PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Associations between SNPs and vegetation indices: unraveling molecular insights for enhanced cultivation of tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze)
items: Treatment gap and barriers to access mental healthcare among women with postpartum depression symptoms in Pakistan
items: Monitoring deforestation, forest health, and environmental criticality in a protected area periphery using Geospatial Techniques
items: Flowering-associated gene expression and metabolic characteristics in adzuki bean (Vigna angularis L.) with different short-day induction periods
items: Comparing and characterizing scapular muscle activation ratios in males and females during execution of common functional movements
items: Examination of reliability and validity of the Self-Assessment Burden Scale-Motor for community-dwelling older adults in Japan: a validation study
items: Assembly and evolutionary analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Trichosanthes kirilowii, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant
items: Exploring the technological dimension of Autonomous sensory meridian response-induced physiological responses
items: Secretomic changes of amyloid beta peptides on Alzheimer’s disease related proteins in differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells
items: Insects’ perception and behavioral responses to plant semiochemicals

Associations between SNPs and vegetation indices: unraveling molecular insights for enhanced cultivation of tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Breeding programs for nutrient-efficient tea plant varieties could be advanced by the combination of genotyping and phenotyping technologies. This study was aimed to search functional SNPs in key genes related to the nitrogen-assimilation in the collection of tea plant Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze. In addition, the objective of this study was to reveal efficient vegetation indices for phenotyping of nitrogen deficiency response in tea collection. Methods The study was conducted on the tea plant collection of Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze of Western Caucasus grown without nitrogen fertilizers. Phenotypic data was collected by measuring the spectral reflectance of leaves in the 350–1100 nm range calculated as vegetation indices by the portable hyperspectral spectrometer Ci710s. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in 30 key genes related to nitrogen assimilation and tea quality. For this, pooled amplicon sequencing, SNPs annotation and effect prediction with SnpEFF tool were used. Further, a linear regression model was applied to reveal associations between the functional SNPs and the efficient vegetation indices. Results PCA and regression analysis revealed significant vegetation indices with high R2 values (more than 0.5) and the most reliable indices to select ND-tolerant genotypes were established: ZMI, CNDVI, RENDVI, VREI1, GM2, GM1, PRI, and Ctr2, VREI3, VREI2. The largest SNPs frequency was observed in several genes, namely F3’5’Hb, UFGTa, UFGTb, 4Cl, and AMT1.2. SNPs in NRT2.4, PIP, AlaDC, DFRa, and GS1.2 were inherent in ND-susceptible genotypes. Additionally, SNPs in AlaAT1, MYB4, and WRKY57, were led to alterations in protein structure and were observed in ND-susceptible tea genotypes. Associations were revealed between flavanol reflectance index (FRI) and SNPs in ASNb and PIP, that change the amino acids. In addition, two SNPs in 4Cl were associated with water band index (WBI). Conclusions The results will be useful to identify toler…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Daria Kuzmina
creator: Lyudmila S. Malyukova
creator: Karina Manakhova
creator: Tatyana Kovalenko
creator: Jaroslava Fedorina
creator: Aleksandra O. Matskiv
creator: Alexey V. Ryndin
creator: Maya V. Gvasaliya
creator: Yuriy L. Orlov
creator: Lidiia S. Samarina
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Genetics
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17689
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Kuzmina et al.
abstract: Background Breeding programs for nutrient-efficient tea plant varieties could be advanced by the combination of genotyping and phenotyping technologies. This study was aimed to search functional SNPs in key genes related to the nitrogen-assimilation in the collection of tea plant Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze. In addition, the objective of this study was to reveal efficient vegetation indices for phenotyping of nitrogen deficiency response in tea collection. Methods The study was conducted on the tea plant collection of Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze of Western Caucasus grown without nitrogen fertilizers. Phenotypic data was collected by measuring the spectral reflectance of leaves in the 350–1100 nm range calculated as vegetation indices by the portable hyperspectral spectrometer Ci710s. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in 30 key genes related to nitrogen assimilation and tea quality. For this, pooled amplicon sequencing, SNPs annotation and effect prediction with SnpEFF tool were used. Further, a linear regression model was applied to reveal associations between the functional SNPs and the efficient vegetation indices. Results PCA and regression analysis revealed significant vegetation indices with high R2 values (more than 0.5) and the most reliable indices to select ND-tolerant genotypes were established: ZMI, CNDVI, RENDVI, VREI1, GM2, GM1, PRI, and Ctr2, VREI3, VREI2. The largest SNPs frequency was observed in several genes, namely F3’5’Hb, UFGTa, UFGTb, 4Cl, and AMT1.2. SNPs in NRT2.4, PIP, AlaDC, DFRa, and GS1.2 were inherent in ND-susceptible genotypes. Additionally, SNPs in AlaAT1, MYB4, and WRKY57, were led to alterations in protein structure and were observed in ND-susceptible tea genotypes. Associations were revealed between flavanol reflectance index (FRI) and SNPs in ASNb and PIP, that change the amino acids. In addition, two SNPs in 4Cl were associated with water band index (WBI). Conclusions The results will be useful to identify toler…
bibliographic citation: Kuzmina et al. (2024) Associations between SNPs and vegetation indices: unraveling molecular insights for enhanced cultivation of tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). PeerJ 12:e17689 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17689
date submitted: 2024-03-15
date accepted: 2024-06-14
issued: 2024-07-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Kuzmina
  given name: Daria
author list: Agent
  family name: Malyukova
  given name: Lyudmila S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Manakhova
  given name: Karina
author list: Agent
  family name: Kovalenko
  given name: Tatyana
author list: Agent
  family name: Fedorina
  given name: Jaroslava
author list: Agent
  family name: Matskiv
  given name: Aleksandra O.
