PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Doubling the known diversity of a remote island fauna: marine bivalves of the Juan Fernández and Desventuradas oceanic archipelagos (Southeastern Pacific Ocean)
items: Labeled-free quantitative proteomic analysis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma identifies potential protein biomarkers
items: A taxonomic revision of Rhizophora L. (Rhizophoraceae) in Thailand
items: Resistance mechanisms of cereal plants and rhizosphere soil microbial communities to chromium stress
items: Restoring South African subtropical succulent thicket using Portulacaria afra: root growth of cuttings differs depending on the harvest site during a drought
items: Combined uranium-series and electron spin resonance dating from the Pliocene fossil sites of Aves and Milo’s palaeocaves, Bolt’s Farm, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa
items: Internet addiction among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: Associations with sociodemographic and psychological distress
items: Impact of white blood cell count on the development of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention
items: Wing mechanics and acoustic communication of a new genus of sylvan katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae) from the Central Cordillera cloud forest of Colombia
items: Utilization of ripe coconut water in the development of probiotic gelatin

Doubling the known diversity of a remote island fauna: marine bivalves of the Juan Fernández and Desventuradas oceanic archipelagos (Southeastern Pacific Ocean)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Juan Fernández and Desventuradas are two oceanic archipelagos located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean far off the Chilean coast that received protected status as marine parks in 2016. Remoteness and access difficulty contributed to historically poor biodiversity sampling and limited associated research. This is particularly noticeable for bivalves, with most prior regional publications focused on single taxa or un-illustrated checklists. This study investigates marine bivalves collected between the intertidal and 415 m depth during (1) the 1997 IOC97 expedition aboard the M/V Carlos Porter, with special focus on scuba-collected micro-mollusks of both archipelagos, (2) two expeditions by the R/V Anton Bruun (Cruise 12/1965 and Cruise 17/1966), and (3) Cruise 21 of USNS Eltanin under the United States Antarctic Program, which sampled at Juan Fernández in 1965. Also, relevant historical material of the British H.M.S. Challenger Expedition (1873–1876), the Swedish Pacific Expedition (1916–1917), and by German zoologist Ludwig H. Plate (1893–1895) is critically revised. A total of 48 species are recognized and illustrated, including 19 new species (described herein) and six other potentially new species. The presence of two species mentioned in the literature for the region (Aulacomya atra and Saccella cuneata) could not be confirmed. The genera Verticipronus and Halonympha are reported for the first time from the Eastern Pacific, as are Anadara and Condylocardia from Chilean waters. Lectotypes are designated for Arca (Barbatia) platei and Mytilus algosus. These findings double the number of extant bivalve species known from the Juan Fernández and Desventuradas archipelagos, highlighting the lack of attention these islands groups have received in the past. A high percentage of species endemic to one or both archipelagos are recognized herein, accounting for almost 78% of the total. The newly recognized level of bivalve endemism supports the consideration of Juan Fernán…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Diego Gabriel Zelaya
creator: Marina Güller
creator: Rüdiger Bieler
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17305
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Zelaya et al.
abstract: Juan Fernández and Desventuradas are two oceanic archipelagos located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean far off the Chilean coast that received protected status as marine parks in 2016. Remoteness and access difficulty contributed to historically poor biodiversity sampling and limited associated research. This is particularly noticeable for bivalves, with most prior regional publications focused on single taxa or un-illustrated checklists. This study investigates marine bivalves collected between the intertidal and 415 m depth during (1) the 1997 IOC97 expedition aboard the M/V Carlos Porter, with special focus on scuba-collected micro-mollusks of both archipelagos, (2) two expeditions by the R/V Anton Bruun (Cruise 12/1965 and Cruise 17/1966), and (3) Cruise 21 of USNS Eltanin under the United States Antarctic Program, which sampled at Juan Fernández in 1965. Also, relevant historical material of the British H.M.S. Challenger Expedition (1873–1876), the Swedish Pacific Expedition (1916–1917), and by German zoologist Ludwig H. Plate (1893–1895) is critically revised. A total of 48 species are recognized and illustrated, including 19 new species (described herein) and six other potentially new species. The presence of two species mentioned in the literature for the region (Aulacomya atra and Saccella cuneata) could not be confirmed. The genera Verticipronus and Halonympha are reported for the first time from the Eastern Pacific, as are Anadara and Condylocardia from Chilean waters. Lectotypes are designated for Arca (Barbatia) platei and Mytilus algosus. These findings double the number of extant bivalve species known from the Juan Fernández and Desventuradas archipelagos, highlighting the lack of attention these islands groups have received in the past. A high percentage of species endemic to one or both archipelagos are recognized herein, accounting for almost 78% of the total. The newly recognized level of bivalve endemism supports the consideration of Juan Fernán…
bibliographic citation: Zelaya et al. (2024) Doubling the known diversity of a remote island fauna: marine bivalves of the Juan Fernández and Desventuradas oceanic archipelagos (Southeastern Pacific Ocean). PeerJ 12:e17305 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17305
date submitted: 2024-02-01
date accepted: 2024-04-04
issued: 2024-06-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zelaya
  given name: Diego Gabriel
author list: Agent
  family name: Güller
  given name: Marina
author list: Agent
  family name: Bieler
  given name: Rüdiger
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17305
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-28
copyright: © 2024 Zelaya et al.
attribution name: Zelaya et al.

