bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endowing improved osteogenic activities with collagen membrane by incorporating biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Li Zheng , Zhang Yunyang , Ye Qing , Wang Lei , Chen Hui , Xu Chenhui , Wang Peng , Sun Jianfei 
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Collagen-based scaffolds, renowned for their exceptional biocompatibility, have garnered attention as promising scaffolds for advancing bone tissue regeneration. Nevertheless, these scaffolds possess inherent limitations, such as notably compromised osteo-conductivity and osteo-inductivity.Methods: Our study focused on enhancing the mechanical properties and osteogenic bioactivities of bovine-derived collagen membranes (CMs) from the Achilles tendon by incorporating FDA-approved iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), termed as IONP-CM. Three types of IONP-CMs (IONP-CM-0.5, IONP-CM-1, and IONPCM-1.5) were constructed by altering the amounts of feeding IONPs.Results: Surface topography analysis demonstrated comparable characteristics between the IONP-CM and neat CM, with the former exhibiting augmented mechanical properties. In vitro evaluations revealed the remarkable biocompatibility of IONP-CMs toward mouse calvarial pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells, concurrently stimulating osteogenic differentiation. Mechanistic investigations unveiled that the osteogenic differentiation induced by IONP-CMs stemmed from the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, in vivo bone regeneration assessment was performed by implanting IONP-CMs into the radial defect in rabbits. Results derived from micro-computed tomography and histological analyses unequivocally substantiated the capacity of IONP-CMs to expedite bone repair processes.Discussion: IONP-CMs emerged as scaffolds boasting exceptional biocompatibility and enhanced osteogenic properties, positioning them as promising candidates for facilitating bone tissue regeneration.
“I want to be there for my children”: fatherhood, diabetes and temporality among Peruvian men
Authors: Pesantes M. Amalia , Ferrazza Isabella , Miranda J. Jaime 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionLiving with a chronic condition is a challenging experience, as it can disrupt your capacity to function and fulfill social roles such as being a father. Fatherhood constitutes an important component of masculinity that has not received significant attention in studies aimed at understanding the role of gender norms in health-related behaviors. Fatherhood refers to the set of social expectations placed on men to provide, protect, and care for those considered his children. Our paper aims to show the importance of understanding men’s perspectives around fatherhood and its relevance for staying healthy.MethodsIn-depth semi-structured interviews with men living with Type 2 diabetes in Peru to explore their experiences with diabetes management.ResultsEighteen Peruvian men, diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes for at least one year and with ages between 27 and 59 years old were interviewed. They had an average of three children each and were all insured under the national insurance plan aimed at low-income groups in Peru. Their accounts described their concern of not being able to fulfill their roles as fathers as a result of their condition. They mentioned the importance of being physically and emotionally present in the lives of their children, taking care of them, and being an example. These concerns varied depending on the age of their children: those with younger children were more preoccupied with ensuring they stayed healthy. Temporality provides a relevant analytical approach to understand the interplay of fatherhood and motivation for diabetes management.DiscussionOur study advances the research around the intersection between health and gender norms and argues that a more nuanced understanding of the construction of masculinity and the relevance of fatherhood in the lives of men could be useful to design and identify better health promotion strategies tailored to men with diabetes.
A missense mutation in Ehd1 associated with defective spermatogenesis and male infertility
Authors: Meindl Katrin , Issler Naomi , Afonso Sara , Cebrian-Serrano Alberto , Müller Karin , Sterner Christina , Othmen Helga , Tegtmeier Ines , Witzgall Ralph , Klootwijk Enriko , Davies Benjamin , Kleta Robert , Warth Richard 
Published: October 2023

Normal function of the C-terminal Eps15 homology domain-containing protein 1 (EHD1) has previously been associated with endocytic vesicle trafficking, shaping of intracellular membranes, and ciliogenesis. We recently identified an autosomal recessive missense mutation c.1192C&gt;T (p.R398W) of EHD1 in patients who had low molecular weight proteinuria (0.7–2.1 g/d) and high-frequency hearing loss. It was already known from Ehd1 knockout mice that inactivation of Ehd1 can lead to male infertility. However, the exact role of the EHD1 protein and its p.R398W mutant during spermatogenesis remained still unclear. Here, we report the testicular phenotype of a knockin mouse model carrying the p.R398W mutation in the EHD1 protein. Male homozygous knockin mice were infertile, whereas the mutation had no effect on female fertility. Testes and epididymes were significantly reduced in size and weight. The testicular epithelium appeared profoundly damaged and had a disorganized architecture. The composition of developing cell types was altered. Malformed acrosomes covered underdeveloped and misshaped sperm heads. In the sperm tail, midpieces were largely missing indicating disturbed assembly of the sperm tail. Defective structures, i.e., nuclei, acrosomes, and sperm tail midpieces, were observed in large vacuoles scattered throughout the epithelium. Interestingly, cilia formation itself did not appear to be affected, as the axoneme and other parts of the sperm tails except the midpieces appeared to be intact. In wildtype mice, EHD1 co-localized with acrosomal granules on round spermatids, suggesting a role of the EHD1 protein during acrosomal development. Wildtype EHD1 also co-localized with the VPS35 component of the retromer complex, whereas the p.R398W mutant did not. The testicular pathologies appeared very early during the first spermatogenic wave in young mice (starting at 14 dpp) and tubular destruction worsened with age. Taken together, EHD1 plays an important and probably multifaceted role in spermatogenesis in mice. Therefore, EHD1 may also be a hitherto underestimated infertility gene in humans.
