PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: A decrease in reports on road-killed animals based on citizen science during COVID-19 lockdown
items: Five undervalued edible species inherent to autumn-winter season: nutritional composition, bioactive constituents and volatiles profile
items: Morphometry of cellular behavior of coelomocytes from starfish Asterias amurensis
items: Long-term follow-up of applying autologous bone grafts for reconstructing tympanomastoid defects in functional cholesteatoma surgery
items: Acceptance of anomalous research findings: explaining treatment implausibility reduces belief in far-fetched results
items: Risk factors associated with prolonged viral clearance in patients with a refractory course of COVID-19: a retrospective study
items: Which environmental factors control extreme thermal events in rivers? A multi-scale approach (Wallonia, Belgium)
items: Applications of the indole-alkaloid gramine modulate the assembly of individual members of the barley rhizosphere microbiota
items: Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly
items: Association of endothelial dysfunction with sarcopenia and muscle function in a relatively young cohort of kidney transplant recipients

A decrease in reports on road-killed animals based on citizen science during COVID-19 lockdown
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background To avoid the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in early 2020, many countries have implemented strict lockdown measures for several weeks. In Austria, the lockdown in early spring has led to a significant drop in human outdoor activities, especially in road traffic. In Project Roadkill, a citizen science project which aims to collect data on road-killed animals, we observed a significant decrease in reported roadkills. Methods By asking the citizen scientists through a survey how their travelling routines were affected, we investigated if the observed decrease in roadkills was grounded in less animals being killed by traffic, or in citizen scientists staying at home and thus reporting less road-killed animals. Results A majority of the respondents stated that they felt to have reported less roadkills during the lockdown, regardless if they changed their travelling routine or not. This observation in combination with the overall decrease in road traffic indicates that fewer animals were killed during the lockdown. We conclude that when analyzing citizen science data, the effects of lockdown measures on reporting behaviour should be considered, because they can significantly affect data and interpretation of these data.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Daniel Dörler
creator: Florian Heigl
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
subject: Environmental Impacts
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12464
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Dörler and Heigl
abstract: Background To avoid the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in early 2020, many countries have implemented strict lockdown measures for several weeks. In Austria, the lockdown in early spring has led to a significant drop in human outdoor activities, especially in road traffic. In Project Roadkill, a citizen science project which aims to collect data on road-killed animals, we observed a significant decrease in reported roadkills. Methods By asking the citizen scientists through a survey how their travelling routines were affected, we investigated if the observed decrease in roadkills was grounded in less animals being killed by traffic, or in citizen scientists staying at home and thus reporting less road-killed animals. Results A majority of the respondents stated that they felt to have reported less roadkills during the lockdown, regardless if they changed their travelling routine or not. This observation in combination with the overall decrease in road traffic indicates that fewer animals were killed during the lockdown. We conclude that when analyzing citizen science data, the effects of lockdown measures on reporting behaviour should be considered, because they can significantly affect data and interpretation of these data.
bibliographic citation: Dörler et al. (2021) A decrease in reports on road-killed animals based on citizen science during COVID-19 lockdown. PeerJ 9:e12464 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12464
date submitted: 2021-05-07
date accepted: 2021-10-19
issued: 2021-11-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Dörler
  given name: Daniel
author list: Agent
  family name: Heigl
  given name: Florian
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12464
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-11-23
copyright: © 2021 Dörler and Heigl
attribution name: Dörler and Heigl

Five undervalued edible species inherent to autumn-winter season: nutritional composition, bioactive constituents and volatiles profile
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Wild edible herbs have historically been used as local nutritional and medicinal sources. These plants grow spontaneously, depending on the season. They adapt well to different edaphoclimatic conditions, generating a diversity constituent beneficial to health. They impart compounds needed in the human diet in regard to macro and micronutrients. When consumed raw, they keep their properties intact and provide health benefits. Five undervalued edible plants: Stellaria media (L.) Vill, Tropaeolum majus L., Sonchus oleraceus L., Chenopodium album L. and Diplotaxis erucoides (L.) DC are characteristic of the autumn-winter season in the Valencian coastal region and could have new sustainable agro-ecological potential for the local commercial sector. However, little information is available from the nutritional quality and bioactive composition viewpoint for these species. Concurrently, the volatiles compounds profiles describing the characteristic flavors are unknown. Methods Nutritional characteristics, bioactive compounds, and other chemical components of the fresh leaves were analyzed. In addition, the volatiles composite profile was performed. The analyzed species come from the soil reservoir; their wild growth is adjusted to the autumn season. The proximate analysis was carried out by Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods. Total antioxidants were measured as 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrzyl hydrate (DPPH) and total polyphenols content via the Folin-Ciocalteu procedure. Volatiles profile was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The vegetative part analyzed was the tender leaves with edible potential. Results A high variability has been obtained in the composition of the species studied. The proximate analysis found a considerable content of fiber (1.22–5.4 g·100 g−1), potassium (157.7–1,250.6 mg·100 g−1), iron (0.6–2.0 mg·100 g−1), and a low caloric value (16.1–43.02 kcal·mg·100 g−1). In bioactive compounds analysis, a high level of…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tamara Fukalova Fukalova
creator: María Dolores García Martínez
creator: María Dolores Raigón
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Food Science and Technology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12488
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Fukalova Fukalova et al.
