Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expanded analysis of injury mortality among unionized construction workers.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the utility of expanding the number and precision of injury categories used in previous occupational mortality studies, this study reanalyzed data from four previous studies of unionized construction workers (construction laborers, ironworkers, sheet metal workers, and operating engineers), by expanding the number of injury categories from 6 to 33. METHODS Proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) were computed using the distribution of deaths from the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance System, a mortality surveillance system from 28 states, as a comparison. A blue collar comparison group was also used in additional analyses to adjust for socioeconomic and other factors. RESULTS This reanalysis identified significantly elevated PMRs in at least one of the four worker groups for falls, motor vehicle crashes, machinery incidents, electrocutions, being struck by falling objects, being struck by flying objects, explosions, suffocation, and water transport incidents. Limiting the comparison population to deaths among blue collar workers did not change the results substantially. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that increasing the precision of categories of death from injury routinely used in mortality studies will provide improved information to guide prevention. Am. J. Ind. Med. 37:364-373, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
[Regulation of microRNA-199a on adhesion, migration and invasion ability of human endometrial stromal cells].

OBJECTIVE To study the regulation of microRNA 199a (miR-199a) on adhesion, migration and invasion ability of human eutopic endometrial stromal cells (ESC) from patients with endometriosis. METHODS ESC were transfected with miR-199a mimics or negative control (NC) RNA by lipofectamine 2000. The adhesion, migration and invasion ability of ESC were detected by cell adhesion assay, scratch assay, cell migration assay and matrigel invasion assay, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was used to evaluate whether IKKβ was the target gene of miR-199a. The expression of ikappa B kinase beta (IKKβ), inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκB-α), phospho-IκB-α(p-IκB-α) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) protein were measured by western blot. RESULTS (1) Adhesion potential: the adhesion inhibitory rates were (14 ± 4)% in miR-199a group and 0 in control group, which showed significant difference (P < 0.01). (2) Migration and invasion: in the scratch assay, ESC transfected with miR-199a exhibited a lower scratch closure rate than that of controls. In migration and invasion assays, the migration and invasion ability of miR-199a group were significantly decreased compared with those of NC group [130 ± 31 vs. 247 ± 36 (P < 0.01); 63 ± 15 vs. 133 ± 17 (P < 0.01), respectively]. (3) The luciferase activity of miR-199a group was significantly lowered than that of control group [0.160 ± 0.006 vs. 0.383 ± 0.083 (P < 0.01)]. The protein levels of IKKβ, p-IκB-α, IκB-α and NF-κB of 0.350 ± 0.195, 0.443 ± 0.076, 1.970 ± 0.486 and 0.454 ± 0.147 in miR-199a group were significantly different compared with the NC group in which the protein levels were set at 1.000 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS miR-199a can inhibit the adhesion, migration and invasion of the ESC. IKKβ is the target gene of miR-199a in ESC. One of the mechanisms of the inhibition effect is probably that miR-199a inhibits the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway by targeting IKKβ gene.
Development of deep reactive ion etching and Cu electroplating of tapered via for 3D integration

TSV (Through Silicon Via) has been widely welcomed as an enabling technology for three-dimensional integration in a package with high density. The developing of a drilling method for TSVs with tapered sections by experimental methodology can be a tedious task. This paper reports on a advanced deep reactive ion etch process technology for the tapering of deep silicon vias which can be used in the fabrication of through silicon interconnection for 3D system in packaging application. The process consists of two etching steps: the 1st BOSCH etching step is designed to etch vertical 150–200um deep through-silicon vias. And the 2nd etch step is designed to control the taper angle of the via. These features (30–80 µm in diameter) are aimed for applications in 3D integration and MEMS packaging. The effects of various time of 2nd etch step on the via profile development are investigated. lt has been demonstrated that it is feasible to achieve a controllable via taper to realize a void-free copper via-filling by electroplating process.
Real time power plant simulation platform for training on Electrical Protections and Automatic Voltage Regulators

