsion, communication equipment, and scientific instruments. Currently, a high-voltage converter is widely applied to the spacecraft PPU to improve power density and save launch weight. However, the high voltage level poses challenges such as high step-down ratios and high power losses. To achieve less conduction loss, a SiC-based T-type three-level (TL) $LLC$ resonant converter is proposed. To further broaden the gain range and achieve high step-down ratios, a variable frequency and adjustable phase-shift (VFAPS) modulation scheme is proposed. Meanwhile, the steady-state time-domain model is established to elaborate the operation principles and boundary conditions for soft switching. Furthermore, the optimal resonant element design considerations have been elaborated to achieve wider gain range and facilitate easier soft switching. Furthermore, the numerical solutions for switching frequency and phase shift (PS) angle under each specific input could be figured out. Finally, the effectiveness of this theoretical analysis is demonstrated via a 500-W experimental prototype with 650∼950-V input and constant output of 48-V/11-A. Full article

Maize/peanut intercropping may improve soil health through reducing nitrogen (N) fertilization. However, the effects of maize/peanut intercropping combined with reduced N fertilization on the soil fungal community structure have not been well reported. Using a long-term localized micro-zone experiment, we investigated the combined effects of intercropping and N fertilizer application on soil fungal community diversity and composition. Three cropping patterns (maize/peanut intercropping, maize monoculture, and peanut monoculture) and three N application levels (0 kg·hm⁻², 150 kg·hm^−2, and 300 kg·hm⁻²) were assessed. The results showed that the total numbers of fungal species and unique species (operational taxonomic units, OTUs) in both maize and peanut soils tended to first increase and then decrease with increasing N application. Compared with monoculture, the numbers of total OTUs and unique OTUs in intercropped maize soil decreased by 4.14% and 12.79%, respectively, but the total numbers of OTUs and unique OTUs in peanut soil increased by 1.08% and 3.78%, respectively. With increasing N application, the soil fungal Ace and Chao indices of maize soil first increased and then decreased, while the fungal Shannon, Ace, and Chao indices of peanut soil decreased. Compared with the monoculture system, intercropping significantly reduced the maize soil fungal Ace and Chao indices but increased the peanut soil fungal Shannon, Ace, and Chao indices. Nitrogen application and intercropping significantly altered the fungal community structure of maize soil, while N application had no significant effect on the fungal community structure of peanut soil, though intercropping significantly changed the fungal community structure of peanut soil. At the phylum level, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, unclassified_k_Fungi, and Chytridiomycota were the dominant taxa. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil nitrate (NO₃⁻) content was the main environmental factor shaping the soil fungal community. In conclusion, excessive N fertilization (300 kg·hm⁻²) can reduce soil fungal community diversity; maize/peanut intercropping reversed the negative effect of N application on fungal community of peanut soil, but not that of maize soil. Soil NO₃⁻ content is the primary environmental driver of soil fungal communities. Full article

The burgeoning field of public theology has garnered significant scholarly attention. Amidst its multifaceted discussions, a recurring theme asserts that theology plays a vital and irreplaceable role in public discourse. This perspective contends that engaging with matters of public concern from a theological standpoint not only contributes meaningfully to public discourse but also shapes our understanding of the world, human existence, and the divine. Within the African context, particularly in South Africa, gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pressing societal issue despite government and organizational efforts. This article delves into the potential role of pastors as public figures in addressing the persistent challenge of GBV. It explores the implications of pastors assuming public roles within an African context and how this engagement can be instrumental in combating GBV. By drawing on literature related to public practical theology, pastoral care, and GBV in South Africa, the article advocates for proactive public interventions by pastoral ministries. Through synthesizing insights from existing scholarship, it contributes to ongoing discussions at the intersection of theology, pastoral practice, and societal issues, with a specific focus on addressing GBV in the unique South African context. Full article

In this paper, the sampling and reconstruction problems in function subspaces of $L^p\left({\mathbb{R}}^n\right)$ associated with the multi-dimensional special affine Fourier transform (SAFT) are discussed. First, we give the definition of the multi-dimensional SAFT and study its properties including the Parseval’s relation, the canonical convolution theorems and the chirp-modulation periodicity. Then, a kind of function spaces are defined by the canonical convolution in the multi-dimensional SAFT domain, the existence and the properties of the dual basis functions are demonstrated, and the $L^p$-stability of the basis functions is established. Finally, based on the nonuniform samples taken on a dense set, we propose an iterative reconstruction algorithm with exponential convergence to recover the signals in a $L^p$-subspace associated with the multi-dimensional SAFT, and the validity of the algorithm is demonstrated via simulations. Full article