Labeled-free quantitative proteomic analysis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma identifies potential protein biomarkers
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Cervical cancer remains a prevalent cancer among women, and reliance on surgical and radio-chemical therapies can irreversibly affect patients’ life span and quality of life. Thus, early diagnosis and further exploration into the pathogenesis of cervical cancer are crucial. Mass spectrometry technology is widely applied in clinical practice and can be used to further investigate the protein alterations during the onset of cervical cancer. Methods Employing labeled-free quantitative proteomics technology and bioinformatics tools, we analyzed and compared the differential protein expression profiles between normal cervical squamous cell tissues and cervical squamous cell cancer tissues. GEPIA is an online website for analyzing the RNA sequencing expression data of tumor and normal tissue data from the TCGA and the GTEx databases. This approach aided in identifying qualitative and quantitative changes in key proteins related to the progression of cervical cancer. Results Compared to normal samples, a total of 562 differentially expressed proteins were identified in cervical cancer samples, including 340 up-regulated and 222 down-regulated proteins. Gene ontology functional annotation, and KEGG pathway, and enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed proteins mainly participated in metabolic pathways, spliceosomes, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, and focal adhesion signaling pathways. Specifically, desmoplakin (DSP), protein phosphatase 1, regulatory (inhibitor) subunit 13 like (PPP1R13L) and ANXA8 may be involved in cervical tumorigenesis by inhibiting apoptotic signal transmission. Moreover, we used GEPIA database to validate the expression of DSP, PPP1R13L and ANXA8 in human cancers and normal cervix. Conclusion In this study, we identified 562 differentially expressed proteins, and there were three proteins expressed higher in the cervical cancer tissues. The functions and signaling pathways of these differentially expressed prote…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Hua Bai
creator: Hongyun Zheng
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Oncology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17444
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Bai and Zheng
abstract: Background Cervical cancer remains a prevalent cancer among women, and reliance on surgical and radio-chemical therapies can irreversibly affect patients’ life span and quality of life. Thus, early diagnosis and further exploration into the pathogenesis of cervical cancer are crucial. Mass spectrometry technology is widely applied in clinical practice and can be used to further investigate the protein alterations during the onset of cervical cancer. Methods Employing labeled-free quantitative proteomics technology and bioinformatics tools, we analyzed and compared the differential protein expression profiles between normal cervical squamous cell tissues and cervical squamous cell cancer tissues. GEPIA is an online website for analyzing the RNA sequencing expression data of tumor and normal tissue data from the TCGA and the GTEx databases. This approach aided in identifying qualitative and quantitative changes in key proteins related to the progression of cervical cancer. Results Compared to normal samples, a total of 562 differentially expressed proteins were identified in cervical cancer samples, including 340 up-regulated and 222 down-regulated proteins. Gene ontology functional annotation, and KEGG pathway, and enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed proteins mainly participated in metabolic pathways, spliceosomes, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, and focal adhesion signaling pathways. Specifically, desmoplakin (DSP), protein phosphatase 1, regulatory (inhibitor) subunit 13 like (PPP1R13L) and ANXA8 may be involved in cervical tumorigenesis by inhibiting apoptotic signal transmission. Moreover, we used GEPIA database to validate the expression of DSP, PPP1R13L and ANXA8 in human cancers and normal cervix. Conclusion In this study, we identified 562 differentially expressed proteins, and there were three proteins expressed higher in the cervical cancer tissues. The functions and signaling pathways of these differentially expressed prote…
bibliographic citation: Bai et al. (2024) Labeled-free quantitative proteomic analysis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma identifies potential protein biomarkers. PeerJ 12:e17444 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17444
date submitted: 2023-10-30
date accepted: 2024-05-02
issued: 2024-06-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Bai
  given name: Hua
author list: Agent
  family name: Zheng
  given name: Hongyun
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17444
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-28
copyright: © 2024 Bai and Zheng
attribution name: Bai and Zheng

A taxonomic revision of Rhizophora L. (Rhizophoraceae) in Thailand
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: A taxonomic revision of Rhizophora L. (Rhizophoraceae) in Thailand is presented. Two species, R. apiculata Blume and R. mucronata Poir., are enumerated with updated morphological descriptions, illustrations and a taxonomic identification key, together with notes on distributions, habitats and ecology, phenology, conservation assessments, etymology, vernacular names, uses, and specimens examined. Three names in Rhizophora, are lectotypified: R. apiculata and two associated synonyms of R. mucronata (i.e., R. latifolia Miq. and R. macrorrhiza Griff.). R. longissima Blanco, a synonym of R. mucronata, is neotypified. All two Rhizophora species have a conservation assessment of Least Concern (LC). Based on the morphological identification, these two species can be distinguished from one another by the shape and width of the leaf laminae and the length of a terminal stiff point of the leaf laminae; the type and position of the inflorescences and the number of flowers per inflorescence; the character and color of the bracteoles; the presence or absence of the flower pedicels; the shape of the mature flower buds; the shape, color, and texture of the sepals; the shape, character, and the presence or absence of hairs of the petals; the number of stamens per flower; the size of the fruits; the color and size of the hypocotyls; the color and diameter of the cotyledonous cylindrical tubes; and the color of the colleters and exudate. The thick cuticles, sunken stomata, large hypodermal cells, and cork warts are adaptive anatomical features of leaves in Rhizophora that live in the mangrove environments. The pollen grains of Thai Rhizophora species are tricolporate, prolate spheroidal or oblate spheroidal shapes, small-sized, and reticulate exine sculpturing.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Chatchai Ngernsaengsaruay
creator: Pichet Chanton
creator: Nisa Leksungnoen
creator: Suwimon Uthairatsamee
creator: Nittaya Mianmit
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Plant Science
subject: Taxonomy
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17460
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Ngernsaengsaruay et al.
