title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=273 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Where have I got to? Associations of age at marriage with marital household assets in educated and uneducated women in lowland Nepal link: https://peerj.com/articles/17671 last-modified: 2024-08-07 description: BackgroundWomen’s underage marriage (<18 years) is associated with adverse maternal and child health outcomes. Poverty in the natal household has been widely considered to be a key risk factor for underage marriage, but the evidence base is unreliable. When investigating this issue, most studies use marital wealth inappropriately, as a proxy for wealth in the natal household. In contrast, we investigated whether the timing of women’s marriage was associated with the wealth of the households they marry into, and how this may vary by women’s education level. This approach allows us to explore a different set of research questions which help to understand the economic value placed on the timing of women’s marriage.MethodsWe used data on 3,102 women aged 12–34 years, surveyed within 1 year of marriage, from the cluster-randomized Low Birth Weight South Asia Trial in lowland rural Nepal. Linear mixed-effects regression models investigated independent associations of women’s marriage age and education level with marital household wealth, and their interactive effects. Models adjusted for marital household traits. We analysed the full sample, and then only the uneducated women, who comprised a substantial proportion in our sample.ResultsIn the full sample, we found that each later year of women’s marriage was associated with 1.5% lower asset score for those with primary education, and with 0.3% and 1.3% higher asset score for those with lower secondary or secondary/higher education, respectively. For uneducated women, relative to marrying ≤14 years, marrying at 15, 16, 17 and ≥18 years was associated with 1.5%, 4.4%, 2.4% and 6.2% greater marital asset score respectively.ConclusionOn average, marrying ≥18 years was associated with greater marital assets for secondary-educated women. There were only very modest benefits in terms of marital household wealth for delaying marriage beyond 16 years for uneducated women or those with low education. These findings elucidate potential trade-offs faced by families, including decisions over how much education, if any, to provide to daughters. They may help to understand the economic rationale underpinning the timing of marriage, and why early marriage remains common despite efforts to delay it. creator: Akanksha A. Marphatia creator: Naomi M. Saville creator: Dharma S. Manandhar creator: Mario Cortina-Borja creator: Jonathan C. K. Wells uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17671 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Marphatia et al. title: Advances in research on the main nutritional quality of daylily, an important flower vegetable of Liliaceae link: https://peerj.com/articles/17802 last-modified: 2024-08-07 description: Daylily (Hemerocallis citrina) is a perennial herb of the genus Hemerocallis of Liliaceae. It is also an economically important crop and is widely cultivated. Daylily has nutritional, medicinal and ornamental values. The research literature shows that daylily is a high-quality food raw material rich in soluble sugars, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, dietary fiber, carotenoids, mineral elements, polyphenols and other nutrients, which are effective in clearing heat and diuresis, resolving bruises and stopping bleeding, strengthening the stomach and brain, and reducing serum cholesterol levels. This article reviews the main nutrients of daylily and summarizes the drying process of daylily. In addition, due to the existence of active ingredients, daylily also has a variety of biological activities that are beneficial to human health. This article also highlights the nutritional quality of daylily, the research progress of dried vegetable rehydration technology and dried daylily. In the end, the undeveloped molecular mechanism and functional research status of daylily worldwide are introduced in order to provide reference for the nutritional quality research and dried processing industry of daylily. creator: Li-Xiang Wang creator: Ya-Hui Wang creator: Chen Chen creator: Jie-Xia Liu creator: Tong Li creator: Jing-Wen Li creator: Pei-Zhuo Liu creator: De-Bao Xu creator: Sheng Shu creator: Ai-Sheng Xiong uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17802 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Li-Xiang et al. title: Femora nutrient foramina and aerobic capacity in giant extinct xenarthrans link: https://peerj.com/articles/17815 last-modified: 2024-08-07 description: Nutrient foramina are small openings in the periosteal surface of the mid-shaft region of long bones that traverse the cortical layer and reach the medullary cavity. They are important for the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to bone tissue and are crucial for the repair and remodeling of bones over time. The nutrient foramina in the femur’s diaphysis are related to the energetic needs of the femur and have been shown to be related to the maximum metabolic rate (MMR) of taxa. Here, we investigate the relationship between nutrient foramen size and body mass as a proxy to the aerobic capacity of taxa in living and extinct xenarthrans, including living sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, as well as extinct xenarthrans such as glyptodonts, pampatheres, and ground sloths. Seventy femora were sampled, including 20 from extant taxa and 50 from extinct taxa. We obtained the blood flow rate (Q̇) based on foramina area and performed PGLS and phylogenetic ANCOVA in order to explore differences among mammalian groups. Our results show that, among mammals, taxa commonly associated with lower metabolism like living xenarthrans showed relatively smaller foramina, while the foramina of giant