title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=31 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: The profound impact of COVID-19 on college students’ physical fitness link: https://peerj.com/articles/20293 last-modified: 2025-10-23 description: BackgroundThis study expands existing research by examining longitudinal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical college students’ physical fitness.MethodsA medical college in Wenzhou, was selected to examine the changes in physical fitness indicators among students from 2019 to 2021.ResultsWhile most students maintained normal weight status (85.2%), overweight/obese prevalence increased significantly (8.0% in 2019, 8.9% in 2020, and 10.1% in 2021). Among male students, 67.0% were classified within the passing range, while the majority of female students (55.0%) fell within the “good” grade category. In 2021, a significant decline was observed in the standing long jump, 50-m dash, and 1,000/800 m run (p < 0.05) across both genders.ConclusionsThe lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly contributed to increased weight gain among college students and a decline in their endurance running performance. creator: Jianzhong Sun creator: Bin Qiao creator: Chan Lin uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20293 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Sun et al. title: Predictors of vision screening among Saudis at primary healthcare settings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: findings from a cross-sectional survey link: https://peerj.com/articles/20239 last-modified: 2025-10-23 description: BackgroundVisual impairment, including low vision and blindness, is an important global health concern. In Saudi Arabia, research on vision screening prevalence and its predictors is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vision screening and identify associated factors among Saudi residents attending primary healthcare settings.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to July 2023, involving 14,239 participants from 48 randomly selected primary healthcare centers in Riyadh. Data were collected electronically from participants aged 18 years and older, using a validated questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, and comorbidities. Vision screening (yes/no) was the outcome of interest, and predictors were identified using multiple logistic regression. All statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.ResultsThe mean age of the population sample was 59.7 years ± SD 16.6 years, 56.6% were female, and 65.3% were married. The overall prevalence of vision screening was 9.1%. Multivariable analysis revealed that higher education (AOR 0.65–0.67, 95% CI [0.50–0.84] for up to high school; [0.52–0.87] for college/university; [0.44–0.76] for others) and marriage (AOR 0.81, 95% CI [0.70–0.94]) were associated with lower odds of vision screening. Conversely, unemployment (AOR 1.28, 95% CI [1.12–1.46]), exercise (AOR 1.29, 95% CI [1.14–1.47]), diabetes (AOR 1.49, 95% CI [1.24–1.80]), and obesity (AOR 1.39, 95% CI [1.11–1.75]) were associated with higher odds (all p < 0.05). Age, sex, insurance coverage, smoking, and hypertension did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionOverall, the prevalence of vision screening among the Saudi residents was low. This study identified key sociodemographic and health-related predictors of vision screening among Saudi residents. Targeted interventions are needed to improve screening rates, particularly among underutilizing groups such as those with higher education, married individuals, and employed individuals. Future research should qualitatively explore underlying reasons for these disparities to inform effective and culturally sensitive strategies. creator: Ashraf Elmetwally creator: Mamdouh Shubair creator: Ibtehaj Alshdoukhi creator: Rasha Alhazzaa creator: Faris Fatani creator: Aljohrah Aldubikhi creator: Dr Badr Alkhateeb creator: Naif Alhawiti creator: Raed Aldahash creator: Jumanaa Masoudi creator: Hanan Al Kadri uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20239 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 rights: © 2025 Elmetwally et al. title: Are northern communities an overlooked source of microplastics and tire wear particles in the Arctic? link: https://peerj.com/articles/20237 last-modified: 2025-10-23 description: Microplastic particles (plastic 1 µm to 5 mm in length) are a contaminant of emerging concern in Arctic environments; nonetheless, few studies have evaluated atmospheric microplastics in Arctic communities. This study investigated microplastics and tire wear particles across 16 sites in the community of Iqaluit, Nunavut (population = 7,429) using road dust as an indicator of atmospheric microplastic deposition (size detection limit >50 µm). The mean concentration of microplastics (excluding tire wear particles), ranged from 36.5 ± 68.4 µg/g (5.41 ± 4.69 n/g) in industrial sites and 73.4 ± 121 µg/g (6.21 ± 4.46 n/g) in commercial sites and non-fibrous microplastics (i.e., fragments, films, and foams) were dominant across the study area. Various polymers were identified using Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy in Attenuated Total Reflectance down to a particle size of 100 µm. The dominant polymers being polyethylene terephthalate (15%), polyester (15%), polymethyl acrylate (15%), and polystyrene (15%). Further, based on the results of the microplastic diversity integrated index, commercial and industrial regions were composed of unique microplastic communities. The mean concentration of tire wear particles (dominated by rubber; 27%) in road dust was significantly