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Antibiotic susceptibility and resistance genes profiles of Vagococcus salmoninarum in a rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss, Walbaum) farm PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-28 Mesut Yilmaz, Tulin Arslan, Mükerrem Atalay Oral, Aysegul Kubilay
Disease outbreaks negatively affect fish production. Antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of diseases become ineffective over time because of antibiotic resistance developed by bacteria distributed in the aquaculture environment. This study was conducted for 4 months (cold period) in a fish farm to detect the fish disease, cold water streptococcosis. In the study, four brood stock showing disease
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Association between visfatin and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-28 Yaoqin Li, Caihong Xin, Jing Xie, Xin Sun
Background Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by bacterial infection in the periodontal support tissue. Visfatin, a hormone secreted mainly by adipocytes and macrophages, plays an important role in immune regulation and defense. Although studies have indicated that patients with periodontitis have significantly high serum and gingival crevicular fluid levels of visfatin, the relationship
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scAnnoX: an R package integrating multiple public tools for single-cell annotation PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-28
Background Single-cell annotation plays a crucial role in the analysis of single-cell genomics data. Despite the existence of numerous single-cell annotation algorithms, a comprehensive tool for integrating and comparing these algorithms is also lacking. Methods This study meticulously investigated a plethora of widely adopted single-cell annotation algorithms. Ten single-cell annotation algorithms
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Genome-wide identification of the CYP82 gene family in cucumber and functional characterization of CsCYP82D102 in regulating resistance to powdery mildew PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-28
The cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene family plays a vital role in basic metabolism, hormone signaling, and enhances plant resistance to stress. Among them, the CYP82 gene family is primarily found in dicots, and they are typically activated in response to various specific environmental stresses. Nevertheless, their roles remain considerably obscure, particularly within the context of cucumber. In the
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The first occurrence of machimosaurid crocodylomorphs from the Oxfordian of south-central Poland provides new insights into the distribution of macrophagous teleosauroids PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-28 Łukasz Weryński, Błazej Błażejowski, Tomasz Szczygielski, Mark T. Young
Teleosauroid thalattosuchians were a clade of semi-aquatic crocodylomorphs that achieved a broad geographic distribution during the Mesozoic. While their fossils are well documented in Western European strata, our understanding of teleosauroids (and thalattosuchians in general) is notably poorer in Central-Eastern Europe, and from Poland in particular. Herein, we redescribe a teleosauroid rostrum (MZ
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The behavior and welfare of neglected species: some examples from fish and mammals PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-28
Animal welfare is the state of an animal’s body and mind and the level to which its requirements are satisfied. Animal welfare is affected by human decisions and actions. Numerous decisions concerning animals are driven by human desires to enhance their own lives, and some of these decisions may be influenced by self-interest or a strong emphasis on economic factors. How to assess the welfare state
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Accuracy of augmented reality-guided needle placement for pulsed radiofrequency treatment of pudendal neuralgia: a pilot study on a phantom model PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-28
Background Pudendal neuralgia (PN) is a chronic neuropathy that causes pain, numbness, and dysfunction in the pelvic region. The current state-of-the-art treatment is pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) in which a needle is supposed to be placed close to the pudendal nerve for neuromodulation. Given the effective range of PRF of 5 mm, the accuracy of needle placement is important. This study aimed to investigate
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Identification of WRKY gene family in Dioscorea opposita Thunb. reveals that DoWRKY71 enhanced the tolerance to cold and ABA stress PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-28 Linan Xing, Yanfang Zhang, Mingran Ge, Lingmin Zhao, Xiuwen Huo
WRKY transcription factors constitute one of the largest plant-specific gene families, regulating various aspects of plant growth, development, physiological processes, and responses to abiotic stresses. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the WRKY gene family of yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.), to understand their expression patterns during the growth and development process and their response
