PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Dapagliflozin-affected endothelial dysfunction and altered gut microbiota in mice with heart failure
items: Utilization of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive donors in liver transplantation for recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective and propensity score matching analysis
items: Unique antimicrobial activity in honey from the Australian honeypot ant (Camponotus inflatus)
items: Effect of finger rest positions on upper limb muscle activity during pre-clinical procedures
items: DNAJ heat shock protein family member C1 can regulate proliferation and migration in hepatocellular carcinoma
items: Environmental regulations, green development of agriculture, and residents’ health—empirical analysis of Yangtze River Economic Belt in China
items: Environmental factors affecting honey bees (Apis cerana) and cabbage white butterflies (Pieris rapae) at urban farmlands
items: Morphological and molecular analysis of the tropical hermit crab Calcinus vachoni (Decapoda, Diogenidae) and its potential association with colonial anemone
items: Behavioral responses of different reproductive statuses and sexes in Hermetia illucens (L) adults to different attractants
items: Biology and ecology of the lionfish Pterois volitans/Pterois miles as invasive alien species: a review

Dapagliflozin-affected endothelial dysfunction and altered gut microbiota in mice with heart failure
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Aim To investigate the potential microbiome profile of a mouse model with heart failure (HF) during dapagliflozin treatment. Method An HF model was constructed in 8-week-old male mice, and cardiac tissues were analyzed using histological staining. Hemodynamic indexes were measured, and fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing. Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson were used for α-diversity analysis. b-Diversity analysis was conducted using principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) based on the Bray–Curtis distance. Linear discriminant analysis coupled with effect size measurements (LEfSe) was used to identify signature gut microbiota, and phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) was used to predict the function of altered gut microbiota. Result Dapagliflozin treatment reduced inflammation, infarction area, and cardiac fibrosis in HF mice. It also increased endothelial-dependent dilation and inflammation in mice with HF. Dapagliflozin decreased the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, which was increased in HF mice. There was no significant statistical difference in α-diversity among the control, HF, and HF+dapagliflozin groups. Desulfovibrio, AF12, and Paraprevotella were enriched in HF+dapagliflozin, while Rikenella and Mucispirillum were enriched in HF based on LEfSe. KEGG analysis revealed that altered gut microbiota was associated with fermentation, amino acid biosynthesis, nucleoside and nucleotide biosynthesis/degradation, fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis, carbohydrate biosynthesis/degradation, and cofactor/prosthetic group/electron carrier/vitamin biosynthesis. Conclusion Understanding the microbiome profile helps elucidate the mechanism of dapagliflozin for HF. The signature genera identified in this study could be used as a convenient method to distinguish between HF patients and healthy individuals.
format: application/pdf
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creator: Nandi Bao
creator: Xiaoli Liu
creator: Xiaoling Zhong
creator: Shuangshuang Jia
creator: Ning Hua
creator: Li Zhang
creator: Guoxin Mo
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Cardiology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15589
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Bao et al.
abstract: Aim To investigate the potential microbiome profile of a mouse model with heart failure (HF) during dapagliflozin treatment. Method An HF model was constructed in 8-week-old male mice, and cardiac tissues were analyzed using histological staining. Hemodynamic indexes were measured, and fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing. Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson were used for α-diversity analysis. b-Diversity analysis was conducted using principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) based on the Bray–Curtis distance. Linear discriminant analysis coupled with effect size measurements (LEfSe) was used to identify signature gut microbiota, and phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) was used to predict the function of altered gut microbiota. Result Dapagliflozin treatment reduced inflammation, infarction area, and cardiac fibrosis in HF mice. It also increased endothelial-dependent dilation and inflammation in mice with HF. Dapagliflozin decreased the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, which was increased in HF mice. There was no significant statistical difference in α-diversity among the control, HF, and HF+dapagliflozin groups. Desulfovibrio, AF12, and Paraprevotella were enriched in HF+dapagliflozin, while Rikenella and Mucispirillum were enriched in HF based on LEfSe. KEGG analysis revealed that altered gut microbiota was associated with fermentation, amino acid biosynthesis, nucleoside and nucleotide biosynthesis/degradation, fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis, carbohydrate biosynthesis/degradation, and cofactor/prosthetic group/electron carrier/vitamin biosynthesis. Conclusion Understanding the microbiome profile helps elucidate the mechanism of dapagliflozin for HF. The signature genera identified in this study could be used as a convenient method to distinguish between HF patients and healthy individuals.
bibliographic citation: Bao et al. (2023) Dapagliflozin-affected endothelial dysfunction and altered gut microbiota in mice with heart failure. PeerJ 11:e15589 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15589
date submitted: 2023-02-20
date accepted: 2023-05-26
issued: 2023-07-26
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Bao
  given name: Nandi
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Xiaoli
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhong
  given name: Xiaoling
author list: Agent
  family name: Jia
  given name: Shuangshuang
author list: Agent
  family name: Hua
  given name: Ning
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Li
author list: Agent
  family name: Mo
  given name: Guoxin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15589
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-26
copyright: © 2023 Bao et al.
attribution name: Bao et al.