greater than other microplastics, ranging from 83.2 ± 49.1 µg/g (49.3 ± 30.0 n/g) in industrial sites to 481 ± 514 µg/g (102 ± 132 n/g) in commercial sites. The concentration of microplastics and tire wear particles in Iqaluit was consistent with observations from metropolitan cities, suggesting Arctic communities may be a substantial local source of atmospheric microplastics and tire wear particles to surrounding Arctic ecosystems. creator: Kelly Evans creator: Liisa Jantunen creator: Julian Aherne uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20237 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Evans et al. title: Summer pruning in apple trees is an advisable cultural practice that promotes bud differentiation and improves fruit quality: a literature review link: https://peerj.com/articles/20229 last-modified: 2025-10-23 description: Apples (Malus domestica) are among the most widely cultivated and economically valuable fruit tree crops worldwide. Summer pruning, encompassing thinning, branch bending, and ring wounding, is a method of regulating apple production and is important to fruit tree growth. Timely and appropriate application of this measure can control the vigorous growth of new shoots, promoting the differentiation of flower buds, enhancing early fruiting and yield of young trees, improving the ventilation and light conditions of trees, and reducing the occurrence of pests and diseases, thereby achieving superior fruit quality. However, excessive pruning negatively affects the tree’s strength, yield, and fruit quality. In this review, we concisely describe the physiological basis of summer pruning, the main manual pruning methods, the latest robotic pruning technologies, and their specific impacts on fruit quality and yield. We also analyze the main problems in current production, emphasizing the importance of robotic pruning as an important management measure for future large-scale and intelligent development of the apple industry. This information is beneficial to fruit tree researchers and growers and provides a scientific reference for apple production. creator: Xiaoyu Qiu creator: Wenxi Xing creator: Youxiong Que creator: Guilong Lu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20229 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Qiu et al. title: Control of Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apple orchards using the mating disruption technique link: https://peerj.com/articles/20226 last-modified: 2025-10-23 description: The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a major, economically important pest of apple orchards in Türkiye. This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the efficacy of the mating disruption technique in controlling C. pomonella in commercial apple orchards in the Beyşehir district (Konya) during the years 2023 and 2024. The experiments were conducted in six commercial apple orchards. Three of these orchards were treated with pheromones, while the remaining three served as control orchards. The efficacy of mating disruption was evaluated by comparing the number of C. pomonella males caught in Delta traps in pheromone-treated and control orchards and the infestation rates in these orchards. Delta traps baited with synthetic sex pheromone were hung in each pheromone-treated and control apple orchard to monitor the adult codling moths, and the number of males was recorded weekly. Once the first adult was caught in Delta traps, ISOCOD-C (380 mg (E,E)-8,10-Dodecadienol, dodecanol, tetradecanol) pheromone dispensers were hung at a dose of 500 pieces/ha, 1.5–1.8 m above the soil surface in four directions of the trees in the apple orchards where the mating disruption technique was applied. To determine the infestation rate of C. pomonella, 10 fruits from 10 trees (a total of 100 fruits) were randomly selected and the infested fruits were recorded weekly. ISOCOD-C pheromone dispensers suppressed capture of male moths in Delta traps and infestation rate in fruits in the treated orchards in both years, and the differences were found to be statistically significant in comparison to the control. In the pheromone-treated orchards, the mean number of males (trap/week) was 0.91 ± 0.18 and 0.81 ± 0.19 in 2023 and 2024, respectively, while this was 11.38 ± 1.64 in 2023 and 19.60 ± 2.65 in 2024 in the control orchards. The mean infestation rate (%) in the pheromone-treated orchards was 1.18 ± 0.21% and 2.50 ± 0.43%, in 2023 and 2024, respectively. In contrast, this rate was 13.26 ± 1.08% and 15.33 ± 1.02% in the control orchards. In addition, it was determined that the total number of sprays for codling moth in orchards using mating disruption decreased by 44.4% and 45.4% in 2023 and 2024, respectively, in comparison with the control. As a result, this study revealed that the ISOCOD-C pheromone disperser can be successfully used against C. pomonella in apple orchards. creator: Alperen Kutalmış creator: Ekrem Ögür uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20226 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Kutalmış and Ögür title: Deriving fibroblast cell lines from wing-punch biopsies of Australian eastern bent-winged bats (Miniopterus orianae oceanensis) link: https://peerj.com/articles/20222 last-modified: 2025-10-23 description: Cell cultures are a valuable tool for the study of in vitro disease processes, especially where such processes concern wild and/or threatened animal species. However, the collection of adequate samples for cell line preparation can be challenging under field conditions due to logistical challenges and access to equipment. In this paper, we describe the generation of fibroblast cell lines derived