PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Effect of napping on a bean bag chair on sleep stage, muscle activity, and heart rate variability
items: Soil type and fertilizer rate affect wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, quality and nutrient use efficiency in Ayiba, northern Ethiopia
items: An assessment of sensory sensitivity in women suffering from depression using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
items: Discovery of protein-based natural hydrogel from the girdle of the ‘sea cockroach’ Chiton articulatus (Chitonida: Chitonidae)
items: Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of fibrillin (FBN) gene family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
items: Perceived stress and resilience levels during the COVID-19 pandemic among critical care nurses in Saudi Arabia: a correlational cross-sectional study
items: Three new Penicillium species isolated from the tidal flats of China
items: COVID-19 mortality is associated with pre-existing impaired innate immunity in health conditions
items: Bacterial profile of bovine mastitis in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
items: Development of nitrogen efficiency screening system in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and analysis of alfalfa nitrogen efficiency types

Effect of napping on a bean bag chair on sleep stage, muscle activity, and heart rate variability
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Although ample evidence has demonstrated that daytime napping is beneficial for health and cognitive performance, bedding for napping has not yet been scientifically investigated. Objectives To explore the effect of a bean bag chair on daytime napping and physiological parameters related to sleep. Methods Fourteen healthy participants were enrolled within the context of a randomized, single-blind, crossover study to evaluate the effects of a bean bag chair in comparison with those of a urethane chair manufactured to have a similar shape. Electroencephalogram, electromyogram, and heart rate variability were recorded and compared between wakefulness and napping. Results Electroencephalogram analyses revealed no significant differences in sleep architecture or frequency components; however, a significant decrease was found in electromyogram recordings in the trapezius muscle, which represents the neck region (p = 0.019). Additionally, a significant main effect of bedding in the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (F[1,20] = 4.314, p = 0.037) was revealed. Conclusions These results suggest that napping in a bean bag chair may provide a comfortable napping environment involving muscle relaxation and proper regulation of the autonomic nervous function.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Masaki Nishida
creator: Atsushi Ichinose
creator: Yusuke Murata
creator: Kohei Shioda
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Cardiology
subject: Drugs and Devices
subject: Neurology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13284
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Nishida et al.
abstract: Background Although ample evidence has demonstrated that daytime napping is beneficial for health and cognitive performance, bedding for napping has not yet been scientifically investigated. Objectives To explore the effect of a bean bag chair on daytime napping and physiological parameters related to sleep. Methods Fourteen healthy participants were enrolled within the context of a randomized, single-blind, crossover study to evaluate the effects of a bean bag chair in comparison with those of a urethane chair manufactured to have a similar shape. Electroencephalogram, electromyogram, and heart rate variability were recorded and compared between wakefulness and napping. Results Electroencephalogram analyses revealed no significant differences in sleep architecture or frequency components; however, a significant decrease was found in electromyogram recordings in the trapezius muscle, which represents the neck region (p = 0.019). Additionally, a significant main effect of bedding in the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (F[1,20] = 4.314, p = 0.037) was revealed. Conclusions These results suggest that napping in a bean bag chair may provide a comfortable napping environment involving muscle relaxation and proper regulation of the autonomic nervous function.
bibliographic citation: Nishida et al. (2022) Effect of napping on a bean bag chair on sleep stage, muscle activity, and heart rate variability. PeerJ 10:e13284 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13284
date submitted: 2021-12-27
date accepted: 2022-03-26
issued: 2022-05-09
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Nishida
  given name: Masaki
author list: Agent
  family name: Ichinose
  given name: Atsushi
author list: Agent
  family name: Murata
  given name: Yusuke
author list: Agent
  family name: Shioda
  given name: Kohei
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13284
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-09
copyright: © 2022 Nishida et al.
attribution name: Nishida et al.

Soil type and fertilizer rate affect wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, quality and nutrient use efficiency in Ayiba, northern Ethiopia
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The blanket NP fertilizer recommendation over the past five decades in Ethiopia did not result in a significant increment of crop productivity. The main lack of success was highly linked to the extrapolating approach of one site success to others without considering the climate, soil, and ecological setting and variations. As a result, a new fertilization approach was desperately needed, and with this premise, new blended fertilizers are now being introduced to replace the conventional approach. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of NPSZnB blended fertilizer on bread wheat yield attributes, quality traits and use efficiency in two different soil types under rain-fed conditions in Ayiba, northern Ethiopia. Relevant agronomic data were evaluated and recorded from plots of each soil types for analysis. The analysis of variance revealed a significant (p < 0.001) variation on all the agronomic and grain quality traits due to the main and interaction effects of soil type and fertilizer treatment factors. Most agronomic and quality characteristics recorded the highest result in the highest treatment applications (175 and 150 kg NPSZnB ha−1) in both soils. Yield and grain quality traits of bread wheat was also found better under fertilized plots than unfertilized plots. In both soil types increasing application of the new blended fertilizer rate from 50–175 kg NPSZnB ha−1 showed an increasing trend in grain yield from 1.6 to 4.3 and 2.5 to 5.4 t ha−1 in Vertisol and Cambisol soils, respectively. The varied yield as a response of fertilizer treatments across soils signifies soil-specific fertilization approach is critically important for production increment. On the other hand, based on the partial budget analysis the highest net benefit with the highest marginal rate of return in both Vertisol and Cambisol soils were obtained when treated with 100 and 125 kg NPSZnB ha−1, respectively. Therefore, to produce optimum bread wheat yield under rainfed con…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Weldemariam Seifu
creator: Eyasu Elias
creator: Girmay Gebresamuel
creator: Wolde Tefera
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Plant Science
subject: Soil Science
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Environmental Impacts
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13344
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Gessesew et al.
