title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=677 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Digital technology for orthognathic surgery training promotion: a randomized comparative study link: https://peerj.com/articles/13810 last-modified: 2022-08-02 description: BackgroundThis study aims to investigate whether a systematic digital training system can improve the learning efficiency of residents in the first-year orthognathic surgery training course and evaluate its effectiveness in teaching orthognathic surgery.MethodsA digital training system was applied, and a comparative research approach was adopted. 24 first-year orthognathic surgery residents participated in the experiment as part of their professional skill training. The Experimental group was required to use a digital training system, and the Control group was trained in lectures without digital technologies. Three indicators, including theoretical knowledge and clinical operation, were assessed in tests, and evaluations from instructors were analyzed to evaluate learning efficiency.ResultsThe results showed that the scores in theoretical tests, practical operations, and teacher evaluations, the Experimental groups were all higher than the Control group (P = 0.002 for anatomy, P = 0.000 for operation theory) after using digital technology, except for the understanding of complications (P = 0.771). In addition, the questionnaire survey results showed that the study interest (P = 0.001), self-confidence (P = 0.001), satisfaction (P = 0.002), and academic performance (P = 0.001) of the residents of the Experimental group were higher than those of the Control group.ConclusionsThe outcomes indicated that the digital training system could benefit orthognathic residents’ learning efficiency, and learning interest and teaching satisfaction will also improve. creator: Zhan Su creator: Yao Liu creator: Wenli Zhao creator: Yuanyan Bai creator: Nan Jiang creator: Songsong Zhu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13810 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Su et al. title: Hydrological and lock operation conditions associated with paddlefish and bigheaded carp dam passage on a large and small scale in the Upper Mississippi River (Pools 14–18) link: https://peerj.com/articles/13822 last-modified: 2022-08-02 description: Movement and dispersal of migratory fish species is an important life-history characteristics that can be impeded by navigation dams. Although habitat fragmentation may be detrimental to native fish species, it might act as an effective and economical barrier for controlling the spread of invasive species in riverine systems. Various technologies have been proposed as potential fish deterrents at locks and dams to reduce bigheaded carp (i.e., silver carp and bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys spp.)) range expansion in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR). Lock and Dam (LD) 15 is infrequently at open-river condition (spillway gates completely open; hydraulic head across the dam <0.4 m) and has been identified as a potential location for fish deterrent implementation. We used acoustic telemetry to evaluate paddlefish passage at UMR dams and to evaluate seasonal and diel movement of paddlefish and bigheaded carp relative to environmental conditions and lock operations at LD 15. We observed successful paddlefish passage at all dams, with the highest number of passages occurring at LDs 17 and 16. Paddlefish residency events in the downstream lock approach of LD 15 occurred more frequently and for longer durations than residency events of bigheaded carp. We documented upstream passages completed by two individual paddlefish through the lock chamber at LD 15, and a single bighead carp completed upstream passage through the lock chamber during two separate years of this study. We identified four bigheaded carp and 19 paddlefish that made upstream passages through the spillway gates at LD 15 during this study. The majority of the upstream passages through the spillway gates for both species occurred during open river conditions. When hydraulic head was approximately 1-m or greater, we observed these taxa opt for upstream passage through the lock chamber more often than the dam gates. In years with infrequent open-river condition, a deterrent placed in the downstream lock approach may assist in meeting the management goal of reducing upstream passage of bigheaded carps but could also potentially affect paddlefish residency and passage. Continued study to understand the effects of deterrents on native fish could be beneficial for implementing an integrated bigheaded carp control strategy. Understanding fish behavior at UMR dams is a critical information need for river managers as they evaluate potential tools or technologies to control upstream expansion of bigheaded carp in the UMR. creator: Dominique D. Turney creator: Andrea K. Fritts creator: Brent C. Knights creator: Jon M. Vallazza creator: Douglas S. Appel creator: James T. Lamer uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13822 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Turney et al. title: Advanced oxidation protein products induce annulus fibrosus cell senescence through a NOX4-dependent, MAPK-mediated pathway and accelerate intervertebral disc degeneration link: https://peerj.com/articles/13826 last-modified: 2022-08-02 description: BackgroundIntervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is closely associated with senescence. Annulus fibrosus (AF) cell senescence is a crucial driver of AF tissue tearing and fissures, thereby exacerbating IVDD. Increased advanced oxidative protein products (AOPPs) were found in human degenerative discs and aged rat discs and may be involved in IVDD. