PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Land cover drives large scale productivity-diversity relationships in Irish vascular plants
items: Accelerated construction of an in vitro model of human periodontal ligament tissue: vacuum plasma combined with fibronectin coating and a polydimethylsiloxane matrix
items: Climatic niche comparison across a cryptic species complex
items: Resilience of BST-2/Tetherin structure to single amino acid substitutions
items: Influence of foetal inflammation on the development of meconium aspiration syndrome in term neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid
items: Comparison of heparinized saline and 0.9% sodium chloride for maintaining central venous catheter patency in healthy dogs
items: https://peerj.com/articles/6865
items: Identification of microRNA signatures in umbilical cord blood associated with maternal characteristics
items: One-year effect of wearing orthokeratology lenses on the visual quality of juvenile myopia: a retrospective study
items: Measuring urban vulnerability to climate change using an integrated approach, assessing climate risks in Beijing

Land cover drives large scale productivity-diversity relationships in Irish vascular plants
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The impact of productivity on species diversity is often studied at small spatial scales and without taking additional environmental factors into account. Focusing on small spatial scales removes important regional scale effects, such as the role of land cover heterogeneity. Here, we use a regional spatial scale (10 km square) to establish the relationship between productivity and vascular plant species richness across the island of Ireland that takes into account variation in land cover. We used generalized additive mixed effects models to relate species richness, estimated from biological records, to plant productivity. Productivity was quantified by the satellite-derived enhanced vegetation index. The productivity-diversity relationship was fitted for three land cover types: pasture-dominated, heterogeneous, and non-pasture-dominated landscapes. We find that species richness decreases with increasing productivity, especially at higher productivity levels. This decreasing relationship appears to be driven by pasture-dominated areas. The relationship between species richness and heterogeneity in productivity (both spatial and temporal) varies with land cover. Our results suggest that the impact of pasture on species richness extends beyond field level. The effect of human modified landscapes, therefore, is important to consider when investigating classical ecological relationships, particularly at the wider landscape scale.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Hannah J. White
creator: Willson Gaul
creator: Dinara Sadykova
creator: Lupe León-Sánchez
creator: Paul Caplat
creator: Mark C. Emmerson
creator: Jon M. Yearsley
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.7035
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 White et al.
abstract: The impact of productivity on species diversity is often studied at small spatial scales and without taking additional environmental factors into account. Focusing on small spatial scales removes important regional scale effects, such as the role of land cover heterogeneity. Here, we use a regional spatial scale (10 km square) to establish the relationship between productivity and vascular plant species richness across the island of Ireland that takes into account variation in land cover. We used generalized additive mixed effects models to relate species richness, estimated from biological records, to plant productivity. Productivity was quantified by the satellite-derived enhanced vegetation index. The productivity-diversity relationship was fitted for three land cover types: pasture-dominated, heterogeneous, and non-pasture-dominated landscapes. We find that species richness decreases with increasing productivity, especially at higher productivity levels. This decreasing relationship appears to be driven by pasture-dominated areas. The relationship between species richness and heterogeneity in productivity (both spatial and temporal) varies with land cover. Our results suggest that the impact of pasture on species richness extends beyond field level. The effect of human modified landscapes, therefore, is important to consider when investigating classical ecological relationships, particularly at the wider landscape scale.
bibliographic citation: White et al. (2019) Land cover drives large scale productivity-diversity relationships in Irish vascular plants. PeerJ 7:e7035 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7035
date submitted: 2019-02-08
date accepted: 2019-04-28
issued: 2019-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: White
  given name: Hannah J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Gaul
  given name: Willson
author list: Agent
  family name: Sadykova
  given name: Dinara
author list: Agent
  family name: León-Sánchez
  given name: Lupe
author list: Agent
  family name: Caplat
  given name: Paul
author list: Agent
  family name: Emmerson
  given name: Mark C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Yearsley
  given name: Jon M.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.7035
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-31
copyright: © 2019 White et al.
attribution name: White et al.

