PLOS ONE
Retraction: NFIC suppressed the development of Glioma via modulating the balance of SHP2/PI3K and NF-κB/PTEN Signaling
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 Mauricio A. Correa-Ochoa, Miriam Gómez-Marín, Kelly Viviana Patiño-López, Luisa M. Gómez Pelaez, Santiago A. Franco This study assessed the chemical characterization of PM2.5 at an urban background site in Medellín—Colombia, a city situated in a topographically constrained valley exposed to air pollution accumulation influenced by its complex Andean topography and a combination of local and regional emission sources. A total of 112 samples of PM2.5 were collected between March 2019 and March 2020, samples went through comprehensive sampling and chemical characterization (ICP-MS for metals, ion chromatography for anions, thermal/optical analysis for carbonaceous species). Daily PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 8.15 to 37.86 μg/m3 (mean: 21.73 ± 6.75 μg/m3). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified five major pollution sources, with mineral and resuspended dust (33.6% of explained variance) and secondary aerosols (17.0%) being the most prominent. The study area experiences clearly defined dry and wet periods, marked by distinct precipitation regimes. During the year these atmospheric conditions influence the concentration levels of pollutants. The integration of NOAA HYSPLIT back-trajectories and NASA FIRMS (VIIRS J2) fire hotspot data revealed long-range transport from the Magdalena, Orinoco and Amazon basins, deteriorating local air quality specially during dry periods. While local traffic and industrial emissions constitute a constant baseline, regional biomass burning and unfavorable meteorological conditions are the primary drivers of episodic high-pollution events. The study underscores the need for targeted strategies addressing both persistent sources as traffic or industrial emissions and episodic events to mitigate health and environmental impacts.
by Mandy H. M. Chu, Jacky K. M. Lai, Anna Lee, William K. K. Wu, Ziheng Huang, Henry M. K. Wong, Laptin Ho, Hao Su, Samantha S. M. Ho, Xinbo Xu, Warren Pavey, David J. R. Morgan, Matthew T. V. Chan, Kwok M. Ho Background Metabolic-related diseases become increasingly prevalent with age. Recent experimental evidence suggests that taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) deficiency contributes to these conditions, despite taurine being classified as a conditionally essential amino acid. Purpose This study aims to assess whether a 6-month oral taurine supplementation program improves blood glucose control and other health parameters among healthcare workers. Methods This study is a Bayesian-optimized phase II 1:1 randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive oral taurine (3 g/day) or an indistinguishable placebo for 6 months, stratified by (a) diabetes mellitus status and (b) age > 45 years. Assuming non-informative priors, posterior probabilities of effectiveness in reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) will be evaluated after enrollment of 20, 40, and 60 participants, if outcome data are available at those timepoints, to determine whether the trial should be stopped early for futility or superiority, prior to the planned total enrollment of 80 participants (protocol 1.4 on 19th September 2025). Outcomes The primary outcome is the proportion of participants achieving any reduction in HbA1c at 6 months compared with baseline. Secondary outcomes include changes in plasma lipid levels, blood pressure, PhenoAge, body weight, and skin autofluorescence index. Discussion This phase II trial applies a Bayesian-optimized design to evaluate the potential health benefits of oral taurine supplementation. The findings will inform whether a sufficiently powered phase III randomized controlled trial is warranted to define the role of taurine in promoting metabolic health. Trial registration This trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial registry (https://www.chictr.org.cn/hvshowprojectEN.html?id=277124&v=1.02025-05-21; Identifier: ChiCTR2500102879).
by Maura De Coster, Joep Hendriks, Hannah F. James, Christophe Snoeck, Gareth R. Davies, Lisette M. Kootker This study investigates dietary practices and local interaction in Roman and pre-Roman Nijmegen, the Netherlands, through strontium isotope ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) and concentration measurements on cremated human remains from rural, urban, and military contexts, which primarily reflect the geological provenance of dietary strontium. Located along the Lower Rhine borderlands, Nijmegen formed a key node within the Batavian region, where local communities intersected with imperial networks. The results reveal isotopic contrasts between site types: urban and military groups tend to display higher strontium concentrations, possibly consistent with greater engagement with salt-preserved and salt-rich foods, while in the northern contexts relatively stable concentrations alongside a narrowing of isotope ratios may suggest continuity in dietary practices, potentially including earlier traditions of salt consumption. These patterns indicate that dietary change was not uniform, but shaped by the interaction between emerging imperial foodways and pre-existing local practices. Rather than reflecting simple differences in access, the isotopic evidence points to varied and context-dependent forms of engagement with Roman provisioning systems.
