title: PeerJ
description:  Articles published in PeerJ
link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=142
creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ
errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ
language: en

title: The pattern and burden of non-communicable diseases in armed conflict-exposed populations in Northeastern Nigeria
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18520
last-modified: 2025-01-17
description: BackgroundThe risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in conflict and post-conflict settings in Northeastern Nigeria has not been evaluated to date. As this region undergoes recovery, understanding the prevalence of NCDs, such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and obesity, and the associated behavioral coping mechanisms, is crucial for developing tailored healthcare solutions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of conflict on the prevalence of NCDs in conflict-exposed areas in Northeastern Nigeria compared with non-conflict regions.MethodsThis study was an unmatched cross-sectional study. The participants were selected from inpatients and outpatients at general hospitals in Mubi (conflict-exposed) and Jada (non-conflict), which are local government areas in Adamawa, a state in Northeastern Nigeria. The study was conducted over four months, and data on various health indicators were collected. Multivariable binary logistic regression and complementary log regression were performed to investigate the effects of individual risk factors and regional settings on the prevalence of NCDs.FindingsA sample of 973 individuals from both locations was analyzed. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, abdominal obesity, and depression in the entire cohort was 22.92%, 5.04%, 44.19%, and 17.94%, respectively. The rates of hypertension and abdominal obesity in the conflict-exposed Mubi were lower, and the rate of depression was higher than those recorded in Jada. Females showed higher rates of hypertension, obesity, and depression than males. The residents of Mubi had lower odds of having abdominal obesity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.11–0.28]) but a higher risk of depression (incidence risk ratio (IRR) = 4.78; 95% CI [2.51–9.22]) than those in Jada. However, the participants affected by insurgency showed higher odds of having both abdominal obesity (aOR = 1.95; 95% CI [1.23–3.08]) and depression (IRR = 1.76; 95% CI [1.08–2.88]) than those who were not affected by the conflict.ConclusionsThe findings of this study underscore the urgent need for mental health support in conflict-affected regions and comprehensive healthcare strategies for the aging population. As adjustment of lifestyle factors is crucial for addressing NCDs, effective case management and food security are essential for reducing the risk of NCDs in conflict-exposed populations.
creator: Roland I. Stephen
creator: Jennifer A. Tyndall
creator: Jamiu S. Olumoh
creator: Malachy I. Okeke
creator: Jacob A. Dunga
creator: Tonde G. Elijah
creator: Dillys M. Bello
creator: Oyelola A. Adegboye
creator: Jimmy A. Reyes
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18520
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: ©2025 Stephen et al.

title: The relationship between steroid treatment and mortality in patients with COVID-19 followed up in an intensive care unit
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18606
last-modified: 2025-01-17
description: AimOptimal treatment of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is still unclear. It has been reported that the use of different doses of corticosteroid treatments may reduce mortality. In our study, we aimed to find the effect of corticosteroid treatment dose on mortality of patients followed up in intensive care due to COVID-19.MethodsOur retrospective, descriptive and single-centre study included 102 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were followed up in intensive care unit, 28 of whom received pulse steroids and 74 of whom received high dose steroids. Laboratory values, duration of intensive care unit and mortality rates of the patients were evaluated.ResultsMortality was found to be statistically significantly lower in the group receiving pulse steroid compared to the group receiving high dose steroid. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, age and pulse steroid were found to be independent predictors of mortality. According to this analysis, each 10-year increase in age increased mortality by 4.8%, whereas pulse steroid decreased mortality by 79.4%.ConclusionIn our study, we found that mortality was statistically significantly lower in the group of patients receiving pulse steroids than in the group receiving high dose steroids. We found that the number of patients using pulse steroids was statistically significantly lower in the group with mortality. We found that age and pulse steroid independently determined the patients with mortality.
creator: Huseyin Ali Ozturk
creator: Fatih Necip Arici
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18606
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: ©2025 Ozturk and Arici

