PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Low frequencies in the display vocalization of the Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
items: ?Amphictis (Carnivora, Ailuridae) from the Belgrade Formation of North Carolina, USA
items: The metabolic profile of Asinara (albino) and Sardo donkeys (pigmented) (Equus asinus L., 1758) points to unequivocal breed assignment of individuals
items: pulseTD: RNA life cycle dynamics analysis based on pulse model of 4sU-seq time course sequencing data
items: Open Access uptake by universities worldwide
items: Exceptionally preserved ‘skin’ in an Early Cretaceous fish from Colombia
items: Successful promotion of physical activity among students of medicine through motivational interview and Web-based intervention
items: The effects of knee extensor moment biofeedback on gait biomechanics and quadriceps contractile behavior
items: Motor expertise affects the unconscious processing of geometric forms
items: Metoprolol rescues endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction in diabetes

Low frequencies in the display vocalization of the Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Only a few bird species are known to produce low-frequency vocalizations. We analyzed the display vocalizations of Western Capercaillie males kept in breeding centers and identified harmonically structured signals with a fundamental frequency of 28.7 ± 1.2 Hz (25.6–31.6 Hz). These low-frequency components temporally overlap with the Whetting phase (96% of its duration) and they significantly contribute to the distinct vocal expression between individuals. The resulting model of discrimination analysis classified 67.6% vocalizations (63%, cross-validated result) correctly to the specific individual in comparison to the probability by chance of 12.5%. We discuss a possible function of low-frequency components that remains unclear. The occurrence of such low frequencies is surprising as this grouse is substantially smaller than cassowaries (Southern cassowary Casuarius casuarius and Dwarf cassowary Casuarius bennetti) , the species that produces similarly low frequencies. Because these low frequency components temporarily overlap with the Whetting phase, they are hardly audible from a distance larger than several meters.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Vlastimil Hart
creator: Richard Policht
creator: Vojtěch Jandák
creator: Marek Brothánek
creator: Hynek Burda
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9189
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Hart et al.
abstract: Only a few bird species are known to produce low-frequency vocalizations. We analyzed the display vocalizations of Western Capercaillie males kept in breeding centers and identified harmonically structured signals with a fundamental frequency of 28.7 ± 1.2 Hz (25.6–31.6 Hz). These low-frequency components temporally overlap with the Whetting phase (96% of its duration) and they significantly contribute to the distinct vocal expression between individuals. The resulting model of discrimination analysis classified 67.6% vocalizations (63%, cross-validated result) correctly to the specific individual in comparison to the probability by chance of 12.5%. We discuss a possible function of low-frequency components that remains unclear. The occurrence of such low frequencies is surprising as this grouse is substantially smaller than cassowaries (Southern cassowary Casuarius casuarius and Dwarf cassowary Casuarius bennetti) , the species that produces similarly low frequencies. Because these low frequency components temporarily overlap with the Whetting phase, they are hardly audible from a distance larger than several meters.
bibliographic citation: Hart et al. (2020) Low frequencies in the display vocalization of the Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus). PeerJ 8:e9189 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9189
date submitted: 2019-11-12
date accepted: 2020-04-23
issued: 2020-07-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Hart
  given name: Vlastimil
author list: Agent
  family name: Policht
  given name: Richard
author list: Agent
  family name: Jandák
  given name: Vojtěch
author list: Agent
  family name: Brothánek
  given name: Marek
author list: Agent
  family name: Burda
  given name: Hynek
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9189
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-08
copyright: ©2020 Hart et al.
attribution name: Hart et al.

