bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polymorphic Variants in the Vitamin D Receptor and Clinical Parameters of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Undergoing Anti-TNF Treatment
Authors: Wielińska Joanna , Górna Katarzyna , Świerkot Jerzy , Bugaj Bartosz , Kolossa Katarzyna , Jeka Sławomir , Bogunia-Kubik Katarzyna 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Vitamin D levels have been related to the severity and progression of various autoimmune disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of genetic variability in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene on disease susceptibility and progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. The study comprises 121 RA patients subjected to anti-TNF therapy genotyped for four VDR polymorphic variants: rs1544410 (BsmI), rs2228570 (FokI), rs731236 (TaqI), and rs7975232 (ApaI). There was no significant association between RA susceptibility and VDR genetic variants. The study results revealed that patients with the rs2228570 CC genotype were characterized by lower vitamin D3 levels (p = 0.028) than those with the T allele. Also, the vitamin D3 levels (p = 0.029) and age at diagnosis (p = 0.017) were significantly lower in rs7975232 A allele carriers compared to CC homozygotes. However, after 6 months of therapy, the A allele seemed to be related to lower disease activity score 28 (DAS28) values (p = 0.030) and more common in patients who achieved remission (p = 0.004) compared to the CC genotype. Concerning other investigated polymorphisms, patients carrying rs1544410 AA and rs731236 CC homozygosity had lower C-reactive protein (CRP) levels before therapy (p = 0.009). In conclusion, VDR rs2228570 and rs7975232 polymorphic variants were found to be related to vitamin D3 levels. Moreover, the genotyping of rs7975232 was also useful in evaluating disease onset and disease activity after 6 months of therapy with TNF inhibitors in RA patients.
Changes in soluble PD-L1 levels in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Ta Thang Ba , Pham Nhung Thi Kim , Nguyen Dung Tien , Tran Tien Viet , Tran Cuong Tan , Cong Luong Thuc , Vu Hoan Ngoc , Le Hien Thi Dieu , Dao Bang Ngoc 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Soluble programmed death-1 ligand (sPD-L1) in the serum of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is a crucial factor in disease prognosis and an indicator for immunotherapy response. This study aimed to evaluate changes in sPD-L1 levels in advanced NSCLC patients. Between May 2018 and October 2022, 80 patients with advanced-stage NSCLC and 30 healthy volunteers participated in a prospective study.
The findings revealed a significant rise in sPD-L1 concentration in the lung cancer group compared to the normal control group (1.08 vs. 0.42, p < 0.001). No apparent correlation was found between sPD-L1 concentration and membrane-bound programmed death-1 ligand (mPD-L1) expression. The optimal diagnostic threshold for sPD-L1 was set at 0.92 ng/mL, showing a sensitivity of 56.25% and specificity of 77.33%, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.743 (p = 0.001).
Although increased sPD-L1 levels were prevalent in individuals with advanced age, prolonged disease duration, large tumor size, and finger clubbing, these associations did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). In conclusion, sPD-L1 levels significantly increased in advanced NSCLC patients compared to controls (p < 0.05), with no association observed with mPD-L1 (p = 0.304). The study suggests that sPD-L1 concentration can be a specific biomarker for guiding the diagnosis of advanced NSCLC, with a recommended cutoff value of 0.92 ng/mL, demonstrating a sensitivity of 56.25% and specificity of 77.33% (p = 0.001). Importantly, no apparent relationship was established between sPD-L1 levels and clinical or paraclinical characteristics in advanced NSCLC patients.
Transport Phenomena Research in Microgravity via the ISS National Lab to Benefit Life on Earth