abstract: The blanket NP fertilizer recommendation over the past five decades in Ethiopia did not result in a significant increment of crop productivity. The main lack of success was highly linked to the extrapolating approach of one site success to others without considering the climate, soil, and ecological setting and variations. As a result, a new fertilization approach was desperately needed, and with this premise, new blended fertilizers are now being introduced to replace the conventional approach. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of NPSZnB blended fertilizer on bread wheat yield attributes, quality traits and use efficiency in two different soil types under rain-fed conditions in Ayiba, northern Ethiopia. Relevant agronomic data were evaluated and recorded from plots of each soil types for analysis. The analysis of variance revealed a significant (p < 0.001) variation on all the agronomic and grain quality traits due to the main and interaction effects of soil type and fertilizer treatment factors. Most agronomic and quality characteristics recorded the highest result in the highest treatment applications (175 and 150 kg NPSZnB ha−1) in both soils. Yield and grain quality traits of bread wheat was also found better under fertilized plots than unfertilized plots. In both soil types increasing application of the new blended fertilizer rate from 50–175 kg NPSZnB ha−1 showed an increasing trend in grain yield from 1.6 to 4.3 and 2.5 to 5.4 t ha−1 in Vertisol and Cambisol soils, respectively. The varied yield as a response of fertilizer treatments across soils signifies soil-specific fertilization approach is critically important for production increment. On the other hand, based on the partial budget analysis the highest net benefit with the highest marginal rate of return in both Vertisol and Cambisol soils were obtained when treated with 100 and 125 kg NPSZnB ha−1, respectively. Therefore, to produce optimum bread wheat yield under rainfed con…
bibliographic citation: Seifu et al. (2022) Soil type and fertilizer rate affect wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, quality and nutrient use efficiency in Ayiba, northern Ethiopia. PeerJ 10:e13344 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13344
date submitted: 2021-12-27
date accepted: 2022-04-06
issued: 2022-05-09
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Seifu
  given name: Weldemariam
author list: Agent
  family name: Elias
  given name: Eyasu
author list: Agent
  family name: Gebresamuel
  given name: Girmay
author list: Agent
  family name: Tefera
  given name: Wolde
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13344
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-09
copyright: © 2022 Gessesew et al.
attribution name: Gessesew et al.

An assessment of sensory sensitivity in women suffering from depression using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Perception is the process or result of the process arising from the mental interpretation of the phenomena occurring, therefore it depends not only on physiology, but is also psychologically and socially conditioned. The aim of this study was to assess if there is a difference in the sensory sensitivity to an electrical stimulus in women suffering from depression and what the hedonic rating is of the lived experience of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Methods The depression group: 44 women, who were inpatients treated for depression at the Psychiatric Ward in the Clinical Hospital, and the control group: 41 women, matched by the age, height and weight, with no mental illness. Measures: threshold for sensing current, type of sensation evoked, hedonic rating. Results Median sensing threshold of electric current (depression vs. control: 7.75 mA vs. 8.35 mA; no significant), type of sensation evoked (depression vs. control: tingling 90.9% vs. 92.7%, no significant), hedonic rating (depression vs. control: unpleasant 11.4% vs. 2.4%; p = 0.003), hedonic rating (mildly ill vs. moderately ill vs. markedly ill: unpleasant 5.3% vs. 6.3% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.066). Conclusions Women suffering from depression exhibit a similar threshold of sensitivity to an electrical stimulus as mentally healthy women, however the hedonic rating of the stimulus acting on the skin in the group of clinically depressed women was more negative than in the mentally healthy subjects. The stimulus was described as ‘unpleasant’ for many of the mentally unhealthy women. The most negative sensations related to the electrical stimulus were experienced by women with the highest severity of mental illness according to The Clinical Global Impression - Severity Scale.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Joanna Witkoś
creator: Agnieszka Fusińska-Korpik
creator: Magdalena Hartman-Petrycka
creator: Agnieszka Nowak
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Anesthesiology and Pain Management
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Women’s Health
subject: Rehabilitation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13373
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Witkoś et al.
