Captive breeding in the endangered alpine tree frog, Litoria verreauxii alpina
Amphibians are experiencing dramatic worldwide declines and many species are reliant on captive breeding programs to ensure continued survival. However, captive breeding in amphibians is not always successful because many species, especially ones in decline, have particular and specific breeding needs. The endangered alpine tree frog, Litoria verreauxii alpina, has never been bred in captivity before. Due to its dramatic declines across the Australian Alps caused by the global pandemic chytridiomycosis, the species is a potential candidate for captive assurance colonies, which rely on captive breeding. For this study we tested hormone induction using two hormones that have had some success in other amphibian species, to no avail. We then tried outdoor breeding mesocosms during the winter/spring at temperatures similar to their natural breeding season, which was successful. Sixty-five percent of the egg masses laid successfully hatched tadpoles. Females laid more than one clutch over the experiment indicating either a shorter than annual ovulation cycle, or that females are capable of partial ovulation during breeding events. Outdoor breeding mesocosms are a possibility outside the native climate of a species, provided that temperatures overlap with their natural environment. Here, we highlight that troubleshooting is essential before embarking on a captive breeding program of a species that has not been bred before. Hormonal induction of breeding is not always successful; therefore, outdoor mesocosms might be required to achieve healthy tadpoles.
Brannelly et al. (2023) Captive breeding in the endangered alpine tree frog, Litoria verreauxii alpina. PeerJ 11:e15179 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15179
Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identify three structural dimensions for measuring physical function in community-dwelling older adults
Background Physical function is a strong indicator of biological age and quality of life among older adults. However, the results from studies exploring the structural dimensions of physical function are inconsistent, and the measures assessed vary greatly, leading to a lack of comparability among them. This study aimed to construct a model to identify structural dimensions that are suitable and best assess physical function among community-dwelling adults 60–74 years of age in China. Method This study was conducted in 11 communities in Shanghai, China, from May to July 2021. A total of 381 adults 60–74 years of age were included in the study. Measured physical function data were used in factor analyses. Data collected from individuals were randomly assigned to either exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 190) or confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n = 191). The statistical software used in the study was SPSS for EFA and AMOS for CFA. To test the properties of the structural dimension model of physical function, various fit indices, convergent validity, and discriminant validity were calculated. Results The EFA results derived seven indicators in three factors, with 58.548% of the total variance explained. The three factors were mobility function (three indicators), which explained 26.380% of the variance, handgrip strength and pulmonary function (two indicators), which explained 19.117% of the variance, and muscle strength (two indicators) which explained 13.050% of the variance. The CFA indicated that this model had an acceptable fit (χ2/df ratio, 2.102; GFI, 0.967; IFI, 0.960; CFI, 0.959; and RMSEA, 0.076), and the criteria for convergent validity and discriminability were also met by the model. Conclusion The constructed structural dimension model of physical function appeared to be a suitable and reliable tool to measure physical function in community-dwelling adults aged 60–74 years in China. The structural dimension indicators identified by this model may help sports medicine experts and healthcare providers offer more targeted interventions for older adults to reverse or slow the decline of physical function and to offer actionable targets for healthy aging in this population.
Jiang et al. (2023) Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identify three structural dimensions for measuring physical function in community-dwelling older adults. PeerJ 11:e15182 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15182
The influence of climate warming on flowering phenology in relation to historical annual and seasonal temperatures and plant functional traits
Climate warming has the potential to influence plant flowering phenology which in turn can have broader ecological consequences. Herbarium collections offer a source of historical plant data that makes possible the ability to document and better understand how warming climate can influence long-term shifts in flowering phenology. We examined the influence of annual, winter, and spring temperatures on the flowering phenology of herbarium specimens for 36 species collected from 1884–2015. We then compared the response to warming between native and non-native, woody and herbaceous, dry and fleshy fruit, and spring vs summer blooming species. Across all species, plants flowered 2.26 days earlier per 1 °C increase in annual average temperatures and 2.93 days earlier per 1 °C increase in spring onset average temperatures. Winter temperatures did not significantly influence flowering phenology. The relationship of temperature and flowering phenology was not significantly different between native and non-native species. Woody species flowered earlier than herbaceous species only in response to increasing annual temperatures. There was no difference in the phenological response between species with dry fruits and those fleshy fruits for any of the temperature periods. Spring blooming species exhibited a significantly greater phenological response to warming yearly average temperatures than summer blooming species. Although herbarium specimens can reveal climate change impacts on phenology, it is also evident that the phenological responses to warming vary greatly among species due to differences in functional traits such as those considered here, as well as other factors.
