PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Prevalence, awareness, and associated factors of high blood pressure among female migrant workers in Central South China
items: Contrasting nursery habitats promote variations in the bioenergetic condition of juvenile female red squat lobsters (Pleuroncodes monodon) of the Southern Pacific Ocean
items: The response of geophytes to continuous human foraging on the Cape south coast, South Africa and its implications for early hunter-gatherer mobility patterns
items: Network subgraph-based approach for analyzing and comparing molecular networks
items: Genome-wide identification of the SWEET gene family mediating the cold stress response in Prunus mume
items: Reassessment of Faxinalipterus minimus, a purported Triassic pterosaur from southern Brazil with the description of a new taxon
items: Climate change influences on the geographic distributional potential of the spotted fever vectors Amblyomma maculatum and Dermacentor andersoni
items: Spatial heterogeneity of soil nutrients in Yili River Valley
items: Glucocorticoids induce osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats via PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway
items: The association of plasma osteoprotegerin levels and functional outcomes post endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients: a retrospective observational study

Prevalence, awareness, and associated factors of high blood pressure among female migrant workers in Central South China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Although many young Chinese women migrate to urban regions for better opportunities, little is known about the prevalence and awareness of having high blood pressure (HBP) in this population. This study investigated the prevalence, awareness, and factors associated with HBP among young female migrant workers in Central South China. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study to identify HBP (2017 ACC/AHA guidelines) among female migrant workers aged 18–45 years in Central South China. Demographics, anthropometric measurements, hypertension-related lifestyle, awareness of HBP, and blood pressure were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with HBP (blood pressure ≥ 130/80 mmHg). Results Overall, 232 female migrants participated in the study (mean age 34.4; standard deviation: 6.4 years). The prevalence of HBP was 27.2% (95% CI [21.6–33.2]), and 88.9% of the participants were unaware of their HBP status. Having rural medical insurance (odds ratio [OR] = 20.7; 95% confidence interval 95% CI [2.1–204.8]), awareness of having HBP (OR = 5.1; 95% CI [1.4–18.5]), physical inactivity (OR = 2.9; 95% CI [1.1–7.9]), and being overweight/obese (OR = 2.7; 95% CI [1.3–6.1]) were independently associated with HBP. Conclusions This study revealed a high prevalence of HBP among young Chinese female migrant workers, as well as a high frequency of being unaware of their condition and some associated factors (rural medical insurance, awareness of having HBP, physical inactivity, and overweight/obesity). The uncontrolled HBP among young Chinese female migrant workers suggested that health education needs further promotion in such a population.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Hua Peng
creator: Mei Sun
creator: Xin Hu
creator: Huiwu Han
creator: Jing Su
creator: Emin Peng
creator: James Wiley
creator: Lisa Lommel
creator: Jyu-Lin Chen
subject: Cardiology
subject: Public Health
subject: Women’s Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13365
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Peng et al.
abstract: Background Although many young Chinese women migrate to urban regions for better opportunities, little is known about the prevalence and awareness of having high blood pressure (HBP) in this population. This study investigated the prevalence, awareness, and factors associated with HBP among young female migrant workers in Central South China. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study to identify HBP (2017 ACC/AHA guidelines) among female migrant workers aged 18–45 years in Central South China. Demographics, anthropometric measurements, hypertension-related lifestyle, awareness of HBP, and blood pressure were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with HBP (blood pressure ≥ 130/80 mmHg). Results Overall, 232 female migrants participated in the study (mean age 34.4; standard deviation: 6.4 years). The prevalence of HBP was 27.2% (95% CI [21.6–33.2]), and 88.9% of the participants were unaware of their HBP status. Having rural medical insurance (odds ratio [OR] = 20.7; 95% confidence interval 95% CI [2.1–204.8]), awareness of having HBP (OR = 5.1; 95% CI [1.4–18.5]), physical inactivity (OR = 2.9; 95% CI [1.1–7.9]), and being overweight/obese (OR = 2.7; 95% CI [1.3–6.1]) were independently associated with HBP. Conclusions This study revealed a high prevalence of HBP among young Chinese female migrant workers, as well as a high frequency of being unaware of their condition and some associated factors (rural medical insurance, awareness of having HBP, physical inactivity, and overweight/obesity). The uncontrolled HBP among young Chinese female migrant workers suggested that health education needs further promotion in such a population.
bibliographic citation: Peng et al. (2022) Prevalence, awareness, and associated factors of high blood pressure among female migrant workers in Central South China. PeerJ 10:e13365 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13365
date submitted: 2020-07-08
date accepted: 2022-04-10
issued: 2022-05-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Peng
  given name: Hua
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Mei
author list: Agent
  family name: Hu
  given name: Xin
author list: Agent
  family name: Han
  given name: Huiwu
author list: Agent
  family name: Su
  given name: Jing
author list: Agent
  family name: Peng
  given name: Emin
author list: Agent
  family name: Wiley
  given name: James
author list: Agent
  family name: Lommel
  given name: Lisa
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Jyu-Lin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13365
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-04
copyright: ©2022 Peng et al.
attribution name: Peng et al.

