PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Modulation of stress response and productive performance of Litopenaeus vannamei through diet
items: Comparison of microbial community structures in soils with woody organic amendments and soils with traditional local organic amendments in Ningxia of Northern China
items: Leaf functional trait variation in a humid temperate forest, and relationships with juvenile tree light requirements
items: Ecosystem effects of fishing & El Niño at the Galápagos Marine Reserve
items: Effect of isolation on coat colour polymorphism of Polynesian rats in Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific
items: Deterministic processes dominate soil microbial community assembly in subalpine coniferous forests on the Loess Plateau
items: Pronounced social inequality in health-related factors and quality of life in women and men from Austria who are overweight or obese
items: The microbiome profiling of fungivorous black tinder fungus beetle Bolitophagus reticulatus reveals the insight into bacterial communities associated with larvae and adults
items: Promotion of growth and metal accumulation of alfalfa by coinoculation with Sinorhizobium and Agrobacterium under copper and zinc stress
items: Cortical modulation of pupillary function: systematic review

Modulation of stress response and productive performance of Litopenaeus vannamei through diet
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The high tolerance of Litopenaeus vannamei to a wide range of salinity (1–50 psu) makes this species an excellent candidate for culture under low salinity, decreasing shrimp epidemics and water pollution in some coastal areas. However, salinity levels outside the optimal range could impose several physiological constraints that would in turn affect growth and survival, particularly in the presence of additional stressors (e.g. high densities, handling practices, and hypoxia). Despite shrimp susceptibility to individual stressors has been widely addressed, information regarding response to chronic and acute stressors combined and its relation to diet is scarce. Thus, the aim of our study was to determine the effect of diet on the susceptibility to chronic (low salinity) and acute (hypoxia and escape response) stressors in terms of culture performance and physiological indicators. We evaluated overall performance during culture of L. vannamei at low salinity (6 psu), fed with an experimental diet with low protein and high carbohydrate content (26% protein and 6% fish meal plus probiotic mixture) and compared to a commercial formula with high protein and low carbohydrate content (40% crude protein and 20% fish meal without probiotic mixture). At the end of the rearing experiment, shrimp were exposed to two types of acute stress, hypoxia and escape. Biochemical (hemocyanin, total proteins, glucose, and lactate) and bioenergetic (adenylic energy charge and arginine phosphate levels) variables were measured to assess chronic stress response (salinity) and acute stress response (hypoxia or escape). The experimental diet resulted in higher muscle energy status that was not affected by low salinity, although lipid levels were lower under this condition. This diet partially counteracted the low performance at low salinity and promoted greater protein efficiency. Hypoxia induced strong hyperglycemic and lactate increase as response, whereas escape response was characterized by…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Eliza M. Martínez-Antonio
creator: Ilie S. Racotta
creator: Juan C. Ruvalcaba-Márquez
creator: Francisco Magallón-Barajas
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Marine Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6850
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Martínez-Antonio et al.
abstract: The high tolerance of Litopenaeus vannamei to a wide range of salinity (1–50 psu) makes this species an excellent candidate for culture under low salinity, decreasing shrimp epidemics and water pollution in some coastal areas. However, salinity levels outside the optimal range could impose several physiological constraints that would in turn affect growth and survival, particularly in the presence of additional stressors (e.g. high densities, handling practices, and hypoxia). Despite shrimp susceptibility to individual stressors has been widely addressed, information regarding response to chronic and acute stressors combined and its relation to diet is scarce. Thus, the aim of our study was to determine the effect of diet on the susceptibility to chronic (low salinity) and acute (hypoxia and escape response) stressors in terms of culture performance and physiological indicators. We evaluated overall performance during culture of L. vannamei at low salinity (6 psu), fed with an experimental diet with low protein and high carbohydrate content (26% protein and 6% fish meal plus probiotic mixture) and compared to a commercial formula with high protein and low carbohydrate content (40% crude protein and 20% fish meal without probiotic mixture). At the end of the rearing experiment, shrimp were exposed to two types of acute stress, hypoxia and escape. Biochemical (hemocyanin, total proteins, glucose, and lactate) and bioenergetic (adenylic energy charge and arginine phosphate levels) variables were measured to assess chronic stress response (salinity) and acute stress response (hypoxia or escape). The experimental diet resulted in higher muscle energy status that was not affected by low salinity, although lipid levels were lower under this condition. This diet partially counteracted the low performance at low salinity and promoted greater protein efficiency. Hypoxia induced strong hyperglycemic and lactate increase as response, whereas escape response was characterized by…
bibliographic citation: Martínez-Antonio et al. (2019) Modulation of stress response and productive performance of Litopenaeus vannamei through diet. PeerJ 7:e6850 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6850
date submitted: 2018-12-26
date accepted: 2019-03-26
issued: 2019-05-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Martínez-Antonio
  given name: Eliza M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Racotta
  given name: Ilie S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Ruvalcaba-Márquez
  given name: Juan C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Magallón-Barajas
  given name: Francisco
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6850
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-08
copyright: ©2019 Martínez-Antonio et al.
attribution name: Martínez-Antonio et al.

