title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=337 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Citizen science initiatives document biodiversity baselines at an urban lake link: https://peerj.com/articles/17209 last-modified: 2024-04-17 description: Changes to biodiversity from urbanization are occurring worldwide, and baseline data is vital to document the magnitude and direction of these alterations. We set out to document the biodiversity of an urban lake in Eastern Iowa that was devoid of baseline data prior to a renovation project that will convert the site into a major area for human recreation. Throughout the course of one year, we studied the biodiversity at Cedar Lake utilizing the citizen-science application iNaturalist coupled with semi-structured BioBlitz events, which we compared to previous opportunistic observations at the site. From a semi-structured approach to document biodiversity with citizen science, our analyses revealed more diverse community metrics over a shorter period compared to more than a decade of prior observations. creator: Alyssah Ahern creator: Daniel F. Hughes uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17209 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Ahern and Hughes title: Gene expression profiles of Japanese precious coral Corallium japonicum during gametogenesis link: https://peerj.com/articles/17182 last-modified: 2024-04-16 description: BackgroundCorallium japonicum, a prized resource in Japan, plays a vital role in traditional arts and fishing industries. Because of diminished stock due to overexploitation, ongoing efforts are focused on restoration through transplantation. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the reproductive biology of these valuable corals and find more efficient methods for sex determination, which may significantly contribute to conservation initiatives.MethodsWe used 12 three-month aquarium reared C. japonicum colony fragments, conducted histological analysis for maturity and sex verification, and performed transcriptome analysis via de novo assembly and mapping using the C. rubrum transcriptome to explore gene expression differences between female and male C. japonicum.ResultsOur histological observations enabled sex identification in 33% of incompletely mature samples. However, the sex of the remaining 67% of samples, classified as immature, could not be identified. RNA-seq yielded approximately 21–31 million short reads from 12 samples. De novo assembly yielded 404,439 highly expressed transcripts. Among them, 855 showed significant differential expression, with 786 differentially expressed transcripts between females and males. Heatmap analysis highlighted 283 female-specific and 525 male-specific upregulated transcripts. Transcriptome assembly mapped to C. rubrum yielded 28,092 contigs, leading to the identification of 190 highly differentially expressed genes, with 113 upregulated exclusively in females and 70 upregulated exclusively in males. Blastp analysis provided putative protein annotations for 83 female and 72 male transcripts. Annotation analysis revealed that female biological processes were related to oocyte proliferation and reproduction, whereas those in males were associated with cell adhesion.DiscussionTranscriptome analysis revealed sex-specific gene upregulation in incompletely mature C. japonicum and shared transcripts with C. rubrum, providing insight into its gene expression patterns. This study highlights the importance of using both de novo and reference-based assembly methods. Functional enrichment analysis showed that females exhibited enrichment in cell proliferation and reproduction pathways, while males exhibited enrichment in cell adhesion pathways. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the gene expressions of each sex during the spawning season. Our findings offer valuable insights into the physiological ecology of incompletely mature red Japanese precious corals and suggest a method for identifying sex using various genes expressed in female and male individuals. In the future, techniques such as transplantation, artificial fertilization, and larval rearing may involve sex determination methods based on differences in gene expression to help conserve precious coral resources and ecosystems. creator: Ma. Marivic Capitle Pepino creator: Sam Edward Manalili creator: Satoko Sekida creator: Takuma Mezaki creator: Tomoyo Okumura creator: Satoshi Kubota uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17182 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Pepino et al. title: Bidirectional correlation between gastroesophageal reflux disease and sleep problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis link: https://peerj.com/articles/17202 last-modified: 2024-04-16 description: ObjectivesGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep problems are highly prevalent among the general population. Both them are associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, which is highlighting an underexplored connection between them. This meta-analysis aims to explore the association between sleep problems and GERD.