?Amphictis (Carnivora, Ailuridae) from the Belgrade Formation of North Carolina, USA
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Miocene terrestrial mammals are poorly known from the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Fossils of the Order Carnivora from this time and region are especially rare. We describe a carnivoran mandible with a p4 from the late Oligocene or early early Miocene Belgrade Formation in Jones County, North Carolina. Comparisons are made with carnivoran jaws with similar premolar and molar lengths from the late Oligocene and Miocene of North America and Eurasia. These indicate that the North Carolina jaw is assignable to the Ailuridae, a family whose only living member is the red panda. The jaw is tentatively referred to Amphictis, a genus known elsewhere from the late Oligocene and early Miocene of Europe and the early Miocene (Hemingfordian) of North America. The North Carolina mandible compares best with the late Oligocene (MP 28) Amphictis ambiguus from Pech du Fraysse, France, the oldest known member of the Family Ailuridae, and with the early Miocene (MN 1–MN 2a) A. schlosseri from southwestern Germany. This identification is compatible with a late late Arikareean (Ar4, early Miocene, MN 2-3 equivalent) age assignment for the other terrestrial mammals of the Belgrade Formation.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jon Baskin
creator: Edwin Dickinson
creator: John DuBois
creator: Henry Galiano
creator: Adam Hartstone-Rose
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9284
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Baskin et al.
abstract: Miocene terrestrial mammals are poorly known from the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Fossils of the Order Carnivora from this time and region are especially rare. We describe a carnivoran mandible with a p4 from the late Oligocene or early early Miocene Belgrade Formation in Jones County, North Carolina. Comparisons are made with carnivoran jaws with similar premolar and molar lengths from the late Oligocene and Miocene of North America and Eurasia. These indicate that the North Carolina jaw is assignable to the Ailuridae, a family whose only living member is the red panda. The jaw is tentatively referred to Amphictis, a genus known elsewhere from the late Oligocene and early Miocene of Europe and the early Miocene (Hemingfordian) of North America. The North Carolina mandible compares best with the late Oligocene (MP 28) Amphictis ambiguus from Pech du Fraysse, France, the oldest known member of the Family Ailuridae, and with the early Miocene (MN 1–MN 2a) A. schlosseri from southwestern Germany. This identification is compatible with a late late Arikareean (Ar4, early Miocene, MN 2-3 equivalent) age assignment for the other terrestrial mammals of the Belgrade Formation.
bibliographic citation: Baskin et al. (2020) ?Amphictis (Carnivora, Ailuridae) from the Belgrade Formation of North Carolina, USA. PeerJ 8:e9284 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9284
date submitted: 2020-03-18
date accepted: 2020-05-12
issued: 2020-07-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Baskin
  given name: Jon
author list: Agent
  family name: Dickinson
  given name: Edwin
author list: Agent
  family name: DuBois
  given name: John
author list: Agent
  family name: Galiano
  given name: Henry
author list: Agent
  family name: Hartstone-Rose
  given name: Adam
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9284
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-08
copyright: ©2020 Baskin et al.
attribution name: Baskin et al.

The metabolic profile of Asinara (albino) and Sardo donkeys (pigmented) (Equus asinus L., 1758) points to unequivocal breed assignment of individuals
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: This study pointed to explore if variations in circulating levels of metabolites in the blood stream of no. 25 feral donkeys occur in view of the different coat color between specimens of Asinara (albino, no. 8) vs. Sardo (dun-grey, no. 17) breed. All individuals involved in this investigation are living in the nature, at Mediterranean latitudes and roam in the same areas all over the National Park of Capo Caccia, where they feed on spontaneous vegetation sources. The study was conducted during the positive photoperiod of the boreal hemisphere (peak in the month of June, 2019) to maximize the effect of exposure to the natural sun radiation and thus elicit the coping ability of albino (Asinara) in comparison with pigmented donkeys (Sardo). The biochemical profile of all donkeys was used in a Discriminant Analysis (DA) to explore if circulating levels of metabolites could point to metabolic markers for breed assignment of individuals following a canonical discriminant analysis (CANDISC). The biochemical investigation included also the determination of the circulating Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol, α-TOH), as an essential biologically active compound involved in antioxidant mechanisms, and its respective status (circulating α-TOH to total triglycerides and total cholesterol ratio). In the CANDISC, the distance between the two breeds was not significant. However, it pointed to different metabolites (UREA, total protein, total triglycerides, Zn) capable of describing biochemical patterns on each respective breed (Asinara vs. Sardo). The multivariate analysis DA carried out using 22 metabolites correctly assigned individuals to the two breeds in the 100% of cases. In view of such metabolic background, circulating α-TOH found in the bloodstream of Asinara vs. Sardo donkeys under free grazing conditions turned out to reach similar values (2.114 vs. 1.872 µg/ml, respectively, p = 0.676). It is worth noting that significant differences were observed as to circulating lactate de…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Maria Grazia Cappai
creator: Corrado Dimauro
creator: Giovanni Paolo Biggio
creator: Raffaele Cherchi
creator: Francesca Accioni
creator: Flavia Pudda
creator: Gianpiero Boatto
creator: Walter Pinna
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Veterinary Medicine
subject: Nutrition
subject: Metabolic Sciences
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9297
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Cappai et al.
