PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Exploring the interactions among SNARC effect, finger counting direction and embodied cognition
items: Ontogeny of a sexually selected structure in an extant archosaur Gavialis gangeticus (Pseudosuchia: Crocodylia) with implications for sexual dimorphism in dinosaurs
items: Luteolin attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by modulating the PHLPP1/AKT/Bcl-2 signalling pathway
items: The relationship between adolescent obesity and pelvis dimensions in adulthood: a retrospective longitudinal study
items: Discordance of vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at 2 μg/mL between Vitek II, E-test, and Broth Microdilution
items: Clustering of multiple health risk behaviors and its association with diabetes in a Southern Chinese adult population: a cross-sectional study
items: The spindle assembly checkpoint and speciation
items: Assessment and simulation of land use and land cover change impacts on the land surface temperature of Chaoyang District in Beijing, China
items: Higher carbon sequestration potential and stability for deep soil compared to surface soil regardless of nitrogen addition in a subtropical forest
items: Phylogenetic relationships in the southern African genus Drosanthemum (Ruschioideae, Aizoaceae)

Exploring the interactions among SNARC effect, finger counting direction and embodied cognition
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The Spatial Numerical Association of Response Code (SNARC) is the preferential association between smaller/larger magnitudes and left/right side, respectively. Some evidence suggest a link between SNARC and a left-to-right finger counting habit. We asked 268 participants to show how they use the hands to count from 1 to 10. By means of this ecological task, 80% of the sample use first the right hand (to count from 1 to 5) and the majority of them use a palm-up posture. In Experiment 2 (N = 46) right-starters were asked to categorize 1-to-5 magnitudes as even or odd, using the left and right hand. Stimuli were presented both as Arabic numbers and by means of left and right hand photographs in palm-up and palm-down posture. Results confirmed the expected SNARC effect in the Arabic condition. With hand images we found that right hand responses were better for larger than for smaller magnitudes (SNARC, mainly for left hand palm-up stimuli), showing that the SNARC can be generalized to different codes. Finally, the interactions between magnitudes and left/right hand images in palm-up and palm-down posture suggest that embodied cognition can influence numerical processing.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Giulia Prete
creator: Luca Tommasi
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9155
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Prete and Tommasi
abstract: The Spatial Numerical Association of Response Code (SNARC) is the preferential association between smaller/larger magnitudes and left/right side, respectively. Some evidence suggest a link between SNARC and a left-to-right finger counting habit. We asked 268 participants to show how they use the hands to count from 1 to 10. By means of this ecological task, 80% of the sample use first the right hand (to count from 1 to 5) and the majority of them use a palm-up posture. In Experiment 2 (N = 46) right-starters were asked to categorize 1-to-5 magnitudes as even or odd, using the left and right hand. Stimuli were presented both as Arabic numbers and by means of left and right hand photographs in palm-up and palm-down posture. Results confirmed the expected SNARC effect in the Arabic condition. With hand images we found that right hand responses were better for larger than for smaller magnitudes (SNARC, mainly for left hand palm-up stimuli), showing that the SNARC can be generalized to different codes. Finally, the interactions between magnitudes and left/right hand images in palm-up and palm-down posture suggest that embodied cognition can influence numerical processing.
bibliographic citation: Prete et al. (2020) Exploring the interactions among SNARC effect, finger counting direction and embodied cognition. PeerJ 8:e9155 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9155
date submitted: 2019-09-30
date accepted: 2020-04-18
issued: 2020-05-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Prete
  given name: Giulia
author list: Agent
  family name: Tommasi
  given name: Luca
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9155
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-05-12
copyright: ©2020 Prete and Tommasi
attribution name: Prete and Tommasi

Ontogeny of a sexually selected structure in an extant archosaur Gavialis gangeticus (Pseudosuchia: Crocodylia) with implications for sexual dimorphism in dinosaurs
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Despite strong evidence for sexual selection in various display traits and other exaggerated structures in large extinct reptiles, such as dinosaurs, detecting sexual dimorphism in them remains difficult. Their relatively small sample sizes, long growth periods, and difficulties distinguishing the sexes of fossil specimens mean that there are little compelling data on dimorphism in these animals. The extant gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a large and endangered crocodylian that is sexually dimorphic in size, but males also possesses a sexually selected structure, the ghara, which has an osteological correlate in the presence of a fossa associated with the nares. This makes the species a unique model for potentially assessing dimorphism in fossil lineages, such as dinosaurs and pterosaurs, because it is a large, slow-growing, egg-laying archosaur. Here we assess the dimorphism of G. gangeticus across 106 specimens and show that the presence of a narial fossa diagnoses adult male gharials. Males are larger than females, but the level of size dimorphism, and that of other cranial features, is low and difficult to detect without a priori knowledge of the sexes, even with this large dataset. By extension, dimorphism in extinct reptiles is very difficult to detect in the absence of sex specific characters, such as the narial fossa.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: David Hone
creator: Jordan C. Mallon
creator: Patrick Hennessey
creator: Lawrence M. Witmer
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9134
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Hone et al.