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Use of different dry materials to control the moisture in a black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) rearing substrate PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-28 Parichart Laksanawimol, Pritsana Anukun, Anchana Thancharoen
Background Controlling the substrate moisture is a significant challenge in black soldier fly (BSF) farming. Many substrates have a high moisture content, which results in a low BSF biomass and a high mortality. One potential solution involves incorporating dry substrates into the food mix to mitigate the excessive moisture. However, little information about the types and quantities of dry substrates
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Physiological and biochemical effects of 24-Epibrassinolide on drought stress adaptation in maize (Zea mays L.) PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-27 Bicky Kumar, Madan Pal, Pranjal Yadava, Krishan Kumar, Sapna Langyan, Abhishek Kumar Jha, Ishwar Singh
Maize production and productivity are affected by drought stress in tropical and subtropical ecologies, as the majority of the area under maize cultivation in these ecologies is rain-fed. The present investigation was conducted to study the physiological and biochemical effects of 24-Epibrassinolide (EBR) as a plant hormone on drought tolerance in maize. Two maize hybrids, Vivek hybrid 9 and Bio 9637
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Species divergence in valleys: the phylogeny of Phrynocephalus forsythii complex and description of a new species PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-27 Qianru Liang, Lei Shi
Background Geographic isolation caused by high-altitude valleys promotes the formation of geographic segregation of species, leading to species differentiation. The subgenus Oreosaura contains viviparous species from the Tibetan Plateau and the vicinity of the Tarim Basin, which can be divided into three species complexes according to their geographical distribution: Phrynocephalus vlangalii, Phrynocephalus
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Comprehensive analysis of the microbiome in Apis cerana honey highlights honey as a potential source for the isolation of beneficial bacterial strains PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-27 Pham T. Lanh, Bui T.T. Duong, Ha T. Thu, Nguyen T. Hoa, Dong Van Quyen
Background Honey is a nutritious food made by bees from nectar and sweet deposits of flowering plants and has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for wound healing and other bacterial infections due to its antibacterial properties. Honey contains a diverse community of bacteria, especially probiotic bacteria, that greatly affect the health of bees and their consumers. Therefore, understanding
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Erythropoietin alleviates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury by activating the FGF23/FGFR4/ERK signaling pathway PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-27
Background The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI). Methods Sprague Dawley rats and BEAS-2B cells were employed to construct an ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced model in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Afterward, I/R rats and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced cells were treated with different concentrations
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Buffalo-bur (Solanum rostratum Dunal) invasiveness, bioactivities, and utilization: a review PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-27 Sandra Amarachi Ozuzu, Rizvi Syed Arif Hussain, Nigora Kuchkarova, Gift Donu Fidelis, Shixing Zhou, Théogène Habumugisha, Hua Shao
Solanum rostratum Dunal, belongs to the Solanaceae family and has drawn attention for its intricate interplay of invasiveness, phytochemical composition, and potential bioactivities. Notably invasive, S. rostratum employs adaptive mechanisms during senescence, featuring thorn formation on leaves, fruits, and stems seed self-propulsion, and resistance to drought. This adaptability has led to its proliferation
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The contribution of estimated dead space fraction to mortality prediction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—a new proposal PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-27
Background Mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing. However, dead space fractions at rest (VD/VTrest) and peak exercise (VD/VTpeak) and variables affecting survival have not been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate these issues. Methods This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted from 2010–2020. Patients with COPD who smoked, met the Global
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Interwoven processes in fish development: microbial community succession and immune maturation PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-27 Lisa Zoé Auclert, Mousumi Sarker Chhanda, Nicolas Derome
