PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Susceptibility of flexible plastic foodstuffs packaging against Monomorium indicum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) household ants
items: Mowing wet meadows reduces the health of their snail communities
items: Genome-wide identification and characterization of FAD family genes in barley
items: Regulation of soldier caste differentiation by microRNAs in Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki)
items: Intensive pasture management alters the composition and structure of plant-pollinator interactions in Sibiu, Romania
items: Changes in capture availability due to infection can lead to detectable biases in population-level infectious disease parameters
items: Regional trends in the moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity and screen time of Canadians before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
items: Molecular cloning and characterization of farnesyl diphosphate synthase from Rosa rugosa Thunb associated with salinity stress
items: Research and experimental verification on the mechanisms of cellular senescence in triple-negative breast cancer
items: The destructive subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) can colonize arid territories

Susceptibility of flexible plastic foodstuffs packaging against Monomorium indicum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) household ants
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Ants belonging to the Monomorium indicum (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) species are ubiquitous insects that are commonly associated with household settings in Pakistan. Packaged foodstuffs are easily destroyed by household ants when packaging is made with materials that have a high susceptibility. This study evaluated the susceptibility of three common flexible plastic packaging materials namely: opaque polyethylene, transparent polyethylene and polypropylene, which were each tested at thicknesses of 0.02 mm for their susceptibility against M. indicum. Except opaque polyethylene which is only available at 0.02 mm thickness, both transparent polyethylene and polypropylene were tested at higher thickness of 0.04 mm and 0.06 mm also against M. indicum. In order to simulate household settings, experiments were conducted at the faculty building of the agriculture and environment department of The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan during summer vacations when the building was quiet. Different corners were selected near water sources for maximum exposure to the largest number of ants. Experimental cages used for the experiment were built with wood and 2 mm iron gauze to allow only ants to enter the cages. Daily activity of ants was used as an infestation source in cages. Experiments were run over three time spans of fifteen days each from June 20th 2022 to August 15th 2022. Results showed all packaging materials were susceptible against M. indicum at the 0.02 mm thickness level. Polypropylene was susceptible at 0.04 mm thickness but resistant to ants at 0.06 mm thickness, whereas polyethylene was still susceptible to ants at the higher thickness of 0.06 mm. Correlation of packaging damage with weather factors showed that temperature had a positive relationship, while relative humidity had a negative association with M. indicum attack. Overall correlation of packaging damage with packaging thickness showed packaging thickness was negatively associated with packaging dam…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Muhammad Junaid Iqbal
creator: Muhammad Waqar Hassan
creator: Ghulam Sarwar
creator: Moazzam Jamil
creator: Tanveer Hussain
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Entomology
subject: Plant Science
subject: Ecotoxicology
subject: Environmental Contamination and Remediation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16782
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Iqbal et al.
abstract: Ants belonging to the Monomorium indicum (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) species are ubiquitous insects that are commonly associated with household settings in Pakistan. Packaged foodstuffs are easily destroyed by household ants when packaging is made with materials that have a high susceptibility. This study evaluated the susceptibility of three common flexible plastic packaging materials namely: opaque polyethylene, transparent polyethylene and polypropylene, which were each tested at thicknesses of 0.02 mm for their susceptibility against M. indicum. Except opaque polyethylene which is only available at 0.02 mm thickness, both transparent polyethylene and polypropylene were tested at higher thickness of 0.04 mm and 0.06 mm also against M. indicum. In order to simulate household settings, experiments were conducted at the faculty building of the agriculture and environment department of The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan during summer vacations when the building was quiet. Different corners were selected near water sources for maximum exposure to the largest number of ants. Experimental cages used for the experiment were built with wood and 2 mm iron gauze to allow only ants to enter the cages. Daily activity of ants was used as an infestation source in cages. Experiments were run over three time spans of fifteen days each from June 20th 2022 to August 15th 2022. Results showed all packaging materials were susceptible against M. indicum at the 0.02 mm thickness level. Polypropylene was susceptible at 0.04 mm thickness but resistant to ants at 0.06 mm thickness, whereas polyethylene was still susceptible to ants at the higher thickness of 0.06 mm. Correlation of packaging damage with weather factors showed that temperature had a positive relationship, while relative humidity had a negative association with M. indicum attack. Overall correlation of packaging damage with packaging thickness showed packaging thickness was negatively associated with packaging dam…
bibliographic citation: Iqbal et al. (2024) Susceptibility of flexible plastic foodstuffs packaging against Monomorium indicum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) household ants. PeerJ 12:e16782 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16782
date submitted: 2023-08-02
date accepted: 2023-12-19
issued: 2024-02-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Iqbal
  given name: Muhammad Junaid
author list: Agent
  family name: Hassan
  given name: Muhammad Waqar
author list: Agent
  family name: Sarwar
  given name: Ghulam
author list: Agent
  family name: Jamil
  given name: Moazzam
author list: Agent
  family name: Hussain
  given name: Tanveer
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16782
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-02-29
copyright: ©2024 Iqbal et al.
