PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Transcriptome-wide identification and expression analysis of the KT/HAK/KUP family in Salicornia europaea L. under varied NaCl and KCl treatments
items: East palearctic treefrog past and present habitat suitability using ecological niche models
items: Tracking multiple fish
items: Overexpression of the Tectona grandis TgNAC01 regulates growth, leaf senescence and confer salt stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants
items: Lacunes and type 2 diabetes mellitus have a joint effect on cognitive impairment: a retrospective study
items: Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) responds to phosphorus application and rhizobium inoculation on Acrisols of the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana
items: The Female Athlete Triad—the impact of running and type of diet on the regularity of the menstrual cycle assessed for recreational runners
items: Development and validation of a multi-parameter nomogram for predicting prostate cancer: a retrospective analysis from Handan Central Hospital in China
items: Physiological stress and higher reproductive success in bumblebees are both associated with intensive agriculture
items: Influence of Lymphangio vascular (V) and perineural (N) invasion on survival of patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): a single-center retrospective study

Transcriptome-wide identification and expression analysis of the KT/HAK/KUP family in Salicornia europaea L. under varied NaCl and KCl treatments
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The KT/HAK/KUP (KUP) transporters play important roles in potassium (K+) uptake and translocation, regulation of osmotic potential, salt tolerance, root morphogenesis and plant development. However, the KUP family has not been systematically studied in the typical halophyte Salicornia europaea L., and the specific expression patterns of SeKUPs under NaCl condition and K+ deficiency are unknown. Methods In this study, SeKUPs were screened from PacBio transcriptome data of Salicornia europaea L. using bioinformatics. The identification, phylogenetic analysis and prediction of conserved motifs of SeKUPs were extensively explored. Moreover, the expression levels of 24 selected SeKUPs were assayed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results In this study, a total of 24 putative SeKUPs were identified in S. europaea. Nineteen SeKUPs with the fixed domain EA[ML]FADL were used to construct the phylogenetic tree, and they were divided into four clusters (clusters I–IV). MEME analysis identified 10 motifs in S. europaea, and the motif analysis suggested that 19 of the identified SeKUPs had at least four K+ transporter motifs existed in all SeKUPs (with the exception of SeKUP-2). The RT-qPCR analysis showed that the expression levels of most SeKUPs were significantly up-regulated in S. europaea when they were exposed to K+ deficiency and high salinity, implying that these SeKUPs may play a key role in the absorption and transport of K+ and Na+ in S. europaea. Discussions Our results laid the foundation for revealing the salt tolerance mechanism of SeKUPs, and provided key candidate genes for further studies on the function of KUP family in S. europaea.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jia Wei
creator: Richard John Tiika
creator: Guangxin Cui
creator: Yanjun Ma
creator: Hongshan Yang
creator: Huirong Duan
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Genetics
subject: Genomics
subject: Plant Science
subject: Forestry
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12989
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Wei et al.
abstract: Background The KT/HAK/KUP (KUP) transporters play important roles in potassium (K+) uptake and translocation, regulation of osmotic potential, salt tolerance, root morphogenesis and plant development. However, the KUP family has not been systematically studied in the typical halophyte Salicornia europaea L., and the specific expression patterns of SeKUPs under NaCl condition and K+ deficiency are unknown. Methods In this study, SeKUPs were screened from PacBio transcriptome data of Salicornia europaea L. using bioinformatics. The identification, phylogenetic analysis and prediction of conserved motifs of SeKUPs were extensively explored. Moreover, the expression levels of 24 selected SeKUPs were assayed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results In this study, a total of 24 putative SeKUPs were identified in S. europaea. Nineteen SeKUPs with the fixed domain EA[ML]FADL were used to construct the phylogenetic tree, and they were divided into four clusters (clusters I–IV). MEME analysis identified 10 motifs in S. europaea, and the motif analysis suggested that 19 of the identified SeKUPs had at least four K+ transporter motifs existed in all SeKUPs (with the exception of SeKUP-2). The RT-qPCR analysis showed that the expression levels of most SeKUPs were significantly up-regulated in S. europaea when they were exposed to K+ deficiency and high salinity, implying that these SeKUPs may play a key role in the absorption and transport of K+ and Na+ in S. europaea. Discussions Our results laid the foundation for revealing the salt tolerance mechanism of SeKUPs, and provided key candidate genes for further studies on the function of KUP family in S. europaea.
bibliographic citation: Wei et al. (2022) Transcriptome-wide identification and expression analysis of the KT/HAK/KUP family in Salicornia europaea L. under varied NaCl and KCl treatments. PeerJ 10:e12989 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12989
date submitted: 2021-10-05
date accepted: 2022-02-01
issued: 2022-03-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: Jia
author list: Agent
  family name: Tiika
  given name: Richard John
author list: Agent
  family name: Cui
  given name: Guangxin
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Yanjun
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Hongshan
author list: Agent
  family name: Duan
  given name: Huirong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12989
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-03-03
copyright: ©2022 Wei et al.
attribution name: Wei et al.

