title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=280 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Insects’ perception and behavioral responses to plant semiochemicals link: https://peerj.com/articles/17735 last-modified: 2024-07-17 description: Insect-plant interactions are shaped by the exchange of chemical cues called semiochemicals, which play a vital role in communication between organisms. Plants release a variety of volatile organic compounds in response to environmental cues, such as herbivore attacks. These compounds play a crucial role in mediating the interactions between plants and insects. This review provides an in-depth analysis of plant semiochemicals, encompassing their classification, current understanding of extraction, identification, and characterization using various analytical techniques, including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The article also delves into the manner in which insects perceive and respond to plant semiochemicals, as well as the impact of environmental factors on plant odor emission and insect orientation. Furthermore, it explores the underlying mechanisms by which insects perceive and interpret these chemical cues, and how this impacts their behavioral responses, including feeding habits, oviposition patterns, and mating behaviors. Additionally, the potential applications of plant semiochemicals in integrated pest management strategies are explored. This review provides insight into the intricate relationships between plants and insects mediated by semiochemicals, highlighting the significance of continued research in this field to better understand and leverage these interactions for effective pest control. creator: Diriba Fufa Serdo uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17735 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Serdo title: Genome-wide identification of gene families related to miRNA biogenesis in Mangifera indica L. and their possible role during heat stress link: https://peerj.com/articles/17737 last-modified: 2024-07-17 description: Mango is a popular tropical fruit that requires quarantine hot water treatment (QHWT) for postharvest sanitation, which can cause abiotic stress. Plants have various defense mechanisms to cope with stress; miRNAs mainly regulate the expression of these defense responses. Proteins involved in the biogenesis of miRNAs include DICER-like (DCL), ARGONAUTE (AGO), HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 (HYL1), SERRATE (SE), HUA ENHANCER1 (HEN1), HASTY (HST), and HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN 90 (HSP90), among others. According to our analysis, the mango genome contains five DCL, thirteen AGO, six HYL, two SE, one HEN1, one HST, and five putative HSP90 genes. Gene structure prediction and domain identification indicate that sequences contain key domains for their respective gene families, including the RNase III domain in DCL and PAZ and PIWI domains for AGOs. In addition, phylogenetic analysis indicates the formation of clades that include the mango sequences and their respective orthologs in other flowering plant species, supporting the idea these are functional orthologs. The analysis of cis-regulatory elements of these genes allowed the identification of MYB, ABRE, GARE, MYC, and MeJA-responsive elements involved in stress responses. Gene expression analysis showed that most genes are induced between 3 to 6 h after QHWT, supporting the early role of miRNAs in stress response. Interestingly, our results suggest that mango rapidly induces the production of miRNAs after heat stress. This research will enable us to investigate further the regulation of gene expression and its effects on commercially cultivated fruits, such as mango, while maintaining sanitary standards. creator: Andrés G. López-Virgen creator: Mitzuko Dautt-Castro creator: Lourdes K. Ulloa-Llanes creator: Sergio Casas-Flores creator: Carmen A. Contreras-Vergara creator: Miguel A. Hernández-Oñate creator: Rogerio R. Sotelo-Mundo creator: Rosabel Vélez-de la Rocha creator: Maria A. Islas-Osuna uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17737 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 López-Virgen et al. title: Cellular uptake of allicin in the hCMEC/D3 human brain endothelial cells: exploring blood-brain barrier penetration in an in vitro model link: https://peerj.com/articles/17742 last-modified: 2024-07-17 description: BackgroundAllicin, a bioactive compound derived from garlic (Allium sativum), demonstrates antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria including the most common meningitis pathogens. In order to advocate for allicin as a potential therapeutic candidate for bacterial meningitis, the present study aimed to assess the ability of allicin to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using an in vitro model.MethodsThe cell viability of the human brain endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3 after incubation with various concentrations of allicin was investigated using an MTT assay at 3 and 24 h. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of allicin-treated hCMEC/D3 cells was examined at 3 h. The concentrations of allicin that were not toxic to the cells, as determined by the MTT assay, and did not significantly increase ROS generation, were then used to investigate allicin’s ability to traverse the in vitro BBB model for 3 h. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was utilized to examine the allicin concentration capable of passing the in vitro BBB model. The cellular uptake experiments were subsequently performed to observe the uptake of allicin into hCMEC/D3 cells. The pkCSM online tool was used to predict the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and pharmacokinetic properties of allicin and S-allylmercaptoglutathione (GSSA).ResultsThe results from MTT assay indicated that the highest non-toxicity concentration of allicin on hCMEC/D3 cells was 5 µg/ml at 3 h and 2 µg/ml at 24 h. Allicin significantly enhanced ROS production of hCMEC/D3 cells at 10 µg/ml at 3 h. After applying the non-toxicity concentrations of allicin (0.5–5 µg/ml) to the in vitro BBB model for 3 h, allicin was not detectable in both apical and basolateral chambers in the presence of hCMEC/D3 cells. On the contrary, allicin was detected in both chambers in the absence of the cells. The results from cellular uptake experiments at 3 h revealed that hCMEC/D3 cells at 1 × 104 cells could uptake allicin at concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 2 µg/ml. Moreover, allicin uptake of hCMEC/D3 cells was proportional to the cell number, and the cells at 5 × 104 could completely uptake allicin at a concentration of 5 µg/ml within 0.5 h. The topological polar surface area (TPSA) predicting for allicin was determined to be 62.082 Å2, indicating its potential ability to cross the BBB. Additionally, the calculated logBB value surpassing 0.3 suggests that the compound may exhibit ease of penetration through the BBB.ConclusionThe present results suggested that allicin was rapidly taken up by hCMEC/D3 cells in vitro BBB model. The prediction results of allicin’s distribution patterns suggested that the compound possesses the capability to enter the brain. creator: Kankawi Satsantitham creator: Pishyaporn Sritangos creator: Sirawit Wet-osot creator: Nuannoi Chudapongse creator: Oratai Weeranantanapan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17742 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Satsantitham et al. title: Performance of risk prediction models for diabetic foot ulcer: a meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/17770 last-modified: 2024-07-17 description: BackgroundThe number of prediction models for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) risk is increasing, but their methodological quality and clinical applicability are uncertain. We conducted a systematic review to assess their performance.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases up to 10 February 2024 and extracted relevant information from selected prediction models. The Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool (PROBAST) checklist was used to assess bias risk and applicability. All statistical analyses were conducted in Stata 14.0.ResultsInitially, 13,562 studies were retrieved, leading to the inclusion of five development and five validation models from eight studies. DFU incidence ranged from 6% to 16.8%, with age and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) commonly used as predictive factors. All included studies had a high risk of bias, mainly due to disparities in population characteristics and methodology. In the meta-analysis, we observed area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.78 (95% CI [0.69–0.89]) for development models and 0.84 (95% CI [0.79–0.90]) for validation models.ConclusionDFU risk prediction models show good overall accuracy, but there is a risk of bias. Adherence to the PROBAST checklist is crucial for improving their clinical applicability. creator: Panpan Guo creator: Yujie Tu creator: Ruiyan Liu creator: Zihui Gao creator: Mengyu Du creator: Yu Fu creator: Ying Wang creator: Shuxun Yan creator: Xin Shang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17770 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Guo et al. title: Wearable accelerometers reveal objective assessment of walking symmetry and regularity in idiopathic scoliosis patients link: https://peerj.com/articles/17739 last-modified: 2024-07-16 description: BackgroundScoliosis is a multifaceted three-dimensional deformity that significantly affects patients’ balance function and walking process. While existing research primarily focuses on spatial and temporal parameters of walking and trunk/pelvic kinematics asymmetry, there remains controversy regarding the symmetry and regularity of bilateral lower limb gait. This study aims to investigate the symmetry and regularity of bilateral lower limb gait and examine the balance control strategy of the head during walking in patients with idiopathic scoliosis.MethodsThe study involved 17 patients with idiopathic scoliosis of Lenke 1 and Lenke 5 classifications, along with 17 healthy subjects for comparison. Three-dimensional accelerometers were attached to the head and L5 spinous process of each participant, and three-dimensional motion acceleration signals were collected during a 10-meter walking test. Analysis of the collected acceleration signals involved calculating five variables related to the symmetry and regularity of walking: root mean square (RMS) of the acceleration signal, harmonic ratio (HR), step regularity, stride regularity, and gait symmetry.ResultsOur analysis reveals that, during the walking process, the three-dimensional motion acceleration signals acquired from the lumbar region of patients diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis exhibit noteworthy disparities in the RMS of the vertical axis (RMS-VT) and the HR of the vertical axis (HR-VT) when compared to the corresponding values in the healthy control (RMS-VT: 1.6 ± 0.41 vs. 3 ± 0.47, P < 0.05; HR-VT: 3 ± 0.72 vs. 3.9 ± 0.71, P < 0.05). Additionally, the motion acceleration signals of the head in three-dimensional space, including the RMS in the anterior-posterior and vertical axis, the HR-VT, and the values of step regularity in both anterior-posterior and vertical axis, as well as the values of stride regularity in all three axes, are all significantly lower than those in the healthy control group (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe findings of the analysis suggest that the application of three-dimensional accelerometer sensors proves