abstract: Background Wild edible herbs have historically been used as local nutritional and medicinal sources. These plants grow spontaneously, depending on the season. They adapt well to different edaphoclimatic conditions, generating a diversity constituent beneficial to health. They impart compounds needed in the human diet in regard to macro and micronutrients. When consumed raw, they keep their properties intact and provide health benefits. Five undervalued edible plants: Stellaria media (L.) Vill, Tropaeolum majus L., Sonchus oleraceus L., Chenopodium album L. and Diplotaxis erucoides (L.) DC are characteristic of the autumn-winter season in the Valencian coastal region and could have new sustainable agro-ecological potential for the local commercial sector. However, little information is available from the nutritional quality and bioactive composition viewpoint for these species. Concurrently, the volatiles compounds profiles describing the characteristic flavors are unknown. Methods Nutritional characteristics, bioactive compounds, and other chemical components of the fresh leaves were analyzed. In addition, the volatiles composite profile was performed. The analyzed species come from the soil reservoir; their wild growth is adjusted to the autumn season. The proximate analysis was carried out by Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods. Total antioxidants were measured as 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrzyl hydrate (DPPH) and total polyphenols content via the Folin-Ciocalteu procedure. Volatiles profile was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The vegetative part analyzed was the tender leaves with edible potential. Results A high variability has been obtained in the composition of the species studied. The proximate analysis found a considerable content of fiber (1.22–5.4 g·100 g−1), potassium (157.7–1,250.6 mg·100 g−1), iron (0.6–2.0 mg·100 g−1), and a low caloric value (16.1–43.02 kcal·mg·100 g−1). In bioactive compounds analysis, a high level of…
bibliographic citation: Fukalova Fukalova et al. (2021) Five undervalued edible species inherent to autumn-winter season: nutritional composition, bioactive constituents and volatiles profile. PeerJ 9:e12488 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12488
date submitted: 2021-07-29
date accepted: 2021-10-24
issued: 2021-11-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Fukalova Fukalova
  given name: Tamara
author list: Agent
  family name: García Martínez
  given name: María Dolores
author list: Agent
  family name: Raigón
  given name: María Dolores
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12488
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-11-23
copyright: © 2021 Fukalova Fukalova et al.
attribution name: Fukalova Fukalova et al.

Morphometry of cellular behavior of coelomocytes from starfish Asterias amurensis
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: A comprehensive statistical analysis using a wide range of linear and non-linear morphological parameters enabled identification of the main stages in the in vitro dynamics of cell behavior of immune cells of the marine invertebrate Asterias amurensis (Echinodermata, Asteroidea). Three stages may be distinguished in the cell behavior, which are characterized by the differences in complexity of the cell boundary microsculpture as well as by the size and asymmetry of the cell and convex hull of the cell. The first stage (5 min after placing cells onto a substrate) is characterized by more complex cell morphology and an increase in the process number and spreading area. The second stage (15 min) is characterized by simplification of cell morphology, retraction of some processes, and rounding of cells upon continued cell spreading. At the third stage (60 min), new large processes with rounded contours emerge due to partial retraction of the flattened cell surface. Each stage is characterized by statistically significant differences in several linear and nonlinear parameters of the external morphology for all cell types.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yuriy A. Karetin
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Marine Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12514
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Karetin
abstract: A comprehensive statistical analysis using a wide range of linear and non-linear morphological parameters enabled identification of the main stages in the in vitro dynamics of cell behavior of immune cells of the marine invertebrate Asterias amurensis (Echinodermata, Asteroidea). Three stages may be distinguished in the cell behavior, which are characterized by the differences in complexity of the cell boundary microsculpture as well as by the size and asymmetry of the cell and convex hull of the cell. The first stage (5 min after placing cells onto a substrate) is characterized by more complex cell morphology and an increase in the process number and spreading area. The second stage (15 min) is characterized by simplification of cell morphology, retraction of some processes, and rounding of cells upon continued cell spreading. At the third stage (60 min), new large processes with rounded contours emerge due to partial retraction of the flattened cell surface. Each stage is characterized by statistically significant differences in several linear and nonlinear parameters of the external morphology for all cell types.