Comparison of microbial community structures in soils with woody organic amendments and soils with traditional local organic amendments in Ningxia of Northern China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Addition of organic amendments has been commonly adopted as a means to restore degraded soils globally. More recently, the use of woody organic amendments has been recognized as a viable method of capturing and retaining water and restoring degraded and desertified soil, especially in semi-arid regions. However, the impacts of woody amendments on soil microbial community structure, versus other traditional organic supplements is less understood. Methods Three locally available natural organic materials of different qualities, i.e., cow manure (CM), corn straw (CS), and chipped poplar branches (PB) were selected as treatments in Ningxia, Northern China and compared with control soils. Four microcosms served as replicates for each treatment. All treatments contained desertified soil; treatments with amendments were mixed with 3% (w/w) of one of the above organic materials. After 7 and 15 months from the start of the experiment, soil samples were analyzed for chemical and physical properties, along with biological properties, which included microbial α-diversity, community structure, and relative abundance of microbial phyla. Results Both bacterial and fungal α-diversity indices were weakly affected by amendments throughout the experimental period. All amendments yielded different microbial community compositions than the Control soils. The microbial community composition in the CS and PB treatments also were different from the CM treatment. After 15 months of the experiment, CS and PB exhibited similar microbial community composition, which was consistent with their similar soil physical and chemical properties. Moreover, CS and PB also appeared to exert similar effects on the abundance of some microbial taxa, and both of these treatments yield different abundances of microbial taxa than the CM treatment. Conclusion New local organic amendment with PB tended to affect the microbial community in a similar way to the traditional local organic amendment with C…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Zhigang Li
creator: Kaiyang Qiu
creator: Rebecca L. Schneider
creator: Stephen J. Morreale
creator: Yingzhong Xie
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Ecology
subject: Microbiology
subject: Soil Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6854
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Li et al.
abstract: Background Addition of organic amendments has been commonly adopted as a means to restore degraded soils globally. More recently, the use of woody organic amendments has been recognized as a viable method of capturing and retaining water and restoring degraded and desertified soil, especially in semi-arid regions. However, the impacts of woody amendments on soil microbial community structure, versus other traditional organic supplements is less understood. Methods Three locally available natural organic materials of different qualities, i.e., cow manure (CM), corn straw (CS), and chipped poplar branches (PB) were selected as treatments in Ningxia, Northern China and compared with control soils. Four microcosms served as replicates for each treatment. All treatments contained desertified soil; treatments with amendments were mixed with 3% (w/w) of one of the above organic materials. After 7 and 15 months from the start of the experiment, soil samples were analyzed for chemical and physical properties, along with biological properties, which included microbial α-diversity, community structure, and relative abundance of microbial phyla. Results Both bacterial and fungal α-diversity indices were weakly affected by amendments throughout the experimental period. All amendments yielded different microbial community compositions than the Control soils. The microbial community composition in the CS and PB treatments also were different from the CM treatment. After 15 months of the experiment, CS and PB exhibited similar microbial community composition, which was consistent with their similar soil physical and chemical properties. Moreover, CS and PB also appeared to exert similar effects on the abundance of some microbial taxa, and both of these treatments yield different abundances of microbial taxa than the CM treatment. Conclusion New local organic amendment with PB tended to affect the microbial community in a similar way to the traditional local organic amendment with C…
bibliographic citation: Li et al. (2019) Comparison of microbial community structures in soils with woody organic amendments and soils with traditional local organic amendments in Ningxia of Northern China. PeerJ 7:e6854 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6854
date submitted: 2019-01-08
date accepted: 2019-03-19
issued: 2019-05-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Zhigang
author list: Agent
  family name: Qiu
  given name: Kaiyang
author list: Agent
  family name: Schneider
  given name: Rebecca L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Morreale
  given name: Stephen J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Xie
  given name: Yingzhong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6854
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-08
copyright: ©2019 Li et al.
attribution name: Li et al.

