PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Injuries among children and adolescents in a rapidly growing urban African metropolis: a cross-sectional survey of 1,968 households in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
items: Multiple factors influence local perceptions of snow leopards and Himalayan wolves in the central Himalayas, Nepal
items: Conflicting phylogenetic signals in plastomes of the tribe Laureae (Lauraceae)
items: Colonization of novel algal habitats by juveniles of a marine tube-dwelling amphipod
items: Physical inactivity as a risk factor to mortality by ischemic heart disease during economic and political crisis in Brazil
items: Trypanosoma cruzi-infected triatomines and rodents co-occur in a coastal island of northern Chile
items: Spatial benthic community analysis of shallow coral reefs to support coastal management in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico
items: Ecological stoichiometry of plant leaves, litter and soils in a secondary forest on China’s Loess Plateau
items: Quantile-dependent expressivity of plasma adiponectin concentrations may explain its sex-specific heritability, gene-environment interactions, and genotype-specific response to postprandial lipemia
items: Heparin-binding protein as a novel biomarker for sepsis-related acute kidney injury

Injuries among children and adolescents in a rapidly growing urban African metropolis: a cross-sectional survey of 1,968 households in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objectives To assess the patterns and incidence of child and adolescent injury and explore associations with household deprivation and child characteristics in a low-income urban setting. Study Design Cross-sectional household survey in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods Data collection took place during July 2009. Injuries requiring medical attention were recorded with a one month period of recall. A total of 1,968 households representing 3,927 children and adolescents were visited by health workers. Gender-, age-, and type-specific injury incidence was compiled. Odds ratios were calculated to measure associations with child injury, perceived deprivation, household characteristics and child characteristics. Results One household in five reported injuries. The estimated incidence was 3.2 per 10,000 child-years. The most common identifiable injuries were falls (41%), cuts (22%) and burns (16%). Male and younger children aged 1–4 years were at higher risk (respectively OR = 1.36; p = 0.004; OR = 1.47; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions In Dar e Salaam injuries are common. Future investigations should take into account both subjective and objective measurements of relative household deprivation and a clear criteria for the assessment of injury severity in community-based survey contexts.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mónica Alejandra Pérez Méndez
creator: Hamisi A. Kigwangalla
creator: Till Bärnighausen
creator: Michael Lowery Wilson
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Global Health
subject: Nursing
subject: Pediatrics
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.10048
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Pérez Méndez et al.
abstract: Objectives To assess the patterns and incidence of child and adolescent injury and explore associations with household deprivation and child characteristics in a low-income urban setting. Study Design Cross-sectional household survey in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods Data collection took place during July 2009. Injuries requiring medical attention were recorded with a one month period of recall. A total of 1,968 households representing 3,927 children and adolescents were visited by health workers. Gender-, age-, and type-specific injury incidence was compiled. Odds ratios were calculated to measure associations with child injury, perceived deprivation, household characteristics and child characteristics. Results One household in five reported injuries. The estimated incidence was 3.2 per 10,000 child-years. The most common identifiable injuries were falls (41%), cuts (22%) and burns (16%). Male and younger children aged 1–4 years were at higher risk (respectively OR = 1.36; p = 0.004; OR = 1.47; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions In Dar e Salaam injuries are common. Future investigations should take into account both subjective and objective measurements of relative household deprivation and a clear criteria for the assessment of injury severity in community-based survey contexts.
bibliographic citation: Pérez Méndez et al. (2020) Injuries among children and adolescents in a rapidly growing urban African metropolis: a cross-sectional survey of 1,968 households in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PeerJ 8:e10048 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10048
date submitted: 2020-03-02
date accepted: 2020-09-05
issued: 2020-10-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Pérez Méndez
  given name: Mónica Alejandra
author list: Agent
  family name: Kigwangalla
  given name: Hamisi A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Bärnighausen
  given name: Till
author list: Agent
  family name: Lowery Wilson
  given name: Michael
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10048
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-10-15
copyright: ©2020 Pérez Méndez et al.
attribution name: Pérez Méndez et al.

