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전체arXiv Math11,266arXiv CS.AI7,894arXiv Physics3,751arXiv Stat1,761PLOS ONE811arXiv Econ535arXiv Q-Bio461eLife163PLOS Global Public Health119PLOS Biology59PLOS Medicine44
PLOS ONE

Path planning and obstacle avoidance with ISS framework for a UAV swarm under unified wind, sensor noise and delay disturbances

by Mehmet Karahan, Cosku Kasnakoglu Background Multi-UAV swarm systems have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their wide range of applications, including surveillance, disaster management, search and rescue, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and autonomous transportation. In such systems, maintaining formation integrity, achieving accurate trajectory tracking, and ensuring safe obstacle avoidance under environmental and communication disturbances remain challenging research problems. Existing studies generally investigate wind effects, sensor noise, or communication delays separately and often lack a unified stability framework capable of characterizing their combined influence on formation performance. Objective This study aims to develop a unified formation control and obstacle avoidance framework for multi-UAV systems operating under simultaneous wind disturbances, sensor noise, and communication delays. The proposed framework seeks to ensure stable formation regulation, centroid trajectory tracking, inter-agent collision prevention, and obstacle avoidance while providing formal robustness guarantees through an input-to-state stability (ISS) analysis. Methodology A consensus-based Laplacian formation controller was integrated with centroid tracking and artificial-potential-field-based obstacle and collision avoidance mechanisms. The Crazyflie 2.0 Nano-Quadrotor model was employed, and the six-degree-of-freedom dynamics were simplified into planar motion for swarm-level analysis. Stability of the nominal system was investigated using Lyapunov theory, while the disturbed system was analyzed within an ISS framework to derive explicit steady-state tracking error bounds under bounded disturbances. Numerical simulations were conducted in MATLAB for different swarm formations and disturbance scenarios. Results Simulation results demonstrated successful formation acquisition, centroid tracking, obstacle avoidance, and collision-free navigation under unified wind, sensor noise, and delay disturbances. Both hexagonal and line formations maintained stability while navigating toward desired target positions in the presence of static obstacles. Temporary formation deformations caused by avoidance maneuvers were effectively corrected, and the swarm recovered the desired geometry after disturbance effects diminished. Furthermore, the steady-state tracking errors remained within the theoretical ISS bounds, confirming consistency between the analytical results and simulation outcomes. Conclusion The proposed framework provides a robust and unified solution for formation control and obstacle avoidance in disturbed multi-UAV systems. The integration of consensus-based control, artificial potential fields, and ISS-based robustness analysis enables reliable trajectory tracking and safe swarm coordination under realistic operating conditions. The obtained results indicate that the framework can serve as an effective foundation for future studies involving dynamic obstacles, three-dimensional swarm coordination, and real-world experimental validations.

PLOS ONE

Dynamic properties of Kermack-McKendrick-like models

by Hamidou A. Diallo, Khalil Ezzinbi, Nisrine Outada, Gauthier Sallet We rigorously analyze the dynamic properties of Kermack-McKendrick-like compartmental models for infectious diseases, extending the classical SIR framework to include exposed individuals, mild and severe infections, hospitalization, and intensive care unit (ICU) compartments. Using a 13-compartment model, we establish mathematical results on well-posedness, the basic reproduction number R0, a first integral leading to a unique final epidemic size, and the global stability of the disease-free equilibrium under permanent immunity. When temporary immunity is included, we prove the existence of an endemic equilibrium for R0 > 1. An age-stratified multi-group version of the model is also studied, demonstrating similar convergence properties and highlighting the impact of age structure on epidemic dynamics. Our results provide a rigorous mathematical framework for understanding how immunity duration, clinical progression, and age structure shape epidemic outcomes.

