PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Effect of concurrent training on trainability performance factors in youth elite golf players
items: Assessing turbine passage effects on internal fish injury and delayed mortality using X-ray imaging
items: Enrichment in conservative amino acid changes among fixed and standing missense variations in slowly evolving proteins
items: Interdependency of regulatory effects of iron and riboflavin in the foodborne pathogen Shigella flexneri determined by integral transcriptomics
items: Differences in the support needs of children with developmental disabilities among groups of medical and behavioral needs
items: A prognostic long non-coding RNA-associated competing endogenous RNA network in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
items: Changes in muscle activity during the flexion and extension phases of arm cycling as an effect of power output are muscle-specific
items: Osteohistology and growth dynamics of the Brazilian noasaurid Vespersaurus paranaensis Langer et al., 2019 (Theropoda: Abelisauroidea)
items: Effect of shooting experience on executive function: differences between experts and novices
items: Ground beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae) as an indicator of ongoing changes in forest habitats due to increased water retention

Effect of concurrent training on trainability performance factors in youth elite golf players
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Due to the early specialization of golf players, examining the within session sequence of training should be considered to enhance performance and prevent injury risk. The present study analyzed the effects of an 18-week concurrent training developed before or after a specific golf session in adolescence elite golfers on several performance factors. Methods Sixteen right-handed male golfers, were randomly divided into two groups: after golf specific training (AG) (n = 8, age: 16.77 ± 0.58 years) and before golf specific training (BG) (n = 8, age: 16.93 ± 0.59 years). AG and BG players followed a concurrent physical conditioning program (CT) after or before the golf specific training, respectively. Body mass, body fat, muscle mass, jumping ability (CMJ), ball speed (Sball), golf movements screens (GMS), power in a golf swing-specific cable woodchop (Wmax) and the perceived training load (TL) in golf specific training (TL-G) and TL in CT (TL-CT) were measured on three separate occasions. Results BG demonstrates a lower TL-CT than AG (p < .001, ${\eta }_{p}^{2}=0.90$ η p 2 = 0 . 90 ) along the training program without effects on TL-G, achieving significant percentage of change on CMJ (9.38%; p = .165; d = 0.73), GMS (50.52%; p = .41, d = 0.91), Wmax (16.93%; p = .001; d = 2.02) and Sball (1.82%; p = .018; d = 0.92) without interaction effects on anthropometric measures. Conclusions Performing CT sessions before the regular golf training can improve specific performance factors with a lower perceived TL than the same training carried out after the regular golf training.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Juan Carlos Redondo
creator: Ana María de Benito
creator: José María Izquierdo
subject: Anatomy and Physiology
subject: Kinesiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9963
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Redondo et al.
abstract: Background Due to the early specialization of golf players, examining the within session sequence of training should be considered to enhance performance and prevent injury risk. The present study analyzed the effects of an 18-week concurrent training developed before or after a specific golf session in adolescence elite golfers on several performance factors. Methods Sixteen right-handed male golfers, were randomly divided into two groups: after golf specific training (AG) (n = 8, age: 16.77 ± 0.58 years) and before golf specific training (BG) (n = 8, age: 16.93 ± 0.59 years). AG and BG players followed a concurrent physical conditioning program (CT) after or before the golf specific training, respectively. Body mass, body fat, muscle mass, jumping ability (CMJ), ball speed (Sball), golf movements screens (GMS), power in a golf swing-specific cable woodchop (Wmax) and the perceived training load (TL) in golf specific training (TL-G) and TL in CT (TL-CT) were measured on three separate occasions. Results BG demonstrates a lower TL-CT than AG (p < .001, ${\eta }_{p}^{2}=0.90$ η p 2 = 0 . 90 ) along the training program without effects on TL-G, achieving significant percentage of change on CMJ (9.38%; p = .165; d = 0.73), GMS (50.52%; p = .41, d = 0.91), Wmax (16.93%; p = .001; d = 2.02) and Sball (1.82%; p = .018; d = 0.92) without interaction effects on anthropometric measures. Conclusions Performing CT sessions before the regular golf training can improve specific performance factors with a lower perceived TL than the same training carried out after the regular golf training.
bibliographic citation: Redondo et al. (2020) Effect of concurrent training on trainability performance factors in youth elite golf players. PeerJ 8:e9963 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9963
date submitted: 2020-05-27
date accepted: 2020-08-25
issued: 2020-09-16
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Redondo
  given name: Juan Carlos
author list: Agent
  family name: de Benito
  given name: Ana María
author list: Agent
  family name: Izquierdo
  given name: José María
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9963
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-09-16
copyright: ©2020 Redondo et al.
attribution name: Redondo et al.