author list: Agent
  family name: Ryndin
  given name: Alexey V.
author list: Agent
  family name: Gvasaliya
  given name: Maya V.
author list: Agent
  family name: Orlov
  given name: Yuriy L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Samarina
  given name: Lidiia S.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17689
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-07-18
copyright: ©2024 Kuzmina et al.
attribution name: Kuzmina et al.

Treatment gap and barriers to access mental healthcare among women with postpartum depression symptoms in Pakistan
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background and Objectives Postpartum depression (PPD) is prevalent among women after childbirth, but accessing mental healthcare for PPD is challenging. This study aimed to assess the treatment gap and barriers to mental healthcare access for women with PPD symptoms living in Punjab, Pakistan. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in five populous cities of Punjab from January to June 2023 by administering the questionnaire to the women using stratified random sampling. A total of 3,220 women in first 6 months postpartum were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Of them, 1,503 women scored thirteen or above, indicating potential depressive disorder. Interviews were conducted to explore help-seeking behavior and barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Descriptive statistics along with nonparametric tests (e.g., Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U) were used and group differences were examined. Scatter plot matrices with fitted lines were used to explore associations between variables. Classification and regression tree methods were used to classify the importance and contribution of different variables for the intensity of PPD. Results Only 2% of women (n = 33) with high PPD symptoms sought mental healthcare, and merely 5% of women (n = 75) had been in contact with a health service since the onset of their symptoms. 92.80% of women with PPD symptoms did not seek any medical attention. The majority of women, 1,215 (81%), perceived the need for mental health treatment; however, 91.23% of them did not seek treatment from healthcare services. Women who recently gave birth to a female child had higher mean depression scores compared to those who gave birth to a male child. Age, education, and birth location of newborn were significantly associated (p < 0.005) with mean barrier scores, mean social support scores, mean depression scores and treatment gap. The results of classification and regression decision tree model showed that instrum…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Aqsa Sajjad
creator: Shahid Shah
creator: Ghulam Abbas
creator: Ayesha Aslam
creator: Fawad Randhawa
creator: Haris Khurram
creator: Abdullah Assiri
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Women’s Health
subject: Mental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17711
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Sajjad et al.
abstract: Background and Objectives Postpartum depression (PPD) is prevalent among women after childbirth, but accessing mental healthcare for PPD is challenging. This study aimed to assess the treatment gap and barriers to mental healthcare access for women with PPD symptoms living in Punjab, Pakistan. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in five populous cities of Punjab from January to June 2023 by administering the questionnaire to the women using stratified random sampling. A total of 3,220 women in first 6 months postpartum were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Of them, 1,503 women scored thirteen or above, indicating potential depressive disorder. Interviews were conducted to explore help-seeking behavior and barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Descriptive statistics along with nonparametric tests (e.g., Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U) were used and group differences were examined. Scatter plot matrices with fitted lines were used to explore associations between variables. Classification and regression tree methods were used to classify the importance and contribution of different variables for the intensity of PPD. Results Only 2% of women (n = 33) with high PPD symptoms sought mental healthcare, and merely 5% of women (n = 75) had been in contact with a health service since the onset of their symptoms. 92.80% of women with PPD symptoms did not seek any medical attention. The majority of women, 1,215 (81%), perceived the need for mental health treatment; however, 91.23% of them did not seek treatment from healthcare services. Women who recently gave birth to a female child had higher mean depression scores compared to those who gave birth to a male child. Age, education, and birth location of newborn were significantly associated (p < 0.005) with mean barrier scores, mean social support scores, mean depression scores and treatment gap. The results of classification and regression decision tree model showed that instrum…
bibliographic citation: Sajjad et al. (2024) Treatment gap and barriers to access mental healthcare among women with postpartum depression symptoms in Pakistan. PeerJ 12:e17711 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17711
date submitted: 2024-02-15
date accepted: 2024-06-18
issued: 2024-07-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sajjad
  given name: Aqsa
author list: Agent
  family name: Shah
  given name: Shahid
author list: Agent
  family name: Abbas
  given name: Ghulam
author list: Agent
  family name: Aslam
  given name: Ayesha
author list: Agent
  family name: Randhawa
  given name: Fawad
author list: Agent
  family name: Khurram
  given name: Haris
author list: Agent
  family name: Assiri
  given name: Abdullah
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17711
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-07-18
copyright: ©2024 Sajjad et al.
attribution name: Sajjad et al.

