title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=749 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Morphological description and molecular identification of Myxobolus dajiangensis n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae) from the gill of Cyprinus carpio in southwest China link: https://peerj.com/articles/13023 last-modified: 2022-03-04 description: BackgroundMyxosporean diversity is a hot topic since they are difficult to accurately identify and classify. Many Myxobolus parasites have been named as Myxobolus koi because of their similar morphological features with the species originally reported. However, the distinctions in fine morphological features, host specificity, and molecular data have given rise to the attention of researchers.MethodsThe classical morphometric and histological methods were used to describe the Myxobolus dajiangensis n. sp. in morphology. The common techniques in modern molecular biology and the methods of phylogenetic analyses were combined to identify the species.ResultsPlasmodia of interlamellar-vascular type were found in the vascular network of gill lamellae. Mature myxospores of M. dajiangensis n. sp. were elongated and pyriform from the frontal view. The myxospores were 14.8 ± 0.4 (13.9–15.6) µm in length, 8.0 ± 0.5 (7.2–9.1) µm in width, and 5.5 µm in thickness. The two polar capsules were pyriform and slightly different in length. The length of the larger polar capsules was 8.0 ± 0.4 (7.1–8.8) µm, and it was 7.4 ± 0.4 (6.1–8.0) µm for the smaller ones. The width of both polar capsules was 2.5 ± 0.2 (2.0–3.2) µm. The polar filaments within the polar capsules were each coiled nine to 11 turns. Comparative analysis of both the morphological and molecular data between the present speices and other similar species revealed that the present species is a novel species, Myxobolus dajiangensis n. sp. Also, M. koi (FJ710800) was misidentified and the congener with M. dajiangensis n. sp., depending on the secondary structures of SSU rRNA and phylogenetic analysis. Moreover, the cryptic species existed in the M. koi parasites. creator: Miao-miao Wang creator: Jin-ye Zhang creator: Yuan-jun Zhao uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13023 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Wang et al. title: Lung–brain ‘cross-talk’: systemic propagation of cytokines in the ARDS via the bloodstream using a blood transfusion model does not influence cerebral inflammatory response in pigs link: https://peerj.com/articles/13024 last-modified: 2022-03-04 description: BackgroundInterorgan cross-talk describes the phenomenon in which a primarily injured organ causes secondary damage to a distant organ. This cross-talk is well known between the lung and brain. One theory suggests that the release and systemic distribution of cytokines via the bloodstream from the primarily affected organ sets in motion proinflammatory cascades in distant organs. In this study, we analysed the role of the systemic distribution of cytokines via the bloodstream in a porcine ARDS model for organ cross-talk and possible inflammatory changes in the brain.MethodsAfter approval of the State and Institutional Animal Care Committee, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induction with oleic acid injection was performed in seven animals. Eight hours after ARDS induction, blood (35–40 ml kg–1) was taken from these seven ‘ARDS donor’ pigs. The collected ‘ARDS donor’ blood was transfused into seven healthy ‘ARDS-recipient’ pigs. Three animals served as a control group, and blood from these animals was transfused into three healthy pigs after an appropriate ventilation period. All animals were monitored for 8 h using advanced cardiorespiratory monitoring. Postmortem assessment included cerebral (hippocampal and cortex) mediators of early inflammatory response (IL-6, TNF-alpha, iNOS, sLCN-2), wet-to-dry ratio and lung histology. TNF-alpha serum concentration was measured in all groups.ResultsARDS was successfully induced in the ‘ARDS donor’ group, and serum TNF-alpha levels were elevated compared with the ‘ARDS-recipient’ group. In the ‘ARDS-recipient’ group, neither significant ARDS alterations nor upregulation of inflammatory mediators in the brain tissue were detected after high-volume random allogenic ‘ARDS-blood’ transfusion. The role of the systemic distribution of inflammatory cytokines from one affected organ to another could not be confirmed in this study. creator: René Rissel creator: Moritz Schaefer creator: Jens Kamuf creator: Robert Ruemmler creator: Julian Riedel creator: Katja Mohnke creator: Miriam Renz creator: Erik K. Hartmann creator: Alexander Ziebart uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13024 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Rissel et al. title: A comparative study of life skills, lifestyle habits and academic performance in health promoting and non-health promoting schools in the Autonomous Community of Aragon, Spain link: https://peerj.com/articles/13041 last-modified: 2022-03-04 description: BackgroundThere is insufficient evidence about the impact of health promoting schools on the student’s health and academic performance. The aim of this study was to compare the life skills, lifestyle habits and academic performance of 7th and 8th grade students registered in health promoting and non-health promoting schools in the Autonomous Community of Aragon.MethodsAn observational, descriptive, comparative study of the life skills, lifestyle habits and academic performance of 7th and 8th grade students registered