title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=1778 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Antibiotic misuse among children with diarrhea in China: results from a national survey link: https://peerj.com/articles/2668 last-modified: 2016-11-03 description: BackgroundAntibiotic resistance is one of the world’s biggest public health issues, and the situation in China is particularly grave. The objective of this study is to investigate the antibiotics usage pattern among Chinese children and provide further insight in developing strategies for promoting public health education.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study, in the study, participants are from 53,665 guardians of children aged 0–6 years, who were recruited with multistage stratified random cluster sampling in 2013/2014 from 46 community health centers in 14 provinces across China Mainland. Children’s guardians completed surveys on their previous experience on using antibiotics in treating diarrhea of their children without a prescription from any pediatrician. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidential intervals (CIs) for the association between antibiotic use and its predictors were estimated using multilevel logistic regression models, with antibiotic rational use group as a reference group.ResultsThe prevalence of antibiotic misuse among children with diarrhea in the eastern, middle and western areas of China and associations between antibiotic misuse and its predictors were studied. The average rate of antibiotic misuse is 35.12%. Multilevel logistic regression revealed that living in urban areas (OR = 0.79 (0.76, 0.83)), female children (OR = 0.92 (0.88, 0.96)), guardians having higher education (OR = 0.60 (0.55, 0.66)), being raised by parents (OR = 0.90 (0.85, 0.94)), guardians having basic health knowledge (OR = 0.82 (0.79, 0.86)) are protective factors and children’s age (1–3 years OR = 1.62 (1.54, 1.71)); 4–6 years OR = 1.90 (1.77, 2.03)) is a risk factor of antibiotic misuse among children aged 0–6 years with diarrhea in China.ConclusionsOur findings confirmed that there has been a high rate of antibiotic misuse without a prescription in children with diarrhea in China, which requires considerable attention. Suitable regulations and interventions are needed to solve this problem. creator: Ruili Li creator: Feng Xiao creator: Xiaoguo Zheng creator: Huimin Yang creator: Lihong Wang creator: Delu Yin creator: Tao Yin creator: Qianqian Xin creator: Bowen Chen uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2668 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2016 Li et al. title: Hypergravity hinders axonal development of motor neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans link: https://peerj.com/articles/2666 last-modified: 2016-11-03 description: As space flight becomes more accessible in the future, humans will be exposed to gravity conditions other than our 1G environment on Earth. Our bodies and physiology, however, are adapted for life at 1G gravity. Altering gravity can have profound effects on the body, particularly the development of muscles, but the reasons and biology behind gravity’s effect are not fully known. We asked whether increasing gravity had effects on the development of motor neurons that innervate and control muscle, a relatively unexplored area of gravity biology. Using the nematode model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, we examined changes in response to hypergravity in the development of the 19 GABAergic DD/VD motor neurons that innervate body muscle. We found that a high gravity force above 10G significantly increases the number of animals with defects in the development of axonal projections from the DD/VD neurons. We showed that a critical period of hypergravity exposure during the embryonic/early larval stage was sufficient to induce defects. While characterizing the nature of the axonal defects, we found that in normal 1G gravity conditions, DD/VD axonal defects occasionally occurred, with the majority of defects occurring on the dorsal side of the animal and in the mid-body region, and a significantly higher rate of error in the 13 VD axons than the 6 DD axons. Hypergravity exposure increased the rate of DD/VD axonal defects, but did not change the distribution or the characteristics of the defects. Our study demonstrates that altering gravity can impact motor neuron development. creator: Saraswathi Subbammal Kalichamy creator: Tong Young Lee creator: Kyoung-hye Yoon creator: Jin Il Lee uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2666 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2016 Kalichamy et al. title: Host plant affects morphometric variation of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) link: https://peerj.com/articles/2663 last-modified: 2016-11-03 description: The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, is one of the most serious citrus pests worldwide due to its role as vector of huanglongbing or citrus greening disease. While some optimal plant species for ACP oviposition and development have been identified, little is known