PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Pheromones of three ambrosia beetles in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex: ratios and preferences
items: Learning performance and brain structure of artificially-reared honey bees fed with different quantities of food
items: Oxygen-limited metabolism in the methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1C
items: The benefits of Tai Chi and brisk walking for cognitive function and fitness in older adults
items: Influence of current climate, historical climate stability and topography on species richness and endemism in Mesoamerican geophyte plants
items: Effects of GnRHa treatment during vitellogenesis on the reproductive physiology of thermally challenged female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
items: First record of the family Sphyrapodidae Guţu, 1980 (Crustacea: Peracarida: Apseudomorpha) with the description of a new species of Sphyrapus from the Colombian Caribbean
items: The neuroprotective effect of nicotine in Parkinson’s disease models is associated with inhibiting PARP-1 and caspase-3 cleavage
items: Range expansion of a fouling species indirectly impacts local species interactions
items: Decreased quality of life and treatment satisfaction in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult

Pheromones of three ambrosia beetles in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex: ratios and preferences
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Three cryptic species in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex were reared in laboratory colonies and investigated for the presence of pheromones. Collections of volatiles from combinations of diet, fungus, beetles, and galleries from polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp. #1) revealed the presence of 2-heneicosanone and 2-tricosanone only in the presence of beetles, regardless of sex. Subsequent examination of volatiles from the other two species, tea shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp. #2) and Kuroshio shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp. #5), revealed these two ketones were present in all three species but in different ratios. In dual choice olfactometer behavioral bioassays, mature mated females were strongly attracted to a synthetic binary blend of ketones matching their own natural ratios. However, females in each species were repelled by ketone blends in ratios corresponding to the other two species. Males of each species responded similarly to females when presented with ratios matching their own or the other two species. The presence of these compounds in the three beetle species, in ratios unique to each species, and their strong species-specific attraction and repellency, suggests they are pheromones. The ecological function of these pheromones is discussed. In addition to the pheromones, the previously known attractant (1S,4R)-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (also known as quercivorol) was discovered in the presence of the fungal symbionts, but not in association with the beetles. Quercivorol was tested in a dual-choice olfactometer and was strongly attractive to all three species. This evidence suggests quercivorol functions as a kairomone for members of the E. fornicatus species complex, likely produced by the symbiotic fungi.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Miriam F. Cooperband
creator: Allard A. Cossé
creator: Tappey H. Jones
creator: Daniel Carrillo
creator: Kaitlin Cleary
creator: Isaiah Canlas
creator: Richard Stouthamer
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Entomology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3957
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Cooperband et al.
abstract: Three cryptic species in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex were reared in laboratory colonies and investigated for the presence of pheromones. Collections of volatiles from combinations of diet, fungus, beetles, and galleries from polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp. #1) revealed the presence of 2-heneicosanone and 2-tricosanone only in the presence of beetles, regardless of sex. Subsequent examination of volatiles from the other two species, tea shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp. #2) and Kuroshio shot hole borer (Euwallacea sp. #5), revealed these two ketones were present in all three species but in different ratios. In dual choice olfactometer behavioral bioassays, mature mated females were strongly attracted to a synthetic binary blend of ketones matching their own natural ratios. However, females in each species were repelled by ketone blends in ratios corresponding to the other two species. Males of each species responded similarly to females when presented with ratios matching their own or the other two species. The presence of these compounds in the three beetle species, in ratios unique to each species, and their strong species-specific attraction and repellency, suggests they are pheromones. The ecological function of these pheromones is discussed. In addition to the pheromones, the previously known attractant (1S,4R)-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (also known as quercivorol) was discovered in the presence of the fungal symbionts, but not in association with the beetles. Quercivorol was tested in a dual-choice olfactometer and was strongly attractive to all three species. This evidence suggests quercivorol functions as a kairomone for members of the E. fornicatus species complex, likely produced by the symbiotic fungi.
bibliographic citation: Cooperband et al. (2017) Pheromones of three ambrosia beetles in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex: ratios and preferences. PeerJ 5:e3957 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3957
date submitted: 2017-08-21
date accepted: 2017-10-03
issued: 2017-10-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Cooperband
  given name: Miriam F.
author list: Agent
  family name: Cossé
  given name: Allard A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Jones
  given name: Tappey H.
author list: Agent
  family name: Carrillo
  given name: Daniel
author list: Agent
  family name: Cleary
  given name: Kaitlin
author list: Agent
  family name: Canlas
  given name: Isaiah
author list: Agent
  family name: Stouthamer
  given name: Richard
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3957
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-10-23
copyright: ©2017 Cooperband et al.
attribution name: Cooperband et al.

