title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=195 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Comprehensive evaluation of physiological response and cold tolerance of domesticated Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl under low temperature stress link: https://peerj.com/articles/18590 last-modified: 2024-11-28 description: Improving cold tolerance is one of the key techniques for introducing southern tree species to northern China. To provide a theoretical basis for the introduction and cold-tolerance cultivation of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl, the physiological response and cold tolerance of acclimated Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl trees were studied. In this experiment, the cold tolerance physiological indexes of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl were measured in an indoor artificial simulation of low temperature stress. The results showed that under low temperature stress, the Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl are cultivated for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years and 15 years, respectively, at 4 °C, 0 °C, −5 °C, −10 °C, −15 °C and −20 °C. The relative electrical conductivity change ranges were 26.26%–13.98%, 30.71%–19.24%, 37.36%–27.18%, 44.16%–32.24%, 63.21%–52.05%, and 86.43%–76.24%; the MDA content ranges were 12.10 mmol/g–3.25 mmol/g, 15.90 mmol/g–4.08 mmol/g, 10.53 mmol/g–2.05 mmol/g, 23.20 mmol/g–5.35 mmol/g, 31.30 mmol/g–5.89 mmol/g, and 36.47 mmol/g–8.13 mmol/g, respectively. The relative water content change ranges were 95.35%–65.92%, 71.36%–49.67%, 54.67%–34.89%, 43.12%–23.12%, 26.03%–11.21%, and 23.03%–8.15%, respectively. At the same stress temperature, these indices decreased with increasing cultivation time, and the degree of membrane damage was reduced accordingly. The osmoprotectants were soluble protein, soluble sugar, and free proline which were increased gradually with cultivation time. at 4 °C, 0 °C, −5 °C, −10 °C, −15 °C and −20 °C, the soluble protein content change ranges were 3.51–6.18 mg/g, 6.24–9.95 mg/g, 9.44–19.59 mg/g, 14.23–28.36 mg/g, 17.34–33.19 mg/g, and 25.15–32.23 mg/g. the soluble sugar content change ranges were 9.64-26.97 mg/g, 15.37–39.86 mg/g, 26.63–53.97 mg/g, 45.49–76.75 mg/g, 52.74–81.24 mg/g, and 55.61–85.34 mg/g. the free proline content change ranges were 55.83–85.23 µg/g, 68.95-89.87 µg/g, 95.38-214.38 µg/g, 219.19-389.89 µg/g, 321.28-453.65 µg/g, and 381.23-478.96 µg/g, respectively. The osmoprotectants increased the cell stability and enhanced the cold tolerance of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl. Protective enzyme activity were catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase which were increased gradually with cultivation time, catalase reached a maximum at about −15 °C SOD reached a maximum at about −5 °C and POD reached a maximum at about −10 °C. These results indicated that the leaves of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl could reduce stress damage by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes to clear the active oxygen in the body. A principal component analysis showed that the relative water content, soluble protein content, soluble sugar content, and superoxide dismutase activity could be used as important indexes for cold hardiness in Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl. The comprehensive evaluation showed that with the increase of domestication cultivation years, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl. cold tolerance gradually improved. creator: Jinping Ding creator: Zongying Zhang creator: Xinyu Zhu creator: Ying Hou uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18590 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2024 Ding et al. title: The applications of anterior segment optical coherence tomography in glaucoma: a 20-year bibliometric analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18611 last-modified: 2024-11-28 description: ObjectiveIn the past 20 years, the research application of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in the field of glaucoma has become a hot topic, but there is still a lack of bibliometric reports on this scientific field. The aim of this study is to explore the research hotspots and trends in the field using bibliometric methods.MethodAnalyzing literature from 2004 to 2023 on AS-OCT in glaucoma within the SCI database, this study utilized Bibliometric, VOS viewer, and Cite Space for a comprehensive bibliometric analysis covering document counts, countries, institutions, journals, authors, references, and keywords.ResultsA total of 931 eligible articles were collected, showing a continuous increase in annual research output over the past 20 years. The United States, China, and Singapore were the top three countries in terms of publication volume, with 288, 231, and 124 articles, respectively, and there was close cooperation among these countries. The NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE, SUN YAT SEN UNIVERSITY, and SINGAPORE NATIONAL EYE CENTRE were the most productive institutions with 93, 92, and 87 articles, respectively. JOURNAL OF