PloS One[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Expression of Concern: How innovation funding leads enterprises to engage in research and development: Small and medium enterprises' perspective.
PLOS One Editors
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378193 · Full text
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Retraction: Pharmacological Inhibition of Microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthase-1 Suppresses Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mediated Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis.
PLOS One Editors
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378186 · Full text
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Characterization of genomic diversity in bacteriophages infecting Rhodococcus.
Garza DR, Di Blasi DL, Klyczek KK … +16 more , Bruns JA, DeJong RJ, Findley AM, Jacobs-Sera D, Garcia-Vedrenne AE, Molloy S, Lewis CM, Light I, Empson B, Ghannam M, Bonilla JA, Cresawn SG, Garlena RA, Russell DA, Hatfull GF, Freise AC
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371987 · Full text
Bacteriophages are ubiquitous and highly genetically diverse biological entities. Here we describe the isolation and bioinformatic characterization of 56 phages isolated on two Rhodococcus spp. They include both lytic an...
Bacteriophages are ubiquitous and highly genetically diverse biological entities. Here we describe the isolation and bioinformatic characterization of 56 phages isolated on two Rhodococcus spp. They include both lytic and temperate phages and are grouped with previously described Rhodococcus phages into six clusters and 16 singletons based on genome similarity. Their genome sizes range from 43.9 kbp to 142 kbp and they have a G + C content ranging from 41.2% to 68.4%. Some of the Rhodococcus phages are more closely related to phages isolated on non-Rhodococcus Actinobacteria hosts than they are to phages isolated from the same host genus, demonstrating complex evolutionary histories. This study further expands the growing field of Actinobacteriophage genomics.
Effectiveness of the Responding to Experienced and Anticipated Discrimination (READ) training on reducing stigma for medical students in Tunisia.
Jouini L, Ouali U, Zgueb Y … +4 more , Bouguira E, Bakolis I, Nacef F, Henderson C
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371984 · Full text
Doctors have been identified as having a crucial role in responding to anticipated and experienced stigma of People with Mental Illness (PWMI). This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the READ (Responding to Exp...
Doctors have been identified as having a crucial role in responding to anticipated and experienced stigma of People with Mental Illness (PWMI). This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the READ (Responding to Experienced and Anticipated Discrimination), an anti-stigma training for medical students, by measuring changes in their knowledge, attitudes, and skills, in responding to patients anticipated and experienced discrimination. The Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS), the Mental Illness Clinicians' Attitudes version 2 (MICA2), and an OSCE (Observed Structured Clinical Examination) were used to determine participants' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards PWMI before and immediately after the training. There was evidence of difference in MICA2 mean total scores in the intervention group were compared to the control group after adjusting for age, gender and MICA baseline mean total scores (MD: -7.88; p < 0.001; 95% CI: -10.23 to -3.96). Moreover, the intervention group was 4.45 times more likely to be scored "pass" in the OSCE compared to the control group (p = 0.046, 95% CI: 1.03 to 19.26) after adjusting for age, gender and OSCE baseline scores. The positive changes in students' attitudes and skills after the READ training should encourage further research on the causal pathways of this positive relationship.
Cell-cell junction gene signatures as subtype-specific prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer.
Ishii H, Nishiyama K, Nakahara A … +4 more , Tamori S, Ohno S, Sasaki K, Akimoto K
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371976 · Full text
Cell-cell junctions (CCJs) are essential for maintaining epithelial integrity, and adhesion-related molecules have long been implicated in breast cancer progression. However, the subtype-specific prognostic significance...