PLOS ONE

Agreement and reliability between the two-day 6-minute incremental step test and two-day cardiopulmonary exercise test in post COVID-19 condition for assessing post-exertional malaise: The REVEAL-study

by Sarah Bomans, Naomi Michotte, Imane El M’Rabet, Berenice Jimenez Garcia, Lynn Leemans, Peter Janssens, Shane Hanon, Elisabeth De Waele, David Beckwée Background Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) is a core symptom of post COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID) affecting millions of people, yet assessment remains challenging. The two-day cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is the current gold standard for objectifying PEM, but its cost and patient burden limit use. The two-day 6-minute incremental step test (6MIST) with wireless wearable sensors could offer a more accessible alternative. Methods This cross-over study (n = 25, one-month washout period) evaluated the level of agreement and reliability between the two-day 6MIST and the two-day CPET for assessing PEM. Each “two-day” test consisted of two identical exercise tests separated by 24 hours to capture worsening of symptoms on day 2. Objective (VO2peak) and subjective (fatigue, neuromuscular complaints and rated perceived exertion) PEM outcomes were collected. Subjective outcomes were measured in relation to the first exercise test of each two-day session; at 15 minutes pretest, 15 minutes posttest and 24 hours posttest, with changes analyzed as Δ1 (baseline to 15 minutes posttest) and Δ2 (15 minutes posttest to 24 hours posttest). Agreement was assessed using Bland-Altman plots and reliability through consistency Intraclass Correlation Coefficients. The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Ref: NCT06933017). Results VO2peak and neuromuscular complaints showed low agreement and reliability between the two tests. Rated perceived exertion showed moderate reliability at all times and fatigue showed moderate reliability for changes after 24h (Δ2). Conclusions Contrary to our hypothesis, the two-day 6MIST shows limited agreement with the two-day CPET overall. However, moderate reliability for rated perceived exertion and fatigue suggests potential for improvement with protocol refinement. Further research is needed to optimize the two-day 6MIST and to develop assessments that capture PEM both within and beyond the 24-hour period.

PLOS ONE

Decision tree model to predict one-year survival in ambulatory patients with advanced cancer

by Yusuke Hiratsuka, Seok-Joon Yoon, Sang-Yeon Suh, Yu Jung Kim Background An accurate prognostication is crucial for end-of-life decision-making in advanced cancer care. While existing prognostic tools focus on short-term survival (weeks/months), there is a paucity of studies that have examined the long-term prediction at one year. A one-year timeframe is regarded as a general indicator of palliative care referral; however, there are many uncertain issues. This study aimed to develop a one-year survival prediction model using objective parameters for patients with advanced cancer. Methods This was a secondary analysis of data from a Korean prospective cohort study. Participants, with clinician-predicted survival of ≤1 year, were assessed using clinical data, performance status, laboratory data and chemotherapy response. Recursive partitioning analyses (RPA) were used to identify the prognostic factors and build a prediction model. Results Of the 200 advanced cancer patients (mean age 64.4, 36% female; 33.5% lung cancer), the median survival was 228 days. Using three variables (chemotherapy response, C reactive protein -Albumin Ratio, and lactate dehydrogenase level), we developed a 4-node survival tree. The model demonstrated an optimism-corrected area under the curve of 0.749 (95% confidence interval: 0.696–0.800) at one year, after 200 bootstrap resampling. The Brier score was 0.161, and the calibration slope was 0.99, indicating high predictive accuracy. Conclusions We developed an RPA model to facilitate one-year survival prediction in patients with advanced cancer. The 4-leaf model incorporated only three readily available variables. Following external validation, this model may prove valuable in assisting clinicians with one-year survival prognostication.

PLOS ONE

Perfusion imaging findings, and outcomes between computed tomography perfusion selected basilar artery occlusion and anterior circulation stroke patients undergoing endovascular treatment

