PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: An analysis of the perceived causes leading to task-failure in resistance-exercises
items: Bacterial community characteristics and enzyme activities in Imperata cylindrica litter as phytoremediation progresses in a copper tailings dam
items: How “dirty” is the Dark Triad? Dark character profiles, swearing, and sociosexuality
items: Identification and validation of prognostic signature for breast cancer based on genes potentially involved in autophagy
items: Auditory processing in the zebra finch midbrain: single unit responses and effect of rearing experience
items: The effects of humic substances on DNA isolation from soils
items: Effectiveness of non-lethal predator deterrents to reduce livestock losses to leopard attacks within a multiple-use landscape of the Himalayan region
items: A cross-sectional assessment of the relationship between sedative medication and anticholinergic medication use and the movement behaviour of older adults living in residential aged care
items: Disentangling biological variability and taphonomy: shape analysis of the limb long bones of the sauropodomorph dinosaur Plateosaurus
items: Morphological changes in the lower Lancang River due to extensive human activities

An analysis of the perceived causes leading to task-failure in resistance-exercises
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background While reaching task-failure in resistance-exercises is a topic that attracts scientific and applied interest, the underlying perceived reasons leading to task-failure remain underexplored. Here, we examined the reasons subjects attribute to task-failure as they performed resistance-exercises using different loads. Methods Twenty-two resistance-trained subjects (11-females) completed one Repetition-Maximum (RM) tests in the barbell squat and bench-press. Then, in the next two counterbalanced sessions, subjects performed two sets to task-failure in both exercises, using either 70% or 83% of 1RM. Approximately 30 seconds after set-completion, subjects verbally reported the reasons they perceived to have caused them to reach task-failure. Their answers were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. The differences between the frequencies of the identified categories were then tested using a mixed logistic regression model. Results The most commonly reported reason was muscle fatigue (54%, p < 0.001), mostly of the target muscles involved in each exercise. However, remote muscles involved to a lesser extent in each exercise were also reported. Approximately half of the remaining reasons included general fatigue (26%), pain (12%), cardiovascular strain (11%), and negative affect (10%), with the latter three reported more often in the squat (p = 0.022). Conclusions In contrast to our expectations, task-failure was perceived to be caused by a range of limiting factors other than fatigue of the target muscles. It now remains to be established whether different perceived limiting factors of resistance-exercises lead to different adaptations, such as muscular strength and hypertrophy.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Aviv Emanuel
creator: Isaac Isur Rozen Smukas
creator: Israel Halperin
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Orthopedics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9611
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Emanuel et al.
abstract: Background While reaching task-failure in resistance-exercises is a topic that attracts scientific and applied interest, the underlying perceived reasons leading to task-failure remain underexplored. Here, we examined the reasons subjects attribute to task-failure as they performed resistance-exercises using different loads. Methods Twenty-two resistance-trained subjects (11-females) completed one Repetition-Maximum (RM) tests in the barbell squat and bench-press. Then, in the next two counterbalanced sessions, subjects performed two sets to task-failure in both exercises, using either 70% or 83% of 1RM. Approximately 30 seconds after set-completion, subjects verbally reported the reasons they perceived to have caused them to reach task-failure. Their answers were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. The differences between the frequencies of the identified categories were then tested using a mixed logistic regression model. Results The most commonly reported reason was muscle fatigue (54%, p < 0.001), mostly of the target muscles involved in each exercise. However, remote muscles involved to a lesser extent in each exercise were also reported. Approximately half of the remaining reasons included general fatigue (26%), pain (12%), cardiovascular strain (11%), and negative affect (10%), with the latter three reported more often in the squat (p = 0.022). Conclusions In contrast to our expectations, task-failure was perceived to be caused by a range of limiting factors other than fatigue of the target muscles. It now remains to be established whether different perceived limiting factors of resistance-exercises lead to different adaptations, such as muscular strength and hypertrophy.
bibliographic citation: Emanuel et al. (2020) An analysis of the perceived causes leading to task-failure in resistance-exercises. PeerJ 8:e9611 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9611
date submitted: 2020-04-30
date accepted: 2020-07-05
issued: 2020-07-27
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Emanuel
  given name: Aviv
author list: Agent
  family name: Rozen Smukas
  given name: Isaac Isur
author list: Agent
  family name: Halperin
  given name: Israel
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9611
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-27
copyright: ©2020 Emanuel et al.
attribution name: Emanuel et al.