High-pressure reactions between the pnictogens: the rediscovery of BiN
Authors: Glazyrin K. , Aslandukov A. , Aslandukova A. , Fedotenko T. , Khandarkhaeva S. , Laniel D. , Bykov M. , Dubrovinsky L. 
Published: October 2023

We explore chemical reactions within pnictogens with an example of bismuth and nitrogen under extreme conditions. Understanding chemical reactions between Bi and N, elements representing the first and the last stable elements of the nitrogen group, and the physical properties of their compounds under ambient and high pressure is far from being complete. Here, we report the high-pressure high-temperature synthesis of orthorhombic Pbcn BiN (S.G. #60) from Bi and N2 precursors at pressures above 40 GPa. Using synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction on the polycrystalline sample, we solved and refined the compound’s structure and studied its behavior and compressibility on decompression to ambient pressure. We confirm the stability of Pbcn BiN to pressures as low as 12.5(4) GPa. Below that pressure value, a group–subgroup phase transformation occurs, resulting in the formation of a non-centrosymmetric BiN solid with a space group Pca21 (S.G. #29). We use ab initio calculations to characterize the polymorphs of BiN. They also provide support and explanation for our experimental observations, in particular those corresponding to peculiar Bi–N bond evolution under pressure, resulting in a change in the coordination numbers of Bi and N as a function of pressure within the explored stability field of Pbcn BiN.
Characteristics of the pulmonary microbiota in patients with mild and severe pulmonary infection
Authors: Zhan Danting , Li Dan , Yuan Ke , Sun Yihua , He Lijuan , Zhong Jiacheng , Wang Lingwei 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundLung infection is a global health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality and increasing rates of hospitalization. The correlation between pulmonary microecology and infection severity remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in lung microecology and potential biomarkers in patients with mild and severe pulmonary infection.MethodPatients with pulmonary infection or suspected infection were divided into the mild group (140 cases) and the severe group (80 cases) according to pneomonia severity index (PSI) scores. Here, we used metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to detect DNA mainly from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected from patients to analyze changes in the lung microbiome of patients with different disease severity.ResultWe used the mNGS to analyze the pulmonary microecological composition in patients with pulmonary infection. The results of alpha diversity and beta diversity analysis showed that the microbial composition between mild and severe groups was similar on the whole. The dominant bacteria were Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Mycobacterium, Staphylococcus, and Prevotella, among others. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) results showed that there were significant differences in virus composition between the mild and severe patients, especially Simplexvirus and Cytomegalovirus, which were prominent in the severe group. The random forest model screened 14 kinds of pulmonary infection-related pathogens including Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium, Streptococcus, Klebsiella, and Acinetobacter. In addition, it was found that Rothia was negatively correlated with Acinetobacter, Mycobacterium, Bacillus, Enterococcus, and Klebsiella in the mild group through co-occurrence network, while no significant correlation was found in the severe group.ConclusionHere, we describe the composition and diversity of the pulmonary microbiome in patients with pulmonary infection. A significant increase in viral replication was found in the severe group, as well as a significant difference in microbial interactions between patients with mild and severe lung infections, particularly the association between the common pathogenic bacteria and Rothia. This suggests that both pathogen co-viral infection and microbial interactions may influence the course of disease. Of course, more research is needed to further explore the specific mechanisms by which microbial interactions influence disease severity.