Accelerated construction of an in vitro model of human periodontal ligament tissue: vacuum plasma combined with fibronectin coating and a polydimethylsiloxane matrix
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Tying shape memory wires to crowded teeth causes the wires to deform according to the dental arch. This deformation results in a resilient force that is delivered to the tooth. The appropriate amount of force can activate the osteogenetic and osteoclastic ability of the periodontal ligament (PDL) and the tooth can be moved. This is the biological basis of orthodontic treatment. To achieve further insight into the mechanisms underlying orthodontic treatment, we examined whether accelerated construction of an in vitro human PDL fibroblast (HPdLF) stretching model can be achieved by combining fibronectin coating and vacuum plasma treatment with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cell-culture chambers. Each chamber was randomly assigned to a no-surface modification (NN), fibronectin coating (FN), vacuum plasma treatment (PN), or vacuum plasma treatment followed by a fibronectin coating (PF) treatment protocol. The physical and chemical features and ability to promote cellular proliferation of the PDMS chamber surfaces were evaluated. Cellular adhesion of four materials were evaluated and two best-proliferated groups were considered as better model-constructing surfaces and used in subsequent experiments and used in subsequent experiments. HPdLFs were cultured on these two kinds of chambers without stretching for 3 days, then with stretching for 7 days. Time-course gene expression cellular morphology were evaluated. Chambers in the PN group had high wettability and surface component changes. The FN and PF chambers had high cellular proliferation ability. They were selected into subsequent experiments. After 3 days of culturing HPdLFs on the PF and PN chambers, the cells in the PF chambers had significantly higher levels of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2) and osteocalcin (OCN) gene expression compared with the cells in the PN chambers. After cyclic stretch application to the cells in the PN and PF chambers, expression of the type-3 collagen (COL-3) gene in PF group …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Wen Liao
creator: Yoshiya Hashimoto
creator: Yoshitomo Honda
creator: Peiqi Li
creator: Yang Yao
creator: Zhihe Zhao
creator: Naoyuki Matsumoto
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Biophysics
subject: Dentistry
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.7036
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Liao et al.
abstract: Tying shape memory wires to crowded teeth causes the wires to deform according to the dental arch. This deformation results in a resilient force that is delivered to the tooth. The appropriate amount of force can activate the osteogenetic and osteoclastic ability of the periodontal ligament (PDL) and the tooth can be moved. This is the biological basis of orthodontic treatment. To achieve further insight into the mechanisms underlying orthodontic treatment, we examined whether accelerated construction of an in vitro human PDL fibroblast (HPdLF) stretching model can be achieved by combining fibronectin coating and vacuum plasma treatment with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cell-culture chambers. Each chamber was randomly assigned to a no-surface modification (NN), fibronectin coating (FN), vacuum plasma treatment (PN), or vacuum plasma treatment followed by a fibronectin coating (PF) treatment protocol. The physical and chemical features and ability to promote cellular proliferation of the PDMS chamber surfaces were evaluated. Cellular adhesion of four materials were evaluated and two best-proliferated groups were considered as better model-constructing surfaces and used in subsequent experiments and used in subsequent experiments. HPdLFs were cultured on these two kinds of chambers without stretching for 3 days, then with stretching for 7 days. Time-course gene expression cellular morphology were evaluated. Chambers in the PN group had high wettability and surface component changes. The FN and PF chambers had high cellular proliferation ability. They were selected into subsequent experiments. After 3 days of culturing HPdLFs on the PF and PN chambers, the cells in the PF chambers had significantly higher levels of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2) and osteocalcin (OCN) gene expression compared with the cells in the PN chambers. After cyclic stretch application to the cells in the PN and PF chambers, expression of the type-3 collagen (COL-3) gene in PF group …
bibliographic citation: Liao et al. (2019) Accelerated construction of an in vitro model of human periodontal ligament tissue: vacuum plasma combined with fibronectin coating and a polydimethylsiloxane matrix. PeerJ 7:e7036 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7036
date submitted: 2019-03-13
date accepted: 2019-04-27
issued: 2019-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Liao
  given name: Wen
author list: Agent
  family name: Hashimoto
  given name: Yoshiya
author list: Agent
  family name: Honda
  given name: Yoshitomo
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Peiqi
author list: Agent
  family name: Yao
  given name: Yang
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Zhihe
author list: Agent
  family name: Matsumoto
  given name: Naoyuki
doi: 10.7717/peerj.7036
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-31
copyright: ©2019 Liao et al.
attribution name: Liao et al.

Climatic niche comparison across a cryptic species complex
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: According to current molecular evidence, the Chionaspis pinifoliae heterophyllae species complex has been recognized as 10 cryptic species. In this study, we construct potential distribution maps for seven cryptic species based on climatic variables. This was done to assess the main environmental factors that have contributed to the distribution map and test the degree of niche overlap across the seven cryptic species. We used MaxEnt to build the climatic niche models under climatic variables. For these models, the similarities and differences of the niches across the cryptic species were estimated. By comparing the potential distribution model of each cryptic species, our results suggested parapatric, sympatric and allopatry populations for this cryptic species complex. Our results showed high variability in niche overlap, and more often niche conservatism than niche divergence. The current species delimitation of the Chionaspis pinifoliae heterophyllae complex by molecular information and the hypothesis that the niche overlap in the sympatric population is higher than that of the allopatry population were supported based on the findings. This study will provide baseline data and a distribution range to facilitate the further control of these insects and formulate quarantine measures.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Qing Zhao
creator: Hufang Zhang
creator: Jiufeng Wei
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.7042
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Zhao et al.
