PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Evaluation of knowledge and barriers of influenza vaccine uptake among university students in Saudi Arabia; a cross-sectional analysis
items: Associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and fatigue in pregnant women
items: Effects of grazing strategy on facultative grassland bird nesting on native grassland pastures of the Mid-South USA
items: Genome-wide identification and transcriptional profiling of the basic helix-loop-helix gene family in tung tree (Vernicia fordii)
items: When aggressiveness could be too risky: linking personality traits and predator response in superb fairy-wrens
items: Description and complete mitochondrial genome of Atkinsoniella zizhongi sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) from China and its phylogenetic implications
items: Degreasing and bleaching bones using light sources as a tool to increase the safety of teaching osteology at the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno
items: The effect of high and low velocity-based training on the throwing performance of collegiate handball players
items: Endangered plant species under differing anthropogenic interventions: how to preserve Pterygopleurum neurophyllum in Wondong wetland?
items: BRCA1 overexpression attenuates breast cancer cell growth and migration by regulating the pyruvate kinase M2-mediated Warburg effect via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Evaluation of knowledge and barriers of influenza vaccine uptake among university students in Saudi Arabia; a cross-sectional analysis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Influenza vaccine hesitancy is a significant threat to global maneuvers for reducing the burden of seasonal and pandemic influenza. This study estimated the vaccine uptake, barriers, and willingness for influenza vaccines among university students in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among health science (HS) and non-health science (NHS) university students. A 31-item questionnaire was used to ascertain the vaccination rate, barriers, and willingness for the flu vaccine. Results This study included 790 students (mean age: 21.40 ± 1.94 years), 246 (31.1%) from HS and 544 (68.9%) from NHS disciplines. About 70% did not take flu shots before the arrival of the winter. The mean knowledge score was 7.81 ± 1.96, where 20.4%, 67.6%, and 12% of respondents had good, moderate, and poor knowledge regarding flu vaccines. The relative importance index (RII) analysis showed a lack of recommendation from physicians (51.5%, RI ranked: 1) was a top-ranked barrier to vaccine uptake, followed by negative perceptions and accessibility issues. Only 36.6% of the participants were willing to get vaccinated every year, 70% were willing to receive a vaccine on their doctor’s recommendations, and 46% agreed to vaccinate if vaccines were freely available in the university. The knowledge, barriers, and willingness widely varied across students from two disciplines. Conclusions Our analysis underscored low flu vaccine uptake among university students. In addition, the study participants’ knowledge was unsatisfactory, and they were less inclined to receive the flu vaccine in the future. Lack of recommendation from the physicians, negative perceptions towards the flu vaccine, and difficult accessibility were found as significant barriers to the vaccine uptake. A multidimensional approach at educational institutes to cover the knowledge gap and address the barriers curtailing the vaccination rate among students is recommended.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi
creator: Nida Bokharee
creator: Munnaza Bukhsh
creator: Yusra Habib Khan
creator: Abdulaziz Ibrahim Alzarea
creator: Faiz Ullah Khan
creator: Salah-Ud-Din Khan
creator: Nasser Hadal Alotaibi
creator: Abdullah Salah Alanazi
creator: Muhammad Hammad Butt
creator: Ahmed D. Alatawi
creator: Muhammad Shahid Iqbal
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Global Health
subject: Immunology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13959
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Mallhi et al.
abstract: Background Influenza vaccine hesitancy is a significant threat to global maneuvers for reducing the burden of seasonal and pandemic influenza. This study estimated the vaccine uptake, barriers, and willingness for influenza vaccines among university students in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among health science (HS) and non-health science (NHS) university students. A 31-item questionnaire was used to ascertain the vaccination rate, barriers, and willingness for the flu vaccine. Results This study included 790 students (mean age: 21.40 ± 1.94 years), 246 (31.1%) from HS and 544 (68.9%) from NHS disciplines. About 70% did not take flu shots before the arrival of the winter. The mean knowledge score was 7.81 ± 1.96, where 20.4%, 67.6%, and 12% of respondents had good, moderate, and poor knowledge regarding flu vaccines. The relative importance index (RII) analysis showed a lack of recommendation from physicians (51.5%, RI ranked: 1) was a top-ranked barrier to vaccine uptake, followed by negative perceptions and accessibility issues. Only 36.6% of the participants were willing to get vaccinated every year, 70% were willing to receive a vaccine on their doctor’s recommendations, and 46% agreed to vaccinate if vaccines were freely available in the university. The knowledge, barriers, and willingness widely varied across students from two disciplines. Conclusions Our analysis underscored low flu vaccine uptake among university students. In addition, the study participants’ knowledge was unsatisfactory, and they were less inclined to receive the flu vaccine in the future. Lack of recommendation from the physicians, negative perceptions towards the flu vaccine, and difficult accessibility were found as significant barriers to the vaccine uptake. A multidimensional approach at educational institutes to cover the knowledge gap and address the barriers curtailing the vaccination rate among students is recommended.
