title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=22 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Evaluation of water quality and soil fertility in remediated farmland for protection of wetland ecology by planting different crops link: https://peerj.com/articles/20406 last-modified: 2025-11-28 description: Enhancements in water quality and soil characteristics of wetlands can improve the ecological environment of the area and enrich its biodiversity. The present study examined the effects of five distinct crops (i.e.: colza oil, mustard, Chinese cabbage, wheat, barley) cultivated in remediation plots, and evaluated their impact on water quality and soil fertility. The water quality within the remediated farmland was categorized as Class III (moderately polluted). The soil exhibited low total nitrogen and organic matter levels (the mean values were respectively 0.032% and 10.84 g/kg), and high readily available phosphorus and potassium concentration (the mean values were respectively 75.71 and 247.64 mg/kg). The soil fertility was comprehensively categorized as Class III (moderately polluted). Subsequently, the different components of bird droppings in the soil were investigated for their potential effects on soil fertility. The present research demonstrated that the remediation of farmland had the potential to enhance the quality of water and soil fertility in wetland. This, in turn, might result in an increased number of migratory birds inhabiting the area. creator: Changqing Liu creator: Zhongxiang Sun creator: Hongyang Wang creator: Tianwen Chen creator: Lina Deng creator: Li Zhang creator: Huixing Liang creator: Yuxiang Shen creator: Hongshan Li creator: Hai Cheng uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20406 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Liu et al. title: Effects of monocropping soil on plant growth and rhizosphere microbial community structure of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge link: https://peerj.com/articles/20379 last-modified: 2025-11-28 description: Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) is a commonly utilized remedy for various blood stasis syndromes, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular diseases. The practice of continuous cropping presents a notable challenge to the production of high-quality S. miltiorrhiza due to the lack of rotation or soil remediation. Despite this, the precise mechanism, particularly the impact of alterations in the rhizosphere microbial community structure on the development of obstacles related to continuous cropping, remains obscure. The constitution of the rhizosphere microbial community plays a pivotal role in plant growth and has the potential to exacerbate issues associated with continuous cropping. This study aimed to comprehensively compare the impact of continuous vs. non-continuous cropping soils on the growth, physiological and biochemical characteristics, accumulation of active ingredients, and rhizosphere microbial community structure of S. miltiorrhiza seedlings to elucidate the microbial ecological mechanism behind continuous cropping challenges. A pot experiment was executed to assess the effects of continuous cropping on the morphological and physiological parameters of S. miltiorrhiza. High-throughput sequencing technology utilizing the NovaSeq platform was employed to sequence and analyze the V4 region of bacterial 16S rDNA and the ITS1 region of fungi in the rhizosphere. The findings revealed that continuous cropping soil led to a reduction in S. miltiorrhiza biomass, manifesting as wilting and stunted growth, diminished effective leaf area, main root length and diameter, reduced levels of total chlorophyll, carbohydrates, and active ingredients, as well as compromised photosynthesis. In the rhizosphere soil, both the composition and function of the fungal community have undergone significant changes, and the fungal diversity has shown a clear increasing trend; in contrast, the change in bacterial diversity is very slight. In conclusion, continuous cropping soil substantially hinders the growth of S. miltiorrhiza, diminishes its physiological functions, and disrupts the structure of the rhizosphere microbial community. These changes likely contribute significantly to the exacerbation of challenges associated with continuous cropping. This investigation furnishes a theoretical foundation for comprehending the microecological mechanism underpinning continuous cropping challenges in S. miltiorrhiza and devising strategies for soil amelioration. creator: Ji Dong Ju creator: Yuan Meng creator: Bingqian Zhou creator: Guohong Yang creator: Xinyu Fu creator: Wei Liu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20379 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Ju et al. title: Effectiveness of respiratory muscle training on pulmonary function recovery in patients with spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/20373 last-modified: 2025-11-28 description: ObjectiveThis study conducted a thorough review and meta-analysis to examine how respiratory muscle training (RMT) affects lung function recovery in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) examining the effects of RMT on lung function in patients with SCI. The search included databases such as PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science up to October 2025. The experimental group received RMT as the main intervention, while the control group received either no treatment, a placebo, or conventional rehabilitation. Outcome measures included Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), Minute Ventilation Volume (MVV), Total Lung Capacity (TLC), Inspiratory Capacity (IC), and Vital Capacity (VC). Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data, and assessed bias. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 software, and the quality of included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool and the Physical Therapy Evidence Database scale. The reporting of this study followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024627736).ResultsIn this meta-analysis, 25 RCTs were included, comprising a total of 679 patients. The meta-analysis showed that compared with conventional rehabilitation, respiratory muscle training significantly improved FEV1 (p < 0.0001), FVC (p = 0.0001), MIP (p < 0.00001), MEP (p = 0.0004), PEF (p < 0.00001), MVV (p < 0.0001), TLC (p = 0.05), VC (p = 0.04), and their differences were statistically significant. However, IC (p = 0.40) was not statistically significant. Subgroup analyses showed that resistive training and surface electromyography biofeedback training were effective for improving FEV1 and FVC, while threshold training significantly improved MVV.ConclusionThis meta-analysis provides strong evidence that RMT is an effective intervention for enhancing respiratory muscle strength and key parameters of pulmonary function in individuals with SCI. Further research with robust methodologies and extensive sample sizes is needed to validate this finding. creator: Shuqi Yao creator: Haozhe Guo creator: Fuhai Ma creator: Aiping Chi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20373 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Yao et al. title: Genomics, population dynamics, immune evasion and resistance determinants foster the competence and global dissemination of Klebsiella pneumoniae link: https://peerj.com/articles/20296 last-modified: 2025-11-28 description: BackgroundAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), Klebsiella pneumoniae is a critical public health concern and an established ESKAPE (E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) pathogen. Mounting incidence of MDR K. pneumoniae is worrisome across the globe. K. pneumoniae is an established ubiquitous pathogen and associated with various infections in a wide range of hosts.MethodsThe peer reviewed findings with given problem statements were thoroughly studied through literature review technique. Multiple antibiotic-resistance genes and virulence genes across various Klebsiella species were studied to explore their evolutionary dynamics and genetic diversity.ResultsPopulation dynamics revealed that the clonal group (CG) 258 and CG 14 are considered as global disseminated clones. The genome size (5.7 Mbps) of K. pneumoniae is reported to be larger than the other Enterobacteriaceae which allows K. pneumoniae to survive in diverse geographical niches. It has adequate resistome and virulence machinery to evade the host immune system and establish the infection. Due to the emergence of resistant variants K. pneumoniae needs appropriate alternative control measures.ConclusionThe current review described the characteristics features of K.pneumoniae which are the key players in making this organism a credential pathogen. Additionally, it would be instructive and underpin the molecular insights that may aid in restraining this pathogen. creator: Bilal Aslam creator: Sulaiman F. Aljasir uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20296 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Aslam and Aljasir title: Structure and diversity of microbial communities in the rhizosphere soil of Trichosanthes kirilowii from different cultivation patterns link: https://peerj.com/articles/20459 last-modified: 2025-11-27 description: BackgroundTo analyze the effects of different cultivation patterns on the structure and diversity of the microbial community in the rhizosphere soil of Trichosanthes kirilowii (T. kirilowii) arms to establish reasonable and effective strategies to mitigate the continuous cropping barriers and promote the high-quality cultivation of T. kirilowii.MethodsThree distinct cultivation patterns were investigated: open-field cultivation (TM1), film-mulched