Electrical Protection systems and Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVR) are essential components of actual power plants. Its installation and setting is performed during the commissioning, and it needs extensive experience since any failure in this process or in the setting, may entails some risk not only for the generator of the power plant, but also for the reliability of the power grid. In this paper, a real time power plant simulation platform is presented as a tool for improving the training and learning process on electrical protections and automatic voltage regulators. The activities of the commissioning procedure which can be practiced are described, and the applicability of this tool for improving the comprehension of this important part of the power plants is discussed. A commercial AVR and a multifunction protective relay have been tested with satisfactory results.
Association of the Kinesin‐Binding Domain of RanBP2 to KIF5B and KIF5C Determines Mitochondria Localization and Function

The Ran‐binding protein 2 (RanBP2) is a large mosaic protein with a pleiotropic role in cell function. Although the contribution of each partner and domain of RanBP2 to its biological functions are not understood, physiological deficits of RanBP2 downregulate glucose catabolism and energy homeostasis and lead to delocalization of mitochondria components in photosensory neurons. The kinesin‐binding domain (KBD) of RanBP2 associates selectively in the central nervous system (CNS), and directly, with the ubiquitous and CNS‐specific kinesins, KIF5B and KIF5C, respectively, but not with the highly homologous KIF5A. Here, we determine the molecular and biological bases of the selective interaction between RanBP2 and KIF5B/KIF5C. This interaction is conferred by a ∼100‐residue segment, comprising a portion of the coiled‐coil and globular tail cargo‐binding domains of KIF5B/KIF5C. A single residue conserved in KIF5B and KIF5C, but not KIF5A, confers KIF5‐isotype‐specific association with RanBP2. This interaction is also mediated by a conserved leucine‐like heptad motif present in KIF5s and KBD of RanBP2. Selective inhibition of the interaction between KBD of RanBP2 and KIF5B/KIF5C in cell lines causes perinuclear clustering of mitochondria, but not of lysosomes, deficits in mitochondrial membrane potential and ultimately, cell shrinkage. Collectively, the data provide a rationale of the KIF5 subtype‐specific interaction with RanBP2 and support a novel kinesin‐dependent role of RanBP2 in mitochondria transport and function. The data also strengthen a model whereby the selection of a large array of cargoes for transport by a restricted number of motor proteins is mediated by adaptor proteins such as RanBP2.
Characteristics of spinoreticular and spinothalamic neurons with renal input.

Spinoreticular (SRT) and spinothalamic (STT) neurons were studied for responses to renal and somatic stimuli in 34 cats that were anesthetized with alpha-chloralose. SRT cells were antidromically activated from the medial medullary reticular formation near the gigantocellular tegmental field contralateral (35 cells), ipsilateral (15 cells), or both contralateral and ipsilateral (11 cells) to the recording site. Collision tests showed that activation from two electrodes resulted from stimulation of separate axonal branches and not from current spread. Twenty STT cells were activated from the spinothalamic tract just medial to the medial geniculate nucleus. SRT cells were located in laminae I, V, VII, and VIII of the T12-L2 segments. Most cells were located in lamina VII. STT cells were found in laminae I, V, and VII. The axons of 12 SRT cells were located in the ventrolateral or ventral quadrants of the upper cervical spinal cord. Antidromic conduction velocities of SRT cells averaged 48.7 +/- 3.7 m/s. No differences in conduction velocity were found between cells projecting to different reticular sites. In addition conduction velocity did not vary with the type of somatic or renal input. Antidromic conduction velocities of STT cells averaged 46.4 +/- 4.7 m/s. Renal nerve stimulation excited 58 and inhibited 3 SRT cells. All 20 STT cells were excited. Thirty SRT cells were excited only by A-delta input, 26 received both A-delta- and C-fiber inputs, and 2 cells received only C-fiber input. Ten STT cells received A-delta input only and 10 received both A-delta- and C-fiber inputs. All cells with renal input also received somatic input. Thirty-six SRT cells (59%) were classified as high threshold, 12 (20%) as wide dynamic range, and 10 (16%) as deep. Ten STT cells were classified as high threshold and 10 as wide dynamic range. Somatic receptive fields of STT cells were usually simple and invariably included the left flank region, although many of the fields extended to the left hindlimb or abdomen. Eighteen of the 20 were restricted to the ipsilateral side. In contrast, somatic receptive fields of SRT cells were primarily bilateral (71%). While all but two receptive fields included the left flank area, most extended to one or both hindlimbs, the abdomen, or the right flank. Inhibitory receptive fields were found for 33% of the SRT cells and 20% of the STT cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Arabidopsis KCBP interacts with AIR9 but stays in the cortical division zone throughout mitosis via its MyTH4-FERM domain

