Canopy spectral reflectance indices correlate with yield traits variability in bread wheat genotypes under drought stress
Drought stress is a major issue impacting wheat growth and yield worldwide, and it is getting worse as the world’s climate changes. Thus, selection for drought-adaptive traits and drought-tolerant genotypes are essential components in wheat breeding programs. The goal of this study was to explore how spectral reflectance indices (SRIs) and yield traits in wheat genotypes changed in irrigated and water-limited environments. In two wheat-growing seasons, we evaluated 56 preselected wheat genotypes for SRIs, stay green (SG), canopy temperature depression (CTD), biological yield (BY), grain yield (GY), and yield contributing traits under control and drought stress, and the SRIs and yield traits exhibited higher heritability (H2) across the growing years. Diverse SRIs associated with SG, pigment content, hydration status, and aboveground biomass demonstrated a consistent response to drought and a strong association with GY. Under drought stress, GY had stronger phenotypic correlations with SG, CTD, and yield components than in control conditions. Three primary clusters emerged from the hierarchical cluster analysis, with cluster I (15 genotypes) showing minimal changes in SRIs and yield traits, indicating a relatively higher level of drought tolerance than clusters II (26 genotypes) and III (15 genotypes). The genotypes were appropriately assigned to distinct clusters, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) demonstrated that the clusters differed significantly. It was found that the top five components explained 73% of the variation in traits in the principal component analysis, and that vegetation and water-based indices, as well as yield traits, were the most important factors in explaining genotypic drought tolerance variation. Based on the current study’s findings, it can be concluded that proximal canopy reflectance sensing could be used to screen wheat genotypes for drought tolerance in water-starved environments.
Mohi-Ud-Din et al. (2022) Canopy spectral reflectance indices correlate with yield traits variability in bread wheat genotypes under drought stress. PeerJ 10:e14421 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14421
Comparison of frozen-thawed embryo transfer strategies for the treatment of infertility in young women: a retrospective study
Objective To investigate transfer strategies in the frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycle. Methods The clinical data of 1,652 FET patients were divided into five groups according to the number and quality of the transferred blastocyst: high-quality single blastocyst group (group A, n = 558), high-quality plus poor-quality double blastocyst group (group B, n = 435), poor-quality double blastocyst group (group C, n = 241), high-quality double blastocyst group (group D, n = 298), and poor-quality single blastocyst group (group E, n = 120). Inter-group comparison analyses of primary conditions, pregnancy outcomes and neonatal outcomes were then performed. Results Group A had the highest embryo implantation rate (67.38%), significantly different from the implantation rates of the other four groups. The gemellary pregnancy rate (1.60%), preterm birth rate (5.58%), neonatal birth weight (3,350g [3,000g, 3,650g]), neonatal birth age (39.57 weeks [38.71, 40.34]), and incidence of low birth weight (7.02%) in group A were different from those in groups B, C, and D, but did not significantly differ from those in group E. Moreover, the proportions of male infants born in groups A (56.86%) and D (59.41%) were significantly higher than those in the other three groups. Double blastocyst transfer (0.528, 95% CI [0.410–0.680], P < 0.001) and high-quality blastocyst transfer (0.609, 95% CI [0.453–0.820], P = 0.001) were found to be protective factors for live birth. In addition, double blastocyst transfer was also the largest risk factor for pregnancy complications (3.120, 95% CI [2.323–4.190], P < 0.001) and neonatal complications (2.230, 95% CI [1.515–3.280], P < 0.001), especially for gemellary pregnancy (59.933, 95% CI [27.298–131.58], P < 0.001) and preterm birth (3.840, 95% CI [2.272–6.489], P < 0.001). Based on the ROC curves, a double blastocyst transfer could predict gemellary pregnancy reliably with a high area under the curve (AUC = 78.53%). Additionally, a double blastocyst transfer could effectively predict a high risk of pregnancy complications (AUC = 65.90%), neonatal complications (AUC = 64.80%) and preterm birth (AUC = 66.20%). Conclusion The live birth rate of frozen-thawed high-quality single blastocyst transfer is lower than that of double high-quality blastocyst transfer, which can significantly increase the embryo implantation rate. High-quality single blastocyst transfer also significantly lowers the risk of gemellary pregnancy, preterm birth, and low birth weight, and can significantly improve maternal and infant outcomes. After weighing the pros and cons of live birth with pregnancy and neonatal complications, the authors believe that high-quality single blastocyst transfer is the optimal FET strategy for young women and is worthy of further clinical application. Despite this recommendation, high-quality single blastocyst transfer can increase the risk of monozygotic twins, as well as significantly increase the proportion of male infants born.