bibliographic citation: Mallhi et al. (2022) Evaluation of knowledge and barriers of influenza vaccine uptake among university students in Saudi Arabia; a cross-sectional analysis. PeerJ 10:e13959 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13959
date submitted: 2022-04-11
date accepted: 2022-08-06
issued: 2022-09-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Mallhi
  given name: Tauqeer Hussain
author list: Agent
  family name: Bokharee
  given name: Nida
author list: Agent
  family name: Bukhsh
  given name: Munnaza
author list: Agent
  family name: Khan
  given name: Yusra Habib
author list: Agent
  family name: Alzarea
  given name: Abdulaziz Ibrahim
author list: Agent
  family name: Khan
  given name: Faiz Ullah
author list: Agent
  family name: Khan
  given name: Salah-Ud-Din
author list: Agent
  family name: Alotaibi
  given name: Nasser Hadal
author list: Agent
  family name: Alanazi
  given name: Abdullah Salah
author list: Agent
  family name: Butt
  given name: Muhammad Hammad
author list: Agent
  family name: Alatawi
  given name: Ahmed D.
author list: Agent
  family name: Iqbal
  given name: Muhammad Shahid
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13959
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-09-28
copyright: ©2022 Mallhi et al.
attribution name: Mallhi et al.

Associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and fatigue in pregnant women
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms among pregnant women. In patients with various diseases, pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with fatigue; however, such associations are unknown in pregnant women. Objectives The objective of this study was to examine the associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and prenatal fatigue. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 271 pregnant Chinese women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Patient-reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was used to evaluate women’s prenatal fatigue. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the serum concentrations of four pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8), were measured. The data was analyzed by correlation analysis and general linear regression analysis. Results In this sample, the mean (standard deviation) of fatigue scores was 51.94 (10.79). TNF-α (r = 0.21, p < 0.001), IL-6 (r = 0.134, p = 0.027) and IL-8 (r = 0.209, p = 0.001) were positively correlated to prenatal fatigue, although IL-1β was not. TNF-α (β = 0.263, p < 0.001), along with sleep quality (β = 0.27, p < 0.001) and depression (β = 0.376, p < 0.001) independently predicted prenatal fatigue. Conclusions TNF-α was identified as an independent biomarker for prenatal fatigue in our study. Reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines may be a unique method for lowering prenatal fatigue and, consequently, enhancing mother and child health.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Haiou Xia
creator: Xiaoxiao Zhu
creator: Chunxiang Zhu
subject: Allergy and Clinical Immunology
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Public Health
subject: Women’s Health
subject: Mental Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13965
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Xia et al.
abstract: Background Fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms among pregnant women. In patients with various diseases, pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with fatigue; however, such associations are unknown in pregnant women. Objectives The objective of this study was to examine the associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and prenatal fatigue. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 271 pregnant Chinese women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Patient-reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was used to evaluate women’s prenatal fatigue. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the serum concentrations of four pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8), were measured. The data was analyzed by correlation analysis and general linear regression analysis. Results In this sample, the mean (standard deviation) of fatigue scores was 51.94 (10.79). TNF-α (r = 0.21, p < 0.001), IL-6 (r = 0.134, p = 0.027) and IL-8 (r = 0.209, p = 0.001) were positively correlated to prenatal fatigue, although IL-1β was not. TNF-α (β = 0.263, p < 0.001), along with sleep quality (β = 0.27, p < 0.001) and depression (β = 0.376, p < 0.001) independently predicted prenatal fatigue. Conclusions TNF-α was identified as an independent biomarker for prenatal fatigue in our study. Reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines may be a unique method for lowering prenatal fatigue and, consequently, enhancing mother and child health.
bibliographic citation: Xia et al. (2022) Associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and fatigue in pregnant women. PeerJ 10:e13965 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13965
date submitted: 2022-05-09
date accepted: 2022-08-08
issued: 2022-09-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Xia
  given name: Haiou
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Xiaoxiao
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Chunxiang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13965
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-09-28
copyright: ©2022 Xia et al.
attribution name: Xia et al.

