title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=587 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Senile dementia and psychiatric stigma among community health service providers and relatives of diagnosed and suspected dementia patients: a cross-sectional study link: https://peerj.com/articles/14613 last-modified: 2023-01-11 description: BackgroundThe number of people suffering from dementia is increasing rapidly in China. Early identification, referral, and intervention for dementia patients within communities are important to public health. However, these measures could be impacted by misconceptions about dementia and associated psychiatric stigma from community health professionals and relatives of dementia patients.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 249 participants, which included community doctors, community nurses, and relatives of diagnosed and suspected dementia patients in Guiyang, China. Participants were recruited through convenient sampling. The Chinese version of Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS) and the Perceived Psychiatric Stigma Scale (PPSS) were used to evaluate the participants’ knowledge of dementia and dementia-related psychiatric stigma.ResultsA total of 249 participants completed the questionnaire. The participants had moderate overall knowledge of dementia and the associated psychiatric stigma. Participants who were ≥45 years old, had a low level of education, had a low monthly income, or gained knowledge of dementia through non-media channels had lower awareness of dementia and stronger psychiatric stigma. In the “Communication & behavior” subscale of DKAS, all participants had a low level of awareness. Relatives of diagnosed and suspected dementia patients had higher total PPSS and “Marital preclusion” subscale scores than community doctors and nurses but lower psychiatric stigma based on the PPSS “Self-deprecation” subscale score.ConclusionsDespite their profession, community doctors and nurses did not show an absolute advantage over relatives of diagnosed and suspected dementia patients in the dementia knowledge, and they even showed higher psychiatric stigma in some subscales. The self-deprecation subscale is related to the identification with negative labels such as “people with a mental illness are the weak”. This study shows that reducing stigma on the “Self-deprecation” subscale should be a core component of training and educational programs targeted at improving dementia knowledge among community health service providers. creator: Qiwen Zhang creator: Jing Deng creator: Huanyue Luo creator: Li Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14613 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Zhang et al. title: Anatomical and physiological responses of Aechmea blanchetiana (Bromeliaceae) induced by silicon and sodium chloride stress during in vitro culture link: https://peerj.com/articles/14624 last-modified: 2023-01-11 description: Salt stress is one of the most severe abiotic stresses affecting plant growth and development. The application of silicon (Si) is an alternative that can increase the tolerance of plants to various types of biotic and abiotic stresses. The objective was to evaluate salt stress’s effect in vitro and Si’s mitigation potential on Aechmea blanchetiana plants. For this purpose, plants already established in vitro were transferred to a culture medium with 0 or 14 µM of Si (CaSiO3). After growth for 30 days, a stationary liquid medium containing different concentrations of NaCl (0, 100, 200, or 300 µM) was added to the flasks. Anatomical and physiological analyses were performed after growth for 45 days. The plants cultivated with excess NaCl presented reduced root diameter and effective photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) (ΦPSII) and increased non-photochemical dissipation of fluorescence (qN). Plants that grew with the presence of Si also had greater content of photosynthetic pigments and activity of the enzymes of the antioxidant system, as well as higher values of maximum quantum yield of PSII (FV/FM), photochemical dissipation coefficient of fluorescence (qP) and fresh weight bioaccumulation of roots and shoots. The anatomical, physiological and biochemical responses, and growth induced by Si mitigated the effect of salt stress on the A. blanchetiana plants cultivated in vitro, which can be partly explained by the tolerance of this species to grow in sandbank (Restinga) areas. creator: Rosiane Cipriano creator: João Paulo Rodrigues Martins creator: Lorenzo Toscano Conde creator: Mariela Mattos da Silva creator: Diolina Moura Silva creator: Andreia Barcelos Passos Lima Gontijo creator: Antelmo Ralph Falqueto uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14624 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Cipriano et al. title: Mass media pressure on physical build, psychological well-being and physical-healthy profile. An explanatory model in adulthood link: https://peerj.com/articles/14652 last-modified: 2023-01-11 description: BackgroundThe pressure exerted by the media on mental image, psychological well-being and the physical-dietary sphere is of vital interest in understanding human behavioral patterns at different stages of development. The present research reflects the objectives of developing an explanatory model of the associations between media pressure and physical build on psychological well-being, physical activity and the Mediterranean diet and testing the structural model using a multi-group model according to participants’ stage of adulthood development.MethodsA descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 634 participants aged between 18 and 65 years (35.18 ± 9.68). An ad hoc socio-demographic questionnaire, Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questtionnaire-4, Psychological Well-Being Scale, Predimed questtionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form were used for data collection.ResultsParticipants in early adulthood show higher scores for media pressure and for pressure on physical build. It is also observed that participants in middle adulthood show higher scores for psychological well-being and physical activity levels.ConclusionsIn conclusion, it can be seen that there are a large number of physical, physical-health and psychological differences in each of the phases of adulthood. creator: Eduardo Melguizo-Ibáñez creator: Gabriel González-Valero creator: Georgian Badicu creator: Wilhelm Robert Grosz creator: Marius Bazgan creator: Pilar Puertas Molero uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14652 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Melguizo-Ibáñez et al. title: Transcriptome and metabolome response of eggplant against Ralstonia solanacearum infection link: https://peerj.com/articles/14658 last-modified: 2023-01-11 description: Bacterial wilt is a soil-borne disease that represents ubiquitous threat to Solanaceae crops. The whole-root transcriptomes and metabolomes of bacterial wilt-resistant eggplant were studied to understand the response of eggplant to bacterial wilt. A total of 2,896 differentially expressed genes and 63 differences in metabolites were identified after inoculation with Ralstonia solanacearum. Further analysis showed that the biosynthesis pathways for phytohormones, phenylpropanoids, and flavonoids were altered in eggplant after inoculation with R. solanacearum. The results of metabolomes also showed that phytohormones played a key role in eggplant response to bacterial wilt. Integrated analyses of the transcriptomic and metabolic datasets indicated that jasmonic acid (JA) content and gene involved in the JA signaling pathway increased in response to bacterial wilt. These findings remarkably improve our understanding of the mechanisms of induced defense response in eggplant and will provide insights intothe development of disease-resistant varieties of eggplant. creator: Xi Ou Xiao creator: Wenqiu Lin creator: Enyou Feng creator: Xiongchang Ou uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14658 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Xiao et al. title: Distribution, conservation status and proposed measures for preservation of Radiodiscus microgastropods in Chile link: https://peerj.com/articles/14027 last-modified: 2023-01-10 description: The genus Radiodiscus includes minute terrestrial snails occurring throughout the American continent. We assessed the conservation status of eight poorly known Chilean Radiodiscus species using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and NatureServe categories and criteria. Under the IUCN guidelines the species were assessed using the Criterion B of geographic range, which considers the extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) as subcriteria. For NatureServe we used these two parameters plus the number of occurrences, ecological viability, and threats. Considering species rarity and possible sampling bias, we also used ecological niche modeling to determine climate and environmental tolerances and predict potential species distributions analyzing bioclimatic and geographical layers. Radiodiscus australis, R. coarctatus and R. quillajicola were listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN and NatureServe standards; R. coppingeri, R. flammulatus, R. magellanicus and R. villarricensis as Endangered by both methods; while R. riochicoensis as Endangered by IUCN standards and