cultivation (TM2), and soybean intercropping cultivation (TM3). High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were employed to evaluate the rhizosphere microbiome, and redundancy analysis was utilized to investigate the relationship between the microbial communities and soil nutrient indicators.ResultsTM2 and TM3 increased soil bacterial community diversity, reduced fungal community diversity, elevated the relative abundance of beneficial bacterial genera, and reduced the abundance of detrimental fungal genera in the rhizosphere soil. The relative abundance of Pseudarthrobacter, unclassified_Steroidobacteraceae, and Nocardioides in TM2 and TM3 was markedly higher than in TM1. Conversely, the relative abundance of Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Ceratobasidium, and Plectosphaerella in TM2 and TM3 was significantly reduced compared to TM1. The contents of available potassium (AK), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and pH in the rhizosphere soil of TM2 and TM3 were significantly higher than those in TM1. The distribution of soil bacterial genera was significantly influenced by the contents of TN and AK, while the distribution of soil fungal genera was significantly or extremely significantly impacted by the contents of TP, total potassium (TK), soil organic matter (SOM), and pH. The content of AK was extremely significantly positively correlated with the relative abundance of Nocardioides, whereas the content of TK showed an extremely negative correlation with the relative abundance of Ceratobasidium. Similarly, pH demonstrated an extremely negative correlation with the relative abundance of Rhizoctonia and Ceratobasidium.ConclusionsFilm-mulched cultivation and soybean intercropping cultivation altered the soil nutrients, as well as the structure and diversity of soil microbial communities. Thus, in agricultural production, film-mulched cultivation and soybean intercropping cultivation can serve to regulate soil nutrients and microbial communities, thereby mitigating the barriers of continuous cropping of T. kirilowii. creator: Lei Zheng creator: Huadong Wang creator: Zhiqiang Zhang creator: Jiulin Gu creator: Yao Yin uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20459 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Zheng et al. title: Long-term glycemic variability and the risk of heart failure: a meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/20401 last-modified: 2025-11-27 description: BackgroundLong-term glycemic variability (GV) has emerged as a potential cardiovascular risk factor beyond average glycemic levels. However, its association with the risk of heart failure (HF) remains unclear. This meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between long-term GV and the incidence of HF in adults.MethodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to January 31, 2025, for observational studies assessing the association between long-term GV—measured by variability indices of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) or fasting plasma glucose—and HF risk. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models by incorporating the influence of heterogeneity.ResultsEleven datasets from 10 studies involving 4,229,377 adults were included. Compared with participants with low GV, those with high long-term GV had a significantly increased risk of incident HF (HR = 1.69; 95% CI [1.38–2.06]; p < 0.001; I2 = 92%). The association remained consistent in sensitivity analyses restricted to patients with type 2 diabetes, high-quality studies, and studies adjusting for mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels (HR = 1.96, 1.78, and 1.95, respectively; all p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed consistent findings across GV metrics, geographic regions, study designs, mean age, sex distribution, follow-up duration, and study quality (p for subgroup difference > 0.05). No significant publication bias was detected (Egger’s test, p = 0.29).ConclusionHigh long-term GV is independently associated with an increased risk of HF. These findings underscore the clinical relevance of GV monitoring in cardiovascular risk assessment, including risk stratification for the incidence of HF. creator: Yong-Chao Li creator: Ke-Er Mo creator: Li-Shuai Zhang creator: Qiang Zhao creator: Ju Deng creator: Li Li uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20401 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Li et al. title: Retrospective analysis of cervical screening abnormalities in women with type 3 transformation zone without visible lesions link: https://peerj.com/articles/20396 last-modified: 2025-11-27 description: ObjectiveWomen with abnormal cervical screening but without visible lesions, particularly those with a type 3 transformation zone (TZ3), present a clinical challenge due to the non-visible squamocolumnar junction, increasing the risk