extinct xenarthrans like ground sloths and glyptodonts overlapped with non-xenarthran placentals. Consequently, Q̇ estimations indicated aerobic capacities comparable to other placental giant taxa like elephants or some ungulates. Furthermore, the estimation of the MMR for fossil giant taxa showed similar results, with almost all taxa showing high values except for those for which strong semi-arboreal or fossorial habits have been proposed. Moreover, the results are compatible with the diets predicted for extinct taxa, which indicate a strong consumption of grass similar to ungulates and in contrast to the folivorous or insectivorous diets of extant xenarthrans. The ancestral reconstruction of the MMR values indicated a lack of a common pattern for all xenarthrans, strongly supporting the occurrence of low metabolic rates in extant forms due to their particular dietary preferences and arboreal or fossorial habits. Our results highlight the importance of considering different evidence beyond the phylogenetic position of extinct taxa, especially when extinct forms are exceptionally different from their extant relatives. Future studies evaluating the energetic needs of giant extinct xenarthrans should not assume lower metabolic rates for these extinct animals based solely on their phylogenetic position and the observations on their extant relatives. creator: Luciano Varela creator: Sebastián Tambusso creator: Richard Fariña uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17815 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Varela et al. title: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance drought resistance in Bombax ceiba by regulating SOD family genes link: https://peerj.com/articles/17849 last-modified: 2024-08-07 description: The physiological activity facilitated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) contributes to plants’ ability to tolerate drought. Nevertheless, it is unclear if AMF colonization affects the expression of genes in the host plant that encode antioxidant enzymes in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) family, which help alleviate drought stress in plants. Here, we conducted a pot trial to determine whether colonization by the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis improves drought resistance in Bombax ceiba. We comprehensively analyzed the SOD gene family and evaluated genome-wide expression patterns of SODs and SOD activity in AMF-colonized and non-mycorrhizal plants under simulated drought. We identified a total of 13 SODs in the genome of B. ceiba, including three FeSODs (BcFSDs), three MnSODs (BcMSDs), and seven Cu/ZnSODs (BcCSDs). Phylogenetic analysis based on binding domain revealed that SOD genes from B. ceiba and various other plant species can be divided into three separate groups, showing significant bootstrap values. Our examination of gene composition and patterns suggests that most BcSOD genes in these three subgroups are significantly conserved. Additionally, it was noted that hormones and stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements were found in all BcSOD promoters. Expression profiling by qRT-PCR demonstrated that AMF increased relative expression levels of Cu/Zn-SODs in both roots and shoots under drought stress, except for BcCSD3 in roots. Furthermore, AMF colonization increased the relative expression of BcMSD1a and BcMSD1b in roots, augmenting SOD activities and increasing ROS scavenging during drought. In general, this work offers molecular evidence in support of the beneficial effect of AMF colonization on drought tolerance in B. ceiba. It also elucidates the expression patterns of SOD genes, which will support efforts to optimize mycorrhizal seedling cultivation under stressful conditions. creator: Changxin Luo creator: Zhumei Li creator: Yumei Shi creator: Yong Gao creator: Yanguo Xu creator: Yanan Zhang creator: Honglong Chu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17849 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Luo et al. title: Modic changes in patients with lumbar disc herniation followed more than 1 year after lumbar discectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/17851 last-modified: 2024-08-07 description: BackgroundModic changes (MCs) are identified as an independent risk factor for low back pain. Different subtypes of MCs vary in their impact on postoperative pain relief. However, consensus on the transformation of postoperative MC fractions in patients with distinct MC subtypes is lacking.MethodsThis comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis searched English-language articles in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases until January 2024. Studies included focused on patients transitioning between various microcrack subtypes post-discectomy. The primary outcome measure was the transformation between different postoperative microcrack fractions.ResultsEight studies with 689 participants were analyzed. Overall, there is moderate to high-quality evidence indicating differences in the incidence of MC conversion across MC subtypes. The overall incidence of MC conversion was 27.7%, with rates of 37.0%, 20.5%, and 19.1% for MC0, MC1, and MC2 subtypes, respectively. Thus, postoperative MC type transformation, particularly from preoperative MC0 to MC1 (17.7%) or MC2 (13.1%), was more common, with MC1 transformation being predominant. Patients with preoperative comorbid MC1 types (19.0%) exhibited more postoperative transitions than those with MC2 types (12.4%).ConclusionThis study underscores the significance of analyzing post-discectomy MCs in patients with lumbar disc herniation, revealing a higher incidence of MCs post-lumbar discectomy, particularly from preoperative absence of MC to MC1 or MC2. Preoperative MC0 types were more likely to undergo postoperative MC transformation than combined MC1 or MC2 types. These findings are crucial for enhancing surgical outcomes and postoperative care. creator: Xiangyu Feng