Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Review and experimental evaluation of the embryonic development and evolutionary history of flipper development and hyperphalangy in dolphins (Cetacea: Mammalia)

Cetaceans are the only mammals to have evolved hyperphalangy, an increase in the number of phalanges beyond the mammalian plesiomorphic condition of three phalanges per digit. In this study, cetaceans were used as a novel model to review previous studies of mammalian hyperphalangy and contribute new experimental evidence as to the molecular origins of this phenotype in embryos of the pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata). Results show embryos of dolphins, mice, and pigs share similar spatiotemporal patterns of signaling proteins known to shape limbs of mammals (e.g., FGF8, BMP2/4, WNT, GREM). However, fetal dolphins differ in that their interdigital tissues are retained, instead of undergoing apoptosis, and that multiple waves of interdigital signals likely contribute to the patterning of supernumerary joints and phalanges in adjacent digits. Integration of fossil and experimental evidence suggests that the presence of interdigital webbing within the fossils of semi‐aquatic cetaceans, recovered from the Eocene Epoch (49Ma), was probably the result of BMP‐antagonists counteracting interdigital apoptosis during embryonic limb development. Modifications to signals originating in these interdigital tissues likely contributed to the origin of an incipient form of hyperphalangy in obligatorily aquatic cetaceans about 35Ma. Finally, an extreme form of hyperphalangy, with six or more phalanges per digit, evolved independently in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) and delphinids, and was probably associated with a wave of signaling within the interdigital tissues.
Does Fringe Banking Exacerbate Neighborhood Crime Rates? Investigating the Social Ecology of Payday Lending

Research Summary: Payday lenders have become the banker of choice for many residents of poor and working class neighborhoods in recent years. The substantial costs that customers of these fringe bankers incur have long been documented. Yet there is reason to believe there are broader community costs that all residents pay in those neighborhoods where payday lenders are concentrated. One such cost may be an increase in crime. In a case study of Seattle, Washington, a city that has seen a typical increase in the number of payday lenders, we find that a concentration of payday lending leads to higher violent and property crime rates, controlling on a range of factors traditionally associated with neighborhood crime. Social disorganization theory provides a theoretical framework that accounts for this relationship. Policy Implications: The findings suggest policy directions for making financial services available on a more adequate and equitable basis and for increasing the safety of urban neighborhoods. Specific recommendations include capping interest rates, limiting the concentration of fringe banking businesses, and redirecting law enforcement resources to neighborhoods where these businesses are located.
Adherence to diabetes control recommendations: impact of nurse telephone calls.

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing in incidence and research has shown that normalization of blood glucose levels can moderate the risk of microvascular and neurological complications. AIM The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nurse telephone calls on glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and adherence to diabetes control recommendations. METHODS A randomized design with control and experimental groups being assessed pre- and post intervention was used to assess the effectiveness of nurse telephone calls. Twenty patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group and 16 to a control group. The goal of the intervention was to keep blood glucose concentrations close to the normal range (HbA1c < 7%). The intervention was applied to the intervention group for 12 weeks, and consisted of continued education and reinforcement of diet, exercise, medication adjustment recommendations, as well as frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose levels. Telephone intervention was performed twice per week for the first month and then weekly for the second and third month. Participants were requested to write self-management logs including blood glucose levels, diet and an exercise diary. A dietitian analysed the diet diaries and participants were informed about their results by telephone or mail. All medication adjustments were communicated to participants' doctors. The HbA1c and diabetes adherence were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS Patients in the intervention group had a mean decrease of 1.2% in HbA1c levels and those in the control group had a mean increase of 0.6% in HbA1c levels. The intervention group had greater diet and blood glucose testing adherence than the control group. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that a nurse telephone intervention can improve HbA1c, and diet and blood glucose testing adherence.
Mn vacancy defects, grain boundaries, and A-phase stability of helimagnet MnSi

Mn vacancy defect and grain size are shown to modify the magnetic phase diagram of MnSi significantly, especially near the critical regime of A-phase (skyrmion lattice) formation and the helimagnetic phase transition. Crystals grown using controlled nonstoichiometric initial precursors creates both grain boundaries and intrinsic Mn vacancy defect of various levels in MnSi. The results of combined transport, specific heat, and AC spin susceptibility measurements are compared for MnSi single crystal samples of various manganese deficiency levels and grain sizes. The finite-size effect and Mn vacancy level dependent helical phase transition temperature Tc ? > have been identified and verified. The stability of A-phase in H-T phase space has been examined through AC spin susceptibility data analysis.
Neural correlates of song complexity in Bengalese finch high vocal center