Multiple factors influence local perceptions of snow leopards and Himalayan wolves in the central Himalayas, Nepal
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: An understanding of local perceptions of carnivores is important for conservation and management planning. In the central Himalayas, Nepal, we interviewed 428 individuals from 85 settlements using a semi-structured questionnaire to quantitatively assess local perceptions and tolerance of snow leopards and wolves. We used generalized linear mixed effect models to assess influential factors, and found that tolerance of snow leopards was much higher than of wolves. Interestingly, having experienced livestock losses had a minor impact on perceptions of the carnivores. Occupation of the respondents had a strong effect on perceptions of snow leopards but not of wolves. Literacy and age had weak impacts on snow leopard perceptions, but the interaction among these terms showed a marked effect, that is, being illiterate had a more marked negative impact among older respondents. Among the various factors affecting perceptions of wolves, numbers of livestock owned and gender were the most important predictors. People with larger livestock herds were more negative towards wolves. In terms of gender, males were more positive to wolves than females, but no such pattern was observed for snow leopards. People’s negative perceptions towards wolves were also related to the remoteness of the villages. Factors affecting people’s perceptions could not be generalized for the two species, and thus need to be addressed separately. We suggest future conservation projects and programs should prioritize remote settlements.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Madhu Chetri
creator: Morten Odden
creator: Olivier Devineau
creator: Thomas McCarthy
creator: Per Wegge
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.10108
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Chetri et al.
abstract: An understanding of local perceptions of carnivores is important for conservation and management planning. In the central Himalayas, Nepal, we interviewed 428 individuals from 85 settlements using a semi-structured questionnaire to quantitatively assess local perceptions and tolerance of snow leopards and wolves. We used generalized linear mixed effect models to assess influential factors, and found that tolerance of snow leopards was much higher than of wolves. Interestingly, having experienced livestock losses had a minor impact on perceptions of the carnivores. Occupation of the respondents had a strong effect on perceptions of snow leopards but not of wolves. Literacy and age had weak impacts on snow leopard perceptions, but the interaction among these terms showed a marked effect, that is, being illiterate had a more marked negative impact among older respondents. Among the various factors affecting perceptions of wolves, numbers of livestock owned and gender were the most important predictors. People with larger livestock herds were more negative towards wolves. In terms of gender, males were more positive to wolves than females, but no such pattern was observed for snow leopards. People’s negative perceptions towards wolves were also related to the remoteness of the villages. Factors affecting people’s perceptions could not be generalized for the two species, and thus need to be addressed separately. We suggest future conservation projects and programs should prioritize remote settlements.
bibliographic citation: Chetri et al. (2020) Multiple factors influence local perceptions of snow leopards and Himalayan wolves in the central Himalayas, Nepal. PeerJ 8:e10108 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10108
date submitted: 2020-05-05
date accepted: 2020-09-15
issued: 2020-10-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Chetri
  given name: Madhu
author list: Agent
  family name: Odden
  given name: Morten
author list: Agent
  family name: Devineau
  given name: Olivier
author list: Agent
  family name: McCarthy
  given name: Thomas
author list: Agent
  family name: Wegge
  given name: Per
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10108
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-10-15
copyright: © 2020 Chetri et al.
attribution name: Chetri et al.

Conflicting phylogenetic signals in plastomes of the tribe Laureae (Lauraceae)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Gene tree discordance is common in phylogenetic analyses. Many phylogenetic studies have excluded non-coding regions of the plastome without evaluating their impact on tree topology. In general, plastid loci have often been treated as a single unit, and tree discordance among these loci has seldom been examined. Using samples of Laureae (Lauraceae) plastomes, we explored plastome variation among the tribe, examined the influence of non-coding regions on tree topology, and quantified intra-plastome conflict. Results We found that the plastomes of Laureae have low inter-specific variation and are highly similar in structure, size, and gene content. Laureae was divided into three groups, subclades I, II and III. The inclusion of non-coding regions changed the phylogenetic relationship among the three subclades. Topologies based on coding and non-coding regions were largely congruent except for the relationship among subclades I, II and III. By measuring the distribution of phylogenetic signal across loci that supported different topologies, we found that nine loci (two coding regions, two introns and five intergenic spacers) played a critical role at the contentious node. Conclusions Our results suggest that subclade III and subclade II are successively sister to subclade I. Conflicting phylogenetic signals exist between coding and non-coding regions of Laureae plastomes. Our study highlights the importance of evaluating the influence of non-coding regions on tree topology and emphasizes the necessity of examining discordance among different plastid loci in phylogenetic studies.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tian-Wen Xiao
creator: Yong Xu
creator: Lu Jin
creator: Tong-Jian Liu
creator: Hai-Fei Yan
creator: Xue-Jun Ge
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Genetics
subject: Genomics
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.10155
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Xiao et al.
