PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Interaction of Val66Met BDNF and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms with prevalence of post-earthquake 27-F PTSD in Chilean population
items: A novel signaling transduction pathway of melatonin on lactose synthesis in cows via melatonin receptor 1 (MT1) and prolactin receptor (PRLR)
items: Vertical contact forces affect vibration perception in human hairy skin
items: Identification of a pathogen causing fruiting body rot of Sanghuangporus vaninii
items: Progress in the discovery of isopods (Crustacea: Peracarida)—is the description rate slowing down?
items: Chronic unpredictable mild stress promotes atherosclerosis via adipose tissue dysfunction in ApoE-/- mice
items: Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey study
items: https://peerj.com/articles/15539
items: High phenotypic plasticity at the dawn of the eosauropterygian radiation
items: An investigation into the response of the soil ecological environment to tourist disturbance in Baligou

Interaction of Val66Met BDNF and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms with prevalence of post-earthquake 27-F PTSD in Chilean population
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Post-traumatic stress (PTSD) disorder is a mental health condition that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The 27-F earthquake that struck Chile in 2010 was one such event that had a significant impact on the mental health of the population. A study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of PTSD and its associated factors among survivors of this earthquake. The study was a longitudinal design, involving a sample of 913 patients aged 18 to 75 years who attended 10 Primary Care Centers in Concepción, Chile. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess both depressive episodes (DE) and PTSD before and after the earthquake. The study also involved genotyping studies using saliva samples from the participants, specifically focusing on the Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the association between different variables and the presence of PTSD. These variables included demographic factors, family history of psychiatric disorders, DE, childhood maltreatment experiences, and critical traumatic events related to the earthquake. The results showed that the incidence of post-earthquake PTSD was 11.06%. No significant differences were found between the groups of participants who developed post-earthquake PTSD regarding the Val66Met or 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. However, a significant association was found between the concomitant diagnosis of DE and the development of post-earthquake PTSD. The presence of DE doubled the risk of developing post-earthquake PTSD. The number of traumatic events experienced also had a statistically significant association with an increased risk of developing post-earthquake PTSD. The study’s limitations include the potential interference of different DE subtypes, the complexity of quantifying the degree of earthquake exposure experienced by each individual, and events entailing social disruption, such as looting, that can profoundly influence dist…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Juan-Luis Castillo-Navarrete
creator: Benjamin Vicente
creator: Kristin Schmidt
creator: Esteban Moraga-Escobar
creator: Romina Rojas-Ponce
creator: Paola Lagos
creator: Ximena Macaya
creator: Alejandra Guzman-Castillo
subject: Genetics
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Mental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15870
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Castillo-Navarrete et al.
abstract: Post-traumatic stress (PTSD) disorder is a mental health condition that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The 27-F earthquake that struck Chile in 2010 was one such event that had a significant impact on the mental health of the population. A study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of PTSD and its associated factors among survivors of this earthquake. The study was a longitudinal design, involving a sample of 913 patients aged 18 to 75 years who attended 10 Primary Care Centers in Concepción, Chile. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess both depressive episodes (DE) and PTSD before and after the earthquake. The study also involved genotyping studies using saliva samples from the participants, specifically focusing on the Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the association between different variables and the presence of PTSD. These variables included demographic factors, family history of psychiatric disorders, DE, childhood maltreatment experiences, and critical traumatic events related to the earthquake. The results showed that the incidence of post-earthquake PTSD was 11.06%. No significant differences were found between the groups of participants who developed post-earthquake PTSD regarding the Val66Met or 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. However, a significant association was found between the concomitant diagnosis of DE and the development of post-earthquake PTSD. The presence of DE doubled the risk of developing post-earthquake PTSD. The number of traumatic events experienced also had a statistically significant association with an increased risk of developing post-earthquake PTSD. The study’s limitations include the potential interference of different DE subtypes, the complexity of quantifying the degree of earthquake exposure experienced by each individual, and events entailing social disruption, such as looting, that can profoundly influence dist…
bibliographic citation: Castillo-Navarrete et al. (2023) Interaction of Val66Met BDNF and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms with prevalence of post-earthquake 27-F PTSD in Chilean population. PeerJ 11:e15870 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15870
date submitted: 2022-12-23
date accepted: 2023-07-18
issued: 2023-09-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Castillo-Navarrete
  given name: Juan-Luis
author list: Agent
  family name: Vicente
  given name: Benjamin
author list: Agent
  family name: Schmidt
  given name: Kristin
author list: Agent
  family name: Moraga-Escobar
  given name: Esteban
author list: Agent
  family name: Rojas-Ponce
  given name: Romina
author list: Agent
  family name: Lagos
  given name: Paola
author list: Agent
  family name: Macaya
  given name: Ximena
author list: Agent
  family name: Guzman-Castillo
  given name: Alejandra
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15870
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-09-04
copyright: ©2023 Castillo-Navarrete et al.
attribution name: Castillo-Navarrete et al.