Utilization of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive donors in liver transplantation for recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective and propensity score matching analysis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Introduction The use of extended criteria donor (ECD) grafts such as donor with infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a potential solution for organ shortage. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and long-term survival of utilization of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive (HBsAg+) donor livers in HCC patients using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Methods Forty-eight donors with HBsAg-positive and 279 donors with HBsAg-negative were transplanted and enrolled in this study. PSM analysis were used to eliminate selection bias. Perioperative data and survival were collected and analyzed. Results PSM generated 44 patient pairs. When comparing intra- and post-operative data, no significant difference was found between groups (P > 0.05). Patients with a HBsAg-positive donor had significantly worse progression-free survival (1-year: 65.9% vs. 90.9%; 3-year: 18.1% vs. 70.4%, P = 0.0060) and overall survival (1-year: 84.1% and 95.4%; 3-year: 27.2% vs. 79.5%, P = 0.0039). In multivariate analysis, donor HBsAg-positivity was an independent risk factor for survival and occurrence (P = 0.005 and 0.025, respectively). Conclusion In conclusion, with adequate antiviral prophylaxis and treatment, utilization of HBsAg positive liver grafts did not increase the incidence of early-stage complications. However, patient with an HBsAg-positive graft had poorer progression-free survival and overall survival.
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creator: Zhitao Chen
creator: Yihao Ma
creator: Yuqi Dong
creator: Chuanbao Chen
creator: Hanyu Wang
creator: Tielong Wang
creator: Jia Yu
creator: Xitao Hong
creator: Maogen Chen
creator: Xiaoshun He
creator: Weiqiang Ju
subject: Gastroenterology and Hepatology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Surgery and Surgical Specialties
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15620
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Chen et al.
abstract: Introduction The use of extended criteria donor (ECD) grafts such as donor with infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a potential solution for organ shortage. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and long-term survival of utilization of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive (HBsAg+) donor livers in HCC patients using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Methods Forty-eight donors with HBsAg-positive and 279 donors with HBsAg-negative were transplanted and enrolled in this study. PSM analysis were used to eliminate selection bias. Perioperative data and survival were collected and analyzed. Results PSM generated 44 patient pairs. When comparing intra- and post-operative data, no significant difference was found between groups (P > 0.05). Patients with a HBsAg-positive donor had significantly worse progression-free survival (1-year: 65.9% vs. 90.9%; 3-year: 18.1% vs. 70.4%, P = 0.0060) and overall survival (1-year: 84.1% and 95.4%; 3-year: 27.2% vs. 79.5%, P = 0.0039). In multivariate analysis, donor HBsAg-positivity was an independent risk factor for survival and occurrence (P = 0.005 and 0.025, respectively). Conclusion In conclusion, with adequate antiviral prophylaxis and treatment, utilization of HBsAg positive liver grafts did not increase the incidence of early-stage complications. However, patient with an HBsAg-positive graft had poorer progression-free survival and overall survival.
bibliographic citation: Chen et al. (2023) Utilization of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive donors in liver transplantation for recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective and propensity score matching analysis. PeerJ 11:e15620 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15620
date submitted: 2022-11-29
date accepted: 2023-06-01
issued: 2023-07-26
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Zhitao
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Yihao
author list: Agent
  family name: Dong
  given name: Yuqi
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Chuanbao
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Hanyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Tielong
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Jia
author list: Agent
  family name: Hong
  given name: Xitao
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Maogen
author list: Agent
  family name: He
  given name: Xiaoshun
author list: Agent
  family name: Ju
  given name: Weiqiang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15620
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-26
copyright: ©2023 Chen et al.
attribution name: Chen et al.

Unique antimicrobial activity in honey from the Australian honeypot ant (Camponotus inflatus)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Honey produced by the Australian honeypot ant (Camponotus inflatus) is valued nutritionally and medicinally by Indigenous peoples, but its antimicrobial activity has never been formally studied. Here, we determine the activity of honeypot ant honey (HPAH) against a panel of bacterial and fungal pathogens, investigate its chemical properties, and profile the bacterial and fungal microbiome of the honeypot ant for the first time. We found HPAH to have strong total activity against Staphylococcus aureus but not against other bacteria, and strong non-peroxide activity against Cryptococcus and Aspergillus sp. When compared with therapeutic-grade jarrah and manuka honey produced by honey bees, we found HPAH to have a markedly different antimicrobial activity and chemical properties, suggesting HPAH has a unique mode of antimicrobial action. We found the bacterial microbiome of honeypot ants to be dominated by the known endosymbiont genus Candidatus Blochmannia (99.75%), and the fungal microbiome to be dominated by the plant-associated genus Neocelosporium (92.77%). This study demonstrates that HPAH has unique antimicrobial characteristics that validate its therapeutic use by Indigenous peoples and may provide a lead for the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Andrew Z. Dong
creator: Nural Cokcetin
creator: Dee A. Carter
creator: Kenya E. Fernandes
subject: Entomology
subject: Food Science and Technology
subject: Microbiology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15645
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Dong et al.
