PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Effect of post COVID-19 on body composition, physical fitness, sleep quality and quality of life among young adults: a cross-sectional study of matched pairs
items: Development and validation of a mitotic catastrophe-related genes prognostic model for breast cancer
items: The relationship between price and nutritional balance for young adults in the menus of Japanese restaurants
items: Pilot development of diagnostic tools for lower limb apophyseal injuries in children and adolescents
items: Navigating challenges in radiography research: radiographers’ perspectives in Saudi Arabia
items: The nexus between geographical distance and institutional delivery trends in Ethiopia: evidence from nationwide surveys
items: The role of transcriptional and epigenetic modifications in astrogliogenesis
items: https://peerj.com/articles/17958
items: https://peerj.com/articles/17974
items: The effect of electrical muscle stimulation on intentional binding and explicit sense of agency

Effect of post COVID-19 on body composition, physical fitness, sleep quality and quality of life among young adults: a cross-sectional study of matched pairs
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) causes lung tissue inflammation, affects mental health, and disturbs sleep and the musculoskeletal system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on physical function and quality of life by comparing the body composition, physical fitness, sleep quality and quality of life between Thai young adults with and without post COVID-19 infection. Methods A cross-sectional study was comprised of two matched groups (post COVID-19 group and non COVID-19 group) with 36 participants in each group. Data about body composition, physical fitness, sleep quality and quality of life were collected using the bioelectrical impedance analysis, the 1-min sit-to-stand test, the hand grip strength test, the Pittsburgh sleep quality questionnaire and the EuroQol-5D-5L, respectively. Independent samples T-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test were used to compare between the two groups. Results The changes in oxygen saturation and respiratory rate after the physical fitness test and the sleep quality analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the groups with and without post COVID-19 infection (p = 0.006, p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively). However, quality of life and body composition were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions COVID-19 influenced the changes in oxygen saturation and respiratory rate after the physical fitness test and the sleep quality analysis in young adults. The results should be utilized to facilitate physical rehabilitation for COVID-19-infected individuals following infection. Those who have not been infected with COVID-19 must be informed of self-protection measures to avoid contracting the virus.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Phatcharawadee Srirug
creator: Chatkaew Pongmala
creator: Balkis Mayeedeng
creator: Nurulfatin Yusoh
creator: Sofiya Malee
creator: Chadayu Udom
subject: Global Health
subject: Public Health
subject: Mental Health
subject: COVID-19
subject: Rehabilitation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18074
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Srirug et al.
abstract: Background Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) causes lung tissue inflammation, affects mental health, and disturbs sleep and the musculoskeletal system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on physical function and quality of life by comparing the body composition, physical fitness, sleep quality and quality of life between Thai young adults with and without post COVID-19 infection. Methods A cross-sectional study was comprised of two matched groups (post COVID-19 group and non COVID-19 group) with 36 participants in each group. Data about body composition, physical fitness, sleep quality and quality of life were collected using the bioelectrical impedance analysis, the 1-min sit-to-stand test, the hand grip strength test, the Pittsburgh sleep quality questionnaire and the EuroQol-5D-5L, respectively. Independent samples T-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test were used to compare between the two groups. Results The changes in oxygen saturation and respiratory rate after the physical fitness test and the sleep quality analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the groups with and without post COVID-19 infection (p = 0.006, p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively). However, quality of life and body composition were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions COVID-19 influenced the changes in oxygen saturation and respiratory rate after the physical fitness test and the sleep quality analysis in young adults. The results should be utilized to facilitate physical rehabilitation for COVID-19-infected individuals following infection. Those who have not been infected with COVID-19 must be informed of self-protection measures to avoid contracting the virus.
bibliographic citation: Srirug et al. (2024) Effect of post COVID-19 on body composition, physical fitness, sleep quality and quality of life among young adults: a cross-sectional study of matched pairs. PeerJ 12:e18074 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18074
date submitted: 2024-01-19
date accepted: 2024-08-19
issued: 2024-09-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Srirug
  given name: Phatcharawadee
author list: Agent
  family name: Pongmala
  given name: Chatkaew
author list: Agent
  family name: Mayeedeng
  given name: Balkis
author list: Agent
  family name: Yusoh
  given name: Nurulfatin
author list: Agent
  family name: Malee
  given name: Sofiya
author list: Agent
  family name: Udom
  given name: Chadayu
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18074
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-09-20
copyright: © 2024 Srirug et al.
attribution name: Srirug et al.