A novel signaling transduction pathway of melatonin on lactose synthesis in cows via melatonin receptor 1 (MT1) and prolactin receptor (PRLR)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: In the current study, we explored the relationship between melatonin and lactose synthesis in in vivo and in vitro conditions. We found that long-term melatonin feeding to the dairy cows significantly reduced the milk lactose content in a dose dependent manner. This lactose reduction was not associated with a negative energy balance, since melatonin treatment did not alter the fat, glucose, or protein metabolisms of the cows. To identify the potential molecular mechanisms, the cow’s mammary epithelial cells were cultured for gene expression analysis. The results showed that the effect of melatonin on lactose reduction was mediated by its receptor MT1. MT1 activation downregulated the mRNA expression of the prolactin receptor gene (PRLR), which then suppressed the gene expression of SLC35B1. SLC35B1 is a galactose transporter and is responsible for the transportation of galactose to Golgi apparatus for lactose synthesis. Its suppression reduced the lactose synthesis and the milk lactose content. The discovery of this signal transduction pathway of melatonin on lactose synthesis provides a novel aspect of melatonin’s effect on carbohydrate metabolism in cows and maybe also in other mammals, including humans.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yunjie Liu
creator: Songyang Yao
creator: Qinggeng Meng
creator: Xuening Liu
creator: Huigang Han
creator: Chunli Kan
creator: Tiankun Wang
creator: Wenjuan Wei
creator: Shujing Li
creator: Wenli Yu
creator: Zengyuan Zhao
creator: Changwang He
creator: Guoshi Liu
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Food Science and Technology
subject: Zoology
subject: Nutrition
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15932
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Liu et al.
abstract: In the current study, we explored the relationship between melatonin and lactose synthesis in in vivo and in vitro conditions. We found that long-term melatonin feeding to the dairy cows significantly reduced the milk lactose content in a dose dependent manner. This lactose reduction was not associated with a negative energy balance, since melatonin treatment did not alter the fat, glucose, or protein metabolisms of the cows. To identify the potential molecular mechanisms, the cow’s mammary epithelial cells were cultured for gene expression analysis. The results showed that the effect of melatonin on lactose reduction was mediated by its receptor MT1. MT1 activation downregulated the mRNA expression of the prolactin receptor gene (PRLR), which then suppressed the gene expression of SLC35B1. SLC35B1 is a galactose transporter and is responsible for the transportation of galactose to Golgi apparatus for lactose synthesis. Its suppression reduced the lactose synthesis and the milk lactose content. The discovery of this signal transduction pathway of melatonin on lactose synthesis provides a novel aspect of melatonin’s effect on carbohydrate metabolism in cows and maybe also in other mammals, including humans.
bibliographic citation: Liu et al. (2023) A novel signaling transduction pathway of melatonin on lactose synthesis in cows via melatonin receptor 1 (MT1) and prolactin receptor (PRLR). PeerJ 11:e15932 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15932
date submitted: 2023-03-02
date accepted: 2023-07-30
issued: 2023-09-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Yunjie
author list: Agent
  family name: Yao
  given name: Songyang
author list: Agent
  family name: Meng
  given name: Qinggeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Xuening
author list: Agent
  family name: Han
  given name: Huigang
author list: Agent
  family name: Kan
  given name: Chunli
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Tiankun
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: Wenjuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Shujing
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Wenli
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Zengyuan
author list: Agent
  family name: He
  given name: Changwang
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Guoshi
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15932
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-09-04
copyright: ©2023 Liu et al.
attribution name: Liu et al.

Vertical contact forces affect vibration perception in human hairy skin
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Skin is the largest organ of the human body and fulfills many important functions, like detecting mechanical stimuli. Skin can be divided into glabrous (non-hairy) and hairy skin. These two skin types differ with regard to their mechanical properties and in the distribution of mechanoreceptors. Although many investigations focus on glabrous skin, hairy skin still plays a fundamental role in various activities, e.g., with regard to the perception of pleasantness or for developing wearable vibrotactile devices for pattern recognition in persons with disabilities. Unfortunately, investigations on influencing factors, like vertical contactor force, are scarce for hairy skin. Similarly, it would also be interesting to investigate whether regional vibratory sensitivity differences are present across the human torso. Hence, this study investigated the effects of vertical contactor forces and different anatomical locations on vibration perception. Four anatomical torso regions were studied. Based on findings in glabrous skin, we generally hypothesized improved vibration perception with increasing contactor forces and regional sensitivity differences between the anatomical locations. Methods Forty young and healthy individuals participated (23.0 ± 2.0 yrs), and vibration perception thresholds (VPTs) were determined at 30 Hz for three vertical force levels (0.6, 2.4, and 4.8 N) at four torso locations (sternum, deltoid/shoulder, lower back, middle lateral torso side). Results Higher contactor forces resulted in lower VPTs corresponding to improved vibration perception, regardless of anatomical location. In addition, the sternum region was more sensitive than the remaining three regions, regardless of force level. The reasons for these findings may be a varying number and activation pattern of afferents activated under the different conditions. The findings of this study complement the understanding of vibrotactile sensitivity in hairy skin and may offer implication…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Daniel Schmidt
creator: Guenther Schlee
creator: Thomas L. Milani
creator: Andresa M. C. Germano
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Dermatology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15952
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Schmidt et al.
