PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: New interpretation of the cranial osteology of the Early Cretaceous turtle Arundelemys dardeni (Paracryptodira) based on a CT-based re-evaluation of the holotype
items: The effect of staphylococcal mastitis including resistant strains on serum procalcitonin, neopterin, acute phase response and stress biomarkers in Holstein dairy cows
items: Lipid accumulation of Chlorella sp. TLD6B from the Taklimakan Desert under salt stress
items: The immediate effect of a single session of pain neuroscience education on pain and the autonomic nervous system in subjects with persistent pain, a pilot study
items: Nutrient criteria to achieve New Zealand’s riverine macroinvertebrate targets
items: Paeoniflorin improves functional recovery through repressing neuroinflammation and facilitating neurogenesis in rat stroke model
items: https://peerj.com/articles/11359
items: Lower cretaceous avian-dominated, theropod, thyreophoran, pterosaur and turtle track assemblages from the Tugulu Group, Xinjiang, China: ichnotaxonomy and palaeoecology
items: Using a mobile health app to improve patients’ adherence to hypertension treatment: a non-randomized clinical trial
items: Resveratrol improves cardiac function and left ventricular fibrosis after myocardial infarction in rats by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activity and the TGF-β1/SMAD2 signaling pathway

New interpretation of the cranial osteology of the Early Cretaceous turtle Arundelemys dardeni (Paracryptodira) based on a CT-based re-evaluation of the holotype
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Arundelemys dardeni is an Early Cretaceous paracryptodire known from a single, incomplete, but generally well-preserved skull. Phylogenetic hypotheses of paracryptodires often find Arundelemys dardeni as an early branching baenid. As such, it has a central role in understanding the early evolution of the successful clade Baenidae, which survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction, as well as the diversification of Paracryptodira into its subclades, which recent research suggests to perhaps include helochelydrids, compsemydids, pleurosternids, and baenids. Computer tomography scans of the holotype material that were produced for the initial description of Arundelemeys dardeni reveal several errors in the initial anatomical description of the species, which we correct based on element-by-element segmentation. In addition, we provide entirely novel anatomical information, including descriptions of several previously undescribed cranial bones, the endosseous labyrinth, and the cranial scutes, the latter of which are unknown for most paracryptodires. We provide an interpretation of cranial scutes which homologizes the scutes of Arundelemys dardeni with those of other stem turtles.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Serjoscha W. Evers
creator: Yann Rollot
creator: Walter G. Joyce
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Taxonomy
subject: Zoology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11495
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Evers et al.
abstract: Arundelemys dardeni is an Early Cretaceous paracryptodire known from a single, incomplete, but generally well-preserved skull. Phylogenetic hypotheses of paracryptodires often find Arundelemys dardeni as an early branching baenid. As such, it has a central role in understanding the early evolution of the successful clade Baenidae, which survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction, as well as the diversification of Paracryptodira into its subclades, which recent research suggests to perhaps include helochelydrids, compsemydids, pleurosternids, and baenids. Computer tomography scans of the holotype material that were produced for the initial description of Arundelemeys dardeni reveal several errors in the initial anatomical description of the species, which we correct based on element-by-element segmentation. In addition, we provide entirely novel anatomical information, including descriptions of several previously undescribed cranial bones, the endosseous labyrinth, and the cranial scutes, the latter of which are unknown for most paracryptodires. We provide an interpretation of cranial scutes which homologizes the scutes of Arundelemys dardeni with those of other stem turtles.
bibliographic citation: Evers et al. (2021) New interpretation of the cranial osteology of the Early Cretaceous turtle Arundelemys dardeni (Paracryptodira) based on a CT-based re-evaluation of the holotype. PeerJ 9:e11495 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11495
date submitted: 2021-03-24
date accepted: 2021-04-30
issued: 2021-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Evers
  given name: Serjoscha W.
author list: Agent
  family name: Rollot
  given name: Yann
author list: Agent
  family name: Joyce
  given name: Walter G.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11495
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-05-31
copyright: ©2021 Evers et al.
attribution name: Evers et al.

