PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: The evaluation of factors affecting antibody response after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine: a prospective study in Japan
items: The effect of cartilage decellularized extracellular matrix-chitosan compound on treating knee osteoarthritis in rats
items: Impacts of climate change on water resources in the major countries along the Belt and Road
items: Reducing publication delay to improve the efficiency and impact of conservation science
items: Prevalence of non-specific chronic low-back pain and risk factors among male soldiers in Saudi Arabia
items: Changes in soil bacterial and fungal communities in response to Bacillus megaterium NCT-2 inoculation in secondary salinized soil
items: Lasianthus ranongensis (Rubiaceae), a new species from Andaman tropical rainforest Thailand
items: Extracellular pH, osmolarity, temperature and humidity could discourage SARS-CoV-2 cell docking and propagation via intercellular signaling pathways
items: Prediction of coronary heart disease in rural Chinese adults: a cross sectional study
items: Evaluation of cognitive load in team sports: literature review

The evaluation of factors affecting antibody response after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine: a prospective study in Japan
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibody reaction after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine, and to reveal the factors that affect antibody production. This prospective study was carried out in the Association of EISEIKAI Medical and Healthcare Corporation Minamitama Hospital, in Tokyo, Japan, from April 15, 2021 to June 09, 2021. All our hospital’s workers who were administered the BNT162b2 vaccine as part of a routine program were included in this study. We calculated the anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibody titter (1) before vaccination, (2) 7 to 20 days after the first vaccination, and (3) A total of 7 to 20 days after the second vaccination. The low-antibody titer group (LABG) was defined as the group having less than 25 percentiles of antibody titer. Univariate and Multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to ascertain the effects of factors on the likelihood of LABG. A total of 374 participants were eventually included in our study, and they were divided into 94 LABG and 280 non-LABG. All samples showed significant antibody elevation in the second antibody test, with a mean value of 3,476 U/mL. When comparing the LABG and non-LABG groups, the median age, blood sugar, and HbA1c were significantly higher in the LABG group. The rates of participants with low BMI (<18.5) and high BMI (>30) were significantly higher in the LABG group. The proportion of chronic lung disease, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, autoimmune disease, and cancer were significantly higher in the LABG group. Although there was no significant difference confirmed with respect to the exercise hours per day, the proportion of participants that did not perform outdoor exercises was significantly higher in the LABG group. The time interval between the second vaccination and the second antibody test, and between the first and the second vaccination was significantly longer in the non-LABG group. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, older than 60 yea…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Toshiya Mitsunaga
creator: Yuhei Ohtaki
creator: Yutaka Seki
creator: Masakata Yoshioka
creator: Hiroshi Mori
creator: Midori Suzuka
creator: Syunsuke Mashiko
creator: Satoshi Takeda
creator: Kunihiro Mashiko
subject: Global Health
subject: Immunology
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: COVID-19
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12316
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Mitsunaga et al.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibody reaction after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine, and to reveal the factors that affect antibody production. This prospective study was carried out in the Association of EISEIKAI Medical and Healthcare Corporation Minamitama Hospital, in Tokyo, Japan, from April 15, 2021 to June 09, 2021. All our hospital’s workers who were administered the BNT162b2 vaccine as part of a routine program were included in this study. We calculated the anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibody titter (1) before vaccination, (2) 7 to 20 days after the first vaccination, and (3) A total of 7 to 20 days after the second vaccination. The low-antibody titer group (LABG) was defined as the group having less than 25 percentiles of antibody titer. Univariate and Multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to ascertain the effects of factors on the likelihood of LABG. A total of 374 participants were eventually included in our study, and they were divided into 94 LABG and 280 non-LABG. All samples showed significant antibody elevation in the second antibody test, with a mean value of 3,476 U/mL. When comparing the LABG and non-LABG groups, the median age, blood sugar, and HbA1c were significantly higher in the LABG group. The rates of participants with low BMI (<18.5) and high BMI (>30) were significantly higher in the LABG group. The proportion of chronic lung disease, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, autoimmune disease, and cancer were significantly higher in the LABG group. Although there was no significant difference confirmed with respect to the exercise hours per day, the proportion of participants that did not perform outdoor exercises was significantly higher in the LABG group. The time interval between the second vaccination and the second antibody test, and between the first and the second vaccination was significantly longer in the non-LABG group. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, older than 60 yea…
bibliographic citation: Mitsunaga et al. (2021) The evaluation of factors affecting antibody response after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine: a prospective study in Japan. PeerJ 9:e12316 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12316
date submitted: 2021-06-21
date accepted: 2021-09-25
issued: 2021-10-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Mitsunaga
  given name: Toshiya
author list: Agent
  family name: Ohtaki
  given name: Yuhei
author list: Agent
  family name: Seki
  given name: Yutaka
author list: Agent
  family name: Yoshioka
  given name: Masakata
author list: Agent
  family name: Mori
  given name: Hiroshi
author list: Agent
  family name: Suzuka
  given name: Midori
author list: Agent
  family name: Mashiko
  given name: Syunsuke
author list: Agent
  family name: Takeda
  given name: Satoshi
author list: Agent
  family name: Mashiko
  given name: Kunihiro
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12316
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-13
copyright: © 2021 Mitsunaga et al.
