title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=144 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Sleep-wake patterns of fencing athletes: a long-term wearable device study link: https://peerj.com/articles/18812 last-modified: 2025-01-14 description: ObjectiveSleep is the most efficient means of recovery for athletes, guaranteeing optimal athletic performance. However, many athletes frequently experience sleep problems. Our study aims to describe the sleep-wake patterns of fencing athletes and determine whether factors, such as sex, competitive level and training schedules, could affect the sleep-wake rhythm.MethodsSleep data from 23 fencing athletes were collected using the Huawei Band 6, monitoring key sleep parameters such as bedtime, wake time, duration of deep and light sleep, wake periods, REM sleep duration, and nap duration. During this period, athletes were required to wear the band continuously for 24 hours daily, except bathing, charging, and competition times.ResultsAthletes averaged 7.97 hours of sleep per night, with significant differences observed in wake time (p = 0.015) and midpoint of sleep (p = 0.048) between high-level and low-level athletes, as well as a higher frequency of naps among high-level (χ2 = 11.97, p = 0.001) and female (χ2 = 3.88, p = 0.049) athletes. Nap duration was negatively correlated with night sleep duration (r =  − 0.270, p < 0.001). Athletes were observed for changes in sleep-wake patterns from Monday to Sunday. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when there was no morning training, the athletes’ wake-up time and the midpoint of sleep were shifted significantly backward, and there were significant differences in sleep parameters between training days and rest days.ConclusionThe sleep patterns of athletes differ according to level and gender. The sleep-wake patterns of athletes are influenced by training schedules, indicating the presence of sleep rhythm disruption. creator: Jiansong Dai creator: Xiaofeng Xu creator: Gangrui Chen creator: Jiale Lv creator: Yang Xiao uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18812 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Dai et al. title: Identification and mechanistic insights of cell senescence-related genes in psoriasis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18818 last-modified: 2025-01-14 description: BackgroundPsoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting 2–3% of the global population, characterised by red scaly patches that significantly affect patients’ quality of life. Recent studies have suggested that cell senescence, a state in which cells cease to divide and secrete inflammatory mediators, plays a critical role in various chronic diseases, including psoriasis. However, the involvement and mechanisms of action of senescence-related genes in psoriasis remain unclear.MethodsThis study aimed to identify senescence-related genes associated with psoriasis and explore their molecular mechanisms. RNA sequencing data from psoriasis and control samples were obtained from the GEO database. Differential expression analysis was performed using DESeq2 to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The intersection of DEGs with cell senescence-related genes from the CellAge database was used to identify the candidate genes. Protein-protein interaction networks, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted to explore the functions and pathways of these genes. Machine learning algorithms, including Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression and Support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVE-RFE), were used to select feature genes that were validated by qRT-PCR. Additionally, an immune cell infiltration analysis was performed to understand the roles of these genes in the immune response to psoriasis.ResultsThis study identified 4,913 DEGs in psoriasis, of which 46 were related to cell senescence. Machine learning highlighted four key genes, CXCL1, ID4, CCND1, and IRF7, as significant. These genes were associated with immune cell infiltration and validated by qRT-PCR, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets for psoriasis.ConclusionsThis study identified and validated key senescence-related genes involved in psoriasis, providing insights into their molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets and offering a foundation for developing targeted therapies for psoriasis. creator: Guiyan Deng creator: Cheng Xu creator: Dunchang Mo uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18818 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Deng et al. title: Exploring freshwater soundscapes of tropical marshland habitats in Southeast Asia: insights into auditory sensory adaptation of wild Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens link: https://peerj.com/articles/18491 last-modified: 2025-01-13 description: While soundscapes shape the structure and function of auditory systems over evolutionary timescales, there is limited information regarding the adaptation of wild fish populations to their natural acoustic environments. This is particularly relevant for freshwater ecosystems, which are extremely diverse and face escalating pressures from human activities and associated noise pollution. The Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens is one of the most important cultured species in the global ornamental fish market and is increasingly recognized as a model organism for genetics and behavioural studies. This air-breathing species (Anabantoidei), characterized by