title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=736 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Using cluster and rest redistribution set structures as alternatives to resistance training prescription method based on velocity loss thresholds link: https://peerj.com/articles/13195 last-modified: 2022-03-29 description: BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to compare the effects of cluster (CS), rest redistribution (RR) and traditional (TS) set configurations on acute neuromuscular performance, and to determine the viability of using CS and RR as alternatives to training prescription based on velocity loss (VL).MethodsThirty-one resistance-trained men performed, in a randomised order, three experimental sessions consisting of the squat (SQ) and bench press (BP) exercises performed against the 10-repetition maximum load using CS (three sets of six repetitions; 30 s of intra-set rest every two repetitions; 3 min of inter-set rest), RR (9 sets of two repetitions; 45 s of inter-set rest), and TS (3 sets of 6 repetitions; 3 min of inter-set rest), set configurations.ResultsLinear mixed-effects model analysis revealed that participants had significantly lower VL (p = 0.0005) during CS and RR than TS. Generalised mixed-effects model analysis yielded significant main effects of set structure (p < 0.0001; RR > CS > TS), exercise (p < 0.0001; SQ > BP), and set number (p = 0.0006; Set 1 > Set 2 > Set 3) for maintaining repetition velocity above a 20% VL threshold.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that CS and RR are effective at reducing the overall fatigue-included decrease in velocity compared to TS and allow the majority of repetitions to be completed with less than 20% VL. Therefore, both CS and RR can be used to manage fatigue during resistance training, and as alternatives to training prescription method based on 20% VL threshold. creator: Ivan Jukic creator: Eric R. Helms creator: Michael R. McGuigan creator: Amador García-Ramos uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13195 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Jukic et al. title: Comprehensive analysis of the correlations of S100B with hypoxia response and immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma link: https://peerj.com/articles/13201 last-modified: 2022-03-29 description: S100B has been found to be dysregulated in many cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the functions of S100B and its underlying mechanisms in HCC remain poorly understood, especially in the tumor microenvironment. In this study, functions enrichment analysis indicated that S100B expression was correlated with hypoxia and immune responses. We found that hypoxia could induce S100B expression in an HIF-1α-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. Luciferase reporter and ChIP-qRCR assays demonstrated that HIF-1α regulates S100B transcription by directly binding to hypoxia-response elements (HREs) of the S100B promoter. Functionally, knockdown of S100B reduces hypoxia-induced HepG2 cell invasion and migration. Furthermore, GSVA enrichment results displayed that S100B and its co-expressed genes were positively correlated with EMT pathway in HCC. Additionally, GO/KEGG cluster analysis results indicated that co-expressed genes of S100B were involved in biological processes of immune response and multiple tumor immune-related signaling pathways in HCC. S100B expression was positively correlated with multiple immune cells tumor infiltration and associated with chemokines/chemokine receptors and immune checkpoint genes. Moreover, S100B is predominantly expressed in immune cells, especially NK (Natural Killer) cell. In addition, the hub genes of S100B co-expression and hypoxia response in HepG2 cell were also associated with immune cells infiltration in HCC. Taken together, these findings provide a new insight into the complex networks between hypoxia response and immune cells infiltration in tumor microenvironment of liver cancer. S100B maybe serve as a novel target for future HCC therapies. creator: Jia Yan creator: Ya jun Huang creator: Qing yu Huang creator: Peng Xia Liu creator: Chang Shan Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13201 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Yan et al. title: Relation between lymphocyte to monocyte ratio and survival in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a retrospective cohort study link: https://peerj.com/articles/13212 last-modified: 2022-03-29 description: BackgroundThe lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) has been proposed as a novel prognostic factor in malignancies and cardiovascular diseases. Our study aimed to ascertain whether LMR is a useful biomarker in discriminating the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients at higher risk of all-cause mortality.MethodsThis retrospective study consisted of 354 adult HCM patients. Cox’s proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the association between LMR and all-cause mortality. Smooth curve fitting was conducted to explore the linear relationship between LMR and all-cause mortality.ResultsDuring the follow-up, 44 patients reached the study endpoint. The all-cause mortality rate was 7.3 per 100 person-years in the first tertile and decreased across the three tertiles of LMR. With the first tertile as reference, adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality were 0.43 for the second tertile (95% CI [0.20–0.91], p = 0.027) and 0.39 for the third tertile (95% CI [0.17–0.90], p = 0.028), respectively. Smooth