in 43 randomly selected health promoting and non-health promoting schools was carried out. We used an adapted tool, which was validated through the expert panel technique, to evaluate the students’ life skills (self-efficacy, social skills and affect balance), lifestyle habits (diet, sleep, physical exercise, use of screen and substance abuse) and academic performance.ResultsThe socioeconomic level of the mothers and fathers of the students who attended non-health promoting schools was significantly higher than that of the parents of the adolescents who attended health promoting schools (p < 0.001). The students who attended non-health promoting schools had better self-efficacy, led a healthier life generally and achieved better academic results (p = 0.03).ConclusionsAs opposed to previous studies, which found a positive association between health promoting schools and life skills, lifestyle habits and academic performance, our findings suggest that the impact of these health programs on the students’ health and academic performance is limited. We recommend that the degree of implementation of health promotion programs in health promoting schools is systematically evaluated, and the health promoting school accreditation process and requirements reviewed, in order to ensure that the health of school children and adolescents is safeguarded and promoted in the short, medium and long term. creator: Beatriz Sánchez-Hernando creator: Ángel Gasch-Gallén creator: Isabel Antón-Solanas creator: Vicente Gea-Caballero creator: Raúl Juárez-Vela creator: Javier Gállego-Diéguez creator: María Inmaculada Carboneres-Tafaner creator: Emmanuel Echániz-Serrano creator: Laura Lasso-Olayo creator: Ivan Santolalla-Arnedo uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13041 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Sánchez-Hernando et al. title: Analyzing the relationship between self-efficacy and impulsivity in amateur soccer referees link: https://peerj.com/articles/13058 last-modified: 2022-03-04 description: Soccer referees (SRs) are exposed to stressful situations during the competition that can affect decision-making, could be affected by impulsivity during the competition and therefore, require optimal psychological skills. The objective of this study was to ascertain and analyze the relationship between levels of impulsivity and self-efficacy of amateur SRs in the senior category. A total of 21 Spanish SRs participated in this study (age 23.57 ± 2.40 years and 7.81 ± 2.58 seasons of experience). Self-efficacy data were collected with the REFS questionnaire between 48 and 72 h before the competition. The impulsivity data were collected using the UPPS-P questionnaire 60 min before the start the competition. The results indicate that SRs with higher self-efficacy have lower levels of impulsivity, specifically in the dimensions of negative urgency (p < 0.01), positive urgency (p < 0.05), lack of premeditation (p < 0.001), and lack of perseverance (p < 0.001), as well as lower global impulsivity (p < 0.01). However, the SRs with the highest self-efficacy also obtained higher levels in the sensation seeking dimension (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the main finding of this study showed that self-efficacy is influenced by SR impulsivity prior to competition. These novel facts allow us to discover aspects related to decision-making in refereeing that can be trained to reach optimal levels. creator: José López-Aguilar creator: Rafael Burgueño creator: Alfonso Castillo-Rodriguez creator: Wanesa Onetti-Onetti uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13058 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 López-Aguilar et al. title: Factors regulating growth pattern and condition factor of an amphibious fish Periophthalmus gracilis living in the Mekong Delta link: https://peerj.com/articles/13060 last-modified: 2022-03-04 description: Growth pattern and condition factor (CF) are essential to fish resource assessment but limited to Periophthalmus gracilis—an amphibious fish living in the mudflats along the Indo-Pacific regions, including the Mekong Delta (MD), Vietnam. This study lasted from April 2020 to March 2021 to verify if their growth pattern and CF change with sex, size, season, month and site. The total length and weight of 486 individuals (236 females and 250 males) were 2.9–5.9 cm and 0.13–1.66 g, respectively. The mudskipper displayed negative allometry as the slope value (b = 2.69 ± 0.06) obtained from length and weight (LWR) was significantly less than 3 (p < 0.01), indicating that most fish specimens were caught in the immature stage. The fish growth pattern did not change with sex as both males and females displayed negative allometry but varied by size since the mudskipper showed negative allometry in the immature group and isometry in the mature group. Likewise, growth type changed with season since fish showed negative allometry in the dry season but isometry in the wet season. As the slope value (b) varied by site and month, the mudskipper displayed spatiotemporal growth patterns, ranging from negative to positive allometry. The CF was impacted by sex as this value of females (1.09 ± 0.02) was higher than that of males (0.96 ± 0.01, p < 0.01). Besides, CF was regulated by fish length since this value was higher in the mature group (1.12 ± 0.03) than in the immature group (1.01 ± 0.01, p < 0.01). Likewise, CF was affected by season as this value was higher in the wet season (1.05 ± 0.02) than in the dry season (0.99 ± 0.01, p < 0.01). Although the CF varied