title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=234 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Effects of video game immersion and task interference on cognitive performance: a study on immediate and delayed recall and recognition accuracy link: https://peerj.com/articles/18195 last-modified: 2024-10-09 description: This study investigates the cognitive impacts of video game immersion and task interference on immediate and delayed recall as well as recognition tasks. We enrolled 160 subjects aged 18 to 29, who were regular players of “shoot-em-up” video games for at least 3 years. Participants were assigned to one of three experimental groups or a control group. The experimental conditions varied in the timing and type of tasks: the first group performed a video game session between recall tasks, the second group multitasked with video games and recall tasks simultaneously, and the third group engaged in task switching from video games to recall tasks. Using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, we measured the effects of these conditions on cognitive performance, focusing on error types and recall accuracy. Results indicated that multitasking and task switching significantly affected the subjects’ performance, with notable decrements in recall and recognition accuracy in conditions of high task interference. The study highlights the cognitive costs associated with multitasking in immersive digital games and provides insights into how task similarity and interference might increase error rates and affect memory performance. creator: Stefania Mancone creator: Beatrice Tosti creator: Stefano Corrado creator: Pierluigi Diotaiuti uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18195 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Mancone et al. title: Integrating whole genome sequencing and machine learning for predicting antimicrobial resistance in critical pathogens: a systematic review of antimicrobial susceptibility tests link: https://peerj.com/articles/18213 last-modified: 2024-10-09 description: BackgroundInfections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a major challenge to modern healthcare. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of machine learning (ML) approaches in predicting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in critical pathogens (CP), considering Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST).MethodsThe search covered databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and SCIELO, from their inception until June 2024. The review protocol was officially registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024543099).ResultsThe review included 26 papers, analyzing data from 104,141 microbial samples. Random Forest (RF), XGBoost, and logistic regression (LR) emerged as the top-performing models, with mean Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUC) values of 0.89, 0.87, and 0.87, respectively. RF showed superior performance with AUC values ranging from 0.66 to 0.97, while XGBoost and LR showed similar performance with AUC values ranging from 0.83 to 0.91 and 0.76 to 0.96, respectively. Most studies indicate that integrating WGS and AST data into ML models enhances predictive performance, improves antibiotic stewardship, and provides valuable clinical decision support. ML shows significant promise for predicting AMR by integrating WGS and AST data in CP. Standardized guidelines are needed to ensure consistency in future research. creator: Carlos M. Ardila creator: Pradeep K. Yadalam creator: Daniel González-Arroyave uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18213 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Ardila et al. title: Pdk3’s role in RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation: insights from a bone marrow macrophage model link: https://peerj.com/articles/18222 last-modified: 2024-10-09 description: BackgroundOsteoporosis (OP) is a chronic disease characterized by decreased bone mass, loss of skeletal structural integrity and increased susceptibility to fracture. Available studies have shown that the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) family is associated with osteoclastogenesis and bone loss, but the specific role of Pdk3 in bone pathology has not been systematically investigated. MethodsA cell OP model was established in receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB Ligand (RANKL)-induced bone marrow macrophages (BMMs). Hereafter, the expression levels of Pdk3 and osteoclastogenesis feature genes including nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (Nfatc1), Cathepsin K (Ctsk), osteoclast associated Ig-like receptor (Oscar) in BMMs-derived osteoclasts were examined based on real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting methods. Further, the phosphorylation of ERK, P65 and JAK/STAT and their correlation was Pdk3 was gauged. In particular, changes in the activity of these signaling pathways were observed by silencing experiments of the Pdk3 gene (using small interfering RNA). Finally, the effects of Pdk3 gene silencing on signaling pathway activity, osteoclastogenesis, and related inflammatory and apoptotic indicators were observed by transfection with PDK3-specific siRNA.ResultsFollowing RANKL exposure, the levels of Pdk3 and osteoclastogenesis feature genes were all elevated, and a positive correlation between Pdk3 and osteoclastogenesis feature genes was seen. Meanwhile, ERK, P65 and JAK/STAT phosphorylation was increased by RANKL, and Pdk3 was confirmed