from wing-punch biopsies of Australian eastern bent-winged bats (Miniopterus orianae oceanensis), expanding on and modifying existing protocols. Twenty wing-punch biopsies were collected from free-ranging individuals in New South Wales in February 2024 and shipped to the University of Melbourne, Victoria, within 24 hours. To assess the impact of different preservation methods on sample integrity, samples were subjected to two different shipping treatments: Ten were snap-frozen immediately upon collection, and the other ten were placed in cool phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for transport. To test the effect of different plating treatments, samples were plated as either collagenase-digested cells or explants. Although none of the frozen biopsies or explants showed any growth, all samples transported in cool PBS and plated as digested cells remained viable. While agitation of the samples prior to plating resulted in an initially faster rate of cell growth, cells derived from tissue that had been digested multiple times spread across the plate and formed a monolayer significantly faster than those that had been digested only once. This study confirms the effectiveness of existing cell culture protocols using non-lethal sampling techniques in an Australian insectivorous bat species and shows a novel method of maximizing cell yield from a single biopsy. It also introduces an alternative transportation method, beneficial for field sample collection. These cell cultures are essential tools for future studies on disease susceptibility and pathogen responses in bat species, particularly those belonging to the family Miniopteridae. Additionally, they can be used for biobanking efforts, preserving the genetic material of non-model organisms for broader conservation purposes. creator: Anna Langguth creator: Laura A. Brannelly creator: Christopher Turbill creator: Tomás Villada-Cadavid creator: Nicholas C. Wu creator: Jasmin Hufschmid creator: Ellen Cottingham uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20222 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Langguth et al. title: Taxonomic identification, genomic analysis, and optimized chromium(VI) bioreduction by Microbacterium triticisoli sp. nov. M28T link: https://peerj.com/articles/20192 last-modified: 2025-10-23 description: Strain M28T was isolated from subsoil obtained from decaying wheat straw. Cells were Gram-positive, non-motile, short rod-shaped and formed yellowish colonies on lysogeny broth (LB) agar. The strain was able to grow at 0–8% (w/v) NaCl , 15–40 °C and pH 5.5–10.0. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, core genes and whole-genome indicated that strain M28T belonged to the genus Microbacterium but was distinct from all known strains in this genus. Based on phenotypic, genotypic, chemical taxono mic and phylogenetic analyses, strain M28T is a representative of a new species of Microbacterium, which is proposed to be named Microbacterium triticisoli sp. nov., the type strain is M28T (=CCTCC AA 2022021T =JCM 35796T). Genomic analysis revealed multiple metal resistance systems, antibiotic resistance determinants and oxidative stress defense genes, explaining its exceptional environmental adaptability. Notably, the strain reduced 99% of 50 mg/L Cr(VI) within 24 h under optimized conditions (37 °C, pH 7.0, 2.5 g/L sucrose) and tolerated Cr(VI) concentrations up to 125 mg/L. This study identifies M. triticisoli as a promising agent for chromium bioremediation, providing a foundation for engineering microbial solutions to heavy metal pollution. creator: Yu Qing creator: Jiewei Tian creator: Zhenhua Ma creator: Miao Tang creator: Xiufeng Long uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20192 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Qing et al. title: Genetic diversity analysis of the natural regeneration loci of Liriodendron chinense in artificial mixed forests in the rocky desertification area of Western Hunan link: https://peerj.com/articles/20138 last-modified: 2025-10-23 description: Liriodendron chinense plays a crucial role in improving the ecological environment and combating soil erosion in the rocky desertification area of Western Hunan, China. However, there is still a lack of systematic research on the genetic diversity of natural populations of the L. chinense in rocky desertification areas. This study employed 11 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to analyze genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure in a population of 318 L. chinense individuals. We conducted parentage analysis on individuals from a limited area of natural regeneration to quantify pollen and seed-mediated gene flow separately. Based on diameter classification, L. chinense individuals in the large diameter class can be considered as potential parents. The results show that there is moderate genetic diversity in the natural populations of the L. chinense. The spatial genetic patterns of the adult individuals indicate that significant gene flow occurs primarily at short to medium distances, with about 70% occurring within a range of less than 80 m. Among the 318 L. chinense individuals analyzed, 201 were predominantly assigned to the parental generation, with 41 showing closest genetic similarity to the maternal parent. These results indicate that the majority of pollen (63.2%) originated from within the sampling area, which suggests a substantial proportion of natural regeneration occurred within the 2.5 hm2 stand. These findings further elucidate the natural regeneration process of L. chinense and provide a theoretical foundation for ecological restoration efforts in rocky desertification