bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of DNA-PK potentiates the synergistic effect of NK314 and etoposide combination on human glioblastoma cells
Authors: Kopa Paulina , Macieja Anna , Gulbas Izabela , Pastwa Elzbieta , Poplawski Tomasz 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Etoposide (VP-16) is the topoisomerase 2 (Top2) inhibitor used for treating of glioma patients however at high dose with serious side effects. It induces DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). These DNA lesions are repaired by non-homologous DNA end joining (NHEJ) mediated by DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). One possible approach to decrease the toxicity of etoposide is to reduce the dose while maintaining the anticancer potential. It could be achieved through combined therapy with other anticancer drugs. We have assumed that this objective can be obtained by (1) a parallel topo2 α inhibition and (2) sensitization of cancer cells to DSBs. In this work we investigated the effect of two Top2 inhibitors NK314 and VP-16 in glioma cell lines (MO59 K and MO59 J) sensitized by DNA-PK inhibitor, NU7441. Cytotoxic effect of VP-16, NK314 alone and in combination on human glioblastoma cell lines, was assessed by a colorimetric assay. Genotoxic effect of anticancer drugs in combination with NU7441 was assessed by comet assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were analysed by flow cytometry. Compared with VP-16 or NK314 alone, the combined treatment significantly inhibited cell proliferation. Combination treatment was associated with a strong accumulation of DSBs, modulated cell cycle phases distribution and apoptotic cell death. NU7441 potentiated these effects and additionally postponed DNA repair. Our findings suggest that NK314 could overcome resistance of MO59 cells to VP-16 and NU7441 could serve as sensitizer to VP-16/NK314 combined treatment. The combined tripartite approach of chemotherapy could reduce the overall toxicity associated with each individual therapy, while concomitantly enhancing the anticancer effect to treat human glioma cells. Thus, the use of a tripartite combinatorial approach could be promising and more efficacious than mono therapy or dual therapy to treat and increase the survival of the glioblastoma patients.
Inferring proxy response in household travel surveys with unknown completer using a group-based choice model
Authors: Maruyama Takuya , Hosotani Kenta , Kawano Tomoki 
Published: October 2019

AbstractA proxy response is often accepted for household travel surveys to reduce the survey cost and increase the sample size, but proxy-response biases may be introduced into the sample data. To investigate and correct the bias, completer information for the survey is important, but such information is not always available in practice. This study proposes a novel model that can be applicable in situations where completer information is unavailable. The method introduces group-decision modeling in analyzing the response choices of the household travel survey, where the survey response is considered to be a task allocation among household members. The proposed model can infer the probability of proxy response and the proxy-response bias of trip-related records without completer information. The potential of the proposed model was confirmed by application to a household travel survey in Japan. The inferred probability of the proxy response and the inferred bias without completer data demonstrated surprisingly similar results to the existing study with actual proxy-response data. Specifically, the model inferred a high probability of proxy response in young adults and a low proxy probability in middle-aged females, and the model inferred the proxy-response bias that female proxy respondents in the middle-aged group report lower trip rates than self-respondents. This method will be valuable not only in travel surveys, but also in the general research and practice of social surveys.
On the Benefits and Challenges of Crowd-Sourced Network Performance Measurements for IoT Scenarios
Authors: Mikkelsen Lars Møller , Madsen Tatiana Kozlova , Schwefel Hans-Peter 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Systems within IoT domains such as ITS, Smart City, Smart Grid and other, often rely on real-time information and communication. These types of systems often include geographically distributed nodes which are connected via cellular or other wireless networks. This means great variability and uncertainty in network connection performance, effectively increasing the expected minimum system response time. Having information about network connection performance means that it is possible to predict the performance of the system in terms of sensor access delay or application response time. We obtain the performance information, in terms of signal strength and transport layer round trip time, using crowd sourcing and consumer devices which causes the measurements to be heterogeneously distributed. From these measurements we want to create a network performance map but in areas with sparse measurements the reliability of the map values will be low. To solve this problem we include neighboring measurements and evaluate the impact of doing so. We show that generally there is a benefit from including neighboring measurements, and that transport layer round trip times are less sensitive to bias when increasing the size of the extended area to include measurements from.