Leaf functional trait variation in a humid temperate forest, and relationships with juvenile tree light requirements
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The species-rich arborescent assemblages of humid tropical forests encompass much of the known range of the leaf economics spectrum, often including >20-fold variation in leaf lifespan. This suite of traits underpins a life-history continuum from fast-growing pioneers to slow-growing shade-tolerant species. Less is known about the range of leaf traits in humid temperate forests, and there are conflicting reports about relationships of these traits with the light requirements of temperate evergreen angiosperms. Here I quantify the range of leaf functional traits in a New Zealand temperate evergreen forest, and relationships of these traits with light requirements of juvenile trees and shrubs. Foliage turnover of saplings of 19 evergreen angiosperms growing beneath gaps (12–29% canopy openness) and in understories (1.2–2.9%) was measured over 12 months. Dry mass per area (LMA), dry matter content, thickness, density and nitrogen content (N) of leaves were also measured. Species minimum light requirements were indexed as the 10th percentile of the distribution of saplings in relation to canopy openness. Interspecific variation of leaf lifespan was ∼6-fold in gaps (0.6 to 3.8 yrs), and ∼11-fold in the understorey (0.7 to 7.7 yrs). Six small tree and shrub species are effectively leaf-exchangers, with leaf lifespans of c.1 year in gaps—albeit usually longer in the shade. Interspecific variation in other leaf traits was 2.5 to 4-fold. Lifespans and LMA of both sun and shade leaves were negatively correlated with species light requirements i.e., positively correlated with shade tolerance. However, light environment (gap vs shade) explained about the same amount of variation in LMA as species’ identity did. Species light requirements were not significantly correlated with leaf N, dry matter content, density or thickness—except for a marginally significant correlation with dry matter content of shade leaves. Species light requirements were thus less consistently related to l…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Christopher H. Lusk
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6855
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Lusk
abstract: The species-rich arborescent assemblages of humid tropical forests encompass much of the known range of the leaf economics spectrum, often including >20-fold variation in leaf lifespan. This suite of traits underpins a life-history continuum from fast-growing pioneers to slow-growing shade-tolerant species. Less is known about the range of leaf traits in humid temperate forests, and there are conflicting reports about relationships of these traits with the light requirements of temperate evergreen angiosperms. Here I quantify the range of leaf functional traits in a New Zealand temperate evergreen forest, and relationships of these traits with light requirements of juvenile trees and shrubs. Foliage turnover of saplings of 19 evergreen angiosperms growing beneath gaps (12–29% canopy openness) and in understories (1.2–2.9%) was measured over 12 months. Dry mass per area (LMA), dry matter content, thickness, density and nitrogen content (N) of leaves were also measured. Species minimum light requirements were indexed as the 10th percentile of the distribution of saplings in relation to canopy openness. Interspecific variation of leaf lifespan was ∼6-fold in gaps (0.6 to 3.8 yrs), and ∼11-fold in the understorey (0.7 to 7.7 yrs). Six small tree and shrub species are effectively leaf-exchangers, with leaf lifespans of c.1 year in gaps—albeit usually longer in the shade. Interspecific variation in other leaf traits was 2.5 to 4-fold. Lifespans and LMA of both sun and shade leaves were negatively correlated with species light requirements i.e., positively correlated with shade tolerance. However, light environment (gap vs shade) explained about the same amount of variation in LMA as species’ identity did. Species light requirements were not significantly correlated with leaf N, dry matter content, density or thickness—except for a marginally significant correlation with dry matter content of shade leaves. Species light requirements were thus less consistently related to l…
bibliographic citation: Lusk (2019) Leaf functional trait variation in a humid temperate forest, and relationships with juvenile tree light requirements. PeerJ 7:e6855 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6855
date submitted: 2018-09-19
date accepted: 2019-03-27
issued: 2019-05-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lusk
  given name: Christopher H.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6855
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-08
copyright: ©2019 Lusk
attribution name: Lusk

Ecosystem effects of fishing & El Niño at the Galápagos Marine Reserve
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The Galápagos Archipelago is home to a diverse range of marine bioregions due to the confluence of several cold and warm water currents, resulting in some of the most productive tropical marine ecosystems in the world. These ecosystems are strongly influenced by El Niño events which can reduce primary production by an order of magnitude, dramatically reducing energy available throughout the food web. Fisheries are an important component of the local economy, although artisanal and illegal overfishing have dramatically reduced the productivity of invertebrate and finfish resources in recent decades, resulting in reductions in catches for local fishers. The regionally-endemic sailfin grouper (Myctereoperca olfax), locally known as bacalao, was once the most important fished species in the Galápagos, but is now listed as vulnerable by the IUCN due to its limited range and dramatic declines in catch over time. It is unknown how reduction of this predatory species has affected ecosystem structure and function. In the absence of stock assessments, we used an estimate of unfished bacalao biomass from fishers’ ecological knowledge along with unfished biomass estimates of other heavily exploited stocks—lobster (Panulirus penicillatus and P. gracilis) and sea cucumber (Isostichopus fuscus)—to create historical, unfished versions of existing modern day ecosystem models. We used the unfished and modern versions of the ecosystem models to test the ecosystem effects of bacalao exploitation at the Bolivar Channel, located in the cold, west upwelling bioregion of the archipelago during both El Niño and non El Niño years, and at Floreana Island, in the warmer, central bioregion. Fishers’ ecological knowledge indicates that at present, the biomass of bacalao is at least seven times lower than when unfished. This reduced bacalao biomass is linked with a greatly reduced ecosystem role compared to when unfished, and ecosystem role is further reduced in El Niño years. Allowing bacalao po…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tyler D. Eddy
creator: Alan M. Friedlander
creator: Pelayo Salinas de León
subject: Ecology
subject: Ecosystem Science
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Coupled Natural and Human Systems
subject: Climate Change Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6878
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Eddy et al.