Fishes are hosts for many microorganisms that provide them with beneficial effects on growth, immune system development, nutrition and protection against pathogens. In order to avoid spreading of infectious diseases in aquaculture, prevention includes vaccinations and routine disinfection of eggs and equipment, while curative treatments consist in the administration of antibiotics. Vaccination processes
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Changes in red blood cell parameters during incremental exercise in highly trained athletes of different sport specializations PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-27 Monika Ciekot-Sołtysiak, Krzysztof Kusy, Tomasz Podgórski, Barbara Pospieszna, Jacek Zieliński
Background During physical exercise, the level of hematological parameters change depending on the intensity and duration of exercise and the individual’s physical fitness. Research results, based on samples taken before and after exercise, suggest that hematological parameters increase during incremental exercise. However, there is no data confirming this beyond any doubt. This study examined how
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The clinical association of programmed death-1/PD-L1 axis, myeloid derived suppressor cells subsets and regulatory T cells in peripheral blood of stable COPD patients PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-27 Mingqiang Zhang, Yinghua Wan, Jie Han, Jun Li, Haihong Gong, Xiangdong Mu
Background Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have crucial immunosuppressive role in T cell dysfunction in various disease processes. However, the role of MDSCs and their impact on Tregs in COPD have not been fully understood. The aim of the present study is to investigate the immunomodulatory role of MDSCs and their potential impact on the expansion and function of Tregs in COPD patients. Methods
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Mathematical model explains differences in Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in Caco-2 and Calu-3 cells PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-27 Vladimir Staroverov, Alexei Galatenko, Evgeny Knyazev, Alexander Tonevitsky
Within-host infection dynamics of Omicron dramatically differs from previous variants of SARS-CoV-2. However, little is still known about which parameters of virus-cell interplay contribute to the observed attenuated replication and pathogenicity of Omicron. Mathematical models, often expressed as systems of differential equations, are frequently employed to study the infection dynamics of various
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Plantar load distribution with centers of gravity balance and rearfoot posture in daily lives of Taiwanese college elite table tennis players: a cross-sectional study PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Tong-Hsien Chow, Yu-Ling Lee
Background Table tennis is an asymmetric sport involving the powerful forward swing of the upper limbs depends on the solid support of the lower limbs. The foot drive really affects the weight balance and stroke accuracy even though the distance and momentum of the lower limb displacement are limited within a limited range. Given that previous research on table tennis has typically focused on the footwork
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Assessing the risk of concurrent mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children with tracheobronchial tuberculosis: retrospective study PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Lin Liu, Jie Jiang, Lei Wu, De miao Zeng, Can Yan, Linlong Liang, Jiayun Shi, Qifang Xie
Objective This study aimed to create a predictive model based on machine learning to identify the risk for tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB) occurring alongside Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in pediatric patients. Methods Clinical data from 212 pediatric patients were examined in this retrospective analysis. This cohort included 42 individuals diagnosed with TBTB and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
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Variation and trade-offs in life history traits of the protist parasite Monocystis perplexa (Apicomplexa) in its earthworm host Amynthas agrestis PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Erin L. Keller, Jos. J. Schall
The life history of a parasite describes its partitioning of assimilated resources into growth, reproduction, and transmission effort, and its precise timing of developmental events. The life cycle, in contrast, charts the sequence of morphological stages from feeding to the transmission forms. Phenotypic plasticity in life history traits can reveal how parasites confront variable environments within
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The feasibility of the posterior tibial nerve-flexor hallucis brevis pathway applied in neuromuscular monitoring: a multicentric, controlled, and prospective clinical trial PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Weiqiang Chen, Zhijian Chen, Fang Cheng, Zhuodan Wang, Juan Li, Shangrong Li, Hanbin Xie
