PLOS ONE
Expression of Concern: Regulation of PKC Mediated Signaling by Calcium during Visceral Leishmaniasis
by The PLOS One Editors
arXiv 등 학술 논문. CC-BY 라이선스로 자유 재사용 가능 — 출처표시 시 상업 사용 OK.
총 453건
by The PLOS One Editors
by The PLOS One Editors
by Olufeyisayo O. Odebunmi, Anna Ilyasova, Assanatou Bamogo, Yeshaben Patel, Colleen Higgins, Erin Laurie, Lisa N. Mansfield, Sachiko Ozawa, Stephanie B. Wheeler, Lisa P. Spees Objective To evaluate primary care health professionals’ (PCHPs) perspectives on how their communication influences HPV vaccine acceptance, based on the self-perception theory. And to examine the factors associated with PCHPs’ perceived influence on HPV vaccine acceptance. Methods An online national survey was administered between May and July 2022 to PCHPs involved in HPV vaccination for children ages 9–12 years old. Survey items comprised of PCHPs’ demographics, clinic settings, and selected HPV communication measures, such as influence of vaccine communication, strategies and challenges, and past HPV vaccine communication training. Logistic regression models assessed factors associated with PCHPs’ perceived influence of their communication on HPV vaccine acceptance. Results The majority of PCHPs felt their communication greatly influenced HPV vaccine acceptance. Compared to PCHPs who thought that communication had little or some influence on HPV vaccine acceptance, PCHPs who thought their communication greatly influenced HPV vaccine acceptance were more likely to: 1) use presumptive recommendations (aOR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.57), 2) report parental concerns about HPV vaccination promoting sexual activity (aOR:1.26, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.51), and 3) have had HPV vaccine communication training on how to address parental HPV vaccine hesitancy (aOR:1.25; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.54). Conclusion This study demonstrates the pivotal role of vaccine communication in influencing HPV vaccine acceptance among PCHPs. Tailored vaccine communication training that involves the entire primary care team and equips them with effective communication techniques is essential to increase PCHP’s confidence in vaccine conversations and competence in making HPV vaccine recommendations. HPV vaccine communication should also include content that promotes the cancer preventive role of HPV vaccine and debunks the myth around HPV vaccination promoting sexual activity.
by Hongmin Wang, Zhiyong Lei, Xing Liu Passive radar exploits ambient broadcast signals and requires no dedicated transmitter, making it attractive for covert surveillance and target monitoring. A fundamental difficulty arises at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or when targets move slowly: the class decision (static vs. dynamic) and the geometry-based position estimate are solved in two independent steps by most existing methods, which can lead to inconsistent outputs. We propose a joint spatiotemporal–geometry framework for a dual-static passive radar operating on DVB-T broadcast signals at 650 MHz. The framework combines a spatiotemporal encoder with dilated convolutions and cross-attention, and a Cramér–Rao-weighted Levenberg–Marquardt bistatic solver. The two components are coupled through an iterative optimisation loop: the encoder class probability steers a physics-consistent velocity penalty inside the solver, while the updated solver state feeds back into the next class decision. Unlike prior joint methods that either operate on sequential tracks or incorporate physics only at training time, the proposed framework enforces the exact bistatic delay and Doppler equations as hard constraints at every test-time iteration while the encoder class probability actively steers the geometry penalty within the same optimisation loop. Across 500 Monte Carlo trials per SNR point and five independent evaluation seeds, the proposed method achieves a mean classification accuracy of 93.7 ± 0.8% with a weighted F1-score of 0.937 ± 0.007. The mean localisation error at −6 dB SNR is 1.15 ± 0.09 km, a 28.1% reduction compared with a geometry-only baseline. The joint optimisation converges in a mean of 4.1 ± 0.8 outer iterations. A sensitivity analysis confirms that all results are stable across a factor-of-two variation in any single hyperparameter. Within the simulated dual-static passive radar environment considered in this study, the proposed iterative approach consistently outperforms seven evaluated baseline methods in both classification accuracy and localisation error.