abstract: Background Perception is the process or result of the process arising from the mental interpretation of the phenomena occurring, therefore it depends not only on physiology, but is also psychologically and socially conditioned. The aim of this study was to assess if there is a difference in the sensory sensitivity to an electrical stimulus in women suffering from depression and what the hedonic rating is of the lived experience of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Methods The depression group: 44 women, who were inpatients treated for depression at the Psychiatric Ward in the Clinical Hospital, and the control group: 41 women, matched by the age, height and weight, with no mental illness. Measures: threshold for sensing current, type of sensation evoked, hedonic rating. Results Median sensing threshold of electric current (depression vs. control: 7.75 mA vs. 8.35 mA; no significant), type of sensation evoked (depression vs. control: tingling 90.9% vs. 92.7%, no significant), hedonic rating (depression vs. control: unpleasant 11.4% vs. 2.4%; p = 0.003), hedonic rating (mildly ill vs. moderately ill vs. markedly ill: unpleasant 5.3% vs. 6.3% vs. 33.3%; p = 0.066). Conclusions Women suffering from depression exhibit a similar threshold of sensitivity to an electrical stimulus as mentally healthy women, however the hedonic rating of the stimulus acting on the skin in the group of clinically depressed women was more negative than in the mentally healthy subjects. The stimulus was described as ‘unpleasant’ for many of the mentally unhealthy women. The most negative sensations related to the electrical stimulus were experienced by women with the highest severity of mental illness according to The Clinical Global Impression - Severity Scale.
bibliographic citation: Witkoś et al. (2022) An assessment of sensory sensitivity in women suffering from depression using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. PeerJ 10:e13373 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13373
date submitted: 2022-01-06
date accepted: 2022-04-13
issued: 2022-05-09
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Witkoś
  given name: Joanna
author list: Agent
  family name: Fusińska-Korpik
  given name: Agnieszka
author list: Agent
  family name: Hartman-Petrycka
  given name: Magdalena
author list: Agent
  family name: Nowak
  given name: Agnieszka
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13373
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-09
copyright: ©2022 Witkoś et al.
attribution name: Witkoś et al.

Discovery of protein-based natural hydrogel from the girdle of the ‘sea cockroach’ Chiton articulatus (Chitonida: Chitonidae)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Hydrogels are widely used materials in biomedical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural fields. However, these hydrogels are usually formed synthetically via a long and complicated process involving crosslinking natural polymers. Herein, we describe a natural hydrogel isolated using a ‘gentle’ acid treatment from the girdle of a chiton species (Chiton articulatus). This novel hydrogel is shown to have a proliferative effect on mouse fibroblast cells (cell line, L929). The swelling capacity of this natural hydrogel was recorded as approximately 1,200% in distilled water, which is within desired levels for hydrogels. Detailed characterizations reveal that the hydrogel consists predominantly (83.93%) of protein. Considering its non-toxicity, proliferative effect and swelling properties, this natural hydrogel is an important discovery for material sciences, with potential for further applications in industry. Whether the girdle has some hydrogel activity in the living animal is unknown, but we speculate that it may enable the animal to better survive extreme environmental conditions by preventing desiccation.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Emel Çakmak
creator: Behlül Koc-Bilican
creator: Omar Hernando Avila-Poveda
creator: Tuğçe Karaduman
creator: Demet Cansaran-Duman
creator: Suzanne T. Williams
creator: Murat Kaya
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Marine Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13386
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Çakmak et al.
abstract: Hydrogels are widely used materials in biomedical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural fields. However, these hydrogels are usually formed synthetically via a long and complicated process involving crosslinking natural polymers. Herein, we describe a natural hydrogel isolated using a ‘gentle’ acid treatment from the girdle of a chiton species (Chiton articulatus). This novel hydrogel is shown to have a proliferative effect on mouse fibroblast cells (cell line, L929). The swelling capacity of this natural hydrogel was recorded as approximately 1,200% in distilled water, which is within desired levels for hydrogels. Detailed characterizations reveal that the hydrogel consists predominantly (83.93%) of protein. Considering its non-toxicity, proliferative effect and swelling properties, this natural hydrogel is an important discovery for material sciences, with potential for further applications in industry. Whether the girdle has some hydrogel activity in the living animal is unknown, but we speculate that it may enable the animal to better survive extreme environmental conditions by preventing desiccation.
bibliographic citation: Çakmak et al. (2022) Discovery of protein-based natural hydrogel from the girdle of the ‘sea cockroach’ Chiton articulatus (Chitonida: Chitonidae). PeerJ 10:e13386 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13386
date submitted: 2022-02-04
date accepted: 2022-04-15
issued: 2022-05-09
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Çakmak
  given name: Emel
author list: Agent
  family name: Koc-Bilican
  given name: Behlül
author list: Agent
  family name: Avila-Poveda
  given name: Omar Hernando
author list: Agent
  family name: Karaduman
  given name: Tuğçe
author list: Agent
  family name: Cansaran-Duman
  given name: Demet
author list: Agent
  family name: Williams
  given name: Suzanne T.