Vulnerable by NatureServe standards. Niche modeling results indicated that Radiodiscus species respond to different environmental conditions and that the predicted distribution areas contain suitable habitats beyond the current ranges, which may be helpful for future management plans. Nature-based sport tourism, forestry activities, urbanization, roads, pollution, mining, forest fires, livestock, volcanism, tsunamis, soil erosion and introduced species are among the major threats affecting these snails. Based on the low number of occurrences and the threats identified, the most at-risk species are R. coarctatus and R. quillajicola (one record), R. australis (two records) and R. villarricensis (three records); the latter two lacking occurrences within protected areas. Compiling our findings, we propose a list of actions to preserve Chilean Radiodiscus species. creator: Gonzalo A. Collado creator: Rodrigo B. Salvador creator: Marcela Vidal creator: Fernanda Parra Aravena creator: Vannia Delgado creator: Cristian Torres-Díaz uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14027 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Collado et al. title: RNA-Seq and genetic diversity analysis of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) varieties in China link: https://peerj.com/articles/14259 last-modified: 2023-01-10 description: BackgroundFaba bean (Vicia faba L) is one of the most important legumes in the world. However, there is relatively little genomic information available for this species owing to its large genome. The lack of data impedes the discovery of molecular markers and subsequent genetic research in faba bean. The objective of this study was to analyze the faba bean transcriptome, and to develop simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to determine the genetic diversity of 226 faba bean varieties derived from different regions in China.MethodsFaba bean varieties with different phenotype were used in transcriptome analysis. The functions of the unigenes were analyzed using various database. SSR markers were developed and the polymorphic markers were selected to conduct genetic diversity analysis.ResultsA total of 92.43 Gb of sequencing data was obtained in this study, and 133,487 unigene sequences with a total length of 178,152,541 bp were assembled. A total of 5,200 SSR markers were developed on the basis of RNA-Seq analysis. Then, 200 SSR markers were used to evaluate polymorphisms. In total, 103 (51.5%) SSR markers showed significant and repeatable bands between different faba bean varieties. Clustering analysis revealed that 226 faba bean materials were divided into five groups. Genetic diversity analysis revealed that the relationship between different faba beans in China was related, especially in the same region. These results provided a valuable data resource for annotating genes to different categories and developing SSR markers. creator: Wanwei Hou creator: Xiaojuan Zhang creator: Yuling Liu creator: Yujiao Liu creator: Bai li Feng uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14259 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Hou et al. title: Flexor hallucis brevis motor unit behavior in response to moderate increases in rate of force development link: https://peerj.com/articles/14341 last-modified: 2023-01-10 description: BackgroundStudies on motor unit behaviour with varying rates of force development have focussed predominantly on comparisons between slow and ballistic (i.e., very fast) contractions. It remains unclear how motor units respond to less extreme changes in rates of force development. Here, we studied a small intrinsic foot muscle, flexor hallucis brevis (FHB) where the aim was to compare motor unit discharge rates and recruitment thresholds at two rates of force development. We specifically chose to investigate relatively slow to moderate rates of force development, not ballistic, as the chosen rates are more akin to those that presumably occur during daily activity.MethodsWe decomposed electromyographic signals to identify motor unit action potentials obtained from indwelling fine-wire electrodes in FHB, from ten male participants. Participants performed isometric ramp-and-hold contractions from relaxed to 50% of a maximal voluntary contraction. This was done for two rates of force development; one with the ramp performed over 5 s (slow condition) and one over 2.5 s (fast condition). Recruitment thresholds and discharge rates were calculated over the ascending limb of the ramp and compared between the two ramp conditions for matched motor units. A repeated measures nested linear mixed model was used to compare these parameters statistically. A linear repeated measures correlation was used to assess