Development and validation of a mitotic catastrophe-related genes prognostic model for breast cancer
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Breast cancer has become the most common malignant tumor in women worldwide. Mitotic catastrophe (MC) is a way of cell death that plays an important role in the development of tumors. However, the exact relationship between MC-related genes (MCRGs) and the development of breast cancer is still unclear, and further research is needed to elucidate this complexity. Methods Transcriptome data and clinical data of breast cancer were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We identified differential expression of MCRGs by comparing tumor tissue with normal tissue. Subsequently, we used COX regression analysis and LASSO regression analysis to construct the prognosis risk model of MCRGs. Kaplan–Meier survival curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the predictive ability of prognostic model. Moreover, the clinical relevance, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), immune landscape, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and immunotherapy and drug sensitivity analysis between high-risk and low-risk groups were systematically investigated. Finally, we validated the expression levels of genes involved in constructing the prognostic model through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) at the cellular and tissue levels. Results We identified 12 prognostic associated MCRGs, four of which were selected to construct prognostic model. The Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that patients in the high-risk group had a shorter overall survival (OS). The Cox regression analysis and ROC analysis indicated that risk model had independent and excellent ability in predicting prognosis of breast cancer patients. Mechanistically, a remarkable difference was observed in clinical relevance, GSEA, immune landscape, TMB, immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivity analysis. RT-qPCR results showed that genes involved in constructing the prognostic model showed significant abnormal e…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Shuai Wang
creator: Haoyi Zi
creator: Mengxuan Li
creator: Jing Kong
creator: Cong Fan
creator: Yujie Bai
creator: Jianing Sun
creator: Ting Wang
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Oncology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18075
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Wang et al.
abstract: Background Breast cancer has become the most common malignant tumor in women worldwide. Mitotic catastrophe (MC) is a way of cell death that plays an important role in the development of tumors. However, the exact relationship between MC-related genes (MCRGs) and the development of breast cancer is still unclear, and further research is needed to elucidate this complexity. Methods Transcriptome data and clinical data of breast cancer were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We identified differential expression of MCRGs by comparing tumor tissue with normal tissue. Subsequently, we used COX regression analysis and LASSO regression analysis to construct the prognosis risk model of MCRGs. Kaplan–Meier survival curve and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the predictive ability of prognostic model. Moreover, the clinical relevance, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), immune landscape, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and immunotherapy and drug sensitivity analysis between high-risk and low-risk groups were systematically investigated. Finally, we validated the expression levels of genes involved in constructing the prognostic model through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) at the cellular and tissue levels. Results We identified 12 prognostic associated MCRGs, four of which were selected to construct prognostic model. The Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that patients in the high-risk group had a shorter overall survival (OS). The Cox regression analysis and ROC analysis indicated that risk model had independent and excellent ability in predicting prognosis of breast cancer patients. Mechanistically, a remarkable difference was observed in clinical relevance, GSEA, immune landscape, TMB, immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivity analysis. RT-qPCR results showed that genes involved in constructing the prognostic model showed significant abnormal e…
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2024) Development and validation of a mitotic catastrophe-related genes prognostic model for breast cancer. PeerJ 12:e18075 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18075
date submitted: 2024-05-16
date accepted: 2024-08-19
issued: 2024-09-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Shuai
author list: Agent
  family name: Zi
  given name: Haoyi
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Mengxuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Kong
  given name: Jing
author list: Agent
  family name: Fan
  given name: Cong
author list: Agent
  family name: Bai
  given name: Yujie
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Jianing
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Ting
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18075
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-09-20
copyright: ©2024 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

The relationship between price and nutritional balance for young adults in the menus of Japanese restaurants
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Eating habits are a contributing factor to obesity. Higher-priced menu items have better nutritional quality/balance, as the relationship between the price of food per serving and nutritional quality/balance has been reported. However, previous studies on the nutritional content of restaurant menu items did not focus on the relationship between the nutritional balance of menu items and prices. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate this relationship. Methods The nutritional balance score (NBS) was defined and calculated according to each nutritional criterion of men and women aged 18–29 years, covering more than 2,000 menu items in 26 Japanese restaurant chains. Furthermore, NBS distribution by gender and restaurant brand, and the relationship between the menu item’s NBS and price were assessed. Results The results showed that the average NBS of the analyzed menu items differed between the criteria for men and women, with the menu items assessed based on men’s criterion being more nutritionally balanced on average. The compositions of the top 10 menu items differed between men and women, and most were set menus or rice bowl menus, which were offered by fast-food restaurants. The relationship between price and NBS in most fast-food and casual restaurants was expressed as a concave function. The maximum NBS based on the criteria for men and women were 64.9 and 64.1, with prices of 639.9 and 530.3 yen, respectively. Discussion NBS score increased with price to a certain level before decreasing, suggesting that the price at which NBS was the highest differed between men and women. The results of this study could contribute to the development of a methodology for healthy eating out practices, with a focus on price.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yu Ogasawara
creator: Miyuki Asanuma
creator: Masashi Kasuya
creator: Yuki Soma
subject: Nutrition
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18091
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Ogasawara et al.
