title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=476 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Hand grip strength is inversely associated with total daily insulin dose requirement in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study link: https://peerj.com/articles/15761 last-modified: 2023-07-20 description: BackgroundShort-term (2 weeks to 3 months) insulin intensive therapy using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) can improve islet beta cell function and prolong glycemic remission in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the total daily insulin dose (TDD, IU/kg/d) required to achieve near-normoglycemic control with CSII still needs to be frequently adjusted based on blood glucose monitoring. Although real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM), which measures the interstitial fluid glucose concentration continuously without much difficulty, facilitates the adjustment of insulin dosage, its adoption in the T2DM population is strictly limited by insurance coverage and lack of awareness of rtCGM among clinicians. Thus, it is of clinical significance to identify easy-to-use parameters that may allow a more rapid and accurate prediction of TDD requirement. This study aimed to explore the association between hand grip strength (HGS) and TDD requirement in patients with T2DM receiving CSII therapy.MethodsA total of 180 eligible patients with T2DM were enrolled in the study and divided into three groups based on their HGS: low (L), medium (M), and high (H). The TDD requirement was calculated on day 7 or 8 of CSII treatment. Anthropometric parameters, including HGS, skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle index (SMI) and 6-m gait speed, and laboratory data, were collected on the morning of the second day after admission, within the first 24 h of CSII therapy. These parameters were used to identify significant predictors of TDD requirement using Pearson or Spearman correlation test, and stepwise multiple regression analysis.ResultsThere were no significant differences in age, duration of T2DM, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, liver function, estimated glomerular filtration rate, triglyceride, total cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and homeostasis model assessment of beta cell function (HOMA-β) among the groups. The H group had higher body muscle mass-to-fat ratio (BMFR), skeletal muscle mass-to-fat ratio (SMFR), SMI, 6-m gait speed, and lower TDD requirement than the M and L groups. The HGS negatively correlated with TDD requirement (r = −0.33, p < 0.001) after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, WHR, HbA1c, Ln (HOMA-β), Ln (HOMA-IR), Ln (BMFR), Ln (SMFR), SMI, and 6-m gait speed. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis indicated that HGS was an independent predictor of TDD requirement in patients with T2DM (β = −0.45, p < 0 001).ConclusionLower HGS is associated with an increased TDD requirement in T2DM patients. HGS may facilitate the prediction of TDD requirement in T2DM patients receiving CSII therapy. creator: Da-shuang Chen creator: Yun-qing Zhu creator: Wen-ji Ni creator: Yu-jiao Li creator: Guo-ping Yin creator: Zi-yue Shao creator: Jian Zhu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15761 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Chen et al. title: Effectiveness of a modified Balint group process on empathy and psychological skills employing Kirkpatrick’s evaluation framework link: https://peerj.com/articles/15279 last-modified: 2023-07-19 description: BackgroundTo evaluate, using Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model, a modified Balint group (BG) by adding 5–10 min at the end of the session, where the facilitators will debrief the residents about critical themes mentioned in the session.MethodsA quasi-experimental study with a mixed-method design was conducted among family medicine residents over 1 year, using focus groups and validated tools filled by residents and their corresponding patients. The residents’ empathy through self and patient evaluation, psychological skills, and satisfaction with the educational activity were measured.ResultsThe focus group revealed that the residents were aware of the change and considered it a closure to the encounter, helping decrease some uncertainty. Most of the residents did not consider the change helpful. Using validated instruments, BG was ineffective at improving the residents’ empathy and psychological skills. There was a statistically significant main effect of time on Psychological Medicine Inventory (PMI) scores, F (1,13) = 7.709, p = 0.016.ConclusionDebriefing at the end of BG by the facilitators about key themes may help give the residents closure, decrease the uncertainty, and make them more aware of their feelings. Nevertheless, Balint groups are still not very well accepted by the residents, and they prefer direct feedback and support groups. creator: Jumana Antoun creator: Beatrice Khater creator: Hala Itani creator: Jihane Naous creator: Maya Romani uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15279 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Antoun et al. title: Early root phenotyping in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) uncovers insights into root system architecture variability link: https://peerj.com/articles/15448 last-modified: 2023-07-19 description: BackgroundWe developed a novel, non-destructive, expandable, ebb and flow soilless phenotyping system to deliver a capable way to study early root system architectural traits in stem-derived adventitious roots of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.). The platform was designed to accommodate up to 12 stems in a relatively small area for root screening. This platform was designed