Bacterial community characteristics and enzyme activities in Imperata cylindrica litter as phytoremediation progresses in a copper tailings dam
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: This study analyzed Imperata cylindrica litter to determine variation in bacterial community composition and function along with enzyme activity as phytoremediation progresses. We found significant differences in physical and chemical properties of soil and litter in the different sub-dams investigated. The Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria were the dominant bacteria found in the litter of the different sub-dams. The alpha diversity (α-diversity) of litter bacterial community increased over as phytoremediation progressed, while total soil carbon and total litter carbon content were positively correlated to bacterial α-diversity. Total litter carbon and total nitrogen were the key factors that influenced bacterial community structure. Heavy metal can influence the degradation of litters by altering the composition of the microbial community. Furthermore, bacterial communities encoded with alpha-amylase (α-amylase) dominated during the initial phytoremediation stage; however, bacterial communities encoded with hemicellulase and peroxidase gradually dominated as phytoremediation progressed. Findings from this study provide a basis for exploring litter decomposition mechanisms in degraded ecosystems, which is critically important to understand the circulation of substances in copper tailings dams.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tong Jia
creator: Tingyan Guo
creator: Baofeng Chai
subject: Ecology
subject: Microbiology
subject: Environmental Contamination and Remediation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9612
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Jia et al.
abstract: This study analyzed Imperata cylindrica litter to determine variation in bacterial community composition and function along with enzyme activity as phytoremediation progresses. We found significant differences in physical and chemical properties of soil and litter in the different sub-dams investigated. The Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria were the dominant bacteria found in the litter of the different sub-dams. The alpha diversity (α-diversity) of litter bacterial community increased over as phytoremediation progressed, while total soil carbon and total litter carbon content were positively correlated to bacterial α-diversity. Total litter carbon and total nitrogen were the key factors that influenced bacterial community structure. Heavy metal can influence the degradation of litters by altering the composition of the microbial community. Furthermore, bacterial communities encoded with alpha-amylase (α-amylase) dominated during the initial phytoremediation stage; however, bacterial communities encoded with hemicellulase and peroxidase gradually dominated as phytoremediation progressed. Findings from this study provide a basis for exploring litter decomposition mechanisms in degraded ecosystems, which is critically important to understand the circulation of substances in copper tailings dams.
bibliographic citation: Jia et al. (2020) Bacterial community characteristics and enzyme activities in Imperata cylindrica litter as phytoremediation progresses in a copper tailings dam. PeerJ 8:e9612 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9612
date submitted: 2020-04-09
date accepted: 2020-07-06
issued: 2020-07-27
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Jia
  given name: Tong
author list: Agent
  family name: Guo
  given name: Tingyan
author list: Agent
  family name: Chai
  given name: Baofeng
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9612
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-27
copyright: © 2020 Jia et al.
attribution name: Jia et al.

How “dirty” is the Dark Triad? Dark character profiles, swearing, and sociosexuality
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Malevolent character traits (i.e., the Dark Triad: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) are associated to emotional frigidity, antagonism, immoral strategic thinking, betrayal, exploitation, and sexual promiscuity. Despite the fact that character is a complex adaptive system, almost every study has solely investigated the linear association between malevolent character and attitudes towards both swearing and sociosexual orientation (i.e., behavior, attitude, and desire regarding promiscuous sexual behavior). In contrast, the aim in this set of studies was to evaluate these associations in relation to specific profiles of malevolent character (i.e., the Dark Cube). In two studies participants responded to the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen, the Taboo Words’ Offensiveness and Usage Inventories (i.e., attitudes towards 30 swear words’ level of offensiveness and usage) (Study 1: N1 = 1,000) and the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory Revised (Study 2: N2 = 309). Participants were clustered according to all eight possible combinations based on their dark trait scores (M/m = high/low Machiavellianism; N/n = high/low narcissism; P/p = high/low psychopathy). The results of this nonlinear approach suggested that the frequent usage, not level of offensiveness, of swear words was associated to Machiavellianism and narcissism. In other words, individuals with high levels in these traits might swear and are verbally offensive often, because they do not see swearing as offensive (cf. with the attitude-behavior-cognition-hypothesis of taboo words; Rosenberg, Sikström & Garcia, 2017). Moreover, promiscuous sociosexual attitude and desire were related to each dark trait only when the other two were low. Additionally, promiscuous sociosexual behavior was not associated to these malevolent character traits. That is, individuals high in the dark traits are willing to and have the desire to engage in sexual relations without closeness, commitment, and other indicators of emotional bondi…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Danilo Garcia
