title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=112 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Advancing the environmental DNA and RNA toolkit for aquatic ecosystem monitoring and management link: https://peerj.com/articles/19119 last-modified: 2025-03-18 description: The application of environmental DNA (eDNA) and RNA (eRNA) technologies to aquatic ecosystem monitoring and management has increased rapidly in the last decade. These methods are providing many new and exciting opportunities for enhanced biodiversity assessment, ecological health evaluation, and species detection. This special issue of PeerJ Life and Environment brings together 20 innovative studies that collectively advance the eDNA toolkit. Four key themes are covered: (i) Methodological advancements, (ii) Ecological health assessments and biomonitoring, (iii) Species detection, and (iv) Application and management. The studies cover a suite of topics including; optimizing sample collection, developing species-specific assays, evaluating bioindicator species, assessing microbial activity, and biodiversity monitoring in diverse freshwater and marine habitats. Emerging applications, such as the use of genome skimming to identify new fish markers, showcase the many new advancements in this field. The studies in this issue also highlight challenges, including the need for standardized protocols and ethical considerations that must be addressed before these tools can be implemented or adopted for decision making at national or global scales. Together, these contributions demonstrate the transformative potential of environmental nucleic acids’ technologies for advancing aquatic conservation and management. By bridging methodological rigor with applied research, the studies in this special issue provide an important resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners committed to sustainable aquatic ecosystem stewardship. creator: Xavier Pochon creator: Holly A. Bowers creator: Anastasija Zaiko creator: Susanna A. Wood uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19119 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Pochon et al. title: Correlation analysis of serum endothelial cell specific molecule-1, endothelial microparticles, hypoxia inducible factor-1α levels and acute myocardial infarction and their predictive value for major adverse cardiovascular events: a retrospective study link: https://peerj.com/articles/19111 last-modified: 2025-03-18 description: ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyse the correlation of endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (ESM-1), endothelial microparticles (EMPs) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) serum levels with the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and determine their short-term predictive value for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) following AMI treatment.MethodsRetrospective data analysis was performed on the medical records of 106 patients with AMI admitted to our hospital between October 2020 and October 2022. The control group consisted of 106 healthy volunteers that received a physical examination at our hospital’s physical examination centre within the same time frame. ESM-1, EMP and HIF-1α serum levels were compared between the two groups. Independent risk variables for AMI were examined. Furthermore, these individuals were separated into the poor prognosis group (n = 41) and good prognosis group (n = 65) according to the presence or absence of MACE. Finally, the ESM-1, EMPs and HIF-1α serum levels were correlated with the development of MACE in patients with AMI, and the predictive value of serum ESM-1, EMPs and HIF-1α for MACE was evaluated. The serum HIF-1α, EMP and ESM-1 levels were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed the elevated serum levels of HIF-1α (odds ratio (OR) = 1.819), EMPs (OR = 1.071) and ESM-1 (OR = 14.655) as AMI risk variables. A substantially significant (P < 0.05) correlation was found between the elevated levels of serum HIF-1α (OR = 18.716), EMPs (OR = 26.185) and ESM-1 (OR = 13.992) and the development of MACE in patients with AMI. According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the combined evaluation value of HIF-1α, EMPs and ESM-1 serum levels in predicting MACE was high with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.931.ConclusionPatients with AMI have abnormally high ESM-1, EMP and HIF-1α levels in their serum, all of which have been linked to the development of MACE. Together, these parameters have high sensitivity and specificity for early MACE identification. creator: Qiubing Zhang creator: Zhe Xu creator: Ping Shi creator: Jia Zeng creator: Xiaohong Yin creator: Fang Gou uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19111 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Zhang et al. title: Effect of blood-flow restricted vs heavy-load resistance training on strength, power, and speed for healthy volunteers: a systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/19110 last-modified: 2025-03-18 description: BackgroundLow-load blood flow restriction (LL-BFR) training has been shown to enhance muscle strength, power, and speed, but its effectiveness compared to traditional high-load resistance (HLR) training remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the effects of LL-BFR and HLR training on muscle strength, power, and speed.MethodologyStudies were identified by searching the SCOPUS, SPORTDiscus, PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI databases up to May 13, 2024, using the following inclusion criteria: (a) healthy population; (b) comparison of LL-BFR vs HLR training; (c) pre- and post-training assessment of muscle strength (dynamic, isometric, and isokinetic), muscle power, jump, or speed performance; (d) PEDro scale score ≥4. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the PEDro tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, with meta-analyses conducted using the R program.ResultsA total of 41 studies, involving 853 subjects, were included in the meta-analysis. Based on the PEDro scores and GRADE assessment, the overall quality of the included studies was assessed as moderate. LL-BFR training showed a slightly smaller effect on maximal strength compared to HLR training (ES = −0.19, 95% CI [−0.31 to −0.06], p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between LL-BFR and HLR training for muscle power (ES = −0.04, 95% CI [−0.33 to 0.24], p > 0.05), jump performance (ES = −0.08, 95% CI [−0.30 to 0.15], p > 0.05), and speed (ES = −0.28, 95% CI [−0.71 to 0.15], p > 0.05). Additionally, individual characteristics (i.e., age, gender, and training status) and training parameters (i.e., training duration, frequency, cuff pressure, and cuff width) did not significantly moderate the training effect.ConclusionsLL-BFR training showed slightly less improvement in maximal strength compared to HLR training but demonstrated comparable effects on muscle power, jump performance, and speed in healthy individuals in healthy individuals. These findings suggest that LL-BFR may be a practical and effective alternative for individuals seeking performance improvements with lower training loads. creator: Tao Wang creator: Yutong Liu creator: Xiaolin Wang creator: Saidon Amri creator: Tengku Fadilah Kamalden creator: Zhendong Gao creator: Yee Guan Ng uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19110 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Wang et al. title: Multiplex vs. singleplex assay for the simultaneous identification of the three components of avian malaria vector-borne disease by DNA metabarcoding link: https://peerj.com/articles/19107 last-modified: 2025-03-18 description: Accurate detection and identification of vector-host-parasite systems are key to understanding their evolutionary dynamics and to design effective disease prevention strategies. Traditionally, microscopical and serological techniques were employed to analyse arthropod blood meals for host/parasite detection, but these were limited in taxonomic resolution and only to pre-selected taxa. In recent years, molecular techniques have emerged as a promising alternative, offering enhanced resolution and taxonomic range. While singleplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were used at first to identify host, vector and parasite components in separate reactions, today multiple primer pairs can be combined in a single reaction, i.e., multiplex, offering substantial time and cost savings. Nonetheless, despite the potential benefits of multiplex PCR, studies quantifying its efficacy compared to singleplex reactions are scarce. In this study, we used partially digested mosquito blood meals within an avian malaria framework to jointly identify the host, vector and parasite using multiplex DNA metabarcoding, and to compare it with separate singleplex PCRs. We aimed to compare the detection probabilities and taxonomic assignments between both approaches. We found both to have similar performances in terms of detection for the host and the vector, but singleplex clearly outperformed multiplex for the parasite component. We suggest adjusting the relative concentrations of the PCR primers used in the multiplex assay could increase the efficiency of multiplex in detecting all the components of the studied multi-species system. Overall, the results show that multiplex DNA metabarcoding can be an effective approach that could be applied to any vector-borne interaction involving blood-feeding arthropods. Our insights from this proof-of-concept study will help improve laboratory procedures for accurate and cost-efficient medical diagnosis of vector-borne diseases, the spread of which is globally exacerbated by current climate change. creator: Eduard Mas-Carrió creator: Judith Schneider creator: Victor Othenin-Girard creator: Romain Pigeault creator: Pierre Taberlet creator: Philippe Christe creator: Olivier Glaizot creator: Luca Fumagalli uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19107 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Mas-Carrió et al. title: Exploratory analysis of COVID-19 propagation using logistic model link: https://peerj.com/articles/19106 last-modified: 2025-03-18 description: Pandemics pose significant threats to social, economic, and public health. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which emerged in late 2019, quickly became a global public health crisis due to its high contagion and pathogenicity. Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO), this study applied the Logistic model to analyze the spread patterns of COVID-19 in 16 countries with over 10 million infections from 2020 to 2023. The findings reveal that as of December 31, 2023, global infections exceeded 772 million with over seven million deaths. The USA and China had the highest infection numbers, while Brazil had the highest mortality rate. The study identified three main outbreak patterns: initial, late, and gradual development, reflecting different stages of the pandemic. Countries with earlier outbreaks, such as India, Brazil, the USA, and Argentina, generally had higher mortality rates, while those with later outbreaks, such as China, Pakistan, Japan, and Australia, had lower mortality rates. Significant differences were observed in the duration and speed of the spread, with China showing the shortest average duration and Russia the longest. The Logistic model’s parameter k values revealed policy adjustments, with Australia, Vietnam, and China showing significant changes over time, while the USA, France, and Russia showed less impact on epidemic control. These results provide an important perspective for understanding global pandemic transmission patterns and assessing the effectiveness of quarantine strategies across countries. They also provide a scientific basis for future public health policy and pandemic response development, helping