abstract: Background Gene tree discordance is common in phylogenetic analyses. Many phylogenetic studies have excluded non-coding regions of the plastome without evaluating their impact on tree topology. In general, plastid loci have often been treated as a single unit, and tree discordance among these loci has seldom been examined. Using samples of Laureae (Lauraceae) plastomes, we explored plastome variation among the tribe, examined the influence of non-coding regions on tree topology, and quantified intra-plastome conflict. Results We found that the plastomes of Laureae have low inter-specific variation and are highly similar in structure, size, and gene content. Laureae was divided into three groups, subclades I, II and III. The inclusion of non-coding regions changed the phylogenetic relationship among the three subclades. Topologies based on coding and non-coding regions were largely congruent except for the relationship among subclades I, II and III. By measuring the distribution of phylogenetic signal across loci that supported different topologies, we found that nine loci (two coding regions, two introns and five intergenic spacers) played a critical role at the contentious node. Conclusions Our results suggest that subclade III and subclade II are successively sister to subclade I. Conflicting phylogenetic signals exist between coding and non-coding regions of Laureae plastomes. Our study highlights the importance of evaluating the influence of non-coding regions on tree topology and emphasizes the necessity of examining discordance among different plastid loci in phylogenetic studies.
bibliographic citation: Xiao et al. (2020) Conflicting phylogenetic signals in plastomes of the tribe Laureae (Lauraceae). PeerJ 8:e10155 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10155
date submitted: 2020-06-10
date accepted: 2020-09-21
issued: 2020-10-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Xiao
  given name: Tian-Wen
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Yong
author list: Agent
  family name: Jin
  given name: Lu
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Tong-Jian
author list: Agent
  family name: Yan
  given name: Hai-Fei
author list: Agent
  family name: Ge
  given name: Xue-Jun
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10155
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-10-15
copyright: ©2020 Xiao et al.
attribution name: Xiao et al.

Colonization of novel algal habitats by juveniles of a marine tube-dwelling amphipod
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Dispersal is an important process affecting population dynamics and connectivity. For marine direct developers, both adults and juveniles may disperse. Although the distribution of juveniles can be initially constrained by their mothers’ choice, they may be able to leave the parental habitat and colonize other habitats. We investigated the effect of habitat quality, patch size and presence of conspecific adults on the colonization of novel habitats by juveniles of the tube-dwelling amphipod Cymadusa filosa associated with the macroalgal host Sargassum filipendula. Methods We tested the factors listed above on the colonization of juveniles by manipulating natural and artificial plants in both the field and laboratory. Results In the laboratory, juveniles selected high-quality habitats (i.e., natural alga), where both food and shelter are provided, when low-quality resources (i.e., artificial alga) were also available. In contrast, habitat quality and algal patch size did not affect the colonization by juveniles in the field. Finally, the presence of conspecific adults did not affect the colonization of juveniles under laboratory condition but had a weak effect in the field experiment. Our results suggest that C. filosa juveniles can select and colonize novel habitats, and that such process can be partially affected by habitat quality, but not by patch size. Also, the presence of conspecifics may affect the colonization by juveniles. Successful colonization by this specific developmental stage under different scenarios indicates that juveniles may act as a dispersal agent in this species.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Marilia Bueno
creator: Glauco B.O. Machado
creator: Fosca P.P. Leite
subject: Ecology
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.10188
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Bueno et al.
abstract: Background Dispersal is an important process affecting population dynamics and connectivity. For marine direct developers, both adults and juveniles may disperse. Although the distribution of juveniles can be initially constrained by their mothers’ choice, they may be able to leave the parental habitat and colonize other habitats. We investigated the effect of habitat quality, patch size and presence of conspecific adults on the colonization of novel habitats by juveniles of the tube-dwelling amphipod Cymadusa filosa associated with the macroalgal host Sargassum filipendula. Methods We tested the factors listed above on the colonization of juveniles by manipulating natural and artificial plants in both the field and laboratory. Results In the laboratory, juveniles selected high-quality habitats (i.e., natural alga), where both food and shelter are provided, when low-quality resources (i.e., artificial alga) were also available. In contrast, habitat quality and algal patch size did not affect the colonization by juveniles in the field. Finally, the presence of conspecific adults did not affect the colonization of juveniles under laboratory condition but had a weak effect in the field experiment. Our results suggest that C. filosa juveniles can select and colonize novel habitats, and that such process can be partially affected by habitat quality, but not by patch size. Also, the presence of conspecifics may affect the colonization by juveniles. Successful colonization by this specific developmental stage under different scenarios indicates that juveniles may act as a dispersal agent in this species.
bibliographic citation: Bueno et al. (2020) Colonization of novel algal habitats by juveniles of a marine tube-dwelling amphipod. PeerJ 8:e10188 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10188
date submitted: 2020-08-06
date accepted: 2020-09-24
issued: 2020-10-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Bueno
  given name: Marilia
author list: Agent
  family name: Machado
  given name: Glauco B.O.
author list: Agent
  family name: Leite
  given name: Fosca P.P.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10188
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-10-15
copyright: © 2020 Bueno et al.
attribution name: Bueno et al.