Effects of grazing strategy on facultative grassland bird nesting on native grassland pastures of the Mid-South USA
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Understanding how livestock grazing strategies of native warm season grasses (NWSG) can impact facultative grassland bird nesting can provide insight for conservation efforts. We compared pre and post treatment effects of rotational grazing (ROT) and patch-burn grazing (PBG) for facultative grassland bird species nest success and nest-site selection on NWSG pastures at three Mid-South research sites. We established 14, 9.7 ha NWSG pastures and randomly assigned each to either ROT or PBG and monitored avian nest-site selection and nest success, 2014–2016. We collected nesting and vegetation data in 2014, before treatment implementation, as an experimental pre-treatment. We implemented treatments across all research sites in spring 2015. We used a step-wise model selection framework to estimate treatment effect for ROT or PBG on avian nest daily survival rate (DSR) and resource selection function (RSF) at the temporal scale and within-field variables. Daily survival rates were 0.93% (SE = 0.006) for field sparrow (Spizella pusilla), 0.96% (SE = 0.008) for red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), and 0.92% (SE = 0.01) for indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea). Model support for PBG treatment and vegetation height were indicated as negative and positive influences for field sparrow DSR, respectively. Red-winged blackbirds’ DSR were negatively influenced by ROT while vegetation height positively affected DSR, and DSR for indigo bunting did not differ among treatments. Combined RSF models indicated nest-site selection for all species was positively related to vegetation height and only weakly associated with other within-field variables. We provide evidence that ROT and/or PBG effects vary by species for DSR for these three facultative grassland birds, and vegetation characteristics affected their nest-site selection in the Mid-South USA. A lack of disturbance in Mid-South grasslands can lead to higher successional stages (i.e., mix shrub-grassland), but some combination o…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Byron R. Buckley
creator: Christopher M. Lituma
creator: Patrick D. Keyser
creator: Elizabeth D. Holcomb
creator: Ray Smith
creator: John J. Morgan
creator: Roger D. Applegate
subject: Ecology
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Environmental Impacts
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13968
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Buckley et al.
abstract: Understanding how livestock grazing strategies of native warm season grasses (NWSG) can impact facultative grassland bird nesting can provide insight for conservation efforts. We compared pre and post treatment effects of rotational grazing (ROT) and patch-burn grazing (PBG) for facultative grassland bird species nest success and nest-site selection on NWSG pastures at three Mid-South research sites. We established 14, 9.7 ha NWSG pastures and randomly assigned each to either ROT or PBG and monitored avian nest-site selection and nest success, 2014–2016. We collected nesting and vegetation data in 2014, before treatment implementation, as an experimental pre-treatment. We implemented treatments across all research sites in spring 2015. We used a step-wise model selection framework to estimate treatment effect for ROT or PBG on avian nest daily survival rate (DSR) and resource selection function (RSF) at the temporal scale and within-field variables. Daily survival rates were 0.93% (SE = 0.006) for field sparrow (Spizella pusilla), 0.96% (SE = 0.008) for red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), and 0.92% (SE = 0.01) for indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea). Model support for PBG treatment and vegetation height were indicated as negative and positive influences for field sparrow DSR, respectively. Red-winged blackbirds’ DSR were negatively influenced by ROT while vegetation height positively affected DSR, and DSR for indigo bunting did not differ among treatments. Combined RSF models indicated nest-site selection for all species was positively related to vegetation height and only weakly associated with other within-field variables. We provide evidence that ROT and/or PBG effects vary by species for DSR for these three facultative grassland birds, and vegetation characteristics affected their nest-site selection in the Mid-South USA. A lack of disturbance in Mid-South grasslands can lead to higher successional stages (i.e., mix shrub-grassland), but some combination o…
bibliographic citation: Buckley et al. (2022) Effects of grazing strategy on facultative grassland bird nesting on native grassland pastures of the Mid-South USA. PeerJ 10:e13968 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13968
date submitted: 2022-04-26
date accepted: 2022-08-08
issued: 2022-09-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Buckley
  given name: Byron R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Lituma
  given name: Christopher M.
author list: Agent
  family name: Keyser
  given name: Patrick D.
author list: Agent
  family name: Holcomb
  given name: Elizabeth D.
author list: Agent
  family name: Smith
  given name: Ray
author list: Agent
  family name: Morgan
  given name: John J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Applegate
  given name: Roger D.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13968
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-09-28
copyright: ©2022 Buckley et al.
attribution name: Buckley et al.

Genome-wide identification and transcriptional profiling of the basic helix-loop-helix gene family in tung tree (Vernicia fordii)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor gene family is one of the largest gene families and is extensively involved in plant growth, development, biotic and abiotic stress responses. Tung tree (Vernicia fordii) is an economically important woody oil plant that produces tung oil rich in eleostearic acid. However, the characteristics of the bHLH gene family in the tung tree genome are still unclear. Hence, VfbHLHs were first searched at a genome-wide level, and their expression levels in various tissues or under low temperature were investigated systematically. In this study, we identified 104 VfbHLHs in the tung tree genome, and these genes were classified into 18 subfamilies according to bHLH domains. Ninety-eight VfbHLHs were mapped to but not evenly distributed on 11 pseudochromosomes. The domain sequences among VfbHLHs were highly conserved, and their conserved residues were also identified. To explore their expression, we performed gene expression profiling using RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR. We identified five, 18 and 28 VfbHLH genes in female flowers, male flowers and seeds, respectively. Furthermore, we found that eight genes (VfbHLH29, VfbHLH31, VfbHLH47, VfbHLH51, VfbHLH57, VfbHLH59, VfbHLH70, VfbHLH72) were significant differential expressed in roots, leaves and petioles under low temperature stress. This study lays the foundation for future studies on bHLH gene cloning, transgenes, and biological mechanisms.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Wenjuan Liu
creator: Yaqi Yi
creator: Jingyi Zhuang
creator: Chang Ge
creator: Yunpeng Cao
creator: Lin Zhang
creator: Meilan Liu
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Genomics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13981
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Liu et al.
