PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: An adaptive data-driven architecture for mental health care applications
items: Forkhead-associated phosphopeptide binding domain 1 (FHAD1) deficiency impaired murine sperm motility
items: Transcranial magnetic stimulation enhances the specificity of multiple sclerosis diagnostic criteria: a critical narrative review
items: Home range size and habitat selection of owned outdoor domestic cats (Felis catus) in urban southwestern Ontario
items: Effects of three weeks base training at moderate simulated altitude with or without hypoxic residence on exercise capacity and physiological adaptations in well-trained male runners
items: Attitude towards healthy nutrition and mental toughness: a study of taekwondo athletes
items: https://peerj.com/articles/17177
items: Factors that contributed to Ontario adults’ mental health during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic: a decision tree analysis
items: How tapeworms interact with cancers: a mini-review
items: Use of different dry materials to control the moisture in a black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) rearing substrate

An adaptive data-driven architecture for mental health care applications
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background In the current era of rapid technological innovation, our lives are becoming more closely intertwined with digital systems. Consequently, every human action generates a valuable repository of digital data. In this context, data-driven architectures are pivotal for organizing, manipulating, and presenting data to facilitate positive computing through ensemble machine learning models. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored a substantial need for a flexible mental health care architecture. This architecture, inclusive of machine learning predictive models, has the potential to benefit a larger population by identifying individuals at a heightened risk of developing various mental disorders. Objective Therefore, this research aims to create a flexible mental health care architecture that leverages data-driven methodologies and ensemble machine learning models. The objective is to proficiently structure, process, and present data for positive computing. The adaptive data-driven architecture facilitates customized interventions for diverse mental disorders, fostering positive computing. Consequently, improved mental health care outcomes and enhanced accessibility for individuals with varied mental health conditions are anticipated. Method Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, the researchers conducted a systematic literature review in databases indexed in Web of Science to identify the existing strengths and limitations of software architecture relevant to our adaptive design. The systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023444661). Additionally, a mapping process was employed to derive essential paradigms serving as the foundation for the research architectural design. To validate the architecture based on its features, professional experts utilized a Likert scale. Results Through the review, the authors identified six fundamental paradigms crucial for designing architecture. Leveraging thes…
format: application/pdf
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creator: Aishwarya Sundaram
creator: Hema Subramaniam
creator: Siti Hafizah Ab Hamid
creator: Azmawaty Mohamad Nor
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Computational Science
subject: Mental Health
subject: Healthcare Services
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17133
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Sundaram et al.
abstract: Background In the current era of rapid technological innovation, our lives are becoming more closely intertwined with digital systems. Consequently, every human action generates a valuable repository of digital data. In this context, data-driven architectures are pivotal for organizing, manipulating, and presenting data to facilitate positive computing through ensemble machine learning models. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored a substantial need for a flexible mental health care architecture. This architecture, inclusive of machine learning predictive models, has the potential to benefit a larger population by identifying individuals at a heightened risk of developing various mental disorders. Objective Therefore, this research aims to create a flexible mental health care architecture that leverages data-driven methodologies and ensemble machine learning models. The objective is to proficiently structure, process, and present data for positive computing. The adaptive data-driven architecture facilitates customized interventions for diverse mental disorders, fostering positive computing. Consequently, improved mental health care outcomes and enhanced accessibility for individuals with varied mental health conditions are anticipated. Method Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, the researchers conducted a systematic literature review in databases indexed in Web of Science to identify the existing strengths and limitations of software architecture relevant to our adaptive design. The systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023444661). Additionally, a mapping process was employed to derive essential paradigms serving as the foundation for the research architectural design. To validate the architecture based on its features, professional experts utilized a Likert scale. Results Through the review, the authors identified six fundamental paradigms crucial for designing architecture. Leveraging thes…
bibliographic citation: Sundaram et al. (2024) An adaptive data-driven architecture for mental health care applications. PeerJ 12:e17133 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17133
date submitted: 2023-08-16
date accepted: 2024-02-27
issued: 2024-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sundaram
  given name: Aishwarya
author list: Agent
  family name: Subramaniam
  given name: Hema
author list: Agent
  family name: Ab Hamid
  given name: Siti Hafizah
author list: Agent
  family name: Mohamad Nor
  given name: Azmawaty
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17133
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-03-29
copyright: © 2024 Sundaram et al.
attribution name: Sundaram et al.

