PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation of six cuproptosis-associated genes as a prognostic signature of breast cancer
items: Serum proteomics study on cognitive impairment after cardiac valve replacement surgery: a prospective observational study
items: Genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of the DUF668 gene family in tomato
items: Identification of key genes as potential diagnostic biomarkers in sepsis by bioinformatics analysis
items: Behavioral responses of a clonal fish to perceived predation risk
items: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding tick-borne rickettsial disease among medical staff in endemic areas of China
items: Hypertrophic effects of low-load blood flow restriction training with different repetition schemes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
items: Pedagogical control scales of vertical jumping performance in untrained adolescents (13–16 years): research by strata
items: Choice-based severity scale (CSS): assessing the relative severity of procedures from a laboratory animal’s perspective
items: Preliminary studies of selected Lemna species on the oxygen production potential in relation to some ecological factors

Bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation of six cuproptosis-associated genes as a prognostic signature of breast cancer
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Breast carcinoma (BRCA) is a life-threatening malignancy in women and shows a poor prognosis. Cuproptosis is a novel mode of cell death but its relationship with BRCA is unclear. This study attempted to develop a cuproptosis-relevant prognostic gene signature for BRCA. Methods Cuproptosis-relevant subtypes of BRCA were obtained by consensus clustering. Differential expression analysis was implemented using the ‘limma’ package. Univariate Cox and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to determine a cuproptosis-relevant prognostic gene signature. The signature was constructed and validated in distinct datasets. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were also conducted using the prognostic signature to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms were applied to probe the linkage between the gene signature and tumor microenvironment (TME). Immunotherapy responsiveness was assessed using the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) web tool. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect the expressions of cuproptosis-relevant prognostic genes in breast cancer cell lines. Results Thirty-eight cuproptosis-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BRCA were mined by consensus clustering and differential expression analysis. Based on univariate Cox and multivariate Cox analyses, six cuproptosis-relevant prognostic genes, namely SAA1, KRT17, VAV3, IGHG1, TFF1, and CLEC3A, were mined to establish a corresponding signature. The signature was validated using external validation sets. GSVA and GSEA showed that multiple cell cycle-linked and immune-related pathways along with biological processes were associated with the signature. The results ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT analyses revealed significantly different TMEs between the two Cusig score subgroups. Finally, RT-qPCR analysis of cell lines further confirmed the expressional trends of SAA1, KRT17, IGHG1, and CLEC3A. C…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Xiang Chen
creator: Hening Sun
creator: Changcheng Yang
creator: Wei Wang
creator: Wenzhi Lyu
creator: Kejian Zou
creator: Fan Zhang
creator: Zhijun Dai
creator: Xionghui He
creator: Huaying Dong
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Genetics
subject: Oncology
subject: Women’s Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17419
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Chen et al.
abstract: Background Breast carcinoma (BRCA) is a life-threatening malignancy in women and shows a poor prognosis. Cuproptosis is a novel mode of cell death but its relationship with BRCA is unclear. This study attempted to develop a cuproptosis-relevant prognostic gene signature for BRCA. Methods Cuproptosis-relevant subtypes of BRCA were obtained by consensus clustering. Differential expression analysis was implemented using the ‘limma’ package. Univariate Cox and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to determine a cuproptosis-relevant prognostic gene signature. The signature was constructed and validated in distinct datasets. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were also conducted using the prognostic signature to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms were applied to probe the linkage between the gene signature and tumor microenvironment (TME). Immunotherapy responsiveness was assessed using the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) web tool. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect the expressions of cuproptosis-relevant prognostic genes in breast cancer cell lines. Results Thirty-eight cuproptosis-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BRCA were mined by consensus clustering and differential expression analysis. Based on univariate Cox and multivariate Cox analyses, six cuproptosis-relevant prognostic genes, namely SAA1, KRT17, VAV3, IGHG1, TFF1, and CLEC3A, were mined to establish a corresponding signature. The signature was validated using external validation sets. GSVA and GSEA showed that multiple cell cycle-linked and immune-related pathways along with biological processes were associated with the signature. The results ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT analyses revealed significantly different TMEs between the two Cusig score subgroups. Finally, RT-qPCR analysis of cell lines further confirmed the expressional trends of SAA1, KRT17, IGHG1, and CLEC3A. C…
bibliographic citation: Chen et al. (2024) Bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation of six cuproptosis-associated genes as a prognostic signature of breast cancer. PeerJ 12:e17419 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17419
date submitted: 2023-10-10
date accepted: 2024-04-28
issued: 2024-06-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Xiang
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Hening
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Changcheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Wei
author list: Agent
  family name: Lyu
  given name: Wenzhi
author list: Agent
  family name: Zou
  given name: Kejian
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Fan
author list: Agent
  family name: Dai
  given name: Zhijun
author list: Agent
  family name: He
  given name: Xionghui
author list: Agent
  family name: Dong
  given name: Huaying
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17419
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-18
copyright: © 2024 Chen et al.
attribution name: Chen et al.