by Xiaofeng Cai Background Basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is a severe form of ischemic stroke associated with high morbidity and mortality. Whether BAO patients derive similar benefits from CT perfusion (CTP)-guided endovascular treatment (EVT) as those with anterior circulation stroke (ACS) remains unclear. Aim This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of EVT based on computed tomography (CT) perfusion between patients with BAO and those with ACS. Methods This analysis was conducted using data from a prospective multicenter Registry on International Stroke Perfusion Imaging. A total of 256 patients with 36 BAO and 220 ACS who received CTP-guided EVT were included. Propensity score matching (PSM) in a 1:2 ratio was performed to adjust for baseline imbalances. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of mRS 3–6 at 90 days as poor functional outcome and mortality. Results Prior to matching, BAO patients had higher baseline NIHSS scores (24.0 ± 9.8 vs. 15.2 ± 6.4, p < 0.001), smaller ischemic core volumes (8.7 ± 11.4 mL vs. 33.2 ± 38.9 mL, p < 0.001), and higher mismatch ratios (0.9 ± 0.1 vs. 0.7 ± 0.2, p < 0.001) than ACS patients. After matching, BAO patients had significantly shorter door-to-reperfusion time (3.2 ± 1.1 vs. 4.3 ± 2.9 hours, p = 0.007) and lower rates of hemorrhagic transformation (19.4% vs. 48.6%, p = 0.006). Multivariate analysis identified baseline NIHSS score (OR = 1.052, 95% CI: 1.013–1.092, p = 0.009) and ASPECT score (OR = 0.813, 95% CI: 0.682–0.969, p = 0.021) as independent predictors of poor outcome, while age (OR = 1.037, 95%CI: 1.006–1.069, p = 0.020) and baseline NIHSS score (OR = 1.070, 95% CI: 1.024–1.119, p = 0.002) were independent predictors of mortality. No significant differences were observed in 90-day functional independence (mRS 0–2) or mortality between BAO group and ACS group. Conclusions Despite presenting with more severe neurological deficits, BAO patients treated with CTP-guided EVT achieved comparable functional outcomes and mortality to ACS patients, with shorter reperfusion times and fewer hemorrhagic complications. CTP-based selection may facilitate effective EVT in BAO.

PLOS ONE

Non-native plant integration into plant-insect pollinator networks in urban parks

by Laura Matas-Granados, Alejandro Trillo, Montserrat Vilà Pollination sustains biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, yet it is increasingly threatened by biological invasions. Non-native plants frequently integrate into plant-pollinator networks, generating both positive and negative effects on native plants. However, most current knowledge derives from static or short-term studies of communities invaded by a few species, offering limited understanding of plant-pollinator dynamics in systems where many non-native species coexist under favorable environmental conditions. Here, we examined plant-insect pollinator networks in urban green areas of a Mediterranean city as a model system to evaluate the role of non-native plants in structuring plant-pollinator networks over the course of one year. We compared native and non-native plants in terms of (i) species-level parameters (normalized degree, strength, specialization, contribution to nestedness, and module roles), (ii) modularity and co-flowering patterns, (iii) persistence of interactions, and (iv) beta-diversity metrics. Non-native plants showed greater specialization and among-module connectivity, whereas native species exhibited greater species strength and within-module connectivity. Native–non-native pairs within modules co-flowered more often, suggesting simultaneous interactions that may foster both competition and facilitation. In contrast, non-native–non-native pairs displayed asynchronous flowering, potentially sustaining shared pollinators over longer periods and mitigating competition. Despite these differences, both groups contributed similarly to temporal network connectivity, and interaction turnover was unaffected by the proportion of non-native species. Overall, these findings reveal that while native and non-native plants play distinct roles in structuring plant-pollinator networks, they do not differ in their contribution to maintaining temporal connectivity. Our study underscores the importance of incorporating temporal and multispecies approaches when assessing the ecological consequences of biological invasions.