abstract: The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor gene family is one of the largest gene families and is extensively involved in plant growth, development, biotic and abiotic stress responses. Tung tree (Vernicia fordii) is an economically important woody oil plant that produces tung oil rich in eleostearic acid. However, the characteristics of the bHLH gene family in the tung tree genome are still unclear. Hence, VfbHLHs were first searched at a genome-wide level, and their expression levels in various tissues or under low temperature were investigated systematically. In this study, we identified 104 VfbHLHs in the tung tree genome, and these genes were classified into 18 subfamilies according to bHLH domains. Ninety-eight VfbHLHs were mapped to but not evenly distributed on 11 pseudochromosomes. The domain sequences among VfbHLHs were highly conserved, and their conserved residues were also identified. To explore their expression, we performed gene expression profiling using RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR. We identified five, 18 and 28 VfbHLH genes in female flowers, male flowers and seeds, respectively. Furthermore, we found that eight genes (VfbHLH29, VfbHLH31, VfbHLH47, VfbHLH51, VfbHLH57, VfbHLH59, VfbHLH70, VfbHLH72) were significant differential expressed in roots, leaves and petioles under low temperature stress. This study lays the foundation for future studies on bHLH gene cloning, transgenes, and biological mechanisms.
bibliographic citation: Liu et al. (2022) Genome-wide identification and transcriptional profiling of the basic helix-loop-helix gene family in tung tree (Vernicia fordii). PeerJ 10:e13981 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13981
date submitted: 2022-04-01
date accepted: 2022-08-10
issued: 2022-09-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Wenjuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Yi
  given name: Yaqi
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhuang
  given name: Jingyi
author list: Agent
  family name: Ge
  given name: Chang
author list: Agent
  family name: Cao
  given name: Yunpeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Lin
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Meilan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13981
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-09-28
copyright: ©2022 Liu et al.
attribution name: Liu et al.

When aggressiveness could be too risky: linking personality traits and predator response in superb fairy-wrens
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Personality syndromes in animals may have adaptive benefits for survival. For example, while engaging in predator deterrence, reactive individuals tend to prioritise their own survival, while proactive individuals engage in riskier behaviours. Studies linking animal personality measured in captivity with individual fitness or behaviours in the wild are sparse, which is a gap in knowledge this study aims to address. We used playback experiments in superb fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus), a common Australian songbird with a cooperative breeding system, to assess whether three personality traits measured during short-term captivity correlated with behavioural responses in the wild to a perceived nest and adult predator, the grey currawong (Strepera versicolor). We used three standard measures of personality in birds: struggle responses to human handling (boldness), exploration during a novel environment test, and aggressiveness during a mirror presentation. Superb fairy-wrens showed a significantly stronger response to the predator playback than to the control (willie wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys) playback, suggesting that they recognised the predator playback as a threat without any accompanying visual stimulus. Birds that attacked their mirror image during the mirror presentation and those that spent a moderate amount of time close to the mirror responded more strongly to predator playback (by approaching the speaker faster and closer, spending more time near the speaker, and being more likely to alarm call) compared to those with low aggressiveness or those that spent very short or long durations close to the mirror. Neither boldness nor exploration in the novel environment test predicted playback response. Our results align with a growing number of studies across species showing the importance of animal personalities as factors for fitness and survival.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jack Bilby
creator: Diane Colombelli-Négrel
creator: Andrew C. Katsis
creator: Sonia Kleindorfer
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Ecology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14011
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Bilby et al.
abstract: Personality syndromes in animals may have adaptive benefits for survival. For example, while engaging in predator deterrence, reactive individuals tend to prioritise their own survival, while proactive individuals engage in riskier behaviours. Studies linking animal personality measured in captivity with individual fitness or behaviours in the wild are sparse, which is a gap in knowledge this study aims to address. We used playback experiments in superb fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus), a common Australian songbird with a cooperative breeding system, to assess whether three personality traits measured during short-term captivity correlated with behavioural responses in the wild to a perceived nest and adult predator, the grey currawong (Strepera versicolor). We used three standard measures of personality in birds: struggle responses to human handling (boldness), exploration during a novel environment test, and aggressiveness during a mirror presentation. Superb fairy-wrens showed a significantly stronger response to the predator playback than to the control (willie wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys) playback, suggesting that they recognised the predator playback as a threat without any accompanying visual stimulus. Birds that attacked their mirror image during the mirror presentation and those that spent a moderate amount of time close to the mirror responded more strongly to predator playback (by approaching the speaker faster and closer, spending more time near the speaker, and being more likely to alarm call) compared to those with low aggressiveness or those that spent very short or long durations close to the mirror. Neither boldness nor exploration in the novel environment test predicted playback response. Our results align with a growing number of studies across species showing the importance of animal personalities as factors for fitness and survival.
