title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=242 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Effectiveness of newborn infant parasympathetic evaluation (NIPE) index for guiding intraoperative fentanyl administration in children under 2 years: a randomized controlled trial link: https://peerj.com/articles/18267 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundAssessing pain in infants and neonates is challenging due to their inability to communicate verbally. While validated subjective tools exist, they rely on interpreting the child’s behavior, leading to potential inconsistencies and underestimation of pain. Based on heart rate variability, the newborn infant parasympathetic evaluation (NIPE) index offers a more objective approach to pain assessment in children under 2 years. Although promising, research on its effectiveness during surgery under general anesthesia remains limited and inconclusive.ObjectiveThis study compared the effectiveness of NIPE-guided fentanyl administration to traditional vital signs (heart rate and mean arterial pressure) in managing pain during surgery in children under 2 years.MethodsSeventy children undergoing head, neck, or upper extremity surgery were randomized into group N (NIPE) or group C (Control) with 35 participants in each group. Both groups received standardized anesthesia and monitoring, including NIPE. Group N received fentanyl when NIPE scores fell below 50, while group C received fentanyl upon a 20% increase in heart rate or mean arterial pressure (MAP). Postoperative pain was assessed using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) scores, alongside fentanyl consumption, sedation levels, and potential side effects.ResultsBoth groups exhibited similar outcomes in terms of postoperative pain scores, fentanyl consumption, sedation levels, and absence of side effects (postoperative respiratory depression or nausea and vomiting). Additionally, intraoperative NIPE scores, heart rate, and MAP were comparable between the groups. There are strong correlations between both groups in terms of NIPE scores (r = 0.735, p < 0.0001), heart rate (r = 0.630, p < 0.0001), and MAP (r = 0.846, p < 0.0001). In both group C and group N, the NIPE scores reveal strong negative correlations with heart rate (r = −0.610, p < 0.0001, and r = −0.674, p < 0.0001) and MAP (r = −0.860, p < 0.0001, and r = −0.756, p < 0.0001).ConclusionNIPE-guided intraoperative fentanyl administration was not superior to heart rate/MAP-guided administration, as both achieved similar pain management outcomes in this study. However, NIPE may offer a more practical and precise approach, as it is an objective tool with a defined threshold. These findings suggest NIPE’s promise as a valuable tool for managing pain in children under 2 years undergoing surgery. However, confirmation of its widespread effectiveness requires further research with larger, multicenter studies encompassing procedures with a broader spectrum of pain severity. creator: Darunee Sripadungkul creator: Sirirat Tribuddharat creator: Thepakorn Sathitkarnmanee creator: Pimprapa Muenpirom creator: Panaratana Ratanasuwan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18267 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Sripadungkul et al. title: Efficacy and safety of intracavitary electrocardiography-guided peripherally inserted central catheters in pediatric patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18274 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of intracavitary electrocardiography (IC-ECG)-guided peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placements in pediatric patients, emphasizing improvements over traditional placement methods.MethodsA literature search was conducted in April 2024 across PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE. Studies focusing on pediatric patients and reporting the efficacy and safety of IC-ECG-guided PICC placement via the upper extremity were included. This study was registered with the PROSPERO database (CRD42024549037) in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.ResultsEleven studies were included, comprising five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and six quasi-experimental studies. The pooled analysis showed that IC-ECG had an applicability and feasibility of 97% and 98%, respectively. The first puncture success rate was 91%, and the overall success rate was 98%. Sensitivity and specificity were 97% and 80%, respectively. IC-ECG significantly reduced overall complications compared to traditional methods (RR: 0.31, 95% CI [0.20–0.46], p < 0.00001), particularly in phlebitis (RR: 0.25, 95% CI [0.11–0.57], p = 0.001) and arrhythmias (RR: 0.09, 95% CI [0.01–0.70], p = 0.021). Similar results were observed in neonates. Only one case of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) was reported, and no arrhythmia events were noted.ConclusionIC-ECG-guided PICC placement is a highly effective and safe method for pediatric patients, including neonates, offering significant advantages over traditional techniques. Further high-quality studies are needed to standardize procedural techniques and explore cost-effectiveness. creator: Li Zhang creator: Min Wang creator: Mingjia Zhao creator: Siyi Pu creator: Jiao Zhao creator: Ge Zhu creator: Qin Zhang creator: Dan Li uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18274 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Zhang et al. title: Population isolation in the Plains spadefoot toad: causes and conservation implications link: