PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) increases biogas effluent pollutant removal efficacy and proves a positive substrate for renewable energy production
items: Exogenous glutathione maintains the postharvest quality of mango fruit by modulating the ascorbate-glutathione cycle
items: Icariin activates far upstream element binding protein 1 to regulate hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and hypoxia-inducible factor-2α signaling and benefits chondrocytes
items: Skeletal anatomy of the early Permian parareptile Delorhynchus with new information provided by neutron tomography
items: Crown-of-thorns starfish spines secrete defence proteins
items: Elevational surveys of Sulawesi herpetofauna 1: Gunung Galang, Gunung Dako Nature Reserve
items: Acute effect of combined exercise with aerobic and resistance exercises on executive function
items: Ethanolamine-phosphate phospho-lyase (ETNPPL) contributes to the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma
items: Identification of potential functional peptides involved in demyelinating injury in the central nervous system
items: Feeding ecology and reproductive biology of small coastal sharks in Malaysian waters

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) increases biogas effluent pollutant removal efficacy and proves a positive substrate for renewable energy production
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Aquatic plants play a crucial role in nature-based wastewater treatment and provide a promising substrate for renewable energy production using anaerobic digestion (AD) technology. This study aimed to examine the contaminant removal from AD effluent by water lettuce (WL) and produce biogas from WL biomass co-digested with pig dung (PD) in a farm-scale biogas digester. Methods The first experiment used styrofoam boxes containing husbandry AD effluent. WLs were initially arranged in 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and 0% surface coverage. Each treatment was conducted in five replicates under natural conditions. In the second experiment, WL biomass was co-digested with PD into an existing anaerobic digester to examine biogas production on a farm scale. Results Over 30 days, the treatment efficiency of TSS, BOD5, COD, TKN, and TP in the effluent was 93.75–97.66%, 76.63–82.56%, 76.78–82.89%, 61.75–63.75%, and 89.00–89.57%, respectively. Higher WL coverage increased the pollutant elimination potential. The WL biomass doubled after 12 days for all treatments. In the farm-scale biogas production, the biogas yield varied between 190.6 and 292.9 L kg VSadded−1. The methane content reached over 54%. Conclusions WL removed AD effluent nutrients effectively through a phytoremediation system and generated significant biomass for renewable energy production in a farm-scale model.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ngan Nguyen Vo Chau
creator: Thao Huynh Van
creator: Thuan Nguyen Cong
creator: Lavane Kim
creator: Dan Van Pham
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Climate Change Biology
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Environmental Contamination and Remediation
subject: Environmental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15879
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Nguyen Vo Chau et al.
abstract: Background Aquatic plants play a crucial role in nature-based wastewater treatment and provide a promising substrate for renewable energy production using anaerobic digestion (AD) technology. This study aimed to examine the contaminant removal from AD effluent by water lettuce (WL) and produce biogas from WL biomass co-digested with pig dung (PD) in a farm-scale biogas digester. Methods The first experiment used styrofoam boxes containing husbandry AD effluent. WLs were initially arranged in 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and 0% surface coverage. Each treatment was conducted in five replicates under natural conditions. In the second experiment, WL biomass was co-digested with PD into an existing anaerobic digester to examine biogas production on a farm scale. Results Over 30 days, the treatment efficiency of TSS, BOD5, COD, TKN, and TP in the effluent was 93.75–97.66%, 76.63–82.56%, 76.78–82.89%, 61.75–63.75%, and 89.00–89.57%, respectively. Higher WL coverage increased the pollutant elimination potential. The WL biomass doubled after 12 days for all treatments. In the farm-scale biogas production, the biogas yield varied between 190.6 and 292.9 L kg VSadded−1. The methane content reached over 54%. Conclusions WL removed AD effluent nutrients effectively through a phytoremediation system and generated significant biomass for renewable energy production in a farm-scale model.
bibliographic citation: Nguyen Vo Chau et al. (2023) Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) increases biogas effluent pollutant removal efficacy and proves a positive substrate for renewable energy production. PeerJ 11:e15879 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15879
date submitted: 2023-02-09
date accepted: 2023-07-19
issued: 2023-08-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Nguyen Vo Chau
  given name: Ngan
author list: Agent
  family name: Huynh Van
  given name: Thao
author list: Agent
  family name: Nguyen Cong
  given name: Thuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Kim
  given name: Lavane
author list: Agent
  family name: Pham
  given name: Dan Van
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15879
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-08-22
copyright: © 2023 Nguyen Vo Chau et al.
attribution name: Nguyen Vo Chau et al.