to be positively correlated with the phosphorylation of ERK, P65 and JAK/STAT. Additionally, in RANKL-exposed osteoclasts, Pdk3 knockdown diminished the phosphorylation of ERK, P65 and JAK/STAT, reduced the expressions of osteoclastogenesis feature genes. Importantly, knockdown of Pdk3 also reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines and resulted in elevated levels of Bax and Casp3 expression, as well as downregulation of Bcl2 expression.ConclusionThis study reveals for the first time the role of Pdk3 in RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and OP. These findings provide a foundation for future studies on the role of Pdk3 in other bone diseases and provide new ideas for the development of OP therapeutics targeting Pdk3. creator: Nan Zhang creator: Lingting Wang creator: Xuxin Ye uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18222 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Zhang et al. title: The impact of three thioxothiazolidin compounds on trehalase activity and development of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae link: https://peerj.com/articles/18233 last-modified: 2024-10-09 description: Trehalases (TREs), serving as crucial enzymes regulating trehalose and chitin metabolism in insects, represent prime targets for pest control strategies. We investigated the impact of three thioxothiazolidin compounds (1G, 2G, and 11G) on TRE activity and summarized their effects on the growth and development of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). The experimental larvae of S. frugiperda were injected with the three thioxothiazolidin compounds (1G, 2G, and 11G), while the control group received an equivalent volume of 2% DMSO as a control. All three compounds had a strong effect on inhibiting TRE activity, significantly prolonging the pre-pupal development stage. However, compared with the 11G-treated group, the survival rate of larvae treated with 1G and 2G was significantly reduced by 31.11% and 27.78% respectively, while the occurrence of phenotypic abnormalities related to growth and development was higher. These results manifest that only the TRE inhibitors, 1G and 2G, modulate trehalose and chitin metabolism pathways of larvae, ultimately resulting in the failure molting and reduction of survival rates. Consequently, the thioxothiazolidin compounds, 1G and 2G, hold potential as environmentally friendly insecticides. creator: Yan Wu creator: Shangrong Hu creator: Qixuan Mao creator: Dongmei Shi creator: Xiangyu Liu creator: Busheng Liu creator: Liyuhan Hua creator: Gao Hu creator: Can Li creator: Hongxia Duan creator: Bin Tang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18233 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Wu et al. title: Enhancement of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with guanidine hydrochloride for the detection of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (Strangles) link: https://peerj.com/articles/17955 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, commonly referred to as “strangles”, poses a significant biosecurity challenge across equine farms worldwide. The continuous prevalence and highly transmissibility of strangles necessitates a rapid and accurate diagnostic procedure. However, current “gold-standard” techniques, such as cultures and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), are unreliable or inaccessible, and require lengthy periods between sample collection and results. Moreover, the lack of a standardized detection protocol can lead to variations in results. This study aimed to develop a reproducible and field-deployable diagnostic assay to detect strangles in real-time. Utilising the rapid technique loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), we developed an assay targeting a conserved region of the S. equi-specific M gene (SeM). Additionally, we optimised our assay with guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) to enhance the assay’s performance and detection capabilities. The Str-LAMP was able to detect S. equi within 13 minutes and 20 seconds for both synthetic DNA and clinical isolates, with a limit of detection (LOD) of  53 copies/µl. Our assay demonstrated high repeatability with the inter-coefficient of variation ranging from 0.17% to 3.93%. Furthermore, the clinical sensitivity and specificity was calculated at 91.3% and 93.3%, respectively, with a correct classification rate of 91.8%. The implementation of this newly developed strangles assay can be employed as an efficient aid for in-field surveillance programs. The assay’s reproducibility can allow for equine managers to undertake routine self-surveillance on their properties, without the requirement of specialised training. The Str-LAMP assay has the potential to be a valuable tool to help mitigate potential strangles outbreaks. creator: Alexandra Knox creator: Travis Beddoe uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17955 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Knox and Beddoe title: Adaptation and validation of the Spanish version of the Being a Mother scale link: https://peerj.com/articles/18015 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundBecoming a mother is a very important process because of the impact it can have on women and their families. Currently, there is no validated questionnaire that evaluates the process of becoming a mother in the Spanish population. Moreover, no consistent results have been obtained to identify significant differences between primiparous and multiparous