Assessing turbine passage effects on internal fish injury and delayed mortality using X-ray imaging
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Knowledge on the extent and mechanisms of fish damage caused by hydropower facilities is important for the conservation of fish populations. Herein, we assessed the effects of hydropower turbine passage on internal fish injuries using X-ray technology. A total of 902 specimens from seven native European fish species were screened for 36 types of internal injuries and 86 external injuries evaluated with a previously published protocol. The applied systematic visual evaluation of X-ray images successfully detected skeletal injuries, swim bladder anomalies, emphysema, free intraperitoneal gas and hemorrhages. Injuries related to handling and to impacts of different parts of the hydropower structure could be clearly distinguished applying multivariate statistics and the data often explained delayed mortality within 96 h after turbine passage. The internal injuries could clearly be assigned to specific physical impacts resulting from turbine passage such as swim bladder rupture due to abrupt pressure change or fractures of skeletal parts due to blade-strike, fluid shear or severe turbulence. Generally, internal injuries were rarely depicted by external evaluation. For example, 29% of individuals with vertebral fractures did not present externally visible signs of severe injury. A combination of the external and internal injury evaluation allows quantifying and comparing fish injuries across sites, and can help to identify the technologies and operational procedures which minimize harm to fish in the context of assessing hydropower-related fish injuries as well as in assessing fish welfare.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Melanie Mueller
creator: Katharina Sternecker
creator: Stefan Milz
creator: Juergen Geist
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Freshwater Biology
subject: Environmental Impacts
subject: Food, Water and Energy Nexus
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9977
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Mueller et al.
abstract: Knowledge on the extent and mechanisms of fish damage caused by hydropower facilities is important for the conservation of fish populations. Herein, we assessed the effects of hydropower turbine passage on internal fish injuries using X-ray technology. A total of 902 specimens from seven native European fish species were screened for 36 types of internal injuries and 86 external injuries evaluated with a previously published protocol. The applied systematic visual evaluation of X-ray images successfully detected skeletal injuries, swim bladder anomalies, emphysema, free intraperitoneal gas and hemorrhages. Injuries related to handling and to impacts of different parts of the hydropower structure could be clearly distinguished applying multivariate statistics and the data often explained delayed mortality within 96 h after turbine passage. The internal injuries could clearly be assigned to specific physical impacts resulting from turbine passage such as swim bladder rupture due to abrupt pressure change or fractures of skeletal parts due to blade-strike, fluid shear or severe turbulence. Generally, internal injuries were rarely depicted by external evaluation. For example, 29% of individuals with vertebral fractures did not present externally visible signs of severe injury. A combination of the external and internal injury evaluation allows quantifying and comparing fish injuries across sites, and can help to identify the technologies and operational procedures which minimize harm to fish in the context of assessing hydropower-related fish injuries as well as in assessing fish welfare.
bibliographic citation: Mueller et al. (2020) Assessing turbine passage effects on internal fish injury and delayed mortality using X-ray imaging. PeerJ 8:e9977 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9977
date submitted: 2020-02-10
date accepted: 2020-08-26
issued: 2020-09-16
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Mueller
  given name: Melanie
author list: Agent
  family name: Sternecker
  given name: Katharina
author list: Agent
  family name: Milz
  given name: Stefan
author list: Agent
  family name: Geist
  given name: Juergen
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9977
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-09-16
copyright: © 2020 Mueller et al.
attribution name: Mueller et al.

Enrichment in conservative amino acid changes among fixed and standing missense variations in slowly evolving proteins
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The process of molecular evolution has many elements that are not yet fully understood. Evolutionary rates are known to vary among protein coding and noncoding DNAs, and most of the observed changes in amino acid or nucleotide sequences are assumed to be non-adaptive by the neutral theory of molecular evolution. However, it remains unclear whether fixed and standing missense changes in slowly evolving proteins are more or less neutral compared to those in fast evolving genes. Here, based on the evolutionary rates as inferred from identity scores between orthologs in human and Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta), we found that the fraction of conservative substitutions between species was significantly higher in their slowly evolving proteins. Similar results were obtained by using four different methods of scoring conservative substitutions, including three that remove the impact of substitution probability, where conservative changes require fewer mutations. We also examined the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by using the 1000 Genomes Project data and found that missense SNPs in slowly evolving proteins also had a higher fraction of conservative changes, especially for common SNPs, consistent with more non-conservative substitutions and hence stronger natural selection for SNPs, particularly rare ones, in fast evolving proteins. These results suggest that fixed and standing missense variants in slowly evolving proteins are more likely to be neutral.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mingrui Wang
creator: Dapeng Wang
creator: Jun Yu
creator: Shi Huang
subject: Computational Biology
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Genetics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9983
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Wang et al.
