PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Towards an open and synergistic framework for mapping global land cover
items: Wheat litter and feed with aluminosilicates for improved growth and meat quality in broiler chickens
items: The effect of uncorrected ametropia on ocular torsion induced by changes in fixation
items: Transtibial limb loss does not increase metabolic cost in three-dimensional computer simulations of human walking
items: Identification of key genes and crucial pathways for major depressive disorder using peripheral blood samples and chronic unpredictable mild stress rat models
items: Cellulose aerogel composites as oil sorbents and their regeneration
items: Aberrant expression of PROS1 correlates with human papillary thyroid cancer progression
items: A comparative study on knowledge towards COVID-19 prevention among undergraduate students in Macao and Zhuhai, China
items: Influenza A virus infects pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells leading to microvascular leakage and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines
items: DOG1 is commonly expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma but unrelated to cancer aggressiveness

Towards an open and synergistic framework for mapping global land cover
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Global land-cover datasets are key sources of information for understanding the complex inter-actions between human activities and global change. They are also among the most critical variables for climate change studies. Over time, the spatial resolution of land cover maps has increased from the kilometer scale to 10-m scale. Single-type historical land cover datasets, including for forests, water, and impervious surfaces, have also been developed in recent years. In this study, we present an open and synergy framework to produce a global land cover dataset that combines supervised land cover classification and aggregation of existing multiple thematic land cover maps with the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform. On the basis of this method of classification and mosaicking, we derived a global land cover dataset for 6 years over a time span of 25 years. The overall accuracies of the six maps were around 75% and the accuracy for change area detection was over 70%. Our product also showed good similarity with the FAO and existing land cover maps.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jiyao Zhao
creator: Le Yu
creator: Han Liu
creator: Huabing Huang
creator: Jie Wang
creator: Peng Gong
subject: Environmental Sciences
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Spatial and Geographic Information Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11877
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Zhao et al.
abstract: Global land-cover datasets are key sources of information for understanding the complex inter-actions between human activities and global change. They are also among the most critical variables for climate change studies. Over time, the spatial resolution of land cover maps has increased from the kilometer scale to 10-m scale. Single-type historical land cover datasets, including for forests, water, and impervious surfaces, have also been developed in recent years. In this study, we present an open and synergy framework to produce a global land cover dataset that combines supervised land cover classification and aggregation of existing multiple thematic land cover maps with the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform. On the basis of this method of classification and mosaicking, we derived a global land cover dataset for 6 years over a time span of 25 years. The overall accuracies of the six maps were around 75% and the accuracy for change area detection was over 70%. Our product also showed good similarity with the FAO and existing land cover maps.
bibliographic citation: Zhao et al. (2021) Towards an open and synergistic framework for mapping global land cover. PeerJ 9:e11877 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11877
date submitted: 2021-06-10
date accepted: 2021-07-07
issued: 2021-08-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhao
  given name: Jiyao
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Le
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Han
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Huabing
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Jie
author list: Agent
  family name: Gong
  given name: Peng
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11877
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-08-04
copyright: © 2021 Zhao et al.
attribution name: Zhao et al.

Wheat litter and feed with aluminosilicates for improved growth and meat quality in broiler chickens
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Natural minerals have many beneficial properties in poultry production, taking into account production as well as hygiene, health, safety, and quality of broiler meat. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of aluminosilicates in feed and litter on the growth performance and meat quality in chickens. Aluminosilicates, including halloysite and zeolite, could be a good alternative for synthetics, as a good solution for the environment in line with the current trends. Methods Five-hundred male Ross 308 chickens were managed in 5 groups (10 replicates/group): LITTER: 1, control; 2, 0.95 kg/m2 of halloysite; 3, 0.475 kg/m2 of halloysite and 0.475 zeolite; 4, 0.95 kg/m2 of zeolite; 5, 0.25 kg/m2of halloysite and 0.7 kg/m2 of zeolite. FEED: groups 2–5, halloysite and zeolite addition (25:75 ratio; 0.5–2%). Growth performance (body weight and feed indicators), carcass, and meat quality (pH, colour, water-holding capacity, chemical composition of muscles) were recorded. The experimental setup, where the aluminosilicate additives were applied simultaneously, was proposed and approved by experts after pilot testing and on the basis of extensive literature where feed or litter additives were tested. Results Body weight and its gain were higher in groups 3 and 4 than in 1, and feed intake was higher in 4. The weight of the carcass and some of its components, including muscles and skin with subcutaneous fat, were higher in 2–4. Water loss from leg muscles was lower in 4. The content of protein in muscles was significantly higher in 3. The addition of aluminosilicates in feed and litter had a positive effect on the growth performance and some traits of carcasses and meat quality, especially in group 3. Halloysite and zeolite can be used in feed and litter (especially 0.475 kg/m2 for each mineral in the wheat litter).