by Cristina Toscano Fonseca, Rosiane A. da Silva-Pereira, Roberta Lima Caldeira, Wilma Patrícia de Oliveira Santos Bernardes, Clarice Carvalho Alves, Taynãna César Simões, Wagnner José Nascimento Porto, Edward José Oliveira, on behalf of the ValidaXisto team The persistence of schistosomiasis as a serious public health problem can be attributed, in part, to the lack of more accurate diagnostic techniques, particularly in areas with low prevalence and low parasitic burden. Thus, an effective diagnostic tool with broad applicability for detecting active infections in both high- and low-prevalence settings, as well as for accurately monitoring cure after therapeutic interventions, represent an instrument of utmost importance for controlling disease transmission. Therefore, we propose evaluating different commercial tests for schistosomiasis diagnosis identified through a review of all tests registered to be used in Brazil by the Brazilian regulatory agency (ANVISA) and those registered by other regulatory agencies, as well as prototypes of tests under development. In addition, we propose the development and evaluation of molecular diagnostic methodologies for schistosomiasis using different biological samples (stool, blood, and urine) from individuals living in an endemic area. The Kato-Katz technique, with 18 slides per stool sample, will be used as the reference test for definition of schistosomiasis cases. The performance of the evaluated techniques will be compared with respect to sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative likelihood ratios, agreement with the reference test, cost, time, and ease of execution. The effectiveness and feasibility of these diagnostic tests will be assessed to recommend their incorporation into the schistosomiasis surveillance actions of the Ministry of Health within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) in the short to medium term, considering the conditions faced by surveillance programs within Primary Health Care.
by Linda Mercy Akello, Jimmy Osuret, Jovan Galiwango, Amos Deogratius Mwaka, Christopher Garimoi Orach Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health concern. Uganda has a high prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant mothers. This study aimed to determine HBV vaccine uptake and associated factors among pregnant women attending Antenatal Care (ANC) at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital (GRRH). Methods This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 430 participants who were selected by systematic sampling. Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire built on the Kobo Collect server and analyzed using STATA version 16.0. Prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated using a modified Poisson regression analysis to determine the association between HBV vaccine uptake and the predictors. Results More than half (53%:229/430) of the pregnant mothers had received at least a dose of the HBV vaccine. Factors statistically significantly associated with HBV vaccine uptake included age (APR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02–1.18), knowledge about HBV (APR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01–1.10), and healthcare worker communication (APR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04–1.32). Conclusion More than half of pregnant mothers had received at least a dose of the HBV vaccination. Age, knowledge, and healthcare communication influenced vaccine uptake. There is a need to provide adequate health education regarding the importance of completing the HBV vaccine to pregnant women and community members to improve vaccine outcomes.
by Xinyao Zhu, Qilong Wu, Yuqi Li, Zhiyu Liu, Yang Zeng, Zhiqiang Zeng, Yubo Zhou, Lunhong Zou, Xiaochun Wu, Dan Zhao, Qingfu Deng, Tao Zhou Background Phenolic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) are widespread water pollutants. Their estrogen-like properties are suspected contributors to prostate cancer, but their precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Methods We employed a multidimensional framework to investigate this link. Potential NP/OP targets were predicted using SwissTargetPrediction, SEA, and CTD databases and cross-referenced with prostate cancer-associated genes from GeneCards and OMIM. Differential expression analysis of the GSE46602 dataset (36 tumor vs. 14 benign samples) identified candidate genes, which were refined to core genes using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and Support Vector Machine-Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithms. Their diagnostic power was evaluated via an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model and validated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort. Single-cell RNA sequencing data from six prostate cancer samples (GSE137829) were analyzed to reveal cell-type-specific expression patterns. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations assessed binding stability between pollutants and target proteins. Results We identified 143 overlapping genes between NP/OP targets and prostate cancer-associated genes, significantly enriched in lipid metabolism and prostate cancer pathways (adjusted P 1, adjusted P via FASN, potentially activating a pro-oncogenic network, which warrants future experimental validation.
by Caifang Qiu, Hui Wang, Ran Liu Physical activity has been associated with gut microbiota variation and body composition phenotypes, but evidence in female dance students remains limited. This study compared body composition profiles and gut microbiota characteristics between female university students majoring in dance and those from non-dance majors. Seventy students were included (n = 35 per group). Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody 970), and fecal samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Dance students exhibited significantly lower adiposity related parameters and central fat accumulation indices, including PBF, BFM, FMI, VFA, VFL, WC, WHR, WHtR, ABSI, and conicity index (P P P > 0.05). Gut microbiota composition differed between groups, with differential taxa observed across multiple taxonomic levels. Notably, Faecalibacterium and Lachnospiraceae_ND3007_group showed negative correlations with adiposity related indices and positive correlations with muscle and hydration related parameters, whereas Peptoniphilus, Ezakiella, and Fenollaria were positively correlated with adiposity related indices. In addition, Fusobacterium and Escherichia Shigella were positively associated with central adiposity measures. These findings indicate that female dance students exhibit distinct body composition profiles, while microbiome-related differences and associations appear modest and exploratory, warranting further validation in larger and well-controlled studies.