abstract: According to current molecular evidence, the Chionaspis pinifoliae heterophyllae species complex has been recognized as 10 cryptic species. In this study, we construct potential distribution maps for seven cryptic species based on climatic variables. This was done to assess the main environmental factors that have contributed to the distribution map and test the degree of niche overlap across the seven cryptic species. We used MaxEnt to build the climatic niche models under climatic variables. For these models, the similarities and differences of the niches across the cryptic species were estimated. By comparing the potential distribution model of each cryptic species, our results suggested parapatric, sympatric and allopatry populations for this cryptic species complex. Our results showed high variability in niche overlap, and more often niche conservatism than niche divergence. The current species delimitation of the Chionaspis pinifoliae heterophyllae complex by molecular information and the hypothesis that the niche overlap in the sympatric population is higher than that of the allopatry population were supported based on the findings. This study will provide baseline data and a distribution range to facilitate the further control of these insects and formulate quarantine measures.
bibliographic citation: Zhao et al. (2019) Climatic niche comparison across a cryptic species complex. PeerJ 7:e7042 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7042
date submitted: 2018-08-01
date accepted: 2019-04-30
issued: 2019-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Qing
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Hufang
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: Jiufeng
doi: 10.7717/peerj.7042
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-31
copyright: ©2019 Zhao et al.
attribution name: Zhao et al.

Resilience of BST-2/Tetherin structure to single amino acid substitutions
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Human tetherin, also known as BST-2 or CD317, is a dimeric, extracellular membrane-bound protein that consists of N and C terminal membrane anchors connected by an extracellular domain. BST-2 is involved in binding enveloped viruses, such as HIV, and inhibiting viral release in addition to a role in NF-kB signaling. Viral tethering by tetherin can be disrupted by the interaction with Vpu in HIV-1 in addition to other viral proteins. The structural mechanism of tetherin function is not clear and the effects of human tetherin mutations identified by sequencing consortiums are not known. To address this gap in the knowledge, we used data from the Ensembl database to construct and model known human missense mutations within the ectodomain to investigate how the structure of the ectodomain influences function. From the data, we identified an island of sequence stability within the ectodomain, which corresponds to a functionally and structurally important region identified in previous biochemical and biophysical studies. Most of the modeled mutations had little effect on the structure of the dimer and the coiled-coil, suggesting that the coiled-coil compensates for changes in primary structure. Thus, many of the functional defects observed in previous studies may not be due to changes in tetherin structure, but rather, due to in changes in protein-protein interactions or in aspects of tetherin not currently understood. The lack of structural effects by mutations known to decrease function further illustrates the need for more study of the structure-function connection for this system. Finally, apparent flexibility in tetherin sequence may allow for greater anti-viral activities with a larger number of viruses by reducing specific interactions with anti-tetherin proteins, while maintaining virus restriction.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ian R. Roy
creator: Camden K. Sutton
creator: Christopher E. Berndsen
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Biophysics
subject: Computational Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.7043
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Roy et al.
abstract: Human tetherin, also known as BST-2 or CD317, is a dimeric, extracellular membrane-bound protein that consists of N and C terminal membrane anchors connected by an extracellular domain. BST-2 is involved in binding enveloped viruses, such as HIV, and inhibiting viral release in addition to a role in NF-kB signaling. Viral tethering by tetherin can be disrupted by the interaction with Vpu in HIV-1 in addition to other viral proteins. The structural mechanism of tetherin function is not clear and the effects of human tetherin mutations identified by sequencing consortiums are not known. To address this gap in the knowledge, we used data from the Ensembl database to construct and model known human missense mutations within the ectodomain to investigate how the structure of the ectodomain influences function. From the data, we identified an island of sequence stability within the ectodomain, which corresponds to a functionally and structurally important region identified in previous biochemical and biophysical studies. Most of the modeled mutations had little effect on the structure of the dimer and the coiled-coil, suggesting that the coiled-coil compensates for changes in primary structure. Thus, many of the functional defects observed in previous studies may not be due to changes in tetherin structure, but rather, due to in changes in protein-protein interactions or in aspects of tetherin not currently understood. The lack of structural effects by mutations known to decrease function further illustrates the need for more study of the structure-function connection for this system. Finally, apparent flexibility in tetherin sequence may allow for greater anti-viral activities with a larger number of viruses by reducing specific interactions with anti-tetherin proteins, while maintaining virus restriction.
bibliographic citation: Roy et al. (2019) Resilience of BST-2/Tetherin structure to single amino acid substitutions. PeerJ 7:e7043 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7043
date submitted: 2019-01-10
date accepted: 2019-04-27
issued: 2019-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Roy
  given name: Ian R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Sutton
  given name: Camden K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Berndsen
  given name: Christopher E.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.7043
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-31
copyright: ©2019 Roy et al.
attribution name: Roy et al.