efficacious and convenient for scrutinizing the symmetry and regularity of walking in individuals with idiopathic scoliosis. Distinctive irregularities in gait symmetry and regularity manifest in patients with idiopathic scoliosis, particularly within the antero-posterior and vertical direction. Moreover, the dynamic balance control strategy of the head in three-dimensional space among patients with idiopathic scoliosis exhibits a relatively conservative nature when compared to healthy individuals. creator: Xiaopeng Gan creator: Xin Liu creator: Danxian Cai creator: Rongbin Zhang creator: Fanqiang Li creator: Haohuang Fang creator: Jingrou Huang creator: Chenguang Qiu creator: Hongrui Zhan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17739 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Gan et al. title: Production of recombinant human epidermal growth factor fused with HaloTag protein and characterisation of its biological functions link: https://peerj.com/articles/17806 last-modified: 2024-07-16 description: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) protein is a crucial biomolecule involved in regulating cell growth, proliferation, migration and differentiation, which is used in various therapeutic applications, such as wound healing and tissue regeneration. The production of recombinant EGF is essential for studying its biological function and for its clinical translation. However, EGF protein expressed in prokaryotic cells often occurs in inclusion bodies, and co-expression with soluble tag protein is an effective method to prepare recombinant EGF. In this study, we expressed recombinant human EGF (rhEGF) fused to a HaloTag (Halo-rhEGF) and a large portion of Halo-rhEGF was found in the soluble fraction. Cell growth assay showed that the purified Halo-rhEGF protein could promote the proliferation of fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) and epithelial cells (HaCaT), and significantly increased their viability. Phosphorylation of the intracellular signaling proteins, ERK1/2 and c-Jun, was stimulated by treatment with Halo-rhEGF and the expression levels of proteins regulating cell proliferation were significantly increased. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that rhEGF could increase the transcription of genes enriched in ribosome generation and cell proliferation. Moreover, Halo-rhEGF can be labelled by HaloTag ligand for fluorescence imaging and can be slowly released in tissue repair by binding to anion biomaterials. In conclusion, HaloTag is an efficient fusion tag for rhEGF protein expression, purification and controlled release, and Halo-rhEGF can promote the proliferation and viability of epithelial and fibroblast cells. creator: Mengru Bai creator: Yezhuo Liu creator: Hongyin Liu creator: Yangyang Jia creator: Xiangqin Tian creator: Changye Sun uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17806 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Bai et al. title: Aspergillus niger as an efficient biological agent for separator sludge remediation: two-level factorial design for optimal fermentation link: https://peerj.com/articles/17151 last-modified: 2024-07-15 description: BackgroundThe booming palm oil industry is in line with the growing population worldwide and surge in demand. This leads to a massive generation of palm oil mill effluent (POME). POME is composed of sterilizer condensate (SC), separator sludge (SS), and hydro-cyclone wastewater (HCW). Comparatively, SS exhibits the highest organic content, resulting in various environmental impacts. However, past studies mainly focused on treating the final effluent. Therefore, this pioneering research investigated the optimization of pollutant removal in SS via different aspects of bioremediation, including experimental conditions, treatment efficiencies, mechanisms, and degradation pathways.MethodsA two-level factorial design was employed to optimize the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity using Aspergillus niger. Bioremediation of SS was performed through submerged fermentation (SmF) under several independent variables, including temperature (20–40 °C), agitation speed (100–200 RPM), fermentation duration (72–240 h), and initial sample concentration (20–100%). The characteristics of the treated SS were then compared to that of raw sludge.ResultsOptimal COD and turbidity removal were achieved at 37 °C 100 RPM, 156 h, and 100% sludge. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant effect of selective individual and interacting variables (p < 0.05). The highest COD and turbidity removal were 97.43% and 95.11%, respectively, with less than 5% error from the predicted values. Remarkably, the selected optimized conditions also reduced other polluting attributes, namely, biological oxygen demand (BOD), oil and grease (OG), color, and carbon content. In short, this study demonstrated the effectiveness of A. niger in treating SS through the application of a two-level factorial design. creator: Paveethra Thegarathah creator: Jegalakshimi Jewaratnam creator: Khanom Simarani creator: Amal A.M. Elgharbawy uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17151 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Thegarathah et al. title: Evaluation of the association of physical activity levels with self-perceived health, depression, and anxiety in Spanish individuals with high cholesterol levels: a retrospective cross-sectional study link: https://peerj.com/articles/17169 last-modified: 2024-07-15 description: BackgroundHypercholesterolemia is the most common form of dyslipidaemia in the world leading to negative health effects, both physical and mental. Physical activity (PA) can reduce total cholesterol and has positive effects on mental health. This retrospective cross-sectional study analyses the relationships between physical activity