Learning performance and brain structure of artificially-reared honey bees fed with different quantities of food
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Artificial rearing of honey bee larvae is an established method which enables to fully standardize the rearing environment and to manipulate the supplied diet to the brood. However, there are no studies which compare learning performance or neuroanatomic differences of artificially-reared (in-lab) bees in comparison with their in-hive reared counterparts. Methods Here we tested how different quantities of food during larval development affect body size, brain morphology and learning ability of adult honey bees. We used in-lab rearing to be able to manipulate the total quantity of food consumed during larval development. After hatching, a subset of the bees was taken for which we made 3D reconstructions of the brains using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. Learning ability and memory formation of the remaining bees was tested in a differential olfactory conditioning experiment. Finally, we evaluated how bees reared with different quantities of artificial diet compared to in-hive reared bees. Results Thorax and head size of in-lab reared honey bees, when fed the standard diet of 160 µl or less, were slightly smaller than hive bees. The brain structure analyses showed that artificially reared bees had smaller mushroom body (MB) lateral calyces than their in-hive counterparts, independently of the quantity of food they received. However, they showed the same total brain size and the same associative learning ability as in-hive reared bees. In terms of mid-term memory, but not early long-term memory, they performed even better than the in-hive control. Discussion We have demonstrated that bees that are reared artificially (according to the Aupinel protocol) and kept in lab-conditions perform the same or even better than their in-hive sisters in an olfactory conditioning experiment even though their lateral calyces were consistently smaller at emergence. The applied combination of experimental manipulation during the larval phase plus subsequent behavioral an…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Karin Steijven
creator: Johannes Spaethe
creator: Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
creator: Stephan Härtel
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Ecology
subject: Entomology
subject: Neuroscience
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3858
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Steijven et al.
abstract: Background Artificial rearing of honey bee larvae is an established method which enables to fully standardize the rearing environment and to manipulate the supplied diet to the brood. However, there are no studies which compare learning performance or neuroanatomic differences of artificially-reared (in-lab) bees in comparison with their in-hive reared counterparts. Methods Here we tested how different quantities of food during larval development affect body size, brain morphology and learning ability of adult honey bees. We used in-lab rearing to be able to manipulate the total quantity of food consumed during larval development. After hatching, a subset of the bees was taken for which we made 3D reconstructions of the brains using confocal laser-scanning microscopy. Learning ability and memory formation of the remaining bees was tested in a differential olfactory conditioning experiment. Finally, we evaluated how bees reared with different quantities of artificial diet compared to in-hive reared bees. Results Thorax and head size of in-lab reared honey bees, when fed the standard diet of 160 µl or less, were slightly smaller than hive bees. The brain structure analyses showed that artificially reared bees had smaller mushroom body (MB) lateral calyces than their in-hive counterparts, independently of the quantity of food they received. However, they showed the same total brain size and the same associative learning ability as in-hive reared bees. In terms of mid-term memory, but not early long-term memory, they performed even better than the in-hive control. Discussion We have demonstrated that bees that are reared artificially (according to the Aupinel protocol) and kept in lab-conditions perform the same or even better than their in-hive sisters in an olfactory conditioning experiment even though their lateral calyces were consistently smaller at emergence. The applied combination of experimental manipulation during the larval phase plus subsequent behavioral an…
bibliographic citation: Steijven et al. (2017) Learning performance and brain structure of artificially-reared honey bees fed with different quantities of food. PeerJ 5:e3858 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3858
date submitted: 2015-08-31
date accepted: 2017-09-06
issued: 2017-10-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Steijven
  given name: Karin
author list: Agent
  family name: Spaethe
  given name: Johannes
author list: Agent
  family name: Steffan-Dewenter
  given name: Ingolf
author list: Agent
  family name: Härtel
  given name: Stephan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3858
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-10-23
copyright: ©2017 Steijven et al.
attribution name: Steijven et al.