Contrasting nursery habitats promote variations in the bioenergetic condition of juvenile female red squat lobsters (Pleuroncodes monodon) of the Southern Pacific Ocean
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The red squat lobster Pleuroncodes monodon is an important fishery resource in the Humboldt Current System (HCS). This decapod is exploited in two fishing units: (a) the northern fishing unit (NFU, from 26°S to 30°S) and (b) the southern fishing unit (SFU, from 32°S to 37°S), each of which have an adjacent nursery area that is the source of recruits to replace the exploited adult populations (in the NFU: off the coast of Coquimbo (28°S) and in the SFU: off the coast of Concepción (36°S)). Marked spatial differences in the environmental conditions of the NFU and SFU, and the biogeographic break that exists between these nursery areas (30°S) may promote changes in the bioenergetic condition of new P. monodon juveniles. To evaluate this, we analyzed the bioenergetic condition (measured as: body mass, lipids, proteins, glucose, and energy) of new juvenile females in the main nursery areas off the Chilean coast. The juvenile females from the SFU showed a higher body mass than those from the NFU. Consistently, the juvenile females from the SFU had a higher content of lipids, proteins, and glucose than those from the NFU, indicative of higher energy contents and a higher lipid/protein ratio in the south compared to the north. Considering the current overexploitation of this fishery resource in the HCS, it is essential to understand how the bioenergetic condition of juvenile females of P. monodon may vary in nursery areas at different latitudes in order to generate sustainable fishery management policies with an ecological approach, designed specifically to each fishing unit. Furthermore, identifying the latitudinal variations of these biochemical compounds in P. monodon juveniles can elucidate the geographic origin of red squat lobsters that present a ”better bioenergetic condition” in the HCS, which may significantly benefit sustainable fishing certification processes.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Fabián Guzmán-Rivas
creator: Marco Quispe
creator: Ángel Urzúa
subject: Aquaculture, Fisheries and Fish Science
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Ecology
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13393
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Guzmán-Rivas et al.
abstract: The red squat lobster Pleuroncodes monodon is an important fishery resource in the Humboldt Current System (HCS). This decapod is exploited in two fishing units: (a) the northern fishing unit (NFU, from 26°S to 30°S) and (b) the southern fishing unit (SFU, from 32°S to 37°S), each of which have an adjacent nursery area that is the source of recruits to replace the exploited adult populations (in the NFU: off the coast of Coquimbo (28°S) and in the SFU: off the coast of Concepción (36°S)). Marked spatial differences in the environmental conditions of the NFU and SFU, and the biogeographic break that exists between these nursery areas (30°S) may promote changes in the bioenergetic condition of new P. monodon juveniles. To evaluate this, we analyzed the bioenergetic condition (measured as: body mass, lipids, proteins, glucose, and energy) of new juvenile females in the main nursery areas off the Chilean coast. The juvenile females from the SFU showed a higher body mass than those from the NFU. Consistently, the juvenile females from the SFU had a higher content of lipids, proteins, and glucose than those from the NFU, indicative of higher energy contents and a higher lipid/protein ratio in the south compared to the north. Considering the current overexploitation of this fishery resource in the HCS, it is essential to understand how the bioenergetic condition of juvenile females of P. monodon may vary in nursery areas at different latitudes in order to generate sustainable fishery management policies with an ecological approach, designed specifically to each fishing unit. Furthermore, identifying the latitudinal variations of these biochemical compounds in P. monodon juveniles can elucidate the geographic origin of red squat lobsters that present a ”better bioenergetic condition” in the HCS, which may significantly benefit sustainable fishing certification processes.
bibliographic citation: Guzmán-Rivas et al. (2022) Contrasting nursery habitats promote variations in the bioenergetic condition of juvenile female red squat lobsters (Pleuroncodes monodon) of the Southern Pacific Ocean. PeerJ 10:e13393 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13393
date submitted: 2021-09-09
date accepted: 2022-04-16
issued: 2022-05-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Guzmán-Rivas
  given name: Fabián
author list: Agent
  family name: Quispe
  given name: Marco
author list: Agent
  family name: Urzúa
  given name: Ángel
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13393
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-04
copyright: ©2022 Guzmán-Rivas et al.
attribution name: Guzmán-Rivas et al.