Geissler et al. (2023) The influence of climate warming on flowering phenology in relation to historical annual and seasonal temperatures and plant functional traits. PeerJ 11:e15188 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15188
Feeding preferences and the effect of temperature on feeding rates of the graceful kelp crab, Pugettia gracilis
Graceful kelp crabs (Pugettia gracilis) are abundant consumers in shallow subtidal ecosystems of the Salish Sea. These dynamic habitats are currently experiencing multiple changes including invasion by non-native seaweeds and ocean warming. However, little is known about P. gracilis’ foraging ecology, therefore we investigated their feeding preferences between native and invasive food sources, as well as feeding rates at elevated temperatures to better assess their role in changing coastal food webs. To quantify crab feeding preferences, we collected P. gracilis from San Juan Island, WA and conducted no-choice and choice experiments with two food sources: the native kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana, and the invasive seaweed, Sargassum muticum. In no-choice experiments, P. gracilis ate equal amounts of N. luetkeana and S. muticum. However, in choice experiments, P. gracilis preferred N. luetkeana over S. muticum. To test effects of temperature on these feeding rates, we exposed P. gracilis to ambient (11.5 ± 1.3 °C) or elevated (19.5 ± 1.8 °C) temperature treatments and measured consumption of the preferred food type, N. luetkeana. Crabs exposed to elevated temperatures ate significantly more than those in the ambient treatment. Our study demonstrates the diet flexibility of P. gracilis, suggesting they may be able to exploit increasing populations of invasive S. muticum in the Salish Sea. Warming ocean temperatures may also prompt P. gracilis to increase feeding, exacerbating harmful impacts on N. luetkeana, which is already vulnerable to warming and invasive competitors.
Johnson et al. (2023) Feeding preferences and the effect of temperature on feeding rates of the graceful kelp crab, Pugettia gracilis. PeerJ 11:e15223 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15223
The ‘what’ and ‘how’ of screening for social needs in healthcare settings: a scoping review
Background Adverse social determinants of health give rise to individual-level social needs that have the potential to negatively impact health. Screening patients to identify unmet social needs is becoming more widespread. A review of the content of currently available screening tools is warranted. The aim of this scoping review was to determine what social needs categories are included in published Social Needs Screening Tools that have been developed for use in primary care settings, and how these social needs are screened. Methods We pre-registered the study on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/dqan2/). We searched MEDLINE and Embase from 01/01/2010 to 3/05/2022 to identify eligible studies reporting tools designed for use in primary healthcare settings. Two reviewers independently screened studies, a single reviewer extracted data. We summarised the characteristics of included studies descriptively and calculated the number of studies that collected data relevant to specific social needs categories. We identified sub-categories to classify the types of questions relevant to each of the main categories. Results We identified 420 unique citations, and 27 were included. Nine additional studies were retrieved by searching for tools that were used or referred to in excluded studies. Questions relating to food insecurity and the physical environment in which a person lives were the most frequently included items (92–94% of tools), followed by questions relating to economic stability and aspects of social and community context (81%). Seventy-five percent of the screening tools included items that evaluated five or more social needs categories (mean 6.5; standard deviation 1.75). One study reported that the tool had been ‘validated’; 16 reported ‘partial’ validation; 12 reported that the tool was ‘not validated’ and seven studies did not report validation processes or outcomes.