Physical inactivity as a risk factor to mortality by ischemic heart disease during economic and political crisis in Brazil
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background To investigate the burden of mortality due to ischemic heart disease (IHD) attributable to low levels of physical activity in the Brazilian population (aged ≥ 25 years) before, during and after economic and political crises (2007–2017). Methods This study was focused on IHD as a cause of death. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases (10th revision) codes related to IHD have been mapped. The data used for the physical activity estimates of the present study refer to surveys with random sampling carried out in the Brazilian territory that considers all domains of physical activity. The contribution of physical activity for mortality due to IHD was estimated using a comparative risk assessment approach. In addition, we verified the association between mortality due to IHD attributable to low levels of physical activity according to the Socio-demographic Index of the Brazilian states. Results For males it was estimated that in 2007 and 2017 there were, respectively, 9,585 and 11,821 deaths due to IHD as a result low physical activity. For females there were 8,689 deaths in 2007 and 10,779 deaths in 2017 due to IHD attributable to low physical activity. From 2007 to 2017, there was 12.0% (for males) and 16.0% (for females) of reduction in age-adjusted mortality rate due to IHD attributable to low physical activity. This reduction was not observed in the Northern and Northeastern regions of Brazil for the male population. Brazilian states with better socioeconomic conditions showed greater reductions in age-adjusted mortality rate due to IHD attributable to low physical activity (male: ρ = −0.74; female: ρ = −0.54) Conclusion The fiscal austerity policies implemented and the lower investment in social programs in the period of economic and political crisis highlighted the social inequalities between Brazilian geographic regions for the burden of mortality due to IHD attributable to low levels of physical activity.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Diego Augusto Santos Silva
subject: Cardiology
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Global Health
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.10192
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Silva
abstract: Background To investigate the burden of mortality due to ischemic heart disease (IHD) attributable to low levels of physical activity in the Brazilian population (aged ≥ 25 years) before, during and after economic and political crises (2007–2017). Methods This study was focused on IHD as a cause of death. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases (10th revision) codes related to IHD have been mapped. The data used for the physical activity estimates of the present study refer to surveys with random sampling carried out in the Brazilian territory that considers all domains of physical activity. The contribution of physical activity for mortality due to IHD was estimated using a comparative risk assessment approach. In addition, we verified the association between mortality due to IHD attributable to low levels of physical activity according to the Socio-demographic Index of the Brazilian states. Results For males it was estimated that in 2007 and 2017 there were, respectively, 9,585 and 11,821 deaths due to IHD as a result low physical activity. For females there were 8,689 deaths in 2007 and 10,779 deaths in 2017 due to IHD attributable to low physical activity. From 2007 to 2017, there was 12.0% (for males) and 16.0% (for females) of reduction in age-adjusted mortality rate due to IHD attributable to low physical activity. This reduction was not observed in the Northern and Northeastern regions of Brazil for the male population. Brazilian states with better socioeconomic conditions showed greater reductions in age-adjusted mortality rate due to IHD attributable to low physical activity (male: ρ = −0.74; female: ρ = −0.54) Conclusion The fiscal austerity policies implemented and the lower investment in social programs in the period of economic and political crisis highlighted the social inequalities between Brazilian geographic regions for the burden of mortality due to IHD attributable to low levels of physical activity.
bibliographic citation: Silva (2020) Physical inactivity as a risk factor to mortality by ischemic heart disease during economic and political crisis in Brazil. PeerJ 8:e10192 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10192
date submitted: 2020-07-26
date accepted: 2020-09-24
issued: 2020-10-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Silva
  given name: Diego Augusto Santos
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10192
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-10-15
copyright: © 2020 Silva
attribution name: Silva

Trypanosoma cruzi-infected triatomines and rodents co-occur in a coastal island of northern Chile
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Trypanosoma cruzi, the cause agent of Chagas disease, is transmitted mainly by blood-feeding insects of the subfamily Triatominae. The T. cruzi life cycle alternates between triatomines and mammalian hosts, excluding birds and reptiles. Triatomines of Mepraia genus are wild vectors of T. cruzi in Chile. Mepraia specimens infected with T. cruzi have been detected in Pan de Azúcar and Santa María islands. The most common vertebrates that inhabit these islands are birds and reptiles, and it is unknown whether small mammals are present. Consequently, it is relevant to know whether there are any T. cruzi-infected small mammals on those islands to elucidate the T. cruzi cycle. To clarify this crossroads, islands of northern Chile were explored to determine if T. cruzi-infected triatomines and rodents co-occur in islands of northern Chile. T. cruzi DNA was detected by conventional and real-time PCR in three islands: on Santa María and Pan de Azúcar islands T. cruzi was detected in Mepraia sp samples, while on Pan de Azúcar (6.1%) and Damas islands (15%) was detected in the rodent Abrothrix olivacea. We show for the first time in Chile the occurrence of insular rodents infected with T. cruzi, and a complete T. cruzi life cycle in a coastal island. Our results provide new insights to understand the T. cruzi infection in the wild cycle.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ricardo Campos-Soto
creator: Gabriel Díaz-Campusano
creator: Nicol Quiroga
creator: Catalina Muñoz-San Martín
creator: Ninette Rives-Blanchard
creator: Fernando Torres-Pérez
subject: Ecology
subject: Entomology
subject: Parasitology
subject: Zoology
subject: Infectious Diseases
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9967
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Campos-Soto et al.