author list: Agent
  family name: Kaya
  given name: Murat
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13386
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-09
copyright: © 2022 Çakmak et al.
attribution name: Çakmak et al.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of fibrillin (FBN) gene family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Fibrillin (FBN) proteins are widely distributed in the photosynthetic organs. The members of FBN gene family play important roles in plant growth and development, and response to hormone and stresses. Tomato is a vegetable crop with significantly economic value and model plant commonly used in research. However, the FBN family has not been systematical studied in tomato. Methods In this study, 14 FBN genes were identified in tomato genome by Pfam and Hmmer 3.0 software. ExPASy, MEGA 6.0, MEME, GSDS, TBtools, PlantCARE and so on were used for physical and chemical properties analysis, phylogenetic analysis, gene structure and conserved motifs analysis, collinearity analysis and cis-acting element analysis of FBN family genes in tomato. Expression characteristics of SlFBNs in different tissues, fruit shape near isogenic lines (NILs), Pst DC3000 and ABA treatments were analyzed based on transcriptome data and quantitative Real-time qPCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Results The SlFBN family was divided into 11 subgroups. There were 8 FBN homologous gene pairs between tomato and Arabidopsis. All the members of SlFBN family contained PAP conserved domain, but their gene structure and conserved motifs showed apparent differences. The cis-acting elements of light and hormone (especially ethylene, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA)) were widely distributed in the SlFBN promoter regions. The expression analysis found that most of SlFBNs were predominantly expressed in leaves of Heinz and S. pimpinellifolium LA1589, and showed higher expressions in mature or senescent leaves than in young leaves. Expression analysis of different tissues and fruit shape NILs indicated SlFBN1, SlFBN2b and SlFBN7a might play important roles during tomato fruit differentiation. All of the SlFBNs responded to Pst DC3000 and ABA treatments. The results of this study contribute to exploring the functions and molecular mechanisms of SlFBNs in leaf development, fruit differentiation, str…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Huiru Sun
creator: Min Ren
creator: Jianing Zhang
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Genomics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13414
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Sun et al.
abstract: Background Fibrillin (FBN) proteins are widely distributed in the photosynthetic organs. The members of FBN gene family play important roles in plant growth and development, and response to hormone and stresses. Tomato is a vegetable crop with significantly economic value and model plant commonly used in research. However, the FBN family has not been systematical studied in tomato. Methods In this study, 14 FBN genes were identified in tomato genome by Pfam and Hmmer 3.0 software. ExPASy, MEGA 6.0, MEME, GSDS, TBtools, PlantCARE and so on were used for physical and chemical properties analysis, phylogenetic analysis, gene structure and conserved motifs analysis, collinearity analysis and cis-acting element analysis of FBN family genes in tomato. Expression characteristics of SlFBNs in different tissues, fruit shape near isogenic lines (NILs), Pst DC3000 and ABA treatments were analyzed based on transcriptome data and quantitative Real-time qPCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Results The SlFBN family was divided into 11 subgroups. There were 8 FBN homologous gene pairs between tomato and Arabidopsis. All the members of SlFBN family contained PAP conserved domain, but their gene structure and conserved motifs showed apparent differences. The cis-acting elements of light and hormone (especially ethylene, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA)) were widely distributed in the SlFBN promoter regions. The expression analysis found that most of SlFBNs were predominantly expressed in leaves of Heinz and S. pimpinellifolium LA1589, and showed higher expressions in mature or senescent leaves than in young leaves. Expression analysis of different tissues and fruit shape NILs indicated SlFBN1, SlFBN2b and SlFBN7a might play important roles during tomato fruit differentiation. All of the SlFBNs responded to Pst DC3000 and ABA treatments. The results of this study contribute to exploring the functions and molecular mechanisms of SlFBNs in leaf development, fruit differentiation, str…
bibliographic citation: Sun et al. (2022) Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of fibrillin (FBN) gene family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). PeerJ 10:e13414 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13414
date submitted: 2022-03-23
date accepted: 2022-04-19
issued: 2022-05-09
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Huiru
author list: Agent
  family name: Ren
  given name: Min
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Jianing
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13414
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-09
copyright: © 2022 Sun et al.
attribution name: Sun et al.