bibliographic citation: Karetin (2021) Morphometry of cellular behavior of coelomocytes from starfish Asterias amurensis. PeerJ 9:e12514 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12514
date submitted: 2018-11-13
date accepted: 2021-10-27
issued: 2021-11-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Karetin
  given name: Yuriy A.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12514
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-11-23
copyright: ©2021 Karetin
attribution name: Karetin

Long-term follow-up of applying autologous bone grafts for reconstructing tympanomastoid defects in functional cholesteatoma surgery
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objectives This study investigated the long-term surgical outcomes of functional cholesteatoma surgery with canal wall reconstruction using autologous bone grafts as the primary material in patients with acquired cholesteatoma. Subjects and Methods Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for all patients admitted to one institution for surgical intervention between 2010 and 2018. We analyzed 66 patients (66 ears) who underwent functional tympanomastoidectomy involving the use of autologous bone grafts for canal wall defect reconstruction. Surgical outcomes were evaluated by comparing preoperative audiometric results with follow-up data (at least 36 months after surgery). Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine prognostic factors related to long-term hearing success. These factors included classification and stage of cholesteatoma, stapes condition, ossicular chain damage, active infection of the middle ear, state of the contralateral ear, preoperative hearing thresholds, gender, and age. Results The mean follow-up period was 49.2 months. The recidivism rate was 6% (four of 66 ears). The pure-tone average significantly improved from 50.78 ± 19.98 to 40.81 ± 21.22 dB hearing level (HL; p < 0.001). Air–bone gaps significantly improved from 26.26 ± 10.53 to 17.58 ± 8.21 dB HL (p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, early-stage disease (p = 0.021) and pars flaccida cholesteatoma (p = 0.036) exhibited statistically significant correlations with successful hearing preservation. Conclusion Functional cholesteatoma surgery with autologous bone grafts reconstruction is an effective approach to significantly improve hearing with low recidivism rates. Localized disease and pars flaccida cholesteatoma were two independent predictors of successful hearing preservation.
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creator: Wei-Che Lan
creator: Ching-Yuan Wang
creator: Ming-Hsui Tsai
creator: Chia-Der Lin
subject: Otorhinolaryngology
subject: Surgery and Surgical Specialties
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12522
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Lan et al.
abstract: Objectives This study investigated the long-term surgical outcomes of functional cholesteatoma surgery with canal wall reconstruction using autologous bone grafts as the primary material in patients with acquired cholesteatoma. Subjects and Methods Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for all patients admitted to one institution for surgical intervention between 2010 and 2018. We analyzed 66 patients (66 ears) who underwent functional tympanomastoidectomy involving the use of autologous bone grafts for canal wall defect reconstruction. Surgical outcomes were evaluated by comparing preoperative audiometric results with follow-up data (at least 36 months after surgery). Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine prognostic factors related to long-term hearing success. These factors included classification and stage of cholesteatoma, stapes condition, ossicular chain damage, active infection of the middle ear, state of the contralateral ear, preoperative hearing thresholds, gender, and age. Results The mean follow-up period was 49.2 months. The recidivism rate was 6% (four of 66 ears). The pure-tone average significantly improved from 50.78 ± 19.98 to 40.81 ± 21.22 dB hearing level (HL; p < 0.001). Air–bone gaps significantly improved from 26.26 ± 10.53 to 17.58 ± 8.21 dB HL (p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, early-stage disease (p = 0.021) and pars flaccida cholesteatoma (p = 0.036) exhibited statistically significant correlations with successful hearing preservation. Conclusion Functional cholesteatoma surgery with autologous bone grafts reconstruction is an effective approach to significantly improve hearing with low recidivism rates. Localized disease and pars flaccida cholesteatoma were two independent predictors of successful hearing preservation.
bibliographic citation: Lan et al. (2021) Long-term follow-up of applying autologous bone grafts for reconstructing tympanomastoid defects in functional cholesteatoma surgery. PeerJ 9:e12522 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12522
date submitted: 2021-08-17
date accepted: 2021-10-29
issued: 2021-11-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Lan
  given name: Wei-Che
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Ching-Yuan
author list: Agent
  family name: Tsai
  given name: Ming-Hsui
author list: Agent
  family name: Lin
  given name: Chia-Der
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12522
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-11-23
copyright: ©2021 Lan et al.
attribution name: Lan et al.