Maternal beliefs about infant-directed speech misalign with interactions with their infants
Authors: Ramirez Alexus G. , Herbst Elana , Golinkoff Roberta Michnick 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionInfant-directed speech (IDS) refers to how people in many societies talk with young children. Compared to speech directed to an adult (ADS), IDS includes a slower rate, fewer words per utterance, higher-than-average pitch, and elongated vowels. Although many benefits are associated with using IDS, there is little information on what parents think about IDS. The current study asked: (1) How do mothers conceptualize IDS; (2) Is there an alignment between mothers' IDS beliefs and their speech register when teaching a new word to their child; and (3) How do mothers' IDS beliefs associate with children's expressive language and performance on a word learning task?MethodsFifty-three mothers and their 15- to 21-month-old monolingual English-reared infants (Mage = 17.92, SD = 1.99, 23 males) participated. Mothers were asked to teach their child a novel word and to complete the Parent Language Belief Questionnaire (PLBQ). Mothers' IDS was recorded as they taught their child a novel word and was compared to their ADS from interacting with the experimenter.ResultsFindings revealed that mothers had mixed beliefs about their use of IDS. Yet, most mothers used IDS as they taught their child a novel word. Lastly, mothers' IDS beliefs did not predict children's language skills or word learning at test.DiscussionThe current study is the first to explore whether mothers' beliefs about their use of infant-directed speech align with their actual use of IDS. As the positive benefits between IDS and children's language development have been documented, identifying the barriers surrounding why parents may not use IDS with their children is essential.
Genetic predisposition of the gastrointestinal microbiome and primary biliary cholangitis: a bi-directional, two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Luo Xin , You Xin 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundThe gut-liver axis indicates a close relationship between the gastrointestinal microbiome (GM) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). However, the causality of this relationship remains unknown. This study investigates the causal relationship between the GM and PBC using a bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsGenome-wide association data for GM and PBC were obtained from public databases. The inverse-variance weighted method was the primary method used for MR analysis. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the stability of the MR results. A reverse MR analysis was performed to investigate the possibility of reverse causality.ResultsThree bacterial taxa were found to be causally related to PBC. Class Coriobacteriia (odds ratio (OR) = 2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.295-3.661, P&lt; 0.05) and order Coriobacteriales (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.295-3.661, P&lt;0.05) were associated with a higher risk of PBC. Class Deltaproteobacteria (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.362–0.742, P&lt; 0.05) had a protective effect on PBC. There was no evidence of reverse causality between PBC and the identified bacterial taxa.ConclusionPreviously unrecognized taxa that may be involved in the pathogenesis of PBC were identified in this study, confirming the causality between the GM and PBC. These results provide novel microbial targets for the prevention and treatment of PBC.
Dysregulation of circulating T follicular helper cell subsets and their potential role in the pathogenesis of syphilis
Authors: Shen Fuping , Shen Yuhuan , Xu Yuni , Zhao Jiwei , Zhao Zhao , Liu Jinlin , Ge Yumei 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionThe role of the host immune response could be critical in the development of Treponema pallidum (Tp) infection in individuals with latent syphilis. This study aims to investigate the alterations in T follicular helper T (Tfh) cell balance among patients with secondary syphilis and latent syphilis.Methods30 healthy controls (HCs), 24 secondary syphilis patients and 41 latent syphilis patients were enrolled. The percentages of total Tfh, ICOS+ Tfh, PD-1+ Tfh, resting Tfh, effector Tfh, naïve Tfh, effector memory Tfh, central memory Tfh,Tfh1, Tfh2, and Tfh17 cells in the peripheral blood were all determined by flow cytometry.ResultsThe percentage of total Tfh cells was significantly higher in secondary syphilis patients compared to HCs across various subsets, including ICOS+ Tfh, PD-1+ Tfh, resting Tfh, effector Tfh, naïve Tfh, effector memory Tfh, central memory Tfh, Tfh1, Tfh2, and Tfh17 cells. However, only the percentages of ICOS+ Tfh and effector memory Tfh cells showed significant increases in secondary syphilis patients and decreases in latent syphilis patients. Furthermore, the PD-1+ Tfh cells, central memory Tfh cells, and Tfh2 cells showed significant increases in latent syphilis patients, whereas naïve Tfh cells and Tfh1 cells exhibited significant decreases in secondary syphilis patients when compared to the HCs. However, no significant change was found in resting Tfh and effector Tfh in HCs and secondary syphilis patients or latent syphilis patients.DiscussionDysregulated ICOS+ Tfh or effector memory Tfh cells may play an important role in immune evasion in latent syphilis patients.