Cell-cell junctions (CCJs) are essential for maintaining epithelial integrity, and adhesion-related molecules have long been implicated in breast cancer progression. However, the subtype-specific prognostic significance of CCJ-related gene expression patterns within individual intrinsic breast cancer subtypes has not been systematically characterized. We analyzed 179 genes annotated to the Gene Ontology term "cell-cell junction organization" (GO:0045216) across intrinsic breast cancer subtypes using the METABRIC and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. Subtype-specific prognostic CCJ genes were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models for disease-specific survival and integrated into CCJ gene expression signatures. The prognostic performance was validated in an independent cohort (SCAN-B). Elevated CCJ signature scores were associated with poorer survival across subtypes, with particularly strong effects in Luminal B (LumB) and Basal-like (Basal) tumors. Person-year analyses indicated that high CCJ scores predicted an increased incidence of early recurrence (0-5 years) in these aggressive subtypes. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed that high-score tumors exhibited upregulation of extracellular matrix organization and matrisome-related pathways. Single-cell RNA sequencing further demonstrated that LumB CCJ genes (e.g., PARD6B, CDH3) were predominantly expressed in tumor epithelial cells, whereas the Basal CCJ signature reflected contributions from epithelial (e.g., MARVELD2) and endothelial (e.g., RAMP2) cells. Collectively, CCJ signatures stratify prognosis and capture subtype-specific cellular and microenvironmental features in breast cancer.
GC-MS based tentative identification of γ-sitosterol from Brassica nigra seeds and evaluation of its anticancer potential: An integrated in vitro and in silico study.
Akash SR, Al Arian T, Mim SA … +10 more , Chowdhory MR, Eva MA, Karmaker D, Akter A, Asadujjaman M, Nur L, Ghosh BK, Talukder C, Islam MT, Ali MS
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371974 · Full text
Cervical cancer remains a significant global health burden, particularly in developing countries where limited access to effective therapies contributes to high morbidity and mortality. Natural products derived from medi...
Cervical cancer remains a significant global health burden, particularly in developing countries where limited access to effective therapies contributes to high morbidity and mortality. Natural products derived from medicinal plants have emerged as promising sources of novel anticancer agents; however, identifying active compounds and elucidating their molecular mechanisms remain challenging. This study investigates the anticancer potential of Brassica nigra seed extract, with particular emphasis on γ-sitosterol as a bioactive compound relevant to cervical cancer therapy. Isopropanol extracts of B. nigra seeds were analyzed using GC-MS for phytochemical profiling. Cytotoxicity was assessed via MTT assay on HeLa (cervical cancer) and Vero (normal) cell lines, followed by a brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using protein denaturation and membrane stabilization assays, and thrombolytic activity was examined through a clot lysis assay. An integrated in silico approach was employed to evaluate γ-sitosterol, including oral drug-likeness prediction, target screening, protein-protein interaction network analysis, BRCA expression profiling, molecular docking, and 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations to explore its interaction with neuropilins and other cancer-related targets. The extract demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity against HeLa cells (CC₅₀ = 0.36 mg/mL), while showing lower toxicity in Vero cells (CC₅₀ = 1.26 mg/mL), yielding a Selectivity Index of approximately 3.5, indicative of selective anticancer activity. Significant inhibition of protein denaturation (IC₅₀ = 74.8 µg/mL) suggested notable anti-inflammatory potential. GC-MS identified γ-sitosterol as a major constituent (17.33% peak area). Computational analyses revealed stable binding interactions of γ-sitosterol with key targets including TP53, AKT, and BRCA1, supporting its potential role as a multi-target modulator of apoptosis, survival signaling, and genomic stability pathways. Overall, B. nigra seed extract, enriched with γ-sitosterol, exhibits promising cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. Further isolation, mechanistic validation, and in vivo studies are warranted to confirm its therapeutic potential in cervical cancer management.
Ad-based social media interventions increase belief accuracy and generate pro-social opinions among non-news readers.
Wertz E, Babińska M, Batorski D … +4 more , Louison-Lavoy D, Blazer N, Noble NS, Wojcieszak M
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371971 · Full text
Democratic challenges are often attributed to the spread of misleading, untrustworthy, or biased information, leading scholars to focus on minimizing exposure to such "bad" content online. Instead, we introduce a scalabl...
