title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=115 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Impact of a multicomponent physical exercise program on intrinsic capacity in community-dwelling older adults link: https://peerj.com/articles/19017 last-modified: 2025-03-12 description: IntroductionIn 2015, the World Health Organization introduced intrinsic capacity, a health indicator encompassing five domains aimed at promoting healthy aging. Multicomponent exercise programs are recommended to maintain and optimize intrinsic capacity; however, evidence on their effects in robust older adults is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a multicomponent exercise program on intrinsic capacity in older adults.MethodsOlder adults (≥60 years) enrolled in a multicomponent training program in Porto Alegre (RS) were evaluated for intrinsic capacity using specific tests for each domain. The total score, ranging from 0 to 10 points, was obtained by summing the scores of the five domains. Participants underwent a 12-week multicomponent exercise intervention and were reassessed.ResultsAfter the 12-week intervention, the composite intrinsic capacity score significantly increased. Significant improvements were found in the cognitive, vitality and locomotion domains. The practice of Chinese curative gymnastics contributed to a one-point increase in the composite intrinsic capacity score. No association was found between frequency, duration of training, or the number of exercise modalities and the composite intrinsic capacity score.ConclusionThe multicomponent exercise program positively influenced composite intrinsic capacity, with notable improvements in vitality, cognition, and mobility. Personalization and individualization of training, combined with health education and social integration, were crucial in promoting healthy aging in the studied sample. creator: Sarah Giulia Felipe creator: Clarissa Biehl Printes creator: Douglas Kazutoshi Sato creator: Rafael Reimann Baptista uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19017 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Felipe et al. title: Contribution of metabolomics to the taxonomy and systematics of octocorals from the Tropical Eastern Pacific link: https://peerj.com/articles/19009 last-modified: 2025-03-12 description: Octocorals are sessile invertebrates that play a key role in marine habitats, with significant diversity in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, especially in Ecuador’s shallow waters. This study focuses on the most representative octocorals within the Marine Protected Area El Pelado, Santa Elena, Ecuador, as a part of a marine biodiscovery project employing an integrative approach. While molecular techniques have advanced, challenges persist in distinguishing closely related species. Octocorals produce a wide range of compounds, characterized by unique chemical structures and diverse biological properties. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the potential of metabolomics and advanced analytical techniques to analyze the metabolome of these organisms, aiming to refine species classification and improve understanding of octocoral systematics in this region. Untargeted metabolomics effectively discriminates 12 octocoral species across five genera: Muricea, Leptogorgia, Pacifigorgia, Psammogorgia, and Heterogorgia, with notable differentiation between species within the genus Muricea, reinforcing its utility as an additional data set for species characterization. Secondary metabolites such as sterols, steroids, and terpenes (furanocembranolides and sesquiterpenes), were identified in Leptogorgia and Muricea. Overall, this method enabled the identification of 11 known species and a potentially new one, Leptogorgia cf. alba, confirming the extreme diversity of this group in the Tropical Eastern Pacific and within the Ecuadorian marine ecosystem. The study highlights the value of metabolomics in octocoral systematics and encourages for its broader application in marine biodiversity research. creator: Karla B. Jaramillo creator: Paúl O. Guillén creator: Rubén Abad creator: Jenny Antonia Rodríguez León creator: Grace McCormack uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19009 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Jaramillo et al. title: Efficacy of novel activated bamboo charcoal in reducing uremic toxins and enhancing kidney function in chronic kidney disease patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial link: https://peerj.com/articles/19007 last-modified: 2025-03-12 description: BackgroundThe role of uremic toxins in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and novel treatments to mitigate their effects are critical areas of research. This pilot study investigated the efficacy of a novel activated bamboo charcoal and/or probiotics in reducing uremic toxins and improving renal function in CKD patients.MethodsThis prospective, randomized, open, blinded end-point (PROBE) study included patients with stage 3 CKD. Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups: activated bamboo charcoal (ABC), probiotics, ABC with probiotics, or standard treatment for 3 months.ResultsA total of 46 patients were enrolled (mean age 66.7 ± 11.5 years, 71.7% male). The ABC and ABC with probiotics groups showed a significant reduction in serum levels of the uremic toxins trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), p-cresyl sulfate (PCS), indoxyl sulfate (IS), and phenyl sulfate (PS) after 3 months of treatment (all p < 0.05). There was a particularly pronounced decrease in the percentage of IS in both the ABC group (−23.9 ± 28.9% vs. 33.9 ± 63.4%, p = 0.005) and the ABC with probiotics group (−29.3 ± 30.6% vs. 33.9 ± 63.4%, p = 0.009). The eGFR change ratio also significantly improved in the ABC group compared to the control group (4.6 ± 10.2% vs. −8.6 ± 12.5%, p = 0.011). However, the probiotics group did not exhibit a similar reduction in uremic toxins or an improvement in the eGFR.ConclusionThis study suggested that ABC significantly reduced uremic toxins and might have potential in improving eGFR in CKD stage 3 patients over a 3-month period. These findings suggest a potential protective effect of ABC on kidney function, highlighting the need for further large-scale, long-term randomized controlled trials to confirm these results. creator: Kuo-Chin Hung creator: Mei-Yueh Lee creator: Shih-Yuan Hung creator: Chiao-Yin Sun creator: Chau-Chung Wu creator: Cheng-Jui Lin uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19007 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2025 Hung et al. title: Synergistic effects of foliar applied glycine betaine and proline in enhancing rice yield and stress resilience under salinity conditions link: https://peerj.com/articles/18993 last-modified: 2025-03-12 description: Soil salinity is one of the most challenging environmental factors affecting rice productivity, particularly in regions with high saline soils such as Egypt. The ability of rice to maintain high yield and quality under saline stress is often limited, leading to significant reductions in productivity. With the increasing salinization of agricultural lands, finding effective agronomic practices and treatments to mitigate salt-induced damage in rice crops is critical for ensuring food security. This study investigates the potential of exogenous glycine betaine (GB) and proline (Pro) applications to mitigate the adverse effects of salt stress on rice (cv. Sakha 108) over two consecutive growing seasons (2021–2022). Treatments of 30 mM GB and 30 mM Pro significantly enhanced dry weight (162.2 and 169.7 g in 2021 and 2022, respectively), plant height (88.94 and 99.00 cm), tiller number (10.58 and 10.33), and grain yield (4.22 and 4.30 t/ha) compared to control groups. Combined treatments of 30 mM GB and 30 mM Pro exhibited the greatest improvements across both years, with maximum dry weight (193.44 and 186.56 g), plant height (112.00 and 112.33 cm), tiller number (15.33 and 16.28), spikelet number per meter (264.00 and 264.05), thousand-kernel weight (70.00 and 73.2 g), and grain yield (6.17 and 6.64 t/ha). Additionally, the combined treatments resulted in the highest harvest index (53.22% in 2021 and 48.94% in 2022), amylose content (24.24% and 20.09%), and protein content (12.33% and 12.00%). Correlation analysis highlighted strong positive relationships among traits, such as plant height with grain yield (r = 0.94), biomass yield (r = 0.92), and harvest index (r = 0.90). Path analysis further demonstrated that thousand-kernel weight and biomass yield had the most significant direct effects on grain yield, with values of 0.43 and 0.42, respectively. Heatmap clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed the synergistic effects of combined GB and Pro treatments, with the 30P_30GB treatment consistently clustering with high-yield traits, enhancing nitrogen use efficiency and stress resilience. In conclusion, the combined application of glycine betaine and proline significantly enhances the agronomic and chemical traits of rice under salt stress. This study demonstrates that these osmoprotectants improve vegetative growth, grain yield, and quality, with synergistic effects observed at optimal concentrations. The findings highlight the potential of glycine betaine and proline as effective tools for improving salt tolerance in rice, offering practical solutions to address challenges in saline-affected agricultural regions. creator: Sobhi F. Lamlom creator: Aly A. A. El-Banna creator: Honglei Ren creator: Bassant A. M. El-Yamany creator: Ehab A. A. Salama creator: Gawhara A. El-Sorady creator: Mohamed M. Kamara creator: Amal Mohamed AlGarawi creator: Ashraf Atef Hatamleh creator: Abdelsalam A. Shehab creator: Ahmed M. Abdelghany uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18993 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Lamlom et al. title: A systematic review of fluralaner as a treatment for ectoparasitic infections in mammalian species link: https://peerj.com/articles/18882 last-modified: 2025-03-12 description: Fluralaner (Bravecto™) is a novel isoxazoline ectoparasiticide used for controlling ectoparasites of domestic mammals and is increasingly being used on wildlife. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety of fluralaner on mammals given its increasing use. The search was performed in GoogleScholar and the SciFinder databases using the terms ‘fluralaner’ and ‘Bravecto™’, and was concluded on 30th August, 2024. A total of 250 references were initially saved and reduced to 121 peer-reviewed journal articles using PRISMA guidelines, based on the removal of duplicates, those published in low quality journals (ranked less than Q2), and limiting publications to clinical trials. Articles were then categorised and ranked using the level of evidence, Cochrane ‘risk of bias’ assessment tool, methodological quality, and study size. Overall, the efficacy of fluralaner has been assessed on 14 mammalian species, and pharmacokinetic investigations conducted on 15. Fluralaner was mostly effective at treating some ectoparasites on captive individuals when there was little chance of re-infection; however, it did not prevent bites from blood-sucking ectoparasites and could not prevent blood-borne pathogen transfer to host animals. Very few studies have investigated the pharmacokinetics of fluralaner, and hence were difficult to compare; however, wombats differed greatly from their eutherian counterparts in their Cmax and t½ values and require further investigation. Overall, fluralaner was deemed moderately safe; however, most studies were classified as fair in terms of quality and most studies were based on small or very small sample numbers. Nineteen studies reported side effects, one of which included signs of severe neurological toxicity, with most of the articles not reporting on safety either positively or negatively. Concerns were raised regarding the extended time fluralaner was detected in faeces and subsequently environmental contamination is a concern. No longer-term impacts of the use of fluralaner have been investigated, and wider implications of the use of this ectoparasiticide have not yet been assessed. creator: Yuanting Jiang creator: Julie M. Old uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18882 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Jiang and Old title: The re-description of Liaoningotitan sinensis Zhou et al., 2018 link: https://peerj.com/articles/19154 last-modified: 2025-03-11 description: Liaoningotitan sinensis is one of three sauropod species found in the Jehol Biota. Liaoningotitan sinensis is from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Liaoning, China. The discovery of Liaoningotitan sinensis was an important breakthrough for researching the diversity of giant herbivorous animals in the Jehol Biota. However, the research and analysis of Liaoningotitan sinensis are not yet complete. This study presents a comprehensive research and analysis of Liaoningotitan sinensis holotype. First, the skull, vertebrae, pelvic girdle, and appendicular elements of Liaoningotitan sinensis holotype were carefully reexamined, leading to the discovery of mosaic evolution occurring in the skull and the identification of one new autapomorphy of humerus of Liaoningotitan sinensis: the attachment point of coracobrachialis muscle on the anterior surface of the proximal end of the humerus is flat. Second, the characteristics of the Liaoningotitan sinensis holotype and other well-preserved sauropod dinosaurs were used to reconstruct the skull of Liaoningotitan sinensis. Next, Euhelopus zdanskyi was used to reconstruct the body type of Liaoningotitan sinensis holotype, the result indicating that Liaoningotitan sinensis was approximately 10 m in length. Finally, TNT software was utilized to analyze the phylogenetic position of Liaoningotitan sinensis, with the result indicating that Liaoningotitan sinensis can be classified into the Euhelopodidae. creator: Bingqing Shan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19154 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2025 Shan title: Clinical, molecular, and resistance features of Listeria monocytogenes in non-perinatal patients with listeriosis: 8-year retrospective data from four tertiary hospitals in Shandong, China link: https://peerj.com/articles/19126 last-modified: 2025-03-11 description: BackgroundListeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), is a severe infectious disease with high hospitalization and fatality rates. Urgent epidemiological studies on this disease with geographic variability are needed, particularly in developing countries.MethodsThis study included non-perinatal patients with listeriosis from four tertiary centers in Shandong, China. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were collected retrospectively over 8 years (2015–2022).ResultsAmong 292,254 non-perinatal patients, 27 listeriosis cases were identified, resulting in an incidence of nine cases per 100,000 admissions. Patients had a median age of 56 years, with 66.7% having comorbidities. Fever was the most common symptom (88.9%), and 44.4% had central nervous system involvement. Most patients (26/24; 96.3%) received antibiotics, 37.0% received monotherapy and 59.3% combination therapy. The mortality rate was 22.2%. The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed that 25 strains were sensitive to most antibiotics. Multilocus sequence typing revealed nine sequence types (ST), predominantly ST8 (44.4%), and serogroup 1/2a is the most common serogroup (66.7%).ConclusionsThis study provides valuable insights into the clinical and molecular features of L. monocytogenes in non-perinatal patients with listeriosis. The findings demonstrated the predominance of serogroup 1/2a and ST8. Despite low resistance and appropriate treatment, listeriosis remains associated with a significant mortality rate, emphasizing the need for timely diagnosis and effective management strategies. creator: Yan Liu creator: Yuan Xie creator: Lei Liu creator: Jie Wang creator: Wenjing Li creator: Chengfan Yang creator: Shuhua Lu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19126 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2025 Liu et al. title: Mining of co-expression genes in response to cold stress at maize (Zea mays L.) germination and sprouting stages by weighted gene co-expression networks analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/19124 last-modified: 2025-03-11 description: BackgroundMaize (Zea mays L.) is one of the main agricultural crops with the largest yield and acreage worldwide. Maize at the germination and sprouting stages are highly sensitive to low-temperatures, especially in high-latitude and high-altitude regions. Low-temperature damage in early spring presents a major meteorological disaster in maize, severely affecting plant growth and maize yield. Therefore, mining genes tolerant to low temperatures is crucial. We aimed to analyze differential gene expression and construct co-expression networks in maize under low temperatures.MethodsInbred lines, Zhongxi 091/O2 and Chang 7-2, are tolerant and sensitive to low temperatures at the germination and sprouting stages, respectively. We grew these lines at 10 °C and 2 °C at the germination and sprouting stages, respectively. Samples were taken at five time points (0, 6, 12, 24, and 36 h) during the two stages, and transcriptome sequencing was performed. The analyses were conducted using weighted gene co-expression networks analysis (WGCNA), Gene Ontology (GO), the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and gene co-expression networks.ResultsWGCNA was used to construct co-expression networks at two stages, resulting in six and nine co-expression modules, respectively. Two modules at the germination stage (blue and yellow) and two modules at the sprouting stage (turquoise and magenta) were identified. These were significantly associated (p < 0.01) with tolerance at low temperature. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the four modules revealed entries related to hormone and oxygen-containing compound responses by GO functional enrichment. Among the four modules, DEGs from three modules were all significantly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway. Based on the connectivity, the top 50 genes for each module were selected to construct a protein interaction network. Seven genes have been proven to be involved in the response to low-temperature stress.ConclusionWGCNA revealed the differences in the response patterns of genes to low-temperature stress between tolerant and sensitive lines at different time points. Seven genes involved in low-temperature stress were functionally annotated. This finding suggests that WGCNA is a viable approach for gene mining. The current findings provide experimental support for further investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying tolerance to low temperatures in maize. creator: Chuangye Shi creator: Jing Dong creator: Chunxiao Zhang creator: Liquan Sun creator: Fengxue Jin creator: Xiaohui Zhou creator: Xueyan Liu creator: Weilin Wu creator: Xiaohui Li uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19124 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Shi et