abstract: Background Skin is the largest organ of the human body and fulfills many important functions, like detecting mechanical stimuli. Skin can be divided into glabrous (non-hairy) and hairy skin. These two skin types differ with regard to their mechanical properties and in the distribution of mechanoreceptors. Although many investigations focus on glabrous skin, hairy skin still plays a fundamental role in various activities, e.g., with regard to the perception of pleasantness or for developing wearable vibrotactile devices for pattern recognition in persons with disabilities. Unfortunately, investigations on influencing factors, like vertical contactor force, are scarce for hairy skin. Similarly, it would also be interesting to investigate whether regional vibratory sensitivity differences are present across the human torso. Hence, this study investigated the effects of vertical contactor forces and different anatomical locations on vibration perception. Four anatomical torso regions were studied. Based on findings in glabrous skin, we generally hypothesized improved vibration perception with increasing contactor forces and regional sensitivity differences between the anatomical locations. Methods Forty young and healthy individuals participated (23.0 ± 2.0 yrs), and vibration perception thresholds (VPTs) were determined at 30 Hz for three vertical force levels (0.6, 2.4, and 4.8 N) at four torso locations (sternum, deltoid/shoulder, lower back, middle lateral torso side). Results Higher contactor forces resulted in lower VPTs corresponding to improved vibration perception, regardless of anatomical location. In addition, the sternum region was more sensitive than the remaining three regions, regardless of force level. The reasons for these findings may be a varying number and activation pattern of afferents activated under the different conditions. The findings of this study complement the understanding of vibrotactile sensitivity in hairy skin and may offer implication…
bibliographic citation: Schmidt et al. (2023) Vertical contact forces affect vibration perception in human hairy skin. PeerJ 11:e15952 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15952
date submitted: 2022-12-13
date accepted: 2023-08-01
issued: 2023-09-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Schmidt
  given name: Daniel
author list: Agent
  family name: Schlee
  given name: Guenther
author list: Agent
  family name: Milani
  given name: Thomas L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Germano
  given name: Andresa M. C.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15952
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-09-04
copyright: © 2023 Schmidt et al.
attribution name: Schmidt et al.

Identification of a pathogen causing fruiting body rot of Sanghuangporus vaninii
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Sanghuangporus vaninii is a medicinal macrofungus that is increasingly cultivated in China. During cultivation, it was found that the fruiting body of S. vaninii was susceptible to pathogenic fungi, resulting in significant economic losses to the industry. The symptoms of the disease occur in the initial stage of fruiting body development. The isolate YZB-1 was obtained from the junction of the diseased and healthy areas of the fruiting body. In order to verify the pathogenicity of YZB-1, its purified spore suspension was inoculated into the exposed area nearby the developing fruiting body of S. vaninii. After 10 days, the same disease symptoms appeared in the inoculated area. Morphological identification and molecular analysis of rDNA ITS region confirmed that the isolate YZB-1 was identified as Trichoderma virens. The temperature stability assay revealed that the mycelia of YZB-1 grew the fastest at 25 °C, with growth slowing down gradually as the temperature increased or decreased. Dual-culture tests of T. virens and S. vaninii showed that the inhibition rate of T. virens on S. vaninii mycelium was the highest (79.01 ± 2.79%) at 25 °C, and more green spores were produced at the intersection of T. virens and S. vaninii.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Weidong Yuan
creator: Lin Ma
creator: Xingkun Chen
creator: Jiling Song
creator: Qing Chen
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Microbiology
subject: Mycology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15983
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Yuan et al.