abstract: Background Eating habits are a contributing factor to obesity. Higher-priced menu items have better nutritional quality/balance, as the relationship between the price of food per serving and nutritional quality/balance has been reported. However, previous studies on the nutritional content of restaurant menu items did not focus on the relationship between the nutritional balance of menu items and prices. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate this relationship. Methods The nutritional balance score (NBS) was defined and calculated according to each nutritional criterion of men and women aged 18–29 years, covering more than 2,000 menu items in 26 Japanese restaurant chains. Furthermore, NBS distribution by gender and restaurant brand, and the relationship between the menu item’s NBS and price were assessed. Results The results showed that the average NBS of the analyzed menu items differed between the criteria for men and women, with the menu items assessed based on men’s criterion being more nutritionally balanced on average. The compositions of the top 10 menu items differed between men and women, and most were set menus or rice bowl menus, which were offered by fast-food restaurants. The relationship between price and NBS in most fast-food and casual restaurants was expressed as a concave function. The maximum NBS based on the criteria for men and women were 64.9 and 64.1, with prices of 639.9 and 530.3 yen, respectively. Discussion NBS score increased with price to a certain level before decreasing, suggesting that the price at which NBS was the highest differed between men and women. The results of this study could contribute to the development of a methodology for healthy eating out practices, with a focus on price.
bibliographic citation: Ogasawara et al. (2024) The relationship between price and nutritional balance for young adults in the menus of Japanese restaurants. PeerJ 12:e18091 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18091
date submitted: 2023-12-14
date accepted: 2024-08-22
issued: 2024-09-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ogasawara
  given name: Yu
author list: Agent
  family name: Asanuma
  given name: Miyuki
author list: Agent
  family name: Kasuya
  given name: Masashi
author list: Agent
  family name: Soma
  given name: Yuki
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18091
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-09-20
copyright: © 2024 Ogasawara et al.
attribution name: Ogasawara et al.

Pilot development of diagnostic tools for lower limb apophyseal injuries in children and adolescents
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Introduction Lower limb apophyseal injuries commonly occur in children and adolescents with unknown incidence and prevalence. These conditions are considered benign, but impact children and adolescents quality of life and can lead to sport withdrawal at a crucial time. The primary aim of this research was to develop self-administered tools for two of the most common apophyseal injuries. The secondary aim was to test the sensitivity and specificity of the tools. Methods Study 1 used a three round online Delphi panel (n = 8), with expert consensus supported by robust literature. This panel developed a self-administered screening tool for calcaneal (Sever’s disease) and tibial tuberosity (Osgood-Schlatter’s disease) apophysitis. Study 2 tested the sensitivity and specificity of these developed tools with parents and children (n = 63) with concurrent clinical examination by a health professional. An initial sample size for Study 2 was set at 155 children however this was impacted by COVID-19 and recruitment was halted. Results Both tools had excellent diagnostic accuracy with an area under the curve of 83% (95% confidence interval = 0.70 to 0.95) for the posterior heel (calcaneal apophysitis) tool and 93% (95% confidence interval = 0.80 to 1.00) for the anterior of knee (tibial tuberosity apophysitis) tool using the pilot data from the 63 children. Conclusions These tools may also enhance opportunities for clinicians and health service providers with pre-clinical screening to reduce wait list time and encourage low cost, self-administered management where indicated. These findings may enable large epidemiological studies to identify populations and calculate incidence and prevalence of these conditions using self report.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Joseph Brooks
creator: Antoni Caserta
creator: Kade Paterson
creator: Kelly-Ann Bowles
creator: Terry Haines
creator: Cylie Williams
subject: Emergency and Critical Care
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Pediatrics
subject: Sports Injury
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18101
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Brooks et al.
abstract: Introduction Lower limb apophyseal injuries commonly occur in children and adolescents with unknown incidence and prevalence. These conditions are considered benign, but impact children and adolescents quality of life and can lead to sport withdrawal at a crucial time. The primary aim of this research was to develop self-administered tools for two of the most common apophyseal injuries. The secondary aim was to test the sensitivity and specificity of the tools. Methods Study 1 used a three round online Delphi panel (n = 8), with expert consensus supported by robust literature. This panel developed a self-administered screening tool for calcaneal (Sever’s disease) and tibial tuberosity (Osgood-Schlatter’s disease) apophysitis. Study 2 tested the sensitivity and specificity of these developed tools with parents and children (n = 63) with concurrent clinical examination by a health professional. An initial sample size for Study 2 was set at 155 children however this was impacted by COVID-19 and recruitment was halted. Results Both tools had excellent diagnostic accuracy with an area under the curve of 83% (95% confidence interval = 0.70 to 0.95) for the posterior heel (calcaneal apophysitis) tool and 93% (95% confidence interval = 0.80 to 1.00) for the anterior of knee (tibial tuberosity apophysitis) tool using the pilot data from the 63 children. Conclusions These tools may also enhance opportunities for clinicians and health service providers with pre-clinical screening to reduce wait list time and encourage low cost, self-administered management where indicated. These findings may enable large epidemiological studies to identify populations and calculate incidence and prevalence of these conditions using self report.