ABSTRACT The preprophase band of microtubules performs the crucial function of marking the plane of cell division. Although the preprophase band depolymerises at the onset of mitosis, the division plane is ‘memorized’ by a cortical division zone to which the phragmoplast is attracted during cytokinesis. Proteins have been discovered that are part of the molecular memory but little is known about how they contribute to phragmoplast guidance. Previously, we found that the microtubule-associated protein AIR9 is found in the cortical division zone at preprophase and returns during cell plate insertion but is absent from the cortex during the intervening mitosis. To identify new components of the preprophase memory, we searched for proteins that interact with AIR9. We detected the kinesin-like calmodulin-binding protein, KCBP, which can be visualized at the predicted cortical site throughout division. A truncation study of KCBP indicates that its MyTH4-FERM domain is required for linking the motor domain to the cortex. These results suggest a mechanism by which minus-end-directed KCBP helps guide the centrifugally expanding phragmoplast to the cortical division site.
Utility of CSF Pressure Monitoring to Identify Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension without Papilledema in Patients with Chronic Daily Headache

The aim of the present study was to report on the utility of continuous Pcsf monitoring in establishing the diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilledema (IIHWOP) in chronic daily headache (CDH) patients. We report a series of patients (n = 10) with refractory headaches and suspected IIHWOP referred to us for continuous Pcsf monitoring between 1991 and 2000. Pcsf was measured via a lumbar catheter and analysed for mean, peak, highest pulse amplitude and abnormal waveforms. A 1-2 day trial of continuous controlled CSF drainage (10 cc/h) followed Pcsf monitoring. Response to CSF drainage was defined as improvement in headache symptoms. Patients with abnormal waveforms underwent a ventriculoperitoneal (VPS) or lumboperitoneal (LPS) shunt insertion. All patients had normal resting Pcsf (8 ± 1 mmHg) defined as ICP < 15 mmHg. During sleep, all patients had B-waves and 90% had plateau waves or near plateau waves. All patients underwent either a VPS or LPS procedure. All reported improvement of their headache after surgery. Demonstration of pathological Pcsf patterns by continuous Pcsf monitoring was essential in confirming the diagnosis of IIHWOP, and provided objective evidence to support the decision for shunt surgery. Increased Pcsf was seen mostly during sleep and was intermittent, suggesting that Pcsf elevation may be missed by a single spot-check LP measurement. The similarity between IIHWOP and CDH suggests that continuous Pcsf monitoring in CDH patients may have an important diagnostic role that should be further investigated.
Anthropometry and cardiovascular risk factors in women and offspring after pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia or diabetes mellitus

Objective. To explore whether there are any differences in cardiovascular risk factors, including anthropometrics, blood pressure and serum glucose between women and offspring after pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia or diabetes mellitus, compared to uncomplicated pregnancies. Design. Longitudinal follow‐up of mother and child previously recruited to a pregnancy biobank in Norway. Setting. University hospital. Population. Women with a history of preeclampsia (n = 23), gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 12), diabetes mellitus type 1 (n = 11), or controls (n = 17), and their respective child were recruited 5–8 years after the index pregnancy. Methods. Anthropometrics and blood pressures were measured in mother and child. All non‐diabetic women underwent an oral glucose challenge test. Main outcome measures. Body mass index, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, serum glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Results. Women in the preeclampsia and diabetes mellitus groups had a slightly higher median systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), and were more often abdominally obese (waist circumference ≥88 cm) compared with controls (p < 0.05). A waist to hip ratio ≥0.85 was more common in the diabetes group compared to the controls (p < 0.01). Fasting serum glucose was higher in the gestational diabetes mellitus group (p < 0.05) compared to controls. A higher proportion of children of mothers with diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia were overweight or obese compared to controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions. This clinical study has identified several modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women and children 5–8 years after pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia or diabetes mellitus. Potential intervention strategies could focus on life style alterations after delivery, with emphasis on weight management.
Light induced changes of internal pH in a barnacle photoreceptor and the effect of internal pH on the receptor potential.