attribution name: Mitsunaga et al.

The effect of cartilage decellularized extracellular matrix-chitosan compound on treating knee osteoarthritis in rats
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) refers to a common disease in orthopaedics, whereas effective treatments have been rarely developed. As indicated from existing studies, chondrocyte death, extracellular matrix degradation and subchondral bone injury are recognized as the pathological basis of KOA. The present study aimed to determine the therapeutic effect of decellularized extracellular matrix-chitosan (dECM-CS) compound on KOA. In this study, rat knee cartilage was decellularized, and a satisfactory decellularized extracellular matrix was developed. As suggested from the in vitro experiments, the rat chondrocytes co-cultured with allogeneic dECM grew effectively. According to the results of the alamar blue detection, dECM did not adversely affect the viability of rat chondrocytes, and dECM could up-regulate the genes related to the cartilage synthesis and metabolism. As reported from the animal experiments, dECM-CS compound could protect cartilage, alleviate knee joint pain in rats, significantly delay the progress of KOA in rats, and achieve high drug safety. In brief, dECM-CS compound shows a good therapeutic effect on KOA.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Deng Chen
creator: Yaxin Zhang
creator: Qun Lin
creator: Duoyun Chen
creator: Xiaolei Li
creator: Jihang Dai
creator: Yu Sun
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Bioengineering
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Histology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12188
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Chen et al.
abstract: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) refers to a common disease in orthopaedics, whereas effective treatments have been rarely developed. As indicated from existing studies, chondrocyte death, extracellular matrix degradation and subchondral bone injury are recognized as the pathological basis of KOA. The present study aimed to determine the therapeutic effect of decellularized extracellular matrix-chitosan (dECM-CS) compound on KOA. In this study, rat knee cartilage was decellularized, and a satisfactory decellularized extracellular matrix was developed. As suggested from the in vitro experiments, the rat chondrocytes co-cultured with allogeneic dECM grew effectively. According to the results of the alamar blue detection, dECM did not adversely affect the viability of rat chondrocytes, and dECM could up-regulate the genes related to the cartilage synthesis and metabolism. As reported from the animal experiments, dECM-CS compound could protect cartilage, alleviate knee joint pain in rats, significantly delay the progress of KOA in rats, and achieve high drug safety. In brief, dECM-CS compound shows a good therapeutic effect on KOA.
bibliographic citation: Chen et al. (2021) The effect of cartilage decellularized extracellular matrix-chitosan compound on treating knee osteoarthritis in rats. PeerJ 9:e12188 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12188
date submitted: 2021-05-24
date accepted: 2021-08-30
issued: 2021-10-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Deng
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Yaxin
author list: Agent
  family name: Lin
  given name: Qun
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Duoyun
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Xiaolei
author list: Agent
  family name: Dai
  given name: Jihang
author list: Agent
  family name: Sun
  given name: Yu
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12188
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-12
copyright: © 2021 Chen et al.
attribution name: Chen et al.

Impacts of climate change on water resources in the major countries along the Belt and Road
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Climate change has altered global hydrological cycles mainly due to changes in temperature and precipitation, which may exacerbate the global and regional water shortage issues, especially in the countries along the Belt and Road (B&R). Methods In this paper, we assessed water supply, demand, and stress under three climate change scenarios in the major countries along the Belt and Road. We ensembled ten Global Climate Model (GCM) runoff data and downscaled it to a finer resolution of 0.1° × 0.1° by the random forest model. Results Our results showed that the GCM runoff was highly correlated with the FAO renewable water resources and thus could be used to estimate water supply. Climate change would increase water supply by 4.85%, 5.18%, 8.16% and water demand by 1.45%, 1.68%, 2.36% under RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 scenarios by 2050s, respectively. As a result, climate change will, in general, have little impact on water stress in the B&R countries as a whole. However, climate change will make future water resources more unevenly distributed among the B&R countries and regions, exacerbating water stress in some countries, especially in Central Asia and West Asia. Our results are informative for water resource managers and policymakers in the B&R countries to make sustainable water management strategies under future climate change.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Panpan Du
creator: Ming Xu
creator: Renqiang Li
subject: Climate Change Biology
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Ecohydrology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12201
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Du et al.