East palearctic treefrog past and present habitat suitability using ecological niche models
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Ecological niche modeling is a tool used to determine current potential species’ distribution or habitat suitability models which can then be used to project suitable areas in time. Projections of suitability into past climates can identify locations of climate refugia, or areas with high climatic stability likely to contain the highest levels of genetic diversity and stable populations when climatic conditions are less suitable in other parts of the range. Modeling habitat suitability for closely related species in recent past can also reveal potential periods and regions of contact and possible admixture. In the east palearctic, there are five Dryophytes (Hylid treefrog) clades belonging to two groups: Dryophytes japonicus group: Clades A and B; and Dryophytes immaculatus group: Dryophytes immaculatus, Dryophytes flaviventris, and Dryophytes suweonensis. We used maximum entropy modeling to determine the suitable ranges of these five clades during the present and projected to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Last Interglacial (LIG) periods. We also calculated climatic stability for each clade to identify possible areas of climate refugia. Our models indicated suitable range expansion during the LGM for four clades with the exclusion of D. immaculatus. High climatic stability in our models corresponded to areas with the highest numbers of recorded occurrences in the present. The models produced here can additionally serve as baselines for models of suitability under climate change scenarios and indicate species ecological requirements.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Desiree Andersen
creator: Irina Maslova
creator: Zoljargal Purevdorj
creator: Jia-Tang Li
creator: Kevin R. Messenger
creator: Jin-Long Ren
creator: Yikweon Jang
creator: Amaël Borzée
subject: Biogeography
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
subject: Climate Change Biology
subject: Spatial and Geographic Information Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12999
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Andersen et al.
abstract: Ecological niche modeling is a tool used to determine current potential species’ distribution or habitat suitability models which can then be used to project suitable areas in time. Projections of suitability into past climates can identify locations of climate refugia, or areas with high climatic stability likely to contain the highest levels of genetic diversity and stable populations when climatic conditions are less suitable in other parts of the range. Modeling habitat suitability for closely related species in recent past can also reveal potential periods and regions of contact and possible admixture. In the east palearctic, there are five Dryophytes (Hylid treefrog) clades belonging to two groups: Dryophytes japonicus group: Clades A and B; and Dryophytes immaculatus group: Dryophytes immaculatus, Dryophytes flaviventris, and Dryophytes suweonensis. We used maximum entropy modeling to determine the suitable ranges of these five clades during the present and projected to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Last Interglacial (LIG) periods. We also calculated climatic stability for each clade to identify possible areas of climate refugia. Our models indicated suitable range expansion during the LGM for four clades with the exclusion of D. immaculatus. High climatic stability in our models corresponded to areas with the highest numbers of recorded occurrences in the present. The models produced here can additionally serve as baselines for models of suitability under climate change scenarios and indicate species ecological requirements.
bibliographic citation: Andersen et al. (2022) East palearctic treefrog past and present habitat suitability using ecological niche models. PeerJ 10:e12999 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12999
date submitted: 2021-10-15
date accepted: 2022-02-02
issued: 2022-03-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Andersen
  given name: Desiree
author list: Agent
  family name: Maslova
  given name: Irina
author list: Agent
  family name: Purevdorj
  given name: Zoljargal
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Jia-Tang
author list: Agent
  family name: Messenger
  given name: Kevin R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Ren
  given name: Jin-Long
author list: Agent
  family name: Jang
  given name: Yikweon
author list: Agent
  family name: Borzée
  given name: Amaël
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12999
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-03-03
copyright: © 2022 Andersen et al.
attribution name: Andersen et al.