Karran et al. (2023) The ‘what’ and ‘how’ of screening for social needs in healthcare settings: a scoping review. PeerJ 11:e15263 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15263
Are anthropometric characteristics powerful markers to predict the Cooper Run Test? Actual Caucasian data
Background Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a powerful marker of cardiovascular health, especially in youth. Several field tests can provide accurate measurement of CRF, the Cooper Run Test (CRT) is generally preferred by physical education (PE) teachers and trainers. The CRT performance in adolescents has been compared to reference distance values, gender and age but the differences among the anthropometric characteristics of youth has not been evaluated. For these reasons, the aim of this study was to develop reference standards for CRT and evaluate possible correlations between biometric measurements and athletic performance. Methods This cross-sectional study involved a total of 9,477 children (4,615 girls) aged 11–14 years, freely recruited from North Italian middle schools. Mass, height and CRT performances were assessed in the morning during PE classes as scheduled (mornings-Monday to Friday). The anthropometric measures were collected at least 20 min before the CRT run test. Results We found a better CRT result in boys (p < 0.001), however a smaller SD in girls suggested a more homogeneous aerobic performance for girls (i.e., 371.12 m vs 282.00 m). In addition, the Shapiro-Wilk test showed a low p-value (p < 0.001) but the effect size (0.031 for boys and 0.022 for girls) was small enough that the correction on this parameter allows a practical assumption of normality for the distributions. A visual homoskedastic distribution in both sexes is evident for both body mass index (BMI), mass and VO2 peak with respect to CRT results. In addition, there were low linear correlation coefficients for both BMI, mass and VO2 peak compared to the CRT results, with a R2 < 0.5 for every covariate. The only visual heteroskedastic distribution was observed in regression between distance in CRT and age at peak high velocity. Conclusions Our findings suggested that anthropometric characteristics are not powerful markers to predict Cooper Run Test results in a well-mixed, unpolarized and unbiased pool of middle school boys and girls. PE teachers and trainers should prefer endurance tests over the use of indirect formulas to predict performance.
Azzali et al. (2023) Are anthropometric characteristics powerful markers to predict the Cooper Run Test? Actual Caucasian data. PeerJ 11:e15271 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15271
Myriad applications of bacteriophages beyond phage therapy
Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entity on the planet, having pivotal roles in bacterial ecology, animal and plant health, and in the biogeochemical cycles. Although, in principle, phages are simple entities that replicate at the expense of their bacterial hosts, due the importance of bacteria in all aspects of nature, they have the potential to influence and modify diverse processes, either in subtle or profound ways. Traditionally, the main application of bacteriophages is phage therapy, which is their utilization to combat and help to clear bacterial infections, from enteric diseases, to skin infections, chronic infections, sepsis, etc. Nevertheless, phages can also be potentially used for several other tasks, including food preservation, disinfection of surfaces, treatment of several dysbioses, and modulation of microbiomes. Phages may also be used as tools for the treatment of non-bacterial infections and pest control in agriculture; moreover, they can be used to decrease bacterial virulence and antibiotic resistance and even to combat global warming. In this review manuscript we discuss these possible applications and promote their implementation.
Environmental Contamination and Remediation
García-Cruz et al. (2023) Myriad applications of bacteriophages beyond phage therapy. PeerJ 11:e15272 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15272
A retrospective investigation of spatial clusters and determinants of diabetes prevalence: scan statistics and geographically weighted regression modeling approaches
Background Diabetes and its complications represent a significant public health burden in the United States. Some communities have disproportionately high risks of the disease. Identification of these disparities is critical for guiding policy and control efforts to reduce/eliminate the inequities and improve population health. Thus, the objectives of this study were to investigate geographic high-prevalence clusters, temporal changes, and predictors of diabetes prevalence in Florida. Methods Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for 2013 and 2016 were provided by the Florida Department of Health. Tests for equality of proportions were used to identify counties with significant changes in the prevalence of diabetes between 2013 and 2016. The Simes method was used to adjust for multiple comparisons. Significant spatial clusters of counties with high diabetes prevalence were identified using Tango’s flexible spatial scan statistic. A global multivariable regression model was fit to identify predictors of diabetes prevalence. A geographically weighted regression model was fit to assess for spatial non-stationarity of the regression coefficients and fit a local model. Results There was a small but significant increase in the prevalence of diabetes in Florida (10.1% in 2013 to 10.4% in 2016), and statistically significant increases in prevalence occurred in 61% (41/67) of counties in the state. Significant, high-prevalence clusters of diabetes were identified. Counties with a high burden of the condition tended to have high proportions of the population that were non-Hispanic Black, had limited access to healthy foods, were unemployed, physically inactive, and had arthritis. Significant non-stationarity of regression coefficients was observed for the following variables: proportion of the population physically inactive, proportion with limited access to healthy foods, proportion unemployed, and proportion with arthritis. However, density of fitness and recreational facilities had a confounding effect on the association between diabetes prevalence and levels of unemployment, physical inactivity, and arthritis. Inclusion of this variable decreased the strength of these relationships in the global model, and reduced the number of counties with statistically significant associations in the local model. Conclusions The persistent geographic disparities of diabetes prevalence and temporal increases identified in this study are concerning. There is evidence that the impacts of the determinants on diabetes risk vary by geographical location. This implies that a one-size-fits-all approach to disease control/prevention would be inadequate to curb the problem. Therefore, health programs will need to use evidence-based approaches to guide health programs and resource allocation to reduce disparities and improve population health.
