Feeding ecology and trophic interactions of the narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) in the Central Taiwan Strait
Understanding the foraging ecology of marine predators is essential for ecosystem-based fisheries management. This study examined the diet of the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) in the Central Taiwan Strait using stomach content and stable isotope analyses integrated with an isotopic mixing model. A total of 1,733 specimens were collected between January 2017 and March 2022. Stomach content analysis revealed that 79.8% had empty stomachs, while the remainder mainly contained semi-digested fish remains. Among identifiable prey, composition varied by size and season. Sardinella lemuru, Decapterus spp., and Trichiurus spp. dominated the diet of smaller individuals, while larger fish primarily consumed Decapterus spp. and Mene maculata. Sardinella lemuru and Trichiurus spp. were more abundant in summer and autumn–winter, respectively. In the meanwhile, Decapterus spp. remained important year-round. Isotopic analysis further revealed that Sardinella lemuru, Etrumeus micropus, Decapterus macarellus and Penaeidae (Metapenaeopsis barbata) were dominant prey in smaller size classes, while Encrasicholina punctifer, D. macarellus, Evynnis cardinalis, Trichiurus spp. and Uroteuthis spp. were prevalent in intermediate and larger individuals. The estimated trophic position (3.8–4.3; mean = 4.0) confirms that S. commerson functions as a top predator with opportunistic feeding behavior. These findings improve understanding of regional trophic dynamics and support sustainable fisheries management in the Central Taiwan Strait.
Cheng et al. (2025) Feeding ecology and trophic interactions of the narrow-barred Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) in the Central Taiwan Strait. PeerJ 13:e20350 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20350
Does reef crest zone selection influence Acropora palmata (Lamarck, 1816) fragment survival and growth?
In this study, we evaluated the effects of the crest zones on the survival and growth of Acropora palmata fragments in four sites differentially impacted by multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors. The crests are in the northwest (Playa Baracoa and Rincón de Guanabo) and the south-central region (El Peruano and Mariflores in Jardines de la Reina National Park) of Cuba. We established a field-based experiment with 50 fragments placed in each crest, 25 fragments in the back crest zone and 25 in the fore crest zone, parallel to the shoreline. The water flow intensity was estimated in both crest zones, using the dissolution of plaster discs as an indicator. The survival and growth of fragments were significantly influenced by site-specific and microhabitat conditions. The survival of the A. palmata fragments was high (survival probability: >0.6) in all four crests. Fragments placed in the fore crest zone (p = 0.02) exhibited higher survival than those in the back crest zone. The growth rates were slower (−1.5 to 7.3 cm year−1) than those previously recorded for wild A. palmata colonies and were negatively affected (estimate = −6.1; p = 0.004) in the fore crest zone. The dissolution of the plaster discs did not indicate a marked gradient of water flow between the crest zones, during April and June, but it was significantly higher (p = 0.03) in the fore crest zone in December at El Peruano and Mariflores crests, indicating temporal variations during the monitoring periods. The dissolution of plaster discs, as a proxy for water flow, did not have a significant effect on fragment survival between zones. However, when the dissolution was below approximately 68%, growth declined slightly; above this threshold, growth increased, possibly by higher inferred water flow. At higher levels of water flow (dissolution of the plaster discs), the positive effect of temperature on growth was attenuated (p = 0.007), suggesting that under strong water flow heat may be dissipated. These results highlight the importance of conducting small-scale pilot studies to identify the microhabitat conditions and to select effective restoration sites. We recommend that future restoration efforts should integrate local ecological knowledge with in situ environmental measurements to enhance coral fragment survival and growth, and to improve the long-term success of restoration interventions under variable and changing reef conditions.