abstract: Honey produced by the Australian honeypot ant (Camponotus inflatus) is valued nutritionally and medicinally by Indigenous peoples, but its antimicrobial activity has never been formally studied. Here, we determine the activity of honeypot ant honey (HPAH) against a panel of bacterial and fungal pathogens, investigate its chemical properties, and profile the bacterial and fungal microbiome of the honeypot ant for the first time. We found HPAH to have strong total activity against Staphylococcus aureus but not against other bacteria, and strong non-peroxide activity against Cryptococcus and Aspergillus sp. When compared with therapeutic-grade jarrah and manuka honey produced by honey bees, we found HPAH to have a markedly different antimicrobial activity and chemical properties, suggesting HPAH has a unique mode of antimicrobial action. We found the bacterial microbiome of honeypot ants to be dominated by the known endosymbiont genus Candidatus Blochmannia (99.75%), and the fungal microbiome to be dominated by the plant-associated genus Neocelosporium (92.77%). This study demonstrates that HPAH has unique antimicrobial characteristics that validate its therapeutic use by Indigenous peoples and may provide a lead for the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds.
bibliographic citation: Dong et al. (2023) Unique antimicrobial activity in honey from the Australian honeypot ant (Camponotus inflatus). PeerJ 11:e15645 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15645
date submitted: 2023-04-26
date accepted: 2023-06-05
issued: 2023-07-26
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Dong
  given name: Andrew Z.
author list: Agent
  family name: Cokcetin
  given name: Nural
author list: Agent
  family name: Carter
  given name: Dee A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Fernandes
  given name: Kenya E.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15645
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-26
copyright: © 2023 Dong et al.
attribution name: Dong et al.

Effect of finger rest positions on upper limb muscle activity during pre-clinical procedures
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objectives This study aimed to observe the effect of different finger rest positions on the muscular activity of the hand, forearm, arm, shoulder, thorax, and neck, as well as on the angular deviation from the neutral position of the neck, trunk, upper arm, and forearm on the working side during pre-clinical procedures. Methods An experimental laboratory study was performed. Response variables were muscle activation of the abductor pollicis, brachioradialis, biceps brachii, deltoid, pectoralis major, and right sternocleidomastoid muscles and angular deviation from the neutral position of the neck, trunk, arm, and forearm during simulated clinical procedures. Independent variable was finger-rest position during cavity preparation (no finger rest, usual rest, and ergonomic rest). Class I cavity preparations (N = 120) were performed on artificial first molars (16, 26, 36, and 46) (N = 120). Muscular activation was assessed by surface electromyography and angular deviations using Software for Postural Assessment (SAPO) version 0.69. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s or Games-Howell’s post-hoc tests were performed (α = 0.05). Results For the sternocleidomastoid muscle, there was no statistically significant difference between the different rest positions. For the deltoid muscle, work with no finger rest resulted in greater muscle activation (p < 0.001) during work on tooth 36. Regarding the pectoralis major and right brachioradialis muscles, we observed that for both teeth 16 and 26, working with ergonomic rest showed less muscle activation. Muscle activation of the right biceps brachii was higher for work with no rest in both the upper and lower arches, differing significantly only from the usual rest in tooth 16 (p < 0.001), usual rest and ergonomic rest in teeth 26 and 46 (p < 0.001), and only ergonomic rest in tooth 36 (p = 0.044). In the right abductor pollicis muscle, work with ergonomic rest resulted in less muscle activation for cavity preparation in teeth…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Júlia Margato Pazos
creator: Mariana Segnini Tiberti
creator: Simone Cecilio Hallak Regalo
creator: Lívia Nordi Dovigo
creator: Patricia Petromilli Nordi Sasso Garcia
subject: Dentistry
subject: Science and Medical Education
subject: Environmental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15663
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Margato Pazos et al.