Serum proteomics study on cognitive impairment after cardiac valve replacement surgery: a prospective observational study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objective The incidence of perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) is high, especially after cardiac surgeries, and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we conducted a prospective observational study to observe serum proteomics differences in PND patients after cardiac valve replacement surgery. Methods Two hundred and twenty-six patients who underwent cardiac valve surgery were included. They were categorized based on scoring into non-PND group (group non-P) and PND group (group P’). The risk factors associated with PND were analyzed. These patients were further divided into group C and group P by propensity score matching (PSM) to investigate the serum proteome related to the PND by serum proteomics. Results The postoperative 6-week incidence of PND was 16.8%. Risk factors for PND include age, chronic illness, sufentanil dosage, and time of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Proteomics identified 31 down-regulated proteins and six up-regulated proteins. Finally, GSTO1, IDH1, CAT, and PFN1 were found to be associated with PND. Conclusion The occurrence of PND can impact some oxidative stress proteins. This study provided data for future studies about PND to general anaesthesia and surgeries.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Huanhuan Ma
creator: Yiyong Wei
creator: Wei Chen
creator: Song Chen
creator: Yan Wang
creator: Song Cao
creator: Haiying Wang
subject: Anesthesiology and Pain Management
subject: Cardiology
subject: Cognitive Disorders
subject: Neurology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17536
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Ma et al.
abstract: Objective The incidence of perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) is high, especially after cardiac surgeries, and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we conducted a prospective observational study to observe serum proteomics differences in PND patients after cardiac valve replacement surgery. Methods Two hundred and twenty-six patients who underwent cardiac valve surgery were included. They were categorized based on scoring into non-PND group (group non-P) and PND group (group P’). The risk factors associated with PND were analyzed. These patients were further divided into group C and group P by propensity score matching (PSM) to investigate the serum proteome related to the PND by serum proteomics. Results The postoperative 6-week incidence of PND was 16.8%. Risk factors for PND include age, chronic illness, sufentanil dosage, and time of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Proteomics identified 31 down-regulated proteins and six up-regulated proteins. Finally, GSTO1, IDH1, CAT, and PFN1 were found to be associated with PND. Conclusion The occurrence of PND can impact some oxidative stress proteins. This study provided data for future studies about PND to general anaesthesia and surgeries.
bibliographic citation: Ma et al. (2024) Serum proteomics study on cognitive impairment after cardiac valve replacement surgery: a prospective observational study. PeerJ 12:e17536 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17536
date submitted: 2024-02-02
date accepted: 2024-05-18
issued: 2024-06-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Huanhuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: Yiyong
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Wei
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Song
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yan
author list: Agent
  family name: Cao
  given name: Song
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Haiying
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17536
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-18
copyright: ©2024 Ma et al.
attribution name: Ma et al.

Genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of the DUF668 gene family in tomato
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The domain of unknown function 668 (DUF668) is a gene family that may play a key role in plant growth and development as well as in responding to adversity coercion stresses. However, the DUF668 gene family has not yet been well identified and characterized in tomato. In this study, a total of nine putative SlDUF668 genes were identified in tomato, distributed on six chromosomes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that SlDUF668 proteins were classified into two major groups. Members within the same group largely displayed analogous gene structure and conserved motif compositions. Several cis-elements were exhibited in the upstream sequences of the SlDUF668 genes, including elements implicated in plant growth and development processes, abiotic stress and hormone responses. Further, the study assessed the expression patterns of the SlDUF668 gene family in various tomato tissues, five plant hormones treatments, three abiotic stresses using qRT-PCR. The SlDUF668 genes expressed ubiquitously in various tissues, and five genes (SlDUF668-04, SlDUF668-06, SlDUF668-07, SlDUF668-08 and SlDUF668-09) showed tissue specificity. And SlDUF668 genes responded to abiotic stresses such as salt, drought and cold to varying degrees. Overall, our study provided a base for the tomato DUF668 gene family and laid a foundation for further understanding the functional characteristics of DUF668 genes in tomato plants.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Hui Li
creator: Tingrui Zou
creator: Shuisen Chen
creator: Ming Zhong
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17537
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Li et al.