Despite its ubiquitous infectivity to mammals with strong host specificity, our current knowledge about Pneumocystis has originated from studies of merely 4% of extant mammalian species. Further studies of Pneumocystis epidemiology across a broader range of animal species require the use of assays with high sensitivity and specificity. To this end, we have developed multiple universal Pneumocystis primers targeting different genetic loci with high amplification efficiency. Application of these primers to PCR investigation of Pneumocystis in free-living hares (Lepus townsendii, n = 130) and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus, n = 8) in Canada revealed a prevalence of 81% (105/130) and 25% (2/8), respectively. Genotyping analysis identified five and two variants of Pneumocystis from hares and rabbits, respectively, with significant sequence divergence between the variants from hares. Based on phylogenetic analysis using nearly full-length sequences of the mitochondrial genome, nuclear rRNA operon and dihydropteroate synthase gene for the two most common variants, Pneumocystis in hares and rabbits are more closely related to each other than either are to Pneumocystis in other mammals. Furthermore, Pneumocystis in both hares and rabbits are more closely related to Pneumocystis in primates and dogs than to Pneumocystis in rodents. The high prevalence of Pneumocystis in hares (P. sp. ‘townsendii’) suggests its widespread transmissibility in the natural environment, similar to P. oryctolagi in rabbits. The presence of multiple distinct Pneumocystis populations in hares contrasts with the lack of apparent intra-species heterogeneity in P. oryctolagi, implying a unique evolution history of P. sp. ‘townsendii’ in hares. Full article

Malus sieversii f. niedzwetzkyan, a wild species capable of growing on saline-alkali soil in Xinjiang, is the most promising horticultural crop for improving the saline-alkali wasteland. However, the tolerance of M. niedzwetzkyan to saline-alkali stress and the underlying molecular mechanisms remains largely unknown. Here, we conducted a hydroponic experiment in which M. niedzwetzkyana and M. domestica “Royal Gala” seedlings were subjected to 150 mM saline-alkali stress. Physiological data showed that M. niedzwetzkyana had a strong ROS scavenging ability and ion transport ability, and its saline-alkali resistance was higher than that of M. “Royal Gala”. Saline-alkali stress also promoted the synthesis of anthocyanins in M. niedzwetzkyana. Transcriptome analysis was conducted on the leaves and roots of M. niedzwetzkyana at different time points under saline-alkali stress (0 h, 6 h, and 12 h). Transcriptome analysis revealed that saline stress down-regulated most genes involved in the anthocyanin flavonoid synthesis pathway. Transcription levels of genes involved in antioxidant enzyme activity and ion transport were altered. We identified hub genes related to superoxide dismutase as well as Na⁺ and K⁺ transport using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. This study elucidated, for the first time at the molecular level, the saline-alkali tolerance of M. niedzwetzkyana, including the complex changes in pathways that regulate reactive oxygen species homeostasis, ion uptake, and anthocyanoside synthesis under saline-alkali stress conditions. This research provides an important genetic resource for identifying genes involved in responses to saline-alkali stress. Full article

Shanghai Tower has become a new landmark of Shanghai. In the current trend advocating green building and energy efficiency, considerations of wind loads and thermal characteristics of the perimeter structure of Shanghai Tower are crucial. This paper conducts comparative simulation studies on the wind environment of Shanghai Tower using Ecotect software, and stress analyses and thermal simulations of the perimeter structure using ANSYS software. The study compared three buildings’ surface wind pressure distributions using models with equal-volume and circular cross-sections. We found that the unique exterior design of the Shanghai Tower results in a more regular and uniform distribution of wind pressure on its surface compared to both circular and square planar models, with a lower average wind pressure value. In addition, the stress analysis results indicate significant differences in deformation and stress distribution between the windward and leeward sides. Enhancing the bending moment detection of the peripheral structure and optimizing the layout of detection points are recommended. Thermal simulation results show excessive heat conduction flux in winter conditions, suggesting optimization using passive energy-saving methods such as light-sensitive thermal insulation materials during winter. This research is a reference for designing other super-tall buildings prioritizing low-carbon energy efficiency and structural safety. Full article