PLOS ONE

Development and validation of the Manipal Interstitial Lung Disease Education Booklet (MILD EduB) for individuals with interstitial lung disease

by Revati Amin, Aswini Kumar Mohapatra, G. Arun Maiya, Vishak Acharya, Shivashankara Kaniyoor Nagri, Suresh Sukumar, Winniecia Dkhar, Anup Bhat, Mukesh Kumar Sinha, Marita T. Dale, Jennifer A. Alison, K. Vaishali In India, Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is a significant healthcare burden. Poor outcomes are caused by delayed diagnosis and insufficient patient education (PE). In this context, the Manipal Interstitial Lung Disease Educational Booklet (MILD EduB), a culturally relevant resource for individuals with ILD in India, was developed and validated. The booklet was developed in four stages: (1) a scoping review to identify important educational themes; (2) development of a draft booklet shared with experts for review and feedback; (3) validation of the booklet by healthcare professionals using the content validity index (CVI); and (4) face validation by individuals with ILD. The initial scale-level CVI (S-CVI/Ave) was 0.79, which improved to 1.0 following modifications, indicating good expert consensus via the healthcare professionals. Face validation by individuals with ILD (n = 10) using a 4-point Likert scale demonstrated 100% agreement for readability, relevance, and design. With a Flesch Reading Ease Scale score of 80.9, the finalised booklet is considered easy to read and accessible to individuals with ILD with a wide range of reading levels. MILD EduB fills an important gap in ILD-specific educational resources, particularly in low-resource settings. Its evidence-based content and patient-centered design aim to improve adherence and self-management.

PLOS ONE

Characterization of plant growth-promoting bacteria from <i>Vicia faba</i> root nodules grown on oasis soils and their potential to enhance soil fertility and crop growth attributes in arid regions

by Oumaima Chaieb, Souhir Abdelkrim, Iris Bertani, Wael Taamalli, Khediri Mannai, Fatma Souissi, Moez Jebara, Vittorio Venturi, Salwa Harzalli Jebara Soil degradation and nutrient depletion are major constraints in arid regions, particularly in fragile oasis ecosystems. Harnessing beneficial plant-bacteria interactions offers a sustainable approach to improving soil fertility and crop productivity. This study aimed to isolate and characterize plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from root nodules of V. faba L. var. minor Saber 02 grown on 12 oasis soils, and to evaluate their potential for enhancing plant growth and soil fertility. Sixty bacteria were isolated from V. faba root-nodules. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed seven bacterial orders: Enterobacteriales, Pseudomonodales, Burkholderiales, Xanthomonadales, Rhodospirillales, Hyphomicrobiales, Bacillales. Plant growth promoting (PGP) traits screening identified five of the sixty isolates including Rhizobium laguerreae (Vf19), Bacillus halotolerans (Vf43), Gluconobacter frateurii (Vf47), Pseudomonas reinekei (Vf48), and Kosakonia radicincitans (Vf49) which harbor multiple PGP traits with interesting biocontrol potential as well as high tolerance to osmotic stresses. Eleven inoculums formed by mixing efficient and resistant PGPR to inoculate V. faba L. minor var. Saber 02 in contrasting soil fertility showed that co-inoculation with R. laguerreae Vf19 and B. halotolerans Vf43 significantly increased shoot biomass and nitrogen content. Likewise, inoculation with consortia formed by mixing R. laguerreae Vf19 + B. halotolerans Vf43 and R. laguerreae Vf19 + B. halotolerans Vf43 + K. radicincitans Vf49 improved soil total nitrogen levels by up to 2.5-fold in low-fertility soil. These findings highlight the potential of selected PGPR strains, particularly R. laguerreae Vf19, B. halotolerans Vf43, and K. radicincitans Vf49, as promising candidates for developing effective biofertilizers in management programs for sustainable agriculture in low fertility oasis soils to improve soil health, plant growth and productivity.

PLOS ONE

Inter-brain functional connectivity: Are we measuring the right thing?

by Juan Camilo Avendano-Diaz, Patrick Sothmann, Riitta Hari, Lauri Parkkonen Hyperscanning—the simultaneous recording of brain activity from multiple individuals—and the study of inter-brain synchronization is gaining popularity in social neuroscience. MEG/EEG hyperscanning studies often estimate inter-brain functional connectivity using phase-based metrics applied to oscillatory brain signals, assuming matching peak frequencies between the individuals studied. However, in reality peak frequencies typically differ between subjects and even between brain regions. Using simulated MEG/EEG signals, we systematically assessed how inter-individual frequency differences affect commonly used connectivity measures. Phase-based metrics were highly sensitive to frequency differences across individuals, whereas amplitude envelope correlation remained comparatively stable under these conditions. Our results underscore the need for connectivity metrics specifically tailored for inter-brain analyses. These findings are relevant to a range of disciplines that are increasingly integrating hyperscanning into their methodological toolkits.