Tracking multiple fish
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Although the Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) task is a widely used experimental method for studying divided attention, tracking objects in the real world usually looks different. For example, in the real world, objects are usually clearly distinguishable from each other and also possess different movement patterns. One such case is tracking groups of creatures, such as tracking fish in an aquarium. We used movies of fish in an aquarium and measured general tracking performance in this task (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, we compared tracking accuracy within-subjects in fish tracking, tracking typical MOT stimuli, and in a third condition using standard MOT uniform objects which possessed movement patterns similar to the real fish. This third condition was added to further examine the impact of different motion characteristics on tracking performance. Results within a Bayesian framework showed that tracking real fish shares similarities with tracking simple objects in a typical laboratory MOT task. Furthermore, we observed a close relationship between performance in both laboratory MOT tasks (typical and fish-like) and real fish tracking, suggesting that the commonly used laboratory MOT task possesses a good level of ecological validity.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Filip Děchtěrenko
creator: Daniela Jakubková
creator: Jiří Lukavský
creator: Christina J. Howard
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13031
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Děchtěrenko et al.
abstract: Although the Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) task is a widely used experimental method for studying divided attention, tracking objects in the real world usually looks different. For example, in the real world, objects are usually clearly distinguishable from each other and also possess different movement patterns. One such case is tracking groups of creatures, such as tracking fish in an aquarium. We used movies of fish in an aquarium and measured general tracking performance in this task (Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, we compared tracking accuracy within-subjects in fish tracking, tracking typical MOT stimuli, and in a third condition using standard MOT uniform objects which possessed movement patterns similar to the real fish. This third condition was added to further examine the impact of different motion characteristics on tracking performance. Results within a Bayesian framework showed that tracking real fish shares similarities with tracking simple objects in a typical laboratory MOT task. Furthermore, we observed a close relationship between performance in both laboratory MOT tasks (typical and fish-like) and real fish tracking, suggesting that the commonly used laboratory MOT task possesses a good level of ecological validity.
bibliographic citation: Děchtěrenko et al. (2022) Tracking multiple fish. PeerJ 10:e13031 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13031
date submitted: 2021-11-26
date accepted: 2022-02-08
issued: 2022-03-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Děchtěrenko
  given name: Filip
author list: Agent
  family name: Jakubková
  given name: Daniela
author list: Agent
  family name: Lukavský
  given name: Jiří
author list: Agent
  family name: Howard
  given name: Christina J.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13031
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-03-03
copyright: © 2022 Děchtěrenko et al.
attribution name: Děchtěrenko et al.

Overexpression of the Tectona grandis TgNAC01 regulates growth, leaf senescence and confer salt stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: NAC transcription factors play critical roles in xylem secondary development and in regulation of stress response in plants. NAC proteins related to secondary cell wall development were recently identified and characterized in Tectona grandis (teak), one of the hardwood trees of highest economic importance in the world. In this work, we characterized the novel TgNAC01 gene, which is involved in signaling pathways that mediate teak response to stress. Abscisic acid (ABA) increases TgNAC01 expression in teak plants. Therefore, this gene may have a role in signaling events that mediate ABA-dependent osmotic stress responsive in this plant species. Stable expression in tobacco plants showed that the TgNAC01 protein is localized in the cell nucleus. Overexpression of TgNAC01 in two out three independent transgenic tobacco lines resulted in increased growth, leaf senescence and salt tolerance compared to wild type (WT) plants. Moreover, the stress tolerance of transgenic plants was affected by levels of TgNAC01 gene expression. Water potential, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were used to determine salt stress tolerance. The 35S:TgNAC01-6 line under 300 mM NaCl stress responded with a significant increase in photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and carboxylation efficiency, but lower water potential compared to WT plants. The data indicate that the TgNAC01 transcription factor acts as a transcriptional activator of the ABA-mediated regulation and induces leaf senescence.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Fernando Matias
creator: Perla Novais de Oliveira
creator: Olman Gómez-Espinoza
creator: Esteban Galeano
creator: Helaine Carrer
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13039
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Matias et al.
abstract: NAC transcription factors play critical roles in xylem secondary development and in regulation of stress response in plants. NAC proteins related to secondary cell wall development were recently identified and characterized in Tectona grandis (teak), one of the hardwood trees of highest economic importance in the world. In this work, we characterized the novel TgNAC01 gene, which is involved in signaling pathways that mediate teak response to stress. Abscisic acid (ABA) increases TgNAC01 expression in teak plants. Therefore, this gene may have a role in signaling events that mediate ABA-dependent osmotic stress responsive in this plant species. Stable expression in tobacco plants showed that the TgNAC01 protein is localized in the cell nucleus. Overexpression of TgNAC01 in two out three independent transgenic tobacco lines resulted in increased growth, leaf senescence and salt tolerance compared to wild type (WT) plants. Moreover, the stress tolerance of transgenic plants was affected by levels of TgNAC01 gene expression. Water potential, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were used to determine salt stress tolerance. The 35S:TgNAC01-6 line under 300 mM NaCl stress responded with a significant increase in photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and carboxylation efficiency, but lower water potential compared to WT plants. The data indicate that the TgNAC01 transcription factor acts as a transcriptional activator of the ABA-mediated regulation and induces leaf senescence.
bibliographic citation: Matias et al. (2022) Overexpression of the Tectona grandis TgNAC01 regulates growth, leaf senescence and confer salt stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants. PeerJ 10:e13039 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13039
date submitted: 2021-09-20
date accepted: 2022-02-09
issued: 2022-03-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Matias
  given name: Fernando
author list: Agent
  family name: Novais de Oliveira
  given name: Perla
author list: Agent
  family name: Gómez-Espinoza
  given name: Olman
author list: Agent
  family name: Galeano
  given name: Esteban
author list: Agent
  family name: Carrer
  given name: Helaine
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13039
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-03-03
copyright: ©2022 Matias et al.
attribution name: Matias et al.

