title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=263 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Comprehensive analysis of bioplastics: life cycle assessment, waste management, biodiversity impact, and sustainable mitigation strategies link: https://peerj.com/articles/18013 last-modified: 2024-09-11 description: Bioplastics are emerging as a promising alternative to traditional plastics, driven by the need for more sustainable options. This review article offers an in-depth analysis of the entire life cycle of bioplastics, from raw material cultivation to manufacturing and disposal, with a focus on environmental impacts at each stage. It emphasizes the significance of adopting sustainable agricultural practices and selecting appropriate feedstock to improve environmental outcomes. The review highlights the detrimental effects of unsustainable farming methods, such as pesticide use and deforestation, which can lead to soil erosion, water pollution, habitat destruction, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. To address these challenges, the article advocates for the use of efficient extraction techniques and renewable energy sources, prioritizing environmental considerations throughout the production process. Furthermore, the methods for reducing energy consumption, water usage, and chemical inputs during manufacturing by implementing eco-friendly technologies. It stresses the importance of developing robust disposal systems for biodegradable materials and supports recycling initiatives to minimize the need for new resources. The holistic approach to sustainability, including responsible feedstock cultivation, efficient production practices, and effective end-of-life management. It underscores the need to evaluate the potential of bioplastics to reduce plastic pollution, considering technological advancements, infrastructure development, and increased consumer awareness. Future research should focus on enhancing production sustainability, understanding long-term ecological impacts, and advancing bioplastics technology for better performance and environmental compatibility. This comprehensive analysis of bioplastics’ ecological footprint highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions in plastic production. creator: Kushi Yadav creator: Ganesh Chandrakant Nikalje uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18013 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Yadav and Nikalje title: Radical chemoradiotherapy for superficial esophageal cancer complicated with liver cirrhosis link: https://peerj.com/articles/18065 last-modified: 2024-09-11 description: BackgroundAlthough chemoradiotherapy is an effective treatment for esophageal cancer, its feasibility in esophageal cancer with cirrhosis remains largely unclear.MethodsWe retrospectively studied 11 patients with superficial esophageal cancer with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh score ≤8) who underwent radical chemoradiotherapy from four centers, and the overall survival rate, local control rate and adverse events at 1 and 3 years were explored.ResultsThe median age of the included patients was 67 years (Inter-Quartile Range 60–75 years). Complete response was observed in most patients (n = 10, 90.9%), and the remaining patient was unevaluable. The 1- and 3-year overall survival and local control rates were 90.9% and 90.9%, and 72.7% and 63.6%, respectively. Hematotoxicity was a common adverse reaction, and seven patients developed radiation esophagitis, with grade 3–4 observed in two cases. All cases of radiation dermatitis (n = 4) and radiation pneumonia (n = 2) were grade 1–2. Gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in two patients, including one with grade 1–2 bleeding, and one died.ConclusionRadical chemoradiotherapy is a potential treatment option for patients with superficial esophageal cancer complicated with cirrhosis. However, it can increase the risk of bleeding, which warrants prompt recognition and intervention. creator: Hejing Bao creator: Hehong Bao creator: Liping Lin creator: Yuhuan Wang creator: Longbin Zhang creator: Li Zhang creator: Han Zhang creator: Lingxiang Liu creator: Xiaolong Cao uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18065 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2024 Bao et al. title: Advancements in monitoring: a comparison of traditional and application-based tools for measuring outdoor recreation link: https://peerj.com/articles/17744 last-modified: 2024-09-10 description: Outdoor recreation has experienced a boom in recent years and continues to grow. While outdoor recreation provides wide-ranging benefits to human well-being, there are growing concerns about the sustainability of recreation with the increased pressures placed on ecological systems and visitor experiences. These concerns emphasize the need for managers to access accurate and timely recreation data at scales that match the growing extent of the recreation footprint. Here, we compare spatial and temporal patterns of winter and summer recreation using traditional (trail cameras, infrared counters, aerial surveys, participatory mapping) and application-based tools (Strava Metro, Strava