Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mortality and cancer incidence in a cohort of registered nurses from British Columbia, Canada.

BACKGROUND A retrospective cohort study of provincial registered nurses (RNs) from British Columbia, Canada was undertaken to determine risks of mortality and cancer incidence; in particular for breast cancer and leukemia. METHODS Cohort records of RNs from 1974 to 2000 were linked to Canadian death and cancer registries. Analyses included standardized mortality (SMR) and incidence ratios (SIR) as well as relative risks for internal comparisons. RESULTS There were 58,125 RNs in the cohort (96.7% females). The SMR for all causes of mortality for female RNs was low, at 0.61 (95% CI, 0.58-0.64). The only elevated SIR for female RNs was for malignant melanoma (1.27; 95% CI, 1.10-1.46). Ever working in a hospital, medical surgical specialties or maternal/pediatrics showed some elevated cancer risks. CONCLUSIONS Low SMRs for the female RN cohort suggest healthful lifestyles and a healthy worker effect. Length of employment as a nurse, in hospitals and in specific fields was associated with some increased risks of cancer.
Clinical resolution of vemurafenib‐induced squamous cell carcinoma with topical 5‐fluorouracil

with requests for access in dermatology specialist health care. Our results support the hypothesis of Smethurst and Williams, who interpreted the correlation between decrease of referral rates and increase of waiting list density (and vice versa) as the constituent of a self-regulation system in hospital waiting lists. In conclusion, this study shows that long waiting lists deter referrals and that the allocation of adequate human resources reduces waiting time, but augments requests for specialist consultations.
Expression of the neural intermediate filament proteins peripherin and neurofilament-66/alpha-internexin in neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND Peripherin and neurofilament (NF)-66/alpha-internexin are recently characterized, neuron-specific intermediate filament proteins that are expressed in the developing peripheral nervous system. Peripherin, in particular, is highly enriched in neuronal derivatives of the neural crest. We speculated that these intermediate filament proteins would be expressed in neuroblastoma (NB), a neural crest-derived tumor with many neuronal features. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN By use of antibodies specific to peripherin and NF-66/alpha-internexin, we detected these proteins on Western blots of NB tissue extracts and in paraffin sections of NBs. RESULTS Western blotting indicated that NB tumor extracts contained immunoreactive proteins that co-migrated with rat peripherin and human NF-66/alpha-internexin from normal tissues, thus establishing the specificity of the antibodies for these proteins in tumors. The antibody specific for peripherin labeled all NBs, including immature NBs, composite ganglioneuroblastomas and ganglioneuromas. In contrast, the NF-66/alpha-internexin antibody labeled only 50% of NBs, and only weakly labeled most ganglioneuroblastomas and ganglioneuromas. Neither antibody labeled other small blue cell tumors such as lymphomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, Wilms' tumors, and Ewing sarcomas. CONCLUSIONS The specificity of the peripherin labeling of NB and the ability of the peripherin antibody to label the entire spectrum of NBs, including ganglioneuroblastomas and ganglioneuromas, indicate that this intermediate filament protein has potential as a diagnostic marker for these related neural crest neoplasms.
Compatible extensions and consistent closures: a fuzzy approach

In this paper $\ast$--compatible extensions of fuzzy relations are studied, generalizing some results obtained by Duggan in case of crisp relations. From this general result are obtained as particular cases fuzzy versions of some important extension theorems for crisp relations (Szpilrajn, Hansson, Suzumura). Two notions of consistent closure of a fuzzy relation are introduced.
Reduced availability of voltage‐gated sodium channels by depolarization or blockade by tetrodotoxin boosts burst firing and catecholamine release in mouse chromaffin cells

Mouse chromaffin cells (MCCs) of the adrenal medulla possess fast‐inactivating Nav channels whose availability alters spontaneous action potential firing patterns and the Ca2+‐dependent secretion of catecholamines. Here, we report MCCs expressing large densities of neuronal fast‐inactivating Nav1.3 and Nav1.7 channels that carry little or no subthreshold pacemaker currents and can be slowly inactivated by 50% upon slight membrane depolarization. Reducing Nav1.3/Nav1.7 availability by tetrodotoxin or by sustained depolarization near rest leads to a switch from tonic to burst‐firing patterns that give rise to elevated Ca2+‐influx and increased catecholamine release. Spontaneous burst firing is also evident in a small percentage of control MCCs. Our results establish that burst firing comprises an intrinsic firing mode of MCCs that boosts their output. This occurs particularly when Nav channel availability is reduced by sustained splanchnic nerve stimulation or prolonged cell depolarizations induced by acidosis, hyperkalaemia and increased muscarine levels.
Immediate Activation of Respiration in Petroselinum crispum L. in Response to the Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. Glycinea Elicitor