PLOS ONE

Neuromuscular ultrasound as a biomarker in the SOD1 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

by Camilla Wohnrade, Nadine Thau-Habermann, Thomas Gschwendtberger, Julia Rückoldt, Zhong Huang, Stefanie Schreiber, Kirsten Haastert-Talini, Susanne Petri A progression marker that indicates early disease-related changes and treatment responses in the to date incurable neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is highly desirable. Translation of therapeutics that have been successful in in vivo models into trials in human patients has proven difficult in recent decades. This failure can be attributed, at least in part, to the lack of specific biomarkers for ALS diagnosis and progression in human ALS patients as well as in in vivo models. Neuromuscular ultrasound is an easily accessible, non-invasive tool to support diagnosis of ALS in humans. Our current study shows for the first time that the disease can be detected in an ALS mouse model with the help of neuromuscular ultrasound. We characterized disease progression regarding changes in the peripheral nerves and muscles of the hind limb in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS using different techniques (neuromuscular ultrasound, electroneurography, motor function tests, phenotypic assessments and histology). By neuromuscular ultrasound, we measured the cross-sectional area and diameter of the sciatic nerve and analyzed hind limb muscle texture and thickness. Our results show that motor neuron loss and muscle atrophy – analogous to ALS in humans – can be measured by ultrasound in the SOD1G93A mouse model. Changes in nerve and muscle morphology appear at the same time or even before changes in the established tests (including electroneurographic measurements) performed in vivo in this model. Correlations with histologic features of disease progression make neuromuscular ultrasound a sensitive, non-invasive outcome marker for preclinical studies.

PLOS ONE

Early public childcare and fertility: A longitudinal study for Europe

by Giovanni Minchio, Agnese Vitali, Stefani Scherer Empirical research reveals a considerable mismatch between desired and actual fertility across Europe, a mismatch which is more pronounced in countries characterized by limited policy support for families, suggesting that institutional interventions might be relevant in reducing this gap. This study analyzes the association between one of such policy interventions, namely public early childcare and education services (ECEC, age 0–2), and childbearing. The expectation is that an increase in the provision of public early childcare service in the region of residence will be positively associated with fertility. While existing evidence on whether childcare expansion increases fertility comes primarily from single-country studies or national-level comparisons, our empirical analysis combines sub-national information on regional public early childcare with longitudinal micro-level data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions, from 2005 to 2020. Results show that an increase in regional ECEC is associated with higher probability of experiencing both transition to first and second birth and this association is significantly stronger in regions where ECEC was initially lower. Associations between childcare expansions and first birth transitions are particularly pronounced among lower-educated or employed women, while associations with second birth transitions are similar across all socio-economic groups, yet statistically non-significant among lower-educated mothers. Our results suggest that investing in public childcare is associated, in the short term, with reducing the gap between intended and actual fertility in Europe, particularly in contexts where provision is lower.

PLOS ONE

Sivelestat sodium alleviates sepsis-associated acute lung injury by inhibiting ferroptosis via the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis

by Ying Wang, Xiaoling Xia, Yan Lu, ChengLiang Zhang, Yaqing Zhou, Jingjing Fan Objective This study was aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of Sivelestat sodium in sepsis-associated acute lung injury (SALI). Methods A rat model of SALI was established using the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) procedure. After the model was established in rats, behavioral changes, abdominal conditions, and survival rates were monitored. Comparative analyses included arterial blood gas parameters, the lung wet/dry weight ratio (W/D), lung injury scores, histopathological damage assessment, inflammatory cytokine levels, oxidative stress marker levels, and Fe2+ concentrations in lung tissue. The expression levels of Nrf2, SLC7A11, GPX4, ACSL4, and TFR1 proteins in pulmonary tissues were also evaluated. Results All rats in the sham group survived. The survival rates in the low-dose (SL), medium-dose (SM), and high-dose (SH) groups (60.0%, 73.3%, and 86.7%, respectively) were higher than those in the CLP group (53.3%), although the differences were not statistically significant. Compared to the Sham group, the CLP group showed significantly lower PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2, higher lung wet/dry weight ratio and lung injury score, higher levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the lung tissue, lower levels of SOD and GSH, and higher levels of Fe2+ and MDA. Additionally, the expression of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 proteins was downregulated, whereas the expression of ACSL4 and TFR1 proteins was upregulated. Compared to the CLP group, the SL, SM, and SH groups showed higher PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 ratios. The SM and SH groups showed lower lung tissue W/D ratios and lung injury scores, along with lower levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the lung tissue. In contrast, only the IL-6 levels were lower in the SL group. The SM and SH groups showed significantly higher SOD and GSH levels, along with considerably lower Fe2+ and MDA levels. Notably, the SL group exhibited significant improvement only in arterial blood gas parameters and IL-6 levels, with no statistically significant differences observed in other indicators, indicating a dose-dependent response. In all Sivelestat sodium-treated groups, the expression levels of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 proteins in rat lung tissue were upregulated, whereas the expression of ACSL4 and TFR1 proteins was downregulated. To validate the Nrf2 pathway, medium-dose Sivelestat sodium was administered with or without the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385. Sivelestat sodium upregulated total Nrf2, nuclear Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4, and downregulated ACSL4 and TFR1. Co-administration of ML385 largely abolished these changes and blunted its protective effects on lung histopathology. Conclusion Sivelestat sodium ameliorates SALI in rats by inhibiting ferroptosis through regulation of the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway.

PLOS ONE

ShinyDataMatcher: A user-friendly application for integrating survey data

by Lucia Guastadisegni, Fedele Greco, Carlo Trivisano In this work, we introduce ShinyDataMatcher, a user-friendly R Shiny application designed to support the integration of survey data through statistical matching. The tool enables practitioners to import, explore and process survey data, harmonize variables, select appropriate matching variables, and apply a wide range of macro- and micro-level matching methods without writing any code. The application guides the user through the full workflow of a matching exercise, from data preparation to the creation of a synthetic matched dataset, and includes diagnostic tools for assessing matching quality. To illustrate its capabilities, we present an application based on the Italian Household Budget Survey (HBS) and the Survey on Household Income and Wealth (SHIW), where the goal is to fuse income and expenditure information and to construct a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM). The example also highlights how repeated random hot-deck imputations can be used to account for the additional uncertainty induced by statistical matching. Overall, ShinyDataMatcher provides a transparent and accessible environment for exploring, prototyping, and implementing statistical matching procedures, lowering the technical barriers that often limit their use in applied and official-statistics contexts.

PLOS ONE

Subject-independent EEG classification of imagined swallowing: Impact of saliva vs. water paradigms

by Sevgi Gökçe Aslan, Bülent Yılmaz Dysphagia poses a significant burden on global health, necessitating innovative neurorehabilitation tools. Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) based on motor imagery offer a promising avenue, yet the neural differentiation between distinct swallowing paradigms remains under-explored. This study investigates the electrophysiological characteristics of imagined swallowing to establish a robust, subject-independent framework for neural decoding. We recorded EEG signals from 30 participants across two experimental paradigms: imagined saliva and imagined water swallowing. A rigorous analytical pipeline was implemented, featuring artifact removal, multidimensional feature extraction, and fold-wise statistical feature selection utilizing False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction and effect size criteria. To ensure the clinical translatability of the findings, a Leave-One-Subject-Out (LOSO) cross-validation scheme and permutation testing were employed for classification and statistical validation. Our findings demonstrate that EEG-based features can distinguish rest from imagined swallowing with near-ceiling performance (~99% accuracy), regardless of the paradigm. While the discrimination between imagined saliva and water yielded moderate accuracy (~63%), the results reveal critical insights into the inherent neural similarities of these motor imagery tasks. This study provides a statistically validated, subject-independent benchmark for decoding swallowing intentions. The high classification performance underlines the feasibility of EEG-based BCIs for dysphagia rehabilitation. While established as a proof-of-concept in healthy individuals, this framework paves the way for future neurofeedback applications in clinical populations.