Authors: Irace Phillip H. , Reeves Ryan D. , Stephens Shawn , Roberts Michael S. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory provides an ideal platform in persistent microgravity to conduct research in the absence of gravity-induced phenomena (e.g., buoyancy-driven convection and sedimentation), enabling opportunities for breakthrough science. Since 2016, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) Division has partnered with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™), manager of the ISS National Lab, to release an annual joint solicitation in transport phenomena research on the ISS to benefit life on Earth. To date, the NSF-CASIS partnership has yielded 37 NSF-funded research investigations sponsored by the ISS National Lab. This paper highlights a few of the important scientific discoveries that have resulted from the fruitful NSF-CASIS collaboration and offers insight into the importance of expanding collaborations between government agencies to increase access to space and enable groundbreaking research that benefits humanity. Research areas explored include biophysics, combustion, complex fluids, fluid dynamics, heat transfer and multiphase flow, and materials science.
Enhanced cryptographic performance and security using optimized edward-elgamal signature scheme for IoT and blockchain applications
Authors: Kavitha S. , Srinivasan J. , Ramachandran P. , Nasurulla I. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and blockchain technology requires robust and efficient cryptographic solutions to ensure secure communication and data integrity. This paper presents an optimized Edward-Elgamal signature algorithm that uses Edward curved signature storage mechanism to improve performance in IoT and blockchain environments to overcome the limitations of schemes, especially Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) and Hyper-ECDSA. The proposed method achieved faster signature generation times, with a 33% improvement over ECDSA and a 25% improvement over Hyper-ECDSA, making it more suitable for faster applications. The validation times of the optimized systems were relatively low, with a 32% improvement over ECDSA and a 24% improvement over Hyper-ECDSA. The efficiency of the proposed system was significantly higher, showing a 51% improvement over ECDSA and a 35% improvement over Hyper-ECDSA. The latency was reduced by 33% compared to ECDSA and 26% compared to Hyper-ECDSA, indicating the effectiveness of the optimized system in terms of time-related performance. This paper contributes to the advancement of cryptographic techniques and provides suitable solutions for secure IoT and blockchain applications. The proposed system achieves a highest improvement rate in key performance parameters over existing methods, resulting in a robust solution for modern cryptography requirements.
Understanding Inward-Looking Nationalism: An Instrumentalist Approach in Analyzing the Discourse of The People’s Alliance in Turkey1
Authors: Akbaba Sertan 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Many theories, approaches, definitions have been laid down for the understanding of nationalism, which simultaneously produces many questions to answer later on. One of the recent debates is the ‘inward looking’ nature of nationalism. Whether it is the recent pandemic, Brexit, or alarming rates of Islamophobia in the West with an identitarian populist flavor, the issue pertains to nationalism, or for some, nativism. Contemporaneously with an ‘inward looking’ instrumentalist nature, it uncovers new debates arising out of the conflicts in today’s nation-states. One of these appears to be the ruling coalition known as the ‘People’s Alliance’ (de facto alliance between the Justice and Development party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi) and the National Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi) in Turkey thanks to its nationalist rhetoric, yet with an ‘inward looking’ direction. The deepening of polarization is causing a mutual fear, mistrust, and antipathy among the people in Turkey. As the coalition aims to re-invigorate the nation, its opponents are claiming it is a dissemination of hatred. This political rift is deepening via the political discourse and atmosphere. The goal of this paper is to inquire into this via a critical discourse analysis. The study analyzes the discourse of the party leaders forming the People’s Alliance. This discourse displays an inward-looking nationalist rhetoric, circling around three prominent issues: the proclamation of opponents as traitors via a blame shifting rhetoric; the protection of the fate of the coalition as the savior of the country; and finally, the determination of who adheres to the nation or not via the native and national (yerli ve milli) debate.
The ability of artificial intelligence to distinguish abnormal from normal EEG in patients suspected of epilepsy – updated literature review
Authors: Kopka Marcin 
Published: November 2024

