title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=292 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: PLAUR facilitates the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway link: https://peerj.com/articles/17555 last-modified: 2024-06-27 description: BackgroundPLAUR has been found upregulated in various tumors and closely correlated with the malignant phenotype of tumor cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PLAUR and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and its potential mechanism of promoting tumor progression.MethodsThe expression levels and clinical significance of PLAUR, along with the associated signaling pathways, were extensively investigated in ccRCC samples obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). PLAUR expression in 20 pairs of ccRCC tumor tissues and the adjacent tissues was assessed using qRT-PCR and IHC staining. Additionally, a series of in vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of PLAUR suppression on cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis in ccRCC. The Western blot analysis was employed to investigate the expression levels of pivotal genes associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.ResultsThe expression of PLAUR was significantly upregulated in ccRCC compared to normal renal tissues, and higher PLAUR expression in ccRCC was associated with a poorer prognosis than low expression. The in-vitro functional investigations demonstrated that knockdown of PLAUR significantly attenuated the proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities of ccRCC cells. Concurrently, PLAUR knockdown effectively induced cellular apoptosis, modulated the cell cycle, inhibited the EMT process, and attenuated the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. PLAUR may represent a key mechanism underlying ccRCC progression.ConclusionsThe involvement of PLAUR in ccRCC progression may be achieved through the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, making it a reliable biomarker for the identification and prediction of ccRCC. creator: Tianzi Qin creator: Minyu Huang creator: Wenjuan Wei creator: Wei Zhou creator: Qianli Tang creator: Qun Huang creator: Ning Tang creator: Shasha Gai uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17555 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: ©2024 Qin et al. title: Continuous training in young athletes decreases hepcidin secretion and is positively correlated with serum 25(OH)D and ferritin link: https://peerj.com/articles/17566 last-modified: 2024-06-27 description: BackgroundIron deficiency is known to impair muscle function and reduce athletic performance, while vitamin D has been reported to induce iron deficiency. However, the mechanism underlying exercise-induced changes in iron metabolism and the involvement of vitamins in this mechanism are unclear. The present study examined changes in biological iron metabolism induced by continuous training and the effects of vitamin D on these changes.MethodsDiet, physical characteristics, and blood test data were collected from 23 female high school students in a dance club on the last day of each of a 2-month continuous training period and a 2-week complete rest periods.ResultsSerum hepcidin-25 levels were significantly lower during the training period than the rest period (p = 0.013), as were the red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit (all p < 0.001). Serum erythropoietin was significantly higher (p = 0.001) during the training period. Significant positive correlations were observed between 25(OH)D levels and serum iron, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation during the training period. Multiple regression analysis with serum 25(OH)D level as the dependent variable and serum ferritin and iron levels as independent variables during the training period revealed a significant association with serum ferritin.ConclusionContinuous training may promote hemolysis and erythropoiesis, contributing to the suppression of hepcidin expression. The relationship between serum 25(OH)D and iron in vivo may be closely related to metabolic changes induced by the exercise load. creator: Yukiko Kobayashi creator: Rikako Taniguchi creator: Emiko Shirasaki creator: Yuko Segawa Yoshimoto creator: Wataru Aoi creator: Masashi Kuwahata uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17566 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Kobayashi et al. title: The mechanism of static postural control in the impact of lower limb muscle strength asymmetry on gait performance in the elderly link: https://peerj.com/articles/17626 last-modified: 2024-06-27 description: BackgroundAbnormal gait is prevalent among the elderly population, leading to reduced physical activity, increased risk of falls, and the potential development of dementia and disabilities, thus degrading the quality of life in later years. Numerous studies have highlighted the crucial roles of lower limb muscle strength asymmetry and static postural control in gait, and the reciprocal influence of lower limb muscle strength asymmetry on static postural control. However, research exploring the interrelationship between lower limb muscle strength asymmetry, static postural control, and gait performance has been limited.MethodsA total of 55 elderly participants aged 60 to 75 years were recruited. Isokinetic muscle strength testing was used to assess bilateral knee extension strength, and asymmetry values were calculated. Participants with asymmetry greater than 15% were categorized as the Asymmetry Group (AG), while those with asymmetry less than 15% were classified in the Symmetry Group (SG). Gait parameters were measured using a plantar pressure gait analysis system to evaluate gait performance, and static postural control was assessed through comfortable and narrow stance tests.ResultsFirst, participants in the AG demonstrated inferior