PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Exploring the mechanistic link between corticosterone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in a wild passerine bird
items: Populations and assemblages living on the edge: dung beetles responses to forests-pasture ecotones
items: Characterization of five complete Cyrtodactylus mitogenome structures reveals low structural diversity and conservation of repeated sequences in the lineage
items: Acute effects of contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching of hip abductors and adductors on dynamic balance
items: The influence of maternal body mass index and physical activity on select cardiovascular risk factors of preadolescent Hispanic children
items: Isolation and identification of pathogenic fungi and oomycetes associated with beans and cowpea root diseases in Oman
items: Rapid increases in soil pH solubilise organic matter, dramatically increase denitrification potential and strongly stimulate microorganisms from the Firmicutes phylum
items: The impact of pneumococcal vaccination on pneumonia mortality among the elderly in Japan: a difference-in-difference study
items: Ranaviruses and reptiles
items: Short-term interval aerobic exercise training does not improve memory functioning in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis—a randomized controlled trial

Exploring the mechanistic link between corticosterone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in a wild passerine bird
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Physiological regulators of life history trade-offs need to be responsive to sudden changes of resource availability. When homeostasis is challenged by unpredictable stressors, vertebrates respond through a set of physiological reactions, which can promote organismal survival. Glucocorticoids have been traditionally recognized as one of the main regulators of the physiological stress response, but the role of an evolutionarily more conserved pathway, the hypothalamic-pituitary-somatotropic (HPS) axis producing insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has received much less attention. Although IGF-1 is known to affect several life history traits, little is known about its role in the physiological stress response and it has never been studied directly in adult wild animals. Methods In this study, we combined field observations with a controlled experiment to investigate how circulating levels of IGF-1 change in response to stress and whether this change is due to concomitant change in glucocorticoids in a free-living songbird, the bearded reedling Panurus biarmicus. We used a standard capture-restraint protocol in field observation, in which we took first and second (stress induced: 15 minutes later) samples. In a follow-up experiment, we used a minimally invasive oral corticosterone manipulation. Results We showed that corticosterone levels significantly increased while IGF-1 levels significantly decreased during capture and handling stress. However, change in corticosterone levels were not related to change in IGF-1 levels. We found that experimentally elevated corticosterone levels did not affect IGF-1 levels. Discussion Our results are the first to highlight that circulating IGF-1 levels are responsive to stress independently from glucocorticoids and suggest that the HPS axis is an autonomous physiological pathway that may play an important role as regulator of life-history decisions.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Zsófia Tóth
creator: Jenny Q. Ouyang
creator: Ádám Z. Lendvai
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.5936
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2018 Tóth et al.
abstract: Background Physiological regulators of life history trade-offs need to be responsive to sudden changes of resource availability. When homeostasis is challenged by unpredictable stressors, vertebrates respond through a set of physiological reactions, which can promote organismal survival. Glucocorticoids have been traditionally recognized as one of the main regulators of the physiological stress response, but the role of an evolutionarily more conserved pathway, the hypothalamic-pituitary-somatotropic (HPS) axis producing insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has received much less attention. Although IGF-1 is known to affect several life history traits, little is known about its role in the physiological stress response and it has never been studied directly in adult wild animals. Methods In this study, we combined field observations with a controlled experiment to investigate how circulating levels of IGF-1 change in response to stress and whether this change is due to concomitant change in glucocorticoids in a free-living songbird, the bearded reedling Panurus biarmicus. We used a standard capture-restraint protocol in field observation, in which we took first and second (stress induced: 15 minutes later) samples. In a follow-up experiment, we used a minimally invasive oral corticosterone manipulation. Results We showed that corticosterone levels significantly increased while IGF-1 levels significantly decreased during capture and handling stress. However, change in corticosterone levels were not related to change in IGF-1 levels. We found that experimentally elevated corticosterone levels did not affect IGF-1 levels. Discussion Our results are the first to highlight that circulating IGF-1 levels are responsive to stress independently from glucocorticoids and suggest that the HPS axis is an autonomous physiological pathway that may play an important role as regulator of life-history decisions.
bibliographic citation: Tóth et al. (2018) Exploring the mechanistic link between corticosterone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in a wild passerine bird. PeerJ 6:e5936 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5936
date submitted: 2018-06-06
date accepted: 2018-10-15
issued: 2018-12-14
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Tóth
  given name: Zsófia
author list: Agent
  family name: Ouyang
  given name: Jenny Q.
author list: Agent
  family name: Lendvai
  given name: Ádám Z.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.5936
volume: 6
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2018-12-14
copyright: ©2018 Tóth et al.
attribution name: Tóth et al.