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9620
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Garcia
abstract: Malevolent character traits (i.e., the Dark Triad: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) are associated to emotional frigidity, antagonism, immoral strategic thinking, betrayal, exploitation, and sexual promiscuity. Despite the fact that character is a complex adaptive system, almost every study has solely investigated the linear association between malevolent character and attitudes towards both swearing and sociosexual orientation (i.e., behavior, attitude, and desire regarding promiscuous sexual behavior). In contrast, the aim in this set of studies was to evaluate these associations in relation to specific profiles of malevolent character (i.e., the Dark Cube). In two studies participants responded to the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen, the Taboo Words’ Offensiveness and Usage Inventories (i.e., attitudes towards 30 swear words’ level of offensiveness and usage) (Study 1: N1 = 1,000) and the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory Revised (Study 2: N2 = 309). Participants were clustered according to all eight possible combinations based on their dark trait scores (M/m = high/low Machiavellianism; N/n = high/low narcissism; P/p = high/low psychopathy). The results of this nonlinear approach suggested that the frequent usage, not level of offensiveness, of swear words was associated to Machiavellianism and narcissism. In other words, individuals with high levels in these traits might swear and are verbally offensive often, because they do not see swearing as offensive (cf. with the attitude-behavior-cognition-hypothesis of taboo words; Rosenberg, Sikström & Garcia, 2017). Moreover, promiscuous sociosexual attitude and desire were related to each dark trait only when the other two were low. Additionally, promiscuous sociosexual behavior was not associated to these malevolent character traits. That is, individuals high in the dark traits are willing to and have the desire to engage in sexual relations without closeness, commitment, and other indicators of emotional bondi…
bibliographic citation: Garcia (2020) How “dirty” is the Dark Triad? Dark character profiles, swearing, and sociosexuality. PeerJ 8:e9620 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9620
date submitted: 2020-01-22
date accepted: 2020-07-07
issued: 2020-07-27
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Garcia
  given name: Danilo
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9620
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-27
copyright: ©2020 Garcia
attribution name: Garcia

Identification and validation of prognostic signature for breast cancer based on genes potentially involved in autophagy
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: We aimed to identify prognostic signature based on autophagy-related genes (ARGs) for breast cancer patients. The datasets of breast cancer were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was conducted to construct multiple-ARG risk signature. In total, 32 ARGs were identified as differentially expressed between tumors and adjacent normal tissues based on TCGA. Six ARGs (IFNG, TP63, PPP1R15A, PTK6, EIF4EBP1 and NKX2-3) with non-zero coefficient were selected from the 32 ARGs using LASSO regression. The 6-ARG signature divided patients into high-and low-risk group. Survival analysis indicated that low-risk group had longer survival time than high-risk group. We further validated the 6-ARG signature using dataset from GEO and found similar results. We analyzed the associations between ARGs and breast cancer survival in TCGA and nine GEO datasets, and obtained 170 ARGs with significant associations. EIF4EBP1, FOS and FAS were the top three ARGs with highest numbers of significant associations. EIF4EBP1 may be a key ARG which had a higher expression level in patients with more malignant molecular subtypes and higher grade breast cancer. In conclusion, our 6-ARG signature was of significance in predicting of overall survival of patients with breast cancer. EIF4EBP1 may be a key ARG associated with breast cancer survival.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Shanliang Zhong
creator: Huanwen Chen
creator: Sujin Yang
creator: Jifeng Feng
creator: Siying Zhou
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Oncology
subject: Women’s Health
subject: Computational Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9621
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Zhong et al.
abstract: We aimed to identify prognostic signature based on autophagy-related genes (ARGs) for breast cancer patients. The datasets of breast cancer were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was conducted to construct multiple-ARG risk signature. In total, 32 ARGs were identified as differentially expressed between tumors and adjacent normal tissues based on TCGA. Six ARGs (IFNG, TP63, PPP1R15A, PTK6, EIF4EBP1 and NKX2-3) with non-zero coefficient were selected from the 32 ARGs using LASSO regression. The 6-ARG signature divided patients into high-and low-risk group. Survival analysis indicated that low-risk group had longer survival time than high-risk group. We further validated the 6-ARG signature using dataset from GEO and found similar results. We analyzed the associations between ARGs and breast cancer survival in TCGA and nine GEO datasets, and obtained 170 ARGs with significant associations. EIF4EBP1, FOS and FAS were the top three ARGs with highest numbers of significant associations. EIF4EBP1 may be a key ARG which had a higher expression level in patients with more malignant molecular subtypes and higher grade breast cancer. In conclusion, our 6-ARG signature was of significance in predicting of overall survival of patients with breast cancer. EIF4EBP1 may be a key ARG associated with breast cancer survival.