gait performance, characterized by slower gait speed, longer stance time and percentage of stance time in gait, and smaller swing time and percentage of swing time in gait. Spatial-temporal gait parameters of the weaker limb tended to be abnormal. Second, static postural control indices were higher in AG compared to SG in all aspects except for the area of ellipse during the comfortable stance with eyes open test. Third, abnormal gait parameters were associated with static postural control.ConclusionFirstly, elderly individuals with lower limb muscle strength asymmetry are prone to abnormal gait, with the weaker limb exhibiting poorer gait performance. Secondly, lower limb muscle strength asymmetry contributes to diminished static postural control in the elderly. Thirdly, the mechanism underlying abnormal gait in the elderly due to lower limb muscle strength asymmetry may be linked to a decline in static postural control. creator: Beili Si creator: Hao Zhu creator: Xinmei Wei creator: Shun Li creator: Xueping Wu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17626 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Si et al. title: Investigating the eye movement characteristics of basketball players executing 3-point shot at varied intensities and their correlation with shot accuracy link: https://peerj.com/articles/17634 last-modified: 2024-06-27 description: BackgroundThe 3-point shot plays a significant and pivotal role in the historical context of basketball competitions. Visual attention exerts a crucial influence on the shooting performance of basketball players. This study aims to investigate the eye movement characteristics exhibited by high-level basketball players while executing 3-point shot at varying exercise intensities, as well as explore the correlation between these eye movement characteristics and 3-point field goal percentage.MethodsA total of twenty highly skilled female basketball players were recruited as participants for this study. During the experiment, the participants wore an eye tracker to record their eye movement data while executing 3-point shot at varying exercise intensities (low, moderate, and high). The collected eye movement data was analyzed using Tobii Pro Lab software. Additionally, the participants’ exercise intensity was monitored by wearing Polar Team Pro sensors.ResultsThe average number of fixations during the execution of a 3-point shot at three exercise intensities exhibited statistically significant differences in the front, bottom, top left, and bottom right. Moreover, notable disparities were observed in the average fixation duration for the front, bottom, and bottom right. The average total number of fixations and fixation duration in the moderate intensity shot were comparatively lower than those observed in the low and high intensity shots, while the average number of fixations and percentage of fixation duration on the front were relatively higher compared to those in the low and high intensity shots. Under varying intensities, there were no significant differences observed in the average number of fixations and the 3-point field goal percentage each AOI; however, a significantly positive correlation was found between the front average fixation duration and the 3-point field goal percentage.ConclusionDuring the execution of a moderate intensity 3-point shot, the player’s fixation is focused and stable, their information search strategy is efficient, and their information processing is precise. Variations in exercise intensity result in changes to both the information search strategy and degree of processing. Fixating on the front has a positive impact on 3-point field goal percentage. creator: Xuetong Zhao creator: Chunzhou Zhao creator: Na Liu creator: Sunnan Li uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17634 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Zhao et al. title: The human touch: a meta-analysis of anthropogenic effects on plant-pollinator interaction networks link: https://peerj.com/articles/17647 last-modified: 2024-06-27 description: BackgroundAnthropogenic activities significantly impact natural ecosystems, leading to alterations in plant and pollinator diversity and abundance. These changes often result in shifts within interacting communities, potentially reshaping the structure of plant-pollinator interaction networks. Given the escalating human footprint on habitats, evaluating the response of these networks to anthropization is critical for devising effective conservation and management strategies.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive review of the plant-pollinator network literature to assess the impact of anthropization on network structure. We assessed network metrics such as nestedness measure based on overlap and decreasing fills (NODF), network specialization (H2’), connectance (C), and modularity (Q) to understand structural changes. Employing a meta-analytical approach, we examined how anthropization activities, such as deforestation, urbanization, habitat fragmentation, agriculture, intentional fires and livestock farming, affect both plant and pollinator richness.ResultsWe generated a dataset for various metrics of network structure and 36 effect sizes for the meta-analysis, from 38 articles published between 2010 and 2023. Studies assessing the impact of agriculture and fragmentation were well-represented, comprising 68.4% of all studies, with networks involving interacting insects being the most studied taxa. Agriculture and fragmentation reduce nestedness and increase specialization in plant-pollinator networks, while modularity and connectance are mostly not affected. Although our meta-analysis suggests that anthropization decreases richness for both plants and pollinators, there was substantial heterogeneity in this regard among the evaluated studies. The meta-regression analyses helped us determine that the habitat fragment