PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
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
items: Effects of company and season on blood fluke (Cardicola spp.) infection in ranched Southern Bluefin Tuna: preliminary evidence infection has a negative effect on fish growth
items: Restoring South African subtropical succulent thicket using Portulacaria afra: exploring the rooting window hypothesis
items: Phosphorylation of the N-terminus of Syntaxin-16 controls interaction with mVps45 and GLUT4 trafficking in adipocytes

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.

Effects of company and season on blood fluke (Cardicola spp.) infection in ranched Southern Bluefin Tuna: preliminary evidence infection has a negative effect on fish growth
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Aporocotylid blood flukes Cardicola forsteri and C. orientalis are an ongoing health concern for Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT), Thunnus maccoyii, ranched in Australia. Therapeutic application of praziquantel (PZQ) has reduced SBT mortalities, however PZQ is not a residual treatment therefore reinfection can occur after the single treatment application. This study documents the epidemiology of Cardicola spp. infection in ranched SBT post treatment over three ranching seasons (2018, 2019 and 2021). Infection prevalence (percentage of SBT affected) and intensity (parasite load) was determined by adult fluke counts from heart, egg counts from gill filaments and the use of specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for detection of C. forsteri and C. orientalis ITS-2 DNA in SBT hearts and gills. SBT Condition Index decreased as intensity of Cardicola spp. DNA in SBT gills increased, suggesting blood fluke infection had a negative effect on SBT growth (Spearman’s r = −0.2426, d.f. = 138, p = 0.0041). Prevalence and intensity of infection indicated PZQ remained highly effective at controlling Cardicola spp. infection in ranched SBT, 10 years after PZQ administration began in this industry. Company A had the highest prevalence and intensity of Cardicola spp. infection in 2018, and Company G had the highest in 2019. No consistent pattern was seen in 2021. Overall, intensity of infection did not increase as ranching duration increased post treatment. Results from this study improve our knowledge of the biology of blood flukes and helps the SBT industry to modify or design new blood fluke management strategies to reduce health risks and improve performance of SBT.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Cecilia Power
creator: Melissa Carabott
creator: Maree Widdicombe
creator: Lachlan Coff
creator: Kirsten Rough
creator: Barbara Nowak
creator: Nathan J. Bott
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Parasitology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15763
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Power et al.
abstract: Aporocotylid blood flukes Cardicola forsteri and C. orientalis are an ongoing health concern for Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT), Thunnus maccoyii, ranched in Australia. Therapeutic application of praziquantel (PZQ) has reduced SBT mortalities, however PZQ is not a residual treatment therefore reinfection can occur after the single treatment application. This study documents the epidemiology of Cardicola spp. infection in ranched SBT post treatment over three ranching seasons (2018, 2019 and 2021). Infection prevalence (percentage of SBT affected) and intensity (parasite load) was determined by adult fluke counts from heart, egg counts from gill filaments and the use of specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for detection of C. forsteri and C. orientalis ITS-2 DNA in SBT hearts and gills. SBT Condition Index decreased as intensity of Cardicola spp. DNA in SBT gills increased, suggesting blood fluke infection had a negative effect on SBT growth (Spearman’s r = −0.2426, d.f. = 138, p = 0.0041). Prevalence and intensity of infection indicated PZQ remained highly effective at controlling Cardicola spp. infection in ranched SBT, 10 years after PZQ administration began in this industry. Company A had the highest prevalence and intensity of Cardicola spp. infection in 2018, and Company G had the highest in 2019. No consistent pattern was seen in 2021. Overall, intensity of infection did not increase as ranching duration increased post treatment. Results from this study improve our knowledge of the biology of blood flukes and helps the SBT industry to modify or design new blood fluke management strategies to reduce health risks and improve performance of SBT.
bibliographic citation: Power et al. (2023) Effects of company and season on blood fluke (Cardicola spp.) infection in ranched Southern Bluefin Tuna: preliminary evidence infection has a negative effect on fish growth. PeerJ 11:e15763 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15763
date submitted: 2023-04-20
date accepted: 2023-06-27
issued: 2023-07-25
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Power
  given name: Cecilia
author list: Agent
  family name: Carabott
  given name: Melissa
author list: Agent
  family name: Widdicombe
  given name: Maree
author list: Agent
  family name: Coff
  given name: Lachlan
author list: Agent
  family name: Rough
  given name: Kirsten
author list: Agent
  family name: Nowak
  given name: Barbara
author list: Agent
  family name: Bott
  given name: Nathan J.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15763
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-25
copyright: © 2023 Power et al.
attribution name: Power et al.