bibliographic citation: Zhong et al. (2020) Identification and validation of prognostic signature for breast cancer based on genes potentially involved in autophagy. PeerJ 8:e9621 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9621
date submitted: 2020-04-21
date accepted: 2020-07-07
issued: 2020-07-27
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhong
  given name: Shanliang
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Huanwen
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Sujin
author list: Agent
  family name: Feng
  given name: Jifeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Siying
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9621
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-27
copyright: © 2020 Zhong et al.
attribution name: Zhong et al.

Auditory processing in the zebra finch midbrain: single unit responses and effect of rearing experience
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: In birds the auditory system plays a key role in providing the sensory input used to discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific vocal signals. In those species that are known to learn their vocalizations, for example, songbirds, it is generally considered that this ability arises and is manifest in the forebrain, although there is no a priori reason why brainstem components of the auditory system could not also play an important part. To test this assumption, we used groups of normal reared and cross-fostered zebra finches that had previously been shown in behavioural experiments to reduce their preference for conspecific songs subsequent to cross fostering experience with Bengalese finches, a related species with a distinctly different song. The question we asked, therefore, is whether this experiential change also changes the bias in favour of conspecific song displayed by auditory midbrain units of normally raised zebra finches. By recording the responses of single units in MLd to a variety of zebra finch and Bengalese finch songs in both normally reared and cross-fostered zebra finches, we provide a positive answer to this question. That is, the difference in response to conspecific and heterospecific songs seen in normal reared zebra finches is reduced following cross-fostering. In birds the virtual absence of mammalian-like cortical projections upon auditory brainstem nuclei argues against the interpretation that MLd units change, as observed in the present experiments, as a result of top-down influences on sensory processing. Instead, it appears that MLd units can be influenced significantly by sensory inputs arising directly from a change in auditory experience during development.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Priscilla Logerot
creator: Paul F. Smith
creator: Martin Wild
creator: M. Fabiana Kubke
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9363
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Logerot et al.
abstract: In birds the auditory system plays a key role in providing the sensory input used to discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific vocal signals. In those species that are known to learn their vocalizations, for example, songbirds, it is generally considered that this ability arises and is manifest in the forebrain, although there is no a priori reason why brainstem components of the auditory system could not also play an important part. To test this assumption, we used groups of normal reared and cross-fostered zebra finches that had previously been shown in behavioural experiments to reduce their preference for conspecific songs subsequent to cross fostering experience with Bengalese finches, a related species with a distinctly different song. The question we asked, therefore, is whether this experiential change also changes the bias in favour of conspecific song displayed by auditory midbrain units of normally raised zebra finches. By recording the responses of single units in MLd to a variety of zebra finch and Bengalese finch songs in both normally reared and cross-fostered zebra finches, we provide a positive answer to this question. That is, the difference in response to conspecific and heterospecific songs seen in normal reared zebra finches is reduced following cross-fostering. In birds the virtual absence of mammalian-like cortical projections upon auditory brainstem nuclei argues against the interpretation that MLd units change, as observed in the present experiments, as a result of top-down influences on sensory processing. Instead, it appears that MLd units can be influenced significantly by sensory inputs arising directly from a change in auditory experience during development.
bibliographic citation: Logerot et al. (2020) Auditory processing in the zebra finch midbrain: single unit responses and effect of rearing experience. PeerJ 8:e9363 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9363
date submitted: 2019-09-05
date accepted: 2020-05-26
issued: 2020-07-24
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Logerot
  given name: Priscilla
author list: Agent
  family name: Smith
  given name: Paul F.
author list: Agent
  family name: Wild
  given name: Martin
author list: Agent
  family name: Kubke
  given name: M. Fabiana
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9363
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-24
copyright: © 2020 Logerot et al.
attribution name: Logerot et al.