attribution name: Iqbal et al.

Mowing wet meadows reduces the health of their snail communities
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Wet meadows harbor rich biodiversity, making them pivotal ecosystems worldwide. These habitats are commonly used for grazing or hay production for livestock. However, regular mowing can influence these habitats, potentially leading to significant repercussions for the animals residing within them. In order to investigate the effects of land management practices, we conducted an experimental study to compare snail communities in mowed and unmowed wet meadows in northern Hungary. We found that overall, mowing decreases snail populations, as well as species richness and diversity. Thus, our results suggest that routine mowing of wet meadows is deleterious to their snail communities. Based on these results, we suggest that designated patches of meadows that are regularly managed should be left uncultivated in their natural state. These patches can serve as potential colonization sites, facilitating the restoration of the entire meadow’s ecological balance.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Roland Farkas
creator: Miklós Bán
creator: Zoltán Barta
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
subject: Natural Resource Management
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16783
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Farkas et al.
abstract: Wet meadows harbor rich biodiversity, making them pivotal ecosystems worldwide. These habitats are commonly used for grazing or hay production for livestock. However, regular mowing can influence these habitats, potentially leading to significant repercussions for the animals residing within them. In order to investigate the effects of land management practices, we conducted an experimental study to compare snail communities in mowed and unmowed wet meadows in northern Hungary. We found that overall, mowing decreases snail populations, as well as species richness and diversity. Thus, our results suggest that routine mowing of wet meadows is deleterious to their snail communities. Based on these results, we suggest that designated patches of meadows that are regularly managed should be left uncultivated in their natural state. These patches can serve as potential colonization sites, facilitating the restoration of the entire meadow’s ecological balance.
bibliographic citation: Farkas et al. (2024) Mowing wet meadows reduces the health of their snail communities. PeerJ 12:e16783 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16783
date submitted: 2023-07-10
date accepted: 2023-12-19
issued: 2024-02-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Farkas
  given name: Roland
author list: Agent
  family name: Bán
  given name: Miklós
author list: Agent
  family name: Barta
  given name: Zoltán
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16783
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-02-29
copyright: © 2024 Farkas et al.
attribution name: Farkas et al.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of FAD family genes in barley
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) play pivotal roles in determining plant stress tolerance. Barley is the most salt-tolerant cereal crop. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification and characterization analysis of the FAD gene family in barley (Hordeum vulgare). A total of 24 HvFADs were identified and divided into four subfamilies based on their amino acid sequence similarity. HvFADs unevenly distributed on six of seven barley chromosomes, and three clusters of HvFADs mainly occurred on the chromosome 2, 3 and 6. Segmental duplication events were found to be a main cause for the HvFAD gene family expansion. The same HvFAD subfamily showed the relatively consistent exon-intron composition and conserved motifs of HvFADs. Cis-element analysis in HvFAD promoters indicated that the expression of HvFADs may be subject to complex regulation, especially stress-responsive elements that may involve in saline-alkaline stress response. Combined transcriptomic data with quantitative experiments, at least five HvFADs highly expressed in roots under salt or alkali treatment, suggesting they may participate in saline or alkaline tolerance in barley. This study provides novel and valuable insights for underlying salt/alkali-tolerant mechanisms in barley.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: TingTing Cao
creator: QingWei Du
creator: RongChao Ge
creator: RuiFen Li
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16812
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Cao et al.