title: Body size prediction in scorpions: a phylogenetic comparative examination of linear measurements of individual body parts
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18621
last-modified: 2025-01-17
description: Body size has always been the focus of several ecological studies due to its undeniable influence on other life-history traits. The conventional representation of body size in arthropods typically relies on linear measures, such as total body length, or the length of specific body parts that can be used to represent body size. While these measures offer simplicity over more complicated alternatives (e.g., dry mass), technical problems persist for arthropods with complex body structures, as is the case for scorpions. In these animals, accurate measurements often require extensive handling, including the stretching of body parts. In light of the difficulties associated with directly measuring total length and carapace length in scorpions (two prevalent proxies for body size in the group), this study evaluates the ability of seven simple linear measurements in predicting length measures of boy size in scorpions under a phylogenetic framework. Predictive equations derived from phylogenetic mixed linear models fitted under Bayesian framework were implemented in custom R functions that can be applied for size prediction in a wide range of scorpions. Overall, accurate predictions of total length and carapace length could be achieved using any of the studied traits as single predictors. However, the most accurate predictions for total length were obtained using the length of metasomal segment V, while the best predictions for carapace length were achieved using telson length. The addition of a secondary predictor had low impact on the quality of the size predictions, indicating that increasing model complexity by incorporating additional predictors is not necessary to achieve accurate size estimates. Technical advantages and limitations associated with each linear measurement are discussed. In conclusion, this study broadens the repertoire of methods available for accurately estimating body size in scorpions, particularly in instances where body size information can only be obtained indirectly through allometric relationships.
creator: Stênio Í. A. Foerster
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18621
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Foerster

title: Optimizing soil health through activated acacia biochar under varying irrigation regimes and cultivars for sustainable wheat cultivation
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18748
last-modified: 2025-01-17
description: Wheat, a staple food crop globally, faces the challenges of limited water resources and sustainable soil management practices. The pivotal elements of the current study include the integration of activated acacia biochar (AAB) in wheat cultivation under varying irrigation regimes (IR). A field trial was conducted in the Botanical Garden, University of the Punjab, Lahore during 2023–2024, designed as a split-split-plot arrangement with RCBD comprising three AAB levels (0T, 5T, and 10T, T = tons per hectare) three wheat cultivars (Dilkash-2020, Akbar-2019, and FSD-08) receiving five IR levels (100%, 80%, 70%, 60%, and 50% field capacity). Biochar amended soil showed improved BET surface area, pore size, and volume. Carbon recovery (45%) and carbon sequestration capacity (49%) of 10T-AAB amended soil were better than non-amended soil (0.43% and 0.13%, respectively). The 10T-AAB amendment significantly improved the soil’s microporosity and water retention capacity, increasing it by 1.1 and 2.2 times, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that a reduction in IR negatively affected plant growth and yield. The 10T-AAB levels significantly increased sugar contents (14%), relative water content (10–28%), membrane stability index (27–55%), and photosynthetic pigments (18–26%) of wheat leaves under deficit irrigation among all the cultivars. Maximum stress markers (catalase, proline, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) were observed from Akbar under 50% irrigation with 0T-AAB, and the least were observed from 50% irrigated Dilkash-2020 with 10T-AAB amended soil. Among cultivars, Dilkash-2020 was observed to be the best for maximum yield, followed by FSD-08 and Akbar-2019, respectively. When compared to other IR levels, 10T-AAB amended soil had the highest yield enhancement (12, 11, and 9.2 times for Dilkash-2020, FSD-08, and Akbar-2019, respectively). Hence, AAB enhanced wheat production by improving soil properties, drought resilience, and yield attributes.
creator: Lubaba Komal
creator: Summera Jahan
creator: Atif Kamran
creator: Abeer Hashem
creator: Graciela Dolores Avila-Quezada
creator: Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18748
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: ©2025 Komal et al.

title: The role of fMRI in the mind decoding process in adults: a systematic review
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18795
last-modified: 2025-01-17
description: BackgroundFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has revolutionized our understanding of brain activity by non-invasively detecting changes in blood oxygen levels. This review explores how fMRI is used to study mind-reading processes in adults.MethodologyA systematic search was conducted across Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Studies were selected based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria: peer-reviewed; published between 2000 and 2024 (in English); focused on adults; investigated mind-reading (mental state decoding, brain-computer interfaces) or related processes; and employed various mind-reading techniques (pattern classification, multivariate analysis, decoding algorithms).ResultsThis review highlights the critical role of fMRI in uncovering the neural mechanisms of mind-reading. Key brain regions involved include the superior temporal sulcus (STS), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and temporoparietal junction (TPJ), all crucial for mentalizing (understanding others’ mental states).ConclusionsThis review emphasizes the importance of fMRI in advancing our knowledge of how the brain interprets and processes mental states. It offers valuable insights into the current state of mind-reading research in adults and paves the way for future exploration in this field.
creator: Sahal Alotaibi
creator: Maher Mohammed Alotaibi
creator: Faisal Saleh Alghamdi
creator: Mishaal Abdullah Alshehri
creator: Khaled Majed Bamusa
creator: Ziyad Faiz Almalki
creator: Sultan Alamri
creator: Ahmad Joman Alghamdi
creator: Mohammed Alhazmi
creator: Hamid Osman
creator: Mayeen U. Khandaker
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18795
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: ©2025 Alotaibi et al.