abstract: The Galápagos Archipelago is home to a diverse range of marine bioregions due to the confluence of several cold and warm water currents, resulting in some of the most productive tropical marine ecosystems in the world. These ecosystems are strongly influenced by El Niño events which can reduce primary production by an order of magnitude, dramatically reducing energy available throughout the food web. Fisheries are an important component of the local economy, although artisanal and illegal overfishing have dramatically reduced the productivity of invertebrate and finfish resources in recent decades, resulting in reductions in catches for local fishers. The regionally-endemic sailfin grouper (Myctereoperca olfax), locally known as bacalao, was once the most important fished species in the Galápagos, but is now listed as vulnerable by the IUCN due to its limited range and dramatic declines in catch over time. It is unknown how reduction of this predatory species has affected ecosystem structure and function. In the absence of stock assessments, we used an estimate of unfished bacalao biomass from fishers’ ecological knowledge along with unfished biomass estimates of other heavily exploited stocks—lobster (Panulirus penicillatus and P. gracilis) and sea cucumber (Isostichopus fuscus)—to create historical, unfished versions of existing modern day ecosystem models. We used the unfished and modern versions of the ecosystem models to test the ecosystem effects of bacalao exploitation at the Bolivar Channel, located in the cold, west upwelling bioregion of the archipelago during both El Niño and non El Niño years, and at Floreana Island, in the warmer, central bioregion. Fishers’ ecological knowledge indicates that at present, the biomass of bacalao is at least seven times lower than when unfished. This reduced bacalao biomass is linked with a greatly reduced ecosystem role compared to when unfished, and ecosystem role is further reduced in El Niño years. Allowing bacalao po…
bibliographic citation: Eddy et al. (2019) Ecosystem effects of fishing & El Niño at the Galápagos Marine Reserve. PeerJ 7:e6878 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6878
date submitted: 2018-11-08
date accepted: 2019-03-31
issued: 2019-05-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Eddy
  given name: Tyler D.
author list: Agent
  family name: Friedlander
  given name: Alan M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Salinas de León
  given name: Pelayo
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6878
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-08
copyright: © 2019 Eddy et al.
attribution name: Eddy et al.

Effect of isolation on coat colour polymorphism of Polynesian rats in Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Populations of vertebrate species introduced onto islands regularly develop similar phenotypic changes, e.g., larger or smaller body size, shortened limbs, duller coats, as well as behavioural changes such as increased tameness and reduced flight-initiation distance. These changes overlap in part with those associated with the ‘domestication syndrome’, especially tameness and changes in coat patterns, and might indicate a similar neural crest involvement in the concurrent development of multiple phenotypic traits. Here I examine long-term data on free-living populations of wild Polynesian rats from seven mainland countries and 117 islands (n = 3,034), covering the species’ native and introduced range. Mainland populations showed no aberrant coat patterns, with the exception of one albino, whereas aberrant coat patterns were found in 12 island populations. Observed coat colour polymorphisms consisted of leucistic (including singular white patches), melanistic (darkly pigmented) and piebald (mixed) coat patterns. After isolation for at least seven centuries, wild Polynesian rat populations on islands seem to exhibit a trend towards a higher incidence of aberrant coat patterns. These phenotypic changes are here explained as a neutral, non-adaptive process, likely part of the ‘domestication syndrome’ (via the commensal pathway of domestication), in combination with genetic drift, little or no gene flow between the islands and/or the mainland and a relaxed selection (as a result of the weakening or removal of competitor/predator pressure) under commensality.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Alexandra A.E. van der Geer
subject: Biogeography
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6894
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 van der Geer
abstract: Populations of vertebrate species introduced onto islands regularly develop similar phenotypic changes, e.g., larger or smaller body size, shortened limbs, duller coats, as well as behavioural changes such as increased tameness and reduced flight-initiation distance. These changes overlap in part with those associated with the ‘domestication syndrome’, especially tameness and changes in coat patterns, and might indicate a similar neural crest involvement in the concurrent development of multiple phenotypic traits. Here I examine long-term data on free-living populations of wild Polynesian rats from seven mainland countries and 117 islands (n = 3,034), covering the species’ native and introduced range. Mainland populations showed no aberrant coat patterns, with the exception of one albino, whereas aberrant coat patterns were found in 12 island populations. Observed coat colour polymorphisms consisted of leucistic (including singular white patches), melanistic (darkly pigmented) and piebald (mixed) coat patterns. After isolation for at least seven centuries, wild Polynesian rat populations on islands seem to exhibit a trend towards a higher incidence of aberrant coat patterns. These phenotypic changes are here explained as a neutral, non-adaptive process, likely part of the ‘domestication syndrome’ (via the commensal pathway of domestication), in combination with genetic drift, little or no gene flow between the islands and/or the mainland and a relaxed selection (as a result of the weakening or removal of competitor/predator pressure) under commensality.