Wu et al. (2022) Comparison of frozen-thawed embryo transfer strategies for the treatment of infertility in young women: a retrospective study. PeerJ 10:e14424 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14424
Scaredy-cats don’t succeed: behavioral traits predict problem-solving success in captive felidae
Behavioral traits can be determined from the consistency in an animal’s behaviors across time and situations. These behavioral traits may have been differentially selected in closely related species. Studying the structure of these traits across species within an order can inform a better understanding of the selection pressures under which behavior evolves. These adaptive traits are still expected to vary within individuals and might predict general cognitive capacities that facilitate survival, such as behavioral flexibility. We derived five facets (Flexible/Friendly, Fearful/Aggressive, Uninterested, Social/Playful, and Cautious) from behavioral trait assessments based on zookeeper surveys in 52 Felidae individuals representing thirteen species. We analyzed whether age, sex, species, and these facets predicted success in a multi access puzzle box–a measure of innovation. We found that Fearful/Aggressive and Cautious facets were negatively associated with success. This research provides the first test of the association between behavioral trait facets and innovation in a diverse group of captive felidae. Understanding the connection between behavioral traits and problem-solving can assist in ensuring the protection of diverse species in their natural habitats and ethical treatment in captivity.
O’Connor et al. (2022) Scaredy-cats don’t succeed: behavioral traits predict problem-solving success in captive felidae. PeerJ 10:e14453 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14453
Recovery of sweet taste preference in adult rats following bilateral chorda tympani nerve transection
Background Numerous studies have noted the effect of chorda tympani (CT) nerve transection on taste sensitivity yet very few have directly observed its effects on taste receptor and taste signaling protein expressions in the tongue tissue. Methods In this study, bilateral CT nerve transection was performed in adult Sprague Dawley rats after establishing behavioral taste preference for sweet, bitter, and salty taste via short term two-bottle preference testing using a lickometer setup. Taste preference for all animals were subsequently monitored. The behavioral testing was paired with tissue sampling and protein expression analysis. Paired groups of CT nerve transected animals (CTX) and sham operated animals (SHAM) were sacrificed 7, 14, and 28 days post operation. Results Immunofluorescence staining of extracted tongue tissues shows that CT nerve transection resulted in micro-anatomical changes akin to previous investigations. Among the three taste qualities tested, only the preference for sweet taste was drastically affected. Subsequent results of the short-term two-bottle preference test indicated recovery of sweet taste preference over the course of 28 days. This recovery could possibly be due to maintenance of T1R3, GNAT3, and TRPM5 proteins allowing adaptable recovery of sweet taste preference despite down-regulation of both T1R2 and Sonic hedgehog proteins in CTX animals. This study is the first known attempt to correlate the disruption in taste preference with the altered expression of taste receptors and taste signaling proteins in the tongue brought about by CT nerve transection.
Padalhin et al. (2022) Recovery of sweet taste preference in adult rats following bilateral chorda tympani nerve transection. PeerJ 10:e14455 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14455
A transitional species of Daspletosaurus Russell, 1970 from the Judith River Formation of eastern Montana
Here we describe a new derived tyrannosaurine, Daspletosaurus wilsoni sp. nov., from Judithian strata (~76.5 Ma) intermediate in age between either of the previously described species of this genus. D. wilsoni displays a unique combination of ancestral and derived characteristics, including a cornual process of the lacrimal reduced in height relative to D. torosus and more basal tyrannosaurines, and a prefrontal with a long axis oriented more rostrally than in D. horneri and more derived tyrannosaurines. The description of this taxon provides insight into evolutionary mode in Tyrannosaurinae, lending strength to previous hypotheses of anagenesis within Daspletosaurus and increasing the resolution with which the evolution of this lineage can be reconstructed. Cladistic phylogenetic methods, stratigraphy, and qualitative analysis of the morphology of relevant taxa supports an anagenetic model for the origin of morphological novelty in this genus, highlighting the predominance of anagenetic evolution among contemporary dinosaur lineages.