Acceptance of anomalous research findings: explaining treatment implausibility reduces belief in far-fetched results
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Research findings are best understood by considering contextual factors such as treatment plausibility: how likely it is that a studied treatment or manipulation is effective, based on theory and data. If a treatment is implausible, then more evidence should be required before believing it has an effect. The current study assessed the extent to which the interpretation of a research finding is affected by treatment plausibility. Participant age varied from 18 to 82 (M = 27.4, SD = 9.4), and about half of the participants (53%) were college students. A total of 600 participants read a brief news article about an experiment with a new type of psychotherapy for weight loss. The current study used a 2 (treatment plausibility) × 3 (results type) between-subjects factorial design. Treatment plausibility had two levels: (1) a plausible cognitive behavioral therapy and (2) an implausible ”psychic reinforcement therapy” that was described as employing psychic messages to promote weight loss. The three levels of the results type factor varied how the study results were presented in the article: (1) standard results with no mention of treatment plausibility, (2) standard results followed by interpretive statements focused on treatment plausibility, and (3) no results—the study was described as still in progress. Participants rated their belief in the effectiveness of the therapy on a scale of 0 to 100% in 10% increments. When treatment plausibility was not discussed in the article, average ratings for the implausible therapy were relatively high (M = 63.1%, SD = 25.0, 95% CI% [58.2–68.1]) and similar to those for the plausible therapy (M = 69.2%, SD = 21.5, 95% CI% [65.0–73.5]). Ratings for the implausible treatment were moderately lower when the article explained why the results supporting it were questionable (M = 48.5%, SD = 26.6, 95% CI% [43.2–53.8]). The findings of the current study suggest that students and other members of the public may draw incorrect inferences from …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: W. Burt Thompson
creator: Milen L. Radell
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Science and Medical Education
subject: Statistics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12532
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Thompson and Radell
abstract: Research findings are best understood by considering contextual factors such as treatment plausibility: how likely it is that a studied treatment or manipulation is effective, based on theory and data. If a treatment is implausible, then more evidence should be required before believing it has an effect. The current study assessed the extent to which the interpretation of a research finding is affected by treatment plausibility. Participant age varied from 18 to 82 (M = 27.4, SD = 9.4), and about half of the participants (53%) were college students. A total of 600 participants read a brief news article about an experiment with a new type of psychotherapy for weight loss. The current study used a 2 (treatment plausibility) × 3 (results type) between-subjects factorial design. Treatment plausibility had two levels: (1) a plausible cognitive behavioral therapy and (2) an implausible ”psychic reinforcement therapy” that was described as employing psychic messages to promote weight loss. The three levels of the results type factor varied how the study results were presented in the article: (1) standard results with no mention of treatment plausibility, (2) standard results followed by interpretive statements focused on treatment plausibility, and (3) no results—the study was described as still in progress. Participants rated their belief in the effectiveness of the therapy on a scale of 0 to 100% in 10% increments. When treatment plausibility was not discussed in the article, average ratings for the implausible therapy were relatively high (M = 63.1%, SD = 25.0, 95% CI% [58.2–68.1]) and similar to those for the plausible therapy (M = 69.2%, SD = 21.5, 95% CI% [65.0–73.5]). Ratings for the implausible treatment were moderately lower when the article explained why the results supporting it were questionable (M = 48.5%, SD = 26.6, 95% CI% [43.2–53.8]). The findings of the current study suggest that students and other members of the public may draw incorrect inferences from …
bibliographic citation: Thompson et al. (2021) Acceptance of anomalous research findings: explaining treatment implausibility reduces belief in far-fetched results. PeerJ 9:e12532 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12532
date submitted: 2021-04-02
date accepted: 2021-11-02
issued: 2021-11-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Thompson
  given name: W. Burt
author list: Agent
  family name: Radell
  given name: Milen L.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12532
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-11-23
copyright: ©2021 Thompson and Radell
attribution name: Thompson and Radell

Risk factors associated with prolonged viral clearance in patients with a refractory course of COVID-19: a retrospective study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background This study aimed to characterize a cohort of patients with a refractory course of COVID-19, and to investigate factors associated with the duration of viral clearance (DoVC). Materials & Methods A total of 65 patients with refractory COVID-19 were retrospectively enrolled from Huoshenshan Hospital. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to examine the potential association between clinicopathologic characteristics and the DoVC. Results The median DoVC in the overall study cohort was 48 days (ranged from 21 to 104 days). Multivariate analysis indicated that fever at illness onset (Hazard ratio (HR) = 4.897, 95% CI [1.809–13.260], p = 0.002), serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) > 21.8 IU/L (HR = 3.010, 95% CI [1.195–7.578], p = 0.019), and titer of SARS-CoV-2 IgG > 142.09 AU/ml (HR = 3.061, 95% CI [1.263–7.415], p = 0.013) were the three independent risk factors associated with delayed viral clearance. Conclusion The current study suggested that clinical characteristics such as fever at illness onset, a high serum level of AST or SARS-CoV-2 IgG were associated with delayed viral clearance. Patients with these characteristics might need a more individualized treatment strategy to accelerate their recovery from the refractory COVID-19.