Summary

Introduction
In patients suspected of epilepsy, electroencephalography (EEG) is an essential tool in the diagnostic workup. Currently, visual analysis of interictal epileptiform discharges by experts is the gold standard. Neurophysiologists perform an analysis of EEG through visual inspection. This is very time-consuming and inefficient. There is an increasing need to develop reliable and validated automated EEG analysis methods. Methods based on artificial intelligence can potentially help achieve this task.

Aim
The present review paper aims to present the current state of knowledge regarding the ability of artificial intelligence to distinguish abnormal from normal EEG in patients suspected of epilepsy.

Material and methods
This review covers the most relevant and recent papers identified using the PubMed database.

Results and discussion
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve the management of epilepsy. It was shown that AI could distinguish normal from abnormal recordings, detect seizures, or detect interictal epileptiform discharges. The AI model (SCORE-AI) was developed and validated to assess routine clinical EEGs comprehensively. The sensitivity of SCORE-AI (86.7%) was lower than the sensitivity of the human experts (93.3%) and two models, Encevis (96.7%) and Persyst (100%) but higher than the sensitivity of SpikeNet (66.7%). The accuracy of SCORE-AI was similar to that of human experts and higher than that of the three previously published AI models. SCORE-AI achieves high specificity similar to the human raters and significantly higher accuracy than the three previously published AI models.

Conclusion
Methods based on artificial intelligence can potentially be helpful in EEG analysis. SCORE-AI may reduce excessive workloads for experts who interpret high volumes of EEG recordings. The SCORE-AI is the first model capable of completing a fully automated and comprehensive clinically relevant assessment of routine EEGs.
The Rate of Decline of Sugarbeet Cyst Nematode in Central California Under Nonhost Crops May Impact Biofuel Production
Authors: Westerdahl B. B. , Caswell-Chen E. P. , Kegel F. R. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Crop rotation has been a commercial practice for managing the sugarbeet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii, SBCN) since the 1950s. Research conducted in southern California established that SBCN populations decline at the rate of 49% to 80% per year, leading to estimates that three- to four-year rotations to nonhost crops would be sufficient to reduce SBCN densities to nondamaging levels. Following grower reports that much longer rotations were needed in central California, trials were conducted to establish the rate of decline of SBCN in the San Joaquin Valley. Ten commercial fields with a history of SBCN infestation were sampled periodically for up to 6.3 years. In each field, 10 circular subplots located 30.5 meters apart (each with a 6-m radius) were established with reference to a permanent landmark. On each sampling date, 12 subsamples from each subplot were taken randomly from the top 0 cm to 30 cm of soil and composited into a single sample. Standard techniques were utilized to extract and count cysts and eggs from soil samples. Average yearly rates of population decline in the sampled fields ranged from 11.4% to 25.8%. This finding has implications for SBCN management in California sugarbeets grown for biofuel, as the lower decline rates indicate that longer nonhost rotation periods than previously anticipated may be necessary.
Comparison of machine learning models predicting the pull-off strength of modified epoxy resin floors
Authors: Moj Mateusz , Kampa Łukasz , Czarnecki Sławomir 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
It is becoming popular to replace destructive laboratory testing with related nondestructive testing (NDT) and/or machine learning (ML) techniques. Such an approach is becoming particularly desirable in operating facilities, where failing components result not only in the need for repair but also in the suspension of facility use for up to several months. Supporting construction work with artificial intelligence (AI) offers the potential for breakthroughs in this area. Commonly, this approach is already being used in the construction industry to determine compressive strength using, for example, information about the composition of a composite. Determination of pull-off strength can be approached in a similar way. In this paper, the ML model presented can be used to predict the pull-off strength of resin coatings containing granite powder and linen fibers. To obtain satisfactory results, the selected ML algorithms were analyzed on a database consisting of 140 sets of parameter values containing information about the composition of the resin coating. Indices indicating high performance (R = 0.885; RMSE = 0.138; MAPE = 3.72%) were obtained by a model based on the random forest (RF) algorithm containing 160 trees with a depth of 10 nodes. A comparison of the predicted fb pull-off strength with the strength determined by in-situ tests was developed. The results suggest that using artificial intelligence to determine the fb of resin coatings is a promising alternative.
ENHANCE THE AQUEOUS SOLUBILITY OF DICLOFENAC THROUGH THE SYNTHESIS OF DICLOFENAC-INOSITOL PRODRUG
Authors: Qader Hemn Latif , Alsheikhly Omar Abdulrahman , Hamadameen Hama Hewa Abdulla , Qader Adnan Burhan 
Published: November 2024