bibliographic citation: Brooks et al. (2024) Pilot development of diagnostic tools for lower limb apophyseal injuries in children and adolescents. PeerJ 12:e18101 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18101
date submitted: 2022-03-11
date accepted: 2024-08-26
issued: 2024-09-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Brooks
  given name: Joseph
author list: Agent
  family name: Caserta
  given name: Antoni
author list: Agent
  family name: Paterson
  given name: Kade
author list: Agent
  family name: Bowles
  given name: Kelly-Ann
author list: Agent
  family name: Haines
  given name: Terry
author list: Agent
  family name: Williams
  given name: Cylie
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18101
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-09-20
copyright: © 2024 Brooks et al.
attribution name: Brooks et al.

Navigating challenges in radiography research: radiographers’ perspectives in Saudi Arabia
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Introduction Radiography is a crucial healthcare specialty that requires ongoing research to advance imaging technologies and techniques. Despite this, radiographers are faced with obstacles such as time constraints, lack of resources, and the need for training on new technologies, which can discourage their research involvement. This study aims to provide a more representative understanding of the radiography research culture in Saudi Arabia, building upon previous studies. Methods Following the approval of an ethics committee at Taibah University (2024/173/302 DRD), a cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2024 among registered radiographers in Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms using a snowball sampling strategy to reach a diverse group of radiographers across different regions and institutions. Participants provided informed consent before completing the questionnaire. The questionnaire, originally in English, was translated into Arabic and validated by two bilingual academics. It included sections on demographics, previous research experience, barriers to research involvement, factors encouraging research engagement, and self-assessment of research competencies. Descriptive statistics and Cronbach’s alpha were used to analyze the data. Results A total of 105 radiographers participated in the study, with 41% having prior research involvement. Among those engaged, the most common activity was data collection (65%), followed by preparation of scientific articles (49%). Challenges such as the lack of a research-focused culture (48%), insufficient awareness of opportunities (36%), and time constraints (34%) were prominent barriers to research participation. Encouraging factors included the need for research training (63%), support from research groups (51%), and allocated research time (50%). Respondents assessed their research skills, with confidence varied across skills, with 50% feeling capable of …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Faisal A. Alrehily
creator: Walaa Alsharif
creator: Yasser Aloufi
creator: Ammar Alsaedi
creator: Marwan Aljohani
creator: Reem S. Alotaibi
creator: Hamed Alshammari
creator: Abdullah Fahad A. Alshamrani
creator: Fahad H. Alhazmi
creator: Abdulaziz Qurashi
subject: Radiology and Medical Imaging
subject: Science and Medical Education
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18125
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Alrehily et al.
abstract: Introduction Radiography is a crucial healthcare specialty that requires ongoing research to advance imaging technologies and techniques. Despite this, radiographers are faced with obstacles such as time constraints, lack of resources, and the need for training on new technologies, which can discourage their research involvement. This study aims to provide a more representative understanding of the radiography research culture in Saudi Arabia, building upon previous studies. Methods Following the approval of an ethics committee at Taibah University (2024/173/302 DRD), a cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2024 among registered radiographers in Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms using a snowball sampling strategy to reach a diverse group of radiographers across different regions and institutions. Participants provided informed consent before completing the questionnaire. The questionnaire, originally in English, was translated into Arabic and validated by two bilingual academics. It included sections on demographics, previous research experience, barriers to research involvement, factors encouraging research engagement, and self-assessment of research competencies. Descriptive statistics and Cronbach’s alpha were used to analyze the data. Results A total of 105 radiographers participated in the study, with 41% having prior research involvement. Among those engaged, the most common activity was data collection (65%), followed by preparation of scientific articles (49%). Challenges such as the lack of a research-focused culture (48%), insufficient awareness of opportunities (36%), and time constraints (34%) were prominent barriers to research participation. Encouraging factors included the need for research training (63%), support from research groups (51%), and allocated research time (50%). Respondents assessed their research skills, with confidence varied across skills, with 50% feeling capable of …
bibliographic citation: Alrehily et al. (2024) Navigating challenges in radiography research: radiographers’ perspectives in Saudi Arabia. PeerJ 12:e18125 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18125
date submitted: 2024-06-21
date accepted: 2024-08-28
issued: 2024-09-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Alrehily
  given name: Faisal A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Alsharif
  given name: Walaa
author list: Agent
  family name: Aloufi
  given name: Yasser
author list: Agent
  family name: Alsaedi
  given name: Ammar
author list: Agent
  family name: Aljohani
  given name: Marwan
author list: Agent
  family name: Alotaibi
  given name: Reem S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Alshammari
  given name: Hamed
author list: Agent
  family name: Alshamrani
  given name: Abdullah Fahad A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Alhazmi
  given name: Fahad H.
author list: Agent
  family name: Qurashi
  given name: Abdulaziz
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18125
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-09-20
copyright: ©2024 Alrehily et al.
attribution name: Alrehily et al.