abstract: This study pointed to explore if variations in circulating levels of metabolites in the blood stream of no. 25 feral donkeys occur in view of the different coat color between specimens of Asinara (albino, no. 8) vs. Sardo (dun-grey, no. 17) breed. All individuals involved in this investigation are living in the nature, at Mediterranean latitudes and roam in the same areas all over the National Park of Capo Caccia, where they feed on spontaneous vegetation sources. The study was conducted during the positive photoperiod of the boreal hemisphere (peak in the month of June, 2019) to maximize the effect of exposure to the natural sun radiation and thus elicit the coping ability of albino (Asinara) in comparison with pigmented donkeys (Sardo). The biochemical profile of all donkeys was used in a Discriminant Analysis (DA) to explore if circulating levels of metabolites could point to metabolic markers for breed assignment of individuals following a canonical discriminant analysis (CANDISC). The biochemical investigation included also the determination of the circulating Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol, α-TOH), as an essential biologically active compound involved in antioxidant mechanisms, and its respective status (circulating α-TOH to total triglycerides and total cholesterol ratio). In the CANDISC, the distance between the two breeds was not significant. However, it pointed to different metabolites (UREA, total protein, total triglycerides, Zn) capable of describing biochemical patterns on each respective breed (Asinara vs. Sardo). The multivariate analysis DA carried out using 22 metabolites correctly assigned individuals to the two breeds in the 100% of cases. In view of such metabolic background, circulating α-TOH found in the bloodstream of Asinara vs. Sardo donkeys under free grazing conditions turned out to reach similar values (2.114 vs. 1.872 µg/ml, respectively, p = 0.676). It is worth noting that significant differences were observed as to circulating lactate de…
bibliographic citation: Cappai et al. (2020) The metabolic profile of Asinara (albino) and Sardo donkeys (pigmented) (Equus asinus L., 1758) points to unequivocal breed assignment of individuals. PeerJ 8:e9297 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9297
date submitted: 2020-03-04
date accepted: 2020-05-14
issued: 2020-07-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Cappai
  given name: Maria Grazia
author list: Agent
  family name: Dimauro
  given name: Corrado
author list: Agent
  family name: Biggio
  given name: Giovanni Paolo
author list: Agent
  family name: Cherchi
  given name: Raffaele
author list: Agent
  family name: Accioni
  given name: Francesca
author list: Agent
  family name: Pudda
  given name: Flavia
author list: Agent
  family name: Boatto
  given name: Gianpiero
author list: Agent
  family name: Pinna
  given name: Walter
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9297
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-08
copyright: © 2020 Cappai et al.
attribution name: Cappai et al.

pulseTD: RNA life cycle dynamics analysis based on pulse model of 4sU-seq time course sequencing data
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The life cycle of intracellular RNA mainly involves transcriptional production, splicing maturation and degradation processes. Their dynamic changes are termed as RNA life cycle dynamics (RLCD). It is still challenging for the accurate and robust identification of RLCD under unknow the functional form of RLCD. By using the pulse model, we developed an R package named pulseTD to identify RLCD by integrating 4sU-seq and RNA-seq data, and it provides flexible functions to capture continuous changes in RCLD rates. More importantly, it also can predict the trend of RNA transcription and expression changes in future time points. The pulseTD shows better accuracy and robustness than some other methods, and it is available on the GitHub repository (https://github.com/bioWzz/pulseTD_0.2.0).
