bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of more natural housing conditions on the muscular and skeletal characteristics of female C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Mieske Paul , Scheinpflug Julia , Yorgan Timur Alexander , Brylka Laura , Palme Rupert , Hobbiesiefken Ute , Preikschat Juliane , Lewejohann Lars , Diederich Kai 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Enrichment of home cages in laboratory experiments offers clear advantages, but has been criticized in some respects. First, there is a lack of definition, which makes methodological uniformity difficult. Second, there is concern that the enrichment of home cages may increase the variance of results in experiments. Here, the influence of more natural housing conditions on physiological parameters of female C57BL/6J mice was investigated from an animal welfare point of view. For this purpose, the animals were kept in three different housing conditions: conventional cage housing, enriched housing and the semi naturalistic environment. The focus was on musculoskeletal changes after long-term environmental enrichment.

Results
The housing conditions had a long-term effect on the body weight of the test animals. The more complex and natural the home cage, the heavier the animals. This was associated with increased adipose deposits in the animals. There were no significant changes in muscle and bone characteristics except for single clues (femur diameter, bone resorption marker CTX-1). Additionally, the animals in the semi naturalistic environment (SNE) were found to have the fewest bone anomalies. Housing in the SNE appears to have the least effect on stress hormone concentrations. The lowest oxygen uptake was observed in enriched cage housing.

Conclusions
Despite increasing values, observed body weights were in the normal and strain-typical range. Overall, musculoskeletal parameters were slightly improved and age-related effects appear to have been attenuated. The variances in the results were not increased by more natural housing. This confirms the suitability of the applied housing conditions to ensure and increase animal welfare in laboratory experiments.
Emergent dynamics of spacetime and matter from a topological phase
Authors: Palumbo Giandomenico 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Here, we present a new theoretical scenario in which both dynamical Dirac fermions and Einstein's gravity with a positive cosmological constant and torsion emerge via a spontaneous symmetry breaking in a topological phase. This phase does not contain any local propagating degrees of freedom and is described by a metric-independent fermionic gauge theory, which is invariant under the de Sitter group. After breaking this group to its Lorentz subgroup through a dynamical Higgs mechanism, we show that fermions become dynamical and massive while the dynamics of the locally Lorentz-invariant spacetime can be induced via the condensation of the spinor field. Within our theory, both the Dirac mass and the Newton constant of gravitation naturally emerge through well-known physical mechanisms.
Efficacy and Safety of Meal Replacement in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Ye Wenjing , Xu Lijuan , Ye Yanbin , Zeng Fangfang , Lu Xin , Li Yanbing , Liu Liehua 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Context
Meal replacement (MR) is beneficial for the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, MR prescription and patient characteristics vary substantially between studies using MR in T2D patients.

Objective
This work aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MR in T2D patients by meta-analysis, with a focus on subgroup analysis of variable participant characteristics and MR prescription.

Methods
We searched PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, Web of Science, and the clinical trial registration database up to March 2022. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of 2 weeks or more assessing the effect and safety of MR in T2D patients in comparison with conventional diabetic diets (CDs).

Results
A total of 17 RCTs involving 2112 participants were ultimately included. Compared with CDs, MR significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (MD −0.46%; P &lt; .001), fasting blood glucose (FBG, −0.62 mmol/L; P &lt; .001), body weight (−2.43 kg; P &lt; .001), and body mass index (BMI, −0.65; P &lt; .001), and improved other cardiometabolic risk factors. In subgroup analyses, total MR showed greater improvement in HbA1c (−0.72% vs −0.32%; P = .01), FBG (−1.45 vs −0.56 mmol/L; P = .02), body weight (−6.57 vs −1.58 kg; P &lt; .001), and BMI (−2.78 vs −0.37; P &lt; .001) than partial MR. MR with caloric restriction showed more reduction in body weight (−3.20 vs −0.75 kg; P &lt; .001) and BMI (−0.84 vs −0.24; P = .003) compared with those without caloric restriction. MR showed similar benefits in studies that included patients using insulin and those that did not. Both partial and total MR were well tolerated.