Oxygen-limited metabolism in the methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1C
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The bacteria that grow on methane aerobically (methanotrophs) support populations of non-methanotrophs in the natural environment by excreting methane-derived carbon. One group of excreted compounds are short-chain organic acids, generated in highest abundance when cultures are grown under O2-starvation. We examined this O2-starvation condition in the methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1. The M. buryatense 5GB1 genome contains homologs for all enzymes necessary for a fermentative metabolism, and we hypothesize that a metabolic switch to fermentation can be induced by low-O2 conditions. Under prolonged O2-starvation in a closed vial, this methanotroph increases the amount of acetate excreted about 10-fold, but the formate, lactate, and succinate excreted do not respond to this culture condition. In bioreactor cultures, the amount of each excreted product is similar across a range of growth rates and limiting substrates, including O2-limitation. A set of mutants were generated in genes predicted to be involved in generating or regulating excretion of these compounds and tested for growth defects, and changes in excretion products. The phenotypes and associated metabolic flux modeling suggested that in M. buryatense 5GB1, formate and acetate are excreted in response to redox imbalance. Our results indicate that even under O2-starvation conditions, M. buryatense 5GB1 maintains a metabolic state representing a combination of fermentation and respiration metabolism.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Alexey Gilman
creator: Yanfen Fu
creator: Melissa Hendershott
creator: Frances Chu
creator: Aaron W. Puri
creator: Amanda Lee Smith
creator: Mitchell Pesesky
creator: Rose Lieberman
creator: David A.C. Beck
creator: Mary E. Lidstrom
subject: Ecology
subject: Microbiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3945
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Gilman et al.
abstract: The bacteria that grow on methane aerobically (methanotrophs) support populations of non-methanotrophs in the natural environment by excreting methane-derived carbon. One group of excreted compounds are short-chain organic acids, generated in highest abundance when cultures are grown under O2-starvation. We examined this O2-starvation condition in the methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1. The M. buryatense 5GB1 genome contains homologs for all enzymes necessary for a fermentative metabolism, and we hypothesize that a metabolic switch to fermentation can be induced by low-O2 conditions. Under prolonged O2-starvation in a closed vial, this methanotroph increases the amount of acetate excreted about 10-fold, but the formate, lactate, and succinate excreted do not respond to this culture condition. In bioreactor cultures, the amount of each excreted product is similar across a range of growth rates and limiting substrates, including O2-limitation. A set of mutants were generated in genes predicted to be involved in generating or regulating excretion of these compounds and tested for growth defects, and changes in excretion products. The phenotypes and associated metabolic flux modeling suggested that in M. buryatense 5GB1, formate and acetate are excreted in response to redox imbalance. Our results indicate that even under O2-starvation conditions, M. buryatense 5GB1 maintains a metabolic state representing a combination of fermentation and respiration metabolism.
bibliographic citation: Gilman et al. (2017) Oxygen-limited metabolism in the methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1C. PeerJ 5:e3945 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3945
date submitted: 2017-08-28
date accepted: 2017-09-30
issued: 2017-10-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Gilman
  given name: Alexey
author list: Agent
  family name: Fu
  given name: Yanfen
author list: Agent
  family name: Hendershott
  given name: Melissa
author list: Agent
  family name: Chu
  given name: Frances
author list: Agent
  family name: Puri
  given name: Aaron W.
author list: Agent
  family name: Smith
  given name: Amanda Lee
author list: Agent
  family name: Pesesky
  given name: Mitchell
author list: Agent
  family name: Lieberman
  given name: Rose
author list: Agent
  family name: Beck
  given name: David A.C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Lidstrom
  given name: Mary E.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3945
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-10-20
copyright: ©2017 Gilman et al.
attribution name: Gilman et al.