abstract: Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) play pivotal roles in determining plant stress tolerance. Barley is the most salt-tolerant cereal crop. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification and characterization analysis of the FAD gene family in barley (Hordeum vulgare). A total of 24 HvFADs were identified and divided into four subfamilies based on their amino acid sequence similarity. HvFADs unevenly distributed on six of seven barley chromosomes, and three clusters of HvFADs mainly occurred on the chromosome 2, 3 and 6. Segmental duplication events were found to be a main cause for the HvFAD gene family expansion. The same HvFAD subfamily showed the relatively consistent exon-intron composition and conserved motifs of HvFADs. Cis-element analysis in HvFAD promoters indicated that the expression of HvFADs may be subject to complex regulation, especially stress-responsive elements that may involve in saline-alkaline stress response. Combined transcriptomic data with quantitative experiments, at least five HvFADs highly expressed in roots under salt or alkali treatment, suggesting they may participate in saline or alkaline tolerance in barley. This study provides novel and valuable insights for underlying salt/alkali-tolerant mechanisms in barley.
bibliographic citation: Cao et al. (2024) Genome-wide identification and characterization of FAD family genes in barley. PeerJ 12:e16812 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16812
date submitted: 2023-09-01
date accepted: 2023-12-29
issued: 2024-02-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Cao
  given name: TingTing
author list: Agent
  family name: Du
  given name: QingWei
author list: Agent
  family name: Ge
  given name: RongChao
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: RuiFen
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16812
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-02-29
copyright: © 2024 Cao et al.
attribution name: Cao et al.

Regulation of soldier caste differentiation by microRNAs in Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The soldier caste is one of the most distinguished castes inside the termite colony. The mechanism of soldier caste differentiation has mainly been studied at the transcriptional level, but the function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in soldier caste differentiation is seldom studied. In this study, the workers of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki were treated with methoprene, a juvenile hormone analog which can induce workers to transform into soldiers. The miRNomes of the methoprene-treated workers and the controls were sequenced. Then, the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) were corrected with the differentially expressed genes DEGs to construct the DEmiR-DEG regulatory network. Afterwards, the DEmiR-regulated DEGs were subjected to GO enrichment and KEGG enrichment analysis. A total of 1,324 miRNAs were identified, among which 116 miRNAs were screened as DEmiRs between the methoprene-treated group and the control group. A total of 4,433 DEmiR-DEG pairs were obtained. No GO term was recognized as significant in the cellular component, molecular function, or biological process categories. The KEGG enrichment analysis of the DEmiR-regulated DEGs showed that the ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes and circadian rhythm-fly pathways were enriched. This study demonstrates that DEmiRs and DEGs form a complex network regulating soldier caste differentiation in termites.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: He Du
creator: Runmei Huang
creator: Da-Song Chen
creator: Tianyong Zhuang
creator: Xueyi Huang
creator: Huan Zhang
creator: Zhiqiang Li
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Entomology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16843
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Du et al.
abstract: The soldier caste is one of the most distinguished castes inside the termite colony. The mechanism of soldier caste differentiation has mainly been studied at the transcriptional level, but the function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in soldier caste differentiation is seldom studied. In this study, the workers of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki were treated with methoprene, a juvenile hormone analog which can induce workers to transform into soldiers. The miRNomes of the methoprene-treated workers and the controls were sequenced. Then, the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) were corrected with the differentially expressed genes DEGs to construct the DEmiR-DEG regulatory network. Afterwards, the DEmiR-regulated DEGs were subjected to GO enrichment and KEGG enrichment analysis. A total of 1,324 miRNAs were identified, among which 116 miRNAs were screened as DEmiRs between the methoprene-treated group and the control group. A total of 4,433 DEmiR-DEG pairs were obtained. No GO term was recognized as significant in the cellular component, molecular function, or biological process categories. The KEGG enrichment analysis of the DEmiR-regulated DEGs showed that the ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes and circadian rhythm-fly pathways were enriched. This study demonstrates that DEmiRs and DEGs form a complex network regulating soldier caste differentiation in termites.