PLOS ONE

Fear of unintended pregnancy and sexual quality of life during the menopausal transition in a Turkish population: A cross-sectional study of associated factors

by Aysun Badem Objective This study aimed to investigate fear of unintended pregnancy, contraceptive method use, sexual quality of life, and associated factors among perimenopausal women. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 with 124 perimenopausal women aged 40–50 years. The data have been collected using a sociodemographic-obstetric questionnaire and the Turkish version of the Sexual Quality of Life-Female (SQOL-F) scale. Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H and Linear regression analysis tests were applied. Results The median SQOL-F score was 84.50. The score indicated a moderate-to-high level of sexual quality of life. Significant differences in SQOL-F scores were observed according to employment status, education level, parity, mode of delivery, childbirth experience, and fear of unintended pregnancy (p < 0.05). Relatively higher SQOL-F scores have been exposed by women with higher education levels, lower parity, cesarean delivery, and positive birth experiences. Significantly lower SQOL-F scores have been observed on the fear of unintended pregnancy predicated women. Conclusions The fear of unintended pregnancy is prevalent among perimenopausal women and is associated with lower sexual quality of life. Comprehensive nursing interventions may be critical including contraceptive counseling and sexual health education tailored to the needs of perimenopausal women.

PLOS ONE

The effect of a body shape index on physical fitness index is more pronounced in boys than in girls: Evidence from a cross-sectional survey based on Tibetan adolescents aged 13–18 years in high-altitude areas of China

by Tao Shi, Ke Guan, Chong Liu, Tao Zhang Background China is an important high-altitude region in the world, mainly inhabited by the Tibetan population. This study was conducted to understand the association between a body shape index (ABSI) and physical fitness index (PFI) among Tibetan adolescents in high-altitude areas of China. This study provides a reference for the improvement of physical fitness and the formulation of public health policies among Tibetan adolescents in high-altitude areas of China. Methods Using a stratified whole-group sampling method, 3819 Tibetan adolescents were selected from the high-altitude region of Ganzi, Sichuan, China, and tested on 8 items, including height, weight, waist circumference, grip strength, standing long jump, seated forward bend, 50-meter run, and endurance run (1000m/800m). ABSI and PFI were calculated, and Kruskal-Wallis H was used to compare PFI between groups. Linear regression analysis was used to analyze the correlations that existed between ABSI and PFI. Results The ABSI of Chinese Tibetan adolescents aged 13–18 years was (0.09 ± 0.01). Among them, ABSI was (0.09 ± 0.01) for boys and (0.09 ± 0.01) for girls, with no significant difference in comparison (t = 1.594, P > 0.05). PFI [M(P25,P75)] for Tibetan adolescents aged 13−18 years was −0.37 (−2.31,1.48), among them, PFI for boys was – 0.24 (−2.41,1.63) and the girl’s PFI was −0.46(−2.20,1.35), with no significant difference in comparison (Z value = −0.878, P > 0.05). Overall, the comparison of PFI between the different ABSI groups (A, B, C, and D) was statistically significant (P P > 0.05). Conclusion The ABSI level of Tibetan adolescents in high-altitude areas in China is low and negatively correlated with PFI. Compared with girls, the effect of ABSI on PFI was more obvious in boys. It is suggested that in the future, Tibetan adolescents in high-altitude areas should control the occurrence of waist circumference and overweight obesity and increase physical exercise to promote the physical fitness level of Tibetan adolescents.