Influence of foetal inflammation on the development of meconium aspiration syndrome in term neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is observed in approximately 10–15% of all deliveries; however, only 5% of neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid develop meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Although foetal distress and subsequent sympathetic stimulation have been considered as the primary upstream events of MAS, this clinical complication sometimes occurs due to other pathologies, such as intraamniotic inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the incidence of MAS is associated with the presence of funisitis and chorioamnionitis in term neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Methods Between April 2013 and March 2015, a total of 95 term neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid, who were hospitalized at a neonatal intensive care unit, were enrolled in the study. The placenta and umbilical cord were histopathologically examined. Clinical variables and histopathological findings associated with the incidence of MAS were studied. Results A total of 36 neonates developed MAS. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a heavier birth weight, male sex, 1-min Apgar score ≤ 7, funisitis (but not chorioamnionitis), and elevated acute-phase inflammatory reaction score were associated with increased incidence of MAS (all p < 0.05). The multivariate model comprised funisitis (OR = 5.03, 95% CI [1.63–15.5], 1-min Apgar score ≤ 7 (OR = 2.74, 95% CI [1.06–7.09], and male sex (OR = 3.4, 95% CI [1.24–9.34]. Conclusion In neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid, funisitis, as well as low 1-min Apgar score and male sex, was identified as an independent variable for MAS development. Intraamniotic inflammation might be involved in the pathological mechanisms of MAS.
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format: text/html
creator: Kyoko Yokoi
creator: Osuke Iwata
creator: Satoru Kobayashi
creator: Kanji Muramatsu
creator: Haruo Goto
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Pediatrics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.7049
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Yokoi et al.
abstract: Background Meconium-stained amniotic fluid is observed in approximately 10–15% of all deliveries; however, only 5% of neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid develop meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Although foetal distress and subsequent sympathetic stimulation have been considered as the primary upstream events of MAS, this clinical complication sometimes occurs due to other pathologies, such as intraamniotic inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the incidence of MAS is associated with the presence of funisitis and chorioamnionitis in term neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Methods Between April 2013 and March 2015, a total of 95 term neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid, who were hospitalized at a neonatal intensive care unit, were enrolled in the study. The placenta and umbilical cord were histopathologically examined. Clinical variables and histopathological findings associated with the incidence of MAS were studied. Results A total of 36 neonates developed MAS. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a heavier birth weight, male sex, 1-min Apgar score ≤ 7, funisitis (but not chorioamnionitis), and elevated acute-phase inflammatory reaction score were associated with increased incidence of MAS (all p < 0.05). The multivariate model comprised funisitis (OR = 5.03, 95% CI [1.63–15.5], 1-min Apgar score ≤ 7 (OR = 2.74, 95% CI [1.06–7.09], and male sex (OR = 3.4, 95% CI [1.24–9.34]. Conclusion In neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid, funisitis, as well as low 1-min Apgar score and male sex, was identified as an independent variable for MAS development. Intraamniotic inflammation might be involved in the pathological mechanisms of MAS.
bibliographic citation: Yokoi et al. (2019) Influence of foetal inflammation on the development of meconium aspiration syndrome in term neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid. PeerJ 7:e7049 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7049
date submitted: 2019-01-09
date accepted: 2019-05-01
issued: 2019-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Yokoi
  given name: Kyoko
author list: Agent
  family name: Iwata
  given name: Osuke
author list: Agent
  family name: Kobayashi
  given name: Satoru
author list: Agent
  family name: Muramatsu
  given name: Kanji
author list: Agent
  family name: Goto
  given name: Haruo
doi: 10.7717/peerj.7049
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-31
copyright: © 2019 Yokoi et al.
attribution name: Yokoi et al.