The response of geophytes to continuous human foraging on the Cape south coast, South Africa and its implications for early hunter-gatherer mobility patterns
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Current ecological understanding of plants with underground storage organs (USOs) suggests they have, in general, low rates of recruitment and thus as a resource it should be rapidly exhausted, which likely had implications for hunter-gatherer mobility patterns. We focus on the resilience (defined here as the ability of species to persist after being harvested) of USOs to human foraging. Human foragers harvested all visible USO material from 19 plots spread across six Cape south coast (South Africa) vegetation types for three consecutive years (2015–2017) during the period of peak USO apparency (September–October). We expected the plots to be depleted after the first year of harvesting since the entire storage organ of the USO is removed during foraging, i.e. immediate and substantial declines from the first to the second harvest. However, over 50% of the total weight harvested in 2015 was harvested in 2016 and 2017; only after two consecutive years of harvesting, was there evidence of significantly lower yield (p = 0.034) than the first (2015) harvest. Novel emergence of new species and new individuals in year two and three buffered the decline of harvested USOs. We use our findings to make predictions on hunter-gatherer mobility patterns in this region compared to the Hadza in East Africa and the Alyawara in North Australia.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: M. Susan Botha
creator: Richard M. Cowling
creator: Jan C. De Vynck
creator: Karen J. Esler
creator: Alastair J. Potts
subject: Anthropology
subject: Ecology
subject: Coupled Natural and Human Systems
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13066
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Botha et al.
abstract: Current ecological understanding of plants with underground storage organs (USOs) suggests they have, in general, low rates of recruitment and thus as a resource it should be rapidly exhausted, which likely had implications for hunter-gatherer mobility patterns. We focus on the resilience (defined here as the ability of species to persist after being harvested) of USOs to human foraging. Human foragers harvested all visible USO material from 19 plots spread across six Cape south coast (South Africa) vegetation types for three consecutive years (2015–2017) during the period of peak USO apparency (September–October). We expected the plots to be depleted after the first year of harvesting since the entire storage organ of the USO is removed during foraging, i.e. immediate and substantial declines from the first to the second harvest. However, over 50% of the total weight harvested in 2015 was harvested in 2016 and 2017; only after two consecutive years of harvesting, was there evidence of significantly lower yield (p = 0.034) than the first (2015) harvest. Novel emergence of new species and new individuals in year two and three buffered the decline of harvested USOs. We use our findings to make predictions on hunter-gatherer mobility patterns in this region compared to the Hadza in East Africa and the Alyawara in North Australia.
bibliographic citation: Botha et al. (2022) The response of geophytes to continuous human foraging on the Cape south coast, South Africa and its implications for early hunter-gatherer mobility patterns. PeerJ 10:e13066 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13066
date submitted: 2021-08-25
date accepted: 2022-02-14
issued: 2022-05-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Botha
  given name: M. Susan
author list: Agent
  family name: Cowling
  given name: Richard M.
author list: Agent
  family name: De Vynck
  given name: Jan C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Esler
  given name: Karen J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Potts
  given name: Alastair J.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13066
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-03
copyright: © 2022 Botha et al.
attribution name: Botha et al.

Network subgraph-based approach for analyzing and comparing molecular networks
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Molecular networks are built up from genetic elements that exhibit feedback interactions. Here, we studied the problem of measuring the similarity of directed networks by proposing a novel alignment-free approach: the network subgraph-based approach. Our approach does not make use of randomized networks to determine modular patterns embedded in a network, and this method differs from the network motif and graphlet methods. Network similarity was quantified by gauging the difference between the subgraph frequency distributions of two networks using Jensen–Shannon entropy. We applied the subgraph approach to study three types of molecular networks, i.e., cancer networks, signal transduction networks, and cellular process networks, which exhibit diverse molecular functions. We compared the performance of our subgraph detection algorithm with other algorithms, and the results were consistent, but other algorithms could not address the issue of subgraphs/motifs embedded within a subgraph/motif. To evaluate the effectiveness of the subgraph-based method, we applied the method along with the Jensen–Shannon entropy to classify six network models, and it achieves a 100% accuracy of classification. The proposed information-theoretic approach allows us to determine the structural similarity of two networks regardless of node identity and network size. We demonstrated the effectiveness of the subgraph approach to cluster molecular networks that exhibit similar regulatory interaction topologies. As an illustration, our method can identify (i) common subgraph-mediated signal transduction and/or cellular processes in AML and pancreatic cancer, and (ii) scaffold proteins in gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma; thus, the results suggested that there are common regulation modules for cancer formation. We also found that the underlying substructures of the molecular networks are dominated by irreducible subgraphs; this feature is valid for the three classes of molecular networ…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Chien-Hung Huang
creator: Efendi Zaenudin
creator: Jeffrey J.P. Tsai
creator: Nilubon Kurubanjerdjit
creator: Ka-Lok Ng
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Computational Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13137
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Huang et al.