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Xin Wang
creator: Siyu He
creator: Jian Li
creator: Jun Wang
creator: Chengyi Wang
creator: Mingwei Wang
creator: Danni He
creator: Xingfeng Lv
creator: Qiuyan Zhong
creator: Hongjiu Wang
creator: Zhenzhen Wang
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Computational Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9371
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Wang et al.
abstract: The life cycle of intracellular RNA mainly involves transcriptional production, splicing maturation and degradation processes. Their dynamic changes are termed as RNA life cycle dynamics (RLCD). It is still challenging for the accurate and robust identification of RLCD under unknow the functional form of RLCD. By using the pulse model, we developed an R package named pulseTD to identify RLCD by integrating 4sU-seq and RNA-seq data, and it provides flexible functions to capture continuous changes in RCLD rates. More importantly, it also can predict the trend of RNA transcription and expression changes in future time points. The pulseTD shows better accuracy and robustness than some other methods, and it is available on the GitHub repository (https://github.com/bioWzz/pulseTD_0.2.0).
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2020) pulseTD: RNA life cycle dynamics analysis based on pulse model of 4sU-seq time course sequencing data. PeerJ 8:e9371 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9371
date submitted: 2019-09-27
date accepted: 2020-05-27
issued: 2020-07-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Xin
author list: Agent
  family name: He
  given name: Siyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Jian
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Jun
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Chengyi
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Mingwei
author list: Agent
  family name: He
  given name: Danni
author list: Agent
  family name: Lv
  given name: Xingfeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhong
  given name: Qiuyan
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Hongjiu
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Zhenzhen
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9371
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-08
copyright: © 2020 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

Open Access uptake by universities worldwide
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The implementation of policies promoting the adoption of an open science (OS) culture must be accompanied by indicators that allow monitoring the uptake of such policies and their potential effects on research publishing and sharing practices. This study presents indicators of open access (OA) at the institutional level for universities worldwide. By combining data from Web of Science, Unpaywall and the Leiden Ranking disambiguation of institutions, we track OA coverage of universities’ output for 963 institutions. This paper presents the methodological challenges, conceptual discrepancies and limitations and discusses further steps needed to move forward the discussion on fostering OA and OS practices and policies.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Nicolas Robinson-Garcia
creator: Rodrigo Costas
creator: Thed N. van Leeuwen
subject: Science Policy
subject: Computational Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9410
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Robinson-Garcia et al.
abstract: The implementation of policies promoting the adoption of an open science (OS) culture must be accompanied by indicators that allow monitoring the uptake of such policies and their potential effects on research publishing and sharing practices. This study presents indicators of open access (OA) at the institutional level for universities worldwide. By combining data from Web of Science, Unpaywall and the Leiden Ranking disambiguation of institutions, we track OA coverage of universities’ output for 963 institutions. This paper presents the methodological challenges, conceptual discrepancies and limitations and discusses further steps needed to move forward the discussion on fostering OA and OS practices and policies.
bibliographic citation: Robinson-Garcia et al. (2020) Open Access uptake by universities worldwide. PeerJ 8:e9410 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9410
date submitted: 2020-02-13
date accepted: 2020-06-02
issued: 2020-07-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Robinson-Garcia
  given name: Nicolas
author list: Agent
  family name: Costas
  given name: Rodrigo
author list: Agent
  family name: van Leeuwen
  given name: Thed N.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9410
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-08
copyright: ©2020 Robinson-Garcia et al.
attribution name: Robinson-Garcia et al.