Conclusion
Compared with CDs, the MR-based dietary pattern further improved the glycemic control and adipose indicators in T2D patients. Appropriate calorie restriction and total MR might be more beneficial, while both patients treated with or without insulin treatment could similarly benefit from MR usage.
Deletion of Androgen Receptors From Kisspeptin Neurons Prevents PCOS Features in a Letrozole Mouse Model
Authors: Decourt Caroline , Watanabe Yugo , Evans Maggie C , Inglis Megan A , Fisher Lorryn C , Jasoni Christine L , Campbell Rebecca E , Anderson Greg M 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility and is a heterogenous condition associated with a range of reproductive and metabolic impairments. While its etiology remains unclear, hyperandrogenism and impaired steroid negative feedback have been identified as key factors underpinning the development of PCOS-like features both clinically and in animal models. We tested the hypothesis that androgen signaling in kisspeptin-expressing neurons, which are key drivers of the neuroendocrine reproductive axis, is critically involved in PCOS pathogenesis. To this end, we used a previously validated letrozole (LET)-induced hyperandrogenic mouse model of PCOS in conjunction with Cre-lox technology to generate female mice exhibiting kisspeptin-specific deletion of androgen receptor (KARKO mice) to test whether LET-treated KARKO females are protected from the development of reproductive and metabolic PCOS-like features. LET-treated mice exhibited hyperandrogenism, and KARKO mice exhibited a significant reduction in the coexpression of kisspeptin and androgen receptor mRNA compared to controls. In support of our hypothesis, LET-treated KARKO mice exhibited improved estrous cyclicity, ovarian morphology, and insulin sensitivity in comparison to LET-treated control females. However, KARKO mice were not fully protected from the effects of LET-induced hyperandrogenism and still exhibited reduced corpora lutea numbers and increased body weight gain. These data indicate that increased androgen signaling in kisspeptin-expressing neurons plays a critical role in PCOS pathogenesis but highlight that other mechanisms are also involved.
Cancer Cell–Extrinsic Roles for the Androgen Receptor in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Hahn Andrew W , Siddiqui Bilal A , Leo Javier , Dondossola Eleonora , Basham Kaitlin J , Miranti Cindy K , Frigo Daniel E 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Given the central role of the androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer cell biology, AR-targeted therapies have been the backbone of prostate cancer treatment for over 50 years. New data indicate that AR is expressed in additional cell types within the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, targeting AR for the treatment of prostate cancer has established side effects such as bone complications and an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic disease, indicating broader roles for AR. With the advent of novel technologies, such as single-cell approaches and advances in preclinical modeling, AR has been identified to have clinically significant functions in other cell types. In this mini-review, we describe new cancer cell–extrinsic roles for AR within the tumor microenvironment as well as systemic effects that collectively impact prostate cancer progression and patient outcomes.
Context-dependent thermolability of sex determination in a lacertid lizard with heteromorphic sex chromosomes
Authors: Hansson Alexander , Wapstra Erik , While Geoffrey M. , Lindsay Willow R. , Olsson Mats 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACT
Developmental conditions can profoundly impact key life history traits of the individual. In cases where offspring sex is driven by developmental reaction norms, permanent changes to the phenotype can fundamentally alter life history trajectories. Sex determination mechanisms in reptiles are remarkably diverse, including well-characterised genetic and temperature-dependent sex determination. In rarer, but increasingly more commonly documented cases, sex can also be determined by a combination of the two, with temperature overriding the genetically determined sex. Thus, sex-by-temperature interactions is a mechanism that can be contextually labile, where reaction norms of sex against developmental environment might only be observable under certain conditions. We examine the effects of incubation temperature on hatchling sex in an oviparous lizard with clearly defined heteromorphic sex chromosomes presumed to determine sex solely on a genetic basis. We also test the repeatability of our results by replicating incubation experiments across 3 years. We show that warmer temperatures may override chromosomal sex and cause an overproduction of daughters. However, this effect was inconsistent among years, with high temperature only resulting in a daughter-significant bias in one year. Warm-incubated daughters were more efficient at converting yolk into tissue, which would allow for greater resource allocation to other fitness-related processes, such as growth. This suggests that thermolabile sex determination could be a trait under selection. More energy-efficient embryos also produced faster-growing offspring, suggesting that energy utilization patterns of the embryo were maintained into the juvenile stage, which could have important implications for the ontogenetic development and evolution of life histories.
Nuclear segmentation facilitates neutrophil migration
Authors: Shen Connie , Mulder Eva , Buitenwerf Wiebe , Postat Jérémy , Jansen Aron , Kox Matthijs , Mandl Judith N. , Vrisekoop Nienke 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACT
Neutrophils are among the fastest-moving immune cells. Their speed is critical to their function as ‘first responder’ cells at sites of damage or infection, and it has been postulated that the unique segmented nucleus of neutrophils functions to assist their rapid migration. Here, we tested this hypothesis by imaging primary human neutrophils traversing narrow channels in custom-designed microfluidic devices. Individuals were given an intravenous low dose of endotoxin to elicit recruitment of neutrophils into the blood with a high diversity of nuclear phenotypes, ranging from hypo- to hyper-segmented. Both by cell sorting of neutrophils from the blood using markers that correlate with lobularity and by directly quantifying the migration of neutrophils with distinct lobe numbers, we found that neutrophils with one or two nuclear lobes were significantly slower to traverse narrower channels, compared to neutrophils with more than two nuclear lobes. Thus, our data show that nuclear segmentation in primary human neutrophils provides a speed advantage during migration through confined spaces.
Open source code for the generation of digital reference objects for dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI analysis software validation
Authors: Gill Andrew B. , Gallagher Ferdia A. , Graves Martin J. 
Published: May 2023