Comparison of heparinized saline and 0.9% sodium chloride for maintaining central venous catheter patency in healthy dogs
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The purpose of this study was to determine whether heparinized saline (HS) would be more effective in maintaining the patency of central venous catheters (CVCs) in dogs compared to 0.9% sodium chloride. This was a prospective randomized blinded study conducted at a University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Methods A total of 24 healthy purpose-bred dogs were randomized into two groups: a treatment and a control group. A CVC was placed in the jugular vein of each dog. Each dog in the treatment group had their CVC flushed with 10 IU/mL HS, while dogs in the control group had their CVC flushed with 0.9% sodium chloride every 6 h for 72 h. Immediately prior to flushing, each catheter was evaluated for patency by aspiration of blood. The catheter site was also evaluated for phlebitis, and a rectal temperature was obtained in each dog every 6 h. Prothrombin (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin (aPTT) times were evaluated prior to the administration of any flush solution. Results were then compared to values obtained 72 h later. Results All CVCs in both groups were patent after 72 h, which was demonstrated by aspiration of blood and ease of flushing the catheter. Two CVCs in the 0.9% sodium chloride group had a negative aspiration at hour 12 and 36, respectively. One CVC in the HS group had a negative aspiration at hour 18. Signs of phlebitis occurred in three dog: two in the 0.9% sodium chloride group and one in the HS group. No dog was hyperthermic (>103 °F). Two catheters were inadvertently removed by dogs in the HS group during the study. There were no significant differences in catheter patency, incidence of phlebitis, or incidence of negative aspirations between both groups. aPTT and PT values remained within the normal reference range for all dogs in both groups. Ultimately, 0.9% sodium chloride was as effective as 10 IU/mL HS in maintaining the patency of CVCs for up to 72 h in healthy dogs. Further evaluation in clinical patients is warranted.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Julieann Vose
creator: Adesola Odunayo
creator: Joshua M. Price
creator: Maggie Daves
creator: Julie C. Schildt
creator: M. Katherine Tolbert
subject: Veterinary Medicine
subject: Emergency and Critical Care
subject: Hematology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.7072
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Vose et al.
abstract: Background The purpose of this study was to determine whether heparinized saline (HS) would be more effective in maintaining the patency of central venous catheters (CVCs) in dogs compared to 0.9% sodium chloride. This was a prospective randomized blinded study conducted at a University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Methods A total of 24 healthy purpose-bred dogs were randomized into two groups: a treatment and a control group. A CVC was placed in the jugular vein of each dog. Each dog in the treatment group had their CVC flushed with 10 IU/mL HS, while dogs in the control group had their CVC flushed with 0.9% sodium chloride every 6 h for 72 h. Immediately prior to flushing, each catheter was evaluated for patency by aspiration of blood. The catheter site was also evaluated for phlebitis, and a rectal temperature was obtained in each dog every 6 h. Prothrombin (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin (aPTT) times were evaluated prior to the administration of any flush solution. Results were then compared to values obtained 72 h later. Results All CVCs in both groups were patent after 72 h, which was demonstrated by aspiration of blood and ease of flushing the catheter. Two CVCs in the 0.9% sodium chloride group had a negative aspiration at hour 12 and 36, respectively. One CVC in the HS group had a negative aspiration at hour 18. Signs of phlebitis occurred in three dog: two in the 0.9% sodium chloride group and one in the HS group. No dog was hyperthermic (>103 °F). Two catheters were inadvertently removed by dogs in the HS group during the study. There were no significant differences in catheter patency, incidence of phlebitis, or incidence of negative aspirations between both groups. aPTT and PT values remained within the normal reference range for all dogs in both groups. Ultimately, 0.9% sodium chloride was as effective as 10 IU/mL HS in maintaining the patency of CVCs for up to 72 h in healthy dogs. Further evaluation in clinical patients is warranted.
bibliographic citation: Vose et al. (2019) Comparison of heparinized saline and 0.9% sodium chloride for maintaining central venous catheter patency in healthy dogs. PeerJ 7:e7072 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7072
date submitted: 2019-02-05
date accepted: 2019-05-06
issued: 2019-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Vose
  given name: Julieann
author list: Agent
  family name: Odunayo
  given name: Adesola
author list: Agent
  family name: Price
  given name: Joshua M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Daves
  given name: Maggie
author list: Agent
  family name: Schildt
  given name: Julie C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Tolbert
  given name: M. Katherine
doi: 10.7717/peerj.7072
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-31
copyright: © 2019 Vose et al.
attribution name: Vose et al.

https://peerj.com/articles/6865
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
title: Development and evaluation of the Parenting to Reduce Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (PaRCADS): assessment of parental concordance with guidelines for the prevention of child anxiety and depression
description: Background Involving parents in the prevention of mental health problems in children is prudent given their fundamental role in supporting their child’s development. However, few measures encapsulate the range of risk and protective factors for child anxiety and depression that parents can potentially modify. The Parenting to Reduce Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (PaRCADS) was developed as a criterion-referenced measure to assess parenting against a set of evidence-based parenting guidelines for the prevention of child anxiety and depressive disorders. Methods In Study 1, 355 parents of children 8–11 years old across Australia completed the PaRCADS and measures of parenting, general family functioning, child anxiety and depressive symptoms, and parent and child health-related quality of life. Their children completed measures of parenting, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life. In Study 2, six subject-experts independently evaluated the PaRCADS items for item-objective congruence and item-relevance. Item analysis was conducted by examining item-total point-biserial correlation, difficulty index, B-index, and expert-rated content validity indices. Reliability (or dependability) was assessed by agreement coefficients for single administration. Construct validity was examined by correlational analyses with other measures. Results Four items were removed to yield a 79-item, 10-subscale PaRCADS. Reliability estimates for the subscale and total score range from .74 to .94. Convergent validity was indicated by moderate to strong correlations with other parenting and family functioning measures, and discriminant validity was supported by small to moderate correlations with a measure of parents’ health-related quality of life. Higher scores on the PaRCADS were associated with fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms and better health-related quality of life in the child. PaRCADS total score was associated with parental age, parent reported chil…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Wan Hua Sim
creator: Anthony F. Jorm
creator: Katherine A. Lawrence
creator: Marie B.H. Yap
subject: Pediatrics
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6865
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Sim et al.