bibliographic citation: Bilby et al. (2022) When aggressiveness could be too risky: linking personality traits and predator response in superb fairy-wrens. PeerJ 10:e14011 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14011
date submitted: 2022-01-21
date accepted: 2022-08-15
issued: 2022-09-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Bilby
  given name: Jack
author list: Agent
  family name: Colombelli-Négrel
  given name: Diane
author list: Agent
  family name: Katsis
  given name: Andrew C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Kleindorfer
  given name: Sonia
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14011
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-09-28
copyright: ©2022 Bilby et al.
attribution name: Bilby et al.

Description and complete mitochondrial genome of Atkinsoniella zizhongi sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) from China and its phylogenetic implications
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: A new species, Atkinsoniella zizhongi sp. nov. of the subfamily Cicadellinae, was described and illustrated from China. The new species is similar to A. nigrominiatula (Jacobi, 1944), A. limba Kuoh, 1991, A. dormana Li, 1992, A. peaka Yang, Meng et Li, 2017, and A. divaricata Yang, Meng et Li, 2017. But the characteristics of aedeagus and pygofer process can be used to distinguish them easily. The complete mitochondrial genome of the paratype was sequenced and assembled. The mitogenome of A. zizhongi sp. nov. was 16,483 bp in length, with an A+T content of 75.9%, containing 37 typical genes and a control region (CR). The gene order was consistent with the inferred insect ancestral mitochondrial genome. All of the PCGs were determined to have the typical stop codon TAA or TAG, while COX2 and ND5 ended with incomplete termination codons T and TA, respectively. In addition, phylogenetic trees were reconstructed based on PCGs and rRNAs using both the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. The results showed that the intergeneric and interspecific relationships within the subfamily Cicadellinae were completely consistent in all of the phylogenetic trees, except that the different interspecific relationships within the genus Bothrogonia were detected in the ML analysis based on the amino acid sequences. This study enriches the species diversity of Cicadellinae and further promotes research on its phylogeny.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yan Jiang
creator: Hao-Xi Li
creator: Xiao-Fei Yu
creator: Mao-Fa Yang
subject: Entomology
subject: Genomics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14026
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Jiang et al.
abstract: A new species, Atkinsoniella zizhongi sp. nov. of the subfamily Cicadellinae, was described and illustrated from China. The new species is similar to A. nigrominiatula (Jacobi, 1944), A. limba Kuoh, 1991, A. dormana Li, 1992, A. peaka Yang, Meng et Li, 2017, and A. divaricata Yang, Meng et Li, 2017. But the characteristics of aedeagus and pygofer process can be used to distinguish them easily. The complete mitochondrial genome of the paratype was sequenced and assembled. The mitogenome of A. zizhongi sp. nov. was 16,483 bp in length, with an A+T content of 75.9%, containing 37 typical genes and a control region (CR). The gene order was consistent with the inferred insect ancestral mitochondrial genome. All of the PCGs were determined to have the typical stop codon TAA or TAG, while COX2 and ND5 ended with incomplete termination codons T and TA, respectively. In addition, phylogenetic trees were reconstructed based on PCGs and rRNAs using both the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. The results showed that the intergeneric and interspecific relationships within the subfamily Cicadellinae were completely consistent in all of the phylogenetic trees, except that the different interspecific relationships within the genus Bothrogonia were detected in the ML analysis based on the amino acid sequences. This study enriches the species diversity of Cicadellinae and further promotes research on its phylogeny.
bibliographic citation: Jiang et al. (2022) Description and complete mitochondrial genome of Atkinsoniella zizhongi sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) from China and its phylogenetic implications. PeerJ 10:e14026 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14026
date submitted: 2022-05-30
date accepted: 2022-08-16
issued: 2022-09-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Yan
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Hao-Xi
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Xiao-Fei
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Mao-Fa
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14026
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-09-28
copyright: © 2022 Jiang et al.
attribution name: Jiang et al.

