bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of DNA metabarcoding of bird pellets in understanding raptor diet on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China
Authors: Hacker Charlotte E. , Hoenig Brandon D. , Wu Liji , Cong Wei , Yu Jingjing , Dai Yunchuan , Li Ye , Li Jia , Xue Yadong , Zhang Yu , Ji Yunrui , Cao Hanning , Li Diqiang , Zhang Yuguang , Janecka Jan E. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundDiet analysis is essential to understanding the functional role of large bird species in food webs. Morphological analysis of regurgitated bird pellet contents is time intensive and may underestimate biodiversity. DNA metabarcoding has the ability to circumvent these issues, but has yet to be done.MethodsWe present a pilot study using DNA metabarcoding of MT-RNR1 and MT-CO1 markers to determine the species of origin and prey of 45 pellets collected in Qinghai and Gansu Provinces, China.ResultsWe detected four raptor species [Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo), Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), and Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius)] and 11 unique prey species across 10 families and 4 classes. Mammals were the greatest detected prey class with Plateau Pika (Ochotona curzoniae) being the most frequent. Observed Shannon’s and Simpson’s diversity for Upland Buzzard were 1.089 and 0.479, respectively, while expected values were 1.312 ± 0.266 and 0.485 ± 0.086. For Eurasian Eagle Owl, observed values were 1.202 and 0.565, while expected values were 1.502 ± 0.340 and 0.580 ± 0.114. Interspecific dietary niche partitioning between the two species was not detected.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate successful use of DNA metabarcoding for understanding diet via a novel noninvasive sample type to identify common and uncommon species. More work is needed to understand how raptor diets vary locally, and the mechanisms that enable exploitation of similar dietary resources. This approach has wide ranging applicability to other birds of prey, and demonstrates the power of using DNA metabarcoding to study species noninvasively.
Avian-power line interactions in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia: are mitigation actions effective?
Authors: Orihuela-Torres Adrian , Pérez-García Juan M. , Morales-Reyes Zebensui , Naves-Alegre Lara , Sánchez-Zapata José A. , Sebastián-González Esther 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Electrocution and collisions on power lines are among the leading causes of non-natural mortality for birds. Power lines are exponentially increasing, particularly in developing countries, but mitigation strategies to prevent bird mortality are questionable. Mongolia combines a recently increased power line network, an abundant raptor population, a dangerous crossarm configuration and a habitat with no natural perches, producing many bird-power line interactions. Our aim is to assess the bird mortality caused by power lines in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, to determine the factors increasing the risk of bird electrocution, and to evaluate the effectiveness of used retrofitting measures.

Methods
In July 2019 we covered 132.9 km of 15 kV power lines checking 1092 poles. We also conducted bird transects to record raptor and corvid richness and abundance, to assess species vulnerability to electrocution.

Results
We recorded 76 electrocuted birds of 7 species. Electrocution rate was 6.96 birds/100 poles. The most affected species were Common Raven (Corvus corax) and Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius), highlighting the electrocution of 5 endangered Saker Falcons (Falco cherrug). By contrast, we only recorded 8 individuals of 5 species colliding with wires, the most affected being Pallas’s Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus). About 76.1% of sampled poles had some mitigation measure. Of these, 96.6% were brush perch deflectors and 3.4% rotating-mirrors perch deterrents. We found differences in electrocution rates among crossarm configurations, with the strain insulator with one jumper being the most lethal. Additionally, we found no correlation between bird abundance and electrocution rates, suggesting that some species are more sensitive to electrocution. Although no differences in total bird electrocution rates were detected between poles with and without perch deterrents, when bird size is considered, deterrents reduced the mortality rate of small birds, while they were ineffective for medium-sized birds.

Conclusions
Despite the widespread use of perch deterrents in the Mongolian power line network, there is still an alarming electrocution rate. This strategy is ineffective and some mechanisms, such as brush perch deflectors, may increase the electrocution rate for some medium-sized birds. Finally, we propose strategies to minimize the avian electrocution rate in the Gobi Desert.
Congenital hemophilia A diagnosed with postoperative hemorrhage after thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report
Authors: Saitou Marie , Okamoto Muneo , Nagaoka Ryuta , Jikuzono Tomoo , Sen Masaomi , Kazusaka Hiroko , Matsui Mami , Sugitani Iwao 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Postoperative bleeding in thyroid surgery is a serious complication with fatal outcomes. Risk factors for postoperative hemorrhage have been reported as old age, male sex, Graves' disease, use of anticoagulants, and hematological disorders. Among the hematological diseases, congenital hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder characterized by absence or reduced levels of clotting factors VIII or IX. Most patients with hemophilia display bleeding symptoms during infancy or childhood, but diagnosis could be delayed in mild cases. We report a case of congenital hemophilia A that was diagnosed after three episodes of postoperative bleeding after thyroid surgery.