abstract: The process of molecular evolution has many elements that are not yet fully understood. Evolutionary rates are known to vary among protein coding and noncoding DNAs, and most of the observed changes in amino acid or nucleotide sequences are assumed to be non-adaptive by the neutral theory of molecular evolution. However, it remains unclear whether fixed and standing missense changes in slowly evolving proteins are more or less neutral compared to those in fast evolving genes. Here, based on the evolutionary rates as inferred from identity scores between orthologs in human and Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta), we found that the fraction of conservative substitutions between species was significantly higher in their slowly evolving proteins. Similar results were obtained by using four different methods of scoring conservative substitutions, including three that remove the impact of substitution probability, where conservative changes require fewer mutations. We also examined the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by using the 1000 Genomes Project data and found that missense SNPs in slowly evolving proteins also had a higher fraction of conservative changes, especially for common SNPs, consistent with more non-conservative substitutions and hence stronger natural selection for SNPs, particularly rare ones, in fast evolving proteins. These results suggest that fixed and standing missense variants in slowly evolving proteins are more likely to be neutral.
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2020) Enrichment in conservative amino acid changes among fixed and standing missense variations in slowly evolving proteins. PeerJ 8:e9983 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9983
date submitted: 2019-12-13
date accepted: 2020-08-27
issued: 2020-09-16
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Mingrui
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Dapeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Jun
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Shi
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9983
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-09-16
copyright: ©2020 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

Interdependency of regulatory effects of iron and riboflavin in the foodborne pathogen Shigella flexneri determined by integral transcriptomics
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Shigella flexneri is the causative agent of dysentery. For pathogens, iron is a critical micronutrient as its bioavailability is usually low in bacterial niches. This metal is involved in critical physiological processes mainly as a component of important metabolic molecules involved in redox reactions. Usually bacteria respond to fluctuations in iron availability to regulate iron acquisition and other iron-related functions. Recently the close metabolic feedback between iron and riboflavin, another pivotal biological redox agent, began to draw attention in bacteria. This is a widespread biological phenomenon, partly characterized by the coordination of regulatory responses to iron and riboflavin, probably owed to the involvement of these cofactors in common processes. Nonetheless, no systematic analyses to determine the extent of this regulatory effect have been performed in any species. Here, the transcriptomics responses to iron, riboflavin, iron in the presence of riboflavin and riboflavin in the presence of iron were assessed and compared in S. flexneri. The riboflavin regulon had a 43% overlap with the iron regulon. Notably, the presence of riboflavin highly increased the number of iron-responsive genes. Reciprocally, iron drastically changed the pool of riboflavin-responsive genes. Gene ontology (GO) functional terms enrichment analysis showed that biological processes were distinctively enriched for each subgroup of responsive genes. Among the biological processes regulated by iron and riboflavin were iron uptake, amino acids metabolism and electron transfer for ATP synthesis. Thus, iron and riboflavin highly affect the transcriptomics responses induced by each other in S. flexneri. GO terms analysis suggests that iron and riboflavin coordinately regulate specific physiological functions involving redox metabolism.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Luis Fernando Lozano Aguirre
creator: Juan Carlos Salazar
creator: José Ignacio Vásquez
creator: Víctor Antonio García-Angulo
subject: Genomics
subject: Microbiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9553
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Lozano Aguirre et al.