Monitoring deforestation, forest health, and environmental criticality in a protected area periphery using Geospatial Techniques
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Protected areas in South Asia face significant challenges due to human disturbance and deforestation. The ongoing debate surrounds the recent surge in illegal encroachment of forest buffer zones in the Musali divisional secretariat division (DSD), which has led to a significant loss of forest cover over the past three decades. In this context, detecting changes in forest cover, assessing forest health, and evaluating environmental quality are crucial for sustainable forest management. As such, our efforts focused on assessing forest cover dynamics, forest health, and environmental conditions in the DSD from 1988 to 2022. We employed standardized image processing techniques, utilizing Landsat-5 (TM) and Landsat-8 (OLI) images. However, the forest area in the DSD has shown minimal changes, and environmental conditions and forest health have illustrated considerable spatial-temporal variations over the 34 years. The results indicated that 8.5 km2 (1.9%) of forest cover in the DSD has been converted to other land use classes. Overall, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has declined over time, while Land Surface Temperature (LST) exhibits an increasing trend. The regression results demonstrated a robust inverse relationship between LST and NDVI. The declining vegetation conditions and the increasing LST contribute to an increase in environmental criticality. The derived maps and indices will be beneficial for forest authorities in identifying highly sensitive locations. Additionally, they could enable land use planners to develop sustainable land management strategies.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Neel Chaminda Withanage
creator: Prabuddh Kumar Mishra
creator: Kamal Abdelrahman
creator: Rajender Singh
subject: Ecology
subject: Environmental Impacts
subject: Forestry
subject: Spatial and Geographic Information Science
subject: Environmental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17714
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Withanage et al.
abstract: Protected areas in South Asia face significant challenges due to human disturbance and deforestation. The ongoing debate surrounds the recent surge in illegal encroachment of forest buffer zones in the Musali divisional secretariat division (DSD), which has led to a significant loss of forest cover over the past three decades. In this context, detecting changes in forest cover, assessing forest health, and evaluating environmental quality are crucial for sustainable forest management. As such, our efforts focused on assessing forest cover dynamics, forest health, and environmental conditions in the DSD from 1988 to 2022. We employed standardized image processing techniques, utilizing Landsat-5 (TM) and Landsat-8 (OLI) images. However, the forest area in the DSD has shown minimal changes, and environmental conditions and forest health have illustrated considerable spatial-temporal variations over the 34 years. The results indicated that 8.5 km2 (1.9%) of forest cover in the DSD has been converted to other land use classes. Overall, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has declined over time, while Land Surface Temperature (LST) exhibits an increasing trend. The regression results demonstrated a robust inverse relationship between LST and NDVI. The declining vegetation conditions and the increasing LST contribute to an increase in environmental criticality. The derived maps and indices will be beneficial for forest authorities in identifying highly sensitive locations. Additionally, they could enable land use planners to develop sustainable land management strategies.
bibliographic citation: Withanage et al. (2024) Monitoring deforestation, forest health, and environmental criticality in a protected area periphery using Geospatial Techniques. PeerJ 12:e17714 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17714
date submitted: 2024-03-03
date accepted: 2024-06-18
issued: 2024-07-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Withanage
  given name: Neel Chaminda
author list: Agent
  family name: Mishra
  given name: Prabuddh Kumar
author list: Agent
  family name: Abdelrahman
  given name: Kamal
author list: Agent
  family name: Singh
  given name: Rajender
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17714
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-07-18
copyright: ©2024 Withanage et al.
attribution name: Withanage et al.