The benefits of Tai Chi and brisk walking for cognitive function and fitness in older adults
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of exercises with different cognitive demands for cognitive functions (Executive and non-Executive) in healthy older adults. A cross-sectional design was adopted. In total, 84 healthy older adults were enrolled in the study. They were categorized into the Tai Chi group (TG), the brisk walking group (BG) or the control group (CG). Each participant performed the Stroop task and a digit comparison task. The Stroop task included the following three conditions: a naming condition, an inhibition condition and an executive condition. There were two experimental conditions in the digit comparison task: the non-delay condition and the delay condition. The results indicated that participants of the TG and BG revealed significant better performance than the CG in the executive condition of cognitive tasks and fitness. There was no significant difference of reaction time (RT) and accuracy rate in the inhibition and delay conditions of cognitive tasks and fitness between the TG and BG. The TG showed shorter reaction time in the naming and the executive conditions, and more accurate in the inhibition conditions than the BG. These findings demonstrated that regular participation in brisk walking and Tai Chi have significant beneficial effects on executive function and fitness. However, due to the high cognitive demands of the exercise, Tai Chi benefit cognitive functions (Executive and non-Executive) in older adults more than brisk walking does. Further studies should research the underlying mechanisms at the behavioural and neuroelectric levels, providing more evidence to explain the effect of high-cognitive demands exercise on different processing levels of cognition.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Zhiguang Ji
creator: Anmin Li
creator: Tian Feng
creator: Xiaolei Liu
creator: Yihong You
creator: Fanying Meng
creator: Ruoqing Wang
creator: Jialing Lu
creator: Chunhua Zhang
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Geriatrics
subject: Neurology
subject: Ophthalmology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3943
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Ji et al.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of exercises with different cognitive demands for cognitive functions (Executive and non-Executive) in healthy older adults. A cross-sectional design was adopted. In total, 84 healthy older adults were enrolled in the study. They were categorized into the Tai Chi group (TG), the brisk walking group (BG) or the control group (CG). Each participant performed the Stroop task and a digit comparison task. The Stroop task included the following three conditions: a naming condition, an inhibition condition and an executive condition. There were two experimental conditions in the digit comparison task: the non-delay condition and the delay condition. The results indicated that participants of the TG and BG revealed significant better performance than the CG in the executive condition of cognitive tasks and fitness. There was no significant difference of reaction time (RT) and accuracy rate in the inhibition and delay conditions of cognitive tasks and fitness between the TG and BG. The TG showed shorter reaction time in the naming and the executive conditions, and more accurate in the inhibition conditions than the BG. These findings demonstrated that regular participation in brisk walking and Tai Chi have significant beneficial effects on executive function and fitness. However, due to the high cognitive demands of the exercise, Tai Chi benefit cognitive functions (Executive and non-Executive) in older adults more than brisk walking does. Further studies should research the underlying mechanisms at the behavioural and neuroelectric levels, providing more evidence to explain the effect of high-cognitive demands exercise on different processing levels of cognition.
bibliographic citation: Ji et al. (2017) The benefits of Tai Chi and brisk walking for cognitive function and fitness in older adults. PeerJ 5:e3943 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3943
date submitted: 2017-06-13
date accepted: 2017-09-28
issued: 2017-10-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ji
  given name: Zhiguang
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Anmin
author list: Agent
  family name: Feng
  given name: Tian
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Xiaolei
author list: Agent
  family name: You
  given name: Yihong
author list: Agent
  family name: Meng
  given name: Fanying
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Ruoqing
author list: Agent
  family name: Lu
  given name: Jialing
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Chunhua
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3943
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-10-20
copyright: ©2017 Ji et al.
attribution name: Ji et al.

Influence of current climate, historical climate stability and topography on species richness and endemism in Mesoamerican geophyte plants
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background A number of biotic and abiotic factors have been proposed as drivers of geographic variation in species richness. As biotic elements, inter-specific interactions are the most widely recognized. Among abiotic factors, in particular for plants, climate and topographic variables as well as their historical variation have been correlated with species richness and endemism. In this study, we determine the extent to which the species richness and endemism of monocot geophyte species in Mesoamerica is predicted by current climate, historical climate stability and topography. Methods Using approximately 2,650 occurrence points representing 507 geophyte taxa, species richness (SR) and weighted endemism (WE) were estimated at a geographic scale using grids of 0.5 × 0.5 decimal degrees resolution using Mexico as the geographic extent. SR and WE were also estimated using species distributions inferred from ecological niche modeling for species with at least five spatially unique occurrence points. Current climate, current to Last Glacial Maximum temperature, precipitation stability and topographic features were used as predictor variables on multiple spatial regression analyses (i.e., spatial autoregressive models, SAR) using the estimates of SR and WE as response variables. The standardized coefficients of the predictor variables that were significant in the regression models were utilized to understand the observed patterns of species richness and endemism. Results Our estimates of SR and WE based on direct occurrence data and distribution modeling generally yielded similar results, though estimates based on ecological niche modeling indicated broader distribution areas for SR and WE than when species richness was directly estimated using georeferenced coordinates. The SR and WE of monocot geophytes were highest along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, in both cases with higher levels in the central area of this mountain chain. Richness and endemism were also elevate…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Victoria Sosa