The effects of humic substances on DNA isolation from soils
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Humic substances (HS) are compounds with a complicated structure, present in the humus soil layer, water, lake sediments, peat, brown coal and shales. Due to their similar physicochemical properties to DNA, they may have an adverse effect on the subsequent use of the isolated material. The main aim of this research was to examine the effect of HS on DNA isolation depending on the soil type and land use, taking into account the spectroscopic full characteristics of HS fractions. Methods The research was conducted on eight types of soil sample. Soils represented the most important Soil Reference Groups for temperate climates: Fluvisols, Regosols, Cambisols, Arenosols, Histosols and Luvisols. Soil samples were also collected from areas diversified in terms of use: arable land, grassland and forest. The extraction of HS fractions was performed using the procedure recommended by the International HS Society. The fractional composition of HS was characterized by UV–Vis and fluorescence methods. Soil DNA is extracted by direct cell lysis in the using a CTAB-based method with a commonly-used commercial soil DNA isolation kit. The basis for assessing the quantity and quality of extracted DNA was the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reaction since the analysis of soil DNA often relies on the use of PCR to study soil microorganisms. Results Based on the results, it can be concluded that in the presence of a high concentration of HS, the isolated DNA was low quality and the additional purification procedure was necessary. Despite the differentiation of the internal structure of HS fractions, the decisive factor in the efficiency of DNA isolation from soil samples was the total carbon content in HS. Reduced DNA yields can significantly constrain PCR detection limits to levels inadequate for metagenomic analysis, especially from humus-rich soils.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ewa Wnuk
creator: Adam Waśko
creator: Anna Walkiewicz
creator: Piotr Bartmiński
creator: Romualda Bejger
creator: Lilla Mielnik
creator: Andrzej Bieganowski
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Genomics
subject: Microbiology
subject: Soil Science
subject: Biogeochemistry
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9378
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Wnuk et al.
abstract: Background Humic substances (HS) are compounds with a complicated structure, present in the humus soil layer, water, lake sediments, peat, brown coal and shales. Due to their similar physicochemical properties to DNA, they may have an adverse effect on the subsequent use of the isolated material. The main aim of this research was to examine the effect of HS on DNA isolation depending on the soil type and land use, taking into account the spectroscopic full characteristics of HS fractions. Methods The research was conducted on eight types of soil sample. Soils represented the most important Soil Reference Groups for temperate climates: Fluvisols, Regosols, Cambisols, Arenosols, Histosols and Luvisols. Soil samples were also collected from areas diversified in terms of use: arable land, grassland and forest. The extraction of HS fractions was performed using the procedure recommended by the International HS Society. The fractional composition of HS was characterized by UV–Vis and fluorescence methods. Soil DNA is extracted by direct cell lysis in the using a CTAB-based method with a commonly-used commercial soil DNA isolation kit. The basis for assessing the quantity and quality of extracted DNA was the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reaction since the analysis of soil DNA often relies on the use of PCR to study soil microorganisms. Results Based on the results, it can be concluded that in the presence of a high concentration of HS, the isolated DNA was low quality and the additional purification procedure was necessary. Despite the differentiation of the internal structure of HS fractions, the decisive factor in the efficiency of DNA isolation from soil samples was the total carbon content in HS. Reduced DNA yields can significantly constrain PCR detection limits to levels inadequate for metagenomic analysis, especially from humus-rich soils.
bibliographic citation: Wnuk et al. (2020) The effects of humic substances on DNA isolation from soils. PeerJ 8:e9378 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9378
date submitted: 2020-01-29
date accepted: 2020-05-28
issued: 2020-07-24
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wnuk
  given name: Ewa
author list: Agent
  family name: Waśko
  given name: Adam
author list: Agent
  family name: Walkiewicz
  given name: Anna
author list: Agent
  family name: Bartmiński
  given name: Piotr
author list: Agent
  family name: Bejger
  given name: Romualda
author list: Agent
  family name: Mielnik
  given name: Lilla
author list: Agent
  family name: Bieganowski
  given name: Andrzej
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9378
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-24
copyright: © 2020 Wnuk et al.
attribution name: Wnuk et al.