Exogenous glutathione maintains the postharvest quality of mango fruit by modulating the ascorbate-glutathione cycle
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Mango fruit is prone to decay after harvest and premature senescence, which significantly lowers its quality and commercial value. Methods The mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.cv. Guixiang) was treated with 0 (control), 2, 5, and 8 mM of reduced glutathione (GSH) after harvest. The fruit was stored at 25 ± 1 °C for 12 days to observe the changes in the antioxidant capacity and postharvest quality. Results Compared with the control, the 5 mM GSH treatment significantly decreased the weight loss by 44.0% and 24.4%, total soluble solids content by 25.1% and 4.5%, and soluble sugar content by 19.0% and 27.0%. Conversely, the 5 mM GSH treatment increased the firmness by 25.9% and 30.7% on days 4 and 8, respectively, and the titratable acidity content by 115.1% on day 8. Additionally, the 5 mM GSH treatment decreased the malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents and improved the antioxidant capacity of mango fruit by increasing the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities and upregulating the expression of the encoding genes. Meanwhile, the higher levels of monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase enzyme activities and gene expressions accelerated the AsA-GSH cycle, thereby increasing the accumulation of AsA and GSH and maintaining the redox balance. Conclusions Overall, the experimental results suggest that 5 mM GSH maintains high antioxidant capacity and postharvest quality of mangoes and can use as an effective preservation technique for postharvest mangoes.
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creator: Yan Zhou
creator: Jiameng Liu
creator: Qiongyi Zhuo
creator: Keying Zhang
creator: Jielin Yan
creator: Bingmei Tang
creator: Xiaoyun Wei
creator: Lijing Lin
creator: Kaidong Liu
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15902
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Zhou et al.
abstract: Background Mango fruit is prone to decay after harvest and premature senescence, which significantly lowers its quality and commercial value. Methods The mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.cv. Guixiang) was treated with 0 (control), 2, 5, and 8 mM of reduced glutathione (GSH) after harvest. The fruit was stored at 25 ± 1 °C for 12 days to observe the changes in the antioxidant capacity and postharvest quality. Results Compared with the control, the 5 mM GSH treatment significantly decreased the weight loss by 44.0% and 24.4%, total soluble solids content by 25.1% and 4.5%, and soluble sugar content by 19.0% and 27.0%. Conversely, the 5 mM GSH treatment increased the firmness by 25.9% and 30.7% on days 4 and 8, respectively, and the titratable acidity content by 115.1% on day 8. Additionally, the 5 mM GSH treatment decreased the malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents and improved the antioxidant capacity of mango fruit by increasing the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities and upregulating the expression of the encoding genes. Meanwhile, the higher levels of monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase enzyme activities and gene expressions accelerated the AsA-GSH cycle, thereby increasing the accumulation of AsA and GSH and maintaining the redox balance. Conclusions Overall, the experimental results suggest that 5 mM GSH maintains high antioxidant capacity and postharvest quality of mangoes and can use as an effective preservation technique for postharvest mangoes.
bibliographic citation: Zhou et al. (2023) Exogenous glutathione maintains the postharvest quality of mango fruit by modulating the ascorbate-glutathione cycle. PeerJ 11:e15902 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15902
date submitted: 2023-04-19
date accepted: 2023-07-25
issued: 2023-08-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Yan
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Jiameng
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhuo
  given name: Qiongyi
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Keying
author list: Agent
  family name: Yan
  given name: Jielin
author list: Agent
  family name: Tang
  given name: Bingmei
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: Xiaoyun
author list: Agent
  family name: Lin
  given name: Lijing
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Kaidong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15902
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-08-22
copyright: © 2023 Zhou et al.
attribution name: Zhou et al.