Treatment of parsley (Petroselinum crispum L.) cell cultures with the Phytophthora megasperma elicitor isolated from the fungus Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. Glycinea caused an immediate increase in the rate of respiratory CO2 evolution in the dark. The respiratory response was biphasic, showing a rapid enhancement in the first 20 min and then a slower increase until a steady rate was attained 60 min posttreatment. The enhanced rate of CO2 evolution corresponded to the activation of phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, key enzymes in the regulation of carbohydrate flow to glycolysis and the oxidative pentose phosphate (OPP) pathway, respectively. The increased rate of CO2 evolution and the activation of phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were maintained for the duration of the experiments, indicating long-term stimulation of respiration through both glycolysis and the OPP pathway. A 23% decrease in the C6:C1 ratio of 14CO2 evolution from labeled glucose 60 min after the addition of Phytophthora megasperma elicitor is consistent with an increased contribution of the OPP pathway to cellular respiration. Long-term activation of the OPP pathway following elicitation could serve to maintain the pools of substrates necessary during activation of the shikimic acid pathway, leading to the production of defensive compounds.
DRAKs, Novel Serine/Threonine Kinases Related to Death-associated Protein Kinase That Trigger Apoptosis*

The present study describes the cloning of two novel serine/threonine kinases termed DRAK1 and DRAK2, whose catalytic domains are related to that of death-associated protein kinase, a serine/threonine kinase involved in apoptosis. Both DRAKs are composed of the N-terminal catalytic domain and the C-terminal domain that is responsible for regulation of kinase activity. DRAK1 and DRAK2 show 59.7% identity and display ubiquitous expression. An in vitro kinase assay revealed that both DRAKs are autophosphorylated and phosphorylate myosin light chain as an exogenous substrate, although the kinase activity of DRAK2 is significantly lower than that of DRAK1. Both DRAKs are exclusively localized to the nucleus. Furthermore, overexpression of both DRAKs induces the morphological changes of apoptosis in NIH 3T3 cells, suggesting the role of DRAKs in apoptotic signaling.
The Feasibility of Delivering a Home-based Motivational Exercise Program to African-American Breast Cancer Survivors

Most African-American breast cancer survivors do not meet current exercise recommendations for cancer survivors, which include both aerobic and strength-training exercises. This pilot study tested the feasibility of delivering a home-based exercise intervention to African-American breast cancer survivors. Sedentary African-American breast cancer survivors were recruited for a 16-week motivational home-based progressive aerobic and strength-training exercise pilot study. Participants completed weekly exercise logs and received weekly phone calls. To assess feasibility, we evaluated recruitment, retention, and adherence rates, as well as participant acceptance and safety. 17 women enrolled; 13 completed the intervention (76%). Participants had moderately-high adherence (70%) to walking goals, but only 51% for strength training goals which progressed to three times a week towards the end of the study. All women indicated that they planned to continue exercising regularly. Additionally, they all reported they would continue walking, but only nine of 13 indicated they would continue strength-training. This study addresses gaps in the exercise oncology literature since very few exercise studies have targeted African-American breast cancer survivors. Also, most exercise studies among breast cancer survivors have focused only on increasing aerobic physical activity. The intervention was feasible and safe to deliver. However, study modifications to improve recruitment and adherence in future mixed modality exercise interventions are recommended.
A Jointly Differentially Private Scheduling Protocol for Ridesharing Services