Effectiveness of non-lethal predator deterrents to reduce livestock losses to leopard attacks within a multiple-use landscape of the Himalayan region
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Lethal measures are widely adopted by local communities and governments to manage human-wildlife conflicts. Such measures lead to large scale decline of carnivore populations globally with trophic cascades on ecosystems and questionable impacts on human-wildlife conflicts. Mitigating human-carnivore conflicts through non-lethal measures will protect endangered predators and secure livelihoods. However, information on the effectiveness of such measures are extremely limited and hence cannot be applied in developing scientific evidence. Further to develop human-carnivore coexistence models, it is important for local community members, biologists and wildlife managers to actively participate in conservation programs. We evaluated the response of a non-lethal visual deterrent (i.e. fox lights) to deter leopard attacks on livestock within a multiple-use landscape of western Himalaya through community engagement. We monitored 16 experimental sites and 17 control sites within 27 villages and recorded data on livestock depredation by leopards between April 2018 to April 2019. A multivariate analysis was conducted to determine the influence of landscape predictors and animal husbandry practices on livestock depredation by leopards within the vicinity of human settlements. We found that visual deterrents discouraged common leopards to predate on livestock (cows and goats). We also demonstrated that community based conservation initiatives are successful in mitigating human-carnivore conflicts within large semi-natural landscapes. We suggest developing site specific coexistence strategies and adopting non-lethal measures to safeguard carnivores, livestock and humans within shared landscapes.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Dipanjan Naha
creator: Pooja Chaudhary
creator: Gaurav Sonker
creator: Sambandam Sathyakumar
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
subject: Coupled Natural and Human Systems
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9544
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Naha et al.
abstract: Lethal measures are widely adopted by local communities and governments to manage human-wildlife conflicts. Such measures lead to large scale decline of carnivore populations globally with trophic cascades on ecosystems and questionable impacts on human-wildlife conflicts. Mitigating human-carnivore conflicts through non-lethal measures will protect endangered predators and secure livelihoods. However, information on the effectiveness of such measures are extremely limited and hence cannot be applied in developing scientific evidence. Further to develop human-carnivore coexistence models, it is important for local community members, biologists and wildlife managers to actively participate in conservation programs. We evaluated the response of a non-lethal visual deterrent (i.e. fox lights) to deter leopard attacks on livestock within a multiple-use landscape of western Himalaya through community engagement. We monitored 16 experimental sites and 17 control sites within 27 villages and recorded data on livestock depredation by leopards between April 2018 to April 2019. A multivariate analysis was conducted to determine the influence of landscape predictors and animal husbandry practices on livestock depredation by leopards within the vicinity of human settlements. We found that visual deterrents discouraged common leopards to predate on livestock (cows and goats). We also demonstrated that community based conservation initiatives are successful in mitigating human-carnivore conflicts within large semi-natural landscapes. We suggest developing site specific coexistence strategies and adopting non-lethal measures to safeguard carnivores, livestock and humans within shared landscapes.
bibliographic citation: Naha et al. (2020) Effectiveness of non-lethal predator deterrents to reduce livestock losses to leopard attacks within a multiple-use landscape of the Himalayan region. PeerJ 8:e9544 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9544
date submitted: 2020-05-06
date accepted: 2020-06-24
issued: 2020-07-24
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Naha
  given name: Dipanjan
author list: Agent
  family name: Chaudhary
  given name: Pooja
author list: Agent
  family name: Sonker
  given name: Gaurav
author list: Agent
  family name: Sathyakumar
  given name: Sambandam
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9544
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-24
copyright: ©2020 Naha et al.
attribution name: Naha et al.

A cross-sectional assessment of the relationship between sedative medication and anticholinergic medication use and the movement behaviour of older adults living in residential aged care
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objectives Medications with anticholinergic or sedative effects are frequently used by older people but can increase risk of falls and adverse events; however, less is known about their effect on movement behaviour. Here we examine the cross-sectional association between medication use and movement behaviour in older adults living in residential aged care. Materials and Methods Twenty-eight older adults living in residential aged care in metropolitan Australia participated. Medication data were collected from participants’ medical charts and sedative load and anticholinergic burden were determined. Seven-day movement behaviour was objectively assessed by a wrist-worn triaxial accelerometer. Raw accelerations were converted to sleep, sedentary time, and time in light, moderate, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. To explore the relationship between medication and movement behaviour, Spearman’s Rho correlations were conducted, as the data were not normally distributed. Results Analyses indicated that while anticholinergic burden was not associated with movement behaviour, sedative load was negatively correlated with a number of variables, accounting for 14% variance in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and 17% in the bout length of MVPA (p < .02). Conclusion The findings of this study showed a negative association between sedative load, due to medicines, and an individual’s movement behaviour. The impact of this could be a reduction in the ability of this population to maintain or improve their functional mobility, which may overshadow any benefits of the medicine in some circumstances.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Gaynor Parfitt
creator: Dannielle Post
creator: Lisa Kalisch Ellett
creator: Renly Lim
creator: Alison Penington
creator: Megan Corlis
creator: Elizabeth Roughead
subject: Cognitive Disorders
subject: Geriatrics
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9605
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Parfitt et al.