mothers.Aim(1) Linguistic and metric validation of the Being a Mother scale (BaM-13) in the Spanish population, (2) analysis of possible differences between primiparous and multiparous mothers’ experience of motherhood.MethodsInstrumental design. In 2016–2017, a sample of 579 mothers with children between 6 and 11 months of age completed the Spanish version of BaM-13. The instrument was translated using forward and back translation. Construct validity, internal consistency, and criterion validity were empirically analyzed.ResultsFactorial analyses showed that the scale presented two adequate factors. Internal consistency of the global scale (α = 0.818, ω = 0.861), the Postnatal bonding factor (α = 0.773, ω = 0.784), and the Adult’s experience factor (α = 0.710, ω = 0.721) was adequate. Significant associations were found with postpartum depression (r = 0.560), parental competence (r =  − 0.584) and postnatal bonding (r =  − 0.327). In terms of parity, primiparous mothers have greater difficulty in postnatal bonding, compared to multiparous mothers (p = 0.006).ConclusionsThe Spanish version of the BaM-13 scale is valid for measuring mothers’ experience of motherhood in a wide range of domains. The findings of the study show the importance of considering parity in the experience of becoming a mother, highlighting the approach to postnatal bonding in primiparous mothers. Additionally, we underline that it should not be assumed that multiparous mothers experience fewer difficulties in their motherhood process. creator: Anna Riera-Martín creator: Antonio Oliver-Roig creator: Susana Cormenzana creator: Miguel Richart-Martínez creator: Ana Martínez-Pampliega uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18015 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Riera-Martín et al. title: Passive smoking and risk of pancreatic cancer: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18017 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundPrevious meta-analysis has demonstrated that no association was validated between passive smoking and pancreatic cancer. However, there is growing evidence on this issue recently. This study aimed to confirm this association.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to April 2024 for retrieval of full articles. Studies with the exposure of passive smoking and outcome of pancreatic cancer were eligible for the analysis. We generated pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using DerSimonian–Laird random-effects models. Quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE system.ResultsFourteen studies were included, with 5,560 pancreatic cancer patients. Passive smoking was associated with a moderate increased risk of pancreatic cancer (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.11–1.30, p < 0.001). The results were consistent in both case-control (p=0.013) and cohort studies (p < 0.001) and in studies with high (p = 0.007) and moderate quality (p < 0.001). In subgroup analysis, the risk was significant for both current (RR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.45-2.51, p < 0.001) and non-current smokers (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.36, p = 0.037), for exposure both in adulthood (RR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.06-1.31, p = 0.002) and childhood (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.08-1.34, p = 0.001). However, only regular or daily exposure (RR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.08-1.50, p = 0.003), rather than exposing occasionally, seldom or few times per week (p = 0.421), to passive smoking could increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.ConclusionPassive smoking exposure confers a significant increased risk for pancreatic cancer. The risk was valid in both case-control and cohort, high and moderate quality studies, in current and non-current smokers, and for both childhood and adulthood exposure. Regular or daily exposure rather than exposing occasionally, seldom or few times per week could exert a detrimental effect on pancreatic cancer. creator: Xudong Wang creator: Zihan Wang creator: Xujie Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18017 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2024 Wang et al. title: Bivalve microbiomes are shaped by host species, size, parasite infection, and environment link: https://peerj.com/articles/18082 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: Many factors affect an organism’s microbiome including its environment, proximity to other organisms, and physiological condition. As filter feeders, bivalves have highly plastic microbiomes that are especially influenced by the surrounding seawater, yet they also maintain a unique core set of microbes. Using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, we characterized the bacterial microbiomes of four species of bivalves native to the Mid-Atlantic East Coast of North America: Crassostrea virginica, Macoma balthica, Ameritella mitchelli, and Ischadium recurvum and assessed the impact of their external environment, internal parasites, and size on their microbial communities. We found significant differences in bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) across species, with each species harboring a core ASV present across all individuals. We further found that some C. virginica co-cultured with I. recurvum had high abundances of the I. recurvum core ASV. We identified ASVs associated with infection by the parasites Perkinsus marinus and Zaops ostreum as well others