abstract: A taxonomic revision of Rhizophora L. (Rhizophoraceae) in Thailand is presented. Two species, R. apiculata Blume and R. mucronata Poir., are enumerated with updated morphological descriptions, illustrations and a taxonomic identification key, together with notes on distributions, habitats and ecology, phenology, conservation assessments, etymology, vernacular names, uses, and specimens examined. Three names in Rhizophora, are lectotypified: R. apiculata and two associated synonyms of R. mucronata (i.e., R. latifolia Miq. and R. macrorrhiza Griff.). R. longissima Blanco, a synonym of R. mucronata, is neotypified. All two Rhizophora species have a conservation assessment of Least Concern (LC). Based on the morphological identification, these two species can be distinguished from one another by the shape and width of the leaf laminae and the length of a terminal stiff point of the leaf laminae; the type and position of the inflorescences and the number of flowers per inflorescence; the character and color of the bracteoles; the presence or absence of the flower pedicels; the shape of the mature flower buds; the shape, color, and texture of the sepals; the shape, character, and the presence or absence of hairs of the petals; the number of stamens per flower; the size of the fruits; the color and size of the hypocotyls; the color and diameter of the cotyledonous cylindrical tubes; and the color of the colleters and exudate. The thick cuticles, sunken stomata, large hypodermal cells, and cork warts are adaptive anatomical features of leaves in Rhizophora that live in the mangrove environments. The pollen grains of Thai Rhizophora species are tricolporate, prolate spheroidal or oblate spheroidal shapes, small-sized, and reticulate exine sculpturing.
bibliographic citation: Ngernsaengsaruay et al. (2024) A taxonomic revision of Rhizophora L. (Rhizophoraceae) in Thailand. PeerJ 12:e17460 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17460
date submitted: 2024-01-25
date accepted: 2024-05-03
issued: 2024-06-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ngernsaengsaruay
  given name: Chatchai
author list: Agent
  family name: Chanton
  given name: Pichet
author list: Agent
  family name: Leksungnoen
  given name: Nisa
author list: Agent
  family name: Uthairatsamee
  given name: Suwimon
author list: Agent
  family name: Mianmit
  given name: Nittaya
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17460
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-28
copyright: © 2024 Ngernsaengsaruay et al.
attribution name: Ngernsaengsaruay et al.

Resistance mechanisms of cereal plants and rhizosphere soil microbial communities to chromium stress
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Agricultural soils contaminated with heavy metals poison crops and disturb the normal functioning of rhizosphere microbial communities. Different crops and rhizosphere microbial communities exhibit different heavy metal resistance mechanisms. Here, indoor pot studies were used to assess the mechanisms of grain and soil rhizosphere microbial communities on chromium (Cr) stress. Millet grain variety ‘Jingu 21’ (Setaria italica) and soil samples were collected prior to control (CK), 6 hours after (Cr_6h), and 6 days following (Cr_6d) Cr stress. Transcriptomic analysis, high-throughput sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used for sample determination and data analysis. Cr stress inhibited the expression of genes related to cell division, and photosynthesis in grain plants while stimulating the expression of genes related to DNA replication and repair, in addition to plant defense systems resist Cr stress. In response to chromium stress, rhizosphere soil bacterial and fungal community compositions and diversity changed significantly (p < 0.05). Both bacterial and fungal co-occurrence networks primarily comprised positively correlated edges that would serve to increase community stability. However, bacterial community networks were larger than fungal community networks and were more tightly connected and less modular than fungal networks. The abundances of C/N functional genes exhibited increasing trends with increased Cr exposure. Overall, these results suggest that Cr stress primarily prevented cereal seedlings from completing photosynthesis, cell division, and proliferation while simultaneously triggering plant defense mechanisms to resist the toxic effects of Cr. Soil bacterial and fungal populations exhibited diverse response traits, community-assembly mechanisms, and increased expression of functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen cycling, all of which are likely related to microbial survival during Cr stress. This study provides…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Pengyu Zhao
creator: Yujing Li
creator: Xue Bai
creator: Xiuqing Jing
creator: Dongao Huo
creator: Xiaodong Zhao
creator: Yuqin Ding
creator: Yuxuan Shi
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Microbiology
subject: Plant Science
subject: Soil Science
subject: Environmental Contamination and Remediation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17461
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Zhao et al.