Against the backdrop of accelerating environmental protection and resource conservation, it is of great significance to achieve energy conservation and sustainable growth. In this context, by collecting panel data from 284 cities in China from 2009 to 2021, this paper constructs an intensity difference-in-differences (I-DID) model, using the implementation of China’s environmental protection law in 2018 as an event shock, to explore the impact of environmental protection tax (EPT) on urban energy consumption. The results indicate that EPT significantly reduces urban energy consumption. After several robustness tests, the estimation results shown above still hold. The mechanism test reveals that EPT mainly reduces energy consumption by promoting urban industrial upgrading, economic openness, and technological innovation. In addition, the heterogeneity test shows that EPT has a greater impact on energy consumption in central and western cities, small and medium-sized cities, non-resource-based cities, and non-old industrial bases. Therefore, to fully improve the positive effect of EPT on urban energy consumption, we suggest increasing energy efficiency, promoting the green transformation of energy structures, enhancing the ability to open-up and innovate, and improving a differentiated regional EPT management system. Full article

To define the morphologic pattern of pediatric hand burns as visualized via optical coherence tomography (OCT) and dynamic OCT (D-OCT). We designed a scoring system to assess the depths of burn wounds on pediatric hands and tested this score in our cohort of children with burn injuries to the hand. Overall, 67 hand burns in 48 children (0–15 years) were prospectively examined. Scans were interpreted by two independent observers. Relevant OCT findings were surface irregularity, loss of epidermis, loss of dermal pattern (skin lines or papillary spots, loss of surface regularity and irregular vascular pattern of the plexus papillaris. Score values were calculated retrospectively. A score of 4 was associated with spontaneous healing without the need for skin grafting, with a positive predictive value of 97%. Deeper wounds with delayed healing and/or the need of skin grafting received a score of 5 or above, with an agreement of medical healing in 80% and a positive predictive value of 56%. OCT and D-OCT provide clinically useful additional information in cases of pediatric hand burns. The OCT burn score has the potential to support clinical decision making and, subsequently, improve clinical outcomes and shorten hospital stays. Full article

The intensity with which the phenomenon of depopulation has affected rural municipalities in Spain between 1950 and 2022 has led to a loss in the intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge, values and customs. Sociocultural loss entails associated physical risks: the abandonment, demolition, and loss of vernacular architecture. This research analyzes the evolution of this type of architecture in a period of acute depopulation and its current state of conservation. A total of 180 case studies in the region of Comunidad Valenciana are analyzed through four factors affecting the physical vulnerability of dwellings: year of construction, state of conservation, type of use, and a combination of all three. Data management software is used to combine all the information and produce the results in a tabular and graphical format, while the Geographic Information System is used to draw up risk maps showing the results. These results are then divided into analysis groups created according to the degree of depopulation observed in the years mentioned. This made it possible to identify the relationship between depopulation and the conservation of vernacular architecture, showing the risk level for each case study, and thus creating an analysis methodology applicable in other territories affected by depopulation at a national and international level. Full article

Stroke often results in sensory deficits, muscular weakness, and diminished postural control, thereby restricting mobility and functional capabilities. It is important to promote neuroplasticity by implementing task-oriented exercises that induce changes in patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of rehabilitation robot training on physical function, functional recovery, and activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with subacute stroke. The study participants were patients with subacute stroke receiving treatment at Hospitals A and B. They were selected as research subjects based on selection and exclusion criteria. The experimental group received rehabilitation robot training in sessions of 30 min, five times weekly, for a total of 20 sessions over four weeks. Conversely, the control group underwent standard rehabilitation equipment training with an identical frequency, duration, and number of sessions. Measurements were taken before and after the training period to assess changes in physical function, functional recovery, and activities of daily living using tools such as the MMT, BBS, FBG, FAC, FIM, and MBI. The results were as follows: in the within-group comparison, the rehabilitation robot training group showed significant differences in MMT, BBS, FBG, FAC, FIM, and MBI (p < 0.05), while the control group showed significant differences in FIM (p < 0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in the time, group, and time × group interaction effects among the MMT, static seated FBG, dynamic seated FBG, FIM, and MBI (p < 0.05). Based on these results, rehabilitation robotic training resulted in significant improvements in physical function, functional recovery, and activities of daily living in patients with subacute stroke. Based on these findings, providing a basic protocol for a rehabilitation program that applies rehabilitation robot training to patients with subacute stroke may offer more effective treatment and outcomes in the future. Full article