by Shannon Maingot, Marije L. Verhage, Carlo Schuengel, Theodore E. A. Waters, Elja E. J. Meijer, Gabrielle Myre, Eva C. van Meeuwen, Glenn I. Roisman, Robbie Duschinsky, Marissa D. Nivison, Or Dagan, Victoria Zhu, Marinus van IJzendoorn, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, Sheri Madigan, Chantal Cyr, Kazuko Y. Behrens, Maria S. Wong, Elizabeth Meins, The Attachment Secondary Processing and Analysis Network of the Collaboration on Attachment Transmission Synthesis (ASPAN-CATS) How adults make meaning of their childhood experiences with caregivers plays a central role in how they anticipate support, manage distress, and interpret relationships. To understand how adults conceptualize these attachment relationships, the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) probes for childhood memories of general relationships, day-to-day interactions, and instances of loss, threat, and separation. Across these narratives, the AAI captures expectations of whether caregivers are perceived as an available source of support in times of distress, and whether they serve as a secure base from which to seek comfort and explore the world. Developing a coding system for secure base script knowledge, based on the AAI (AAIsbs), Waters, and Facompré also identified alternative, schema-like representations that seemed to conflict with the secure base script. Before exploring empirical questions regarding these alternative schemas, the present study undertook a qualitative systematic examination of their content in a large, risk-diverse corpus of interviews from 14 studies. Conducting a thematic analysis, 1,592 AAIs were examined by seven trained coders. This resulted in the identification of three novel themes (Favoritism, Incompetent, and Restrictive), the amendment of three existing schemas (Caregiver Source of Distress, Harsh and Threatening Parenting, and Self-Involved), and the replication of evidence for existing schemas. Together, the diversity and thematic coherence of alternative schemas underscore how relational expectations may be organized around vigilance, distress, or self-reliance, rather than comfort and support. This study contributes to theory-building on relational representations by expanding our understanding of how caregiving relationships are cognitively structured under conditions of relational adversity.
by Eshetie Melese Birru, Kevin T. Batty, Laurens Manning, Stephanie L. Enkel, Brioni R. Moore Background Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a major public health challenge in Ethiopia, particularly among children. Monthly intramuscular benzathine penicillin G (BPG) is the cornerstone of secondary prophylaxis, yet adherence and delivery are suboptimal. This study explores the lived experiences of children and adolescents with RHD, capturing their direct voices and those of their caregivers to understand determinants of secondary prophylaxis uptake. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted from May to July 2022 in four Ethiopian public hospitals providing RHD care. Focus group discussions were held with children living with RHD (C-RHD) and their caregivers to explore barriers and facilitators of BPG delivery. Audio recordings were transcribed, translated, and thematically analysed using the framework method, with findings mapped onto the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour (COM-B) model. Results Forty-two participants (30 C-RHD, 12 caregivers) identified five interrelated determinants of BPG delivery: structural barriers (geographic inaccessibility, transport costs, limited policies), organizational challenges (drug shortages, inadequate follow-up and counselling), therapeutic issues (painful injections, needle blockages, limited alternatives), provider-related concerns (fear of adverse reactions), and individual factors (misconceptions, psychological distress, adherence behaviours). Despite a preference for injectable BPG, some children received less effective oral antibiotics due to poor access. Participants emphasized the need for reliable BPG supply, dedicated providers, and strengthened patient support programs. Conclusions Strengthening patient/carer education, improving BPG formulations and access, and addressing resource gaps within healthcare systems are critical to enhancing adherence, preventing ARF/RHD, and improving patient outcomes.