Populations and assemblages living on the edge: dung beetles responses to forests-pasture ecotones
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Edge effects alter insect biodiversity in several ways. However, we still have a limited understanding on simultaneous responses of ecological populations and assemblages to ecotones, especially in human modified landscapes. We analyze edge effects on dung beetle populations and assemblages between livestock pastures and native temperate forests (Juniperus and pine-oak forests (POFs)) to describe how species abundances and assemblage parameters respond to edge effects through gradients in forest-pasture ecotones. In Juniperus forest 13 species avoided the ecotones: six species showed greater abundance in forest interior and seven in pasturelands, while the other two species had a neutral response to the edge. In a different way, in POF we found five species avoiding the edge (four with greater abundance in pastures and only one in forest), two species had a neutral response, and two showed a unimodal pattern of abundance near to the edge. At the assemblage level edge effects are masked, as species richness, diversity, functional richness, functional evenness, and compositional incidence dissimilarity did not vary along forest-pasture ecotones. However, total abundance and functional divergence showed higher values in pastures in one of the two sampling localities. Also, assemblage similarity based on species’ abundance showed a peak near to the edge in POF. We propose that conservation efforts in human-managed landscapes should focus on mitigating current and delayed edge effects. Ecotone management will be crucial in livestock dominated landscapes to conserve regional biodiversity and the environmental services carried out by dung beetles.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ana Paola Martínez-Falcón
creator: Gustavo A. Zurita
creator: Ilse J. Ortega-Martínez
creator: Claudia E. Moreno
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Entomology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6148
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2018 Martínez-Falcón et al.
abstract: Edge effects alter insect biodiversity in several ways. However, we still have a limited understanding on simultaneous responses of ecological populations and assemblages to ecotones, especially in human modified landscapes. We analyze edge effects on dung beetle populations and assemblages between livestock pastures and native temperate forests (Juniperus and pine-oak forests (POFs)) to describe how species abundances and assemblage parameters respond to edge effects through gradients in forest-pasture ecotones. In Juniperus forest 13 species avoided the ecotones: six species showed greater abundance in forest interior and seven in pasturelands, while the other two species had a neutral response to the edge. In a different way, in POF we found five species avoiding the edge (four with greater abundance in pastures and only one in forest), two species had a neutral response, and two showed a unimodal pattern of abundance near to the edge. At the assemblage level edge effects are masked, as species richness, diversity, functional richness, functional evenness, and compositional incidence dissimilarity did not vary along forest-pasture ecotones. However, total abundance and functional divergence showed higher values in pastures in one of the two sampling localities. Also, assemblage similarity based on species’ abundance showed a peak near to the edge in POF. We propose that conservation efforts in human-managed landscapes should focus on mitigating current and delayed edge effects. Ecotone management will be crucial in livestock dominated landscapes to conserve regional biodiversity and the environmental services carried out by dung beetles.
bibliographic citation: Martínez-Falcón et al. (2018) Populations and assemblages living on the edge: dung beetles responses to forests-pasture ecotones. PeerJ 6:e6148 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6148
date submitted: 2018-08-31
date accepted: 2018-11-21
issued: 2018-12-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Martínez-Falcón
  given name: Ana Paola
author list: Agent
  family name: Zurita
  given name: Gustavo A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Ortega-Martínez
  given name: Ilse J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Moreno
  given name: Claudia E.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6148
volume: 6
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2018-12-13
copyright: © 2018 Martínez-Falcón et al.
attribution name: Martínez-Falcón et al.

Characterization of five complete Cyrtodactylus mitogenome structures reveals low structural diversity and conservation of repeated sequences in the lineage
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of five Cyrtodactylus were determined. Their compositions and structures were similar to most of the available gecko lizard mitogenomes as 13 protein-coding, two rRNA and 22 tRNA genes. The non-coding control region (CR) of almost all Cyrtodactylus mitogenome structures contained a repeated sequence named the 75-bp box family, except for C. auribalteatus which contained the 225-bp box. Sequence similarities indicated that the 225-bp box resulted from the duplication event of 75-bp boxes, followed by homogenization and fixation in C. auribalteatus. The 75-bp box family was found in most gecko lizards with high conservation (55–75% similarities) and could form secondary structures, suggesting that this repeated sequence family played an important role under selective pressure and might involve mitogenome replication and the likelihood of rearrangements in CR. The 75-bp box family was acquired in the common ancestral genome of the gecko lizard, evolving gradually through each lineage by independent nucleotide mutation. Comparison of gecko lizard mitogenomes revealed low structural diversity with at least six types of mitochondrial gene rearrangements. Cyrtodactylus mitogenome structure showed the same gene rearrangement as found in most gecko lizards. Advanced mitogenome information will enable a better understanding of structure evolution mechanisms.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Prapatsorn Areesirisuk
creator: Narongrit Muangmai
creator: Kirati Kunya
creator: Worapong Singchat
creator: Siwapech Sillapaprayoon
creator: Sorravis Lapbenjakul
creator: Watcharaporn Thapana
creator: Attachai Kantachumpoo
creator: Sudarath Baicharoen
creator: Budsaba Rerkamnuaychoke
creator: Surin Peyachoknagul
creator: Kyudong Han
creator: Kornsorn Srikulnath
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Genetics
subject: Genomics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6121
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2018 Areesirisuk et al.