abstract: Objectives Medications with anticholinergic or sedative effects are frequently used by older people but can increase risk of falls and adverse events; however, less is known about their effect on movement behaviour. Here we examine the cross-sectional association between medication use and movement behaviour in older adults living in residential aged care. Materials and Methods Twenty-eight older adults living in residential aged care in metropolitan Australia participated. Medication data were collected from participants’ medical charts and sedative load and anticholinergic burden were determined. Seven-day movement behaviour was objectively assessed by a wrist-worn triaxial accelerometer. Raw accelerations were converted to sleep, sedentary time, and time in light, moderate, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. To explore the relationship between medication and movement behaviour, Spearman’s Rho correlations were conducted, as the data were not normally distributed. Results Analyses indicated that while anticholinergic burden was not associated with movement behaviour, sedative load was negatively correlated with a number of variables, accounting for 14% variance in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and 17% in the bout length of MVPA (p < .02). Conclusion The findings of this study showed a negative association between sedative load, due to medicines, and an individual’s movement behaviour. The impact of this could be a reduction in the ability of this population to maintain or improve their functional mobility, which may overshadow any benefits of the medicine in some circumstances.
bibliographic citation: Parfitt et al. (2020) A cross-sectional assessment of the relationship between sedative medication and anticholinergic medication use and the movement behaviour of older adults living in residential aged care. PeerJ 8:e9605 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9605
date submitted: 2020-04-03
date accepted: 2020-07-04
issued: 2020-07-24
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Parfitt
  given name: Gaynor
author list: Agent
  family name: Post
  given name: Dannielle
author list: Agent
  family name: Kalisch Ellett
  given name: Lisa
author list: Agent
  family name: Lim
  given name: Renly
author list: Agent
  family name: Penington
  given name: Alison
author list: Agent
  family name: Corlis
  given name: Megan
author list: Agent
  family name: Roughead
  given name: Elizabeth
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9605
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-24
copyright: ©2020 Parfitt et al.
attribution name: Parfitt et al.

Disentangling biological variability and taphonomy: shape analysis of the limb long bones of the sauropodomorph dinosaur Plateosaurus
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Sauropodomorph dinosaurs constitute a well-studied clade of dinosaurs, notably because of the acquisition of gigantism within this group. The genus Plateosaurus is one of the best-known sauropodomorphs, with numerous remains from various localities. Its tumultuous taxonomic history suggests the relevance of addressing its intrageneric shape variability, mixed with taphonomic modifications of the original bone shape. Here we investigate quantitatively the morphological variation of Plateosaurus occurring at the genus level by studying the shape variation of a sample of limb long bones. By means of 3D geometric morphometrics, the analysis of the uncorrelated variation permits separation of the variation estimated as obviously taphonomically influenced from the more biologically plausible variation. Beyond the dominant taphonomic signal, our approach permits interpretation of the most biologically plausible features, even on anatomical parts influenced by taphonomic deformations. Those features are thus found on a quantitative basis from the variation of samples containing fossil specimens, by taking the impact of taphonomy into account, which is paramount in order to avoid making biologically ambiguous interpretations.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Rémi Lefebvre
creator: Ronan Allain
creator: Alexandra Houssaye
creator: Raphaël Cornette
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9359
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Lefebvre et al.
abstract: Sauropodomorph dinosaurs constitute a well-studied clade of dinosaurs, notably because of the acquisition of gigantism within this group. The genus Plateosaurus is one of the best-known sauropodomorphs, with numerous remains from various localities. Its tumultuous taxonomic history suggests the relevance of addressing its intrageneric shape variability, mixed with taphonomic modifications of the original bone shape. Here we investigate quantitatively the morphological variation of Plateosaurus occurring at the genus level by studying the shape variation of a sample of limb long bones. By means of 3D geometric morphometrics, the analysis of the uncorrelated variation permits separation of the variation estimated as obviously taphonomically influenced from the more biologically plausible variation. Beyond the dominant taphonomic signal, our approach permits interpretation of the most biologically plausible features, even on anatomical parts influenced by taphonomic deformations. Those features are thus found on a quantitative basis from the variation of samples containing fossil specimens, by taking the impact of taphonomy into account, which is paramount in order to avoid making biologically ambiguous interpretations.