Degreasing and bleaching bones using light sources as a tool to increase the safety of teaching osteology at the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The key part of creating bone material for teaching is degreasing and whitening it. However, the substances used are often dangerous and toxic. We tested and compared safer methods based on two physical variables. These are light and heat. The material for our study was 45 femurs from 23 adult domestic dogs (Canis lupus f. familiaris). The bones were divided into three groups of 15 pieces according to the method used to remove muscles and ligaments from their surface. Five femurs from each group were exposed to three different light sources for 28 days—sunlight, warm light from a classical incandescent light bulb and cold light by a LED bulb. At regular intervals, the change in the colour of the bone surface and the amount of fat loss from the medullary cavity was also monitored. The best degreasing and bleaching results were achieved in macerated bones exposed to sunlight. They achieved the required condition as early as 21 days after the start of sun exposure. The biggest problem was haemoglobin, which permeated through the Haversian canals and discoloured the bone tissue. The results showed that the use of light and heat is a suitable and safe alternative to chemical methods of degreasing and bleaching bones. The disadvantage is the length of time, especially for native material.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ondřej Horák
creator: Martin Pyszko
creator: Václav Páral
creator: Ondřej Šandor
subject: Veterinary Medicine
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14036
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Horák et al.
abstract: The key part of creating bone material for teaching is degreasing and whitening it. However, the substances used are often dangerous and toxic. We tested and compared safer methods based on two physical variables. These are light and heat. The material for our study was 45 femurs from 23 adult domestic dogs (Canis lupus f. familiaris). The bones were divided into three groups of 15 pieces according to the method used to remove muscles and ligaments from their surface. Five femurs from each group were exposed to three different light sources for 28 days—sunlight, warm light from a classical incandescent light bulb and cold light by a LED bulb. At regular intervals, the change in the colour of the bone surface and the amount of fat loss from the medullary cavity was also monitored. The best degreasing and bleaching results were achieved in macerated bones exposed to sunlight. They achieved the required condition as early as 21 days after the start of sun exposure. The biggest problem was haemoglobin, which permeated through the Haversian canals and discoloured the bone tissue. The results showed that the use of light and heat is a suitable and safe alternative to chemical methods of degreasing and bleaching bones. The disadvantage is the length of time, especially for native material.
bibliographic citation: Horák et al. (2022) Degreasing and bleaching bones using light sources as a tool to increase the safety of teaching osteology at the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno. PeerJ 10:e14036 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14036
date submitted: 2022-05-05
date accepted: 2022-08-18
issued: 2022-09-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Horák
  given name: Ondřej
author list: Agent
  family name: Pyszko
  given name: Martin
author list: Agent
  family name: Páral
  given name: Václav
author list: Agent
  family name: Šandor
  given name: Ondřej
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14036
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-09-28
copyright: © 2022 Horák et al.
attribution name: Horák et al.

The effect of high and low velocity-based training on the throwing performance of collegiate handball players
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The intensity of strength training exercise is generally regarded to be the most essential element in developing muscle strength and power. The exercise intensity of strength training is known as one-repetition maximum (1RM). Velocity-based training (VBT) has been proposed as a different approach for determining training intensity. VBT relies on the use of linear position transducers and inertial measurement units, providing real-time feedback to objectively adjust the exercise intensity based on an athlete’s velocity zone. Methods This study investigated the effects of two different training interventions based on individualized load velocity profiles (LVP) on maximal bench press strength (i.e., 1RM), maximum throwing velocity (TV), and skeletal muscle mass (SKMM). Twenty-two university handball players were randomly assigned to Group 1 (low-movement speed training) or Group 2 (high-movement speed training). Group 1 exercised with a bar speed of 0.75–0.96 m/s, which corresponds to a resistance of approximately 60% 1RM, whereas Group 2 trained at 1.03–1.20 m/s, corresponding to a resistance of approximately 40% 1RM. Both groups exercised three times a week for five weeks, with strength and throwing tests performed at baseline and post-intervention. Results A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was applied, and the results showed the interaction between group and time was not statistically significant for SKMM (p = 0.537), 1RM (p = 0.883), or TV (p = 0.774). However, both groups significantly improved after the five weeks of training: SKMM (3.1% and 3.5%, p < 0.01), 1RM (15.5% and 15.0%, p < 0.01), and throwing velocity (18.7% and 18.3%, p < 0.01) in Group 1 and 2 respectively. Training at both prescribed velocities in this study elicited similar changes in strength, muscle mass, and throwing velocity.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Bassam Abuajwa
creator: Mike Hamlin
creator: Eliza Hafiz
creator: Rizal Razman
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Rehabilitation
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14049
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Abuajwa et al.
abstract: Background The intensity of strength training exercise is generally regarded to be the most essential element in developing muscle strength and power. The exercise intensity of strength training is known as one-repetition maximum (1RM). Velocity-based training (VBT) has been proposed as a different approach for determining training intensity. VBT relies on the use of linear position transducers and inertial measurement units, providing real-time feedback to objectively adjust the exercise intensity based on an athlete’s velocity zone. Methods This study investigated the effects of two different training interventions based on individualized load velocity profiles (LVP) on maximal bench press strength (i.e., 1RM), maximum throwing velocity (TV), and skeletal muscle mass (SKMM). Twenty-two university handball players were randomly assigned to Group 1 (low-movement speed training) or Group 2 (high-movement speed training). Group 1 exercised with a bar speed of 0.75–0.96 m/s, which corresponds to a resistance of approximately 60% 1RM, whereas Group 2 trained at 1.03–1.20 m/s, corresponding to a resistance of approximately 40% 1RM. Both groups exercised three times a week for five weeks, with strength and throwing tests performed at baseline and post-intervention. Results A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was applied, and the results showed the interaction between group and time was not statistically significant for SKMM (p = 0.537), 1RM (p = 0.883), or TV (p = 0.774). However, both groups significantly improved after the five weeks of training: SKMM (3.1% and 3.5%, p < 0.01), 1RM (15.5% and 15.0%, p < 0.01), and throwing velocity (18.7% and 18.3%, p < 0.01) in Group 1 and 2 respectively. Training at both prescribed velocities in this study elicited similar changes in strength, muscle mass, and throwing velocity.