Ramos Romero et al. (2025) Does reef crest zone selection influence Acropora palmata (Lamarck, 1816) fragment survival and growth?. PeerJ 13:e20303 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20303
Status and trends of giant clam populations demonstrate the effectiveness of village-based protection in American Sāmoa
Giant clams (subfamily Tridacninae) serve diverse ecological functions in coral reef ecosystems but have experienced severe populatiaon declines across much of their native ranges. Continued overharvesting, habitat degradation, and climate change impacts reinforce the need for updated population assessments and have prompted consideration for endangered species status. Here, we report a territory-wide evaluation of giant clam populations in American Sāmoa, integrating historical data (1994/95, 2002, and 2018) with new surveys conducted from 2022 to 2024 to assess the population status of these ecologically important bivalves. Using belt transects (50 m × 2 m at 10 m depth), we examined clam densities, size-class distributions, species composition, and population trends across six islands—Tutuila, Aunuʻu, Ofu, Olosega, Taʻū, and Muliāva. This study added 264 transects to the historical dataset and showed population densities of giant clams varied among islands but have remained relatively consistent over time. Using univariate and factorial ANOVAs of giant clam abundance and size data, we assessed spatial and temporal variation across American Sāmoa, and our analyses tested for effects of island, year, protection status, and their interactions. The lowest recent clam densities (83.5 individuals per hectare in 2022) were observed on the main island of Tutuila, where 98% of residents live. Mean clam density on Tutuila has increased from 14.1/ha in 1994/95, but the island has considerable variation amongst locations. Remote islands, such as Taʻū and Muliāva, showed higher densities, up to 812 and 1,166/ha, respectively. Most (96.7%) of giant clams found on transects were identified as Tridacna maxima, with infrequent occurrences of the cryptic species T. squamosa and T. noae, primarily within specific, village-managed protected areas. On Tutuila, surveys sites included a variety of jurisdictions and levels of management, with village protected areas and remote sites supporting both higher clam densities and larger individuals. Overall, inaccessible remote sites and those under traditional village enforcement significantly outperformed all other management strategies, including federally designated no-take zones. These findings suggest that empowering traditional Indigenous community stewardship may offer a viable alternative to blanket federal restrictions, and support the importance of localized, community-based management practices in American Sāmoa. We emphasize the need for more frequent monitoring across varying depths, anthropogenic influences, and management regimes to better understand the population dynamics of these valuable coral reef species.
Marra-Biggs et al. (2025) Status and trends of giant clam populations demonstrate the effectiveness of village-based protection in American Sāmoa. PeerJ 13:e20290 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20290
Fast and robust estimate of bacterial genus novelty using the percentage of conserved proteins with unique matches (POCPu)
Accurate taxonomic assignment of bacterial genomes is essential for identifying novel taxa and for stable classification to enable robust comparison between studies. Bacterial genus delineation relies on multiple lines of evidence, including phylogenetic trees and metrics like the percentage of conserved proteins (POCP). POCP is widely used, but requires benchmarking in terms of both, computation and accuracy. We used 2,358,466 pairwise comparisons of proteomes derived from 4,767 genomes across 35 families to systematically assess POCP calculation and percentage of conserved proteins with unique matches (POCPu) which considers unique matches only. Both methods are 20x faster than the reference BLASTP when using the very-sensitive setting of DIAMOND. However, POCPu differentiates better within-genus from between-genera values, which improves bacterial genus assignment. This work facilitates comparative analysis of an increasingly larger number of genomes, providing a reliable metric to support genus delineation. The findings suggest that specific POCPu thresholds deviating from the reference 50% value are needed for certain families.
Pauvert et al. (2025) Fast and robust estimate of bacterial genus novelty using the percentage of conserved proteins with unique matches (POCPu). PeerJ 13:e20259 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20259
Comparison of quadriceps and hamstring muscle size and strength between young athletes following knee surgery and healthy controls
Objectives This study compared the size and strength of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles in young athletes who had undergone previous knee surgery (POST) to sex- and age- matched, healthy controls (SAM). Methods A total of 18 (nine POST and nine SAM) participants volunteered to participate in the study’s procedures. Of the nine POST participants, six had underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, two underwent medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction and one had undergone patellar tendon repair. Maximal voluntary isometric contractions assessed absolute strength (MVICABS) of the quadriceps and hamstrings. Muscle size was quantified as muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA) from panoramic ultrasound images. Relative strength (MVICREL) was calculated as a ratio of strength to muscle size. Separate 2-way mixed-factorial analyses of variance leg (operative or non-dominant (O-ND) vs. non-operative or dominant (NO-D)) and group (POST vs. SAM) assessed statistical differences at p ≤ 0.05. Results There were no significant two-way interactions (p-range: 0.142–0.74) for any variables. Further, there were no significant main effects for the quadriceps (p-range: 0.127–0.605) nor was there a main effect for leg in any hamstrings variables (p-range: 0.126–0.367). However, the POST group had greater MVICABS and MVICREL than SAM for the hamstrings by 69.8 ± 30.7 N (p = 0.037) and 2.21 ± 1.02 N cm−2 (p = 0.045). Conclusions These findings indicate that there was no difference in quadriceps muscle strength or size between the POST and SAM groups. However, the POST group had greater hamstrings strength than SAM yet no differences in muscle size. These results suggest that the rehabilitation program may have been effective in restoring quadriceps function and enhancing hamstrings strength in young athletes following knee surgery. However, future studies should continue to elucidate the physiological effects of knee surgeries in larger, more diverse samples to attenuate the negative musculoskeletal outcomes experienced even after successful surgery and rehabilitation. Yet, these results can be considered as preliminary findings that demonstrate the feasibility of the inclusion of ultrasound imaging in return-to-sport evaluation in a small sample.