abstract: Molecular networks are built up from genetic elements that exhibit feedback interactions. Here, we studied the problem of measuring the similarity of directed networks by proposing a novel alignment-free approach: the network subgraph-based approach. Our approach does not make use of randomized networks to determine modular patterns embedded in a network, and this method differs from the network motif and graphlet methods. Network similarity was quantified by gauging the difference between the subgraph frequency distributions of two networks using Jensen–Shannon entropy. We applied the subgraph approach to study three types of molecular networks, i.e., cancer networks, signal transduction networks, and cellular process networks, which exhibit diverse molecular functions. We compared the performance of our subgraph detection algorithm with other algorithms, and the results were consistent, but other algorithms could not address the issue of subgraphs/motifs embedded within a subgraph/motif. To evaluate the effectiveness of the subgraph-based method, we applied the method along with the Jensen–Shannon entropy to classify six network models, and it achieves a 100% accuracy of classification. The proposed information-theoretic approach allows us to determine the structural similarity of two networks regardless of node identity and network size. We demonstrated the effectiveness of the subgraph approach to cluster molecular networks that exhibit similar regulatory interaction topologies. As an illustration, our method can identify (i) common subgraph-mediated signal transduction and/or cellular processes in AML and pancreatic cancer, and (ii) scaffold proteins in gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma; thus, the results suggested that there are common regulation modules for cancer formation. We also found that the underlying substructures of the molecular networks are dominated by irreducible subgraphs; this feature is valid for the three classes of molecular networ…
bibliographic citation: Huang et al. (2022) Network subgraph-based approach for analyzing and comparing molecular networks. PeerJ 10:e13137 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13137
date submitted: 2021-07-19
date accepted: 2022-02-28
issued: 2022-05-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Chien-Hung
author list: Agent
  family name: Zaenudin
  given name: Efendi
author list: Agent
  family name: Tsai
  given name: Jeffrey J.P.
author list: Agent
  family name: Kurubanjerdjit
  given name: Nilubon
author list: Agent
  family name: Ng
  given name: Ka-Lok
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13137
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-03
copyright: ©2022 Huang et al.
attribution name: Huang et al.

Genome-wide identification of the SWEET gene family mediating the cold stress response in Prunus mume
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (SWEET) gene family encodes a family of sugar transporters that play essential roles in plant growth, reproduction, and biotic and abiotic stresses. Prunus mume is a considerable ornamental wood plant with high edible and medicinal values; however, its lack of tolerance to low temperature has severely limited its geographical distribution. To investigate whether this gene family mediates the response of P. mume to cold stress, we identified that the P. mume gene family consists of 17 members and divided the family members into four groups. Sixteen of these genes were anchored on six chromosomes, and one gene was anchored on the scaffold with four pairs of segmental gene duplications and two pairs of tandem gene duplications. Cis-acting regulatory element analysis indicated that the PmSWEET genes are potentially involved in P. mume development, including potentially regulating roles in procedure, such as circadian control, abscisic acid-response and light-response, and responses to numerous stresses, such as low-temperature and drought. We performed low-temperature treatment in the cold-tolerant cultivar ‘Songchun’ and cold-sensitive cultivar ‘Zaolve’ and found that the expression of four of 17 PmSWEETs was either upregulated or downregulated with prolonged treatment times. This finding indicates that these family members may potentially play a role in cold stress responses in P. mume. Our study provides a basis for further investigation of the role of SWEET proteins in the development of P. mume and its responses to cold stress.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Zhenying Wen
creator: Mingyu Li
creator: Juan Meng
creator: Ping Li
creator: Tangren Cheng
creator: Qixiang Zhang
creator: Lidan Sun
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13273
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Wen et al.
abstract: The Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (SWEET) gene family encodes a family of sugar transporters that play essential roles in plant growth, reproduction, and biotic and abiotic stresses. Prunus mume is a considerable ornamental wood plant with high edible and medicinal values; however, its lack of tolerance to low temperature has severely limited its geographical distribution. To investigate whether this gene family mediates the response of P. mume to cold stress, we identified that the P. mume gene family consists of 17 members and divided the family members into four groups. Sixteen of these genes were anchored on six chromosomes, and one gene was anchored on the scaffold with four pairs of segmental gene duplications and two pairs of tandem gene duplications. Cis-acting regulatory element analysis indicated that the PmSWEET genes are potentially involved in P. mume development, including potentially regulating roles in procedure, such as circadian control, abscisic acid-response and light-response, and responses to numerous stresses, such as low-temperature and drought. We performed low-temperature treatment in the cold-tolerant cultivar ‘Songchun’ and cold-sensitive cultivar ‘Zaolve’ and found that the expression of four of 17 PmSWEETs was either upregulated or downregulated with prolonged treatment times. This finding indicates that these family members may potentially play a role in cold stress responses in P. mume. Our study provides a basis for further investigation of the role of SWEET proteins in the development of P. mume and its responses to cold stress.