abstract: Sanghuangporus vaninii is a medicinal macrofungus that is increasingly cultivated in China. During cultivation, it was found that the fruiting body of S. vaninii was susceptible to pathogenic fungi, resulting in significant economic losses to the industry. The symptoms of the disease occur in the initial stage of fruiting body development. The isolate YZB-1 was obtained from the junction of the diseased and healthy areas of the fruiting body. In order to verify the pathogenicity of YZB-1, its purified spore suspension was inoculated into the exposed area nearby the developing fruiting body of S. vaninii. After 10 days, the same disease symptoms appeared in the inoculated area. Morphological identification and molecular analysis of rDNA ITS region confirmed that the isolate YZB-1 was identified as Trichoderma virens. The temperature stability assay revealed that the mycelia of YZB-1 grew the fastest at 25 °C, with growth slowing down gradually as the temperature increased or decreased. Dual-culture tests of T. virens and S. vaninii showed that the inhibition rate of T. virens on S. vaninii mycelium was the highest (79.01 ± 2.79%) at 25 °C, and more green spores were produced at the intersection of T. virens and S. vaninii.
bibliographic citation: Yuan et al. (2023) Identification of a pathogen causing fruiting body rot of Sanghuangporus vaninii. PeerJ 11:e15983 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15983
date submitted: 2023-04-05
date accepted: 2023-08-08
issued: 2023-09-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Yuan
  given name: Weidong
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Lin
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Xingkun
author list: Agent
  family name: Song
  given name: Jiling
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Qing
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15983
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-09-04
copyright: © 2023 Yuan et al.
attribution name: Yuan et al.

Progress in the discovery of isopods (Crustacea: Peracarida)—is the description rate slowing down?
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Taxonomic species are the best standardised metric of biodiversity. Therefore, there is broad scientific and public interest in how many species have already been named and how many more may exist. Crustaceans comprise about 6% of all named animal species and isopods about 15% of all crustaceans. Here, we review progress in the naming of isopods in relation to the number of people describing new species and estimate how many more species may yet be named by 2050 and 2100, respectively. In over two and a half centuries of discovery, 10,687 isopod species in 1,557 genera and 141 families have been described by 755 first authors. The number of authors has increased over time, especially since the 1950s, indicating increasing effort in the description of new species. Despite that the average number of species described per first author has declined since the 1910s, and the description rate has slowed down over the recent decades. Authors’ publication lifetimes did not change considerably over time, and there was a distinct shift towards multi-authored publications in recent decades. Estimates from a non-homogeneous renewal process model predict that an additional 660 isopod species will be described by 2100, assuming that the rate of description continues at its current pace.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Lena Hartebrodt
creator: Simon Wilson
creator: Mark John Costello
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Taxonomy
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15984
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Hartebrodt et al.
abstract: Taxonomic species are the best standardised metric of biodiversity. Therefore, there is broad scientific and public interest in how many species have already been named and how many more may exist. Crustaceans comprise about 6% of all named animal species and isopods about 15% of all crustaceans. Here, we review progress in the naming of isopods in relation to the number of people describing new species and estimate how many more species may yet be named by 2050 and 2100, respectively. In over two and a half centuries of discovery, 10,687 isopod species in 1,557 genera and 141 families have been described by 755 first authors. The number of authors has increased over time, especially since the 1950s, indicating increasing effort in the description of new species. Despite that the average number of species described per first author has declined since the 1910s, and the description rate has slowed down over the recent decades. Authors’ publication lifetimes did not change considerably over time, and there was a distinct shift towards multi-authored publications in recent decades. Estimates from a non-homogeneous renewal process model predict that an additional 660 isopod species will be described by 2100, assuming that the rate of description continues at its current pace.
bibliographic citation: Hartebrodt et al. (2023) Progress in the discovery of isopods (Crustacea: Peracarida)—is the description rate slowing down?. PeerJ 11:e15984 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15984
date submitted: 2023-01-16
date accepted: 2023-08-08
issued: 2023-09-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Hartebrodt
  given name: Lena
author list: Agent
  family name: Wilson
  given name: Simon
author list: Agent
  family name: Costello
  given name: Mark John
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15984
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-09-04
copyright: ©2023 Hartebrodt et al.
attribution name: Hartebrodt et al.