creator: Israel Loera
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Biogeography
subject: Ecology
subject: Environmental Sciences
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3932
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Sosa and Loera
abstract: Background A number of biotic and abiotic factors have been proposed as drivers of geographic variation in species richness. As biotic elements, inter-specific interactions are the most widely recognized. Among abiotic factors, in particular for plants, climate and topographic variables as well as their historical variation have been correlated with species richness and endemism. In this study, we determine the extent to which the species richness and endemism of monocot geophyte species in Mesoamerica is predicted by current climate, historical climate stability and topography. Methods Using approximately 2,650 occurrence points representing 507 geophyte taxa, species richness (SR) and weighted endemism (WE) were estimated at a geographic scale using grids of 0.5 × 0.5 decimal degrees resolution using Mexico as the geographic extent. SR and WE were also estimated using species distributions inferred from ecological niche modeling for species with at least five spatially unique occurrence points. Current climate, current to Last Glacial Maximum temperature, precipitation stability and topographic features were used as predictor variables on multiple spatial regression analyses (i.e., spatial autoregressive models, SAR) using the estimates of SR and WE as response variables. The standardized coefficients of the predictor variables that were significant in the regression models were utilized to understand the observed patterns of species richness and endemism. Results Our estimates of SR and WE based on direct occurrence data and distribution modeling generally yielded similar results, though estimates based on ecological niche modeling indicated broader distribution areas for SR and WE than when species richness was directly estimated using georeferenced coordinates. The SR and WE of monocot geophytes were highest along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, in both cases with higher levels in the central area of this mountain chain. Richness and endemism were also elevate…
bibliographic citation: Sosa et al. (2017) Influence of current climate, historical climate stability and topography on species richness and endemism in Mesoamerican geophyte plants. PeerJ 5:e3932 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3932
date submitted: 2017-05-31
date accepted: 2017-09-26
issued: 2017-10-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sosa
  given name: Victoria
author list: Agent
  family name: Loera
  given name: Israel
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3932
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-10-20
copyright: ©2017 Sosa and Loera
attribution name: Sosa and Loera

Effects of GnRHa treatment during vitellogenesis on the reproductive physiology of thermally challenged female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Tasmanian Atlantic salmon (S. salar) broodstock can experience temperatures above 20 °C, which impairs reproductive development and inhibits ovulation. The present study investigated the prolonged use of gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) during vitellogenesis as a means of maintaining endocrine function and promoting egg quality at elevated temperature in maiden and repeat spawning S. salar. GnRHa-treatment during vitellogenesis did not compensate for the negative effects of thermal challenge on the timing of ovulation, egg size, egg fertility or embryo survival in any fish maintained at 22 °C relative to 14 °C. The lack of effectiveness was reflected by the endocrine data, as plasma follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone levels were not different between treated and untreated groups at 22 °C. Furthermore, plasma testosterone and E2 levels were unchanged in GnRHa-treated fish at 22 °C, and plasma levels were generally lower in both groups maintained at 22 °C relative to 14 °C. Transcription of vitellogenin, and zona pellucida B and C was not enhanced in GnRHa-treated fish relative to untreated fish at 22 °C, presumably due to observed suppression of plasma E2. These results indicate that thermal impairment of reproduction is likely to occur on multiple levels, and is difficult to overcome via hormonal manipulation.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Kelli Anderson
creator: Ned Pankhurst
creator: Harry King
creator: Abigail Elizur
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Molecular Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3898
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Anderson et al.
abstract: Tasmanian Atlantic salmon (S. salar) broodstock can experience temperatures above 20 °C, which impairs reproductive development and inhibits ovulation. The present study investigated the prolonged use of gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) during vitellogenesis as a means of maintaining endocrine function and promoting egg quality at elevated temperature in maiden and repeat spawning S. salar. GnRHa-treatment during vitellogenesis did not compensate for the negative effects of thermal challenge on the timing of ovulation, egg size, egg fertility or embryo survival in any fish maintained at 22 °C relative to 14 °C. The lack of effectiveness was reflected by the endocrine data, as plasma follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone levels were not different between treated and untreated groups at 22 °C. Furthermore, plasma testosterone and E2 levels were unchanged in GnRHa-treated fish at 22 °C, and plasma levels were generally lower in both groups maintained at 22 °C relative to 14 °C. Transcription of vitellogenin, and zona pellucida B and C was not enhanced in GnRHa-treated fish relative to untreated fish at 22 °C, presumably due to observed suppression of plasma E2. These results indicate that thermal impairment of reproduction is likely to occur on multiple levels, and is difficult to overcome via hormonal manipulation.