any relationship between changes in recruitment threshold and mean discharge rate between the two conditions.ResultsA significant increase in the initial discharge rate (i.e., at recruitment) in the fast (mean: 8.6 ±  2.4 Hz) compared to the slow (mean: 7.8 ± 2.3 Hz) condition (P = 0.027), with no changes in recruitment threshold (P = 0.588), mean discharge rate (P = 0.549) or final discharge rate (P = 0.763) was observed. However, we found substantial variability in motor unit responses within and between conditions. A small but significant negative correlation (R2 = 0.33, P = 0.003) was found between the difference in recruitment threshold and the difference in mean discharge rate between the two conditions.ConclusionThese findings suggest that as force increases for contractions with slower force development, increasing the initial discharge rate of recruited motor units produces the increase in rate of force development, without a change in their recruitment thresholds, mean or final discharge rate. However, an important finding was that for only moderate changes in rate of force development, as studied here, not all units respond similarly. This is different from what has been described in the literature for ballistic contractions in other muscle groups, where all motor units respond similarly to the increase in neural drive. Changing the discharge behaviour of a small group of motor units may be sufficient in developing force at the required rate rather than having the discharge behaviour of the entire motor unit pool change equally. creator: Jeroen Aeles creator: Luke A. Kelly creator: Andrew G. Cresswell uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14341 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Aeles et al. title: The bony cap and its distinction from the distal phalanx in humans, cats, and horses link: https://peerj.com/articles/14352 last-modified: 2023-01-10 description: It has been recognized as early as the Victorian era that the apex of the distal phalanx has a distinct embryological development from the main shaft of the distal phalanx. Recent studies in regenerative medicine have placed an emphasis on the role of the apex of the distal phalanx in bone regrowth. Despite knowledge about the unique aspects of the distal phalanx, all phalanges are often treated as equivalent. Our morphological study reiterates and highlights the special anatomical and embryological properties of the apex of the distal phalanx, and names the apex “the bony cap” to distinguish it. We posit that the distal phalanx shaft is endochondral, while the bony cap is intramembranous and derived from the ectodermal wall. During development, the bony cap may be a separate structure that will fuse to the endochondral distal phalanx in the adult, as it ossifies well before the distal phalanges across taxa. Our study describes and revives the identity of the bony cap, and we identify it in three mammalian species: humans, cats, and horses (Homo sapiens, Felis catus domestica, and Equus caballus). During the embryonic period, we show the bony cap has a thimble-like shape that surrounds the proximal endochondral distal phalanx. The bony cap may thus play an inductive role in the differentiation of the corresponding nail, claw, or hoof (keratin structures) of the digit. When it is not present or develops erroneously, the corresponding keratin structures are affected, and regeneration is inhibited. By terming the bony cap, we hope to inspire more attention to its distinct identity and role in regeneration. creator: Shannon Smith creator: Laurel R. Yohe creator: Nikos Solounias uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14352 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2023 Smith et al. title: Yield-based drought tolerance index evaluates the drought tolerance of cotton germplasm lines in the interaction of genotype-by-environment link: https://peerj.com/articles/14367 last-modified: 2023-01-10 description: BackgroundCotton is an economically important crop in China, and drought has seriously affected cotton production. Understanding genetic variation, genotype ×environment interactions, and the associations between these traits is critical for developing improved cotton varieties with high drought tolerance.MethodsTo screen ideal drought-resistant cotton germplasm lines and excellent genotypes, the yield traits of 103 cotton germplasm lines were analyzed. Cotton resource material was planted under normal watering and water deficit conditions for three consecutive years. The yield traits under normal irrigation and water stress conditions were measured, and then five screening indicators were calculated based on the cotton yield per plant under the two water