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science, using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords, covering articles from the inception of the databases until August 2023. Stata statistical software, version 14.0, was utilized for all statistical analyses. A fixed-effects model was applied when p > 0.1 and I2 ≤ 50%, while a random-effects model was employed for high heterogeneity (p < 0.1 and I2 > 50%). Funnel plots and Egger’s test were used to assess publication bias.ResultsInvolving 22 studies, our meta-analysis revealed that insomnia, sleep disturbance, or short sleep duration significantly increased the risk of GERD (OR = 2.02, 95% CI [1.64–2.49], p < 0.001; I2 = 66.4%; OR = 1.98, 95% CI [1.58–2.50], p < 0.001, I2 = 50.1%; OR = 2.66, 95% CI [2.02–3.15], p < 0.001; I2 = 62.5%, respectively). GERD was associated with an elevated risk of poor sleep quality (OR = 1.47, 95% CI [1.47–1.79], p < 0.001, I2 = 72.4%), sleep disturbance (OR = 1.47, 95% CI [1.24–1.74], p < 0.001, I2 = 71.6%), or short sleep duration (OR = 1.17, 95% CI [1.12–1.21], p < 0.001, I2 = 0).ConclusionThis meta-analysis establishes a bidirectional relationship between four distinct types of sleep problems and GERD. The findings offer insights for the development of innovative approaches in the treatment of both GERD and sleep problems. creator: Xiaolong Tan creator: Shasha Wang creator: Fengjie Wu creator: Jun Zhu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17202 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Tan et al. title: Defenses of whirligig beetles against native and invasive frogs link: https://peerj.com/articles/17214 last-modified: 2024-04-16 description: Many native insects have evolved defenses against native predators. However, their defenses may not protect them from non-native predators due to a limited shared history. The American bullfrog, Aquarana catesbeiana (Anura: Ranidae), which has been intentionally introduced to many countries, is believed to impact native aquatic animals through direct predation. Adults of whirligig beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae), known for swimming and foraging on the water surface of ponds and streams, reportedly possess chemical defenses against aquatic predators, such as fish. Although whirligig beetles potentially encounter both bullfrogs and other frogs in ponds and lakes, the effectiveness of their defenses against frogs has been rarely studied. To assess whether whirligig beetles can defend against native and non-native frogs, we observed the behavioral responses of the native pond frog, Pelophylax nigromaculatus (Anura: Ranidae), and the invasive non-native bullfrog, A. catesbeiana, to native whirligig beetles, Gyrinus japonicus and Dineutus orientalis, in Japan. Adults of whirligig beetles were provided to frogs under laboratory conditions. Forty percent of G. japonicus and D.orientalis were rejected by P. nigromaculatus, while all whirligig beetles were easily consumed by A. catesbeiana. Chemical and other secondary defenses of G. japonicus and D. orientalis were effective for some individuals of P. nigromaculatus but not for any individuals of A. catesbeiana. These results suggest that native whirligig beetles suffer predation by invasive non-native bullfrogs in local ponds and lakes in Japan. creator: Shinji Sugiura creator: Masakazu Hayashi uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17214 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Sugiura and Hayashi title: Effects of soil pH on the growth, soil nutrient composition, and rhizosphere microbiome of Ageratina adenophora link: https://peerj.com/articles/17231 last-modified: 2024-04-16 description: Ageratina adenophora is an invasive weed species found in many countries. Methods to control the spread of this weed have been largely unsuccessful. Soil pH is the most important soil factor affecting the availability of nutrients for plant and impacting its growth. Understanding the mechanisms of the influence of soil pH on the growth of A. adenophora may help to develop effective control measures. In this study, we artificially changed the soil pH in pot experiments for A. adenophora. We studied the effects of acidic (pH 5.5), weakly acidic (pH 6.5), neutral (pH 7.2), and alkaline (pH 9.0) soils on the growth, availability of soil nutrients, activity of antioxidant enzymes, levels of redox markers in the leaves, and the structure and diversity of the rhizosphere microbiome. Soil with a pH 7.2 had a higher (47.8%) below-ground height versus soils of pH 5.5 at day 10; plant had a higher (11.3%) above-ground height in pH 7.2 soils than pH 9.0 soils at day 90; no differences in the fresh and dry weights of its above- and belowground parts, plant heights, and root lengths were observed in plants growing in acid, alkaline, or neutral pH soil were observed at day 180. Correspondingly, the antioxidant enzymes SOD (superoxide dismutase), POD (peroxidase), CAT (catalase) and redox markers GSH (glutathione) and MDA (malondialdehyde) were measured in the leaves. Significant differences existed in the activities of CAT and the levels of GSH between those growing in acidic and alkaline soils and those in neutral pH soil at day 90; however, only lower (36.8%) CAT activities in those grown at pH 5.5 than those grown at pH 7.2 were found at day 180. Similarly, significant differences in available P (16.89 vs 3.04 mg Kg−1) and total K (3.67 vs 0.96 mg Kg−1), total P (0.37 vs 0.25 g Kg−1) and total N (0.45 vs 1.09 g Kg−1) concentrations were found between the rhizosphere soils of A. adenophora grown at pH 9.0 and 7.2 at day 90; no such differences were seen at day 180. High throughput analyses of the 16S rRNA and ITS fragments showed that the rhizosphere microbiome diversity and composition under different soil pH conditions changed over 180 days. The rhizosphere microbiomes differed in diversity, phylum, and generic composition and population interactions under acid and alkaline conditions versus those grown in neutral soils. Soil pH had a greater impact on the diversity and composition of the prokaryotic rhizosphere communities than those of the fungal communities. A. adenophora responded successfully to pH stress by changing the diversity and composition of the rhizosphere microbiome to maintain a balanced nutrient supply to support its normal growth. The unusual pH tolerance of A. adenophora may be one crucial reason