title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=33 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Size and body condition drive the energetic cost of a baleen whale foraging in shallow habitat link: https://peerj.com/articles/20247 last-modified: 2025-10-30 description: Energy expenditure strongly influences an animal’s foraging decisions and activity budgets. Diving animals especially need to be energetically efficient because they exercise while oxygen is limited. By estimating the energetics of behavior, we can better understand the cascading effects of individual responses to disturbance and environmental change. Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) gray whales use a variety of foraging tactics in shallow habitats (<20 m), which present challenges associated with maneuverability and buoyancy. We use a seven-year dataset of concurrent individual behavior, morphology, and breath-by-breath respiration data collected via drone paired with two years of tri-axial accelerometry tag data to study patterns and correlates of respiration. We assess how several respiration metrics (acting as proxies for oxygen consumption) are associated with individual length, body condition and behavior (forage and travel), and test whether respiration reflects recovery from, or anticipation of, a foraging dive using Bayesian linear mixed effects models. Given model results, we simulated daily field metabolic rate (FMR) to explore how diving costs may affect energetics at a daily scale. We find that respiration reflects recovery from the preceding dive and that dives are more energetically expensive for longer, more buoyant whales. Longer dives and the most common foraging tactics also incur higher energetic costs. FMR simulations show that individual size and dive duration have the largest effects on energy expenditure. Thus, PCFG gray whale foraging success may be limited by the energetic costs associated with size and buoyancy, highlighting the costs of a shallow habitat foraging niche. creator: Clara N. Bird creator: Enrico Pirotta creator: Leslie New creator: Jamie M. Cornelius creator: James L. Sumich creator: Kate M. Colson creator: K.C. Bierlich creator: Lisa Hildebrand creator: Alejandro Apolo Fernández Ajó creator: Annie Doron creator: Leigh G. Torres uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20247 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Bird et al. title: Fairness-based techniques to optimize vaccine allocation among migrants during pandemics: a scoping review link: https://peerj.com/articles/20208 last-modified: 2025-10-30 description: IntroductionMigrants face significant barriers to vaccination due to disparities in access and coverage, necessitating fairness-based strategies and inclusive healthcare infrastructure to ensure equitable immunization, especially during pandemics. This study investigates fairness-based vaccination strategies, focusing on migrant vaccination status during pandemics, and migrant specific vaccine distribution models.MethodsThe authors employed established scoping review methods to explore the research question: How have fairness-based strategies for vaccine allocation affected vaccination coverage among migrants during pandemics in urban and rural areas? A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA and expectation, client group, location, impact, professionals, and service (ECLIPSE) guidelines, utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Checklist for Qualitative Research. The review involved a comprehensive database search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Ovid MedLine. The eligibility criteria for publications included at least one of the following aspects related to migrants: access to vaccines or frequency of vaccine uptake, vaccine hesitancy, vaccine modeling and optimization approaches, or discussions grounded in principles of fairness. Searches were limited to the articles published in English between 2000-2022. Initially, 5,653 articles were identified, which were reduced to 305 after title screening. Following abstract screening, 19 articles meeting the inclusion criteria—focused on vaccination modeling, allocation, fairness optimization, and behaviors or attitudes in migrant populations—were selected for full-text evaluation.ResultsVaccination rates among migrants range from 42.7% to 87%, which are lower compared to the host population. Although the willingness to vaccinate is around 70%, significant barriers such as language obstacles, lack of access to healthcare services, and insufficient information remain critical challenges. While 19 of the studies defined fairness through the use of health services, four of them discussed it on community participation, and two employed modeling approaches. Various techniques, including community involvement, digital health messages and national refugee centers, have been employed to allocate vaccines fairly and consistently. The concept of equity has been addressed inconsistently across studies, and there is insufficient data to develop a fair vaccine distribution strategy for migrant populations.ConclusionThis study highlights the following: (1) the challenges migrants face, including limited access to healthcare, language barriers and poor living conditions, which complicate equitable vaccine allocation; (2) the lack of specific, systematic national vaccine allocation programs targeting migrants; and (3) the need for a targeted, fairness-based approach, along with further research on national policies and vaccine delivery models that prioritize migrants and address their unique vulnerabilities. creator: Sera Şimşek creator: Sevval Altay creator: F. Sibel Salman creator: İlker Kayı uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20208 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Şimşek et al. title: Detecting temporal asymmetry after epilepsy surgery: a 3D MRI-based comparative outcome study of clinicians and lay observers link: https://peerj.com/articles/20201 last-modified: 2025-10-30 description: BackgroundResective surgery through pterional approach is an effective treatment for drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy, but it may lead to temporal asymmetry in the craniofacial region. Nonetheless, recent systematic reviews