abstract: Background Climate change has altered global hydrological cycles mainly due to changes in temperature and precipitation, which may exacerbate the global and regional water shortage issues, especially in the countries along the Belt and Road (B&R). Methods In this paper, we assessed water supply, demand, and stress under three climate change scenarios in the major countries along the Belt and Road. We ensembled ten Global Climate Model (GCM) runoff data and downscaled it to a finer resolution of 0.1° × 0.1° by the random forest model. Results Our results showed that the GCM runoff was highly correlated with the FAO renewable water resources and thus could be used to estimate water supply. Climate change would increase water supply by 4.85%, 5.18%, 8.16% and water demand by 1.45%, 1.68%, 2.36% under RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 scenarios by 2050s, respectively. As a result, climate change will, in general, have little impact on water stress in the B&R countries as a whole. However, climate change will make future water resources more unevenly distributed among the B&R countries and regions, exacerbating water stress in some countries, especially in Central Asia and West Asia. Our results are informative for water resource managers and policymakers in the B&R countries to make sustainable water management strategies under future climate change.
bibliographic citation: Du et al. (2021) Impacts of climate change on water resources in the major countries along the Belt and Road. PeerJ 9:e12201 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12201
date submitted: 2021-04-28
date accepted: 2021-09-02
issued: 2021-10-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Du
  given name: Panpan
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Ming
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Renqiang
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12201
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-12
copyright: © 2021 Du et al.
attribution name: Du et al.

Reducing publication delay to improve the efficiency and impact of conservation science
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Evidence-based decision-making is most effective with comprehensive access to scientific studies. If studies face significant publication delays or barriers, the useful information they contain may not reach decision-makers in a timely manner. This represents a potential problem for mission-oriented disciplines where access to the latest data is required to ensure effective actions are undertaken. We sought to analyse the severity of publication delay in conservation science—a field that requires urgent action to prevent the loss of biodiversity. We used the Conservation Evidence database to assess the length of publication delay (time from finishing data collection to publication) in the literature that tests the effectiveness of conservation interventions. From 7,447 peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed studies of conservation interventions published over eleven decades, we find that the raw mean publication delay was 3.2 years (±2SD = 0.1) and varied by conservation subject. A significantly shorter delay was observed for studies focused on Bee Conservation, Sustainable Aquaculture, Management of Captive Animals, Amphibian Conservation, and Control of Freshwater Invasive Species (Estimated Marginal Mean range from 1.4–1.9 years). Publication delay was significantly shorter for the non-peer-reviewed literature (Estimated Marginal Mean delay of 1.9 years ± 0.2) compared to the peer-reviewed literature (i.e., scientific journals; Estimated Marginal Mean delay of 3.0 years ± 0.1). We found publication delay has significantly increased over time (an increase of ~1.2 years from 1912 (1.4 years ± 0.2) to 2020 (2.6 years ± 0.1)), but this change was much weaker and non-significant post-2000s; we found no evidence for any decline. There was also no evidence that studies on more threatened species were subject to a shorter delay—indeed, the contrary was true for mammals, and to a lesser extent for birds. We suggest a range of possible ways in which scientists, funders, publi…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Alec P. Christie
creator: Thomas B. White
creator: Philip A. Martin
creator: Silviu O. Petrovan
creator: Andrew J. Bladon
creator: Andrew E. Bowkett
creator: Nick A. Littlewood
creator: Anne-Christine Mupepele
creator: Ricardo Rocha
creator: Katherine A. Sainsbury
creator: Rebecca K. Smith
creator: Nigel G. Taylor
creator: William J. Sutherland
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Science Policy
subject: Natural Resource Management
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12245
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Christie et al.