Due to limited aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability makes oral dosage formulations difficult to formulate. Chemical alteration of medicinal compounds improves solubility. Prodrug design is a popular molecular modification method that improves solubility and oral bioavailability. This study aims to synthesize a diclofenac prodrug to enhance aqueous solubility. In this study, diclofenac was esterified with inositol to make a prodrug (DIP), which was identified by 1H-NMR and FT-IR. A computational pharmacokinetic software was used to study DIP's pharmacokinetic profile, and saturation solubility was measured in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) and 0.1 HCl (pH 1.2) solutions. The ester bands of (C=O) stretch at 1739 cm-1 and the elimination of H signals of carboxylic acid at 10-12 ppm in the 1H-NMR spectrum proved the synthesis of (DIP). Diclofenac solubility increased 827-fold in phosphate buffer solution (p < 0.05) from 0.059± 0.0164 mg/ml to 48.8± 0.034 mg/ml, primarily due to polarity change. The solubility of diclofenac and (DIP) in 0.1 N HCl (pH 1.2) was 0.016± 0.0031 and 0.018± 0.002, respectively. The improvement in solubility in the acidic medium was non-significant (p > 0.05) due to acid hydrolysis of the ester bond between inositol and the drug. The synthesis of diclofenac prodrug can greatly enhance its water solubility.
АГРОХИМИЧЕСКОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ ТЕМНО-СЕРЫХ ЛЕСНЫХ ПОЧВ ПРИ ДЛИТЕЛЬНОМ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИИ ПОД ПАШНЮ
Authors: Павлова К.М. , Виноградов Д.В. , Березнов А.В. , Габибов М.А. 
Published: November 2024

За последние несколько лет из-за снижения использования минеральных и органических удобрений, а также уменьшения работ, направленных на защиту почв, усилились проблемы деградации почвенного покрова России. Изыскания проводили на тёмно-серой лесной тяжелосуглинистой почве со средним уровнем плодородия. Опыт развернут в зернопропашном севообороте в четырехкратной повторности. Согласно результатам испытания, наименьшей кислотностью среди вариантов характеризуется почва, в которую заделывали фон, солому и навоз, а наибольшей та, где вносили фон с навозом. Содержание органического вещества варьировалось от 3,61 до 5,33 %. При заделывании в почву соломы и навоза отмечается максимальный эффект накопления гумуса. Внесение удобрений ведет к уменьшению содержания подвижных фосфора и калия. Массовая доля подвижных элементов на опытных участках выше, чем на территории лесополосы и залежи в 5,3-9,0 и 1,4-2,8 раз для фосфора и калия, соответственно. Самое низкое содержание общего азота зафиксировано в варианте, в котором не заделывали удобрения. Результаты испытаний позволяют рекомендовать солому и навоз в качестве наиболее эффективного удобрения для улучшения свойств и качества почвенного покрова.
Over the past few years, due to a decrease in the use of mineral and organic fertilizers, as well as a decrease in work aimed at protecting soils, the problems of soil degradation in Russia have intensified. The surveys were carried out on dark gray forest heavy loamy soil with an average level of fertility. The experience has been deployed in a four-fold crop rotation. According to the test results, the lowest acidity among the variants is characterized by the soil in which the background, straw and manure were embedded, and the highest in which the background with manure was introduced. The organic matter content ranged from 3.61 to 5.33%. When straw and manure are embedded in the soil, the maximum effect of humus accumulation is noted. Fertilization leads to a decrease in the content of mobile phosphorus and potassium. The mass fraction of mobile elements in the experimental sites is 5.3-9.0 and 1.4-2.8 times higher than in the territory of the forest belt and deposits for phosphorus and potassium, respectively. The lowest total nitrogen content was recorded in the variant in which fertilizers were not embedded. The test results allow us to recommend straw and manure as the most effective fertilizer to improve the properties and quality of the soil cover.
ЭФФЕКТИВНЫЙ МЕТОД РАСЧЁТНОГО ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЯ БОНИТЕТА ПОЧВ
Authors: Усков И.Б. , Усков А.О. 
Published: November 2024

Предлагается регрессионная зависимость для вычисления бонитета дерново-подзолистых почв под зерновые, корнеплоды и многолетние травы. Уравнение аппроксимирует сводку таблиц, обобщающих данные многолетних полевых наблюдений на сельскохозяйственных уго4.ьях Северо-Западного региона европейской части России, опубликованных В.А. Семёновым.
A regression dependence is proposed for calculating the soil-site index of sod-podzolic soils for grains, root crops and perennial grasses. The equation approximates a summary of tables summarizing the data of long-term field observations on agricultural land in the Northwestern region of the European part of Russia, published by V.A. Semyonov.
УРОЖАЙНОСТЬ И КАЧЕСТВО ЗЕРНА ОЗИМОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ В ЗАВИСИМОСТИ ОТ ПРЕДШЕСТВЕННИКОВ В ЗЕРНОТРАВЯНОПРОПАШНОМ СЕВООБОРОТЕ В ЮЖНОЙ ЧАСТИ НЕЧЕРНОЗЕМНОЙ ЗОНЫ
Authors: Свирина В.А. , Черногаев В.Г. 
Published: November 2024