Icariin activates far upstream element binding protein 1 to regulate hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and hypoxia-inducible factor-2α signaling and benefits chondrocytes
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Icariin (ICA) is a typical flavonoid glycoside derived from epimedium plants. It has both anabolic and anti-catabolic effects to improve bone mineral density and reduce bone microstructural degradation. However, the effect and underlying mechanism of ICA on the proliferation and metabolism of chondrocyte and synthesis of extracellular matrix are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role and regulation of far upstream element binding protein 1 (FUBP1) in chondrocytes treated with ICA to maintain homeostasis and suppress inflammatory responses. In the study, the effect of ICA on chondrocytes with overexpressed or silenced FUBP1 was detected by the MTS and single-cell cloning methods. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1/2α (HIF-1/2α), FUBP1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)9, SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), and type II collagen (Col2α) in ATDC5 cells, a mouse chondrogenic cell line, treated with ICA was evaluated by immunoblotting. Western blotting revealed 1 µM ICA to have the most significant effect on chondrocytes. Alcian blue staining and colony formation assays showed that the promoting effect of ICA was insignificant in FUBP1-knockdown cells (P > 0.05) but significantly enhanced in FUBP1-overexpressed cells (P < 0.05). Western blot results from FUBP1-knockdown cells treated with or without ICA showed no significant difference in the expression of FUBP1, HIF-1/2α, MMP9, SOX9, and Col2α proteins, whereas the same proteins showed increased expression in FUBP1-overexpressed chondrocytes; moreover, HIF-2α and MMP9 expression was significantly inhibited in FUBP1-knockdown chondrocytes (P < 0.05). In conclusion, as a bioactive monomer of traditional Chinese medicine, ICA is beneficial to chondrocytes.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Pengzhen Wang
creator: Pingping Zhu
creator: Shaoheng Zhang
creator: Wei Yuan
creator: Zhihe Liu
subject: Bioengineering
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15917
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Wang et al.
abstract: Icariin (ICA) is a typical flavonoid glycoside derived from epimedium plants. It has both anabolic and anti-catabolic effects to improve bone mineral density and reduce bone microstructural degradation. However, the effect and underlying mechanism of ICA on the proliferation and metabolism of chondrocyte and synthesis of extracellular matrix are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role and regulation of far upstream element binding protein 1 (FUBP1) in chondrocytes treated with ICA to maintain homeostasis and suppress inflammatory responses. In the study, the effect of ICA on chondrocytes with overexpressed or silenced FUBP1 was detected by the MTS and single-cell cloning methods. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1/2α (HIF-1/2α), FUBP1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)9, SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), and type II collagen (Col2α) in ATDC5 cells, a mouse chondrogenic cell line, treated with ICA was evaluated by immunoblotting. Western blotting revealed 1 µM ICA to have the most significant effect on chondrocytes. Alcian blue staining and colony formation assays showed that the promoting effect of ICA was insignificant in FUBP1-knockdown cells (P > 0.05) but significantly enhanced in FUBP1-overexpressed cells (P < 0.05). Western blot results from FUBP1-knockdown cells treated with or without ICA showed no significant difference in the expression of FUBP1, HIF-1/2α, MMP9, SOX9, and Col2α proteins, whereas the same proteins showed increased expression in FUBP1-overexpressed chondrocytes; moreover, HIF-2α and MMP9 expression was significantly inhibited in FUBP1-knockdown chondrocytes (P < 0.05). In conclusion, as a bioactive monomer of traditional Chinese medicine, ICA is beneficial to chondrocytes.
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2023) Icariin activates far upstream element binding protein 1 to regulate hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and hypoxia-inducible factor-2α signaling and benefits chondrocytes. PeerJ 11:e15917 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15917
date submitted: 2023-05-04
date accepted: 2023-07-27
issued: 2023-08-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Pengzhen
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Pingping
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Shaoheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Yuan
  given name: Wei
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Zhihe
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15917
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-08-22
copyright: © 2023 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

Skeletal anatomy of the early Permian parareptile Delorhynchus with new information provided by neutron tomography
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Detailed description of the holotype skeleton of Delorhynchus cifellii, made possible through the use of neutron tomography, has yielded important new information about the cranial and postcranial anatomy of this early Permian acleistorhinid parareptile. Hitherto unknown features of the skull include a sphenethmoid, paired epipterygoids and a complete neurocranium. In addition, the stapes has been exposed in three dimensions for the first time in an early parareptile. Postcranial material found in articulation with the skull in this holotype allows for the first detailed description of vertebrae, ribs, shoulder girdle and humerus of an acleistorhinid parareptile, allowing for a reevaluation of the phylogenetic relationships of this taxon with other acleistorhinids, and more broadly among parareptiles. Results show that Delorhynchus is recovered as the sister taxon of Colobomycter, and ‘acleistorhinids’ now include Lanthanosuchus.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Dylan C. T. Rowe
creator: Joseph J. Bevitt
creator: Robert R. Reisz
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15935
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Rowe et al.