Auditory neurons in the songbird forebrain nucleus high vocal center HVC) show high selectivity to the temporal structure of bird's own song but the relationship between the degree of song complexity and neural selectivity is not known. We investigated the song temporal selectivity of HVC neurons by multi-unit recordings in seven male Bengalese finches with different song complexity. Results showed that HVC multi-units of the individuals with more complex songs responded strongly to each of the self-generated song elements but were relatively insensitive to the element order, while those with stereotyped songs responded only to the song elements ordered exactly as in the self-produced songs. Data suggest that the individually learned song syntax correlates with individualized temporal combination selectivity in HVC neurons.
The O'Donoghue triad revisited

We identified 60 consecutive patients with combined anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament (ACL- MCL) disruptions that were incurred during athletic endeavors. Each underwent acute reconstruction of the ACL. The arthroscopic data obtained at the time of reconstructive surgery was reviewed in order to deter mine the incidence of O'Donoghue's triad (the "unhappy triad"), consisting of ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus tears. Patients were subdivided into two groups for analysis based upon the degree of MCL injury at time of pres entation (Group I, 35 patients with a second-degree sprain; Group II, 25 patients with a complete, or third- degree injury). Medial meniscus tears were an uncom mon finding. Lateral meniscus tears significantly out numbered medial meniscus tears in both groups, oc curring in 25 (71 %) of Group I patients and 8 (32%) of those in Group II. Even chondral fractures of the lateral femoral condyle outnumbered medial meniscus tears [6 (17%) versus 4 (11 %)] in patients with a second- degree MCL sprain. Furthermore, when present in Group I patients, tears of the medial meniscus were associated with a concomitant lateral meniscus injury. Group II patients were more likely (60%) than Group I not to have any meniscal abnormality at all. We conclude that the classic O'Donoghue triad is, in fact, an unusual clinical entity among athletes with knee injuries; it might be more accurately described as a triad consisting of ACL, MCL, and lateral meniscus tears. This injury combination appears to be more common when an incomplete, or second-degree, tear of the medial collateral has occurred. Third-degree MCL injuries in conjunction with ACL disruptions seem to "protect" joint surfaces, as patients with these injuries most commonly demonstrate an absence of further intraarticular abnormality (meniscal or chondral).
Parent and Peer Links to Trajectories of Anxious Withdrawal From Grades 5 to 8

Individual differences in trajectories of anxious withdrawal were examined from Grades 5 to 8 across the transition to middle school in a community sample (N = 283), using General Growth Mixture Modeling. Three distinct pathways of anxious withdrawal were identified: low-stable (78%), high-decreasing (12%), and high-increasing (10%). In Grade 6, relative to the low-stable class, greater peer exclusion and more free time spent with mother predicted membership in the high-decreasing class; higher peer exclusion predicted membership in the high-increasing class. Within the high-increasing class, the growth of anxious withdrawal was predicted by lower parental autonomy-granting, less free time with mother, both nurturing and restrictive parenting, and greater peer exclusion. Results highlight the role of both parent–child relationship and peer difficulties in increasing the adjustment risk among youth who are anxiously withdrawn prior to the middle-school transition.
L and E Selectins in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Expression, Clinical Relevance and Relation to Patient Outcome

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess circulating soluble L (sL) and soluble E (sE) selectins adhesion molecules in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts in order to evaluate their clinical significance. Fifty patients with AML (4 M0, 8 M1, 16 M2, 5 M3, 7 M4, 6 M5, 4 M6) were included in this study. sL and sE selectins were evaluated at diagnosis, remission and in relapsed patients; whole membrane expression of L and E selectins by AML blast was investigated only at diagnosis. In addition, 15 normal persons were studied as a control group. sL and sE selectins were significantly higher in AML patients at diagnosis when compared to controls (P<0.01), but less at remission (P<0.01). Furthermore, elevated sL and sE selectin levels were detected in patients with AML at relapse. sE and sL selectins were significantly higher in AML patients with extramedullary infiltration as compared to patients without extramedullary disease (P<0.001). Membrane expression of L selectin was positive in 20% of AML patients. However, none of the patients showed significant E selectin expression. Patients with higher sE and sL selectins at diagnosis have high probability of relapse compared to those with normal levels (P<0.01 and <0.001, respectively). The overall relapse predictability of sE and sL selectins was 84%. Moreover, patients with higher sE and sL selectins levels had shorter event free survival than patients with lower levels (P<0.001 for both). The overall mortality prediction using sE, sL, and cellular L selectin was 96%. In conclusion: (1) AML blast cell express and release sL selectins but not sE selectin, (2) sE and sL selectins and cellular L selectin may be useful prognostic markers in evaluating AML patients at diagnosis.
Characterisation of carbon nanotube variability and application in solar cells