Flowering-associated gene expression and metabolic characteristics in adzuki bean (Vigna angularis L.) with different short-day induction periods
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The adzuki bean is a typical short-day plant and an important grain crop that is widely used due to its high nutritional and medicinal value. The adzuki bean flowering time is affected by multiple environmental factors, particularly the photoperiod. Adjusting the day length can induce flower synchronization in adzuki bean and accelerate the breeding process. In this study, we used RNA sequencing analysis to determine the effects of different day lengths on gene expression and metabolic characteristics related to adzuki bean flowering time. Methods ‘Tangshan hong xiao dou’ was used as the experimental material in this study and field experiments were conducted in 2022 using a randomized block design with three treatments: short-day induction periods of 5 d (SD-5d), 10 d (SD-10d), and 15 d (SD-15d). Results A total of 5,939 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 38.09% were up-regulated and 23.81% were down-regulated. Gene ontology enrichment analysis was performed on the target genes to identify common functions related to photosystems I and II. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis identified two pathways involved in the antenna protein and circadian rhythm. Furthermore, florescence was promoted by down-regulating genes in the circadian rhythm pathway through the blue light metabolic pathway; whereas, antenna proteins promoted flowering by enhancing the reception of light signals and accelerating electron transport. In these two metabolic pathways, the number of DEGs was the greatest between the SD-5d VS SD-15d groups. Real-time reverse transcription‒quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis results of eight DEGs were consistent with the sequencing results. Thus, the sequencing results were accurate and reliable and eight genes were identified as candidates for the regulation of short-day induction at the adzuki bean seedling stage. Conclusions Short-day induction was able to down-regulate the expressio…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Weixin Dong
creator: Dongxiao Li
creator: Lei Zhang
creator: Peijun Tao
creator: Yuechen Zhang
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Genetics
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17716
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Dong et al.
abstract: Background The adzuki bean is a typical short-day plant and an important grain crop that is widely used due to its high nutritional and medicinal value. The adzuki bean flowering time is affected by multiple environmental factors, particularly the photoperiod. Adjusting the day length can induce flower synchronization in adzuki bean and accelerate the breeding process. In this study, we used RNA sequencing analysis to determine the effects of different day lengths on gene expression and metabolic characteristics related to adzuki bean flowering time. Methods ‘Tangshan hong xiao dou’ was used as the experimental material in this study and field experiments were conducted in 2022 using a randomized block design with three treatments: short-day induction periods of 5 d (SD-5d), 10 d (SD-10d), and 15 d (SD-15d). Results A total of 5,939 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 38.09% were up-regulated and 23.81% were down-regulated. Gene ontology enrichment analysis was performed on the target genes to identify common functions related to photosystems I and II. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis identified two pathways involved in the antenna protein and circadian rhythm. Furthermore, florescence was promoted by down-regulating genes in the circadian rhythm pathway through the blue light metabolic pathway; whereas, antenna proteins promoted flowering by enhancing the reception of light signals and accelerating electron transport. In these two metabolic pathways, the number of DEGs was the greatest between the SD-5d VS SD-15d groups. Real-time reverse transcription‒quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis results of eight DEGs were consistent with the sequencing results. Thus, the sequencing results were accurate and reliable and eight genes were identified as candidates for the regulation of short-day induction at the adzuki bean seedling stage. Conclusions Short-day induction was able to down-regulate the expressio…
bibliographic citation: Dong et al. (2024) Flowering-associated gene expression and metabolic characteristics in adzuki bean (Vigna angularis L.) with different short-day induction periods. PeerJ 12:e17716 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17716
date submitted: 2023-11-29
date accepted: 2024-06-18
issued: 2024-07-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Dong
  given name: Weixin
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Dongxiao
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Lei
author list: Agent
  family name: Tao
  given name: Peijun
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Yuechen
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17716
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-07-18
copyright: © 2024 Dong et al.
attribution name: Dong et al.

Comparing and characterizing scapular muscle activation ratios in males and females during execution of common functional movements
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The shoulder complex relies on scapular movement controlled by periscapular muscles for optimal arm function. However, minimal research has explored scapular muscle activation ratios during functional tasks, nor how they might be influenced by biological sex. This investigation aims to characterize how sex impacts scapular muscle activation ratios during functional tasks. Methods Twenty participants (ten females, ten males) were assessed with surface electromyography (EMG) and motion tracking during seven functional tasks. Activation ratios were calculated from normalized EMG for the three trapezius muscles and serratus anterior. Scapular angles were calculated using a YXZ Euler sequence. Two-way mixed methods ANOVAs (p < .05) were used to assess the effects of sex and humeral elevation level on ratios and angles. Results Sex-based differences were present in the Tie Apron task, with males exhibiting higher upper trapezius/lower trapezius and upper trapezius/middle trapezius ratios than females. Males also demonstrated decreased internal rotation in this task. Other tasks showcased significant sex-based differences in scapular upward rotation but not in activation ratios. Humeral elevation generally demonstrated an inverse relationship with scapular muscle activation ratios. Conclusions This study highlights sex-based differences in scapular muscle activation ratios during specific functional tasks, emphasizing the need to consider sex in analyses of shoulder movements. Normative activation ratios for functional tasks were provided, offering a foundation for future comparisons with non-normative groups. Further research is warranted to confirm and explore additional influencing factors, advancing our understanding of shoulder activation and movement in diverse populations.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Angelica E. Lang
creator: Annaka Chorneyko
creator: Vivian Heinrichs
subject: Anatomy and Physiology
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Biomechanics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17728
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Lang et al.