abstract: Objectives This study aimed to observe the effect of different finger rest positions on the muscular activity of the hand, forearm, arm, shoulder, thorax, and neck, as well as on the angular deviation from the neutral position of the neck, trunk, upper arm, and forearm on the working side during pre-clinical procedures. Methods An experimental laboratory study was performed. Response variables were muscle activation of the abductor pollicis, brachioradialis, biceps brachii, deltoid, pectoralis major, and right sternocleidomastoid muscles and angular deviation from the neutral position of the neck, trunk, arm, and forearm during simulated clinical procedures. Independent variable was finger-rest position during cavity preparation (no finger rest, usual rest, and ergonomic rest). Class I cavity preparations (N = 120) were performed on artificial first molars (16, 26, 36, and 46) (N = 120). Muscular activation was assessed by surface electromyography and angular deviations using Software for Postural Assessment (SAPO) version 0.69. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s or Games-Howell’s post-hoc tests were performed (α = 0.05). Results For the sternocleidomastoid muscle, there was no statistically significant difference between the different rest positions. For the deltoid muscle, work with no finger rest resulted in greater muscle activation (p < 0.001) during work on tooth 36. Regarding the pectoralis major and right brachioradialis muscles, we observed that for both teeth 16 and 26, working with ergonomic rest showed less muscle activation. Muscle activation of the right biceps brachii was higher for work with no rest in both the upper and lower arches, differing significantly only from the usual rest in tooth 16 (p < 0.001), usual rest and ergonomic rest in teeth 26 and 46 (p < 0.001), and only ergonomic rest in tooth 36 (p = 0.044). In the right abductor pollicis muscle, work with ergonomic rest resulted in less muscle activation for cavity preparation in teeth…
bibliographic citation: Margato Pazos et al. (2023) Effect of finger rest positions on upper limb muscle activity during pre-clinical procedures. PeerJ 11:e15663 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15663
date submitted: 2022-12-21
date accepted: 2023-06-07
issued: 2023-07-26
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Margato Pazos
  given name: Júlia
author list: Agent
  family name: Segnini Tiberti
  given name: Mariana
author list: Agent
  family name: Cecilio Hallak Regalo
  given name: Simone
author list: Agent
  family name: Nordi Dovigo
  given name: Lívia
author list: Agent
  family name: Garcia
  given name: Patricia Petromilli Nordi Sasso
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15663
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-26
copyright: © 2023 Margato Pazos et al.
attribution name: Margato Pazos et al.

DNAJ heat shock protein family member C1 can regulate proliferation and migration in hepatocellular carcinoma
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background DNAJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member C1(DNAJC1) is a member of the DNAJ family. Some members of the DNAJ gene family had oncogenic properties in many cancers. However, the role of DNAJC1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was unclear. Methods In this study, expression and prognostic value of DNAJC1 in HCC were analyzed by bioinformatics. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to verify DNAJC1 expression in liver cancer cell lines. Furthermore, immunohistochemical (IHC) was used to detect DNAJC1 expression in liver cancer tissues. Subsequently, the effect of DNAJC1 on the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of HCC cells was detected by knocking down DNAJC1. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to investigate the potential mechanism of DNAJC1 and was verified by Western blotting. Results DNAJC1 was highly expressed in HCC and was significantly associated with the prognosis of patients with HCC. Importantly, the proliferation, migration and invasion of Huh7 and MHCC97H cells were inhibited by the knockdown of DNAJC1 and the knockdown of DNAJC1 promoted Huh7 and MHCC97H cell apoptosis. Furthermore, compared to the negative control group, DNAJC1 knockdown in Huh7 and MHCC97H cells promoted the expression of p21, p53, p-p53(Ser20), Bax and E-cadherin proteins, while inhibiting the expression of PARP, MMP9, Vimentin, Snai1, Bcl-2 and N-cadherin proteins. Conclusions DNAJC1 had a predictive value for the prognosis of HCC. Knockdown of DNAJC1 may inhibit HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion and promote the HCC cell apoptosis through p53 and EMT signaling pathways.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yu-Chun Fan
creator: Zhi-Yong Meng
creator: Chao-Sheng Zhang
creator: De-Wei Wei
creator: Wan-Shuo Wei
creator: Xian-Dong Xie
creator: Ming-Lu Huang
creator: Li-He Jiang
subject: Genetics
subject: Oncology
subject: Medical Genetics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15700
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Fan et al.
abstract: Background DNAJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member C1(DNAJC1) is a member of the DNAJ family. Some members of the DNAJ gene family had oncogenic properties in many cancers. However, the role of DNAJC1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was unclear. Methods In this study, expression and prognostic value of DNAJC1 in HCC were analyzed by bioinformatics. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to verify DNAJC1 expression in liver cancer cell lines. Furthermore, immunohistochemical (IHC) was used to detect DNAJC1 expression in liver cancer tissues. Subsequently, the effect of DNAJC1 on the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of HCC cells was detected by knocking down DNAJC1. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to investigate the potential mechanism of DNAJC1 and was verified by Western blotting. Results DNAJC1 was highly expressed in HCC and was significantly associated with the prognosis of patients with HCC. Importantly, the proliferation, migration and invasion of Huh7 and MHCC97H cells were inhibited by the knockdown of DNAJC1 and the knockdown of DNAJC1 promoted Huh7 and MHCC97H cell apoptosis. Furthermore, compared to the negative control group, DNAJC1 knockdown in Huh7 and MHCC97H cells promoted the expression of p21, p53, p-p53(Ser20), Bax and E-cadherin proteins, while inhibiting the expression of PARP, MMP9, Vimentin, Snai1, Bcl-2 and N-cadherin proteins. Conclusions DNAJC1 had a predictive value for the prognosis of HCC. Knockdown of DNAJC1 may inhibit HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion and promote the HCC cell apoptosis through p53 and EMT signaling pathways.