abstract: Trypanosoma cruzi, the cause agent of Chagas disease, is transmitted mainly by blood-feeding insects of the subfamily Triatominae. The T. cruzi life cycle alternates between triatomines and mammalian hosts, excluding birds and reptiles. Triatomines of Mepraia genus are wild vectors of T. cruzi in Chile. Mepraia specimens infected with T. cruzi have been detected in Pan de Azúcar and Santa María islands. The most common vertebrates that inhabit these islands are birds and reptiles, and it is unknown whether small mammals are present. Consequently, it is relevant to know whether there are any T. cruzi-infected small mammals on those islands to elucidate the T. cruzi cycle. To clarify this crossroads, islands of northern Chile were explored to determine if T. cruzi-infected triatomines and rodents co-occur in islands of northern Chile. T. cruzi DNA was detected by conventional and real-time PCR in three islands: on Santa María and Pan de Azúcar islands T. cruzi was detected in Mepraia sp samples, while on Pan de Azúcar (6.1%) and Damas islands (15%) was detected in the rodent Abrothrix olivacea. We show for the first time in Chile the occurrence of insular rodents infected with T. cruzi, and a complete T. cruzi life cycle in a coastal island. Our results provide new insights to understand the T. cruzi infection in the wild cycle.
bibliographic citation: Campos-Soto et al. (2020) Trypanosoma cruzi-infected triatomines and rodents co-occur in a coastal island of northern Chile. PeerJ 8:e9967 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9967
date submitted: 2020-06-11
date accepted: 2020-08-26
issued: 2020-10-14
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Campos-Soto
  given name: Ricardo
author list: Agent
  family name: Díaz-Campusano
  given name: Gabriel
author list: Agent
  family name: Quiroga
  given name: Nicol
author list: Agent
  family name: Muñoz-San Martín
  given name: Catalina
author list: Agent
  family name: Rives-Blanchard
  given name: Ninette
author list: Agent
  family name: Torres-Pérez
  given name: Fernando
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9967
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-10-14
copyright: ©2020 Campos-Soto et al.
attribution name: Campos-Soto et al.

Spatial benthic community analysis of shallow coral reefs to support coastal management in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Caribbean coral reefs provide essential ecosystem services to society, including fisheries, tourism and shoreline protection from coastal erosion. However, these reefs are also exhibiting major declining trends, leading to the evolution of novel ecosystems dominated by non-reef building taxa, with potentially altered ecological functions. In the search for effective management strategies, this study characterized coral reefs in front of a touristic beach which provides economic benefits to the surrounding coastal communities yet faces increasing anthropogenic pressures and conservation challenges. Haphazard photo-transects were used to address spatial variation patterns in the reef’s benthic community structure in eight locations. Statistically significant differences were found with increasing distance from the shoreline, reef rugosity, Diadema antillarum density, among reef locations, and as a function of recreational use. Nearshore reefs reflected higher percent macroalgal cover, likely due to increased exposure from both recreational activities and nearby unsustainable land-use practices. However, nearshore reefs still support a high abundance of the endangered reef-building coral Orbicella annularis, highlighting the need to conserve these natural shoreline protectors. There is an opportunity for local stakeholders and regulatory institutions to collaboratively implement sea-urchin propagation, restoration of endangered Acroporid coral populations, and zoning of recreational densities across reefs. Our results illustrate vulnerable reef hotspots where these management interventions are needed and recommend guidelines to address them.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Nicolás X. Gómez-Andújar
creator: Edwin A. Hernandez-Delgado
subject: Ecology
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Spatial and Geographic Information Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.10080
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Gómez-Andújar and Hernandez-Delgado
abstract: Caribbean coral reefs provide essential ecosystem services to society, including fisheries, tourism and shoreline protection from coastal erosion. However, these reefs are also exhibiting major declining trends, leading to the evolution of novel ecosystems dominated by non-reef building taxa, with potentially altered ecological functions. In the search for effective management strategies, this study characterized coral reefs in front of a touristic beach which provides economic benefits to the surrounding coastal communities yet faces increasing anthropogenic pressures and conservation challenges. Haphazard photo-transects were used to address spatial variation patterns in the reef’s benthic community structure in eight locations. Statistically significant differences were found with increasing distance from the shoreline, reef rugosity, Diadema antillarum density, among reef locations, and as a function of recreational use. Nearshore reefs reflected higher percent macroalgal cover, likely due to increased exposure from both recreational activities and nearby unsustainable land-use practices. However, nearshore reefs still support a high abundance of the endangered reef-building coral Orbicella annularis, highlighting the need to conserve these natural shoreline protectors. There is an opportunity for local stakeholders and regulatory institutions to collaboratively implement sea-urchin propagation, restoration of endangered Acroporid coral populations, and zoning of recreational densities across reefs. Our results illustrate vulnerable reef hotspots where these management interventions are needed and recommend guidelines to address them.