abstract: Background Involving parents in the prevention of mental health problems in children is prudent given their fundamental role in supporting their child’s development. However, few measures encapsulate the range of risk and protective factors for child anxiety and depression that parents can potentially modify. The Parenting to Reduce Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (PaRCADS) was developed as a criterion-referenced measure to assess parenting against a set of evidence-based parenting guidelines for the prevention of child anxiety and depressive disorders. Methods In Study 1, 355 parents of children 8–11 years old across Australia completed the PaRCADS and measures of parenting, general family functioning, child anxiety and depressive symptoms, and parent and child health-related quality of life. Their children completed measures of parenting, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life. In Study 2, six subject-experts independently evaluated the PaRCADS items for item-objective congruence and item-relevance. Item analysis was conducted by examining item-total point-biserial correlation, difficulty index, B-index, and expert-rated content validity indices. Reliability (or dependability) was assessed by agreement coefficients for single administration. Construct validity was examined by correlational analyses with other measures. Results Four items were removed to yield a 79-item, 10-subscale PaRCADS. Reliability estimates for the subscale and total score range from .74 to .94. Convergent validity was indicated by moderate to strong correlations with other parenting and family functioning measures, and discriminant validity was supported by small to moderate correlations with a measure of parents’ health-related quality of life. Higher scores on the PaRCADS were associated with fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms and better health-related quality of life in the child. PaRCADS total score was associated with parental age, parent reported chil…
bibliographic citation: Sim et al. (2019) Development and evaluation of the Parenting to Reduce Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (PaRCADS): assessment of parental concordance with guidelines for the prevention of child anxiety and depression. PeerJ 7:e6865 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6865
date submitted: 2018-11-16
date accepted: 2019-03-28
issued: 2019-05-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sim
  given name: Wan Hua
author list: Agent
  family name: Jorm
  given name: Anthony F.
author list: Agent
  family name: Lawrence
  given name: Katherine A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Yap
  given name: Marie B.H.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6865
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-30
copyright: ©2019 Sim et al.
attribution name: Sim et al.

Identification of microRNA signatures in umbilical cord blood associated with maternal characteristics
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Umbilical cord blood could serve as useful source of blood markers enabling more efficient and reliable prenatal and neonatal diagnostics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ubiquitous in body fluids where they were used for detecting and monitoring various physiological and pathological conditions. In this descriptive study, we aimed to identify changes in miRNA expression profiles associated with basic maternal somatic and epidemiological characteristics. Methods Study is based on 24 mothers from the Pilot phase of CELSPAC: TNG (Central European Longitudinal Studies of Parents and Children: The Next Generation) study. Cord blood was collected at time of delivery and global miRNA profiling was performed using microRNA Ready-to-use PCR Human Panel I+II TaqMan microarrays. Expression profiles were statistically evaluated in relation to maternal age, BMI, pregnancy weight gain, blood type, Rh factor status, allergies during pregnancy, addictive substance abuse and smoking status. Results We analyzed expression of 752 human mature miRNAs in 24 samples of umbilical cord blood. For all maternal characteristics tested we described a specific signature of significantly deregulated miRNAs (P < 0.05). Analysis revealed seven miRNA associated with maternal age (three increased and four decreased in women younger than 35 years), 14 miRNAs associated with BMI status (five miRNAs increased and nine miRNAs decreased in women with BMI > 25) and nine miRNAs associated with maternal weight gain during pregnancy (eight miRNAs increased, and one miRNA decreased in women with weight gain < 12 kg). Additionally, 17 miRNAs correlated to blood type (two miRNAs decreased in blood type A, 11 increased in blood type B, two miRNAs increased in blood type AB and two miRNAs increased in blood type 0) and 17 miRNAs to Rh status of mother. We also detected seven miRNAs deregulated in umbilical cord blood of women with allergy (four increased and three decreased in women with allergy), four miRNAs …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jaroslav Juracek
creator: Pavel Piler
creator: Petr Janku
creator: Lenka Radova
creator: Ondrej Slaby
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Genomics
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Women’s Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6981
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Juracek et al.