1. Intracellular pH (pH1) was measured in Balanus photoreceptors using pH‐sensitive glass micro‐electrodes. The average pH1 of twelve photoreceptors which had been dark adapted for at least 30 min was 7.3 +/‐ 0.07 (S.D.). 2. Illumination reduced the recorded pH1 by as much as 0.2 pH unit. The change in pH1 was graded with light intensity. 3. When the cells were exposed to CO2 in the dark, pH1 declined monophasically. Saline equilibrated with 2% CO2; 98% O2 produced a steady reduction in pH1 of about 0.25 unit in 2‐‐3 min. The buffering capacity of the receptor cell cytoplasm calculated from such experiments is approximately 15 slykes. 4. In the presence of HCO3‐1, CO2 saline produced smaller, biphasic changes in pH1. 5. The membrane depolarization produced by a bright flash (depolarizing receptor potential) was reversibly reduced in the presence of external CO2 or by injection of H+. Iontophoretic injection of HCO2‐ increased the amplitude of the receptor potential. 6. In individual cells there was a close correlation between the amplitude of the receptor potential and pH1. 7. Saline equilibrated with CO2 reduced the light induced current (recorded under voltage‐clamp) by 40‐‐50% without affecting its reversal potential. 8. Exposure of the receptor to 95% CO2 saline for several minutes (pH0 5.5) not only abolished the receptor potential but also reversibly decreased the K conductance of the membrane in the dark. These effects were not reproduced by pH0 5.5 buffered saline or by a 5 min exposure to saline equilibrated with N2. 9. It is suggested that changes in pH1 induced by light modulate the sensitivity of the receptor under physiological conditions.
Acute cardiovascular responses to arousal from non-REM sleep during normoxia and hypoxia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES There is uncertainty concerning the relative contribution of arousal, chemoreceptor stimulation, and their potentially interactive effects, to the acute cardiovascular changes observed during sleep in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. The purpose of this study was to compare cardiovascular responses (heart rate, skin blood flow, and pulse transit time, a non-invasive measure of arterial wall stiffness) to auditory induced arousal from stage 2 sleep under conditions of normoxia and overnight mild hypoxia. DESIGN Randomised crossover. SETTING Sleep Disorders Unit in a 270-bed teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS Eleven healthy male subjects. INTERVENTIONS Subjects slept wearing a facemask and breathed room air (one night; SaO2 approximately 98%) or an hypoxic gas mixture (two nights; SaO2 approximately 92%). Once in stage 2 sleep, subjects were administered one of 10 auditory tones (500 Hz, range 54-90 dB, 5-sec duration) via earphones or a sham tone (recording with no tone). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Cardiovascular responses were examined beat-by-beat for 20 seconds before and 30 seconds after auditory tones associated with arousals (3-10 second EEG changes) and after sham tones. Sleep efficiency and the percentage of sleep spent in each stage were not different between hypoxia and normoxia nights. Baseline heart rate was elevated on hypoxia nights compared with normoxia nights (59.5+/-1.7 vs. 54.4+/-1.6 b x min(-1), p=0.007). Heart rate, pulse transit time, and skin blood flow showed significant changes after arousal consistent with rapid parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic nervous system activation. No changes were observed after sham tones. There were no differences in time course or magnitude of cardiovascular responses between hypoxia and normoxia nights. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that while mild hypoxia stimulates autonomic activity it does not augment the cardiovascular response to arousal from stage 2 sleep in normal subjects.
The effect of hamming distances on permutation codes for multiuser communication in the power line communications channel