abstract: Detailed description of the holotype skeleton of Delorhynchus cifellii, made possible through the use of neutron tomography, has yielded important new information about the cranial and postcranial anatomy of this early Permian acleistorhinid parareptile. Hitherto unknown features of the skull include a sphenethmoid, paired epipterygoids and a complete neurocranium. In addition, the stapes has been exposed in three dimensions for the first time in an early parareptile. Postcranial material found in articulation with the skull in this holotype allows for the first detailed description of vertebrae, ribs, shoulder girdle and humerus of an acleistorhinid parareptile, allowing for a reevaluation of the phylogenetic relationships of this taxon with other acleistorhinids, and more broadly among parareptiles. Results show that Delorhynchus is recovered as the sister taxon of Colobomycter, and ‘acleistorhinids’ now include Lanthanosuchus.
bibliographic citation: Rowe et al. (2023) Skeletal anatomy of the early Permian parareptile Delorhynchus with new information provided by neutron tomography. PeerJ 11:e15935 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15935
date submitted: 2023-02-02
date accepted: 2023-07-31
issued: 2023-08-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Rowe
  given name: Dylan C. T.
author list: Agent
  family name: Bevitt
  given name: Joseph J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Reisz
  given name: Robert R.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15935
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-08-22
copyright: © 2023 Rowe et al.
attribution name: Rowe et al.

Crown-of-thorns starfish spines secrete defence proteins
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster species) is a slow-moving corallivore protected by an extensive array of long, sharp toxic spines. Envenomation can result in nausea, numbness, vomiting, joint aches and sometimes paralysis. Small molecule saponins and the plancitoxin proteins have been implicated in COTS toxicity. Methods Brine shrimp lethality assays were used to confirm the secretion of spine toxin biomolecules. Histological analysis, followed by spine-derived proteomics helped to explain the source and identity of proteins, while quantitative RNA-sequencing and phylogeny confirmed target gene expression and relative conservation, respectively. Results We demonstrate the lethality of COTS spine secreted biomolecules on brine shrimp, including significant toxicity using aboral spine semi-purifications of >10 kDa (p > 0.05, 9.82 µg/ml), supporting the presence of secreted proteins as toxins. Ultrastructure observations of the COTS aboral spine showed the presence of pores that could facilitate the distribution of secreted proteins. Subsequent purification and mass spectrometry analysis of spine-derived proteins identified numerous secretory proteins, including plancitoxins, as well as those with relatively high gene expression in spines, including phospholipase A2, protease inhibitor 16-like protein, ependymin-related proteins and those uncharacterized. Some secretory proteins (e.g., vitellogenin and deleted in malignant brain tumor protein 1) were not highly expressed in spine tissue, yet the spine may serve as a storage or release site. This study contributes to our understanding of the COTS through functional, ultrastructural and proteomic analysis of aboral spines.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Adam K. Hillberg
creator: Meaghan K. Smith
creator: Blake S. Lausen
creator: Saowaros Suwansa-ard
creator: Ryan Johnston
creator: Shahida A. Mitu
creator: Leah E. MacDonald
creator: Min Zhao
creator: Cherie A. Motti
creator: Tianfang Wang
creator: Abigail Elizur
creator: Keisuke Nakashima
creator: Noriyuki Satoh
creator: Scott F. Cummins
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15689
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Hillberg et al.
abstract: Background The crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS; Acanthaster species) is a slow-moving corallivore protected by an extensive array of long, sharp toxic spines. Envenomation can result in nausea, numbness, vomiting, joint aches and sometimes paralysis. Small molecule saponins and the plancitoxin proteins have been implicated in COTS toxicity. Methods Brine shrimp lethality assays were used to confirm the secretion of spine toxin biomolecules. Histological analysis, followed by spine-derived proteomics helped to explain the source and identity of proteins, while quantitative RNA-sequencing and phylogeny confirmed target gene expression and relative conservation, respectively. Results We demonstrate the lethality of COTS spine secreted biomolecules on brine shrimp, including significant toxicity using aboral spine semi-purifications of >10 kDa (p > 0.05, 9.82 µg/ml), supporting the presence of secreted proteins as toxins. Ultrastructure observations of the COTS aboral spine showed the presence of pores that could facilitate the distribution of secreted proteins. Subsequent purification and mass spectrometry analysis of spine-derived proteins identified numerous secretory proteins, including plancitoxins, as well as those with relatively high gene expression in spines, including phospholipase A2, protease inhibitor 16-like protein, ependymin-related proteins and those uncharacterized. Some secretory proteins (e.g., vitellogenin and deleted in malignant brain tumor protein 1) were not highly expressed in spine tissue, yet the spine may serve as a storage or release site. This study contributes to our understanding of the COTS through functional, ultrastructural and proteomic analysis of aboral spines.