abstract: Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of five Cyrtodactylus were determined. Their compositions and structures were similar to most of the available gecko lizard mitogenomes as 13 protein-coding, two rRNA and 22 tRNA genes. The non-coding control region (CR) of almost all Cyrtodactylus mitogenome structures contained a repeated sequence named the 75-bp box family, except for C. auribalteatus which contained the 225-bp box. Sequence similarities indicated that the 225-bp box resulted from the duplication event of 75-bp boxes, followed by homogenization and fixation in C. auribalteatus. The 75-bp box family was found in most gecko lizards with high conservation (55–75% similarities) and could form secondary structures, suggesting that this repeated sequence family played an important role under selective pressure and might involve mitogenome replication and the likelihood of rearrangements in CR. The 75-bp box family was acquired in the common ancestral genome of the gecko lizard, evolving gradually through each lineage by independent nucleotide mutation. Comparison of gecko lizard mitogenomes revealed low structural diversity with at least six types of mitochondrial gene rearrangements. Cyrtodactylus mitogenome structure showed the same gene rearrangement as found in most gecko lizards. Advanced mitogenome information will enable a better understanding of structure evolution mechanisms.
bibliographic citation: Areesirisuk et al. (2018) Characterization of five complete Cyrtodactylus mitogenome structures reveals low structural diversity and conservation of repeated sequences in the lineage. PeerJ 6:e6121 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6121
date submitted: 2018-07-30
date accepted: 2018-11-15
issued: 2018-12-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Areesirisuk
  given name: Prapatsorn
author list: Agent
  family name: Muangmai
  given name: Narongrit
author list: Agent
  family name: Kunya
  given name: Kirati
author list: Agent
  family name: Singchat
  given name: Worapong
author list: Agent
  family name: Sillapaprayoon
  given name: Siwapech
author list: Agent
  family name: Lapbenjakul
  given name: Sorravis
author list: Agent
  family name: Thapana
  given name: Watcharaporn
author list: Agent
  family name: Kantachumpoo
  given name: Attachai
author list: Agent
  family name: Baicharoen
  given name: Sudarath
author list: Agent
  family name: Rerkamnuaychoke
  given name: Budsaba
author list: Agent
  family name: Peyachoknagul
  given name: Surin
author list: Agent
  family name: Han
  given name: Kyudong
author list: Agent
  family name: Srikulnath
  given name: Kornsorn
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6121
volume: 6
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2018-12-13
copyright: ©2018 Areesirisuk et al.
attribution name: Areesirisuk et al.

Acute effects of contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching of hip abductors and adductors on dynamic balance
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Balance control has been shown to play a fundamental role both in everyday life and many athletic activities. An important component of balance control is the somatosensory information gained from muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs. The changes in the muscle-tendon unit stiffness could alter the ability to detect and respond promptly to changes of an unstable environment. One of the procedures affecting muscle stiffness is stretching, and contract-relax PNF stretching (CRS) is considered as one of the safest and most effective techniques. So far, there are no studies on the impact of CRS of hip adductor and abductor muscles on body balance. These muscle groups are responsible for maintaining mediolateral balance which is of particular interest, since it is more affected by ageing and disease and since its deterioration has been associated with an increased risk of falling. In light of the above, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a single dose of contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching of hip adductors and abductors on mediolateral dynamic balance. Methods The study involved 45 healthy individuals (age 19–23 years) assigned to the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG). Balance testing was carried out before (Pre) and immediately after CRS in the intervention group or after 5-minute rest in the control group (Post). There were performed three repetitions of the CRS targeting the adductor and abductor muscles of the hip. Results Statistically significant differences between Pre and Post condition were observed only in the intervention group. The values of all measured variables defining the body’s dynamic balance were significantly lower immediately after the applied CRS, which indicates an improved body balance: Global Index (p = 0.0001), total area of sway (p = 0.0001), external area of sway (p = 0.00004), external time (p = 0.0004) and reaction time (p = 0.0003). Conclusions A singl…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Rafał Szafraniec
creator: Krystyna Chromik
creator: Amanda Poborska
creator: Adam Kawczyński
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6108
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2018 Szafraniec et al.