Lord et al. (2023) A retrospective investigation of spatial clusters and determinants of diabetes prevalence: scan statistics and geographically weighted regression modeling approaches. PeerJ 11:e15107 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15107
Effects of leptin on the viability of human ovarian cancer cells and changes in cytokine expression levels
Background Obesity is associated with increased mortality among ovarian cancer and is a poor prognostic factor. There are significant links between the leptin hormone, a product of the obesity gene, and the development of ovarian cancer. Leptin is a vital hormone-like cytokine secreted from adipose tissue and is mainly involved in the maintenance of energy homeostasis. It regulates several intracellular signaling pathways and also interacts with various hormones and energy regulators. It acts as a growth factor by stimulating cell proliferation and differentiation and in this way contributes to cancer cell development. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of leptin on human ovarian cancer cells. Methods In this study, the effects of increasing the concentration of leptin were investigated on the cell viability of OVCAR-3 and MDAH-2774 ovarian cancer lines by MTT assay. Moreover, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of leptin in ovarian cancer cells, changes in the expression levels of 80 cytokines were evaluated after leptin treatment via a human cytokine antibody array. Results Leptin increases the proliferation of both ovarian cancer cell lines. IL-1 level was increased in OVCAR-3 cells and TGF-β level was increased in MDAH-2774 cells after leptin treatment. A decrease in IL-2, MCP-2/CCL8 and MCP-3/CCL7 levels was detected in both ovarian cancer cell lines with leptin administration. An increase in IL-3 and IL-10 expressions, insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 levels were detected in both ovarian cancer cell lines with leptin administration. In conclusion; leptin has a proliferative effect on human ovarian cancer cell lines and affects different cytokines in different types of ovarian cancer cells.
Dincer et al. (2023) Effects of leptin on the viability of human ovarian cancer cells and changes in cytokine expression levels. PeerJ 11:e15246 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15246
Odor descriptive ratings can predict some odor-color associations in different color features of hue or lightness
Background Olfactory information can be associated with color information. Researchers have investigated the role of descriptive ratings of odors on odor-color associations. Research into these associations should also focus on the differences in odor types. We aimed to identify the odor descriptive ratings that can predict odor-color corresponding formation, and predict features of the associated colors from the ratings taking into consideration the differences in the odor types. Methods We assessed 13 types of odors and their associated colors in participants with a Japanese cultural background. The associated colors from odors in the CIE L*a*b* space were subjectively evaluated to prevent the priming effect from selecting color patches. We analyzed the data using Bayesian multilevel modeling, which included the random effects of each odor, for investigating the effect of descriptive ratings on associated colors. We investigated the effects of five descriptive ratings, namely Edibility, Arousal, Familiarity, Pleasantness, and Strength on the associated colors. Results The Bayesian multilevel model indicated that the odor description of Edibility was related to the reddish hues of associated colors in three odors. Edibility was related to the yellow hues of colors in the remaining five odors. The Arousal description was related to the yellowish hues in two odors. The Strength of the tested odors was generally related to the color lightness. The present analysis could contribute in investigating the influence of the olfactory descriptive rating that anticipates the associated color for each odor.
Tamura et al. (2023) Odor descriptive ratings can predict some odor-color associations in different color features of hue or lightness. PeerJ 11:e15251 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15251