treatments to determine the ideal genotype and most accurate identification indicators.ResultsThe results of correlation analysis and principal component analysis showed that the geometric mean productivity (GMP), mean productivity (MP), and stress tolerance index (STI) were significantly positively correlated with yield under water stress and could be used to distinguish genotypes with high drought tolerance. Among the experimental germplasm lines, some had higher STI and GMP values, indicating their higher drought tolerance. This result indicates that best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) analysis of the STI and GMP under drought stress can effectively improve screening for drought tolerance in cotton germplasm lines. The results from the screening index, three-dimensional map, and genotype ×environment (GGE) biplots were consistent with the above results. We determined that CQJ-5, Xin lu zao 45, Bellsno, Zhong R 2016 and ND 359-5 are drought-tolerant genotypes that can be used to breed drought-tolerant germplasm lines that produce high and stable yields. creator: Fenglei Sun creator: Quanjia Chen creator: Qin Chen creator: Menghui Jiang creator: Yanying Qu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14367 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Sun et al. title: Diagnostic value and mechanism of plasma S100A1 protein in acute ischemic stroke: a prospective and observational study link: https://peerj.com/articles/14440 last-modified: 2023-01-10 description: BackgroundPlasma S100A1 protein is a novel inflammatory biomarker associated with acute myocardial infarction and neurodegenerative disease’s pathophysiological mechanisms. This study aimed to determine the levels of this protein in patients with acute ischemic stroke early in the disease progression and to investigate its role in the pathogenesis of acute ischemic stroke.MethodsA total of 192 participants from hospital stroke centers were collected for the study. Clinically pertinent data were recorded. The volume of the cerebral infarction was calculated according to the Pullicino formula. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to select independent influences. ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of AIS and TIA. The correlation between S100A1, NF-κB p65, and IL-6 levels and cerebral infarction volume was detected by Pearson correlation analysis.ResultsThere were statistically significant differences in S100A1, NF-κB p65, and IL-6 among the AIS,TIA, and PE groups (S100A1, [230.96 ± 39.37] vs [185.85 ± 43.24] vs [181.47 ± 27.39], P < 0.001; NF-κB p65, [3.99 ± 0.65] vs [3.58 ± 0.74] vs [3.51 ± 0.99], P = 0.001; IL-6, [13.32 ± 1.57] vs [11.61 ± 1.67] vs [11.42 ± 2.34], P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that S100A1 might be an independent predictive factor for the diagnosis of disease (P < 0.001). The AUC of S100A1 for diagnosis of AIS was 0.818 (P < 0.001, 95% CI [0.749–0.887], cut off 181.03, Jmax 0.578, Se 95.0%, Sp 62.7%). The AUC of S100A1 for diagnosis of TIA was 0.720 (P = 0.001, 95% CI [0.592–0.848], cut off 150.14, Jmax 0.442, Se 50.0%, Sp 94.2%). There were statistically significant differences in S100A1, NF-κB p65, and IL-6 among the SCI,MCI, and LCI groups (S100A1, [223.98 ± 40.21] vs [225.42 ± 30.92] vs [254.25 ± 37.07], P = 0.001; NF-κB p65, [3.88 ± 0.66] vs [3.85 ± 0.64] vs [4.41 ± 0.45], P < 0.001; IL-6, [13.27 ± 1.65] vs [12.77 ± 1.31] vs [14.00 ± 1.40], P = 0.007). Plasma S100A1, NF-κB p65, and IL-6 were significantly different from cerebral infarction volume (S100A1, r = 0.259, P = 0.002; NF-κB p65, r = 0.316, P < 0.001; IL-6, r = 0.177, P = 0.036). There was a positive correlation between plasma S100A1 and IL-6 with statistical significance (R = 0.353, P < 0.001). There was no significant positive correlation between plasma S100A1 and NF-κB p65 (R < 0.3), but there was statistical significance (R = 0.290, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between IL-6 and NF-κB p65 with statistical significance (R = 0.313, P < 0.001).ConclusionS100A1 might have a better diagnostic efficacy for AIS and TIA. S100A1 was associated with infarct volume in AIS, and its level reflected the severity of acute cerebral infarction to a certain extent. There was a correlation between S100A1 and IL-6 and NF-κB p65, and it was reasonable to speculate that this protein might mediate the inflammatory response through the NF-κB pathway during the pathophysiology of AIS. creator: Guo Hong creator: Tingting Li creator: Haina Zhao creator: Zhaohao Zeng creator: Jinglei Zhai creator: Xiaobo Li creator: Xiaoguang Luo uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14440 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2023 Guo et al.