PeerJ最新文献

{"title":"SplintR ligation-triggered <i>in-situ</i> rolling circle amplification on magnetic bead for accurate detection of circulating microRNAs.","authors":"Sha Yang, Lijia Yuan, Xing Luo, Ting Xiao, Xiaoqing Sun, Liu Feng, Jiezhong Deng, Mei Zhan","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous noncoding RNAs, post-transcriptionally participate in multiple processes during cell growth and development. Moreover, dysregulation of miRNAs expression is intricately associated with cancer. Currently, challenges of high homology, sequence similarity, and low abundance encountered in the detection of target miRNAs in complex samples need to be addressed. Biosensors established for miRNAs detection suffer from limitations in terms of sensitivity, specificity and high cost. Herein, a miRNA detection method based on <i>in-situ</i> RCA on magnetic bead catalyzed by SplintR ligase was proposed to achieve high sensitivity and high specificity. The following steps are included: (1) formation of P1-P2-miRNA double-stranded complex under catalyzation of SplintR ligase, and the release of P1-P2 single strand under denaturation; (2) enrichment of P1-P2 single chain by streptavidin-modified magnetic beads (SM-MB); (3) <i>in situ</i> RCA on surface of magnetic beads; (4) fluorescence detection. After optimization of experimental conditions, miRNA-155 detection with improved sensitivity and specificity was achieved. The detection limit was low to 36.39 fM, and one-base mismatch discrimination was demonstrated. Also, the clinical practicability for circulating miRNA-155 detection was preliminarily validated in human serum samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19082"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11908441/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mining of co-expression genes in response to cold stress at maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) germination and sprouting stages by weighted gene co-expression networks analysis.","authors":"Chuangye Shi, Jing Dong, Chunxiao Zhang, Liquan Sun, Fengxue Jin, Xiaohui Zhou, Xueyan Liu, Weilin Wu, Xiaohui Li","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) is one of the main agricultural crops with the largest yield and acreage worldwide. Maize at the germination and sprouting stages are highly sensitive to low-temperatures, especially in high-latitude and high-altitude regions. Low-temperature damage in early spring presents a major meteorological disaster in maize, severely affecting plant growth and maize yield. Therefore, mining genes tolerant to low temperatures is crucial. We aimed to analyze differential gene expression and construct co-expression networks in maize under low temperatures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Inbred lines, Zhongxi 091/O2 and Chang 7-2, are tolerant and sensitive to low temperatures at the germination and sprouting stages, respectively. We grew these lines at 10 °C and 2 °C at the germination and sprouting stages, respectively. Samples were taken at five time points (0, 6, 12, 24, and 36 h) during the two stages, and transcriptome sequencing was performed. The analyses were conducted using weighted gene co-expression networks analysis (WGCNA), Gene Ontology (GO), the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and gene co-expression networks.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>WGCNA was used to construct co-expression networks at two stages, resulting in six and nine co-expression modules, respectively. Two modules at the germination stage (blue and yellow) and two modules at the sprouting stage (turquoise and magenta) were identified. These were significantly associated (<i>p</i> < 0.01) with tolerance at low temperature. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the four modules revealed entries related to hormone and oxygen-containing compound responses by GO functional enrichment. Among the four modules, DEGs from three modules were all significantly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway. Based on the connectivity, the top 50 genes for each module were selected to construct a protein interaction network. Seven genes have been proven to be involved in the response to low-temperature stress.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>WGCNA revealed the differences in the response patterns of genes to low-temperature stress between tolerant and sensitive lines at different time points. Seven genes involved in low-temperature stress were functionally annotated. This finding suggests that WGCNA is a viable approach for gene mining. The current findings provide experimental support for further investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying tolerance to low temperatures in maize.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19124"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11908442/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tree height-diameter allometry and implications for biomass estimates in Northeastern Amazonian forests.","authors":"Aldine Luiza Pereira Baia, Henrique E M Nascimento, Marcelino Guedes, Renato Hilário, José Julio Toledo","doi":"10.7717/peerj.18974","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18974","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The relationship between tree height and diameter varies across forest types, introducing uncertainties in height that can affect aboveground biomass estimates in tropical forests. Here, we used a four-step approach to assess whether incorporating height estimates from local height-diameter models, compared to two published equations, improves biomass estimates across spatial scales. First, we measured the diameter and height of 1,962 trees in two representative forest types in the Northeastern Amazon: non-flooded terra-firme and seasonally-flooded várzea forests. Second, we selected the best height-diameter models from a set of 10 candidates to establish local allometric equations. Third, we applied these best local models and two previously published height models (the regional Guyana shield, and the pantropical model) to estimate tree height, and compared these estimates to measured height. Finally, we computed tree biomass using equations that both included and excluded height, and compared these biomass estimates to those calculated using directly measured height. Asymptotic height-diameter models provided the best fit at local and