Chronic unpredictable mild stress promotes atherosclerosis via adipose tissue dysfunction in ApoE-/- mice
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) has been shown to exacerbate atherosclerosis, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Adipose tissue is an energy storage organ and the largest endocrine organ in the human body, playing a key role in the development of cardiovascular disease. In this research, it was hypothesized that CUMS may exacerbate the development of atherosclerosis by inducing the hypertrophy and dysfunction of white adipocytes. Methods The CUMS-induced atherosclerosis model was developed in Western diet-fed apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-/- mice. White adipose tissue (WAT), serum, aortic root, and the brachiocephalic trunk were collected and tested after 12 weeks of CUMS development. The mouse model of CUMS was evaluated for depression-like behavior using the open field test (OFT) and the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was conducted to detect serum noradrenaline and urine adrenaline protein levels. Serological assays were used to detect serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and oil red O were used to detect atherosclerotic plaque area, lipid deposition, and adipocyte size. The mRNA levels of genes related to aberrant adipose tissue function were determined using real-time PCR. Immunofluorescence assay and western blotting were conducted to examine the expression of proteins in the adipose tissue samples. Results CUMS aggravated vascular atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE-/- mice. It decreased body weight while increasing the percentage of WAT. The serological results indicated that the concentration of HDL decreased in CUMS mice. Notably, adipocyte hypertrophy increased, whereas the mRNA levels of Pparg and its target genes (Slc2a4 (encodes for GLUT4), Adipoq, and Plin1) decreased. Further investigation revealed that CUMS increased subcutaneous inguinal WAT (iWAT) lipid …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Min Mao
creator: Yalan Deng
creator: Li Wang
creator: Gexin Zhao
creator: Ruomei Qi
creator: Huan Gong
creator: Tao Shen
creator: Yitian Xu
creator: Deping Liu
creator: Beidong Chen
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Obesity
subject: Mental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16029
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Mao et al.
abstract: Background Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) has been shown to exacerbate atherosclerosis, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Adipose tissue is an energy storage organ and the largest endocrine organ in the human body, playing a key role in the development of cardiovascular disease. In this research, it was hypothesized that CUMS may exacerbate the development of atherosclerosis by inducing the hypertrophy and dysfunction of white adipocytes. Methods The CUMS-induced atherosclerosis model was developed in Western diet-fed apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-/- mice. White adipose tissue (WAT), serum, aortic root, and the brachiocephalic trunk were collected and tested after 12 weeks of CUMS development. The mouse model of CUMS was evaluated for depression-like behavior using the open field test (OFT) and the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was conducted to detect serum noradrenaline and urine adrenaline protein levels. Serological assays were used to detect serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and oil red O were used to detect atherosclerotic plaque area, lipid deposition, and adipocyte size. The mRNA levels of genes related to aberrant adipose tissue function were determined using real-time PCR. Immunofluorescence assay and western blotting were conducted to examine the expression of proteins in the adipose tissue samples. Results CUMS aggravated vascular atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE-/- mice. It decreased body weight while increasing the percentage of WAT. The serological results indicated that the concentration of HDL decreased in CUMS mice. Notably, adipocyte hypertrophy increased, whereas the mRNA levels of Pparg and its target genes (Slc2a4 (encodes for GLUT4), Adipoq, and Plin1) decreased. Further investigation revealed that CUMS increased subcutaneous inguinal WAT (iWAT) lipid …
bibliographic citation: Mao et al. (2023) Chronic unpredictable mild stress promotes atherosclerosis via adipose tissue dysfunction in ApoE-/- mice. PeerJ 11:e16029 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16029
date submitted: 2023-02-08
date accepted: 2023-08-13
issued: 2023-09-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Mao
  given name: Min
author list: Agent
  family name: Deng
  given name: Yalan
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Li
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Gexin
author list: Agent
  family name: Qi
  given name: Ruomei
author list: Agent
  family name: Gong
  given name: Huan
author list: Agent
  family name: Shen
  given name: Tao
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Yitian
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Deping
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Beidong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16029
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-09-04
copyright: © 2023 Mao et al.
attribution name: Mao et al.

Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Tetanus remains a significant public health issue in China, with the approach of anti-tetanus prophylaxis in the emergency department resulting in both overuse, particularly of human tetanus immune globulin (TIG), and underuse with the tetanus vaccine. This is largely due to the absence of updated guidelines on tetanus prophylaxis before 2018. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of the 2018 Chinese tetanus guidelines on the knowledge and practices of emergency physicians about tetanus prevention in trauma patients. Methods From November 2019 to April 2020, we conducted a web-based survey involving 499 emergency physicians. The survey included a questionnaire covering knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to tetanus. We assessed the influence of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on the knowledge and practices of emergency physicians related to tetanus prevention for patients with trauma using multiple regression analysis. Results The survey results showed that only 45.3% of the participants had received formal training on tetanus immunization, despite 53.3% reporting the availability of tetanus vaccines at their institutions. Physicians typically prescribed tetanus antitoxin or human TIG instead of tetanus toxoid (TT) to treat injuries, regardless of the patient’s TT vaccination history. Among the respondents, those who were aware of the 2018 tetanus guidelines had higher mean scores on the general knowledge, risk knowledge, and treatment knowledge scales, with increases of 6%, 13%, and 9%, respectively, compared to those who were unaware of the guidelines. Awareness of the 2018 tetanus guidelines was associated with a high level of knowledge, as indicated by the general knowledge score, recommendation knowledge score, and total knowledge score, after adjusting for the effects of all variables on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the participants. A high level of education was also associated with a high level of knowledge indicated by the rec…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Junling Gao
creator: Xiaxia Yu
creator: Guanghui Cao
creator: Xiaoming He
creator: Pingde Zhang
creator: Joseph Walline
creator: Yuanxi Wang
creator: Xingjuan Yu
creator: Jun Xu
creator: Thuan-Quoc Thach
creator: Yong Liu
subject: Emergency and Critical Care
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Hematology
subject: Infectious Diseases
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.16032
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Gao et al.