Democratic challenges are often attributed to the spread of misleading, untrustworthy, or biased information, leading scholars to focus on minimizing exposure to such "bad" content online. Instead, we introduce a scalable intervention to put factual and verified public affairs information in users' social media feeds to make them better informed and more resilient to various online threats. We conducted 48 field quasi-experiments using Instagram ads targeting news non-users to enhance their belief accuracy, democratic attitudes, and behavioral intentions related to climate change, COVID-19 vaccines, media literacy, and election integrity. The treatment videos reached 2,496,878 Instagram accounts, 690,470 users watched at least 50% of the video, and 40,584 of those users completed post-test assessment. The intervention was effective: 46 out of 48 of the quasi-experiments had positive effect sizes and 40 out of 48 achieved statistical significance. The intervention predicted not only belief accuracy but also attitudes, media literacy, and - to some extent - behavioral intentions related to vaccination. These patterns emerged across topics, did not dissipate with time (two of three climate change quasi-experiments show continued effects), and were not contingent on persuasive appeals and format features presented in the ads.
Negotiating knowledge: The role of network hedging in the production of high-impact science.
Díaz-Faes AA, D'Este P, Ter Wal ALJ
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371966 · Full text
Extant research shows that knowledge networks with a greater diversity of participants and richer in structural holes are more conducive to advancing science and innovation. However, research on network structure and net...
Extant research shows that knowledge networks with a greater diversity of participants and richer in structural holes are more conducive to advancing science and innovation. However, research on network structure and network composition tends to overlook how actors might best utilize their connections. In this study, we seek to unpack the variation in how individuals leverage the opportunities afforded by their networks, focusing on the scientific knowledge production process. Given the uncertainty faced by scientists during the different stages of the research process, we argue that network hedging - consulting multiple individuals for the same resource need - rather than network compartmentalization - turning to a particular network contact for a specific resource need - increases the likelihood of research findings with greater scientific impact. By analyzing granular data on the network mobilization decisions and scientific outputs for a sample of biomedical scientists, we find support for our prediction that network hedging is positively associated with the production of high-impact scientific output, and that this effect is manifest beyond the benefits of being embedded in more diverse or sparser networks.
Phylogeography of the Black Kite (Milvus migrans) in Punjab Wetlands: Assessing genetic connectivity and lineage admixture at a migratory crossroads.
Haider MZ, Afzal G, Ahmad HI … +7 more , Hussain J, Qadeer I, Ahmed S, Al-Essa LA, Koka NA, Alsaegh AA, Hazzazi Y
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371959 · Full text
The Milvus genus presents a taxonomic challenge due to the complex delineation of its evolutionary units. Research on the potentially divergent mitochondrial lineages within Milvus migrans in Pakistan remains sparse, lea...
The Milvus genus presents a taxonomic challenge due to the complex delineation of its evolutionary units. Research on the potentially divergent mitochondrial lineages within Milvus migrans in Pakistan remains sparse, leaving the regional phylogeny largely uncharacterized. This study utilized partial COI gene sequences to evaluate genetic relationships and identify the presence of divergent lineages within Pakistan's M. migrans populations. Samples collected from three Punjab wetlands (Chashma Barrage, Taunsa Barrage, and Patisar Lake) were integrated with global GenBank reference sequences to evaluate maternal diversity and reconstruct demographic histories. Maternal genetic distances among regional conspecifics were remarkably low, ranging from 0.00% to 1.00%. However, comparisons across more divergent mitochondrial lineages revealed distances reaching 2.00%, particularly between West African and European isolates; notably, these intraspecific values remained distinctly lower than the significant divergence observed with outgroup taxa. Neutrality tests indicated signatures consistent with population expansion or purifying selection. A hierarchical AMOVA confirmed strong continental-scale genetic structuring (65.39% of total variation) contrasting with high gene flow within Punjab's panmictic local populations. Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) revealed lineage-driven clustering, supporting a homogeneous admixture of three mitochondrial lineages within the Indus Flyway. These results collectively reveal a significant intersection of divergent lineages within Pakistan's M. migrans populations, highlighting the Punjab region as a critical zone of genetic admixture. While the data indicate high maternal connectivity and extensive haplotype sharing with distant global lineages, they also hint at complex evolutionary histories. These findings underscore the ecological importance of Punjab wetlands as a migratory hub, though the hypothesis of cryptic diversity remains tentative and requires future validation via multi-locus nuclear genomic markers.
Epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease in Southwest Sweden during the first eleven years after the introduction of general childhood pneumococcal vaccination.
Härnqvist T, Bergman K, Backhaus E … +8 more , Dahl M, Kolberg H, Turesson CS, Olander M, Nilsson S, Andersson R, Skovbjerg S, Karlsson J
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371958 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) still causes significant morbidity and mortality. In this study, we describe incidence, risk factors, manifestations, and outcome of IPD in Southwest Sweden during the firs...
BACKGROUND: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) still causes significant morbidity and mortality. In this study, we describe incidence, risk factors, manifestations, and outcome of IPD in Southwest Sweden during the first eleven years after the introduction of conjugate pneumococcal vaccines in the childhood vaccination program in 2009. METHODS: Clinical data from 2,288 consecutive episodes of IPD in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden during 2009-2019 were retrospectively collected from medical records. Incidence rates were calculated using population data from the same period. The results were compared to data from three previous studies from the same geographical area with a total follow-up of 56 years. RESULTS: The incidence of all IPD episodes in 2009-2019 was 12.8/100,000/year. A very high IPD incidence was seen in patients with multiple myeloma (1,497/100,000) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (505/100,000). Meningitis occurred in 26% of the IPD episodes in children <2 years compared to 4.3% in the age group ≥65 years (12/46 versus 60/1,403; p < 0.001). The opposite was found for pneumonia, which accounted for 22% of the IPD episodes in children <2 years compared to 77% among the elderly (10/46 vs. 1,085/1,403; p < 0.001). In 604 IPD episodes (26.4%), one or more complications were observed, most commonly parapneumonic effusion and empyema. When data were compared with the previous study period, the IPD incidence in children <2 years declined from 22.5 in 1996-2008 to 10.7 per 100,000 in 2009-2019, while only a modest reduction was observed in adults ≥65 years (from 45.0/100,000 to 41.2/100,000). The overall case fatality rate (CFR) increased from 9.9% in 1996-2008 to 12.9% in 2009-2019, which could be explained by increased patient age and underlying comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial decrease in IPD incidence was seen in infants and young children but not in the elderly during the first eleven years after the introduction of the general childhood pneumococcal vaccination program. Patients with hematological malignancies remain a high-risk group of IPD.
Forecasting COVID-19 new cases using NBEATS deep learning and mobility data.
Nazir A, Shorfuzzaman M, Lotfi ML … +4 more , Kamalov F, Badawi S, Takruri M, Jallad AH
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371947 · Full text
COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease transmitted primarily through human contact. Therefore, understanding population mobility is essential for predicting COVID-19 case trends. In this paper, we propose a novel deep l...
COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease transmitted primarily through human contact. Therefore, understanding population mobility is essential for predicting COVID-19 case trends. In this paper, we propose a novel deep learning approach for forecasting new COVID-19 cases using a neural architecture called Neural Basis Expansion Analysis for Interpretable Time Series (N-BEATS). The N-BEATS model effectively handles long input sequences and large output horizons without information loss or increased computational complexity. We compare the performance of N-BEATS with a state-of-the-art benchmark model, LSTM-Markov, across four major countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Brazil. Three distinct COVID-19 datasets from Google, Apple, and Our World in Data (OWID) were used in this study. Incorporating Google and Apple mobility data as covariates enhances both the accuracy and interpretability of the N-BEATS model. Our results show that N-BEATS consistently outperforms LSTM-Markov across all datasets and countries, consistently yielding lower Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). Furthermore, the N-BEATS model with covariates outperforms its counterpart without covariates, indicating that mobility data provide substantial value for forecasting new COVID-19 cases. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of the N-BEATS architecture in capturing pandemic dynamics and offers valuable insights for policymakers and public health officials in managing future outbreaks.