Forkhead-associated phosphopeptide binding domain 1 (FHAD1) deficiency impaired murine sperm motility
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Genetic knockout-based studies conducted in mice provide a powerful means of assessing the significance of a gene for fertility. Forkhead-associated phosphopeptide binding domain 1 (FHAD1) contains a conserved FHA domain, that is present in many proteins with phospho-threonine reader activity. How FHAD1 functions in male fertility, however, remains uncertain. Methods Fhad1−/− mice were generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout, after which qPCR was used to evaluate changes in gene expression, with subsequent analyses of spermatogenesis and fertility. The testis phenotypes were also examined using immunofluorescence and histological staining, while sperm concentrations and motility were quantified via computer-aided sperm analysis. Cellular apoptosis was assessed using a TUNEL staining assay. Results The Fhad1−/−mice did not exhibit any abnormal changes in fertility or testicular morphology compared to wild-type littermates. Histological analyses confirmed that the testicular morphology of both Fhad1−/−and Fhad1+/+ mice was normal, with both exhibiting intact seminiferous tubules. Relative to Fhad1+/+ mice, however, Fhad1−/−did exhibit reductions in the total and progressive motility of epididymal sperm. Analyses of meiotic division in Fhad1−/−mice also revealed higher levels of apoptotic death during the first wave of spermatogenesis. Discussion The findings suggest that FHAD1 is involved in both meiosis and the modulation of sperm motility.
format: application/pdf
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creator: Xi Zhang
creator: Jiangyang Xue
creator: Shan Jiang
creator: Haoyu Zheng
creator: Chang Wang
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Genetics
subject: Molecular Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17142
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Zhang et al.
abstract: Background Genetic knockout-based studies conducted in mice provide a powerful means of assessing the significance of a gene for fertility. Forkhead-associated phosphopeptide binding domain 1 (FHAD1) contains a conserved FHA domain, that is present in many proteins with phospho-threonine reader activity. How FHAD1 functions in male fertility, however, remains uncertain. Methods Fhad1−/− mice were generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout, after which qPCR was used to evaluate changes in gene expression, with subsequent analyses of spermatogenesis and fertility. The testis phenotypes were also examined using immunofluorescence and histological staining, while sperm concentrations and motility were quantified via computer-aided sperm analysis. Cellular apoptosis was assessed using a TUNEL staining assay. Results The Fhad1−/−mice did not exhibit any abnormal changes in fertility or testicular morphology compared to wild-type littermates. Histological analyses confirmed that the testicular morphology of both Fhad1−/−and Fhad1+/+ mice was normal, with both exhibiting intact seminiferous tubules. Relative to Fhad1+/+ mice, however, Fhad1−/−did exhibit reductions in the total and progressive motility of epididymal sperm. Analyses of meiotic division in Fhad1−/−mice also revealed higher levels of apoptotic death during the first wave of spermatogenesis. Discussion The findings suggest that FHAD1 is involved in both meiosis and the modulation of sperm motility.
bibliographic citation: Zhang et al. (2024) Forkhead-associated phosphopeptide binding domain 1 (FHAD1) deficiency impaired murine sperm motility. PeerJ 12:e17142 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17142
date submitted: 2023-12-20
date accepted: 2024-02-29
issued: 2024-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Xi
author list: Agent
  family name: Xue
  given name: Jiangyang
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Shan
author list: Agent
  family name: Zheng
  given name: Haoyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Chang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17142
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-03-29
copyright: © 2024 Zhang et al.
attribution name: Zhang et al.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation enhances the specificity of multiple sclerosis diagnostic criteria: a critical narrative review
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated neurodegenerative disease that involves attacks of inflammatory demyelination and axonal damage, with variable but continuous disability accumulation. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method to characterize conduction loss and axonal damage in the corticospinal tract. TMS as a technique provides indices of corticospinal tract function that may serve as putative MS biomarkers. To date, no reviews have directly addressed the diagnostic performance of TMS in MS. The authors aimed to conduct a critical narrative review on the diagnostic performance of TMS in MS. Methods The authors searched the Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies that reported the sensitivity and/or specificity of any reported TMS technique compared to established clinical MS diagnostic criteria. Studies were summarized and critically appraised for their quality and validity. Results Seventeen of 1,073 records were included for data extraction and critical appraisal. Markers of demyelination and axonal damage—most notably, central motor conduction time (CMCT)—were specific, but not sensitive, for MS. Thirteen (76%), two (12%), and two (12%) studies exhibited high, unclear, and low risk of bias, respectively. No study demonstrated validity for TMS techniques as diagnostic biomarkers in MS. Conclusions CMCT has the potential to: (1) enhance the specificity of clinical MS diagnostic criteria by “ruling in” true-positives, or (2) revise a diagnosis from relapsing to progressive forms of MS. However, there is presently insufficient high-quality evidence to recommend any TMS technique in the diagnostic algorithm for MS.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Nicholas J. Snow
creator: Hannah M. Murphy
creator: Arthur R. Chaves
creator: Craig S. Moore
creator: Michelle Ploughman
subject: Drugs and Devices
subject: Evidence Based Medicine
subject: Neurology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17155
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Snow et al.