abstract: Background Tetanus remains a significant public health issue in China, with the approach of anti-tetanus prophylaxis in the emergency department resulting in both overuse, particularly of human tetanus immune globulin (TIG), and underuse with the tetanus vaccine. This is largely due to the absence of updated guidelines on tetanus prophylaxis before 2018. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of the 2018 Chinese tetanus guidelines on the knowledge and practices of emergency physicians about tetanus prevention in trauma patients. Methods From November 2019 to April 2020, we conducted a web-based survey involving 499 emergency physicians. The survey included a questionnaire covering knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to tetanus. We assessed the influence of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on the knowledge and practices of emergency physicians related to tetanus prevention for patients with trauma using multiple regression analysis. Results The survey results showed that only 45.3% of the participants had received formal training on tetanus immunization, despite 53.3% reporting the availability of tetanus vaccines at their institutions. Physicians typically prescribed tetanus antitoxin or human TIG instead of tetanus toxoid (TT) to treat injuries, regardless of the patient’s TT vaccination history. Among the respondents, those who were aware of the 2018 tetanus guidelines had higher mean scores on the general knowledge, risk knowledge, and treatment knowledge scales, with increases of 6%, 13%, and 9%, respectively, compared to those who were unaware of the guidelines. Awareness of the 2018 tetanus guidelines was associated with a high level of knowledge, as indicated by the general knowledge score, recommendation knowledge score, and total knowledge score, after adjusting for the effects of all variables on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the participants. A high level of education was also associated with a high level of knowledge indicated by the rec…
bibliographic citation: Gao et al. (2023) Assessing the impact of the 2018 tetanus guidelines on knowledge and practices of emergency physicians in trauma patients: a national survey study. PeerJ 11:e16032 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16032
date submitted: 2023-01-17
date accepted: 2023-08-13
issued: 2023-09-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Gao
  given name: Junling
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Xiaxia
author list: Agent
  family name: Cao
  given name: Guanghui
author list: Agent
  family name: He
  given name: Xiaoming
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Pingde
author list: Agent
  family name: Walline
  given name: Joseph
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yuanxi
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Xingjuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Jun
author list: Agent
  family name: Thach
  given name: Thuan-Quoc
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Yong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.16032
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-09-04
copyright: © 2023 Gao et al.
attribution name: Gao et al.

https://peerj.com/articles/15539
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
title: Rational synthesis of total damage during cryoprotectant equilibration: modelling and experimental validation of osmomechanical, temperature, and cytotoxic damage in sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) oocytes
description: Sea urchins (e.g., Paracentrotus lividus) are important for both aquaculture and as model species. Despite their importance, biobanking of urchin oocytes by cryopreservation is currently not possible. Optimized cryoprotectant loading may enable novel vitrification methods and thus successful cryopreservation of oocytes. One method for determining an optimized loading protocol uses membrane characteristics and models of damage, namely osmomechanical damage, temperature damage (e.g., chill injury) and cytotoxicity. Here we present and experimentally evaluate existing and novel models of these damage modalities as a function of time and temperature. In osmomechanical damage experiments, oocytes were exposed for 2 to 30 minutes in hypertonic NaCl or sucrose supplemented seawater or in hypotonic diluted seawater. In temperature damage experiments, oocytes were exposed to 1.7 °C, 10 °C, or 20 °C for 2 to 90 minutes. Cytotoxicity was investigated by exposing oocytes to solutions of Me2SO for 2 to 30 minutes. We identified a time-dependent osmotic damage model, a temperature-dependent damage model, and a temperature and time-dependent cytotoxicity model. We combined these models to estimate total damage during a cryoprotectant loading protocol and determined the optimal loading protocol for any given goal intracellular cryoprotectant concentration. Given our fitted models, we find sea urchin oocytes can only be loaded to 13% Me2SO v/v with about 50% survival. This synthesis of multiple damage modalities is the first of its kind and enables a novel approach to modelling cryoprotectant equilibration survival for cells in general.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Dominic J. Olver
creator: Pablo Heres
creator: Estefania Paredes
creator: James D. Benson
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Biophysics
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Mathematical Biology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15539
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Olver et al.