abstract: Evidence-based decision-making is most effective with comprehensive access to scientific studies. If studies face significant publication delays or barriers, the useful information they contain may not reach decision-makers in a timely manner. This represents a potential problem for mission-oriented disciplines where access to the latest data is required to ensure effective actions are undertaken. We sought to analyse the severity of publication delay in conservation science—a field that requires urgent action to prevent the loss of biodiversity. We used the Conservation Evidence database to assess the length of publication delay (time from finishing data collection to publication) in the literature that tests the effectiveness of conservation interventions. From 7,447 peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed studies of conservation interventions published over eleven decades, we find that the raw mean publication delay was 3.2 years (±2SD = 0.1) and varied by conservation subject. A significantly shorter delay was observed for studies focused on Bee Conservation, Sustainable Aquaculture, Management of Captive Animals, Amphibian Conservation, and Control of Freshwater Invasive Species (Estimated Marginal Mean range from 1.4–1.9 years). Publication delay was significantly shorter for the non-peer-reviewed literature (Estimated Marginal Mean delay of 1.9 years ± 0.2) compared to the peer-reviewed literature (i.e., scientific journals; Estimated Marginal Mean delay of 3.0 years ± 0.1). We found publication delay has significantly increased over time (an increase of ~1.2 years from 1912 (1.4 years ± 0.2) to 2020 (2.6 years ± 0.1)), but this change was much weaker and non-significant post-2000s; we found no evidence for any decline. There was also no evidence that studies on more threatened species were subject to a shorter delay—indeed, the contrary was true for mammals, and to a lesser extent for birds. We suggest a range of possible ways in which scientists, funders, publi…
bibliographic citation: Christie et al. (2021) Reducing publication delay to improve the efficiency and impact of conservation science. PeerJ 9:e12245 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12245
date submitted: 2021-05-12
date accepted: 2021-09-13
issued: 2021-10-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Christie
  given name: Alec P.
author list: Agent
  family name: White
  given name: Thomas B.
author list: Agent
  family name: Martin
  given name: Philip A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Petrovan
  given name: Silviu O.
author list: Agent
  family name: Bladon
  given name: Andrew J.
author list: Agent
  family name: Bowkett
  given name: Andrew E.
author list: Agent
  family name: Littlewood
  given name: Nick A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Mupepele
  given name: Anne-Christine
author list: Agent
  family name: Rocha
  given name: Ricardo
author list: Agent
  family name: Sainsbury
  given name: Katherine A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Smith
  given name: Rebecca K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Taylor
  given name: Nigel G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Sutherland
  given name: William J.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12245
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-12
copyright: © 2021 Christie et al.
attribution name: Christie et al.

Prevalence of non-specific chronic low-back pain and risk factors among male soldiers in Saudi Arabia
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is the most common musculoskeletal disorder affecting health and work among the military population. NSCLBP is a complex disorder with several risk factors contributing to its occurrence. Therefore, the objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence and contribution of risk factors towards NSCLBP among male soldiers in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2020 to January 2021 among the military personnel at Hafar Al-Batin military base, Saudi Arabia. The entire population (n = 62, 000) at the military base were invited to participate in the study. The participants were invited to participate in the study either through direct referral from in-patient and out-patient departments of the military hospital or by invitation through pamphlets, email, and advertisement across the offices and residential areas. Soldiers reporting lower back pain for at least 12 weeks were screened for inclusion criteria at the physical therapy department of the military hospital. Inclusion criteria included pain or discomfort originating from the lower back without any known spinal diseases. Participants with a systemic inflammatory disorder, trauma, neurological symptoms, and recent spinal surgery were excluded. All eligible participants were assessed for demographic variables and risk factors and complete the Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire and WHO-Five Well-Being Index. Results This study identified a 46.3% prevalence of pain originating from the spine with a 2.7% prevalence of NSCLBP. Spearman’s rho correlation between the severity of disability due to NSCLBP was strongly associated with age (rs = 0.834, p < 0.01), quality of sleep (rs = 0.790, p < 0.01), body mass index (BMI) (rs = 0.617, p < 0.01), smoking (rs = 0.520, p < 0.01), co-morbidity (rs = 0.357, p < 0.01), but not with the level of physical activity (rs = 0.044, p = 0.07). Conclusion There was a high prevalence of pain ori…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mohammad Sidiq
creator: Wadha Alenazi
creator: Faizan Z. Kashoo
creator: Mohammad Qasim
creator: Marisia Paz Lopez
creator: Mehrunnisha Ahmad
creator: Suresh Mani
creator: Mohammad Abu Shaphe
creator: Omaymah Khodairi
creator: Abdulqader Almutairi
creator: Shabir Ahmad Mir
subject: Anesthesiology and Pain Management
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Orthopedics
subject: Rehabilitation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12249
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Sidiq et al.