abstract: The domain of unknown function 668 (DUF668) is a gene family that may play a key role in plant growth and development as well as in responding to adversity coercion stresses. However, the DUF668 gene family has not yet been well identified and characterized in tomato. In this study, a total of nine putative SlDUF668 genes were identified in tomato, distributed on six chromosomes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that SlDUF668 proteins were classified into two major groups. Members within the same group largely displayed analogous gene structure and conserved motif compositions. Several cis-elements were exhibited in the upstream sequences of the SlDUF668 genes, including elements implicated in plant growth and development processes, abiotic stress and hormone responses. Further, the study assessed the expression patterns of the SlDUF668 gene family in various tomato tissues, five plant hormones treatments, three abiotic stresses using qRT-PCR. The SlDUF668 genes expressed ubiquitously in various tissues, and five genes (SlDUF668-04, SlDUF668-06, SlDUF668-07, SlDUF668-08 and SlDUF668-09) showed tissue specificity. And SlDUF668 genes responded to abiotic stresses such as salt, drought and cold to varying degrees. Overall, our study provided a base for the tomato DUF668 gene family and laid a foundation for further understanding the functional characteristics of DUF668 genes in tomato plants.
bibliographic citation: Li et al. (2024) Genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of the DUF668 gene family in tomato. PeerJ 12:e17537 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17537
date submitted: 2023-12-29
date accepted: 2024-05-19
issued: 2024-06-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Hui
author list: Agent
  family name: Zou
  given name: Tingrui
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Shuisen
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhong
  given name: Ming
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17537
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-18
copyright: ©2024 Li et al.
attribution name: Li et al.

Identification of key genes as potential diagnostic biomarkers in sepsis by bioinformatics analysis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Sepsis, an infection-triggered inflammatory syndrome, poses a global clinical challenge with limited therapeutic options. Our study is designed to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers of sepsis onset in critically ill patients by bioinformatics analysis. Methods Gene expression profiles of GSE28750 and GSE74224 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. These datasets were merged, normalized and de-batched. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed and the gene modules most associated with sepsis were identified as key modules. Functional enrichment analysis of the key module genes was then conducted. Moreover, differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was conducted by the “limma” R package. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created using STRING and Cytoscape, and PPI hub genes were identified with the cytoHubba plugin. The PPI hub genes overlapping with the genes in key modules of WGCNA were determined to be the sepsis-related key genes. Subsequently, the key overlapping genes were validated in an external independent dataset and sepsis patients recruited in our hospital. In addition, CIBERSORT analysis evaluated immune cell infiltration and its correlation with key genes. Results By WGCNA, the greenyellow module showed the highest positive correlation with sepsis (0.7, p = 2e − 19). 293 DEGs were identified in the merged datasets. The PPI network was created, and the CytoHubba was used to calculate the top 20 genes based on four algorithms (Degree, EPC, MCC, and MNC). Ultimately, LTF, LCN2, ELANE, MPO and CEACAM8 were identified as key overlapping genes as they appeared in the PPI hub genes and the key module genes of WGCNA. These sepsis-related key genes were validated in an independent external dataset (GSE131761) and sepsis patients recruited in our hospital. Additionally, the immune infiltration profiles differed significantly between sepsis and non-sepsis critical illness groups. Corre…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Guoxin Lin
creator: Nannan Li
creator: Jishi Liu
creator: Jian Sun
creator: Hao Zhang
creator: Ming Gui
creator: Youjie Zeng
creator: Juan Tang
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Emergency and Critical Care
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Data Mining and Machine Learning
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17542
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Lin et al.
abstract: Background Sepsis, an infection-triggered inflammatory syndrome, poses a global clinical challenge with limited therapeutic options. Our study is designed to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers of sepsis onset in critically ill patients by bioinformatics analysis. Methods Gene expression profiles of GSE28750 and GSE74224 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. These datasets were merged, normalized and de-batched. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed and the gene modules most associated with sepsis were identified as key modules. Functional enrichment analysis of the key module genes was then conducted. Moreover, differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was conducted by the “limma” R package. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created using STRING and Cytoscape, and PPI hub genes were identified with the cytoHubba plugin. The PPI hub genes overlapping with the genes in key modules of WGCNA were determined to be the sepsis-related key genes. Subsequently, the key overlapping genes were validated in an external independent dataset and sepsis patients recruited in our hospital. In addition, CIBERSORT analysis evaluated immune cell infiltration and its correlation with key genes. Results By WGCNA, the greenyellow module showed the highest positive correlation with sepsis (0.7, p = 2e − 19). 293 DEGs were identified in the merged datasets. The PPI network was created, and the CytoHubba was used to calculate the top 20 genes based on four algorithms (Degree, EPC, MCC, and MNC). Ultimately, LTF, LCN2, ELANE, MPO and CEACAM8 were identified as key overlapping genes as they appeared in the PPI hub genes and the key module genes of WGCNA. These sepsis-related key genes were validated in an independent external dataset (GSE131761) and sepsis patients recruited in our hospital. Additionally, the immune infiltration profiles differed significantly between sepsis and non-sepsis critical illness groups. Corre…
bibliographic citation: Lin et al. (2024) Identification of key genes as potential diagnostic biomarkers in sepsis by bioinformatics analysis. PeerJ 12:e17542 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17542
date submitted: 2023-07-27
date accepted: 2024-05-19
issued: 2024-06-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lin
  given name: Guoxin
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Nannan
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Jishi
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Jian
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Hao
author list: Agent
  family name: Gui
  given name: Ming
author list: Agent
  family name: Zeng
  given name: Youjie
author list: Agent
  family name: Tang
  given name: Juan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17542
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-18
copyright: ©2024 Lin et al.