Restoring South African subtropical succulent thicket using Portulacaria afra: exploring the rooting window hypothesis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Drought prone, arid and semi-arid ecosystems are challenging to restore once degraded due to low levels of natural recruitment and survival of reintroduced plants. This is evident in the restoration of degraded succulent thicket habitats in the Albany Subtropical Thicket Biome located in South Africa. The current restoration practice for this ecosystem focuses predominantly on reintroducing Portulacaria afra L. Jacq., which is naturally dominant in terms of cover and biomass, but largely absent in regions degraded by domestic livestock. This has been achieved by planting unrooted cuttings with limited consideration of soil water availability in a drought-prone ecosystem. This study tests the effects of the timing of water availability after planting on the root development of P. afra cuttings. Cuttings were harvested from seven individual plants and grown in a glasshouse setting. Eighty four cuttings were taken from each individual, twelve for each of the seven watering treatments per individual plant. The treatments represented a time-staggered initial watering after planting, including: on the day of planting, 4 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, and 28 days after planting. After 32 days, all treatments were watered on a bi-weekly basis for two weeks; a control treatment with no watering throughout the experiment was included. The proportion of rooted cuttings per treatment and dry root mass were determined at the end of the experimental period (day 42). The early onset of watering was associated with a higher percentage of rooting (X2(5) = 11.352, p = 0.045) and had a weak, but non-significant, impact on the final dry root mass (F5,36 = 2.109, p = 0.0631). Importantly, no clear rooting window within 28 days was detected as the majority of cuttings exhibited root development (greater than 50% of cuttings rooted for each individual parent-plant); this suggests that watering at the time of planting P. afra cuttings in-field for restoration may not be necessary. An unex…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Nicholas C. Galuszynski
creator: Ryan E. Forbes
creator: Gavin M. Rishworth
creator: Alastair J. Potts
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Plant Science
subject: Natural Resource Management
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15538
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Galuszynski et al.
abstract: Drought prone, arid and semi-arid ecosystems are challenging to restore once degraded due to low levels of natural recruitment and survival of reintroduced plants. This is evident in the restoration of degraded succulent thicket habitats in the Albany Subtropical Thicket Biome located in South Africa. The current restoration practice for this ecosystem focuses predominantly on reintroducing Portulacaria afra L. Jacq., which is naturally dominant in terms of cover and biomass, but largely absent in regions degraded by domestic livestock. This has been achieved by planting unrooted cuttings with limited consideration of soil water availability in a drought-prone ecosystem. This study tests the effects of the timing of water availability after planting on the root development of P. afra cuttings. Cuttings were harvested from seven individual plants and grown in a glasshouse setting. Eighty four cuttings were taken from each individual, twelve for each of the seven watering treatments per individual plant. The treatments represented a time-staggered initial watering after planting, including: on the day of planting, 4 days, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, and 28 days after planting. After 32 days, all treatments were watered on a bi-weekly basis for two weeks; a control treatment with no watering throughout the experiment was included. The proportion of rooted cuttings per treatment and dry root mass were determined at the end of the experimental period (day 42). The early onset of watering was associated with a higher percentage of rooting (X2(5) = 11.352, p = 0.045) and had a weak, but non-significant, impact on the final dry root mass (F5,36 = 2.109, p = 0.0631). Importantly, no clear rooting window within 28 days was detected as the majority of cuttings exhibited root development (greater than 50% of cuttings rooted for each individual parent-plant); this suggests that watering at the time of planting P. afra cuttings in-field for restoration may not be necessary. An unex…
bibliographic citation: Galuszynski et al. (2023) Restoring South African subtropical succulent thicket using Portulacaria afra: exploring the rooting window hypothesis. PeerJ 11:e15538 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15538
date submitted: 2022-12-16
date accepted: 2023-05-21
issued: 2023-07-24
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Galuszynski
  given name: Nicholas C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Forbes
  given name: Ryan E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Rishworth
  given name: Gavin M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Potts
  given name: Alastair J.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15538
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-24
copyright: ©2023 Galuszynski et al.
attribution name: Galuszynski et al.