Perceived stress and resilience levels during the COVID-19 pandemic among critical care nurses in Saudi Arabia: a correlational cross-sectional study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The continuous spreading of the respiratory coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has been a threat to global health, especially among those fighting directly against it. Nurses who work in critical care have reported very high levels of stress during these extreme circumstances. It is very important to measure the level of stress and resilience among these nurses in order to diminish further psychological distress. This study aims to assess the levels of perceived stress and resilience among critical care nurses. Methodology In this correlational cross-sectional study, critical care nurses (n = 139) were recruited by gatekeepers in a governmental university hospital in Riyadh City between 12 March and 8 April 2021 to complete an online questionnaire. The measurement tools used in this study were the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 (CD-RISC-10) and the Perceived Stress Scale of COVID-19 (PSS-10 items). Data were analyzed using a descriptive and inferential analysis to calculate frequencies to determine the distribution of stress and resilience, and multiple regression was applied to assess the relationship between them. Results One hundred and thirty-nine critical care nurse (64%) responded. The perceived levels of stress reported were: no stress (8%; n = 12), mild stress (14%; n = 21), moderate stress (38%; n = 55), high stress (22%; n = 32), and severe stress (18%; n = 26). The levels of resilience reported were: very low (8%; n = 11), low (18%; n = 26), moderate (42%; n = 62), and high (32%; n = 47). The level of stress and resilience reported by the majority of critical care nurses was moderate; there was no significant correlation between COVID-19-related stress and resilience among the critical care nurses. Severe levels of stress were mostly reported among critical care nurses working in the NICU and high levels of stress were reported among those working in the emergency department. The nurses reported being highly confident that they were able to ha…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Wafa Almegewly
creator: Albatoul Alhejji
creator: Lama Alotaibi
creator: Malak Almalki
creator: Maha Alanezi
creator: Amal Almotiri
creator: Fai Alotaibi
creator: Seham Alharbi
creator: Atheer Albarakah
subject: Nursing
subject: Mental Health
subject: COVID-19
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13164
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Almegewly et al.
abstract: Background The continuous spreading of the respiratory coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has been a threat to global health, especially among those fighting directly against it. Nurses who work in critical care have reported very high levels of stress during these extreme circumstances. It is very important to measure the level of stress and resilience among these nurses in order to diminish further psychological distress. This study aims to assess the levels of perceived stress and resilience among critical care nurses. Methodology In this correlational cross-sectional study, critical care nurses (n = 139) were recruited by gatekeepers in a governmental university hospital in Riyadh City between 12 March and 8 April 2021 to complete an online questionnaire. The measurement tools used in this study were the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 (CD-RISC-10) and the Perceived Stress Scale of COVID-19 (PSS-10 items). Data were analyzed using a descriptive and inferential analysis to calculate frequencies to determine the distribution of stress and resilience, and multiple regression was applied to assess the relationship between them. Results One hundred and thirty-nine critical care nurse (64%) responded. The perceived levels of stress reported were: no stress (8%; n = 12), mild stress (14%; n = 21), moderate stress (38%; n = 55), high stress (22%; n = 32), and severe stress (18%; n = 26). The levels of resilience reported were: very low (8%; n = 11), low (18%; n = 26), moderate (42%; n = 62), and high (32%; n = 47). The level of stress and resilience reported by the majority of critical care nurses was moderate; there was no significant correlation between COVID-19-related stress and resilience among the critical care nurses. Severe levels of stress were mostly reported among critical care nurses working in the NICU and high levels of stress were reported among those working in the emergency department. The nurses reported being highly confident that they were able to ha…
bibliographic citation: Almegewly et al. (2022) Perceived stress and resilience levels during the COVID-19 pandemic among critical care nurses in Saudi Arabia: a correlational cross-sectional study. PeerJ 10:e13164 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13164
date submitted: 2021-10-11
date accepted: 2022-03-04
issued: 2022-05-06
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Almegewly
  given name: Wafa
author list: Agent
  family name: Alhejji
  given name: Albatoul
author list: Agent
  family name: Alotaibi
  given name: Lama
author list: Agent
  family name: Almalki
  given name: Malak
author list: Agent
  family name: Alanezi
  given name: Maha
author list: Agent
  family name: Almotiri
  given name: Amal
author list: Agent
  family name: Alotaibi
  given name: Fai
author list: Agent
  family name: Alharbi
  given name: Seham
author list: Agent
  family name: Albarakah
  given name: Atheer
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13164
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-06
copyright: © 2022 Almegewly et al.
attribution name: Almegewly et al.

Three new Penicillium species isolated from the tidal flats of China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: During a survey of culturable fungi in the coastal areas of China, three new species of Penicillium sect. Lanata-Divaricata were discovered and studied with a polyphasic taxonomic approach, and then named as P. donggangicum sp. nov. (ex-type AS3.15900T = LN5H1-4), P. hepuense sp. nov. (ex-type AS3.16039T = TT2-4X3, AS3.16040 = TT2-6X3) and P. jiaozhouwanicum sp. nov. (ex-type AS3.16038T = 0801H2-2, AS3.16207 = ZZ2-9-3). In morphology, P. donggangicum is unique in showing light yellow sclerotia and mycelium, sparse sporulation, restricted growth at 37 °C, irregular conidiophores, intercalary phialides and metulae, and pyriform to subspherical conidia. P. hepuense is distinguished by the fast growth on CYA and YES and slow growth on MEA at 25 °C, weak or absence of growth at 37 °C, biverticillate and monoverticillate penicilli, and ellipsoidal conidia. P. jiaozhouwanicum is characterized by abundant grayish-green conidia en masse and moderate growth at 37 °C, the appressed biverticillate penicilli and fusiform, smooth-walled conidia. These three novelties were further confirmed by the phylogenetic analyses based on either the combined BenA-CaM-Rpb2 or the individual BenA, CaM, Rpb2 and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ke-Xin Xu
creator: Xia-Nan Shan
creator: Yongming Ruan
creator: JianXin Deng
creator: Long Wang
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Mycology
subject: Taxonomy
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13224
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Xu et al.