Douglas-fir climate sensitivity at two contrasting sites along the southern limit of the European planting range
Authors: Castaldi Cristiano , Marchi Maurizio , Vacchiano Giorgio , Corona Piermaria 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) is an important exotic tree species that was planted across a large part of Europe during the last century. In both experimental trials and conventional forest plantations, the trees grow at a high rate and produce high-quality timber. The present study investigated climate-growth relationships of Douglas-fir at two Italian sites that contrast in climate: a Mediterranean area in southern Italy (Mercurella site) and a cooler, moister site in the northern Apennines without summer aridity (Acquerino). The relationship between tree-ring chronologies and monthly climatic variables was evaluated by a moving average and correlation analysis. Results showed that the minimum temperature in February and in March play a key role for Douglas-fir at both sites, with a positive effect on growth. At the northern site, it is also highly sensitive to late summer temperatures (negative correlation) and spring–summer precipitation (positive correlation). Growth rates in southern latitudes were high even in Europe and in the Mediterranean environment, with low sensitivity to climatic fluctuation. On the basis of our results, further common garden experiments should test adaptation and the interaction between genetics and environment of second- or third-generation seeds from old stands across Europe such as done by the old International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) or the European Douglas-fir Improvement Research Cooperative (EUDIREC) experimentation programmes.
Investigation of negative effects of rice husk silica on komatsuna growth using three experiments
Authors: Sekifuji Ryoko , Van Chieu Le , Tateda Masafumi 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPurposeThis study aims to evaluate the potential negative effects of rice husk as a source of fertilizer on plant growth.MethodsGrowth tests were conducted on komatsuna (Brassica rapavar.perviridis) using three types of experiment. A pot experiment was conducted to compare different fertilizers on an individual basis. A second pot experiment was conducted to compare different mixtures of fertilizers. Finally, a field experiment was performed to determine the effects of the application of different quantities of silica.ResultsThe results showed that komatsuna grew better with the application of silica mixed with fertilizer, and that there was an optimal quantity of silica to be used, when used on its own. It was found that, in all cases, the silica in the rice husk ash did not have any measurable negative effects on the growth of the komatsuna.ConclusionsWe, therefore, conclude that rice husk silica can undoubtedly be used for plant cultivation.
Fractional differential equations and Volterra–Stieltjes integral equations of the second kind
Authors: Asanov Avyt , Almeida Ricardo , Malinowska Agnieszka B. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we construct a method to find approximate solutions to fractional differential equations involving fractional derivatives with respect to another function. The method is based on an equivalence relation between the fractional differential equation and the Volterra–Stieltjes integral equation of the second kind. The generalized midpoint rule is applied to solve numerically the integral equation and an estimation for the error is given. Results of numerical experiments demonstrate that satisfactory and reliable results could be obtained by the proposed method.
Identification and modelling of applicable wear conditions for stir cast Al-composite
Authors: Sardar Santanu , Karmakar Santanu Kumar , Das Debdulal 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
A comprehensive study of the tribological performance of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu/Al2O3 composite and its matrix alloy is presented in this paper, with a specific emphasis to identify and model the applicable wear conditions where the composite provides a minimum of 50% reduction in wear rate and 25% lowering of the friction coefficient. Two-body abrasion experiments following Taguchi L27 orthogonal design have been performed separately on alloy and composite materials, both prepared by the stir casting method. The influence of crucial control factors including silicon carbide (SiC) abrasive size, load, sliding distance, and velocity on the percentage variations of wear rates and friction coefficients between alloy and composite have been studied using the analysis of variance technique and full quadratic regression method. The dominant control factors are identified as abrasive size, load, and the interaction between abrasive size and load. This has been verified by establishing the influence of abrasive size and load on variations of wear mechanisms like microcutting, microploughing, and delamination, identified by means of in-depth characterization of worn surfaces and generated debris for both alloy and composite. The selection of applicable tribological condition for the composite has been accomplished by adopting the multi-response optimization technique based on combined desirability approach to obtain concurrent optimization of the percentage variations of wear rates and friction coefficients. Predictive models correlating the superiority of tribological performance of composite with abrasion conditions have been developed, and these are found to be accurate (errors <10%), as determined by confirmatory experiment.
Assessment of water-based cutting fluids with green additives in broaching
Authors: Ni Jing , Feng Kai , He Lihua , Liu Xiaofan , Meng Zhen 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In order to improve the cutting performance in broaching, the lubrication and cleaning effects offered by water-based cutting fluids with green additives need to be studied from the viewpoint of green manufacturing. Therefore, water-based solutions with castor oil, surfactant (linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, LAS), and nanographite were prepared by ultrasonic agitation and sprayed into the zone of broaching via atomization. The performances of the cutting fluids, in terms of the viscosity, specific heat, wetting angle, and droplet size, were evaluated to discuss their effects on the broaching load. Among the fluids, the addition of LAS into oil-in-water (WO-S), where its cutting fluid with 10 wt.% castor oil and 1.5 wt.% surfactant, exhibited the lowest broaching force. With regard to the lubricating and cleaning mechanisms, WO-S has good wettability and permeability, and hence, can lubricate the cutting edge of the tool to decrease the cutting load, cool the cutting edge to keep it sturdy, and clean the surface of the cutting edge to keep it sharp. The results reveal that the simultaneous addition of castor oil and LAS had remarkable effects on the lubrication and cleaning, and resulted in a broaching load reduction of more than 10% compared to commercial cutting fluids. However, the addition of nanographite could not improve the lubrication owing to its agglomeration.