abstract: Background Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is the most common musculoskeletal disorder affecting health and work among the military population. NSCLBP is a complex disorder with several risk factors contributing to its occurrence. Therefore, the objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence and contribution of risk factors towards NSCLBP among male soldiers in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2020 to January 2021 among the military personnel at Hafar Al-Batin military base, Saudi Arabia. The entire population (n = 62, 000) at the military base were invited to participate in the study. The participants were invited to participate in the study either through direct referral from in-patient and out-patient departments of the military hospital or by invitation through pamphlets, email, and advertisement across the offices and residential areas. Soldiers reporting lower back pain for at least 12 weeks were screened for inclusion criteria at the physical therapy department of the military hospital. Inclusion criteria included pain or discomfort originating from the lower back without any known spinal diseases. Participants with a systemic inflammatory disorder, trauma, neurological symptoms, and recent spinal surgery were excluded. All eligible participants were assessed for demographic variables and risk factors and complete the Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire and WHO-Five Well-Being Index. Results This study identified a 46.3% prevalence of pain originating from the spine with a 2.7% prevalence of NSCLBP. Spearman’s rho correlation between the severity of disability due to NSCLBP was strongly associated with age (rs = 0.834, p < 0.01), quality of sleep (rs = 0.790, p < 0.01), body mass index (BMI) (rs = 0.617, p < 0.01), smoking (rs = 0.520, p < 0.01), co-morbidity (rs = 0.357, p < 0.01), but not with the level of physical activity (rs = 0.044, p = 0.07). Conclusion There was a high prevalence of pain ori…
bibliographic citation: Sidiq et al. (2021) Prevalence of non-specific chronic low-back pain and risk factors among male soldiers in Saudi Arabia. PeerJ 9:e12249 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12249
date submitted: 2021-02-12
date accepted: 2021-09-13
issued: 2021-10-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sidiq
  given name: Mohammad
author list: Agent
  family name: Alenazi
  given name: Wadha
author list: Agent
  family name: Kashoo
  given name: Faizan Z.
author list: Agent
  family name: Qasim
  given name: Mohammad
author list: Agent
  family name: Lopez
  given name: Marisia Paz
author list: Agent
  family name: Ahmad
  given name: Mehrunnisha
author list: Agent
  family name: Mani
  given name: Suresh
author list: Agent
  family name: Shaphe
  given name: Mohammad Abu
author list: Agent
  family name: Khodairi
  given name: Omaymah
author list: Agent
  family name: Almutairi
  given name: Abdulqader
author list: Agent
  family name: Mir
  given name: Shabir Ahmad
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12249
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-12
copyright: ©2021 Sidiq et al.
attribution name: Sidiq et al.

Changes in soil bacterial and fungal communities in response to Bacillus megaterium NCT-2 inoculation in secondary salinized soil
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Secondary salinized soil in greenhouses often contains excess nitrate. Inoculation of Bacillus megaterium NCT-2 with nitrate assimilation ability represents an attractive approach for soil remediation. However, the effects of NCT-2 on the structure and function of soil microbial communities have not been explored. Methods Greenhouse experiments were carried out to investigate changes in soil properties, Brassica chinensis L. growth, bacterial, and fungal community structure and function in response to NCT-2 inoculation. Results The NCT-2 inoculant significantly reduced the nitrate content in B. chinensis and inhibited the rebound of soil nitrate in the later stage. The shifts of bacterial community structure and function by NCT-2 was negligible, and a greater disturbance of soil fungal community structure and function was observed, for example the strong inhibitory effect on ectomycorrhizal fungi. These results indicated that the NCT-2 inoculant likely achieved the remediation effect in secondary salinized soil by shifting fungal community. The present findings add to the current understanding of microbial interactions in response to bacterial inoculation and can be of great significance for the application of NCT-2 inoculants in secondary salinized soil remediation.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Bin Wang
creator: Shaohua Chu
creator: Xiaorui Liu
creator: Dan Zhang
creator: Xiaotong Chai
creator: Xijia Yang
creator: Yuee Zhi
creator: Yaowei Chi
creator: Pei Zhou
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Ecology
subject: Microbiology
subject: Soil Science
subject: Environmental Contamination and Remediation
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12309
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Wang et al.
abstract: Background Secondary salinized soil in greenhouses often contains excess nitrate. Inoculation of Bacillus megaterium NCT-2 with nitrate assimilation ability represents an attractive approach for soil remediation. However, the effects of NCT-2 on the structure and function of soil microbial communities have not been explored. Methods Greenhouse experiments were carried out to investigate changes in soil properties, Brassica chinensis L. growth, bacterial, and fungal community structure and function in response to NCT-2 inoculation. Results The NCT-2 inoculant significantly reduced the nitrate content in B. chinensis and inhibited the rebound of soil nitrate in the later stage. The shifts of bacterial community structure and function by NCT-2 was negligible, and a greater disturbance of soil fungal community structure and function was observed, for example the strong inhibitory effect on ectomycorrhizal fungi. These results indicated that the NCT-2 inoculant likely achieved the remediation effect in secondary salinized soil by shifting fungal community. The present findings add to the current understanding of microbial interactions in response to bacterial inoculation and can be of great significance for the application of NCT-2 inoculants in secondary salinized soil remediation.