Global Heatmap, Wikiloc) across the Columbia and Canadian Rocky Mountains of western Canada. We demonstrate how recreation use can be estimated using traditional and application-based tools, although their accuracy and utility varies across space, season and activity type. We found that trail cameras and infrared counters captured similar broad-scale patterns in count estimates of pedestrians and all recreation activities. Aerial surveys captured areas with low recreation intensity and participatory mapping captured coarser information on the intensity and extent of recreation across large spatial and temporal scales. Application-based data provided detailed spatiotemporal information on recreation use, but datasets were biased towards specific activities. Strava Metro data was more suited for capturing broad-scale spatial patterns in biking than pedestrian recreation. Application-based data should be supplemented with data from traditional tools to identify biases in data and fill in data gaps. We provide a comparison of each tool for measuring recreation use, highlight each tools’ strengths and limitations and applications to address real-world monitoring and management scenarios. Our research contributes towards a better understanding of which tool, or combinations of tools, to use that can expand the rigor and scope of recreation research. These findings support decision-making to mitigate pressures on wildlife and their habitats while allowing for high-quality recreation experiences. creator: Talia Vilalta Capdevila creator: Brynn A. McLellan creator: Annie Loosen creator: Anne Forshner creator: Karine Pigeon creator: Aerin L. Jacob creator: Pamela Wright creator: Libby Ehlers uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17744 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Vilalta Capdevila et al. title: Machine learning algorithm-based biomarker exploration and validation of mitochondria-related diagnostic genes in osteoarthritis link: https://peerj.com/articles/17963 last-modified: 2024-09-10 description: The role of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) is significant. In this study, we aimed to identify diagnostic signature genes associated with OA from a set of mitochondria-related genes (MRGs). First, the gene expression profiles of OA cartilage GSE114007 and GSE57218 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. And the limma method was used to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Second, the biological functions of the DEGs in OA were investigated using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Wayne plots were employed to visualize the differentially expressed mitochondrial genes (MDEGs) in OA. Subsequently, the LASSO and SVM-RFE algorithms were employed to elucidate potential OA signature genes within the set of MDEGs. As a result, GRPEL and MTFP1 were identified as signature genes. Notably, GRPEL1 exhibited low expression levels in OA samples from both experimental and test group datasets, demonstrating high diagnostic efficacy. Furthermore, RT-qPCR analysis confirmed the reduced expression of Grpel1 in an in vitro OA model. Lastly, ssGSEA analysis revealed alterations in the infiltration abundance of several immune cells in OA cartilage tissue, which exhibited correlation with GRPEL1 expression. Altogether, this study has revealed that GRPEL1 functions as a novel and significant diagnostic indicator for OA by employing two machine learning methodologies. Furthermore, these findings provide fresh perspectives on potential targeted therapeutic interventions in the future. creator: Hongbo Wang creator: Zongye Zhang creator: Xingbo Cheng creator: Zhenxing Hou creator: Yubo Wang creator: Zhendong Liu creator: Yanzheng Gao uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17963 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Wang et al. title: Psychometric characteristics of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ): Arabic version link: https://peerj.com/articles/17982 last-modified: 2024-09-10 description: Narcissists are characterized by confidence, fragility, a desire for social approval without showing interest in others, charm, self-assurance, arrogance, and aggression. This study assesses the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ) among Algerian students (N = 714). Confirmatory factor and Rasch analyses were used. The NARQ consists of 18 items addressing six narcissism subscales under two main dimensions: rivalry and admiration. The results showed good saturation of the items on the six subscales and the three sub-scales on each of the two main dimensions, revealing a modest but positive correlation between rivalry and admiration. Moreover, the results of the Rasch model demonstrated that the scale aligns with the data, confirming the validity of the scale. This study offers valuable perspectives on assessing narcissism among Arabic populations and enhances our comprehension of the traits linked to narcissistic personalities. creator: Aiche Sabah creator: Musheer A. Aljaberi creator: Salima Hamouda creator: Djamila Benamour creator: Keltoum Gadja creator: Yu-Chen Lai creator: Chuan-Yin Fang creator: Amira Mohammed Ali creator: Chung-Ying Lin uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17982 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Sabah et al. title: Taxonomic relevance of leaf surface micromorphology in Korean Clematis L. (Ranunculaceae) link: https://peerj.com/articles/17997 last-modified: 2024-09-10 description: Clematis, one of the largest genera of the family Ranunculaceae, has a wide array of morphological variation and is considered the most difficult group of taxa in terms of infrageneric discrimination. This study assessed the leaf micromorphological features of 19 Clematis taxa (16 species and three varieties) found in Korea. The leaf surface features were studied under scanning electron microscopy, and the stomatal counting and measurement were carried out under light microscopy. Clematis are hypostomatic, meaning the stomata are only found on the abaxial surface of the leaf. Observed taxa showed near uniformity in the epidermal cell type, structure, and morphology on both surfaces of the leaf. Differences were observed in the presence and absence and/or abundance of trichomes on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, the epidermal cell boundary, and the periclinal and anticlinal wall of the cells. Differences were also observed in the number of the epidermal cells connected with the stomata on the abaxial surface, with small differences noted in epidermal cell shapes. The ANOVA showed a significant variation in the stomata density in the studied taxa (P < 0.0001). The cluster analysis based on 13 leaf micromorphological features generated four major clusters. These results indicated similarities in certain key leaf micromorphological features among taxa from the Tubulosae, Clematis, and Virona sections. In the genus Clematis, as with other morphological characteristics, using leaf micromorphological characters alone, which possess limited taxonomic value, proves inadequate for resolving infrageneric relationships. However, incorporating certain features with other morphological characteristics offers a possible alternative means of determining the infrageneric relationships within the genus. creator: Balkrishna Ghimire creator: Beom Kyun Park creator: Dong Chan Son uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17997 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2024 Ghimire et al. title: Serum PCSK9 is a novel serological biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer link: https://peerj.com/articles/18018 last-modified: 2024-09-10 description: BackgroundAlthough CA19-9 is an essential blood biomarker of pancreatic cancer (PC), its sensitivity and specificity are limited for early detection.MethodsWe analyzed the serum proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (sPCSK9) in PC patients, benign disease groups (BDG), and healthy controls (HC) by ELISA.ResultsConsistently, sPCSK9 was considerably lower in PC patients than in HC (Z = −2.546, P < 0.05), and sPCSK9 in PC patients was statistically significantly higher than in BDG (Z = −5.457, P < 0.001). sPCSK9 was linked to the invasion of lymph nodes (χ2 = 6.846, P < 0.01). According to ROC curves, combining sPCSK9 with CA19-9 could potentially enhance the diagnostic capability of CA19-9 in early-stage PC patients. Furthermore, the low sPCSK9 group (n = 41) exhibited statistically significantly prolonged overall survival compared to the high sPCSK9 group (n = 15), with median survival times of 27 months (95% CI [17.59–36.41]) and 11 months (95% CI [7.21–14.79]), respectively (P = 0.022).ConclusionThe diagnostic performance of CA19-9 for early-stage PC patients could be improved by combining sPCSK9 with CA19-9. Moreover, the higher sPCSK9 group has a significantly shorter overall survival rate. creator: Ying Xu creator: Yongfeng Xu creator: Yang Yang creator: Zhiwei Zhang creator: Qunli Xiong creator: Qing Zhu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18018 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Xu et al. title: Beyond labs: unveiling dynamics of dental students’ transition from pre-clinical to clinical training in a Saudi dental school link: https://peerj.com/articles/18019 last-modified: 2024-09-10 description: ObjectiveTo assess the factors affecting the transition of dental students from pre-clinical to clinical courses in an outcome-based curriculum.MethodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed dental students in the third and fourth academic years of the Bachelor of Dental and Oral Surgery (BDS) program at the College of Dentistry, Jouf University. Ethically approved and powered by the G Power software, the study employed a modified questionnaire validated through a pilot test to assess five domains. Likert scale responses were analyzed using SPSS v.25, revealing insights into clinical workload, patient interaction, and learning experiences. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the impact of clinical skill application, workload, transition to clinics, and patient interaction on learning experience as well as CGPA. The Mann-Whitney U test compared the ranks of two independent samples, making it less sensitive to outliers and more suitable for data with non-normal distributions.ResultsIn this study, the response rate of the participants was 70%. A total of 44 dental students in their third and fourth years of the program completed the survey. The multiple regression analysis showed that the predictors collectively explained 36.1% of the variance in the learning experience (Adjusted R2 = 0.361). “Transition to Clinics” had a significant positive effect on learning experience (β = 0.292, p = 0.012), “Workload” (β = −0.203, p = 0.393) and “Patient Interaction” (β = 0.443, p = 0.168) were not significant predictors. The Mann-Whitney U test revealed no significant gender differences in transition to clinics, workload, patient interaction, application of clinical skills, and learning experience (U = 33.09 to −40.33, p > 0.05), but a significant difference in transition to clinics between third- and fourth-year students (U = 31.56 to −43.24, p < 0.05).ConclusionThe results of this study demonstrate that the transition to clinical training can be intricate, and that multiple elements have an impact on this process. It is crucial to have support systems that facilitate the transition into the clinical learning environment. creator: Osama Khattak creator: Kiran Kumar Ganji creator: Azhar Iqbal creator: Mosa Altassan creator: Farida Habib Khan creator: Rabia Anis uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18019 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Khattak et al. title: Escherichia coli alcohol dehydrogenase YahK is a protein that binds both iron and zinc link: https://peerj.com/articles/18040 last-modified: 2024-09-10 description: BackgroundPrevious studies have highlighted the catalytic activity of Escherichia coli alcohol dehydrogenase YahK in the presence of coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and metal zinc. Notably, competitive interaction between iron and zinc ligands has been shown to influence the catalytic efficiency of several key proteases. This study aims to unravel the intricate mechanisms underlying YahK’s catalytic action, with a particular focus on the pivotal roles played by metal ions zinc and iron.MethodsThe purified YahK protein from E. coli cells cultivated in LB medium was utilized to investigate its metal-binding properties through UV-visible absorption measurements and determination of metal content. Subsequently, the effects of excess zinc and iron on the metal-binding ability and alcohol dehydrogenase activity of the YahK protein were explored using M9 minimal medium. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis technology was employed to determine the iron-binding site location within the YahK protein. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was conducted to examine the relationship between iron and zinc with respect to the YahK protein.ResultsThe study confirmed the presence of iron and zinc in the YahK protein, with the zinc-bound form exhibiting enhanced catalytic activity in alcohol dehydrogenation reactions. Conversely, the presence of iron appears to play a pivotal role in maintaining overall stability of the YahK protein. Furthermore, experimental findings indicate that excessive zinc within M9 minimal medium can competitively bind to iron-binding sites on YahK, thereby augmenting its alcohol dehydrogenase activity.ConclusionThe dynamic binding of YahK to iron and zinc unveils its intricate regulatory mechanism as an alcohol dehydrogenase, thereby highlighting the possible physiological role of YahK in E. coli and its significance in governing cellular metabolic processes. This discovery provides a novel perspective for further investigating the specific impact of metal ion binding on YahK and E. coli cell metabolism. creator: Feng Liang creator: Shujuan Sun creator: YongGuang Zhou creator: Tiantian Peng creator: Xianxian Xu creator: Beibei Li creator: Guoqiang Tan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18040 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Liang et al. title: Relationship between ferroptosis and mitophagy in acute lung injury: a mini-review link: https://peerj.com/articles/18062 last-modified: 2024-09-10 description: Acute lung injury (ALI) is one of the most deadly and prevalent diseases in the intensive care unit. Ferroptosis and mitophagy are pathological mechanisms of ALI. Ferroptosis aggravates ALI, whereas mitophagy regulates ALI. Ferroptosis and mitophagy are both closely related to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitophagy can regulate ferroptosis, but the specific relationship between ferroptosis and mitophagy is still unclear. This study summarizes previous research findings on ferroptosis and mitophagy, revealing their involvement in ALI. Examining the functions of mTOR and NLPR3 helps clarify the connection between ferroptosis and mitophagy in ALI, with the goal of establishing a theoretical foundation for potential therapeutic approaches in the future management of ALI. creator: Yunhua Cheng creator: Liling Zhu creator: Shuangxiong Xie creator: Binyuan Lu creator: Xiaoyu Du creator: Guanjiang Ding creator: Yan Wang creator: Linchong Ma creator: Qingxin Li uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18062 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Cheng et al.