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creator: Weitao Zhuang
creator: Shujie Huang
creator: Dongya Wang
creator: Lulu Zha
creator: Wei Xu
creator: Guibin Qiao
subject: Virology
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: COVID-19
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12535
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Zhuang et al.
abstract: Background This study aimed to characterize a cohort of patients with a refractory course of COVID-19, and to investigate factors associated with the duration of viral clearance (DoVC). Materials & Methods A total of 65 patients with refractory COVID-19 were retrospectively enrolled from Huoshenshan Hospital. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed to examine the potential association between clinicopathologic characteristics and the DoVC. Results The median DoVC in the overall study cohort was 48 days (ranged from 21 to 104 days). Multivariate analysis indicated that fever at illness onset (Hazard ratio (HR) = 4.897, 95% CI [1.809–13.260], p = 0.002), serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) > 21.8 IU/L (HR = 3.010, 95% CI [1.195–7.578], p = 0.019), and titer of SARS-CoV-2 IgG > 142.09 AU/ml (HR = 3.061, 95% CI [1.263–7.415], p = 0.013) were the three independent risk factors associated with delayed viral clearance. Conclusion The current study suggested that clinical characteristics such as fever at illness onset, a high serum level of AST or SARS-CoV-2 IgG were associated with delayed viral clearance. Patients with these characteristics might need a more individualized treatment strategy to accelerate their recovery from the refractory COVID-19.
bibliographic citation: Zhuang et al. (2021) Risk factors associated with prolonged viral clearance in patients with a refractory course of COVID-19: a retrospective study. PeerJ 9:e12535 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12535
date submitted: 2021-04-26
date accepted: 2021-11-02
issued: 2021-11-23
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhuang
  given name: Weitao
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Shujie
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Dongya
author list: Agent
  family name: Zha
  given name: Lulu
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Wei
author list: Agent
  family name: Qiao
  given name: Guibin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12535
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-11-23
copyright: ©2021 Zhuang et al.
attribution name: Zhuang et al.

Which environmental factors control extreme thermal events in rivers? A multi-scale approach (Wallonia, Belgium)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Managers need to know how to mitigate rising stream water temperature (WT) due to climate change. This requires identifying the environmental drivers that influence thermal regime and determining the spatial area where interventions are most effective. We hypothesized that (i) extreme thermal events can be influenced by a set of environmental factors that reduce thermal sensitivity and (ii) the role played by those factors varies spatially. To test these hypotheses, we (i) determined which of the environmental variables reported to be the most influential affected WT and (ii)identified the spatial scales over which those environmental variables influenced WT. To this end, the influence of multi-scale environmental variables, namely land cover, topography (channel slope, elevation), hydromorphology (channel sinuosity, water level, watershed area, baseflow index) and shade conditions, was analyzed on the three model variables (day thermal sensitivity, night thermal sensitivity, and non-convective thermal flux) in the model developed by Georges et al. (2021) of the temporal thermal dynamics of daily maximum WT during extreme events. Values were calculated on six spatial scales (the entire upstream catchment and the associated 1 km and 2 km circular buffer, and 50 m wide corridors on each side of the stream with the associated 1 km and 2 km circular buffer). The period considered was 17 extreme days during the summer identified by Georges et al. (2021) based on WT data measured every 10 min for 7 years (2012–2018) at 92 measurement sites. Sites were located evenly throughout the Wallonia (southern Belgium) hydrological network. Results showed that shade, baseflow index (a proxy of the influence of groundwater), water level and watershed area were the most significant variables influencing thermal sensitivity. Since managers with finite financial and human resources can act on only a few environmental variables, we advocate restoring and preserving the vegetation cover t…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Blandine Georges
creator: Adrien Michez
creator: Hervé Piegay
creator: Leo Huylenbroeck
creator: Philippe Lejeune
creator: Yves Brostaux
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Ecohydrology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12494
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Georges et al.