Deciphering Brain Complexity using Single-Cell Sequencing
Authors: Mu Quanhua , Chen Yiyun , Wang Jiguang 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The human brain contains billions of highly differentiated and interconnected cells that form intricate neural networks and collectively control the physical activities and high-level cognitive functions, such as memory, decision-making, and social behavior. Big data is required to decipher the complexity of cell types, as well as connectivity and functions of the brain. The newly developed single-cell sequencing technology, which provides a comprehensive landscape of brain cell type diversity by profiling the transcriptome, genome, and/or epigenome of individual cells, has contributed substantially to revealing the complexity and dynamics of the brain and providing new insights into brain development and brain-related disorders. In this review, we first introduce the progresses in both experimental and computational methods of single-cell sequencing technology. Applications of single-cell sequencing-based technologies in brain research, including cell type classification, brain development, and brain disease mechanisms, are then elucidated by representative studies. Lastly, we provided our perspectives into the challenges and future developments in the field of single-cell sequencing. In summary, this mini review aims to provide an overview of how big data generated from single-cell sequencing have empowered the advancements in neuroscience and shed light on the complex problems in understanding brain functions and diseases.
Declining incidence of dementia: A national registry‐based study over 20 years
Authors: Taudorf Lærke , Nørgaard Ane , Islamoska Sabrina , Jørgensen Kasper , Laursen Thomas Munk , Waldemar Gunhild 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this study was to investigate the registry‐based national time trends in incidence and prevalence rates of dementia from 1996 to 2015.MethodsWe assessed annual incidence and prevalence using longitudinal data from nationwide registries on dementia status and demographics on all residents ≥ 65 years old in Denmark.ResultsOur population comprised 2 million people, of whom 152,761 were diagnosed with dementia. The age‐ and sex‐adjusted incidence rate increased, on average, by 9% annually from 1996 to 2003, followed by a 2% annual decline, while total prevalence increased during the whole period.DiscussionThis is the first study to report continuous time trends of incidence and prevalence in an entire national population. The incidence rate has declined steadily since 2003, while the total prevalence is still increasing. Future health care planning on prevention and treatment of dementia should take these findings into account.
Hyperobjects, Media, and Assemblages of Collective Living: Playing With Ontology as Environmental Education
Authors: Bazzul Jesse 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThis article emphasises the importance of creative thought for environmental education through a discussion of the ontologically rich work of Anna Tsing, Timothy Morton and John Peters. The recent turn toward ontology in the humanities and social sciences has consequently led to diverse theories about ‘how things are’, and some of these concepts might assist justice-oriented environmental educators in raising ecological awareness in a time of crisis. Using assemblages, media and hyperobjects as concepts to (re)imagine the the world(s) of the Anthropocene, this article promotes a practice of ontic-play, a constantly changing engagement with ontological thought. To think through ecological crisis means moving towards philosophy as creation or art. In other words, engaging thought from the future.
Making Peasants Chèf: The Tonton Makout Militia and the Moral Politics of Terror in the Haitian Countryside during the Dictatorship of François Duvalier, 1957–1971
Authors: Chochotte Marvin 
Published: October 2019

AbstractDrawing on never-before-utilized archival and oral sources, “Making Peasants Chèf” contends that decades of peasant marginalization from political power created the social and political conditions for the rise of the infamous tonton makout militia under the dictator François Duvalier. After coming to power in 1957, Duvalier militarized and rearmed peasants in exchange for their loyalty. Thousands of previously ostracized peasants enlisted in the dreaded makout militia to access status and political power. This explains why the peasant-based militia formed an arm of state repression. With the support of an armed peasantry, Duvalier successfully repressed the political opposition, allowing the regime to stay in power for almost three decades.