abstract: Shigella flexneri is the causative agent of dysentery. For pathogens, iron is a critical micronutrient as its bioavailability is usually low in bacterial niches. This metal is involved in critical physiological processes mainly as a component of important metabolic molecules involved in redox reactions. Usually bacteria respond to fluctuations in iron availability to regulate iron acquisition and other iron-related functions. Recently the close metabolic feedback between iron and riboflavin, another pivotal biological redox agent, began to draw attention in bacteria. This is a widespread biological phenomenon, partly characterized by the coordination of regulatory responses to iron and riboflavin, probably owed to the involvement of these cofactors in common processes. Nonetheless, no systematic analyses to determine the extent of this regulatory effect have been performed in any species. Here, the transcriptomics responses to iron, riboflavin, iron in the presence of riboflavin and riboflavin in the presence of iron were assessed and compared in S. flexneri. The riboflavin regulon had a 43% overlap with the iron regulon. Notably, the presence of riboflavin highly increased the number of iron-responsive genes. Reciprocally, iron drastically changed the pool of riboflavin-responsive genes. Gene ontology (GO) functional terms enrichment analysis showed that biological processes were distinctively enriched for each subgroup of responsive genes. Among the biological processes regulated by iron and riboflavin were iron uptake, amino acids metabolism and electron transfer for ATP synthesis. Thus, iron and riboflavin highly affect the transcriptomics responses induced by each other in S. flexneri. GO terms analysis suggests that iron and riboflavin coordinately regulate specific physiological functions involving redox metabolism.
bibliographic citation: Lozano Aguirre et al. (2020) Interdependency of regulatory effects of iron and riboflavin in the foodborne pathogen Shigella flexneri determined by integral transcriptomics. PeerJ 8:e9553 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9553
date submitted: 2019-09-26
date accepted: 2020-06-24
issued: 2020-09-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lozano Aguirre
  given name: Luis Fernando
author list: Agent
  family name: Salazar
  given name: Juan Carlos
author list: Agent
  family name: Vásquez
  given name: José Ignacio
author list: Agent
  family name: García-Angulo
  given name: Víctor Antonio
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9553
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-09-15
copyright: ©2020 Lozano Aguirre et al.
attribution name: Lozano Aguirre et al.

Differences in the support needs of children with developmental disabilities among groups of medical and behavioral needs
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background/Aims Medical and behavioral needs are relevant in organizing and providing support strategies that improve the quality of life for children, along with their families. The present study aims to examine the impact of medical and behavioral needs on the need for support of children with disabilities. Methods Health and education professionals were interviewed using the Supports Intensity Scale-Children’s version to estimate the support needs of 911 children and adolescents (5–16 years) with an intellectual disability, including 55.32% with an additional disability. For data analysis, a model for measuring support needs was specified, consisting of seven support needs factors and three method factors. In estimating the model, four groups of medical and behavioral needs were considered. The factor scores’ means of the groups were compared through t-tests. Results Medical and behavioral needs had an impact on overall support needs. Differences were found in all support domains for medical needs. The greatest influence of behavioral needs was found in the Social and School participation areas but was indistinguishable between the mild and moderate levels of needs. Conclusions Medical and behavioral needs greatly affect the need for support in a child’s daily life, so they need to be considered a priority for support services. The importance of standardized assessments is emphasized to help develop support strategies.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Victor B. Arias
creator: Virginia Aguayo
creator: Miguel A. Verdugo
creator: Antonio M. Amor
subject: Cognitive Disorders
subject: Pediatrics
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Statistics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9557
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Arias et al.
abstract: Background/Aims Medical and behavioral needs are relevant in organizing and providing support strategies that improve the quality of life for children, along with their families. The present study aims to examine the impact of medical and behavioral needs on the need for support of children with disabilities. Methods Health and education professionals were interviewed using the Supports Intensity Scale-Children’s version to estimate the support needs of 911 children and adolescents (5–16 years) with an intellectual disability, including 55.32% with an additional disability. For data analysis, a model for measuring support needs was specified, consisting of seven support needs factors and three method factors. In estimating the model, four groups of medical and behavioral needs were considered. The factor scores’ means of the groups were compared through t-tests. Results Medical and behavioral needs had an impact on overall support needs. Differences were found in all support domains for medical needs. The greatest influence of behavioral needs was found in the Social and School participation areas but was indistinguishable between the mild and moderate levels of needs. Conclusions Medical and behavioral needs greatly affect the need for support in a child’s daily life, so they need to be considered a priority for support services. The importance of standardized assessments is emphasized to help develop support strategies.
bibliographic citation: Arias et al. (2020) Differences in the support needs of children with developmental disabilities among groups of medical and behavioral needs. PeerJ 8:e9557 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9557
date submitted: 2020-04-01
date accepted: 2020-06-25
issued: 2020-09-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Arias
  given name: Victor B.
author list: Agent
  family name: Aguayo
  given name: Virginia
author list: Agent
  family name: Verdugo
  given name: Miguel A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Amor
  given name: Antonio M.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9557
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-09-15
copyright: ©2020 Arias et al.
attribution name: Arias et al.