Patients' trust in healthcare providers and associated factors among hospitalized patients in Awi Zone Public Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia.
Bekele BB, Ferede KG, Adal AB … +6 more , Ferede AG, Andualem A, Mitiku DY, Tadele AE, Yazew A, Yazew BG
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371942 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Trust in healthcare providers (HCPs) is crucial for increasing health-seeking behavior, strengthening patient-provider relationships, and improving clinical outcomes. While vital, research on patient trust in...
BACKGROUND: Trust in healthcare providers (HCPs) is crucial for increasing health-seeking behavior, strengthening patient-provider relationships, and improving clinical outcomes. While vital, research on patient trust in HCPs remains limited in the Ethiopian context. This study assessed the level of trust and its associated factors among hospitalized patient in Awi Zone public hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 05 to September 30, 2024. The sampling frame consisted of all adult patients admitted to the medical, surgical, and gynecological wards of five public hospitals. A total of 621 participants were selected using simple random sampling from the daily admission logs. Data were collected via a pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire. EpiData 4.6 and SPSS version 25 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. Logistic regressions were applied to identify factors associated with patient trust. Associations were considered significant at p value < 0.05. Trust was measured using a validated scale, where "high trust" was operationally defined as a score $\ge$ 32 (based on the mean score of the study population). Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with trust, with significance set at $p < 0.05$. RESULTS: The study achieved a 96% response rate (n = 621). Overall, 47.3% of patients reported high trust in HCPs (95% CI: 43.4-51.4). Factors significantly associated with higher trust included: rural residence (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.27-4.69), absence of comorbidity (AOR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.15-2.65), not having health insurance (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.09-2.14), and a hospital stay of less than 29 days (AOR = 1.89; 1.12-3.20). CONCLUSION: Fewer than half of hospitalized adults expressed high trust in HCPs. To bridge this gap, hospital management should implement mandatory patient-centered communication training for clinicians and establish dedicated support protocols for patients with chronic comorbidities. Furthermore, improving the transparency of insurance billing and discharge processes is essential for urban and long-term patients.
Divergence between facial expressions and self-reported emotions: Sex differences in responses to video-based emotional stimuli.
Choi S, Jung C, Kim J … +3 more , Ko S, Choi J, Kim H
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371941 · Full text
Emotional responses involve multiple components, including subjective experience and behavioral expression, which do not always align. Moreover, sex differences in emotional processing appear to vary across emotion types...
Emotional responses involve multiple components, including subjective experience and behavioral expression, which do not always align. Moreover, sex differences in emotional processing appear to vary across emotion types and response modalities. This study investigated sex differences and concordance between self-reported emotional experience and facial expressions elicited by naturalistic emotional video stimuli in a Korean adult sample. One hundred forty-eight healthy adults viewed video clips inducing joy, anxiety, sadness, and neutral states; spontaneous facial expressions were recorded and analyzed using the iMotions automated facial expression analysis software. After watching the stimuli, participants rated their subjective emotional experiences on discrete emotion scales (joy, sadness, disgust, fear/anxiety) and affective dimension scales (valence and arousal). Facial expression measures were summarized as positive and negative expressions. Age effects were statistically controlled for both facial expression and self-rating measures, and non-parametric analyses were conducted on the age-adjusted values because most variables deviated from normality. The video stimuli reliably elicited their intended target emotions in both self-reported ratings and facial expression patterns. Females exhibited stronger positive facial expressions than males during joyful stimuli despite comparable self-reported joy ratings. For anxiety stimuli, females showed higher fear/anxiety ratings and stronger negative facial expressions, whereas for sadness stimuli, females reported higher sadness ratings without corresponding differences in facial expressions. Females also reported higher arousal than males for negative stimuli. Concordance between facial expressions and self-reported ratings varied by emotion and sex, with robust associations for joy across both sexes, weaker or absent associations for sadness, and sex-specific associations for anxiety. These findings demonstrate that sex differences in emotional responding are emotion-specific and component-specific, highlighting partial dissociations between subjective experience and expressive behavior. This study provides culturally specific validation of dynamic video-based emotion paradigms and supports continuous facial expression analysis as an objective complement to self-report measures in Korean populations.