abstract: Background Umbilical cord blood could serve as useful source of blood markers enabling more efficient and reliable prenatal and neonatal diagnostics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ubiquitous in body fluids where they were used for detecting and monitoring various physiological and pathological conditions. In this descriptive study, we aimed to identify changes in miRNA expression profiles associated with basic maternal somatic and epidemiological characteristics. Methods Study is based on 24 mothers from the Pilot phase of CELSPAC: TNG (Central European Longitudinal Studies of Parents and Children: The Next Generation) study. Cord blood was collected at time of delivery and global miRNA profiling was performed using microRNA Ready-to-use PCR Human Panel I+II TaqMan microarrays. Expression profiles were statistically evaluated in relation to maternal age, BMI, pregnancy weight gain, blood type, Rh factor status, allergies during pregnancy, addictive substance abuse and smoking status. Results We analyzed expression of 752 human mature miRNAs in 24 samples of umbilical cord blood. For all maternal characteristics tested we described a specific signature of significantly deregulated miRNAs (P < 0.05). Analysis revealed seven miRNA associated with maternal age (three increased and four decreased in women younger than 35 years), 14 miRNAs associated with BMI status (five miRNAs increased and nine miRNAs decreased in women with BMI > 25) and nine miRNAs associated with maternal weight gain during pregnancy (eight miRNAs increased, and one miRNA decreased in women with weight gain < 12 kg). Additionally, 17 miRNAs correlated to blood type (two miRNAs decreased in blood type A, 11 increased in blood type B, two miRNAs increased in blood type AB and two miRNAs increased in blood type 0) and 17 miRNAs to Rh status of mother. We also detected seven miRNAs deregulated in umbilical cord blood of women with allergy (four increased and three decreased in women with allergy), four miRNAs …
bibliographic citation: Juracek et al. (2019) Identification of microRNA signatures in umbilical cord blood associated with maternal characteristics. PeerJ 7:e6981 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6981
date submitted: 2019-01-10
date accepted: 2019-04-18
issued: 2019-05-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Juracek
  given name: Jaroslav
author list: Agent
  family name: Piler
  given name: Pavel
author list: Agent
  family name: Janku
  given name: Petr
author list: Agent
  family name: Radova
  given name: Lenka
author list: Agent
  family name: Slaby
  given name: Ondrej
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6981
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-30
copyright: ©2019 Juracek et al.
attribution name: Juracek et al.

One-year effect of wearing orthokeratology lenses on the visual quality of juvenile myopia: a retrospective study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objective To study the one-year effect of wearing orthokeratology (OK) lenses on the visual quality of juvenile myopia. Methods The right eyes of 36 juvenile myopias were retrospectively studied in this work. Q-value, e-value, corneal curvature, strehl ratio (SR), modulation transfer function (MTF) and wavefront aberration (WA) were compared before and at 1, 3 and 12 months after wearing OK lenses. The SR, MTF and WA of cornea, internal optic and ocular were analyzed separately. The spherical and cylinder diopter, vision acuity, compensating factor (CF) and compensative rate (CF%) were compared before and at 12 months after wearing OK lenses. Results (1) The vision of LogMAR increased and the corneal curvature decreased significantly after wearing OK lenses. There was no significant difference for the e-value before and after wearing OK lenses. The Q-value increased at 1 month but decreased at 3 and 12 months remarkably. (2) The ocular and internal optic SR and MTF increased significantly at 1 month and then remained stable. The MTF in different spacial frequencies increased after wearing OK lenses. There was no significant difference for the corneal SR before and after wearing OK lenses, and the corneal MTF decreased significantly after wearing OK lenses. (3) For the ocular, the total higher order aberration (HOA), spherical, coma and trefoil aberrations increased, and the total aberration, total lower order aberration (LOA) and defocus aberration decreased obviously except astigmatism. The corneal aberrations increased significantly after wearing OK lenses except astigmatism. For the internal optic, the total aberration, total LOA and defocus aberration decreased, and the total HOA, coma and trefoil aberration increased significantly except the astigmatism and spherical aberrations. (4) The CF and CF% of total aberration, total LOA, total HOA and coma aberrations increased, and those of astigmatism and spherical decreased at 12 months. Conclusions Orthokeratology …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yewei Yin
creator: Yang Zhao
creator: Xiaoying Wu
creator: Mengyang Jiang
creator: Xiaobo Xia
creator: Yao Chen
creator: Weitao Song
creator: Shengfa Hu
creator: Xia Zhou
creator: Kelly Young
creator: Dan Wen
subject: Clinical Trials
subject: Ophthalmology
subject: Pediatrics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6998
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Yin et al.