abstract: Despite strong evidence for sexual selection in various display traits and other exaggerated structures in large extinct reptiles, such as dinosaurs, detecting sexual dimorphism in them remains difficult. Their relatively small sample sizes, long growth periods, and difficulties distinguishing the sexes of fossil specimens mean that there are little compelling data on dimorphism in these animals. The extant gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a large and endangered crocodylian that is sexually dimorphic in size, but males also possesses a sexually selected structure, the ghara, which has an osteological correlate in the presence of a fossa associated with the nares. This makes the species a unique model for potentially assessing dimorphism in fossil lineages, such as dinosaurs and pterosaurs, because it is a large, slow-growing, egg-laying archosaur. Here we assess the dimorphism of G. gangeticus across 106 specimens and show that the presence of a narial fossa diagnoses adult male gharials. Males are larger than females, but the level of size dimorphism, and that of other cranial features, is low and difficult to detect without a priori knowledge of the sexes, even with this large dataset. By extension, dimorphism in extinct reptiles is very difficult to detect in the absence of sex specific characters, such as the narial fossa.
bibliographic citation: Hone et al. (2020) Ontogeny of a sexually selected structure in an extant archosaur Gavialis gangeticus (Pseudosuchia: Crocodylia) with implications for sexual dimorphism in dinosaurs. PeerJ 8:e9134 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9134
date submitted: 2019-12-03
date accepted: 2020-04-15
issued: 2020-05-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Hone
  given name: David
author list: Agent
  family name: Mallon
  given name: Jordan C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Hennessey
  given name: Patrick
author list: Agent
  family name: Witmer
  given name: Lawrence M.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9134
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-05-12
copyright: © 2020 Hone et al.
attribution name: Hone et al.

Luteolin attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by modulating the PHLPP1/AKT/Bcl-2 signalling pathway
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Luteolin (LUT) is a flavonoid found in vegetables and fruits that has diverse functions. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline antibiotic that is frequently used for the treatment of various cancers. Unfortunately, the clinical efficacy of DOX is limited by its dose-related cardiotoxicity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential mechanism through which LUT attenuates cardiotoxicity in vivo. Methods We evaluated the body weight, heart weight, electrocardiogram, and pathological changes before and after administration of LUT. Moreover, the effects of LUT (50 mg/kg in the low dose group, 100 mg/kg in the high dose group) on biochemical parameters (brain natriuretic peptide, creatine kinase MB, cardiac troponin T, and dehydrogenation of lactate enzyme) and oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase) were studied in the sera of cardiotoxicity model rats. We also identified the apoptotic mediators whose expression was induced by LUT by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) evaluation. In addition, we used network analysis to predict DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and protection afforded by LUT. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of associated proteins. Results LUT significantly improved DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in a dose-dependent fashion. LUT ameliorated DOX-induced weight loss and heart weight changes, as well as changes in biochemical parameters and oxidative stress parameters in heart injury model rats. LUT’s protective effect was observed via regulation of the apoptotic markers Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression levels. Network analysis showed that the AKT/Bcl-2 signalling pathway was activated; specifically, the PH domain leucine-rich repeats protein phosphatase 1 (phlpp1) was involved in the AKT/Bcl-2 signal pathway. LUT inhibited the activity of phlpp1 leading to positive regulation of the AKT/Bcl-2 pathway, which attenuated doxorubicin-in…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: YanDong Zhang
creator: ChengYuan Ma
creator: ChunShui Liu
creator: Feng Wei
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Cardiology
subject: Evidence Based Medicine
subject: Oncology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.8845
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Zhang et al.
abstract: Background Luteolin (LUT) is a flavonoid found in vegetables and fruits that has diverse functions. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline antibiotic that is frequently used for the treatment of various cancers. Unfortunately, the clinical efficacy of DOX is limited by its dose-related cardiotoxicity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential mechanism through which LUT attenuates cardiotoxicity in vivo. Methods We evaluated the body weight, heart weight, electrocardiogram, and pathological changes before and after administration of LUT. Moreover, the effects of LUT (50 mg/kg in the low dose group, 100 mg/kg in the high dose group) on biochemical parameters (brain natriuretic peptide, creatine kinase MB, cardiac troponin T, and dehydrogenation of lactate enzyme) and oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase) were studied in the sera of cardiotoxicity model rats. We also identified the apoptotic mediators whose expression was induced by LUT by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) evaluation. In addition, we used network analysis to predict DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and protection afforded by LUT. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of associated proteins. Results LUT significantly improved DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in a dose-dependent fashion. LUT ameliorated DOX-induced weight loss and heart weight changes, as well as changes in biochemical parameters and oxidative stress parameters in heart injury model rats. LUT’s protective effect was observed via regulation of the apoptotic markers Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression levels. Network analysis showed that the AKT/Bcl-2 signalling pathway was activated; specifically, the PH domain leucine-rich repeats protein phosphatase 1 (phlpp1) was involved in the AKT/Bcl-2 signal pathway. LUT inhibited the activity of phlpp1 leading to positive regulation of the AKT/Bcl-2 pathway, which attenuated doxorubicin-in…
bibliographic citation: Zhang et al. (2020) Luteolin attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by modulating the PHLPP1/AKT/Bcl-2 signalling pathway. PeerJ 8:e8845 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8845
date submitted: 2019-10-16
date accepted: 2020-03-02
issued: 2020-05-11
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: YanDong
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: ChengYuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: ChunShui
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: Feng
doi: 10.7717/peerj.8845
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-05-11
copyright: ©2020 Zhang et al.
attribution name: Zhang et al.