abstract: Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated neurodegenerative disease that involves attacks of inflammatory demyelination and axonal damage, with variable but continuous disability accumulation. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method to characterize conduction loss and axonal damage in the corticospinal tract. TMS as a technique provides indices of corticospinal tract function that may serve as putative MS biomarkers. To date, no reviews have directly addressed the diagnostic performance of TMS in MS. The authors aimed to conduct a critical narrative review on the diagnostic performance of TMS in MS. Methods The authors searched the Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies that reported the sensitivity and/or specificity of any reported TMS technique compared to established clinical MS diagnostic criteria. Studies were summarized and critically appraised for their quality and validity. Results Seventeen of 1,073 records were included for data extraction and critical appraisal. Markers of demyelination and axonal damage—most notably, central motor conduction time (CMCT)—were specific, but not sensitive, for MS. Thirteen (76%), two (12%), and two (12%) studies exhibited high, unclear, and low risk of bias, respectively. No study demonstrated validity for TMS techniques as diagnostic biomarkers in MS. Conclusions CMCT has the potential to: (1) enhance the specificity of clinical MS diagnostic criteria by “ruling in” true-positives, or (2) revise a diagnosis from relapsing to progressive forms of MS. However, there is presently insufficient high-quality evidence to recommend any TMS technique in the diagnostic algorithm for MS.
bibliographic citation: Snow et al. (2024) Transcranial magnetic stimulation enhances the specificity of multiple sclerosis diagnostic criteria: a critical narrative review. PeerJ 12:e17155 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17155
date submitted: 2023-09-05
date accepted: 2024-03-04
issued: 2024-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Snow
  given name: Nicholas J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Murphy
  given name: Hannah M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Chaves
  given name: Arthur R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Moore
  given name: Craig S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Ploughman
  given name: Michelle
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17155
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-03-29
copyright: © 2024 Snow et al.
attribution name: Snow et al.

Home range size and habitat selection of owned outdoor domestic cats (Felis catus) in urban southwestern Ontario
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Domestic cats (Felis catus) play a dual role in society as both companion animals and predators. When provided with unsupervised outdoor access, cats can negatively impact native wildlife and create public health and animal welfare challenges. The effective implementation of management strategies, such as buffer zones or curfews, requires an understanding of home range size, the factors that influence their movement, and the types of habitats they use. Here, we used a community/citizen scientist approach to collect movement and habitat use data using GPS collars on owned outdoor cats in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge-Guelph region, southwestern Ontario, Canada. Mean (± SD) 100% minimum convex polygon home range size was 8 ± 8 ha (range: 0.34–38 ha) and was positively associated with road density but not with intrinsic factors such as boldness, sex, or age. With regards to habitat selection, cats used greenspaces, roads, and agricultural land less often than predicted but strongly selected for impervious surfaces (urban areas other than greenspaces or roads). Our results suggest that wildlife near buildings and residential areas are likely at the greatest risk of cat predation and that a buffer size of 840 m would be needed to restrict cats from entering areas of conservation concern.
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format: text/html
creator: Marlee L. Pyott
creator: D. Ryan Norris
creator: Greg W. Mitchell
creator: Leonardo Custode
creator: Elizabeth A. Gow
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Science Policy
subject: Environmental Impacts
subject: Environmental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17159
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Pyott et al.
abstract: Domestic cats (Felis catus) play a dual role in society as both companion animals and predators. When provided with unsupervised outdoor access, cats can negatively impact native wildlife and create public health and animal welfare challenges. The effective implementation of management strategies, such as buffer zones or curfews, requires an understanding of home range size, the factors that influence their movement, and the types of habitats they use. Here, we used a community/citizen scientist approach to collect movement and habitat use data using GPS collars on owned outdoor cats in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge-Guelph region, southwestern Ontario, Canada. Mean (± SD) 100% minimum convex polygon home range size was 8 ± 8 ha (range: 0.34–38 ha) and was positively associated with road density but not with intrinsic factors such as boldness, sex, or age. With regards to habitat selection, cats used greenspaces, roads, and agricultural land less often than predicted but strongly selected for impervious surfaces (urban areas other than greenspaces or roads). Our results suggest that wildlife near buildings and residential areas are likely at the greatest risk of cat predation and that a buffer size of 840 m would be needed to restrict cats from entering areas of conservation concern.
bibliographic citation: Pyott et al. (2024) Home range size and habitat selection of owned outdoor domestic cats (Felis catus) in urban southwestern Ontario. PeerJ 12:e17159 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17159
date submitted: 2023-11-28
date accepted: 2024-03-04
issued: 2024-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Pyott
  given name: Marlee L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Norris
  given name: D. Ryan
author list: Agent
  family name: Mitchell
  given name: Greg W.
author list: Agent
  family name: Custode
  given name: Leonardo
author list: Agent
  family name: Gow
  given name: Elizabeth A.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17159
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-03-29
copyright: ©2024 Pyott et al.
attribution name: Pyott et al.