title: The effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species (Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices, and Claroideoglomus etunicatum) in the biocontrol of root and crown rot pathogens, Fusarium solani and Fusarium mixture in pepper
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18438
last-modified: 2025-01-16
description: This study evaluated the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species, including Funneliformis mosseae (FM), Rhizophagus intraradices (RI), Claroideoglomus etunicatum (CE), and a Mycorrhizal mix (MM) comprising these three species, on pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) inoculated with two isolates of Fusarium solani (48-F. solani and 18-F. solani) and two isolates of Fusarium mix (50-F. mixture and 147-F. mixture). Analysis of variance (ANOVA)-Tukey statistics revealed that the effects of AMF inoculations on morphological parameters, disease severity, root colonization, and total spore numbers in pathogen-infected plants varied significantly depending on the AMF species and pathogen group. AMF colonization significantly reduced disease severity, with disease inhibition (DI) reaching up to 58%, depending on the specific pathogen. However, there were a few instances where the application of AMF did not lead to a reduction in disease severity. Single AMF species were more effective in enhancing the growth of pathogen-treated host plants and suppressing disease compared to the mixed AMF. The mixed AMF was only more effective in balancing pathogen-induced decreases in plant nutrients (Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg), Zinc (Zn), and Phosphorus (P)). Among the compared mycorrhizae, C. etunicatum (CE) was the most effective in disease suppression due to its relatively more positive effects on plant root structure, increasing root fresh weight by up to 49% in the CE+pathogen plant group compared to the control group. Root colonization rates were generally higher in plants treated with both mycorrhiza and pathogens compared to plants treated with mycorrhiza alone. Overall, the curative effects of AMFs on plants following pathogen application varied concurrently with disease severity rates caused primarily by pathogens. AMFs demonstrated greater efficacy in combating 18-F. solani, which causes less severe plant disease. However, the effectiveness of AMFs was comparatively lower against 48-F. solani and 147-F. mix., which cause more severe plant disease. This indicates that the efficacy of AMFs varies depending on the specific strain of Fusarium solani, with better results observed against strains that cause less severe plant disease.
creator: Ayşin Bilgili
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18438
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Bilgili

title: Assessment of complications and success rates of Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: single tract vs. multi tract approaches
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18450
last-modified: 2025-01-16
description: PurposeThe objective of this study was to assess the success and complication rates of single-tract access vs. multi-tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL).Material and MethodsThe medical records of consecutive patients who underwent PNL for staghorn, partial staghorn, and complex kidney stones between 2014 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic data, stone volumes, fluoroscopy and operation durations, changes in hemoglobin levels, numbers of blood transfusions, stone-free rates, perioperative complications, duration of nephrostomy removal, and length of hospital stay parameters were noted. The complications and complexity of PNL were graded using the modified Clavien and Guy’s stone scores, respectively. Single and multi-tract subgroups were determined based on PNL access strategy and the subgroups were analyzed.ResultsThe study involved 208 patients, with 158 in the single-tract group and 50 in the multi-tract group. The groups were comparable in age, ASA scores, and comorbidities (p > 0.05). The characteristics of the stones, such as their location, size, and density, did not show any significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05), except for Guy’s stone score, which was higher in the multi-tract group (p = 0.028). The multi-tract group also had significantly longer fluoroscopy and operation times (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in stone-free rates between the two groups (76.0% vs. 78.0%, p = 0.766). Although the drop in hemoglobin levels was more significant in the multi-tract group (p = 0.027), transfusion rates did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.334). Complication rates were higher in the multi-tract group, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.896).ConclusionThis study demonstrated that multi-tract PNL can achieve high stone-free rates with a modest increase in the occurrence of acceptable complications when performed by an experienced surgeon.
creator: Ömür Memik
creator: Onur Karslı
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18450
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Memik and Karslı

title: Temporal drivers of abundance and community structure of scyphozoan jellyfish in tropical coastal waters
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18483
last-modified: 2025-01-16
description: Population blooms of scyphozoan jellyfish in tropical shallow water regions can fuel localized fisheries but also negatively impact human welfare. However, there is a lack of baseline ecological data regarding the scyphozoans in the region, which could be used to manage a fast-growing fishery and mitigate potential impacts. Thus, this study aims to investigate the temporal factors driving the distribution of scyphozoan community along the environmental gradients under different monsoon seasons, rainfall periods, moon phases, and diel-tidal conditions in the Klang Strait located in the central region along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, where bloom events are increasing. Scyphozoan samples were collected using commercial bag nets during a 19-month survey. Temporal variations in species abundance and composition were evident and related to the local environmental parameters (salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, and pH) that varied with the regional monsoon events, although these effects appeared to be species-specific. Phyllorhiza punctata, Acromitus flagellatus, Lychnorhiza malayensis, and Rhopilema esculentum were more abundant during the wetter northeast monsoon (NEM) while the abundance of Chrysaora chinensis and Lobonemoides robustus increased during the drier southwest monsoon (SWM). During the wet period of NEM, scyphozoan abundance was generally higher during the daytime than night-time. The regional monsoon regime and local hydrological events account for jellyfish abundance in the nearshore area with concurrent threats to coastal tourism and power plants, as well as benefits to fisheries especially during the NEM.
creator: Wan Mohd Syazwan
creator: Amy Yee-Hui Then
creator: Ving Ching Chong
creator: Mohammed Rizman-Idid
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18483
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: ©2025 Syazwan et al.