A prognostic long non-coding RNA-associated competing endogenous RNA network in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background This study aimed to develop multi-RNA-based models using a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network to provide survival risk prediction in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods All long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and mRNA expression data and clinicopathological features related to HNSCC were derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Differentially expressed RNAs were calculated using R. Prognostic factors were identified using univariate Cox regression analysis. Functional analysis was performed using GO, KEGG pathways, and PPI network. Based on the results, we derived a risk signature and compared high- and low-risk subgroups using LASSO regression analysis. Survival analysis and the relationship between risk signature and clinicopathological features were performed using log-rank tests and Cox regression analysis. A ceRNA regulatory network was constructed, and prognostic lncRNAs and miRNA expression levels were validated in vitro and in vivo. Results A list of 207 lncRNAs, 18 miRNAs and 362 mRNAs related to overall survival was established. Five lncRNAs (HOTTIP, LINC00460, RMST, SFTA1P, and TM4SF19-AS1), one miRNA (hsa-miR-206), and one mRNA (STC2) were used to construct the ceRNA network. Three prognostic models contained 13 lncRNAs, eight miRNAs, and 17 mRNAs, which correlated with the patient status, disease-free survival (DFS), stage, grade, T stage, N stage, TP53 mutation status, angiolymphatic invasion, HPV status, and extracapsular spread. KEGG pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment of “Transcriptional misregulation in cancer” and “Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction.” In addition, HOTTIP, LINC00460, miR-206 and STC2 were validated in GTEx data, GEO microarrays and six HNSCC cell lines. Conclusions Our findings clarify the interaction of ceRNA regulatory networks and crucial clinicopathological features. These results show that prognostic biomarkers can be identified by constructing multi-RNA…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Chengyao Zhang
creator: Wei Cao
creator: Jiawu Wang
creator: Jiannan Liu
creator: Jialiang Liu
creator: Hao Wu
creator: Siyi Li
creator: Chenping Zhang
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Oncology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9701
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Zhang et al.
abstract: Background This study aimed to develop multi-RNA-based models using a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network to provide survival risk prediction in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods All long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and mRNA expression data and clinicopathological features related to HNSCC were derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Differentially expressed RNAs were calculated using R. Prognostic factors were identified using univariate Cox regression analysis. Functional analysis was performed using GO, KEGG pathways, and PPI network. Based on the results, we derived a risk signature and compared high- and low-risk subgroups using LASSO regression analysis. Survival analysis and the relationship between risk signature and clinicopathological features were performed using log-rank tests and Cox regression analysis. A ceRNA regulatory network was constructed, and prognostic lncRNAs and miRNA expression levels were validated in vitro and in vivo. Results A list of 207 lncRNAs, 18 miRNAs and 362 mRNAs related to overall survival was established. Five lncRNAs (HOTTIP, LINC00460, RMST, SFTA1P, and TM4SF19-AS1), one miRNA (hsa-miR-206), and one mRNA (STC2) were used to construct the ceRNA network. Three prognostic models contained 13 lncRNAs, eight miRNAs, and 17 mRNAs, which correlated with the patient status, disease-free survival (DFS), stage, grade, T stage, N stage, TP53 mutation status, angiolymphatic invasion, HPV status, and extracapsular spread. KEGG pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment of “Transcriptional misregulation in cancer” and “Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction.” In addition, HOTTIP, LINC00460, miR-206 and STC2 were validated in GTEx data, GEO microarrays and six HNSCC cell lines. Conclusions Our findings clarify the interaction of ceRNA regulatory networks and crucial clinicopathological features. These results show that prognostic biomarkers can be identified by constructing multi-RNA…
bibliographic citation: Zhang et al. (2020) A prognostic long non-coding RNA-associated competing endogenous RNA network in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. PeerJ 8:e9701 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9701
date submitted: 2020-04-20
date accepted: 2020-07-21
issued: 2020-09-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Chengyao
author list: Agent
  family name: Cao
  given name: Wei
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Jiawu
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Jiannan
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Jialiang
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Hao
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Siyi
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Chenping
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9701
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-09-15
copyright: ©2020 Zhang et al.
attribution name: Zhang et al.