The nexus between geographical distance and institutional delivery trends in Ethiopia: evidence from nationwide surveys
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Giving birth in a healthcare facility with the guidance of skilled healthcare providers allows access to necessary medical interventions. Ethiopia has implemented several strategies to enhance institutional delivery and decrease maternal mortality; however, the rate of institutional delivery remains low. This study examines the role of distance to healthcare institutions on institutional delivery in Ethiopia, and how this has changed over time. Method This study used data from two rounds of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (2011 and 2016), a spatial database detailing the locations of healthcare facilities, and Ethiopian road network data. The sample included 22,881 women who delivered within the 5 years preceding each survey and lived in 1,295 villages. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate how the distance to health facilities and other potential determinants influenced institutional delivery trends. Results The rate of institutional deliveries in Ethiopia has increased from 10% in 2011 to 26% in 2016. Likewise, the average transportation distance to health facilities has decreased from 22.4 km in 2011 to 20.2 km in 2016 at the national level. Furthermore, a one-kilometer increase in the distance to the nearest health facility was associated with a 1% decrease in the likelihood of delivering at a health facility in 2016 (odds ratio (OR) = 0.99, 95% CI [0.98–0.99], p < 0.05). Additionally, mothers who are more educated, have completed more antenatal care visits, live in wealthier households in more urban areas, and cohabit with more educated husbands are more likely to deliver at healthcare facilities. These variables showed consistent relevance in both survey rounds, suggesting that key determinants remained largely unchanged throughout the study period. Conclusion The impact of distance from health facilities on institutional delivery in Ethiopia remains evident, although its influence is relativel…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yemisrach Berhanu Sebsibe
creator: Tayue Tateke Kebede
subject: Global Health
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Health Policy
subject: Women’s Health
subject: Healthcare Services
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18128
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Sebsibe and Kebede
abstract: Background Giving birth in a healthcare facility with the guidance of skilled healthcare providers allows access to necessary medical interventions. Ethiopia has implemented several strategies to enhance institutional delivery and decrease maternal mortality; however, the rate of institutional delivery remains low. This study examines the role of distance to healthcare institutions on institutional delivery in Ethiopia, and how this has changed over time. Method This study used data from two rounds of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (2011 and 2016), a spatial database detailing the locations of healthcare facilities, and Ethiopian road network data. The sample included 22,881 women who delivered within the 5 years preceding each survey and lived in 1,295 villages. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to investigate how the distance to health facilities and other potential determinants influenced institutional delivery trends. Results The rate of institutional deliveries in Ethiopia has increased from 10% in 2011 to 26% in 2016. Likewise, the average transportation distance to health facilities has decreased from 22.4 km in 2011 to 20.2 km in 2016 at the national level. Furthermore, a one-kilometer increase in the distance to the nearest health facility was associated with a 1% decrease in the likelihood of delivering at a health facility in 2016 (odds ratio (OR) = 0.99, 95% CI [0.98–0.99], p < 0.05). Additionally, mothers who are more educated, have completed more antenatal care visits, live in wealthier households in more urban areas, and cohabit with more educated husbands are more likely to deliver at healthcare facilities. These variables showed consistent relevance in both survey rounds, suggesting that key determinants remained largely unchanged throughout the study period. Conclusion The impact of distance from health facilities on institutional delivery in Ethiopia remains evident, although its influence is relativel…
bibliographic citation: Sebsibe et al. (2024) The nexus between geographical distance and institutional delivery trends in Ethiopia: evidence from nationwide surveys. PeerJ 12:e18128 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18128
date submitted: 2023-08-16
date accepted: 2024-08-28
issued: 2024-09-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sebsibe
  given name: Yemisrach Berhanu
author list: Agent
  family name: Kebede
  given name: Tayue Tateke
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18128
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-09-20
copyright: © 2024 Sebsibe and Kebede
attribution name: Sebsibe and Kebede

The role of transcriptional and epigenetic modifications in astrogliogenesis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Astrocytes are widely distributed and play a critical role in the central nervous system (CNS) of the human brain. During the development of CNS, astrocytes provide essential nutritional and supportive functions for neural cells and are involved in their metabolism and pathological processes. Despite the numerous studies that have reported on the regulation of astrogliogenesis at the transcriptional and epigenetic levels, there is a paucity of literature that provides a comprehensive summary of the key factors influencing this process. In this review, we analyzed the impact of transcription factors (e.g., NFI, JAK/STAT, BMP, and Ngn2), DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and noncoding RNA on astrocyte behavior and the regulation of astrogliogenesis, hope it enhances our comprehension of the mechanisms underlying astrogliogenesis and offers a theoretical foundation for the treatment of patients with neurological diseases.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Shuangping Ma
creator: Lei Wang
creator: Junhe Zhang
creator: Lujing Geng
creator: Junzheng Yang
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Neuroscience
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.18151
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Ma et al.