title: Predictors of county-level diabetes-related mortality risks in Florida, USA: a retrospective ecological study
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18537
last-modified: 2025-01-16
description: BackgroundDiabetes is an increasingly important public health problem due to its socioeconomic impact, high morbidity, and mortality. Although there is evidence of increasing diabetes-related deaths over the last ten years, little is known about the population level predictors of diabetes-related mortality risks (DRMR) in Florida. Identifying these predictors is important for guiding control programs geared at reducing the diabetes burden and improving population health. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify geographic disparities and predictors of county-level DRMR in Florida.MethodsThe 2019 mortality data for the state of Florida were obtained from the Florida Department of Health. The 10th International Classification of Disease codes E10-E14 were used to identify diabetes-related deaths which were then aggregated to the county-level. County-level DRMR were computed and presented as number of deaths per 100,000 persons. Geographic distribution of DRMR were displayed in choropleth maps and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model was used to identify county-level predictors of DRMR.ResultsThere was a total 6,078 diabetes-related deaths in Florida during the study time period. County-level DRMR ranged from 9.6 to 75.6 per 100,000 persons. High mortality risks were observed in the northern, central, and southcentral parts of the state. Relatively higher mortality risks were identified in rural counties compared to their urban counterparts. Significantly high county-level DRMR were observed in counties with high percentages of the population that were: 65 year and older (p < 0.001), current smokers (p = 0.032), and insufficiently physically active (p = 0.036). Additionally, percentage of households without vehicles (p = 0.022) and percentage of population with diabetes (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of DRMR.ConclusionGeographic disparities of DRMR exist in Florida, with high risks being observed in northern, central, and southcentral counties of the state. The study identified county-level predictors of these identified DRMR disparities in Florida. The findings are useful in guiding health professionals to better target intervention efforts.
creator: Nirmalendu Deb Nath
creator: Agricola Odoi
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18537
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: ©2025 Deb Nath and Odoi

title: Study on the absorption characteristics of euscaphic acid and tiliroside in fruits of Rosa laxa Retz.
link: https://peerj.com/articles/18638
last-modified: 2025-01-16
description: The fruits of Rosa laxa Retz. (FRL) have a long history of medicinal use, known for their rich composition of flavonoids, polyphenols, amino acids, sugars, and other bioactive compounds. FRL exhibits pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and antitumor activities, making it a valuable resource with significant development potential in both the food and pharmaceutical industries. This study employed a response surface methodology combined with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-TQ-MS) to optimize FRL extraction. Reflux extraction was determined to be the most effective method with the following optimized parameters: 65% ethanol extraction solvent, material-to-liquid ratio of 1:35 (g/mL), and extraction time of 140 min, resulting in the FRL extract (FRLE). Under these optimized conditions, the extracted amount was extract was 51.00 ± 1.07%, the average content of total polyphenols was 126.55 ± 2.61 mg/g, and the average content of euscaphic acid was 2.90 ± 0.08 mg/g, demonstrating the efficiency of the extraction method. Using the Caco-2 cell model, the study investigated the absorption characteristics of euscaphic acid and tiliroside within FRLE. Results indicated that with increasing time, the absorbed amount (Qr) of euscaphic acid and tiliroside gradually increased, with an efflux ratio (RB→A/A→B) of less than 1.5, suggesting bidirectional drug transport with no significant directionality. Upon the addition of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors Verapamil (Ver) and Ciclosporin A (CsA), as well as the chelating agent ethylenebis (oxyethylenenitrilo) tetraacetic acid (EGTA), Qr and Papp values notably increased, indicating that these two components are P-gp substrates with cellular basolateral efflux transport. Additionally, optimal absorption efficiency was observed under weakly acidic conditions (pH 6.0). In conclusion, euscaphic acid and tiliroside in FRLE demonstrated good membrane permeability, primarily relying on passive diffusion for absorption. This study offers experimental insights into the intestinal absorption of FRL in vivo.
creator: Ning Wang
creator: Li Tian
uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18638
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights: © 2025 Wang and Tian