The relationship between adolescent obesity and pelvis dimensions in adulthood: a retrospective longitudinal study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The effect of fat tissue on a developing individual is fundamentally different from the effect on an adult. Several changes caused by obesity during sexual maturation have an irreversible and severe negative effect (lower fertility, reduced final height, type 2 diabetes mellitus) even for those who have subsequently lost weight. Our study was focused on monitoring the skeletal structure substantially influenced by sex hormones—the pelvis. The adult pelvis is strongly sexually dimorphic, which is not the case for the juvenile pelvis; skeletal differences between sexes are not so prominent and start to manifest with the onset of puberty. Evidence from animal models and case studies of treatment of gender dysphoria suggests that estrogens have a stimulatory effect on the growth plates present on the pelvis, leading to morphological change. Male obesity, especially in puberty, is connected with hypogonadism, manifesting in low levels of testosterone, and high levels of estrogens. The goal of our study was to evaluate the influence of obesity during adolescence on the morphology of the adult pelvis in the context of androgen and estrogen status. Sample and Methods Our sample consists of 238 individuals (144 females, 94 males) observed after an 8 year follow-up (mean age during enrollment 15.2 years, follow-up 23.3 years). Anthropometry and body composition using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) were obtained. During the follow-up, saliva samples from male participants were also collected to estimate testosterone and estradiol levels using the salivary ELISA kit (Salimetrics LLC, State College, PA, USA). Results The body fat (percentage of body fat estimated using BIA) was strongly positively associated with relative pelvic breadths in adulthood (males r = 0.64; females r = 0.56, both with p < 0.001). Adulthood pelvic breadth was a highly sensitive (0.81) and specific (0.74) retrospective marker of obesity during adolescence. The complex regression model (with reduc…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jan M. Novak
creator: Jaroslav Bruzek
creator: Hana Zamrazilova
creator: Marketa Vankova
creator: Martin Hill
creator: Petr Sedlak
subject: Anthropology
subject: Nutrition
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Pediatrics
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.8951
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Novak et al.
abstract: Background The effect of fat tissue on a developing individual is fundamentally different from the effect on an adult. Several changes caused by obesity during sexual maturation have an irreversible and severe negative effect (lower fertility, reduced final height, type 2 diabetes mellitus) even for those who have subsequently lost weight. Our study was focused on monitoring the skeletal structure substantially influenced by sex hormones—the pelvis. The adult pelvis is strongly sexually dimorphic, which is not the case for the juvenile pelvis; skeletal differences between sexes are not so prominent and start to manifest with the onset of puberty. Evidence from animal models and case studies of treatment of gender dysphoria suggests that estrogens have a stimulatory effect on the growth plates present on the pelvis, leading to morphological change. Male obesity, especially in puberty, is connected with hypogonadism, manifesting in low levels of testosterone, and high levels of estrogens. The goal of our study was to evaluate the influence of obesity during adolescence on the morphology of the adult pelvis in the context of androgen and estrogen status. Sample and Methods Our sample consists of 238 individuals (144 females, 94 males) observed after an 8 year follow-up (mean age during enrollment 15.2 years, follow-up 23.3 years). Anthropometry and body composition using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) were obtained. During the follow-up, saliva samples from male participants were also collected to estimate testosterone and estradiol levels using the salivary ELISA kit (Salimetrics LLC, State College, PA, USA). Results The body fat (percentage of body fat estimated using BIA) was strongly positively associated with relative pelvic breadths in adulthood (males r = 0.64; females r = 0.56, both with p < 0.001). Adulthood pelvic breadth was a highly sensitive (0.81) and specific (0.74) retrospective marker of obesity during adolescence. The complex regression model (with reduc…
bibliographic citation: Novak et al. (2020) The relationship between adolescent obesity and pelvis dimensions in adulthood: a retrospective longitudinal study. PeerJ 8:e8951 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8951
date submitted: 2019-10-02
date accepted: 2020-03-20
issued: 2020-05-11
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Novak
  given name: Jan M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Bruzek
  given name: Jaroslav
author list: Agent
  family name: Zamrazilova
  given name: Hana
author list: Agent
  family name: Vankova
  given name: Marketa
author list: Agent
  family name: Hill
  given name: Martin
author list: Agent
  family name: Sedlak
  given name: Petr
doi: 10.7717/peerj.8951
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-05-11
copyright: © 2020 Novak et al.
attribution name: Novak et al.