Phosphorylation of the N-terminus of Syntaxin-16 controls interaction with mVps45 and GLUT4 trafficking in adipocytes
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The ability of insulin to stimulate glucose transport in muscle and fat cells is mediated by the regulated delivery of intracellular vesicles containing glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) to the plasma membrane, a process known to be defective in disease such as Type 2 diabetes. In the absence of insulin, GLUT4 is sequestered in tubules and vesicles within the cytosol, collectively known as the GLUT4 storage compartment. A subset of these vesicles, known as the ‘insulin responsive vesicles’ are selectively delivered to the cell surface in response to insulin. We have previously identified Syntaxin16 (Sx16) and its cognate Sec1/Munc18 protein family member mVps45 as key regulatory proteins involved in the delivery of GLUT4 into insulin responsive vesicles. Here we show that mutation of a key residue within the Sx16 N-terminus involved in mVps45 binding, and the mutation of the Sx16 binding site in mVps45 both perturb GLUT4 sorting, consistent with an important role of the interaction of these two proteins in GLUT4 trafficking. We identify Threonine-7 (T7) as a site of phosphorylation of Sx16 in vitro. Mutation of T7 to D impairs Sx16 binding to mVps45 in vitro and overexpression of T7D significantly impaired insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes. We show that both AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its relative SIK2 phosphorylate this site. Our data suggest that Sx16 T7 is a potentially important regulatory site for GLUT4 trafficking in adipocytes.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Shaun K. Bremner
creator: Rebecca Berends
creator: Alexandra Kaupisch
creator: Jennifer Roccisana
creator: Calum Sutherland
creator: Nia J. Bryant
creator: Gwyn W. Gould
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.15630
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2023 Bremner et al.
abstract: The ability of insulin to stimulate glucose transport in muscle and fat cells is mediated by the regulated delivery of intracellular vesicles containing glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) to the plasma membrane, a process known to be defective in disease such as Type 2 diabetes. In the absence of insulin, GLUT4 is sequestered in tubules and vesicles within the cytosol, collectively known as the GLUT4 storage compartment. A subset of these vesicles, known as the ‘insulin responsive vesicles’ are selectively delivered to the cell surface in response to insulin. We have previously identified Syntaxin16 (Sx16) and its cognate Sec1/Munc18 protein family member mVps45 as key regulatory proteins involved in the delivery of GLUT4 into insulin responsive vesicles. Here we show that mutation of a key residue within the Sx16 N-terminus involved in mVps45 binding, and the mutation of the Sx16 binding site in mVps45 both perturb GLUT4 sorting, consistent with an important role of the interaction of these two proteins in GLUT4 trafficking. We identify Threonine-7 (T7) as a site of phosphorylation of Sx16 in vitro. Mutation of T7 to D impairs Sx16 binding to mVps45 in vitro and overexpression of T7D significantly impaired insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes. We show that both AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its relative SIK2 phosphorylate this site. Our data suggest that Sx16 T7 is a potentially important regulatory site for GLUT4 trafficking in adipocytes.
bibliographic citation: Bremner et al. (2023) Phosphorylation of the N-terminus of Syntaxin-16 controls interaction with mVps45 and GLUT4 trafficking in adipocytes. PeerJ 11:e15630 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15630
date submitted: 2023-02-20
date accepted: 2023-06-02
issued: 2023-07-24
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Bremner
  given name: Shaun K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Berends
  given name: Rebecca
author list: Agent
  family name: Kaupisch
  given name: Alexandra
author list: Agent
  family name: Roccisana
  given name: Jennifer
author list: Agent
  family name: Sutherland
  given name: Calum
author list: Agent
  family name: Bryant
  given name: Nia J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Gould
  given name: Gwyn W.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.15630
volume: 11
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2023-07-24
copyright: ©2023 Bremner et al.
attribution name: Bremner et al.

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