Ridesharing services have gained tremendous popularity in recent years, benefiting the traffic and environment of cities to a large extent. However, with the demand of ridesharing services increasing sharply, serious privacy concerns (e.g., users’ mobility patterns) of ridesharing have become a major barrier against its further development. In this paper, we study the privacy protection of users’ location information in the scheduling of ridesharing services. Based on a state-of-the-art variant of differential privacy, joint differential privacy, we first propose a scheduling protocol for the purpose of protecting users’ location privacy and minimizing vehicle miles in the system. Then, in order to obtain a practical solution, we investigate several techniques to enhance the proposed protocol from both the privacy and efficiency aspects. The privacy of the proposed scheduling protocol is rigorously proven. Furthermore, we extensively evaluate our proposal based on a real-world data set. The analysis and experimental results show that the proposed protocol can achieve joint differential privacy, satisfactory scheduling performance, and reasonable efficiency.
Membrane-bound MinDE complex acts as a toggle switch that drives Min oscillation coupled to cytoplasmic depletion of MinD

Significance The Min system of Escherichia coli uses the proteins MinD and MinE to form a standing wave oscillator on the membrane that prevents cell division at the cell poles. Using purified MinD and MinE, several dynamic patterns have been previously reconstituted on lipid bilayers. However, these dissimilar patterns occur under different reaction settings; therefore, the underlying mechanistic principles are unclear. By using a limiting supply of MinD, we reproduced standing wave oscillation on a flat bilayer. We find that periodic depletion of active MinD from solution is essential for the standing wave. Also, the MinD-to-MinE ratio on the bilayer acts as a toggle switch between membrane-binding and -release by MinD, which drives the oscillation. The Escherichia coli Min system self-organizes into a cell-pole to cell-pole oscillator on the membrane to prevent divisions at the cell poles. Reconstituting the Min system on a lipid bilayer has contributed to elucidating the oscillatory mechanism. However, previous in vitro patterns were attained with protein densities on the bilayer far in excess of those in vivo and failed to recapitulate the standing wave oscillations observed in vivo. Here we studied Min protein patterning at limiting MinD concentrations reflecting the in vivo conditions. We identified “burst” patterns—radially expanding and imploding binding zones of MinD, accompanied by a peripheral ring of MinE. Bursts share several features with the in vivo dynamics of the Min system including standing wave oscillations. Our data support a patterning mechanism whereby the MinD-to-MinE ratio on the membrane acts as a toggle switch: recruiting and stabilizing MinD on the membrane when the ratio is high and releasing MinD from the membrane when the ratio is low. Coupling this toggle switch behavior with MinD depletion from the cytoplasm drives a self-organized standing wave oscillator.
Impairment of Driving Ability and Neuropsychological Function in Patients with MHE Disease

Minimal hepatitis encephalopathy (MHE) is a liver cirrhosis complication that does not show symptoms of overt hepatitis encephalopathy (OHE) but can be detected using specific complementary neuropsychological and neurophysiological evaluations. Patients with MHE show abnormalities in cognitive functions, which can increase the risk of automobile accidents. The aim of this study was to compare the cognitive functioning of patients with MHE to patients with other liver disease and to compare their driving abilities, using a driving simulator and the Stim(2) software. Thirty-eight participants, who were not diagnosed with OHE but were diagnosed with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, took part in the study. The results indicate that patients with MHE show reduced level of cognitive functioning, which may affect their ability to drive safely. We cautiously predict that any future guidelines based on this knowledge may help reduce the incidence of traffic accidents caused by drivers with decreased with driving abilities.
Crustal velocity structure across the eastern Snake River Plain and the Yellowstone swell

Teleseismic receiver functions are used to estimate the crustal structure beneath a 36-station, 500-km-long, NW oriented linear array centered on the eastern Snake River Plain and crossing the Yellowstone hotspot swell 250 km SW of Yellowstone. Structure derived previously for this region from wide-angle reflection data is used as an initial model, and this structure explains most features observed in our receiver functions. Based on a combination of forward and inverse modeling, our data require several modifications to the initial structure: (1) Moho depth is ∼42 km beneath most of the Snake River Plain, shallows to ∼37 km to either side, and thickens abruptly to ∼47 km beneath SW Wyoming; (2) a midcrustal layer interpreted previously as a ∼9-km-thick gabbroic sill is flat topped across the entire ∼90 km width of the Snake River Plain; and (3) a low-velocity layer is found beneath and southeast of the Snake River Plain, which probably is partially molten lower-most crust. Using the seismic structure of the crust to estimate the crustal load upon the mantle, and assuming local isostasy, we calculate that mantle beneath the Yellowstone swell is approximately uniformly as buoyant as 12-million-year-old ocean mantle, and more buoyant than the adjacent Wyoming mantle by an amount equivalent of ∼1.5 km of elevation. The transition between these regions of greatly different mantle occurs across a major Paleozoic boundary that now separates the Basin and Range from the Rocky Mountains.
Impact of 3D design choices on manufacturing cost