Exceptionally preserved ‘skin’ in an Early Cretaceous fish from Colombia
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Studies of soft tissue, cells and original biomolecular constituents preserved in fossil vertebrates have increased greatly in recent years. Here we report preservation of ‘skin’ with chemical and molecular characterization from a three-dimensionally preserved caudal portion of an aspidorhynchid Cretaceous fish from the equatorial Barremian of Colombia, increasing the number of localities for which exceptional preservation is known. We applied several analytical techniques including SEM-EDS, FTIR and ToF-SIMS to characterize the micromorphology and molecular and elemental composition of this fossil. Here, we show that the fossilized ‘skin’ exhibits similarities with those from extant fish, including the wrinkles after suffering compression stress and flexibility, as well as architectural and tissue aspects of the two main layers (epidermis and dermis). This similarity extends also to the molecular level, with the demonstrated preservation of potential residues of original proteins not consistent with a bacterial source. Our results show a potential preservation mechanism where scales may have acted as an external barrier and together with an internal phosphate layer resulting from the degradation of the dermis itself creating an encapsulated environment for the integument.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Andrés Alfonso-Rojas
creator: Edwin-Alberto Cadena
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Paleontology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9479
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Alfonso-Rojas and Cadena
abstract: Studies of soft tissue, cells and original biomolecular constituents preserved in fossil vertebrates have increased greatly in recent years. Here we report preservation of ‘skin’ with chemical and molecular characterization from a three-dimensionally preserved caudal portion of an aspidorhynchid Cretaceous fish from the equatorial Barremian of Colombia, increasing the number of localities for which exceptional preservation is known. We applied several analytical techniques including SEM-EDS, FTIR and ToF-SIMS to characterize the micromorphology and molecular and elemental composition of this fossil. Here, we show that the fossilized ‘skin’ exhibits similarities with those from extant fish, including the wrinkles after suffering compression stress and flexibility, as well as architectural and tissue aspects of the two main layers (epidermis and dermis). This similarity extends also to the molecular level, with the demonstrated preservation of potential residues of original proteins not consistent with a bacterial source. Our results show a potential preservation mechanism where scales may have acted as an external barrier and together with an internal phosphate layer resulting from the degradation of the dermis itself creating an encapsulated environment for the integument.
bibliographic citation: Alfonso-Rojas et al. (2020) Exceptionally preserved ‘skin’ in an Early Cretaceous fish from Colombia. PeerJ 8:e9479 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9479
date submitted: 2020-03-04
date accepted: 2020-06-14
issued: 2020-07-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Alfonso-Rojas
  given name: Andrés
author list: Agent
  family name: Cadena
  given name: Edwin-Alberto
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9479
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-08
copyright: ©2020 Alfonso-Rojas and Cadena
attribution name: Alfonso-Rojas and Cadena

Successful promotion of physical activity among students of medicine through motivational interview and Web-based intervention
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Regular physical activity supports healthy behavior and contributes to the reduction of preventable diseases. Students in their social transition period are the ideal groups for interventions. The higher education period, associated with demanding changes and poor time management, results in a low level of physical activity. In this age, social media usually are a suitable channel of communication and multicomponent interventions are the most desirable. It has not been sufficiently investigated how effective a Web-based approach is among university students when it comes to physical activity in the long-term period. We combined a Web-based approach with motivational interviews and tested these two interventions together and separate to assess their impact on improving the physical activity of medical students 1 year after the intervention. Methods All 514 first-year students at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade were invited to fill in a baseline questionnaire. Also, they underwent measurement of weight, height and waist circumference. After that, students selected a 6 months intervention according to their preference: Intervention through social media (Facebook) (Group 1) or combined with a motivational interview (Group 2). Group 3 consisted of students without any intervention. One year after completion of the 6 months intervention period, all students were invited to a second comprehensive assessment. Analyses were performed employing a wide range of statistical testing, including direct logistic regression, to identify determinants of increased physical activity measured by an average change of Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET). This outcome measure was defined as the difference between the values at baseline and one year after completion of the 6 months intervention period. Results Due to a large number of potential determinants of the change of MET, three logistic regression models considered three groups of independent variables: basic socio-demo…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Dubravka Mandic
creator: Vesna Bjegovic-Mikanovic
creator: Dejana Vukovic
creator: Bosiljka Djikanovic
creator: Zeljka Stamenkovic
creator: Nebojsa M. Lalic
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Public Health
subject: Science and Medical Education
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9495
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Mandic et al.