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of AOPPs-induced senescence in AF cells.MethodsThe pathological effects of AOPPs in vivo were investigated using a rat lumbar disc persistent degeneration model and a rat caudal disc puncture model. Rat primary AF cells were selected as in vitro models, and AOPPs were used as direct stimulation to observe their pathological effects. Setanaxb (NOX1/4 inhibitor), apocynin (NADPH oxidase inhibitor) and adenovirus (ADV) packed NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) specific shRNAs were used for pathway inhibition, respectively. Finally, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) packed with NOX4-specific blocking sequences were used to inhibit the in vivo pathway.ResultsAOPPs accumulated in the rat lumbar and caudal degenerative discs. Intra-discal loading of AOPPs up-regulated the expression of NOX4, p53, p21, p16, IL-1β, and TNF-α, ultimately accelerating IVDD. Exposure of AOPPs to AF primary cells up-regulated NOX4 expression, induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), triggered senescence and increased IL-1β and TNF-α. Apocynin, setanaxib, and ADV pre-cultured AF cells abrogated AOPPs-induced senescence. AAV-mediated inhibition of NOX4 expression in vivo reduced the expression of p53, p21, p16, IL-1β and TNF-α in vivo and delayed IVDD.ConclusionsAOPPs induced AF cell senescence through a NOX4-dependent and MAPK-mediated pathway. creator: Xiangheng Dai creator: Yu Chen creator: Zihan Yu creator: Congrui Liao creator: Zhongyuan Liu creator: Jianting Chen creator: Qian Wu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13826 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Dai et al. title: Comparative transcriptome analysis of Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. provides a rich molecular resource for research on coloration mechanism link: https://peerj.com/articles/13836 last-modified: 2022-08-02 description: Lupinus polyphyllus is rich in color, making it a well-known horticultural ornamental plant. However, little is known about the genes related to anthocyanin and carotenoid biosynthesis in L. polyphyllus. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was performed on eight different colors of L. polyphyllus. A total of 1.13 billion clean reads were obtained and assembled into 89,124 unigenes, which were then aligned with six databases, resulting in the identification of 54,823 annotated unigenes. Among these unigenes, 76 and 101 were involved in the biosynthetic pathway of carotenoids and anthocyanins, respectively. In addition, 505 transcription factors were revealed, which belonged to the MYB, R2R3-MYB, NAC, bHLH, and WD40 families. A total of 6,700 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by comparative transcriptome analysis. Among them, 17 candidate unigenes (four carotenoid genes, seven anthocyanin genes, and six TFs) were specifically up-regulated for one or more colors of L. polyphyllus. Eight representative candidate unigenes were analyzed by qRT-PCR. The findings enrich the transcriptome database of lupine, and provide a rich molecular resource for research on the coloration mechanism of L. polyphyllus. creator: Zhu Gao creator: Jipeng Mao creator: Lu Chen creator: Xiaoling Wang creator: Lu Zhang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13836 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Gao et al. title: Modeling the potential distribution of different types of Dendrocalamus sinicus, the strongest woody bamboo in the world, with MaxEnt model link: https://peerj.com/articles/13847 last-modified: 2022-08-02 description: Climate change will significantly affect the distribution area of species. Through establishing distribution model, we can simulate the current and future potential distribution range and provide reference for the introduction and cultivation planning of rare or economic plants. Dendrocalamus sinicus, endemic to Yunnan Province of China, is the strongest woody bamboo in the world. In the present study, the MaxEnt model was performed to simulate the distribution of different types of D. sinicus in China and neighboring countries or regions. The results suggested that the suitable distribution range of “straight type”, the main type for cultivation and utilization, was 8°–30°N and 73°–122°E under the current climate conditions, while the potential distribution range of “bending type” was 6°–31°N and 79°–109°E. The two most key climate variables associated with distribution of “straight type” were “Temperature Annual Range” with 36.6% contribution rate and “Temperature Seasonality” (32.4%), while “Isothermality” (47.8%) and “Precipitation of Driest Month” (24.8%) for “bending type”. Under different climate change scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP5-8.5) and periods (2050, 2090), the potential distribution area of the “straight type” were apparently different, indicating that the distribution area of D. sinicus will be affected significantly by climate changes in the future. Our findings would be not only beneficial to understanding limiting factors for natural distribution of D. sinicus, but also helpful for further germplasm conservation, introduction and cultivation planning of this rare woody bamboo. creator: Peitong Dou creator: Yuran Dong creator: Lingna Chen creator: Han-Qi Yang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13847 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Dou et al. title: Variation in the reproductive quality of honey bee males affects their age of flight attempt link: https://peerj.com/articles/13859 last-modified: 2022-08-02 