bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dissociation of blood interleukin spectrum in the patients with accelerated aging and diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Agarkov N. M. , Lev I. V. , Voronina E. A. 
Published: February 2024

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus, especially, in elderly persons, due to growth of this population in many countries. However, involvement of immune system in patients with diabetic retinopathy and into the aging process is not sufficiently covered in the research works. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contents of systemic interleukins in the patients with diabetic retinopathy with accelerated versus physiological aging.We observed 240 patients aged 60-74 years with diabetic retinopathy and 115 age-matched patients without diabetic retinopathy under clinical conditions. The diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy was assessed in accordance with Clinical Guidelines of the All-Russian Association of Ophthalmologists “Diagnostics and Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema”. The biological age of the subjects was determined instrumentally, by means of VaSera VS-1500 sphygmomanometer. The contents of interleukins in blood plasma was determined by ELISA technique using the “Protein contour” kit.It was established that the chronological (calendar) age of patients with diabetic retinopathy and without diabetic retinopathy was not significantly different (70.9±0.7 and 70.2±0.8 years old, respectively; p > 0.05). However, the biological age in these groups differed significantly (75.7±1.1 and 72.3±1.0 years old, respectively; p < 0.001), thus suggesting accelerated aging of patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Plasma concentrations of interleukins in patients with diabetic retinopathy with accelerated aging, when compared with physiologically aged patients with diabetic retinopathy revealed statistically significant differences for the most analyzed interleukins. A particularly pronounced increase of the blood plasma interleukins in patients with diabetic retinopathy and accelerated aging was revealed for IL-6 (25.7±1.8 pg/mL versus 4.2±0.5 pg/mL in physiologically aged patients with diabetic retinopathy (p < 0.001). A significant increase of interleukin levels among patients with accelerated aging and diabetic retinopathy was found for IL-13 and IL-17. IL-13 contents in the patients with diabetic retinopathy and accelerated aging reached 2.2±0.3 pg/mL versus 0.7±0.2 pg/mL in physiologically aging patients with diabetic retinopathy (p < 0.001). Respectively, the IL-17 levels were 19.8±0.6 pg/mL and 8.4±0.9 pg/mL. The mean concentration of IL-1b, IL-3 among patients with diabetic retinopathy and accelerated aging was also significantly increased. At the same time, in the blood plasma of the prematurely aged patients with diabetic retinopathy, we have revealed a statistically significant decrease of anti-inflammatory interleukins and, especially, IL-10 to 7.4±0.6 pg/mL versus 19.2±0.7 pg/mL (p < 0.001). Therefore, IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IL-17, IL-4, and IL-10 levels may be used as immunological predictors of accelerated aging in the patients with diabetic retinopathy.
Elasmobranch assemblages from a bathyal environment spanning the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary in Austria
Authors: Feichtinger Iris , Pollerspöck Jürgen , Harzhauser Mathias , Auer Gerald , Kranner Matthias , Guinot Guillaume 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Extensive bulk-sampling of the continuous Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary section at Gams (Styria, Austria) allows for the first time the description of the elasmobranch communities inhabiting the bathyal environment of this well-known section. The sampled succession comprises six horizons from the uppermost Maastrichtian (upper part of Nephrolites frequens Zone CC26) and five horizons from the lowermost Danian (Zone NP1), which yielded a total of 1852 elasmobranch teeth. Although the majority of the teeth are not well preserved, this study enabled the description of at least 16 taxa of the orders Hexanchiformes, Squaliformes, Orectolobiformes, Lamniformes and Carcharhiniformes, providing a rare snapshot of elasmobranch diversity of this specific environmental setting. Beside minor diversity fluctuations between the assemblages, the extensive bulk-sampling of this section did not reveal a marked diversity decline related to the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event. However, a noteworthy correlation between the deepening upward trend of the section with the appearance of frilled and goblin sharks points to changes in palaeobathymetry, which is also reflected in the increase of the total proportion of squaliform teeth in the uppermost sampled horizon. Furthermore, teeth of the extinct triakid Palaeogaleus were recovered exclusively from the Danian deeper deposits, expanding the palaeoecological range of the genus down to fairly deep marine environments. In addition, this study provides the first record of the lamniform Cretolamna ex gr. borealis from the Danian of the Tethyan Realm expanding the palaeogeographic distribution of this group.