Warshaw et al. (2022) A transitional species of Daspletosaurus Russell, 1970 from the Judith River Formation of eastern Montana. PeerJ 10:e14461 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14461
Stroke-related length of hospitalization trends and in-hospital mortality in Peru
Background Peru faces challenges to provide adequate care to stroke patients. Length of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality are two well-known indicators of stroke care. We aimed to describe the length of stay (LOS) of stroke in Peru, and to assess in-hospital mortality risk due to stroke, and subtypes. Methods This retrospective cohort study used hospitalization registries coding with ICD-10 from 2002 to 2017 (N = 98,605) provided by the Ministry of Health; in-hospital mortality was available for 2016–2017 (N = 6,566). Stroke cases aged ≥35 years were divided into subarachnoid hemorrhage (I60), intracerebral hemorrhage (I61), cerebral infarction (I63), and stroke not specified as hemorrhage or infarction (I64). Data included stroke LOS and in-hospital mortality; socio-demographic and clinical variables. We fitted a region- and hospital level-stratified Weibull proportional hazard model to assess the in-hospital mortality. Results The median LOS was 7 days (IQR: 4–13). Hemorrhagic strokes had median LOS longer than ischemic strokes and stroke not specified as hemorrhage or infarction (P = <0.001). The case fatality rate (CFR) of patients with stroke was 11.5% (95% CI [10–12%]). Subarachnoid hemorrhage (HR = 2.45; 95% CI [1.91–3.14]), intracerebral hemorrhage (HR = 1.95; 95% CI [1.55–2.46]), and stroke not specified as hemorrhage or infarction (HR = 1.45; 95% CI [1.16–1.81]) were associated with higher in-hospital mortality risk in comparison to ischemic strokes. Discussion Between 2002 and 2017, LOS due to stroke has not changed in Peru in stroke patients discharged alive. Hemorrhagic cases had the longest LOS and highest in-hospital mortality risk during 2016 and 2017. The findings of our study seem to be consistent with a previous study carried out in Peru and similar to that of HIC and LMIC, also there is an increased median LOS in stroke cases managed in specialized centers. Likewise, LOS seems to depend on the type of stroke, where ischemic stroke cases have the lowest LOS. Peru needs to improve access to stroke care.
Labán-Seminario et al. (2022) Stroke-related length of hospitalization trends and in-hospital mortality in Peru. PeerJ 10:e14467 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14467
No evidence for asymmetric sperm deposition in a species with asymmetric male genitalia
Background Asymmetric genitalia have repeatedly evolved in animals, yet the underlying causes for their evolution are mostly unknown. The fruit fly Drosophila pachea has asymmetric external genitalia and an asymmetric phallus with a right-sided phallotrema (opening for sperm release). The complex of female and male genitalia is asymmetrically twisted during copulation and males adopt a right-sided copulation posture on top of the female. We wished to investigate if asymmetric male genital morphology and a twisted gentitalia complex may be associated with differential allocation of sperm into female sperm storage organs. Methods We examined the internal complex of female and male reproductive organs by micro-computed tomography and synchrotron X-ray tomography before, during and after copulation. In addition, we monitored sperm aggregation states and timing of sperm transfer during copulation by premature interruption of copulation at different time-points. Results The asymmetric phallus is located at the most caudal end of the female abdomen during copulation. The female reproductive tract, in particular the oviduct, re-arranges during copulation. It is narrow in virgin females and forms a broad vesicle at 20 min after the start of copulation. Sperm transfer into female sperm storage organs (spermathecae) was only in a minority of examined copulation trials (13/64). Also, we found that sperm was mainly transferred early, at 2–4 min after the start of copulation. We did not detect a particular pattern of sperm allocation in the left or right spermathecae. Sperm adopted a granular or filamentous aggregation state in the female uterus and spermathecae, respectively. Discussion No evidence for asymmetric sperm deposition was identified that could be associated with asymmetric genital morphology or twisted complexing of genitalia. Male genital asymmetry may potentially have evolved as a consequence of a complex internal alignment of reproductive organs during copulation in order to optimize low sperm transfer rates.