abstract: Background Balance control has been shown to play a fundamental role both in everyday life and many athletic activities. An important component of balance control is the somatosensory information gained from muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs. The changes in the muscle-tendon unit stiffness could alter the ability to detect and respond promptly to changes of an unstable environment. One of the procedures affecting muscle stiffness is stretching, and contract-relax PNF stretching (CRS) is considered as one of the safest and most effective techniques. So far, there are no studies on the impact of CRS of hip adductor and abductor muscles on body balance. These muscle groups are responsible for maintaining mediolateral balance which is of particular interest, since it is more affected by ageing and disease and since its deterioration has been associated with an increased risk of falling. In light of the above, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a single dose of contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching of hip adductors and abductors on mediolateral dynamic balance. Methods The study involved 45 healthy individuals (age 19–23 years) assigned to the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG). Balance testing was carried out before (Pre) and immediately after CRS in the intervention group or after 5-minute rest in the control group (Post). There were performed three repetitions of the CRS targeting the adductor and abductor muscles of the hip. Results Statistically significant differences between Pre and Post condition were observed only in the intervention group. The values of all measured variables defining the body’s dynamic balance were significantly lower immediately after the applied CRS, which indicates an improved body balance: Global Index (p = 0.0001), total area of sway (p = 0.0001), external area of sway (p = 0.00004), external time (p = 0.0004) and reaction time (p = 0.0003). Conclusions A singl…
bibliographic citation: Szafraniec et al. (2018) Acute effects of contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching of hip abductors and adductors on dynamic balance. PeerJ 6:e6108 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6108
date submitted: 2018-03-07
date accepted: 2018-11-14
issued: 2018-12-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Szafraniec
  given name: Rafał
author list: Agent
  family name: Chromik
  given name: Krystyna
author list: Agent
  family name: Poborska
  given name: Amanda
author list: Agent
  family name: Kawczyński
  given name: Adam
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6108
volume: 6
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2018-12-13
copyright: ©2018 Szafraniec et al.
attribution name: Szafraniec et al.

The influence of maternal body mass index and physical activity on select cardiovascular risk factors of preadolescent Hispanic children
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Maternal obesity and physical inactivity have been identified as correlates of overweight and obesity and physical inactivity in older preadolescents; however, no study has explored this relationship in Hispanic preadolescents. Furthermore, the relation between maternal physical activity (PA) and blood pressure (BP) in Hispanic preadolescents has not been examined. Purpose This study aimed to assess the associations between Hispanic mothers’ PA and body mass index (BMI) and their preadolescents’ PA, screen time, BP, and BMI. Methods Data of 118 mother-child (aged 2–10 years) dyads enrolled in a cross-sectional study of metabolic syndrome in Hispanic preadolescents at a community health center in Johnson City, TN were used. Parent and child questionnaires were used to ascertain mothers’ BMI and PA and preadolescents’ PA and screen time. Preadolescents’ height, weight, and BP were measured. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between child and maternal variables, adjusting for mother’s education and the child’s sex and age. Results Pradolescents of obese mothers were more likely than preadolescents of mothers with normal weight to engage in less than three days of at least 60 min of vigorous PA per week (OR: 6.47, 95% CI [1.61–26.0]). Preadolescents whose mothers did not engage in moderate PA were more likely to engage in less than three days of at least 60 min of vigorous PA per week (OR: 2.92, CI [1.18–7.24]); and have elevated BP (OR: 2.50, 95% CI [1.02–4.53]) than preadolescents whose mothers engaged in moderate PA. Discussion Our results show a negative relationship between maternal obesity and preadolescent PA, and a positive relationship between lower maternal PA and elevated BP and lower PA in Hispanic preadolescents. This suggests that interventions aimed at improving Hispanic preadolescents’ PA and BP may use maternal PA and maternal BMI (for preadolescent PA) as a modification strategy to improve health in Hispanic pr…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Basil A. Alhassan
creator: Ying Liu
creator: Deborah Slawson
creator: Jonathan M. Peterson
creator: Jo-Ann Marrs
creator: William A. Clark
creator: Arsham Alamian
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Pediatrics
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6100
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2018 Alhassan et al.
abstract: Background Maternal obesity and physical inactivity have been identified as correlates of overweight and obesity and physical inactivity in older preadolescents; however, no study has explored this relationship in Hispanic preadolescents. Furthermore, the relation between maternal physical activity (PA) and blood pressure (BP) in Hispanic preadolescents has not been examined. Purpose This study aimed to assess the associations between Hispanic mothers’ PA and body mass index (BMI) and their preadolescents’ PA, screen time, BP, and BMI. Methods Data of 118 mother-child (aged 2–10 years) dyads enrolled in a cross-sectional study of metabolic syndrome in Hispanic preadolescents at a community health center in Johnson City, TN were used. Parent and child questionnaires were used to ascertain mothers’ BMI and PA and preadolescents’ PA and screen time. Preadolescents’ height, weight, and BP were measured. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between child and maternal variables, adjusting for mother’s education and the child’s sex and age. Results Pradolescents of obese mothers were more likely than preadolescents of mothers with normal weight to engage in less than three days of at least 60 min of vigorous PA per week (OR: 6.47, 95% CI [1.61–26.0]). Preadolescents whose mothers did not engage in moderate PA were more likely to engage in less than three days of at least 60 min of vigorous PA per week (OR: 2.92, CI [1.18–7.24]); and have elevated BP (OR: 2.50, 95% CI [1.02–4.53]) than preadolescents whose mothers engaged in moderate PA. Discussion Our results show a negative relationship between maternal obesity and preadolescent PA, and a positive relationship between lower maternal PA and elevated BP and lower PA in Hispanic preadolescents. This suggests that interventions aimed at improving Hispanic preadolescents’ PA and BP may use maternal PA and maternal BMI (for preadolescent PA) as a modification strategy to improve health in Hispanic pr…
bibliographic citation: Alhassan et al. (2018) The influence of maternal body mass index and physical activity on select cardiovascular risk factors of preadolescent Hispanic children. PeerJ 6:e6100 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6100
date submitted: 2018-03-19
date accepted: 2018-11-12
issued: 2018-12-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Alhassan
  given name: Basil A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Ying
author list: Agent
  family name: Slawson
  given name: Deborah
author list: Agent
  family name: Peterson
  given name: Jonathan M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Marrs
  given name: Jo-Ann
author list: Agent
  family name: Clark
  given name: William A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Alamian
  given name: Arsham
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6100
volume: 6
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2018-12-13
copyright: ©2018 Alhassan et al.