description: BackgroundHoney bee males (drones) exhibit life histories that enable a high potential for pre- or post-copulatory sperm competition. With a numerical sex ratio of ∼11,000 drones for every queen, they patrol flyways and congregate aerially to mate on the wing. However, colonies and in fact drones themselves may benefit from a relative lack of competition, as queens are highly polyandrous, and colonies have an adaptive advantage when headed by queens that are multiply mated. Previous research has shown that larger drones are more likely to be found at drone congregation areas, more likely to mate successfully, and obtain a higher paternity share. However, the reproductive quality and size of drones varies widely within and among colonies, suggesting adaptive maintenance of drone quality variation at different levels of selection.MethodsWe collected drones from six colony sources over the course of five days. We paint marked and individually tagged drones after taking body measurements at emergence and then placed the drones in one of two foster colonies. Using an entrance cage, we collected drones daily as they attempted flight. We collected 2,420 drones live or dead, analyzed 1,891 for attempted flight, collected emergence data on 207 drones, and dissected 565 upon capture to assess reproductive maturity. We measured drone body mass, head width, and thorax width at emergence, and upon dissection we further measured thorax mass, seminal vesicle length, mucus gland length, sperm count, and sperm viability from the seminal vesicles.ResultsWe found that drones that were more massive at emergence were larger and more fecund upon capture, suggesting that they are of higher reproductive quality and therefore do not exhibit a trade-off between size and fecundity. However, smaller drones tended to attempt initial flight at a younger age, which suggests a size trade-off not with fecundity but rather developmental maturation. We conclude that smaller drones may take more mating flights, each individually with a lower chance of success but thereby increasing their overall fitness. In doing so, the temporal spread of mating attempts of a single generation of drones within a given colony increases colony-level chances of mating with nearby queens, suggesting an adaptive rationale for high variation among drone reproductive quality within colonies. creator: Bradley N. Metz creator: David R. Tarpy uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13859 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Metz and Tarpy title: Biological age for chronic kidney disease patients using index model link: https://peerj.com/articles/13694 last-modified: 2022-08-01 description: The estimation of biological age (BA) is an important asymptomatic measure that can be used to understand the physical changes and the aging process of a living being. Factors that contribute towards profiling the human biological age can be diverse. Therefore, this study focuses on developing a BA model for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The procedure commences with the selection of significant biomarkers using a correlation test. Appropriate weighting is then assigned to each selected biomarker using the indexing method to produce a BA index. The BA index is matched to the age variation within the sample to acquire additional terms for the chronological age leading ultimately to the estimated BA. From a sample of 190 patients (133 trained data and 57 testing data) obtained from the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Malaysia, the intensity of the BA is found to be between three to nine years from the chronological age. Visual observations further validate the high similarities between the training and testing data sets. creator: Shaiful Anuar Abu Bakar creator: Sharifah Nazatul Shima Syed Mohamed Shahruddin creator: Noriszura Ismail creator: Wan Ahmad Hafiz Wan Md Adnan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13694 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Abu Bakar et al. title: The survival, development, and reproduction of Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on the main Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) genotypes planted in Brazil link: https://peerj.com/articles/13698 last-modified: 2022-08-01 description: BackgroundGonipterus platensis Marelli (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is the main defoliating beetle of Eucalyptus L’Hér. (Myrtaceae) plants worldwide. The suitability of Eucalyptus to this pest varies among host plant genotypes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the development, reproduction, and survival of G. platensis on Eucalyptus species and hybrids to assess their suitability to this insect pest in Brazil.MethodsThe survival, development, and reproduction parameters were evaluated with G. platensis feeding leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill., Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake and on the hybrids of E. grandis ×E. urophylla ‘H13’ and ‘VR3748’ in the laboratory.ResultsThe duration of the larval stage of G. platensis was shorter on E. urophylla. The pupal stage and the period from larva to adult were equally shorter on E. urophylla and E. camaldulensis. The viability of instars of this insect was low on both E. grandis and E. camaldulensis. The complete lifespan, oviposition period and reproduction parameters of G. platensis were greater on E. urophylla, lower on E. camaldulensis and E. grandis, and intermediate on both hybrids tested.SynthesisEucalyptus urophylla is the most suitable host for G. platensis survival, development, and reproduction, while E. grandis and E. camaldulensis are