bibliographic citation: Wen et al. (2022) Genome-wide identification of the SWEET gene family mediating the cold stress response in Prunus mume. PeerJ 10:e13273 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13273
date submitted: 2021-11-08
date accepted: 2022-03-23
issued: 2022-05-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wen
  given name: Zhenying
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Mingyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Meng
  given name: Juan
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Ping
author list: Agent
  family name: Cheng
  given name: Tangren
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Qixiang
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Lidan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13273
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-03
copyright: © 2022 Wen et al.
attribution name: Wen et al.

Reassessment of Faxinalipterus minimus, a purported Triassic pterosaur from southern Brazil with the description of a new taxon
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Faxinalipterus minimus was originally described as a purported pterosaur from the Late Triassic (early Norian) Caturrita Formation of southern Brazil. Its holotype comprises fragmentary postcranial elements, whereas a partial maxilla was referred to the species. The assignment of Faxinalipterus minimus to Pterosauria has been questioned by some studies, but the specimen has never been accessed in detail after its original description. Here we provide a reassessment of Faxinalipterus minimus after additional mechanical preparation of the holotype. Our interpretations on the identity of several bones differ from those of the original description, and we found no support favoring pterosaur affinities for the taxon. The maxilla previously referred to Faxinalipterus minimus is disassociated from this taxon and referred to a new putative pterosauromorph described here from a partial skull and fragmentary postcranial elements. Maehary bonapartei gen. et sp. nov. comes from the same fossiliferous site that yielded Faxinalipterus minimus, but the lack of overlapping bones hampers comparisons between the two taxa. Our phylogenetic analysis places Faxinalipterus minimus within Lagerpetidae and Maehary bonapartei gen. et sp. nov. as the earliest-diverging member of Pterosauromorpha. Furthermore, the peculiar morphology of the new taxon reveals a new dental morphotype for archosaurs, characterized by conical, unserrated crowns, with a pair of apicobasally oriented grooves. These two enigmatic archosaurs expand our knowledge on the Caturrita Formation fauna and reinforce the importance of its beds on the understanding of Late Triassic ecosystems.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Alexander W.A. Kellner
creator: Borja Holgado
creator: Orlando Grillo
creator: Flávio Augusto Pretto
creator: Leonardo Kerber
creator: Felipe Lima Pinheiro
creator: Marina Bento Soares
creator: Cesar Leandro Schultz
creator: Ricardo Tadeu Lopes
creator: Olga Araújo
creator: Rodrigo Temp Müller
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13276
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Kellner et al.
abstract: Faxinalipterus minimus was originally described as a purported pterosaur from the Late Triassic (early Norian) Caturrita Formation of southern Brazil. Its holotype comprises fragmentary postcranial elements, whereas a partial maxilla was referred to the species. The assignment of Faxinalipterus minimus to Pterosauria has been questioned by some studies, but the specimen has never been accessed in detail after its original description. Here we provide a reassessment of Faxinalipterus minimus after additional mechanical preparation of the holotype. Our interpretations on the identity of several bones differ from those of the original description, and we found no support favoring pterosaur affinities for the taxon. The maxilla previously referred to Faxinalipterus minimus is disassociated from this taxon and referred to a new putative pterosauromorph described here from a partial skull and fragmentary postcranial elements. Maehary bonapartei gen. et sp. nov. comes from the same fossiliferous site that yielded Faxinalipterus minimus, but the lack of overlapping bones hampers comparisons between the two taxa. Our phylogenetic analysis places Faxinalipterus minimus within Lagerpetidae and Maehary bonapartei gen. et sp. nov. as the earliest-diverging member of Pterosauromorpha. Furthermore, the peculiar morphology of the new taxon reveals a new dental morphotype for archosaurs, characterized by conical, unserrated crowns, with a pair of apicobasally oriented grooves. These two enigmatic archosaurs expand our knowledge on the Caturrita Formation fauna and reinforce the importance of its beds on the understanding of Late Triassic ecosystems.
bibliographic citation: Kellner et al. (2022) Reassessment of Faxinalipterus minimus, a purported Triassic pterosaur from southern Brazil with the description of a new taxon. PeerJ 10:e13276 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13276
date submitted: 2021-11-05
date accepted: 2022-03-24
issued: 2022-05-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Kellner
  given name: Alexander W.A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Holgado
  given name: Borja
author list: Agent
  family name: Grillo
  given name: Orlando
author list: Agent
  family name: Pretto
  given name: Flávio Augusto
author list: Agent
  family name: Kerber
  given name: Leonardo
author list: Agent
  family name: Pinheiro
  given name: Felipe Lima
author list: Agent
  family name: Soares
  given name: Marina Bento
author list: Agent
  family name: Schultz
  given name: Cesar Leandro
author list: Agent
  family name: Lopes
  given name: Ricardo Tadeu
author list: Agent
  family name: Araújo
  given name: Olga
author list: Agent
  family name: Müller
  given name: Rodrigo Temp
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13276
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-03
copyright: ©2022 Kellner et al.
attribution name: Kellner et al.