bibliographic citation: Fan et al. (2023) DNAJ heat shock protein family member C1 can regulate proliferation and migration in hepatocellular carcinoma. PeerJ 11:e15700 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15700
date submitted: 2022-12-09
date accepted: 2023-06-14
issued: 2023-07-26
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Fan
  given name: Yu-Chun
author list: Agent
  family name: Meng
  given name: Zhi-Yong
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Chao-Sheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: De-Wei
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: Wan-Shuo
author list: Agent
  family name: Xie
  given name: Xian-Dong
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Ming-Lu
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Li-He
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15700
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-26
copyright: ©2023 Fan et al.
attribution name: Fan et al.

Environmental regulations, green development of agriculture, and residents’ health—empirical analysis of Yangtze River Economic Belt in China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Environmental pollution and food safety have become key public health issues to be addressed in China. Since they are closely related to the green development of agriculture, it is of great practical significance to elucidate the intrinsic relationships between green development of agriculture, environmental regulation and residents’ health. Based on the panel data of the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2011 to 2020, this study investigates the impacts of environmental regulation and green development of agriculture on residents’ health and the influencing mechanism by applying fixed effects method, mediating effectsmethod and the spatial Dubin method. Results show that the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and agricultural films is harmful to residents’ health; environmental regulation has a negative correlation with the green development of agriculture and affect residents’ health through mediating effects; the green development of agriculture has negative spillover effects on residents’ health, indicating that purchasing finished products instead of producing locally reduces the input of production factors such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides and transfers health risks associated with agricultural production activities to neighboring areas. Intensifying command-and-control environmental regulation will induce the expansion of hidden economic activities and harm local residents’ health, while intensifying market-incentive environmental regulation will lead to the ‘Pollution Haven’ phenomenon because of the ‘race to the bottom’, in government and is harmful to the health of residents in neighboring areas. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate reasonable and feasible policies and strengthen the control and prevention of agricultural pollution to enhance green development of agriculture and improve residents’ health.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Fuling You
creator: Shilong Li
subject: Public Health
subject: Environmental Impacts
subject: Environmental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15717
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 You et al.
abstract: Environmental pollution and food safety have become key public health issues to be addressed in China. Since they are closely related to the green development of agriculture, it is of great practical significance to elucidate the intrinsic relationships between green development of agriculture, environmental regulation and residents’ health. Based on the panel data of the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2011 to 2020, this study investigates the impacts of environmental regulation and green development of agriculture on residents’ health and the influencing mechanism by applying fixed effects method, mediating effectsmethod and the spatial Dubin method. Results show that the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and agricultural films is harmful to residents’ health; environmental regulation has a negative correlation with the green development of agriculture and affect residents’ health through mediating effects; the green development of agriculture has negative spillover effects on residents’ health, indicating that purchasing finished products instead of producing locally reduces the input of production factors such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides and transfers health risks associated with agricultural production activities to neighboring areas. Intensifying command-and-control environmental regulation will induce the expansion of hidden economic activities and harm local residents’ health, while intensifying market-incentive environmental regulation will lead to the ‘Pollution Haven’ phenomenon because of the ‘race to the bottom’, in government and is harmful to the health of residents in neighboring areas. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate reasonable and feasible policies and strengthen the control and prevention of agricultural pollution to enhance green development of agriculture and improve residents’ health.
bibliographic citation: You et al. (2023) Environmental regulations, green development of agriculture, and residents’ health—empirical analysis of Yangtze River Economic Belt in China. PeerJ 11:e15717 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15717
date submitted: 2023-01-17
date accepted: 2023-06-16
issued: 2023-07-26
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: You
  given name: Fuling
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Shilong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15717
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-26
copyright: ©2023 You et al.
attribution name: You et al.