by Chunyan Wang, Zhikang Wei, Jinquan Shi, Xiang He Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has considerable potential for applications such as soil improvement, erosion control, and heavy metal remediation. However, the extent to which grouting pipe configuration affects treatment performance remains unclear. To address this gap, this study investigated the effects of grouting pipe configuration on the reinforcement behaviour of large-scale biotreated sand columns. Large-scale model tests were conducted using conventional vertical pipes and a newly proposed spiral pipe under different grouting procedures. Calcium carbonate content, unconfined compressive strength, penetration resistance, and microscopic characteristics were analysed to evaluate reinforcement range, spatial uniformity, and treatment depth. The results show that pipe configuration plays a key role in controlling calcium carbonate distribution and reinforcement performance. The one-pipe-injection-extraction configuration produced a limited effective reinforcement radius of about 0.09 m, whereas both the three-injection-one-extraction and spiral-injection-one-extraction configurations increased this value to about 0.15 m. Compared with conventional vertical pipes, the spiral configuration produced a more uniform distribution of calcium carbonate content and strength by reducing local enrichment and weakly treated zones. For the 1.5 m-high specimen, relatively uniform reinforcement was mainly achieved within the upper 0.6 m under the present pressure level. This study provides a practical pipe-layout strategy for improving the uniformity of field-scale MICP treatment and offers useful guidance for the design of bio-grouting systems.
by Jun Ho Lee, Suzy Park, Nuri Oh, Dae Yeon Cho, Jae Yoon Kim Background Nephrolithiasis is commonly observed in patients with gout; however, the role of asymptomatic hyperuricemia in stone formation remains unclear. This study evaluated the association between serum uric acid levels and nephrolithiasis in a large health screening population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 31,198 Korean adults who underwent health checkups between 2010 and 2020. Clinical parameters included anthropometric measures, blood pressure, serum uric acid, renal and hepatic function markers, lipid profiles, glycemic indices, inflammatory biomarkers, serum calcium, and vitamin D3 levels. Nephrolithiasis was defined as the presence of at least one renal stone ≥5 mm detected by ultrasonography and/or kidney–ureter–bladder radiography. Hierarchical logistic regression models (unadjusted, age- and BMI-adjusted, and fully adjusted) were used to assess associations separately in men and women. Results Median serum uric acid concentrations were 6.0 mg/dL in men and 4.4 mg/dL in women. In men, higher serum uric acid levels were associated with nephrolithiasis across hierarchical models. In fully adjusted analyses, serum uric acid remained significantly associated with stone prevalence, and men in the highest uric acid quartile (≥6.9 mg/dL) had higher odds compared with those in the lowest quartile (adjusted OR: 3.546; 95% CI: 1.240–10.144). No statistically significant association was observed in women. Conclusions Higher serum uric acid levels were associated with nephrolithiasis in men but not in women in this cross-sectional analysis. These findings contribute to the epidemiologic understanding of sex-specific differences in stone risk; prospective studies are needed to clarify causality and potential clinical implications.
by The PLOS One Editors
by Milton Ali, Settumba B Mukasa, Valerie Poncet, Godfrey Sseremba, Pierre Marraccini, Pascal Musoli, Daphne Nyachaki Bitalo, Hervé Etienne, Mildred Ochwo Ssemakula, Michael Kanaabi, Doreen Murenju Chelangat, Denis Fabre, Mildred Julian Nakanwagi, Sophie Léran, Anitah Tusiimire, Naome Aryatwijuka, Qurayish Musinguzi, Geofrey Arinaitwe, Boris Delahaie, Mathieu Gonin Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) accounts for about 80% of Uganda’s coffee production and supports over 2.2 million livelihoods. Yet recurrent droughts and erratic rainfall, exacerbated by climate change, pose severe threat to its productivity. Despite this threat, Ugandan breeding programs lack drought-tolerant varieties, largely because selection has not incorporated precise physiological traits linked to drought adaptation. Here, we evaluated 165 diverse Ugandan C. canephora genotypes, including local wild accessions, commercial lines, and breeders’ selections, under controlled screenhouse drought assay. Morphophysiological traits were collected before, during, and after drought stress. Using linear mixed-effects models, K-means clustering, and the Drought Factor Index, variation in drought tolerance was characterized across genotypes differing in biomass. Drought reduced water relations, gas exchange (gs and E), and PSII efficiency (Fv/Fm, Fo/Fv, ETR, Y(II), and PI) across all biomass groups. Nevertheless, 24 genotypes maintained higher DFI values, stable PSII function (Fv/Fm, PI, Fv/F₀), and less negative pre‑dawn water potential under severe stress. Among all traits, photosynthetic performance index (PI) and Fv/F₀ emerged as the most robust and biologically interpretable predictors of drought tolerance. These fluorescence‑based markers, together with the identified drought‑tolerant genotypes, provide a powerful foundation for accelerating climate‑smart coffee breeding in Uganda.