abstract: Objective To study the one-year effect of wearing orthokeratology (OK) lenses on the visual quality of juvenile myopia. Methods The right eyes of 36 juvenile myopias were retrospectively studied in this work. Q-value, e-value, corneal curvature, strehl ratio (SR), modulation transfer function (MTF) and wavefront aberration (WA) were compared before and at 1, 3 and 12 months after wearing OK lenses. The SR, MTF and WA of cornea, internal optic and ocular were analyzed separately. The spherical and cylinder diopter, vision acuity, compensating factor (CF) and compensative rate (CF%) were compared before and at 12 months after wearing OK lenses. Results (1) The vision of LogMAR increased and the corneal curvature decreased significantly after wearing OK lenses. There was no significant difference for the e-value before and after wearing OK lenses. The Q-value increased at 1 month but decreased at 3 and 12 months remarkably. (2) The ocular and internal optic SR and MTF increased significantly at 1 month and then remained stable. The MTF in different spacial frequencies increased after wearing OK lenses. There was no significant difference for the corneal SR before and after wearing OK lenses, and the corneal MTF decreased significantly after wearing OK lenses. (3) For the ocular, the total higher order aberration (HOA), spherical, coma and trefoil aberrations increased, and the total aberration, total lower order aberration (LOA) and defocus aberration decreased obviously except astigmatism. The corneal aberrations increased significantly after wearing OK lenses except astigmatism. For the internal optic, the total aberration, total LOA and defocus aberration decreased, and the total HOA, coma and trefoil aberration increased significantly except the astigmatism and spherical aberrations. (4) The CF and CF% of total aberration, total LOA, total HOA and coma aberrations increased, and those of astigmatism and spherical decreased at 12 months. Conclusions Orthokeratology …
bibliographic citation: Yin et al. (2019) One-year effect of wearing orthokeratology lenses on the visual quality of juvenile myopia: a retrospective study. PeerJ 7:e6998 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6998
date submitted: 2019-02-03
date accepted: 2019-04-22
issued: 2019-05-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Yin
  given name: Yewei
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Yang
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Xiaoying
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Mengyang
author list: Agent
  family name: Xia
  given name: Xiaobo
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Yao
author list: Agent
  family name: Song
  given name: Weitao
author list: Agent
  family name: Hu
  given name: Shengfa
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Xia
author list: Agent
  family name: Young
  given name: Kelly
author list: Agent
  family name: Wen
  given name: Dan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6998
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-30
copyright: ©2019 Yin et al.
attribution name: Yin et al.

Measuring urban vulnerability to climate change using an integrated approach, assessing climate risks in Beijing
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: This study is responding to the recommendation made by IPCC’s fifth Assessment Report on establishing a standard for measuring and reporting climate risk and vulnerability. It exemplifies the assessment of urban vulnerability to climate change by an integrated approach. The results indicate that Beijing is highly exposed to multiple climate threats in the context of global climate change, specifically urban heat waves, urban drainage floods and drought. Vulnerabilities to the climatic threats of heat waves, drainage floods and droughts have increased by 5%–15% during the period of 2008–2016 in Beijing. High vulnerabilities to both heat waves and drainage floods have been observed in the urban downtown area and high vulnerability to droughts have been observed in the outskirts. This vulnerability assessment, which addressed climatic threats, provides a holistic understanding of the susceptibility to climate change that could facilitate adaptation to climate change in the future. The developments of threats like flooding, heat waves and droughts are analyzed separately for 16 districts and an integrated vulnerability index for all of Beijing is provided as well.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mingshun Zhang
creator: Zelu Liu
creator: Meine Pieter van Dijk
subject: Coupled Natural and Human Systems
subject: Environmental Impacts
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.7018
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Zhang et al.
abstract: This study is responding to the recommendation made by IPCC’s fifth Assessment Report on establishing a standard for measuring and reporting climate risk and vulnerability. It exemplifies the assessment of urban vulnerability to climate change by an integrated approach. The results indicate that Beijing is highly exposed to multiple climate threats in the context of global climate change, specifically urban heat waves, urban drainage floods and drought. Vulnerabilities to the climatic threats of heat waves, drainage floods and droughts have increased by 5%–15% during the period of 2008–2016 in Beijing. High vulnerabilities to both heat waves and drainage floods have been observed in the urban downtown area and high vulnerability to droughts have been observed in the outskirts. This vulnerability assessment, which addressed climatic threats, provides a holistic understanding of the susceptibility to climate change that could facilitate adaptation to climate change in the future. The developments of threats like flooding, heat waves and droughts are analyzed separately for 16 districts and an integrated vulnerability index for all of Beijing is provided as well.
bibliographic citation: Zhang et al. (2019) Measuring urban vulnerability to climate change using an integrated approach, assessing climate risks in Beijing. PeerJ 7:e7018 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7018
date submitted: 2019-02-28
date accepted: 2019-04-25
issued: 2019-05-30
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Mingshun
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Zelu
author list: Agent
  family name: van Dijk
  given name: Meine Pieter
doi: 10.7717/peerj.7018
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-30
copyright: ©2019 Zhang et al.
attribution name: Zhang et al.

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