bibliographic citation: Hillberg et al. (2023) Crown-of-thorns starfish spines secrete defence proteins. PeerJ 11:e15689 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15689
date submitted: 2023-02-24
date accepted: 2023-06-14
issued: 2023-08-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Hillberg
  given name: Adam K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Smith
  given name: Meaghan K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Lausen
  given name: Blake S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Suwansa-ard
  given name: Saowaros
author list: Agent
  family name: Johnston
  given name: Ryan
author list: Agent
  family name: Mitu
  given name: Shahida A.
author list: Agent
  family name: MacDonald
  given name: Leah E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Min
author list: Agent
  family name: Motti
  given name: Cherie A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Tianfang
author list: Agent
  family name: Elizur
  given name: Abigail
author list: Agent
  family name: Nakashima
  given name: Keisuke
author list: Agent
  family name: Satoh
  given name: Noriyuki
author list: Agent
  family name: Cummins
  given name: Scott F.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15689
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-08-21
copyright: ©2023 Hillberg et al.
attribution name: Hillberg et al.

Elevational surveys of Sulawesi herpetofauna 1: Gunung Galang, Gunung Dako Nature Reserve
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The Indonesian island of Sulawesi has a unique geology and geography, which have produced an astoundingly diverse and endemic flora and fauna and a fascinating biogeographic history. Much biodiversity research has focused on the regional endemism in the island’s Central Core and on its four peninsulas, but the biodiversity of the island’s many upland regions is still poorly understood for most taxa, including amphibians and reptiles. Here, we report the first of several planned full-mountain checklists from a series of herpetological surveys of Sulawesi’s mountains conducted by our team. In more than 3 weeks of work on Gunung Galang, a 2,254 m peak west of the city of Tolitoli, Sulawesi Tengah Province, on Sulawesi’s Northern Peninsula, we recovered nearly fifty species of reptiles and amphibians, more than a dozen of which are either new to science or known but undescribed. The incompleteness of our sampling suggests that many more species remain to be discovered on and around this mountain.
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format: text/html
creator: Benjamin R. Karin
creator: Isaac W. Krone
creator: Jeffrey Frederick
creator: Amir Hamidy
creator: Wahyu Tri Laksono
creator: Sina S. Amini
creator: Evy Arida
creator: Umilaela Arifin
creator: Bryan H. Bach
creator: Collin Bos
creator: Charlotte K. Jennings
creator: Awal Riyanto
creator: Simon G. Scarpetta
creator: Alexander L. Stubbs
creator: Jimmy A. McGuire
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15766
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Karin et al.
abstract: The Indonesian island of Sulawesi has a unique geology and geography, which have produced an astoundingly diverse and endemic flora and fauna and a fascinating biogeographic history. Much biodiversity research has focused on the regional endemism in the island’s Central Core and on its four peninsulas, but the biodiversity of the island’s many upland regions is still poorly understood for most taxa, including amphibians and reptiles. Here, we report the first of several planned full-mountain checklists from a series of herpetological surveys of Sulawesi’s mountains conducted by our team. In more than 3 weeks of work on Gunung Galang, a 2,254 m peak west of the city of Tolitoli, Sulawesi Tengah Province, on Sulawesi’s Northern Peninsula, we recovered nearly fifty species of reptiles and amphibians, more than a dozen of which are either new to science or known but undescribed. The incompleteness of our sampling suggests that many more species remain to be discovered on and around this mountain.
bibliographic citation: Karin et al. (2023) Elevational surveys of Sulawesi herpetofauna 1: Gunung Galang, Gunung Dako Nature Reserve. PeerJ 11:e15766 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15766
date submitted: 2023-04-21
date accepted: 2023-06-27
issued: 2023-08-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Karin
  given name: Benjamin R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Krone
  given name: Isaac W.
author list: Agent
  family name: Frederick
  given name: Jeffrey
author list: Agent
  family name: Hamidy
  given name: Amir
author list: Agent
  family name: Laksono
  given name: Wahyu Tri
author list: Agent
  family name: Amini
  given name: Sina S.
author list: Agent
  family name: Arida
  given name: Evy
author list: Agent
  family name: Arifin
  given name: Umilaela
author list: Agent
  family name: Bach
  given name: Bryan H.
author list: Agent
  family name: Bos
  given name: Collin
author list: Agent
  family name: Jennings
  given name: Charlotte K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Riyanto
  given name: Awal
author list: Agent
  family name: Scarpetta
  given name: Simon G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Stubbs
  given name: Alexander L.
author list: Agent
  family name: McGuire
  given name: Jimmy A.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15766
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-08-21
copyright: © 2023 Karin et al.
attribution name: Karin et al.