Cleary et al. (2025) Comparison of quadriceps and hamstring muscle size and strength between young athletes following knee surgery and healthy controls. PeerJ 13:e20330 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20330
Prevalence of poor sleep quality and its associated factors in patients with concurrent type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension
Background The coexistence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension can impair sleep quality, potentially leading to a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate sleep quality and its associated factors in patients with concurrent T2DM and hypertension in Hunan, China. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited patients with concurrent T2DM and hypertension who visited the Department of Endocrinology at the First People’s Hospital of Ruanjiang City, Hunan Province, China, between July 2022 and February 2023. Trained investigators conducted face-to-face interviews to collect data on sociodemographic, lifestyle, and disease-related factors, and assessed anxiety and sleep quality using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with sleep quality. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to evaluate the predictive ability of the model, and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test was used to assess model calibration. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, educational level, and number of T2DM complications to test model robustness. Results A total of 475 patients with concurrent T2DM and hypertension were included. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 59.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) [54.9%–63.9%]). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.12, 95% CI [1.29–3.48]), history of stroke (aOR = 2.16, 95% CI [1.15–4.06]), and anxiety (aOR = 4.24, 95% CI [2.58–6.98]) were associated with higher odds of poor sleep quality. Regular physical activity was associated with lower odds (aOR = 0.53, 95% CI [0.34–0.84]). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.776 (95% CI [0.735–0.818]), and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test (P = 0.260) indicated good model calibration. Subgroup analyses yielded similar results. Conclusions Nearly three-fifths of patients with concurrent T2DM and hypertension exhibited poor sleep quality. Age, regular physical activity, history of stroke, and anxiety were significantly associated with sleep quality. However, due to the cross-sectional design, causal relationships cannot be established.
Feng et al. (2025) Prevalence of poor sleep quality and its associated factors in patients with concurrent type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. PeerJ 13:e20325 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20325
Impact of preoperative underweight status on perioperative morbidity and mortality after liver resection for liver tumors: a meta-analysis
Background The impact of preoperative underweight status on the outcomes of liver resections for liver tumors is debated. We aimed at conducting a meta-analysis to evaluate the associations between underweight and short-term clinical outcomes after liver resection. Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus , and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to September 14, 2024 (updated on April 21, 2025) to identify eligible studies. Risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results Seven studies were included, with a total of 3,835 patients (normal weight group: 3,412 patients; underweight group: 423 patients). Findings indicated that, relative to individuals of normal weight, underweight patients have longer operation time (MD, 7.73 mins; 95% CI [2.08–13.38], P = 0.007) and higher overall postoperative morbidity (RR 1.41 95% CI [1.06–1.88], P = 0.02), mortality (RR 2.98, 95% CI [1.4 3–6.20], P = 0.003), and surgical site infection (RR 2.00, 95% CI [1.03–3.88], P = 0.04). There were no significant differences in blood loss, length of stay, liver failure, bile leak, and blood transfusion between the normal weight and underweight groups. Conclusions Preoperative underweight status is associated with higher risk of morbidity and mortality after liver resection. Prospective studies or interventional trials, such as nutritional prehabilitation or stratification by cirrhosis and resection extent, are needed to confirm whether underweight represents a truly modifiable risk factor. This review is intended for professionals within the fields of hepatobiliary surgery.
Tang et al. (2025) Impact of preoperative underweight status on perioperative morbidity and mortality after liver resection for liver tumors: a meta-analysis. PeerJ 13:e20324 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20324
The CD8+/Foxp3+ ratio, but not the number of OX40+ TILs, is an independent predictor of tumor recurrence in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a retrospective study
Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) frequently recurs and progresses into an aggressive and lethal entity within five years. The clinical management of recurrent tumors remains limited. Therefore, identifying individual patients who are at a high risk of recurrence is crucial for early clinical monitoring and appropriate medical intervention, which may lead to improved outcomes. OX40 is a dual modulator that stimulates effector T cells and suppresses Tregs. It appears to be an ideal molecule for predicting survival outcomes, surpassing the predictive power of single or combined T cell signatures. It has been shown to act as an independent tumor prognostic predictor in various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and colorectal cancer. However, its potential as a prognostic tool for tumor recurrence in NMIBC has yet to be investigated. The present study aimed to investigate the potential value of OX40 as a predictor of recurrence risk in patients with NMIBC. Additionally, its downstream effectors, Foxp3 and CD8, were also evaluated. Tissue samples were collected from a cohort of 110 patients diagnosed with NMIBC. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the density of stromal OX40+, Foxp3+, and CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Following survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, we found that tumor recurrence was associated with a decreased density of OX40+ and CD8+ TILs, an elevated density of Foxp3+ TILs, and lower ratios of OX40+/Foxp3+ and CD8+/Foxp3+ TILs. However, after adjustment, multivariate COX regression analysis indicated that only the ratio of CD8+/Foxp3+ was an independent predictor of recurrence risk. The prediction power was assessed by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The results demonstrated that the AUC value for the CD8+/Foxp3+ ratio was better than the other predictive markers. Although the expression of OX40 in TILs was associated with tumor recurrence, our results suggest that the predictive efficacy of a combination of CD8 and Foxp3 was more robust after adjustment. Future research utilizing advanced immunotyping techniques is necessary to validate these findings in larger cohorts.