Effects of three weeks base training at moderate simulated altitude with or without hypoxic residence on exercise capacity and physiological adaptations in well-trained male runners
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objectives To test the hypothesis that ‘live high-base train high-interval train low’ (HiHiLo) altitude training, compared to ‘live low-train high’ (LoHi), yields greater benefits on performance and physiological adaptations. Methods Sixteen young male middle-distance runners (age, 17.0 ± 1.5 y; body mass, 58.8 ± 4.9 kg; body height, 176.3 ± 4.3 cm; training years, 3–5 y; training distance per week, 30–60 km.wk−1) with a peak oxygen uptake averaging ~65 ml.min−1.kg−1 trained in a normobaric hypoxia chamber (simulated altitude of ~2,500 m, monitored by heart rate ~170 bpm; thrice weekly) for 3 weeks. During this period, the HiHiLo group (n = 8) stayed in normobaric hypoxia (at ~2,800 m; 10 h.day−1), while the LoHi group (n = 8) resided near sea level. Before and immediately after the intervention, peak oxygen uptake and exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia responses (incremental cycle test) as well as running performance and time-domain heart rate variability (5-km time trial) were assessed. Hematological variables were monitored at baseline and on days 1, 7, 14 and 21 during the intervention. Results Peak oxygen uptake and running performance did not differ before and after the intervention in either group (all P > 0.05). Exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia responses, measured both at submaximal (240 W) and maximal loads during the incremental test, and log-transformed root mean square of successive R-R intervals during the 4-min post-run recovery period, did not change (all P > 0.05). Hematocrit, mean reticulocyte absolute count and reticulocyte percentage increased above baseline levels on day 21 of the intervention (all P < 0.001), irrespective of group. Conclusions Well-trained runners undertaking base training at moderate simulated altitude for 3 weeks, with or without hypoxic residence, showed no performance improvement, also with unchanged time-domain heart rate variability and exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia responses.
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format: text/html
creator: Longyan Yi
creator: Jian Wu
creator: Bing Yan
creator: Yang Wang
creator: Menghui Zou
creator: Yimin Zhang
creator: Feifei Li
creator: Junqiang Qiu
creator: Olivier Girard
subject: Anatomy and Physiology
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Respiratory Medicine
subject: Environmental Health
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17166
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Yi et al.
abstract: Objectives To test the hypothesis that ‘live high-base train high-interval train low’ (HiHiLo) altitude training, compared to ‘live low-train high’ (LoHi), yields greater benefits on performance and physiological adaptations. Methods Sixteen young male middle-distance runners (age, 17.0 ± 1.5 y; body mass, 58.8 ± 4.9 kg; body height, 176.3 ± 4.3 cm; training years, 3–5 y; training distance per week, 30–60 km.wk−1) with a peak oxygen uptake averaging ~65 ml.min−1.kg−1 trained in a normobaric hypoxia chamber (simulated altitude of ~2,500 m, monitored by heart rate ~170 bpm; thrice weekly) for 3 weeks. During this period, the HiHiLo group (n = 8) stayed in normobaric hypoxia (at ~2,800 m; 10 h.day−1), while the LoHi group (n = 8) resided near sea level. Before and immediately after the intervention, peak oxygen uptake and exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia responses (incremental cycle test) as well as running performance and time-domain heart rate variability (5-km time trial) were assessed. Hematological variables were monitored at baseline and on days 1, 7, 14 and 21 during the intervention. Results Peak oxygen uptake and running performance did not differ before and after the intervention in either group (all P > 0.05). Exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia responses, measured both at submaximal (240 W) and maximal loads during the incremental test, and log-transformed root mean square of successive R-R intervals during the 4-min post-run recovery period, did not change (all P > 0.05). Hematocrit, mean reticulocyte absolute count and reticulocyte percentage increased above baseline levels on day 21 of the intervention (all P < 0.001), irrespective of group. Conclusions Well-trained runners undertaking base training at moderate simulated altitude for 3 weeks, with or without hypoxic residence, showed no performance improvement, also with unchanged time-domain heart rate variability and exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia responses.
bibliographic citation: Yi et al. (2024) Effects of three weeks base training at moderate simulated altitude with or without hypoxic residence on exercise capacity and physiological adaptations in well-trained male runners. PeerJ 12:e17166 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17166
date submitted: 2023-06-27
date accepted: 2024-03-06
issued: 2024-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Yi
  given name: Longyan
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Jian
author list: Agent
  family name: Yan
  given name: Bing
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yang
author list: Agent
  family name: Zou
  given name: Menghui
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Yimin
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Feifei
author list: Agent
  family name: Qiu
  given name: Junqiang
author list: Agent
  family name: Girard
  given name: Olivier
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17166
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-03-29
copyright: © 2024 Yi et al.
attribution name: Yi et al.