abstract: Background The shoulder complex relies on scapular movement controlled by periscapular muscles for optimal arm function. However, minimal research has explored scapular muscle activation ratios during functional tasks, nor how they might be influenced by biological sex. This investigation aims to characterize how sex impacts scapular muscle activation ratios during functional tasks. Methods Twenty participants (ten females, ten males) were assessed with surface electromyography (EMG) and motion tracking during seven functional tasks. Activation ratios were calculated from normalized EMG for the three trapezius muscles and serratus anterior. Scapular angles were calculated using a YXZ Euler sequence. Two-way mixed methods ANOVAs (p < .05) were used to assess the effects of sex and humeral elevation level on ratios and angles. Results Sex-based differences were present in the Tie Apron task, with males exhibiting higher upper trapezius/lower trapezius and upper trapezius/middle trapezius ratios than females. Males also demonstrated decreased internal rotation in this task. Other tasks showcased significant sex-based differences in scapular upward rotation but not in activation ratios. Humeral elevation generally demonstrated an inverse relationship with scapular muscle activation ratios. Conclusions This study highlights sex-based differences in scapular muscle activation ratios during specific functional tasks, emphasizing the need to consider sex in analyses of shoulder movements. Normative activation ratios for functional tasks were provided, offering a foundation for future comparisons with non-normative groups. Further research is warranted to confirm and explore additional influencing factors, advancing our understanding of shoulder activation and movement in diverse populations.
bibliographic citation: Lang et al. (2024) Comparing and characterizing scapular muscle activation ratios in males and females during execution of common functional movements. PeerJ 12:e17728 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17728
date submitted: 2024-02-09
date accepted: 2024-06-20
issued: 2024-07-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
author list: Agent
  family name: Lang
  given name: Angelica E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Chorneyko
  given name: Annaka
author list: Agent
  family name: Heinrichs
  given name: Vivian
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17728
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-07-18
copyright: ©2024 Lang et al.
attribution name: Lang et al.

Examination of reliability and validity of the Self-Assessment Burden Scale-Motor for community-dwelling older adults in Japan: a validation study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The aging society in Japan is progressing rapidly compared with that in the United States and European countries. Aging limits activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults, declining their lives and functions at home. Therefore, improving their ADL to effectively support their functioning at home for as long as possible is vital. Consequently, supporters need to have a common understanding, be promptly aware of the decline in ADL, and quickly introduce rehabilitation. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Barthel Index (BI) are the main scales used to quantitatively assess ADL. However, previous studies have reported that FIM requires specialized knowledge for evaluation, and BI does not appropriately capture changes in ADL. The Self-Assessment Burden Scale-Motor (SAB-M) was developed as a scale for family caregivers to appropriately assess changes in ADL in older adults. Previous studies using the SAB-M have confirmed its reliability and validity in hospitalized patients as assessed by their family caregivers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the SAB-M among community-dwelling older adults as assessed by their family caregivers. Methods This study included community-dwelling older adults who received home-visit rehabilitation at the first author’s facility between October 2020 and December 2020 in Japan. Following previous studies, the SAB-M was used by family caregivers to assess 20 older adults twice for intra-rater reliability. Furthermore, 168 older adults were evaluated by family caregivers for internal consistency using the SAB-M. For criterion validity, the SAB-M was used for the assessment by family caregivers, and therapists used the FIM-Motor (FIM-M). This study used the weighted kappa, Cronbach’s alpha, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients for the statistical analysis of intra-rater reliability, internal consistency, and criterion validity, respectively. Results The weighted kappa c…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Hiroshi Warabino
creator: Toshikatsu Kaneda
creator: Yuma Nagata
creator: Katsushi Yokoi
creator: Kazuyo Nakaoka
creator: Yasuhiro Higashi
creator: Yoshimi Yuri
creator: Hiroko Hashimoto
creator: Shinichi Takabatake
subject: Geriatrics
subject: Healthcare Services
subject: Rehabilitation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17730
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Warabino et al.