of the influence of host plants on ACP size and shape. Our goal was to determine how size and shape of ACP wing and body size varies when development occurs on different host plants in a controlled rearing environment. ACP were reared on six different rutaceous species; Bergera koenigii, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus macrophylla, Citrus maxima, Citrus taiwanica and Murraya paniculata. Adults were examined for morphometric variation using traditional and geometric analysis based on 12 traits or landmarks. ACP reared on C. taiwanica were consistently smaller than those reared on the other plant species. Wing aspect ratio also differed between C. maxima and C. taiwanica. Significant differences in shape were detected with those reared on M. paniculata having narrower wings than those reared on C. macrophylla. This study provides evidence of wing size and shape differences of ACP based on host plant species which potentially may impact dispersal. Further study is needed to determine if behavioral and physiological differences are associated with the observed phenotypic differences. creator: Thomson M. Paris creator: Sandra A. Allan creator: David G. Hall creator: Matthew G. Hentz creator: Gabriella Hetesy creator: Philip A. Stansly uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2663 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2016 Paris et al. title: Salivary microbiomes of indigenous Tsimane mothers and infants are distinct despite frequent premastication link: https://peerj.com/articles/2660 last-modified: 2016-11-03 description: BackgroundPremastication, the transfer of pre-chewed food, is a common infant and young child feeding practice among the Tsimane, forager-horticulturalists living in the Bolivian Amazon. Research conducted primarily with Western populations has shown that infants harbor distinct oral microbiota from their mothers. Premastication, which is less common in these populations, may influence the colonization and maturation of infant oral microbiota, including via transmission of oral pathogens. We collected premasticated food and saliva samples from Tsimane mothers and infants (9–24 months of age) to test for evidence of bacterial transmission in premasticated foods and overlap in maternal and infant salivary microbiota. We extracted bacterial DNA from two premasticated food samples and 12 matched salivary samples from maternal-infant pairs. DNA sequencing was performed with MiSeq (Illumina). We evaluated maternal and infant microbial composition in terms of relative abundance of specific taxa, alpha and beta diversity, and dissimilarity distances.ResultsThe bacteria in saliva and premasticated food were mapped to 19 phyla and 400 genera and were dominated by Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The oral microbial communities of Tsimane mothers and infants who frequently share premasticated food were well-separated in a non-metric multi-dimensional scaling ordination (NMDS) plot. Infant microbiotas clustered together, with weighted Unifrac distances significantly differing between mothers and infants. Infant saliva contained more Firmicutes (p < 0.01) and fewer Proteobacteria (p < 0.05) than did maternal saliva. Many genera previously associated with dental and periodontal infections, e.g. Neisseria, Gemella, Rothia, Actinomyces, Fusobacterium, and Leptotrichia, were more abundant in mothers than in infants.ConclusionsSalivary microbiota of Tsimane infants and young children up to two years of age do not appear closely related to those of their mothers, despite frequent premastication and preliminary evidence that maternal bacteria is transmitted to premasticated foods. Infant physiology and diet may constrain colonization by maternal bacteria, including several oral pathogens. creator: Cliff S. Han creator: Melanie Ann Martin creator: Armand E.K. Dichosa creator: Ashlynn R. Daughton creator: Seth Frietze creator: Hillard Kaplan creator: Michael D. Gurven creator: Joe Alcock uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2660 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2016 Han et al. title: Sevoflurane postconditioning attenuates cardiomyocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation injury via restoring mitochondrial morphology link: https://peerj.com/articles/2659 last-modified: 2016-11-03 description: BackgroundAnesthetic postconditioning is a cellular protective approach whereby exposure to a volatile anesthetic renders a tissue more resistant to subsequent ischemic/reperfusion event. Sevoflurane postconditioning (SPostC) has been shown to exert cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. We hypothesized that SPostC protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury by maintaining/restoring mitochondrial morphological integrity, a critical determinant of cell fate.MethodsPrimary cultures of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NCMs) were subjected to H/R injury (3 h of hypoxia followed by 3 h reoxygenation). Intervention with SPostC (2.4% sevoflurane) was administered for 15 min upon the onset of reoxygenation. Cell