bibliographic citation: Anderson et al. (2017) Effects of GnRHa treatment during vitellogenesis on the reproductive physiology of thermally challenged female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). PeerJ 5:e3898 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3898
date submitted: 2017-07-05
date accepted: 2017-09-16
issued: 2017-10-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Anderson
  given name: Kelli
author list: Agent
  family name: Pankhurst
  given name: Ned
author list: Agent
  family name: King
  given name: Harry
author list: Agent
  family name: Elizur
  given name: Abigail
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3898
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-10-20
copyright: ©2017 Anderson et al.
attribution name: Anderson et al.

First record of the family Sphyrapodidae Guţu, 1980 (Crustacea: Peracarida: Apseudomorpha) with the description of a new species of Sphyrapus from the Colombian Caribbean
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: A new sphyrapodid tanaidacean, Sphyrapus caribensis sp. nov. is described and a new record of Kudinopasternakia siegi is reported for the Colombian Caribbean based on samples collected during cruises in 2014–2015. The new species appears to be most closely related to the northeast Atlantic species, Sphyrapus malleolus. Sphyrapus caribensis can be distinguished from Sphyrapus malleolus by a combination of characters, including the maxillipedal basis without long distal seta, the number of setae on the distoventral margin of pereopods 1 and 2, and the number of plumose seta on the pleopod basis. A key for the separation of Sphyrapus species is presented.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Andrés G. Morales-Núñez
creator: Catalina Morales-Ruiz
creator: Néstor E. Ardila
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3947
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Morales-Núñez et al.
abstract: A new sphyrapodid tanaidacean, Sphyrapus caribensis sp. nov. is described and a new record of Kudinopasternakia siegi is reported for the Colombian Caribbean based on samples collected during cruises in 2014–2015. The new species appears to be most closely related to the northeast Atlantic species, Sphyrapus malleolus. Sphyrapus caribensis can be distinguished from Sphyrapus malleolus by a combination of characters, including the maxillipedal basis without long distal seta, the number of setae on the distoventral margin of pereopods 1 and 2, and the number of plumose seta on the pleopod basis. A key for the separation of Sphyrapus species is presented.
bibliographic citation: Morales-Núñez et al. (2017) First record of the family Sphyrapodidae Guţu, 1980 (Crustacea: Peracarida: Apseudomorpha) with the description of a new species of Sphyrapus from the Colombian Caribbean. PeerJ 5:e3947 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3947
date submitted: 2016-06-16
date accepted: 2017-09-30
issued: 2017-10-19
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Morales-Núñez
  given name: Andrés G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Morales-Ruiz
  given name: Catalina
author list: Agent
  family name: Ardila
  given name: Néstor E.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3947
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-10-19
copyright: © 2017 Morales-Núñez et al.
attribution name: Morales-Núñez et al.

The neuroprotective effect of nicotine in Parkinson’s disease models is associated with inhibiting PARP-1 and caspase-3 cleavage
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Clinical evidence points to neuroprotective effects of smoking in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the pharmacological pathways involved in these neuroprotective effects, which could provide novel ideas for developing targeted neuroprotective treatments for PD. We used the ETC complex I inhibitor methylpyridinium ion (MPP+) to induce cell death in SH-SY5Y cells as a cellular model for PD and found that nicotine inhibits cell death. Using choline as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist, we found that nAChR stimulation was sufficient to protect SH-SY5Y cells against cell death from MPP+. Blocking α7 nAChR with methyllycaconitine (MLA) prevented the protective effects of nicotine, demonstrating that these receptors are necessary for the neuroprotective effects of nicotine. The neuroprotective effect of nicotine involves other pathways relevant to PD. Cleaved Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and cleaved caspase-3 were decreased by nicotine in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned mice and in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells. In conclusion, our data indicate that nicotine likely exerts neuroprotective effects in PD through the α7 nAChR and downstream pathways including PARP-1 and caspase-3. This knowledge could be pursued in future research to develop neuroprotective treatments for PD.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Justin Y.D. Lu
creator: Ping Su
creator: James E.M. Barber
creator: Joanne E. Nash
creator: Anh D. Le
creator: Fang Liu
creator: Albert H.C. Wong
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Neurology
subject: Pharmacology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3933
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Lu et al.