abstract: Managers need to know how to mitigate rising stream water temperature (WT) due to climate change. This requires identifying the environmental drivers that influence thermal regime and determining the spatial area where interventions are most effective. We hypothesized that (i) extreme thermal events can be influenced by a set of environmental factors that reduce thermal sensitivity and (ii) the role played by those factors varies spatially. To test these hypotheses, we (i) determined which of the environmental variables reported to be the most influential affected WT and (ii)identified the spatial scales over which those environmental variables influenced WT. To this end, the influence of multi-scale environmental variables, namely land cover, topography (channel slope, elevation), hydromorphology (channel sinuosity, water level, watershed area, baseflow index) and shade conditions, was analyzed on the three model variables (day thermal sensitivity, night thermal sensitivity, and non-convective thermal flux) in the model developed by Georges et al. (2021) of the temporal thermal dynamics of daily maximum WT during extreme events. Values were calculated on six spatial scales (the entire upstream catchment and the associated 1 km and 2 km circular buffer, and 50 m wide corridors on each side of the stream with the associated 1 km and 2 km circular buffer). The period considered was 17 extreme days during the summer identified by Georges et al. (2021) based on WT data measured every 10 min for 7 years (2012–2018) at 92 measurement sites. Sites were located evenly throughout the Wallonia (southern Belgium) hydrological network. Results showed that shade, baseflow index (a proxy of the influence of groundwater), water level and watershed area were the most significant variables influencing thermal sensitivity. Since managers with finite financial and human resources can act on only a few environmental variables, we advocate restoring and preserving the vegetation cover t…
bibliographic citation: Georges et al. (2021) Which environmental factors control extreme thermal events in rivers? A multi-scale approach (Wallonia, Belgium). PeerJ 9:e12494 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12494
date submitted: 2021-07-27
date accepted: 2021-10-25
issued: 2021-11-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Georges
  given name: Blandine
author list: Agent
  family name: Michez
  given name: Adrien
author list: Agent
  family name: Piegay
  given name: Hervé
author list: Agent
  family name: Huylenbroeck
  given name: Leo
author list: Agent
  family name: Lejeune
  given name: Philippe
author list: Agent
  family name: Brostaux
  given name: Yves
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12494
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-11-22
copyright: © 2021 Georges et al.
attribution name: Georges et al.

Applications of the indole-alkaloid gramine modulate the assembly of individual members of the barley rhizosphere microbiota
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Microbial communities proliferating at the root-soil interface, collectively referred to as the rhizosphere microbiota, represent an untapped beneficial resource for plant growth, development and health. Integral to a rational manipulation of the microbiota for sustainable agriculture is the identification of the molecular determinants of these communities. In plants, biosynthesis of allelochemicals is centre stage in defining inter-organismal relationships in the environment. Intriguingly, this process has been moulded by domestication and breeding selection. The indole-alkaloid gramine, whose occurrence in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is widespread among wild genotypes but has been counter selected in several modern varieties, is a paradigmatic example of this phenomenon. This prompted us to investigate how exogenous applications of gramine impacted on the rhizosphere microbiota of two, gramine-free, elite barley varieties grown in a reference agricultural soil. High throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed that applications of gramine interfere with the proliferation of a subset of soil microbes with a relatively broad phylogenetic assignment. Strikingly, growth of these bacteria appeared to be rescued by barley plants in a genotype- and dosage-independent manner. In parallel, we discovered that host recruitment cues can interfere with the impact of gramine application in a host genotype-dependent manner. Interestingly, this latter effect displayed a bias for members of the phyla Proteobacteria. These initial observations indicate that gramine can act as a determinant of the prokaryotic communities inhabiting the root-soil interface.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mauro Maver
creator: Carmen Escudero-Martinez
creator: James Abbott
creator: Jenny Morris
creator: Pete E. Hedley
creator: Tanja Mimmo
creator: Davide Bulgarelli
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Microbiology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
subject: Soil Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12498
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Maver et al.
abstract: Microbial communities proliferating at the root-soil interface, collectively referred to as the rhizosphere microbiota, represent an untapped beneficial resource for plant growth, development and health. Integral to a rational manipulation of the microbiota for sustainable agriculture is the identification of the molecular determinants of these communities. In plants, biosynthesis of allelochemicals is centre stage in defining inter-organismal relationships in the environment. Intriguingly, this process has been moulded by domestication and breeding selection. The indole-alkaloid gramine, whose occurrence in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is widespread among wild genotypes but has been counter selected in several modern varieties, is a paradigmatic example of this phenomenon. This prompted us to investigate how exogenous applications of gramine impacted on the rhizosphere microbiota of two, gramine-free, elite barley varieties grown in a reference agricultural soil. High throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed that applications of gramine interfere with the proliferation of a subset of soil microbes with a relatively broad phylogenetic assignment. Strikingly, growth of these bacteria appeared to be rescued by barley plants in a genotype- and dosage-independent manner. In parallel, we discovered that host recruitment cues can interfere with the impact of gramine application in a host genotype-dependent manner. Interestingly, this latter effect displayed a bias for members of the phyla Proteobacteria. These initial observations indicate that gramine can act as a determinant of the prokaryotic communities inhabiting the root-soil interface.