for its successful invasion. Our results suggest that attempts use soil pH to control its invasion by changing the soil pH (for example, using lime) will fail. creator: Yun Xia creator: Junna Feng creator: Hongbo Zhang creator: Deyu Xiong creator: Lingdong Kong creator: Robert Seviour creator: Yunhong Kong uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17231 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Xia et al. title: Marine introgressions and Andean uplift have driven diversification in neotropical Monkey tree frogs (Anura, Phyllomedusinae) link: https://peerj.com/articles/17232 last-modified: 2024-04-16 description: The species richness in the Neotropics has been linked to environmental heterogeneity and a complex geological history. We evaluated which biogeographic processes were associated with the diversification of Monkey tree frogs, an endemic clade from the Neotropics. We tested two competing hypotheses: the diversification of Phyllomedusinae occurred either in a “south-north” or a “north-south” direction in the Neotropics. We also hypothesized that marine introgressions and Andean uplift had a crucial role in promoting their diversification. We used 13 molecular markers in a Bayesian analysis to infer phylogenetic relationships among 57 species of Phyllomedusinae and to estimate their divergence times. We estimated ancestral ranges based on 12 biogeographic units considering the landscape modifications of the Neotropical region. We found that the Phyllomedusinae hypothetical ancestor range was probably widespread throughout South America, from Western Amazon to Southern Atlantic Forest, at 29.5 Mya. The Phyllomedusines’ ancestor must have initially diverged through vicariance, generally followed by jump-dispersals and sympatric speciation. Dispersal among areas occurred mostly from Western Amazonia towards Northern Andes and the South American diagonal of dry landscapes, a divergent pattern from both "south-north" and "north-south" diversification hypotheses. Our results revealed a complex diversification process of Monkey tree frogs, occurring simultaneously with the orogeny of Northern Andes and the South American marine introgressions in the last 30 million years. creator: Diego Almeida-Silva creator: Leonardo Matheus Servino creator: Matheus Pontes-Nogueira creator: Ricardo J. Sawaya uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17232 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Almeida-Silva et al. title: Association of rotating night shift work with tooth loss and severe periodontitis among permanent employees in Japan: a cross-sectional study link: https://peerj.com/articles/17253 last-modified: 2024-04-16 description: BackgroundThe modern 24/7 society demands night shift work, which is a possible risk factor for chronic diseases. This study aimed to examine the associations of rotating night shift work duration with tooth loss and severe periodontitis.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data from a self-administered questionnaire survey conducted among 3,044 permanent employees aged 20–64 years through a Japanese web research company in 2023. The duration of rotating night shift work was assessed using a question from the Nurses’ Health Study. Tooth loss was assessed based on self-reported remaining natural teeth count. Severe periodontitis was assessed using a validated screening questionnaire comprising four questions related to gum disease, loose tooth, bone loss, and bleeding gums. We employed linear regression models for tooth loss and Poisson regression models for severe periodontitis, adjusting for demographic, health and work-related variables and socioeconomic status.ResultsAmong participants included, 10.9% worked in rotating night shifts for 1–5 years, while 11.0% worked in such shifts for ≥6 years. In fully adjusted models, rotating night shift work duration of 1–5 years was associated with tooth loss (beta −0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−1.55 to 0.08]) and severe periodontitis (prevalence ratio 1.80, 95% CI [1.33–2.43]); however, the association with tooth loss was not statistically significant.ConclusionsThis study supports that employees who work short-term rotating night shifts may experience poor oral conditions. Further research is needed to determine whether long-term rotating night shift work is associated with deteriorated oral health. creator: Yukihiro Sato creator: Eiji Yoshioka creator: Yasuaki Saijo uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17253 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Sato et al. title: Promoting sustainable agriculture by exploiting plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to improve maize and cowpea crops link: https://peerj.com/articles/16836 last-modified: 2024-04-15 description: Maize and cowpea are among the staple foods most consumed by most of the African population, and are of significant importance in food security, crop diversification, biodiversity preservation, and livelihoods. In order to satisfy the growing demand for agricultural products, fertilizers and pesticides have been extensively used to increase yields and protect plants against pathogens. However, the excessive use of these chemicals has harmful consequences on the environment and also on public health. These include soil acidification, loss of biodiversity, groundwater pollution, reduced soil fertility, contamination of crops by heavy metals, etc. Therefore, essential to find alternatives to promote sustainable agriculture and ensure the food and well-being of the people. Among these alternatives, agricultural techniques that offer sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions that reduce or eliminate the excessive use of agricultural inputs are increasingly attracting the attention of researchers. One such alternative is the use of beneficial soil microorganisms such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). PGPR provides a variety of ecological services and can play an essential role as crop yield enhancers and biological control agents. They can promote root development in plants, increasing their capacity to absorb water and nutrients from the soil, increase stress tolerance, reduce disease and promote root development. Previous research has highlighted the benefits of using PGPRs to increase agricultural productivity. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms of action of PGPRs and their exploitation as biofertilizers would present a promising prospect for increasing agricultural production, particularly in maize and cowpea, and for ensuring sustainable and prosperous agriculture, while contributing to food security and reducing the impact of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on the environment. Looking ahead, PGPR research should continue to deepen our understanding of these microorganisms and their impact on crops, with a view to constantly improving sustainable agricultural practices. On the other hand, farmers and agricultural industry players need to be made aware of the benefits of PGPRs and encouraged to adopt them to promote sustainable agricultural practices. creator: Nadège Adoukè Agbodjato creator: Olubukola Oluranti Babalola uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16836 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Agbodjato and Babalola title: GPR27 expression correlates with prognosis and tumor progression in gliomas link: https://peerj.com/articles/17024 last-modified: 2024-04-15 description: BackgroundsGlioma is a highly aggressive type of brain tumor, and its prognosis is still poor despite recent progress in treatment strategies. G protein-coupled receptor 27 (GPR27) is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family and has been reported to be involved in various cellular processes, including tumor progression. Nevertheless, the clinical potential and tumor-related role of GPR27 in glioma remain unknown. Here we aimed to explore the function and role of GPR27 in gliomas.MethodsIn the current study, we evaluated the expression and clinical significance of GPR27 in gliomas using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. We also conducted cellular experiments to evaluate the functional role of GPR27 in glioma cell growth.ResultsWe found that GPR27 expression level was closely associated with disease status of glioma. Of note, GPR27 was negatively correlated with WHO grade, with grade IV samples showing the lowest GPR27 levels, while grade II samples showed the highest levels. Patients with IDH mutation or 1p/19q co-deletion exhibited higher GPR27 levels. In addition, lower GPR27 levels were correlated with higher death possibilities. In cellular experiments, we confirmed that GPR27 inhibited glioma cell growth.ConclusionsOur results indicate that GPR27 may function as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in gliomas. Further studies are needed to illustrate the signaling mechanism and clinical implications of GPR27 in gliomas. creator: Changcheng Cai creator: Libo Hu creator: Ke Wu creator: Yinggang Liu uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17024 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2024 Cai et al. title: Effectiveness of gamification in nursing degree education link: https://peerj.com/articles/17167 last-modified: 2024-04-15 description: BackgroundPrevious research in nursing has found favorable results from the use of teaching methodologies alternative to lectures. One of the complementary methodologies used for university teaching is gamification, or the inclusion of game elements, creating a dynamic learning environment that allows the acquisition of knowledge and the development of other skills necessary for nursing students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a gamification session on student satisfaction and knowledge scores in nursing students in simulated laboratory practice.MethodsA pre-post quasi-experimental study was conducted with 122 students from the nursing degree program who participated in the research. The evaluation consisted of four sessions of three hours each. In two sessions, participants were trained through a vertical methodology, by means of theoretical training provided by teaching staff, and two hours of clinical simulation, where the students were able to practice the techniques on professional simulators. At the other two sessions, participants received an explanation of the theoretical aspects of the session, one hour of clinical simulation, and one hour of gamification, in which they had to pass tests based on the performance of practical activities on the subject of the session. At the end of the gamification session, all the participants received a certificate as winners of the “nursing game”.ResultsThere was an improvement in the satisfaction and the knowledge level in the gamification sessions. Both were statistically significant (P < 0.001). There was an improvement in the items related to the development of critical thinking and the mobilizing concepts from theory to practice in the gamification sessions.ConclusionThe intervention was effective in improving the satisfaction of the sessions received and in knowledge development. creator: Sebastián Sanz-Martos creator: Cristina Álvarez-García creator: Carmen Álvarez-Nieto creator: Isabel M. López-Medina creator: María Dolores López-Franco creator: Maria E. Fernandez-Martinez creator: Lucía Ortega-Donaire uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17167 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2024 Sanz-Martos et al.