abstract: During a survey of culturable fungi in the coastal areas of China, three new species of Penicillium sect. Lanata-Divaricata were discovered and studied with a polyphasic taxonomic approach, and then named as P. donggangicum sp. nov. (ex-type AS3.15900T = LN5H1-4), P. hepuense sp. nov. (ex-type AS3.16039T = TT2-4X3, AS3.16040 = TT2-6X3) and P. jiaozhouwanicum sp. nov. (ex-type AS3.16038T = 0801H2-2, AS3.16207 = ZZ2-9-3). In morphology, P. donggangicum is unique in showing light yellow sclerotia and mycelium, sparse sporulation, restricted growth at 37 °C, irregular conidiophores, intercalary phialides and metulae, and pyriform to subspherical conidia. P. hepuense is distinguished by the fast growth on CYA and YES and slow growth on MEA at 25 °C, weak or absence of growth at 37 °C, biverticillate and monoverticillate penicilli, and ellipsoidal conidia. P. jiaozhouwanicum is characterized by abundant grayish-green conidia en masse and moderate growth at 37 °C, the appressed biverticillate penicilli and fusiform, smooth-walled conidia. These three novelties were further confirmed by the phylogenetic analyses based on either the combined BenA-CaM-Rpb2 or the individual BenA, CaM, Rpb2 and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences.
bibliographic citation: Xu et al. (2022) Three new Penicillium species isolated from the tidal flats of China. PeerJ 10:e13224 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13224
date submitted: 2021-10-28
date accepted: 2022-03-14
issued: 2022-05-06
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Ke-Xin
author list: Agent
  family name: Shan
  given name: Xia-Nan
author list: Agent
  family name: Ruan
  given name: Yongming
author list: Agent
  family name: Deng
  given name: JianXin
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Long
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13224
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-06
copyright: ©2022 Xu et al.
attribution name: Xu et al.

COVID-19 mortality is associated with pre-existing impaired innate immunity in health conditions
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: COVID-19 can be life-threatening to individuals with chronic diseases. To prevent severe outcomes, it is critical that we comprehend pre-existing molecular abnormalities found in common health conditions that predispose patients to poor prognoses. In this study, we focused on 14 pre-existing health conditions for which increased hazard ratios of COVID-19 mortality have been documented. We hypothesized that dysregulated gene expression in these pre-existing health conditions were risk factors of COVID-19 related death, and the magnitude of dysregulation (measured by fold change) were correlated with the severity of COVID-19 outcome (measured by hazard ratio). To test this hypothesis, we analyzed transcriptomics data sets archived before the pandemic in which no sample had COVID-19. For a given pre-existing health condition, we identified differentially expressed genes by comparing individuals affected by this health condition with those unaffected. Among genes differentially expressed in multiple health conditions, the fold changes of 70 upregulated genes and 181 downregulated genes were correlated with hazard ratios of COVID-19 mortality. These pre-existing dysregulations were molecular risk factors of severe COVID-19 outcomes. These genes were enriched with endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria function, proinflammatory reaction, interferon production, and programmed cell death that participate in viral replication and innate immune responses to viral infections. Our results suggest that impaired innate immunity in pre-existing health conditions is associated with increased hazard of COVID-19 mortality. The discovered molecular risk factors are potential prognostic biomarkers and targets for therapeutic intervention.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Matthew Lee
creator: Yung Chang
creator: Navid Ahmadinejad
creator: Crista Johnson-Agbakwu
creator: Celeste Bailey
creator: Li Liu
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Immunology
subject: COVID-19
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13227
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Lee et al.
abstract: COVID-19 can be life-threatening to individuals with chronic diseases. To prevent severe outcomes, it is critical that we comprehend pre-existing molecular abnormalities found in common health conditions that predispose patients to poor prognoses. In this study, we focused on 14 pre-existing health conditions for which increased hazard ratios of COVID-19 mortality have been documented. We hypothesized that dysregulated gene expression in these pre-existing health conditions were risk factors of COVID-19 related death, and the magnitude of dysregulation (measured by fold change) were correlated with the severity of COVID-19 outcome (measured by hazard ratio). To test this hypothesis, we analyzed transcriptomics data sets archived before the pandemic in which no sample had COVID-19. For a given pre-existing health condition, we identified differentially expressed genes by comparing individuals affected by this health condition with those unaffected. Among genes differentially expressed in multiple health conditions, the fold changes of 70 upregulated genes and 181 downregulated genes were correlated with hazard ratios of COVID-19 mortality. These pre-existing dysregulations were molecular risk factors of severe COVID-19 outcomes. These genes were enriched with endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria function, proinflammatory reaction, interferon production, and programmed cell death that participate in viral replication and innate immune responses to viral infections. Our results suggest that impaired innate immunity in pre-existing health conditions is associated with increased hazard of COVID-19 mortality. The discovered molecular risk factors are potential prognostic biomarkers and targets for therapeutic intervention.