The available options in 3D IC design and manufacturing have different impact on the cost of a 3D System-on-Chip. Using the 3D cost model developed at IMEC, the cost of different system integration options is analyzed and the cost effectiveness of different technology solutions is demonstrated. The cost model is based on the IMEC 3D integration process flows and includes the cost of manufacturing equipment, fabrication facilities, personnel, and materials. Using the IMEC 3D cost model, the cost of various 3D stacking strategies is compared to single die (i.e. 2D) integration. In addition, the effect on cost of different Through-Silicon-Via (TSV) manufacturing technologies is evaluated. The effectiveness of different 3D testing strategies and their impact on system cost is also investigated.
Ideal Bend Contour Trajectories for Single-Mode Operation of Low-Loss Overmoded Waveguides

Bend designs for single-mode operation of low-loss overmoded waveguides are presented. A class of contour trajectories for minimum radiation loss is derived analytically, and numerical optimization is used to find ideal trajectory parameters. Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations predict bend losses below 0.1 dB for 180deg-bends of overmoded silicon-on-insulator waveguides with a radius of R=1.5 mum. These findings are supported experimentally
Estudio Genético y Biodemográfico del archipiélago de las Azores (Portugal)

La presente tesis esta formada por dos bloques principales, uno centrado en la caracterizacion biodemografica y genetica (empleando el mtDNA) de la poblacion del archipielago de las Azores (Portugal) y otro enfocado en el propio DNA mitocondrial (DNAmt), concretamente en el desarrollo de una metodologia para la clasificacion poblacional en haplogrupos y en el estudio de la tasa de mutacion de la region de control. Para proceder a la caracterizacion biodemogafica y genetica del archipielago de las Azores y hacer inferencias sobre el origen de sus pobladores, se han utilizado diferentes aproximaciones: 1) Estudio del DNAmt en individuos no emparentados de origen azoreano, representativos de los 3 grupos de islas: Oriental, Central y Occidental; 2) Caracterizacion de la estructura genetica de la isla de Flores a lo largo del tiempo (grupo Occidental) utilizando apellidos; y 3) Caracterizacion biodemografica (endogamia, exogamia, migracion y consanguinidad) de las distintas parroquias de Flores (grupo Occidental) para el periodo comprendido entre 1675 y 1875. Los resultados obtenidos permiten concluir los siguientes puntos: 1) La poblacion de las Azores se presenta como una poblacion con valores de endogamia medio-altos, y valores de consanguinidad similares a los obtenidos para Portugal continental y en otras poblaciones del sur de Europa. 2) Cuando se considera globalmente el archipielago, el "pool" genetico mitocondrial de los azoreanos presenta una elevada diversidad, aunque el grupo Occidental se diferencie de forma significativa respecto de los otros dos grupos de islas. 3) La fuerte reduccion poblacional que ocurrio en todo el archipielago, y particularmente en Flores, no parece haber tenido consecuencias significativas en la estructura genetica de la poblacion de la isla. 4) El analisis filogeografico del DNAmt ha permitido verificar que la gran mayoria de los linajes de DNAmt encontrados en las Azores tienen su origen en poblaciones europeas, principalmente en Portugal continental. Ademas, se han podido detectar linajes tipicos de poblaciones africanas y de poblaciones del Proximo Oriente. En relacion al estudio del DNAmt, se ha desarrollado una metodologia jerarquica que permite la clasificacion del DNAmt en haplogrupos en poblaciones caucasoides. Asimismo, el analisis del DNAmt en familias de origen azoreano, ha permitido realizar las siguientes aseveraciones: 1) La heteroplasmia no puede ser considerada como una condicion excepcional, como se halla mayoritariamente establecido, siendo un fenomeno bastante frecuente. 2) Existe la posibilidad de que el DNAmt recombine 3) No se ha verificado contribucion paterna del mismo. 4) El valor de la tasa de mutacion para el D-loop es de 4. 1878_10-6 mutaciones/pb/generacion, un valor que esta en el rango superior de los valores obtenidos en las estimaciones filogeneticas.
Effect of Phenobarbital on Hepatic Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication in Rats