abstract: Background The aging society in Japan is progressing rapidly compared with that in the United States and European countries. Aging limits activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults, declining their lives and functions at home. Therefore, improving their ADL to effectively support their functioning at home for as long as possible is vital. Consequently, supporters need to have a common understanding, be promptly aware of the decline in ADL, and quickly introduce rehabilitation. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Barthel Index (BI) are the main scales used to quantitatively assess ADL. However, previous studies have reported that FIM requires specialized knowledge for evaluation, and BI does not appropriately capture changes in ADL. The Self-Assessment Burden Scale-Motor (SAB-M) was developed as a scale for family caregivers to appropriately assess changes in ADL in older adults. Previous studies using the SAB-M have confirmed its reliability and validity in hospitalized patients as assessed by their family caregivers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the SAB-M among community-dwelling older adults as assessed by their family caregivers. Methods This study included community-dwelling older adults who received home-visit rehabilitation at the first author’s facility between October 2020 and December 2020 in Japan. Following previous studies, the SAB-M was used by family caregivers to assess 20 older adults twice for intra-rater reliability. Furthermore, 168 older adults were evaluated by family caregivers for internal consistency using the SAB-M. For criterion validity, the SAB-M was used for the assessment by family caregivers, and therapists used the FIM-Motor (FIM-M). This study used the weighted kappa, Cronbach’s alpha, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients for the statistical analysis of intra-rater reliability, internal consistency, and criterion validity, respectively. Results The weighted kappa c…
bibliographic citation: Warabino et al. (2024) Examination of reliability and validity of the Self-Assessment Burden Scale-Motor for community-dwelling older adults in Japan: a validation study. PeerJ 12:e17730 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17730
date submitted: 2024-02-16
date accepted: 2024-06-21
issued: 2024-07-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Warabino
  given name: Hiroshi
author list: Agent
  family name: Kaneda
  given name: Toshikatsu
author list: Agent
  family name: Nagata
  given name: Yuma
author list: Agent
  family name: Yokoi
  given name: Katsushi
author list: Agent
  family name: Nakaoka
  given name: Kazuyo
author list: Agent
  family name: Higashi
  given name: Yasuhiro
author list: Agent
  family name: Yuri
  given name: Yoshimi
author list: Agent
  family name: Hashimoto
  given name: Hiroko
author list: Agent
  family name: Takabatake
  given name: Shinichi
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17730
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-07-18
copyright: ©2024 Warabino et al.
attribution name: Warabino et al.

Assembly and evolutionary analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Trichosanthes kirilowii, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Trichosanthes kirilowii (T. kirilowii) is a valuable plant used for both medicinal and edible purposes. It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. However, its phylogenetic position and relatives have been difficult to accurately determine due to the lack of mitochondrial genomic information. This limitation has been an obstacle to the potential applications of T. kirilowii in various fields. To address this issue, Illumina and Nanopore HiFi sequencing were used to assemble the mitogenome of T. kirilowii into two circular molecules with sizes of 245,700 bp and 107,049 bp, forming a unique multi-branched structure. The mitogenome contains 61 genes, including 38 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 20 tRNAs, and three rRNAs. Within the 38 PCGs of the T. kirilowii mitochondrial genome, 518 potential RNA editing sites were identified. The study also revealed the presence of 15 homologous fragments that span both the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes. The phylogenetic analysis strongly supports that T. kirilowii belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is closely related to Luffa. Collinearity analysis of five Cucurbitaceae mitogenomes shows a high degree of structural variability. Interestingly, four genes, namely atp1, ccmFC, ccmFN, and matR, played significant roles in the evolution of T. kirilowii through selection pressure analysis. The comparative analysis of the T. kirilowii mitogenome not only sheds light on its functional and structural features but also provides essential information for genetic studies of the genus of Cucurbitaceae.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Zhuanzhuan Jiang
creator: Yuhan Chen
creator: Xingyu Zhang
creator: Fansong Meng
creator: Jinli Chen
creator: Xu Cheng
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Genetics
subject: Genomics
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17747
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Jiang et al.
abstract: Trichosanthes kirilowii (T. kirilowii) is a valuable plant used for both medicinal and edible purposes. It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. However, its phylogenetic position and relatives have been difficult to accurately determine due to the lack of mitochondrial genomic information. This limitation has been an obstacle to the potential applications of T. kirilowii in various fields. To address this issue, Illumina and Nanopore HiFi sequencing were used to assemble the mitogenome of T. kirilowii into two circular molecules with sizes of 245,700 bp and 107,049 bp, forming a unique multi-branched structure. The mitogenome contains 61 genes, including 38 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 20 tRNAs, and three rRNAs. Within the 38 PCGs of the T. kirilowii mitochondrial genome, 518 potential RNA editing sites were identified. The study also revealed the presence of 15 homologous fragments that span both the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes. The phylogenetic analysis strongly supports that T. kirilowii belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is closely related to Luffa. Collinearity analysis of five Cucurbitaceae mitogenomes shows a high degree of structural variability. Interestingly, four genes, namely atp1, ccmFC, ccmFN, and matR, played significant roles in the evolution of T. kirilowii through selection pressure analysis. The comparative analysis of the T. kirilowii mitogenome not only sheds light on its functional and structural features but also provides essential information for genetic studies of the genus of Cucurbitaceae.
bibliographic citation: Jiang et al. (2024) Assembly and evolutionary analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Trichosanthes kirilowii, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. PeerJ 12:e17747 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17747
date submitted: 2024-04-30
date accepted: 2024-06-24
issued: 2024-07-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Zhuanzhuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Yuhan
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Xingyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Meng
  given name: Fansong
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Jinli
author list: Agent
  family name: Cheng
  given name: Xu
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17747
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-07-18
copyright: ©2024 Jiang et al.
attribution name: Jiang et al.