attribution name: Alhassan et al.

Isolation and identification of pathogenic fungi and oomycetes associated with beans and cowpea root diseases in Oman
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The purpose of this study was to characterize fungal and oomycete species associated with root diseases of Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna unguiculata, V. radiata and Vicia faba in Oman. Root samples were collected from plants suffering from weakened growth and yellowing symptoms. Fungal species were isolated on 2.5% potato dextrose agar amended with 10 mg l−1 rifampicin and 200 mg l−1 of ampicillin and identification was based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal RNA gene (ITS rRNA), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF), beta-tubulin (TUB), calmodulin (CMD), actin (ACT). Isolations yielded 204 fungal isolates belonging to nine different genera, with most isolates belonging to Alternaria and Fusarium. Molecular identification revealed that the isolates belong to 20 fungal species, the most dominant of which was Alternaria alternata. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on each plant species. The inoculations on P. vulgaris revealed that Pythium aphanidermatum induced rotting, damping-off and wilt symptoms while Fusarium equiseti induced yellowing symptoms on the leaves. Rhizoctonia solani produced lesions and root rot on Vigna unguiculata while Curvularia muehlenbeckiae and Curvularia caricae-papayae produced root lesions on the roots of V. unguiculata and V. radiata, respectively. Alternaria alternata produced brown symptoms on the tap root of Vicia faba. P. aphanidermatum resulted in a significant reduction in the fresh weight, dry weight and shoot length of Phaseolus vulgaris. The study shows that several fungal species can be found associated with the roots of beans and Vigna unguiculata in Oman and can result in varying disease symptoms. This is the first report of root lesions produced by Curvularia muehlenbeckiae on the roots of V. unguiculata and by C. caricae-papayae on V. radiata worldwide.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Asma Al-Jaradi
creator: Issa Al-Mahmooli
creator: Rhonda Janke
creator: Sajeewa Maharachchikumbura
creator: Nadiya Al-Saady
creator: Abdullah M. Al-Sadi
subject: Microbiology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6064
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2018 Al-Jaradi et al.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to characterize fungal and oomycete species associated with root diseases of Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna unguiculata, V. radiata and Vicia faba in Oman. Root samples were collected from plants suffering from weakened growth and yellowing symptoms. Fungal species were isolated on 2.5% potato dextrose agar amended with 10 mg l−1 rifampicin and 200 mg l−1 of ampicillin and identification was based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal RNA gene (ITS rRNA), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF), beta-tubulin (TUB), calmodulin (CMD), actin (ACT). Isolations yielded 204 fungal isolates belonging to nine different genera, with most isolates belonging to Alternaria and Fusarium. Molecular identification revealed that the isolates belong to 20 fungal species, the most dominant of which was Alternaria alternata. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on each plant species. The inoculations on P. vulgaris revealed that Pythium aphanidermatum induced rotting, damping-off and wilt symptoms while Fusarium equiseti induced yellowing symptoms on the leaves. Rhizoctonia solani produced lesions and root rot on Vigna unguiculata while Curvularia muehlenbeckiae and Curvularia caricae-papayae produced root lesions on the roots of V. unguiculata and V. radiata, respectively. Alternaria alternata produced brown symptoms on the tap root of Vicia faba. P. aphanidermatum resulted in a significant reduction in the fresh weight, dry weight and shoot length of Phaseolus vulgaris. The study shows that several fungal species can be found associated with the roots of beans and Vigna unguiculata in Oman and can result in varying disease symptoms. This is the first report of root lesions produced by Curvularia muehlenbeckiae on the roots of V. unguiculata and by C. caricae-papayae on V. radiata worldwide.
bibliographic citation: Al-Jaradi et al. (2018) Isolation and identification of pathogenic fungi and oomycetes associated with beans and cowpea root diseases in Oman. PeerJ 6:e6064 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6064
date submitted: 2018-05-21
date accepted: 2018-11-03
issued: 2018-12-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Al-Jaradi
  given name: Asma
author list: Agent
  family name: Al-Mahmooli
  given name: Issa
author list: Agent
  family name: Janke
  given name: Rhonda
author list: Agent
  family name: Maharachchikumbura
  given name: Sajeewa
author list: Agent
  family name: Al-Saady
  given name: Nadiya
author list: Agent
  family name: Al-Sadi
  given name: Abdullah M.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6064
volume: 6
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2018-12-13
copyright: ©2018 Al-Jaradi et al.
attribution name: Al-Jaradi et al.