bibliographic citation: Abuajwa et al. (2022) The effect of high and low velocity-based training on the throwing performance of collegiate handball players. PeerJ 10:e14049 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14049
date submitted: 2022-04-18
date accepted: 2022-08-22
issued: 2022-09-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Abuajwa
  given name: Bassam
author list: Agent
  family name: Hamlin
  given name: Mike
author list: Agent
  family name: Hafiz
  given name: Eliza
author list: Agent
  family name: Razman
  given name: Rizal
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14049
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-09-28
copyright: ©2022 Abuajwa et al.
attribution name: Abuajwa et al.

Endangered plant species under differing anthropogenic interventions: how to preserve Pterygopleurum neurophyllum in Wondong wetland?
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Endangered wetland plants are important as the potential keystone species and mediators for plant-soil interactions. Establishing conservation strategies for endangered plants is also prioritized because of the elevating extinction risk by human-induced wetland disturbances. The present study examined the factors controlling the incidence of Pterygopleurum neurophyllum, the endangered wetland plant experiencing severe habitat loss throughout Northeast Asia. Here, P. neurophyllum populations and their surrounding environments were addressed in the last natural Korean habitat to assess the possible influential factors (vegetation coverage, species richness, exotic plant species, coarse rock content, soil bulk density, and soil electroconductivity and pH) under anthropogenic wetland interventions (with or without soil disturbance). Our results showed that P. neurophyllum occurred 6 out of 32 plots in the study area. All P. neurophyllum were found in Miscanthus-dominated area, but preferred microhabitats featuring reduced vegetation coverage, increased species richness, and undisturbed soils under vegetation removal. Multimodel inference also indicated that vegetation coverage (relative importance = 1.00) and coarse rock content (relative importance = 0.70) were the major influential factors for P. neurophyllum population size, and the surviving P. neurophyllum were strictly limited to where both of them were kept lowered. Furthermore, the wetland intervention with soil disturbance had a negative effect on P. neurophyllum by creating the rocky and compacted soil surface as a result of land reclamation treatments. Conversely, the wetland intervention without soil disturbance enhanced the P. neurophyllum incidence by decreasing vegetation coverage of the overcrowding competitive plants. Overall findings reflect that the strategies to counteract habitat loss and manage the overly dense competitive plants should be necessary for conserving P. neurophyllum, as well as other …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Seongjun Kim
creator: Hwan-Joon Park
creator: Chang Woo Lee
creator: Nam Young Kim
creator: Jung Eun Hwang
creator: Byoung-Doo Lee
creator: Hyeong Bin Park
creator: Jiae An
creator: JuHyoung Baek
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14050
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Kim et al.
abstract: Endangered wetland plants are important as the potential keystone species and mediators for plant-soil interactions. Establishing conservation strategies for endangered plants is also prioritized because of the elevating extinction risk by human-induced wetland disturbances. The present study examined the factors controlling the incidence of Pterygopleurum neurophyllum, the endangered wetland plant experiencing severe habitat loss throughout Northeast Asia. Here, P. neurophyllum populations and their surrounding environments were addressed in the last natural Korean habitat to assess the possible influential factors (vegetation coverage, species richness, exotic plant species, coarse rock content, soil bulk density, and soil electroconductivity and pH) under anthropogenic wetland interventions (with or without soil disturbance). Our results showed that P. neurophyllum occurred 6 out of 32 plots in the study area. All P. neurophyllum were found in Miscanthus-dominated area, but preferred microhabitats featuring reduced vegetation coverage, increased species richness, and undisturbed soils under vegetation removal. Multimodel inference also indicated that vegetation coverage (relative importance = 1.00) and coarse rock content (relative importance = 0.70) were the major influential factors for P. neurophyllum population size, and the surviving P. neurophyllum were strictly limited to where both of them were kept lowered. Furthermore, the wetland intervention with soil disturbance had a negative effect on P. neurophyllum by creating the rocky and compacted soil surface as a result of land reclamation treatments. Conversely, the wetland intervention without soil disturbance enhanced the P. neurophyllum incidence by decreasing vegetation coverage of the overcrowding competitive plants. Overall findings reflect that the strategies to counteract habitat loss and manage the overly dense competitive plants should be necessary for conserving P. neurophyllum, as well as other …
bibliographic citation: Kim et al. (2022) Endangered plant species under differing anthropogenic interventions: how to preserve Pterygopleurum neurophyllum in Wondong wetland?. PeerJ 10:e14050 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14050
date submitted: 2022-05-02
date accepted: 2022-08-23
issued: 2022-09-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Kim
  given name: Seongjun
author list: Agent
  family name: Park
  given name: Hwan-Joon
author list: Agent
  family name: Lee
  given name: Chang Woo
author list: Agent
  family name: Kim
  given name: Nam Young
author list: Agent
  family name: Hwang
  given name: Jung Eun
author list: Agent
  family name: Lee
  given name: Byoung-Doo
author list: Agent
  family name: Park
  given name: Hyeong Bin
author list: Agent
  family name: An
  given name: Jiae
author list: Agent
  family name: Baek
  given name: JuHyoung
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14050
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-09-28
copyright: ©2022 Kim et al.