bibliographic citation: Maver et al. (2021) Applications of the indole-alkaloid gramine modulate the assembly of individual members of the barley rhizosphere microbiota. PeerJ 9:e12498 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12498
date submitted: 2021-07-29
date accepted: 2021-10-25
issued: 2021-11-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Maver
  given name: Mauro
author list: Agent
  family name: Escudero-Martinez
  given name: Carmen
author list: Agent
  family name: Abbott
  given name: James
author list: Agent
  family name: Morris
  given name: Jenny
author list: Agent
  family name: Hedley
  given name: Pete E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Mimmo
  given name: Tanja
author list: Agent
  family name: Bulgarelli
  given name: Davide
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12498
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-11-22
copyright: ©2021 Maver et al.
attribution name: Maver et al.

Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Monandrous species are rare in nature, especially in animals where males transfer nutrients to females in the ejaculate. The proximate mechanisms responsible for monandry are poorly studied. In butterflies and moths, the male transfers a nutritious spermatophore into the corpus bursae (CB) of the female. The CB is a multifunctional organ that digests the spermatophore and has partial control of the post-mating sexual receptivity of the female. The spermatophore distends the CB and the post-mating sexual receptivity of the female is inversely proportional to the degree of distension. The CB of many butterfly species has a muscular sheath whose contractions mechanically contribute to digest the spermatophore. As the contents of the CB are absorbed, the degree of distension decreases and the female recovers receptivity. We studied the monandrous butterfly Leptophobia aripa (Boisduval, 1836) (Pieridae) and found that females do not digest the spermatophores. We investigated the structure of the CB and found that a muscular sheath is absent, indicating that in this butterfly females lack the necessary “apparatus” for the mechanical digestion of the spermatophore. We propose that female monandry in this species is result of its incapability to mechanically digest the spermatophore, which results in a constant degree of CB distension after mating and, thus, in the maintenance of the sexually unreceptive state of females. Hypotheses on the evolution of this mechanism are discussed.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: David Xochipiltecatl
creator: Joaquín Baixeras
creator: Carlos R. Cordero
subject: Animal Behavior
subject: Entomology
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12499
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Xochipiltecatl et al.
abstract: Monandrous species are rare in nature, especially in animals where males transfer nutrients to females in the ejaculate. The proximate mechanisms responsible for monandry are poorly studied. In butterflies and moths, the male transfers a nutritious spermatophore into the corpus bursae (CB) of the female. The CB is a multifunctional organ that digests the spermatophore and has partial control of the post-mating sexual receptivity of the female. The spermatophore distends the CB and the post-mating sexual receptivity of the female is inversely proportional to the degree of distension. The CB of many butterfly species has a muscular sheath whose contractions mechanically contribute to digest the spermatophore. As the contents of the CB are absorbed, the degree of distension decreases and the female recovers receptivity. We studied the monandrous butterfly Leptophobia aripa (Boisduval, 1836) (Pieridae) and found that females do not digest the spermatophores. We investigated the structure of the CB and found that a muscular sheath is absent, indicating that in this butterfly females lack the necessary “apparatus” for the mechanical digestion of the spermatophore. We propose that female monandry in this species is result of its incapability to mechanically digest the spermatophore, which results in a constant degree of CB distension after mating and, thus, in the maintenance of the sexually unreceptive state of females. Hypotheses on the evolution of this mechanism are discussed.
bibliographic citation: Xochipiltecatl et al. (2021) Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly. PeerJ 9:e12499 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12499
date submitted: 2021-07-13
date accepted: 2021-10-26
issued: 2021-11-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Xochipiltecatl
  given name: David
author list: Agent
  family name: Baixeras
  given name: Joaquín
author list: Agent
  family name: Cordero
  given name: Carlos R.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12499
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-11-22
copyright: ©2021 Xochipiltecatl et al.
attribution name: Xochipiltecatl et al.