Environmental factors affecting honey bees (Apis cerana) and cabbage white butterflies (Pieris rapae) at urban farmlands
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Rapid urbanization results in a significantly increased urban population, but also the loss of agricultural lands, thus raising a concern for food security. Urban agriculture has received increasing attention as a way of improving food access in urban areas and local farmers’ livelihoods. Although vegetable-dominant small urban farmlands are relatively common in China, little is known about environmental factors associated with insects that could affect ecosystem services at these urban farmlands, which in turn influences agricultural productivity. Using Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) and cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae) as examples, I investigated how environmental features within and surrounding urban farmlands affected insect pollinator (bee) and pest (butterfly) abundance in a megacity of China during winters. I considered environmental features at three spatial scales: fine (5 m-radius area), local (50 m-radius area), and landscape (500 m-raidus and 1 km-radius areas). While the abundance of P. rapae increased with local crop diversity, it was strongly negatively associated with landscape-scale crop and weed covers. A. cerana responded positively to flower cover at the fine scale. Their abundance also increased with local-scale weed cover but decreased with increasing landscape-scale weed cover. The abundance of A. cerana tended to decrease with increasing patch density of farmlands within a landscape, i.e., farmland fragmentation. These results suggest that cultivating too diverse crops at urban farmlands can increase crop damage; however, the damage may be alleviated at farmlands embedded in a landscape with more crop cover. Retaining a small amount of un-harvested flowering crops and weedy vegetation within a farmland, especially less fragmented farmland can benefit A. cerana when natural resources are scarce.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Myung-Bok Lee
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Ecology
subject: Entomology
subject: Plant Science
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15725
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Lee
abstract: Rapid urbanization results in a significantly increased urban population, but also the loss of agricultural lands, thus raising a concern for food security. Urban agriculture has received increasing attention as a way of improving food access in urban areas and local farmers’ livelihoods. Although vegetable-dominant small urban farmlands are relatively common in China, little is known about environmental factors associated with insects that could affect ecosystem services at these urban farmlands, which in turn influences agricultural productivity. Using Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) and cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae) as examples, I investigated how environmental features within and surrounding urban farmlands affected insect pollinator (bee) and pest (butterfly) abundance in a megacity of China during winters. I considered environmental features at three spatial scales: fine (5 m-radius area), local (50 m-radius area), and landscape (500 m-raidus and 1 km-radius areas). While the abundance of P. rapae increased with local crop diversity, it was strongly negatively associated with landscape-scale crop and weed covers. A. cerana responded positively to flower cover at the fine scale. Their abundance also increased with local-scale weed cover but decreased with increasing landscape-scale weed cover. The abundance of A. cerana tended to decrease with increasing patch density of farmlands within a landscape, i.e., farmland fragmentation. These results suggest that cultivating too diverse crops at urban farmlands can increase crop damage; however, the damage may be alleviated at farmlands embedded in a landscape with more crop cover. Retaining a small amount of un-harvested flowering crops and weedy vegetation within a farmland, especially less fragmented farmland can benefit A. cerana when natural resources are scarce.
bibliographic citation: Lee (2023) Environmental factors affecting honey bees (Apis cerana) and cabbage white butterflies (Pieris rapae) at urban farmlands. PeerJ 11:e15725 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15725
date submitted: 2023-03-21
date accepted: 2023-06-18
issued: 2023-07-26
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lee
  given name: Myung-Bok
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15725
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-26
copyright: ©2023 Lee
attribution name: Lee

Morphological and molecular analysis of the tropical hermit crab Calcinus vachoni (Decapoda, Diogenidae) and its potential association with colonial anemone
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Calcinus is the colorful hermit crab genus belonging to the family Diogenidae and is often found in coral reefs of the tropical Indo-West Pacific region, including southern Honshu, Japan, which is the northern limit of their occurrence. In the present study, we found C. vachoni for the first time in the intertidal zone of Jeju Island—the southernmost island of South Korea. We examined their morphology and provided a diagnosis of their morphological details with illustrations. In addition, the Korean Calcinus population was genetically characterized using mtDNA cox1 sequences and by placing them into three previously reported regional haplogroups. The phylogenetic tree from maximum likelihood analysis revealed that Korean C. vachoni is assigned to the C. vachoni haplogroups exclusively, one of the three well-supported mitochondrial haplogroups with distinct geographic ranges (i.e., C. vachoni, C. aff. vachoni Cooks, and C. aff. vachoni Mascarenes). This result provides new information on the species distribution of C.vachoni, extending their geographic range further north into the southern coast of Korea. In this study, we also first report the potential association of C. vachoni with their co-occurring colonial anemone species Palythoa aff. mutuki and dead coral head of Pocillopora species based on our on-site observation and a public coral collection database of Calcinus species. However, their ecological association with co-occurring coral species is putatively assumed for now and therefore has to be validated by compelling evidence from further field observation and experimental studies (i.e., whether the presence/absence of colonial anemones affects the behavior and survival of the hermit crabs).