Lacunes and type 2 diabetes mellitus have a joint effect on cognitive impairment: a retrospective study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objective To evaluate the joint effects of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD)-related imaging biomarkers in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with cognitive impairment. Methods This study is a retrospective cohort study. A total of 227 participants (115 patients with T2DM and 112 healthy control subjects) were enrolled in this study. Cognitive function assessments were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The burden of CSVD markers, including the lacunes, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and enlarged perivascular spaces (PVS), was identified by magnetic resonance imaging and evaluated using small vessel disease (SVD) scores (0–4). The subjects were divided into two groups based on the results of the cognitive function assessments. The synergy index was used to estimate the biological interactions between T2DM and lacunes. Results There was a significant correlation between T2DM and cognitive impairment (p < 0.001, χ2 test). In patients with diabetes, cognitive impairment was significantly associated with both the presence of lacunes (p < 0.01, χ2 test) and increased total SVD burden scores (p < 0.01, χ2 test). Regarding CMBs, only the existence of lobar CMBs was correlated with cognitive impairment (p < 0.05, χ2 test). The joint effect tended to be larger than the independent effects of T2DM and lacunes on cognitive impairment (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 7.084, 95% CI [2.836–17.698]; synergy index: 10.018, 95% CI [0.344–291.414]). Conclusions T2DM and the presence of lacunes are significantly correlated with cognitive impairment. There was a joint effect of T2DM and lacunes on cognitive impairment.
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creator: Hong Zhou
creator: Jun Hu
creator: Peihan Xie
creator: Yulan Dong
creator: Wen Chen
creator: Huiting Wu
creator: Yihong Jiang
creator: Hao Lei
creator: Guanghua Luo
creator: Jincai Liu
subject: Diabetes and Endocrinology
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Neurology
subject: Radiology and Medical Imaging
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.13069
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Zhou et al.
abstract: Objective To evaluate the joint effects of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD)-related imaging biomarkers in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with cognitive impairment. Methods This study is a retrospective cohort study. A total of 227 participants (115 patients with T2DM and 112 healthy control subjects) were enrolled in this study. Cognitive function assessments were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The burden of CSVD markers, including the lacunes, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and enlarged perivascular spaces (PVS), was identified by magnetic resonance imaging and evaluated using small vessel disease (SVD) scores (0–4). The subjects were divided into two groups based on the results of the cognitive function assessments. The synergy index was used to estimate the biological interactions between T2DM and lacunes. Results There was a significant correlation between T2DM and cognitive impairment (p < 0.001, χ2 test). In patients with diabetes, cognitive impairment was significantly associated with both the presence of lacunes (p < 0.01, χ2 test) and increased total SVD burden scores (p < 0.01, χ2 test). Regarding CMBs, only the existence of lobar CMBs was correlated with cognitive impairment (p < 0.05, χ2 test). The joint effect tended to be larger than the independent effects of T2DM and lacunes on cognitive impairment (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 7.084, 95% CI [2.836–17.698]; synergy index: 10.018, 95% CI [0.344–291.414]). Conclusions T2DM and the presence of lacunes are significantly correlated with cognitive impairment. There was a joint effect of T2DM and lacunes on cognitive impairment.
bibliographic citation: Zhou et al. (2022) Lacunes and type 2 diabetes mellitus have a joint effect on cognitive impairment: a retrospective study. PeerJ 10:e13069 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13069
date submitted: 2021-09-09
date accepted: 2022-02-15
issued: 2022-03-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Hong
author list: Agent
  family name: Hu
  given name: Jun
author list: Agent
  family name: Xie
  given name: Peihan
author list: Agent
  family name: Dong
  given name: Yulan
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Wen
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Huiting
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Yihong
author list: Agent
  family name: Lei
  given name: Hao
author list: Agent
  family name: Luo
  given name: Guanghua
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Jincai
doi: 10.7717/peerj.13069
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-03-03
copyright: © 2022 Zhou et al.
attribution name: Zhou et al.

Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) responds to phosphorus application and rhizobium inoculation on Acrisols of the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Soybean cultivation in Ghana is limited mainly to the Guinea savanna and the forest/savanna transitional agro-ecological zones. Although soybean can be cultivated in the semi-deciduous forest zone, low soil pH and limited nodulation limit its productivity in this zone. In this study, a randomized complete block design, with four replications, was used to test if rhizobia inoculation and/or p-fertilizer could improve yield of soybean in the semi-deciduous forest zone. The residual effects of the treatments were tested on maize and soybean sequentially during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. The inoculation study was repeated in 2020. Phosphorus and inoculation significantly (p = 0.0009) increased soybean grain yield in the 2018 cropping season by 88% and 108%, respectively over the control. Co-application of P and inoculant increased grain yield 3-fold over the control. Maize grain yield ranged from 4.3 t ha−1 in the control plots to 5.2 t ha−1 in treated plots but did not differ significantly among treatments. In 2020, the combined application of P and inoculant produced a significantly (0.002) higher yield than any of the other treatments. This demonstrates that soybean can be grown economically in the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana. Co-application of P and inoculant appeared cost-effective, in terms of return on investment.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Samuel Adjei-Nsiah
creator: David Martei
creator: Adam Yakubu
creator: Jacob Ulzen
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Microbiology
subject: Plant Science
subject: Soil Science
subject: Forestry
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12671
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Adjei-Nsiah et al.
abstract: Soybean cultivation in Ghana is limited mainly to the Guinea savanna and the forest/savanna transitional agro-ecological zones. Although soybean can be cultivated in the semi-deciduous forest zone, low soil pH and limited nodulation limit its productivity in this zone. In this study, a randomized complete block design, with four replications, was used to test if rhizobia inoculation and/or p-fertilizer could improve yield of soybean in the semi-deciduous forest zone. The residual effects of the treatments were tested on maize and soybean sequentially during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. The inoculation study was repeated in 2020. Phosphorus and inoculation significantly (p = 0.0009) increased soybean grain yield in the 2018 cropping season by 88% and 108%, respectively over the control. Co-application of P and inoculant increased grain yield 3-fold over the control. Maize grain yield ranged from 4.3 t ha−1 in the control plots to 5.2 t ha−1 in treated plots but did not differ significantly among treatments. In 2020, the combined application of P and inoculant produced a significantly (0.002) higher yield than any of the other treatments. This demonstrates that soybean can be grown economically in the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana. Co-application of P and inoculant appeared cost-effective, in terms of return on investment.
bibliographic citation: Adjei-Nsiah et al. (2022) Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) responds to phosphorus application and rhizobium inoculation on Acrisols of the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana. PeerJ 10:e12671 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12671
date submitted: 2021-03-11
date accepted: 2021-12-02
issued: 2022-03-02
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Adjei-Nsiah
  given name: Samuel
author list: Agent
  family name: Martei
  given name: David
author list: Agent
  family name: Yakubu
  given name: Adam
author list: Agent
  family name: Ulzen
  given name: Jacob
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12671
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-03-02
copyright: © 2022 Adjei-Nsiah et al.
attribution name: Adjei-Nsiah et al.

The Female Athlete Triad—the impact of running and type of diet on the regularity of the menstrual cycle assessed for recreational runners
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The Female Athlete Triad (FAT) included three interrelated conditions including disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. The American College of Sports Medicine updated the definition of FAT to reflect the interdependence of low energy availability with or without eating disorders. The main aim of the study was to assess the impact of recreational running on potential disturbances in the regularity of women’s menstrual cycles. Additionally, this work compared differences in the menstrual cycle between women runners and women who did not regularly practice sports. The respondents were also asked about the type of diet they consumed. Methods A total of 360 women took part in the research. This group included 217 runners and 143 control. The authors’ questionnaire was used in the research. Results When compared to the control group, the runners had an increased frequency of menstrual cycles of <24 days (10.14% vs. 3.50%), fewer typical cycles of 25–31 days (75.58% vs. 86.71%), had fewer regular cycles per year (9.62 vs. 11.22), shorter duration of bleeding (4.79 vs. 5.27 days), and an increased frequency of painless menstruation (23.96% vs. 7.69%). A positive predictor of menstrual cycle disorders was the use of a ‘special diet’ (R:1.67; 95% C:0.47–2.87). Conclusions The runners had shorter and less regular monthly cycles and shorter and more often painless menstrual bleeding when compared to the control group. The frequency of menstrual disorders in runners was increased by following a ‘special diet’. The frequency of menstrual cycle disorders in runners, however, did not differ significantly from the control group.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Joanna Witkoś