Rapid increases in soil pH solubilise organic matter, dramatically increase denitrification potential and strongly stimulate microorganisms from the Firmicutes phylum
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Rapid and transient changes in pH frequently occur in soil, impacting dissolved organic matter (DOM) and other chemical attributes such as redox and oxygen conditions. Although we have detailed knowledge on microbial adaptation to long-term pH changes, little is known about the response of soil microbial communities to rapid pH change, nor how excess DOM might affect key aspects of microbial N processing. We used potassium hydroxide (KOH) to induce a range of soil pH changes likely to be observed after livestock urine or urea fertilizer application to soil. We also focus on nitrate reductive processes by incubating microcosms under anaerobic conditions for up to 48 h. Soil pH was elevated from 4.7 to 6.7, 8.3 or 8.8, and up to 240-fold higher DOM was mobilized by KOH compared to the controls. This increased microbial metabolism but there was no correlation between DOM concentrations and CO2 respiration nor N-metabolism rates. Microbial communities became dominated by Firmicutes bacteria within 16 h, while few changes were observed in the fungal communities. Changes in N-biogeochemistry were rapid and denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) increased up to 25-fold with the highest rates occurring in microcosms at pH 8.3 that had been incubated for 24-hour prior to measuring DEA. Nitrous oxide reductase was inactive in the pH 4.7 controls but at pH 8.3 the reduction rates exceeded 3,000 ng N2–N g−1 h−1 in the presence of native DOM. Evidence for dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium and/or organic matter mineralisation was observed with ammonium increasing to concentrations up to 10 times the original native soil concentrations while significant concentrations of nitrate were utilised. Pure isolates from the microcosms were dominated by Bacillus spp. and exhibited varying nitrate reductive potential.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Craig R. Anderson
creator: Michelle E. Peterson
creator: Rebekah A. Frampton
creator: Simon R. Bulman
creator: Sandi Keenan
creator: Denis Curtin
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Microbiology
subject: Soil Science
subject: Biogeochemistry
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6090
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2018 Anderson et al.
abstract: Rapid and transient changes in pH frequently occur in soil, impacting dissolved organic matter (DOM) and other chemical attributes such as redox and oxygen conditions. Although we have detailed knowledge on microbial adaptation to long-term pH changes, little is known about the response of soil microbial communities to rapid pH change, nor how excess DOM might affect key aspects of microbial N processing. We used potassium hydroxide (KOH) to induce a range of soil pH changes likely to be observed after livestock urine or urea fertilizer application to soil. We also focus on nitrate reductive processes by incubating microcosms under anaerobic conditions for up to 48 h. Soil pH was elevated from 4.7 to 6.7, 8.3 or 8.8, and up to 240-fold higher DOM was mobilized by KOH compared to the controls. This increased microbial metabolism but there was no correlation between DOM concentrations and CO2 respiration nor N-metabolism rates. Microbial communities became dominated by Firmicutes bacteria within 16 h, while few changes were observed in the fungal communities. Changes in N-biogeochemistry were rapid and denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) increased up to 25-fold with the highest rates occurring in microcosms at pH 8.3 that had been incubated for 24-hour prior to measuring DEA. Nitrous oxide reductase was inactive in the pH 4.7 controls but at pH 8.3 the reduction rates exceeded 3,000 ng N2–N g−1 h−1 in the presence of native DOM. Evidence for dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium and/or organic matter mineralisation was observed with ammonium increasing to concentrations up to 10 times the original native soil concentrations while significant concentrations of nitrate were utilised. Pure isolates from the microcosms were dominated by Bacillus spp. and exhibited varying nitrate reductive potential.
bibliographic citation: Anderson et al. (2018) Rapid increases in soil pH solubilise organic matter, dramatically increase denitrification potential and strongly stimulate microorganisms from the Firmicutes phylum. PeerJ 6:e6090 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6090
date submitted: 2018-04-19
date accepted: 2018-11-08
issued: 2018-12-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Anderson
  given name: Craig R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Peterson
  given name: Michelle E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Frampton
  given name: Rebekah A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Bulman
  given name: Simon R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Keenan
  given name: Sandi
author list: Agent
  family name: Curtin
  given name: Denis
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6090
volume: 6
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2018-12-12
copyright: ©2018 Anderson et al.
attribution name: Anderson et al.