Climate change influences on the geographic distributional potential of the spotted fever vectors Amblyomma maculatum and Dermacentor andersoni
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf Coast tick), and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick) are two North American ticks that transmit spotted fevers associated Rickettsia. Amblyomma maculatum transmits Rickettsia parkeri and Francisella tularensis, while D. andersoni transmits R. rickettsii, Anaplasma marginale, Coltivirus (Colorado tick fever virus), and F. tularensis. Increases in temperature causes mild winters and more extreme dry periods during summers, which will affect tick populations in unknown ways. Here, we used ecological niche modeling (ENM) to assess the potential geographic distributions of these two medically important vector species in North America under current condition and then transfer those models to the future under different future climate scenarios with special interest in highlighting new potential expansion areas. Current model predictions for A. maculatum showed suitable areas across the southern and Midwest United States, and east coast, western and southern Mexico. For D. andersoni, our models showed broad suitable areas across northwestern United States. New potential for range expansions was anticipated for both tick species northward in response to climate change, extending across the Midwest and New England for A. maculatum, and still farther north into Canada for D. andersoni.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Abdelghafar Alkishe
creator: A. Townsend Peterson
subject: Ecology
subject: Entomology
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Climate Change Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13279
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Alkishe and Peterson
abstract: Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf Coast tick), and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick) are two North American ticks that transmit spotted fevers associated Rickettsia. Amblyomma maculatum transmits Rickettsia parkeri and Francisella tularensis, while D. andersoni transmits R. rickettsii, Anaplasma marginale, Coltivirus (Colorado tick fever virus), and F. tularensis. Increases in temperature causes mild winters and more extreme dry periods during summers, which will affect tick populations in unknown ways. Here, we used ecological niche modeling (ENM) to assess the potential geographic distributions of these two medically important vector species in North America under current condition and then transfer those models to the future under different future climate scenarios with special interest in highlighting new potential expansion areas. Current model predictions for A. maculatum showed suitable areas across the southern and Midwest United States, and east coast, western and southern Mexico. For D. andersoni, our models showed broad suitable areas across northwestern United States. New potential for range expansions was anticipated for both tick species northward in response to climate change, extending across the Midwest and New England for A. maculatum, and still farther north into Canada for D. andersoni.
bibliographic citation: Alkishe et al. (2022) Climate change influences on the geographic distributional potential of the spotted fever vectors Amblyomma maculatum and Dermacentor andersoni. PeerJ 10:e13279 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13279
date submitted: 2022-01-03
date accepted: 2022-03-24
issued: 2022-05-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Alkishe
  given name: Abdelghafar
author list: Agent
  family name: Peterson
  given name: A. Townsend
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13279
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-03
copyright: ©2022 Alkishe and Peterson
attribution name: Alkishe and Peterson

Spatial heterogeneity of soil nutrients in Yili River Valley
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Soil nutrients are a vital reference index of soil fertility and are essential in studying spatial variability for the development of land resources. The traditional statistical methods including correlation analysis and geostatistical analysis, were used to explore the spatial variability of nutrients and its influencing factors in the Yili River Valley. The results showed that soil total potassium (STK) had a weak variation, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (STN) and soil total phosphorus (STP) showed a moderate degree of variation. Correlation analysis showed that SOC had a significant correlation with STN, STP, STK, silt, soil water content (SWC), Cos a and altitude (p < 0.01). In contrast, negative correlations were found between the SOC and sand, soil bulk density (SBD) and pH (p < 0.01), the same as STN. STP had a significant correlation with STK, silt (p < 0.01) and Cos a (p < 0.05), whereas negative correlations were found between the STP, sand and SBD (p < 0.01). STK had a significant correlation with silt, whereas negative correlations were found between the STK, sand and SBD. Ordinary Kriging interpolation showed that the distribution of SOC and STN had a high value in the northeast, northwest and southeast, and a low value in the central and southwest. STP was high in the northwest and southeast and low in the northeast and southwest. STK was high in the northwest and northeast and low in the central and southeast regions. This is helpful for the rational exploitation of land resources in ecological economy development in the Yili River Basin.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Guojun Sun
creator: Haijun Liu
creator: Dong Cui
creator: Chunmei Chai
subject: Soil Science
subject: Biogeochemistry
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13311
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Sun et al.