This study aimed to investigate the clinical viability of utilizing the flexor hallucis brevis as an alternative site for neuromuscular monitoring compared to the conventional adductor pollicis. Patients were recruited from three medical centers. Cis-atracurium was administered, and two monitors were employed independently to assess neuromuscular blockade of the adductor pollicis and the ipsilateral
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Role of macrophages and their exosomes in orthopedic diseases PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Riming Yuan, Jianjun Li
Exosomes are vesicles with a lipid bilayer structure that carry various active substances, such as proteins, DNA, non-coding RNA, and nucleic acids; these participate in the immune response, tissue formation, and cell communication. Owing to their low immunogenicity, exosomes play a key role in regulating the skeletal immune environment. Macrophages are important immune cells that swallow various cellular
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Function and regulation of plant ARGONAUTE proteins in response to environmental challenges: a review PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Uroosa Zaheer, Faisal Munir, Yussuf Mohamed Salum, Weiyi He
Environmental stresses diversely affect multiple processes related to the growth, development, and yield of many crops worldwide. In response, plants have developed numerous sophisticated defense mechanisms at the cellular and subcellular levels to react and adapt to biotic and abiotic stressors. RNA silencing, which is an innate immune mechanism, mediates sequence-specific gene expression regulation
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Plasticity-led and mutation-led evolutions are different modes of the same developmental gene regulatory network PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Eden T.H. Ng, Akira R. Kinjo
The standard theory of evolution proposes that mutations cause heritable variations, which are naturally selected, leading to evolution. However, this mutation-led evolution (MLE) is being questioned by an alternative theory called plasticity-led evolution (PLE). PLE suggests that an environmental change induces adaptive phenotypes, which are later genetically accommodated. According to PLE, developmental
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Similarities and differences: species and diet impact gut microbiota of captive pheasants PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Yushuo Zhang, Xin He, Xiuhong Mo, Hong Wu, Dapeng Zhao
The fecal microbiota plays an important role in maintaining animal health and is closely related to host life activities. In recent years, there have been an increasing number of studies on the fecal microbiota from birds. An exploration of the effects of species and living environments on the composition of gut microbiota will provide better protection for wildlife. In this study, non-injury sampling
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Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of specialized metabolites isolated from Centaurea hyalolepis PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-26
The discovery of plant-derived compounds that are able to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens is an urgent demand. Over years, Centaurea hyalolepis attracted considerable attention because of its beneficial medical properties. Phytochemical analyses revealed that Centaurea plant species contain several metabolites, such as sesquiterpene lactones (STLs), essential oils, flavonoids, alkaloids, and
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Geographic patterns of distribution and ecological niche of the snake-necked turtle genus Hydromedusa PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-26 Márcia M.P. Muller, Diego J. Santana, Henrique C. Costa, Karoline Ceron
Biotic and abiotic factors play a crucial role in determining the distribution of species. These factors dictate the conditions that must be met for a species to thrive in a particular area. Sister species that present some degree of niche overlap can shed light on how they are distributed and coexist in their environment. This study aims to investigate the geographical distribution and ecological
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Curd, seed yield and disease resistance of cauliflower are enhanced by oligosaccharides PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-25 Md. Mijanur Rahman Rajib, Hasina Sultana, Jin Gao, Wenxia Wang, Heng Yin
Background Oligosaccharides have been demonstrated as promoters for enhancing plant growth across several crops by elevating their secondary metabolites. However, the exploration of employing diverse oligosaccharides for qualitative trait improvements in cauliflower largely unknown. This study was intended to uncover the unexplored potential, evaluating the stimulatory effects of three oligosaccharides
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Validation of the questionnaire “Pregnancy Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (pVHS)” toward COVID-19 vaccine for Malaysian pregnant women PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-25 Nur Azreen Che Mood, Zainab Mat Yudin, Wan Muhamad Amir W Ahmad, Azidah Abdul Kadir, Mohd Noor Norhayati, Noorfaizahtul Hanim Md Nawawi, Erinna Mohamad Zon, Norsiah Ali