of missed high-grade lesions. There is currently no consensus on optimal follow-up strategies for this group. This study aims to evaluate a risk-based management approach for these patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study analyzed data from 4,648 women with TZ3 who underwent colposcopy and endocervical curettage (ECC) with or without cervical biopsies at Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital (2021–2024). Logistic regression with restricted cubic splines analyzed demographic, cytological and HPV data to identify HSIL+ predictors and age-risk thresholds.ResultsAmong the study population, 3.1% (145 cases) of HSIL+ were identified despite negative colposcopy, although additional undetected cases may exist. Women with high-grade cytology (ASC-H/HSIL/AGC) had a consistently high HSIL+ risk (32.5%–37.2%) across all HPV subgroups. In low-grade cytology (NILM/ASCUS/LSIL), HPV 16/18 positivity increased HSIL+ risk (2.4%–5.0%) compared to non-HPV 16/18 cases (1.6%–1.8%), with the highest rate observed in LSIL cases (5.0%). In women with low-grade cytology and non-HPV 16/18 positivity, age and HSIL+ risk showed a nonlinear relationship (RCS P-nonlinear = 0.008). Threshold analysis identified 55 years as a critical cutoff, with a 10% annual increase in HSIL+ risk for women ≥ 55. (OR = 1.10, 95% CI [1.02–1.19]; P = 0.015). Further age-stratified analysis in this subgroup showed a clear upward trend: HSIL+ detection rates were 4.42% in women aged ≥ 65.ConclusionAmong women with abnormal cervical screening and no visible lesions at type 3 transformation zone, HSIL+ risk varies by cytology, HPV genotype, and age. Our findings suggest that immediate diagnostic evaluation is warranted for those with high-grade cytology, HPV 16/18 with LSIL, and women aged ≥ 65 years with low-grade cytology and non-16/18 HPV, as their HSIL+ risk exceeds the 4% threshold recommended by current US guidelines. Conversely, women under 65 with low-grade cytology and non-16/18 HPV, or those with NILM/ASCUS and HPV 16/18, may be appropriate candidates for conservative follow-up. These results support a more tailored, risk-based approach to management in this challenging population. creator: Jing Yang creator: Qiao Liu creator: Yi Tang creator: Kui Huang creator: Tianmin Chen creator: Jing Zhao uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20396 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Yang et al. title: Effects of creatine supplementation on muscle strength gains—a meta-analysis and systematic review link: https://peerj.com/articles/20380 last-modified: 2025-11-27 description: Creatine (Cr) is a widely utilized nutritional supplement. Empirical evidence indicates that Cr supplementation significantly elevates intramuscular Cr content, thereby providing an energy substrate reservoir for exercise performance and facilitating improvements in muscle strength. Although numerous studies have examined the relationship between Cr and muscle strength, comprehensive investigations into population-specific ergogenic responses, optimal Cr dosage, and concomitant training intensity remain limited. These parameters are critical determinants for maximizing the efficacy of Cr supplementation. Against this backdrop, this study adopts meta-analysis, integrating conventional and Robust Variance Estimation (RVE) models, to comprehensively evaluate the intervention effects of Cr supplementation across three dimensions: population applicability, dosage optimization, and training intensity (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024547697). It aims to provide evidence-based support for precise clinical application and subsequent research directions.ResultsResults showed no statistical difference in baseline muscle strength between the Cr intervention group and the control group; after intervention, the Cr group exhibited significant strength gains. Further subgroup analysis revealed: untrained individuals had greater muscle strength improvements than trained ones; the low-to-moderate dose group showed better effects than the high-dose group; high-intensity training had more significant effect sizes than low-intensity training; and no definitive conclusion was reached on muscle strength improvements between middle-aged/elderly and young populations.ConclusionCr supplementation significantly improves muscle strength in the general population. Specifically: untrained individuals show greater muscle strength improvements; low-dose supplementation combined with high-intensity exercise yields better effects; no definitive conclusion was reached on effect differences between middle-aged/elderly and young populations, requiring larger-sample studies for more precise effect size analysis. creator: Haoda Zhang creator: Tian Lan creator: Xueru Yan creator: Haoran Gu creator: Yanhong Li creator: Enpeng He uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20380 