Discordance of vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at 2 μg/mL between Vitek II, E-test, and Broth Microdilution
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Vancomycin, the first line antibiotic for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia, is often administered inappropriately when MIC is greater than 2 µg/mL, including ‘susceptible’ strains. This study assessed the discordance of vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methods In total, 229 MRSA isolates from blood cultures collected between 2009 and 2015 at a tertiary hospital in Taiwan were examined. The MICs of vancomycin were measured using Vitek 2, E-test, and standard broth microdilution at the level of 2 µg/mL. Results The geometric mean of the MICs of hospital-acquired MRSA was higher than that of community-acquired MRSA (P < 0.001), with the exact agreement rates (with broth microdilution) at 2 µg/mL being 53.6% in Vitek 2 and 86.7% in E-test. Overall, E-test (98.1%) had more categorical accordance than did Vitek 2 (94.0%; P = 0.026). Vitek 2 had a tendency to overestimate MRSA in high-MIC isolates, whereas E-test inclined underestimation in low-MIC isolates. Surprisingly, the discordance rates of MRSA vancomycin MICs were higher in hospital-acquired isolates (13.3%–17.0%) than in community-acquired isolates (6.2%–7.0%). Conclusion The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends the use of alternative antimicrobial agents when vancomycin MIC is ≥ 2 µg/mL; in this study, only 53.6% of the isolates tested using Vitek 2 showed a high MIC in the broth microdilution method. Accurate identification of the resistance profile is a key component of antimicrobial stewardship programs. Therefore, to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use and mitigate the emergence of resistant strains, we recommend using complementary tests such as E-test or Broth microdilution to verify the MIC before administering second-line antibiotics. Strengths (1) We compared the categorical agreement between different methods measuring MRSA MICs level. (2) Physicians should incorporate this infor…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Chien-Feng Kuo
creator: Chon Fu Lio
creator: Hsiang-Ting Chen
creator: Yu-Ting Tina Wang
creator: Kevin Sheng-Kai Ma
creator: Yi Ting Chou
creator: Fu-Chieh Chang
creator: Shin-Yi Tsai
subject: Microbiology
subject: Global Health
subject: Health Policy
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Internal Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.8963
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Kuo et al.
abstract: Background Vancomycin, the first line antibiotic for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia, is often administered inappropriately when MIC is greater than 2 µg/mL, including ‘susceptible’ strains. This study assessed the discordance of vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methods In total, 229 MRSA isolates from blood cultures collected between 2009 and 2015 at a tertiary hospital in Taiwan were examined. The MICs of vancomycin were measured using Vitek 2, E-test, and standard broth microdilution at the level of 2 µg/mL. Results The geometric mean of the MICs of hospital-acquired MRSA was higher than that of community-acquired MRSA (P < 0.001), with the exact agreement rates (with broth microdilution) at 2 µg/mL being 53.6% in Vitek 2 and 86.7% in E-test. Overall, E-test (98.1%) had more categorical accordance than did Vitek 2 (94.0%; P = 0.026). Vitek 2 had a tendency to overestimate MRSA in high-MIC isolates, whereas E-test inclined underestimation in low-MIC isolates. Surprisingly, the discordance rates of MRSA vancomycin MICs were higher in hospital-acquired isolates (13.3%–17.0%) than in community-acquired isolates (6.2%–7.0%). Conclusion The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends the use of alternative antimicrobial agents when vancomycin MIC is ≥ 2 µg/mL; in this study, only 53.6% of the isolates tested using Vitek 2 showed a high MIC in the broth microdilution method. Accurate identification of the resistance profile is a key component of antimicrobial stewardship programs. Therefore, to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use and mitigate the emergence of resistant strains, we recommend using complementary tests such as E-test or Broth microdilution to verify the MIC before administering second-line antibiotics. Strengths (1) We compared the categorical agreement between different methods measuring MRSA MICs level. (2) Physicians should incorporate this infor…
bibliographic citation: Kuo et al. (2020) Discordance of vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at 2 μg/mL between Vitek II, E-test, and Broth Microdilution. PeerJ 8:e8963 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8963
date submitted: 2018-07-30
date accepted: 2020-03-23
issued: 2020-05-11
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Kuo
  given name: Chien-Feng
author list: Agent
  family name: Lio
  given name: Chon Fu
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Hsiang-Ting
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yu-Ting Tina
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Kevin Sheng-Kai
author list: Agent
  family name: Chou
  given name: Yi Ting
author list: Agent
  family name: Chang
  given name: Fu-Chieh
author list: Agent
  family name: Tsai
  given name: Shin-Yi
doi: 10.7717/peerj.8963
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-05-11
copyright: ©2020 Kuo et al.
attribution name: Kuo et al.