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jibom Jung
creator: Joong-Ki Park
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15691
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Jung and Park
abstract: Calcinus is the colorful hermit crab genus belonging to the family Diogenidae and is often found in coral reefs of the tropical Indo-West Pacific region, including southern Honshu, Japan, which is the northern limit of their occurrence. In the present study, we found C. vachoni for the first time in the intertidal zone of Jeju Island—the southernmost island of South Korea. We examined their morphology and provided a diagnosis of their morphological details with illustrations. In addition, the Korean Calcinus population was genetically characterized using mtDNA cox1 sequences and by placing them into three previously reported regional haplogroups. The phylogenetic tree from maximum likelihood analysis revealed that Korean C. vachoni is assigned to the C. vachoni haplogroups exclusively, one of the three well-supported mitochondrial haplogroups with distinct geographic ranges (i.e., C. vachoni, C. aff. vachoni Cooks, and C. aff. vachoni Mascarenes). This result provides new information on the species distribution of C.vachoni, extending their geographic range further north into the southern coast of Korea. In this study, we also first report the potential association of C. vachoni with their co-occurring colonial anemone species Palythoa aff. mutuki and dead coral head of Pocillopora species based on our on-site observation and a public coral collection database of Calcinus species. However, their ecological association with co-occurring coral species is putatively assumed for now and therefore has to be validated by compelling evidence from further field observation and experimental studies (i.e., whether the presence/absence of colonial anemones affects the behavior and survival of the hermit crabs).
bibliographic citation: Jung et al. (2023) Morphological and molecular analysis of the tropical hermit crab Calcinus vachoni (Decapoda, Diogenidae) and its potential association with colonial anemone. PeerJ 11:e15691 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15691
date submitted: 2022-12-23
date accepted: 2023-06-14
issued: 2023-07-25
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Jung
  given name: Jibom
author list: Agent
  family name: Park
  given name: Joong-Ki
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15691
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-25
copyright: © 2023 Jung and Park
attribution name: Jung and Park

Behavioral responses of different reproductive statuses and sexes in Hermetia illucens (L) adults to different attractants
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The odor of various fermented organic materials acts as an attractant for oviposition by gravid females of the black soldier fly (BSF) to find larval food sources. Females display oviposition site selection on various organic materials, but little work has been done on the response to substrate attractants under caged conditions similar to those in a BSF farm production system. Methods Fifty of each reproductive status (mated and virgin) and sex (males and females) of BSF adults were marked and then exposed to one of five different oviposition attractants in a transparent acrylic chamber: no substrate (control) plus pineapple, mixed vegetables, okara, and fermented fish to represent fruit-, vegetable-, plant protein-, and animal protein-based substrates, respectively. The frequency of the perching activity on the oviposition apparatus and flying behavior under the LED illumination, including the laid egg weight, were recorded. Results The sexually-related activities of BSF adults were clearly observed. A majority of the females preferred to perch on the oviposition apparatus and fly around the illuminated area compared to the very low activities of the mated males. The BSF adults displayed different behavioral responses to the different tested attractants. While active flying was common when using plant protein- and animal protein-based substrates, mated females showed the greatest perching preference for plant-based substrates (fruit and vegetables) and this correlated with the laid egg weight. Discussion Egg-laying was more likely to happen on the plant-based substrate than on the animal protein-based substrate. However, the strong smell of the animal protein-based substrate could strongly trigger lekking behavior, which is an important part of mating behavior. This knowledge can support egg trapping in nature and also improve the efficiency of egg production in mass-rearing facilities.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Parichart Laksanawimol
creator: Sukdee Singsa
creator: Anchana Thancharoen
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Entomology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15701
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Laksanawimol et al.
abstract: Background The odor of various fermented organic materials acts as an attractant for oviposition by gravid females of the black soldier fly (BSF) to find larval food sources. Females display oviposition site selection on various organic materials, but little work has been done on the response to substrate attractants under caged conditions similar to those in a BSF farm production system. Methods Fifty of each reproductive status (mated and virgin) and sex (males and females) of BSF adults were marked and then exposed to one of five different oviposition attractants in a transparent acrylic chamber: no substrate (control) plus pineapple, mixed vegetables, okara, and fermented fish to represent fruit-, vegetable-, plant protein-, and animal protein-based substrates, respectively. The frequency of the perching activity on the oviposition apparatus and flying behavior under the LED illumination, including the laid egg weight, were recorded. Results The sexually-related activities of BSF adults were clearly observed. A majority of the females preferred to perch on the oviposition apparatus and fly around the illuminated area compared to the very low activities of the mated males. The BSF adults displayed different behavioral responses to the different tested attractants. While active flying was common when using plant protein- and animal protein-based substrates, mated females showed the greatest perching preference for plant-based substrates (fruit and vegetables) and this correlated with the laid egg weight. Discussion Egg-laying was more likely to happen on the plant-based substrate than on the animal protein-based substrate. However, the strong smell of the animal protein-based substrate could strongly trigger lekking behavior, which is an important part of mating behavior. This knowledge can support egg trapping in nature and also improve the efficiency of egg production in mass-rearing facilities.
bibliographic citation: Laksanawimol et al. (2023) Behavioral responses of different reproductive statuses and sexes in Hermetia illucens (L) adults to different attractants. PeerJ 11:e15701 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15701
date submitted: 2023-03-29
date accepted: 2023-06-14
issued: 2023-07-25
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Laksanawimol
  given name: Parichart
author list: Agent
  family name: Singsa
  given name: Sukdee
author list: Agent
  family name: Thancharoen
  given name: Anchana
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15701
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-25
copyright: ©2023 Laksanawimol et al.
attribution name: Laksanawimol et al.