abstract: Background Regular physical activity supports healthy behavior and contributes to the reduction of preventable diseases. Students in their social transition period are the ideal groups for interventions. The higher education period, associated with demanding changes and poor time management, results in a low level of physical activity. In this age, social media usually are a suitable channel of communication and multicomponent interventions are the most desirable. It has not been sufficiently investigated how effective a Web-based approach is among university students when it comes to physical activity in the long-term period. We combined a Web-based approach with motivational interviews and tested these two interventions together and separate to assess their impact on improving the physical activity of medical students 1 year after the intervention. Methods All 514 first-year students at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade were invited to fill in a baseline questionnaire. Also, they underwent measurement of weight, height and waist circumference. After that, students selected a 6 months intervention according to their preference: Intervention through social media (Facebook) (Group 1) or combined with a motivational interview (Group 2). Group 3 consisted of students without any intervention. One year after completion of the 6 months intervention period, all students were invited to a second comprehensive assessment. Analyses were performed employing a wide range of statistical testing, including direct logistic regression, to identify determinants of increased physical activity measured by an average change of Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET). This outcome measure was defined as the difference between the values at baseline and one year after completion of the 6 months intervention period. Results Due to a large number of potential determinants of the change of MET, three logistic regression models considered three groups of independent variables: basic socio-demo…
bibliographic citation: Mandic et al. (2020) Successful promotion of physical activity among students of medicine through motivational interview and Web-based intervention. PeerJ 8:e9495 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9495
date submitted: 2020-01-21
date accepted: 2020-06-17
issued: 2020-07-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Mandic
  given name: Dubravka
author list: Agent
  family name: Bjegovic-Mikanovic
  given name: Vesna
author list: Agent
  family name: Vukovic
  given name: Dejana
author list: Agent
  family name: Djikanovic
  given name: Bosiljka
author list: Agent
  family name: Stamenkovic
  given name: Zeljka
author list: Agent
  family name: Lalic
  given name: Nebojsa M.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9495
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-08
copyright: © 2020 Mandic et al.
attribution name: Mandic et al.

The effects of knee extensor moment biofeedback on gait biomechanics and quadriceps contractile behavior
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Individuals with knee joint pathologies exhibit quadriceps dysfunction that, during walking, manifests as smaller peak knee extensor moment (pKEM) and reduced knee flexion excursion. These changes persist despite muscle strengthening and may alter stance phase knee joint loading considered relevant to osteoarthritis risk. Novel rehabilitation strategies that more directly augment quadriceps mechanical output during functional movements are needed to reduce this risk. As an important first step, we tested the efficacy of real-time biofeedback during walking to prescribe changes of ±20% and ±40% of normal walking pKEM values in 11 uninjured young adults. We simultaneously recorded knee joint kinematics, ground reaction forces, and, via ultrasound, vastus lateralis (VL) fascicle length change behavior. Participants successfully responded to real-time biofeedback and averaged up to 55% larger and 51% smaller than normal pKEM values with concomitant and potentially favorable changes in knee flexion excursion. While the VL muscle-tendon unit (MTU) lengthened, VL fascicles accommodated weight acceptance during walking largely through isometric, or even slight concentric, rather than eccentric action as is commonly presumed. Targeted pKEM biofeedback may be a useful rehabilitative and/or scientific tool to elicit desirable changes in knee joint biomechanics considered relevant to the development of osteoarthritis.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Amanda E. Munsch
creator: Brian Pietrosimone
creator: Jason R. Franz
subject: Bioengineering
subject: Anatomy and Physiology
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Radiology and Medical Imaging
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9509
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Munsch et al.
abstract: Individuals with knee joint pathologies exhibit quadriceps dysfunction that, during walking, manifests as smaller peak knee extensor moment (pKEM) and reduced knee flexion excursion. These changes persist despite muscle strengthening and may alter stance phase knee joint loading considered relevant to osteoarthritis risk. Novel rehabilitation strategies that more directly augment quadriceps mechanical output during functional movements are needed to reduce this risk. As an important first step, we tested the efficacy of real-time biofeedback during walking to prescribe changes of ±20% and ±40% of normal walking pKEM values in 11 uninjured young adults. We simultaneously recorded knee joint kinematics, ground reaction forces, and, via ultrasound, vastus lateralis (VL) fascicle length change behavior. Participants successfully responded to real-time biofeedback and averaged up to 55% larger and 51% smaller than normal pKEM values with concomitant and potentially favorable changes in knee flexion excursion. While the VL muscle-tendon unit (MTU) lengthened, VL fascicles accommodated weight acceptance during walking largely through isometric, or even slight concentric, rather than eccentric action as is commonly presumed. Targeted pKEM biofeedback may be a useful rehabilitative and/or scientific tool to elicit desirable changes in knee joint biomechanics considered relevant to the development of osteoarthritis.