bibliographic citation: Lefebvre et al. (2020) Disentangling biological variability and taphonomy: shape analysis of the limb long bones of the sauropodomorph dinosaur Plateosaurus. PeerJ 8:e9359 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9359
date submitted: 2019-12-23
date accepted: 2020-05-25
issued: 2020-07-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lefebvre
  given name: Rémi
author list: Agent
  family name: Allain
  given name: Ronan
author list: Agent
  family name: Houssaye
  given name: Alexandra
author list: Agent
  family name: Cornette
  given name: Raphaël
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9359
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-23
copyright: © 2020 Lefebvre et al.
attribution name: Lefebvre et al.

Morphological changes in the lower Lancang River due to extensive human activities
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Morphological changes in river beds determine the risk for soil erosion within floodplain areas. At present, little is known about river morphological changes in high-altitude mountainous area influenced by extensive human activities. The study has important reference value for clarifying the morphological changes of mountainous rivers due to extensive human activities. Methods Based on the long-term multi-source remote sensing image data, we analyzed morphological changes in the lower Lancang River (LCR) in Southwest China at regional and local scales, and determined their influencing factors. Visual interpretation is used to extract the information and unify the interpretation standards of various localities, mainly including water bodies, sandbars, shorelines and beaches. Based on high-resolution remote sensing images, we analyzed the planforms, erosion and accretion conditions in Jinghongba (JHB) reach and Ganlanba (GLB) reach. Results Our results showed that: (1) during 1993–2016, the planforms of Jinghongba and Ganlanba in the wide valley of the lower LCR changed significantly, (2) In the interval 1993 to 2016, the JHB reach exhibited extensive erosion, with the right bank more eroded seriously than the left bank, and an erosion area of 0.36 km2. The erosion area of the GLB reach was 0.33 km2, with accretion area of 0.61 km2. The right bank was dominated by erosion, while the left bank by sedimentation; (3) Morphological changes in JHB and GLB reches were the result of the combined effects of cascade hydropower development, river regulation, and sand-mining in the river. The results improved the understanding of riverbed evolution, and could help guide sediment management in mountainous areas influenced by extensive human activities.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Peijia Wang
creator: Kaidao Fu
creator: Jiangcheng Huang
creator: Xingwu Duan
creator: Zaizhi Yang
subject: Ecosystem Science
subject: Environmental Impacts
subject: Spatial and Geographic Information Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9471
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Wang et al.
abstract: Background Morphological changes in river beds determine the risk for soil erosion within floodplain areas. At present, little is known about river morphological changes in high-altitude mountainous area influenced by extensive human activities. The study has important reference value for clarifying the morphological changes of mountainous rivers due to extensive human activities. Methods Based on the long-term multi-source remote sensing image data, we analyzed morphological changes in the lower Lancang River (LCR) in Southwest China at regional and local scales, and determined their influencing factors. Visual interpretation is used to extract the information and unify the interpretation standards of various localities, mainly including water bodies, sandbars, shorelines and beaches. Based on high-resolution remote sensing images, we analyzed the planforms, erosion and accretion conditions in Jinghongba (JHB) reach and Ganlanba (GLB) reach. Results Our results showed that: (1) during 1993–2016, the planforms of Jinghongba and Ganlanba in the wide valley of the lower LCR changed significantly, (2) In the interval 1993 to 2016, the JHB reach exhibited extensive erosion, with the right bank more eroded seriously than the left bank, and an erosion area of 0.36 km2. The erosion area of the GLB reach was 0.33 km2, with accretion area of 0.61 km2. The right bank was dominated by erosion, while the left bank by sedimentation; (3) Morphological changes in JHB and GLB reches were the result of the combined effects of cascade hydropower development, river regulation, and sand-mining in the river. The results improved the understanding of riverbed evolution, and could help guide sediment management in mountainous areas influenced by extensive human activities.
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2020) Morphological changes in the lower Lancang River due to extensive human activities. PeerJ 8:e9471 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9471
date submitted: 2020-03-11
date accepted: 2020-06-11
issued: 2020-07-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Peijia
author list: Agent
  family name: Fu
  given name: Kaidao
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Jiangcheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Duan
  given name: Xingwu
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Zaizhi
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9471
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-23
copyright: ©2020 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

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