Acute effect of combined exercise with aerobic and resistance exercises on executive function
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objective Recent studies indicate that acute exercise, whether aerobic exercise (AE) or resistance exercise (RE), improves cognitive function. However, the effects on cognitive function of combined exercise (CE), involving both AE and RE in an exercise session, remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute CE on cognitive function. Design Within-subject design with counterbalancing. Methods Fifteen healthy men with a sedentary lifestyle in the previous three months were recruited. The participants were assessed for muscular fitness after performing four upper body exercises for a 10-repetition maximum and underwent a submaximal aerobic fitness assessment for V̇O2peak and corresponding workload (watts). They were then assigned to a CE, RE, or sitting control (SC) session in counterbalanced order and were assessed with the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) after each session. Results Acute CE led to a significantly shorter response time compared to SC (p < .05) in the SCWT, wherein there were no significant differences between acute CE and RE (p = 1.00). Additionally, no significant differences in the accuracy rate were observed across the different sessions (ps > .05). Conclusion A single session of moderate-intensity CE improved response time in the SCWT, comparable to RE. CE shows promise for enhancing cognitive function, warranting further research on its benefits and other exercise modalities.
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format: text/html
creator: Ying-Chu Chen
creator: Ruei-Hong Li
creator: Feng-Tzu Chen
creator: Chih-Han Wu
creator: Chung-Yu Chen
creator: Che-Chien Chang
creator: Yu-Kai Chang
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15768
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Chen et al.
abstract: Objective Recent studies indicate that acute exercise, whether aerobic exercise (AE) or resistance exercise (RE), improves cognitive function. However, the effects on cognitive function of combined exercise (CE), involving both AE and RE in an exercise session, remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute CE on cognitive function. Design Within-subject design with counterbalancing. Methods Fifteen healthy men with a sedentary lifestyle in the previous three months were recruited. The participants were assessed for muscular fitness after performing four upper body exercises for a 10-repetition maximum and underwent a submaximal aerobic fitness assessment for V̇O2peak and corresponding workload (watts). They were then assigned to a CE, RE, or sitting control (SC) session in counterbalanced order and were assessed with the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) after each session. Results Acute CE led to a significantly shorter response time compared to SC (p < .05) in the SCWT, wherein there were no significant differences between acute CE and RE (p = 1.00). Additionally, no significant differences in the accuracy rate were observed across the different sessions (ps > .05). Conclusion A single session of moderate-intensity CE improved response time in the SCWT, comparable to RE. CE shows promise for enhancing cognitive function, warranting further research on its benefits and other exercise modalities.
bibliographic citation: Chen et al. (2023) Acute effect of combined exercise with aerobic and resistance exercises on executive function. PeerJ 11:e15768 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15768
date submitted: 2023-03-17
date accepted: 2023-06-28
issued: 2023-08-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Ying-Chu
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Ruei-Hong
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Feng-Tzu
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Chih-Han
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Chung-Yu
author list: Agent
  family name: Chang
  given name: Che-Chien
author list: Agent
  family name: Chang
  given name: Yu-Kai
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15768
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-08-21
copyright: ©2023 Chen et al.
attribution name: Chen et al.

Ethanolamine-phosphate phospho-lyase (ETNPPL) contributes to the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by high mortality, difficulty in early screening, relapse, and poor prognosis. This study aimed to explore the expression of ethanolamine-phosphate phospho-lyase (ETNPPL) and its clinical significance in HCC. Methods Differentially expressed mRNAs were screened using microarray analysis. Functional enrichment was performed using GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis. We used qRT-PCR to measure the expression of ETNPPL in HCC tissues and paired paracarcinoma tissues. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan-Meier curve were conducted to assess the diagnostic and prognostic values. Cell behaviors were evaluated using a scratch test and transwell assay. Results The results showed that numerous mRNAs are abnormally expressed in HCC. ETNPPL was decreased in HCC tissues and cells. The area under curve (AUC) of ETNPPL was 0.9089, demonstrating that ETNPPL had diagnostic value. Low expression of ETNPPL was related to poor prognosis for patients with HCC. Moreover, the over-expression of ETNPPL inhibited HCC cell migration and invasion. Conclusions In conclusion, downregulated ETNPPL was found in HCC and is related to poor patient prognosis and the promotion of cell metastasis. This suggests that ETNPPL serves both as a promising diagnosis and prognosis biomarker, and a therapy target of HCC.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yun Zhang
creator: Li Shen
creator: Bojun Wang
creator: Xiaohong Wu
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Gastroenterology and Hepatology
subject: Oncology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15834
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Zhang et al.
