title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=10 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: The impact of wearable resistance training on strength, speed, and agility: a systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/20519 last-modified: 2026-01-02 description: ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic assessment of the impact of wearable resistance training (WRT) on muscular strength, speed, and agility, while examining the influence of critical training parameters as moderating factors.MethodsA systematic review was undertaken to identify eligible studies. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO databases from inception to October 31st, 2025. This study employed the Cochrane Collaboration tool built into Review Manager 5.4 for literature quality assessment, and utilized Stata version 18.0 for meta-analysis, including pooled effect size calculation, subgroup analysis, and publication bias assessment.ResultsThe Meta-analysis encompassed 19 studies with a total of 233 participants. It is revealed that WRT produced significant improvements in jumping power (standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.60; 95% CI [−1.07 to −0.14]; p = 0.01), and agility performance (SMD = −0.44, 95% CI [−0.58 to −0.30], p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the most pronounced jumping power enhancements occurred with training frequencies of three sessions per week (SMD = −0.47, 95% CI [−0.92 to −0.02], p = 0.038). Additionally, external loading protocols utilizing 8–19% of body weight yielded superior improvements (SMD = −0.17, 95% CI [−0.37 to 0.03], p = 0.032). Finally, subgroup analyses revealed no significant moderating effects for wearable device placement, participant age, or study population characteristics (p > 0.05).ConclusionWRT effectively enhances jumping power and agility. Although it contributes to some improvement in speed and maximal strength, the effect is not statistically significant. Further high-quality studies are needed in the future to validate these findings. creator: Shuairan Li creator: Qiwei Wang creator: Yingying Cao creator: Xiaoli Huang creator: Yuanyuan Luo creator: Jing Mi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20519 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2026 Li et al. title: Research progress on glycolytic reprogramming in ophthalmic diseases link: https://peerj.com/articles/20478 last-modified: 2026-01-02 description: The retina is one of the most energy-demanding tissues in the human body. Retinal energy metabolism is primarily dominated by aerobic glycolysis, with more than 80% of the glucose consumed being converted to lactic acid. As a highly energy-consuming tissue, the metabolic characteristics of the retina, especially aerobic glycolysis, are essential for maintaining retinal cell function during normal physiological processes. However, in disease states, this metabolic balance is disrupted, leading to a range of pathological changes. There is currently growing evidence that metabolic reprogramming is a pathological cause of diseases such as retinal degeneration, uveal melanoma, and glaucoma. This article reviews the mechanisms involved in metabolic reprogramming in ocular diseases and describes relevant therapeutic targets. Despite the many advances, the regulatory mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming in ophthalmic diseases still need to be thoroughly investigated, and new therapeutic strategies are expected to be developed based on this in the future. creator: Xiaoqi Gong creator: Jiaojiao Feng creator: Yibo Han creator: Guodong Tang creator: Yixue Yin creator: Jing Li creator: Yuxi Liu creator: Jun Zhang creator: Jike Song creator: Hongsheng Bi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20478 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2026 Gong et al. title: Spatiotemporal distribution and driving factors of atmospheric pollutants in the U-Chang-Shi urban agglomeration, Northwestern China link: https://peerj.com/articles/20430 last-modified: 2026-01-02 description: As a critical core node of the “Belt and Road” Initiative and a representative arid-zone urban agglomeration in Northwest China, the Urumqi-Changji-Shihezi (U-Chang-Shi) region faces severe air pollution, posing significant threats to ecological security and public health. Leveraging the 2000–2022 China High-Resolution Air Quality (CHAP) dataset and multi-source meteorological data, this study systematically investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of PM2.5, PM10, and ozone (O3) alongside their driving mechanisms. Results reveal distinct seasonal patterns: PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations peak in winter due to coal combustion emissions and unfavorable static meteorological conditions, while dropping below 30 µg/m3 in summer as photochemical reactions weaken. The Mann–Kendall (MK) trend test, combined with spatial-temporal analysis methods, elucidates the complex pollution dynamics. The U-Chang-Shi industrial belt acts as a pollution hotspot, with Dabancheng District exhibiting elevated PM10 levels attributed to pollutant transport and terrain effects. O3 pollution intensifies in spring and summer, surging post-2016 across regional cities, with Shihezi showing a 16.7% annual increase. Key drivers include unfavorable static meteorology and sparse vegetation for particulate pollutants, while precipitation (P) wet deposition enhances their removal. O3 production is modulated by potential evapotranspiration (PET) and wind speed (WIND), with high temperatures (T) accelerating photochemical reactions, although counteracted by particulate matter. Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model (HYSPLIT) simulations indicate that Eurasian mid-latitude winter circulation and cross-border dust contribute to winter PM10 variability. Although the “coal-to-gas” project mitigated particulate pollution, its efficacy is constrained by Shihezi’s lagging industrial restructuring. This study provides critical insights for optimizing air pollution control strategies in ecologically vulnerable regions of Northwest China and arid-zone urban agglomerations under the Belt and Road Initiative, emphasizing the need for region-specific emission reduction measures and cross-border collaboration. creator: Sheng Chen creator: Jinglong Li creator: Qing He creator: Si Chen creator: Gaixia Ding creator: Zihao Dang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20430 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2026 Chen et al. title: Multiple approaches to meso- and macroplastics and the food habitat of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, in the Ogasawara Islands, Japan link: https://peerj.com/articles/20425 last-modified: 2026-01-02 description: This study integrated genetic, isotopic, and plastic analyses to investigate the diet and plastic ingestion of adult green turtles living in the waters around the Ogasawara Islands. Micro-, meso-, and macroplastics were found in the gut contents of 7 of the 10 individuals examined. A total of 92 meso- and macroplastics were found in six individuals, with an average of 9.2 ± 11.48 items/individual (range: 0–31, n = 10). The average total weight of these items was 15.28 ± 24.76 g (range: 0–70.55, n = 10), and their average percentage of the turtles’ body weight was 0.014 ± 0.021% (range: 0–0.064, n = 8). At the time of capture, the turtles’ main food was macroalgae, and the feeding grounds were estimated from the DNA analysis to be three locations where the seaweeds Ectocarpus crouaniorum, Sargassum muticum, and Lobophora sp. predominate. Stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen in muscle tissue and DNA analysis suggested that the captured individuals may have fed on drifting seaweed and gelatinous plankton on their way south from the Pacific coasts of Japan to the Ogasawara Islands, during which time it can be concluded from the green turtle’s feeding habits that they may have ingested meso- and macroplastics found among large and drifting seaweeds, mistaking them for gelatinous plankton such as jellyfish and salpas. The ingested plastics were estimated to have originated from a larger area than the turtles’ migratory range, indicating that this problem may stem from transboundary pollution. creator: Tenzo Fujitani creator: Shunji Ena creator: Touma Hosoya creator: Seongwon Lee creator: Miyuki Nishijima creator: Akira Iguchi creator: Haruka Nakano creator: Nozomu Iwasaki uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20425 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2026 Fujitani et al. title: Significance of neuroendocrine systems and the gut-brain axis (GBA) in the regulation of obesity link: https://peerj.com/articles/20400 last-modified: 2026-01-02 description: Obesity is a major global public health issue due to its high morbidity and mortality rates, with its prevalence increasing annually. According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, the global population of individuals with obesity has doubled from 1990 to 2022, with over 650 million adults with obesity experiencing metabolic abnormalities such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Various approaches have been used to treat or prevent obesity including lifestyle interventions, surgery, and pharmacological therapies aimed at reducing energy absorption and increasing energy expenditure. However, these methods do not significantly reduce energy stored in adipose tissues. The conversion of white adipose tissue (WAT) to brown adipose tissue (BAT) presents a promising therapeutic target for obesity treatment. Notably, there is a substantial loss of BAT in individuals with obesity. Conversely, increased BAT is associated with a lower body mass index (BMI), younger age, lower glucose levels, and a decreased incidence of cardiometabolic diseases. Research indicates that BAT formation is modulated by neuro endocrine systems, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy for obesity prevention and treatment by targeting these systems. In this review, we first discuss the regulation and signaling pathways of neuroendocrine systems involved in energy balance. We then explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the onset and pathogenesis of obesity and their relationship with neuroendocrine systems. In particular, we summarize the role of the gut-brain axis (GBA) in obesity. creator: Hanwei Zhao creator: Yaqing Li creator: Ran Cheng creator: Ye Wang creator: Liyuan Ma creator: Wenge Chen uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20400 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2026 Zhao et al. title: Harungana madagascariensis (Hypericaceae) is a key phorophyte for native epiphytes and lianas during ecological restoration: case study on an oceanic island link: https://peerj.com/articles/20520 last-modified: 2025-12-19 description: Human