abstract: Astrocytes are widely distributed and play a critical role in the central nervous system (CNS) of the human brain. During the development of CNS, astrocytes provide essential nutritional and supportive functions for neural cells and are involved in their metabolism and pathological processes. Despite the numerous studies that have reported on the regulation of astrogliogenesis at the transcriptional and epigenetic levels, there is a paucity of literature that provides a comprehensive summary of the key factors influencing this process. In this review, we analyzed the impact of transcription factors (e.g., NFI, JAK/STAT, BMP, and Ngn2), DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and noncoding RNA on astrocyte behavior and the regulation of astrogliogenesis, hope it enhances our comprehension of the mechanisms underlying astrogliogenesis and offers a theoretical foundation for the treatment of patients with neurological diseases.
bibliographic citation: Ma et al. (2024) The role of transcriptional and epigenetic modifications in astrogliogenesis. PeerJ 12:e18151 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18151
date submitted: 2024-05-10
date accepted: 2024-08-31
issued: 2024-09-20
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Shuangping
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Lei
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Junhe
author list: Agent
  family name: Geng
  given name: Lujing
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Junzheng
doi: 10.7717/peerj.18151
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-09-20
copyright: ©2024 Ma et al.
attribution name: Ma et al.

https://peerj.com/articles/17958
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
title: Short- and long-term effects of concurrent aerobic and resistance training on circulating irisin levels in overweight or obese individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
description: Background Concurrent training (CT) is emerging as a practical and effective approach to enhance body composition, cardiovascular function, and muscle mass, thereby elevating overall individual health. This study aims to systematically investigate the effects of short- and long-term concurrent aerobic and resistance training on circulating irisin levels in overweight or obese individuals. Methodology The electronic databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Embase, Wan Fang Database, and Web of Science, were systematically searched for articles on “concurrent training” and “irisin” published from their inception to 30 November 2023. The pooled effect size was determined using standardized mean difference (SMD) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The study protocol received registration with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023494163). Results All nine studies, encompassing a total of 264 participants, were randomized controlled trials and met the eligibility criteria. Results indicate that short- and long-term concurrent training moderately increased circulating irisin levels compared to the control group (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI [0.33–0.80], p = 0.00; I2 = 36.6%, heterogeneity p = 0.106). Subgroup analyses revealed that both equal to or less than 10 weeks (SMD = 0.78, 95% CI [0.18–1.37], p = 0.01; I2 = 62.3%, heterogeneity p = 0.03) and more than 10 weeks (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI [0.14–0.76], p = 0.00; I2 = 0%, heterogeneity p = 0.54) of concurrent training significantly increased circulating irisin levels in overweight or obese individuals. There were no significant between-group differences (I2 = 0%, p = 0.34). Additionally, concurrent training significantly increased irisin levels in overweight or obese participants (SMD = 1.06, 95% CI [0.34–1.78], p = 0.00; I2 = 50.6%, heterogeneity p = 0.13) and in type 2 diabetes patients (SMD = 0.70, 95% CI [0.30–1.10], p = 0.00; I2 = 0%, heterogeneity p = 0.99…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yang Cheng
creator: Jing Ma
creator: Shumin Bo
subject: Diabetes and Endocrinology
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Obesity
subject: Sports Injury
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17958
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Cheng et al.