abstract: Agricultural soils contaminated with heavy metals poison crops and disturb the normal functioning of rhizosphere microbial communities. Different crops and rhizosphere microbial communities exhibit different heavy metal resistance mechanisms. Here, indoor pot studies were used to assess the mechanisms of grain and soil rhizosphere microbial communities on chromium (Cr) stress. Millet grain variety ‘Jingu 21’ (Setaria italica) and soil samples were collected prior to control (CK), 6 hours after (Cr_6h), and 6 days following (Cr_6d) Cr stress. Transcriptomic analysis, high-throughput sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used for sample determination and data analysis. Cr stress inhibited the expression of genes related to cell division, and photosynthesis in grain plants while stimulating the expression of genes related to DNA replication and repair, in addition to plant defense systems resist Cr stress. In response to chromium stress, rhizosphere soil bacterial and fungal community compositions and diversity changed significantly (p < 0.05). Both bacterial and fungal co-occurrence networks primarily comprised positively correlated edges that would serve to increase community stability. However, bacterial community networks were larger than fungal community networks and were more tightly connected and less modular than fungal networks. The abundances of C/N functional genes exhibited increasing trends with increased Cr exposure. Overall, these results suggest that Cr stress primarily prevented cereal seedlings from completing photosynthesis, cell division, and proliferation while simultaneously triggering plant defense mechanisms to resist the toxic effects of Cr. Soil bacterial and fungal populations exhibited diverse response traits, community-assembly mechanisms, and increased expression of functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen cycling, all of which are likely related to microbial survival during Cr stress. This study provides…
bibliographic citation: Zhao et al. (2024) Resistance mechanisms of cereal plants and rhizosphere soil microbial communities to chromium stress. PeerJ 12:e17461 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17461
date submitted: 2023-12-13
date accepted: 2024-05-03
issued: 2024-06-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Pengyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Yujing
author list: Agent
  family name: Bai
  given name: Xue
author list: Agent
  family name: Jing
  given name: Xiuqing
author list: Agent
  family name: Huo
  given name: Dongao
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Xiaodong
author list: Agent
  family name: Ding
  given name: Yuqin
author list: Agent
  family name: Shi
  given name: Yuxuan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17461
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-28
copyright: ©2024 Zhao et al.
attribution name: Zhao et al.

Restoring South African subtropical succulent thicket using Portulacaria afra: root growth of cuttings differs depending on the harvest site during a drought
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The restoration of succulent thicket (the semi-arid components of the Albany Subtropical Thicket biome endemic to South Africa) has largely focused on the reintroduction of Portulacaria afra L. Jacq—a leaf- and stem-succulent shrub—through the planting of unrooted cuttings directly into field sites. However, there has been inconsistent establishment and survival rates, with low rates potentially due to a range of factors (e.g., post-planting drought, frost or herbivory), including the poor condition of source material used. Here we test the effect of parent-plant and harvesting site on the root development of P. afra cuttings in a common garden experiment. Ten sites were selected along a ∼110 km transect, with cuttings harvested from five parent-plants per site. Leaf moisture content was determined for each parent-plant at the time of harvesting as a proxy for plant condition. Root development—percentage of rooted cuttings and mean root dry weight—was recorded for a subset of cuttings from each parent-plant after 35, 42, 48, 56, and 103 days after planting in a common garden setting. We found evidence for cutting root development (rooting percentage and root dry mass) to be strongly associated with harvesting site across all sampling days (p < 0.005 for all tests). These differences are likely a consequence of underlying physiological factors; this was supported by the significant but weak correlation (r2 = 0.10–0.26) between the leaf moisture content of the parent-plant (at the time of harvesting) and dry root mass of the cuttings (at each of the sampling days). Our findings demonstrate that varying plant condition across sites can significantly influence root development during dry phases (i.e., intra- and inter-annual droughts) and that this may be a critical component that needs to be understood as part of any restoration programme. Further work is required to identify the environmental conditions that promote or impede root development in P. afra cuttings.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Alastair J. Potts
creator: Robbert Duker
creator: Kristen L. Hunt
creator: Anize Tempel
creator: Nicholas C. Galuszynski
subject: Ecology
subject: Environmental Sciences
subject: Plant Science
subject: Natural Resource Management
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17471
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Potts et al.
abstract: The restoration of succulent thicket (the semi-arid components of the Albany Subtropical Thicket biome endemic to South Africa) has largely focused on the reintroduction of Portulacaria afra L. Jacq—a leaf- and stem-succulent shrub—through the planting of unrooted cuttings directly into field sites. However, there has been inconsistent establishment and survival rates, with low rates potentially due to a range of factors (e.g., post-planting drought, frost or herbivory), including the poor condition of source material used. Here we test the effect of parent-plant and harvesting site on the root development of P. afra cuttings in a common garden experiment. Ten sites were selected along a ∼110 km transect, with cuttings harvested from five parent-plants per site. Leaf moisture content was determined for each parent-plant at the time of harvesting as a proxy for plant condition. Root development—percentage of rooted cuttings and mean root dry weight—was recorded for a subset of cuttings from each parent-plant after 35, 42, 48, 56, and 103 days after planting in a common garden setting. We found evidence for cutting root development (rooting percentage and root dry mass) to be strongly associated with harvesting site across all sampling days (p < 0.005 for all tests). These differences are likely a consequence of underlying physiological factors; this was supported by the significant but weak correlation (r2 = 0.10–0.26) between the leaf moisture content of the parent-plant (at the time of harvesting) and dry root mass of the cuttings (at each of the sampling days). Our findings demonstrate that varying plant condition across sites can significantly influence root development during dry phases (i.e., intra- and inter-annual droughts) and that this may be a critical component that needs to be understood as part of any restoration programme. Further work is required to identify the environmental conditions that promote or impede root development in P. afra cuttings.
bibliographic citation: Potts et al. (2024) Restoring South African subtropical succulent thicket using Portulacaria afra: root growth of cuttings differs depending on the harvest site during a drought. PeerJ 12:e17471 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17471
date submitted: 2023-11-01
date accepted: 2024-05-06
issued: 2024-06-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Potts
  given name: Alastair J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Duker
  given name: Robbert
author list: Agent
  family name: Hunt
  given name: Kristen L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Tempel
  given name: Anize
author list: Agent
  family name: Galuszynski
  given name: Nicholas C.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17471
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-28
copyright: ©2024 Potts et al.
attribution name: Potts et al.