bibliographic citation: Du et al. (2024) Regulation of soldier caste differentiation by microRNAs in Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki). PeerJ 12:e16843 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16843
date submitted: 2023-06-01
date accepted: 2024-01-05
issued: 2024-02-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Du
  given name: He
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Runmei
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Da-Song
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhuang
  given name: Tianyong
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Xueyi
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Huan
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Zhiqiang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16843
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-02-29
copyright: © 2024 Du et al.
attribution name: Du et al.

Intensive pasture management alters the composition and structure of plant-pollinator interactions in Sibiu, Romania
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Land management change towards intensive grazing has been shown to alter plant and pollinator communities and the structure of plant-pollinator interactions in different ways across the world. Land-use intensification in Eastern Europe is shifting highly diverse, traditionally managed hay meadows towards intensive pastures, but few studies have examined how this influences plant-pollinator networks. We hypothesized that the effects of intensive grazing on networks will depend on how plant communities and their floral traits change. Methods We investigated plant and pollinator diversity and composition and the structure of plant-pollinator interactions near Sibiu, Romania at sites that were traditionally managed as hay meadows or intensive pastures. We quantified the identity and abundance of flowering plants, and used transect walks to observe pollinator genera interacting with flowering plant species. We evaluated the effects of management on diversity, composition and several indices of network structure. Results Pollinator but not plant diversity declined in pastures and both plant and pollinator taxonomic composition shifted. Functional diversity and composition remained unchanged, with rather specialized flowers having been found to dominate in both hay meadows and pastures. Apis mellifera was found to be the most abundant pollinator. Its foraging preferences played a crucial role in shaping plant-pollinator network structure. Apis mellifera thus preferred the highly abundant Dorycnium herbaceum in hay meadows, leading to hay meadows networks with lower Shannon diversity and interaction evenness. In pastures, however, it preferred less abundant and more generalized flower resources. With pollinators being overall less abundant and more generalized in pastures, we found that niche overlap between plants was higher. Discussion With both hay meadows and pastures being dominated by plant species with similar floral traits, shifts in pollinator preference…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ana-Maria Neacă
creator: Julia Meis
creator: Tiffany Knight
creator: Demetra Rakosy
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Entomology
subject: Plant Science
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16900
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Neacă et al.
abstract: Background Land management change towards intensive grazing has been shown to alter plant and pollinator communities and the structure of plant-pollinator interactions in different ways across the world. Land-use intensification in Eastern Europe is shifting highly diverse, traditionally managed hay meadows towards intensive pastures, but few studies have examined how this influences plant-pollinator networks. We hypothesized that the effects of intensive grazing on networks will depend on how plant communities and their floral traits change. Methods We investigated plant and pollinator diversity and composition and the structure of plant-pollinator interactions near Sibiu, Romania at sites that were traditionally managed as hay meadows or intensive pastures. We quantified the identity and abundance of flowering plants, and used transect walks to observe pollinator genera interacting with flowering plant species. We evaluated the effects of management on diversity, composition and several indices of network structure. Results Pollinator but not plant diversity declined in pastures and both plant and pollinator taxonomic composition shifted. Functional diversity and composition remained unchanged, with rather specialized flowers having been found to dominate in both hay meadows and pastures. Apis mellifera was found to be the most abundant pollinator. Its foraging preferences played a crucial role in shaping plant-pollinator network structure. Apis mellifera thus preferred the highly abundant Dorycnium herbaceum in hay meadows, leading to hay meadows networks with lower Shannon diversity and interaction evenness. In pastures, however, it preferred less abundant and more generalized flower resources. With pollinators being overall less abundant and more generalized in pastures, we found that niche overlap between plants was higher. Discussion With both hay meadows and pastures being dominated by plant species with similar floral traits, shifts in pollinator preference…
bibliographic citation: Neacă et al. (2024) Intensive pasture management alters the composition and structure of plant-pollinator interactions in Sibiu, Romania. PeerJ 12:e16900 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16900
date submitted: 2023-10-03
date accepted: 2024-01-16
issued: 2024-02-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Neacă
  given name: Ana-Maria
author list: Agent
  family name: Meis
  given name: Julia
author list: Agent
  family name: Knight
  given name: Tiffany
author list: Agent
  family name: Rakosy
  given name: Demetra
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16900
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-02-29
copyright: © 2024 Neacă et al.
attribution name: Neacă et al.