Objectives: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR images can be analyzed through the application of a wide range of kinetic models. This process is prone to variability and a lack of standardization that can affect the measured metrics. There is a need for customized digital reference objects (DROs) for the validation of DCE-MRI software packages that undertake kinetic model analysis. DROs are currently available only for a small subset of the kinetic models commonly applied to DCE-MRI data. This work aimed to address this gap. Methods: Code was written in the MATLAB programming environment to generate customizable DROs. This modular code allows the insertion of a plug-in to describe the kinetic model to be tested. We input our generated DROs into three commercial and open-source analysis packages and assessed the agreement of kinetic model parameter values output with the ‘ground-truth’ values used in the DRO generation. Results: For the five kinetic models tested, the concordance correlation coefficient values were >98%, indicating excellent agreement of the results with ‘ground-truth’. Conclusions: Testing our DROs on three independent software packages produced concordant results, strongly suggesting our DRO generation code is correct. This implies that our DROs can be used to validate other third party software for the kinetic model analysis of DCE-MRI data. Advances in knowledge This work extends published work of others to allow customized generation of test objects for any applied kinetic model and allows the incorporation of B1 mapping into the DRO for application at higher field strengths.
Rate of various access sites for temporary transvenous pacing and different outcomes at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar Pakistan
Authors: Dr. Muhammad Adil  , Dr Sher Bahadar Khan  , Dr Muhammad Shahbaz Khan  , Dr Zair Hassan  
Published: May 2023