Association of endothelial dysfunction with sarcopenia and muscle function in a relatively young cohort of kidney transplant recipients
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Sarcopenia and endothelial dysfunction are both common among kidney transplant (KT) recipients. We aimed to evaluate the association between endothelial dysfunction and sarcopenia, as well as its individual components. Methods Vascular reactivity index (VRI), skeletal muscle index (SMI = skeletal muscle mass/height2), handgrip strength (HGS), and 6-meter usual gait speed (GS) were measured in 95 KT recipients. Low SMI was defined as SMI less than 10% of the sex-specific reference values from Chinese adults; low HGS as HGS < 28 kg for men and < 18 kg for women; slow GS as GS below 1.0 m/s. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the presence of low SMI as an essential criterion, accompanied by either low HGS or slow GS. Vascular reactivity was classified as being indicative of poor (VRI < 1.0), intermediate (1.0 ≤ VRI < 2.0), or good (VRI ≥ 2.0) vascular reactivity. Results Of the 95 patients, aged 45.2 ± 10.9 years, 11.6% had sarcopenia and 13.7% had poor vascular reactivity. Patients with sarcopenia were lower in body mass index (p = 0.001) and VRI (p = 0.041), and have a higher proportion of low muscle mass (p < 0.001), low HGS (p < 0.001), and slow GS (p = 0.001). Patients with poor vascular reactivity have a higher proportion of sarcopenia (p = 0.005), low HGS (p = 0.006), and slow GS (p = 0.029). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients in the poor VRI group were significantly associated with sarcopenia (odds ratio, OR = 6.17; 95% confidence interval [1.06–36.04]; p = 0.043), comparing to those with good VRI. We further analysed the effects of VRI on individual components of sarcopenia and found that VRI predicted slow GS significantly (OR = 0.41; 95% CI = [0.21–0.79]; p = 0.007), but not low SMI (OR = 1.15; 95% CI [0.53–2.49]; p = 0.718) and HGS (OR = 0.59; 95% CI [0.31–1.16]; p = 0.125). Conclusions We concluded that endothelial dysfunction is a key determinant of sarcopenia in KT recipients. Furthermore, endothelial dysfunction is …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Siok-Bin Khoo
creator: Yu-Li Lin
creator: Guan-Jin Ho
creator: Ming-Che Lee
creator: Bang-Gee Hsu
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Nephrology
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Surgery and Surgical Specialties
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12521
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Khoo et al.
abstract: Background Sarcopenia and endothelial dysfunction are both common among kidney transplant (KT) recipients. We aimed to evaluate the association between endothelial dysfunction and sarcopenia, as well as its individual components. Methods Vascular reactivity index (VRI), skeletal muscle index (SMI = skeletal muscle mass/height2), handgrip strength (HGS), and 6-meter usual gait speed (GS) were measured in 95 KT recipients. Low SMI was defined as SMI less than 10% of the sex-specific reference values from Chinese adults; low HGS as HGS < 28 kg for men and < 18 kg for women; slow GS as GS below 1.0 m/s. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the presence of low SMI as an essential criterion, accompanied by either low HGS or slow GS. Vascular reactivity was classified as being indicative of poor (VRI < 1.0), intermediate (1.0 ≤ VRI < 2.0), or good (VRI ≥ 2.0) vascular reactivity. Results Of the 95 patients, aged 45.2 ± 10.9 years, 11.6% had sarcopenia and 13.7% had poor vascular reactivity. Patients with sarcopenia were lower in body mass index (p = 0.001) and VRI (p = 0.041), and have a higher proportion of low muscle mass (p < 0.001), low HGS (p < 0.001), and slow GS (p = 0.001). Patients with poor vascular reactivity have a higher proportion of sarcopenia (p = 0.005), low HGS (p = 0.006), and slow GS (p = 0.029). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients in the poor VRI group were significantly associated with sarcopenia (odds ratio, OR = 6.17; 95% confidence interval [1.06–36.04]; p = 0.043), comparing to those with good VRI. We further analysed the effects of VRI on individual components of sarcopenia and found that VRI predicted slow GS significantly (OR = 0.41; 95% CI = [0.21–0.79]; p = 0.007), but not low SMI (OR = 1.15; 95% CI [0.53–2.49]; p = 0.718) and HGS (OR = 0.59; 95% CI [0.31–1.16]; p = 0.125). Conclusions We concluded that endothelial dysfunction is a key determinant of sarcopenia in KT recipients. Furthermore, endothelial dysfunction is …
bibliographic citation: Khoo et al. (2021) Association of endothelial dysfunction with sarcopenia and muscle function in a relatively young cohort of kidney transplant recipients. PeerJ 9:e12521 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12521
date submitted: 2021-06-15
date accepted: 2021-10-29
issued: 2021-11-22
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Khoo
  given name: Siok-Bin
author list: Agent
  family name: Lin
  given name: Yu-Li
author list: Agent
  family name: Ho
  given name: Guan-Jin
author list: Agent
  family name: Lee
  given name: Ming-Che
author list: Agent
  family name: Hsu
  given name: Bang-Gee
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12521
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-11-22
copyright: © 2021 Khoo et al.
attribution name: Khoo et al.

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