attribution name: Lin et al.

Behavioral responses of a clonal fish to perceived predation risk
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Predation threat is a major driver of behavior in many prey species. Animals can recognize their relative risk of predation based on cues in the environment, including visual and/or chemical cues released by a predator or from its prey. When threat of predation is high, prey often respond by altering their behavior to reduce their probability of detection and/or capture. Here, we test how a clonal fish, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), behaviorally responds to predation cues. We measured aggressive and social behaviors both under ‘risk’, where chemical cues from predatory fish and injured conspecifics were present, and control contexts (no risk cues present). We predicted that mollies would exhibit reduced aggression towards a simulated intruder and increased sociability under risk contexts as aggression might increase their visibility to a predator and shoaling should decrease their chance of capture through the dilution effect. As predicted, we found that Amazon mollies spent more time with a conspecific when risk cues were present, however they did not reduce their aggression. This highlights the general result of the ‘safety in numbers’ behavioral response that many small shoaling species exhibit, including these clonal fish, which suggests that mollies may view this response as a more effective anti-predator response compared to limiting their detectability by reducing aggressive conspecific interactions.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jonathan Aguiñaga
creator: Sophia Jin
creator: Ishita Pesati
creator: Kate L. Laskowski
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17547
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Aguiñaga et al.
abstract: Predation threat is a major driver of behavior in many prey species. Animals can recognize their relative risk of predation based on cues in the environment, including visual and/or chemical cues released by a predator or from its prey. When threat of predation is high, prey often respond by altering their behavior to reduce their probability of detection and/or capture. Here, we test how a clonal fish, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), behaviorally responds to predation cues. We measured aggressive and social behaviors both under ‘risk’, where chemical cues from predatory fish and injured conspecifics were present, and control contexts (no risk cues present). We predicted that mollies would exhibit reduced aggression towards a simulated intruder and increased sociability under risk contexts as aggression might increase their visibility to a predator and shoaling should decrease their chance of capture through the dilution effect. As predicted, we found that Amazon mollies spent more time with a conspecific when risk cues were present, however they did not reduce their aggression. This highlights the general result of the ‘safety in numbers’ behavioral response that many small shoaling species exhibit, including these clonal fish, which suggests that mollies may view this response as a more effective anti-predator response compared to limiting their detectability by reducing aggressive conspecific interactions.
bibliographic citation: Aguiñaga et al. (2024) Behavioral responses of a clonal fish to perceived predation risk. PeerJ 12:e17547 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17547
date submitted: 2024-03-28
date accepted: 2024-05-19
issued: 2024-06-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Aguiñaga
  given name: Jonathan
author list: Agent
  family name: Jin
  given name: Sophia
author list: Agent
  family name: Pesati
  given name: Ishita
author list: Agent
  family name: Laskowski
  given name: Kate L.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17547
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-18
copyright: ©2024 Aguiñaga et al.
attribution name: Aguiñaga et al.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding tick-borne rickettsial disease among medical staff in endemic areas of China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Tick-borne rickettsial disease (TBRD) is a perilous acute infection that often eludes diagnosis in its early stages. The triad of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) among medical professionals is key to reducing missed diagnosis rates. Therefore, a meticulous evaluation of KAPs is imperative. This study aimed to delve into the understanding of TBRD and explore the beliefs and practices related to personal prevention methods among individuals in Lu’an, a hotspot for TBRD. During the summer months of 2023, convenience sampling was employed by circulating a confidential questionnaire to 1,206 participants in the endemic regions of China. This questionnaire painted a comprehensive picture of the participants’ sociodemographic profiles and their KAPs levels vis-à-vis TBRD. The findings revealed that participants scored a mere 55.78% in knowledge, while their attitudes and practices garnered impressive scores of 90.09% and 90.83%, respectively. Upon further analysis using multiple linear regression, several intriguing patterns emerged. Male participants, employed in the Infectious Disease Department, held vice-senior or higher titles, or had prior medical training demonstrated superior knowledge scores. On the other hand, medical personnel who were younger than 30, possessed graduate degrees or higher qualifications, and had training excelled in attitudes and practices. Notably, when employing the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) matrix, a significant distribution of medical personnel was observed across the four quadrants. Specifically, 37.43%, 13.19%, 19.61%, and 29.77% fell into the first, second, third, and fourth quadrants. This survey underscores the commendable attitudes and practices of medical staff towards TBRD in endemic regions of China. However, their knowledge level remains wanting and demands urgent improvement.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Miaohui Shao
creator: Peiyuan Hu
creator: Pengpeng Xu
creator: Jie Sun
creator: Xiaqing Zhang
creator: Dan Zhang
creator: Yong Shen
creator: Dawei Gao
creator: Weigang Zhang
creator: Wei Qin
creator: Yong Lyu
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Mental Health
subject: Environmental Health
subject: Healthcare Services
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17562
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Shao et al.