The effect of staphylococcal mastitis including resistant strains on serum procalcitonin, neopterin, acute phase response and stress biomarkers in Holstein dairy cows
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Staphylococcal mastitis (SM) is a frequent disease in the dairy cattle that is costly to treat. This study aimed to investigate the alterations in the levels of procalcitonin (PCT), neopterin (NPT), haptoglobin (HP), serum amyloid A (SAA), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α, IF-γ) and oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers in Holstein dairy cows with SM under field conditions. In addition, we also evaluated the role of examined biomarkers in disease pathogenesis and their use as diagnostic biomarkers for the disease in dairy cows. Fifty-three dairy cows with SM, including those with infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (n = 42) and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (n = 11) were selected for this study. In addition, 20 healthy dairy cows were enrolled as a control group. Higher serum levels of PCT, NP, IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α, IF-γ, HP and SAA and a state of OS was detected in SM group in comparison with the controls. Moreover, the levels of all examined biomarkers in mastitic cows with S. aureus when compared with those infected with MRSA was not significantly different. All examined biomarkers demonstrated a significant degree of discrimination between SM cows and healthy controls (the area under the curve (AUC) ranged from 83.6 for SAA to 100 for PCT). Our study showed that SM in dairy cows was associated with substantial changes in serum PCT, NPT, Acute phase proteins (APPs), proinflammatory cytokines, and OS levels. This study demonstrates that clinical examination in tandem with quantification of PCT, NPT, APPs and cytokines, OS biomarkers could be a useful assessment tool for SM in dairy cows.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Wael El-Deeb
creator: Mahmoud Fayez
creator: Naser Alhumam
creator: Ibrahim Elsohaby
creator: Sayed A. Quadri
creator: Hermine Mkrtchyan
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Microbiology
subject: Veterinary Medicine
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11511
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 El-Deeb et al.
abstract: Staphylococcal mastitis (SM) is a frequent disease in the dairy cattle that is costly to treat. This study aimed to investigate the alterations in the levels of procalcitonin (PCT), neopterin (NPT), haptoglobin (HP), serum amyloid A (SAA), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α, IF-γ) and oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers in Holstein dairy cows with SM under field conditions. In addition, we also evaluated the role of examined biomarkers in disease pathogenesis and their use as diagnostic biomarkers for the disease in dairy cows. Fifty-three dairy cows with SM, including those with infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (n = 42) and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (n = 11) were selected for this study. In addition, 20 healthy dairy cows were enrolled as a control group. Higher serum levels of PCT, NP, IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α, IF-γ, HP and SAA and a state of OS was detected in SM group in comparison with the controls. Moreover, the levels of all examined biomarkers in mastitic cows with S. aureus when compared with those infected with MRSA was not significantly different. All examined biomarkers demonstrated a significant degree of discrimination between SM cows and healthy controls (the area under the curve (AUC) ranged from 83.6 for SAA to 100 for PCT). Our study showed that SM in dairy cows was associated with substantial changes in serum PCT, NPT, Acute phase proteins (APPs), proinflammatory cytokines, and OS levels. This study demonstrates that clinical examination in tandem with quantification of PCT, NPT, APPs and cytokines, OS biomarkers could be a useful assessment tool for SM in dairy cows.
bibliographic citation: El-Deeb et al. (2021) The effect of staphylococcal mastitis including resistant strains on serum procalcitonin, neopterin, acute phase response and stress biomarkers in Holstein dairy cows. PeerJ 9:e11511 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11511
date submitted: 2021-02-24
date accepted: 2021-05-04
issued: 2021-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: El-Deeb
  given name: Wael
author list: Agent
  family name: Fayez
  given name: Mahmoud
author list: Agent
  family name: Alhumam
  given name: Naser
author list: Agent
  family name: Elsohaby
  given name: Ibrahim
author list: Agent
  family name: Quadri
  given name: Sayed A.
author list: Agent
  family name: Mkrtchyan
  given name: Hermine
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11511
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-05-31
copyright: ©2021 El-Deeb et al.
attribution name: El-Deeb et al.

Lipid accumulation of Chlorella sp. TLD6B from the Taklimakan Desert under salt stress
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Chlorella has become an important raw material for biodiesel production in recent years, and Chlorella sp. TLD6B, a species with high lipid concentrations and high salt and drought tolerance, has been cultivated on a large scale. To explore the lipid accumulation of Chlorella sp. TLD6B and its relationship to external NaCl concentrations, we performed physiological measurements and genome-wide gene expression profiling under different levels of salt stress. Chlorella sp. TLD6B was able to tolerate high levels of salt stress (0.8 M NaCl addition). Lipid concentrations initially increased and then decreased as salt stress increased and were highest under the addition of 0.2 M NaCl. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that salt stress enhanced the expression of genes related to sugar metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis (the ACCases BC and BCCP, KAS II, and GPDHs involved in TAG synthesis), thereby promoting lipid accumulation under the addition of 0.2 M NaCl. However, high salinity inhibited cell growth. Expression of three SADs, whose encoded products function in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, was up-regulated under high salinity (0.8 M NaCl addition). This research clarifies the relationship between salt tolerance and lipid accumulation and promotes the utilization of Chlorella sp. TLD6B.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Hong Li
creator: Jun Tan
creator: Yun Mu
creator: Jianfeng Gao
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Microbiology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11525
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Li et al.