Changes in muscle activity during the flexion and extension phases of arm cycling as an effect of power output are muscle-specific
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Arm cycling is commonly used in rehabilitation settings for individuals with motor impairments in an attempt to facilitate neural plasticity, potentially leading to enhanced motor function in the affected limb(s). Studies examining the neural control of arm cycling, however, typically cycle using a set cadence and power output. Given the importance of motor output intensity, typically represented by the amplitude of electromyographic (EMG) activity, on neural excitability, surprisingly little is known about how arm muscle activity is modulated using relative workloads. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize arm muscle activity during arm cycling at different relative workloads. Participants (n = 11) first completed a 10-second maximal arm ergometry sprint to determine peak power output (PPO) followed by 11 randomized trials of 20-second arm cycling bouts ranging from 5–50% of PPO (5% increments) and a standard 25 W workload. All submaximal trials were completed at 60 rpm. Integrated EMG amplitude (iEMG) was assessed from the biceps brachii, brachioradialis, triceps brachii, flexor carpi radialis, extensor carpi radialis and anterior deltoid of the dominant arm. Arm cycling was separated into two phases, flexion and extension, relative to the elbow joint for all comparisons. As expected, iEMG amplitude increased during both phases of cycling for all muscles examined. With the exception of the triceps brachii and extensor carpi radialis, iEMG amplitudes differed between the flexion and extension phases. Finally, there was a linear relationship between iEMG amplitude and the %PPO for all muscles during both elbow flexion and extension.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Carla P. Chaytor
creator: Davis Forman
creator: Jeannette Byrne
creator: Angela Loucks-Atkinson
creator: Kevin E. Power
subject: Anatomy and Physiology
subject: Kinesiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9759
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Chaytor et al.
abstract: Arm cycling is commonly used in rehabilitation settings for individuals with motor impairments in an attempt to facilitate neural plasticity, potentially leading to enhanced motor function in the affected limb(s). Studies examining the neural control of arm cycling, however, typically cycle using a set cadence and power output. Given the importance of motor output intensity, typically represented by the amplitude of electromyographic (EMG) activity, on neural excitability, surprisingly little is known about how arm muscle activity is modulated using relative workloads. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize arm muscle activity during arm cycling at different relative workloads. Participants (n = 11) first completed a 10-second maximal arm ergometry sprint to determine peak power output (PPO) followed by 11 randomized trials of 20-second arm cycling bouts ranging from 5–50% of PPO (5% increments) and a standard 25 W workload. All submaximal trials were completed at 60 rpm. Integrated EMG amplitude (iEMG) was assessed from the biceps brachii, brachioradialis, triceps brachii, flexor carpi radialis, extensor carpi radialis and anterior deltoid of the dominant arm. Arm cycling was separated into two phases, flexion and extension, relative to the elbow joint for all comparisons. As expected, iEMG amplitude increased during both phases of cycling for all muscles examined. With the exception of the triceps brachii and extensor carpi radialis, iEMG amplitudes differed between the flexion and extension phases. Finally, there was a linear relationship between iEMG amplitude and the %PPO for all muscles during both elbow flexion and extension.
bibliographic citation: Chaytor et al. (2020) Changes in muscle activity during the flexion and extension phases of arm cycling as an effect of power output are muscle-specific. PeerJ 8:e9759 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9759
date submitted: 2020-04-30
date accepted: 2020-07-28
issued: 2020-09-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Chaytor
  given name: Carla P.
author list: Agent
  family name: Forman
  given name: Davis
author list: Agent
  family name: Byrne
  given name: Jeannette
author list: Agent
  family name: Loucks-Atkinson
  given name: Angela
author list: Agent
  family name: Power
  given name: Kevin E.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9759
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-09-15
copyright: ©2020 Chaytor et al.
attribution name: Chaytor et al.