Exploring the technological dimension of Autonomous sensory meridian response-induced physiological responses
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background In recent years, the scientific community has been captivated by the intriguing Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), a unique phenomenon characterized by tingling sensations originating from the scalp and propagating down the spine. While anecdotal evidence suggests the therapeutic potential of ASMR, the field has witnessed a surge of scientific interest, particularly through the use of neuroimaging techniques including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as well as electroencephalography (EEG) and physiological measures such as eye tracking (Pupil Diameter), heart rate (HR), heartbeat-evoked potential (HEP), blood pressure (BP), pulse rates (PR), finger photoplethysmography (PPG), and skin conductance (SC). This article is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of technology’s contributions to the scientific elucidation of ASMR mechanisms. Methodology A meticulous literature review was undertaken to identify studies that have examined ASMR using EEG and physiological measurements. The comprehensive search was conducted across databases such as PUBMED, SCOPUS, and IEEE, using a range of relevant keywords such as ‘ASMR’, ‘Autonomous sensory meridian response’, ‘EEG’, ‘fMRI’, ‘electroencephalography’, ‘physiological measures’, ‘heart rate’, ‘skin conductance’, and ‘eye tracking’. This rigorous process yielded a substantial number of 63 PUBMED and 166 SCOPUS-related articles, ensuring the inclusion of a wide range of high-quality research in this review. Results The review uncovered a body of research utilizing EEG and physiological measures to explore ASMR’s effects. EEG studies have revealed distinct patterns of brain activity associated with ASMR experiences, particularly in regions implicated in emotional processing and sensory integration. In physiological measurements, a decrease in HR and an increase in SC and pupil diameter indicate relaxation and increased attention during ASMR-triggered stimuli. Conclusions The findings of th…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Sahar Seifzadeh
creator: Bozena Kostek
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Human-Computer Interaction
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17754
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Seifzadeh and Kostek
abstract: Background In recent years, the scientific community has been captivated by the intriguing Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), a unique phenomenon characterized by tingling sensations originating from the scalp and propagating down the spine. While anecdotal evidence suggests the therapeutic potential of ASMR, the field has witnessed a surge of scientific interest, particularly through the use of neuroimaging techniques including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as well as electroencephalography (EEG) and physiological measures such as eye tracking (Pupil Diameter), heart rate (HR), heartbeat-evoked potential (HEP), blood pressure (BP), pulse rates (PR), finger photoplethysmography (PPG), and skin conductance (SC). This article is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of technology’s contributions to the scientific elucidation of ASMR mechanisms. Methodology A meticulous literature review was undertaken to identify studies that have examined ASMR using EEG and physiological measurements. The comprehensive search was conducted across databases such as PUBMED, SCOPUS, and IEEE, using a range of relevant keywords such as ‘ASMR’, ‘Autonomous sensory meridian response’, ‘EEG’, ‘fMRI’, ‘electroencephalography’, ‘physiological measures’, ‘heart rate’, ‘skin conductance’, and ‘eye tracking’. This rigorous process yielded a substantial number of 63 PUBMED and 166 SCOPUS-related articles, ensuring the inclusion of a wide range of high-quality research in this review. Results The review uncovered a body of research utilizing EEG and physiological measures to explore ASMR’s effects. EEG studies have revealed distinct patterns of brain activity associated with ASMR experiences, particularly in regions implicated in emotional processing and sensory integration. In physiological measurements, a decrease in HR and an increase in SC and pupil diameter indicate relaxation and increased attention during ASMR-triggered stimuli. Conclusions The findings of th…
bibliographic citation: Seifzadeh et al. (2024) Exploring the technological dimension of Autonomous sensory meridian response-induced physiological responses. PeerJ 12:e17754 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17754
date submitted: 2024-03-04
date accepted: 2024-06-25
issued: 2024-07-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Seifzadeh
  given name: Sahar
author list: Agent
  family name: Kostek
  given name: Bozena
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17754
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-07-18
copyright: ©2024 Seifzadeh and Kostek
attribution name: Seifzadeh and Kostek

Secretomic changes of amyloid beta peptides on Alzheimer’s disease related proteins in differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes physical damage to neuronal connections, leading to brain atrophy. This disruption of synaptic connections results in mild to severe cognitive impairments. Unfortunately, no effective treatment is currently known to prevent or reverse the symptoms of AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three synthetic peptides, i.e., KLVFF, RGKLVFFGR and RIIGL, on an AD in vitro model represented by differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to retinoic acid (RA) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The results demonstrated that RIIGL peptide had the least significant cytotoxic activity to normal SH-SY5Y while exerting high cytotoxicity against the differentiated cells. The mechanism of RIIGL peptide in the differentiated SH-SY5Y was investigated based on changes in secretory proteins compared to another two peptides. A total of 380 proteins were identified, and five of them were significantly detected after treatment with RIIGL peptide. These secretory proteins were found to be related to microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP). RIIGL peptide acts on differentiated SH-SY5Y by regulating amyloid-beta formation, neuron apoptotic process, ceramide catabolic process, and oxidative phosphorylation and thus has the potentials to treat AD.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Sittiruk Roytrakul
creator: Janthima Jaresitthikunchai
creator: Narumon Phaonakrop
creator: Sawanya Charoenlappanit
creator: Siriwan Thaisakun
creator: Nitithorn Kumsri
creator: Teerakul Arpornsuwan
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cell Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17732
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Roytrakul et al.
abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes physical damage to neuronal connections, leading to brain atrophy. This disruption of synaptic connections results in mild to severe cognitive impairments. Unfortunately, no effective treatment is currently known to prevent or reverse the symptoms of AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three synthetic peptides, i.e., KLVFF, RGKLVFFGR and RIIGL, on an AD in vitro model represented by differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to retinoic acid (RA) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The results demonstrated that RIIGL peptide had the least significant cytotoxic activity to normal SH-SY5Y while exerting high cytotoxicity against the differentiated cells. The mechanism of RIIGL peptide in the differentiated SH-SY5Y was investigated based on changes in secretory proteins compared to another two peptides. A total of 380 proteins were identified, and five of them were significantly detected after treatment with RIIGL peptide. These secretory proteins were found to be related to microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP). RIIGL peptide acts on differentiated SH-SY5Y by regulating amyloid-beta formation, neuron apoptotic process, ceramide catabolic process, and oxidative phosphorylation and thus has the potentials to treat AD.
bibliographic citation: Roytrakul et al. (2024) Secretomic changes of amyloid beta peptides on Alzheimer’s disease related proteins in differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. PeerJ 12:e17732 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17732
date submitted: 2024-03-25
date accepted: 2024-06-21
issued: 2024-07-17
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Roytrakul
  given name: Sittiruk
author list: Agent
  family name: Jaresitthikunchai
  given name: Janthima
author list: Agent
  family name: Phaonakrop
  given name: Narumon
author list: Agent
  family name: Charoenlappanit
  given name: Sawanya
author list: Agent
  family name: Thaisakun
  given name: Siriwan
author list: Agent
  family name: Kumsri
  given name: Nitithorn
author list: Agent
  family name: Arpornsuwan
  given name: Teerakul
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17732
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-07-17
copyright: ©2024 Roytrakul et al.
attribution name: Roytrakul et al.

Insects’ perception and behavioral responses to plant semiochemicals
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Insect-plant interactions are shaped by the exchange of chemical cues called semiochemicals, which play a vital role in communication between organisms. Plants release a variety of volatile organic compounds in response to environmental cues, such as herbivore attacks. These compounds play a crucial role in mediating the interactions between plants and insects. This review provides an in-depth analysis of plant semiochemicals, encompassing their classification, current understanding of extraction, identification, and characterization using various analytical techniques, including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The article also delves into the manner in which insects perceive and respond to plant semiochemicals, as well as the impact of environmental factors on plant odor emission and insect orientation. Furthermore, it explores the underlying mechanisms by which insects perceive and interpret these chemical cues, and how this impacts their behavioral responses, including feeding habits, oviposition patterns, and mating behaviors. Additionally, the potential applications of plant semiochemicals in integrated pest management strategies are explored. This review provides insight into the intricate relationships between plants and insects mediated by semiochemicals, highlighting the significance of continued research in this field to better understand and leverage these interactions for effective pest control.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Diriba Fufa Serdo
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Entomology
subject: Plant Science
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17735
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Serdo
abstract: Insect-plant interactions are shaped by the exchange of chemical cues called semiochemicals, which play a vital role in communication between organisms. Plants release a variety of volatile organic compounds in response to environmental cues, such as herbivore attacks. These compounds play a crucial role in mediating the interactions between plants and insects. This review provides an in-depth analysis of plant semiochemicals, encompassing their classification, current understanding of extraction, identification, and characterization using various analytical techniques, including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The article also delves into the manner in which insects perceive and respond to plant semiochemicals, as well as the impact of environmental factors on plant odor emission and insect orientation. Furthermore, it explores the underlying mechanisms by which insects perceive and interpret these chemical cues, and how this impacts their behavioral responses, including feeding habits, oviposition patterns, and mating behaviors. Additionally, the potential applications of plant semiochemicals in integrated pest management strategies are explored. This review provides insight into the intricate relationships between plants and insects mediated by semiochemicals, highlighting the significance of continued research in this field to better understand and leverage these interactions for effective pest control.
bibliographic citation: Serdo (2024) Insects’ perception and behavioral responses to plant semiochemicals. PeerJ 12:e17735 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17735
date submitted: 2024-03-08
date accepted: 2024-06-23
issued: 2024-07-17
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Serdo
  given name: Diriba Fufa
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17735
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-07-17
copyright: ©2024 Serdo
attribution name: Serdo

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