Background Pregnancy is one of the risks for severe COVID-19 infection, and receiving a vaccination is one of the effective methods to reduce disease severity. However, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women remains an issue. This study aims to develop and validate the pregnancy Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (pVHS) toward COVID-19 vaccine for Malaysian pregnant women. Method An 8-item Malay language
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Critical areas for sea turtles in Northeast Brazil: a participatory approach for a data-poor context PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-25 Yedda Christina Bezerra Barbosa de Oliveira, Douglas Nazareth Rivera, Luciano Carramaschi de Alagão Querido, José da Silva Mourão
Fishing is one of the main threats to sea turtles due to the risk of entanglement in lost nets, vessel collision and mortality due to incidental catches. In Brazil, most of the studies regarding fishing interactions with sea turtles are focused on pelagic longline fisheries in the South and Southeast regions. However, their main reproductive areas in Southwest Atlantic RMU occur in Northeast Brazil
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Identification and validation of an endoplasmic-reticulum-stress-related gene signature as an effective diagnostic marker of endometriosis PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-25 Tao Wang, Mei Ji, Jing Sun
Background Endometriosis is one of the most common benign gynecological diseases and is characterized by chronic pain and infertility. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a cellular adaptive response that plays a pivotal role in many cellular processes, including malignant transformation. However, whether ER stress is involved in endometriosis remains largely unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the
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The interaction of InvF-RNAP is mediated by the chaperone SicA in Salmonella sp: an in silico prediction PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-25 André B. Farias, Daniel Cortés-Avalos, J. Antonio Ibarra, Ernesto Perez-Rueda
In this work we carried out an in silico analysis to understand the interaction between InvF-SicA and RNAP in the bacterium Salmonella Typhimurium strain LT2. Structural analysis of InvF allowed the identification of three possible potential cavities for interaction with SicA. This interaction could occur with the structural motif known as tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) 1 and 2 in the two cavities
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Ultrasound and ultraviolet: crypsis in gliding mammals PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-25 Sasha L. Newar, Irena Schneiderová, Bryan Hughes, Jeff Bowman
Gliding is only present in six extant groups of mammals—interestingly, despite divergent evolutionary histories, all mammalian gliders are strictly nocturnal. Gliding mammals also seem to have relatively high rates of ultrasound use and ultraviolet-induced photoluminescence (UVP) in contrast with their close relatives. Therefore, we hypothesized that, despite diverging lineages, gliding mammals use
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Behavior change intervention to sustain iodide salt utilization in households in Ethiopia and study of the effect of iodine status on the growth of young children: community trial PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-25
Background Monitoring systems in a broad range of countries are a notable effort to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs). This study aimed to gather data on the amount of iodide present in table salt and how household consumption patterns affect children’s iodine status and its effect on their growth. Methods A single treatment arm community trial study design was designed. Lower community
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Waterlogging in soil restricts the growth of Gleditsia sinensis seedlings and inhibits the accumulation of lignans and phenolic acids in thorns PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Zai-Qi Luo, Xiao-Qian Shi, Xian-Ying Wang, Qiu-Lan Yang, Xin Pan, Wen-Xia Pan, Chun-Li Luo, Shan-Shan Yu, Wen-Wen Zhou, Bin-Rui Ren, Yin Yi, Xi-Min Zhang
Gleditsia sinensis, commonly known as Chinese Zaojiao, has important economic value and medicinal compounds in its fruits and thorns, making it widely cultivated artificially in China. However, the available literature on the impact of waterlogging on the growth of G. sinensis seedlings and the accumulation of metabolite compounds in its thorns is limited. To address this knowledge gap, G. sinensis
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Heatwave-like events affect drone production and brood-care behaviour in bumblebees PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Yanet Sepúlveda, Elizabeth Nicholls, Wiebke Schuett, Dave Goulson
Climate change is currently considered one of the major threats to biodiversity and is associated with an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves. Heatwaves create acutely stressful conditions that may lead to disruption in the performance and survival of ecologically and economically important organisms, such as insect pollinators. In this study, we investigated