Biology and ecology of the lionfish Pterois volitans/Pterois miles as invasive alien species: a review
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The lionfish is an exotic invasive fish native to the Indo-Pacific, which is established in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Lionfish can affect native fishes and invertebrates through direct predation or competition for food. The present review aims to analyze the most relevant characteristics of the biology and ecology of lionfish as an invasive alien species, with an emphasis on Cuba. We provide a current view of the well-known lionfish as a successful invasive fish, and we put in this context the information regarding lionfish in Cuban waters, enriching the background knowledge, and giving novel and relevant information. The compilation of numerous publications on the subject has allowed for a more complete analysis of essential aspects of this invader in the Cuban archipelago. The consulted literature records that the first report of lionfish in Cuba occurred in 2007; subsequently, sightings of lionfish were reported in numerous localities. In 2010, the lionfish was considered an invasive alien species, which currently is established in various habitats, at depths up to 188 m, throughout the Cuban archipelago (e.g., coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, submerged artificial structures). In addition, it has reached very high densities (12.42 ind./100 m2), which exceed those reported in the Indo-Pacific as well as in many locations in the Western Atlantic. It has been confirmed that the lionfish in Cuba also presents numerous characteristics that guarantee its success as an invader, among them: less quantity and diversity of parasites than other Atlantic fishes found in similar environments, a high number of gametes in the gonads, reproductive activity during all year and wide diet. The most important fish families for the lionfish diet in Cuba have been Pomacentridae, Gobiidae, Scaridae, Holocentridae, Mullidae, Labridae and Acanthuridae; and the most important crustacean orders are Decapoda, Mysida, Stomatopoda and Isopoda. In Cuba, as in the …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Laura del Río
creator: Zenaida María Navarro-Martínez
creator: Dorka Cobián-Rojas
creator: Pedro Pablo Chevalier-Monteagudo
creator: Jorge A. Angulo-Valdes
creator: Leandro Rodriguez-Viera
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Ecology
subject: Marine Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15728
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 del Río et al.
abstract: The lionfish is an exotic invasive fish native to the Indo-Pacific, which is established in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Lionfish can affect native fishes and invertebrates through direct predation or competition for food. The present review aims to analyze the most relevant characteristics of the biology and ecology of lionfish as an invasive alien species, with an emphasis on Cuba. We provide a current view of the well-known lionfish as a successful invasive fish, and we put in this context the information regarding lionfish in Cuban waters, enriching the background knowledge, and giving novel and relevant information. The compilation of numerous publications on the subject has allowed for a more complete analysis of essential aspects of this invader in the Cuban archipelago. The consulted literature records that the first report of lionfish in Cuba occurred in 2007; subsequently, sightings of lionfish were reported in numerous localities. In 2010, the lionfish was considered an invasive alien species, which currently is established in various habitats, at depths up to 188 m, throughout the Cuban archipelago (e.g., coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, submerged artificial structures). In addition, it has reached very high densities (12.42 ind./100 m2), which exceed those reported in the Indo-Pacific as well as in many locations in the Western Atlantic. It has been confirmed that the lionfish in Cuba also presents numerous characteristics that guarantee its success as an invader, among them: less quantity and diversity of parasites than other Atlantic fishes found in similar environments, a high number of gametes in the gonads, reproductive activity during all year and wide diet. The most important fish families for the lionfish diet in Cuba have been Pomacentridae, Gobiidae, Scaridae, Holocentridae, Mullidae, Labridae and Acanthuridae; and the most important crustacean orders are Decapoda, Mysida, Stomatopoda and Isopoda. In Cuba, as in the …
bibliographic citation: del Río et al. (2023) Biology and ecology of the lionfish Pterois volitans/Pterois miles as invasive alien species: a review. PeerJ 11:e15728 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15728
date submitted: 2023-01-25
date accepted: 2023-06-18
issued: 2023-07-25
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: del Río
  given name: Laura
author list: Agent
  family name: Navarro-Martínez
  given name: Zenaida María
author list: Agent
  family name: Cobián-Rojas
  given name: Dorka
author list: Agent
  family name: Chevalier-Monteagudo
  given name: Pedro Pablo
author list: Agent
  family name: Angulo-Valdes
  given name: Jorge A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Rodriguez-Viera
  given name: Leandro
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15728
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-25
copyright: ©2023 del Río et al.
attribution name: del Río et al.

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