abstract: Sea urchins (e.g., Paracentrotus lividus) are important for both aquaculture and as model species. Despite their importance, biobanking of urchin oocytes by cryopreservation is currently not possible. Optimized cryoprotectant loading may enable novel vitrification methods and thus successful cryopreservation of oocytes. One method for determining an optimized loading protocol uses membrane characteristics and models of damage, namely osmomechanical damage, temperature damage (e.g., chill injury) and cytotoxicity. Here we present and experimentally evaluate existing and novel models of these damage modalities as a function of time and temperature. In osmomechanical damage experiments, oocytes were exposed for 2 to 30 minutes in hypertonic NaCl or sucrose supplemented seawater or in hypotonic diluted seawater. In temperature damage experiments, oocytes were exposed to 1.7 °C, 10 °C, or 20 °C for 2 to 90 minutes. Cytotoxicity was investigated by exposing oocytes to solutions of Me2SO for 2 to 30 minutes. We identified a time-dependent osmotic damage model, a temperature-dependent damage model, and a temperature and time-dependent cytotoxicity model. We combined these models to estimate total damage during a cryoprotectant loading protocol and determined the optimal loading protocol for any given goal intracellular cryoprotectant concentration. Given our fitted models, we find sea urchin oocytes can only be loaded to 13% Me2SO v/v with about 50% survival. This synthesis of multiple damage modalities is the first of its kind and enables a novel approach to modelling cryoprotectant equilibration survival for cells in general.
bibliographic citation: Olver et al. (2023) Rational synthesis of total damage during cryoprotectant equilibration: modelling and experimental validation of osmomechanical, temperature, and cytotoxic damage in sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) oocytes. PeerJ 11:e15539 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15539
date submitted: 2023-01-24
date accepted: 2023-05-21
issued: 2023-09-01
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Olver
  given name: Dominic J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Heres
  given name: Pablo
author list: Agent
  family name: Paredes
  given name: Estefania
author list: Agent
  family name: Benson
  given name: James D.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15539
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-09-01
copyright: ©2023 Olver et al.
attribution name: Olver et al.

High phenotypic plasticity at the dawn of the eosauropterygian radiation
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The initial radiation of Eosauropterygia during the Triassic biotic recovery represents a key event in the dominance of reptiles secondarily adapted to marine environments. Recent studies on Mesozoic marine reptile disparity highlighted that eosauropterygians had their greatest morphological diversity during the Middle Triassic, with the co-occurrence of Pachypleurosauroidea, Nothosauroidea and Pistosauroidea, mostly along the margins of the Tethys Ocean. However, these previous studies quantitatively analysed the disparity of Eosauropterygia as a whole without focussing on Triassic taxa, thus limiting our understanding of their diversification and morphospace occupation during the Middle Triassic. Our multivariate morphometric analyses highlight a clearly distinct colonization of the ecomorphospace by the three clades, with no evidence of whole-body convergent evolution with the exception of the peculiar pistosauroid Wangosaurus brevirostris, which appears phenotypically much more similar to nothosauroids. This global pattern is mostly driven by craniodental differences and inferred feeding specializations. We also reveal noticeable regional differences among nothosauroids and pachypleurosauroids of which the latter likely experienced a remarkable diversification in the eastern Tethys during the Pelsonian. Our results demonstrate that the high phenotypic plasticity characterizing the evolution of the pelagic plesiosaurians was already present in their Triassic ancestors, casting eosauropterygians as particularly adaptable animals.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Antoine Laboury
creator: Torsten M. Scheyer
creator: Nicole Klein
creator: Thomas L. Stubbs
creator: Valentin Fischer
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15776
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Laboury et al.
abstract: The initial radiation of Eosauropterygia during the Triassic biotic recovery represents a key event in the dominance of reptiles secondarily adapted to marine environments. Recent studies on Mesozoic marine reptile disparity highlighted that eosauropterygians had their greatest morphological diversity during the Middle Triassic, with the co-occurrence of Pachypleurosauroidea, Nothosauroidea and Pistosauroidea, mostly along the margins of the Tethys Ocean. However, these previous studies quantitatively analysed the disparity of Eosauropterygia as a whole without focussing on Triassic taxa, thus limiting our understanding of their diversification and morphospace occupation during the Middle Triassic. Our multivariate morphometric analyses highlight a clearly distinct colonization of the ecomorphospace by the three clades, with no evidence of whole-body convergent evolution with the exception of the peculiar pistosauroid Wangosaurus brevirostris, which appears phenotypically much more similar to nothosauroids. This global pattern is mostly driven by craniodental differences and inferred feeding specializations. We also reveal noticeable regional differences among nothosauroids and pachypleurosauroids of which the latter likely experienced a remarkable diversification in the eastern Tethys during the Pelsonian. Our results demonstrate that the high phenotypic plasticity characterizing the evolution of the pelagic plesiosaurians was already present in their Triassic ancestors, casting eosauropterygians as particularly adaptable animals.