creator: Sunqi Nian creator: Jiayu Chen creator: Na Li creator: Pingguo Duan uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17851 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Feng et al. title: Assessment and phenotypic identification of millet germplasm (Setaria italica L.) in Liaoning, China link: https://peerj.com/articles/17871 last-modified: 2024-08-07 description: AimsThis study evaluated millet germplasms in Liaoning Province to support the collection, preservation and innovation of millet germplasm resources.MethodsThe study was conducted from 2018 to 2020, involved the selection of 105 millet germplasm resources from the Germplasm Bank of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences (LAAS), the observation and recording of 31 traits, and the application of multivariate analysis methods to assess phenotypic diversity.ResultsFrom the diversity analysis and correlation analysis, it was found that the tested traits had abundant diversity and complex correlations among them. Principal component analysis (PCA) comprehensively analyzed all quantitative traits and extracted seven principal components. Grey relational analysis (GRA) highlighted the varied contributions of different traits to yield. Through systematic cluster analysis (SCA), the resources were categorized into six groups at Euclidean distance of 17.09. K-mean cluster analysis determined the distribution interval and central value of each trait, then identified resources with desirable traits.ConclusionThe results revealed resources that possess characteristics such as upthrow seedling leaves, more tillers and branches, larger and well-formed ears, and lodging resistance prefer to higher grain yield. It was also discovered that the subear internode length (SIL) could be an indicator for maturity selection. Four specific resources, namely, Dungu No. 1, Xiao-li-xiang, Basen Shengu, and Yuhuanggu No. 1, were identified for further breeding and practical applications. creator: Xintong Li creator: Weifeng He creator: Honghao Wang creator: Min Xu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17871 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Li et al. title: Cognitive expertise in esport experts: a three-level model meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/17857 last-modified: 2024-08-07 description: ObjectivesThe cognitive expertise of experts has been an intriguing theme; there has been rapid growth in cognitive research related to esports. Given the close association between esports activities and cognition, esports holds promise in offering new perspectives for understanding cognitive expertise. This meta-analysis aims at quantitatively delineating the cognitive disparities between esports experts and amateurs.MethodsThe expert group comprised professional video game players and high-ranking players (top 1%), while amateurs were assigned to the control group. Research studies published between January 2000 and December 2023 were systematically searched in databases. A three-level model with cluster-robust variance estimation was used to calculate the overall effect size. The moderating variables included professional level, cognitive abilities, dependent variable type, game genre, gender and age.ResultsA total of 15 studies containing 142 effect sizes and 1085 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that, compared to amateurs, video game experts demonstrated superior cognitive abilities with a small effect size (Hedges’ g = 0.373, 95% CI [0.055–0.691], p = .012). The differences between experts and amateur players mainly manifest in spatial cognition and attention. Sensitivity analysis, risk of bias, and publication bias results indicated the reliability of these findings.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis confirms that esports experts possess superior cognitive abilities compared to amateurs, particularly in aspects of spatial cognition and attention. These can provide an effective reference for future selection and training in esports. creator: Haofei Miao creator: Hao He creator: Xianyun Hou creator: Jinghui Wang creator: Lizhong Chi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17857 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Miao et al. title: Effects of strength training on repeated sprint ability in team sports players: a systematic review link: https://peerj.com/articles/17756 last-modified: 2024-08-06 description: ObjectiveThis systematic review was conducted to analyze the existing evidence on the effects of strength training (ST) and complex/contrast training (CCT) on repeated sprint ability (RSA) in team sports players.MethodsA systematic review of the literature was performed following the PRISMA statement. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were used. Original full-text articles were analyzed, without date restriction until May 26, 2024, written in English, peer-reviewed, and for eligibility must have included (1) male or female team sports players, amateur or professional category, without age restriction (2) lower extremity ST and/or CCT program (3) active control group (4) running RSA test (e.g., repeated shuttle sprint ability test or straight-line repeated sprint ability test) before and after the intervention period (5) controlled trial.ResultsA total of 3,376 studies were identified and screened. Finally, 10 articles were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, all with moderate methodological quality according to the PEDro scale. The best time, mean time, and total time presented significant pre and post-test changes, using ST in 3, 2, and 1 experimental groups, respectively, and using CCT in 1, 1, and 1 experimental groups, respectively, with almost no differences in the percentage decrement most commonly reported in RSA tests. There were no changes in the control groups.ConclusionTogether, ST performed in a range of maximal power provides benefits in the best time and mean time and performed