Using e-scaffolding to develop students’ scientific reasoning through inquiry-based learning
Authors: Koes Handayanto S. , Fawaiz S. , Taufiq A. 
Published: February 2024

Introduction. Through inquiry-based learning (IBL), scaffolding is provided to help students develop their scientific reasoning (SR). However, the results obtained by students vary depending on their prior knowledge because the strategies of scaffolding vary on demand. Therefore, the different levels of scaffolding should be provided to all students based on their prior knowledge to facilitate their internalisation of new information in the classroom.Aim. The present research aimed to examine students’ SR in a course involving two electronic scaffolding levels (e-scaffolding) in IBL.Methodology and research methods. The authors conducted a mixed-methods explanatory study followed by semi-structured interviews and think-aloud exercises with two classes (experimental and control) of 64 physics students in Indonesia for eight weeks. The authors collected the quantitative data by testing their prior knowledge and SR and obtained the qualitative data from the interviews and the think-aloud exercises, learning activities, photos, videos, and teachers’ notes. ANOVA analysis of the quantitative data and thematic analysis of the qualitative data were performed.Results and scientific novelty. To our knowledge, our research marks the first instance of providing scaffolding with a tiered level option, a feature previously limited to a single level. It was found that there were significant differences in students’ SR based on students’ prior knowledge of the subject. E-scaffolding developed more on SR for students with low prior knowledge. Taking notes as a habit and switching roles during experiments helped improve students’ SR. It was observed that the students with low prior knowledge still needed e-scaffolding buttons to master physics concepts. Meanwhile, the students with high prior knowledge employed e-scaffolding buttons only to answer task completion.Practical significance. Based on the research findings, the tiered e-scaffolding produced in this work opens a new potency to be applied by physics teachers to enhance student’ SR. Additionally, educational technology developers may consider tiered e-scaffolding designs to provide an adaptive system.
Variations in Heart Rate Variability Subsequent to Auriculotherapy Among Individuals Afflicted by Significant Burn Scars
Authors: CHEN CHACHUN , Hsu Chung-Hua , CHEN SANPEI 
Published: February 2024

Background:
Auriculotherapy is a widely used approach for alleviating discomfort in patients experiencing pain, itchiness, sleep disturbances, and heightened anxiety. This method is also applicable to patients dealing with significant burn scars, who often encounter similar symptoms. Employed as an adjuvant therapy, auriculotherapy demonstrates potential in mitigating these clinical manifestations among individuals with major burn scars. These symptoms are known to be influenced by the autonomic nervous system.
Objectives:
Despite the absence of current data elucidating the impact of auriculotherapy on the autonomic nervous system, we embarked on an analysis of our heart rate variability (HRV) data to evaluate autonomic system functionality before and after the administration of auriculotherapy.
Methods:
Paired-samples t-tests and linear regression analysis of HRV variables and correlations with TBSA before and after auriculotherapy of a cohort of 31 survivors from 2016 Formosa Color Dust Explosion was carried out.
Results:
Significant change of specific HRV variables were found before and after auriculotherapy, and significantly negative correlations was revealed between TBSA and pre-SD prior to auriculotherapy.
Conclusion:
Our study showed that auriculotherapy may, at least in part, restore the equilibrium of autonomic nervous system and improve HRV parameters.