bibliographic citation: Lee et al. (2022) COVID-19 mortality is associated with pre-existing impaired innate immunity in health conditions. PeerJ 10:e13227 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13227
date submitted: 2022-01-05
date accepted: 2022-03-15
issued: 2022-05-06
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lee
  given name: Matthew
author list: Agent
  family name: Chang
  given name: Yung
author list: Agent
  family name: Ahmadinejad
  given name: Navid
author list: Agent
  family name: Johnson-Agbakwu
  given name: Crista
author list: Agent
  family name: Bailey
  given name: Celeste
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Li
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13227
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-06
copyright: © 2022 Lee et al.
attribution name: Lee et al.

Bacterial profile of bovine mastitis in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Bovine mastitis is the commonest episode of infection in the dairy industry, which often occurs after damage of epithelial cells lining the teat duct. It is ranked as the second most important cause of milk production loss directly and a devastating disease with a higher incidence leading to the culling of dairy cows. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed to quantitatively estimate the current status of mastitis in general and bacterial mastitis particular in Ethiopia. Methods A literature search was carried from major databases and indexing services including PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct. Also, local institution repositories were searched to retrieve unpublished MSc and PhD theses. All studies were included addressing the prevalence of mastitis and bacterial isolates conducted in Ethiopia. Microsoft Excel was used to extract data and was imported to R Studio for the analyses. The random-effects model at a 95% confidence level was used for pooled estimates of outcomes. The degree of heterogeneity was computed by Higgins’s I2 statistics. Publication bias was checked by using the funnel plots of standard error augmented by Begg’s and Egger’s tests. Results A total of 46 studies with 15,780 cows were included in this study. All studies have collected 18,478 suspected samples for bacterial isolation. While pooled prevalence estimate of mastitis was 47.6%, the bacterial isolates pooled prevalence was 33.1%. The bacterial mastitis was 6.5% in cows infected by clinical patients and was 28.3% subclinical patients. The common isolates were Staph aureus, Strep species, Staph epidermis, Escherchia coli, Corynebacterium bovis, Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus and Klebsiella species. A univariate meta-regression analysis evidenced that the type of mastitis and management system was a possible source of heterogeneity (P-value = 0.001). Conclusion The pooled prevalence of bacterial mastitis in Ethiopian dairy cattle was high. The analysis sh…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ephrem Toma Tora
creator: Nahom Belay Bekele
creator: R. S. Suresh Kumar
subject: Microbiology
subject: Veterinary Medicine
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13253
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022
abstract: Background Bovine mastitis is the commonest episode of infection in the dairy industry, which often occurs after damage of epithelial cells lining the teat duct. It is ranked as the second most important cause of milk production loss directly and a devastating disease with a higher incidence leading to the culling of dairy cows. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed to quantitatively estimate the current status of mastitis in general and bacterial mastitis particular in Ethiopia. Methods A literature search was carried from major databases and indexing services including PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct. Also, local institution repositories were searched to retrieve unpublished MSc and PhD theses. All studies were included addressing the prevalence of mastitis and bacterial isolates conducted in Ethiopia. Microsoft Excel was used to extract data and was imported to R Studio for the analyses. The random-effects model at a 95% confidence level was used for pooled estimates of outcomes. The degree of heterogeneity was computed by Higgins’s I2 statistics. Publication bias was checked by using the funnel plots of standard error augmented by Begg’s and Egger’s tests. Results A total of 46 studies with 15,780 cows were included in this study. All studies have collected 18,478 suspected samples for bacterial isolation. While pooled prevalence estimate of mastitis was 47.6%, the bacterial isolates pooled prevalence was 33.1%. The bacterial mastitis was 6.5% in cows infected by clinical patients and was 28.3% subclinical patients. The common isolates were Staph aureus, Strep species, Staph epidermis, Escherchia coli, Corynebacterium bovis, Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus and Klebsiella species. A univariate meta-regression analysis evidenced that the type of mastitis and management system was a possible source of heterogeneity (P-value = 0.001). Conclusion The pooled prevalence of bacterial mastitis in Ethiopian dairy cattle was high. The analysis sh…
bibliographic citation: Tora et al. (2022) Bacterial profile of bovine mastitis in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PeerJ 10:e13253 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13253
date submitted: 2021-12-20
date accepted: 2022-03-22