abstract: Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by high mortality, difficulty in early screening, relapse, and poor prognosis. This study aimed to explore the expression of ethanolamine-phosphate phospho-lyase (ETNPPL) and its clinical significance in HCC. Methods Differentially expressed mRNAs were screened using microarray analysis. Functional enrichment was performed using GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis. We used qRT-PCR to measure the expression of ETNPPL in HCC tissues and paired paracarcinoma tissues. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan-Meier curve were conducted to assess the diagnostic and prognostic values. Cell behaviors were evaluated using a scratch test and transwell assay. Results The results showed that numerous mRNAs are abnormally expressed in HCC. ETNPPL was decreased in HCC tissues and cells. The area under curve (AUC) of ETNPPL was 0.9089, demonstrating that ETNPPL had diagnostic value. Low expression of ETNPPL was related to poor prognosis for patients with HCC. Moreover, the over-expression of ETNPPL inhibited HCC cell migration and invasion. Conclusions In conclusion, downregulated ETNPPL was found in HCC and is related to poor patient prognosis and the promotion of cell metastasis. This suggests that ETNPPL serves both as a promising diagnosis and prognosis biomarker, and a therapy target of HCC.
bibliographic citation: Zhang et al. (2023) Ethanolamine-phosphate phospho-lyase (ETNPPL) contributes to the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. PeerJ 11:e15834 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15834
date submitted: 2023-02-10
date accepted: 2023-07-11
issued: 2023-08-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Yun
author list: Agent
  family name: Shen
  given name: Li
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Bojun
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Xiaohong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15834
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-08-21
copyright: ©2023 Zhang et al.
attribution name: Zhang et al.

Identification of potential functional peptides involved in demyelinating injury in the central nervous system
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory neurologic disease characterized by the demyelinating injury of the central nervous system (CNS). It was reported that the mutant peptide came from myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) and myelin basic protein (MBP) might play a critical role in immunotherapy function of MS. However, endogenous peptides in demyelinating brain tissue of MS and their role in the pathologic process of MS have not been revealed. Here, we performed peptidomic analysis of freshly isolated corpus callosum (CC) from the brains of CPZ-treated mice and normal diet controls of male C57BL/6 mice by LC-MS/MS. Identified a total of 217 peptides were expressed at different levels in MS mice model compared with controls. By performed GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis, we found that the precursor protein of these differently expressed peptides (DEPs) were associated with myelin sheath and oxidative phosphorylation. Our study is the first brain peptidomic of MS mice model, revealing the distinct features of DEPs in demyelination brain tissue. These DPEs may provide further insight into the pathogenesis and complexity of MS, which would facilitate the discovery of the potential novel and effective strategy for the treatment of MS.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Xiaohua Dong
creator: Shuchen Sun
creator: Jie Li
creator: Sen Shen
creator: Wanting Chen
creator: Tongqi Li
creator: Xinyuan Li
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Neuroscience
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15846
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Dong et al.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory neurologic disease characterized by the demyelinating injury of the central nervous system (CNS). It was reported that the mutant peptide came from myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) and myelin basic protein (MBP) might play a critical role in immunotherapy function of MS. However, endogenous peptides in demyelinating brain tissue of MS and their role in the pathologic process of MS have not been revealed. Here, we performed peptidomic analysis of freshly isolated corpus callosum (CC) from the brains of CPZ-treated mice and normal diet controls of male C57BL/6 mice by LC-MS/MS. Identified a total of 217 peptides were expressed at different levels in MS mice model compared with controls. By performed GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis, we found that the precursor protein of these differently expressed peptides (DEPs) were associated with myelin sheath and oxidative phosphorylation. Our study is the first brain peptidomic of MS mice model, revealing the distinct features of DEPs in demyelination brain tissue. These DPEs may provide further insight into the pathogenesis and complexity of MS, which would facilitate the discovery of the potential novel and effective strategy for the treatment of MS.
bibliographic citation: Dong et al. (2023) Identification of potential functional peptides involved in demyelinating injury in the central nervous system. PeerJ 11:e15846 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15846
date submitted: 2023-04-19
date accepted: 2023-07-14
issued: 2023-08-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Dong
  given name: Xiaohua
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Shuchen
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Jie
author list: Agent
  family name: Shen
  given name: Sen
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Wanting
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Tongqi
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Xinyuan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15846
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-08-21
copyright: © 2023 Dong et al.
attribution name: Dong et al.