Clustering of multiple health risk behaviors and its association with diabetes in a Southern Chinese adult population: a cross-sectional study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Identifying the clustering patterns of health risk behaviors (HRBs) within individuals and their health impacts are essential to develop lifestyle promotion strategies. This study aimed to explore the clustering of a range of HRBs and the associations between such identified clusters and diabetes in Southern Chinese adults. Methods Data from 5,734 adults aged 35–75 years and underwent health examinations from November 2012 to December 2013 at a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou were analyzed. Behavioral characteristics, including smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and sleep duration and quality, were measured by questionnaires. Latent class analysis was conducted by gender to identify HRBs clustering patterns, and logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between behavioral patterns and diabetes. Results Three distinct behavioral clusters emerged in both genders. Male classes were defined as: (1) healthy lifestyle (Class 1, 62.9%); (2) cumulate harmful habits (Class 2, 27.1%); (3) poor sleep and risky habits (Class 3, 10.0%). Female classes were: (1) healthy lifestyle (Class 1, 83.0%); (2) inactive, daytime dysfunction (Class 2, 5.7%); (3) poor sleep habits (Class 3, 11.3%). Individuals of Class 2 and Class 3 showed a higher likelihood of diabetes across genders (multivariable-adjusted ORs [95% CIs], 2.03 [1.49–2.76] and 2.61 [1.78–3.81] among males, 2.64 [1.16–5.98] and 1.81 [1.07–3.06] among females) when compared with those of Class 1. Conclusions Our data provided additional evidence of HRBs clustering among adults, and such clustering was associated with an increased risk of diabetes. These findings have implications for identifying vulnerable subgroups and developing diabetes prevention programs.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Guanrong Zhang
creator: Caibing Luo
creator: Ying Cui
creator: Yifan Lu
creator: Yang Yang
subject: Diabetes and Endocrinology
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Public Health
subject: Statistics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9025
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Zhang et al.
abstract: Background Identifying the clustering patterns of health risk behaviors (HRBs) within individuals and their health impacts are essential to develop lifestyle promotion strategies. This study aimed to explore the clustering of a range of HRBs and the associations between such identified clusters and diabetes in Southern Chinese adults. Methods Data from 5,734 adults aged 35–75 years and underwent health examinations from November 2012 to December 2013 at a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou were analyzed. Behavioral characteristics, including smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and sleep duration and quality, were measured by questionnaires. Latent class analysis was conducted by gender to identify HRBs clustering patterns, and logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between behavioral patterns and diabetes. Results Three distinct behavioral clusters emerged in both genders. Male classes were defined as: (1) healthy lifestyle (Class 1, 62.9%); (2) cumulate harmful habits (Class 2, 27.1%); (3) poor sleep and risky habits (Class 3, 10.0%). Female classes were: (1) healthy lifestyle (Class 1, 83.0%); (2) inactive, daytime dysfunction (Class 2, 5.7%); (3) poor sleep habits (Class 3, 11.3%). Individuals of Class 2 and Class 3 showed a higher likelihood of diabetes across genders (multivariable-adjusted ORs [95% CIs], 2.03 [1.49–2.76] and 2.61 [1.78–3.81] among males, 2.64 [1.16–5.98] and 1.81 [1.07–3.06] among females) when compared with those of Class 1. Conclusions Our data provided additional evidence of HRBs clustering among adults, and such clustering was associated with an increased risk of diabetes. These findings have implications for identifying vulnerable subgroups and developing diabetes prevention programs.
bibliographic citation: Zhang et al. (2020) Clustering of multiple health risk behaviors and its association with diabetes in a Southern Chinese adult population: a cross-sectional study. PeerJ 8:e9025 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9025
date submitted: 2019-12-10
date accepted: 2020-03-30
issued: 2020-05-11
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Guanrong
author list: Agent
  family name: Luo
  given name: Caibing
author list: Agent
  family name: Cui
  given name: Ying
author list: Agent
  family name: Lu
  given name: Yifan
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Yang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9025
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-05-11
copyright: ©2020 Zhang et al.
attribution name: Zhang et al.

The spindle assembly checkpoint and speciation
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: A mechanism is proposed by which speciation may occur without the need to postulate geographical isolation of the diverging populations. Closely related species that occupy overlapping or adjacent ecological niches often have an almost identical genome but differ by chromosomal rearrangements that result in reproductive isolation. The mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint normally functions to prevent gametes with non-identical karyotypes from forming viable zygotes. Unless gametes from two individuals happen to undergo the same chromosomal rearrangement at the same place and time, a most improbable situation, there has been no satisfactory explanation of how such rearrangements can propagate. Consideration of the dynamics of the spindle assembly checkpoint suggest that chromosomal fission or fusion events may occur that allow formation of viable heterozygotes between the rearranged and parental karyotypes, albeit with decreased fertility. Evolutionary dynamics calculations suggest that if the resulting heterozygous organisms have a selective advantage in an adjoining or overlapping ecological niche from that of the parental strain, despite the reproductive disadvantage of the population carrying the altered karyotype, it may accumulate sufficiently that homozygotes begin to emerge. At this point the reproductive disadvantage of the rearranged karyotype disappears, and a single population has been replaced by two populations that are partially reproductively isolated. This definition of species as populations that differ from other, closely related, species by karyotypic changes is consistent with the classical definition of a species as a population that is capable of interbreeding to produce fertile progeny. Even modest degrees of reproductive impairment of heterozygotes between two related populations may lead to speciation by this mechanism, and geographical isolation is not necessary for the process.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Robert C. Jackson
creator: Hitesh B. Mistry
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Mathematical Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9073
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Jackson and Mistry
abstract: A mechanism is proposed by which speciation may occur without the need to postulate geographical isolation of the diverging populations. Closely related species that occupy overlapping or adjacent ecological niches often have an almost identical genome but differ by chromosomal rearrangements that result in reproductive isolation. The mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint normally functions to prevent gametes with non-identical karyotypes from forming viable zygotes. Unless gametes from two individuals happen to undergo the same chromosomal rearrangement at the same place and time, a most improbable situation, there has been no satisfactory explanation of how such rearrangements can propagate. Consideration of the dynamics of the spindle assembly checkpoint suggest that chromosomal fission or fusion events may occur that allow formation of viable heterozygotes between the rearranged and parental karyotypes, albeit with decreased fertility. Evolutionary dynamics calculations suggest that if the resulting heterozygous organisms have a selective advantage in an adjoining or overlapping ecological niche from that of the parental strain, despite the reproductive disadvantage of the population carrying the altered karyotype, it may accumulate sufficiently that homozygotes begin to emerge. At this point the reproductive disadvantage of the rearranged karyotype disappears, and a single population has been replaced by two populations that are partially reproductively isolated. This definition of species as populations that differ from other, closely related, species by karyotypic changes is consistent with the classical definition of a species as a population that is capable of interbreeding to produce fertile progeny. Even modest degrees of reproductive impairment of heterozygotes between two related populations may lead to speciation by this mechanism, and geographical isolation is not necessary for the process.