Case presentation
A 46-year-old man developed repeated postoperative hemorrhage after thyroid surgery for thyroid cancer. In this case, several irregularities were seen in the postoperative course, such as a relatively long interval between surgery and bleeding, the lack of an obvious bleeding point, fresh red blood dripping from the drain insertion site on the second postoperative day, and repeated bleeding three times. We therefore considered that the cause of postoperative hemorrhage might be other than the surgical operations. After a thorough examination, hemophilia A was diagnosed.

Conclusions
Hemophilia is a risk factor for postoperative bleeding in thyroid surgery. However, mild hemophilia shows normal prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. We encountered a case of papillary thyroid carcinoma associated with congenital hemophilia A, which was diagnosed after repeated bleeding.
A rare case of sigmoid colon cancer in which the lower limbs received collateral blood flow from the inferior mesenteric artery owing to peripheral artery disease
Authors: Kihara Kyoichi , Horie Hiromu , Miyatani Kozo , Endo Masayuki , Matsunaga Tomoyuki , Yamamoto Manabu , Yata Shinsaku , Tokuyasu Naruo , Sakamoto Teruhisa , Fujiwara Yoshiyuki 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Colorectal cancer and peripheral artery disease are common conditions in older adults and may coexist in this population. Lymph node dissection along the inferior mesenteric artery is a vital procedure in cases of left-sided colorectal cancer. However, the inferior mesenteric artery may show a collateral blood pathway in rare cases of peripheral artery disease. We report a case of advanced sigmoid colon cancer in which the lower limbs received inferior mesenteric artery flow owing to asymptomatic peripheral artery disease. The possibility of catastrophic lower-limb ischemia because of complete mesenteric excision with ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery was a matter of concern in this case.

Case presentation
A 73-year-old man with asymptomatic peripheral artery disease was diagnosed with stage IIIB advanced sigmoid colon cancer. Angiography using a balloon-occlusion catheter revealed that his lower limbs received prominent inferior mesenteric artery blood flow through a collateral pathway. Therefore, interventional radiologists and cardiovascular surgeons evaluated the indications for endovascular stents or bypass grafts. The patient also had dilated cardiomyopathy, so the cardiovascular physicians evaluated his tolerance in the worst-case scenario of a colorectal anastomotic leak. The patient underwent axillofemoral artery bypass and two-stage laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy without anastomosis. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he resumed his job within a month after the resection.

Conclusions
Although collateral flow from the inferior mesenteric artery is rare in patients with peripheral artery disease, a few case reports have described fatal lower-limb ischemia following anterior resection. The perioperative multidisciplinary evaluation enabled us to understand the patient’s condition and risks, and allowed successful cancer treatment without ischemia of the lower limbs.
Serum Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Marker Changes in Repetitive Breath-hold Diving
Authors: Cialoni Danilo , Brizzolari Andrea , Sponsiello Nicola , Lancellotti Valentina , Lori Cesare , Bosco Gerardo , Marroni Alessandro , Barassi Alessandra 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Breath-hold diving (BH-diving) is associated to extreme environmental conditions, prolonged physical activity, and complex adaptation mechanisms to supply enough O2 to vital organs. Consequently, one of the biggest effects could be an increased exercise-induced muscle fatigue, in both skeletal and cardiac muscles that can induce an increase of muscles injury markers including creatine kinase (CK), aspartate transferase (AST), and alanine transferase (ALT) when concerning the skeletal muscle, cardiac creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MBm) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) when concerning the cardiac muscle, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as index of muscle stress. The aim of this study is to investigate serum cardiac and skeletal muscle markers before and after a BH-diving training session.

Results
We found statistically significant increases of CK (T0: 136.1% p < 0.0001; T1: 138.5%, p < 0.0001), CK-MBm (T0: 145.1%, p < 0.0001; T1: 153.2%, p < 0.0001) LDH (T0: 110.4%, p < 0.0003; T1: 110.1%, p < 0.0013) in both T0 and T1 blood samples, as compared to basal value. AST showed a statistically significant increase only at T0 (106.8%, p < 0.0007) while ALT did not exhibit statistically significant changes. We did not find any changes in cTnI levels between pre-dive and post-dive samples.

Conclusions
Our data seem to indicate that during a BH-diving training session, skeletal and cardiac muscles react to physical effort releasing stress-related substances. Although the peculiar nature of BH-diving makes it difficult to understand if our results are related only to exercise induced muscle adaptation or whether acute hypoxia or a response to environmental changes (pressure) play a role to explain the observed changes, further studies are needed to better understand if these biomarker changes are linked to physical exercise or to acute hypoxia, or if both conditions play a role.
Vital and Clinical Signs Gathered Within the First Minutes After a Motorcycle Accident on a Racetrack: an Observational Study
Authors: Hugelius Karin , Lidberg Jerry , Ekh Linda , Örtenwall Per 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Little is known about vital signs during the very first minutes after an accident. This study aimed to describe the vital signs of motorcycle riders shortly after racetrack crashes and examine the clinical value of these data for the prehospital clinical assessments.