Attitude towards healthy nutrition and mental toughness: a study of taekwondo athletes
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Healthy nutrition is widely considered the cornerstone of optimal athletic performance, both physically and mentally. This study investigates the critical role of healthy nutrition in shaping the physical and mental performance of athletes, with a specific focus on taekwondo. This research aims to explore the potential relationship between taekwondo athletes’ attitudes towards healthy nutrition and their mental toughness. The research group comprised 276 active and licensed taekwondo athletes who voluntarily participated in the study (Age M = 17.18 ± SD = 7.13, N = 125 women, N = 151 men). Ethical approval for the research was obtained prior to the commencement of the study. Data collection instruments included the Healthy Nutrition Attitude Scale, Mental Toughness Scale, and a personal information form. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to confirm the validity and reliability of the scales. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed to explore the relationship between the variables within the research model. The correlation analysis identified two significant, positive, and moderate correlations: (1) between knowledge about nutrition and mental toughness (r = 0.626) and (2) between positive nutrition and mental toughness (r = 0.672). The regression analysis revealed that both knowledge about nutrition (β = 0.360) and positive nutrition (β = 0.461) significantly contribute to mental toughness. The findings suggest that as athletes’ knowledge of nutrition expands and their attitudes towards healthy eating become more positive, their mental toughness also appears to improve. These results are both important and original, adding significant new insights to the existing research landscape.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Arif Özsarı
creator: Mehmet Kara
creator: Ahmet Naci Dilek
creator: Halil Uysal
creator: Tolga Tek
creator: Şekip Can Deli
subject: Nutrition
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Mental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17174
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Özsarı et al.
abstract: Healthy nutrition is widely considered the cornerstone of optimal athletic performance, both physically and mentally. This study investigates the critical role of healthy nutrition in shaping the physical and mental performance of athletes, with a specific focus on taekwondo. This research aims to explore the potential relationship between taekwondo athletes’ attitudes towards healthy nutrition and their mental toughness. The research group comprised 276 active and licensed taekwondo athletes who voluntarily participated in the study (Age M = 17.18 ± SD = 7.13, N = 125 women, N = 151 men). Ethical approval for the research was obtained prior to the commencement of the study. Data collection instruments included the Healthy Nutrition Attitude Scale, Mental Toughness Scale, and a personal information form. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to confirm the validity and reliability of the scales. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed to explore the relationship between the variables within the research model. The correlation analysis identified two significant, positive, and moderate correlations: (1) between knowledge about nutrition and mental toughness (r = 0.626) and (2) between positive nutrition and mental toughness (r = 0.672). The regression analysis revealed that both knowledge about nutrition (β = 0.360) and positive nutrition (β = 0.461) significantly contribute to mental toughness. The findings suggest that as athletes’ knowledge of nutrition expands and their attitudes towards healthy eating become more positive, their mental toughness also appears to improve. These results are both important and original, adding significant new insights to the existing research landscape.
bibliographic citation: Özsarı et al. (2024) Attitude towards healthy nutrition and mental toughness: a study of taekwondo athletes. PeerJ 12:e17174 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17174
date submitted: 2024-02-05
date accepted: 2024-03-08
issued: 2024-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Özsarı
  given name: Arif
author list: Agent
  family name: Kara
  given name: Mehmet
author list: Agent
  family name: Dilek
  given name: Ahmet Naci
author list: Agent
  family name: Uysal
  given name: Halil
author list: Agent
  family name: Tek
  given name: Tolga
author list: Agent
  family name: Deli
  given name: Şekip Can
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17174
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-03-29
copyright: © 2024 Özsarı et al.
attribution name: Özsarı et al.