between 80 to 95% of 1 repetition maximum (RM) provides benefits in the best time, mean time, and total time in RSA tests. CCT performed between 75 to 90% of 1 RM combined with jumps and sprints provides benefits in the best time, mean time, and total time in RSA test, but no unaltered percentage decrement in ST and CCT in elite and semi-professional team sport players. creator: Andrés Osses-Rivera creator: Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda creator: Sebastián Jannas-Vela creator: Jeppe F. Vigh-Larsen creator: Matías Monsalves-Álvarez uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17756 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Osses-Rivera et al. title: Prediction of PM2.5 concentration based on a CNN-LSTM neural network algorithm link: https://peerj.com/articles/17811 last-modified: 2024-08-06 description: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a major air pollutant affecting human survival, development and health. By predicting the spatial distribution concentration of PM2.5, pollutant sources can be better traced, allowing measures to protect human health to be implemented. Thus, the purpose of this study is to predict and analyze the PM2.5 concentration of stations based on the integrated deep learning of a convolutional neural network long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) model. To solve the complexity and nonlinear characteristics of PM2.5 time series data problems, we adopted the CNN-LSTM deep learning model. We collected the PM2.5data of Qingdao in 2020 as well as meteorological factors such as temperature, wind speed and air pressure for pre-processing and characteristic analysis. Then, the CNN-LSTM deep learning model was integrated to capture the temporal and spatial features and trends in the data. The CNN layer was used to extract spatial features, while the LSTM layer was used to learn time dependencies. Through comparative experiments and model evaluation, we found that the CNN-LSTM model can achieve excellent PM2.5 prediction performance. The results show that the coefficient of determination (R2) is 0.91, and the root mean square error (RMSE) is 8.216 µg/m3. The CNN-LSTM model achieves better prediction accuracy and generalizability compared with those of the CNN and LSTM models (R2 values of 0.85 and 0.83, respectively, and RMSE values of 11.356 and 14.367, respectively). Finally, we analyzed and explained the predicted results. We also found that some meteorological factors (such as air temperature, pressure, and wind speed) have significant effects on the PM2.5 concentration at ground stations in Qingdao. In summary, by using deep learning methods, we obtained better prediction performance and revealed the association between PM2.5 concentration and meteorological factors. These findings are of great significance for improving the quality of the atmospheric environment and protecting public health. creator: Xuesong Bai creator: Na Zhang creator: Xiaoyi Cao creator: Wenqian Chen uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17811 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Bai et al. title: Study on the relationship between net primary productivity and site quality in Japanese larch plantations in mountainous areas of eastern Liaoning link: https://peerj.com/articles/17820 last-modified: 2024-08-06 description: Plantation forests enhance carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems in China. Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carrière (Lamb.) (Larix olgensis Henry) is the main species for afforestation in the eastern Liaoning Province. Therefore, it is important to understand the correlation between the site class and carbon sink potential of Larix kaempferi plantations in Liaoning Province for afforestation and carbon sink in this area. The model was fitted using three classical theoretical growth equations: the Richards model, the Korf model, and the Hossfeld model. This study used the forest resource inventory data for management in Liaoning Province in 2011 to build six dynamic height-age models for a Larix kaempferi plantation in Dandong City regardless of base-age. The optimal model derived by the generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) method was compared with the model derived by the algebraic difference approach (ADA) method. The superiority of GADA was demonstrated by comparison. The Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm was used to fit the model. The statistical and biological characteristics were considered synthetically when comparing the models. The best model was screened out by statistical analysis and graphic analysis. The results show that the differential height-age model derived from Richards equation can well explain the growth process of Larix kaempferi in Dandong City, Liaoning Province under different conditions. The site index model based on Richards equation and derived by GADA was used to calculate the site class of a Larix kaempferi plantation in Dandong City. The net primary productivity (NPP) value from the past ten years was extracted from the MOD17A3HGF data set. Spearman correlation analysis and Kendall correlation analysis were used to show that there is a significant positive correlation between NPP value and site class of Larix kaempferi plantation in Dandong City. Among them, the highest growth occurred in 2016; NPP increased by about 3.914 gC/m2/year for every two increases in height-age grade; the lowest increase in NPP was in 2014; NPP increased by about 2.113 gC/m2/year for every two increases in height-age grade; and for every two increases in height-age grade in the recent ten years, the average NPP value increased by about 2.731 gC/m2/year. creator: Wenlong Chang creator: JingHao Li creator: Jinwei Wu creator: Jian Zhang creator: Yang Yu creator: Huiwen Sun creator: Yibo Wen uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17820 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Chang et al.