abstract: Chlorella has become an important raw material for biodiesel production in recent years, and Chlorella sp. TLD6B, a species with high lipid concentrations and high salt and drought tolerance, has been cultivated on a large scale. To explore the lipid accumulation of Chlorella sp. TLD6B and its relationship to external NaCl concentrations, we performed physiological measurements and genome-wide gene expression profiling under different levels of salt stress. Chlorella sp. TLD6B was able to tolerate high levels of salt stress (0.8 M NaCl addition). Lipid concentrations initially increased and then decreased as salt stress increased and were highest under the addition of 0.2 M NaCl. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that salt stress enhanced the expression of genes related to sugar metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis (the ACCases BC and BCCP, KAS II, and GPDHs involved in TAG synthesis), thereby promoting lipid accumulation under the addition of 0.2 M NaCl. However, high salinity inhibited cell growth. Expression of three SADs, whose encoded products function in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, was up-regulated under high salinity (0.8 M NaCl addition). This research clarifies the relationship between salt tolerance and lipid accumulation and promotes the utilization of Chlorella sp. TLD6B.
bibliographic citation: Li et al. (2021) Lipid accumulation of Chlorella sp. TLD6B from the Taklimakan Desert under salt stress. PeerJ 9:e11525 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11525
date submitted: 2020-12-22
date accepted: 2021-05-06
issued: 2021-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Hong
author list: Agent
  family name: Tan
  given name: Jun
author list: Agent
  family name: Mu
  given name: Yun
author list: Agent
  family name: Gao
  given name: Jianfeng
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11525
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-05-31
copyright: ©2021 Li et al.
attribution name: Li et al.

The immediate effect of a single session of pain neuroscience education on pain and the autonomic nervous system in subjects with persistent pain, a pilot study
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background The autonomic nervous system is a system that operates at the subconscious level and has been associated with neurobehavioral aspects of pain. Overall, persistent pain has a stimulating effect on the sympathetic nervous system. A promising emerging nonpharmacological treatment to manage persistent pain is neuroscience-based pain education. The overarching goal of neuroscience-based pain education is to change cognitions about pain and the pain experience through education. The aim was to determine the immediate and short-term impact of a neuroscience-based pain education video on the autonomic nervous system and pain in a subgroup of individuals with persistent pain. Methods A convenience sample of 26 subjects were recruited for this study. Each subject indicated their pain level at the time of testing using a Visual Analogue Scale. Automated pupillometry was utilized to measure pupil diameter. After two minutes of accommodation to the goggles, the pupil was measured continuously for 60 s. Following this a 5-minute video presentation “Understanding Pain” was watched, followed by a continuous pupil measurement for 60 s. Three minutes after this measure, the final pupil diameter measurement was taken for 60 s. After completing the final pupil measure, the subject was asked to fill out a second Visual Analogue Scale and a Global Rate of Change. Outcomes Each subject completed a Global Rating of Change Scale and the mean score was 1.14 (SD = 1.61 and a SEM = 0.), supporting the hypothesis of an overall self-perceived benefit from the intervention. There was a statistically significant difference in pain following the video, P < 0.01. A significant correlation was observed between the self-perceived decrease in pain level and the Global Rating of Change score, p = 0.02. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean pupil diameter following the video with p = 0.76 for the right eye and p = 0.250 for the left eye. Discussion This pilot study demo…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Rob Sillevis
creator: Gabriel Trincado
creator: Eric Shamus
subject: Anesthesiology and Pain Management
subject: Evidence Based Medicine
subject: Ophthalmology
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Public Health
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11543
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Sillevis et al.
abstract: Background The autonomic nervous system is a system that operates at the subconscious level and has been associated with neurobehavioral aspects of pain. Overall, persistent pain has a stimulating effect on the sympathetic nervous system. A promising emerging nonpharmacological treatment to manage persistent pain is neuroscience-based pain education. The overarching goal of neuroscience-based pain education is to change cognitions about pain and the pain experience through education. The aim was to determine the immediate and short-term impact of a neuroscience-based pain education video on the autonomic nervous system and pain in a subgroup of individuals with persistent pain. Methods A convenience sample of 26 subjects were recruited for this study. Each subject indicated their pain level at the time of testing using a Visual Analogue Scale. Automated pupillometry was utilized to measure pupil diameter. After two minutes of accommodation to the goggles, the pupil was measured continuously for 60 s. Following this a 5-minute video presentation “Understanding Pain” was watched, followed by a continuous pupil measurement for 60 s. Three minutes after this measure, the final pupil diameter measurement was taken for 60 s. After completing the final pupil measure, the subject was asked to fill out a second Visual Analogue Scale and a Global Rate of Change. Outcomes Each subject completed a Global Rating of Change Scale and the mean score was 1.14 (SD = 1.61 and a SEM = 0.), supporting the hypothesis of an overall self-perceived benefit from the intervention. There was a statistically significant difference in pain following the video, P < 0.01. A significant correlation was observed between the self-perceived decrease in pain level and the Global Rating of Change score, p = 0.02. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean pupil diameter following the video with p = 0.76 for the right eye and p = 0.250 for the left eye. Discussion This pilot study demo…
bibliographic citation: Sillevis et al. (2021) The immediate effect of a single session of pain neuroscience education on pain and the autonomic nervous system in subjects with persistent pain, a pilot study. PeerJ 9:e11543 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11543
date submitted: 2020-12-09
date accepted: 2021-05-10
issued: 2021-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Sillevis
  given name: Rob
author list: Agent
  family name: Trincado
  given name: Gabriel
author list: Agent
  family name: Shamus
  given name: Eric
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11543
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-05-31
copyright: ©2021 Sillevis et al.