abstract: Tick-borne rickettsial disease (TBRD) is a perilous acute infection that often eludes diagnosis in its early stages. The triad of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) among medical professionals is key to reducing missed diagnosis rates. Therefore, a meticulous evaluation of KAPs is imperative. This study aimed to delve into the understanding of TBRD and explore the beliefs and practices related to personal prevention methods among individuals in Lu’an, a hotspot for TBRD. During the summer months of 2023, convenience sampling was employed by circulating a confidential questionnaire to 1,206 participants in the endemic regions of China. This questionnaire painted a comprehensive picture of the participants’ sociodemographic profiles and their KAPs levels vis-à-vis TBRD. The findings revealed that participants scored a mere 55.78% in knowledge, while their attitudes and practices garnered impressive scores of 90.09% and 90.83%, respectively. Upon further analysis using multiple linear regression, several intriguing patterns emerged. Male participants, employed in the Infectious Disease Department, held vice-senior or higher titles, or had prior medical training demonstrated superior knowledge scores. On the other hand, medical personnel who were younger than 30, possessed graduate degrees or higher qualifications, and had training excelled in attitudes and practices. Notably, when employing the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) matrix, a significant distribution of medical personnel was observed across the four quadrants. Specifically, 37.43%, 13.19%, 19.61%, and 29.77% fell into the first, second, third, and fourth quadrants. This survey underscores the commendable attitudes and practices of medical staff towards TBRD in endemic regions of China. However, their knowledge level remains wanting and demands urgent improvement.
bibliographic citation: Shao et al. (2024) Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding tick-borne rickettsial disease among medical staff in endemic areas of China. PeerJ 12:e17562 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17562
date submitted: 2024-01-12
date accepted: 2024-05-21
issued: 2024-06-18
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Shao
  given name: Miaohui
author list: Agent
  family name: Hu
  given name: Peiyuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Pengpeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Jie
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Xiaqing
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Dan
author list: Agent
  family name: Shen
  given name: Yong
author list: Agent
  family name: Gao
  given name: Dawei
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Weigang
author list: Agent
  family name: Qin
  given name: Wei
author list: Agent
  family name: Lyu
  given name: Yong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17562
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-18
copyright: © 2024 Shao et al.
attribution name: Shao et al.

Hypertrophic effects of low-load blood flow restriction training with different repetition schemes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis analyzed the effect of low-load resistance training (LL-RT) with blood flow restriction (BFR) versus high-load resistance training (HL-RT) on muscle hypertrophy focusing on the repetition scheme adopted. Methods Four databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials that compared the effect of LL-RT with BFR versus HL-RT on muscle hypertrophy. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were pooled in a random effects meta-analysis. Results The overall analysis did not demonstrate significant differences between conditions (SMD = 0.046; p = 0.14). A similar result was observed when we separately analyzed studies that used sets to momentary muscle failure (SMD = 0.033; p = 0.520), sets of 15 repetitions (SMD = 0.005; p = 0.937) and a fixed repetition scheme composed of 75 repetitions (SMD = 0.088; p = 0.177). The analysis considering body region indicates no difference in lower limb exercise between HL-RT and LL-RT with BFR (SMD = 0.00066; p = 0.795) while upper limb exercise favors HL-RT (SMD = 0.231; p = 0.005). Conclusion LL-RT with BFR elicits muscle hypertrophy similar to HL-RT regardless of the employed repetition scheme, although there appears to be a small beneficial effect in favor of HL-RT in upper limb exercise.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Victor S. de Queiros
creator: Nicholas Rolnick
creator: Brad J. Schoenfeld
creator: Ingrid Martins de França
creator: João Guilherme Vieira
creator: Amanda Veiga Sardeli
creator: Okan Kamis
creator: Gabriel Rodrigues Neto
creator: Breno Guilherme de Araújo Tinôco Cabral
creator: Paulo Moreira Silva Dantas
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Sports Injury
subject: Rehabilitation
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17195
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 de Queiros et al.