Methods
A retrospective observational cohort based on data from medical records on 104 motorcycle accidents at a racetrack in Sweden, covering the season of 2019 (May 01 until September 17), was conducted. Both race and practice runs were included. In addition, data from the Swedish Trauma Registry were used for patients referred to the hospital. Kruskal-Wallis test and linear regression were calculated in addition to descriptive statistics.

Results
In all, 30 riders (29%) were considered injured. Sixteen riders (15%) were referred to the hospital, and of these, five patients (5% of all riders) had suffered serious injuries. Aside from a decreased level of consciousness, no single vital sign or kinematic component observed within the early minutes after a crash was a strong clinical indicator of the occurrence of injuries. However, weak links were found between highsider or collision crashes and the occurrence of injuries.

Conclusion
Except for a decreased level of consciousness, this study indicates that the clinical value of early measured vital signs might be limited for the pre-hospital clinical assessment in the motorsport environment. Also, an adjustment of general trauma triage protocols might be considered for settings such as racetracks. Using the context with medical professionals at the victim’s side within a few minutes after an accident, that is common in motorsport, offers unique possibilities to increase our understanding of clinical signs and trauma in the early state after an accident.
Dynamic co-expression modular network analysis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Zheng Jing , Wu Huizhong , Zhang Zhiying , Yao Songqiang 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease affecting people’s health worldwide. Exploring the potential biomarkers and dynamic networks during NAFLD progression is urgently important.

Material and methods
Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in obesity, NAFL and NASH were screened from GSE126848 and GSE130970, respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis of DEGs was conducted to reveal the Gene Ontology (GO) biological process in each period. Dynamic molecular networks were constructed by DyNet to illustrate the common and distinct progression of health- or obesity-derived NAFLD. The dynamic co-expression modular analysis was carried out by CEMiTool to elucidate the key modulators, networks, and enriched pathways during NAFLD.

Results
A total of 453 DEGs were filtered from obesity, NAFL and NASH periods. Function annotation showed that health-NAFLD sequence was mainly associated with dysfunction of metabolic syndrome pathways, while obesity-NAFLD sequence exhibited dysregulation of Cell cycle and Cellular senescence pathways. Nine nodes including COL3A1, CXCL9, CYCS, CXCL10, THY1, COL1A2, SAA1, CDKN1A, and JUN in the dynamic networks were commonly identified in health- and obesity-derived NAFLD. Moreover, CYCS, whose role is unknown in NAFLD, possessed the highest correlation with NAFLD activity score, lobular inflammation grade, and the cytological ballooning grade. Dynamic co-expression modular analysis showed that module 4 was activated in NAFL and NASH, while module 3 was inhibited at NAFLD stages. Module 3 was negatively correlated with CXCL10, and module 4 was positively correlated with COL1A2 and THY1.

Conclusion
Dynamic network analysis and dynamic gene co-expression modular analysis identified a nine-gene signature as the potential key regulator in NAFLD progression, which provided comprehensive regulatory mechanisms underlying NAFLD progression.
‘Why didn’t they see my scars?’ Critical thematic analysis of simulated participants’ perceived tensions surrounding objective structured clinical examinations
Authors: Corrigan Mairead , Reid Helen J. , McKeown Pascal P. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Simulated participants (SPs) play an important role in simulated assessments of clinical encounters between medical students and patients, most notably in objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). SP contributions to OSCEs are invaluable, taking the role of a patient or carer. While SPs in some settings/contexts may rate students, their role has been problematized in the literature for their lack of agency within a standardised format of OSCEs that promotes reliability, objectivity and accountability. In this study, we explored SP experiences for tensions that result from simulated assessments and their potential implications for education.

Methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven SPs who were also tasked with providing a global mark for students. They were purposively selected to include women and men of different ages, occupation, education and experience as an SP. The interviews were analysed using a critical thematic analysis using a phenomenological approach.

Results
SP experiences directly addressed tensions and contradictions around OSCEs. SP participants described their experiences under four themes: industrialising, reducing, performativity and patient safety. OSCEs were compared to an industrial process that promoted efficiency but which bore no resemblance to real-life doctor-patient encounters. They were perceived to have a power and agency that reduced SPs to verbalising scripts to ensure that students were exposed to a standardised simulated experience that also underlined the performative role of SPs as props. These performative and reductionist experiences extended to students, for whom the mark sheet acted as a checklist, promoting standardised responses that lacked genuineness. All of this created a tension for SPs in promoting patient safety by ensuring that those medical students who passed were clinically competent.