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mirosław Banaszak
creator: Jakub Biesek
creator: Marek Adamski
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Food Science and Technology
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11918
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Banaszak et al.
abstract: Background Natural minerals have many beneficial properties in poultry production, taking into account production as well as hygiene, health, safety, and quality of broiler meat. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of aluminosilicates in feed and litter on the growth performance and meat quality in chickens. Aluminosilicates, including halloysite and zeolite, could be a good alternative for synthetics, as a good solution for the environment in line with the current trends. Methods Five-hundred male Ross 308 chickens were managed in 5 groups (10 replicates/group): LITTER: 1, control; 2, 0.95 kg/m2 of halloysite; 3, 0.475 kg/m2 of halloysite and 0.475 zeolite; 4, 0.95 kg/m2 of zeolite; 5, 0.25 kg/m2of halloysite and 0.7 kg/m2 of zeolite. FEED: groups 2–5, halloysite and zeolite addition (25:75 ratio; 0.5–2%). Growth performance (body weight and feed indicators), carcass, and meat quality (pH, colour, water-holding capacity, chemical composition of muscles) were recorded. The experimental setup, where the aluminosilicate additives were applied simultaneously, was proposed and approved by experts after pilot testing and on the basis of extensive literature where feed or litter additives were tested. Results Body weight and its gain were higher in groups 3 and 4 than in 1, and feed intake was higher in 4. The weight of the carcass and some of its components, including muscles and skin with subcutaneous fat, were higher in 2–4. Water loss from leg muscles was lower in 4. The content of protein in muscles was significantly higher in 3. The addition of aluminosilicates in feed and litter had a positive effect on the growth performance and some traits of carcasses and meat quality, especially in group 3. Halloysite and zeolite can be used in feed and litter (especially 0.475 kg/m2 for each mineral in the wheat litter).
bibliographic citation: Banaszak et al. (2021) Wheat litter and feed with aluminosilicates for improved growth and meat quality in broiler chickens. PeerJ 9:e11918 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11918
date submitted: 2021-04-01
date accepted: 2021-07-15
issued: 2021-08-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Banaszak
  given name: Mirosław
author list: Agent
  family name: Biesek
  given name: Jakub
author list: Agent
  family name: Adamski
  given name: Marek
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11918
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-08-04
copyright: ©2021 Banaszak et al.
attribution name: Banaszak et al.

The effect of uncorrected ametropia on ocular torsion induced by changes in fixation
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background and Objective Ocular torsion, the eye movements to rotating around the line of sight, has not been well investigated regarding the influence of refractive errors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of uncorrected ametropia on ocular torsion induced by fixation distances. Methods Seventy-two subjects were classified according to the type of their refractive error, and ocular torsion of the uncorrected eye was compared based on changes induced by different fixation distances. Ocular torsion was measured using a slit-lamp biomicroscope equipped with an ophthalmic camera and a half-silvered mirror. Results In all groups, excyclotorsion values increased as the fixation distance decreased, but the myopia and astigmatism groups had larger amounts of ocular torsion than the emmetropia group. In addition, as the amount of uncorrected myopia and astigmatism increased, the amount of ocular torsion increased. Conclusion Since the amount of ocular torsion caused by a change to a shorter fixation distance was larger when the refractive error was uncorrected, we suggest that ametropia should be fully corrected in patients frequently exposed to ocular torsion due to changes in fixation distance.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Kwang-Keun Oh
creator: Byeong-Yeon Moon
creator: Hyun Gug Cho
creator: Sang-Yeob Kim
creator: Dong-Sik Yu
subject: Neurology
subject: Ophthalmology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11932
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Oh et al.
abstract: Background and Objective Ocular torsion, the eye movements to rotating around the line of sight, has not been well investigated regarding the influence of refractive errors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of uncorrected ametropia on ocular torsion induced by fixation distances. Methods Seventy-two subjects were classified according to the type of their refractive error, and ocular torsion of the uncorrected eye was compared based on changes induced by different fixation distances. Ocular torsion was measured using a slit-lamp biomicroscope equipped with an ophthalmic camera and a half-silvered mirror. Results In all groups, excyclotorsion values increased as the fixation distance decreased, but the myopia and astigmatism groups had larger amounts of ocular torsion than the emmetropia group. In addition, as the amount of uncorrected myopia and astigmatism increased, the amount of ocular torsion increased. Conclusion Since the amount of ocular torsion caused by a change to a shorter fixation distance was larger when the refractive error was uncorrected, we suggest that ametropia should be fully corrected in patients frequently exposed to ocular torsion due to changes in fixation distance.