attribution name: Sillevis et al.

Nutrient criteria to achieve New Zealand’s riverine macroinvertebrate targets
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Waterways worldwide are experiencing nutrient enrichment from population growth and intensive agriculture, and New Zealand is part of this global trend. Increasing fertilizer in New Zealand and intensive agriculture have driven substantial water quality declines over recent decades. A recent national directive has set environmental managers a range of riverine ecological targets, including three macroinvertebrate indicators, and requires nutrient criteria be set to support their achievement. To support these national aspirations, we use the minimization-of-mismatch analysis to derive potential nutrient criteria. Given that nutrient and macroinvertebrate monitoring often does not occur at the same sites, we compared nutrient criteria derived at sites where macroinvertebrates and nutrients are monitored concurrently with nutrient criteria derived at all macroinvertebrate monitoring sites and using modelled nutrients. To support all three macroinvertebrate targets, we suggest that suitable nutrient criteria would set median dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations at ~0.6 mg/L and median dissolved reactive phosphorus concentrations at ~0.02 mg/L. We recognize that deriving site-specific nutrient criteria requires the balancing of multiple values and consideration of multiple targets, and anticipate that criteria derived here will help and support these environmental goals.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Adam D. Canning
creator: Michael K. Joy
creator: Russell G. Death
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
subject: Freshwater Biology
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Environmental Impacts
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11556
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Canning et al.
abstract: Waterways worldwide are experiencing nutrient enrichment from population growth and intensive agriculture, and New Zealand is part of this global trend. Increasing fertilizer in New Zealand and intensive agriculture have driven substantial water quality declines over recent decades. A recent national directive has set environmental managers a range of riverine ecological targets, including three macroinvertebrate indicators, and requires nutrient criteria be set to support their achievement. To support these national aspirations, we use the minimization-of-mismatch analysis to derive potential nutrient criteria. Given that nutrient and macroinvertebrate monitoring often does not occur at the same sites, we compared nutrient criteria derived at sites where macroinvertebrates and nutrients are monitored concurrently with nutrient criteria derived at all macroinvertebrate monitoring sites and using modelled nutrients. To support all three macroinvertebrate targets, we suggest that suitable nutrient criteria would set median dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations at ~0.6 mg/L and median dissolved reactive phosphorus concentrations at ~0.02 mg/L. We recognize that deriving site-specific nutrient criteria requires the balancing of multiple values and consideration of multiple targets, and anticipate that criteria derived here will help and support these environmental goals.
bibliographic citation: Canning et al. (2021) Nutrient criteria to achieve New Zealand’s riverine macroinvertebrate targets. PeerJ 9:e11556 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11556
date submitted: 2021-02-08
date accepted: 2021-05-12
issued: 2021-05-31
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Canning
  given name: Adam D.
author list: Agent
  family name: Joy
  given name: Michael K.
author list: Agent
  family name: Death
  given name: Russell G.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11556
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-05-31
copyright: © 2021 Canning et al.
attribution name: Canning et al.