abstract: Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis analyzed the effect of low-load resistance training (LL-RT) with blood flow restriction (BFR) versus high-load resistance training (HL-RT) on muscle hypertrophy focusing on the repetition scheme adopted. Methods Four databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials that compared the effect of LL-RT with BFR versus HL-RT on muscle hypertrophy. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were pooled in a random effects meta-analysis. Results The overall analysis did not demonstrate significant differences between conditions (SMD = 0.046; p = 0.14). A similar result was observed when we separately analyzed studies that used sets to momentary muscle failure (SMD = 0.033; p = 0.520), sets of 15 repetitions (SMD = 0.005; p = 0.937) and a fixed repetition scheme composed of 75 repetitions (SMD = 0.088; p = 0.177). The analysis considering body region indicates no difference in lower limb exercise between HL-RT and LL-RT with BFR (SMD = 0.00066; p = 0.795) while upper limb exercise favors HL-RT (SMD = 0.231; p = 0.005). Conclusion LL-RT with BFR elicits muscle hypertrophy similar to HL-RT regardless of the employed repetition scheme, although there appears to be a small beneficial effect in favor of HL-RT in upper limb exercise.
bibliographic citation: de Queiros et al. (2024) Hypertrophic effects of low-load blood flow restriction training with different repetition schemes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PeerJ 12:e17195 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17195
date submitted: 2023-11-24
date accepted: 2024-03-13
issued: 2024-06-17
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: de Queiros
  given name: Victor S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Rolnick
  given name: Nicholas
author list: Agent
  family name: Schoenfeld
  given name: Brad J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Martins de França
  given name: Ingrid
author list: Agent
  family name: Vieira
  given name: João Guilherme
author list: Agent
  family name: Sardeli
  given name: Amanda Veiga
author list: Agent
  family name: Kamis
  given name: Okan
author list: Agent
  family name: Neto
  given name: Gabriel Rodrigues
author list: Agent
  family name: Cabral
  given name: Breno Guilherme de Araújo Tinôco
author list: Agent
  family name: Dantas
  given name: Paulo Moreira Silva
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17195
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-17
copyright: ©2024 de Queiros et al.
attribution name: de Queiros et al.

Pedagogical control scales of vertical jumping performance in untrained adolescents (13–16 years): research by strata
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background A scale is used to establish performance ranges in different sciences, it being necessary to design specialized biological and pedagogical indicators in physical activity, sport and health. Objective To design a scale for the pedagogical control of the vertical jumping ability in untrained adolescents (13–16 years), stratifying the sample by age range, ethnicity, urban and rural area, socioeconomic level, and gender. Methods A representative sample of the Ecuadorian population (n = 3,705) is studied, classifying it into the aforementioned strata, controlling the vertical jump by ISAK I and II level experts, applying the Sargent Test to measure vertical jumps on a multi-force wall, establishing scales with seven percentile levels, and making comparisons related to chronological age, gender, socioeconomic, and genetic indicators. Results Significant differences in the vertical jumping performance were determined according to the category or age range (13–14 ≠ 15–16 years) and by gender (w = 0.000). Various levels of performance were determined, classifying the maximum level as talented in the female gender (≥40 cm; and ≥42 cm) and male gender (≥47 cm; and ≥57 cm) in the 13‒14 and 15‒16 years categories, respectively. Sampling comparisons by geographical area only determined significant differences in the male gender, with the jumping ability being higher in urban areas (13‒14 years: w = 0.046; 15‒16 years: w = 0.013). The comparison by ethnic groups showed significant differences (k = 0.030), favoring the Afro-Ecuadorian ethnic group in both genders, while there are significant differences by socioeconomic level, especially between the middle and lower classes. Conclusions The present research solves the lack of a tool for making correct didactic decisions related to the vertical jumping ability, taking into account various important stratified indicators. The complementary conclusions show significant differences according to the category stratum or age ra…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Santiago Calero-Morales
creator: Victor Emilio Villavicencio-Alvarez
creator: Elizabeth Flores-Abad
creator: Antonio Jesús Monroy-Antón
subject: Anatomy and Physiology
subject: Pediatrics
subject: Science and Medical Education
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17298
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Calero-Morales et al.