Carbon (C) is an important isovalent impurity in silicon (Si) that is inadvertently added in the lattice during growth. Germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), and lead (Pb) are isovalent atoms that are added in Si to improve its radiation hardness, which is important for microelectronics in space or radiation environments and near reactors or medical devices. In this work, we have employed density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the structure and energetics of carbon substitutional-isovalent dopant substitutional C_sD_s (i.e., C_sGe_s, C_sSn_s and C_sPb_s) and carbon interstitial-isovalent dopant substitutional C_iD_s (i.e., C_iGe_s, C_iSn_s and C_iPb_s) defect pairs in Si. All these defect pairs are predicted to be bound with the larger isovalent atoms, forming stronger pairs with the carbon atoms. It is calculated that the larger the dopant, the more stable the defect pair, whereas the C_sD_s defects are more bound than the C_iD_s defects. Full article

The pil gene cluster for Type IV pilus (Tfp) biosynthesis is commonly present and highly conserved in Streptococcus sanguinis. Nevertheless, Tfp-mediated twitching motility is less common among strains, and the factors determining twitching activity are not fully understood. Here, we analyzed the functions of three major pilin proteins (PilA1, PilA2, and PilA3) in the assembly and activity of Tfp in motile S. sanguinis CGMH010. Using various recombinant pilA deletion strains, we found that Tfp composed of different PilA proteins varied morphologically and functionally. Among the three PilA proteins, PilA1 was most critical in the assembly of twitching-active Tfp, and recombinant strains expressing motility generated more structured biofilms under constant shearing forces compared to the non-motile recombinant strains. Although PilA1 and PilA3 shared 94% identity, PilA3 could not compensate for the loss of PilA1, suggesting that the nature of PilA proteins plays an essential role in twitching activity. The single deletion of individual pilA genes had little effect on the invasion of host endothelia by S. sanguinis CGMH010. In contrast, the deletion of all three pilA genes or pilT, encoding the retraction ATPase, abolished Tfp-mediated invasion. Tfp- and PilT-dependent invasion were also detected in the non-motile S. sanguinis SK36, and thus, the retraction of Tfp, but not active twitching, was found to be essential for invasion. Full article

In response to the challenge of low recognition rates for similar phenotypic symptoms of tea diseases in low-light environments and the difficulty in detecting small lesions, a novel adaptive method for tea disease severity detection is proposed. This method integrates an image enhancement algorithm based on an improved EnlightenGAN network and an enhanced version of YOLO v8. The approach involves first enhancing the EnlightenGAN network through non-paired training on low-light-intensity images of various tea diseases, guiding the generation of high-quality disease images. This step aims to expand the dataset and improve lesion characteristics and texture details in low-light conditions. Subsequently, the YOLO v8 network incorporates ResNet50 as its backbone, integrating channel and spatial attention modules to extract key features from disease feature maps effectively. The introduction of adaptive spatial feature fusion in the Neck part of the YOLOv8 module further enhances detection accuracy, particularly for small disease targets in complex backgrounds. Additionally, the model architecture is optimized by replacing traditional Conv blocks with ODConv blocks and introducing a new ODC2f block to reduce parameters, improve performance, and switch the loss function from CIOU to EIOU for a faster and more accurate recognition of small targets. Experimental results demonstrate that YOLOv8-ASFF achieves a tea disease detection accuracy of 87.47% and a mean average precision (mAP) of 95.26%. These results show a 2.47 percentage point improvement over YOLOv8, and a significant lead of 9.11, 9.55, and 7.08 percentage points over CornerNet, SSD, YOLOv5, and other models, respectively. The ability to swiftly and accurately detect tea diseases can offer robust theoretical support for assessing tea disease severity and managing tea growth. Moreover, its compatibility with edge computing devices and practical application in agriculture further enhance its value. Full article

The process of multifactorial oak disease has been of interest to scientists from all over the world for many years. Recently, a new phenomenon has been added to the model related to oak decline, acute oak dieback, which causes oak decline and was first described in the UK. This study presents research on this phenomenon in the area of the largest oak stand complex in Poland, the so-called Krotoszyn Plateau. This work was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, 54 trees were tested for the presence of bacteria using molecular biology (real-time PCR). Subsequently, a tissue fragment was taken for inoculation from the trees in which the presence of B. goodwinii and G. quercinecans bacteria was confirmed. The isolates obtained were used to test Koch’s postulates and for biochemical analyses for Polish strains. In addition, the results obtained were also compared with the presence of A. biguttatus, which is considered a bacterial vector, which, in turn, confirmed that the bacteria responsible for the AOD phenomenon can also be present in trees not inhabited by this insect. The results obtained confirmed the presence of bacteria and their potential to cause necrosis in oaks, which fits into the model of the spiral disease that has been causing mass mortality of oaks in this naturally and economically valuable area since the 1980s. Full article