creator: Magdalena Hartman-Petrycka
subject: Gynecology and Obstetrics
subject: Women’s Health
subject: Sports Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12903
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Witkoś and Hartman-Petrycka
abstract: Background The Female Athlete Triad (FAT) included three interrelated conditions including disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. The American College of Sports Medicine updated the definition of FAT to reflect the interdependence of low energy availability with or without eating disorders. The main aim of the study was to assess the impact of recreational running on potential disturbances in the regularity of women’s menstrual cycles. Additionally, this work compared differences in the menstrual cycle between women runners and women who did not regularly practice sports. The respondents were also asked about the type of diet they consumed. Methods A total of 360 women took part in the research. This group included 217 runners and 143 control. The authors’ questionnaire was used in the research. Results When compared to the control group, the runners had an increased frequency of menstrual cycles of <24 days (10.14% vs. 3.50%), fewer typical cycles of 25–31 days (75.58% vs. 86.71%), had fewer regular cycles per year (9.62 vs. 11.22), shorter duration of bleeding (4.79 vs. 5.27 days), and an increased frequency of painless menstruation (23.96% vs. 7.69%). A positive predictor of menstrual cycle disorders was the use of a ‘special diet’ (R:1.67; 95% C:0.47–2.87). Conclusions The runners had shorter and less regular monthly cycles and shorter and more often painless menstrual bleeding when compared to the control group. The frequency of menstrual disorders in runners was increased by following a ‘special diet’. The frequency of menstrual cycle disorders in runners, however, did not differ significantly from the control group.
bibliographic citation: Witkoś et al. (2022) The Female Athlete Triad—the impact of running and type of diet on the regularity of the menstrual cycle assessed for recreational runners. PeerJ 10:e12903 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12903
date submitted: 2021-08-30
date accepted: 2022-01-17
issued: 2022-03-02
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: Hartman-Petrycka
  given name: Magdalena
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12903
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-03-02
copyright: ©2022 Witkoś and Hartman-Petrycka
attribution name: Witkoś and Hartman-Petrycka

Development and validation of a multi-parameter nomogram for predicting prostate cancer: a retrospective analysis from Handan Central Hospital in China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background To explore the possible predicting factors related to prostate cancer and develop a validated nomogram for predicting the probability of patients with prostate cancer. Method Clinical data of 697 patients who underwent prostate biopsy in Handan Central Hospital from January 2014 to January 2020 were retrospectively collected. Cases were randomized into two groups: 80% (548 cases) as the development group, and 20% (149 cases) as the validation group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent risk factors for prostate cancer. The nomogram prediction model was generated using the finalized independent risk factors. Decision curve analysis (DCA) and the area under receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) of both development group and validation group were calculated and compared to validate the accuracy and efficiency of the nomogram prediction model. Clinical utility curve (CUC) helped to decide the desired cut-off value for the prediction model. The established nomogram with Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial Derived Cancer Risk Calculator (PCPT-CRC) and other domestic prediction models using the entire study population were compared. Results The independent risk factors determined through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were: age, tPSA, fPSA, PV, DRE, TRUS and BMI. Nomogram prediction model was developed with the cut-off value of 0.31. The AUC of development group and validation group were 0.856 and 0.797 respectively. DCA exhibits consistent observations with the findings. Through validating our prediction model as well as other three domestic prediction models based on the entire study population of 697 cases, our prediction model demonstrated significantly higher predictive value than all the other models. Conclusion The nomogram for predicting prostate cancer can facilitate more accurate evaluation of the probability of having prostate cancer, and provide better gro…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Libin Nan
creator: Kai Guo
creator: Mingmin Li
creator: Qi Wu
creator: Shaojun Huo
subject: Andrology
subject: Urology
subject: Obesity
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12912
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Nan et al.