by Jorge Maurino, Laura Carrera-García, Paz Castro-Fernández, Ignacio Málaga, Andrés Nascimento, Gustavo Saposnik Background Decision-making in complex medical conditions is a cognitively demanding task influenced by clinician-specific behavioral factors. Procrastination, the voluntary delay of intended actions despite foreseeable adverse outcomes, is a self-regulation failure often exacerbated by high-stress clinical environments. This study evaluated the prevalence of procrastination among healthcare professionals (HCPs) managing spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and analyzed its associations with burnout and healthcare-related regret. Methods We conducted a non-interventional, cross-sectional, web-based study of HCPs recruited through the Spanish CuidAME registry. Participants were assessed using a battery of validated instruments: the Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS), the Regret Intensity Scale (RIS-10), the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS), and a single-item burnout measure. In addition to multivariate logistic regression, we employed a regression-based mediation analysis with bootstrap resampling to explore potential indirect effects of burnout on procrastination via regret intensity. Results Thirty-seven HCPs completed the study. Moderate-to-high procrastination was identified in 35.1% of the cohort. PPS scores correlated significantly with burnout (rho = 0.49, p = 0.002) and regret intensity (rho = 0.43, p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis identified burnout as the single independent factor associated with procrastination (OR: 8.17; 95%CI: 1.60–41.62; p = 0.011). Although burnout significantly predicted increased regret intensity, mediation analysis confirmed no significant indirect effect (beta = 0.98; 95%CI: −1.74 to 3.79). Burnout maintained a robust association with procrastination, independent of the mediator (beta = 5.11, p = 0.039). Conclusions Procrastination is a prevalent behavioral trait in SMA care. While procrastination correlates with healthcare-related regret, burnout serves as its primary independent predictor of this behavior. These exploratory findings suggest that targeted interventions to mitigate clinician burnout may facilitate the optimization of decision-making processes in complex neuromuscular care.
by Yiwen Wei, Lingxiao Guo, Qunshan Tao, Hua Wei Background With the coordinated advancement of China’s “dual carbon” goals and the Healthy China strategy, the harmonious development of carbon emission governance and public health service efficiency has emerged as a central issue in China’s sustainable transition. Methods This study takes 31 provincial-level administrative units in China over the period 2012–2023 as the unit of analysis, and constructs a systematic analytical framework encompassing “measurement–coupling–inequality decomposition–determinant identification.” Specifically, the entropy weight method is employed to assess the composite level of carbon emission governance; the DEA-SBM model is applied to evaluate public health service efficiency; the coupling coordination degree model is used to quantify the coordinated development level of the two systems; the Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition is then utilized to identify the sources of regional disparities; the Global Moran’s Index is adopted to track the evolution of spatial agglomeration; and a two-way fixed effects Tobit model is constructed to identify associated factors. Results The national coupling coordination degree (CCD) exhibited an overall trajectory of initial fluctuation followed by a sustained upward trend. During 2012–2017, the CCD of most provinces remained within the range of 0.44–0.63, rising broadly to the 0.54–0.72 interval after 2018. Inter-regional inequality consistently constituted the dominant source of total disparity throughout the study period. After 2018, the coordination gap between eastern and western regions continued to widen, while intra-regional disparities among western provinces simultaneously intensified, with both trends jointly driving an increasingly pronounced pattern of regional divergence. The Global Moran’s Index rose from 0.227 to 0.497, indicating a continuous strengthening of spatial agglomeration. The associated factors exhibited significant regional heterogeneity: R&D investment intensity demonstrated a significant positive association with CCD in central and western regions; urban population density exerted a significant inhibitory effect on coordination degree in western provinces; and the direction of the association between economic development level and CCD was opposite in eastern and central regions. Conclusions Institutional time lags, factor endowment disparities, and spatial polarization mechanisms constitute the core structural barriers constraining the coordinated development of the two systems. There is an urgent need to establish a differentiated, region-specific, and phase-based policy intervention framework to promote balanced and coordinated regional development.
by The PLOS One Editors
by The PLOS One Editors
by The PLOS One Editors
by A. J. A. Al-Gburi This paper presents an ultra-compact millimetre-wave antenna designed to support 28 GHz and 38 GHz 5G smartphone applications. To ensure safe and reliable integration, a comprehensive specific absorption rate (SAR) evaluation was carried out using three anatomically realistic head phantoms: a full-head, a skeletal skull, and an isolated brain model. The fabricated prototype demonstrated robust dual-band performance with close agreement between simulated and measured results. Importantly, SAR levels remained well below international safety limits, confirming both compliance and user safety. These results highlight the antenna’s strong potential for enabling next-generation high-data-rate communications in compact mobile devices.