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2021) Changes in soil bacterial and fungal communities in response to Bacillus megaterium NCT-2 inoculation in secondary salinized soil. PeerJ 9:e12309 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12309
date submitted: 2021-05-14
date accepted: 2021-09-23
issued: 2021-10-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Bin
author list: Agent
  family name: Chu
  given name: Shaohua
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Xiaorui
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Dan
author list: Agent
  family name: Chai
  given name: Xiaotong
author list: Agent
  family name: Yang
  given name: Xijia
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhi
  given name: Yuee
author list: Agent
  family name: Chi
  given name: Yaowei
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Pei
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12309
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-12
copyright: ©2021 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

Lasianthus ranongensis (Rubiaceae), a new species from Andaman tropical rainforest Thailand
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: We describe Lasianthus ranongensis Sinbumr. & Napiroon as a new species in the genus Lasianthus. The new taxon is intensively discussed through taxonomic affinities and information on its habitat, distribution and conservation status is provided. Moreover, line drawings and stereo microscope images of important fertile organs are demonstrated. The new species is morphologically similar to L. stipularis but differs in its having flattened branches (vs. terete), leaf blade elliptic-oblong shape of 15.0–20.0 × 4.0–6.0 cm (vs. oblanceolate-oblong 12.0–16.0 × 3.0–5.5 cm), 9–12 pairs of veins (vs. 9–10 pairs), stipule 5–7 mm long, half covering cymes (vs. 10–12.5 mm long, entirely covering cymes), four or five bracts narrowly lanceolate, 2.5–3.0 mm long (vs. bracts numerous, broadly triangular, 10–15 mm), flowers with cupular calyx (vs. with campanulate calyx), corolla villous on internal surface, and six or seven lobed (vs. pubescent on internal surface and four lobed) and drupes with five pyrenes (vs. with four pyrenes). It is also similar to L. pseudo-stipularis, but from which it is obviously distinguished by its stipule half covers cymes, secondary veins have 9–12 pairs of secondary veins, cupular calyx shape, six or seven lobed corolla, and drupe with five pyrenes, whereas L. pseudo-stipularis has stipule entirely covering cymes, 7–8 pairs of secondary veins, obconic calyx, four lobed corolla, and drupe with four pyrenes.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tiwtawat Napiroon
creator: Aroon Sinbumroong
creator: Manop Poopath
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Plant Science
subject: Taxonomy
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12320
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Napiroon et al.
abstract: We describe Lasianthus ranongensis Sinbumr. & Napiroon as a new species in the genus Lasianthus. The new taxon is intensively discussed through taxonomic affinities and information on its habitat, distribution and conservation status is provided. Moreover, line drawings and stereo microscope images of important fertile organs are demonstrated. The new species is morphologically similar to L. stipularis but differs in its having flattened branches (vs. terete), leaf blade elliptic-oblong shape of 15.0–20.0 × 4.0–6.0 cm (vs. oblanceolate-oblong 12.0–16.0 × 3.0–5.5 cm), 9–12 pairs of veins (vs. 9–10 pairs), stipule 5–7 mm long, half covering cymes (vs. 10–12.5 mm long, entirely covering cymes), four or five bracts narrowly lanceolate, 2.5–3.0 mm long (vs. bracts numerous, broadly triangular, 10–15 mm), flowers with cupular calyx (vs. with campanulate calyx), corolla villous on internal surface, and six or seven lobed (vs. pubescent on internal surface and four lobed) and drupes with five pyrenes (vs. with four pyrenes). It is also similar to L. pseudo-stipularis, but from which it is obviously distinguished by its stipule half covers cymes, secondary veins have 9–12 pairs of secondary veins, cupular calyx shape, six or seven lobed corolla, and drupe with five pyrenes, whereas L. pseudo-stipularis has stipule entirely covering cymes, 7–8 pairs of secondary veins, obconic calyx, four lobed corolla, and drupe with four pyrenes.
bibliographic citation: Napiroon et al. (2021) Lasianthus ranongensis (Rubiaceae), a new species from Andaman tropical rainforest Thailand. PeerJ 9:e12320 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12320
date submitted: 2021-06-18
date accepted: 2021-09-25
issued: 2021-10-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Napiroon
  given name: Tiwtawat
author list: Agent
  family name: Sinbumroong
  given name: Aroon
author list: Agent
  family name: Poopath
  given name: Manop
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12320
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-12
copyright: © 2021 Napiroon et al.
attribution name: Napiroon et al.