Changes in capture availability due to infection can lead to detectable biases in population-level infectious disease parameters
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Correctly identifying the strength of selection that parasites impose on hosts is key to predicting epidemiological and evolutionary outcomes of host-parasite interactions. However, behavioral changes due to infection can alter the capture probability of infected hosts and thereby make selection difficult to estimate by standard sampling techniques. Mark-recapture approaches, which allow researchers to determine if some groups in a population are less likely to be captured than others, can be used to identify infection-driven capture biases. If a metric of interest directly compares infected and uninfected populations, calculated detection probabilities for both groups may be useful in identifying bias. Here, we use an individual-based simulation to test whether changes in capture rate due to infection can alter estimates of three key metrics: 1) reduction in the reproductive success of infected parents relative to uninfected parents, 2) the relative risk of infection for susceptible genotypes compared to resistant genotypes, and 3) changes in allele frequencies between generations. We explore the direction and underlying causes of the biases that emerge from these simulations. Finally, we argue that short series of mark-recapture sampling bouts, potentially implemented in under a week, can yield key data on detection bias due to infection while not adding a significantly higher burden to disease ecology studies.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Iris A. Holmes
creator: Andrew M. Durso
creator: Christopher R. Myers
creator: Tory A. Hendry
subject: Ecology
subject: Microbiology
subject: Zoology
subject: Population Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16910
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Holmes et al.
abstract: Correctly identifying the strength of selection that parasites impose on hosts is key to predicting epidemiological and evolutionary outcomes of host-parasite interactions. However, behavioral changes due to infection can alter the capture probability of infected hosts and thereby make selection difficult to estimate by standard sampling techniques. Mark-recapture approaches, which allow researchers to determine if some groups in a population are less likely to be captured than others, can be used to identify infection-driven capture biases. If a metric of interest directly compares infected and uninfected populations, calculated detection probabilities for both groups may be useful in identifying bias. Here, we use an individual-based simulation to test whether changes in capture rate due to infection can alter estimates of three key metrics: 1) reduction in the reproductive success of infected parents relative to uninfected parents, 2) the relative risk of infection for susceptible genotypes compared to resistant genotypes, and 3) changes in allele frequencies between generations. We explore the direction and underlying causes of the biases that emerge from these simulations. Finally, we argue that short series of mark-recapture sampling bouts, potentially implemented in under a week, can yield key data on detection bias due to infection while not adding a significantly higher burden to disease ecology studies.
bibliographic citation: Holmes et al. (2024) Changes in capture availability due to infection can lead to detectable biases in population-level infectious disease parameters. PeerJ 12:e16910 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16910
date submitted: 2023-01-26
date accepted: 2024-01-17
issued: 2024-02-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Holmes
  given name: Iris A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Durso
  given name: Andrew M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Myers
  given name: Christopher R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Hendry
  given name: Tory A.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16910
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-02-29
copyright: © 2024 Holmes et al.
attribution name: Holmes et al.