Detrital zircons and the interpretation of palaeogeography, with the Variscan Orogeny as an example
Authors: Franke W. , Cocks L.R.M. , Torsvik T.H. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAnalysis of the distribution of detrital zircon grains is one of the few parameters by which Precambrian palaeogeography may be interpreted. However, the break-up of Pangea and the subsequent dispersal of some of its fragments around the Indian Ocean demonstrate that zircon analysis alone may be misleading, since zircons indicate their original derivation and not their subsequent plate-tectonic pathways. Based on analysis of Precambrian–Ordovician zircon distributions, the presence of microcontinents and separating oceans in the north Gondwanan realm has been rejected in favour of an undivided pre-Variscan continental northwards extension of Africa to include Iberia, Armorica and neighbouring southern European terranes, based on analysis of Precambrian–Ordovician zircon distribution. However, contrasting views, indicating the presence of three peri-Gondwanan oceans with complete Wilson cycles, are reinforced here by a critical reappraisal of the significance of that Variscan area detrital zircon record together with a comparison of the evolution of the present-day Indian Ocean, indicating that Iberia, Armorica and other terranes were each separate from the main Gondwanan craton during the early Palaeozoic Era.
A Comparison of Venous versus Capillary Blood Samples when Measuring Blood Glucose Using a Point-of-Care, Capillary-Based Glucometer
Authors: Topping Jessica , Reardon Matthew , Coleman Jake , Hunter Brian , Shojima-Perera Haruka , Thyer Liz , Simpson Paul 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackground:Blood glucose level (BGL) is routinely assessed by paramedics in the out-of-hospital setting. Most commonly, BGL is measured using a blood sample of capillary origin analyzed by a hand-held, point-of-care glucometer. In some clinical circumstances, the capillary sample may be replaced by blood of venous origin. Given most point-of-care glucometers are engineered to analyze capillary blood samples, the use of venous blood instead of capillary may lead to inaccurate or misleading measurements.Hypothesis/Problem:The aim of this prospective study was to compare mean difference in BGL between venous and capillary blood from healthy volunteers when measured using a capillary-based, hand-held, point-of-care glucometer.Methods:Using a prospective observational comparison design, 36 healthy participants provided paired samples of blood, one venous and the other capillary, taken near simultaneously. The BGL values were similar between the two groups. The capillary group had a range of 4.3mmol/l, with the lowest value being 4.4mmol/l and 8.7mmol/l the highest. The venous group had a range of 2.7mmol/l, with the lowest value being 4.1mmol/l and 7.0mmol/l the highest.For the primary research question, the mean BGL for the venous sample group was 5.3mmol/l (SD = 0.6), compared to 5.6mmol/l (SD = 0.8) for the capillary group. This represented a statistically significant difference of 0.3mmol/l (P = .04), but it did not reach the a priori established point of clinical significance (1.0mmol/l). Pearson’s correlation coefficient for capillary versus venous indicated moderate correlation (r = 0.42).Conclusion:In healthy, non-fasted people in a non-clinical setting, a statistically significant, but not clinically significant, difference was found between venous- and capillary-derived BGL when measured using a point-of-care, capillary-based glucometer. Correlation between the two was moderate. In this context, using venous samples in a capillary-based glucometer is reasonable providing the venous sample can be gathered without exposure of the clinician to risk of needle-stick injury. In clinical settings where physiological derangement or acute illness is present, capillary sampling would remain the optimal approach.
Geochronology of an Apollo 16 Clast Provides Evidence for a Basin‐Forming Impact 4.3 Billion Years Ago
Authors: Marks N. E. , Borg L. E. , Shearer C. K. , Cassata W. S. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractWe examined lithic breccias from the Apollo sample collection in order to identify ferroan anorthosite samples suitable for geochronology, and better define the age relationships between rocks of the lunar highlands. Clast 3A is a previously unstudied noritic anorthosite from Apollo 16 lithic breccia 60016 with textural evidence of slow subsolidus recrystallization. We estimate a cooling rate of ~10 °C/Myr and calculate a pyroxene solvus temperature of 1,100–1,000 °C. Pyroxene exsolution lamellae (1–3 μm) indicate that the last stage of cooling was rapid at ~0.2 °C/year, typical of rates observed in thick ejecta blankets. We calculate concordant ages from the 147Sm‐143Nd, 146Sm‐142Nd, Rb‐Sr, and Ar‐Ar isotopic systems of 4,302 ± 28, 4,296 + 39/−53, 4,275 ± 38, and 4,311 ± 31 Ma, respectively, with a weighted average of 4,304 ± 12 Ma. The closure temperature of the Sm‐Nd system is ~855 ± 14 °C, whereas the closure temperature of the Ar‐Ar system is 275 ± 25 °C. Cooling from 855 to 275 °C at 10 °C/Myr should result in an age difference between the two isotopic systems of ~60 Myr. The concordant Sm‐Nd, Rb‐Sr, and Ar‐Ar ages imply that they record the time the rock was excavated by a large impact from the midcrust. The ages clearly predate various late accretion scenarios in which an uptick in impacts at 3.8 Ga is preceded by a period of relative quiescence between 4.4 and ~4.1 Ga, and instead are consistent with decreasing accretion rates following the formation of the Moon.