Cellular immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in patients with primary antibody deficiencies
Authors: Mizera Dorota , Dziedzic Radosław , Drynda Anna , Gradzikiewicz Ada , Jakieła Bogdan , Celińska-Löwenhoff Magdalena , Padjas Agnieszka , Matyja-Bednarczyk Aleksandra , Zaręba Lech , Bazan-Socha Stanisława 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionPrimary antibody deficiencies (PAD) are inborn defects of the immune system that result in increased susceptibility to infections. Despite the reduced response to vaccination, PAD patients still benefit from it by reducing the risk of severe infections and complications. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are recommended in PAD patients, but their immune effects are poorly studied. Here, we analyze virus-specific T-cell responses in PAD patients after booster vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.Patients and methodsThe study included 57 adult PAD patients on long-term immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT) diagnosed with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA; n = 4), common variable immunodeficiency (CVID; n = 33), isotype defects or IgG subclass deficiency (n = 6), and unclassified IgG deficiency (n = 14). Of those, 49 patients (86%) received vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 using mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech). T-cell responses were assessed at a median of 21 (13 – 30) weeks after the booster dose (mainly the third dose) using commercially available interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) with recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 protein.ResultsVaccinated PAD patients showed an increased (3.8-fold, p = 0.004) release of IFN-γ upon S1 stimulation. In this group, we also documented higher serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG (4.1-fold, p = 0.01), although they were not associated with IGRA results. Further subgroup analysis revealed very similar IGRA responses in CVID and unclassified IgG deficiencies that were 2.4-fold increased compared to XLA and 5.4-fold increased compared to patients with isotype defects or IgG subclass deficiencies (e.g., vs. CVID: p = 0.016). As expected, CVID and XLA patients showed decreased serum titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies compared to other studied groups (e.g., CVID vs. unclassified IgG deficiency: 4.4-fold, p = 0.006). The results did not depend directly on IgRT mode or dose, number of vaccine doses and time from the last booster dose, and clinical manifestations of PAD. Interestingly, anti-SARS-CoV-2 titers were positively correlated with serum immunoglobulin levels before IgRT (e.g., for IgA: r = 0.45, p&lt;0.001; for IgG: r = 0.34, p = 0.009) and the percentage of peripheral blood NK cells (r = 0.48, p&lt;0.001).ConclusionsOur results documented satisfactory in vitro cellular immune response in PAD patients after booster SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Therefore, even patients with agammaglobulinemia should benefit from vaccination due to the apparent induction of cell-mediated immunity, which, together with IgRT, grants comprehensive protection against the pathogen.
Synthesis strategies of iron nitrides at carbon cloth as battery-like electrode for hybrid supercapacitors
Authors: Kordek-Khalil Karolina , Moyseowicz Adam , Moyseowicz Agata K. 
Published: October 2023

In recent years, hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) or supercapatteries which combine a capacitor-type electrode with an electrode based on materials exhibiting a Faradaic (battery-like) response have been intensively investigated for next-generation energy storage applications. HSCs attracted great attention due to a significant increase of maximum energy density stored while providing stable long-term performance and good rate capability. However, the electrochemical performance of the device is closely related to the inherent properties of the electrode material, including morphology and structure. In this paper, we present synthesis protocols for iron oxide/hydrophilic carbon cloth (Fe2O3@hCC) composite electrodes and their electrochemical performance as a negative electrode operating in an alkaline electrolyte. Two environmentally friendly, scalable and facile synthesis approaches were applied, including hydrothermal treatment and direct electrodeposition. Next, the Fe2O3@hCC electrodes were treated to convert iron oxide to iron nitride (Fe2N). The results showed that the synthesis of the precursor for iron nitride has a direct impact on morphology, crystalline structure and electrochemical performance. Furthermore, the amorphous Fe2N obtained from electrodeposition exhibited significantly better Faradaic behavior, achieving a specific capacity up to 186 mAh g-1, 66% higher than the composite electrode with Fe2N from the hydrothermal approach.
The protective performance of rubber pads for penetration fuze
Authors: Ding Libo , Zhang An , Peng Junwei , Li Changsheng 
Published: October 2023

To ensure the reliable functioning of hard target-penetration fuze on the battlefield, this study focuses on research related to fuze protective pads. The main factors causing fuze functional failure are summarized, and a simplified model of projectile penetration into target plates is established. The design conditions for the yield stress parameter of the fuze casing material are derived based on stress wave propagation theory. Modal analysis of the projectile is conducted using dynamic simulation software ANSYS to determine its vibration modes and low-pass filtering frequency. Static compression experiments are performed on different rubber materials (nitrile rubber, fluorine rubber, silicone rubber, and natural rubber) to obtain stress–strain curves and constitutive model parameters. Marshall hammer tests were carried out on rubber pads of different materials and thicknesses, confirming the validity of the simulation results and the feasibility of rubber filtering. The study indicates that when using a 2 mm thick rubber pad for protection, natural rubber provides the best protection. When using a 6 mm thick rubber pad, nitrile rubber shows the best protective performance. Under a 13-tooth tooling impact load, the best protection is achieved using a 2 mm thick natural rubber pad. When using a 6 mm thick pad, silicone rubber provides the best protection. Under a 15-tooth tooling impact load, fluorine rubber provides the best protection when using a 2 mm thick pad, while silicone rubber offers the best protection when using a 6 mm thick pad. Under a 17-tooth tooling impact load, natural rubber offers the best protection when using a 2 mm thick pad, and fluorine rubber demonstrates the best protection when using a 6 mm thick pad. The obtained research results provide a reference for protective methods of hard target-penetration fuze.