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the impact of three different types of intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis on the risk of postoperative surgical site infection (SSI). Material and Methods: Single-center retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent surgery for osteosynthesis of a tibial plateau fracture (January 2009–November 2018) in Hospital Clinic i Provincial de Barcelona were included. Three types of prophylaxis during the study period were used: group A (cefuroxime single-dose treatment), group B (meropenem + teicoplanin), and group C (ceftriaxone + teicoplanin). Demographics, co-morbidity, type of fracture, need for external fixation, microbiology data, surgical time, and outcome were recorded. Failure was defined as the need for reintervention due to postoperative surgical site infection. Results: From a total of 148 patients included, 20 cases developed SSI, 8 from group A, 8 from group B, and 4 from group C. Higher ASA scores, Schatzker II classification, need for external fixation, and a prolonged surgical time were associated with a significantly (p < 0.005) increased incidence of SSI. Group C showed the overall highest survival and lowest cumulative risk, but differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Group C showed the lowest incidence of infection in this sample. It is necessary to confirm these findings with larger studies. Full article

Security and efficiency remain a serious concern for Internet of Things (IoT) environments due to the resource-constrained nature and wireless communication. Traditional schemes are based on the main mathematical operations, including pairing, pairing-based scalar multiplication, bilinear pairing, exponential operations, elliptic curve scalar multiplication, and point multiplication operations. These traditional operands are cost-intensive and require high computing power and bandwidth overload, thus affecting efficiency. Due to the cost-intensive nature and high resource requirements, traditional approaches are not feasible and are unsuitable for resource-limited IoT devices. Furthermore, the lack of essential security attributes in traditional schemes, such as unforgeability, public verifiability, non-repudiation, forward secrecy, and resistance to denial-of-service attacks, puts data security at high risk. To overcome these challenges, we have introduced a novel signcryption algorithm based on hyperelliptic curve divisor multiplication, which is much faster than other traditional mathematical operations. Hence, the proposed methodology is based on a hyperelliptic curve, due to which it has enhanced security with smaller key sizes that reduce computational complexity by 38.16% and communication complexity by 62.5%, providing a well-balanced solution by utilizing few resources while meeting the security and efficiency requirements of resource-constrained devices. The proposed strategy also involves formal security validation, which provides confidence for the proposed methodology in practical implementations. Full article

The effects of high-intensity blue light (HIBL, 500/1000 µmol m^–2s^–1, 450 nm) on Solanum lycopersicum mutants with high pigment (hp) and low pigment (lp) levels and cryptochrome 1 (cry1) deficiency on photosynthesis, chlorophylls, phenols, anthocyanins, nonenzymatic antioxidant activity, carotenoid composition, and the expression of light-dependent genes were investigated. The plants, grown under white light for 42 days, were exposed to HIBL for 72 h. The hp mutant quickly adapted to 500 µmol m^–2s^–1 HIBL, exhibiting enhanced photosynthesis, increased anthocyanin and carotenoids (beta-carotene, zeaxanthin), and increased expression of key genes involved in pigment biosynthesis (PSY1, PAL1, CHS, ANS) and PSII proteins along with an increase in nonenzymatic antioxidant activity. At 1000 µmol m^–2s^–1 HIBL, the lp mutant showed the highest photosynthetic activity, enhanced expression of genes associated with PSII external proteins (psbO, psbP, psbQ), and increased in neoxanthin content. This mutant demonstrated greater resistance at the higher HIBL, demonstrating increased stomatal conductance and photosynthesis rate. The cry1 mutant exhibited the highest non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) but had the lowest pigment contents and decreased photosynthetic rate and PSII activity, highlighting the critical role of CRY1 in adaptation to HIBL. The hp and lp mutants use distinct adaptation strategies, which are significantly hindered by the cry1 mutation. The pigment content appears to be crucial for adaptation at moderate HIBL doses, while CRY1 content and stomatal activity become more critical at higher doses. Full article