Regional trends in the moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity and screen time of Canadians before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health approaches and disease-transmission varied widely across Canadian regions. This may have led to different trajectories for moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and screen time during this period. The purpose of this investigation was to describe age- and gender-specific regional trends in MVPA and screen time for Canadian youth (ages 12–17 years) and adults (ages 18+) from 2018 to 2021. Methods Data was collected using the Canadian Community Health Survey, which includes representative data for 5 distinct regions: Atlantic Canada, Québec, Ontario, the Prairie Provinces, and British Columbia (BC). Participants aged 12+ in each region self-reported their total daily screen time, as well as MVPA in 5 domains: overall, recreational, school, occupational/household and active transportation. Results were compared for 2018 (pre-pandemic), January–March of 2020, September–December of 2020, and 2021 using repeated measures t-tests. Results Among youth, all regions except for Atlantic Canada and BC experienced significant reductions in the proportion of youth meeting MVPA recommendations in the fall of 2020 (all p < 0.001), although these had returned to baseline for all regions except Ontario by 2021. Trends varied across regions among adults aged 18–64 years. In Québec, there was 7-percentage point reduction in the proportion of males meeting the MVPA recommendations in the fall of 2020 compared to 2018, while there was a 4-percentage point increase among females in 2021 (all p < 0.05). In Ontario and the Prairie provinces, males saw a 4-percentage point decrease in activity recommendation adherence in 2021, when compared to 2018 (p < 005). There were no other significant differences for any region when comparing the fall of 2020 or 2021 with 2018 (all p > 0.05). Among adults aged 65+ years, significant increases in MVPA were observed in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies in the fall of 2020, and in Atl…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Travis Saunders
creator: Rachel C. Colley
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Public Health
subject: COVID-19
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16913
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Saunders and Colley
abstract: Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health approaches and disease-transmission varied widely across Canadian regions. This may have led to different trajectories for moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and screen time during this period. The purpose of this investigation was to describe age- and gender-specific regional trends in MVPA and screen time for Canadian youth (ages 12–17 years) and adults (ages 18+) from 2018 to 2021. Methods Data was collected using the Canadian Community Health Survey, which includes representative data for 5 distinct regions: Atlantic Canada, Québec, Ontario, the Prairie Provinces, and British Columbia (BC). Participants aged 12+ in each region self-reported their total daily screen time, as well as MVPA in 5 domains: overall, recreational, school, occupational/household and active transportation. Results were compared for 2018 (pre-pandemic), January–March of 2020, September–December of 2020, and 2021 using repeated measures t-tests. Results Among youth, all regions except for Atlantic Canada and BC experienced significant reductions in the proportion of youth meeting MVPA recommendations in the fall of 2020 (all p < 0.001), although these had returned to baseline for all regions except Ontario by 2021. Trends varied across regions among adults aged 18–64 years. In Québec, there was 7-percentage point reduction in the proportion of males meeting the MVPA recommendations in the fall of 2020 compared to 2018, while there was a 4-percentage point increase among females in 2021 (all p < 0.05). In Ontario and the Prairie provinces, males saw a 4-percentage point decrease in activity recommendation adherence in 2021, when compared to 2018 (p < 005). There were no other significant differences for any region when comparing the fall of 2020 or 2021 with 2018 (all p > 0.05). Among adults aged 65+ years, significant increases in MVPA were observed in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies in the fall of 2020, and in Atl…
bibliographic citation: Saunders et al. (2024) Regional trends in the moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity and screen time of Canadians before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. PeerJ 12:e16913 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16913
date submitted: 2023-07-02
date accepted: 2024-01-17
issued: 2024-02-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Saunders
  given name: Travis
author list: Agent
  family name: Colley
  given name: Rachel C.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16913
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-02-29
copyright: ©2024 Saunders and Colley
attribution name: Saunders and Colley

Molecular cloning and characterization of farnesyl diphosphate synthase from Rosa rugosa Thunb associated with salinity stress
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Rosa rugosa, a renowned ornamental plant, is cultivated for its essential oil containing valuable monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and other compounds widely used in the floriculture industry. Farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes and triterpenes for abiotic or biotic stress. In this study, we successfully cloned and characterized a full-length FPPS- encoding cDNA identified as RrFPPS1 using RT-PCR from R. rugosa. Phylogenetic analysis showed that RrFPPS1 belonged to the angiosperm-FPPS clade. Transcriptomic and RT-qPCR analyses revealed that the RrFPPS1 gene had tissue-specific expression patterns. Subcellular localization analysis using Nicotiana benthamiana leaves showed that RrFPPS1 was a cytoplasmic protein. In vitro enzymatic assays combined with GC-MS analysis showed that RrFPPS1 produced farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) using isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) as substrates to provide a precursor for sesquiterpene and triterpene biosynthesis in the plant. Additionally, our research found that RrFPPS1 was upregulated under salt treatment. These substantial findings contribute to an improved understanding of terpene biosynthesis in R. rugosa and open new opportunities for advancements in horticultural practices and fragrance industries by overexpression of the RrFPPS1 gene in vivo increased FPP production and subsequently led to elevated sesquiterpene yields in the future. The knowledge gained from this study can potentially lead to the development of enhanced varieties of R. rugosa with improved aroma, medicinal properties, and resilience to environmental stressors.