Combined uranium-series and electron spin resonance dating from the Pliocene fossil sites of Aves and Milo’s palaeocaves, Bolt’s Farm, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Bolt’s Farm is the name given to a series of non-hominin bearing fossil sites that have often been suggested to be some of the oldest Pliocene sites in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. This article reports the results of the first combined Uranium-Series and Electron Spin Resonance (US-ESR) dating of bovid teeth at Milo’s Cave and Aves Cave at Bolt’s Farm. Both tooth enamel fragments and tooth enamel powder ages were presented for comparison. US-ESR, EU and LU models are calculated. Overall, the powder ages are consistent with previous uranium-lead and palaeomagnetic age estimates for the Aves Cave deposit, which suggest an age between ~3.15 and 2.61 Ma and provide the first ages for Milo’s Cave dates to between ~3.1 and 2.7 Ma. The final ages were not overly dependent on the models used (US-ESR, LU or EU), which all overlap within error. These ages are all consistent with the biochronological age estimate (<3.4–>2.6 Ma) based on the occurrence of Stage I Metridiochoerus andrewsi. Preliminary palaeomagnetic analysis from Milo’s Cave indicates a reversal takes place at the site with predominantly intermediate directions, suggesting the deposit may date to the period between ~3.03 and 3.11 Ma within error of the ESR ages. This further suggests that there are no definitive examples of palaeocave deposits at Bolt’s Farm older than 3.2 Ma. This research indicates that US-ESR dating has the potential to date fossil sites in the Cradle of Humankind to over 3 Ma. However, bulk sample analysis for US-ESR dating is recommended for sites over 3 Ma.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Wenjing Yu
creator: Andy I. R. Herries
creator: Tara Edwards
creator: Brian Armstrong
creator: Renaud Joannes-Boyau
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17478
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Yu et al.
abstract: Bolt’s Farm is the name given to a series of non-hominin bearing fossil sites that have often been suggested to be some of the oldest Pliocene sites in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. This article reports the results of the first combined Uranium-Series and Electron Spin Resonance (US-ESR) dating of bovid teeth at Milo’s Cave and Aves Cave at Bolt’s Farm. Both tooth enamel fragments and tooth enamel powder ages were presented for comparison. US-ESR, EU and LU models are calculated. Overall, the powder ages are consistent with previous uranium-lead and palaeomagnetic age estimates for the Aves Cave deposit, which suggest an age between ~3.15 and 2.61 Ma and provide the first ages for Milo’s Cave dates to between ~3.1 and 2.7 Ma. The final ages were not overly dependent on the models used (US-ESR, LU or EU), which all overlap within error. These ages are all consistent with the biochronological age estimate (<3.4–>2.6 Ma) based on the occurrence of Stage I Metridiochoerus andrewsi. Preliminary palaeomagnetic analysis from Milo’s Cave indicates a reversal takes place at the site with predominantly intermediate directions, suggesting the deposit may date to the period between ~3.03 and 3.11 Ma within error of the ESR ages. This further suggests that there are no definitive examples of palaeocave deposits at Bolt’s Farm older than 3.2 Ma. This research indicates that US-ESR dating has the potential to date fossil sites in the Cradle of Humankind to over 3 Ma. However, bulk sample analysis for US-ESR dating is recommended for sites over 3 Ma.
bibliographic citation: Yu et al. (2024) Combined uranium-series and electron spin resonance dating from the Pliocene fossil sites of Aves and Milo’s palaeocaves, Bolt’s Farm, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. PeerJ 12:e17478 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17478
date submitted: 2024-01-10
date accepted: 2024-05-07
issued: 2024-06-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Wenjing
author list: Agent
  family name: Herries
  given name: Andy I. R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Edwards
  given name: Tara
author list: Agent
  family name: Armstrong
  given name: Brian
author list: Agent
  family name: Joannes-Boyau
  given name: Renaud
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17478
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-28
copyright: © 2024 Yu et al.
attribution name: Yu et al.