bibliographic citation: van der Geer (2019) Effect of isolation on coat colour polymorphism of Polynesian rats in Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific. PeerJ 7:e6894 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6894
date submitted: 2018-11-19
date accepted: 2019-04-02
issued: 2019-05-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: van der Geer
  given name: Alexandra A.E.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6894
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-08
copyright: ©2019 van der Geer
attribution name: van der Geer

Deterministic processes dominate soil microbial community assembly in subalpine coniferous forests on the Loess Plateau
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Microbial community assembly is influenced by a continuum (actually the trade-off) between deterministic and stochastic processes. An understanding of this ecological continuum is of great significance for drawing inferences about the effects of community assembly processes on microbial community structure and function. Here, we investigated the driving forces of soil microbial community assembly in three different environmental contexts located on subalpine coniferous forests of the Loess Plateau in Shanxi, China. The variation in null deviations and phylogenetic analysis showed that a continuum existed between deterministic and stochastic processes in shaping the microbial community structure, but deterministic processes prevailed. By integrating the results of redundancy analysis (RDA), multiple regression tree (MRT) analysis and correlation analysis, we found that soil organic carbon (SOC) was the main driver of the community structure and diversity patterns. In addition, we also found that SOC had a great influence on the community assembly processes. In conclusion, our results show that deterministic processes always dominated assembly processes in shaping bacterial community structure along the three habitat contexts.
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format: text/html
creator: Pengyu Zhao
creator: Jiabing Bao
creator: Xue Wang
creator: Yi Liu
creator: Cui Li
creator: Baofeng Chai
subject: Ecology
subject: Microbiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6746
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Zhao et al.
abstract: Microbial community assembly is influenced by a continuum (actually the trade-off) between deterministic and stochastic processes. An understanding of this ecological continuum is of great significance for drawing inferences about the effects of community assembly processes on microbial community structure and function. Here, we investigated the driving forces of soil microbial community assembly in three different environmental contexts located on subalpine coniferous forests of the Loess Plateau in Shanxi, China. The variation in null deviations and phylogenetic analysis showed that a continuum existed between deterministic and stochastic processes in shaping the microbial community structure, but deterministic processes prevailed. By integrating the results of redundancy analysis (RDA), multiple regression tree (MRT) analysis and correlation analysis, we found that soil organic carbon (SOC) was the main driver of the community structure and diversity patterns. In addition, we also found that SOC had a great influence on the community assembly processes. In conclusion, our results show that deterministic processes always dominated assembly processes in shaping bacterial community structure along the three habitat contexts.
bibliographic citation: Zhao et al. (2019) Deterministic processes dominate soil microbial community assembly in subalpine coniferous forests on the Loess Plateau. PeerJ 7:e6746 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6746
date submitted: 2018-09-18
date accepted: 2019-03-08
issued: 2019-05-07
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Pengyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Bao
  given name: Jiabing
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Xue
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Yi
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Cui
author list: Agent
  family name: Chai
  given name: Baofeng
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6746
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-07
copyright: ©2019 Zhao et al.
attribution name: Zhao et al.