https://peerj.com/articles/17177
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
title: Identification, validation and quantification of thymoquinone in conjunction with assessment of bioactive possessions and GC-MS profiling of pharmaceutically valuable crop Nigella (Nigella sativa L.) varieties
description: Background Plants have been pivotal in traditional and modern medicine globally, with historical evidence supporting their therapeutic applications. Nigella (Nigella sativa L.) is an annual herbaceous plant of the Ranunculaceae family and is cultivated in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western and Central Asia. The medicinal use of plants dates back thousands of years, documented in ancient writings from various civilizations. Alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, anthraquinones, and tannins found in plants exhibit antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and antidiabetic activities. Methodology This study specifically examines the pharmacological potential of Nigella sativa L., emphasizing thymoquinone—a compound with diverse nutraceutical benefits. The extraction, characterization, and quantification of thymoquinone, alongside other physicochemical parameters, were carried out using ethanol through Soxhlet extraction procedures on five nigella varieties. HPLC analysis was performed to determine the maximum accumulation of thymoquinone in the released variety of the plant and the chemical composition of the seed oil isolated from Nigella sativa L., varieties utilized in the study was determined through GC-MS analysis. Results The research revealed that the Ajmer nigella-20 variety stands out, exhibiting elevated levels of thymoquinone (0.20 ± 0.07%), antioxidants (76.18 ± 1.78%), and substantial quantities of total phenols (31.85 ± 0.97 mg GAEg−1 seed) and flavonoids (8.150 ± 0.360 mg QE 100 g−1 seed) compared to other varieties. The GC-MS profiling showed the presence of 11 major compounds in the studied varieties, with p-cymene, longifolene, and myristic acid identified as the major chemical compounds present in the oil. Conclusion The observed variations among Nigella varieties indicate the Ajmer nigella-20 variety as particularly promising for thymoquinone and bioactive compound extraction. This study …
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creator: Ravi Y
creator: Irene Vethamoni Periyanadar
creator: Shailendra Nath Saxena
creator: Raveendran Muthurajan
creator: Velmurugan Sundararajan
creator: Santhanakrishnan Vichangal Pridiuldi
creator: Sumer Singh Meena
creator: Ashoka Narayana Naik
creator: C. B. Harisha
creator: Honnappa Asangi
creator: Sharda Choudhary
creator: Ravindra Singh
creator: Yallappa Dengeru
creator: Kavan Kumar V
creator: Narottam Kumar Meena
creator: Ram Swaroop Meena
creator: Arvind Kumar Verma
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Bioengineering
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17177
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Y. et al.
abstract: Background Plants have been pivotal in traditional and modern medicine globally, with historical evidence supporting their therapeutic applications. Nigella (Nigella sativa L.) is an annual herbaceous plant of the Ranunculaceae family and is cultivated in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Western and Central Asia. The medicinal use of plants dates back thousands of years, documented in ancient writings from various civilizations. Alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, anthraquinones, and tannins found in plants exhibit antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and antidiabetic activities. Methodology This study specifically examines the pharmacological potential of Nigella sativa L., emphasizing thymoquinone—a compound with diverse nutraceutical benefits. The extraction, characterization, and quantification of thymoquinone, alongside other physicochemical parameters, were carried out using ethanol through Soxhlet extraction procedures on five nigella varieties. HPLC analysis was performed to determine the maximum accumulation of thymoquinone in the released variety of the plant and the chemical composition of the seed oil isolated from Nigella sativa L., varieties utilized in the study was determined through GC-MS analysis. Results The research revealed that the Ajmer nigella-20 variety stands out, exhibiting elevated levels of thymoquinone (0.20 ± 0.07%), antioxidants (76.18 ± 1.78%), and substantial quantities of total phenols (31.85 ± 0.97 mg GAEg−1 seed) and flavonoids (8.150 ± 0.360 mg QE 100 g−1 seed) compared to other varieties. The GC-MS profiling showed the presence of 11 major compounds in the studied varieties, with p-cymene, longifolene, and myristic acid identified as the major chemical compounds present in the oil. Conclusion The observed variations among Nigella varieties indicate the Ajmer nigella-20 variety as particularly promising for thymoquinone and bioactive compound extraction. This study …
bibliographic citation: Y et al. (2024) Identification, validation and quantification of thymoquinone in conjunction with assessment of bioactive possessions and GC-MS profiling of pharmaceutically valuable crop Nigella (Nigella sativa L.) varieties. PeerJ 12:e17177 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17177
date submitted: 2023-12-19
date accepted: 2024-03-08
issued: 2024-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Y
  given name: Ravi
author list: Agent
  family name: Periyanadar
  given name: Irene Vethamoni
author list: Agent
  family name: Saxena
  given name: Shailendra Nath
author list: Agent
  family name: Muthurajan
  given name: Raveendran
author list: Agent
  family name: Sundararajan
  given name: Velmurugan
author list: Agent
  family name: Pridiuldi
  given name: Santhanakrishnan Vichangal
author list: Agent
  family name: Meena
  given name: Sumer Singh
author list: Agent
  family name: Naik
  given name: Ashoka Narayana
author list: Agent
  family name: Harisha
  given name: C. B.
author list: Agent
  family name: Asangi
  given name: Honnappa
author list: Agent
  family name: Choudhary
  given name: Sharda
author list: Agent
  family name: Singh
  given name: Ravindra
author list: Agent
  family name: Dengeru
  given name: Yallappa
author list: Agent
  family name: V
  given name: Kavan Kumar
author list: Agent
  family name: Meena
  given name: Narottam Kumar
author list: Agent
  family name: Meena
  given name: Ram Swaroop
author list: Agent
  family name: Verma
  given name: Arvind Kumar
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17177
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-03-29
copyright: © 2024 Y et al.
attribution name: Y. et al.