regional scales. The Quadratic model was the best choice for terra-firme and várzea forests separately, while the Weibull and Michaelis-Menten models performed best for both forests. Local models closely matched measured heights, with deviations of only 0.1%, outperforming the regional and pantropical models within each forest type. The regional model underestimated height in terra-firme by 3% and overestimated it in várzea by 29%, while the pantropical model underestimated height in terra-firme by 19% and overestimated it in várzea by 6%. Using local asymptotic models to estimate height improved the accuracy of biomass estimates, with differences of around 1% between biomass computed using measured heights and estimated heights for terra-firme and várzea forests. In contrast, the biomass calculated using estimated heights from both the regional and pantropical models overestimated the biomass in várzea by 41% and 17%, respectively, while the pantropical model underestimated biomass in terra-firme by 17%. The estimated height and biomass of large trees using regional and pantropical models showed the highest deviations from the observed values. Our findings underscore the necessity for height-diameter modeling for different forest types, and highlight the need to increase sampling of large trees to improve biomass estimation accuracy in Northeastern Amazonia.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e18974"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11908443/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The re-description of <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> Zhou et al., 2018.","authors":"Bingqing Shan","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19154","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> is one of three sauropod species found in the Jehol Biota. <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> is from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Liaoning, China. The discovery of <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> was an important breakthrough for researching the diversity of giant herbivorous animals in the Jehol Biota. However, the research and analysis of <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> are not yet complete. This study presents a comprehensive research and analysis of <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> holotype. First, the skull, vertebrae, pelvic girdle, and appendicular elements of <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> holotype were carefully reexamined, leading to the discovery of mosaic evolution occurring in the skull and the identification of one new autapomorphy of humerus of <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i>: the attachment point of coracobrachialis muscle on the anterior surface of the proximal end of the humerus is flat. Second, the characteristics of the <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> holotype and other well-preserved sauropod dinosaurs were used to reconstruct the skull of <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i>. Next, <i>Euhelopus zdanskyi</i> was used to reconstruct the body type of <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> holotype, the result indicating that <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> was approximately 10 m in length. Finally, TNT software was utilized to analyze the phylogenetic position of <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i>, with the result indicating that <i>Liaoningotitan sinensis</i> can be classified into the Euhelopodidae.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19154"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11908444/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143649892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Propofol-based deep sedation for colonoscopy: does sufentanil, alfentanil or ketamine help? A propensity score weighted retrospective study.","authors":"Michele Fostier, Quentin Delhez, Gintare Januleviciute, Laurent Bairy","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19146","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.19146","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a frequent procedure for diagnosing and following up on various digestive disorders. It is often conducted under propofol sedation. The aim of this work is, first, to determine whether the addition of sufentanil, alfentanil, or ketamine to propofol has a propofol-sparing effect and, secondarily, how these drugs affect the patients' hemodynamic parameters and oxygenation as well as the duration of the procedure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from patients who underwent colonoscopy were extracted from the anesthesia records database and divided into four groups. Patients received either propofol or a combination of propofol and sufentanil, alfentanil, or ketamine. After inverse propensity weighting, we determined the average treatment effects for each group for the primary and secondary endpoints.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sufentanil was associated with a less than 10% decrease in propofol consumption. Alfentanil and ketamine showed no propofol-sparing effect. Sufentanil was associated with 2 min shorter procedures. Alfentanil was associated with more patients presenting hypoxemia and had no propofol-sparing effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Should a balanced sedation technique be chosen, sufentanil appears to be the adjuvant of choice, given its propofol-sparing effect and the absence of induced hypoxemia. A further prospective study is necessary to explain the lack of propofol-sparing effect of ketamine and alfentanil and confirm and explain the negative impact of alfentanil on patients' oxygenation.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19146"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905911/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143625085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of FIFA injury prevention programs in reducing ankle injuries among football players: a systematic review.","authors":"Mohammad Alhazmi, Emad Alhazmi, Wael Abdulghani Alghamdi, Mohammed Zalah, Shadab Uddin, Moattar Raza Rizvi, Fuzail Ahmad","doi":"10.7717/peerj.18910","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.18910","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ankle injuries are some of the most common injuries among footballers and can prevent players from participating in sport. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) developed FIFA injury prevention programs to reduce overall football injuries, but their effectiveness on a particular joint, such as the ankle, was not assessed. Therefore, this project aims to investigate if these FIFA injury prevention programs are particularly effective in reducing ankle injuries.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A systematic review was conducted with the following criteria for study selection: Randomized controlled trials (RTCs) comparing the FIFA programs (FIFA 11 the old version and FIFA 11+) with the usual training for the teams. Other studies that included the number or percentage of ankle injuries as an outcome. Sample: Male and female footballers aged between 13 and 40 years old and without any restriction on particular skill levels. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale (PEDro) was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The search strategy identified five RCTs that used the FIFA programs. The included studies had a good-to-excellent methodological quality according to the PEDro scale (ranging from 5 to 7 out of 10). The pooled data from all the included studies indicated that the FIFA 11 and FIFA 11+ programs were effective in reducing the ankle injury rate by 14%, while pooled results from the studies that used the FIFA 11+ program significantly reduced ankle injury rate by 32%. However, the FIFA 11 program was not effective in reducing the ankle injury rate.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The FIFA programs, and especially the FIFA 11+ program, appear to be more effective than the usual training in preventing ankle injuries among footballers.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e18910"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905912/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143625905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of long COVID on quality of life and work performance among healthcare workers in Portugal.","authors":"Filipe Prazeres, Ana Paula Romualdo, Inês Campos Pinto, Joana Silva, Andreia M Oliveira","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19089","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.19089","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a multisystem infectious disease which affected 5.7 million people in Portugal. A subgroup of patients experienced long-term effects from the infection, now referred to as long COVID. Long COVID can considerably reduce the quality of life (QoL) of affected patients. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of long COVID on QoL and work performance among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Portugal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A cross-sectional correlational survey was performed in 348 HCWs employed either in hospitals, or non-hospital health facilities in Portugal. Participants completed an online survey using Google Forms between May and June 2024, which consisted of multiple-choice questions and took less than 10 min to fill out. Long COVID was considered present if the defined symptoms started at least 3 months after the primary infection of COVID-19, and persisted for at least 2 months. The outcome measures were performance at work and QoL. Performance at work was measured using a seven-point Likert scale and QoL was evaluated using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Data was analyzed using SPSS.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 277 participants (79.6%) had history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 223 participants (64.1%) reported a history of long COVID. Extreme fatigue was reported by 158 participants (57.0%), cognitive dysfunction by 118 participants (42.6%), shortness of breath by 76 participants (27.4%), and persistent cough by 168 participants (60.6%). In the multivariate analysis, long COVID was significantly associated with lower SWLS scores indicating that long COVID negatively impacted QoL. Having two or more chronic diseases showed a trend towards lower performance, and extreme fatigue and cognitive dysfunction showed strong negative associations with performance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Discussion: &lt;/strong&gt;Based on a national sample of HCWs (348 individuals), a high percentage of participants (64.1%) reported a history of long COVID. These results suggest that HCWs in Portugal have a prevalence of the disease similar to that of the worldwide population. Concerning performance at work, having two or more chronic diseases showed a trend towards lower performance, as well as extreme fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. Interestingly, we found a negative association between being a clinical secretary and SWLS. This might be explained by the specific challenges or stressors faced by clinical secretaries, which could negatively impact their QoL. In conclusion, long COVID was prevalent in the studied sample of HCWs and had a negative impact on their QoL. Extreme fatigue and cognitive dysfunction were strongly negatively associated with performance. This suggests the need for targeted care for HCWs as a group. The results of this study can guide healthcare authorities in addressing important long-term consequences that should be considered in rehabilitation programs for p","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19089"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905913/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143625043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the classical and numerical Delboeuf illusion: the impact of transcranial alternating current stimulation on magnitude processing.","authors":"Maria Santacà, Francesco Carabba, Achini Mihindukulasooriya Fernando, Enrico Pitocco, Luca Battaglini, Umberto Granziol","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19064","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.19064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying quantity processing is crucial for unraveling human cognition. The existence of a single magnitude system, encompassing non-symbolic number estimation alongside other magnitudes like time and space, is still highly debated since clear evidence is limited. Recent research examined whether spatial biases also influence numerosity