The impact of pneumococcal vaccination on pneumonia mortality among the elderly in Japan: a difference-in-difference study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background It is plausible that the routine immunization among infants using pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 (PCV13) from 2013 and among the elderly using pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23 (PPV23) from 2014 contributed to reducing the pneumonia mortality among the elderly in Japan. The present study aimed to estimate the causal effect of this vaccination on pneumonia mortality, using the available cause-of-death data and employing a difference-in-difference (DID) design. Methods Two types of mortality data, that is, prefecture-dependent and age- and gender-specific mortality data, from 2003 to 2017 were retrieved. We used mortality due to malignant neoplasm and heart disease as control groups and employed a DID design with an assumed parallel mortality trend between pneumonia and control group mortality since 2013 to estimate the causal effect of pneumococcal vaccination from 2014. Results Our estimation based on malignant neoplasm and heart disease as controls indicated that the reduced pneumonia mortality in 2017 owing to pneumococcal vaccination was as large as 41.9 (33.2, 50.6) and 31.2 (23.8, 38.6) per 100,000 individuals, respectively. The largest mortality reduction was observed for the oldest group (aged ≥90 years), especially among men. Discussion The pneumococcal vaccination program, perhaps mainly represented by high vaccination coverage of PCV13 among children and partly by PPV23 administration with low coverage among the elderly in Japan, was shown to have reduced the pneumonia mortality in the elderly at the population level.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Sung-mok Jung
creator: Hyojung Lee
creator: Hiroshi Nishiura
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6085
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2018 Jung et al.
abstract: Background It is plausible that the routine immunization among infants using pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13 (PCV13) from 2013 and among the elderly using pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23 (PPV23) from 2014 contributed to reducing the pneumonia mortality among the elderly in Japan. The present study aimed to estimate the causal effect of this vaccination on pneumonia mortality, using the available cause-of-death data and employing a difference-in-difference (DID) design. Methods Two types of mortality data, that is, prefecture-dependent and age- and gender-specific mortality data, from 2003 to 2017 were retrieved. We used mortality due to malignant neoplasm and heart disease as control groups and employed a DID design with an assumed parallel mortality trend between pneumonia and control group mortality since 2013 to estimate the causal effect of pneumococcal vaccination from 2014. Results Our estimation based on malignant neoplasm and heart disease as controls indicated that the reduced pneumonia mortality in 2017 owing to pneumococcal vaccination was as large as 41.9 (33.2, 50.6) and 31.2 (23.8, 38.6) per 100,000 individuals, respectively. The largest mortality reduction was observed for the oldest group (aged ≥90 years), especially among men. Discussion The pneumococcal vaccination program, perhaps mainly represented by high vaccination coverage of PCV13 among children and partly by PPV23 administration with low coverage among the elderly in Japan, was shown to have reduced the pneumonia mortality in the elderly at the population level.
bibliographic citation: Jung et al. (2018) The impact of pneumococcal vaccination on pneumonia mortality among the elderly in Japan: a difference-in-difference study. PeerJ 6:e6085 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6085
date submitted: 2018-08-30
date accepted: 2018-11-06
issued: 2018-12-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Jung
  given name: Sung-mok
author list: Agent
  family name: Lee
  given name: Hyojung
author list: Agent
  family name: Nishiura
  given name: Hiroshi
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6085
volume: 6
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2018-12-12
copyright: © 2018 Jung et al.
attribution name: Jung et al.

Ranaviruses and reptiles
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Ranaviruses can infect many vertebrate classes including fish, amphibians and reptiles, but for the most part, research has been focused on non-reptilian hosts, amphibians in particular. More recently, reports of ranaviral infections of reptiles are increasing with over 12 families of reptiles currently susceptible to ranaviral infection. Reptiles are infected by ranaviruses that are genetically similar to, or the same as, the viruses that infect amphibians and fish; however, physiological and ecological differences result in differences in study designs. Although ranaviral disease in reptiles is often influenced by host species, viral strain and environmental differences, general trends in pathogenesis are emerging. More experimental studies using a variety of reptile species, life stages and routes of transmission are required to unravel the complexity of wild ranavirus transmission. Further, our understanding of the reptilian immune response to ranaviral infection is still lacking, although the considerable amount of work conducted in amphibians will serve as a useful guide for future studies in reptiles.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Wytamma Wirth
creator: Lin Schwarzkopf
creator: Lee F. Skerratt
creator: Ellen Ariel
subject: Veterinary Medicine
subject: Virology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6083
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2018 Wirth et al.
abstract: Ranaviruses can infect many vertebrate classes including fish, amphibians and reptiles, but for the most part, research has been focused on non-reptilian hosts, amphibians in particular. More recently, reports of ranaviral infections of reptiles are increasing with over 12 families of reptiles currently susceptible to ranaviral infection. Reptiles are infected by ranaviruses that are genetically similar to, or the same as, the viruses that infect amphibians and fish; however, physiological and ecological differences result in differences in study designs. Although ranaviral disease in reptiles is often influenced by host species, viral strain and environmental differences, general trends in pathogenesis are emerging. More experimental studies using a variety of reptile species, life stages and routes of transmission are required to unravel the complexity of wild ranavirus transmission. Further, our understanding of the reptilian immune response to ranaviral infection is still lacking, although the considerable amount of work conducted in amphibians will serve as a useful guide for future studies in reptiles.
bibliographic citation: Wirth et al. (2018) Ranaviruses and reptiles. PeerJ 6:e6083 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6083
date submitted: 2018-03-28
date accepted: 2018-11-06
issued: 2018-12-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wirth
  given name: Wytamma
author list: Agent
  family name: Schwarzkopf
  given name: Lin
author list: Agent
  family name: Skerratt
  given name: Lee F.
author list: Agent
  family name: Ariel
  given name: Ellen
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6083
volume: 6
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2018-12-12
copyright: ©2018 Wirth et al.
attribution name: Wirth et al.