by Yosia Mugume, Ron Cook, Breana Hagerty, Jinjie Liu, Zachary B. Alvord, Linda Danhof, John E. Froehlich, Josh V. Vermaas, Christoph Benning Plastid Lipase 3 (PLIP3) is a chloroplast phospholipase A that cleaves linolenic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, from the sn-1 position of the chloroplast membrane lipid monogalactosyldiacylglycerol. Linolenic acid is subsequently converted by enzymes in the chloroplast and the peroxisome to jasmonic acid (JA) requiring transport between the organelles. Overexpression of a cDNA encoding PLIP3 resulted in stunted plant growth with altered leaf morphology caused by accumulation of JA and other oxylipin metabolites redirecting the metabolism from growth to defense. We conducted a genetic suppressor screen in the PLIP3-OX (PLIP3 overexpression) line to query the entire pathway from the start of JA biosynthesis to its perception, transduction, and modification by other signaling pathways. We identified a mutant allele of the 13-lipoxgenase LOX3, lox3–4, that is causal to the attenuation of the PLIP3-OX phenotype with reduced dwarfism and decreased production of JA and other oxylipins. The responsible G776E point mutation is in the C terminal catalytic domain in proximity to the non heme iron binding site of LOX3. The point mutation likely inhibits the oxidation of α-linolenic acid demonstrating its importance for general JA biosynthesis as its activity cannot be compensated for by other 13-lipoxygenases.
by InHo Lee, SangHee Hong, EunChul Jang, JuneHee Lee, JeongBeom Lee Background Confined space work exposes workers to complex risks, including oxygen deficiency, hazardous gases, and physical strain, requiring structured criteria for fitness-for-duty screening. This study aimed to develop a Confined-Space Suitability Index (CSSI) based on routinely available health examination and functional test data. Methods A total of 111 workers were analyzed. Risk factors were classified into anthropometric and metabolic factors, functional and physiological factors, and lifestyle factors. Low cardiorespiratory fitness was defined using age- and sex-specific VO₂max reference thresholds from Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) H-43–2021 and Canadian Public Health Association reference values. Risk-factor weights were derived using LASSO regression, and internal validation was performed using leave-one-out cross-validation and bootstrap stability analysis. Results According to the revised CSSI criteria, 86 workers were classified as suitable, 19 as caution, and 6 as unsuitable. The independent specialist assessment classified 7 workers as unsuitable. In leave-one-out cross-validation, the CSSI showed an AUROC of 0.940 and an AUPRC of 0.567, with sensitivity of 0.833, specificity of 0.933, and negative predictive value of 0.990. In bootstrap stability analysis, dyslipidemia, low cardiorespiratory fitness, and hypertension were consistently selected. Conclusions The CSSI may serve as a structured screening and referral-support index for identifying workers who require additional specialist evaluation before confined space work. However, it should be interpreted as an auxiliary index rather than a replacement for specialist fitness-for-duty judgment.
by Maimounah Hebi, Johanna Czamanski-Cohen, Karen L. Weihs, Richard D. Lane
by Wenhan Yang Tumor hypoxia is biologically important in breast cancer, but its prognostic value may be distorted by intrinsic molecular subtype composition. This study evaluated whether hypoxia-related prognosis was subtype-dependent and whether hypoxia was associated with genome-wide copy-number alteration (CNA) burden. Transcriptome-derived hypoxia scores, CNA burden, and overall survival data were analyzed from TCGA and METABRIC. Survival differences between hypoxia groups were assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank tests. Multivariable Cox models were used to evaluate hypoxia-related prognosis after adjustment for subtype and eligible clinical covariates. Proportional hazards diagnostics and Weibull accelerated failure time models were further applied to address potential model-assumption violations. In TCGA, the cohort-wide survival association was no longer evident after adjustment for subtype and clinical covariates. The clearest subtype-specific signal was observed in Luminal B tumors. Within this subtype, low hypoxia was associated with better survival after adjustment for age, stage, and CNA burden. In METABRIC, high hypoxia remained associated with poorer survival in Weibull accelerated failure time models. Higher hypoxia was also consistently associated with greater CNA burden across both cohorts. These findings support subtype-aware interpretation of hypoxia biomarkers and suggest a reproducible link between hypoxia and genomic instability in breast cancer.
by Pedro Cury, Rogério da Hora Passos, Fernanda Alves, Sérgio Brasil, Gustavo Frigieri, Fabio S. Taccone, Ronney B. Panerai, Juliana Caldas
by Darwin A. León-Figueroa, Edwin Aguirre-Milachay, Milagros Diaz-Torres, Jean Pierre Villanueva-De La Cruz, Edwin A. Garcia-Vasquez, Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas, Mario J. Valladares-Garrido