Factors that contributed to Ontario adults’ mental health during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic: a decision tree analysis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of individuals globally. However, less is known about the characteristics that contributed to some people having mental health problems during the pandemic, while others did not. Mental health problems can be understood on a continuum, ranging from acute (e.g., depression following a stressful event) to severe (e.g., chronic conditions that disrupt everyday functioning). Therefore, the purpose of this article was to generate profiles of adults who were more or less at risk for the development of mental health problems, in general, during the first 16-months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. Data were collected via online surveys at two time points: April-July 2020 and July-August 2021; 2,188 adults (Mage = 43.15 years; SD = 8.82) participated. Surveys included a demographic questionnaire and four previously validated tools to measure participants’ mental health, subjective wellbeing, physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and sleep. A decision tree was generated at each time point for those with mental health problems, and those with no mental health problems. Results showed that subjective wellbeing was the biggest contributor to mental health status. Characteristics associated with no mental health problems among adults included having good wellbeing, being a good sleeper (quantity, quality, and patterns of sleep), and being over the age of 42. Characteristics associated with mental health problems included having poor wellbeing and being a poor sleeper. Findings revealed that specific characteristics interacted to contribute to adults’ mental health status during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that wellbeing was the biggest contributor to mental health, researchers should focus on targeting adults’ wellbeing to improve their mental health during future health crises.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Katie J. Shillington
creator: Leigh M. Vanderloo
creator: Shauna M. Burke
creator: Victor Ng
creator: Patricia Tucker
creator: Jennifer D. Irwin
subject: Global Health
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Public Health
subject: Mental Health
subject: COVID-19
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17193
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Shillington et al.
abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of individuals globally. However, less is known about the characteristics that contributed to some people having mental health problems during the pandemic, while others did not. Mental health problems can be understood on a continuum, ranging from acute (e.g., depression following a stressful event) to severe (e.g., chronic conditions that disrupt everyday functioning). Therefore, the purpose of this article was to generate profiles of adults who were more or less at risk for the development of mental health problems, in general, during the first 16-months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. Data were collected via online surveys at two time points: April-July 2020 and July-August 2021; 2,188 adults (Mage = 43.15 years; SD = 8.82) participated. Surveys included a demographic questionnaire and four previously validated tools to measure participants’ mental health, subjective wellbeing, physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and sleep. A decision tree was generated at each time point for those with mental health problems, and those with no mental health problems. Results showed that subjective wellbeing was the biggest contributor to mental health status. Characteristics associated with no mental health problems among adults included having good wellbeing, being a good sleeper (quantity, quality, and patterns of sleep), and being over the age of 42. Characteristics associated with mental health problems included having poor wellbeing and being a poor sleeper. Findings revealed that specific characteristics interacted to contribute to adults’ mental health status during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that wellbeing was the biggest contributor to mental health, researchers should focus on targeting adults’ wellbeing to improve their mental health during future health crises.
bibliographic citation: Shillington et al. (2024) Factors that contributed to Ontario adults’ mental health during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic: a decision tree analysis. PeerJ 12:e17193 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17193
date submitted: 2023-12-14
date accepted: 2024-03-13
issued: 2024-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Shillington
  given name: Katie J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Vanderloo
  given name: Leigh M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Burke
  given name: Shauna M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Ng
  given name: Victor
author list: Agent
  family name: Tucker
  given name: Patricia
author list: Agent
  family name: Irwin
  given name: Jennifer D.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17193
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-03-29
copyright: © 2024 Shillington et al.
attribution name: Shillington et al.

How tapeworms interact with cancers: a mini-review
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, with an estimated 19.3 million new cases and 10 million deaths worldwide in 2020 alone. Approximately 2.2 million cancer cases are attributed to infectious diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite the apparent involvement of some parasitic helminths (especially trematodes) in cancer induction, there are also records of the potential suppressive effects of helminth infections on cancer. Tapeworms such as Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia crassiceps, and more seem to have the potential to suppress malignant cell development, although in a few cases the evidence might be contradictory. Our review aims to summarize known epidemiological data on the cancer-helminth co-occurrence in the human population and the interactions of tapeworms with cancers, i.e., proven or hypothetical effects of tapeworms and their products on cancer cells in vivo (i.e., in experimental animals) or in vitro. The prospect of bioactive tapeworm molecules helping reduce the growth and metastasis of cancer is within the realm of future possibility, although extensive research is yet required due to certain concerns.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Manfred Schreiber
creator: Vojtěch Vajs
creator: Petr Horák
subject: Microbiology
subject: Parasitology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Oncology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17196
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Schreiber et al.
abstract: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, with an estimated 19.3 million new cases and 10 million deaths worldwide in 2020 alone. Approximately 2.2 million cancer cases are attributed to infectious diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite the apparent involvement of some parasitic helminths (especially trematodes) in cancer induction, there are also records of the potential suppressive effects of helminth infections on cancer. Tapeworms such as Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia crassiceps, and more seem to have the potential to suppress malignant cell development, although in a few cases the evidence might be contradictory. Our review aims to summarize known epidemiological data on the cancer-helminth co-occurrence in the human population and the interactions of tapeworms with cancers, i.e., proven or hypothetical effects of tapeworms and their products on cancer cells in vivo (i.e., in experimental animals) or in vitro. The prospect of bioactive tapeworm molecules helping reduce the growth and metastasis of cancer is within the realm of future possibility, although extensive research is yet required due to certain concerns.