Short-term interval aerobic exercise training does not improve memory functioning in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis—a randomized controlled trial
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Only few aerobic exercise intervention trials specifically targeting cognitive functioning have been performed in multiple sclerosis. Objective and Methods This randomized controlled trial with 34 patients in the intervention group (IG) (mean: 38.2 years (±9.6)) and 34 patients in the control group (CG) (mean: 39.6 years (±9.7)) aimed to determine the effects of aerobic exercise on cognition in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The primary outcome was verbal learning assessed by the verbal learning and memory test (VLMT). Patients were randomized to an IG or a waitlist CG. Patients in the IG exercised according to an individually tailored training schedule (with two to three sessions per week for 12 weeks). The primary analysis was carried out using the intention-to-treat (ITT) sample with ANCOVA adjusting for baseline scores. Results A total of 77 patients with RRMS were screened and 68 participants randomized (CG n = 34; IG n = 34). The sample comprised 68% females, had a mean age of 39 years, a mean disease duration of 6.3 years, and a mean expanded disability status scale of 1.8. No significant effects were detected in the ITT analysis for the primary endpoint VLMT or any other cognitive measures. Moreover, no significant treatment effects were observed for quality of life, fatigue, or depressive symptoms. Conclusion This study failed to demonstrate beneficial effects of aerobic exercise on cognition in RRMS. The trial was prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02005237).
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Lisa Baquet
creator: Helge Hasselmann
creator: Stefan Patra
creator: Jan-Patrick Stellmann
creator: Eik Vettorazzi
creator: Andreas K. Engel
creator: Sina Cathérine Rosenkranz
creator: Jana Poettgen
creator: Stefan Michael Gold
creator: Karl-Heinz Schulz
creator: Christoph Heesen
subject: Clinical Trials
subject: Immunology
subject: Neurology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.6037
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2018 Baquet et al.
abstract: Background Only few aerobic exercise intervention trials specifically targeting cognitive functioning have been performed in multiple sclerosis. Objective and Methods This randomized controlled trial with 34 patients in the intervention group (IG) (mean: 38.2 years (±9.6)) and 34 patients in the control group (CG) (mean: 39.6 years (±9.7)) aimed to determine the effects of aerobic exercise on cognition in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The primary outcome was verbal learning assessed by the verbal learning and memory test (VLMT). Patients were randomized to an IG or a waitlist CG. Patients in the IG exercised according to an individually tailored training schedule (with two to three sessions per week for 12 weeks). The primary analysis was carried out using the intention-to-treat (ITT) sample with ANCOVA adjusting for baseline scores. Results A total of 77 patients with RRMS were screened and 68 participants randomized (CG n = 34; IG n = 34). The sample comprised 68% females, had a mean age of 39 years, a mean disease duration of 6.3 years, and a mean expanded disability status scale of 1.8. No significant effects were detected in the ITT analysis for the primary endpoint VLMT or any other cognitive measures. Moreover, no significant treatment effects were observed for quality of life, fatigue, or depressive symptoms. Conclusion This study failed to demonstrate beneficial effects of aerobic exercise on cognition in RRMS. The trial was prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02005237).
bibliographic citation: Baquet et al. (2018) Short-term interval aerobic exercise training does not improve memory functioning in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis—a randomized controlled trial. PeerJ 6:e6037 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6037
date submitted: 2018-06-20
date accepted: 2018-10-30
issued: 2018-12-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Baquet
  given name: Lisa
author list: Agent
  family name: Hasselmann
  given name: Helge
author list: Agent
  family name: Patra
  given name: Stefan
author list: Agent
  family name: Stellmann
  given name: Jan-Patrick
author list: Agent
  family name: Vettorazzi
  given name: Eik
author list: Agent
  family name: Engel
  given name: Andreas K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Rosenkranz
  given name: Sina Cathérine
author list: Agent
  family name: Poettgen
  given name: Jana
author list: Agent
  family name: Gold
  given name: Stefan Michael
author list: Agent
  family name: Schulz
  given name: Karl-Heinz
author list: Agent
  family name: Heesen
  given name: Christoph
doi: 10.7717/peerj.6037
volume: 6
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2018-12-12
copyright: © 2018 Baquet et al.
attribution name: Baquet et al.

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