al. title: SplintR ligation-triggered in-situ rolling circle amplification on magnetic bead for accurate detection of circulating microRNAs link: https://peerj.com/articles/19082 last-modified: 2025-03-11 description: The circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous noncoding RNAs, post-transcriptionally participate in multiple processes during cell growth and development. Moreover, dysregulation of miRNAs expression is intricately associated with cancer. Currently, challenges of high homology, sequence similarity, and low abundance encountered in the detection of target miRNAs in complex samples need to be addressed. Biosensors established for miRNAs detection suffer from limitations in terms of sensitivity, specificity and high cost. Herein, a miRNA detection method based on in-situ RCA on magnetic bead catalyzed by SplintR ligase was proposed to achieve high sensitivity and high specificity. The following steps are included: (1) formation of P1-P2-miRNA double-stranded complex under catalyzation of SplintR ligase, and the release of P1-P2 single strand under denaturation; (2) enrichment of P1-P2 single chain by streptavidin-modified magnetic beads (SM-MB); (3) in situ RCA on surface of magnetic beads; (4) fluorescence detection. After optimization of experimental conditions, miRNA-155 detection with improved sensitivity and specificity was achieved. The detection limit was low to 36.39 fM, and one-base mismatch discrimination was demonstrated. Also, the clinical practicability for circulating miRNA-155 detection was preliminarily validated in human serum samples. creator: Sha Yang creator: Lijia Yuan creator: Xing Luo creator: Ting Xiao creator: Xiaoqing Sun creator: Liu Feng creator: Jiezhong Deng creator: Mei Zhan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19082 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Yang et al. title: Tree height-diameter allometry and implications for biomass estimates in Northeastern Amazonian forests link: https://peerj.com/articles/18974 last-modified: 2025-03-11 description: The relationship between tree height and diameter varies across forest types, introducing uncertainties in height that can affect aboveground biomass estimates in tropical forests. Here, we used a four-step approach to assess whether incorporating height estimates from local height-diameter models, compared to two published equations, improves biomass estimates across spatial scales. First, we measured the diameter and height of 1,962 trees in two representative forest types in the Northeastern Amazon: non-flooded terra-firme and seasonally-flooded várzea forests. Second, we selected the best height-diameter models from a set of 10 candidates to establish local allometric equations. Third, we applied these best local models and two previously published height models (the regional Guyana shield, and the pantropical model) to estimate tree height, and compared these estimates to measured height. Finally, we computed tree biomass using equations that both included and excluded height, and compared these biomass estimates to those calculated using directly measured height. Asymptotic height-diameter models provided the best fit at local and regional scales. The Quadratic model was the best choice for terra-firme and várzea forests separately, while the Weibull and Michaelis-Menten models performed best for both forests. Local models closely matched measured heights, with deviations of only 0.1%, outperforming the regional and pantropical models within each forest type. The regional model underestimated height in terra-firme by 3% and overestimated it in várzea by 29%, while the pantropical model underestimated height in terra-firme by 19% and overestimated it in várzea by 6%. Using local asymptotic models to estimate height improved the accuracy of biomass estimates, with differences of around 1% between biomass computed using measured heights and estimated heights for terra-firme and várzea forests. In contrast, the biomass calculated using estimated heights from both the regional and pantropical models overestimated the biomass in várzea by 41% and 17%, respectively, while the pantropical model underestimated biomass in terra-firme by 17%. The estimated height and biomass of large trees using regional and pantropical models showed the highest deviations from the observed values. Our findings underscore the necessity for height-diameter modeling for different forest types, and highlight the need to increase sampling of large trees to improve biomass estimation accuracy in Northeastern Amazonia. creator: Aldine Luiza Pereira Baia creator: Henrique E. M. Nascimento creator: Marcelino Guedes creator: Renato Hilário creator: José Julio Toledo uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18974 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Baia et al.