issued: 2022-05-06
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Tora
  given name: Ephrem Toma
author list: Agent
  family name: Bekele
  given name: Nahom Belay
author list: Agent
  family name: Suresh Kumar
  given name: R. S.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13253
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-06

Development of nitrogen efficiency screening system in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and analysis of alfalfa nitrogen efficiency types
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Screening high nitrogen (N) efficiency crops is crucial to utilize resources rationally and reduce N losses. In this research, the biomass, morphological and N-related parameters of 28 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars were assessed at seedling stage. Then, we selected representative materials to compare the changes in stem-leaf dry weight (SDW), total root length (RL) and plant N accumulation (PNA) during whole period. Lastly, we analyzed the expressions of NRT2 and AMT1 genes of alfalfa cultivars. The correlation coefficients between SDW, PDW, RL, RV, SNA, RNA, and PNA were all in the range of 0.522∼0.996. The coefficient of variations of SDW, PDW, RL, RV, SNA and PNA were all more than 20% under low and medium N levels. Though the comprehensive evaluation and cluster analysis, the comprehensive value of LW6010, Gannong NO.5, Longmu 806, Giant 2, Giant 601, Zhaodong, Crown were greater than 0.5 under low and medium N levels; the comprehensive value of Gannong NO.3, Gannong NO.4, Xinjiangdaye, Xinmu NO.1 were less than 0.5 under low N level, but were greater than 0.5 under medium N level. The comprehensive value of Gannong NO.7 Gannong NO.9, Longmu 801, Gongnong NO.3, Elite, Sadie 10, Giant 551 were greater than 0.5 under low N level, but were lesser than 0.5 under medium N level; and those of Longdong, Gannong NO.8, Gongnong NO.1, Reindee, Goldqueen, Weston, Tourists, Giant 6, Algonquin, Sadie 7 were lesser than 0.5 under low and medium N levels. Four N efficiency types of alfalfa cultivars were classified: (1) Very efficient; (2) Efficient; (3) Anti-efficient; and (4) Inefficient.The SDW, RL and PNA of LW6010 were higher than Longdong in each growth period. The expressions of NRT2 and AMT1 genes were highest for LW6010, and lowest for Longdong. So, N efficiency parameters assessed at seedling stage include: SDW, PDW, RL, RV, SNA and PNA. We developed new classification system of N efficiency types of alfalfa cultivars. It proved its effectiveness on 28 alfal…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Xiaojing Liu
creator: Yajiao Zhao
creator: Feng Hao
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13343
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Liu et al.
abstract: Screening high nitrogen (N) efficiency crops is crucial to utilize resources rationally and reduce N losses. In this research, the biomass, morphological and N-related parameters of 28 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars were assessed at seedling stage. Then, we selected representative materials to compare the changes in stem-leaf dry weight (SDW), total root length (RL) and plant N accumulation (PNA) during whole period. Lastly, we analyzed the expressions of NRT2 and AMT1 genes of alfalfa cultivars. The correlation coefficients between SDW, PDW, RL, RV, SNA, RNA, and PNA were all in the range of 0.522∼0.996. The coefficient of variations of SDW, PDW, RL, RV, SNA and PNA were all more than 20% under low and medium N levels. Though the comprehensive evaluation and cluster analysis, the comprehensive value of LW6010, Gannong NO.5, Longmu 806, Giant 2, Giant 601, Zhaodong, Crown were greater than 0.5 under low and medium N levels; the comprehensive value of Gannong NO.3, Gannong NO.4, Xinjiangdaye, Xinmu NO.1 were less than 0.5 under low N level, but were greater than 0.5 under medium N level. The comprehensive value of Gannong NO.7 Gannong NO.9, Longmu 801, Gongnong NO.3, Elite, Sadie 10, Giant 551 were greater than 0.5 under low N level, but were lesser than 0.5 under medium N level; and those of Longdong, Gannong NO.8, Gongnong NO.1, Reindee, Goldqueen, Weston, Tourists, Giant 6, Algonquin, Sadie 7 were lesser than 0.5 under low and medium N levels. Four N efficiency types of alfalfa cultivars were classified: (1) Very efficient; (2) Efficient; (3) Anti-efficient; and (4) Inefficient.The SDW, RL and PNA of LW6010 were higher than Longdong in each growth period. The expressions of NRT2 and AMT1 genes were highest for LW6010, and lowest for Longdong. So, N efficiency parameters assessed at seedling stage include: SDW, PDW, RL, RV, SNA and PNA. We developed new classification system of N efficiency types of alfalfa cultivars. It proved its effectiveness on 28 alfal…
bibliographic citation: Liu et al. (2022) Development of nitrogen efficiency screening system in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and analysis of alfalfa nitrogen efficiency types. PeerJ 10:e13343 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13343
date submitted: 2021-03-30
date accepted: 2022-04-06
issued: 2022-05-06
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Xiaojing
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Yajiao
author list: Agent
  family name: Hao
  given name: Feng
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13343
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-05-06
copyright: ©2022 Liu et al.
attribution name: Liu et al.

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