abstract: Clinical evidence points to neuroprotective effects of smoking in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the pharmacological pathways involved in these neuroprotective effects, which could provide novel ideas for developing targeted neuroprotective treatments for PD. We used the ETC complex I inhibitor methylpyridinium ion (MPP+) to induce cell death in SH-SY5Y cells as a cellular model for PD and found that nicotine inhibits cell death. Using choline as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist, we found that nAChR stimulation was sufficient to protect SH-SY5Y cells against cell death from MPP+. Blocking α7 nAChR with methyllycaconitine (MLA) prevented the protective effects of nicotine, demonstrating that these receptors are necessary for the neuroprotective effects of nicotine. The neuroprotective effect of nicotine involves other pathways relevant to PD. Cleaved Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and cleaved caspase-3 were decreased by nicotine in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned mice and in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells. In conclusion, our data indicate that nicotine likely exerts neuroprotective effects in PD through the α7 nAChR and downstream pathways including PARP-1 and caspase-3. This knowledge could be pursued in future research to develop neuroprotective treatments for PD.
bibliographic citation: Lu et al. (2017) The neuroprotective effect of nicotine in Parkinson’s disease models is associated with inhibiting PARP-1 and caspase-3 cleavage. PeerJ 5:e3933 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3933
date submitted: 2017-05-24
date accepted: 2017-09-26
issued: 2017-10-19
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lu
  given name: Justin Y.D.
author list: Agent
  family name: Su
  given name: Ping
author list: Agent
  family name: Barber
  given name: James E.M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Nash
  given name: Joanne E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Le
  given name: Anh D.
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Fang
author list: Agent
  family name: Wong
  given name: Albert H.C.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3933
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-10-19
copyright: ©2017 Lu et al.
attribution name: Lu et al.

Range expansion of a fouling species indirectly impacts local species interactions
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: We investigated how recent changes in the distribution and abundance of a fouling organism affected the strength of interactions between a commercially important foundation species and a common predator. Increases in the abundance of boring sponges that bioerode the calcified shells of oysters and other shelled organisms have been attributed to increased salinization of estuarine ecosystems. We tested the hypothesis that fouling by boring sponges will change the interaction strength between oysters and a common predator (stone crabs). We generated five oyster density treatments crossed with two sponge treatments (sponge and no sponge). We contrasted the interaction strength between stone crabs and fouled and non-fouled oysters by comparing the parameters of fitted functional response curves based on Rogers random predation model. We found that fouled oysters suffered higher predation from stone crabs, and that the increased predation risk stemmed from a reduction in the handling time needed to consume the fouled oysters. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the effects of abiotic changes on both the composition of ecological communities, and on the strengths of direct and indirect interactions among species. Global climate change is altering local ecosystems in complex ways, and the success of restoration, management, and mitigation strategies for important species requires a better appreciation for how these effects cascade through ecosystems.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Cori J. Speights
creator: Michael W. McCoy
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Marine Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3911
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Speights and McCoy
abstract: We investigated how recent changes in the distribution and abundance of a fouling organism affected the strength of interactions between a commercially important foundation species and a common predator. Increases in the abundance of boring sponges that bioerode the calcified shells of oysters and other shelled organisms have been attributed to increased salinization of estuarine ecosystems. We tested the hypothesis that fouling by boring sponges will change the interaction strength between oysters and a common predator (stone crabs). We generated five oyster density treatments crossed with two sponge treatments (sponge and no sponge). We contrasted the interaction strength between stone crabs and fouled and non-fouled oysters by comparing the parameters of fitted functional response curves based on Rogers random predation model. We found that fouled oysters suffered higher predation from stone crabs, and that the increased predation risk stemmed from a reduction in the handling time needed to consume the fouled oysters. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the effects of abiotic changes on both the composition of ecological communities, and on the strengths of direct and indirect interactions among species. Global climate change is altering local ecosystems in complex ways, and the success of restoration, management, and mitigation strategies for important species requires a better appreciation for how these effects cascade through ecosystems.