Pronounced social inequality in health-related factors and quality of life in women and men from Austria who are overweight or obese
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The burden of social inequalities in health as well as the association between obesity with morbidity and mortality is a worldwide problem. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate health-related factors, health, and quality of life in Austrian women and men with normal weight, overweight, and obesity with a different socioeconomic status (SES) based on actual data from 2015. Methods This representative population-based study was based on self-reported data of 15,338 Austrian adults (8,425 women and 6,933 men) in 2014/2015. Data of the Austrian Health Interview Survey was analyzed stratified by sex and adjusted for age concerning health-related behavior, health, and quality of life. Results The results have shown that people with a low SES differ significantly from those of high SES concerning health-related factors (e.g., eating behavior, physical activity), health and impairment due to chronic conditions, as well as quality of life. Obesity in women and men was associated with poorer health-related factors and more chronic conditions as well as unfavorable psychological aspects. In women, the results showed a significant body mass index*SES interaction for impairment due to disorders, the number of chronic conditions and quality of life in the domain of physical health. In men, the interaction was significant regarding alcohol consumption, as well as health impairment. The SES has a strong negative impact on health which implies that people of low SES have more health problems which especially concerns individuals who are obese. Therefore, a continuous target group-oriented, non-discriminatory, interdisciplinary public health program is required, prioritizing women, and men with obesity with a low SES.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Nathalie Tatjana Burkert
creator: Wolfgang Freidl
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Public Health
subject: Women’s Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6773
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Burkert and Freidl
abstract: Background The burden of social inequalities in health as well as the association between obesity with morbidity and mortality is a worldwide problem. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate health-related factors, health, and quality of life in Austrian women and men with normal weight, overweight, and obesity with a different socioeconomic status (SES) based on actual data from 2015. Methods This representative population-based study was based on self-reported data of 15,338 Austrian adults (8,425 women and 6,933 men) in 2014/2015. Data of the Austrian Health Interview Survey was analyzed stratified by sex and adjusted for age concerning health-related behavior, health, and quality of life. Results The results have shown that people with a low SES differ significantly from those of high SES concerning health-related factors (e.g., eating behavior, physical activity), health and impairment due to chronic conditions, as well as quality of life. Obesity in women and men was associated with poorer health-related factors and more chronic conditions as well as unfavorable psychological aspects. In women, the results showed a significant body mass index*SES interaction for impairment due to disorders, the number of chronic conditions and quality of life in the domain of physical health. In men, the interaction was significant regarding alcohol consumption, as well as health impairment. The SES has a strong negative impact on health which implies that people of low SES have more health problems which especially concerns individuals who are obese. Therefore, a continuous target group-oriented, non-discriminatory, interdisciplinary public health program is required, prioritizing women, and men with obesity with a low SES.
bibliographic citation: Burkert et al. (2019) Pronounced social inequality in health-related factors and quality of life in women and men from Austria who are overweight or obese. PeerJ 7:e6773 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6773
date submitted: 2018-11-06
date accepted: 2019-03-13
issued: 2019-05-07
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Burkert
  given name: Nathalie Tatjana
author list: Agent
  family name: Freidl
  given name: Wolfgang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6773
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-07
copyright: © 2019 Burkert and Freidl
attribution name: Burkert and Freidl

The microbiome profiling of fungivorous black tinder fungus beetle Bolitophagus reticulatus reveals the insight into bacterial communities associated with larvae and adults
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Saproxylic beetles play a crucial role in key processes occurring in forest ecosystems, and together with fungi contribute to the decomposition and mineralization of wood. Among this group are mycetophilic beetles which associate with wood-decaying fungi and use the fruiting body for nourishment and development. Therefore, their feeding strategy (especially in the case of fungivorous species) requires special digestive capabilities to take advantage of the nutritional value of fungal tissue. Although polypore-beetle associations have been investigated in numerous studies, detailed studies focusing on the microbiome associated with species feeding on fruiting bodies of polypores remain limited. Here we investigated the bacterial communities associated with larvae and adults of Bolitophagus reticulatus collected from Fomes fomentarius growing on two different host tree: beech (Fagus sp.) and birch (Betula sp.), respectively. Among 24 identified bacterial phyla, three were the most relatively abundant (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes). Moreover, we tried to find unique patterns of bacteria abundances which could be correlated with the long-term field observation showing that the fruiting bodies of F. fomentarius, growing on birch are more inhabited by beetles than fruiting bodies of the same fungus species growing on beech. Biochemical analyses showed that the level of protease inhibitors and secondary metabolites in F. fomentarius is higher in healthy fruiting bodies than in the inhabited ones. However, tested microbiome samples primarily clustered by developmental stage of B. reticulatus and host tree did not appear to impact the taxonomic distribution of the communities. This observation was supported by statistical analyses.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Agnieszka Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba
creator: Grzegorz K. Wagner
creator: Krzysztof Grzywnowicz
creator: Marek Kucharczyk
creator: Sylwia Zielińska
subject: Ecology
subject: Entomology
subject: Microbiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6852
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba et al.