Osteohistology and growth dynamics of the Brazilian noasaurid Vespersaurus paranaensis Langer et al., 2019 (Theropoda: Abelisauroidea)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Although the knowledge of bone histology of non-avian theropods has advanced considerably in recent decades, data about the bone tissue patterns, growth dynamics and ontogeny of some taxa such as abelisauroids are still limited. Here we describe the bone microstructure and growth dynamics of the Brazilian noasaurine Vespersaurus paranaensis using five femora and six tibiae and quantify the annual growth marks through retrocalculation of missing ones to estimate ontogenetic ages. The femoral series comprises four femoral histological classes (FHC I-IV), varying from two annuli or LAGs to seven LAGs. Femora show that sexual maturity was achieved around the seventh to tenth year of life, whereas the tibiae suggest it was earlier (around three to five years old). Tibiae represent three histological classes (THC I-III) displaying from three to nine LAGs. Two tibiae (THC III) exhibit an external fundamental system indicating that these specimens reached full skeletal size. The heterogeneous maturity observed in Vespersaurus hind limb bones could result from diﬀerential allometry scaling between femora and tibiae length with the body length. The predominant parallel-fibered bone matrix suggests that Vespersaurus grew more slowly than most theropods, including other abelisauroids, in a pattern shared with the noasaurines Masiakasaurus knopfleri from Madagascar and CPPLIP 1490 from Brazil. This deviation from the typical theropod growth pattern may be mainly correlated with small body size, but also may related to resource limitation imposed by the arid climate prevailing in southwestern Gondwana during Cretaceous. Moreover, given the ecological and phylogenetic similarities among these taxa, such features would probably be apomorphic within Noasauridae.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Geovane Alves de Souza
creator: Marina Bento Soares
creator: Arthur Souza Brum
creator: Maria Zucolotto
creator: Juliana M. Sayão
creator: Luiz Carlos Weinschütz
creator: Alexander W.A. Kellner
subject: Paleontology
subject: Zoology
subject: Histology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9771
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Souza et al.
abstract: Although the knowledge of bone histology of non-avian theropods has advanced considerably in recent decades, data about the bone tissue patterns, growth dynamics and ontogeny of some taxa such as abelisauroids are still limited. Here we describe the bone microstructure and growth dynamics of the Brazilian noasaurine Vespersaurus paranaensis using five femora and six tibiae and quantify the annual growth marks through retrocalculation of missing ones to estimate ontogenetic ages. The femoral series comprises four femoral histological classes (FHC I-IV), varying from two annuli or LAGs to seven LAGs. Femora show that sexual maturity was achieved around the seventh to tenth year of life, whereas the tibiae suggest it was earlier (around three to five years old). Tibiae represent three histological classes (THC I-III) displaying from three to nine LAGs. Two tibiae (THC III) exhibit an external fundamental system indicating that these specimens reached full skeletal size. The heterogeneous maturity observed in Vespersaurus hind limb bones could result from diﬀerential allometry scaling between femora and tibiae length with the body length. The predominant parallel-fibered bone matrix suggests that Vespersaurus grew more slowly than most theropods, including other abelisauroids, in a pattern shared with the noasaurines Masiakasaurus knopfleri from Madagascar and CPPLIP 1490 from Brazil. This deviation from the typical theropod growth pattern may be mainly correlated with small body size, but also may related to resource limitation imposed by the arid climate prevailing in southwestern Gondwana during Cretaceous. Moreover, given the ecological and phylogenetic similarities among these taxa, such features would probably be apomorphic within Noasauridae.
bibliographic citation: Souza et al. (2020) Osteohistology and growth dynamics of the Brazilian noasaurid Vespersaurus paranaensis Langer et al., 2019 (Theropoda: Abelisauroidea). PeerJ 8:e9771 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9771
date submitted: 2020-02-17
date accepted: 2020-07-30
issued: 2020-09-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Souza
  given name: Geovane Alves de
author list: Agent
  family name: Soares
  given name: Marina Bento
author list: Agent
  family name: Brum
  given name: Arthur Souza
author list: Agent
  family name: Zucolotto
  given name: Maria
author list: Agent
  family name: Sayão
  given name: Juliana M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Weinschütz
  given name: Luiz Carlos
author list: Agent
  family name: Kellner
  given name: Alexander W.A.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9771
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-09-15
copyright: © 2020 Souza et al.
attribution name: Souza et al.

Effect of shooting experience on executive function: differences between experts and novices
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Executive function (EF) plays an important role in controlling human actions. Shooting is a closed motor skill, characterized by high anti-interference ability and high mental intensity. However, the beneficial effects of closed exercises such as shooting on EF remain unclear. Methods We utilized an expert-novice paradigm and the Flanker task to examine the EF of shooting athletes. Participants were assigned into the novice group, expert group, or control group, based on the level of training and competition experience. Reaction time (RT) and accuracy of performance across the three groups were compared. Results For the simple task, the control group showed a longer RT than the novice group, for all three inter-stimulus interval (ISI) conditions. Significant differences between the control and the expert groups were observed only at 300-ms and 400-ms ISIs. For the complex task, the control group exhibited a higher RT than the novice and expert groups at the 300- and 400-ms ISIs. Conclusions The self-control during performing closed motor skills in the environment determines that shooters have proficient anti-interference ability. This ability is uncorrelated with task type, but most likely is affected by reserved task response time.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mingming Shao
creator: Yinghui Lai
creator: AnMin Gong
creator: Yuan Yang
creator: Tingting Chen
creator: Changhao Jiang
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9802
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Shao et al.