bibliographic citation: Munsch et al. (2020) The effects of knee extensor moment biofeedback on gait biomechanics and quadriceps contractile behavior. PeerJ 8:e9509 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9509
date submitted: 2020-03-06
date accepted: 2020-06-18
issued: 2020-07-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Munsch
  given name: Amanda E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Pietrosimone
  given name: Brian
author list: Agent
  family name: Franz
  given name: Jason R.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9509
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-08
copyright: ©2020 Munsch et al.
attribution name: Munsch et al.

Motor expertise affects the unconscious processing of geometric forms
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The unconscious processing of information is an important skill used by competitive athletes to handle the rapidly changing movements of opponents and equipment. Previous studies have shown that unconscious information processing among athletes is better than that among non-athletes in the sports-specific domain. However, it is not yet clear whether athletes also show superior unconscious information processing in the general cognitive domain. Methods Twenty-five competitive table tennis players (athletes) and 26 aged-matched non-athletic college students (non-athlete controls) were recruited for this study. Participants first performed a masked priming task that used geometric shapes as primes and targets to examine unconscious information processing in the general cognitive domain. As a control, participants then completed a prime identification task to determine whether they could consciously detect the priming geometric forms. Reaction times and error rates were analyzed to examine whether motor expertise influenced unconscious information processing in the general domain. Nineteen athletes and 17 non-athletes from our present study, which used general stimuli, also participated in our previous study, which used sport-specific stimuli. The strength of the unconscious response priming effect was analyzed to examine whether the effect of motor expertise on unconscious processing could be transferred from a sports-specific domain to a general domain. Results Signal detection analyses indicated that neither athletes nor non-athletes could consciously perceive the priming stimuli. Two-way repeated-measures analyses of variance followed by simple main effects analyses of the masked priming performance, indicating that athletes responded faster and committed fewer errors when the priming stimulus was congruent with the target stimulus. These results suggested that athletes exhibited a significant unconscious response priming effect of geometric forms. By con…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jiaxian Geng
creator: Fanying Meng
creator: Chao Wang
creator: Hanna Haponenko
creator: Anmin Li
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9520
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Geng et al.
abstract: Background The unconscious processing of information is an important skill used by competitive athletes to handle the rapidly changing movements of opponents and equipment. Previous studies have shown that unconscious information processing among athletes is better than that among non-athletes in the sports-specific domain. However, it is not yet clear whether athletes also show superior unconscious information processing in the general cognitive domain. Methods Twenty-five competitive table tennis players (athletes) and 26 aged-matched non-athletic college students (non-athlete controls) were recruited for this study. Participants first performed a masked priming task that used geometric shapes as primes and targets to examine unconscious information processing in the general cognitive domain. As a control, participants then completed a prime identification task to determine whether they could consciously detect the priming geometric forms. Reaction times and error rates were analyzed to examine whether motor expertise influenced unconscious information processing in the general domain. Nineteen athletes and 17 non-athletes from our present study, which used general stimuli, also participated in our previous study, which used sport-specific stimuli. The strength of the unconscious response priming effect was analyzed to examine whether the effect of motor expertise on unconscious processing could be transferred from a sports-specific domain to a general domain. Results Signal detection analyses indicated that neither athletes nor non-athletes could consciously perceive the priming stimuli. Two-way repeated-measures analyses of variance followed by simple main effects analyses of the masked priming performance, indicating that athletes responded faster and committed fewer errors when the priming stimulus was congruent with the target stimulus. These results suggested that athletes exhibited a significant unconscious response priming effect of geometric forms. By con…
bibliographic citation: Geng et al. (2020) Motor expertise affects the unconscious processing of geometric forms. PeerJ 8:e9520 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9520
date submitted: 2019-12-13
date accepted: 2020-06-19
issued: 2020-07-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Geng
  given name: Jiaxian
author list: Agent
  family name: Meng
  given name: Fanying
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Chao
author list: Agent
  family name: Haponenko
  given name: Hanna
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Anmin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9520
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-08
copyright: ©2020 Geng et al.
attribution name: Geng et al.