bibliographic citation: Oh et al. (2021) The effect of uncorrected ametropia on ocular torsion induced by changes in fixation. PeerJ 9:e11932 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11932
date submitted: 2021-03-26
date accepted: 2021-07-18
issued: 2021-08-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Oh
  given name: Kwang-Keun
author list: Agent
  family name: Moon
  given name: Byeong-Yeon
author list: Agent
  family name: Cho
  given name: Hyun Gug
author list: Agent
  family name: Kim
  given name: Sang-Yeob
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Dong-Sik
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11932
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-08-04
copyright: © 2021 Oh et al.
attribution name: Oh et al.

Transtibial limb loss does not increase metabolic cost in three-dimensional computer simulations of human walking
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Loss of a lower limb below the knee, i.e., transtibial limb loss, and subsequently walking with a prosthesis, is generally thought to increase the metabolic cost of walking vs. able-bodied controls. However, high-functioning individuals with limb loss such as military service members often walk with the same metabolic cost as controls. Here we used a 3-D computer model and optimal control simulation approach to test the hypothesis that transtibial limb loss in and of itself causes an increase in metabolic cost of walking. We first generated N = 36 simulations of walking at 1.45 m/s using a “pre-limb loss” model, with two intact biological legs, that minimized deviations from able-bodied experimental walking mechanics with minimum muscular effort. We then repeated these simulations using a “post-limb loss” model, with the right leg’s ankle muscles and joints replaced with a simple model of a passive transtibial prosthesis. No other changes were made to the post-limb loss model’s remaining muscles or musculoskeletal parameters compared to the pre-limb loss case. Post-limb loss, the gait deviations on average increased by only 0.17 standard deviations from the experimental means, and metabolic cost did not increase (3.58 ± 0.10 J/m/kg pre-limb loss vs. 3.59 ± 0.12 J/m/kg post-limb loss, p = 0.65). The results suggest that transtibial limb loss does not directly lead to an increase in metabolic cost, even when deviations from able-bodied gait mechanics are minimized. High metabolic costs observed in individuals with transtibial limb loss may be due to secondary changes in strength or general fitness after limb loss, modifiable prosthesis issues, or to prioritization of factors that affect locomotor control other than gait deviations and muscular effort.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Ross H. Miller
creator: Elizabeth Russell Esposito
subject: Bioengineering
subject: Kinesiology
subject: Orthopedics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11960
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Miller and Russell Esposito
abstract: Loss of a lower limb below the knee, i.e., transtibial limb loss, and subsequently walking with a prosthesis, is generally thought to increase the metabolic cost of walking vs. able-bodied controls. However, high-functioning individuals with limb loss such as military service members often walk with the same metabolic cost as controls. Here we used a 3-D computer model and optimal control simulation approach to test the hypothesis that transtibial limb loss in and of itself causes an increase in metabolic cost of walking. We first generated N = 36 simulations of walking at 1.45 m/s using a “pre-limb loss” model, with two intact biological legs, that minimized deviations from able-bodied experimental walking mechanics with minimum muscular effort. We then repeated these simulations using a “post-limb loss” model, with the right leg’s ankle muscles and joints replaced with a simple model of a passive transtibial prosthesis. No other changes were made to the post-limb loss model’s remaining muscles or musculoskeletal parameters compared to the pre-limb loss case. Post-limb loss, the gait deviations on average increased by only 0.17 standard deviations from the experimental means, and metabolic cost did not increase (3.58 ± 0.10 J/m/kg pre-limb loss vs. 3.59 ± 0.12 J/m/kg post-limb loss, p = 0.65). The results suggest that transtibial limb loss does not directly lead to an increase in metabolic cost, even when deviations from able-bodied gait mechanics are minimized. High metabolic costs observed in individuals with transtibial limb loss may be due to secondary changes in strength or general fitness after limb loss, modifiable prosthesis issues, or to prioritization of factors that affect locomotor control other than gait deviations and muscular effort.
bibliographic citation: Miller et al. (2021) Transtibial limb loss does not increase metabolic cost in three-dimensional computer simulations of human walking. PeerJ 9:e11960 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11960
date submitted: 2021-04-01
date accepted: 2021-07-21
issued: 2021-08-04
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Miller
  given name: Ross H.