bibliographic citation: Schreiber et al. (2024) How tapeworms interact with cancers: a mini-review. PeerJ 12:e17196 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17196
date submitted: 2023-11-28
date accepted: 2024-03-14
issued: 2024-03-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Schreiber
  given name: Manfred
author list: Agent
  family name: Vajs
  given name: Vojtěch
author list: Agent
  family name: Horák
  given name: Petr
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17196
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-03-29
copyright: © 2024 Schreiber et al.
attribution name: Schreiber et al.

Use of different dry materials to control the moisture in a black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) rearing substrate
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Controlling the substrate moisture is a significant challenge in black soldier fly (BSF) farming. Many substrates have a high moisture content, which results in a low BSF biomass and a high mortality. One potential solution involves incorporating dry substrates into the food mix to mitigate the excessive moisture. However, little information about the types and quantities of dry substrates is available. Methods Six different dry materials–rice husk (RH), rice bran (RB), rice husk ash (RHA), coconut coir dust (CC), rubberwood sawdust (RSD), and spent coffee grounds (SCGs)–were evaluated by combining with pure minced mixed vegetables in varying proportions (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, and 50% by weight). This study encompassed both small-scale and medium-scale experiments to comprehensively assess the effects of the addition of each of these different dry substrates and their quantities on aspects of the development of BSF, such as BSF biomass, larval duration, mortality rates, adult sex ratio, and the moisture removal efficiency of each substrate mixture. Results Each dry substrate had specific properties. Although RB emerged as a favorable dry substrate owing to its nutritional content and substantial water-holding capacity, excessive use of RB (>15% by weight) resulted in elevated temperatures and subsequent desiccation of the substrate, potentially leading to larval mortality. In contrast, RH demonstrated the ability to support improved larval duration and growth, permitting its utilization in higher proportions (up to 50%). On the other hand, CC, RHA, and SCG are better suited for inclusion in BSF larval substrates in smaller quantities. Discussion Some dry substrates require a pretreatment process to eliminate toxic substances prior to their incorporation into substrate mixtures, such as CC and SCG. A potential alternative solution involves employing a combination of various dry substrates. This approach aims to enhance the substrate moisture control and s…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Parichart Laksanawimol
creator: Pritsana Anukun
creator: Anchana Thancharoen
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Entomology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.17129
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Laksanawimol et al.
abstract: Background Controlling the substrate moisture is a significant challenge in black soldier fly (BSF) farming. Many substrates have a high moisture content, which results in a low BSF biomass and a high mortality. One potential solution involves incorporating dry substrates into the food mix to mitigate the excessive moisture. However, little information about the types and quantities of dry substrates is available. Methods Six different dry materials–rice husk (RH), rice bran (RB), rice husk ash (RHA), coconut coir dust (CC), rubberwood sawdust (RSD), and spent coffee grounds (SCGs)–were evaluated by combining with pure minced mixed vegetables in varying proportions (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, and 50% by weight). This study encompassed both small-scale and medium-scale experiments to comprehensively assess the effects of the addition of each of these different dry substrates and their quantities on aspects of the development of BSF, such as BSF biomass, larval duration, mortality rates, adult sex ratio, and the moisture removal efficiency of each substrate mixture. Results Each dry substrate had specific properties. Although RB emerged as a favorable dry substrate owing to its nutritional content and substantial water-holding capacity, excessive use of RB (>15% by weight) resulted in elevated temperatures and subsequent desiccation of the substrate, potentially leading to larval mortality. In contrast, RH demonstrated the ability to support improved larval duration and growth, permitting its utilization in higher proportions (up to 50%). On the other hand, CC, RHA, and SCG are better suited for inclusion in BSF larval substrates in smaller quantities. Discussion Some dry substrates require a pretreatment process to eliminate toxic substances prior to their incorporation into substrate mixtures, such as CC and SCG. A potential alternative solution involves employing a combination of various dry substrates. This approach aims to enhance the substrate moisture control and s…
bibliographic citation: Laksanawimol et al. (2024) Use of different dry materials to control the moisture in a black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) rearing substrate. PeerJ 12:e17129 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17129
date submitted: 2023-09-07
date accepted: 2024-02-27
issued: 2024-03-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Laksanawimol
  given name: Parichart
author list: Agent
  family name: Anukun
  given name: Pritsana
author list: Agent
  family name: Thancharoen
  given name: Anchana
doi: 10.7717/peerj.17129
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-03-28
copyright: ©2024 Laksanawimol et al.
attribution name: Laksanawimol et al.

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