Han et al. (2025) The CD8+/Foxp3+ ratio, but not the number of OX40+ TILs, is an independent predictor of tumor recurrence in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a retrospective study. PeerJ 13:e20322 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20322
Assessment of serum diagnostic biomarkers for periprosthetic joint infection in hip and knee arthroplasty: a retrospective study
Background Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total hip and knee arthroplasty is challenging to differentiate from similar afflictions. Platelet count-to-mean platelet volume (PC/MPV) ratio has been proposed, but requires validation. This study evaluated PC/MPV and other potential serological biomarkers for diagnosing PJI prior to reimplantation arthroplasty of the hip and knee. Material and Methods Medical records were retrospectively reviewed of patients who received hip and knee revision, and there were 88 PJI patients and 156 non-PJI patients met the modified 2018 criteria for inclusion. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) were used to analyze and compare the diagnostic performances of PC/MPV, fibrinogen (FIB), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet count (PLT), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum white blood cell (WBC) count. Results Compared with the control group, the patients with PJI had significantly higher PC/MPV, FIB, ESR, CRP, serum WBC, and PLT, respectively, and the areas under the ROC curve were 0.787, 0.917, 0.832, 0.934, 0.685, and 0.778; that of FIB and CRP were similar. Regarding PC/MPV, the optimal cutoff was 27.81, and the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 0.807, 0.673, 0.582, and 0.861. Conclusions The best diagnostic performance was achieved by CRP and FIB, and we recommend that these tests should be prioritized. Serum WBC, PC/MPV and PLT were insufficient to predict PJI prior to reimplantation arthroplasty of the hip and knee; however, CRP combined with FIB or PC/MPV best serves to obtain the most accurate prediction of PJI in our study.
Sun et al. (2025) Assessment of serum diagnostic biomarkers for periprosthetic joint infection in hip and knee arthroplasty: a retrospective study. PeerJ 13:e20294 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20294
Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms on plant-soil systems of urban turf grasses
Background Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms have been known to enhance plant growth and improve soil quality, but the results have shown some inconsistencies, exhibiting synergistic or independent effects under different studies. Methods In this study, we conducted a factorial experiment to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms, both individually and in combination, on plant-soil systems of urban turf grasses. Five turf grass species of different functional groups (gramineous and leguminous) were inoculated with AMF (Glomus mosseae) and earthworms (Pheretima tschiliensis Michaelsen, 1928) in a pot culture experiment, and we comprehensively assessed the eco-physiological properties of both the plant and the soil. Results Inoculation with AMF and earthworms promoted the growth of five turf grass species. Specifically, AMF had a greater impact on the height and biomass of leguminous plants (white clover and alfalfa) compared to gramineous plants (ryegrass, early meadow grass, and tall fescue), while the effects of earthworms on two functional groups were opposite to those of AMF. AMF and earthworms had different dimensions of effects on the physical and chemical properties of the soil compared to the control, with AMF showing a better improvement in soil quality than earthworms. The results indicated that effects of AMF and earthworms on urban turf grasses and soil were dependent on different species. Dual inoculation with AMF and earthworms showed positive effects exclusively on the soil properties of five turf grass species, but only positive on the growth of gramineous plants. The comprehensive evaluation indicated that dual inoculation with AMF and earthworms did not improve the plant-soil system more effectively than AMF alone. Conversely, gramineous plants inoculated with AMF showed the greatest effective improvement in the soil-plant system. Therefore, dual inoculation with AMF and earthworms did not have a more positive effect on plant-soil system than that could be expected from the effect of single inoculation of either AMF or earthworms. Further analysis showed that AMF exhibited the most comprehensive improvements in the plant-soil system of gramineous plants, indicating that the effects of AMF and earthworms on the soil-plant system of lawn might be influenced by the specific plant species.
Hou et al. (2025) Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and earthworms on plant-soil systems of urban turf grasses. PeerJ 13:e20289 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20289