author list: Agent
  family name: Russell Esposito
  given name: Elizabeth
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11960
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-08-04
copyright: ©2021 Miller and Russell Esposito
attribution name: Miller and Russell Esposito

Identification of key genes and crucial pathways for major depressive disorder using peripheral blood samples and chronic unpredictable mild stress rat models
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Accurate diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) remains difficult, and one of the key challenges in diagnosing MDD is the lack of reliable diagnostic biomarkers. The objective of this study was to explore gene networks and identify potential biomarkers for MDD. Methods In the present study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the mRNA expression profiles using blood samples of four patients with MDD and four controls by RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened, and functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery. All DEGs were inputted to the STRING database to build a PPI network, and the top 10 hub genes were screened using the cytoHubba plugin of the Cytoscape software. The relative expression of 10 key genes was identified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) of blood samples from 50 MDD patients and 50 controls. Plasma levels of SQSTM1 and TNFα were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in blood samples of 44 MDD patients and 44 controls. A sucrose preference test was used to evaluate depression-like behavior in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model rats. Immunofluorescence assay and western blotting were performed to study the expression of proteins in the brain samples of CUMS model rats Results We identified 247 DEGs that were closely associated with MDD. Gene ontology analyses suggested that the DEGs were mainly enriched in negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II promoter, cytoplasm, and protein binding. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis suggested that the DEGs were significantly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway. Ten hub genes were screened through the PPI network, and qRT-PCR assay revealed that one and six genes were downregulated and upregulated, respectively; however, SMARCA2, PPP3CB, and RAB5C were not detected. Pathw…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jun He
creator: Zhenkui Ren
creator: Wansong Xia
creator: Cao Zhou
creator: Bin Bi
creator: Wenfeng Yu
creator: Li Zuo
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Cognitive Disorders
subject: Neurology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11694
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 He et al.
abstract: Background Accurate diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) remains difficult, and one of the key challenges in diagnosing MDD is the lack of reliable diagnostic biomarkers. The objective of this study was to explore gene networks and identify potential biomarkers for MDD. Methods In the present study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the mRNA expression profiles using blood samples of four patients with MDD and four controls by RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened, and functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery. All DEGs were inputted to the STRING database to build a PPI network, and the top 10 hub genes were screened using the cytoHubba plugin of the Cytoscape software. The relative expression of 10 key genes was identified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) of blood samples from 50 MDD patients and 50 controls. Plasma levels of SQSTM1 and TNFα were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in blood samples of 44 MDD patients and 44 controls. A sucrose preference test was used to evaluate depression-like behavior in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model rats. Immunofluorescence assay and western blotting were performed to study the expression of proteins in the brain samples of CUMS model rats Results We identified 247 DEGs that were closely associated with MDD. Gene ontology analyses suggested that the DEGs were mainly enriched in negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II promoter, cytoplasm, and protein binding. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis suggested that the DEGs were significantly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway. Ten hub genes were screened through the PPI network, and qRT-PCR assay revealed that one and six genes were downregulated and upregulated, respectively; however, SMARCA2, PPP3CB, and RAB5C were not detected. Pathw…
bibliographic citation: He et al. (2021) Identification of key genes and crucial pathways for major depressive disorder using peripheral blood samples and chronic unpredictable mild stress rat models. PeerJ 9:e11694 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11694
date submitted: 2021-01-11
date accepted: 2021-06-08
issued: 2021-08-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
author list: Agent
  family name: He
  given name: Jun
author list: Agent
  family name: Ren
  given name: Zhenkui
author list: Agent
  family name: Xia
  given name: Wansong
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhou
  given name: Cao
author list: Agent
  family name: Bi
  given name: Bin
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Wenfeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Zuo
  given name: Li
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11694
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-08-03
copyright: ©2021 He et al.
attribution name: He et al.

Cellulose aerogel composites as oil sorbents and their regeneration
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background With every oil tanker comes the risk of an accident and oil spill. Sorbents are the most suitable means to remove oil spills. Aerogels as sorbents have high porosity and can be made from cellulose from paper waste. The literature does not distinguish between paper and cardboard as sources of cellulose aerogels and little is known about composites of cellulose aerogels consisting of cellulose fibres and chemically untreated, unprocessed fibres or particles of straw, wool, macroalgae or cellulose acetate from cigarette butts. In this study, the sorption properties for marine diesel oil and biodiesel of such aerogels and their regenerative capacity with bioethanol were investigated. Methods Cellulose aerogels were prepared from office paper and cardboard waste without and with chemically untreated algae, straw, wool and cellulose acetate as a composite by freeze drying. All samples were hydrophobised with methylsilane. The density to calculate the porosity and the contact angle were determined. Then the sorption capacity was determined over five cycles of sorption of oil and regeneration with bioethanol. Results The average contact angle of all samples was 125°, indicating hydrophobicity. Paper-based aerogels were found to consistently have higher sorption capacities for biodiesel, marine diesel oil and bioethanol than cardboard-based aerogels. In particular, the wool/cellulose aerogel composite was found to have better sorption capacity for biodiesel, marine diesel oil and bioethanol than all other samples. The cellulose acetate/cellulose aerogel composite showed significantly higher sorption capacities than the paper and cardboard control samples (highest value is 32.25 g g−1) only when first used as a sorbent for biodiesel, but with a rapid decrease in the following cycles.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tatjana Paulauskiene
creator: Jochen Uebe
creator: Mindaugas Ziogas
subject: Aquatic and Marine Chemistry
subject: Environmental Contamination and Remediation
subject: Environmental Impacts
subject: Green Chemistry
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11795
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Paulauskiene et al.