Extracellular pH, osmolarity, temperature and humidity could discourage SARS-CoV-2 cell docking and propagation via intercellular signaling pathways
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The COVID-19 pandemic and its virus variants continue to pose a serious and long-lasting threat worldwide. To combat the pandemic, the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign is currently ongoing. As of July 19th 2021, 26.2% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (1.04 billion), and one billion has been fully vaccinated, with very high vaccination rates in countries like Israel, Malta, and the UEA. Conversely, only 1% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose with examples of vaccination frequency as low as 0.07% in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is thus of paramount importance that more research on alternate methods to counter cell infection and propagation is undertaken that could be implemented in low-income countries. Moreover, an adjunctive therapeutic intervention would help to avoid disease exacerbation in high-rate vaccinated countries too. Based on experimental biochemical evidence on viral cell fusion and propagation, herein we identify (i) extracellular pH (epH), (ii) temperature, and (iii) humidity and osmolarity as critical factors. These factors are here in discussed along with their implications on mucus thick layer, proteases, abundance of sialic acid, vascular permeability and exudate/edema. Heated, humidified air containing sodium bicarbonate has long been used in the treatment of certain diseases, and here we argue that warm inhalation of sodium bicarbonate might successfully target these endpoints. Although we highlight the molecular/cellular basis and the signalling pathways to support this intervention, we underscore the need for clinical investigations to encourage further research and clinical trials. In addition, we think that such an approach is also important in light of the high mutation rate of this virus originating from a rapid increase.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Franco Cicconetti
creator: Piero Sestili
creator: Valeria Madiai
creator: Maria Cristina Albertini
creator: Luigi Campanella
creator: Sofia Coppari
creator: Daniele Fraternale
creator: Bryan Saunders
creator: Laura Teodori
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Virology
subject: Drugs and Devices
subject: Infectious Diseases
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12227
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Cicconetti et al.
abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic and its virus variants continue to pose a serious and long-lasting threat worldwide. To combat the pandemic, the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign is currently ongoing. As of July 19th 2021, 26.2% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (1.04 billion), and one billion has been fully vaccinated, with very high vaccination rates in countries like Israel, Malta, and the UEA. Conversely, only 1% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose with examples of vaccination frequency as low as 0.07% in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is thus of paramount importance that more research on alternate methods to counter cell infection and propagation is undertaken that could be implemented in low-income countries. Moreover, an adjunctive therapeutic intervention would help to avoid disease exacerbation in high-rate vaccinated countries too. Based on experimental biochemical evidence on viral cell fusion and propagation, herein we identify (i) extracellular pH (epH), (ii) temperature, and (iii) humidity and osmolarity as critical factors. These factors are here in discussed along with their implications on mucus thick layer, proteases, abundance of sialic acid, vascular permeability and exudate/edema. Heated, humidified air containing sodium bicarbonate has long been used in the treatment of certain diseases, and here we argue that warm inhalation of sodium bicarbonate might successfully target these endpoints. Although we highlight the molecular/cellular basis and the signalling pathways to support this intervention, we underscore the need for clinical investigations to encourage further research and clinical trials. In addition, we think that such an approach is also important in light of the high mutation rate of this virus originating from a rapid increase.
bibliographic citation: Cicconetti et al. (2021) Extracellular pH, osmolarity, temperature and humidity could discourage SARS-CoV-2 cell docking and propagation via intercellular signaling pathways. PeerJ 9:e12227 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12227
date submitted: 2021-05-18
date accepted: 2021-09-08
issued: 2021-10-11
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Cicconetti
  given name: Franco
author list: Agent
  family name: Sestili
  given name: Piero
author list: Agent
  family name: Madiai
  given name: Valeria
author list: Agent
  family name: Albertini
  given name: Maria Cristina
author list: Agent
  family name: Campanella
  given name: Luigi
author list: Agent
  family name: Coppari
  given name: Sofia
author list: Agent
  family name: Fraternale
  given name: Daniele
author list: Agent
  family name: Saunders
  given name: Bryan
author list: Agent
  family name: Teodori
  given name: Laura
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12227
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-11
copyright: © 2021 Cicconetti et al.
attribution name: Cicconetti et al.