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format: text/html
creator: Guo Wei
creator: Yudie Chen
creator: Jianwen Wang
creator: Liguo Feng
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16929
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Wei et al.
abstract: Rosa rugosa, a renowned ornamental plant, is cultivated for its essential oil containing valuable monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and other compounds widely used in the floriculture industry. Farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes and triterpenes for abiotic or biotic stress. In this study, we successfully cloned and characterized a full-length FPPS- encoding cDNA identified as RrFPPS1 using RT-PCR from R. rugosa. Phylogenetic analysis showed that RrFPPS1 belonged to the angiosperm-FPPS clade. Transcriptomic and RT-qPCR analyses revealed that the RrFPPS1 gene had tissue-specific expression patterns. Subcellular localization analysis using Nicotiana benthamiana leaves showed that RrFPPS1 was a cytoplasmic protein. In vitro enzymatic assays combined with GC-MS analysis showed that RrFPPS1 produced farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) using isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) as substrates to provide a precursor for sesquiterpene and triterpene biosynthesis in the plant. Additionally, our research found that RrFPPS1 was upregulated under salt treatment. These substantial findings contribute to an improved understanding of terpene biosynthesis in R. rugosa and open new opportunities for advancements in horticultural practices and fragrance industries by overexpression of the RrFPPS1 gene in vivo increased FPP production and subsequently led to elevated sesquiterpene yields in the future. The knowledge gained from this study can potentially lead to the development of enhanced varieties of R. rugosa with improved aroma, medicinal properties, and resilience to environmental stressors.
bibliographic citation: Wei et al. (2024) Molecular cloning and characterization of farnesyl diphosphate synthase from Rosa rugosa Thunb associated with salinity stress. PeerJ 12:e16929 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16929
date submitted: 2023-09-07
date accepted: 2024-01-22
issued: 2024-02-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: Guo
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Yudie
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Jianwen
author list: Agent
  family name: Feng
  given name: Liguo
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16929
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-02-29
copyright: ©2024 Wei et al.
attribution name: Wei et al.

Research and experimental verification on the mechanisms of cellular senescence in triple-negative breast cancer
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with high heterogeneity, poor prognosis, and a low 10-year survival rate of less than 50%. Although cellular senescence displays extensive effects on cancer, the comprehensions of cellular senescence-related characteristics in TNBC patients remains obscure. Method Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data were analyzed by Seurat package. Scores for cellular senescence-related pathways were computed by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Subsequently, unsupervised consensus clustering was performed for molecular cluster identification. Immune scores of patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and associated immune cell scores were calculated using Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignantTumours using Expression data (ESTIMATE) and Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter (MCP-counter), Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and Estimating the Proportion of Immune and Cancer cells (EPIC) methods, respectively. Immunotherapy scores were assessed using TIDE. Furthermore, feature genes were identified by univariate Cox and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analyses; these were used to construct a risk model. Additionally, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and transwell assay were conducted for in vitro validation of hub genes. Result TNBC was classified into three subtypes based on cellular senescence-related pathways as clusters 1, 2, and 3. Specifically, cluster 1 showed the best prognosis, followed by cluster 2 and cluster 3. The levels of gene expression in cluster 2 were the lowest, whereas these were the highest in cluster 3. Moreover, clusters 1 and 3 showed a high degree of immune infiltration. TIDE scores were higher for cluster 3, suggesting that immune escape was more likely in patients with the cluster 3 subtype who were less likely to benefit from immunotherapy.…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tengfei Cao
creator: Mengjie Huang
creator: Xinyue Huang
creator: Tian Tang
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Oncology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16935
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Cao et al.