PLOS ONE

Retraction: Mechanisms of adipocyte regulation: Insights from <i>HADHB</i> gene modulation

by The PLOS One Editors

PLOS ONE

Editorial Note: Apoptosis by [Pt(<i>O,O′-</i>acac)(γ-acac)(DMS)] requires PKC-δ mediated p53 activation in malignant pleural mesothelioma

by The PLOS One Editors

PLOS ONE

Knowledge and practice of hemodialysis catheter care and associated factors among patients on maintenance hemodialysis: An analytical cross-sectional study

by Maheda Jilisha Lucas, Emmanuel Sumari, Joel Seme Ambikile Background Effective care of hemodialysis catheters (HDCs) is essential for preventing complications, particularly catheter-related infections, among patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. However, gaps in patient knowledge and practice may compromise optimal catheter care. This study assessed the level of knowledge and practice of HDC care and identified factors associated with these outcomes among patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 97 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as knowledge and practice related to HDC care. Knowledge and practice scores were categorized using an 80% cutoff. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with knowledge and practice. Model fitness and multicollinearity were assessed. Results Overall, 51.5% of respondents demonstrated satisfactory knowledge, while 45.4% reported satisfactory HDC care practices. Knowledge was highest regarding the purpose and insertion site of the catheter but lower for aspects related to infection recognition and dressing care. In multivariable analysis, female sex (AOR: 3.09; 95%CI: 1.12, 8.54; p = 0.030) and shorter duration on hemodialysis (p = 0.016) were independently associated with satisfactory knowledge. Regarding practice, knowledge emerged as the only independent predictor, with respondents having satisfactory knowledge demonstrating significantly higher odds of satisfactory practice (AOR: 47.39; 95%CI: 11.14, 201.64; p < 0.001). Other variables were not significantly associated with practice after adjustment. Conclusion Less than half of patients demonstrated satisfactory HDC care practices despite moderate levels of knowledge. Knowledge was strongly associated with practice, highlighting its potential importance in supporting optimal catheter care behaviors. These findings indicate that targeted and sustained patient education may be important in improving knowledge and supporting better catheter care practices. Further multicenter and longitudinal studies using more robust measurement approaches are recommended to better clarify factors influencing HDC care practices and related outcomes.

PLOS ONE

Interference of phototherapy with blue LED light on the behaviour of mice infected with <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>

by Marina Monteiro de Castro Burle, Ben-Hur Araújo Batista da Silva, Débora Nonato Miranda de Toledo, Lauro de Assis Duarte Junior, Rodrigo Fernando Bianchi, Érica S. Martins-Duarte, André Talvani, Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan capable of promoting physiological and behavioural changes in hosts. When female mammals acquire T. gondii for the first time during pregnancy, Congenital Toxoplasmosis (CT) can occur, posing a significant risk to the foetus. Due to challenges in diagnosing and treating CT, a new blue LED light therapy (BLLT) was proposed to eliminate parasites during placenta and tissue invasion in mice; however, its effects on the behaviour of the animals are unknown. Thus, behavioural analysis was carried out in pregnant infected Swiss mice under BLLT (applied continuously for 12 hours, from 7 am to 7 pm, maintaining an intensity of 460 nm and 7 μW/cm²). Infected mice, regardless of light exposure, exhibited increased inactivity and reduced maintenance behaviours. BLLT influenced certain behaviours, such as an increase in abnormal behaviours in infected mice and higher food and water intake in non-infected mice, suggesting a potential stress effect. Grooming decreased under BLLT in infected mice, while affiliative interactions were reduced in non-infected mice under conventional light. Activity levels were largely unaffected in infected mice, but blue light exposure increased activity in non-infected mice. While our study highlights the potential of BLLT to reduce parasite load, further research is needed to investigate the long-term behavioural and physiological effects, as well as to clarify the mechanisms involved. In conclusion, BLLT may mitigate parasite load and influence behavioural outcomes, while prolonged exposure can act as a stressor, moderately affecting welfare. Future research should explore optimized light regimens, integrate physiological and behavioural measures, and evaluate long-term effects to balance therapeutic efficacy and animal welfare.

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