Paeoniflorin improves functional recovery through repressing neuroinflammation and facilitating neurogenesis in rat stroke model
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Microglia, neuron, and vascular cells constitute a dynamic functional neurovascular unit, which exerts the crucial role in functional recovery after ischemic stroke. Paeoniflorin, the principal active component of Paeoniae Radix, has been verified to exhibit neuroprotective roles in cerebralischemic injury. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulatory function of Paeoniflorin on neurovascular unit after cerebral ischemia are still unclear. Methods In this study, adult male rats were treated with Paeoniflorin following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), and then the functional behavioral tests (Foot-fault test and modified improved neurological function score, mNSS), microglial activation, neurogenesis and vasculogenesis were assessed. Results The current study showed that Paeoniflorin treatment exhibited a sensorimotor functional recovery as suggested via the Foot-fault test and the enhancement of spatial learning as suggested by the mNSS in rat stroke model. Paeoniflorin treatment repressed microglial cell proliferation and thus resulted in a significant decrease in proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Compared with control, Paeoniflorin administration facilitated von Willebrand factor (an endothelia cell marker) and doublecortin (a neuroblasts marker) expression, indicating that Paeoniflorin contributed to neurogenesis and vasculogenesis in rat stroke model. Mechanistically, we verified that Paeoniflorin repressed JNK and NF-κB signaling activation. Conclusions These results demonstrate that Paeoniflorin represses neuroinflammation and facilitates neurogenesis in rat stroke model and might be a potential drug for the therapy of ischemic stroke.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Hongli Tang
creator: Leiruo Wu
creator: Xixi Chen
creator: Huiting Li
creator: Baojun Huang
creator: Zhenyang Huang
creator: Yiyang Zheng
creator: Liqing Zhu
creator: Wujun Geng
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Drugs and Devices
subject: Neurology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.10921
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Tang et al.
abstract: Background Microglia, neuron, and vascular cells constitute a dynamic functional neurovascular unit, which exerts the crucial role in functional recovery after ischemic stroke. Paeoniflorin, the principal active component of Paeoniae Radix, has been verified to exhibit neuroprotective roles in cerebralischemic injury. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulatory function of Paeoniflorin on neurovascular unit after cerebral ischemia are still unclear. Methods In this study, adult male rats were treated with Paeoniflorin following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), and then the functional behavioral tests (Foot-fault test and modified improved neurological function score, mNSS), microglial activation, neurogenesis and vasculogenesis were assessed. Results The current study showed that Paeoniflorin treatment exhibited a sensorimotor functional recovery as suggested via the Foot-fault test and the enhancement of spatial learning as suggested by the mNSS in rat stroke model. Paeoniflorin treatment repressed microglial cell proliferation and thus resulted in a significant decrease in proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Compared with control, Paeoniflorin administration facilitated von Willebrand factor (an endothelia cell marker) and doublecortin (a neuroblasts marker) expression, indicating that Paeoniflorin contributed to neurogenesis and vasculogenesis in rat stroke model. Mechanistically, we verified that Paeoniflorin repressed JNK and NF-κB signaling activation. Conclusions These results demonstrate that Paeoniflorin represses neuroinflammation and facilitates neurogenesis in rat stroke model and might be a potential drug for the therapy of ischemic stroke.
bibliographic citation: Tang et al. (2021) Paeoniflorin improves functional recovery through repressing neuroinflammation and facilitating neurogenesis in rat stroke model. PeerJ 9:e10921 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10921
date submitted: 2020-07-16
date accepted: 2021-01-19
issued: 2021-05-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Tang
  given name: Hongli
author list: Agent
  family name: Wu
  given name: Leiruo
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Xixi
author list: Agent
  family name: Li
  given name: Huiting
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Baojun
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Zhenyang
author list: Agent
  family name: Zheng
  given name: Yiyang
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhu
  given name: Liqing
author list: Agent
  family name: Geng
  given name: Wujun
doi: 10.7717/peerj.10921
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-05-28
copyright: ©2021 Tang et al.
attribution name: Tang et al.

https://peerj.com/articles/11359
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
title: Development of an inexpensive matrix-assisted laser desorption—time of flight mass spectrometry method for the identification of endophytes and rhizobacteria cultured from the microbiome associated with maize
description: Many endophytes and rhizobacteria associated with plants support the growth and health of their hosts. The vast majority of these potentially beneficial bacteria have yet to be characterized, in part because of the cost of identifying bacterial isolates. Matrix-assisted laser desorption-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) has enabled culturomic studies of host-associated microbiomes but analysis of mass spectra generated from plant-associated bacteria requires optimization. In this study, we aligned mass spectra generated from endophytes and rhizobacteria isolated from heritage and sweet varieties of Zea mays. Multiple iterations of alignment attempts identified a set of parameters that sorted 114 isolates into 60 coherent MALDI-TOF taxonomic units (MTUs). These MTUs corresponded to strains with practically identical (>99%) 16S rRNA gene sequences. Mass spectra were used to train a machine learning algorithm that classified 100% of the isolates into 60 MTUs. These MTUs provided >70% coverage of aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria readily cultured with nutrient rich media from the maize microbiome and allowed prediction of the total diversity recoverable with that particular cultivation method. Acidovorax sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Cellulosimicrobium sp. dominated the library generated from the rhizoplane. Relative to the sweet variety, the heritage variety c ontained a high number of MTUs. The ability to detect these differences in libraries, suggests a rapid and inexpensive method of describing the diversity of bacteria cultured from the endosphere and rhizosphere of maize.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Michael G. LaMontagne
creator: Phi L. Tran
creator: Alexander Benavidez
creator: Lisa D. Morano
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: Microbiology
subject: Data Mining and Machine Learning
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11359
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 LaMontagne et al.