abstract: Background Executive function (EF) plays an important role in controlling human actions. Shooting is a closed motor skill, characterized by high anti-interference ability and high mental intensity. However, the beneficial effects of closed exercises such as shooting on EF remain unclear. Methods We utilized an expert-novice paradigm and the Flanker task to examine the EF of shooting athletes. Participants were assigned into the novice group, expert group, or control group, based on the level of training and competition experience. Reaction time (RT) and accuracy of performance across the three groups were compared. Results For the simple task, the control group showed a longer RT than the novice group, for all three inter-stimulus interval (ISI) conditions. Significant differences between the control and the expert groups were observed only at 300-ms and 400-ms ISIs. For the complex task, the control group exhibited a higher RT than the novice and expert groups at the 300- and 400-ms ISIs. Conclusions The self-control during performing closed motor skills in the environment determines that shooters have proficient anti-interference ability. This ability is uncorrelated with task type, but most likely is affected by reserved task response time.
bibliographic citation: Shao et al. (2020) Effect of shooting experience on executive function: differences between experts and novices. PeerJ 8:e9802 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9802
date submitted: 2019-05-15
date accepted: 2020-08-03
issued: 2020-09-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Shao
  given name: Mingming
author list: Agent
  family name: Lai
  given name: Yinghui
author list: Agent
  family name: Gong
  given name: AnMin
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Yuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Tingting
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Changhao
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9802
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-09-15
copyright: ©2020 Shao et al.
attribution name: Shao et al.

Ground beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae) as an indicator of ongoing changes in forest habitats due to increased water retention
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: This study, concerning the epigeic fauna of carabid beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae), was conducted in the north-east of Poland, in an area which is part of the Dąbrówka Forest Subdistrict and has been included in the “Small water retention program for the Province of Warmia and Mazury in 2006–2015”. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of the water retention implemented within the framework of the above program on assemblages of ground beetles. These insects are highly sensitive to any anthropogenically induced transformations. This analysis was based on the interactions among the analyzed insects caused by changes occurring in their habitat. During the 3-year study, 5,807 specimens representing 84 species were captured. The water storage had a significant influence on the structure of the Carabidae assemblages. Before the earthworks were constructed for the project, the beetle assemblages had comprised a large group of xerophilous species, whereas after the small retention reservoirs had been created, an increase in the contribution of hygrophilous species was noticed. The results indicate that the retention works cause alterations in the water and environmental conditions of the habitats, and thereby effect changes in the composition of Carabidae assemblages. Moreover, modification in water relations within a habitat causes long-term changes in the structural and functional diversity of the beetles.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Emilia Ludwiczak
creator: Mariusz Nietupski
creator: Agnieszka Kosewska
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Entomology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9815
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Ludwiczak et al.
abstract: This study, concerning the epigeic fauna of carabid beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae), was conducted in the north-east of Poland, in an area which is part of the Dąbrówka Forest Subdistrict and has been included in the “Small water retention program for the Province of Warmia and Mazury in 2006–2015”. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of the water retention implemented within the framework of the above program on assemblages of ground beetles. These insects are highly sensitive to any anthropogenically induced transformations. This analysis was based on the interactions among the analyzed insects caused by changes occurring in their habitat. During the 3-year study, 5,807 specimens representing 84 species were captured. The water storage had a significant influence on the structure of the Carabidae assemblages. Before the earthworks were constructed for the project, the beetle assemblages had comprised a large group of xerophilous species, whereas after the small retention reservoirs had been created, an increase in the contribution of hygrophilous species was noticed. The results indicate that the retention works cause alterations in the water and environmental conditions of the habitats, and thereby effect changes in the composition of Carabidae assemblages. Moreover, modification in water relations within a habitat causes long-term changes in the structural and functional diversity of the beetles.
bibliographic citation: Ludwiczak et al. (2020) Ground beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae) as an indicator of ongoing changes in forest habitats due to increased water retention. PeerJ 8:e9815 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9815
date submitted: 2020-04-27
date accepted: 2020-08-04
issued: 2020-09-15
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ludwiczak
  given name: Emilia
author list: Agent
  family name: Nietupski
  given name: Mariusz
author list: Agent
  family name: Kosewska
  given name: Agnieszka
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9815
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-09-15
copyright: © 2020 Ludwiczak et al.
attribution name: Ludwiczak et al.

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