Tool assisted Agile approach for Legacy application Migration
Authors: Chatterjee Nachiketa , Majumdar Srijoni , Das Partha Pratim , Chakrabarti Amlan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Many organizations rely on legacy applications for critical business pro- cesses, even though it incurs a huge cost due to obsolete hardware, software, compiler and the like. Replacing the business critical legacy requires extensive expertise to understand business requirements, esti- mate and test coupled with high cost. To ensure a strict cost budget of legacy migration projects, migration specialists need assistance to understand the facts of the legacy application component in a short span of time to estimate and deliver the target components. Avail- able program assistance tools do not address the needs to migrate the legacy applications. We have designed an effective framework to extract the run-time behaviour of the legacy application like function point, complexity, memory accesses and the like so as to estimate the scope and requirements of an application. The framework contains support to comprehend existing legacy applications, develop and test the target application with business-rules, non-functional requirements (NFR), test data, etc. Then we have proposed a tool assisted Agile way-of-working principles by augmenting our tool-set to migrate the legacy application quickly and effciently. The target components can also be validated co- existentially by exchanging live data with the existing legacy. Designed toolset is built on an open-source dynamic instrumentation framework and can be plugged to a wide variety of run-time environments.
Effects of editing of daily feed intake on genetic parameters and predicted breeding values for feed efficiency-related traits in Large White pigs
Authors: de Vargas Lucas , de Freitas Luciana Salles , Gonçalves Flaviana Miranda , Silveira Daniel Duarte da , Campos Gabriel Soares , Kern Elisandra Lurdes , Cobuci Jaime Araujo 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the pre-editing of phenotypic data obtained from electronic feeders in Large White pig breeding company and verify the effect of three data correction methods on the estimated genetic parameters and accuracy of breeding values to improve genetic gains for feed efficiency traits. Feed intake data from 962 Large White boars was used to evaluate the impact of data correction of phenotypic records based on three methods: DS-CSY, adjustment method proposed by Casey; DS-NADJ, without adjustments; DS-ITO, adjustment proposed by Ito. (Co)variance components were calculated for feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and residual feed intake (RFI) based on the datasets generated after editing and correction. The lowest heritabilities (ADFI and RFI) were obtained using the dataset no adjust (DS-NADJ), and the highest was obtained based on the DS-CSY dataset. The genetic correlation between traits ranged from 0.92 to 0.99. Rank correlations of estimated breeding values (EBVs) of all animals across datasets were high (above 0.94) for all traits. The percentage of commonly-selected individuals was high for 10% percentile in all traits (76% to 89%), and the lowest values were found for RFI between datasets in the 5% percentile. The method for pre-editing of daily feed intake (DFI) data from electronic feeders (DS-CSY) resulted in higher heritability and EBV accuracy of the derived traits. The recommended correction method for the data would be the exclusion of 16 error types and adjustment of the error-free DFI.
Effects of High Protein and Low Carbohydrate Smoothie Formulas on Swallowing Capacity in Older Adults: A Cross-Over Study
Authors: Mongkolsucharitkul Pichanun , Pinsawas Bonggochpass , Watcharachaisoponsiri Thareerat , Suta Sophida , Pumeiam Sureeporn , Ophakas Suphawan , Surawit Apinya , Ongard Sunun , Keskool Phawin , Thitisakulchai Poungkaew , Sricha Phisamai , Mayurasakorn Korapat 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Dysphagia is a common problem in older adults that can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Nutrition support is an alternative nutritional therapy, specifically manufactured for the older individuals at risk of dysphagia. This study aimed to develop four high protein (23-34% energy ratio) and low carbohydrate (25-38% energy ratio) smoothie formulas (white sesame (WS) vs. white sesame and low carbohydrate (WSLC) vs. black sesame and low carbohydrate (BSLC) vs. chicken shitake (CS); 1 kcal/ml) for the older people with dysphagia and to assess their effect on swallowing capacity compared to completed commercial formula (Ensure®).
Methods
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over study involved 63 participants aged 65 years or over. Subjects were divided into asymptomatic (n=32, aged 72.9 ± 5.66 year) or symptomatic swallowing difficulty (n=31, aged 75.0 ± 6.48 year) groups based on swallowing screening questionnaires. Swallowing capacity was assessed using Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), performed by experienced healthcare professionals, for three drinks (WS, CS vs. Ensure®) in a blinded random sequence.