abstract: Saproxylic beetles play a crucial role in key processes occurring in forest ecosystems, and together with fungi contribute to the decomposition and mineralization of wood. Among this group are mycetophilic beetles which associate with wood-decaying fungi and use the fruiting body for nourishment and development. Therefore, their feeding strategy (especially in the case of fungivorous species) requires special digestive capabilities to take advantage of the nutritional value of fungal tissue. Although polypore-beetle associations have been investigated in numerous studies, detailed studies focusing on the microbiome associated with species feeding on fruiting bodies of polypores remain limited. Here we investigated the bacterial communities associated with larvae and adults of Bolitophagus reticulatus collected from Fomes fomentarius growing on two different host tree: beech (Fagus sp.) and birch (Betula sp.), respectively. Among 24 identified bacterial phyla, three were the most relatively abundant (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes). Moreover, we tried to find unique patterns of bacteria abundances which could be correlated with the long-term field observation showing that the fruiting bodies of F. fomentarius, growing on birch are more inhabited by beetles than fruiting bodies of the same fungus species growing on beech. Biochemical analyses showed that the level of protease inhibitors and secondary metabolites in F. fomentarius is higher in healthy fruiting bodies than in the inhabited ones. However, tested microbiome samples primarily clustered by developmental stage of B. reticulatus and host tree did not appear to impact the taxonomic distribution of the communities. This observation was supported by statistical analyses.
bibliographic citation: Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba et al. (2019) The microbiome profiling of fungivorous black tinder fungus beetle Bolitophagus reticulatus reveals the insight into bacterial communities associated with larvae and adults. PeerJ 7:e6852 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6852
date submitted: 2018-10-31
date accepted: 2019-03-23
issued: 2019-05-07
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba
  given name: Agnieszka
author list: Agent
  family name: Wagner
  given name: Grzegorz K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Grzywnowicz
  given name: Krzysztof
author list: Agent
  family name: Kucharczyk
  given name: Marek
author list: Agent
  family name: Zielińska
  given name: Sylwia
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6852
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-07
copyright: ©2019 Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba et al.
attribution name: Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba et al.

Promotion of growth and metal accumulation of alfalfa by coinoculation with Sinorhizobium and Agrobacterium under copper and zinc stress
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis has been proposed as a promising technique for the phytoremediation of contaminated soils due to its beneficial activity in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, numerous studies have shown that excessive heavy metals reduce the efficiency of symbiotic nodulation with Rhizobium and inhibit plant growth. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of IAA-producing bacteria and Rhizobium on Medicago lupulina growth under Cu and Zn stress. Pot experiments showed that 400 mg kg−1 Cu2 + and Zn2 + greatly inhibited plant growth, but dual inoculation of Medicago lupulina with Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens CCNWGS0286 significantly increased the number of nodules and plant biomass by enhancing antioxidant activities. Under double stress of 400 mg kg−1 Cu2 + and Zn2 +, the nodule number and nitrogenase activities of dual-inoculated plants were 48.5% and 154.4% higher, respectively, than those of plants inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti. The root and above-ground portion lengths of the dual-inoculated plants were 32.6% and 14.1% greater, respectively, than those of the control, while the root and above-ground portion dry weights were 34.3% and 32.2% greater, respectively, than those of the control. Compared with S. meliloti and A. tumefaciens single inoculation, coinoculation increased total Cu uptake by 39.1% and 47.5% and increased total Zn uptake by 35.4% and 44.2%, respectively, under double metal stress conditions. Therefore, coinoculation with Sinorhizobium meliloti and Agrobacterium tumefaciens enhances metal phytoextraction by increasing plant growth and antioxidant activities under Cu/Zn stress, which provides a new approach for bioremediation in heavy metal-contaminated soil.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Liru Jian
creator: Xiaoli Bai
creator: Hui Zhang
creator: Xiuyong Song
creator: Zhefei Li
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Microbiology
subject: Environmental Contamination and Remediation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6875
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Jian et al.
abstract: The Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis has been proposed as a promising technique for the phytoremediation of contaminated soils due to its beneficial activity in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, numerous studies have shown that excessive heavy metals reduce the efficiency of symbiotic nodulation with Rhizobium and inhibit plant growth. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of IAA-producing bacteria and Rhizobium on Medicago lupulina growth under Cu and Zn stress. Pot experiments showed that 400 mg kg−1 Cu2 + and Zn2 + greatly inhibited plant growth, but dual inoculation of Medicago lupulina with Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens CCNWGS0286 significantly increased the number of nodules and plant biomass by enhancing antioxidant activities. Under double stress of 400 mg kg−1 Cu2 + and Zn2 +, the nodule number and nitrogenase activities of dual-inoculated plants were 48.5% and 154.4% higher, respectively, than those of plants inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti. The root and above-ground portion lengths of the dual-inoculated plants were 32.6% and 14.1% greater, respectively, than those of the control, while the root and above-ground portion dry weights were 34.3% and 32.2% greater, respectively, than those of the control. Compared with S. meliloti and A. tumefaciens single inoculation, coinoculation increased total Cu uptake by 39.1% and 47.5% and increased total Zn uptake by 35.4% and 44.2%, respectively, under double metal stress conditions. Therefore, coinoculation with Sinorhizobium meliloti and Agrobacterium tumefaciens enhances metal phytoextraction by increasing plant growth and antioxidant activities under Cu/Zn stress, which provides a new approach for bioremediation in heavy metal-contaminated soil.
bibliographic citation: Jian et al. (2019) Promotion of growth and metal accumulation of alfalfa by coinoculation with Sinorhizobium and Agrobacterium under copper and zinc stress. PeerJ 7:e6875 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6875
date submitted: 2018-11-28
date accepted: 2019-03-28
issued: 2019-05-07
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Jian
  given name: Liru
author list: Agent
  family name: Bai
  given name: Xiaoli
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Hui
author list: Agent
  family name: Song
  given name: Xiuyong
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Zhefei
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6875
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-07
copyright: ©2019 Jian et al.
attribution name: Jian et al.