GLAUCOMA, INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, and OPHTHALMOLOGY were the journals with the highest number of publications, with 86, 69, and 46 articles, respectively. PROGRESS IN RETINAL AND EYE RESEARCH, published in the United States, was the top-cited journal. Researchers Aung Tin, He Mingguang, and David S. Friedman were highlighted for their contributions. The reference clustering was divided into 12 categories, among which “deep learning, anterior segment” were the most cited categories. The keywords of research frontiers include deep learning, classification, progression, and management.ConclusionThis article analyses the academic publications on AS-OCT in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma over the last 20 years. Among them, the United States contributed the largest number of publications in this field, with the highest number of literature citations and mediated centrality. Among the prolific authors, aung, tin topped the list with 77 publications and 3,428 citations. Since the beginning of 2018, advances in artificial intelligence have shifted the focus of research in this field from manual measurements to automated detection and identification of relevant indicators. creator: Yijia Huang creator: Di Gong creator: Kuanrong Dang creator: Lei Zhu creator: Junhong Guo creator: Weihua Yang creator: Jiantao Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18611 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Huang et al. title: Prevalence, patterns, and determinants of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Gulf Cooperation Council countries: an updated systematic review link: https://peerj.com/articles/18628 last-modified: 2024-11-28 description: Drug resistance (DR) to antituberculosis drugs is a growing global problem that threatens the successful control of tuberculosis (TB) globally and within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In the GCC, TB remains a major public health issue. Understanding the prevalence and patterns of drug resistance to antituberculosis drugs is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Hence, the present systematic review is aimed at assessing the prevalence, pattern, and risk factors of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) in GCC countries. We conducted this systematic review adhering to the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 Statement. Using the relevant keywords in the major databases, we included peer-reviewed articles that were published from 01 January 2014 and onwards in English language journals. The prevalence and patterns of DR-TB levels in different countries were different. Isoniazid monoresistance was the most commonly found type of resistance, with varying degrees of prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Risk factors for DR-TB included diabetes mellitus, past TB treatment, younger age, female gender, and renal failure. There was a positive correlation between expatriate status and DR-TB. Collaborative actions by relevant stakeholders are essential to implement evidence-based interventions that reduce the DR-TB burden and improve overall community health. Ongoing research and surveillance activities are necessary for monitoring patterns, identifying new risk factors, and providing focused interventions to lessen the threat of DR-TB on public health in GCC countries. creator: Alaa Alibrahim creator: Homoud Alqahtani creator: Ashokkumar Thirunavukkarasu creator: Ibtisam Qazi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18628 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Alibrahim et al. title: The fight against malaria in Edo-North, Edo State, Nigeria: identifying risk factors for effective control link: https://peerj.com/articles/18301 last-modified: 2024-11-27 description: BackgroundThis study investigated malaria epidemiology in Edo-North, Nigeria; a region within the equatorial rainforest belt that has lacked prior research on malaria prevalence. This research sought to investigate the prevalence of malaria and identify potential risk factors in Edo-North, Nigeria. Additionally, the study aimed to analyze trends in malaria cases to inform the development of effective malaria control measures.MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted in six local government areas of Edo-North, Nigeria, between June and August 2023. Using systematic sampling, study zones, local governments, towns, villages, and households were selected. Data on sociodemographics and environmental risk factors were collected from 605 participants through questionnaires and blood samples. Blood smears were microscopically examined, binary and multivariate logistic regression was used for data analysis. Malaria disease rate trends were also analyzed from health records. Statistical analyses were performed using R software, with p-values less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsThe overall malaria prevalence in the study area was 15.54%, with males more likely to be infected than females. Prevalence varied across localities, with Akoko-Edo having the highest rate. Children had the highest prevalence. Rural residents were more likely to have malaria than urban residents. Binary