abstract: Many endophytes and rhizobacteria associated with plants support the growth and health of their hosts. The vast majority of these potentially beneficial bacteria have yet to be characterized, in part because of the cost of identifying bacterial isolates. Matrix-assisted laser desorption-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) has enabled culturomic studies of host-associated microbiomes but analysis of mass spectra generated from plant-associated bacteria requires optimization. In this study, we aligned mass spectra generated from endophytes and rhizobacteria isolated from heritage and sweet varieties of Zea mays. Multiple iterations of alignment attempts identified a set of parameters that sorted 114 isolates into 60 coherent MALDI-TOF taxonomic units (MTUs). These MTUs corresponded to strains with practically identical (>99%) 16S rRNA gene sequences. Mass spectra were used to train a machine learning algorithm that classified 100% of the isolates into 60 MTUs. These MTUs provided >70% coverage of aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria readily cultured with nutrient rich media from the maize microbiome and allowed prediction of the total diversity recoverable with that particular cultivation method. Acidovorax sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Cellulosimicrobium sp. dominated the library generated from the rhizoplane. Relative to the sweet variety, the heritage variety c ontained a high number of MTUs. The ability to detect these differences in libraries, suggests a rapid and inexpensive method of describing the diversity of bacteria cultured from the endosphere and rhizosphere of maize.
bibliographic citation: LaMontagne et al. (2021) Development of an inexpensive matrix-assisted laser desorption—time of flight mass spectrometry method for the identification of endophytes and rhizobacteria cultured from the microbiome associated with maize. PeerJ 9:e11359 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11359
date submitted: 2020-12-08
date accepted: 2021-04-06
issued: 2021-05-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: LaMontagne
  given name: Michael G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Tran
  given name: Phi L.
author list: Agent
  family name: Benavidez
  given name: Alexander
author list: Agent
  family name: Morano
  given name: Lisa D.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11359
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-05-28
copyright: © 2021 LaMontagne et al.
attribution name: LaMontagne et al.

Lower cretaceous avian-dominated, theropod, thyreophoran, pterosaur and turtle track assemblages from the Tugulu Group, Xinjiang, China: ichnotaxonomy and palaeoecology
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Rich tetrapod ichnofaunas, known for more than a decade, from the Huangyangquan Reservoir (Wuerhe District, Karamay City, Xinjiang) have been an abundant source of some of the largest Lower Cretaceous track collections from China. They originate from inland lacustrine clastic exposures of the 581–877 m thick Tugulu Group, variously divided into four formations and subgroups in the northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin. The large Huangyangquan track assemblages occur in the Lower layer/Subgroup II. Similarly-composed track assemblages also occur at the smaller Asphaltite site in the Upper Layer/Subgroup III. The Huangyangquan assemblages have yielded more than 1,500 identified tracks including abundant tracks of avian and non-avian theropods, pterosaurs and turtles and less abundant tracks of stegosaurs. Previous avian track identifications have been reassessed to conclude that Moguiornipes robustus is a taphotaxon and Koreanaornis dodsoni might be better accommodated in the ichnogenus Aquatilavipes which appears to be the dominant avian ichnotaxon. The avian track Ignotornis is also recognized and represents the first occurrence of this ichnogenus in China. Although the Huangyangquan assemblages lack some of the larger components (e.g., sauropodan and ornithopodan tracks) known from other Lower Cretaceous localities, the association of abundant tracks of smaller tetrapods (avian and non-avian theropods, pterosaurs and turtles) appears to be representative of lacustrine basin faunas of this region, and are an excellent example of the shorebird ichnocoenosis/ichnofacies concept. This is the first comprehensive review and re-analysis of an important Lower Cretaceous ecosystem.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Lida Xing
creator: Martin G. Lockley
creator: Chengkai Jia
creator: Hendrik Klein
creator: Kecheng Niu
creator: Lijun Zhang
creator: Liqi Qi
creator: Chunyong Chou
creator: Anthony Romilio
creator: Donghao Wang
creator: Yu Zhang
creator: W Scott Persons
creator: Miaoyan Wang
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11476
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Xing et al.