with inexpensive materials and equipped with an automatic watering system.MethodsTo test this platform, we designed a screening experiment for root traits using two contrasting sweetpotato genotypes, ‘Covington’ and ‘NC10-275’. We monitored and imaged root growth, architecture, and branching patterns every five days up to 20 days.ResultsWe observed significant differences in both architectural and morphological root traits for both genotypes tested. After 10 days, root length, surface root area, and root volume were higher in ‘NC10-275’ compared to ‘Covington’. However, average root diameter and root branching density were higher in ‘Covington’.ConclusionThese results validated the effective and efficient use of this novel root phenotyping platforming for screening root traits in early stem-derived adventitious roots. This platform allowed for monitoring and 2D imaging of root growth over time with minimal disturbance and no destructive root sampling. This platform can be easily tailored for abiotic stress experiments, and permit root growth mapping and temporal and dynamic root measurements of primary and secondary adventitious roots. This phenotyping platform can be a suitable tool for examining root system architecture and traits of clonally propagated material for a large set of replicates in a relatively small space. creator: Luis O. Duque uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15448 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Duque title: Description and phylogenetic relationships of a new species of Torvoneustes (Crocodylomorpha, Thalattosuchia) from the Kimmeridgian of Switzerland link: https://peerj.com/articles/15512 last-modified: 2023-07-19 description: Metriorhynchids are marine crocodylomorphs found across Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous deposits of Europe and Central and South America. Despite being one of the oldest fossil families named in paleontology, the phylogenetic relationships within Metriorhynchidae have been subject to many revisions over the past 15 years. Herein, we describe a new metriorhynchid from the Kimmeridgian of Porrentruy, Switzerland. The material consists of a relatively complete, disarticulated skeleton preserving pieces of the skull, including the frontal, prefrontals, right postorbital, nasals, maxillae, right premaxillae and nearly the entire mandible, and many remains of the axial and appendicular skeleton such as cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae, ribs, the left ischium, the right femur, and the right fibula. This new specimen is referred to the new species Torvoneustes jurensis sp. nov. as part of the large-bodied macrophagous tribe Geosaurini. Torvoneustes jurensis presents a unique combination of cranial and dental characters including a smooth cranium, a unique frontal shape, acute ziphodont teeth, an enamel ornamentation made of numerous apicobasal ridges shifting to small ridges forming an anastomosed pattern toward the apex of the crown and an enamel ornamentation touching the carina. The description of this new species allows to take a new look at the currently proposed evolutionary trends within the genus Torvoneustes and provides new information on the evolution of this clade. creator: Léa C. Girard creator: Sophie De Sousa Oliveira creator: Irena Raselli creator: Jeremy E. Martin creator: Jérémy Anquetin uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15512 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Girard et al. title: Clustering U-14 Portuguese regional team football players by lower limb strength, power, dynamic balance, speed and change of direction: understanding the field position factor link: https://peerj.com/articles/15609 last-modified: 2023-07-19 description: ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to cluster U-14 Portuguese regional team football players based on variables related to lower limb strength and power, dynamic balance, linear sprint, and change of direction.MethodThe sample consisted of 22 young male soccer players (13.83 ± 0.44 years). A set of variables related to lower limb strength and power, dynamic balance, linear sprint, and change of direction was measured.ResultsOverall, a non-significant field position was observed. The countermovement jump (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.73), squat jump (p < 0.001), and 30 m linear sprint (p = 0.001) were the main variables responsible for establishing the clusters. Cluster 1 was characterized by a high slalom, i.e., it took longer to complete the test (speed and change of direction) and a low composite score in the dynamic balance. Cluster 2 was characterized by high squat jump, countermovement jump, and reactive strength ratio (lower limb strength and power). Cluster 3 was characterized by low squat jump and countermovement jump (lower limb strength and power), and a high 30 m sprint, i.e., it took longer to complete the test (speed and change of direction). Based on the results of the territorial map, the clusters consisted of: (i) cluster 1: two forwards, one midfielder, and five defenders; (ii) cluster 2: three forwards, two midfielders, and two defenders, and; (iii) cluster 3: four midfielders and three defenders.ConclusionsPlayers from different field positions composed the three clusters. There was no cluster composed exclusively of players of the same field position. The development of individualized and specific enrichment training programs should consider a cluster analysis, as the positional effect can be overlooked. creator: Tatiana Sampaio creator: Daniel Marinho creator: José Eduardo Teixeira creator: João Oliveira creator: Jorge Morais uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15609 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Sampaio et al. title: In silico identification and