logistic regression identified several risk factors, including age, location, local government area, education, occupation, marital status, housing type, household size, water source, sanitation, surrounding environment, window net use, ceiling type, water storage, and parasite density. The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified several significant risk factors for malaria in the study population. Children, residents of Owan-East, individuals using pit latrines, and those not sleeping under LLINs were at significantly increased risk. Environmental factors such as proximity to bushes, streams/rivers, and storing water in open containers were also associated with higher malaria prevalence. History of malaria treatment at pharmacies and use of Chloroquine/Quinine medication were linked to recurrent infections. The study found a high average parasite density (5,146 parasites/μL) and low consistent LLIN use despite widespread ownership. Trend analysis from malaria records revealed a decline in malaria prevalence from 2020 to 2023.ConclusionsThe study identified several demographic, environmental and behavioural factors associated with malaria risk in Edo North. Males, children, urban dwellers, those living in mud houses and those in large households, proximity to natural features such as bushes, rivers and streams and low LLIN were more likely to contract malaria. These findings highlight the importance of implementing targeted interventions to address these risk factors and reduce the burden of malaria. creator: Joseph Odunayo Braimah creator: Nnamdi Edike creator: Augustine Ijeameran Okhaiomoje creator: Fabio Mathias Correa uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18301 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Braimah et al. title: Effects of irrigation type and fertilizer application rate on growth, yield, and water and fertilizer use efficiency of silage corn in the North China Plain link: https://peerj.com/articles/18315 last-modified: 2024-11-27 description: BackgroundThere is an urgent need to save water and decrease fertilizer application rates in agricultural areas of the North China Plain (NCP) and similar regions.MethodsField experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in the NCP to investigate the effects of border and furrow irrigation under different fertilizer application rates on the growth, yield, and water and fertilizer use efficiencies of silage corn. The experiment applied two irrigation methods, i.e., border and furrow irrigation, each with four compound fertilizer application rates: 750, 600, 450, and 300 kg/ha.ResultsWhile the two experiment years were normal hydrological years, variation in precipitation resulted in no irrigation being applied in 2017 and 70 mm of irrigation being applied after sowing in 2018. Plants appeared to grow slightly taller and thicker with larger leaf areas, but with a 9.7% lower fresh weight yield in 2017 relative to 2018. The actual evapotranspiration (ETa) in 2017 was 37.22 mm more than that in 2018, and the higher fresh weight yield and lower ETa caused higher water use efficiency (WUE) in 2018, which was 32% higher than that in 2017. Furrow irrigation promoted growth compared with border irrigation under the same irrigation amount, but without significant effects on fresh weight yield, ETa, or WUE of silage corn. The fertilizer application amount had a significant effect on fresh weight yield and the partial fertilizer productivity of N, P and K of silage corn, but did not affect ETa or WUE of silage corn. Additionally, the fertilizer rate of 600 kg/ha induced slightly higher growth indexes and fresh weight yields compared with the fertilizer rates of 750, 450, and 300 kg/ha.DiscussionIn the NCP, lower irrigation amounts at the crop development period of silage corn appeared to promote higher yield, WUE, and fertilizer use efficiency, under the condition that there was sufficient water to ensure the emergence of seedlings. The current fertilizer application model, compound fertilizer applied with a seeder at planting, does not match the fertilizer needs of silage corn, and more efficient water and fertilizer application techniques should thus be adopted. creator: Yuchun Liu creator: Ning Wang creator: Changsong Jiang creator: Yao Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18315 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Liu et al. title: The effect of ecological characteristics on the domestication of sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) link: https://peerj.com/articles/18320 last-modified: 2024-11-27 description: Sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) is a pioneer species of annual plant found on mobile dunes in arid and semi-arid areas of China. Its establishment within the community could play a crucial role in the restoration of vegetation in desert environments because the ecological characteristics of sand rice make it well-suited to cope with desertification. Sand rice germinates rapidly when there is sufficient precipitation, and sand burial is beneficial for its germination. After germination, the root system rapidly extends downwards. It has short life cycles, completing