abstract: Background Concurrent training (CT) is emerging as a practical and effective approach to enhance body composition, cardiovascular function, and muscle mass, thereby elevating overall individual health. This study aims to systematically investigate the effects of short- and long-term concurrent aerobic and resistance training on circulating irisin levels in overweight or obese individuals. Methodology The electronic databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Embase, Wan Fang Database, and Web of Science, were systematically searched for articles on “concurrent training” and “irisin” published from their inception to 30 November 2023. The pooled effect size was determined using standardized mean difference (SMD) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The study protocol received registration with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023494163). Results All nine studies, encompassing a total of 264 participants, were randomized controlled trials and met the eligibility criteria. Results indicate that short- and long-term concurrent training moderately increased circulating irisin levels compared to the control group (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI [0.33–0.80], p = 0.00; I2 = 36.6%, heterogeneity p = 0.106). Subgroup analyses revealed that both equal to or less than 10 weeks (SMD = 0.78, 95% CI [0.18–1.37], p = 0.01; I2 = 62.3%, heterogeneity p = 0.03) and more than 10 weeks (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI [0.14–0.76], p = 0.00; I2 = 0%, heterogeneity p = 0.54) of concurrent training significantly increased circulating irisin levels in overweight or obese individuals. There were no significant between-group differences (I2 = 0%, p = 0.34). Additionally, concurrent training significantly increased irisin levels in overweight or obese participants (SMD = 1.06, 95% CI [0.34–1.78], p = 0.00; I2 = 50.6%, heterogeneity p = 0.13) and in type 2 diabetes patients (SMD = 0.70, 95% CI [0.30–1.10], p = 0.00; I2 = 0%, heterogeneity p = 0.99…
bibliographic citation: Cheng et al. (2024) Short- and long-term effects of concurrent aerobic and resistance training on circulating irisin levels in overweight or obese individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PeerJ 12:e17958 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17958
date submitted: 2024-04-18
date accepted: 2024-07-31
issued: 2024-09-19
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Cheng
  given name: Yang
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Jing
author list: Agent
  family name: Bo
  given name: Shumin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17958
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-09-19
copyright: ©2024 Cheng et al.
attribution name: Cheng et al.

https://peerj.com/articles/17974
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
title: Genome-wide identification and expression analyses of SWEET gene family reveal potential roles in plant development, fruit ripening and abiotic stress responses in cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait)
description: The sugars will eventually be exported transporter (SWEET) family is a novel class of sugar transporters that play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and responses to stress. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is a nutritious berry with economic importance, but little is known about SWEET gene family functions in this small fruit. In this research, 13 VmSWEET genes belonging to four clades were identified in the cranberry genome for the first time. In the conserved domains, we observed seven phosphorylation sites and four amino acid residues that might be crucial for the binding function. The majority of VmSWEET genes in each clade shared similar gene structures and conserved motifs, showing that the VmSWEET genes were highly conserved during evolution. Chromosomal localization and duplication analyses showed that VmSWEET genes were unevenly distributed in eight chromosomes and two pairs of them displayed synteny. A total of 79 cis-acting elements were predicted in the promoter regions of VmSWEETs including elements responsive to plant hormones, light, growth and development and stress responses. qRT-PCR analysis showed that VmSWEET10.1 was highly expressed in flowers, VmSWEET16 was highly expressed in upright and runner stems, and VmSWEET3 was highly expressed in the leaves of both types of stems. In fruit, the expression of VmSWEET14 and VmSWEET16 was highest of all members during the young fruit stage and were downregulated as fruit matured. The expression of VmSWEET4 was higher during later developmental stages than earlier developmental stages. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results revealed a significant up-regulation of VmSWEET10.2, under osmotic, saline, salt-alkali, and aluminum stress conditions, suggesting it has a crucial role in mediating plant responses to various environmental stresses. Overall, these results provide new insights into the characteristics and evolution of VmSWEET genes. Moreover, the candidate VmSWEET genes involved in the growth, …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Li Chen
creator: Mingyu Cai
creator: Jiaxin Liu
creator: Xuxin Jiang
creator: Jiayi Liu
creator: Wang Zhenxing
creator: Yunpeng Wang
creator: Yadong Li
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17974
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Chen et al.
abstract: The sugars will eventually be exported transporter (SWEET) family is a novel class of sugar transporters that play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and responses to stress. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is a nutritious berry with economic importance, but little is known about SWEET gene family functions in this small fruit. In this research, 13 VmSWEET genes belonging to four clades were identified in the cranberry genome for the first time. In the conserved domains, we observed seven phosphorylation sites and four amino acid residues that might be crucial for the binding function. The majority of VmSWEET genes in each clade shared similar gene structures and conserved motifs, showing that the VmSWEET genes were highly conserved during evolution. Chromosomal localization and duplication analyses showed that VmSWEET genes were unevenly distributed in eight chromosomes and two pairs of them displayed synteny. A total of 79 cis-acting elements were predicted in the promoter regions of VmSWEETs including elements responsive to plant hormones, light, growth and development and stress responses. qRT-PCR analysis showed that VmSWEET10.1 was highly expressed in flowers, VmSWEET16 was highly expressed in upright and runner stems, and VmSWEET3 was highly expressed in the leaves of both types of stems. In fruit, the expression of VmSWEET14 and VmSWEET16 was highest of all members during the young fruit stage and were downregulated as fruit matured. The expression of VmSWEET4 was higher during later developmental stages than earlier developmental stages. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results revealed a significant up-regulation of VmSWEET10.2, under osmotic, saline, salt-alkali, and aluminum stress conditions, suggesting it has a crucial role in mediating plant responses to various environmental stresses. Overall, these results provide new insights into the characteristics and evolution of VmSWEET genes. Moreover, the candidate VmSWEET genes involved in the growth, …
bibliographic citation: Chen et al. (2024) Genome-wide identification and expression analyses of SWEET gene family reveal potential roles in plant development, fruit ripening and abiotic stress responses in cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait). PeerJ 12:e17974 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17974
date submitted: 2023-12-07
date accepted: 2024-08-05
issued: 2024-09-19
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Li
author list: Agent
  family name: Cai
  given name: Mingyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Jiaxin
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Xuxin
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Jiayi
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhenxing
  given name: Wang
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yunpeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Yadong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17974
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-09-19
copyright: ©2024 Chen et al.