bibliographic citation: Jackson et al. (2020) The spindle assembly checkpoint and speciation. PeerJ 8:e9073 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9073
date submitted: 2019-12-04
date accepted: 2020-04-07
issued: 2020-05-11
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Jackson
  given name: Robert C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Mistry
  given name: Hitesh B.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9073
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-05-11
copyright: ©2020 Jackson and Mistry
attribution name: Jackson and Mistry

Assessment and simulation of land use and land cover change impacts on the land surface temperature of Chaoyang District in Beijing, China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Rapid urbanization is changing the existing patterns of land use land cover (LULC) globally, which is consequently increasing the land surface temperature (LST) in many regions. The present study is focused on estimating current and simulating future LULC and LST trends in the urban environment of Chaoyang District, Beijing. Past patterns of LULC and LST were identified through the maximum likelihood classification (MLC) method and multispectral Landsat satellite images during the 1990–2018 data period. The cellular automata (CA) and stochastic transition matrix of the Markov model were applied to simulate future (2025) LULC and LST changes, respectively, using their past patterns. The CA model was validated for the simulated and estimated LULC for 1990–2018, with an overall Kappa (K) value of 0.83, using validation modules in IDRISI software. Our results indicated that the cumulative changes in built-up to vegetation area were 74.61 km2 (16.08%) and 113.13 km2 (24.38%) from 1990 to 2018. The correlation coefficient of land use and land cover change (LULCC), including vegetation, water bodies and built-up area, had values of r = − 0.155 (p > 0.005), −0.809 (p = 0.000), and 0.519 (p > 0.005), respectively. The results of future analysis revealed that there will be an estimated 164.92 km2 (−12%) decrease in vegetation area, while an expansion of approximately 283.04 km2 (6% change) will occur in built-up areas from 1990 to 2025. This decrease in vegetation cover and expansion of settlements would likely cause a rise of approximately ∼10.74 °C and ∼12.66 °C in future temperature, which would cause a rise in temperature (2025). The analyses could open an avenue regarding how to manage urban land cover patterns to enhance the resilience of cities to climate warming. This study provides scientific insights for environmental development and sustainability through efficient and effective urban planning and management in Beijing and will also help strengthen other research r…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Muhammad Amir Siddique
creator: Liu Dongyun
creator: Pengli Li
creator: Umair Rasool
creator: Tauheed Ullah Khan
creator: Tanzeel Javaid Aini Farooqi
creator: Liwen Wang
creator: Boqing Fan
creator: Muhammad Awais Rasool
subject: Science Policy
subject: Climate Change Biology
subject: Environmental Impacts
subject: Spatial and Geographic Information Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9115
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Amir Siddique et al.