associated with bivalve size. Several of these ASV are candidates for further investigation as potential probiotics, as they were found positively correlated with bivalve size and health. This research represents the first description of the microbiomes of A. mitchelli, I. recurvum, and M. balthica. We document that all four species have highly plastic microbiomes, while maintaining certain core bacteria, with important implications for growth, health, and adaptation to new environments. creator: Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn creator: Monserrat Garcia Ruiz creator: Diana Portugal Barron creator: Gregory Ruiz creator: Katrina Lohan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18082 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Gignoux-Wolfsohn et al. title: Brain tissue oxygen pressure combined with intracranial pressure monitoring may improve clinical outcomes for patients with severe traumatic brain injury: a systemic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18086 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundAlthough the optimization of brain oxygenation is thought to improve the prognosis, the effect of brain tissue oxygen pressure (PbtO2) for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) remains controversial. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine whether adding PbtO2 to intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring improves clinical outcomes for patients with STBI.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Library were searched for eligible trials from their respective inception through April 10th, 2024. We included clinical trials contrasting the combined monitoring of PbtO2 and ICP versus isolated ICP monitoring among patients with STBI. The primary outcome was favorable neurological outcome at 6 months, and secondary outcomes including the in-hospital mortality, long-term mortality, length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital.ResultsA total of 16 studies (four randomized studies and 12 cohort studies) were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with isolated ICP monitoring, the combined monitoring was associated with a higher favorable neurological outcome rate at 6 months (RR 1.33, 95% CI [1.17–1.51], P < 0.0001, I2 = 0%), reduced long-term mortality (RR 0.72, 95% CI [0.59–0.87], P = 0.0008, I2 = 2%). No significant difference was identified in the in-hospital mortality (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.01, P = 0.06, I2 = 32%), length of stay in ICU (MD 2.10, 95% CI [−0.37–4.56], P = 0.10, I2 = 78%) and hospital (MD 1.07, 95% CI [−2.54–4.67], P = 0.56, I2 = 49%) between two groups. However, the pooled results of randomized studies did not show beneficial effect of combined monitoring in favorable neurological outcome and long-term mortality.ConclusionsCurrently, there is limited evidence to prove that the combined PbtO2 and ICP monitoring may contribute to improved neurological outcome and long-term mortality for patients with STBI. However, the benefit of combined monitoring should be further validated in more randomized studies. creator: Chengcheng Zhang creator: Lingmin Zhou creator: Kai Zhang creator: Jian Huang creator: Lanxin Cao creator: Yuhang Lou creator: Yushi Fan creator: Xinyun Zhang creator: Yesong Wang creator: Wei Cui creator: Lihua Hu creator: Gensheng Zhang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18086 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Zhang et al. title: A preliminary study of carbon dioxide and methane emissions from patchy tropical seagrass meadows in Thailand link: https://peerj.com/articles/18087 last-modified: 2024-10-08 description: BackgroundSeagrass meadows are a significant blue carbon sink due to their ability to store large amounts of carbon within sediment. However, the knowledge of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from seagrass meadows is limited, especially from meadows in the tropical region. Therefore, in this study, CO2 and CH4 emissions and carbon metabolism were studied at a tropical seagrass meadow under various conditions.MethodsCO2 and CH4 emissions and carbon metabolism were measured using benthic chambers deployed for 18 h at Koh Mook, off the southwest coast of Thailand. The samples were collected from areas of patchy Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, and bare sand three times within 18 h periods of incubation: at low tide at 6 pm (t0), at low tide at 6 am (t1), and at high tide at noon (t2).ResultsSeagrass meadows at Koh Mook exhibited varying CO2 and CH4 emissions across different sampling areas. CO2 emissions were higher in patchy E. acoroides compared to patchy T. hemprichii and bare sand areas. CH4 emissions were only detected in vegetated areas (patchy E. acoroides and T. hemprichii) and were absent in bare sand. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in net community production across sampling areas, although seagrass meadows were generally considered autotrophic. Koh Mook seagrass meadows contribute only slightly to GHG emissions. The results suggested that the low GHG emissions from Koh Mook seagrass meadows do not outweigh their role as significant carbon sinks, with a value 320 t CO2−eq. This study provided baseline information for estimating GHG emissions in seagrass meadows in Thailand. creator: Muhammad Halim creator: Milica Stankovic creator: Anchana Prathep uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18087 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Halim et al.