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Evaluation of some garden flowers as specialty cut flowers in Eskisehir province-Türkiye PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Sibel Yiğiter, İlkay Coskun
Specialty cut flowers are in demand, especially in the domestic market as they can be grown with low production costs without the need for specially equipped greenhouses and offer diversity in terms of form, texture, and colour. These products, which are widely cultivated in the USA, are not well known in Türkiye. One of the main problems of the Turkish cut flower sector is its dependence on foreign
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Exploring the relationships between pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain, and nutritional intake: a real-world investigation in Shandong, China PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Juan Zhang, Xue Wang, Ping Zhu, Xiaoge Huang, Xingru Cao, Junmin Li
This study investigated the associations between gestational weight gain (GWG), pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and prenatal diet quality in pregnant women from Shandong, China. We analyzed a sample of 532 early-stage pregnant women registered at an outpatient clinic. Diet quality was evaluated using the Chinese Healthy Dietary Index for Pregnancy (CHDI-P), encompassing three dimensions: diversity
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Malaria: biochemical, physiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic updates PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Enas El Saftawy, Mohamed F. Farag, Hossam H. Gebreil, Mohamed Abdelfatah, Basma Emad Aboulhoda, Mansour Alghamdi, Emad A. Albadawi, Marwa Ali Abd Elkhalek
Background Malaria has been appraised as a significant vector-borne parasitic disease with grave morbidity and high-rate mortality. Several challenges have been confronting the efficient diagnosis and treatment of malaria. Method Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB) were all used to gather articles. Results Diverse biochemical and physiological indices can mirror
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Comprehensive analysis of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors to predict the drug resistance, immune microenvironment, and prognosis in stomach adenocarcinomas PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-22
Background Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) exert multiple functions in the initiation and progression of stomach adenocarcinomas (STAD). This study analyzed the relationship between PPARs and the immune status, molecular mutations, and drug therapy in STAD. Methods The expression profiles of three PPAR genes (PPARA, PPARD and PPARG) were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)
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Irritant and repellent behaviors of sterile male Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes are crucial in the development of disease control strategies applying sterile insect technique PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-22
The mosquito Aedes aegypti, known to transmit important arboviral diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever. Given the importance of this disease vector, a number of control programs have been proposed involving the use of the sterile insect technique (SIT). However, the success of this technique hinges on having a good understanding of the biology and behavior of the male mosquito
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Coupling effect of key factors on ecosystem services in border areas: a study of the Pu’er region, Southwestern China PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Ruijing Qiao, Jie Li, Xiaofei Liu, Mengjie Li, Dongmei Lei, Yungang Li, Kai Wu, Pengbo Du, Kun Ye, Jinming Hu
The coupling effects created by transboundary and local factors on ecosystem services are often difficult to determine. This poses great challenges for ecosystem protection and management in border areas. To decrease uncertainty, it is crucial to quantify and spatialize the impact multiple factors have on ecosystem services within different scenarios. In this study, we identified key transboundary
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Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in ITLN1 gene with ischemic stroke risk in Xi’an population, Shaanxi province PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Wenzhen Shi, Qi Zhang, Ying Lu, Jie Liu, Xiaojuan Ma, Zhen Xie, Gejuan Zhang, Mingze Chang, Ye Tian
Background Ischemic stroke (IS) is the main cause of death and adult disability. However, the pathogenesis of this complicated disease is unknown. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between ITLN1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the susceptibility to IS in Xi’an population, Shaanxi province. Methods In this study, we designed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers located
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Recent genetic, phenetic and ecological divergence across the Mesoamerican highlands: a study case with Diglossa baritula (Aves: Thraupidae) PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-22 Alondra K. Terrones-Ramírez, Sahid M. Robles-Bello, Melisa Vázquez-López, Sandra M. Ramírez-Barrera, Luz E. Zamudio-Beltrán, Anuar López López, Maria del Coro Arizmendi, Ana Paula Durán-Suárez del Real, Luis E. Eguiarte, Blanca E. Hernández-Baños