bibliographic citation: Gómez-Andújar et al. (2020) Spatial benthic community analysis of shallow coral reefs to support coastal management in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico. PeerJ 8:e10080 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10080
date submitted: 2020-02-04
date accepted: 2020-09-11
issued: 2020-10-14
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Gómez-Andújar
  given name: Nicolás X.
author list: Agent
  family name: Hernandez-Delgado
  given name: Edwin A.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10080
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-10-14
copyright: © 2020 Gómez-Andújar and Hernandez-Delgado
attribution name: Gómez-Andújar and Hernandez-Delgado

Ecological stoichiometry of plant leaves, litter and soils in a secondary forest on China’s Loess Plateau
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Ecological stoichiometry can reveal nutrient cycles in soil and plant ecosystems and their interactions. However, the ecological stoichiometry characteristics of leaf-litter-soil system of dominant grasses, shrubs and trees are still unclear as are their intrinsic relationship during vegetation restoration. This study selected three dominant plant types of grasses (Imperata cylindrica (I. cylindrica) and Artemisiasacrorum (A.sacrorum)), shrubs (Sophora viciifolia (S. viciifolia) and Hippophae rhamnoides (H. rhamnoides)) and trees (Quercus liaotungensis (Q. liaotungensis) and Betula platyphylla (B. platyphylla)) in secondary forest areas of the Chinese Loess Plateau to investigate ecological stoichiometric characteristics and their intrinsic relationships in leaf-litter-soil systems. The results indicated that N concentration and N:P ratios in leaf and litter were highest in shrubland; leaf P concentration in grassland was highest and litter in forestland had the highest P concentration. Soil C, N and P concentrations were highest in forestland (P < 0.05) and declined with soil depth. Based on the theory that leaf N:P ratio indicates nutritional limitation of plant growth, this study concluded that grass and shrub growth was limited by N and P element, respectively, and forest growth was limited by both of N and P elements. The relationships between the N concentration in soil, leaf and litter was not significant (P >0.5), but the soil P concentration was significantly correlated with litter P concentration (P < 0.05). These finding enhance understanding of nutrient limitations in different plant communities during vegetation restoration and provide insights for better management of vegetation restoration.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Zongfei Wang
creator: Fenli Zheng
subject: Ecology
subject: Ecosystem Science
subject: Plant Science
subject: Soil Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.10084
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Wang and Zheng
abstract: Ecological stoichiometry can reveal nutrient cycles in soil and plant ecosystems and their interactions. However, the ecological stoichiometry characteristics of leaf-litter-soil system of dominant grasses, shrubs and trees are still unclear as are their intrinsic relationship during vegetation restoration. This study selected three dominant plant types of grasses (Imperata cylindrica (I. cylindrica) and Artemisiasacrorum (A.sacrorum)), shrubs (Sophora viciifolia (S. viciifolia) and Hippophae rhamnoides (H. rhamnoides)) and trees (Quercus liaotungensis (Q. liaotungensis) and Betula platyphylla (B. platyphylla)) in secondary forest areas of the Chinese Loess Plateau to investigate ecological stoichiometric characteristics and their intrinsic relationships in leaf-litter-soil systems. The results indicated that N concentration and N:P ratios in leaf and litter were highest in shrubland; leaf P concentration in grassland was highest and litter in forestland had the highest P concentration. Soil C, N and P concentrations were highest in forestland (P < 0.05) and declined with soil depth. Based on the theory that leaf N:P ratio indicates nutritional limitation of plant growth, this study concluded that grass and shrub growth was limited by N and P element, respectively, and forest growth was limited by both of N and P elements. The relationships between the N concentration in soil, leaf and litter was not significant (P >0.5), but the soil P concentration was significantly correlated with litter P concentration (P < 0.05). These finding enhance understanding of nutrient limitations in different plant communities during vegetation restoration and provide insights for better management of vegetation restoration.