activities generate multiple pressures on ecosystems, driving rapid biodiversity loss globally. Oceanic islands and tropical forests are most affected by this situation and within them, epiphytes and lianas are among the most threatened floristic components. Yet, they are often understudied and neglected particularly in restoration projects which instead typically favour planting trees and often overlook ecosystem dynamics and functional interactions. We compared native epiphytes and lianas growing on native pioneer trees (Harungana madagascariensis (Hypericaceae)) with those growing on other native trees of (1) similar trunk diameter; and (2) similar age, in wet native forests undergoing restoration after invasive alien plant control, on the volcanic oceanic island of Mauritius. We also investigated whether the different phorophytes had any differential influence on the reproductive status of epiphytes and their size. We studied H. madagascariensis because it is the dominant native pioneer tree of the island’s wet native vegetation and also because, since decades, it is often controlled by conservation managers. Harungana madagascariensis hosted more native epiphyte and liana species than native trees of similar age, but no difference was found with trees of similar diameter. Similarly, there was a higher abundance of epiphyte and liana on H. madagascariensis compared to other trees of similar age, but no difference with other trees of similar diameter. Twice more epiphyte/liana species were closely associated with H. madagascariensis (multipatt analysis, IndVal 0.31–0.92; p < 0.05) compared to other phorophytes of similar diameter, and none were closely associated with other phorophytes of similar age. Finally, Harungana madagascariensis hosted more reproductive orchids than phorophytes of similar age and size, but the sizes of epiphytes and lianas did not differ significantly across phorophytes. Harungana madagascariensis therefore benefits native epiphytes and lianas, promoting their colonisation after invasive alien plants are controlled, in contrast with other native phorophytes. This contrast is in fact even larger because the cut H. madagascariensis are often many meters tall, often already hosting epiphytes, in contrast to seedlings that are planted in their place. On an oceanic island where native biodiversity is acutely threatened and where the benefits of cutting native pioneer trees like H. madagascariensis in biodiversity conservation projects remain unproven, our study provides new evidence that the detrimental effects of this management extend beyond the destruction of the native pioneer trees, to also severely hinder the restoration of native epiphyte and liana species. Furthermore, our study underscores how native pioneer trees can help foster the conservation of typically neglected native plant guilds, and the improbable need for stressing that evidence, and not hypotheses, should drive conservation policy. creator: François M.M.P. Baguette creator: Cláudia Baider creator: François Benjamin Vincent Florens uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20520 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Baguette et al. title: Near-infrared spectroscopy combined with machine learning for plasma-based discriminant diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma: a retrospective study link: https://peerj.com/articles/20503 last-modified: 2025-12-19 description: This study developed a novel, non-invasive platform integrating near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with machine learning (ML) to address the critical clinical challenge of misdiagnosing malignant mesothelioma (MM). We analyzed plasma samples from 99 individuals (29 MM, 41 lung cancer (LC), and 29 healthy controls). A support vector machine (SVM) model perfectly discriminated MM from LC (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.827), while a partial least squares (PLS) model differentiated MM from healthy control (HC) with high accuracy (AUC = 1.0). Despite the highly promising results, this single-center study is however limited by a small sample size, inherent to the rarity of MM and the associated difficulties in patient recruitment. Our findings demonstrate the potential of the NIRS-ML platform as a highly accurate tool for improving MM diagnosis and discriminant diagnosis, meriting further validation in larger cohorts. creator: Yixuan Gu creator: Ruting Wang creator: Weimin Mao creator: Zhongjian Chen uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20503 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Gu et al. title: Identification of hub genes in peripheral blood and construction of a diagnostic nomogram model in ulcerative colitis link: https://peerj.com/articles/20499 last-modified: 2025-12-19 description: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life and incurs substantial healthcare costs. Currently, the diagnosis of UC primarily relies on invasive examinations, highlighting the necessity for rapid, non-invasive, and low-cost diagnostic methods. This study aims to identify a biomarker that can diagnose and assess UC through bioinformatics analysis of databases. We identified 470 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the GSE169568 expression matrix, with 225 genes being up-regulated and 245 down-regulated. Functional analyses using Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis demonstrated the enrichment of immune response-related processes. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis identified a core module associated with UC, comprising 169 genes that exhibited a strong correlation coefficient. By overlapping the UC-related module genes with DEGs, we determined 34 genes. We then assessed the predictive value of UC using the LASSO-Cox method and found that only NDUFB3 and SLIRP were significant. Furthermore, a difference in immune infiltration was observed between the UC and control groups, with macrophages shown to potentially interact with the hub genes. A nomogram model for UC diagnosis was developed based on these two genes, achieving an area under the curve of 0.898. The hub gene model was validated using the GSE94648 dataset, demonstrating good discrimination of the nomogram. Finally, we confirmed that both molecules were expressed at elevated levels in UC patients through clinical peripheral blood specimens. According to our research, NDUFB3 and SLIRP are promising biomarkers for UC and could aid in UC risk prediction. Future research should focus on clinical validation and the exploration of therapeutic interventions targeting the identified pathways and gene modules. creator: Xinglan Li creator: Lu Ge creator: Yingying Zhang creator: Hao Xu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20499 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2025 Li et al. title: A synergistic nanoformulation of propolis and chlorhexidine against Acanthamoeba: encapsulation efficiency, release kinetics, and safety evaluation link: https://peerj.com/articles/20493 last-modified: 2025-12-19 description: Background Acanthamoeba spp. are opportunistic protozoa that produce highly resistant cysts, complicating the treatment of ocular infections.MethodsWe assessed the anti-Acanthamoeba activity and cytotoxicity of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with propolis extracts from three stingless bee species, individually or combined with chlorhexidine (CHX). Encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug release kinetics, pH sensitivity, and anti-Acanthamoeba activity against trophozoite and cyst stages of four Acanthamoeba strains were evaluated. Additionally, cytotoxicity against Vero cells was examined.ResultsThe formulations demonstrated excellent EE (81–92%), with the combinations of Propolis 2, Propolis 3, and chlorhexidine achieving maximum drug entrapment and sustained release (>80%). It also exhibited the most effective cysticidal activity (minimal inhibitory cystic concentration (MICC) 1.25%) against A. polyphaga and the lowest toxicity (Minimal Cytotoxicity Concentration 2.5%) toward normal mammalian cells. Drug release conformed to non-Fickian (Case II) diffusion behavior and was enhanced in acidic pH conditions, which are relevant to disease. Scanning electron microscopy revealed morphological damage to the cyst walls.ConclusionThese results highlight that propolis–CHX-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) show promise as a targeted, biocompatible therapy against drug-resistant Acanthamoeba cysts. creator: Nivetha Marimuthu creator: Siriphorn Chimplee creator: Shanmuga Sundar Saravanabhavan creator: Ryan V. Labana creator: Victor Varun Raju Sowri creator: Tajudeen O. Jimoh creator: Wenn-Chyau Lee creator: Tadesse Hailu creator: Guo-Jie Brandon-Mong creator: Patcharaporn Boonroumkaew creator: Thiranut Jaroonwitchawan creator: Watcharapong Mitsuwan creator: Chooi Ling Lim creator: Rhun Yian Koh creator: Samudi Chandramathi creator: Muhammad Nawaz creator: Maria de Lourdes Pereira creator: Christophe Wiart creator: Sonia M.R. Oliveira creator: Veeranoot Nissapatorn uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20493 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Marimuthu et al. title: Effect of cluster set resistance training combined with high-intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in untrained young men link: https://peerj.com/articles/20492 last-modified: 2025-12-19 description: ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the impact of cluster set resistance training combined with high-intensity interval training (CSRT-HIIT) on the body composition, cardiovascular and muscular fitness of untrained young men.MethodsTwenty-two participants were randomly assigned to the CSRT-HIIT or traditional resistance training combined with high-intensity interval training (TRT-HIIT). Both groups had cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness measured before and after the intervention.ResultsCompared to the baseline, significant increases were observed in the 1RM weights for squat, bench press, deadlift, and rowing, as well as the maximum training volume at 70% 1RM, maximum oxygen uptake, standing long jump, and the thickness of the pectoralis major, biceps brachii, and rectus femoris in both the CSRT-HIIT and TRT-HIIT groups after the intervention, with a significant decrease in body fat percentage (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found between the groups for these variables (P > 0.05).ConclusionTwelve weeks of both CSRT-HIIT and TRT-HIIT significantly improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in untrained young men, demonstrating that the novel CSRT-HIIT is an equally effective alternative to traditional TRT-HIIT. creator: Jing Ma creator: Rongze Ye creator: Shumin Bo creator: Yang Cheng uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20492 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Ma et al.