Internet addiction among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: Associations with sociodemographic and psychological distress
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had tremendous implications for billions of adolescents worldwide due to school closures, forcing students to embrace internet usage for daily tasks. Uncontrolled use of the internet among adolescents makes them vulnerable to internet addiction (IA). This study aims to determine the prevalence of IA among adolescents and assess its association with sociodemographic factors, smartphone use, and psychological distress during the pandemic. Method A cross-sectional self-administered online survey was conducted among students aged 13–17 from May 15th, 2021, until May 30th, 2021, using the Malay version of the Internet Addiction Test (MVIAT), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Coronavirus Impacts Questionnaires, as well as a sociodemographic information form. The data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. Results A total of 420 adolescents participated in the survey. The majority of them (70.7%) were female, with a mean age of 15.47 years (±1.49 years old). About 45.5% of the respondents were classified as internet addicted users. The Chi-square test analysis showed that age (p = 0.002), smartphone usage (p = 0.010), rate of midnight use (p < 0.001), frequency (p < 0.001), duration (p < 0.001) of device usage, and presence of depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001) were all significantly associated with IA. Multiple logistic regression showed age (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.00–1.35], p = 0.048), smartphone usage (aOR =3.52, 95% CI [1.43–8.67], p = 0.006), mild or moderate depression (aOR = 2.43, 95% CI [1.36–4.34], p = 0.003), severe or extremely severe stress (aOR = 6.41, 95% CI [2.18–18.82], p = 0.001) were significantly related to IA. Conclusions Late adolescence, the use of smartphones, and the presence of psychological distress like depression, and stress were potentially associated with IA. Wise use of smartphones and early identification of any psychological distress among adolescents are war…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: AyuZeity Bistari Md Bukhori
creator: Mohd Hasni Ja’afar
subject: Pediatrics
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Public Health
subject: Mental Health
subject: COVID-19
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17489
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Md Bukhori and Ja’afar
abstract: Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had tremendous implications for billions of adolescents worldwide due to school closures, forcing students to embrace internet usage for daily tasks. Uncontrolled use of the internet among adolescents makes them vulnerable to internet addiction (IA). This study aims to determine the prevalence of IA among adolescents and assess its association with sociodemographic factors, smartphone use, and psychological distress during the pandemic. Method A cross-sectional self-administered online survey was conducted among students aged 13–17 from May 15th, 2021, until May 30th, 2021, using the Malay version of the Internet Addiction Test (MVIAT), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Coronavirus Impacts Questionnaires, as well as a sociodemographic information form. The data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. Results A total of 420 adolescents participated in the survey. The majority of them (70.7%) were female, with a mean age of 15.47 years (±1.49 years old). About 45.5% of the respondents were classified as internet addicted users. The Chi-square test analysis showed that age (p = 0.002), smartphone usage (p = 0.010), rate of midnight use (p < 0.001), frequency (p < 0.001), duration (p < 0.001) of device usage, and presence of depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001) were all significantly associated with IA. Multiple logistic regression showed age (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.00–1.35], p = 0.048), smartphone usage (aOR =3.52, 95% CI [1.43–8.67], p = 0.006), mild or moderate depression (aOR = 2.43, 95% CI [1.36–4.34], p = 0.003), severe or extremely severe stress (aOR = 6.41, 95% CI [2.18–18.82], p = 0.001) were significantly related to IA. Conclusions Late adolescence, the use of smartphones, and the presence of psychological distress like depression, and stress were potentially associated with IA. Wise use of smartphones and early identification of any psychological distress among adolescents are war…
bibliographic citation: Md Bukhori et al. (2024) Internet addiction among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: Associations with sociodemographic and psychological distress. PeerJ 12:e17489 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17489
date submitted: 2022-03-03
date accepted: 2024-05-09
issued: 2024-06-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Md Bukhori
  given name: AyuZeity Bistari
author list: Agent
  family name: Ja’afar
  given name: Mohd Hasni
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17489
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-28
copyright: ©2024 Md Bukhori and Ja’afar
attribution name: Md Bukhori and Ja’afar

Impact of white blood cell count on the development of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a pre-procedural white blood cell (WBC) count in the prediction of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) risk in coronary artery disease patients receiving a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This observational study comprises a sample of 1,013 coronary artery disease patients (including ACS and stable angina) receiving PCI, gathered from September 2015 to July 2017. CI-AKI incidence in the study population was 4.8% (49/1013). Patients in the CI-AKI group had significantly higher WBC counts than those in the non-CI-AKI group (10.41 ± 5.37 vs. 8.09 ± 3.10, p = 0.004). Logistic analysis showed that WBC count (odds ratio [OR]: 1.12, 95% CI [1.03–1.21], P = 0.006) was a significant and independent predictor of CI-AKI risk in patients receiving PCI, Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis found that pre-procedural WBC count ≥11.03*109/L was the optimal cut-off value in the prediction of CI-AKI risk with a sensitivity of 41.0% and a specificity of 86.5%. Patients with CI-AKI had a significantly worse 1-year survival rate than patients without CI-AKI (91.8% vs. 97.6%, P = 0.012). In summary, increased pre-procedural WBC count is associated with an increased risk of developing CI-AKI in patients receiving PCI.