by Dar Meshi, Dayeoun Jang, Zijie Mei, Rabindra Ratan, Maxwell Foxman Public blockchains allow individuals to own, trade, and transfer digital cryptoassets on the internet. These cryptoassets are highly volatile and available to trade 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The potential financial rewards stemming from buying and selling cryptoassets create the possibility for individuals to display a maladaptive behavior, problematic cryptoasset trading, which can be considered as a type of problematic gambling. Prior research has demonstrated that behavioral addictive disorders, like gambling disorder, are associated with poor mental health. In addition, previous research has revealed that individuals who simply trade cryptoassets describe experiencing more negative mental health symptoms in comparison to non-investing individuals. Therefore, we hypothesized that problematic cryptoasset trading would be positively associated with three measures of mental health: depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and social isolation. We collected cross-sectional survey data (N = 239; female = 78, male = 161) and ran hierarchical linear regressions, controlling for demographic characteristics. Our analyses supported the hypothesized associations between problematic cryptoasset trading and the three mental health measures. In other words, higher levels of problematic cryptoasset trading were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and social isolation. Implications for further research and clinical practice are discussed.
by Mohmed Isaqali Karobari, Hany Mohamed Aly Ahmed, Mohd Fadhli Bin Khamis, Norliza Ibrahim, Tahir Yusuf Noorani
by Maria Zaib, Kaif Akram, Tayyaba Shahzadi, Indra Neel Pulidindi, Awais Khalid, Mousa M. Hossin, Hanadi A. Almukhlifi, Ayesha Siddiqua, M. Yasmin Begum
by The PLOS One Editors
by Cecilia W. S. Chan, Warren Kaplan, Christopher R. Parish, Levon M. Khachigian
by Emilia Gryska, Katleen Libberecht, Per Fredrikson, Charlotte Stor Swinkels, Peter Axelsson, Anders Björkman Three-dimensional virtual surgical planning (3D VSP) with patient-specific surgical guides (PSSGs) can improve the accuracy of corrective distal radius osteotomy. Simulation on 3D-printed bone models allows controlled evaluation of planned corrections, but such models do not reproduce biological factors, including bone quality and soft-tissue tension. The extent to which simulated corrections reflect in vivo surgical results remains unclear. This exploratory study included 13 patients who underwent corrective distal radius osteotomy using 3D VSP and PSSGs. Simulated osteotomies were performed on patient-specific 3D-printed bone models. Residual correction errors in volar tilt (VT), radial inclination (RI), and radial length (RL) were calculated relative to the 3D VSP for both in vivo and simulated corrections. Discrepancies between in vivo and simulated corrections were assessed, and their associations with age, bone mineral density estimated from Hounsfield units, and planned maximum distraction were explored using Spearman’s rank correlation. Residual correction errors in simulated osteotomies were generally comparable to those observed in vivo. The largest differences between simulated and in vivo corrections were observed for VT (3.2), although the mean difference remained within clinically acceptable limits. A positive correlation was found between RL discrepancy and planned maximum distraction (rₛ = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.27–0.91, p = 0.01), and a negative correlation was found between RL discrepancy and bone mineral density (rₛ = −0.64, 95% CI: −0.88 – −0.13, p = 0.02). No correlations were identified for VT or RI. Simulated distal radius osteotomies on 3D-printed bone models produced correction errors broadly comparable to those achieved in vivo. However, small but systematic discrepancies in VT and RL suggest that biological factors may influence the relation between simulated and clinical outcomes. These findings support the use of simulation models for comparative studies while highlighting the need for cautious interpretation of simulation-based results.