The topographical, geological, climatic and biodiversity complexity of Mesoamerica has made it a primary research focus. The Mesoamerican highlands is a region with particularly high species richness and within-species variation. The Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, Diglossa baritula (Wagler, 1832), is a species endemic to the Mesoamerican highlands, with three allopatric subspecies currently recognized
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Does novelty influence the foraging decisions of a scavenger? PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-21 Debottam Bhattacharjee, Shubhra Sau, Jayjit Das, Anindita Bhadra
Acquiring knowledge about the environment is crucial for survival. Animals, often driven by their exploratory tendencies, gather valuable information regarding food resources, shelter, mating partners, etc. However, neophobia, or avoiding novel environmental stimuli, can constrain their exploratory behaviour. While neophobia can reduce potential predation risks, decreased exploratory behaviour resulting
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Inulin protects against the harmful effects of dietary emulsifiers on mice gut microbiome PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-21 Cansu Bekar, Ozlem Ozmen, Ceren Ozkul, Aylin Ayaz
Background The prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases is increasing, especially in developing countries, with adoption of Western-style diet. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two emulsifiers including lecithin and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on the gut microbiota, intestinal inflammation and the potential of inulin as a means to protect against the harmful effects of emulsifiers
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The effect of flywheel complex training with eccentric-overload on muscular adaptation in elite female volleyball players PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-21 Jiaoqin Wang, Qiang Zhang, Wenhui Chen, Honghao Fu, Ming Zhang, Yongzhao Fan
This study aimed to compare the effects of 8 weeks (24 sessions) between flywheel complex training with eccentric overload and traditional complex training of well-trained volleyball players on muscle adaptation, including hypertrophy, strength, and power variables. Fourteen athletes were recruited and randomly divided into the flywheel complex training with an eccentric-overload group (FCTEO, n = 7)
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Foveavelia, a new South American genus of Veliinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-21 Higor D. D. Rodrigues, Felipe F. F. Moreira
Background Semiaquatic bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerromorpha) are distributed worldwide and play fundamental roles in limnic ecosystems. They are the most successful group of organisms to occupy the air-water interface, are important models to study ecology and evolution, and can be relevant tools in biomonitoring. Veliidae is the second most speciose family of semiaquatic bugs, but its internal
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Gene‒environment interaction effect of hypothalamic‒pituitary‒adrenal axis gene polymorphisms and job stress on the risk of sleep disturbances PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Min Zhao, Yuxi Wang, Yidan Zeng, Huimin Huang, Tong Xu, Baoying Liu, Chuancheng Wu, Xiufeng Luo, Yu Jiang
Background Studies have shown that chronic exposure to job stress may increase the risk of sleep disturbances and that hypothalamic‒pituitary‒adrenal (HPA) axis gene polymorphisms may play an important role in the psychopathologic mechanisms of sleep disturbances. However, the interactions among job stress, gene polymorphisms and sleep disturbances have not been examined from the perspective of the
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Gene expression analysis of potato drought-responsive genes under drought stress in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Sadettin Çelik
The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), an important field crop consumed extensively worldwide, is adversely affected by abiotic stress factors especially drought. Therefore, it is vital to understand the genetic mechanism under drought stress to decrease loose of yield and quality . This trial aimed to screen drought-responsive gene expressions of potato and determine the drought-tolerant potato cultivar
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Predictive nomogram for lymph node metastasis and survival in gastric cancer using contrast-enhanced computed tomography-based radiomics: a retrospective study PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Weiteng Zhang, Sujun Wang, Qiantong Dong, Wenjing Chen, Pengfei Wang, Guanbao Zhu, Xiaolei Chen, Yiqi Cai