abstract: Background With every oil tanker comes the risk of an accident and oil spill. Sorbents are the most suitable means to remove oil spills. Aerogels as sorbents have high porosity and can be made from cellulose from paper waste. The literature does not distinguish between paper and cardboard as sources of cellulose aerogels and little is known about composites of cellulose aerogels consisting of cellulose fibres and chemically untreated, unprocessed fibres or particles of straw, wool, macroalgae or cellulose acetate from cigarette butts. In this study, the sorption properties for marine diesel oil and biodiesel of such aerogels and their regenerative capacity with bioethanol were investigated. Methods Cellulose aerogels were prepared from office paper and cardboard waste without and with chemically untreated algae, straw, wool and cellulose acetate as a composite by freeze drying. All samples were hydrophobised with methylsilane. The density to calculate the porosity and the contact angle were determined. Then the sorption capacity was determined over five cycles of sorption of oil and regeneration with bioethanol. Results The average contact angle of all samples was 125°, indicating hydrophobicity. Paper-based aerogels were found to consistently have higher sorption capacities for biodiesel, marine diesel oil and bioethanol than cardboard-based aerogels. In particular, the wool/cellulose aerogel composite was found to have better sorption capacity for biodiesel, marine diesel oil and bioethanol than all other samples. The cellulose acetate/cellulose aerogel composite showed significantly higher sorption capacities than the paper and cardboard control samples (highest value is 32.25 g g−1) only when first used as a sorbent for biodiesel, but with a rapid decrease in the following cycles.
bibliographic citation: Paulauskiene et al. (2021) Cellulose aerogel composites as oil sorbents and their regeneration. PeerJ 9:e11795 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11795
date submitted: 2021-04-08
date accepted: 2021-06-25
issued: 2021-08-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Paulauskiene
  given name: Tatjana
author list: Agent
  family name: Uebe
  given name: Jochen
author list: Agent
  family name: Ziogas
  given name: Mindaugas
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11795
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-08-03
copyright: © 2021 Paulauskiene et al.
attribution name: Paulauskiene et al.

Aberrant expression of PROS1 correlates with human papillary thyroid cancer progression
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer (TC). Considering the important association between cellular immunity and PTC progression, it is worth exploring the biological significance of immune-related signaling in PTC. Methods Several bioinformatics tools, such as R software, WEB-based Gene SeT AnaLysis Toolkit (WebGestalt), Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) and Cytoscape were used to identify the immune-related hub genes in PTC. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were adopted to identify the proliferation and migration ability of PROS1 knockdown groups and control groups in PTC cells. Results The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of five datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) contained 154 upregulated genes and 193 downregulated genes, with Protein S (PROS1) being the only immune-related hub gene. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) have been conducted to prove the high expression of PROS1 in PTC. Moreover, PROS1 expression was significantly correlated with lymph nodes classification. Furthermore, knockdown of PROS1 by shRNAs inhibited the cell proliferation and cell migration in PTC cells. Conclusions The findings unveiled the clinical relevance and significance of PROS1 in PTC and provided potential immune-related biomarkers for PTC development and prognosis.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jing Wang
creator: Minxiang Lei
creator: Zhijie Xu
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Oncology
subject: Histology
subject: Medical Genetics
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11813
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Wang et al.
abstract: Background Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer (TC). Considering the important association between cellular immunity and PTC progression, it is worth exploring the biological significance of immune-related signaling in PTC. Methods Several bioinformatics tools, such as R software, WEB-based Gene SeT AnaLysis Toolkit (WebGestalt), Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) and Cytoscape were used to identify the immune-related hub genes in PTC. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were adopted to identify the proliferation and migration ability of PROS1 knockdown groups and control groups in PTC cells. Results The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of five datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) contained 154 upregulated genes and 193 downregulated genes, with Protein S (PROS1) being the only immune-related hub gene. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) have been conducted to prove the high expression of PROS1 in PTC. Moreover, PROS1 expression was significantly correlated with lymph nodes classification. Furthermore, knockdown of PROS1 by shRNAs inhibited the cell proliferation and cell migration in PTC cells. Conclusions The findings unveiled the clinical relevance and significance of PROS1 in PTC and provided potential immune-related biomarkers for PTC development and prognosis.