curve fitting exhibited a nonlinear relationship between LMR values and all-cause mortality. For LMR < 6.5, per SD increase resulted in a significantly decreased risk of all-cause mortality by 62% (HR: 0.38, 95% CI [0.21–0.68]). For LMR ≥ 6.5, the all-cause mortality risk did not progressively increase. Stratified and subgroup analyses revealed similar results to the main analyses,andE-value analysis suggested robustness to unmeasured confounding.ConclusionsThe study demonstrated that LMR was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in HCM patients, and LMR may be useful for identifying HCM patients at high mortality risk. creator: Zhonglan Chen creator: Ziqiong Wang creator: Youping Li creator: Xiaoping Chen creator: Sen He uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13212 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Chen et al. title: The relationship between distal trunk morphology and object grasping in the African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) link: https://peerj.com/articles/13108 last-modified: 2022-03-28 description: BackgroundDuring reach-to-grasp movements, the human hand is preshaped depending on the properties of the object. Preshaping may result from learning, morphology, or motor control variability and can confer a selective advantage on that individual or species. This preshaping ability is known in several mammals (i.e., primates, carnivores and rodents). However, apart from the tongue preshaping of lizards and chameleons, little is known about preshaping of other grasping appendages. In particular, the elephant trunk, a muscular hydrostat, has impressive grasping skills and thus is commonly called a hand. Data on elephant trunk grasping strategies are scarce, and nothing is known about whether elephants preshape their trunk tip according to the properties of their food.MethodsTo determine the influence of food sizes and shapes on the form of the trunk tip, we investigated the morphology of the distal part of the trunk during grasping movements. The influence of food item form on trunk tip shape was quantified in six female African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana). Three food item types were presented to the elephants (elongated, flat, and cubic), as well as three different sizes of cubic items. A total of 107 ± 10 grips per individual were video recorded, and the related trunk tip shapes were recorded with a 2D geometric morphometric approach.ResultsHalf of the individuals adjusted the shape of the distal part of their trunk according to the object type. Of the three elephants that did not preshape their trunk tip, one was blind and another was subadult.Discussion and perspectivesWe found that elephants preshaped their trunk tip, similar to the preshaping of other species’ hands or paws during reach-to-grasp movements. This preshaping may be influenced by visual feedback and individual learning. To confirm these results, this study could be replicated with a larger sample of elephants. creator: Julie Soppelsa creator: Emmanuelle Pouydebat creator: Maëlle Lefeuvre creator: Baptiste Mulot creator: Céline Houssin creator: Raphaël Cornette uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13108 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Soppelsa et al. title: The association between sedentary behavior and low back pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies link: https://peerj.com/articles/13127 last-modified: 2022-03-28 description: BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal problem globally. While spending a longer time in sedentary behaviors is linked to several health problems; the quantitative association between different amounts of sedentary time and LBP is still unknown. This study aims to systematically review studies that examined the association between sedentary behavior and LBP development and LBP-related outcomes.MethodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis retrieved journal articles published from inception to March 2020 and were obtained by searching bibliographical databases. We included longitudinal study designs, including adult (aged ≥18) individuals with nonspecific LBP, and reporting estimates of the association between sedentary behavior and LBP development and LBP-related outcomes (i.e., pain intensity and disability).ResultsSixteen longitudinal studies with 100,002 participants were included in this review (eight studies included in quantitative syntheses with 83,111 participants). The results of meta-analyses showed that a sedentary time of 3–<6 (Odds ratio (OR) 0.95, 95% CI [0.85–1.07]), 6–8 (OR 0.95, 95% CI [0.88–1.02]), and >8 (OR 0.92, 95% CI [0.85–1.00]) hours per day (h/d) was not associated with LBP development. A sedentary time of ≥3 h/d was associated with poor LBP-related disability (OR 1.24, 95% CI [1.02–1.51]), but not with pain intensity.ConclusionA meta-analyses of longitudinal studies indicated that sedentary behavior of different durations was not associated with LBP development. However, the results showed that sedentary behavior ≥3 h/d was associated with worse LBP-related disability. These conclusions are tentative as the evidence was derived from mostly fair-quality studies using subjective measures of sedentary behavior.