Background Lymph node involvement significantly impacts the survival of gastric cancer patients and is a crucial factor in determining the appropriate treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of enhanced computed tomography (CT)-based radiomics in predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) and survival in patients with gastric cancer before surgery. Methods Retrospective analysis of clinical
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Retrospective evaluation of the morphometric properties of intact maxillary sinus using cone-beam computed tomography for sex estimation in an Indian population PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Vrushali Raosaheb Ghavate, Ajinkya M. Pawar, Jatin Atram, Vineet Vinay, Dian Agustin Wahjuningrum, Alexander Maniangat Luke, Nader Nabil Rezallah
Background Sex estimation is crucial to forensic examinations. In order to estimate sex, intact bones are used if the majority of bones are severely deformed and recovered in fragments. This study aims to analyze sexual dimorphism in intact maxillary sinuses using CBCT scanning to evaluate morphometric properties for sex identification. Methods A total of 318 subjects, consisting of 159 males and 159
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Sex differences in strength at the shoulder: a systematic review PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Tamar D. Kritzer, Cameron J. Lang, Michael W. R. Holmes, Alan C. Cudlip
Background Understanding differential strength capability between sexes is critical in ergonomics and task design. Variations in study designs and outcome measures generates challenges in establishing workplace guidelines for strength requirements to minimize upper extremity risk for workers. The purpose of this systematic review was to collate and summarize sex differences in strength at the shoulder
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Comparative cytogenetics of microsatellite distribution in two tetra fishes Astyanax bimaculatus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Psalidodon scabripinnis (Jenyns, 1842) PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-20 Rodrigo Petry Corrêa de Sousa, Ivanete de Oliveira Furo, Gláucia Caroline Silva-Oliveira, Rosigleyse Corrêa de Sousa-Felix, Carla Denise Bessa-Brito, Raynara Costa Mello, Iracilda Sampaio, Roberto Ferreira Artoni, Edivaldo Herculano Corrêa de Oliveira, Marcelo Vallinoto
Background The main cytogenetic studies of the Characidae family comprise the genera Astyanax and Psalidodon involving the use of repetitive DNA probes. However, for the microsatellite classes, studies are still scarce and the function of these sequences in the genome of these individuals is still not understood. Thus, we aimed to analyze and compare the distribution of microsatellite sequences in
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TBX5 genetic variants and SCD-CAD susceptibility: insights from Chinese Han cohorts PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-19
Background The prevention and prediction of sudden cardiac death (SCD) present persistent challenges, prompting exploration into common genetic variations for potential insights. T-box 5 (TBX5), a critical cardiac transcription factor, plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular development and function. This study systematically examined variants within the 500-bp region downstream of the TBX5 gene, focusing
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Beliefs, barriers, and promotion practices of Indian nurses’ regarding healthy eating for cancer survivors in a tertiary care hospital—A cross sectional survey PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-19 Hritika D. Pai, Stephen Rajan Samuel, K. Vijaya Kumar, Charu Eapen, Alicia Olsen, Justin W.L. Keogh
Purpose To describe the beliefs, barriers and promotion practices of Indian nurses’ regarding healthy eating (HE) behaviours amongst cancer survivors, and to gain insights into whether their educational qualifications might affect the promotion of HE. Methods Data was gathered using a validated questionnaire, 388 of the approached 400 nurses who worked at a tertiary care hospital in India gave informed
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Endosymbiont and gut bacterial communities of the brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-19 Kylene Guse, Jose E. Pietri
The brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa) is a widespread nuisance and public health pest. Like the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), this species is adapted to the indoor biome and completes the entirety of its life cycle in human-built structures. Recently, understanding the contributions of commensal and symbiotic microbes to the biology of cockroach pests, as well as the applications
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Overview of chicken embryo genes related to sex differentiation PeerJ (IF 2.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-19 Xiaolu Luo, Jiancheng Guo, Jiahang Zhang, Zheng Ma, Hua Li
Sex determination in chickens at an early embryonic stage has been a longstanding challenge in poultry production due to the unique ZZ:ZW sex chromosome system and various influencing factors. This review has summarized the genes related to the sex differentiation of chicken early embryos (mainly Dmrt1, Sox9, Amh, Cyp19a1, Foxl2, Tle4z1, Jun, Hintw, Ube2i, Spin1z, Hmgcs1, Foxd1, Tox3, Ddx4, cHemgn