Prediction of coronary heart disease in rural Chinese adults: a cross sectional study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality in China. The CHD risk prediction model has a great value in early prevention and diagnosis. Methods In this study, CHD risk prediction models among rural residents in Xinxiang County were constructed using Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression algorithms with identified 16 influencing factors. Results Results demonstrated that the CHD model using the RF classifier performed best both on the training set and test set, with the highest area under the curve (AUC = 1 and 0.9711), accuracy (one and 0.9389), sensitivity (one and 0.8725), specificity (one and 0.9771), precision (one and 0.9563), F1-score (one and 0.9125), and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC = one and 0.8678), followed by the SVM (AUC = 0.9860 and 0.9589) and the LASSO classifier (AUC = 0.9733 and 0.9587). Besides, the RF model also had an increase in the net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) values, and achieved a greater net benefit in the decision curve analysis (DCA) compared with the SVM and LASSO models. Conclusion The CHD risk prediction model constructed by the RF algorithm in this study is conducive to the early diagnosis of CHD in rural residents of Xinxiang County, Henan Province.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Qian Wang
creator: Wenxing Li
creator: Yongbin Wang
creator: Huijun Li
creator: Desheng Zhai
creator: Weidong Wu
subject: Cardiology
subject: Epidemiology
subject: Public Health
subject: Data Mining and Machine Learning
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12259
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Wang et al.
abstract: Background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality in China. The CHD risk prediction model has a great value in early prevention and diagnosis. Methods In this study, CHD risk prediction models among rural residents in Xinxiang County were constructed using Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression algorithms with identified 16 influencing factors. Results Results demonstrated that the CHD model using the RF classifier performed best both on the training set and test set, with the highest area under the curve (AUC = 1 and 0.9711), accuracy (one and 0.9389), sensitivity (one and 0.8725), specificity (one and 0.9771), precision (one and 0.9563), F1-score (one and 0.9125), and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC = one and 0.8678), followed by the SVM (AUC = 0.9860 and 0.9589) and the LASSO classifier (AUC = 0.9733 and 0.9587). Besides, the RF model also had an increase in the net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) values, and achieved a greater net benefit in the decision curve analysis (DCA) compared with the SVM and LASSO models. Conclusion The CHD risk prediction model constructed by the RF algorithm in this study is conducive to the early diagnosis of CHD in rural residents of Xinxiang County, Henan Province.
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2021) Prediction of coronary heart disease in rural Chinese adults: a cross sectional study. PeerJ 9:e12259 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12259
date submitted: 2021-05-11
date accepted: 2021-09-15
issued: 2021-10-11
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Qian
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Wenxing
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Yongbin
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Huijun
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhai
  given name: Desheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Weidong
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12259
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-11
copyright: © 2021 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

Evaluation of cognitive load in team sports: literature review
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: In team sports, load management has become one of the most common areas of investigation, given that effective control over load is the key to being able to optimize performance and avoid injuries. Despite the constant evolution and innovation in the latest theories, we can see a clear tendency in load management that focuses on physiological and mechanical aspects and neglects its cognitive character, which generates the variability inherent in the performance of athletes in a changing environment. Indicators of response that inform methods of control over cognitive load can include cognitive, physiological and behavioral indicators. However, limited investigations exist to support the reliability of each indicator regarding cognitive load. For this reason, the objective of this literature review is to present strategies used to manage cognitive load in team sports, as well as the indicators utilized for such a proposition and their relationships in specific contexts.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Joan Fuster
creator: Toni Caparrós
creator: Lluis Capdevila
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.12045
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Fuster et al.
abstract: In team sports, load management has become one of the most common areas of investigation, given that effective control over load is the key to being able to optimize performance and avoid injuries. Despite the constant evolution and innovation in the latest theories, we can see a clear tendency in load management that focuses on physiological and mechanical aspects and neglects its cognitive character, which generates the variability inherent in the performance of athletes in a changing environment. Indicators of response that inform methods of control over cognitive load can include cognitive, physiological and behavioral indicators. However, limited investigations exist to support the reliability of each indicator regarding cognitive load. For this reason, the objective of this literature review is to present strategies used to manage cognitive load in team sports, as well as the indicators utilized for such a proposition and their relationships in specific contexts.
bibliographic citation: Fuster et al. (2021) Evaluation of cognitive load in team sports: literature review. PeerJ 9:e12045 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12045
date submitted: 2021-05-06
date accepted: 2021-08-03
issued: 2021-10-08
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Fuster
  given name: Joan
author list: Agent
  family name: Caparrós
  given name: Toni
author list: Agent
  family name: Capdevila
  given name: Lluis
doi: 10.7717/peerj.12045
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-10-08
copyright: © 2021 Fuster et al.
attribution name: Fuster et al.

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