by Shubham, Rajan Kumar Pandey The article highlights the effects of quasi-ballistic and diffusive transport on electron mobility, band gap, and electrostatic behavior in scaled Nanosheet FETs. It also provides comprehensive physical insight into the effects of different scattering mechanisms on the gate-length scaling process (from 16 nm to 6 nm) and their impact on performance metrics. The temperature is modeled from 220 K to 450 K to analyze its effect on electron mobility and the lateral electric field profile. It is observed that defects, such as oxygen vacancies, affect the work function of the gate stack region and induce scattering mechanisms at the oxide interface, thereby enhancing band-to-band and trap-assisted tunneling of electrons. Increased temperature in the device causes significant phonon scattering, resulting in approximately a 45% drop in the mobility, with a standard deviation of 328.7 cm²/V·s. The higher phonon and surface-scattering rates at elevated temperatures modify the band gap profiles, leading to a reduction of 48–72 meV in the band gap. Due to the reduced scattering and lower contact-poly pitch, the highest drive current is achieved at a 6 nm gate length in the quasi-ballistic and diffusive transport regimes. Gate-length scaling suffers from increased scattering rates and higher tunneling probabilities, leading to higher leakage current and a reduced ION/IOFF ratio. Scattering mechanisms introduce resistance in the channel region, resulting in a drop in mobility. The electrostatic profiles and mobilities are mapped along the channel to comprehend the device operation at the scaled node.
by Liping Li, Zhangyi Wang, Xiaochun Tang, Jun Qu, Huifang Zhou, Lamei Chen, Hongxia Wu, Shuguang Tan, Mengsu Liu Background Newly graduated nurses often experience a transition period marked by reality shock, which can adversely affect their professional retention and career development. However, the associated factors remain incompletely understood, and there is a notable gap in evidence regarding the role of the impostor phenomenon in this context. Objectives To investigate the reality shock among newly graduated nurses and identify its associated factors, with a specific focus on the impostor phenomenon. Methods A cross-sectional design was implemented, and the high-quality reporting of the study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement. From July 2024 to January 2025, a total of 381 newly graduated nurses were recruited from 3 tertiary grade-A hospitals in China by convenience sampling. The inclusion criteria required nurses to hold a valid nurse qualification certificate, be registered at the hospital, have a clinical working time of ＜ 1 year, and provide informed consent while cooperating with investigators. Exclusion criteria applied to hospital trainees, standardized training personnel, and personnel not on duty for various reasons. The Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Reality Shock Scale for Newly Graduated Nurses, and Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale were used. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results The total scores for reality shock and impostor phenomenon were 93.66 ± 38.94 and 44.19 ± 16.94, respectively. Reality shock was positively correlated with the impostor phenomenon (r = 0.635, p p < 0.01), accounting for 51.80% of the total variance. Conclusion This study identified a moderately high level of reality shock among newly graduated nurses. Key determinants associated with this shock included educational level, monthly income, number of night shifts per month, and impostor phenomenon. Nursing management should develop targeted interventions addressing these modifiable factors, particularly impostor phenomenon, which may help mitigate reality shock and facilitate successful career adaptation among newly graduated nurses.
by Anjana Welikala, Shailesh Desai, Amali Fernando, Joanne Kotelawala, Lakshika Jayasekara, Prajjval Pratap Singh, Anoma Jayasoma, Jose Antonio Urban Aragon, David Witonsky, Niraj Rai, Kumaraswamy Thangaraj, Maanasa Raghavan, Gamini Adikari, Kamani H. Tennekoon, Gyaneshwer Chaubey, Ruwandi Ranasinghe The African origin of anatomically modern humans is widely accepted. However, there is ongoing debate about the route they took and whether the early expansion into Oceania was through South Asia. Despite Sri Lanka being an island South Asian nation with the earliest known human fossils in South Asia and strategically located along a putative ‘southern route’, a comprehensive examination of its temporal settlement using high-resolution complete mitochondrial DNA analysis has never been conducted. To address this gap, 139 mitogenomes were sequenced in this study from the Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamil, and Vedda populations in Sri Lanka and integrated with 247 previously published global mitogenomes, resulting in the largest mitogenome dataset analyzed thus far. Phylogeographic analyses revealed four distinct settlement phases in Sri Lanka, with the earliest phase overlapping with the initial entry of modern humans into South Asia, thus supporting the southern dispersal route. The introduction of West Eurasian lineages into Sri Lanka was mediated via India. A significant decline in effective population size was observed across all studied populations, reflecting the demographic history of the island. Findings from the present study provide valuable insights into the long-standing debate on the southern and inland migration routes out of Africa and subsequent migrations from across Eurasia, thus highlighting the complex settlement patterns of Sri Lanka and broader Asia.
by Sebastian Praetz, Christopher Schlesiger, Damian Alexander Motz, Stephen Klimke, Moritz Jahns, Christine Gottschalk, Lena Heinrich, Eva Maria Heppke, Wolfgang Malzer, Franz Renz, Carla Vogt, Birgit Kanngießer