bibliographic citation: Wang et al. (2021) Aberrant expression of PROS1 correlates with human papillary thyroid cancer progression. PeerJ 9:e11813 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11813
date submitted: 2021-02-04
date accepted: 2021-06-28
issued: 2021-08-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Jing
author list: Agent
  family name: Lei
  given name: Minxiang
author list: Agent
  family name: Xu
  given name: Zhijie
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11813
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-08-03
copyright: © 2021 Wang et al.
attribution name: Wang et al.

A comparative study on knowledge towards COVID-19 prevention among undergraduate students in Macao and Zhuhai, China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: In order to develop the strategy more suitable campus-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention programs for undergraduate students, it is critical to identify discrepancies in knowledge of COVID-19 prevention among students from different campuses in China. The present study examined the difference in preventive knowledge about COVID-19 pandemic in undergraduate students from two cities of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), which had very few cases of COVID-19 patients, and Zhuhai, which is borders Macao SAR. In August 2020, two cohorts of undergraduate students from universities in Macao (n = 977) and Zhuhai (n = 2,818) were recruited for online. The self-rating questionnaire was used to gain information about their knowledge in COVID-19 prevention. Macao and Zhuhai students had similar correct rates in terms of heat inactivation conditions of SARS-CoV-2, (76.8% vs. 76.9%, P = 0.950), etiquette when coughing and sneezing (75.9% vs. 75.0%, P = 0.562), and use of disposable masks (92.2% vs. 90.6%, P = 0.126). However, students from Macao had significantly higher rates in correct use of disinfectants against SARS-CoV-2 (24.6% vs. 17.5%, P < 0.001) and in the route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (84.5% vs. 79.6%, P < 0.001) than those from Zhuhai. In conclusion, the knowledge level of COVID-19 prevention differs among undergraduate students from Macao and Zhuhai, which warrants an appropriate region-specific health education strategie for COVID-19 prevention.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Xiaoyu Tao
creator: Dong Chen
creator: Rining Liang
creator: Xiaoyu Zhang
creator: Xi Yu
creator: Sookja Chung
creator: Yaqin Yu
creator: Ying Xiao
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11833
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Tao et al.
abstract: In order to develop the strategy more suitable campus-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention programs for undergraduate students, it is critical to identify discrepancies in knowledge of COVID-19 prevention among students from different campuses in China. The present study examined the difference in preventive knowledge about COVID-19 pandemic in undergraduate students from two cities of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), which had very few cases of COVID-19 patients, and Zhuhai, which is borders Macao SAR. In August 2020, two cohorts of undergraduate students from universities in Macao (n = 977) and Zhuhai (n = 2,818) were recruited for online. The self-rating questionnaire was used to gain information about their knowledge in COVID-19 prevention. Macao and Zhuhai students had similar correct rates in terms of heat inactivation conditions of SARS-CoV-2, (76.8% vs. 76.9%, P = 0.950), etiquette when coughing and sneezing (75.9% vs. 75.0%, P = 0.562), and use of disposable masks (92.2% vs. 90.6%, P = 0.126). However, students from Macao had significantly higher rates in correct use of disinfectants against SARS-CoV-2 (24.6% vs. 17.5%, P < 0.001) and in the route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (84.5% vs. 79.6%, P < 0.001) than those from Zhuhai. In conclusion, the knowledge level of COVID-19 prevention differs among undergraduate students from Macao and Zhuhai, which warrants an appropriate region-specific health education strategie for COVID-19 prevention.
bibliographic citation: Tao et al. (2021) A comparative study on knowledge towards COVID-19 prevention among undergraduate students in Macao and Zhuhai, China. PeerJ 9:e11833 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11833
date submitted: 2021-04-07
date accepted: 2021-06-30
issued: 2021-08-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Tao
  given name: Xiaoyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Dong
author list: Agent
  family name: Liang
  given name: Rining
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Xiaoyu
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Xi
author list: Agent
  family name: Chung
  given name: Sookja
author list: Agent
  family name: Yu
  given name: Yaqin
author list: Agent
  family name: Xiao
  given name: Ying
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11833
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-08-03
copyright: © 2021 Tao et al.
attribution name: Tao et al.