areas. creator: Ziying Jia creator: Yixuan Wang creator: Bingkun Huang creator: Miao Liang creator: Chong Ge creator: Ninghua Zhu creator: Ren You uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20138 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Jia et al. title: Full-length transcriptome profiling of Gentiana straminea Maxim. provides new insights into iridoid biosynthesis pathway link: https://peerj.com/articles/20136 last-modified: 2025-10-23 description: Gentiana straminea Maxim. is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant celebrated for its diverse array of bioactive compounds, particularly iridoid glycosides. These compounds are recognized as the main components that exert therapeutic effects against rheumatism, osteoarthritis, hepatitis, gastritis, and cholecystitis. Consequently, research on G. straminea has attracted significant interest, yet the genetic factors underlying the production and diversification of its secondary metabolites remain poorly understood, especially the pathway of iridoid biosynthesis. In the present study, a full-length transcriptome analysis based on PacBio Sequel II platform and Illumina sequencing was performed to identify genes that were differentially expressed in five G. straminea tissues, and proteins catalyzing iridoid biosynthesis were characterized. After sequence clustering and redundancy removal, a total of 32,776 isoforms were identified in PacBio sequencing, with an average length of 2,589.14 bp, an N50 value of 2,767 bp, and a guanine-cytosine (GC) content of 41.43%. Results of Illumina sequencing unveiled that a total of 31,330 genes were found in common in all the five tissues. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in terms related to biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, metabolic pathways, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, etc. A total of 117 isoforms encoding 19 key enzymes related to the iridoid synthesis pathway were identified, including one geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPPS) and two geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthases (GGPPS). A phylogenetic analysis further classified plant G(G)PPSs into three distinct branches. Profiling tissue-specific expression of key genes involved in iridoid synthesis revealed that the Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) results demonstrated the consistent trend with the FPKM (Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript per Million mapped reads) values in the root, stem, leaf, flower, ovary, non-embryonic callus (NEC), and embryonic callus (EC). Among them, AACT, IDI, ISPH, and GCPE had the highest expression levels in leaves, whereas DXS and GPPS had the highest expression levels in stems. This work provides the first transcriptomic analysis of G. straminea, serving as a foundational resource for elucidating mechanisms of bioactive compound biosynthesis, facilitating molecular studies, and supporting genomic exploration of this medicinal species. creator: Lina Yang creator: Tao He creator: Le Wang creator: Xiaochun Ning creator: Shuai Wang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20136 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Yang et al. title: Effects of resisted sprint training on agility and change-of-direction performance in soccer players: a systematic review with meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/20084 last-modified: 2025-10-23 description: BackgroundAgility and change-of-direction (COD) are essential for success in soccer, influencing performance and injury risk. Resisted sprint training (RST) has shown promise in enhancing these skills by improving muscle strength and neuromuscular coordination. However, the effects of vertical and horizontal RST on agility and COD performance remain inadequately explored.MethodologyA systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar without date restrictions, following PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they involved healthy soccer players, RST interventions, and assessed agility or COD speed. Data extraction and quality assessment were executed independently by two reviewers; statistical analyses employed RevMan and Stata software packages.ResultsThis meta-analysis included 13 studies, which collectively generated 35 groups based on experiment and control protocols. The demonstrated a statistically significant improvement of RST on agility and COD performance (SMD = −0.31, 95% CI [−0.44 to −0.17], p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed a trend towards greater improvements with vertically resisted sprinting (SMD = −0.36, p = 0.009), compared to horizontally resisted sprinting (SMD = −0.13, p = 0.25) although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). Elite athletes demonstrated significant enhancements in agility and COD (SMD = −0.45, p < 0.001). In contrast, amateur athletes displayed no significant improvements (SMD = −0.05, p = 0.77). RST outperformed unresisted sprinting (SMD = −0.29, p < 0.05) and alternative training (SMD = −0.36, p < 0.001), indicating its effectiveness across various comparators.ConclusionsRST significantly enhances agility and change-of-direction performance in soccer players, particularly among elite athletes. Vertical resisted sprinting is more effective than horizontal resistance, supporting its integration into training programs for improved athletic performance.PROSPERO registration number (CRD42024608859). creator: Zongwei He creator: Tianyu Duan creator: Dongyu Li creator: Xuan Zhang uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20084 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 He et al.