the life span in 90 days at drought years. Additionally, sand rice has aerial and soil seed banks, which are suitable for arid ecosystems. Its seeds have high nutrient value of high protein quality and low carbohydrates. These ecological characteristics make sand rice a potentially environmentally friendly crop for addressing future climate change and maintaining food security, especially in desert areas. However it is unknown how ecological advantages affect the de novo domestication of sand rice. In this article, we summarize its ecological characteristics and determine optimal growth conditions for domestication and more applications in future. creator: Cuiyun Chen creator: Xiaoan Zuo creator: Xin Zhao uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18320 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Chen et al. title: Trends and challenges in organoid modeling and expansion with pluripotent stem cells and somatic tissue link: https://peerj.com/articles/18422 last-modified: 2024-11-27 description: The increasing demand for disease modeling, preclinical drug testing, and long waiting lists for alternative organ substitutes has posed significant challenges to current limitations in organoid technology. Consequently, organoid technology has emerged as a cutting-edge tool capable of accurately recapitulating the complexity of actual organs in physiology and functionality. To bridge the gaps between basic research and pharmaceutical as well as clinical applications, efforts have been made to develop organoids from tissue-derived stem cells or pluripotent stem cells. These developments include optimizing starting cells, refining culture systems, and introducing genetic modifications. With the rapid development of organoid technology, organoid composition has evolved from single-cell to multi-cell types, enhancing their level of biomimicry. Tissue structure has become more refined, and core challenges like vascularization are being addressed actively. These improvements are expected to pave the way for the construction of organoid atlases, automated large-scale cultivation, and universally compatible organoid biobanks. However, major obstacles remain to be overcome before urgently proof-of-concept organoids can be readily converted to practical applications. These obstacles include achieving structural and functional summarily to native tissue, remodeling the microenvironment, and scaling up production. This review aims to summarize the status of organoid development and applications, highlight recent progress, acknowledge existing limitations and challenges, and provide insights into future advancements. It is expected that this will contribute to the establishment of a reliable, scalable, and practical platform for organoid production and translation, further promoting their use in the pharmaceutical industry and regenerative medicine. creator: Jian-Yun Ge creator: Yun Wang creator: Qi-Lin Li creator: Fan-Kai Liu creator: Quan-Kai Lei creator: Yun-Wen Zheng uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18422 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Ge et al. title: Clinical efficacy and safety of organ-sparing cystectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18427 last-modified: 2024-11-27 description: BackgroundThe clinical safety and efficacy of organ-sparing cystectomy (OSC) are subjects of ongoing debate, particularly concerning the potential increased risk of recurrence when retaining additional organs and its effectiveness in preserving sexual and urinary functions.MethodsAdhering to the PRISMA 2020 statement and AMSTAR Guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature search up to February 2024 using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The comparison focused on the clinical safety and effectiveness of OSC and standard radical cystectomy (SRC) in the treatment of bladder tumors. Our assessment covered several dimensions: Surgical safety outcomes (operation time, length of stay (LOS), estimated blood loss (EBL), and complications), oncological safety outcomes (recurrence rate, positive surgical margin rate, overall survival, and cancer-specific survival), and functional efficacy outcomes (daytime and nighttime urinary incontinence at 6 and 12 months, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) rate, and erectile function within and after 1 year).ResultsThe analysis included 19 eligible studies, encompassing 2,057 patients (1,189 OSC patients and 768 SRC patients). OSC demonstrated significant benefits in terms of erectile function and urinary continence without impacting CIC rates. No significant differences were observed in recurrence rate, positive surgical margin rate, overall survival, and cancer-specific survival. Furthermore, OSC and SRC were comparable in surgical safety outcomes, including operating time, LOS, EBL, and complications.ConclusionsOSC offers notable advantages in erectile function and urinary continence. Despite limited clinical practice and potential selection bias, urologists may still consider OSC more based on their experience and specific patient factors. creator: Yi Zhang creator: Lei Peng creator: Yang Zhang creator: Hangxu Li creator: Songbei Li creator: Shaohua Zhang creator: Jianguo Shi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18427 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Zhang et al. title: The evolution of resource management in Taiwanese fisheries: coastal and offshore perspectives link: https://peerj.com/articles/18434 last-modified: 2024-11-27 description: This study investigates the historical changes in resource development of offshore and coastal fisheries around Taiwan from 1970 to 2021 using the mean trophic level (MTL) and Fishing-in-Balance (FiB) indices. Utilizing data from the Fisheries Statistical Yearbook, three scenarios were employed to assess the effects of highly migratory, oceanic migratory, and seasonal migratory fish species on the MTL and FiB indices. The analysis revealed a continuous increase in MTL for offshore and coastal fisheries, suggesting shifts in the trophic structure and potential over-exploitation of higher trophic level species. The FiB index for offshore fisheries exhibited a declining pattern after 1990, reflecting the depletion of indigenous fish stocks, while the FiB for coastal fisheries showed an increasing trend from 1970 until the 2000s, followed by a decrease, highlighting unsustainable fishing practices. Moreover, the study identified Scomber australasicus, targeted by Taiwanese Purse Seine, as an influential species affecting the resource dynamics of offshore fisheries. The trawling fisheries would also be a crucial issue affecting the indigenous resource dynamics of offshore fisheries in Taiwan. This study identified a fishing-down mechanism within indigenous fishery dynamics. The potential over-exploitation of fish stocks could result in long-term unsustainable practices if left unaddressed. This study advocates for enhanced fisheries management through stricter regulations on fishing gear, continuous monitoring, and adaptive management strategies. These measures are essential for achieving sustainable development goals and conserving marine biodiversity in Taiwan’s waters. By addressing these critical issues, Taiwan can better manage its fisheries resources and promote ecological balance. creator: Yan-Lun Wu creator: Irene Chia Ling Lim creator: LiXliang Li creator: Lu-Chi Chen creator: Po-Yuan Hsiao creator: Wei-Yu Lee creator: Kuo-Wei Lan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18434 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Wu et al. title: Transiently elevated expression of different forms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the neonatal medial prefrontal cortex affected anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in adolescence link: https://peerj.com/articles/18465 last-modified: 2024-11-27 description: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a secreted molecule that plays an important role in the survival and growth of nerve cells. BDNF undergoes complex post-translational processing with cellular proteases. Pro- and mature BDNF forms bind to different receptor types in the brain. BDNF is prominent in the neonatal cerebral cortex. The neonatal period is critical for the proper development of the brain and nervous system. Disruptions in these critical periods can have long-lasting effects on behavior and mental health. Individuals who experience adverse effects in the neonatal period have demonstrated a predisposition to depression and other neurobehavioral disorders. In this work we studied the influence of transient expression (P3–P8) elevation of pro-, mature and mutant forms of BDNF that could not be processed with cellular convertases in the neonatal medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) on anxiety and depressive-like behavior in adolescents. Elevated expression of mature BDNF (LV-BDNF) increased anxiety and depressive-like behavior at P30. Only immobility in the tail suspension test was increased after expression of mutant BDNF (LV-pBDNF mut). Using our RNA-seq data and available online sn-RNAseq results, we investigated transcriptomic changes in the neonatal mPFC at P8 that underlie subsequent behavioral changes. Mature BDNF expression caused an increased transcriptional response in perivascular stromal cells (PSC) with such genes: Ptgds, Slc6a13, Slc22a6, Bnc2, Slc13a4, Aldh1a2. Based on GWAS data, Ptgds is a candidate gene associated with ADHD and bipolar disorder Pujol-Gualdo et al. (2021); Marín-Méndez et al. (2012); Munkholm et al. (2015). LV-pBDNF mut caused a complete opposite set of transcriptional changes in the PSC compared to LV-BDNF. The observed similar behavioral phenotype after expression of mature and mutant forms of BDNF together with the detected genes related to bipolar disorder underpinned that Bdnf could play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of this neurobehavioral disorder. creator: Dmitriy Lanshakov creator: Elizaveta Shaburova creator: Ekaterina Sukhareva creator: Veta Bulygina creator: Uliana Drozd creator: Irina Larionova creator: Tatiana Gerashchenko creator: Tatiana Shnaider creator: Evgeny V. Denisov creator: Tatyana Kalinina uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18465 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Lanshakov et al.