level (PAL), self-perceived health (SPH) and mental health.MethodsThis study was based on data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 (SNHS 2017), with 3,176 Spanish adults with high cholesterol as participants. Non-parametric tests were used as the data did not follow normality.ResultsDependent relationships were found between PAL and SPH, depression and anxiety. Women had higher depression and anxiety prevalences than men, while men were more likely to report being very active, although the proportion of walkers was higher in women. The physically inactive population presented higher negative SPH, depression and anxiety proportions and psychological distress than physically active people.ConclusionThe physically inactive people had a higher risk of negative SPH, depression and anxiety. Regular PA may improve SPH and mental health in people with high cholesterol, but more studies are needed to establish causal relationships, mechanisms, and optimal doses. creator: Ángel Denche-Zamorano creator: Jofre Pisà-Canyelles creator: Sabina Barrios-Fernández creator: Antonio Castillo-Paredes creator: Raquel Pastor-Cisneros creator: Maria Mendoza-Muñoz creator: Diana Salas Gómez creator: Cristina Mendoza Holgado uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17169 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Denche-Zamorano et al. title: The skull of the Turks and Caicos rock iguana, Cyclura carinata (Squamata: Iguanidae) link: https://peerj.com/articles/17595 last-modified: 2024-07-15 description: We provide a detailed and first description of the skull, hyoid apparatus, and trachea of the Turks and Caicos rock iguana, Cyclura carinata (Squamata: Iguanidae). Cyclura is a radiation of iguanas restricted to islands of the Caribbean Sea. Species of Cyclura have high rates of endemism, and all species are severely threatened with extinction. Our anatomical description of this threatened iguana is based on high-resolution computed tomography scans of one adult, one putative adult or near adult, and one juvenile specimen, and includes three-dimensional segmented renderings and visualizations. We discuss some observations of intraspecific and ontogenetic variation, and provide a brief comparison with specimens of another species of Cyclura and published descriptions of other iguanas. Our study provides a cranial osteological framework for Cyclura and augments the body of knowledge on iguana anatomy generally. Finally, we posit that our description and future studies may facilitate identification of fossil Cyclura, which could help understand the paleobiogeography of the genus. creator: Chloe Lai creator: Simon G. Scarpetta uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17595 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Lai and Scarpetta title: Effects of five types of exercise on vascular function in postmenopausal women: a network meta-analysis and systematic review of 32 randomized controlled trials link: https://peerj.com/articles/17621 last-modified: 2024-07-15 description: BackgroundAs women age, especially after menopause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence rises, posing a significant global health concern. Regular exercise can mitigate CVD risks by improving blood pressure and lipid levels in postmenopausal women. Yet, the optimal exercise modality for enhancing vascular structure and function in this demographic remains uncertain. This study aims to compare five exercise forms to discern the most effective interventions for reducing cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.MethodsThe study searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, EBSCO, and Embase databases. It conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on five exercise interventions: continuous endurance training (CET), interval training (INT), resistance training (RT), aerobic combined with resistance training (CT), and hybrid-type training (HYB). Outcome measures included carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), nitric oxide (NO), augmentation index (AIx), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery. Eligible studies were assessed for bias using the Cochrane tool. A frequentist random-effects NMA was employed to rank exercise effects, calculating standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsThe analysis of 32 studies (n = 1,427) indicates significant increases in FMD with CET, INT, RT, and HYB in postmenopausal women. Reductions in PWV were significant with CET, INT, RT, CT, and HYB. AIx decreased significantly with INT and HYB. CET, INT, and CT significantly increased NO levels. However, no significant reduction in IMT was observed. SUCRA probabilities show INT as most effective for increasing FMD, CT for reducing PWV, INT for decreasing AIx, CT for lowering IMT, and INT for increasing NO in postmenopausal women.ConclusionThe study demonstrates that CET, INT, RT, and HYB have a significant positive impact on FMD in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, all five forms of exercise significantly enhance PWV in this population. INT and HYB were found to have a significant positive effect on AIx in postmenopausal women, while CET, INT, and CT were found to significantly improve NO levels. For improving vascular function in postmenopausal women, it is recommended to prioritize INT and CT exercise modalities. On the other hand, as CET and RT were not ranked at the top of the Sucra value ranking in this study and were less effective than INT and CT as exercise interventions to improve vascular function in postmenopausal women, it is not recommended that CET and RT be considered the preferred exercise modality. creator: Weihao Sun creator: Yanli Han creator: Song Gu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17621 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Sun et al.