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format: text/html
creator: Chengxiao Fu
creator: Chenxi Ouyang
creator: Guoping Yang
creator: Jingle Li
creator: Guiyang Chen
creator: Yu Cao
creator: Liying Gong
subject: Cardiology
subject: Hematology
subject: Internal Medicine
subject: Nephrology
subject: Radiology and Medical Imaging
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17493
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Fu et al.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a pre-procedural white blood cell (WBC) count in the prediction of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) risk in coronary artery disease patients receiving a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This observational study comprises a sample of 1,013 coronary artery disease patients (including ACS and stable angina) receiving PCI, gathered from September 2015 to July 2017. CI-AKI incidence in the study population was 4.8% (49/1013). Patients in the CI-AKI group had significantly higher WBC counts than those in the non-CI-AKI group (10.41 ± 5.37 vs. 8.09 ± 3.10, p = 0.004). Logistic analysis showed that WBC count (odds ratio [OR]: 1.12, 95% CI [1.03–1.21], P = 0.006) was a significant and independent predictor of CI-AKI risk in patients receiving PCI, Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis found that pre-procedural WBC count ≥11.03*109/L was the optimal cut-off value in the prediction of CI-AKI risk with a sensitivity of 41.0% and a specificity of 86.5%. Patients with CI-AKI had a significantly worse 1-year survival rate than patients without CI-AKI (91.8% vs. 97.6%, P = 0.012). In summary, increased pre-procedural WBC count is associated with an increased risk of developing CI-AKI in patients receiving PCI.
bibliographic citation: Fu et al. (2024) Impact of white blood cell count on the development of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention. PeerJ 12:e17493 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17493
date submitted: 2023-10-24
date accepted: 2024-05-09
issued: 2024-06-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Fu
  given name: Chengxiao
author list: Agent
  family name: Ouyang
  given name: Chenxi
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Guoping
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Jingle
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Guiyang
author list: Agent
  family name: Cao
  given name: Yu
author list: Agent
  family name: Gong
  given name: Liying
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17493
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-28
copyright: ©2024 Fu et al.
attribution name: Fu et al.

Wing mechanics and acoustic communication of a new genus of sylvan katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae) from the Central Cordillera cloud forest of Colombia
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Stridulation is used by male katydids to produce sound via the rubbing together of their specialised forewings, either by sustained or interrupted sweeps of the file producing different tones and call structures. There are many species of Orthoptera that remain undescribed and their acoustic signals are unknown. This study aims to measure and quantify the mechanics of wing vibration, sound production and acoustic properties of the hearing system in a new genus of Pseudophyllinae with taxonomic descriptions of two new species. The calling behaviour and wing mechanics of males were measured using micro-scanning laser Doppler vibrometry, microscopy, and ultrasound sensitive equipment. The resonant properties of the acoustic pinnae of the ears were obtained via μ-CT scanning and 3D printed experimentation, and numerical modelling was used to validate the results. Analysis of sound recordings and wing vibrations revealed that the stridulatory areas of the right tegmen exhibit relatively narrow frequency responses and produce narrowband calls between 12 and 20 kHz. As in most Pseudophyllinae, only the right mirror is activated for sound production. The acoustic pinnae of all species were found to provide a broadband increased acoustic gain from ~40–120 kHz by up to 25 dB, peaking at almost 90 kHz which coincides with the echolocation frequency of sympatric bats. The new genus, named Satizabalus n. gen., is here derived as a new polytypic genus from the existing genus Gnathoclita, based on morphological and acoustic evidence from one described (S. sodalis n. comb.) and two new species (S. jorgevargasi n. sp. and S. hauca n. sp.). Unlike most Tettigoniidae, Satizabalus exhibits a particular form of sexual dimorphism whereby the heads and mandibles of the males are greatly enlarged compared to the females. We suggest that Satizabalus is related to the genus Trichotettix, also found in cloud forests in Colombia, and not to Gnathoclita.
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format: text/html
creator: Lewis B. Holmes
creator: Charlie Woodrow
creator: Fabio A. Sarria-S
creator: Emine Celiker
creator: Fernando Montealegre-Z
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Biophysics
subject: Ecology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17501
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Holmes et al.
abstract: Stridulation is used by male katydids to produce sound via the rubbing together of their specialised forewings, either by sustained or interrupted sweeps of the file producing different tones and call structures. There are many species of Orthoptera that remain undescribed and their acoustic signals are unknown. This study aims to measure and quantify the mechanics of wing vibration, sound production and acoustic properties of the hearing system in a new genus of Pseudophyllinae with taxonomic descriptions of two new species. The calling behaviour and wing mechanics of males were measured using micro-scanning laser Doppler vibrometry, microscopy, and ultrasound sensitive equipment. The resonant properties of the acoustic pinnae of the ears were obtained via μ-CT scanning and 3D printed experimentation, and numerical modelling was used to validate the results. Analysis of sound recordings and wing vibrations revealed that the stridulatory areas of the right tegmen exhibit relatively narrow frequency responses and produce narrowband calls between 12 and 20 kHz. As in most Pseudophyllinae, only the right mirror is activated for sound production. The acoustic pinnae of all species were found to provide a broadband increased acoustic gain from ~40–120 kHz by up to 25 dB, peaking at almost 90 kHz which coincides with the echolocation frequency of sympatric bats. The new genus, named Satizabalus n. gen., is here derived as a new polytypic genus from the existing genus Gnathoclita, based on morphological and acoustic evidence from one described (S. sodalis n. comb.) and two new species (S. jorgevargasi n. sp. and S. hauca n. sp.). Unlike most Tettigoniidae, Satizabalus exhibits a particular form of sexual dimorphism whereby the heads and mandibles of the males are greatly enlarged compared to the females. We suggest that Satizabalus is related to the genus Trichotettix, also found in cloud forests in Colombia, and not to Gnathoclita.
bibliographic citation: Holmes et al. (2024) Wing mechanics and acoustic communication of a new genus of sylvan katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae) from the Central Cordillera cloud forest of Colombia. PeerJ 12:e17501 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17501
date submitted: 2024-02-23
date accepted: 2024-05-13
issued: 2024-06-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Holmes
  given name: Lewis B.
author list: Agent
  family name: Woodrow
  given name: Charlie
author list: Agent
  family name: Sarria-S
  given name: Fabio A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Celiker
  given name: Emine
author list: Agent
  family name: Montealegre-Z
  given name: Fernando
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17501
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-28
copyright: © 2024 Holmes et al.
attribution name: Holmes et al.