Feeding ecology and reproductive biology of small coastal sharks in Malaysian waters
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Small coastal demersal sharks form a major proportion of the sharks landed in Malaysia. However, little is known about their feeding ecology and reproduction. This study sought to elucidate the dietary patterns, role of ontogeny in prey consumption, and reproductive biology of four dominant small demersal shark species in Malaysian waters: the Hasselt’s bamboo shark, Chiloscyllium hasseltii; brownbanded bamboo shark, C. punctatum; spadenose shark, Scoliodon laticaudus; and Pacific spadenose shark, S. macrorhynchos. Dietary analyses revealed a high overlap in prey taxa consumed; clear resource partitioning among co-occurring species based on the percentage Prey-specific Index of Relative Importance (%PSIRI), with higher fish %PSIRI for Chiloscyllium hasseltii, higher cephalopod %PSIRI for C. punctatum, and higher crustacean %PSIRI for both Scoliodon species; and an ontogenetic diet shift, seen through changes in prey size. Based on the examination of reproductive organs, the results showed larger sizes at maturity for males compared to females for all four species; no obvious reproductive cycles, based on hepatosomatic and gonadosomatic indices for all species; female bias in the sex ratio of the embryos of Scoliodon species; and increased reproductive output (number of eggs or embryos and size of eggs) with larger female size for C. hasseltii and Scoliodon species. The partitioning of food resources minimizes direct competition for food and supports coexistence within shared coastal habitats. The reproductive strategies of these small coastal sharks appear to be favorable for supporting short-term population productivity; although a reduction in fishing pressure, especially from bottom trawlers, is essential for the long-term sustainable use of these sharks.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Kean Chong Lim
creator: Amy Yee-Hui Then
creator: Kar-Hoe Loh
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Ecology
subject: Marine Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15849
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Lim et al.
abstract: Small coastal demersal sharks form a major proportion of the sharks landed in Malaysia. However, little is known about their feeding ecology and reproduction. This study sought to elucidate the dietary patterns, role of ontogeny in prey consumption, and reproductive biology of four dominant small demersal shark species in Malaysian waters: the Hasselt’s bamboo shark, Chiloscyllium hasseltii; brownbanded bamboo shark, C. punctatum; spadenose shark, Scoliodon laticaudus; and Pacific spadenose shark, S. macrorhynchos. Dietary analyses revealed a high overlap in prey taxa consumed; clear resource partitioning among co-occurring species based on the percentage Prey-specific Index of Relative Importance (%PSIRI), with higher fish %PSIRI for Chiloscyllium hasseltii, higher cephalopod %PSIRI for C. punctatum, and higher crustacean %PSIRI for both Scoliodon species; and an ontogenetic diet shift, seen through changes in prey size. Based on the examination of reproductive organs, the results showed larger sizes at maturity for males compared to females for all four species; no obvious reproductive cycles, based on hepatosomatic and gonadosomatic indices for all species; female bias in the sex ratio of the embryos of Scoliodon species; and increased reproductive output (number of eggs or embryos and size of eggs) with larger female size for C. hasseltii and Scoliodon species. The partitioning of food resources minimizes direct competition for food and supports coexistence within shared coastal habitats. The reproductive strategies of these small coastal sharks appear to be favorable for supporting short-term population productivity; although a reduction in fishing pressure, especially from bottom trawlers, is essential for the long-term sustainable use of these sharks.
bibliographic citation: Lim et al. (2023) Feeding ecology and reproductive biology of small coastal sharks in Malaysian waters. PeerJ 11:e15849 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15849
date submitted: 2023-01-18
date accepted: 2023-07-16
issued: 2023-08-21
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lim
  given name: Kean Chong
author list: Agent
  family name: Then
  given name: Amy Yee-Hui
author list: Agent
  family name: Loh
  given name: Kar-Hoe
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15849
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-08-21
copyright: © 2023 Lim et al.
attribution name: Lim et al.

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