with site and month variables (p < 0.01), this value (1.02 ± 0.01) was generally higher than 1, showing fish adapted well to their habitat. The fish length at first capture should be increased to exploit this species sustainably. creator: Quang Minh Dinh creator: Ton Huu Duc Nguyen creator: Ngon Trong Truong creator: Lam Nguyen-Ngoc uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13060 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Dinh et al. title: An overview of the nutritional value, health properties, and future challenges of Chinese bayberry link: https://peerj.com/articles/13070 last-modified: 2022-03-04 description: Chinese bayberry (CB) is among the most popular and valuable fruits in China owing to its attractive color and unique sweet/sour taste. Recent studies have highlighted the nutritional value and health-related benefits of CB. CB has special biological characteristics of evergreen, special aroma, dioecious, nodulation, nitrogen fixation. Moreover, the fruits, leaves, and bark of CB plants harbor a number of bioactive compounds including proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, vitamin C, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins that have been linked to the anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and neuroprotective properties and to the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The CB fruits have been used to produce a range of products: beverages, foods, and washing supplies. Future CB-related product development is thus expected to further leverage the health-promoting potential of this valuable ecological resource. The present review provides an overview of the botanical characteristics, processing, nutritional value, health-related properties, and applications of CB in order to provide a foundation for further research and development. creator: Shuwen Zhang creator: Zheping Yu creator: Li Sun creator: Haiying Ren creator: Xiliang Zheng creator: Senmiao Liang creator: Xingjiang Qi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13070 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Zhang et al. title: Hurricane María drives increased indoor proliferation of filamentous fungi in San Juan, Puerto Rico: a two-year culture-based approach link: https://peerj.com/articles/12730 last-modified: 2022-03-03 description: Extensive flooding caused by Hurricane María in Puerto Rico (PR) created favorable conditions for indoor growth of filamentous fungi. These conditions represent a public health concern as contamination by environmental fungi is associated with a higher prevalence of inflammatory respiratory conditions. This work compares culturable fungal spore communities present in homes that sustained water damage after Hurricane María to those present in dry, non-flooded homes. We collected air samples from 50 houses in a neighborhood in San Juan, PR, 12 and 22 months after Hurricane María. Self-reported data was used to classify the homes as flooded, water-damage or dry non-flooded. Fungi abundances, composition and diversity were analyzed by culturing on two media. Our results showed no significant differences in indoor fungal concentrations (CFU/m3) one year after the Hurricane in both culture media studied (MEA and G25N). During the second sampling period fungal levels were 2.7 times higher in previously flooded homes (Median = 758) when compared to dry homes (Median = 283), (p-value < 0.005). Fungal profiles showed enrichment of Aspergillus species inside flooded homes compared to outdoor samples during the first sampling period (FDR-adjusted p-value = 0.05). In contrast, 22 months after the storm, indoor fungal composition consisted primarily of non-sporulated fungi, most likely basidiospores, which are characteristic of the outdoor air in PR. Together, this data highlights that homes that suffered water damage not only have higher indoor proliferation of filamentous fungi, but their indoor fungal populations change over time following the Hurricane. Ultimately, after nearly two years, indoor and outdoor fungal communities converged in this sample of naturally ventilated homes. creator: Lorraine N. Vélez-Torres creator: Benjamín Bolaños-Rosero creator: Filipa Godoy-Vitorino creator: Felix E. Rivera-Mariani creator: Juan P. Maestre creator: Kerry Kinney creator: Humberto Cavallin uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12730 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Vélez-Torres et al. title: Back pain and body posture of non-professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners link: https://peerj.com/articles/12838 last-modified: 2022-03-03 description: BackgroundThe aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of back pain in non-professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners (NP-BJJ practitioners), and to assess the relationship between their back pain and postural disorders.MethodsThe study involved 61 subjects (age: 30.7 ± 4.9 years old; body mass: 79.4 ± 12.9 kg; body height: 179.6 ± 8.4 cm; 8 woman and 53 man), 31 who trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and 30 subjects who had never trained any combat sport. The mean time of training BJJ in the study population was 3.9 ± 4.1 years. Postural assessments were conducted with the use of the photogrammetric method. The assessment of back pain and injuries was conducted with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and with our proprietary questionnaire.ResultsAmong both populations, 37 subjects reported back pain. There were no differences in back pain location