abstract: Soil nutrients are a vital reference index of soil fertility and are essential in studying spatial variability for the development of land resources. The traditional statistical methods including correlation analysis and geostatistical analysis, were used to explore the spatial variability of nutrients and its influencing factors in the Yili River Valley. The results showed that soil total potassium (STK) had a weak variation, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (STN) and soil total phosphorus (STP) showed a moderate degree of variation. Correlation analysis showed that SOC had a significant correlation with STN, STP, STK, silt, soil water content (SWC), Cos a and altitude (p < 0.01). In contrast, negative correlations were found between the SOC and sand, soil bulk density (SBD) and pH (p < 0.01), the same as STN. STP had a significant correlation with STK, silt (p < 0.01) and Cos a (p < 0.05), whereas negative correlations were found between the STP, sand and SBD (p < 0.01). STK had a significant correlation with silt, whereas negative correlations were found between the STK, sand and SBD. Ordinary Kriging interpolation showed that the distribution of SOC and STN had a high value in the northeast, northwest and southeast, and a low value in the central and southwest. STP was high in the northwest and southeast and low in the northeast and southwest. STK was high in the northwest and northeast and low in the central and southeast regions. This is helpful for the rational exploitation of land resources in ecological economy development in the Yili River Basin.
bibliographic citation: Sun et al. (2022) Spatial heterogeneity of soil nutrients in Yili River Valley. PeerJ 10:e13311 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13311
date submitted: 2022-01-03
date accepted: 2022-03-30
issued: 2022-05-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Guojun
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Haijun
author list: Agent
  family name: Cui
  given name: Dong
author list: Agent
  family name: Chai
  given name: Chunmei
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13311
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-03
copyright: © 2022 Sun et al.
attribution name: Sun et al.

Glucocorticoids induce osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats via PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) is a disorder that causes severe disability in patients and has a high incidence worldwide. Although glucocorticoid (GC)-induced apoptosis of osteoblasts is an important cytological basis of SONFH, the detailed mechanism underlying SONFH pathogenesis remains elusive. PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was reported to involve in cell survival and apoptosis. Objective We explored the role of PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway and its downstream targets during glucocorticoid -induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Methods We obtained gene expression profile of osteoblasts subjected to dexamethasone (Dex) treatment from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out and functional enrichment analysis were conducted by bioinformatics analysis. In vitro, we analyzed Dex-induced apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 cells and explored the role of PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway in this phenomenon by employing siRNA-FOXO1 and IGF-1(PI3K/AKT agonist). Finally, we verified our results in a rat model of SONFH. Results In Dex-treated osteoblasts, DEGs were mainly enriched in the FOXO signaling pathway. Dex inhibited MC3T3-E1 cell viability in a dose-dependent effect and induced apoptosis by increasing the expression levels of FOXO1, Bax, cleaved-Caspase-3, and cleaved-Caspase-9, while reducing the expression of Bcl-2. Notably, these results were reversed by siRNA-FOXO1 treatment. Dex inhibited PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, upregulated FOXO1 expression and increased FOXO1 nuclear translocation, which were reversed by IGF-1. Compared to normal rats, the femoral head of SONFH showed increased expression of FOXO1, increased number of apoptotic cells, and empty osteocytic lacunas, as well as decreased bone tissue content and femoral head integrity. Significantly, the effects of GC-induced SONFH were alleviated following IGF-1 treatment. Conclusion Dex induces osteoblast apoptosis via t…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Fei Sun
creator: Jian Lin Zhou
creator: Si Xing Wei
creator: Ze Wen Jiang
creator: Hao Peng
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Rheumatology
subject: Histology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13319
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Sun et al.