Cortical modulation of pupillary function: systematic review
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The pupillary light reflex is the main mechanism that regulates the pupillary diameter; it is controlled by the autonomic system and mediated by subcortical pathways. In addition, cognitive and emotional processes influence pupillary function due to input from cortical innervation, but the exact circuits remain poorly understood. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the mechanisms behind pupillary changes associated with cognitive efforts and processing of emotions and to investigate the cerebral areas involved in cortical modulation of the pupillary light reflex. Methodology We searched multiple databases until November 2018 for studies on cortical modulation of pupillary function in humans and non-human primates. Of 8,809 papers screened, 258 studies were included. Results Most investigators focused on pupillary dilatation and/or constriction as an index of cognitive and emotional processing, evaluating how changes in pupillary diameter reflect levels of attention and arousal. Only few tried to correlate specific cerebral areas to pupillary changes, using either cortical activation models (employing micro-stimulation of cortical structures in non-human primates) or cortical lesion models (e.g., investigating patients with stroke and damage to salient cortical and/or subcortical areas). Results suggest the involvement of several cortical regions, including the insular cortex (Brodmann areas 13 and 16), the frontal eye field (Brodmann area 8) and the prefrontal cortex (Brodmann areas 11 and 25), and of subcortical structures such as the locus coeruleus and the superior colliculus. Conclusions Pupillary dilatation occurs with many kinds of mental or emotional processes, following sympathetic activation or parasympathetic inhibition. Conversely, pupillary constriction may occur with anticipation of a bright stimulus (even in its absence) and relies on a parasympathetic activation. All these reactions are controlled by subcortical and cortical struct…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Costanza Peinkhofer
creator: Gitte M. Knudsen
creator: Rita Moretti
creator: Daniel Kondziella
subject: Anatomy and Physiology
subject: Neurology
subject: Ophthalmology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6882
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2019 Peinkhofer et al.
abstract: Background The pupillary light reflex is the main mechanism that regulates the pupillary diameter; it is controlled by the autonomic system and mediated by subcortical pathways. In addition, cognitive and emotional processes influence pupillary function due to input from cortical innervation, but the exact circuits remain poorly understood. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the mechanisms behind pupillary changes associated with cognitive efforts and processing of emotions and to investigate the cerebral areas involved in cortical modulation of the pupillary light reflex. Methodology We searched multiple databases until November 2018 for studies on cortical modulation of pupillary function in humans and non-human primates. Of 8,809 papers screened, 258 studies were included. Results Most investigators focused on pupillary dilatation and/or constriction as an index of cognitive and emotional processing, evaluating how changes in pupillary diameter reflect levels of attention and arousal. Only few tried to correlate specific cerebral areas to pupillary changes, using either cortical activation models (employing micro-stimulation of cortical structures in non-human primates) or cortical lesion models (e.g., investigating patients with stroke and damage to salient cortical and/or subcortical areas). Results suggest the involvement of several cortical regions, including the insular cortex (Brodmann areas 13 and 16), the frontal eye field (Brodmann area 8) and the prefrontal cortex (Brodmann areas 11 and 25), and of subcortical structures such as the locus coeruleus and the superior colliculus. Conclusions Pupillary dilatation occurs with many kinds of mental or emotional processes, following sympathetic activation or parasympathetic inhibition. Conversely, pupillary constriction may occur with anticipation of a bright stimulus (even in its absence) and relies on a parasympathetic activation. All these reactions are controlled by subcortical and cortical struct…
bibliographic citation: Peinkhofer et al. (2019) Cortical modulation of pupillary function: systematic review. PeerJ 7:e6882 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6882
date submitted: 2019-01-30
date accepted: 2019-03-26
issued: 2019-05-07
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Peinkhofer
  given name: Costanza
author list: Agent
  family name: Knudsen
  given name: Gitte M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Moretti
  given name: Rita
author list: Agent
  family name: Kondziella
  given name: Daniel
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6882
volume: 7
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2019-05-07
copyright: ©2019 Peinkhofer et al.
attribution name: Peinkhofer et al.

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