showed that there is no gold standard method for the discrimination of a clinically visible abnormal temporal asymmetry from a normal fluctuating asymmetry. This study compares the ability of trained and untrained observers to detect temporal asymmetry and establishes a threshold for clinically detecting abnormal asymmetry.MethodsStandardized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived three-dimensional (3D) frontal views of adult patients who underwent temporal lobe epilepsy surgery were used to create a continuum spectrum of preoperative (n = 96) and 12-month postoperative (n = 96) craniofacial images. A panel of 32 untrained lay observers (family members and laypeople) and 32 trained clinicians (surgeons and clinical specialists) independently appraised randomly displayed 3D craniofacial soft-tissue images to assess the presence or absence of temporal asymmetry. Objective linear quantifications of temporal thickness differences were obtained from each preoperative and postoperative MRI scan to identify a potential threshold for subjective asymmetry detection. Temporal asymmetry was further categorized into severity levels I to IV based on incremental asymmetry values.ResultsThe temporal thickness difference was significantly (P < 0.001) greater in postoperative images (18.3% ± 9.6%) compared to preoperative images (4.6% ± 1.9%). As temporal asymmetry increased from Level I to IV, a significantly higher proportion of 3D craniofacial images were perceived as asymmetrical by all observer categories (P < 0.001). Both trained clinicians and untrained observers—including surgeons, clinical specialists, family members, and laypeople—demonstrated increased (P < 0.001) detection rates with increasing asymmetry severity. A temporal thickness difference exceeding 10% was clinically detected with over 90% accuracy across all observer categories (P < 0.001), establishing a 10% threshold for the clinical perception of temporal asymmetry. creator: Rafael Denadai creator: Marina Koutsodontis Machado Alvim creator: Yeonah Kang creator: Junior Chun-Yu Tu creator: Brunno M. de Campos creator: Enrico Ghizoni creator: Helder Tedeschi creator: Clarissa Yasuda creator: Fernando Cendes uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20201 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Denadai et al. title: Optimizing target-to-total DNA ratio in eDNA studies: effects of sampling, preservation, and extraction methods on single-species detection link: https://peerj.com/articles/20127 last-modified: 2025-10-30 description: There are many decisions to be made when sampling for environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, whether using a targeted, single-species assay or community-based metabarcoding. Of the entire workflow from sampling water to bioinformatic analyses, the first steps in the process of collecting water, filtering it, and preserving the filter membranes represent major decision points upon which the success of downstream processes depend. Though many previous studies have compared water volume filtered, filter pore size, and preservation and extraction methods, the conclusions are often that they produce different results, but it is unclear which is the optimal approach for a given purpose. Here, rather than provide yet another methods comparison paper, we provide a framework for how to make informed decisions from a methods comparison and, importantly, how to combine data collected via different methodological choices. We investigate (1) the volume of water filtered and the filter pore size and (2) the preservation method and extraction method of samples with a specific lens on how these choices impact the detection of a single targeted species (Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, via quantitative PCR (qPCR)), although in principle these findings apply to single-species assays more generally. We find that larger pore size filters (5 µm vs. 1 µm) and larger volumes of water (3 L vs. 1 L) maximize the ratio of amplifiable target DNA to total DNA without compromising the absolute detection of target. We also find that maximizing total DNA yield during extraction (phenol chloroform vs. two commercial kits) does not always increase target detection likely due to the concentration of inhibitors and co-extraction of off-target DNA. We also comment on variation including technical and biological variability between replicates, finding that by homogenizing source water before filtering removes much of the biological variation. Finally, we present a statistical model that allows for inclusion of data from samples collected and processed in different ways, enabling researchers to change protocols or include data from other field sampling efforts, thereby opening up more possibilities to extend datasets and analyses. creator: Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz Allan creator: Megan R. Shaffer creator: Ryan P. Kelly creator: Kim Parsons uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20127 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Andruszkiewicz Allan et al. title: Age-related variation in the anthropometric profiles, body composition and functional capacities of female soccer players link: https://peerj.com/articles/20096 last-modified: 2025-10-30 description: This study aimed to identify and compare the basic anthropometric characteristics, physical performance, and game-related skills of female soccer players across different age groups, including under-15 (U15), U17, U19, and first teams. Also, it aimed to account for performance tests variability through anthropometric features. A total of 56 athletes participated in a comprehensive test battery assessing anthropometric and bioelectrical parameters, air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and physical performance (Countermovement Jump Test (CMJ) and 30-15IFT). The older groups outperformed the younger players in physical and physiological characteristics. Significant differences were observed in body dimensions and composition, with the first team showing higher fat-free mass (FFM) than U15 and U17 players. Skinfold thickness was consistent across groups. The first team also exhibited the highest levels of power and speed, while U15 athletes showed the lowest CMJ. General