bibliographic citation: Speights et al. (2017) Range expansion of a fouling species indirectly impacts local species interactions. PeerJ 5:e3911 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3911
date submitted: 2017-06-30
date accepted: 2017-09-19
issued: 2017-10-19
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Speights
  given name: Cori J.
author list: Agent
  family name: McCoy
  given name: Michael W.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3911
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-10-19
copyright: ©2017 Speights and McCoy
attribution name: Speights and McCoy

Decreased quality of life and treatment satisfaction in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objectives Our main aim was to assess the quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction (TS) of subjects with LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult) and compare these measures with those of patients with other diabetes types, i.e., type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods This was a cross-sectional study with a total of 48 patients with LADA, 297 patients with T2DM and 124 with T1DM. The Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL-19) questionnaire and the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) were administered. Relevant clinical variables were also assessed. The data analysis included comparisons between groups and multivariate linear models. Results The LADA patients presented lower diabetes-specific QoL (p = 0.045) and average weighted impact scores (p = 0.007) than the T2DM patients. The subgroup of LADA patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) who were treated with insulin had a lower ADDQoL average weighted impact score than the other diabetic groups. Although the overall measure of TS was not different between the LADA and T2DM (p = 0.389) and T1DM (p = 0.091) groups, the patients with LADA showed a poorer hyperglycemic frequency perception than the T2DM patients (p < 0.001) and an improved frequency of hypoglycemic perception compared with the T1DM patients (p = 0.021). Conclusions The current findings suggest a poorer quality of life, especially in terms of DR and insulin treatment, among patients with LADA compared with those with T1DM and T2DM. Hyperglycemia frequency perception was also poorer in the LADA patients than in the T1DM and T2DM patients. Further research with prospective studies and a large number of patients is necessary.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Minerva Granado-Casas
creator: Montserrat Martínez-Alonso
creator: Nuria Alcubierre
creator: Anna Ramírez-Morros
creator: Marta Hernández
creator: Esmeralda Castelblanco
creator: Joan Torres-Puiggros
creator: Didac Mauricio
subject: Diabetes and Endocrinology
subject: Nursing
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.3928
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2017 Granado-Casas et al.
abstract: Objectives Our main aim was to assess the quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction (TS) of subjects with LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult) and compare these measures with those of patients with other diabetes types, i.e., type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods This was a cross-sectional study with a total of 48 patients with LADA, 297 patients with T2DM and 124 with T1DM. The Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL-19) questionnaire and the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) were administered. Relevant clinical variables were also assessed. The data analysis included comparisons between groups and multivariate linear models. Results The LADA patients presented lower diabetes-specific QoL (p = 0.045) and average weighted impact scores (p = 0.007) than the T2DM patients. The subgroup of LADA patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) who were treated with insulin had a lower ADDQoL average weighted impact score than the other diabetic groups. Although the overall measure of TS was not different between the LADA and T2DM (p = 0.389) and T1DM (p = 0.091) groups, the patients with LADA showed a poorer hyperglycemic frequency perception than the T2DM patients (p < 0.001) and an improved frequency of hypoglycemic perception compared with the T1DM patients (p = 0.021). Conclusions The current findings suggest a poorer quality of life, especially in terms of DR and insulin treatment, among patients with LADA compared with those with T1DM and T2DM. Hyperglycemia frequency perception was also poorer in the LADA patients than in the T1DM and T2DM patients. Further research with prospective studies and a large number of patients is necessary.
bibliographic citation: Granado-Casas et al. (2017) Decreased quality of life and treatment satisfaction in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult. PeerJ 5:e3928 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3928
date submitted: 2017-05-02
date accepted: 2017-09-26
issued: 2017-10-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Granado-Casas
  given name: Minerva
author list: Agent
  family name: Martínez-Alonso
  given name: Montserrat
author list: Agent
  family name: Alcubierre
  given name: Nuria
author list: Agent
  family name: Ramírez-Morros
  given name: Anna
author list: Agent
  family name: Hernández
  given name: Marta
author list: Agent
  family name: Castelblanco
  given name: Esmeralda
author list: Agent
  family name: Torres-Puiggros
  given name: Joan
author list: Agent
  family name: Mauricio
  given name: Didac
doi: 10.7717/peerj.3928
volume: 5
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2017-10-18
copyright: ©2017 Granado-Casas et al.
attribution name: Granado-Casas et al.

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