bibliographic citation: Laboury et al. (2023) High phenotypic plasticity at the dawn of the eosauropterygian radiation. PeerJ 11:e15776 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15776
date submitted: 2023-04-05
date accepted: 2023-06-29
issued: 2023-09-01
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Laboury
  given name: Antoine
author list: Agent
  family name: Scheyer
  given name: Torsten M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Klein
  given name: Nicole
author list: Agent
  family name: Stubbs
  given name: Thomas L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Fischer
  given name: Valentin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15776
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-09-01
copyright: © 2023 Laboury et al.
attribution name: Laboury et al.

An investigation into the response of the soil ecological environment to tourist disturbance in Baligou
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The purpose of this study is to understand the response patterns of the soil ecological environment of the Macau Wetland Park to different levels of tourist interference and to provide a scientific basis for the rational development of the Bali Gou ecological tourism plan and the protection and management of the scenic area’s ecological environment. Combine the methods of field collection and laboratory physical and chemical data analysis to analyze the impact of the strength of tourism disturbance on the soil ecological environment of Baligou. During the tourist activities in Baligou, the human factors in the process have an impact on the physical aspects of the scenic area’s soil, such as soil bulk density, color tone, porosity, compactness, capacity, and leaf litter. In addition, pH value, soil enzyme activity, organic matter, and heavy metals in the soil have caused some interference. The overall data show that the dynamic of soil indicators is background area < buffer area < disturbed area,where the sample area is affected by human trampling and infrastructure construction and other disturbances leading to regular changes in the content of Pb and Cr in the sample soil, while the content of other heavy metals is lower than the national standard.The range of the most extreme values of the SRI integrated soil ecological response evaluation index was A1 disturbance area = 4.679 and C1 background area = 1.263, respectively. The larger the value of the SRI response index, the greater the impact and negative effect of the disturbance influence of tourism activities on the soil ecological environment of the scenic area, and the higher the level of response of the soil ecological environment of the scenic area to the disturbance of tourism activities. Moderate and reasonable tourism development activities play a role in promoting soil quality in scenic areas. Therefore, it is suggested to carry out reasonable ecological environment planning and take certain macro-measur…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Xiaolong Chen
creator: Fangyuan Cui
creator: Cora Un.In Wong
creator: Hongfeng Zhang
creator: Feiyang Wang
subject: Soil Science
subject: Coupled Natural and Human Systems
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Biogeochemistry
subject: Environmental Impacts
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15780
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Chen et al.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to understand the response patterns of the soil ecological environment of the Macau Wetland Park to different levels of tourist interference and to provide a scientific basis for the rational development of the Bali Gou ecological tourism plan and the protection and management of the scenic area’s ecological environment. Combine the methods of field collection and laboratory physical and chemical data analysis to analyze the impact of the strength of tourism disturbance on the soil ecological environment of Baligou. During the tourist activities in Baligou, the human factors in the process have an impact on the physical aspects of the scenic area’s soil, such as soil bulk density, color tone, porosity, compactness, capacity, and leaf litter. In addition, pH value, soil enzyme activity, organic matter, and heavy metals in the soil have caused some interference. The overall data show that the dynamic of soil indicators is background area < buffer area < disturbed area,where the sample area is affected by human trampling and infrastructure construction and other disturbances leading to regular changes in the content of Pb and Cr in the sample soil, while the content of other heavy metals is lower than the national standard.The range of the most extreme values of the SRI integrated soil ecological response evaluation index was A1 disturbance area = 4.679 and C1 background area = 1.263, respectively. The larger the value of the SRI response index, the greater the impact and negative effect of the disturbance influence of tourism activities on the soil ecological environment of the scenic area, and the higher the level of response of the soil ecological environment of the scenic area to the disturbance of tourism activities. Moderate and reasonable tourism development activities play a role in promoting soil quality in scenic areas. Therefore, it is suggested to carry out reasonable ecological environment planning and take certain macro-measur…
bibliographic citation: Chen et al. (2023) An investigation into the response of the soil ecological environment to tourist disturbance in Baligou. PeerJ 11:e15780 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15780
date submitted: 2022-12-05
date accepted: 2023-06-29
issued: 2023-09-01
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Xiaolong
author list: Agent
  family name: Cui
  given name: Fangyuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Wong
  given name: Cora Un.In
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Hongfeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Feiyang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15780
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-09-01
copyright: ©2023 Chen et al.
attribution name: Chen et al.

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