countries to develop more targeted prevention and control strategies according to the characteristics of virus transmission, rationally allocate medical resources, and reduce social harm. creator: Xing Zhang creator: Chunhe Da creator: Wenjuan Ye uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19106 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2025 Zhang et al. title: Which patients are more likely to experience compensatory hyperhidrosis after endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy: a meta-analysis and systematic review link: https://peerj.com/articles/19097 last-modified: 2025-03-18 description: BackgroundCompensatory hyperhidrosis (CH) is a common consequence of sympathectomy, which can adversely affect patients’ quality of life after surgery. Understanding the factors that influence the occurrence of CH and severe compensatory hyperhidrosis (SCH) is crucial for effective management and counseling of patients undergoing this procedure.Materials and MethodsWe registered the protocol in International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42024592389) and following PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for studies published up to September 11, 2024. A systematic literature search identified a total of 10 studies involving 3,117 patients. The primary outcome was the number of CH or SCH. The secondary outcome was the weighted mean difference calculated based on identified related factors. When pooling results or conducting a meta-analysis was not feasible, the study findings were presented in a narrative descriptive format.ResultsThe overall incidence of CH was found to be 0.62 (95% confidence interval CI [0.51–0.72]), and four studies totaling 1,618 patients regarding the occurrence of severe compensatory hyperhidrosis, the overall incidence of CH was found to be 0.23 (95% CI [0.12–0.34]). Older age, higher body mass index (BMI) and smoking history correlated positively with CH incidence. In addition, higher BMI level is also associated with the occurrence of SCH (1.20 95% CI [1.01–1.39], p < 0.0001).ConclusionThe findings of this meta-analysis highlight important demographic and lifestyle factors that contribute to the development of CH and SCH following sympathectomy. Older patients, smokers, and those with higher BMI may be at greater risk for these conditions. creator: Zhi-yi Lin creator: Min Lin uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19097 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Lin and Lin title: A combination of hepatic leukemia factor and circulating tumor cells serve as effective biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma prognosis link: https://peerj.com/articles/19092 last-modified: 2025-03-18 description: BackgroundLung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a highly malignant tumor with the highest mortality rate among all cancers. Early diagnosis and prognosis are important factors in treatment. Hepatic leukemia factor (HLF) is thought to be closely associated with lung cancer metastasis. It is downregulated in lung cancer tissues and negatively correlated with the number of metastasis-activating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of patients.Method and ResultsIn this study, we analyzed data from LUAD samples in TCGA and found that HLF was significantly upregulated in samples with EGFR mutations. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of 343 clinical samples also revealed a trend of HLF upregulation in patients with EGFR mutations. EGFR is one of the driver genes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the proportion in LUAD is as high as 50% in the East Asian population. In this study, EGFR mutation was not significantly correlated with the prognosis of LUAD patients and the number of CTC was also not related to EGFR mutation, but was closely related to HLF expression, with more CTCs being captured in the peripheral blood of patients with low expression of HLF (SI ≤ 4). By following up these 343 LUAD patients, high HLF expression (SI > 4) was found to be an independent protective factor for progression-free survival regardless of EGFR status (P < 0.001), whereas high CTC count (> 3) was an independent risk factor for recurrence or death in LUAD patients (P < 0.001). When low HLF and high CTCs coexisted, patients had the shortest median survival time. Patients with low HLF or high CTCs appeared alone had a moderate median survival time. Patients had the longest median survival time when HLF was high and CTCs were low.ConclusionIn summary, we believe that HLF expression in cancer tissues and the number of CTCs can be used as effective biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of LUAD, which plays an important role in clinical diagnosis and prognosis judgment. creator: Yaofeng Zhi creator: Jinhua Wu creator: Ronggang Li creator: Xuefei Chang creator: Silin Liu creator: Wenjie Lu creator: Mingzhu Zheng creator: Baoyi Liu creator: Jiarong Chen creator: Xin Zhang creator: Yanming Huang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19092 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Zhi et al. title: Analysis of the factors influencing the proximity and agreement between critical power and maximal lactate steady state: a systematic review and meta-analyses link: https://peerj.com/articles/19060 last-modified: 2025-03-18 description: Identifying the boundary between heavy and severe exercise domains is crucial since it demarcates the transition from sustainable to unsustainable exercise. This systematic review aimed to determine differences and agreement between two indices used to determine this boundary, namely critical power (CP) and maximal lactate steady state (MLSS), and how moderators may affect these differences. Ten out of 782 studies found were included in the meta analyses. Random effect meta-analyses were performed to evaluate the mean differences (MD) between CP and MLSS, and moderators’ effect