abstract: Rapid urbanization is changing the existing patterns of land use land cover (LULC) globally, which is consequently increasing the land surface temperature (LST) in many regions. The present study is focused on estimating current and simulating future LULC and LST trends in the urban environment of Chaoyang District, Beijing. Past patterns of LULC and LST were identified through the maximum likelihood classification (MLC) method and multispectral Landsat satellite images during the 1990–2018 data period. The cellular automata (CA) and stochastic transition matrix of the Markov model were applied to simulate future (2025) LULC and LST changes, respectively, using their past patterns. The CA model was validated for the simulated and estimated LULC for 1990–2018, with an overall Kappa (K) value of 0.83, using validation modules in IDRISI software. Our results indicated that the cumulative changes in built-up to vegetation area were 74.61 km2 (16.08%) and 113.13 km2 (24.38%) from 1990 to 2018. The correlation coefficient of land use and land cover change (LULCC), including vegetation, water bodies and built-up area, had values of r = − 0.155 (p > 0.005), −0.809 (p = 0.000), and 0.519 (p > 0.005), respectively. The results of future analysis revealed that there will be an estimated 164.92 km2 (−12%) decrease in vegetation area, while an expansion of approximately 283.04 km2 (6% change) will occur in built-up areas from 1990 to 2025. This decrease in vegetation cover and expansion of settlements would likely cause a rise of approximately ∼10.74 °C and ∼12.66 °C in future temperature, which would cause a rise in temperature (2025). The analyses could open an avenue regarding how to manage urban land cover patterns to enhance the resilience of cities to climate warming. This study provides scientific insights for environmental development and sustainability through efficient and effective urban planning and management in Beijing and will also help strengthen other research r…
bibliographic citation: Amir Siddique et al. (2020) Assessment and simulation of land use and land cover change impacts on the land surface temperature of Chaoyang District in Beijing, China. PeerJ 8:e9115 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9115
date submitted: 2019-11-14
date accepted: 2020-04-11
issued: 2020-05-11
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Amir Siddique
  given name: Muhammad
author list: Agent
  family name: Dongyun
  given name: Liu
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Pengli
author list: Agent
  family name: Rasool
  given name: Umair
author list: Agent
  family name: Ullah Khan
  given name: Tauheed
author list: Agent
  family name: Javaid Aini Farooqi
  given name: Tanzeel
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Liwen
author list: Agent
  family name: Fan
  given name: Boqing
author list: Agent
  family name: Rasool
  given name: Muhammad Awais
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9115
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-05-11
copyright: ©2020 Amir Siddique et al.
attribution name: Amir Siddique et al.

Higher carbon sequestration potential and stability for deep soil compared to surface soil regardless of nitrogen addition in a subtropical forest
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Labile carbon input could stimulate soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization through priming effect, resulting in soil carbon (C) loss. Meanwhile, labile C could also be transformed by microorganisms in soil as the processes of new C sequestration and stabilization. Previous studies showed the magnitude of priming effect could be affected by soil depth and nitrogen (N). However, it remains unknown how the soil depth and N availability affect the amount and stability of the new sequestrated C, which complicates the prediction of C dynamics. Methods A 20-day incubation experiment was conducted by adding 13C labeled glucose and NH4NO3 to study the effects of soil depth and nitrogen addition on the net C sequestration. SOC was fractioned into seven fractions and grouped into three functional C pools to assess the stabilization of the new sequestrated C. Results Our results showed that glucose addition caused positive priming in both soil depths, and N addition significantly reduced the priming effect. After 20 days of incubation, deep soil had a higher C sequestration potential (48% glucose-C) than surface soil (43% glucose-C). The C sequestration potential was not affected by N addition in both soil depths. Positive net C sequestration was observed with higher amount of retained glucose-C than that of stimulated mineralized SOC for both soil depths. The distribution of new sequestrated C in the seven fractions was significantly affected by soil depth, but not N addition. Compared to deep soil, the new C in surface soil was more distributed in the non-protected C pool (including water extracted organic C, light fraction and sand fraction) and less distributed in the clay fraction. These results suggested that the new C in deep soil was more stable than that in surface soil. Compared to the native SOC for both soil depths, the new sequestrated C was more distributed in non-protected C pool and less distributed in biochemically protected C pool (non-hydrolyzabl…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Chang Liao
creator: Dong Li
creator: Lin Huang
creator: Pengyun Yue
creator: Feng Liu
creator: Qiuxiang Tian
subject: Ecology
subject: Soil Science
subject: Biogeochemistry
subject: Forestry
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.9128
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Liao et al.
abstract: Background Labile carbon input could stimulate soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization through priming effect, resulting in soil carbon (C) loss. Meanwhile, labile C could also be transformed by microorganisms in soil as the processes of new C sequestration and stabilization. Previous studies showed the magnitude of priming effect could be affected by soil depth and nitrogen (N). However, it remains unknown how the soil depth and N availability affect the amount and stability of the new sequestrated C, which complicates the prediction of C dynamics. Methods A 20-day incubation experiment was conducted by adding 13C labeled glucose and NH4NO3 to study the effects of soil depth and nitrogen addition on the net C sequestration. SOC was fractioned into seven fractions and grouped into three functional C pools to assess the stabilization of the new sequestrated C. Results Our results showed that glucose addition caused positive priming in both soil depths, and N addition significantly reduced the priming effect. After 20 days of incubation, deep soil had a higher C sequestration potential (48% glucose-C) than surface soil (43% glucose-C). The C sequestration potential was not affected by N addition in both soil depths. Positive net C sequestration was observed with higher amount of retained glucose-C than that of stimulated mineralized SOC for both soil depths. The distribution of new sequestrated C in the seven fractions was significantly affected by soil depth, but not N addition. Compared to deep soil, the new C in surface soil was more distributed in the non-protected C pool (including water extracted organic C, light fraction and sand fraction) and less distributed in the clay fraction. These results suggested that the new C in deep soil was more stable than that in surface soil. Compared to the native SOC for both soil depths, the new sequestrated C was more distributed in non-protected C pool and less distributed in biochemically protected C pool (non-hydrolyzabl…
bibliographic citation: Liao et al. (2020) Higher carbon sequestration potential and stability for deep soil compared to surface soil regardless of nitrogen addition in a subtropical forest. PeerJ 8:e9128 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9128
date submitted: 2020-02-03
date accepted: 2020-04-14
issued: 2020-05-11
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Liao
  given name: Chang
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Dong
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Lin
author list: Agent
  family name: Yue
  given name: Pengyun
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Feng
author list: Agent
  family name: Tian
  given name: Qiuxiang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.9128
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-05-11
copyright: ©2020 Liao et al.
attribution name: Liao et al.