viability, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, cell death, mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening were assessed after intervention. Mitochondrial fusion and fission regulating proteins (Drp1, Fis1, Mfn1, Mfn2 and Opa1) were assessed by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting was performed to determine the level of protein expression.ResultsCardiomyocyte H/R injury resulted in significant increases in LDH release and cell death that were concomitant with reduced cell viability and reduced mitochondrial interconnectivity (mean area/perimeter ratio) and mitochondrial elongation, and with reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and increased mPTP opening. All the above changes were significantly attenuated by SPostC. Furthermore, H/R resulted in significant reductions in mitochondrial fusion proteins Mfn1, Mfn2 and Opa1 and significant enhancement of fission proteins Drp1 and Fis1. SPostC significantly enhanced Mfn2 and Opa1 and reduced Drp1, without significant impact on Mfn1 and Fis1.ConclusionsSevoflurane postconditioning attenuates cardiomyocytes hypoxia/reoxygenation injury (HRI) by restoring mitochondrial fusion/fission balance and morphology. creator: Jin Yu creator: Jianjiang Wu creator: Peng Xie creator: Yiliyaer Maimaitili creator: Jiang Wang creator: Zhengyuan Xia creator: Feng Gao creator: Xing Zhang creator: Hong Zheng uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2659 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2016 Yu et al. title: Foliar fungal communities strongly differ between habitat patches in a landscape mosaic link: https://peerj.com/articles/2656 last-modified: 2016-11-03 description: BackgroundDispersal events between habitat patches in a landscape mosaic can structure ecological communities and influence the functioning of agrosystems. Here we investigated whether short-distance dispersal events between vineyard and forest patches shape foliar fungal communities. We hypothesized that these communities homogenize between habitats over the course of the growing season, particularly along habitat edges, because of aerial dispersal of spores.MethodsWe monitored the richness and composition of foliar and airborne fungal communities over the season, along transects perpendicular to edges between vineyard and forest patches, using Illumina sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) region.ResultsIn contrast to our expectation, foliar fungal communities in vineyards and forest patches increasingly differentiate over the growing season, even along habitat edges. Moreover, the richness of foliar fungal communities in grapevine drastically decreased over the growing season, in contrast to that of forest trees. The composition of airborne communities did not differ between habitats. The composition of oak foliar fungal communities change between forest edge and centre.DiscussionThese results suggest that dispersal events between habitat patches are not major drivers of foliar fungal communities at the landscape scale. Selective pressures exerted in each habitat by the host plant, the microclimate and the agricultural practices play a greater role, and might account for the differentiation of foliar fugal communities between habitats. creator: Thomas Fort creator: Cécile Robin creator: Xavier Capdevielle creator: Laurent Delière creator: Corinne Vacher uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2656 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2016 Fort et al. title: Phytogeographic and genetic variation in Sorbus, a traditional antidiabetic medicine—adaptation in action in both a plant and a discipline link: https://peerj.com/articles/2645 last-modified: 2016-11-03 description: Mountain ash (Sorbus decora and S. americana) is used by the Cree Nation of the James Bay region of Quebec (Eeyou Istchee) as traditional medicine. Its potential as an antidiabetic medicine is thought to vary across its geographical range, yet little is known about the factors that affect its antioxidant capacity. Here, we examined metabolite gene expression in relation to antioxidant activity, linking phytochemistry and medicinal potential. Samples of leaf and bark from S. decora and S. americana were collected from 20 populations at four different latitudes. Two genes known to produce antidiabetic substances, flavonol synthase and squalene synthase, were analyzed using quantitative real time PCR. Gene expression was significantly higher for flavonol synthase compared to squalene synthase and increased in the most Northern latitude. Corresponding differences observed in the antioxidant capacity of ethanolic extracts from the bark of Sorbus spp. confirm that plants at higher latitudes increase production of stress-induced secondary metabolites and support Aboriginal perceptions of their higher medicinal potential. Modern genetic techniques such as quantitative real time PCR offer unprecedented resolution to substantiate and scrutinise Aboriginal medicinal plant perception. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights into how environmental stress can trigger an adaptive response resulting in the accumulation of secondary metabolites with human medicinal properties. creator: Anna Bailie creator: Sebastien Renaut creator: Eliane Ubalijoro creator: José A. Guerrero-Analco creator: Ammar Saleem creator: Pierre Haddad creator: John T. Arnason creator: Timothy Johns creator: Alain Cuerrier uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2645 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2016 Bailie et al. title: Mathematical models are a powerful method to understand and control the spread of Huanglongbing link: https://peerj.com/articles/2642 last-modified: 2016-11-03 description: Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, is a global citrus disease occurring in almost all citrus growing regions. It causes substantial economic burdens to individual growers, citrus industries and governments. Successful management strategies to reduce disease burden are desperately needed but with so many possible interventions and combinations thereof it is difficult to know which are worthwhile or cost-effective. We review how mathematical models have yielded useful insights into controlling disease spread for other vector-borne plant diseases, and the small number of mathematical models of HLB. We adapt a malaria model to HLB, by including temperature-dependent psyllid traits, “flushing” of trees, and economic costs, to show how models can be used to highlight the parameters that require more data collection or that should be targeted for intervention. We analyze the most common intervention strategy, insecticide spraying, to determine the most cost-effective spraying strategy. We find that fecundity and feeding rate of the vector require more experimental data collection, for wider temperatures ranges. Also, the best strategy for insecticide intervention is to spray for more days rather than pay extra for a more efficient spray. We conclude that mathematical models are able to provide useful recommendations for managing HLB spread. creator: Rachel A. Taylor creator: Erin A. Mordecai creator: Christopher A. Gilligan creator: Jason R. Rohr creator: Leah R. Johnson uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2642 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2016 Taylor et al. title: Germination pretreatments to break hard-seed dormancy in Astragalus cicer L. (Fabaceae) link: https://peerj.com/articles/2621 last-modified: 2016-11-03 description: Conservationists often propagate rare species to improve their long-term population viability. However, seed dormancy can make propagation efforts challenging by substantially lowering seed germination. Here I statistically compare several pretreatment options for seeds of Astragalus cicer L.: unscarified controls and scarification via physical damage, hot water, acid, and hydrogen peroxide. Although only 30% of unscarified seeds germinated, just physical scarification significantly improved germination, whereas one treatment, hot water, resulted in no germination at all. I recommend that rare species of Astragalus, as well as other hard-seeded legumes, be pretreated using physical scarification. Other methods may require considerable optimization, wasting precious time and seeds. creator: Joseph M. Statwick uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2621 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2016 Statwick title: Phylogeography of Arenaria balearica L. (Caryophyllaceae): evolutionary history of a disjunct endemic from the Western Mediterranean continental islands link: https://peerj.com/articles/2618 last-modified: 2016-11-03 description: Although it has been traditionally accepted that Arenaria balearica (Caryophyllaceae) could be a relict Tertiary plant species, this has never been experimentally tested. Nor have the palaeohistorical reasons underlying the highly fragmented distribution of the species in the Western Mediterranean region been investigated. We have analysed AFLP data (213) and plastid DNA sequences (226) from a total of 250 plants from 29 populations sampled throughout the entire distribution range of the species in Majorca, Corsica, Sardinia, and the Tuscan Archipelago. The AFLP data analyses indicate very low geographic structure and population differentiation. Based on plastid DNA data, six alternative phylogeographic hypotheses were tested using Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC). These analyses revealed ancient area fragmentation as the most probable scenario, which is in accordance with the star-like topology of the parsimony network that suggests a pattern of long term survival and subsequent in situ differentiation. Overall low levels of genetic diversity and plastid DNA variation were found, reflecting evolutionary stasis of a species preserved in locally long-term stable habitats. creator: Javier Bobo-Pinilla creator: Sara B. Barrios de León creator: Jaume Seguí Colomar creator: Giuseppe Fenu creator: Gianluigi Bacchetta creator: Julio Peñas de Giles creator: María Montserrat Martínez-Ortega uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2618 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2016 Bobo-Pinilla et al.