abstract: Background To explore the possible predicting factors related to prostate cancer and develop a validated nomogram for predicting the probability of patients with prostate cancer. Method Clinical data of 697 patients who underwent prostate biopsy in Handan Central Hospital from January 2014 to January 2020 were retrospectively collected. Cases were randomized into two groups: 80% (548 cases) as the development group, and 20% (149 cases) as the validation group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent risk factors for prostate cancer. The nomogram prediction model was generated using the finalized independent risk factors. Decision curve analysis (DCA) and the area under receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) of both development group and validation group were calculated and compared to validate the accuracy and efficiency of the nomogram prediction model. Clinical utility curve (CUC) helped to decide the desired cut-off value for the prediction model. The established nomogram with Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial Derived Cancer Risk Calculator (PCPT-CRC) and other domestic prediction models using the entire study population were compared. Results The independent risk factors determined through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were: age, tPSA, fPSA, PV, DRE, TRUS and BMI. Nomogram prediction model was developed with the cut-off value of 0.31. The AUC of development group and validation group were 0.856 and 0.797 respectively. DCA exhibits consistent observations with the findings. Through validating our prediction model as well as other three domestic prediction models based on the entire study population of 697 cases, our prediction model demonstrated significantly higher predictive value than all the other models. Conclusion The nomogram for predicting prostate cancer can facilitate more accurate evaluation of the probability of having prostate cancer, and provide better gro…
bibliographic citation: Nan et al. (2022) Development and validation of a multi-parameter nomogram for predicting prostate cancer: a retrospective analysis from Handan Central Hospital in China. PeerJ 10:e12912 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12912
date submitted: 2021-11-29
date accepted: 2022-01-19
issued: 2022-03-02
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Nan
  given name: Libin
author list: Agent
  family name: Guo
  given name: Kai
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Mingmin
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Qi
author list: Agent
  family name: Huo
  given name: Shaojun
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12912
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-03-02
copyright: © 2022 Nan et al.
attribution name: Nan et al.

Physiological stress and higher reproductive success in bumblebees are both associated with intensive agriculture
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Free-living organisms face multiple stressors in their habitats, and habitat quality often affects development and life history traits. Increasing pressures of agricultural intensification have been shown to influence diversity and abundance of insect pollinators, and it may affect their elemental composition as well. We compared reproductive success, body concentration of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and C/N ratio, each considered as indicators of stress, in the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris). Bumblebee hives were placed in oilseed rape fields and semi-natural old apple orchards. Flowering season in oilseed rape fields was longer than that in apple orchards. Reproductive output was significantly higher in oilseed rape fields than in apple orchards, while the C/N ratio of queens and workers, an indicator of physiological stress, was lower in apple orchards, where bumblebees had significantly higher body N concentration. We concluded that a more productive habitat, oilseed rape fields, offers bumblebees more opportunities to increase their fitness than a more natural habitat, old apple orchards, which was achieved at the expense of physiological stress, evidenced as a significantly higher C/N ratio observed in bumblebees inhabiting oilseed rape fields.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tatjana Krama
creator: Ronalds Krams
creator: Maris Munkevics
creator: Jonathan Willow
creator: Sergejs Popovs
creator: Didzis Elferts
creator: Linda Dobkeviča
creator: Patrīcija Raibarte
creator: Markus Rantala
creator: Jorge Contreras-Garduño
creator: Indrikis A. Krams
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Ecology
subject: Entomology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12953
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Krama et al.
abstract: Free-living organisms face multiple stressors in their habitats, and habitat quality often affects development and life history traits. Increasing pressures of agricultural intensification have been shown to influence diversity and abundance of insect pollinators, and it may affect their elemental composition as well. We compared reproductive success, body concentration of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), and C/N ratio, each considered as indicators of stress, in the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris). Bumblebee hives were placed in oilseed rape fields and semi-natural old apple orchards. Flowering season in oilseed rape fields was longer than that in apple orchards. Reproductive output was significantly higher in oilseed rape fields than in apple orchards, while the C/N ratio of queens and workers, an indicator of physiological stress, was lower in apple orchards, where bumblebees had significantly higher body N concentration. We concluded that a more productive habitat, oilseed rape fields, offers bumblebees more opportunities to increase their fitness than a more natural habitat, old apple orchards, which was achieved at the expense of physiological stress, evidenced as a significantly higher C/N ratio observed in bumblebees inhabiting oilseed rape fields.
bibliographic citation: Krama et al. (2022) Physiological stress and higher reproductive success in bumblebees are both associated with intensive agriculture. PeerJ 10:e12953 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12953
date submitted: 2021-09-24
date accepted: 2022-01-26
issued: 2022-03-02
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Krama
  given name: Tatjana
author list: Agent
  family name: Krams
  given name: Ronalds
author list: Agent
  family name: Munkevics
  given name: Maris
author list: Agent
  family name: Willow
  given name: Jonathan
author list: Agent
  family name: Popovs
  given name: Sergejs
author list: Agent
  family name: Elferts
  given name: Didzis
author list: Agent
  family name: Dobkeviča
  given name: Linda
author list: Agent
  family name: Raibarte
  given name: Patrīcija
author list: Agent
  family name: Rantala
  given name: Markus
author list: Agent
  family name: Contreras-Garduño
  given name: Jorge
author list: Agent
  family name: Krams
  given name: Indrikis A.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12953
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-03-02
copyright: © 2022 Krama et al.
attribution name: Krama et al.