Results
Spare retention of a food bolus in each formula had been identified in the asymptomatic (47-66%) and symptomatic (59-71%) groups. WS had fewer premature spills than Ensure® in the symptomatic group, but not in the asymptomatic group (5±0.03 vs. 4.7±0.12, p < 0.05), while CS had fewer premature spills than Ensure®.
Conclusions
This result suggests that consumption of smoothie drinks, particularly WS (51-350 centipoise), may help reduce the risk and severity of food aspiration in the older people at risk compared to commercial formula (1-50 centipoise). These smoothies may be the alternative completed formulas without additional thickeners for the management and supplementation in older people with dysphagia.
Trial registration: Clinical Trial ID: NCT04901182, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04901182 (25/05/2021)
Chemoarchitectural Signatures of Subcortical Shape Alterations in Generalized Epilepsy
Authors: Liao Wei , Meng Yao , Xiao Jinming , Yang Siqi , Li Jiao , Xu Qiang , Zhang Qirui , Lu Guangming , Chen Huafu , Zhang Zhiqiang 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Genetic generalized epilepsies (GGE) exhibit widespread morphometric alterations in the subcortical structures. Subcortical nuclei are essential for understanding GGE pathophysiology, but their fine-grained morphological diversity has yet to be comprehensively investigated. Furthermore, the relationships between macroscale morphological disturbances and microscale molecular chemoarchitectures are unclear. High resolution structural images were acquired from patients with GGE (n = 97) and sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs, n = 184). Individual measurements of surface shape features (thickness and surface area) of seven bilateral subcortical nuclei were quantified. The patients and HCs were then compared vertex-wise, and shape anomalies were co-located with brain neurotransmitter profiles. We found widespread morphological alterations in GGE and prominent disruptions in the thalamus, putamen, and hippocampus. Shape area dilations were observed in the bilateral ventral, medial, and right dorsal thalamus, as well as the bilateral lateral putamen. We found that the shape area deviation pattern was spatially correlated with norepinephrine transporter and nicotinic acetylcholine (Ach) receptor (α4β2) profiles, but a distinct association was seen in the muscarinic Ach receptor (M1).The findings provided a comprehensive picture of subcortical morphological disruptions in GGE, and further characterized the associated molecular mechanisms. This information may increase our understanding of the pathophysiology of GGE.
Fractal Geometry in Tumour Immunoediting
Authors: Soleymani Nasim , Shariatpanahi Seyed Peyman , Goliaei Bahram 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
As being composed of cancer cells and myofibroblasts, different areas including cancer nest and stroma develop in tumor. The latter plays an important role in penetration of immune system. On the other hand, immune cells do not spread evenly in these areas and don’t have the same effect on different cells. Tumor tissue has fractal properties, including a unique fractional dimension along with lacunarity. In this study, by utilizing partial differential equations, we simulate the infiltration and diffusion of immune cells in two areas of modelled tumor tissues. Here, we show that not only is fractal dimension an important factor in immunoediting, but also the fractal architecture of tumor plays a vital role in maintaining tumor in equilibrium. The results show the significance of lacunarity. We define tumor malignancy in models with smaller fractal dimensions and greater lacunarities, in contrast, benign tumors have greater fractal dimensions and smaller lacunarities. Sierpinski Carpet random pre-fractal produces a better model for tumor immunoediting in comparison with non-deterministic Brownian fractal as it reflects immunoediting stages in a more beneficial way for tumor.