Установлено влияние предшественников и фона удобрений на урожайность и качество зерна озимой пшеницы в условиях центральной части Нечерноземной зоны на темно-серой лесной тяжелосуглинистой почве. Наибольшая урожайность озимой пшеницы по предшественнику получена на фоне внесения удобрений в вариантах с клевером и бобово-злаковыми травами второго года пользования – 5,19 и 6,04 т/га соответственно. В этих же вариантах было наиболее качественное зерно: содержание белка, соответственно, 12,2 и 12,61%, клейковины – 26,8 и 26,0%. При этом наибольшая концентрация азота в зерне озимой пшеницы отмечена в севообороте с многолетними и злаковыми травами второго года пользования – 1,98 и 2,14% соответственно.Урожайность по предшественнику (черный пар без удобрений) на контроле составила – 3,72 т/га.
The effect of predecessors and fertilizer background on the yield and grain quality of winter wheat in the central part of the Non-Chernozem zone on dark gray forest heavy loamy soil was established. The highest yield of winter wheat by predecessor was obtained against the background of fertilizer application in variants with clover and legume-cereal grasses of the second year of use – 5.19 and 6.04 t / ha, respectively. In the same variants, there was the highest quality grain: protein content, respectively, 12.2 and 12.61%, gluten – 26.8 and 26.0%, phosphorus and potassium content. At the same time, the highest concentration of nitrogen in winter wheat grain was noted in crop rotation with perennial and cereal grasses of the second year of use – 1.98 and 2.14%, respectively. The yield by predecessor (black fallow without fertilizers) in the control was 3.72 t / ha.
ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЯ КАРБАМИДА ПРОЛОНГИРОВАННОГО ДЕЙСТВИЯ В ПОЧВЕ И ЕГО ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ В ПОСЕВАХ ЯРОВОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ
Authors: Волкова М.А. , Лапушкин В.М. 
Published: November 2024

Представлены результаты полевых опытов по изучению эффективности различных вариаций карбамида с замедленным высвобождением азота в посевах яровой пшеницы, а также лабораторных опытов по оценке динамики превращения амидного азота удобрений в почве. В полевых исследованиях установлено, что все медленнодействующие модификации карбамида способствовали оптимизации азотного питания растений пшеницы в наиболее требовательные фазы развития, что благоприятно отразилось на ее урожайности. Применение капсулированного карбамида способствовало получению прибавки урожая на уровне 13%, применение ингибитора нитрификации увеличивало урожайность на 11%, а ингибитора уреазной активности – на 8% относительно обычной мочевины. Компостирование почвы с различными формами карбамида показало, что покрытие гранул карбамида дигидроортофосфатом кальция существенно замедляет процесс аммонификации в течение первых 3 суток, уменьшая содержание аммония в почве на 22-41% по сравнению с обычной формой удобрения. Снижение интенсивности процесса нитрификации отмечалось в период с 21 до 35 суток, при этом накопление нитратного азота в почве снижалось на 11-22%.
The article presents data from field experiments to study the effectiveness of various forms of urea in spring wheat crops, as well as the results of laboratory experience in assessing the dynamics of conversion of amide nitrogen of various forms of urea in the soil. The use of encapsulated urea contributed to an increase in yield of 13%, the use of a nitrification inhibitor increased the yield by 11%, and a urease activity inhibitor by 8% relative to conventional urea. Composting soil with various forms of urea showed that coating urea granules with calcium dihydrogen orthophosphate has the effect of significantly slowing down the ammonification process during the first 3 days, reducing the ammonium content in the soil by 22-41% compared to the conventional form of fertilizer. A decrease in the intensity of the nitrification process was noted in the period from 21 to 35 days, while the accumulation of nitrate nitrogen in the soil decreased by 11-22%.