Influence of Lymphangio vascular (V) and perineural (N) invasion on survival of patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): a single-center retrospective study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Lymphangio vascular invasion (LVI) and perineural invasion (PNI) are associated with survival following resection for gastrointestinal cancer. But the relationship between LVI/PNI and survival of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still unclear. We aim to demonstrate the prognostic significance of LVI/PNI in ESCC. Methods A total of 195 ESCC patients underwent curative surgery from 2012 to 2018 was collected in the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. All the patients were divided into four groups based on the status of the neurovascular invasion: (1) neither LVI nor PNI (V0N0); (2) LVI alone (V1N0); (3) PNI alone (V0N1); (4) combined LVI and PNI (V1N1). First, the analysis included the Kaplan-Meier survival estimates with the Log rank test were performed to determine median overall survival (OS) in different groups divided according to the clinical factor, respectively. And the association between OS with multi clinical factors was examined using Cox regression analysis. Next, the risk factors for recurrence in patients with V1N1 were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, respectively. Results The cases in V0N0, V1N0, V0N1, and V1N1 groups were 91 (46.7%), 62 (31.8%), 9 (4.6%) and 33 (16.9%), respectively. The OS in the four groups was different (P < 0.001). The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS in V0N0 group was higher than that in V1N1 group, respectively (1-year OS: 93.4% vs 75.8%, 3-year OS: 53.8 % vs 24.2%, 5-year OS: 48.1% vs 10.5%). The OS in stage I-II for patients with V1N1 was significantly lower than that in the other groups (V0N0, V1N0, V0N1) (P < 0.001). The postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was a significant impact factor of OS for ESCC patients with V1N1 (P = 0.004). Lymphatic invasion and LVI were significantly prognosis factors associated (P = 0.036, P = 0.030, respectively). The ulcerative type is a risk factor for V1N1 occurance (P = 0.040). Conclusions The LVI and PNI are important pro…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Chengke Xie
creator: Zhiyao Chen
creator: Jie Xu
creator: Zhiyong Meng
creator: Zhijun Huang
creator: Jianqing Lin
subject: Gastroenterology and Hepatology
subject: Oncology
subject: Pathology
subject: Surgery and Surgical Specialties
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12974
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Xie et al.
abstract: Background Lymphangio vascular invasion (LVI) and perineural invasion (PNI) are associated with survival following resection for gastrointestinal cancer. But the relationship between LVI/PNI and survival of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still unclear. We aim to demonstrate the prognostic significance of LVI/PNI in ESCC. Methods A total of 195 ESCC patients underwent curative surgery from 2012 to 2018 was collected in the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. All the patients were divided into four groups based on the status of the neurovascular invasion: (1) neither LVI nor PNI (V0N0); (2) LVI alone (V1N0); (3) PNI alone (V0N1); (4) combined LVI and PNI (V1N1). First, the analysis included the Kaplan-Meier survival estimates with the Log rank test were performed to determine median overall survival (OS) in different groups divided according to the clinical factor, respectively. And the association between OS with multi clinical factors was examined using Cox regression analysis. Next, the risk factors for recurrence in patients with V1N1 were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, respectively. Results The cases in V0N0, V1N0, V0N1, and V1N1 groups were 91 (46.7%), 62 (31.8%), 9 (4.6%) and 33 (16.9%), respectively. The OS in the four groups was different (P < 0.001). The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS in V0N0 group was higher than that in V1N1 group, respectively (1-year OS: 93.4% vs 75.8%, 3-year OS: 53.8 % vs 24.2%, 5-year OS: 48.1% vs 10.5%). The OS in stage I-II for patients with V1N1 was significantly lower than that in the other groups (V0N0, V1N0, V0N1) (P < 0.001). The postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was a significant impact factor of OS for ESCC patients with V1N1 (P = 0.004). Lymphatic invasion and LVI were significantly prognosis factors associated (P = 0.036, P = 0.030, respectively). The ulcerative type is a risk factor for V1N1 occurance (P = 0.040). Conclusions The LVI and PNI are important pro…
bibliographic citation: Xie et al. (2022) Influence of Lymphangio vascular (V) and perineural (N) invasion on survival of patients with resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): a single-center retrospective study. PeerJ 10:e12974 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12974
date submitted: 2021-08-24
date accepted: 2022-01-31
issued: 2022-03-02
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Xie
  given name: Chengke
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Zhiyao
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Jie
author list: Agent
  family name: Meng
  given name: Zhiyong
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Zhijun
author list: Agent
  family name: Lin
  given name: Jianqing
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12974
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-03-02
copyright: © 2022 Xie et al.
attribution name: Xie et al.

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