Utilization of ripe coconut water in the development of probiotic gelatin
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Desserts with vegetable ingredients are a constantly expanding global market due to the search for alternatives to cow’s milk. Fermentation of these matrices by lactic acid bacteria can add greater functionality to the product, improving its nutritional, sensory, and food safety characteristics, as well as creating bioactive components with beneficial effects on health. Concern for health and well-being has aroused interest in byproducts of the industry that have functional properties for the body, such as mature coconut water, a normally discarded residue that is rich in nutrients. This study aimed to develop a probiotic gelatin based on pulp and water from mature coconuts and evaluate the physicochemical characteristics, viability of the Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR32 strain in the medium, as well as the texture properties of the product. Methods After collection and cleaning, the physicochemical characterization, mineral analysis, analysis of the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of mature coconut water were carried out, as well as the centesimal composition of its pulp. Afterwards, the gelling was developed with the addition of modified corn starch, gelatin, sucrose, and probiotic culture, being subjected to acidity analysis, texture profile and cell count, on the first day and every 7 days during 21 days of storage, under refrigeration at 5 °C. An analysis of the centesimal composition was also carried out. Results The main minerals in coconut water were potassium (1,932.57 mg L−1), sodium (19.57 mg L−1), magnesium (85.13 mg L−1) calcium (279.93 mg L−1) and phosphorus (11.17 mg L−1), while the pulp had potassium (35.96 g kg−1), sodium (0.97 g kg−1), magnesium (2.18 g kg−1), 37 calcium (1.64 g kg−1), and phosphorus (3.32 g kg−1). The phenolic content of the water and pulp was 5.72 and 9.77 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) 100 g−1, respectively, and the antioxidant capacity was 1.67 and 0.98 39 g of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Beatriz Patricio Rocha
creator: Pedro Luan de Brito Lopes
creator: Miqueas Oliveira Morais da Silva
creator: Ana Catarina Guimarães Gomes
creator: Flávia Carolina Alonso Buriti
creator: Isanna Menezes Florêncio
creator: Eliane Rolim Florentino
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Food Science and Technology
subject: Microbiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17502
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Patricio Rocha et al.
abstract: Background Desserts with vegetable ingredients are a constantly expanding global market due to the search for alternatives to cow’s milk. Fermentation of these matrices by lactic acid bacteria can add greater functionality to the product, improving its nutritional, sensory, and food safety characteristics, as well as creating bioactive components with beneficial effects on health. Concern for health and well-being has aroused interest in byproducts of the industry that have functional properties for the body, such as mature coconut water, a normally discarded residue that is rich in nutrients. This study aimed to develop a probiotic gelatin based on pulp and water from mature coconuts and evaluate the physicochemical characteristics, viability of the Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR32 strain in the medium, as well as the texture properties of the product. Methods After collection and cleaning, the physicochemical characterization, mineral analysis, analysis of the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of mature coconut water were carried out, as well as the centesimal composition of its pulp. Afterwards, the gelling was developed with the addition of modified corn starch, gelatin, sucrose, and probiotic culture, being subjected to acidity analysis, texture profile and cell count, on the first day and every 7 days during 21 days of storage, under refrigeration at 5 °C. An analysis of the centesimal composition was also carried out. Results The main minerals in coconut water were potassium (1,932.57 mg L−1), sodium (19.57 mg L−1), magnesium (85.13 mg L−1) calcium (279.93 mg L−1) and phosphorus (11.17 mg L−1), while the pulp had potassium (35.96 g kg−1), sodium (0.97 g kg−1), magnesium (2.18 g kg−1), 37 calcium (1.64 g kg−1), and phosphorus (3.32 g kg−1). The phenolic content of the water and pulp was 5.72 and 9.77 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) 100 g−1, respectively, and the antioxidant capacity was 1.67 and 0.98 39 g of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)…
bibliographic citation: Patricio Rocha et al. (2024) Utilization of ripe coconut water in the development of probiotic gelatin. PeerJ 12:e17502 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17502
date submitted: 2023-12-18
date accepted: 2024-05-13
issued: 2024-06-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Patricio Rocha
  given name: Beatriz
author list: Agent
  family name: de Brito Lopes
  given name: Pedro Luan
author list: Agent
  family name: Oliveira Morais da Silva
  given name: Miqueas
author list: Agent
  family name: Guimarães Gomes
  given name: Ana Catarina
author list: Agent
  family name: Alonso Buriti
  given name: Flávia Carolina
author list: Agent
  family name: Menezes Florêncio
  given name: Isanna
author list: Agent
  family name: Rolim Florentino
  given name: Eliane
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17502
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-28
copyright: © 2024 Patricio Rocha et al.
attribution name: Patricio Rocha et al.

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