attribution name: Kim et al.

BRCA1 overexpression attenuates breast cancer cell growth and migration by regulating the pyruvate kinase M2-mediated Warburg effect via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: This work explored the mechanism of the effect of breast-cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) on the metabolic characteristics of breast cancer cells, including the Warburg effect and its specific signaling. We transfected MCF-7 cells with a BRCA1-encoding LXSN plasmid or PKM2 siRNA and examined cancer cell metabolism using annexin V staining, inhibitory concentration determination, Western blotting, glucose uptake and lactic acid content measurements, and Transwell assays to assess glycolytic activity, cell apoptosis, and migration, and sensitivity to anti-cancer treatment. The BRCA1-expressing MCF-7 cells demonstrated low PKM2 expression and decreased glycolytic activity (downregulated hexokinase 2 (HK2) expression, upregulated isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) expression, and reduced O2 and glucose consumption and lactate production) via regulation of PI3K/AKT pathway compared with the empty LXSN group. BRCA1 transfection slightly increased apoptotic activity, decreased cell migration, and increased the IC50 index for doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin. Inhibiting PKM2 using siRNA attenuated the IC50 index for doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin compared with the control. Inhibiting PKM2 activated PI3K/AKT signaling, increased apoptosis, and decreased MCF-7 cell migration. Our data suggest that BRCA1 overexpression reverses the Warburg effect, inhibits cancer cell growth and migration, and enhances the sensitivity to anti-cancer treatment by decreasing PKM2 expression regulated by PI3K/AKT signaling. These novel metabolic findings represent a potential mechanism by which BRCA1 exerts its inhibitory effect on breast cancer.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Xiuli Liu
creator: Hanxu Liu
creator: Lei Zeng
creator: Yuetao Lv
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Genetics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Histology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14052
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Liu et al.
abstract: This work explored the mechanism of the effect of breast-cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) on the metabolic characteristics of breast cancer cells, including the Warburg effect and its specific signaling. We transfected MCF-7 cells with a BRCA1-encoding LXSN plasmid or PKM2 siRNA and examined cancer cell metabolism using annexin V staining, inhibitory concentration determination, Western blotting, glucose uptake and lactic acid content measurements, and Transwell assays to assess glycolytic activity, cell apoptosis, and migration, and sensitivity to anti-cancer treatment. The BRCA1-expressing MCF-7 cells demonstrated low PKM2 expression and decreased glycolytic activity (downregulated hexokinase 2 (HK2) expression, upregulated isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) expression, and reduced O2 and glucose consumption and lactate production) via regulation of PI3K/AKT pathway compared with the empty LXSN group. BRCA1 transfection slightly increased apoptotic activity, decreased cell migration, and increased the IC50 index for doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin. Inhibiting PKM2 using siRNA attenuated the IC50 index for doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin compared with the control. Inhibiting PKM2 activated PI3K/AKT signaling, increased apoptosis, and decreased MCF-7 cell migration. Our data suggest that BRCA1 overexpression reverses the Warburg effect, inhibits cancer cell growth and migration, and enhances the sensitivity to anti-cancer treatment by decreasing PKM2 expression regulated by PI3K/AKT signaling. These novel metabolic findings represent a potential mechanism by which BRCA1 exerts its inhibitory effect on breast cancer.
bibliographic citation: Liu et al. (2022) BRCA1 overexpression attenuates breast cancer cell growth and migration by regulating the pyruvate kinase M2-mediated Warburg effect via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. PeerJ 10:e14052 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14052
date submitted: 2022-07-04
date accepted: 2022-08-23
issued: 2022-09-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Xiuli
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Hanxu
author list: Agent
  family name: Zeng
  given name: Lei
author list: Agent
  family name: Lv
  given name: Yuetao
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14052
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-09-28
copyright: © 2022 Liu et al.
attribution name: Liu et al.

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