Influenza A virus infects pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells leading to microvascular leakage and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Objective To investigate the replication of influenza A virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and its effect on endothelial barrier function. Methods Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells were infected with influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) virus. Plaque reduction assay, real-time quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence staining, and western blot were used to elucidate the replication process of virus-infected endothelial cells. In addition, real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of mRNA of some inflammatory factors. The endothelial resistance assay was used to determine the permeability of the endothelial monolayer. Excavation and analysis of data from open databases, such as the GeneCards database, DAVID Bioinformatics Resources, STRING search tool, and DGIdb database determined the genes, proteins, and signal pathways related to microvascular leakage caused by the H1N1 virus, and predicted the drugs that could be effective for treatment. Results In vitro experiments showed that the influenza virus can infect endothelial cells, leading to a significant increase in the permeability of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but does not efficiently replicate in endothelial cells. A total of 107 disease-related target genes were obtained from the Gene-cards database. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that these genes mainly affected the pathways related to “Inflammatory bowel disease” (IBD), “Chagas disease” (American trypanosomiasis), “Influenza A”, and also played a key role in anti-inflammation and regulation of immunity. After enrichment analysis, 46 hub genes were screened. A total of 42 FDA-approved drugs corresponding to the hub genes were screened from the DGIdb database, and these could be formulated for topical application. In addition, these drugs can be used to treat other diseases,…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Tiantian Han
creator: Yanni Lai
creator: Yong Jiang
creator: Xiaohong Liu
creator: Danhua Li
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Virology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11892
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Han et al.
abstract: Objective To investigate the replication of influenza A virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and its effect on endothelial barrier function. Methods Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells were infected with influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) virus. Plaque reduction assay, real-time quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence staining, and western blot were used to elucidate the replication process of virus-infected endothelial cells. In addition, real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of mRNA of some inflammatory factors. The endothelial resistance assay was used to determine the permeability of the endothelial monolayer. Excavation and analysis of data from open databases, such as the GeneCards database, DAVID Bioinformatics Resources, STRING search tool, and DGIdb database determined the genes, proteins, and signal pathways related to microvascular leakage caused by the H1N1 virus, and predicted the drugs that could be effective for treatment. Results In vitro experiments showed that the influenza virus can infect endothelial cells, leading to a significant increase in the permeability of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but does not efficiently replicate in endothelial cells. A total of 107 disease-related target genes were obtained from the Gene-cards database. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that these genes mainly affected the pathways related to “Inflammatory bowel disease” (IBD), “Chagas disease” (American trypanosomiasis), “Influenza A”, and also played a key role in anti-inflammation and regulation of immunity. After enrichment analysis, 46 hub genes were screened. A total of 42 FDA-approved drugs corresponding to the hub genes were screened from the DGIdb database, and these could be formulated for topical application. In addition, these drugs can be used to treat other diseases,…
bibliographic citation: Han et al. (2021) Influenza A virus infects pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells leading to microvascular leakage and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. PeerJ 9:e11892 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11892
date submitted: 2021-03-04
date accepted: 2021-07-10
issued: 2021-08-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Han
  given name: Tiantian
author list: Agent
  family name: Lai
  given name: Yanni
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Yong
author list: Agent
  family name: Liu
  given name: Xiaohong
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Danhua
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11892
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-08-03
copyright: ©2021 Han et al.
attribution name: Han et al.

DOG1 is commonly expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma but unrelated to cancer aggressiveness
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background DOG1 (ANO1; TMEM16A) is a voltage-gated calcium-activated chloride and bicarbonate channel. DOG1 is physiologically expressed in Cajal cells, where it plays an important role in regulating intestinal motility and its expression is a diagnostic hallmark of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Data on a possible role of DOG1 in pancreatic cancer are rare and controversial. The aim of our study was to clarify the prevalence of DOG1 expression in pancreatic cancer and to study its association with parameters of cancer aggressiveness. Methods DOG1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 599 pancreatic cancers in a tissue microarray format and in 12 cases of pancreatitis on large tissue sections. Results DOG1 expression was always absent in normal pancreas but a focal weak expression was seen in four of 12 cases of pancreatitis. DOG1 expression was, however, common in pancreatic cancer. Membranous and cytoplasmic DOG1 expression in tumor cells was highest in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (61% of 444 interpretable cases), followed by cancers of the ampulla Vateri (43% of 51 interpretable cases), and absent in 6 acinus cell carcinomas. DOG1 expression in tumor associated stroma cells was seen in 76 of 444 (17%) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and in seven of 51 (14%) cancers of the ampulla Vateri. Both tumoral and stromal DOG1 expression were unrelated to tumor stage, grade, lymph node and distant metastasis, mismatch repair protein deficiency and the density of CD8 positive cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in the subgroups of ductal adenocarcinomas and cancers of ampulla Vateri. Overall, the results of our study indicate that DOG1 may represent a potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and a putative therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer. However, DOG1 expression is unrelated to pancreatic cancer aggressiveness.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Kristina Jansen
creator: Franziska Büscheck
creator: Katharina Moeller
creator: Martina Kluth
creator: Claudia Hube-Magg
creator: Niclas Christian Blessin
creator: Daniel Perez
creator: Jakob Izbicki
creator: Michael Neipp
creator: Hamid Mofid
creator: Thies Daniels
creator: Ulf Nahrstedt
creator: Christoph Fraune
creator: Frank Jacobsen
creator: Christian Bernreuther
creator: Patrick Lebok
creator: Guido Sauter
creator: Ria Uhlig
creator: Waldemar Wilczak
creator: Ronald Simon
creator: Stefan Steurer
creator: Eike Burandt
creator: Andreas Marx
creator: Till Krech
creator: Till Clauditz
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Gastroenterology and Hepatology
subject: Oncology
subject: Pathology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11905
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Jansen et al.