abstract: Rich tetrapod ichnofaunas, known for more than a decade, from the Huangyangquan Reservoir (Wuerhe District, Karamay City, Xinjiang) have been an abundant source of some of the largest Lower Cretaceous track collections from China. They originate from inland lacustrine clastic exposures of the 581–877 m thick Tugulu Group, variously divided into four formations and subgroups in the northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin. The large Huangyangquan track assemblages occur in the Lower layer/Subgroup II. Similarly-composed track assemblages also occur at the smaller Asphaltite site in the Upper Layer/Subgroup III. The Huangyangquan assemblages have yielded more than 1,500 identified tracks including abundant tracks of avian and non-avian theropods, pterosaurs and turtles and less abundant tracks of stegosaurs. Previous avian track identifications have been reassessed to conclude that Moguiornipes robustus is a taphotaxon and Koreanaornis dodsoni might be better accommodated in the ichnogenus Aquatilavipes which appears to be the dominant avian ichnotaxon. The avian track Ignotornis is also recognized and represents the first occurrence of this ichnogenus in China. Although the Huangyangquan assemblages lack some of the larger components (e.g., sauropodan and ornithopodan tracks) known from other Lower Cretaceous localities, the association of abundant tracks of smaller tetrapods (avian and non-avian theropods, pterosaurs and turtles) appears to be representative of lacustrine basin faunas of this region, and are an excellent example of the shorebird ichnocoenosis/ichnofacies concept. This is the first comprehensive review and re-analysis of an important Lower Cretaceous ecosystem.
bibliographic citation: Xing et al. (2021) Lower cretaceous avian-dominated, theropod, thyreophoran, pterosaur and turtle track assemblages from the Tugulu Group, Xinjiang, China: ichnotaxonomy and palaeoecology. PeerJ 9:e11476 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11476
date submitted: 2021-01-10
date accepted: 2021-04-26
issued: 2021-05-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Xing
  given name: Lida
author list: Agent
  family name: Lockley
  given name: Martin G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Jia
  given name: Chengkai
author list: Agent
  family name: Klein
  given name: Hendrik
author list: Agent
  family name: Niu
  given name: Kecheng
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Lijun
author list: Agent
  family name: Qi
  given name: Liqi
author list: Agent
  family name: Chou
  given name: Chunyong
author list: Agent
  family name: Romilio
  given name: Anthony
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Donghao
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Yu
author list: Agent
  family name: Persons
  given name: W Scott
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Miaoyan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11476
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-05-28
copyright: © 2021 Xing et al.
attribution name: Xing et al.

Using a mobile health app to improve patients’ adherence to hypertension treatment: a non-randomized clinical trial
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Poor adherence to hypertension treatment increases complications of the disease and is characterized by a lack of awareness and acceptance of ongoing treatment. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can optimize processes and facilitate access to health information by combining treatment methods with attractive solutions. In this study, we aimed at verifying the influence of using an mHealth app on patients’ adherence to hypertension treatment, also examining how user experience toward the app influenced the outcomes. A total of 49 participants completed the study, men and women, diagnosed with hypertension and ongoing medical treatment. For 12 weeks, the control group continued with conventional monitoring, while the experimental group used an mHealth app. From the experimental group, at baseline, 8% were non-adherent, 64% were partial adherents and 28% were adherent to the treatment. Baseline in the control group indicated 4.2% non-adherents, 58.3% partial adherents, and 37.5% adherents. After follow-up, the experimental group had an increase to 92% adherent, 8% partially adherent, and 0% non-adherent (P < 0.001). In the control group, adherence after follow-up remained virtually the same (P ≥ 0.999). Results of user experience were substantially positive and indicate that the participants in the experimental group had a satisfactory perception of the app. In conclusion, this study suggests that using an mHealth app can empower patients to manage their own health and increase adherence to hypertension treatment, especially when the app provides a positive user experience.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Simiane Salete Volpi
creator: Daiana Biduski
creator: Ericles Andrei Bellei
creator: Danieli Tefili
creator: Lynn McCleary
creator: Ana Luisa Sant’Anna Alves
creator: Ana Carolina Bertoletti De Marchi
subject: Cardiology
subject: Clinical Trials
subject: Nursing
subject: Public Health
subject: Human-Computer Interaction
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11491
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Volpi et al.
abstract: Poor adherence to hypertension treatment increases complications of the disease and is characterized by a lack of awareness and acceptance of ongoing treatment. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can optimize processes and facilitate access to health information by combining treatment methods with attractive solutions. In this study, we aimed at verifying the influence of using an mHealth app on patients’ adherence to hypertension treatment, also examining how user experience toward the app influenced the outcomes. A total of 49 participants completed the study, men and women, diagnosed with hypertension and ongoing medical treatment. For 12 weeks, the control group continued with conventional monitoring, while the experimental group used an mHealth app. From the experimental group, at baseline, 8% were non-adherent, 64% were partial adherents and 28% were adherent to the treatment. Baseline in the control group indicated 4.2% non-adherents, 58.3% partial adherents, and 37.5% adherents. After follow-up, the experimental group had an increase to 92% adherent, 8% partially adherent, and 0% non-adherent (P < 0.001). In the control group, adherence after follow-up remained virtually the same (P ≥ 0.999). Results of user experience were substantially positive and indicate that the participants in the experimental group had a satisfactory perception of the app. In conclusion, this study suggests that using an mHealth app can empower patients to manage their own health and increase adherence to hypertension treatment, especially when the app provides a positive user experience.