Objective: To evaluate the various temporary transvenous pacemaker (TPM) access sites, its indications, procedural complications, and outcomes of patients.
Methods: This prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of Peshawar, included 100 patients, who underwent TPM for any reasons, via the trans jugular, subclavian, or trans-femoral route. The duration of the study was from October 1st, 2021 to March 31st, 2022. The demographic, procedure -related complications, causes of complete heart block and in hospital outcomes were recorded.
Results: Of the 100 patients who underwent temporary transvenous pacing, 56%were males and 44% were females, with an age range of 46-80 years. In majority of the patients, (N =54) internal jugular vein was used as the venous access site followed by the subclavian vein. (N=24). Coronary artery disease was prevalent in 42% of the patients. 50% had complete AV block, 19% had symptomatic second-degree block, and 10% had sinus nodal diseases. Seventy three percent of the patients needed TPM implantation on an emergency basis, which is statistically significant (p=0.009). Almost 40% of the patient ultimately underwent a permanent pacemaker. Out of 100 patients, 16 patients expired. The major procedure related complications were bleeding 16% overall at the puncture site and 14.8% in the internal jugular group. Other complications were local infection 13% at the insertion site followed by hemopericardium 3%, in the internal jugular group.
Conclusion: Atrioventricular block is the commonest indication for temporary pacing in our study. The average time the TPM remained in place was significantly higher in the trans jugular approach group along with a higher complication rate in this group.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.4.7467
How to cite this: Adil M, Khan SB, Khan MS, Hassan Z. Rate of various access sites for temporary transvenous pacing and different outcomes at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.4.7467
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Determinants of technical efficiency of smallholder farmers’ bread wheat production and implications of seed recycling: A stochastic frontier approach
Authors: Eshete Yirgalem , Alamirew Bamlaku 
Published: May 2023

Background: Due to decreasing productivity trends, enhancing farm level technical efficiency (TE) in bread wheat production (BWP) is central to Ethiopia's food security strategy. This requires increased BW productivity through the use of improvements in seeds and TE. However, there is some empirical research that examines the institutional, socio-demographic, economic, and agronomic determinants of the TE of BWP simultaneously. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze determinants of TE and the implication of seed recycling on TE. Methods: The data was gathered from 450 randomly selected sample respondents via structured interviews, focus groups, and interviews with key informants. Data collection took place from December 15, 2021 to January 15, 2022. BW growing smallholder farmers were the major respondent of the study. Quantitative type of data including the number of inputs used, amount of wheat produced, and socio – demographic, economic, agronomic, and institutional variables were gathered and analyzed. The TE and factors affecting it were examined using a stochastic frontier production analysis with a trans-log functional specification. Results: The coefficients for labour (0.086), capital (0.22), fertilizer (0.042), weedicide (0.014), and machinery (0.005) were significantly positive at p<0.001 implying that an optimum increase to these inputs would increase BWP. The mean TE was found to be 79.99% indicating that farmers in the study operate 20.01% less than their potential. Nine of the hypothesized variables (69.2%) had significantly affected TE. Moreover, seed recycling reduced TE by 2.34%. Conclusion: Findings suggest that few farmers are able to grow BW either on the frontier or very close to it, which denotes high TE and poor access to improved seeds leading to seed recycling. Therefore, the farmer-to-farmer (F2F) extension method, which enables farmers to learn from their neighbors and create wider access to improved seeds through seed loans and vouchers are strongly suggested.
A phenomenological analysis of the emotional experiences of graduate preservice student teachers in Indonesia
Authors: Sunardi Sunardi , Rahayu Famala Eka Sanhadi , Rusmawaty Desy , Hermagustiana Istanti , Sunggingwati Dyah 
Published: May 2023