Conclusions
OSCEs often form part of high-stakes exams. As such, they are governed by processes of industrialisation, accountability and standardisation. OSCEs possess a power and agency that can have unintended negative consequences. These include ‘conditioning’ students to adopt behaviours that are not suited to real-life clinical encounters and are not person-centred.
Safe use of radiopharmaceuticals in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review
Authors: Schreuder Nanno , de Romijn Iris , Jager Pieter L. , Kosterink Jos G. W. , van Puijenbroek Eugène P. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundPatients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may need to have their radiopharmaceutical dosage adjusted to prevent adverse effects and poor outcomes, but there are few recommendations on radiopharmaceutical dosing for this group of patients. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the available information on radiopharmaceutical dose recommendations for patients with CKD.MethodsWe performed a systematic literature review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. We conducted a literature search in the MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase databases and screened potentially relevant studies using inclusion and exclusion criteria. We independently assessed the included observational studies’ methodologies and extracted relevant data.ResultsOf the 5795 studies first identified, 34 were included in this systematic review. These studies described three radiopharmaceuticals: [131I]sodium iodine, [18F]fludeoxyglucose, and [131I]iobenguane. Twenty-nine studies (85.3%) reported data on patients with CKD stage 5, while only three studies mentioned CKD patients in other stages (8.8%).ConclusionWe found no consistent recommendations for radiopharmaceutical dosing in patients with CKD. Although some studies do mention dosing difficulties in patients with CKD, information is available for only a few radiopharmaceuticals, and recommendations are sometimes contradictory. Further research on radiopharmaceutical dosing in patients with CKD is needed to determine whether these patients require specific dosing, especially for therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals where a non-optimised dose may lead to an increased risk of toxicity for non-targeted organs. Including patients with CKD in studies and providing specific information about dosing in these patients should be a priority for the radiopharmaceutical community.
Symptoms and impacts of ambulatory nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a qualitative study and the development of a patient-centred conceptual model
Authors: Williams Kate , Davidson Ian , Rance Mark , Boehnke Axel , Buesch Katharina , Acaster Sarah 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder, which can result in early death due to disease progression. Ataluren is indicated for the treatment of nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in ambulatory individuals aged two years and older. This study explored the symptoms and impacts of nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy and experience with ataluren.

Methods
Qualitative interviews were conducted with caregivers in the UK. Interviews were conducted by telephone, were recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and saturation was recorded.

Results
Ten interviews were conducted with parents of individuals aged 4–19 years. Key symptoms included muscle weakness and muscle breakdown, which were associated with limitations in physical function and pain. These impacted individuals’ daily activities, social activities and emotional wellbeing. These concepts and relationships were illustrated in a conceptual model, along with positive and negative moderating factors. Experience with ataluren and changes since initiation with treatment were discussed.

Conclusion
Individuals with nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy experience a range of interrelated symptoms and functional issues which impact their broader health-related quality of life. Treatments which address this high unmet need have the potential to improve the health-related quality of life of these individuals.
Paradoxical role of hepatocyte growth factor in ischemic stroke: stroke risk/stroke recovery
Authors: Al-Ahmar Ibraheim , Mohamed Noha , Elshony Hosna 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has an obvious pathological role in atherosclerosis and plaque instability leading to an acute ischemic stroke; however, its beneficial role in stroke recovery is still restricted to experimental studies. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between HGF and carotid atherosclerosis and evaluate its value as a prognostic marker of ischemic stroke and its role in stroke recovery.

Results
This case–control study was done on 100 patients with first time anterior circulation ischemic stroke, subjected to clinical and laboratory evaluation of atherosclerosis risk factors. Brain imaging, cardiac work-up and ultrasonographic assessment of carotid atherosclerosis (using intimal medial thickness and plaque score) were all done. Clinical evaluation of initial stroke severity, using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and stroke outcome after 3 m, using Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), was performed. Measurement of HGF serum concentration was done to all stroke patients within 24 h of stroke onset and compared to results of 100 matched healthy subjects aged more than 50 years. HGF was significantly higher in stroke patients than healthy controls and in atherothrombotic than cardioembolic stroke group and its level was significantly correlated with atherosclerosis risk factors, degree of carotid atherosclerosis and better stroke outcome; however, it was not significantly correlated with initial stroke severity.

Conclusion
HGF is strongly associated with carotid atherosclerosis and other atherosclerosis risk factors and subsequent atherothrombotic stroke. Also, it can be used as a good prognostic marker in atherothrombotic stroke suggesting its role in stroke recovery but more studies are needed to explore this beneficial role as well as its therapeutic potentials in ischemic stroke patients.