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Zhang et al. title: Application analysis of two nucleic acid detection systems in blood detection of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus link: https://peerj.com/articles/20365 last-modified: 2025-11-27 description: ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy between the Kehua and Roche nucleic acid testing (NAT) systems for detecting hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in blood donation screening.MethodsWe analyzed retrospective data from 670,775 transient blood donation samples collected between 2016 and 2024. Key performance indicators (KPIs) included the types of reactive samples, effective split rate, effective reaction rate, single pool invalid number, batch invalid number, and pooling missing samples. Annual trends in cycle threshold (CT) value distributions and overall system performance were also evaluated.ResultsAmong 419 reactive samples (Kehua: 202; Roche: 217), no significant differences were observed in the effective split rates (P > 0.05) or overall specimen reaction rates (P > 0.05) between the two systems. The HCV detection rate was significantly lower for the Kehua system (P < 0.05), while the detection rates for HBV and HIV showed no significant inter-system differences (P > 0.05). The separation efficiency of reactive pools varied significantly across different CT value ranges (P < 0.05). The Kehua system demonstrated stable annual effective split and reaction rates (P > 0.05), whereas the Roche system exhibited significant annual fluctuations in these metrics (P < 0.05). The Kehua system had significantly fewer single pool invalid numbers and pooling omissions than the Roche system (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe Kehua and Roche NAT systems demonstrated comparable overall performance in blood screening, with Kehua proving non-inferior to Roche. Kehua’s advantages included fewer invalid tests and fewer pooling errors, which could reduce economic and time costs. The Roche system exhibited higher automation, supporting continuous batch processing. The observed CT value-dependent separation efficiency suggests potential for protocol optimization in detecting low viral load samples. creator: Tao Wang creator: Jianwei Zhang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20365 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Wang and Zhang title: Validity, reliability and minimal detectable change in the sit-to-stand test for synchronous and asynchronous tele-assessment in post-COVID-19 condition link: https://peerj.com/articles/20211 last-modified: 2025-11-27 description: BackgroundIndividuals with symptoms of long-term COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) who presented mild infection without needing invasive ventilatory support require rehabilitation and performance and monitoring evaluations. The 1-minute sit-to-stand test (STS) is used to assess individuals with COVID-19 and might be an alternative for remote use in this population.ObjectiveThe current study aimed to validate the synchronous and asynchronous STS tele-assessment in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition to analyze the inter-evaluator reliability of the asynchronous STS, and identify the relationship between the participants’ self-reported asynchronous STS results and those of the evaluator.MethodsThirty-eight men and women with post-COVID syndrome who did not require invasive ventilator support were included in this study. The participants were assessed using STS in-person (STS-IP), synchronous (STS-S), and asynchronous (STS-A) tele-assessments. The participants also self-reported the total executed repetitions (STS-SR). The main outcomes were the number of repetitions performed in the STS-IP, STS-S, STS-A, and STS-SR. To verify STS-A reliability, the total repetitions registered between evaluators were compared.ResultsSTS-IP showed significant correlations and lower total repetitions compared to STS-S and STS-A. STS-A repetitions were significantly lower compared to STS-SR; however, a significant correlation was observed. The STS-S and STS-A showed minimal detectable change values of 6.6 and 10.5, respectively. In terms of reliability, there were no significant differences in total repetitions or errors found between evaluators’ assessments of STS-A.ConclusionThe study demonstrated good and moderate evidence of validity for synchronous and asynchronous remote STS assessments, respectively, highlighting the impact of the assessment protocol on STS performance interpretation. Asynchronous STS presented high reliability. creator: Juliane Machado Marques creator: Matheus Brasiliano da Paz creator: Rodrigo Rodrigues Gomes Costa creator: Frederico Ribeiro Neto uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20211 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Machado Marques et al.