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Growth Factors Temporally Associate with Airway Responsiveness and Inflammation in Allergen-Exposed Mice

Background: To clarify whether growth factors play critical roles in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation in the early stages of asthma, the relationship between growth factors and AHR and airway inflammation were analyzed in a mouse model of asthma. Methods: Following ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge, airway function, inflammation, cytokine and growth factor levels were monitored. Results: AHR to inhaled methacholine increased at 6 h, peaked at 48 h, and remained elevated for 14 days. IL-4 and IL-5 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were increased at 6 h, peaked at 24 h, but returned to baseline quickly. IL-13 levels increased up to 14 days, peaking at 48 h. Increases in BAL fluid transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor were observed at 12 h, and remained elevated at 14 days. Nerve growth factor levels were increased at 24–28 days. BAL fluid hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was detected at 12 h, peaked at 24 h, and returned to baseline by 72 h. c-Met/HGF receptor was detected in the airways at 6 h, before HGF in the BAL, and continued to be observed 96 h after the last OVA challenge. Conclusions: These data identify a temporal association between growth factor production and Th2 cytokine production and the kinetics of AHR. Growth factors may play important roles in the development of allergic airway inflammation and AHR even in the early stages of asthma, before remodeling is initiated.
Surgical outcomes of a civil war in a neighbouring country

Objectives The civil war in Syria began on 15 March 2011, and many of the injured were treated in the neighbouring country of Turkey. This study reports the surgical outcomes of this war, in a tertiary centre in Turkey. Methods 159 patients with civilian war injuries in Syria who were admitted to the General Surgery Department in the Research and Training Hospital of the Medical School of Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey, between 2011 and 2012 were analysed regarding the age, sex, injury type, history of previous surgery for the injury, types of abdominal injuries (solid or luminal organ), the status of isolated abdominal injuries or multiple injuries, mortality, length of hospital stay and injury severity scoring. Results The median age of the patients was 30.05 (18–66 years) years. Most of the injuries were gunshot wounds (99 of 116 patients, 85.3%). Primary and previously operated patients were transferred to our clinic in a median time of 6.28±4.44 h and 58.11±44.08 h, respectively. Most of the patients had intestinal injuries; although a limited number of patients with colorectal injuries were treated with primary repair, stoma was the major surgical option due to the gross peritoneal contamination secondary to prolonged transport time. Two women and 21 men died. The major cause of death was multiorgan failure secondary to sepsis (18 patients). Conclusions In the case of civil war in the bordering countries, it is recommended that precautions are taken, such as transformation of nearby civilian hospitals into military ones and employment of experienced trauma surgeons in these hospitals to provide effective medical care. Damage control procedures can avoid fatalities especially before the lethal triad of physiological demise occurs. Rapid transport of the wounded to the nearest medical centre is the key point in countries neighbouring a civil war.
A novel mutation in TRIM37 is associated with mulibrey nanism in a Turkish boy

Mulibrey nanism is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by prenatal onset severe growth retardation and pericardial constriction associated with abnormalities of muscle, liver, brain and eye. More than 80% of previously reported patients are of Finnish origin in whom a founder mutation in the TRIM37 gene have been described. We report on a 7-year-old Turkish boy who presented with classical phenotypic features of mulibrey nanism. Mutation screening of the TRIM37 gene revealed that the proband had a homozygous two base pair deletion, c. 1894_1895delGA, resulting in a frame-shift and a premature termination codon. Our proband is one of the rare examples of mulibrey nanism outside Finland and extends the mutation spectrum in this disorder.
Access Blood Flow as a Predictor of Early Failures of Native Arteriovenous Fistulas in Hemodialysis Patients

Blood flow imaging using color doppler has proven effective in predicting graft failures in hemodialysis patients, but its effect on native arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) is not well known. This study was performed to investigate whether measurements of the access blood flow can be used as predictors of an early failure of a native AVF in hemodialysis patients. Fifty-three consecutive patients who received native AVF operations were included in this study. Access blood flow was measured at 1 week after operations, and AVF function was followed for 4 months. During the follow-up, access failures developed in 10 patients at 9.8 ± 3.5 weeks. AVF blood flow was significantly lower in the failure group (n = 10) than in the patent group (n = 43) (450 ± 214 vs. 814 ± 348 ml/min, p = 0.003). The incidence of access failures was higher in the patients with a flow <350 ml/min (n = 9) compared to the patients with a flow >350 ml/min (n = 44) (55.5 vs. 11.3%, p = 0.008). The diameters of veins were significantly smaller in the failure group than in the patent group (3.5 ± 0.5 vs. 4.1 ± 0.7 mm, p = 0.018). The incidence of diabetes mellitus was higher in the failure group than in the patent group (90 vs. 51%, p = 0.025). However, age, sex, duration from an operation to first cannulation, and different AVF sites did not make a significant difference between the two groups. Our data suggest that access blood flow measurements using color doppler ultrasound during early postoperative periods are useful parameters in predicting an early failure of a native AVF in hemodialysis patients.
The Perception of Phonological Quantity based on Durational Cues by Native Speakers, Second-language Users and Nonspeakers of Finnish