abstract: Background Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) is a disorder that causes severe disability in patients and has a high incidence worldwide. Although glucocorticoid (GC)-induced apoptosis of osteoblasts is an important cytological basis of SONFH, the detailed mechanism underlying SONFH pathogenesis remains elusive. PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was reported to involve in cell survival and apoptosis. Objective We explored the role of PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway and its downstream targets during glucocorticoid -induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Methods We obtained gene expression profile of osteoblasts subjected to dexamethasone (Dex) treatment from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out and functional enrichment analysis were conducted by bioinformatics analysis. In vitro, we analyzed Dex-induced apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 cells and explored the role of PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway in this phenomenon by employing siRNA-FOXO1 and IGF-1(PI3K/AKT agonist). Finally, we verified our results in a rat model of SONFH. Results In Dex-treated osteoblasts, DEGs were mainly enriched in the FOXO signaling pathway. Dex inhibited MC3T3-E1 cell viability in a dose-dependent effect and induced apoptosis by increasing the expression levels of FOXO1, Bax, cleaved-Caspase-3, and cleaved-Caspase-9, while reducing the expression of Bcl-2. Notably, these results were reversed by siRNA-FOXO1 treatment. Dex inhibited PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, upregulated FOXO1 expression and increased FOXO1 nuclear translocation, which were reversed by IGF-1. Compared to normal rats, the femoral head of SONFH showed increased expression of FOXO1, increased number of apoptotic cells, and empty osteocytic lacunas, as well as decreased bone tissue content and femoral head integrity. Significantly, the effects of GC-induced SONFH were alleviated following IGF-1 treatment. Conclusion Dex induces osteoblast apoptosis via t…
bibliographic citation: Sun et al. (2022) Glucocorticoids induce osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats via PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway. PeerJ 10:e13319 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13319
date submitted: 2022-02-11
date accepted: 2022-04-01
issued: 2022-05-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Fei
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Jian Lin
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: Si Xing
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Ze Wen
author list: Agent
  family name: Peng
  given name: Hao
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13319
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-03
copyright: ©2022 Sun et al.
attribution name: Sun et al.

The association of plasma osteoprotegerin levels and functional outcomes post endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients: a retrospective observational study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Osteoprotegerin (OPG), also known as osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor, is a tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily component. There is an established relationship between OPG and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that plasma OPG levels are associated with functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients who have undergone endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Methods From April 2014 through December 2020, a total of 360 acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent EVT were prospectively included in this retrospective observational study. Plasma OPG was measured after fasting for 12 postoperative hours after EVT. A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to assess functional outcomes 3 months after index stroke occurrence. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression and ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association of plasma OPG levels with poor functional outcomes. Results Overall, 145 (40.2%) patients had poor (mRS > 2) outcomes. The mean ± standard deviation plasma OPG level was 200.2 ± 74.4 pg/mL. Multivariate analysis after adjusting for sex, body mass index, and variables with p < 0.1 in the preceding univariate analysis revealed high plasma OPG levels were independently associated with poor functional outcomes (highest tertile vs. lowest tertile of OPG; odds ratios (OR) 2.121, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.089–4.191], p = 0.037 in binary logistic regression, OR 2.102, 95% CI [1.301–3.412], p = 0.002 in ordinal logistic regression analysis). Conclusions This study demonstrated that higher plasma OPG levels were associated with poor functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent EVT.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Moo-Seok Park
creator: Jin-Hee Park
creator: Ahran Joo
creator: Yoonkyung Chang
creator: Tae-Jin Song
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cardiology
subject: Hematology
subject: Neurology
subject: Surgery and Surgical Specialties
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13327
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Park et al.
abstract: Background Osteoprotegerin (OPG), also known as osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor, is a tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily component. There is an established relationship between OPG and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that plasma OPG levels are associated with functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients who have undergone endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Methods From April 2014 through December 2020, a total of 360 acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent EVT were prospectively included in this retrospective observational study. Plasma OPG was measured after fasting for 12 postoperative hours after EVT. A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to assess functional outcomes 3 months after index stroke occurrence. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression and ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association of plasma OPG levels with poor functional outcomes. Results Overall, 145 (40.2%) patients had poor (mRS > 2) outcomes. The mean ± standard deviation plasma OPG level was 200.2 ± 74.4 pg/mL. Multivariate analysis after adjusting for sex, body mass index, and variables with p < 0.1 in the preceding univariate analysis revealed high plasma OPG levels were independently associated with poor functional outcomes (highest tertile vs. lowest tertile of OPG; odds ratios (OR) 2.121, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.089–4.191], p = 0.037 in binary logistic regression, OR 2.102, 95% CI [1.301–3.412], p = 0.002 in ordinal logistic regression analysis). Conclusions This study demonstrated that higher plasma OPG levels were associated with poor functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent EVT.
bibliographic citation: Park et al. (2022) The association of plasma osteoprotegerin levels and functional outcomes post endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients: a retrospective observational study. PeerJ 10:e13327 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13327
date submitted: 2021-06-09
date accepted: 2022-04-04
issued: 2022-05-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Park
  given name: Moo-Seok
author list: Agent
  family name: Park
  given name: Jin-Hee
author list: Agent
  family name: Joo
  given name: Ahran
author list: Agent
  family name: Chang
  given name: Yoonkyung
author list: Agent
  family name: Song
  given name: Tae-Jin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13327
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-03
copyright: ©2022 Park et al.
attribution name: Park et al.

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