We partition permutation sequences into groups to form permutation codes for multiuser communication. Each group becomes a codebook for each user in a multiuser communication system. We present simulation results for the performance of different partitions of permutation codes for multiuser communication, where the codes are to be used in channels with background noise and jamming, such as the Power Line Communications (PLC) channel. With the help of the simulation results, we show that by partitioning codebooks according to distance properties we can affect the performance of the codes. The permutation codes have codewords of lengthM with symbols taken from an alphabet whose cardinality is M, where M is any integer. Each symbol may be seen as representing one out of the M frequencies in an M-ary Frequency Shift keying modulation scheme, for example. Each user has a codebook of cardinality greater or equal to M and there can be a maximum of M − 1 users communicating at the same time through a multiple access OR channel.
Modulation of the GTPase activity of transducin. Kinetic studies of reconstituted systems.

We seek to define the influence of retinal cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) on the GTPase activity of transducin (T). A novel stopped-flow/fast filtration apparatus [Antonny, B. , et al. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 8646-8653] is used to deliver T alpha GTP free of rod outer segment (ROS) membranes to a suspension of phospholipid vesicles bearing holoPDE. As measured by a pH electrode, the decay of cGMP hydrolysis from these samples, which contain no other proteins but T alpha and holoPDE, requires GTP hydrolysis and occurs in 40 s. The addition of T beta gamma to the vesicles does not accelerate this deactivation. When ROS membranes are urea-stripped, reconstituted with transducin + holoPDE, and illuminated, the injection of an amount of GTP that is substoichiometric to holoPDE gives a cGMP hydrolysis pulse that lasts for 30 s. However, the same reconstitution performed with ROS stripped by extensive dilution in isotonic buffer results in a deactivation time of only 8 s, which resembles the 7 s observed with native ROSs. With these isotonically stripped ROSs, when GTP injection comes after a first injection with GTP gamma S, the cGMP hydrolysis pulse is lengthened and lasts for 17 s; with urea-washed ROS, no such lengthening is observed. These results clearly demonstrate that holoPDE by itself cannot enhance the GTPase activity of transducin, even when the two proteins are localized on a membrane surface. Instead, they point to the existence of a membrane-bound, urea-sensitive protein factor that activates the GTPase of T alpha in the transducin-holoPDE complex.
Sodium valproate induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in human hepatoblastoma cells.

BACKGROUND Sodium valproate inhibits proliferation in neuroblastoma and glioma cells, and inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in hepatoblastoma cells. Information describing the molecular pathways of the antitumor effects of sodium valproate is limited; therefore, we explored the mechanisms of action of sodium valproate in the human hepatoblastoma cell line, HepG2. METHODS The effects of sodium valproate on the proliferation of HepG2 cells were evaluated by the Walsh-schema transform and colony formation assays. Sodium valproate-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells was investigated with fluorescence microscopy to detect morphological changes; by flow cytometry to calculate DNA ploidy and apoptotic cell percentages; with Western blotting analyses to determine c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), p-JNK, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 and -9 protein expression levels; and using JC-1 fluorescence microscopy to detect the membrane potential of mitochondria. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance by SPSS 13.0 software. RESULTS Our results indicated that sodium valproate treatment inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Sodium valproate induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells as it: caused morphologic changes associated with apoptosis, including condensed and fragmented chromatin; increased the percentage of hypodiploid cells in a dose-dependent manner; increased the percentage of annexin V-positive/propidium iodide-negative cells from 9.52% to 74.87%; decreased JNK and increased phosphate-JNK protein expression levels; reduced the membrane potential of mitochondria; decreased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax; and activated caspases-3 and -9. CONCLUSION Sodium valproate inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, triggered mitochondria-dependent HepG2 cell apoptosis and activated JNK.