abstract: Background A scale is used to establish performance ranges in different sciences, it being necessary to design specialized biological and pedagogical indicators in physical activity, sport and health. Objective To design a scale for the pedagogical control of the vertical jumping ability in untrained adolescents (13–16 years), stratifying the sample by age range, ethnicity, urban and rural area, socioeconomic level, and gender. Methods A representative sample of the Ecuadorian population (n = 3,705) is studied, classifying it into the aforementioned strata, controlling the vertical jump by ISAK I and II level experts, applying the Sargent Test to measure vertical jumps on a multi-force wall, establishing scales with seven percentile levels, and making comparisons related to chronological age, gender, socioeconomic, and genetic indicators. Results Significant differences in the vertical jumping performance were determined according to the category or age range (13–14 ≠ 15–16 years) and by gender (w = 0.000). Various levels of performance were determined, classifying the maximum level as talented in the female gender (≥40 cm; and ≥42 cm) and male gender (≥47 cm; and ≥57 cm) in the 13‒14 and 15‒16 years categories, respectively. Sampling comparisons by geographical area only determined significant differences in the male gender, with the jumping ability being higher in urban areas (13‒14 years: w = 0.046; 15‒16 years: w = 0.013). The comparison by ethnic groups showed significant differences (k = 0.030), favoring the Afro-Ecuadorian ethnic group in both genders, while there are significant differences by socioeconomic level, especially between the middle and lower classes. Conclusions The present research solves the lack of a tool for making correct didactic decisions related to the vertical jumping ability, taking into account various important stratified indicators. The complementary conclusions show significant differences according to the category stratum or age ra…
bibliographic citation: Calero-Morales et al. (2024) Pedagogical control scales of vertical jumping performance in untrained adolescents (13–16 years): research by strata. PeerJ 12:e17298 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17298
date submitted: 2023-07-19
date accepted: 2024-04-03
issued: 2024-06-17
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Calero-Morales
  given name: Santiago
author list: Agent
  family name: Villavicencio-Alvarez
  given name: Victor Emilio
author list: Agent
  family name: Flores-Abad
  given name: Elizabeth
author list: Agent
  family name: Monroy-Antón
  given name: Antonio Jesús
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17298
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-17
copyright: © 2024 Calero-Morales et al.
attribution name: Calero-Morales et al.

Choice-based severity scale (CSS): assessing the relative severity of procedures from a laboratory animal’s perspective
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: One primary goal of laboratory animal welfare science is to provide a comprehensive severity assessment of the experimental and husbandry procedures or conditions these animals experience. The severity, or degree of suffering, of these conditions experienced by animals are typically scored based on anthropocentric assumptions. We propose to (a) assess an animal’s subjective experience of condition severity, and (b) not only rank but scale different conditions in relation to one another using choice-based preference testing. The Choice-based Severity Scale (CSS) utilizes animals’ relative preferences for different conditions, which are compared by how much reward is needed to outweigh the perceived severity of a given condition. Thus, this animal-centric approach provides a common scale for condition severity based on the animal’s perspective. To assess and test the CSS concept, we offered three opportunistically selected male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) choices between two conditions: performing a cognitive task in a typical neuroscience laboratory setup (laboratory condition) versus the monkey’s home environment (cage condition). Our data show a shift in one individual’s preference for the cage condition to the laboratory condition when we changed the type of reward provided in the task. Two additional monkeys strongly preferred the cage condition over the laboratory condition, irrespective of reward amount and type. We tested the CSS concept further by showing that monkeys’ choices between tasks varying in trial duration can be influenced by the amount of reward provided. Altogether, the CSS concept is built upon laboratory animals’ subjective experiences and has the potential to de-anthropomorphize severity assessments, refine experimental protocols, and provide a common framework to assess animal welfare across different domains.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Lauren Cassidy
creator: Stefan Treue
creator: Alexander Gail
creator: Dana Pfefferle
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Veterinary Medicine
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17300
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Cassidy et al.
abstract: One primary goal of laboratory animal welfare science is to provide a comprehensive severity assessment of the experimental and husbandry procedures or conditions these animals experience. The severity, or degree of suffering, of these conditions experienced by animals are typically scored based on anthropocentric assumptions. We propose to (a) assess an animal’s subjective experience of condition severity, and (b) not only rank but scale different conditions in relation to one another using choice-based preference testing. The Choice-based Severity Scale (CSS) utilizes animals’ relative preferences for different conditions, which are compared by how much reward is needed to outweigh the perceived severity of a given condition. Thus, this animal-centric approach provides a common scale for condition severity based on the animal’s perspective. To assess and test the CSS concept, we offered three opportunistically selected male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) choices between two conditions: performing a cognitive task in a typical neuroscience laboratory setup (laboratory condition) versus the monkey’s home environment (cage condition). Our data show a shift in one individual’s preference for the cage condition to the laboratory condition when we changed the type of reward provided in the task. Two additional monkeys strongly preferred the cage condition over the laboratory condition, irrespective of reward amount and type. We tested the CSS concept further by showing that monkeys’ choices between tasks varying in trial duration can be influenced by the amount of reward provided. Altogether, the CSS concept is built upon laboratory animals’ subjective experiences and has the potential to de-anthropomorphize severity assessments, refine experimental protocols, and provide a common framework to assess animal welfare across different domains.