bibliographic citation: Volpi et al. (2021) Using a mobile health app to improve patients’ adherence to hypertension treatment: a non-randomized clinical trial. PeerJ 9:e11491 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11491
date submitted: 2021-02-12
date accepted: 2021-04-28
issued: 2021-05-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Volpi
  given name: Simiane Salete
author list: Agent
  family name: Biduski
  given name: Daiana
author list: Agent
  family name: Bellei
  given name: Ericles Andrei
author list: Agent
  family name: Tefili
  given name: Danieli
author list: Agent
  family name: McCleary
  given name: Lynn
author list: Agent
  family name: Alves
  given name: Ana Luisa Sant’Anna
author list: Agent
  family name: De Marchi
  given name: Ana Carolina Bertoletti
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11491
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-05-28
copyright: © 2021 Volpi et al.
attribution name: Volpi et al.

Resveratrol improves cardiac function and left ventricular fibrosis after myocardial infarction in rats by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activity and the TGF-β1/SMAD2 signaling pathway
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Several studies have shown that resveratrol (RES), a naturally occurring polyphenol found in many plants, is beneficial for preventing cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanism underlying the RES-mediated protection against myocardial infarction has not yet been revealed entirely. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of RES on cardiac function in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the related underlying mechanisms. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham (sham operation), Sham-RES, AMI (AMI induction), and AMI-RES. The rat AMI model was established by the permanent ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery method. The rats in the RES-treated groups were gavaged with RES (50 mg/kg/day) daily for 45 days after the Sham operation or AMI induction; rats in the Sham and AMI groups were gavaged with deionized water. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography. Atrial interstitial fibrosis was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin or Masson’s trichrome staining. Real-time PCR and western blotting analyses were performed to examine the levels of signaling pathway components. Results RES supplementation decreased the inflammatory cytokine levels, improved the cardiac function, and ameliorated atrial interstitial fibrosis in the rats with AMI. Furthermore, RES supplementation inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activity, decreased the TGF-β1 production, and downregulated the p-SMAD2/SMAD2 expression in the heart. Conclusion RES shows notable cardioprotective effects in a rat model of AMI; the possible mechanisms underlying these effects may involve the improvement of cardiac function and atrial interstitial fibrosis via the RES-mediated suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and inhibition of the TGF-β1/SMAD2 signaling pathway in the heart.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Jinjin Jiang
creator: Xiuping Gu
creator: Huifeng Wang
creator: Shibin Ding
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Cardiology
subject: Histology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.11501
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2021 Jiang et al.
abstract: Background Several studies have shown that resveratrol (RES), a naturally occurring polyphenol found in many plants, is beneficial for preventing cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanism underlying the RES-mediated protection against myocardial infarction has not yet been revealed entirely. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of RES on cardiac function in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the related underlying mechanisms. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham (sham operation), Sham-RES, AMI (AMI induction), and AMI-RES. The rat AMI model was established by the permanent ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery method. The rats in the RES-treated groups were gavaged with RES (50 mg/kg/day) daily for 45 days after the Sham operation or AMI induction; rats in the Sham and AMI groups were gavaged with deionized water. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography. Atrial interstitial fibrosis was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin or Masson’s trichrome staining. Real-time PCR and western blotting analyses were performed to examine the levels of signaling pathway components. Results RES supplementation decreased the inflammatory cytokine levels, improved the cardiac function, and ameliorated atrial interstitial fibrosis in the rats with AMI. Furthermore, RES supplementation inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activity, decreased the TGF-β1 production, and downregulated the p-SMAD2/SMAD2 expression in the heart. Conclusion RES shows notable cardioprotective effects in a rat model of AMI; the possible mechanisms underlying these effects may involve the improvement of cardiac function and atrial interstitial fibrosis via the RES-mediated suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and inhibition of the TGF-β1/SMAD2 signaling pathway in the heart.
bibliographic citation: Jiang et al. (2021) Resveratrol improves cardiac function and left ventricular fibrosis after myocardial infarction in rats by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activity and the TGF-β1/SMAD2 signaling pathway. PeerJ 9:e11501 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11501
date submitted: 2021-02-09
date accepted: 2021-05-02
issued: 2021-05-28
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Jiang
  given name: Jinjin
author list: Agent
  family name: Gu
  given name: Xiuping
author list: Agent
  family name: Wang
  given name: Huifeng
author list: Agent
  family name: Ding
  given name: Shibin
doi: 10.7717/peerj.11501
volume: 9
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2021-05-28
copyright: ©2021 Jiang et al.
attribution name: Jiang et al.

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