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2020) Ecological stoichiometry of plant leaves, litter and soils in a secondary forest on China’s Loess Plateau. PeerJ 8:e10084 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10084
date submitted: 2019-12-02
date accepted: 2020-09-11
issued: 2020-10-14
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Zongfei
author list: Agent
  family name: Zheng
  given name: Fenli
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10084
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-10-14
copyright: ©2020 Wang and Zheng
attribution name: Wang and Zheng

Quantile-dependent expressivity of plasma adiponectin concentrations may explain its sex-specific heritability, gene-environment interactions, and genotype-specific response to postprandial lipemia
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background “Quantile-dependent expressivity” occurs when the effect size of a genetic variant depends upon whether the phenotype (e.g. adiponectin) is high or low relative to its distribution. We have previously shown that the heritability (h2) of adiposity, lipoproteins, postprandial lipemia, pulmonary function, and coffee and alcohol consumption are quantile-specific. Whether adiponectin heritability is quantile specific remains to be determined. Methods Plasma adiponectin concentrations from 4,182 offspring-parent pairs and 1,662 sibships from the Framingham Heart Study were analyzed. Quantile-specific heritability from offspring-parent (βOP,h2 = 2βOP/(1 + rspouse)) and full-sib regression slopes (βFS, h2 = {(1 + 8rspouseβFS)0.05-1}/(2rspouse)) were robustly estimated by quantile regression with nonparametric significance assigned from 1,000 bootstrap samples. Results Quantile-specific h2 (± SE) increased with increasing percentiles of the offspring’s age- and sex-adjusted adiponectin distribution when estimated from βOP (Ptrend = 2.2 × 10−6): 0.30 ± 0.03 at the 10th, 0.33 ± 0.04 at the 25th, 0.43 ± 0.04 at the 50th, 0.55 ± 0.05 at the 75th, and 0.57 ± 0.08 at the 90th percentile, and when estimated from βFS (Ptrend = 7.6 × 10−7): 0.42 ± 0.03 at the 10th, 0.44 ± 0.04 at the 25th, 0.56 ± 0.05 at the 50th, 0.73 ± 0.08 at the 75th, and 0.79 ± 0.11 at the 90th percentile. Consistent with quantile-dependent expressivity, adiponectin’s: (1) heritability was greater in women in accordance with their higher adiponection concentrations; (2) relationships to ADIPOQ polymorphisms were modified by adiposity in accordance with its adiponectin-lowering effect; (3) response to rosiglitazone was predicted by the 45T> G ADIPOQ polymorphism; (4) difference by ADIPOQ haplotypes increased linearly with increasing postprandial adiponectin concentrations. Conclusion Adiponectin heritability is quantile dependent, which may explain sex-specific heritability, gene-environment and gene-d…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Paul T. Williams
subject: Genetics
subject: Diabetes and Endocrinology
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Hematology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.10099
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Williams
abstract: Background “Quantile-dependent expressivity” occurs when the effect size of a genetic variant depends upon whether the phenotype (e.g. adiponectin) is high or low relative to its distribution. We have previously shown that the heritability (h2) of adiposity, lipoproteins, postprandial lipemia, pulmonary function, and coffee and alcohol consumption are quantile-specific. Whether adiponectin heritability is quantile specific remains to be determined. Methods Plasma adiponectin concentrations from 4,182 offspring-parent pairs and 1,662 sibships from the Framingham Heart Study were analyzed. Quantile-specific heritability from offspring-parent (βOP,h2 = 2βOP/(1 + rspouse)) and full-sib regression slopes (βFS, h2 = {(1 + 8rspouseβFS)0.05-1}/(2rspouse)) were robustly estimated by quantile regression with nonparametric significance assigned from 1,000 bootstrap samples. Results Quantile-specific h2 (± SE) increased with increasing percentiles of the offspring’s age- and sex-adjusted adiponectin distribution when estimated from βOP (Ptrend = 2.2 × 10−6): 0.30 ± 0.03 at the 10th, 0.33 ± 0.04 at the 25th, 0.43 ± 0.04 at the 50th, 0.55 ± 0.05 at the 75th, and 0.57 ± 0.08 at the 90th percentile, and when estimated from βFS (Ptrend = 7.6 × 10−7): 0.42 ± 0.03 at the 10th, 0.44 ± 0.04 at the 25th, 0.56 ± 0.05 at the 50th, 0.73 ± 0.08 at the 75th, and 0.79 ± 0.11 at the 90th percentile. Consistent with quantile-dependent expressivity, adiponectin’s: (1) heritability was greater in women in accordance with their higher adiponection concentrations; (2) relationships to ADIPOQ polymorphisms were modified by adiposity in accordance with its adiponectin-lowering effect; (3) response to rosiglitazone was predicted by the 45T> G ADIPOQ polymorphism; (4) difference by ADIPOQ haplotypes increased linearly with increasing postprandial adiponectin concentrations. Conclusion Adiponectin heritability is quantile dependent, which may explain sex-specific heritability, gene-environment and gene-d…