on MD was assessed using meta-regression. CP and MLSS agreement was tested using Bland-Altman meta-analyses on the limits of agreements (LoA) of the MD. Power output (PO) at CP was higher (MD (95% LoA) = 12.42 [−19.23; 44.08] W, p = 0.005) than PO at MLSS, with no differences between CP and MLSS in terms of oxygen uptake (MD (95% LoA) = 0.09 [−0.34; 0.52] L⋅min−1, p = 0.097), heart rate (MD (95% LoA) = 0.61 [−15.84; 17.05] bpm, p = 0.784), and blood lactate concentration (MD (95% LoA) = 1.63 [−2.85; 6.11] mM, p = 0.240). Intensities at CP (p = 0.002) and MLSS (p = 0.010) influenced the MD expressed in W. In conclusion, solely when expressed in PO, CP was higher than MLSS, with larger differences in fitter and younger individuals, emphasizing the possible effect of the indicators used for assessing exercise intensity. Finally, the high interindividual variability observed in the differences between CP and MLSS could compromise their interchangeability in predicting the heavy to severe boundary regardless of the parameter used to assess exercise intensity. creator: Lorenzo Micheli creator: Francesco Lucertini creator: Tommaso Grossi creator: Silvia Pogliaghi creator: Daniel A. Keir creator: Carlo Ferri Marini uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19060 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Micheli et al. title: Vertical jump performance in recreational runners with visual impairment: a cross-sectional study link: https://peerj.com/articles/19059 last-modified: 2025-03-18 description: BackgroundRunners with visual impairment (VI) may show changes in jump technique due to momentary loss of spatial reference specifically related to the base of support on the ground and rapid postural adjustment. The vertical jump performance and the analysis of the technique can provide information about the neuromuscular characteristics of the runners with VI, motor control and training strategies.ObjectiveThus, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between vertical jump performance and lower limb joint angles in recreational runners with VI.MethodsEight recreational runners (age 33.9 ± 12.7 years and body mass 64.1 ± 13.6 kg) with VI (visual classification: 4 T1, 2 T2 and 2 T3) performed five consecutive squat jumps (SJ) and five consecutive countermovement jumps (CMJ) with 5 min of rest between them. The vertical jumps were recorded by one camera and the jump height and power were evaluated using accelerometer Myotest.ResultsNo difference was found between the SJ (16.8 ± 4.9 cm) and CMJ performances (13.6 ± 5.8 cm) (p = 0.056). Pearson’s correlation test identified a strong and negative correlation between SJ height and internal knee angle (r = −0.712; p = 0.047), while no correlation between CMJ height and internal knee angle was found (r = −0.226; p = 0.591).ConclusionWe concluded that recreational runners with VI reach higher jump heights in a deeper squat position during SJ. creator: Edson Soares da Silva creator: Pedro Henrique De Araújo creator: Veronica Mindrescu creator: Fabio Liedtke creator: Leonardo Alexandre Peyré-Tartaruga creator: Gabriela Fischer uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19059 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 da Silva et al. title: Factors affecting molar root and periodontal hard tissue changes after orthodontic anterior molar closure of missing tooth spaces retrospective explored based on cone-beam computed tomography three-dimensional reconstruction link: https://peerj.com/articles/18875 last-modified: 2025-03-18 description: ObjectiveTo correlate the molar teeth and their periodontal conditions after orthodontic anterior removal of the molars to close the gap of missing teeth and to provide risk factor analysis and prognostic assessment for the treatment of such cases.MethodsTwenty-six orthodontic patients (five males and 21 females) with a total of 42 teeth were selected to undergo full-mouth orthodontic treatment due to the absence of the first/second molar and the molar bone volume was recorded by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning before (T0) and after (T1) the treatment, and the root volume and the bone volume of the molar teeth were calculated by three-dimensional reconstruction of the CBCT. Afterwards, the correlation analysis was performed between the molar root volume change and bone volume condition and age, gender, density, width, height of the alveolar bone in the edentulous area, edentulous gap and root condition.ResultsThe amount of alveolar bone loss and root resorption in the anteriorly displaced molars after treatment was less than 20%. There was a statistically significant correlation between age and pre-treatment periodontal condition, distal mesial and buccal bone loss; there was a statistically significant correlation between alveolar bone width in the edentulous area and pre-treatment periodontal condition and buccal bone loss; there was a statistically significant correlation between edentulous gap and post-treatment periodontal changes and buccal bone loss; there was a statistically significant correlation between gender and lingual bone loss; and there was a statistically significant correlation between root resorption and pre-treatment There was a statistically significant correlation between the width of the alveolar bone in the edentulous area; there was no statistically significant correlation between the density and height of the alveolar bone in the edentulous area and the periodontal condition.ConclusionClosure of the missing gap by orthodontic proximal-medial movement of the molar is a feasible method, but we need to pay close attention to the width of the alveolar bone and the missing space in the edentulous area. creator: Yuhao Huang creator: Jinglan Zhang creator: Tianwei Lin creator: Hong Ai creator: Ding Bai creator: Zhihui Mai uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18875 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2025 Huang et al.