abstract: Background DOG1 (ANO1; TMEM16A) is a voltage-gated calcium-activated chloride and bicarbonate channel. DOG1 is physiologically expressed in Cajal cells, where it plays an important role in regulating intestinal motility and its expression is a diagnostic hallmark of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Data on a possible role of DOG1 in pancreatic cancer are rare and controversial. The aim of our study was to clarify the prevalence of DOG1 expression in pancreatic cancer and to study its association with parameters of cancer aggressiveness. Methods DOG1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 599 pancreatic cancers in a tissue microarray format and in 12 cases of pancreatitis on large tissue sections. Results DOG1 expression was always absent in normal pancreas but a focal weak expression was seen in four of 12 cases of pancreatitis. DOG1 expression was, however, common in pancreatic cancer. Membranous and cytoplasmic DOG1 expression in tumor cells was highest in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (61% of 444 interpretable cases), followed by cancers of the ampulla Vateri (43% of 51 interpretable cases), and absent in 6 acinus cell carcinomas. DOG1 expression in tumor associated stroma cells was seen in 76 of 444 (17%) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and in seven of 51 (14%) cancers of the ampulla Vateri. Both tumoral and stromal DOG1 expression were unrelated to tumor stage, grade, lymph node and distant metastasis, mismatch repair protein deficiency and the density of CD8 positive cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in the subgroups of ductal adenocarcinomas and cancers of ampulla Vateri. Overall, the results of our study indicate that DOG1 may represent a potential biomarker for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and a putative therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer. However, DOG1 expression is unrelated to pancreatic cancer aggressiveness.
bibliographic citation: Jansen et al. (2021) DOG1 is commonly expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma but unrelated to cancer aggressiveness. PeerJ 9:e11905 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11905
date submitted: 2021-04-08
date accepted: 2021-07-13
issued: 2021-08-03
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Jansen
  given name: Kristina
author list: Agent
  family name: Büscheck
  given name: Franziska
author list: Agent
  family name: Moeller
  given name: Katharina
author list: Agent
  family name: Kluth
  given name: Martina
author list: Agent
  family name: Hube-Magg
  given name: Claudia
author list: Agent
  family name: Blessin
  given name: Niclas Christian
author list: Agent
  family name: Perez
  given name: Daniel
author list: Agent
  family name: Izbicki
  given name: Jakob
author list: Agent
  family name: Neipp
  given name: Michael
author list: Agent
  family name: Mofid
  given name: Hamid
author list: Agent
  family name: Daniels
  given name: Thies
author list: Agent
  family name: Nahrstedt
  given name: Ulf
author list: Agent
  family name: Fraune
  given name: Christoph
author list: Agent
  family name: Jacobsen
  given name: Frank
author list: Agent
  family name: Bernreuther
  given name: Christian
author list: Agent
  family name: Lebok
  given name: Patrick
author list: Agent
  family name: Sauter
  given name: Guido
author list: Agent
  family name: Uhlig
  given name: Ria
author list: Agent
  family name: Wilczak
  given name: Waldemar
author list: Agent
  family name: Simon
  given name: Ronald
author list: Agent
  family name: Steurer
  given name: Stefan
author list: Agent
  family name: Burandt
  given name: Eike
author list: Agent
  family name: Marx
  given name: Andreas
author list: Agent
  family name: Krech
  given name: Till
author list: Agent
  family name: Clauditz
  given name: Till
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11905
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-08-03
copyright: ©2021 Jansen et al.
attribution name: Jansen et al.

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