linear models by stepwise procedures identified training hours as the main predictor for CMJ and speed, with each additional hour of training improving CMJ by 1 cm and speed by 1 km/h. Additionally, a decrease in skinfold thickness predicted improved power. A multidimensional approach, including anthropometric, bioelectrical, and physical performance data, provides essential insights for supporting athletic development in young female soccer players and can inform tailored training strategies to enhance their physical performance. creator: Stefania Toselli creator: Federica Moro creator: Martina Perugini creator: Mario Mauro uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20096 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Toselli et al. title: Synergistic effects of virtual reality and traditional treatment methods in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials link: https://peerj.com/articles/20047 last-modified: 2025-10-30 description: ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the synergistic effects of virtual reality (VR) combined with traditional therapies in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsA systematic review was conducted to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of VR combined with conventional therapy on lung function, exercise tolerance, quality of life, and mental health in patients with COPD. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed study quality. A meta-analysis was performed on the outcome measures.ResultsIncluded 15 RCTs (eight from China, three from Poland, one from Turkey, one from Indonesia, and two from Italy), involving a total of 809 COPD patients (published between 2014 and 2024). All studies demonstrated significant improvements in at least one aspect (lung function, mental health, or quality of life). The meta-analysis showed that VR-based therapy significantly improved the 6-min walk test (6MWT), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1/FVC), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). High heterogeneity was observed for FEV1% predicted, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC); subgroup analyses suggested that intervention duration and single-session duration were potential contributing factors.ConclusionVR combined with traditional therapy has significant advantages over traditional therapy alone, with synergistic effects that can improve lung function and exercise endurance in COPD patients, alleviate psychological problems such as anxiety and depression, and enhance quality of life. Although the effects are significant, future research is needed to verify its clinical relevance (e.g., meeting the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) criteria for COPD patients) and to develop personalized plans based on individual differences to enhance its clinical application value. creator: Wei Qi creator: Feiyun Song creator: Mingli Li creator: Mingcong Xie creator: Dandan Liu creator: Fang Fang creator: Yueling Bao creator: Zhangjie Guo creator: Mingyun Sun uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20047 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Qi et al. title: Urban areas promotes shifts in the proportion of prey consumed by four raptor species (Accipitridae) in Mexico link: https://peerj.com/articles/20307 last-modified: 2025-10-29 description: BackgroundUrbanization is a process of environmental change which reduces and fragments the original habitat and creates new pressures, conditions, and resources for the species. The urban areas act as an ecological filter, which may exclude species, while others can colonize and thrive in cities, generating a process of biotic homogenization. As top predators, the changes in prey community composition could affect the diet of raptors. However, this effect has been understudied.MethodsIn this study we compiled information about the frequency of prey consumed by Cooper’s Hawk, Common Black Hawk, Roadside Hawk and Gray Hawk using two sources of information: (1) data extracted from photographs available on citizen science platforms and (2) a search of scientific literature. Using these data, we compared the diet composition, the proportion of prey consumed and the trophic niche breadth by four species of raptor in urban and non-urban areas. Additionally, we evaluated whether the variability in frequency of predation records by raptors was associated to the type of prey or their breeding season.ResultsOur results indicate that the raptors studied consumed at least 91 prey species in Mexico. Most records of predation by Common Black Hawk, Roadside Hawk, and Gray Hawk occurred in non-urban areas. On the contrary, most records of predation by Cooper’s hawks occurred within urban areas. There was no statistical difference in the richness of prey consumed by Cooper’s Hawk and Gray Hawk between urban and non-urban areas. In contrast, fewer prey types were consumed by Common Black Hawk and Roadside Hawk in urban areas than in non-urban areas. The proportion of prey types consumed in urban and non-urban areas was significantly different for Cooper’s Hawk, Roadside Hawk and Gray Hawk. Conversely, the proportion of prey types consumed by Common Black Hawk’s was similar in urban and non-urban areas. The four raptors studied increased the proportion of birds consumed in urban areas by between 2% and 36%, regardless of their preference for a specific type of prey. The trophic niche breadth of raptors was broader in urban areas than in non-urban areas, except for Cooper’s Hawk, which had a narrow trophic niche breadth in urban areas than in non-urban areas. The temporal variation in the frequency of predation records was influenced by differential factors such as the breeding season, the type of prey consumed, and the utilization patterns of citizen science platforms. Our results demonstrate that the four raptors studied increased the proportion of bird consumption in urban areas. This shift in raptors’ diets could be linked to the increased prevalence of diseases transmitted by feeding on infected birds in urban areas. This emphasizes the importance of conducting research to assess the prevalence and transmission rates of diseases that could threaten the conservation of birds and raptors in urban areas. creator: Ubaldo Márquez-Luna creator: Oscar Rivera-Hernández uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20307 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Márquez-Luna and Rivera-Hernández title: Identification and experimental verification of necroptosis-related prognostic gene signature and characterization of tumor immune infiltration in lung squamous cell carcinoma link: https://peerj.com/articles/20260 last-modified: 2025-10-29 description: BackgroundLung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a common and aggressive malignancy. Necroptosis, a regulated mode of cell death, has been implicated in tumor immunity and oncogenic processes, yet the mechanistic involvement of necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) in LUSC pathogenesis remains unclear, necessitating systematic evaluation of their biological and clinical relevance.Methods and ResultsClinical and transcriptomic data of LUSC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were subjected to integrative analyses. Screening of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database identified 159 NRGs, among which 35 differentially expressed NRGs (DENRGs) were associated with necroptosis, apoptosis, and immune signaling pathways. Cox regression combined with Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) analysis yielded three NRGs (CAMK2A, CHMP4C, and PYGB) strongly associated with patient prognosis. Based on these genes, a prognostic model was constructed to stratify patients into high- and low-risk subgroups with distinct survival patterns. External dataset validation demonstrated moderate predictive accuracy. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) confirmed abnormal expression of the three genes in LUSC tissues. Additional analyses revealed correlations of these NRGs with immune infiltration, immune checkpoint activity, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI).ConclusionsA three-gene NRG signature was identified as a prognostic marker in LUSC. These genes appear to influence disease progression and the immune microenvironment, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets and as a foundation for further investigation. creator: Kai Sun creator: Ke-run Wang creator: Song Wen creator: Juan-juan Hong creator: Yu-lang Fei creator: Qing-hua Pan creator: Fang-fang Xie uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20260 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2025 Sun et al. title: Effects of virtual reality exercise on fatigue, pain, and psychological status among cancer patients: a meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/20196 last-modified: 2025-10-29 description: BackgroundCancer and its associated therapies can result in pain, fatigue, and high psychological depression with anxiety levels. Therefore, this meta-analysis explored the effects of virtual reality (VR) exercise on fatigue and pain in cancer patients, and the secondary outcomes assessed the levels of depression and anxiety.MethodologyEligible studies were searched for through four databases and then screened. The inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) Participants with cancer; (2) randomised controlled trial and single-arm trials; (3) the intervention group received VR exercise; (4) conducted pre- and post-test, which include fatigue, pain, depression and anxiety. The Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the selected study. Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) was selected as the appropriate effect scale index, and Revman 5.4 software was used to analyze the mean difference of the selected article data. (Registration number: CRD420251037421).ResultsThe meta-analysis outcomes implied a greater reduction in fatigue following the virtual reality group (VRG) intervention in comparison to control group (COG) (SMD, 0.77 [0.50, 1.04], p < 0.05, I2 = 61%). The heterogeneity of these outcomes then indicated that subgroup analyses were necessary. Consequently, these analyses denoted that fatigue was substantially improved in intervention durations below 30 min (SMD, 0.44 [0.08, 0.81], p < 0.05, I2 = 22%) and above 30 min (SMD, 1.20 [0.78, 1.61], p < 0.05, I2 = 0%). Significant pain improvement was also observed in VRG than COG (SMD, −0.88 [−1.15, −0.60], p < 0.05, I2 = 36%).ConclusionsThis review indicated that VR exercise reduced fatigue, pain, and anxiety in cancer patients. Nevertheless, the effect of VR exercise on relieving depression is not clear, which may be a potentially effective non pharmacological intervention in this population. creator: Ruihan Wang creator: Yunwei Wang creator: Shiming Li creator: Shuoqi Li uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20196 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Wang et al. title: Application of intestinal microbiota in marine fish for assessing the toxicity of typical pollutants: a literature review link: https://peerj.com/articles/20248 last-modified: 2025-10-28 description: The widespread diffusion and dilution of pollutants in the ocean lead to prolonged exposure of marine organisms to low-concentration contaminated environments, raising growing concerns about the potential risks associated with chronic low-level pollution. The gut microbiota of fish plays a pivotal role in essential physiological processes, which are critical for host health. Therefore, the key microbes in the gut could serve as valuable biomarkers for assessing the toxic effects of pollutants. This article systematically reviews the structure and functions of marine fish gut microbiota, outlines the primary methodologies for assessing gut microbiota, and highlights the impacts of typical pollutants (including petroleum hydrocarbons, antibiotics, heavy metals, and microplastic) on the composition, functionality, and metabolic activities of marine fish gut microbiota. In the future, integrating multi-technology approaches to investigate the toxic mechanisms of pollutants on gut microbiota and their biodegradation pathways will represent a pivotal direction in marine ecotoxicology research. creator: Yunzhi Feng creator: Haolong Xu creator: Guohua Xu creator: Dong Sun uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20248 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2025 Feng et al.