the least suitable. creator: Nádia Cristina de Oliveira creator: Murilo Fonseca Ribeiro creator: Angelo Ottati creator: Wagner de Souza Tavares creator: José Eduardo Serrão creator: José Cola Zanuncio creator: Ronald Zanetti creator: Carlos Frederico Wilcken uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13698 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Oliveira et al. title: Fighting ability, personality and melanin signalling in free-living Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) link: https://peerj.com/articles/13660 last-modified: 2022-07-29 description: BackgroundIndividuals’ access to resources is often decided during dyadic contests the outcome of which is determined by the fighting (or competitive) ability of the participants. Individuals’ fighting ability (termed also as resource-holding power or potential, RHP) is usually associated with individual features (e.g., sex, age, body size) and is also frequently signalled through various ornaments like the black throat patch (bib) in many birds. Individual personality is a behavioural attribute often linked to fighting ability as well. Based on earlier studies, however, the relationship between personality and fighting ability is far from being straightforward. While accounting for sex and body size, we studied whether exploratory behaviour, an aspect of personality, predicts fighting ability when competing for food during winter in free-living Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus). We also investigated whether the bib can serve as a potential indicator of individual competitiveness in this species.MethodsWe captured adult tree sparrows, marked them with a unique combination of colour rings, and collected data about the individuals’ sex, body size, bib size and exploratory behaviour. Birds were then released and the agonistic behaviour of the marked individuals was recorded while foraging in groups on bird feeding platforms.ResultsThe probability of winning a fight, a proxy for fighting ability of individuals, was not related to exploratory behaviour, in either of the sexes. However, bib size was positively related to probability of winning in females, but not in males. Body size was not associated with probability of winning neither in males, nor in females.ConclusionsOur results suggest that, at least in tree sparrows, the outcome of dyadic encounters over food during the non-breeding period are not determined by the exploratory personality of individuals. However, our findings provide further support for a status signalling role of the black bib in tree sparrows, and hint for the first time that bib size might function as a status signal in females as well. Finally, our results do not confirm that body size could serve as an indicator of fighting ability (i.e., RHP) in this species. creator: Attila Fülöp creator: Zoltán Németh creator: Bianka Kocsis creator: Bettina Deák-Molnár creator: Tímea Bozsoky creator: Gabriella Kőmüves creator: Zoltán Barta uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13660 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Fülöp et al. title: Blood glucose, insulin and glycogen profiles in Sprague-Dawley rats co-infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA and Trichinella zimbabwensis link: https://peerj.com/articles/13713 last-modified: 2022-07-29 description: BackgroundPlasmodium falciparum and tissue dwelling helminth parasites are endemic in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The geographical overlap in co-infection is a common phenomenon. However, there is continued paucity of information on how the co-infection influence the blood glucose and insulin profiles in the infected host. Animal models are ideal to elucidate effects of co-infection on disease outcomes and hence, blood glucose, insulin and glycogen profiles were assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats co-infected with P. berghei ANKA (Pb) and Trichinella zimbabwensis (Tz), a tissue-dwelling nematode.MethodsOne-hundred-and-sixty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (weight range 90–150 g) were randomly divided into four separate experimental groups: Control (n = 42), Pb-infected (n = 42), Tz-infected (n = 42) and Pb- + Tz-infected group (n = 42). Measurement of Pb parasitaemia was done daily throughout the experimental study period for the Pb and the Pb + Tz group. Blood glucose was recorded every third day in all experimental groups throughout the experimental study period. Liver and skeletal muscle samples were harvested, snap frozen for determination of glycogen concentration.ResultsResults showed that Tz mono-infection and Tz + Pb co-infection did not have blood glucose lowering effect in the host as expected. This points to other possible mechanisms through which tissue-dwelling parasites up-regulate the glucose store without decreasing the blood glucose concentration as exhibited by the absence of hypoglycaemia in Tz + Pb co-infection group. Hypoinsulinemia and an increase in liver glycogen content was observed in Tz mono-infection and Tz + Pb co-infection groups of which the triggering mechanism remains unclear.ConclusionsTo get more insights into how glucose, insulin and glycogen profiles are affected during plasmodium-helminths co-infections, further studies are recommended where other tissue-dwelling helminths such as Taenia taeniformis which has strobilocercus as the metacestode in the liver to mimic infections such as hydatid disease in humans are used. creator: Pretty Murambiwa creator: Achasih Quinta Nkemzi creator: Samson Mukaratirwa uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13713 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Murambiwa et al.