abstract: Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with high heterogeneity, poor prognosis, and a low 10-year survival rate of less than 50%. Although cellular senescence displays extensive effects on cancer, the comprehensions of cellular senescence-related characteristics in TNBC patients remains obscure. Method Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data were analyzed by Seurat package. Scores for cellular senescence-related pathways were computed by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Subsequently, unsupervised consensus clustering was performed for molecular cluster identification. Immune scores of patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and associated immune cell scores were calculated using Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignantTumours using Expression data (ESTIMATE) and Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter (MCP-counter), Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and Estimating the Proportion of Immune and Cancer cells (EPIC) methods, respectively. Immunotherapy scores were assessed using TIDE. Furthermore, feature genes were identified by univariate Cox and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analyses; these were used to construct a risk model. Additionally, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and transwell assay were conducted for in vitro validation of hub genes. Result TNBC was classified into three subtypes based on cellular senescence-related pathways as clusters 1, 2, and 3. Specifically, cluster 1 showed the best prognosis, followed by cluster 2 and cluster 3. The levels of gene expression in cluster 2 were the lowest, whereas these were the highest in cluster 3. Moreover, clusters 1 and 3 showed a high degree of immune infiltration. TIDE scores were higher for cluster 3, suggesting that immune escape was more likely in patients with the cluster 3 subtype who were less likely to benefit from immunotherapy.…
bibliographic citation: Cao et al. (2024) Research and experimental verification on the mechanisms of cellular senescence in triple-negative breast cancer. PeerJ 12:e16935 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16935
date submitted: 2023-11-17
date accepted: 2024-01-22
issued: 2024-02-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Cao
  given name: Tengfei
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Mengjie
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Xinyue
author list: Agent
  family name: Tang
  given name: Tian
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16935
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-02-29
copyright: ©2024 Cao et al.
attribution name: Cao et al.

The destructive subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) can colonize arid territories
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Reticulitermes flavipes, one of the most destructive subterranean termite species, has been detected for the first time in an arid territory: Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain). This invasive species was introduced into several countries but never such a dry region. Although there are places with presence of this termite at similar or even higher temperatures, none has annual rainfall (10.1 mm) as low as Lanzarote. On this island it is present in semi-desert, near an affected urban area. Distribution, genetic, climate and host-plant data are evaluated to track and understand its invasion process in the archipelago.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: David Hernández-Teixidor
creator: Aura Pérez-Morín
creator: Juan Pestano
creator: David Mora
creator: Silvia Fajardo
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biogeography
subject: Ecology
subject: Entomology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16936
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2024 Hernández-Teixidor et al.
abstract: Reticulitermes flavipes, one of the most destructive subterranean termite species, has been detected for the first time in an arid territory: Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain). This invasive species was introduced into several countries but never such a dry region. Although there are places with presence of this termite at similar or even higher temperatures, none has annual rainfall (10.1 mm) as low as Lanzarote. On this island it is present in semi-desert, near an affected urban area. Distribution, genetic, climate and host-plant data are evaluated to track and understand its invasion process in the archipelago.
bibliographic citation: Hernández-Teixidor et al. (2024) The destructive subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) can colonize arid territories. PeerJ 12:e16936 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16936
date submitted: 2023-05-16
date accepted: 2024-01-23
issued: 2024-02-29
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Hernández-Teixidor
  given name: David
author list: Agent
  family name: Pérez-Morín
  given name: Aura
author list: Agent
  family name: Pestano
  given name: Juan
author list: Agent
  family name: Mora
  given name: David
author list: Agent
  family name: Fajardo
  given name: Silvia
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16936
volume: 12
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2024-02-29
copyright: © 2024 Hernández-Teixidor et al.
attribution name: Hernández-Teixidor et al.

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