bibliographic citation: Cassidy et al. (2024) Choice-based severity scale (CSS): assessing the relative severity of procedures from a laboratory animal’s perspective. PeerJ 12:e17300 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17300
date submitted: 2023-11-10
date accepted: 2024-04-03
issued: 2024-06-17
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Cassidy
  given name: Lauren
author list: Agent
  family name: Treue
  given name: Stefan
author list: Agent
  family name: Gail
  given name: Alexander
author list: Agent
  family name: Pfefferle
  given name: Dana
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17300
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-17
copyright: © 2024 Cassidy et al.
attribution name: Cassidy et al.

Preliminary studies of selected Lemna species on the oxygen production potential in relation to some ecological factors
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Dissolved oxygen is fundamental for chemical and biochemical processes occurring in natural waters and critical for the life of aquatic organisms. Many organisms are responsible for altering organic matter and oxygen transfers across ecosystem or habitat boundaries and, thus, engineering the oxygen balance of the system. Due to such Lemna features as small size, simple structure, vegetative reproduction and rapid growth, as well as frequent mass occurrence in the form of thick mats, they make them very effective in oxygenating water. The research was undertaken to assess the impact of various species of duckweed (L. minor and L. trisulca) on dissolved oxygen content and detritus production in water and the role of ecological factors (light, atmospheric pressure, conductivity, and temperature) in this process. For this purpose, experiments were carried out with combinations of L. minor and L. trisulca. On this basis, the content of oxygen dissolved in water was determined depending on the growth of duckweed. Linear regression models were developed to assess the dynamics of changes in oxygen content and, consequently, organic matter produced by the Lemna. The research showed that the presence of L. trisulca causes an increase in dissolved oxygen content in water. It was also shown that an increase in atmospheric pressure had a positive effect on the ability of duckweed to produce oxygen, regardless of its type. The negative correlation between conductivity and water oxygenation, obtained in conditions of limited light access, allows us to assume that higher water conductivity limits oxygen production by all combinations of duckweeds when the light supply is low. Based on the developed models, it was shown that the highest increase in organic matter would be observed in the case of mixed duckweed and the lowest in the presence of the L. minor species, regardless of light conditions. Moreover, it was shown that pleustophytes have different heat capacities, and L. trisul…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Joanna Sender
creator: Monika Różańska-Boczula
subject: Ecosystem Science
subject: Environmental Sciences
subject: Freshwater Biology
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Environmental Impacts
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17322
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Sender and Różańska-Boczula
abstract: Dissolved oxygen is fundamental for chemical and biochemical processes occurring in natural waters and critical for the life of aquatic organisms. Many organisms are responsible for altering organic matter and oxygen transfers across ecosystem or habitat boundaries and, thus, engineering the oxygen balance of the system. Due to such Lemna features as small size, simple structure, vegetative reproduction and rapid growth, as well as frequent mass occurrence in the form of thick mats, they make them very effective in oxygenating water. The research was undertaken to assess the impact of various species of duckweed (L. minor and L. trisulca) on dissolved oxygen content and detritus production in water and the role of ecological factors (light, atmospheric pressure, conductivity, and temperature) in this process. For this purpose, experiments were carried out with combinations of L. minor and L. trisulca. On this basis, the content of oxygen dissolved in water was determined depending on the growth of duckweed. Linear regression models were developed to assess the dynamics of changes in oxygen content and, consequently, organic matter produced by the Lemna. The research showed that the presence of L. trisulca causes an increase in dissolved oxygen content in water. It was also shown that an increase in atmospheric pressure had a positive effect on the ability of duckweed to produce oxygen, regardless of its type. The negative correlation between conductivity and water oxygenation, obtained in conditions of limited light access, allows us to assume that higher water conductivity limits oxygen production by all combinations of duckweeds when the light supply is low. Based on the developed models, it was shown that the highest increase in organic matter would be observed in the case of mixed duckweed and the lowest in the presence of the L. minor species, regardless of light conditions. Moreover, it was shown that pleustophytes have different heat capacities, and L. trisul…
bibliographic citation: Sender et al. (2024) Preliminary studies of selected Lemna species on the oxygen production potential in relation to some ecological factors. PeerJ 12:e17322 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17322
date submitted: 2023-09-01
date accepted: 2024-04-09
issued: 2024-06-17
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sender
  given name: Joanna
author list: Agent
  family name: Różańska-Boczula
  given name: Monika
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17322
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-06-17
copyright: ©2024 Sender and Różańska-Boczula
attribution name: Sender and Różańska-Boczula

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