size where the studies were conducted was the primary variable contributing to such heterogeneity.ConclusionsThe analysis of human impacts on plant-pollinator networks showed varied effects worldwide. Responses differed among network metrics, signaling nuanced impacts on structure. Activities like agriculture and fragmentation significantly changed ecosystems, reducing species richness in both pollinators and plants, highlighting network vulnerability. Regional differences stressed the need for tailored conservation. Despite insights, more research is crucial for a complete understanding of these ecological relationships. creator: Karla López-Vázquez creator: Carlos Lara creator: Pablo Corcuera creator: Citlalli Castillo-Guevara creator: Mariana Cuautle uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17647 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 López-Vázquez et al. title: Development and application of multiplex PCR for the rapid identification of four Fusarium spp. associated with Fusarium crown rot in wheat link: https://peerj.com/articles/17656 last-modified: 2024-06-27 description: Fusarium crown rot (FCR), caused by Fusarium spp., is a devastating disease in wheat growing areas. Previous studies have shown that FCR is caused by co-infection of F. graminearum, F. pseudograminearum, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides in Hubei Province, China. In this study, a method was developed to simultaneously detected DNAs of F. graminearum, F. pseudograminearum, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides that can efficiently differentiate them. Whole genome sequence comparison of these four Fusarium spp. was performed and a 20 bp sequence was designed as an universal upstream primer. Specific downstream primers of each pathogen was also designed, which resulted in a 206, 482, 680, and 963 bp amplicon for each pathogen, respectively. Multiplex PCR specifically identified F. graminearum, F. pseudograminearum, F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides but not from other 46 pathogens, and the detection limit of target pathogens is about 100 pg/μl. Moreover, we accurately determined the FCR pathogen species in wheat samples using the optimized multiplex PCR method. These results demonstrate that the multiplex PCR method established in this study can efficiently and rapidly identify F. graminearum, F. pseudograminearum, F. proliferatum, and F. verticillioides, which should provide technical support for timely and targeted prevention and control of FCR. creator: Siyi Deng creator: Wei Chang creator: Quanke Liu creator: Youfu Zhao creator: Jun Liu creator: Hua Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17656 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Deng et al. title: Acute warming tolerance (CTmax) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) appears unaffected by changes in water salinity link: https://peerj.com/articles/17343 last-modified: 2024-06-26 description: Tolerance against acute warming is an essential trait that can determine how organisms cope during heat waves, yet the mechanisms underlying it remain elusive. Water salinity has previously been suggested to modulate warming tolerance in fish and may therefore provide clues towards these limiting mechanisms. Here, using the critical thermal maximum (CTmax) test, we investigated whether short (2 hours) and long (10 days) term exposure to different water salinities (2 hours: 0–5 ppt, 10 days: 0–3 ppt) affected acute warming tolerance in zebrafish (N = 263). We found that water salinity did not affect the warming tolerance of zebrafish at either time point, indicating that salinity does not affect the mechanism limiting acute warming tolerance in zebrafish at these salinity ranges, and that natural fluctuations in salinity levels might not have a large impact on acute warming tolerance in wild zebrafish. creator: Eirik R. Åsheim creator: Anna H. Andreassen creator: Rachael Morgan creator: Mireia Silvestre creator: Fredrik Jutfelt uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17343 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Åsheim et al. title: Neurological phenotypes and treatment outcomes in Eagle syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/17423 last-modified: 2024-06-26 description: BackgroundEagle syndrome is caused by an elongated styloid process affecting carotid arteries and cranial nerves. Pain, dysphagia, tinnitus, paresthesia (classic subtype), and neurovascular events (vascular subtype) may be triggered by head movements or arise spontaneously. However, Eagle syndrome remains underappreciated in the neurological community. We aimed to determine the most common neurological and non-neurological clinical presentations in patients with Eagle syndrome and to assess the clinical outcome post-surgical resection in comparison to non-surgical therapies.MethodologyWe conducted a systematic review of patient-level data on adults with Eagle syndrome, following PRISMA guidelines. We extracted data on demographics, presenting symptoms, neurological deficits, radiological findings, and treatments, including outcomes and complications, from studies in multiple indexing databases published between 2000 and 2023. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO.ResultsIn total, 285 studies met inclusion criteria, including 497 patients with Eagle syndrome (mean age 47.3 years; 49.8% female). Classical Eagle (370 patients, 74.5%) was more frequent than vascular Eagle syndrome (117 patients, 23.5%, p < 0.0001). Six patients (1.2%) presented with both variants and the subvariant for four patients (0.8%) was unknown. There was a male preponderance (70.1% male) in the vascular subtype. A history of tonsillectomy was more frequent in classic (48/153 cases) than in vascular (2/33 cases) Eagle syndrome (Odds Ratio 5.2, 95% CI [1.2–22.4]; p = 0.028). By contrast, cervical movements as trigger factors were more prevalent in vascular (12/33 cases) than in classic (7/153 cases) Eagle syndrome (Odds Ratio 7.95, 95% CI [2.9–21.7]; p = 0.0001). Headache and Horner syndrome were more frequent in vascular Eagle syndrome and dysphagia and neck pain more prominent in classic Eagle syndrome (all p < 0.01). Surgically treated patients achieved overall better outcomes than medically treated ones: Eighty-one (65.9%) of 123 medically treated patients experienced improvement or complete resolution, while the same applied to 313 (97.8%) of 320 surgical patients (Odds Ratio 1.49, 95% CI [1.1–2.0]; p = 0.016).ConclusionsEagle syndrome is underdiagnosed with potentially serious neurovascular complications, including ischemic stroke. Surgical treatment achieves better outcomes than conservative management. Although traditionally the domain of otorhinolaryngologist, neurologist should include this syndrome in differential diagnostic considerations because of the varied neurological presentations that are amenable to effective treatment. creator: Melika Hassani creator: Elisabeth Waldemar Grønlund creator: Simon Sander Albrechtsen creator: Daniel Kondziella uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17423 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Hassani et al. title: State of the art and future directions for measuring event-related potentials during cycling exercise: a systematic review link: https://peerj.com/articles/17448 last-modified: 2024-06-26 description: IntroElectroencephalography (EEG) is a technique for measuring brain activity that is widely used in neuroscience research. Event-related potentials (ERPs) in the EEG make it possible to study sensory and cognitive processes in the brain. Previous reports have shown that aerobic exercise can have an impact on components of ERPs such as amplitude and latency. However, they focused on the measurement of ERPs after exercise.ObjectivesThe aim of this systematic review was to investigate the feasibility of measuring ERPs during cycling, and to assess the impact of cycling on ERPs during cycling.MethodsWe followed the PRISMA guidelines for new systematic reviews. To be eligible, studies had to include healthy adults and measure ERPs during cycling. All articles were found using Google Scholar and by searching references. Data extracted from the studies included: objectives of ERP studies, ERP paradigm, EEG system, study population data, exercise characteristics (duration, intensity, pedaling cadence), and ERP and behavioral outcomes. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool was used to assess study bias.ResultsTwenty studies were selected. The effect of cycling on ERPs was mainly based on a comparison of P3 wave amplitude between cycling and resting states, using an attentional task. The ERP paradigm most often used was the auditory oddball task. Exercise characteristics and study methods varied considerably.DiscussionIt is possible to measure ERPs during cycling under conditions that are likely to introduce more artifacts, including a 3-h athletic exercise session and cycling outdoors. Secondly, no assessment of the effect of cycling on ERPs was possible, because the methods differed too widely between studies. In addition, the theories proposed to explain the results sometimes seemed to contradict each other. Although most studies reported significant results, the direction of the effects was inconsistent. Finally, we suggest some areas for improvement for future studies on the subject. creator: Rémi Renoud-Grappin creator: Lionel Pazart creator: Julie Giustiniani creator: Damien Gabriel uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17448 license: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ rights: title: Cropping with Vicia villosa and native grass improves soil’s bacterial structure and ecological network in a jujube orchard link: https://peerj.com/articles/17458 last-modified: 2024-06-26 description: In a jujube orchard, cropping withgrass may influence bacterial diversity and ecological networks due to changes of physicochemical properties in soil, which has a serious effect on the stability of soil ecosystems. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of different cultivation methods (CK: cleaning tillage; NG: cropping with native grass; VV: cropping with Vicia villosa) on the soil’s bacterial structure and its co-occurrence network in a jujube orchard. The results showed that the highest moisture content, total nitrogen, and organic matter in the rhizosphere soil of a jujube orchard was found in the VV group. The soil’s moisture content, total nitrogen, and organic matter in the VV group were 2.66%, 0.87 g kg−1, and 5.55 mg kg−1 higher than that found in the CK group. Compared to the CK group, the number of unique species in the rhizosphere soil in the NG and the VV groups increased by 7.33% and 21.44%. The PICRUSt and FAPROTAX analysis showed that sown grass had a greater influence on the ecological function of the soil’s bacteria. Cropping with Vicia villosa and native grass significantly increased aerobic chemoheterotrophy, nitrogen respiration, nitrate reduction related to biochemical cycles, and the relative abundance of genes related to carbohydrate metabolism and the biodegradation of xenobiotics. The bacterial network complexity in the NG group was higher than that in the CK and VV groups and was greatest in the hub nodes (OTU42, Bacteroidota; OTU541, Nitrospiraceae). In this study, the ecological benefit seen in the soil’s microbial function provides support to the theory that cropping with grass (Vicia villosa) increases the sustainable development of a jujube orchard. creator: Shoule Wang creator: Zhongtang Wang creator: Qing Hao creator: Bin Peng creator: Pan Li creator: Xuelong Qi creator: Qiong Zhang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17458 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Wang et al.