Background: Addressing preservice teachers' emotions can help them develop the emotional connections necessary for successful teaching practicums and professional learning experiences. To understand preservice teachers’ emotions towards their surroundings, the researchers used an emotional geography framework to map out the source of their negative and positive emotions and how those feelings affect their beliefs, teaching style, and paradigms. Emotional geographies were divided into two categories (i.e., emotional distance and emotional closeness), which were further mapped into five major themes (i.e., sociocultural, moral, professional, physical, and political). Methods: This study examined emotional geographies of 15 graduate preservice student teachers of Teacher Training and Education Faculty of Mulawarman University during their teaching practicums. Moreover, this study used a qualitative design involving semi-structured interviews with 15 graduate students who completed their teaching practicums. Results: The participants experienced all emotional geographies (sociocultural, moral, professional, physical, and political) that reshaped their beliefs and teaching styles, especially related to teaching undergraduate students. These emotions are generally experienced when the participants deal with the students and cooperating teachers. Conclusions: It was found that teachers needed to be strict when instilling discipline in their students, develop friendships with their students to maintain classroom control, and require comprehensive preparation to create teacher's confidence and answer their students' questions. In effect, the theoretical framework of emotional geography when teaching undergraduates during practicums gave student teachers valuable experience to cope with all common teaching challenges and professional growth.
Economic evaluations of maternal health interventions: a scoping review
Authors: Eddy Katherine E. , Eggleston Alexander , Chim Sher Ting , Zahroh Rana Islamiah , Sebastian Elizabeth , Bykersma Chloe , McDonald Steve , Homer Caroline S. E. , Scott Nick , Chou Doris , Oladapo Olufemi T. , Vogel Joshua P. 
Published: May 2023

Background Evidence on the affordability and cost-effectiveness of interventions is critical to decision-making for clinical practice guidelines and development of national health policies. This study aimed to develop a repository of primary economic evaluations to support global maternal health guideline development and provide insights into the body of research conducted in this field. Methods A scoping review was conducted to identify and map available economic evaluations of maternal health interventions. We searched six databases (NHS Economic Evaluation Database, EconLit, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and PsycInfo) on 20 November 2020 with no date, setting or language restrictions. Two authors assessed eligibility and extracted data independently. Included studies were categorised by subpopulation of women, level of care, intervention type, mechanism, and period, economic evaluation type and perspective, and whether the intervention is currently recommended by the World Health Organization. Frequency analysis was used to determine prevalence of parameters. Results In total 923 studies conducted in 72 countries were included. Most studies were conducted in high-income country settings (71.8%). Over half pertained to a general population of pregnant women, with the remainder focused on specific subgroups, such as women with preterm birth (6.2%) or those undergoing caesarean section (5.5%). The most common interventions of interest related to non-obstetric infections (23.9%), labour and childbirth care (17.0%), and obstetric complications (15.7%). Few studies addressed the major causes of maternal deaths globally. Over a third (36.5%) of studies were cost-utility analyses, 1.4% were cost-benefit analyses and the remainder were cost-effectiveness analyses. Conclusions This review provides a navigable, consolidated resource of economic evaluations in maternal health. We identified a clear evidence gap regarding economic evaluations of maternal health interventions in low- and middle-income countries. Future economic research should focus on interventions to address major drivers of maternal morbidity and mortality in these settings.
A review of ethical and regulatory issues in the clinical application of stem cell-derived tissue constructs
Authors: Harris Alexander R , McGivern Patrick , Gilbert Frederic 
Published: May 2023

The potential of organoids and other stem cell-derived tissue constructs (SCTC) to be used for clinical applications is developing rapidly. Subsequently, there is an increasing need to understand and address the ethical, legal and regulatory issues around their use. There are a range of health, ethical, regulatory and legal issues associated with SCTCs that will evolve as the technology develops and they become more accepted for clinical use. SCTCs can be used for drug screening, phenotypic disease screening and regenerative medicine applications. Each clinical application has different issues and requirements, there is no perfect, one size fits all SCTC that will cover all applications, even where these different applications assess the same treatment, patient or disease. Currently, there is minimal guidance on the use of SCTCs in clinical applications, but the regulatory requirements will depend on the particular application. There is a tension between population based and personalised SCTCs for drug screening, phenotypic disease screening and regenerative medicine applications; whether experimental trials and subsequent delivery of safe and effective treatments for small or individual patient groups can be developed and their financial viability.