in vitro assessment of a potential anti-breast cancer activity of antimicrobial peptide retrieved from the ATMP1 Anabas testudineus fish peptide link: https://peerj.com/articles/15651 last-modified: 2023-07-19 description: A previous study has shown that synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from Anabas testudineus (ATMP1) could in-vitro inhibit the progression of breast cancer cell lines. In this study, we are interested in studying altered versions of previous synthetic AMPs to gain some insight into the peptides functions. The AMPs were altered and subjected to bioinformatics prediction using four databases (ADP3, CAMP-R3, AMPfun, and ANTICP) to select the highest anticancer activity. The bioinformatics in silico analysis led to the selection of two AMPs, which are ATMP5 (THPPTTTTTTTTTTTYTAAPATTT) and ATMP6 (THPPTTTTTTTTTTTTTAAPARTT). The in silico analysis predicted that ATMP5 and ATMP6 have anticancer activity and lead to cell death. The ATMP5 and ATMP6 were submitted to deep learning databases (ToxIBTL and ToxinPred2) to predict the toxicity of the peptides and to (AllerTOP & AllergenFP) check the allergenicity. The results of databases indicated that AMPs are non-toxic to normal human cells and allergic to human immunoglobulin. The bioinformatics findings led to select the highest active peptide ATMP5, which was synthesised and applied for in-vitro experiments using cytotoxicity assay MTT Assay, apoptosis detection using the Annexin V FTIC-A assay, and gene expression using Apoptosis PCR Array to evaluate the AMP’s anticancer activity. The antimicrobial activity is approved by the disc diffusion method. The in-vitro experiments analysis showed that ATMP5 had the activity to inhibit the growth of the breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) after 48 h and managed to arrest the cell cycle of the MDA-MB-231, apoptosis induction, and overexpression of the p53 by interaction with the related apoptotic genes. This research opened up new opportunities for developing potential and selective anticancer agents relying on antimicrobial peptide properties. creator: Douglas Law creator: Ahmed Abdulkareem Najm creator: Jia Xuan Chong creator: Joelene Zi Ying K’ng creator: Mas Amran creator: Huey Lih Ching creator: Rui Rui Wong creator: May Ho Leong creator: Ibrahim Mahmood Mahdi creator: Shazrul Fazry uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15651 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Law et al. title: Effects of salt stress on seed germination and respiratory metabolism in different Flueggea suffruticosa genotypes link: https://peerj.com/articles/15668 last-modified: 2023-07-19 description: The selection and utilization of ornamental plants that are highly tolerant to salt are helpful for landscape construction and the ecological protection of coastal and arid areas. To evaluate salt tolerance, one of the most used methods is the observation of seed germination under salt stress. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the influence of different concentrations of NaCl in water absorption, germination, and respiratory metabolism in seeds of different Flueggea suffruticosa genotypes. P2 and P27, salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant line s of F. suffruticosa, were chosen for treatment with 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240 mM NaCl. F. suffruticosa under salt stress exhibited inhibition of seed germination. The seeds of F. suffruticosa have different times for the physiological phases of water absorption with different NaCl concentrations. Salt stress retarded the seed water absorption process, and it depended on seed genotypes for F. suffruticosa. Soluble sugars accumulated in both P2 and P27 under salt stress. Meanwhile, the activities of hexokinase, 6-phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were overall increased in P27 after salt treatment, which caused increases in pyruvic acid and citric acid. The citrate synthase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities decreased in P2. These results suggest that the respiratory metabolism of salt-tolerant F. suffruticosa was enhanced, compared with the salt-sensitive line, to ameliorate the repression of seed germination under salt stress. The different changes in respiratory metabolism could influence the degree of salt tolerance. creator: Ningwei Xu creator: Bin Lu creator: Yang Wang creator: Xiaoyue Yu creator: Nan Yao creator: Qijuan Lin creator: Xingyou Xu creator: Bingshe Lu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15668 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2023 Xu et al. title: Whistle characterization of long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis bairdii) in La Paz Bay, Gulf of California link: https://peerj.com/articles/15687 last-modified: 2023-07-19 description: Long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis bairdii) distribution is limited to the Eastern North Pacific Ocean. Its whistle repertoire is poorly investigated, with no studies in the Gulf of California. The aim of the present study is to characterize the whistles of this species and compare their parameters with different populations. Acoustic monitoring was conducted in La Paz Bay, Gulf of California. Recordings were inspected in spectrogram view in Raven Pro, selecting good quality whistles (n = 270). In the software Luscinia, contours were manually traced to obtain whistle frequencies and duration. Number of steps, inflection points and contour type were visually determined. We calculated the descriptive statistics of the selected whistle parameters and we compared the results with a dolphins population from the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) was performed to test the intraspecific variation of the whistle parameters