attribution name: Chen et al.

The effect of electrical muscle stimulation on intentional binding and explicit sense of agency
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The motivating question for this study is determining whether electrical muscle stimulation (EMS)-induced movements can extend the user’s ability without reducing the sense of agency. Moreover, it is crucial to find the timing of the EMS application that is robust against individual differences and environmental changes. Previous studies have reported that the user-specific EMS-application timings, determined through explicit measures of sense of agency, would effectively shorten their reaction time in a push task while maintaining their sense of agency. However, no study has investigated EMS-application timings in relation to implicit measures of sense of agency. Intentional binding, an example of an implicit measure, refers to the phenomenon whereby the interval between an intentional action and the subsequent perceptual outcome is typically perceived to be shorter than the actual interval. By measuring this perceptual shift using a Libet clock, we have identified an EMS-application timing that accelerates the users’ push action while maintaining their sense of agency. First, to conduct the EMS-application experiment while appropriately maintaining the intentional binding effect, we designed a new push task such that a pre-action, as the base timing of the EMS-application trigger, always occurs just before the push movement. (1) We showed the difference between the action-binding effect of EMS-induced involuntary movements and voluntary push movements. Subsequently, (2) we identified the EMS application timing that significantly shifted judgments of action tasks while accelerating voluntary movements. Additionally, (3) we demonstrated that the EMS application could accelerate user pushing movement while maintaining the sense of agency at this specific application time. The proposed EMS in the novel pushing setup was found to be robustly effective against individual and environmental changes.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Miwa Nagai
creator: Kazuhiro Matsui
creator: Keita Atsuumi
creator: Kazuhiro Taniguchi
creator: Hiroaki Hirai
creator: Atsushi Nishikawa
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Human-Computer Interaction
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17977
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Nagai et al.
abstract: The motivating question for this study is determining whether electrical muscle stimulation (EMS)-induced movements can extend the user’s ability without reducing the sense of agency. Moreover, it is crucial to find the timing of the EMS application that is robust against individual differences and environmental changes. Previous studies have reported that the user-specific EMS-application timings, determined through explicit measures of sense of agency, would effectively shorten their reaction time in a push task while maintaining their sense of agency. However, no study has investigated EMS-application timings in relation to implicit measures of sense of agency. Intentional binding, an example of an implicit measure, refers to the phenomenon whereby the interval between an intentional action and the subsequent perceptual outcome is typically perceived to be shorter than the actual interval. By measuring this perceptual shift using a Libet clock, we have identified an EMS-application timing that accelerates the users’ push action while maintaining their sense of agency. First, to conduct the EMS-application experiment while appropriately maintaining the intentional binding effect, we designed a new push task such that a pre-action, as the base timing of the EMS-application trigger, always occurs just before the push movement. (1) We showed the difference between the action-binding effect of EMS-induced involuntary movements and voluntary push movements. Subsequently, (2) we identified the EMS application timing that significantly shifted judgments of action tasks while accelerating voluntary movements. Additionally, (3) we demonstrated that the EMS application could accelerate user pushing movement while maintaining the sense of agency at this specific application time. The proposed EMS in the novel pushing setup was found to be robustly effective against individual and environmental changes.
bibliographic citation: Nagai et al. (2024) The effect of electrical muscle stimulation on intentional binding and explicit sense of agency. PeerJ 12:e17977 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17977
date submitted: 2024-06-11
date accepted: 2024-08-06
issued: 2024-09-19
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Nagai
  given name: Miwa
author list: Agent
  family name: Matsui
  given name: Kazuhiro
author list: Agent
  family name: Atsuumi
  given name: Keita
author list: Agent
  family name: Taniguchi
  given name: Kazuhiro
author list: Agent
  family name: Hirai
  given name: Hiroaki
author list: Agent
  family name: Nishikawa
  given name: Atsushi
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17977
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-09-19
copyright: © 2024 Nagai et al.
attribution name: Nagai et al.

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