the presence of a suprabranchial labyrinth organ that enhances auditory sensitivity, is native to Southeast Asia and inhabits low flow freshwater ecosystems that are increasingly threatened due to habitat destruction and pollution. We characterized the underwater soundscape, along with various ecological parameters, across five marshland habitats of B. splendens, from lentic waterbodies to small canals near a lake in Chiang Rai province (Thailand). All habitats exhibited common traits of low dissolved oxygen and dense herbaceous vegetation. Soundscapes were relatively quiet with Sound Pressure Level (SPL) around 102–105 dB re 1 µPa and most spectral energy below 1,000 Hz. Sound recordings captured diverse biological sounds, including potential fish vocalizations, but primarily insect sounds. Hearing thresholds were determined using auditory evoked potential (AEP) recordings, revealing best hearing range within 100–400 Hz. Males exhibited lower hearing thresholds than females at 400 and 600 Hz. This low-frequency tuning highlights the potential susceptibility of B. splendens to anthropogenic noise activities. This study provides first characterization of the auditory sensitivity and natural soundscape of B. splendens, establishing an important ground for future hearing research in this species. The information provided on the auditory sensory adaptation of B. splendens emphasizes the importance of preserving quiet soundscapes from lentic freshwater ecosystems. creator: Andreia Ramos creator: David Gonçalves creator: Raquel O. Vasconcelos uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18491 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Ramos et al. title: Analysis of the anthropogenic effect on the Silencio River in Salvador Escalante, Michoacán, México link: https://peerj.com/articles/18531 last-modified: 2025-01-13 description: The average annual water availability worldwide is approximately 1,386 trillion cubic hectometers (hm3), of which 97.5% is saltwater and only 2.5% is freshwater. Nearly 70% is not available for human consumption as it is in glaciers, snow, and ice. It is estimated that only 0.77% is accessible freshwater for human use. Mexico has an availability of 451,584.7 million cubic meters (m3) of freshwater, with accessibility and distribution being unequal. The growth in urbanization, population, and industrialization has caused a decrease in water quality, and other parameters. Organic and inorganic contaminants evolved from various sources cause the degradation of water quality. The pollution of aquatic bodies, such as rivers and lakes, is one of the main problems in the world. In Salvador Escalante in México, the domestic wastewaters treatment plant (WWTP) is being exposed to effluents contaminated with metals like copper, cadmium, lead, and mercury. In this work, active sludges from the WWTP were analyzed. First, particle size distribution of flocs was measured by a sedimentation process. Secondly, analysis of the tolerance that microorganisms exhibit to metals (i.e., factors) was performed, based on a 2$\hat {}$ ˆ(4-1) factorial design of experiments at laboratory-scale, measuring pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and electrical conductivity (responses). This aims to evaluate the capacity of the WWTP for improve the water quality. Microbiologic cultures were used for a qualitative study of the microorganisms contained in the active sludges; it was found that Enterobacterium does not grow in presence of heavy metals. Cadmium is the most harmful metal for microorganisms according to Pareto diagrams presented in this study. creator: Mario Alberto Pérez-Méndez creator: Guadalupe Selene Fraga-Cruz creator: Gustavo Álvarez-Gómez creator: Fabricio Nápoles-Rivera creator: Gladys Jiménez-García creator: Rafael Maya-Yescas uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18531 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Pérez-Méndez et al. title: Insecticides may facilitate the escape of weeds from biological control link: https://peerj.com/articles/18597 last-modified: 2025-01-13 description: BackgroundPreventative pesticide seed treatments (hereafter preventative pest management or PPM) are common corn and soybean treatments, and often include both fungicides and neonicotinoid insecticides. While PPM is intended to protect crops from soil-borne pathogens and early season insect pests, these seed treatments may have detrimental effects on biological control of weed seeds by insects.MethodsHere, in two 3-year corn-soy rotations in Pennsylvania USA, we investigated a PPM approach to insect management compared to an integrated pest management approach (IPM) and a “no (insect) pest management” (NPM) control. This was crossed with a grass cover crop to see if this conservation practice can help recover the ecosystem services affected by chemical pest management practices. We hypothesized that PPM and IPM approaches would release weed seeds from biological control by insects but cover crops would increase biological control. We measured the effect of these treatments on the weed-seed bank, mid-season weed biomass, granivorous insect activity-density, and weed-seed predation.ResultsWe found that, contrary to our hypothesis, planting a cover crop decreased carabid activity-density without consistent differences in weed-seed predation. Pest management and cover crop treatments also had inconsistent effects on the weed-seed bank and mid-season weed biomass, but insecticide use without a cover crop increased the biomass of likely glyphosate-resistant marestail (Erigeron