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO (registration number CRD42018107078). creator: Hosam Alzahrani creator: Mansour Abdullah Alshehri creator: Msaad Alzhrani creator: Yasir S. Alshehri creator: Wesam Saleh A. Al Attar uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13127 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Alzahrani et al. title: Polymorphism in a Neotropical toad species: ontogenetic, populational and geographic approaches to chromatic variation in Proceratophrys cristiceps (Müller, 1883) (Amphibia, Anura, Odontophrynidae) link: https://peerj.com/articles/12879 last-modified: 2022-03-25 description: Quantifying variability is important for understanding how evolution operates in polymorphic species such as those of the genus Proceratophrys Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920, which is widely distributed in South America. P. cristiceps distribution is limited to the Caatinga biome in Brazil. We examined its chromatic variation from a populational perspective, looking at different phenetic polymorphism levels and probable chromotypic association by applying statistical and GIS tools that could facilitate future taxonomic research regarding this and other species. We characterized P. cristiceps colour patterns and re-evaluated its geographic variation, highlighting potential consequences for the taxonomy of the genus. Our results revealed six principle chromotypes whose frequencies varied among sex and ontogenetic classes. Phenotypic expression appeared to respect defined proportions and evidenced selective value for the species. We conclude that individual variation, together with typological traditionalism may overestimate the polymorphic magnitude at the population level and cause taxonomic inflation. Our data support the usefulness of P. cristiceps as a model for microevolutionary studies. creator: Kleber Silva Vieira creator: Erivanna Karlene Santos Oliveira creator: Washington Luiz Silva Vieira creator: Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12879 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Vieira et al. title: Research progress of aldehyde oxidases in plants link: https://peerj.com/articles/13119 last-modified: 2022-03-25 description: Plant aldehyde oxidases (AOs) are multi-functional enzymes, and they could oxidize abscisic aldehyde into ABA (abscisic acid) or indole acetaldehyde into IAA (indoleacetic acid) as the last step, respectively. AOs can be divided into four groups based on their biochemical and physiological functions. In this review, we summarized the recent studies about AOs in plants including the motif information, biochemical, and physiological functions. Besides their role in phytohormones biosynthesis and stress response, AOs could also involve in reactive oxygen species homeostasis, aldehyde detoxification and stress tolerance. creator: Jun Wu creator: Blair Moses Kamanga creator: Wenying Zhang creator: Yanhao Xu creator: Le Xu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13119 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Wu et al. title: Are Toxoplasma-infected subjects more attractive, symmetrical, or healthier than non-infected ones? Evidence from subjective and objective measurements link: https://peerj.com/articles/13122 last-modified: 2022-03-25 description: BackgroundParasites are among the main factors that negatively impact the health and reproductive success of organisms. However, if parasites diminish a host’s health and attractiveness to such an extent that finding a mate becomes almost impossible, the parasite would decrease its odds of reproducing and passing to the next generation. There is evidence that Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) manipulates phenotypic characteristics of its intermediate hosts to increase its spread. However, whether T. gondii manipulates phenotypic characteristics in humans remains poorly studied. Therefore, the present research had two main aims: (1) To compare traits associated with health and parasite resistance in Toxoplasma-infected and non-infected subjects. (2) To investigate whether other people perceive differences in attractiveness and health between Toxoplasma-infected and non-infected subjects of both sexes.MethodsFor the first aim, Toxoplasma-infected (n = 35) and non-infected subjects (n = 178) were compared for self-perceived attractiveness, number of sexual partners, number of minor ailments, body mass index, mate value, handgrip strength, facial fluctuating asymmetry, and facial width-to-height ratio. For the second aim, an independent group of 205 raters (59 men and 146 women) evaluated the attractiveness and perceived health of facial pictures of Toxoplasma-infected and non-infected subjects.ResultsFirst, we found that infected men had lower facial fluctuating asymmetry whereas infected women had lower body mass, lower body mass index, a tendency for lower facial fluctuating asymmetry, higher self-perceived attractiveness, and a higher number of sexual partners than non-infected ones. Then, we found that infected men and women were rated as more attractive and healthier than non-infected ones.ConclusionsOur results suggest that some sexually transmitted parasites, such as T. gondii, may produce changes in the appearance and behavior of the human host, either as a by-product of the infection or as the result of the manipulation of the parasite to increase its spread to new hosts. Taken together, these results lay the foundation for future research on the manipulation of the human host by sexually transmitted pathogens and parasites. creator: Javier I. Borráz-León creator: Markus J. Rantala creator: Indrikis A. Krams creator: Ana Lilia Cerda-Molina creator: Jorge Contreras-Garduño uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13122 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Borráz-León et al. title: Knowing the gap: medication use, adherence and blood pressure control among patients with hypertension in Indonesian primary care settings link: https://peerj.com/articles/13171 last-modified: 2022-03-25 description: BackgroundHypertension is a major risk factor for global disease burden, however, little is known regarding the profiles of patients with hypertension in Indonesian primary care settings.ObjectiveThis study aimed to profile medication use, adherence to medications and lifestyle modifications as well as blood pressure control among patients with hypertension in Indonesian primary health centres (PHCs).MethodsA cross-sectional study design used a structured data collection tool (questionnaire and checklist). Patients aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of hypertension, and prescribed an antihypertensive medication, and attending follow-up visits in the five PHCs in Surabaya, Indonesia, during a two-week study period (May–October 2019) were included. Descriptive analyses summarised the data, while binary logistic regression provided any independent associations between adherence profiles and blood pressure control.ResultsOf 457 eligible patients, 276 patients consented: PHC A (n = 50/91), PHC B (n = 65/116), PHC C (n = 47/61), PHC D (n = 60/88), PHC E (n = 54/101), giving an overall response rate of 60.4%. Patients were mainly treated with a single antihypertensive medication, i.e., amlodipine (89.1%), and many had not achieved blood pressure targets (68.1%). A majority reported notable levels of non-adherence to medication (low/intermediate, 65.2%) and poor healthy lifestyle behaviours, particularly physical activity (inadequate, 87.7%) and discretionary salt use (regularly, 50.4%). Significant associations were found between low medication adherence, discretionary salt use and smoking, with blood pressure control.ConclusionsThe study findings provide the evidence needed to improve the current level of sub-optimal blood pressure management among patients with hypertension in these Indonesian primary care settings. Particular emphasis should be placed on antihypertensive medication adherence and healthy lifestyle behaviours through locally tailored hypertension-related interventions. creator: Adji Prayitno Setiadi creator: Anita Febriandini creator: Eltia Trinanda creator: Wiweka Aryaguna creator: Irene Mutho’atin Chusna creator: Yulia Nurlaili creator: Bruce Sunderland creator: Yosi Irawati Wibowo uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13171 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Setiadi et al. title: Disturbance has lasting effects on functional traits and diversity of grassland plant communities link: https://peerj.com/articles/13179 last-modified: 2022-03-25 description: BackgroundLocalized disturbances within grasslands alter biological properties and may shift species composition. For example, rare species in established communities may become dominant in successional communities if they exhibit traits well-suited to disturbance conditions. Although the idea that plant species exhibit different trait ‘strategies’ is well established, it is unclear how ecological selection for specific traits may change as a function of disturbance. Further, there is little data available testing whether disturbances select for single trait-characters within communities (homogenization), or allow multiple trait-types to persist (diversification). We investigated how (a) traits and (b) functional diversity of post-disturbance gap communities compared to those in adjacent undisturbed grasslands, and (c) if altered functional diversity resulted in the homogenization or diversification of functional traits.MethodsHere we emulate the impacts of an extreme disturbance in a native grassland site. We measured plant community composition of twelve paired 50 × 50 cm plots (24 total) in Alberta, Canada. Each pair consisted of one undisturbed plot and one which had all plants terminated 2 years prior. We used species abundances and a local trait database to calculate community weighted means for maximum height, specific leaf area, specific root length, leaf nitrogen percent, and root nitrogen percent. To test the impacts of disturbance on community functional traits, we calculated functional diversity measures and compared them between disturbed and undisturbed communities.ResultsWithin 2 years, species richness and evenness in disturbed communities had recovered and was equivalent to undisturbed communities. However, disturbed and undisturbed communities had distinct community compositions, resulting in lower functional divergence in disturbed plots. Further, disturbance was linked to increases in community-weighted mean trait values for resource-acquisitive traits, such as specific leaf area, and leaf and root nitrogen.DiscussionDisturbance had lasting effects on the functional traits and diversity of communities, despite traditional biodiversity measures such as richness and evenness recovering within 2 years. The trait space of gap communities shifted compared to undisturbed communities such that gap communities were dominated by traits enhancing resource uptake and growth rates. Overall, these results show that short-term disturbance fundamentally changes the functional character of early-successional communities, even if they superficially appear recovered. creator: Ellen A. Smith creator: Emily M. Holden creator: Charlotte Brown creator: James F. Cahill Jr uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13179 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Smith et al.