Some languages, such as Finnish, use speech-sound duration as the primary cue for a phonological quantity distinction. For second-language (L2) learners, quantity is often difficult to master if speech-sound duration plays a less important role in the phonology of their native language (L1). By comparing the categorization performance of native speakers of Finnish, Russian L2 users of Finnish, and non-Finnish-speaking Russians, the present study aimed to determine whether the L2 users, whose native language does not have a quantity distinction, have been able to establish categories for Finnish quantity. The results suggest that the native speakers and some of the L2 users that have been exposed to Finnish for a longer time have access to phonological quantity categories, whereas the L2 users with shorter exposure and the non-Finnish-speaking subjects do not. In addition, by comparing categorization and discrimination tasks it was found that the native speakers show a phoneme-boundary effect for quantity that is cued by duration only, whereas the non-Finnish-speaking subjects and the subjects with low proficiency in Finnish do not.
Treatment decisions regarding hospitalization and surgery for nursing home residents with advanced dementia: the CareAD Study

ABSTRACT Background: Dementia differs from other terminal illnesses both in its slow progression and the fact that patients and family members often do not perceive it as a cause of death. Furthermore, because decisional incapacity is almost universal in patients with advanced dementia, decisions must be made by surrogates. However, little is known about the factors that influence how surrogates make decisions for persons with late-stage dementia. Methods: The setting was the first wave of a study of patients with advanced dementia in three Maryland nursing homes (The Care of Nursing Home Residents with Advanced Dementia Study). Of 125 consented participants, 123 residents and their surrogates provided adequate information and agreed to interviews and medical record reviews. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression models were used to explore whether variables related to demographics, illness, communication and surrogate background were associated with surrogate decisions to not provide aggressive treatments (i.e. hospitalization or surgery). Results: Treatment decisions regarding aggressive medical care had been made by 81% of surrogates over the preceding 6 months. In bivariate analysis the following factors were significantly associated with not providing aggressive care: resident and surrogate of white race, older surrogate age, worse resident medical illness, worse surrogate perception of resident quality of life, presence of a ‘do not hospitalize’ order (DNH), and more contact with nurses. In the multivariate analysis, resident white race and presence of a DNH were significant predictors of surrogate decisions to not provide aggressive treatments. Treatment decisions were not associated with surrogate relationship or religiosity. Conclusions: Treatment decisions for individuals with advanced dementia are mostly strongly associated with the patient's race and presence of DNH and less so with changeable features of illness or environment.
Quality of Life and Sexual Function After Hysterectomy in Women With Preoperative Pain and Depression

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine differences in quality of life and sexual function after hysterectomy among women with preoperative pain and depression. METHODS: We analyzed data from a cohort study of 1,249 women who had hysterectomies for benign conditions. Participants were interviewed, before surgery and at 5 intervals after, regarding pelvic pain, depression, quality of life, and sexual function. We compared quality of life and sexual function at 6 and 24 months among women with preoperative pelvic pain alone, depression alone, both pelvic pain and depression, or neither. RESULTS: At 24 months, women with pain and depression had reduced prevalence of pelvic pain (96.7% decreased to 19.4%), limited physical function (66.1% to 34.3%), impaired mental health (93.3% to 38.1%), and limited social function (41.1% to 15.1%). Women with pain only improved in pelvic pain (95.1% to 9.3%) and limited activity level (74.3% to 24.2%). The group with depression only had improvement in impaired mental health (85.1% to 33.1%). Dyspareunia decreased in all groups. Compared with women who had neither pain nor depression, women with depression and pain had 3 to 5 times the odds of continued impaired quality of life: odds ratio (OR) 2.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.78–4.19 for limited physical function; OR 3.41, 95% CI 2.13–5.46 for impaired mental health; OR 5.76, 95% CI 2.79–11.87 for limited social function; OR 4.91, 95% CI 2.63–9.16 for continued pelvic pain; and OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.26–4.62 for dyspareunia. CONCLUSION: Women with pelvic pain and depression fare less well 24 months after hysterectomy than women who have either disorder alone or neither. Nevertheless, these women improve substantially over their preoperative baseline in all the quality of life and sexual function areas assessed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2