van Gammeren et al. (2022) No evidence for asymmetric sperm deposition in a species with asymmetric male genitalia. PeerJ 10:e14225 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14225
A multi-reference poly-conformational method for in silico design, optimization, and repositioning of pharmaceutical compounds illustrated for selected SARS-CoV-2 ligands
Background This work presents a novel computational multi-reference poly-conformational algorithm for design, optimization, and repositioning of pharmaceutical compounds. Methods The algorithm searches for candidates by comparing similarities between conformers of the same compound and identifies target compounds, whose conformers are collectively close to the conformers of each compound in the reference set. Reference compounds may possess highly variable MoAs, which directly, and simultaneously, shape the properties of target candidate compounds. Results The algorithm functionality has been case study validated in silico, by scoring ChEMBL drugs against FDA-approved reference compounds that either have the highest predicted binding affinity to our chosen SARS-CoV-2 targets or are confirmed to be inhibiting such targets in-vivo. All our top scoring ChEMBL compounds also turned out to be either high-affinity ligands to the chosen targets (as confirmed in separate studies) or show significant efficacy, in-vivo, against those selected targets. In addition to method case study validation, in silico search for new compounds within two virtual libraries from the Enamine database is presented. The library’s virtual compounds have been compared to the same set of reference drugs that we used for case study validation: Olaparib, Tadalafil, Ergotamine and Remdesivir. The large reference set of four potential SARS-CoV-2 compounds has been selected, since no drug has been identified to be 100% effective against the virus so far, possibly because each candidate drug was targeting only one, particular MoA. The goal here was to introduce a new methodology for identifying potential candidate(s) that cover multiple MoA-s presented within a set of reference compounds.
Alexandrov et al. (2022) A multi-reference poly-conformational method for in silico design, optimization, and repositioning of pharmaceutical compounds illustrated for selected SARS-CoV-2 ligands. PeerJ 10:e14252 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14252
Mislabeling and nomenclatorial confusion of Typhlotanais sandersi Kudinova-Pasternak, 1985 (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) and establishment of a new genus
Re-examination of historical collections allowed us to resolve the taxonomic status of Typhlotanais sandersi Kudinova-Pasternak, 1985, originally described based on a single specimen from Great-Meteor Seamount. The holotype of this species was considered lost and the species redescribed based on a second specimen from the type locality by Błażewicz-Paszkowycz (2007a), who placed Ty. sandersi on a newly established genus Typhlamia. Thorough morphological analysis of Typhlamia and Typhlotanais species and recently obtained genetic data of typhlotanaids from N Atlantic and NW Pacific waters allow us to conclude that the redescription of Ty. sandersi by Błażewicz-Paszkowycz (2007a) was based on a wrongly labelled specimen that, rather than a type of Ty. sandersi, represents in fact a new species of Typhlamia. The morphological comparison of the type species of Typhlotanais (Ty. aequiremis) with all ‘long-bodied’ typhlotanaid taxa with rounded pereonites margins (i.e., Typhlamia, Pulcherella, Torquella), and the use of genetic evidence, support the establishment of a new genus to accommodate: Ty. sandersi, Ty. angusticheles Kudinova-Pasternak, 1989, and a third species from N Atlantic waters, that is described here for the first time. Current knowledge on ‘long-bodied’ typhlotanaids with rounded pereonites is summarised and a taxonomical key for their identification provided.
Gellert et al. (2022) Mislabeling and nomenclatorial confusion of Typhlotanais sandersi Kudinova-Pasternak, 1985 (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) and establishment of a new genus. PeerJ 10:e14272 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14272
Effects of motor imagery training on skeletal muscle contractile properties in sports science students
Background Studies on motor imagery (MI) practice based on different designs and training protocols have reported changes in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) strength. However, to date, there is a lack of information on the effects of MI training on contractile properties of the trained muscle. Methods Forty-five physically active sport science students (21 female) were investigated who trained three times per week over a 4-week period in one of three groups: An MI group conducted MI practice of maximal isometric contraction of the biceps brachii; a physical exercise (PE) group physically practiced maximal isometric contractions of the biceps brachii in a biceps curling machine; and a visual imagery (VI) group performed VI training of a landscape. A MVC test of the arm flexors was performed in a biceps curling machine before and after 4 weeks of training. The muscular properties of the biceps brachii were also tested with tensiomyography measurements (TMG). Results Results showed an interaction effect between time and group for MVC (p = 0.027, η2 = 0.17), with a higher MVC value in the PE group (Δ5.9%) compared to the VI group (Δ −1.3%) (p = 0.013). MVC did not change significantly in the MI group (Δ2.1%). Analysis of muscle contractility via TMG did not show any interaction effects neither for maximal radial displacement (p = 0.394, η2 = 0.05), delay time (p = 0.79, η2 = 0.01) nor contraction velocity (p = 0.71, η2 = 0.02). Conclusion In spite of MVC-related changes in the PE group due to the interventions, TMG measurements were not sensitive enough to detect concomitant neuronal changes related to contractile properties.
Wieland et al. (2022) Effects of motor imagery training on skeletal muscle contractile properties in sports science students. PeerJ 10:e14412 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14412