https://peerj.com/articles/17968 last-modified: 2024-10-07 description: Range disjunctions appear to be common in nature, although they may be caused by various factors. They may simply be an artefact of inadequate sampling. If real, they may be the result of colonization events or habitat change. With natural habitats showing increasing fragmentation because of human activity, understanding the cause of a disjunction can have important conservation implications. We investigate the geographical range of the Plains spadefoot toad, Spea bombifrons, a widely distributed species in the midwestern and southwestern United States, with a putative disjunct population in southern Texas. We combine GIS mapping, species distribution modeling, and population genetic analysis to investigate this putative disjunction. We establish that this southern Texas population is truly geographically disjunct and genetically distinct. Further, using climate projections we show that this unique population is at high risk of local extinction. creator: Amanda J. Chunco creator: Emma Nault creator: Rebecca F. Silverman creator: Sarah Midolo creator: Hanna Harper creator: Amber M. Rice uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17968 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Chunco et al. title: Application of a reaction-based water quality model to the total dissolved solids concentration of the Pasig River link: https://peerj.com/articles/18076 last-modified: 2024-10-07 description: With the goal to support effective water resource management, water quality models have gained popularity as tools for evaluating the distributions of pollutants and sediments. This work focuses on the application of the numerical solution of an advection-dispersion-reaction (ADR) water quality model for rivers and streams to a major Philippine waterway, the Pasig River. The water quality constituent is described by a system of reaction and advection-dispersion-reaction equations. The model and method are based on a previously used strategy where Guass-Jordan decomposition is applied to the matrix system and the resulting conservative form of the model is solved numerically using the fully implicit scheme and finite element method. The methodology is demonstrated by a case study in Pasig River involving the concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) obtained from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Pasig River Unified Monitoring Stations (PRUMS) report. Sensitivity analysis and parameter estimation are also applied to the model to assess which parameters influence the model output the most. creator: Crisanto L. Abas creator: Arrianne Crystal Velasco creator: Carlene Arceo uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18076 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Abas et al. title: Genotype-specific responses to in vitro drought stress in myrtle (Myrtus communis L.): integrating machine learning techniques link: https://peerj.com/articles/18081 last-modified: 2024-10-07 description: BackgroundMyrtle (Myrtus communis L.), native to the Mediterranean region of Türkiye, is a valuable plant with applications in traditional medicine, pharmaceuticals, and culinary practices. Understanding how myrtle responds to water stress is essential for sustainable cultivation as climate change exacerbates drought conditions.MethodsThis study investigated the performance of selected myrtle genotypes under in vitro drought stress by employing tissue culture techniques, rooting trials, and acclimatization processes. Genotypes were tested under varying polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentrations (1%, 2%, 4%, and 6%). Machine learning (ML) algorithms, including Gaussian process (GP), support vector machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), were utilized to model and predict micropropagation and rooting efficiency.ResultsThe research revealed a genotype-dependent response to drought stress. Black-fruited genotypes exhibited higher micropropagation rates compared to white-fruited ones under stress conditions. The application of ML models successfully predicted micropropagation and rooting efficiency, providing insights into genotype performance.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that selecting drought-tolerant genotypes is crucial for enhancing myrtle cultivation. The results underscore the importance of genotype selection and optimization of cultivation practices to address climate change impacts. Future research should explore the molecular mechanisms of stress responses to refine breeding strategies and improve resilience in myrtle and similar economically important crops. creator: Ümit Bektaş creator: Musab A. Isak creator: Taner Bozkurt creator: Dicle Dönmez creator: Tolga İzgü creator: Mehmet Tütüncü creator: Özhan Simsek uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18081 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Bektaş et al. title: Longitudinal relations between non-suicidal self-injury and both depression and anxiety among senior high school adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18134 last-modified: 2024-10-07 description: BackgroundComorbidity between non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and depression and anxiety was common. In the framework of network theory, the examination of directionality and gender differences in longitudinal relationships at the symptom level made a significant contribution to the understanding of comorbidity. Therefore, this study employed cross-lagged panel