among groups. In the present study the mean values (±SD) of the whistle parameters were: maximum frequency = 14.13 ± 3.71 kHz, minimum frequency = 8.44 ± 2.58 kHz and duration = 0.44 ± 0.31 s. Whistles with the upsweep contour were the most common ones (34.44%). The coefficient of variation (CV) values for modulation parameters were high (>100%), in accordance with other studies on dolphins. Whistle parameters showed significant differences among groups. Finally, ending and maximum frequencies, duration and inflection points of the whistles recorded in the present study were lower compared with the parameters of the long-beaked common dolphins from the Eastern Pacific Ocean. This study provides the first whistle characterization of long-beaked common dolphin from the Gulf of California and it will help future passive acoustic monitoring applications in the study area. creator: Óscar Carlón-Beltrán creator: Lorena Viloria-Gómora creator: Jorge Urbán R. creator: Sergio Martínez-Aguilar creator: Simone Antichi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15687 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Carlón-Beltrán et al. title: Investigating the relationship between inbreeding and life expectancy in dogs: mongrels live longer than pure breeds link: https://peerj.com/articles/15718 last-modified: 2023-07-19 description: This study aimed to investigate the establishment of relationship between inbreeding and life expectancy in dogs. A dataset of N = 30,563 dogs sourced from the VetCompass™ Program, UK was made available by the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, containing information about breed and longevity and was subject to survival analysis. A Cox regression proportional hazards model was used to differentiate survivability in three groups of dogs (mongrel, cross-bred and pure breed). The model was found highly significant (p < 0.001) and we found that mongrel dog had the highest life expectancy, followed by cross-bred dogs with only one purebred ancestor and purebred dogs had the lowest life expectancy. A second Cox regression was also found highly significant (p < 0.001) differentiating the lifespan of different dog breed and correlating positively the hazard ratio and the Genetic Illness Severity Index for Dogs (GISID). The results show that survivability is higher in mongrel dogs followed by cross-bred with one of the ancestor only as a pure breed, and pure breed dog have the highest morbidity level. Higher morbidity is associated with higher GISID scores, and therefore, higher inbreeding coefficients. These findings have important implications for dog breeders, owners, and animal welfare organizations seeking to promote healthier, longer-lived dogs. creator: Fernando Mata creator: Andreia Mata uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15718 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Mata et al. title: Difference in the recruitment of intrinsic foot muscles in the elderly under static and dynamic postural conditions link: https://peerj.com/articles/15719 last-modified: 2023-07-19 description: BackgroundThe effect of foot, especially intrinsic muscles, on postural control and its related mechanisms remain unclear due to the complex structure. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the activation of intrinsic foot muscles in the elderly under static and dynamic postural tasks.MethodsTwenty-one elderly participants were included to perform different postural tests (sensory organization test (SOT), motor control test (MCT), limit of stability test (LOS), and unilateral stance test) by a NeuroCom Balance Manager System. The participants were instructed to maintain postural stability under conditions with combined different sensory inputs (vision, vestibular, and proprioception) in SOT as well as conditions with translation disturbance in MCT, and to perform an active weight-shifting tasks in LOS. During these tasks, muscle activation were simultaneously acquired from intrinsic foot muscles (abductor halluces (AbH) and flexor digitorum brevis (FDB)) and ankle muscles (anterior tibialis, medial head of gastrocnemius, lateral head of gastrocnemius, and peroneus longus). The root-mean-square amplitude of these muscles in postural tasks was calculated and normalized with the EMG activity in unilateral stance task.ResultsThe activation of intrinsic foot muscles significantly differed among different SOT tasks (p < 0.001). Post-hoc tests showed that compared with that under normal condition 1 without sensory interference, EMGs increased significantly under sensory disturbance (conditions 2–6). By contrast, compared with that under the single-sensory disturbed conditions (conditions 2–4; 2 for disturbed vision, 3 for disturbed vestibular sensation, 4 for disturbed proprioception), activation was significantly greater under the dual-sensory disturbed postural tasks (conditions 5 and 6; 5 for disturbed vision and proprioception, 6 for disturbed vestibular sensation and proprioception). In MCT, EMGs of foot muscles increased significantly under different translation speeds (p < 0.001). In LOS, moderate and significant correlations were found between muscle activations and postural stability parameters (AbH, r = 0. 355–0.636, p < 0.05; FDB, r = 0.336–0.622, p < 0.05).ConclusionIntrinsic foot muscles play a complementary role to regulate postural stability when disturbances occur. In addition, the recruitment magnitude of intrinsic foot muscles is positively correlated with the limit of stability, indicating their contribution to increasing the limits of stability in the elderly. creator: Zhangqi Lai creator: Ruiyan Wang creator: Bangguo Zhou creator: Jing Chen creator: Lin Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.15719 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Lai et al.