bibliographic citation: Williams (2020) Quantile-dependent expressivity of plasma adiponectin concentrations may explain its sex-specific heritability, gene-environment interactions, and genotype-specific response to postprandial lipemia. PeerJ 8:e10099 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10099
date submitted: 2020-07-03
date accepted: 2020-09-14
issued: 2020-10-14
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Williams
  given name: Paul T.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10099
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-10-14
copyright: ©2020 Williams
attribution name: Williams

Heparin-binding protein as a novel biomarker for sepsis-related acute kidney injury
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Sepsis-related acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality among patients. Underlying pathomechanisms include capillary leakage and fluid loss into the interstitial tissue and constant exposure to pathogens results in activation of inflammatory cascades, organ dysfunction and subsequently organ damage. Methods To identify novel factors that trigger sepsis-related acute kidney injury, plasma levels of Granzyme A, as representative of a lymphocyte-derived protease, and heparin-binding protein as indicator for neutrophil-derived mediators, were investigated retrospectively in 60 sepsis patients. Results While no association was found between plasma levels of lymphocyte-derived Granzyme A and the incidence of sepsis-related AKI, sepsis patients with AKI had significantly higher plasma levels of heparin-binding protein compared to those without AKI. This applies both to heparin-binding protein peak values (43.30 ± 23.34 vs. 30.25 ± 15.63 pg/mL; p = 0.005) as well as mean values (27.93 ± 14.39 vs. 22.02 ± 7.65 pg/mL; p = 0.021). Furthermore, a heparin-binding protein cut-off value of 23.89 pg/mL was established for AKI diagnosis. Conclusion This study identifies the neutrophil-derived heparin-binding protein as a valuable new biomarker for AKI in sepsis. Beyond the diagnostic perspective, this offers prospect for further research on pathogenesis of AKI and novel therapeutic approaches.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Sahra Pajenda
creator: Andreja Figurek
creator: Ludwig Wagner
creator: Daniela Gerges
creator: Alice Schmidt
creator: Harald Herkner
creator: Wolfgang Winnicki
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Emergency and Critical Care
subject: Internal Medicine
subject: Nephrology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.10122
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Pajenda et al.
abstract: Background Sepsis-related acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality among patients. Underlying pathomechanisms include capillary leakage and fluid loss into the interstitial tissue and constant exposure to pathogens results in activation of inflammatory cascades, organ dysfunction and subsequently organ damage. Methods To identify novel factors that trigger sepsis-related acute kidney injury, plasma levels of Granzyme A, as representative of a lymphocyte-derived protease, and heparin-binding protein as indicator for neutrophil-derived mediators, were investigated retrospectively in 60 sepsis patients. Results While no association was found between plasma levels of lymphocyte-derived Granzyme A and the incidence of sepsis-related AKI, sepsis patients with AKI had significantly higher plasma levels of heparin-binding protein compared to those without AKI. This applies both to heparin-binding protein peak values (43.30 ± 23.34 vs. 30.25 ± 15.63 pg/mL; p = 0.005) as well as mean values (27.93 ± 14.39 vs. 22.02 ± 7.65 pg/mL; p = 0.021). Furthermore, a heparin-binding protein cut-off value of 23.89 pg/mL was established for AKI diagnosis. Conclusion This study identifies the neutrophil-derived heparin-binding protein as a valuable new biomarker for AKI in sepsis. Beyond the diagnostic perspective, this offers prospect for further research on pathogenesis of AKI and novel therapeutic approaches.
bibliographic citation: Pajenda et al. (2020) Heparin-binding protein as a novel biomarker for sepsis-related acute kidney injury. PeerJ 8:e10122 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10122
date submitted: 2020-06-10
date accepted: 2020-09-16
issued: 2020-10-14
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Pajenda
  given name: Sahra
author list: Agent
  family name: Figurek
  given name: Andreja
author list: Agent
  family name: Wagner
  given name: Ludwig
author list: Agent
  family name: Gerges
  given name: Daniela
author list: Agent
  family name: Schmidt
  given name: Alice
author list: Agent
  family name: Herkner
  given name: Harald
author list: Agent
  family name: Winnicki
  given name: Wolfgang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10122
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-10-14
copyright: ©2020 Pajenda et al.
attribution name: Pajenda et al.

PeerJ
type: Periodical
uri: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359