network analysis to investigate the longitudinal interrelations between NSSI and depression and anxiety in Chinese adolescents, with a focus on gender differences.MethodThe study was conducted with a sample of 884 senior high school students (F/M: 481/403; mean age: 15.19 ± 0.48 years) from Jinchang City, Gansu Province, China. All respondents completed the Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire and the two subscales (depression and anxiety) of the Brief Symptom Inventory at two intervals. The data were estimated in R 4.2.0 to construct the cross-lagged panel network (CLPN).ResultsThe CLPN results uncovered the gender differences. For boys, self-hitting and feeling scared emerged as central symptoms. Cutting predicted subsequent feelings of sadness (β =  − 0.57), tension (β =  − 0.52) and indifference (β =  − 0.49), potentially serving as a bridge connecting NSSI to depression and anxiety. For girls, biting themselves and feeling scared were central symptoms. Carving and skin rubbing predicted subsequent feelings of indifference (β =  − 0.31, −0.21), bridging NSSI to depression and anxiety. In addition, feeling scared emerged as the key bridge symptom connecting depression and anxiety.ConclusionThe findings showed the gender-specific developmental characteristics of the directional relations between NSSI and depression and anxiety at the symptom level. They provided new insights into the comorbidity of NSSI and depression and anxiety, carrying important implications for the screening and intervention of adolescent NSSI. creator: Haiyan Zhao creator: Aibao Zhou uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18134 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Zhao and Zhou title: Licorice-root extract and potassium sorbate spray improved the yield and fruit quality and decreased heat stress of the ‘osteen’ mango cultivar link: https://peerj.com/articles/18200 last-modified: 2024-10-07 description: Heat stress, low mango yields and inconsistent fruit quality are main challenges for growers. Recently, licorice-root extract (LRE) has been utilized to enhance vegetative growth, yield, and tolerance to abiotic stresses in fruit trees. Potassium sorbate (PS) also plays a significant role in various physiological and biochemical processes that are essential for mango growth, quality and abiotic stress tolerance. This work aimed to elucidate the effects of foliar sprays containing LRE and PS on the growth, yield, fruit quality, total chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzymes of ‘Osteen’ mango trees. The mango trees were sprayed with LRE at 0, 2, 4 and 6 g/L and PS 0, 1, 2, and 3 mM. In mid-May, the mango trees were sprayed with a foliar solution, followed by monthly applications until 1 month before harvest. The results showed that trees with the highest concentration (6 g/L) of LRE exhibited the maximum leaf area, followed by those treated with the highest concentration (3 mM) of PS. Application of LRE and PS to Osteen mango trees significantly enhanced fruit weight, number of fruits per tree, yield (kg/tree), yield increasing%, and reduced number of sun-burned fruits compared to the control. LRE and PS foliar sprays to Osteen mango trees significantly enhanced fruit total soluble solids ˚Brix, TSS/acid ratio, and vitamin C content compared to the control. Meanwhile, total acidity percentage in ‘Osteen’ mango fruits significantly decreased after both LRE and PS foliar sprays. ‘Osteen’ mango trees showed a significant increase in leaf area, total chlorophyll content, total pigments, and leaf carotenoids. Our results suggest that foliar sprays containing LRE and PS significantly improved growth parameters, yield, fruit quality, antioxidant content, and total pigment concentration in ‘Osteen’ mango trees. Moreover, the most effective treatments were 3 mM PS and 6 g/L LRE. LRE and PS foliar spray caused a significant increase in yield percentage by 305.77%, and 232.44%, in the first season, and 242.55%, 232.44% in the second season, respectively. creator: Adel M. Al-Saif creator: Haitham Ahmed El-khamissi creator: Ibrahim Ahmed Elnaggar creator: Mohammed Hamdy Farouk creator: Magdy Abd El-Wahab Omar creator: Abd El-wahed Naser Abd El-wahed creator: Ashraf Ezzat Hamdy creator: Hosny Fathy Abdel-Aziz uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18200 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2024 Al-Saif et al. title: A novel gene silencing strategy based on tobacco rattle virus in Hibiscus mutabilis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18211 last-modified: 2024-10-07 description: BackgroundHibiscus mutabilis L. is a popular regional characteristic plant in China, cultivated for its attractive flower colors, extended bloom time, and medicinal properties. To enhance molecular breeding and gene function studies, we conducted transcriptome analysis and identified valuable genes in previous research. Nonetheless, the current inefficient and labor-intensive transformation techniques have hindered their applications. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) provides a precise and effective strategy for post-transcriptional down-regulation of endogenous gene expression.MethodsWe investigated the performance of tobacco rattle virus (TRV) as a tool for targeting and silencing the gene encoding the protein involved in chloroplast development, cloroplastos alterados 1 (altered chloroplast; CLA1), of H. mutabilis through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated infiltration.ResultsBy effectively suppressing the CLA1 gene associated with chloroplast development in H. mutabilis via the TRV-VIGS system, we have illustrated the inaugural implementation of VIGS in this species. Quantitative RT-PCR proved that HmCLA1 expression in agro-infiltrated plants was lower than in the mock-infiltrated (mock) and the control (CK) plants. Phenotypic observations corroborated the albino phenotype in leaves following successful HmCLA1 silencing.ConclusionsOur study showcases TRV-VIGS as a potential gene silencing tool for H. mutabilis, facilitating functional genomics studies and molecular breeding efforts in this species. creator: Shiye Sang creator: Yiqiong Liu creator: Xiu Li creator: Jiao Ma creator: Xiaoli Liu creator: Yuanzhao Yang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18211 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2024 Sang et al. title: Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Intermittent Self-Catheterization Questionnaire (ISC-Q) link: https://peerj.com/articles/18226 last-modified: 2024-10-07 description: BackgroundThe intermittent self-catheterization questionnaire (ISC-Q) is a valid and reliable tool to assess the quality of life (QOL) in patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) who engage in ISC. The aim of this research is to culturally adapt the ISC-Q and evaluate its psychometric properties within the Chinese patient population.MethodsThe cross-sectional research was meticulously conducted in two pivotal stages: initially, the focus was on cross-cultural adaptation, followed by an extensive phase of psychometric testing. This comprehensive analysis involved 405 Chinese patients with NLUTD who use ISC. Various analyses, including evaluations of the floor and ceiling effects, item analysis, content validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA), assessments of convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. Additionally, Cronbach’s alpha was utilized to determine internal consistency, and test-retest reliability was measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsNo floor and ceiling effects were observed. The content validity index was 0.967. The EFA identified four factors, accounting for 64.953% of the total variance, and this four-factor structure was confirmed by the CFA. The fit indices in CFA were favorable, with χ2/df = 1.999, root mean square error of approximation = 0.070, comparative fit index = 0.916, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.900, goodness-of-fit index = 0.863, and incremental fit index = 0.917. The average variance extracted for the four factors ranged from 0.466 to 0.565, with composite reliability values ranging from 0.776 to 0.859. The ISC-Q showed a positive correlation with the intermittent self-catheterization acceptance questionnaire (r = 0.557, P < 0.001). The ICC overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the questionnaire was 0.821, and the for test-retest reliability was 0.951 (95% CI [0.900–0.976] P < 0.001).ConclusionThe validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the ISC-Q have been verified, making it suitable for measuring the QOL in NLUTD patients who practice ISC. creator: Yingjie Hu creator: Fengming Hao creator: Ling Chen creator: Ying Wang creator: Laifu Wang creator: Dan Wu creator: Wei Ren creator: Wenzhi Cai uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18226 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2024 Hu et al. title: Genome-wide association study reveals genetic basis and candidate genes for chlorophyll content of leaves in maize (Zea mays L.) link: https://peerj.com/articles/18278 last-modified: 2024-10-07 description: The chlorophyll content (CC) directly affects photosynthesis, growth, and yield. However, the genetic basis of CC is still unclear in maize (Zea mays L.). Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study using mixed linear model for CC of the fifth leaves at seedling stage (CCFSS) and the ear leaves at filling stage (CCEFS) for 334 maize inbred lines. The heritability estimates for CCFSS and CCEFS, obtained via variance components analysis using the lme4 package in R, were 70.84% and 78.99%, respectively, indicating that the CC of leaves is primarily controlled by genetic factors. A total of 15 CC-related SNPs and 177 candidate genes were identified with a p-value < 4.49 × 10−5, which explained 4.98–7.59% of the phenotypic variation. Lines with more favorable gene variants showed higher CC. Meanwhile, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis implied that these candidate genes were probably related to chlorophyll biosynthesis. In addition, gene-based association analyses revealed that six variants in GRMZM2G037152, GRMZM5G816561, GRMZM2G324462, and GRMZM2G064657 genes were significantly (p-value < 0.01) correlated with CC, of which GRMZM2G064657 (encodes a phosphate transporter protein) and GRMZM5G816561 (encodes a cytochrome P450 protein) were specifically highly expressed in leaves tissues. Interestingly, these candidate genes were previously reported to involve in the regulation of the contents of chlorophyll in plants or Chlamydomonas. These results may contribute to the understanding of genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of maize CC and the selection of maize varieties with improved CC. creator: Peng Liu creator: Chenchaoyang Xiang creator: Kai Liu creator: Hong Yu creator: Zhengqiao Liao creator: Yaou Shen creator: Lei Liu creator: Langlang Ma uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18278 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Liu et al.