between the two groups or in functional state on the ODI. Significant differences between the groups in the values of the postural parameters (spinal height, length of kyphosis, length of lordosis, pelvis inclination angle) were observed. Statistically significant differences between the NP-BJJ practitioners with and without back pain in the length of the thoracic kyphosis and the differences in the height of the waist triangles were found.ConclusionsBoth in the study population and in the control group the spinal pain was minimal or moderate on the ODI. BJJ practitioners who reported back pain had characteristic postural changes in some of the analysed postural parameters in comparison to BJJ practitioners who did not report back pain. creator: Katarzyna Sędek creator: Aleksandra Truszczyńska-Baszak creator: Anna Katarzyna Cygańska creator: Justyna Drzał-Grabiec uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12838 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Sędek et al. title: Titanium dioxide dental implants surfaces related oxidative stress in bone remodeling: a systematic review link: https://peerj.com/articles/12951 last-modified: 2022-03-03 description: BackgroundTitanium dioxide dental implants have a controversial effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. ROS is necessary for cellular signal transmission and proper metabolism, but also has the ability to cause cell death as well as DNA, RNA, and proteins damage by excessive oxidative stress. This study aimed to systematically review the effect of titanium dioxide dental implant-induced oxidative stress and its role on the osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling in bone remodeling.MethodsThis systematic review was performed conforming to preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) model. Four different databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Medline databases) as well as manual searching were adopted. Relevant studies from January 2000 till September 2021 were retrieved. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to assess the quality of the selected studies.ResultsOut of 755 articles, only 14 which met the eligibility criteria were included. Six studies found that titanium dioxide nanotube (TNT) reduced oxidative stress and promoted osteoblastic activity through its effect on Wnt, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) signaling pathways. On the other hand, three studies confirmed that titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) induce oxidative stress, reduce ostegenesis and impair antioxidant defense system as a significant negative correlation was found between decreased SIR3 protein level and increased superoxide (O2•-). Moreover, five studies proved that titanium implant alloy enhances the generation of ROS and induces cytotoxicity of osteoblast cells via its effect on NOX pathway.ConclusionTiO2NPs stimulate a wide array of oxidative stress related pathways. Scientific evidence are in favor to support the use of TiO2 nanotube-coated titanium implants to reduce oxidative stress and promote osteogenesis in bone remodeling. To validate the cellular and molecular cross talk in bone remodeling of the present review, well-controlled clinical trials with a large sample size are required. creator: Elaf Akram Abdulhameed creator: Natheer H. Al-Rawi creator: Marzuki Omar creator: Nadia Khalifa creator: A.B. Rani Samsudin uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12951 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Abdulhameed et al. title: LncRNA CCAT1 facilitates the proliferation, invasion and migration of human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells via the miR-218-5p/BMI1 link: https://peerj.com/articles/12961 last-modified: 2022-03-03 description: Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are vital in the treatment of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). This study estimated the mechanism of lncRNA CCAT1 (CCAT1) in LSCC cells. The expression of CCAT1 in the human laryngeal mucosal epithelial cells (HLCs) and LSCC cells (Hep-2 and TU177) was detected. CCK-8 and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the cell proliferative, migrative, and invasive abilities, respectively. The subcellular localization of CCAT1 was verified by RNA-FISH and cytoplasmic isolation assays. The targeted relationship among CCAT1, miR-218-5p, and BMI1 was verified by dual-luciferase assay. Expressions of miR-218-5p and BMI1 were detected by RT-qPCR. Our results depicted that CCAT1 was highly-expressed in Hep-2 and TU177 cells. Silencing CCAT1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Hep-2 and TU177 cells. Mechanically, CCAT1 regulated the BMI1 expression by competitively binding to miR-218-5p as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), and thus facilitated the growth of Hep-2 and TU177 cells. Downregulation of miR-218-5p or upregulation of BMI1 inhibited the inhibitory effect of silencing CCAT1 on Hep-2 and TU177 cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. In conclusion, our study elicited that lncRNA CCAT1 facilitated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Hep-2 and TU177 cells by sponging miR-218-5p and regulating the downstream BMI1. creator: Jing Hong creator: Ali Hong creator: Houshu Tu creator: Zhichao Wan creator: Yuqiao Deng creator: Chengcheng Deng creator: Bo Tao creator: Yanjin Yu creator: Lanfei Zhou uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12961 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Hong et al.