canadensis L.) at the end of the trial. Our results suggest that reducing insecticide use may be important when combating herbicide-resistant weeds. We found planting cover crops and/or avoiding the use of insecticides may combat these problematic weeds. creator: Elizabeth K. Rowen creator: Kirsten Ann Pearsons creator: Richard G. Smith creator: Kyle Wickings creator: John F. Tooker uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18597 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Rowen et al. title: Thermal ecology of the Mexican Garter Snake (Thamnophis eques): temporal and spatial variations link: https://peerj.com/articles/18641 last-modified: 2025-01-13 description: Heterogeneous environments provide different daily and seasonal thermal conditions for snakes, resulting in temporal and spatial variations in body temperature (Tb). This study analyzes the Tb of Thamnophis eques in the forest and grassland of a Mexican locality through daily and seasonal profiling. The patterns were obtained from seminatural enclosures in the field with a point sampling strategy to analyze temporal and spatial variations in Tb. The variation of Tb throughout the day was correlated with air and substrate temperatures, both in the grassland and in the forest. The average Tb in the grassland was 0.88 °C greater than in the forest. Our results indicate that T. eques showed differences in Tb between grassland and forest, principally in late spring and early summer during the early rise and late plateau phases, coinciding with the presence of foliage on the willow trees present in the study area, while in late summer and early autumn, the Tb was similar when willow trees canopy cover was absent (May–September). Our results support the hypothesis that the Tb of snakes differ between forests when the willows have leaves and is similar when canopy cover is equivalent, in this case, when tree canopy cover was absent. Our results also shown that T. eques presented daily and seasonal warming patterns similar to other Arizona populations and like those of other northern Gartersnakes. However, this result may not be valid for the entire wide distribution and consequent diversity of habitats of T. eques. The information of Tb in T. eques through daily and seasonal profiles in different habitats could aid in understanding the effects of environmental conditions on the ecological strategies deployed by snakes on habitat selection. creator: Crystian S. Venegas-Barrera creator: Armando Sunny creator: Javier Manjarrez uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18641 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Venegas-Barrera et al. title: Common insect pests in homes and cultural heritage sites link: https://peerj.com/articles/18700 last-modified: 2025-01-13 description: Insect pests represent a threat to the integrity of historic buildings and homes, causing serious losses and irreversible damage. These pests can cause extensive damage to organic materials, including wood, textiles, and paper. Beetles, termites, booklice, moths, and cockroaches are just some of the main insect pests that are frequently found in historic buildings and homes. Beetle species such as the furniture beetle and the powderpost beetle are well recognised for their capacity to infest and feed on wood. Termite infestations can remain undetected and cause considerable damage that may even lead to the complete destruction of a building’s structural integrity. Cloth moth larvae are known to damage textiles, including carpets, furniture, clothes, and tapestries. Some wood-destroying species of cockroaches have the potential to harm historic buildings. Booklice have the ability to eat cellulose fibres found in archived articles and artefacts stored in heritage buildings, causing deterioration and damage to documents over time. This article reviews the literature and presents an overview of the major insect pests belonging to five known orders Coleoptera, Blattodea, Lepidoptera, Zygentoma (long-tailed silverfish) and Psocoptera, which pose a threat to households, museums, depositories, libraries, and cultural heritage buildings. We also discuss their biology, their impact on human health, and the various potential approaches to identifying them. creator: Bouthaina Hasnaoui creator: Fabien Fohrer creator: Philippe Parola creator: Jean-Michel Berenger uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18700 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2025 Hasnaoui et al. title: Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals cellular reprogramming and changes of immune cell subsets following tetramethylpyrazine treatment in LPS-induced acute lung injury link: https://peerj.com/articles/18772 last-modified: 2025-01-13 description: BackgroundAcute lung injury (ALI) is a disordered pulmonary disease characterized by acute respiratory insufficiency with tachypnea, cyanosis refractory to oxygen and diffuse alveolar infiltrates. Despite increased research into ALI, current clinical treatments lack effectiveness. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) has shown potential in ALI treatment, and understanding its effects on the pulmonary microenvironment and its underlying mechanisms is imperative.MethodsWe established a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and performed single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Bioinformatic analyses of the immune, epithelial and endothelial cells were then performed to explore the dynamic changes of the lung tissue microenvironment. We also analyzed the effects of TMP on the cell subtypes, differential gene expression and potential regulation of transcriptional factors involved. Immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to identify the effects of TMP on immune inflammatory response.ResultsWe found that TMP efficiently protected against LPS-induced acute lung injury. Results of scRNA-seq showed that the cells were divided into seven major cell clusters, including immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and epithelial cells. Neither dexamethasone (Dex) nor TMP treatment showed any significant protective effects in these clusters. However, TMP treatment in the LPS-induced ALI model significantly increased follicular helper T cells and reduced CD8+ naive T cells, Vcan-positive monocytes and Siva-positive NK cells. In addition, TMP treatment increased the number of basal epithelial cells and lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), indicating its protective effects on these cell types. Scenic analysis suggested that TMP likely mitigates LPS-induced injury in epithelial and endothelial cells by promoting FOSL1 in basal epithelial cells and JunB in LECs.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that TMP appears to alleviate LPS-induced lung injury by regulating the immune response, promoting epithelial cell survival and boosting the antioxidant potential of endothelial cells. This study highlights the potential therapeutic use of TMP in the management of ALI. creator: Mingyan Wu creator: Shanmei Wang creator: Xiaolan Chen creator: Li Shen creator: Jurong Ding creator: Hongbin Jiang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18772 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Wu et al. title: Unveiling the complex double-edged sword role of exosomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma link: https://peerj.com/articles/18783 last-modified: 2025-01-13 description: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy arising from the epithelium of the nasopharynx. Given its late diagnosis, NPC raises serious considerations in Southeast Asia. In addition to resistance to conventional treatment that combines chemotherapy and radiation, NPC has high rates of metastasis and frequent recurrence. Exosomes are small membrane vesicles at the nanoscale that transport physiologically active compounds from their source cell and have a crucial function in signal transmission and intercellular message exchange. The exosomes detected in the tissues of NPC patients have recently emerged as a potential non-invasive liquid biopsy biomarker that plays a role in controlling the tumor pathophysiology. Here, we take a look back at what we know so far about the complex double-edged sword role of exosomes in NPC. Exosomes could serve as biomarkers and therapeutic agents, as well as the molecular mechanisms by which they promote cell growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, immunosuppression, radiation resistance, and chemotherapy resistance in NPC. Furthermore, we go over some of the difficulties and restrictions associated with exosome use. It is anticipated that this article would provide the reference for the apply of exosomes in clinical practice. creator: Xueyan Huang creator: Yuedi Tang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18783 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Huang and Tang title: To stay or to go: resource diversity alters the dispersal behavior of sympatric cryptic marine nematodes link: https://peerj.com/articles/18790 last-modified: 2025-01-13 description: Animals can use specific environmental cues to make informed decisions about whether and where to disperse. Patch conditions are known to affect the dispersal behavior of animals, but empirical studies investigating the impact of resource diversity on the dispersal of closely related species are largely lacking. In this study, we investigated how food diversity affects the dispersal behavior of three co-occurring cryptic species of the marine bacterivorous nematode complex Litoditis marina (Pm I, Pm III and Pm IV). Using microcosms composed of a local patch (inoculation plate), a connection tube, and a distant patch (dispersal plate), we examined nematode dispersal patterns with bacteria serving as the food source. Food treatments included low-, medium-, and high-diversity bacterial mixtures of 5, 10, and 15 bacterial strains, respectively. Additionally, a single-strain food resource Escherichia coli was used as a control treatment. Both local and distant patches had either identical food treatments (‘homogeneous patches’) or E. coli in the local patches and more diverse food (low-, medium-, or high-diversity food) in distant patches (‘heterogeneous patches’). Our results show that the dispersal behavior of the cryptic species varies depending on food diversity, indicating that L. marina acquire information about their environment when making dispersal decisions. All three cryptic species tend to disperse faster toward food patches that increase fitness. Pm I and Pm IV exhibited faster dispersal toward patches with a more diverse food source, while Pm III showed similar dispersal rates toward E. coli, medium-diversity, and high-diversity food. This indicates that resource diversity can alter the dispersal behavior of cryptic species and may be an important mechanism to achieve species coexistence in the field. creator: Rodgee Mae Guden creator: Sofie Derycke creator: Tom Moens uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18790 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Guden et al.