Phylogenetic relationships in the southern African genus Drosanthemum (Ruschioideae, Aizoaceae)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Drosanthemum, the only genus of the tribe Drosanthemeae, is widespread over the Greater Cape Floristic Region in southern Africa. With 114 recognized species, Drosanthemum, together with the highly succulent and species-rich tribe Ruschieae, constitute the ‘core ruschioids’ in Aizoaceae. Within Drosanthemum, nine subgenera have been described based on flower and fruit morphology. Their phylogenetic relationships, however, have not yet been investigated, hampering understanding of monophyletic entities and patterns of geographic distribution. Methods Using chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequence data, we performed network- and tree-based phylogenetic analyses of 73 species of Drosanthemum with multiple accessions for widespread species. A well-curated, geo-referenced occurrence dataset comprising the 134 genetically analysed and 863 further accessions was used to describe the distributional ranges of intrageneric lineages and the genus as a whole. Results Phylogenetic inference supports nine clades within Drosanthemum, seven of which group in two major clades, while the remaining two show ambiguous affinities. The nine clades are generally congruent to previously described subgenera within Drosanthemum, with exceptions such as cryptic species. In-depth analyses of sequence patterns in each gene region were used to reveal phylogenetic affinities inside the retrieved clades in more detail. We observe a complex distribution pattern including widespread, species-rich clades expanding into arid habitats of the interior (subgenera Drosanthemum p.p., Vespertina, Xamera) that are genetically and morphologically diverse. In contrast, less species-rich, genetically less divergent, and morphologically unique lineages are restricted to the central Cape region and more mesic conditions (Decidua, Necopina, Ossicula, Quastea, Quadrata, Speciosa). Our results suggest that the main lineages arose from an initial rapid radiation, with subsequent diversification in some clades.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Sigrid Liede-Schumann
creator: Guido W. Grimm
creator: Nicolai M. Nürk
creator: Alastair J. Potts
creator: Ulrich Meve
creator: Heidrun E.K. Hartmann
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.8999
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2020 Liede-Schumann et al.
abstract: Background Drosanthemum, the only genus of the tribe Drosanthemeae, is widespread over the Greater Cape Floristic Region in southern Africa. With 114 recognized species, Drosanthemum, together with the highly succulent and species-rich tribe Ruschieae, constitute the ‘core ruschioids’ in Aizoaceae. Within Drosanthemum, nine subgenera have been described based on flower and fruit morphology. Their phylogenetic relationships, however, have not yet been investigated, hampering understanding of monophyletic entities and patterns of geographic distribution. Methods Using chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequence data, we performed network- and tree-based phylogenetic analyses of 73 species of Drosanthemum with multiple accessions for widespread species. A well-curated, geo-referenced occurrence dataset comprising the 134 genetically analysed and 863 further accessions was used to describe the distributional ranges of intrageneric lineages and the genus as a whole. Results Phylogenetic inference supports nine clades within Drosanthemum, seven of which group in two major clades, while the remaining two show ambiguous affinities. The nine clades are generally congruent to previously described subgenera within Drosanthemum, with exceptions such as cryptic species. In-depth analyses of sequence patterns in each gene region were used to reveal phylogenetic affinities inside the retrieved clades in more detail. We observe a complex distribution pattern including widespread, species-rich clades expanding into arid habitats of the interior (subgenera Drosanthemum p.p., Vespertina, Xamera) that are genetically and morphologically diverse. In contrast, less species-rich, genetically less divergent, and morphologically unique lineages are restricted to the central Cape region and more mesic conditions (Decidua, Necopina, Ossicula, Quastea, Quadrata, Speciosa). Our results suggest that the main lineages arose from an initial rapid radiation, with subsequent diversification in some clades.
bibliographic citation: Liede-Schumann et al. (2020) Phylogenetic relationships in the southern African genus Drosanthemum (Ruschioideae, Aizoaceae). PeerJ 8:e8999 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8999
date submitted: 2019-11-08
date accepted: 2020-03-26
issued: 2020-05-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Liede-Schumann
  given name: Sigrid
author list: Agent
  family name: Grimm
  given name: Guido W.
author list: Agent
  family name: Nürk
  given name: Nicolai M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Potts
  given name: Alastair J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Meve
  given name: Ulrich
author list: Agent
  family name: Hartmann
  given name: Heidrun E.K.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.8999
volume: 8
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2020-05-08
copyright: ©2020 Liede-Schumann et al.
attribution name: Liede-Schumann et al.

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