The effects of in vivo exposure to phenobarbital (PB) on hepatic gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and conncxin protein expression in Sprague-Dawley rats were examined by in vivo/in vitro dye-transfer assay, immunohistochemical staining, and by Western blot analysis. PB (50 mg/kg) was administered orally once a day for up to 6 wk. The average size of the dye spread after injection of Lucifer Yellow decreased at week 1 and remained at the same level until week 6. The area and number of connexin 32 (Cx32) spots per hepatocyte in the central zone of liver lobules decreased from week 1 to week 6, but no change of Cx32 spots in the peripheral zone was observed. The average area and number of connexin 26 (Cx26) spots per hepatocytes showed no clear change through the experimental periods. The decreased level of Cx32 protein in plasma membranes was observed in the PB group. These results suggest that PB, a liver tumor-promoting agent, inhibits hepatic GJIC in vivo in rats and that aberrant Cx32 protein expression and/or localization may be responsible for this effect.
Improving the time efficiency of proving theorems using a learning mechanism

In this paper, we develop a new approach for enhancing the time efficiency of proving theorems by using a learning mechanism. A system is proposed for analyzing a set of theorems and observing those features that often affect the speed at which the theorems are proved. The system uses the learning mechanism for choosing between two well known theorem-provers, namely, Resolution–Refutation (TGTP) and Semantic Trees (HERBY). A three-step process has been implemented. The first step is to prove a set of theorems using the above two theorem provers. A training set of two classes of theorems is thus created. Each class represents those theorems that have been proven in less time using a particular theorem prover. The second step is to train neural networks on both classes of theorems in order to construct an internal representation of the decision boundary between the two classes. In the last step, a voting scheme is invoked in order to combine the decisions of the individual neural networks into a final decision. The results achieved by the system when working on the standard theorems of the Stickel Test Set are shown. Those results confirm the feasibility of our approach to inte-grate a learning mechanism into the process of automated theorem proving.
Time-motion and physiological profile of football training sessions performed by under-15, under-17 and under-19 elite Portuguese players.

PURPOSE To provide the time-motion and physiological profile of regular training sessions (TS) performed during the competitive season by under-15 (U15), under-17 (U17), and under-19 (U19) elite-level Portuguese soccer players. METHODS One hundred fifty-one elite players of U15 (age 14.0 ± 0.2 y, n = 56), U17 (age 15.8 ± 0.4 y, n = 66), and U19 (age 17.8 ± 0.6 y, n = 29) participated in the study during a 9-wk period. Time-motion and body-impact data were collected using GPS technology (15 Hz) across 38 randomly selected TS that resulted in a total of 612 samples. In addition, heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored (1 Hz) in the selected TS. RESULTS The total distances covered (m) were higher in U17 (4648.3 ± 831.9), followed by U19 (4212.5 ± 935.4) and U15 (3964.5 ± 725.4) players (F = 45.84, P < .001). Total body impacts and relative impacts were lower in U15 (total: 490.8 ± 309.5, F = 7.3, P < .01), but no differences were identified between U17 (total: 584.0 ± 363.5) and U19 (total: 613.1 ± 329.4). U19 players had less high- and very-high-intensity activity (above 16 km/h; F = 11.8, P < .001) and moderate-intensity activity (10.0-15.9 km/h; F = 15.07, P < .001). HR values showed significant effects of zone (F = 575.7, P < .001) and interaction with age group (F = 9.7, P < .001), with pairwise differences between all zones (zone 1, <75%; zone 2, 75-84.9%; zone 3, 85-89.9%; zone 4, ≥90%). All players spent most of their time below 75% HRmax (U15, ~50%; U17, ~42%; U19, ~50%). CONCLUSION Results showed high variability between TS, refraining from identifying meaningful trends when measuring performance, although different demands were identified according to age group. The U15 TS were less physiologically demanding, probably because of increased focus on small-sided games to develop basic tactical principles and technical skills. The focus on game-like situations imposed higher external and internal workloads on U17 and U19 players.