Metoprolol rescues endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction in diabetes
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Added risk portended by diabetes in addition to hypertension has been related to an amplification of endothelial dysfunction. β-blockers are widely used for cardiovascular diseases and improve the endothelial function compared with a placebo. However, the effect of β-blockers on the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) function in diabetes is still unknown. Five β-blockers (metoprolol, atenolol, propranolol, bisoprolol, and nebivolol) were tested in EPC functional screening. Metoprolol improved EPC function significantly among the five β-blockers and was chosen for the in vivo tests in STZ induced diabetic mice. Reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) measurements were performed using the Endo-PAT2000 device in diabetic patients. Metoprolol, but not other β-blockers, improved EPC function in both tube formation and migration assay. EPC function was significantly decreased in diabetic mice, and metoprolol treatment restored damaged EPC migration capabilities and circulation EPC number. Metoprolol treatment promoted wound healing and stimulated angiogenesis in diabetic mice. Furthermore, metoprolol significantly enhanced eNOS phosphorylation and decreased O2− levels in EPCs of diabetic mice. In clinical trials, the RH-PAT index was significantly higher in metoprolol-treated versus bisoprolol-treated diabetics. Metoprolol could accelerate wound healing in diabetic mice and improve endothelial function in diabetic subjects, which may be mediated in part by improving impaired EPC function.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Lang Yan
creator: Yi-fan Dong
creator: Tao-lin Qing
creator: Ya-ping Deng
creator: Xue Han
creator: Wen-jing Shi
creator: Jin-feng Li
creator: Fang-yuan Gao
creator: Xiao-fang Zhang
creator: Yi-jun Tian
creator: Xiao-yu Dai
creator: Jiang-bo Zhu
creator: Ji-kuai Chen
subject: Cardiology
subject: Diabetes and Endocrinology
subject: Pharmacology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9306
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Yan et al.
abstract: Added risk portended by diabetes in addition to hypertension has been related to an amplification of endothelial dysfunction. β-blockers are widely used for cardiovascular diseases and improve the endothelial function compared with a placebo. However, the effect of β-blockers on the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) function in diabetes is still unknown. Five β-blockers (metoprolol, atenolol, propranolol, bisoprolol, and nebivolol) were tested in EPC functional screening. Metoprolol improved EPC function significantly among the five β-blockers and was chosen for the in vivo tests in STZ induced diabetic mice. Reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) measurements were performed using the Endo-PAT2000 device in diabetic patients. Metoprolol, but not other β-blockers, improved EPC function in both tube formation and migration assay. EPC function was significantly decreased in diabetic mice, and metoprolol treatment restored damaged EPC migration capabilities and circulation EPC number. Metoprolol treatment promoted wound healing and stimulated angiogenesis in diabetic mice. Furthermore, metoprolol significantly enhanced eNOS phosphorylation and decreased O2− levels in EPCs of diabetic mice. In clinical trials, the RH-PAT index was significantly higher in metoprolol-treated versus bisoprolol-treated diabetics. Metoprolol could accelerate wound healing in diabetic mice and improve endothelial function in diabetic subjects, which may be mediated in part by improving impaired EPC function.
bibliographic citation: Yan et al. (2020) Metoprolol rescues endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction in diabetes. PeerJ 8:e9306 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9306
date submitted: 2020-03-26
date accepted: 2020-05-16
issued: 2020-07-07
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Yan
  given name: Lang
author list: Agent
  family name: Dong
  given name: Yi-fan
author list: Agent
  family name: Qing
  given name: Tao-lin
author list: Agent
  family name: Deng
  given name: Ya-ping
author list: Agent
  family name: Han
  given name: Xue
author list: Agent
  family name: Shi
  given name: Wen-jing
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Jin-feng
author list: Agent
  family name: Gao
  given name: Fang-yuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Xiao-fang
author list: Agent
  family name: Tian
  given name: Yi-jun
author list: Agent
  family name: Dai
  given name: Xiao-yu
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Jiang-bo
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Ji-kuai
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9306
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-07-07
copyright: ©2020 Yan et al.
attribution name: Yan et al.

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