Status quo, perception, and preference of secondary prevention medications in post-stroke dysphagia patients: Time to raise awareness and develop special formulations
Authors: Yu Na , Yang Jianhong , Katas Haliza 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) is an increasingly common complication of stroke. Despite its intuitively unfavorable impact on secondary prevention medication use, limited awareness is available regarding this issue. Herein, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the current use, patient-perceived needs and preferences for secondary prevention medications among PSD patients. To highlight the special situation arising from dysphagia, Chinese stroke patients with a duration of under five years were recruited and categorized into PSD and non-PSD groups by initial survey. Only the PSD group continued the needs and preference surveys. Among the 3,490 eligible respondents, 42.7% reported experiencing dysphagia after stroke. Those PSD respondents were more likely to consume multiple medications and suffer from anticoagulants-associated gastrointestinal bleeding as compared to non-PSD ones (p<0.001). More crucially, 40.2% of them had frequent difficulty in swallowing pills, 37.1% routinely crushed solid oral dosage forms (SODFs), and 23.5% coughed frequently when taking SODFs. In consequence, 87.4% responded a need for PSD-specific formulations where safe swallowing, easy swallowing, and reduced medication frequency were preferred pharmaceutical factors.These findings demonstrate an unsatisfactory situation and definite needs for PSD patients in using secondary prevention medications. Awareness should be increased to develop PSD-specific formulations for safe and effective secondary prevention.
Real-world evidence of treatment patterns and survival of metastatic gastric cancer patients in Germany
Authors: Luna Jaime , Picker Nils , Wilke Thomas , Lutz Magnus , Hess Jürgen , Mörtl Bernhard , Xiong Yan , Götze Thorsten Oliver 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background: Patients with metastatic gastric cancer (mGC) have poor prognosis. This real-world study aimed to describe treatment regimens and survival of mGC patients.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using anonymized German claims data (AOK PLUS) covering a period from 2010 to 2021. The study population included newly diagnosed mGC cases identified from 2011 to 2020. The index date was defined as the first diagnosis of metastasis on or after gastric cancer diagnosis. Therapy regimens were identified based on inpatient and outpatient data, and subsequently stratified by line of treatment. Survival analyses were conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results: The cohort consisted of 5,278 mGC incident cases (mean age: 72.7 years; male: 61.9%). Nearly half of the incident cases received mGC-related treatment (49.8%). Treated patients were more often male, younger, and had fewer comorbidities compared to untreated patients. Of the 2,629 mGC patients who started the first line of treatment (1LOT), 32.8% switched to 2LOT, and 10.2% reached 3LOT. The median real-world overall survival (rwOS) since diagnosis was 8.5 months (95% CI 8.1 – 9.0 months). The survival rate estimation was 41.1% (95%CI 39.8% - 42.5%) at 1 year. Longer survival was observed among treated patients (12.7 months) compared with untreated patients (3.7 months).
Conclusion: Systemic therapy was not received in almost half of the mGC patients. In those patients, a very short median rwOS was observed. Treatment patterns were in line with the guideline recommendations, however, therapy switching rates and poor prognosis indicate high unmet needs also in the treated population.
Transcriptomics analysis of long non-coding RNAs in smooth muscle cells from patients with peripheral artery disease and diabetes mellitus
Authors: Yundung Yankey , Mohammed Shafeeq , Paneni Francesco , Reutersberg Benedikt , Rössler Fabian , Zimmermann Alexander , Pelisek Jaroslav 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant risk factor for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and PAD is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disorders (CVDs). Growing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) significantly contribute to disease development and underlying complications, particularly affecting smooth muscle cells (SMCs). So far, no study has focused on transcriptome analysis of lncRNAs in PAD patients with and without DM. Tissue samples were obtained from our Vascular Biobank. Due to the sample’s heterogeneity, expression analysis of lncRNAs in whole tissue detected only ACTA2-AS1 with 4.9-fold increase in PAD patients with DM. In contrast, transcriptomics of SMCs revealed 28 lncRNAs significantly differentially expressed between PAD with and without DM (FDR < 0.1). Sixteen lncRNAs were of unknown function, six were described in cancer, one connected with macrophages polarisation, and five were associated with CVDs, mainly with SMC function and phenotypic switch (NEAT1, XIST, MIR222HG, MIR100HG, HIF1A-AS3, MRI29B2CHG). The enrichment analysis revealed additional lncRNAs H19, CARMN, FTX, and MEG3 linked with DM. Our study revealed several lncRNAs in diabetic PAD patients associated with the physiological function of SMCs. These lncRNAs might serve as potential therapeutic targets to improve the function of SMCs within the diseased tissue and, thus, the clinical outcome.