judgments, using visual illusions like the Delboeuf illusion. While findings support a generalized magnitude system, direct comparisons of spatial and numerical Delboeuf illusions are missing. This study explored whether perceptual biases similarly affect different magnitude processing and whether transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) modulates these processes. Participants underwent three tACS conditions (seven Hz, 18 Hz, placebo) while performing tasks involving the classic and numerical Delboeuf illusions. We hypothesized that theta-frequency tACS (seven Hz) would enhance visual integration and illusion strength, while beta tACS (18 Hz) would reduce it by promoting visual segregation. Results indicated higher discrimination accuracy in area-based tasks than numerical judgments. Nonetheless, a significant correlation between performances in spatial and numerical illusions supported the existence of a shared mechanism for magnitude processing. Contrary to expectations, seven Hz tACS reduced the perceptual illusion's strength. No significant interaction emerged between tACS frequency and discrimination abilities. These findings deepen our understanding of the cognitive processes involved in magnitude perception, potentially supporting the hypothesis of a generalized magnitude system. They also highlight the potential and limitations of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as tACS, in modulating perceptual processes, offering insights into the neural underpinnings of quantity perception.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19064"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905914/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143624694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in tooth size of <i>Otaria byronia</i>: an indicator of density-dependent effects?","authors":"Ailin Sosa Drouville, Federico Heredia, Mariano A Coscarella, Enrique Crespo, María Florencia Grandi","doi":"10.7717/peerj.18963","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.18963","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Teeth provide valuable information about an individual's life cycle and serve as a powerful tool for visualizing population-level changes associated with density-dependent processes. In pinnipeds, teeth are used to estimate the age of individuals based on the count of growth layer groups (GLG) in the dentine. In this study, we analyzed changes in tooth size and GLG widths in the canines of <i>Otaria byronia</i> throughout the past 100 years, linking these to fluctuations in population abundance. A total of 76 male individuals from Patagonia were analyzed, classified into two periods: harvest and postharvest. The length and diameter of each tooth were measured prior to sagittal sectioning. Only for the postharvest period body length was recorded. Longitudinal sections of the upper canine were prepared, age was determined and the width of each GLG was measured in the resulting half-tooth. Results indicated a positive correlation (F = 62.90; <i>p</i> < 0.001; <i>n</i> = 50; r² = 0.59) between body length and tooth length in postharvest individuals, suggesting that tooth growth is a reliable indicator of body growth. Individuals from the harvest period had narrower GLGs (t = 3.75; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and smaller tooth size (t = 3.48; <i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to those from the postharvest period. These results indicate that somatic growth of individuals may vary with population numbers and resources available. Also, hard structures like teeth are excellent tools for visualizing density-dependence effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e18963"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11892458/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143597476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping desert shrub aboveground biomass in the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, China using quantile regression forest (QRF).","authors":"XueFeng Yang","doi":"10.7717/peerj.19099","DOIUrl":"10.7717/peerj.19099","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> is an essential species within the Central Asian desert ecosystem, with its aboveground biomass (AGB) serving as a crucial marker of ecosystem health and desertification levels. Precise and effective methods for predicting AGB are vital for understanding the spatial distributions and ecological roles of desert regions. However, the low vegetation cover in these areas poses significant challenges for satellite-based research. In this study, aboveground biomass training and validation datasets were gathered using UAV LiDAR, covering an area of 50 square kilometers. These datasets were integrated with high-resolution, multi-temporal satellite images from Sentinel-1 (S1) and Sentinel-2 (S2). This study applied a spatial cross-validation method to develop a quantile regression forest (QRF) prediction model. This model was used to predict the AGB of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> forest across a study area of 14,000 square kilometers. The findings suggest that, when supported by ground data, multi-source remote sensing technology can estimate the AGB distribution of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> over large areas. Significant uncertainty exists within the model due to the low vegetation cover characteristic of arid regions and the uneven distribution of sampling points. This uncertainty can be reduced by using area of applicability (AOA) and uncertainty maps, which identify the regions where the model's predictions are most accurate and guide further data collection to enhance precision. This study provides improved insight into the spatial distribution and extent of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> AGB in the research area and offers essential geospatial information for ecosystem conservation strategies. The results also contribute to the understanding of how desert vegetation growth and carbon cycling respond to environmental changes, and for forecasting future vegetation dynamics in arid regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":19799,"journal":{"name":"PeerJ","volume":"13 ","pages":"e19099"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11892459/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143597477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}