Electrophysiological asymmetry in vincristine-exposed children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Evidence from bilateral nerve conduction studies.
Jevic F, Andel R, Kraus J … +1 more , Kobesova A
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371940 · Full text
Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is a frequent complication of therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. Beyond acute toxicity, VIPN may affect motor development, balance, and quality of...
Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is a frequent complication of therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. Beyond acute toxicity, VIPN may affect motor development, balance, and quality of life in survivors. Although often assumed to be symmetric, the extent of electrophysiological asymmetry has not been systematically evaluated. This study aimed to quantify side-to-side differences in vincristine-exposed children using bilateral nerve conduction studies (NCS). Forty-seven bilateral NCS assessments were performed in 47 children with ALL (32 post-treatment survivors and 15 on active therapy). Distal latencies, amplitudes, and conduction velocities were compared between sides using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Cohen's kappa, and McNemar's test at three hierarchical levels: individual parameters, nerve-level classifications, and limb-level neuropathy. Motor nerve parameters, particularly compound muscle action potential amplitude and conduction velocity, showed only fair to moderate inter-side agreement (ICC range 0.28-0.64), with the lowest concordance observed in the peroneal and ulnar nerves. In contrast, sensory latencies demonstrated excellent symmetry (ICC > 0.90). Whole-nerve classifications for motor nerves revealed fair to moderate agreement (kappa 0.38-0.49), while NCS-defined polyneuropathy classification showed substantial agreement (kappa = 0.66). Furthermore, marked amplitude asymmetry (side-to-side ratio < 0.5) was observed in 40.4% of peroneal nerves. These results suggest that electrophysiological asymmetry is a frequent feature of pediatric VIPN and may have clinical relevance. Recognition of asymmetry does not fully align with the traditional view of VIPN as a symmetric neuropathy and supports consideration of bilateral NCS in clinical and research settings. Improved awareness of asymmetry may help improve diagnostic accuracy and inform the development of future assessment criteria. Because asymmetry could contribute to postural imbalance, gait deviations, and reduced functional capacity, its detection may be relevant for rehabilitation planning and for guiding future studies on long-term motor outcomes in this pediatric population.
Automated spermatogenic staging in periodic acid-Schiff-stained testes of Sprague-Dawley rats using a deep learning model for normal and atrophied tissues.
Kim DM, Rho JH, Wee SY … +1 more , Son HY
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371939 · Full text
The spermatogenic stage serves as a vital criterion for assessing normal spermatogenesis and is central to evaluating reproductive toxicity. Current manual methods for evaluating the spermatogenic stage are time-intensiv...
The spermatogenic stage serves as a vital criterion for assessing normal spermatogenesis and is central to evaluating reproductive toxicity. Current manual methods for evaluating the spermatogenic stage are time-intensive, require expert knowledge, and are less effective at detecting subtle changes or comparing stage frequencies across samples. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces a method that leverages object detection models and Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks to enable efficient and accurate evaluation of spermatogenic stages. A total of 16 periodic acid-Schiff-stained testicular tissue whole-slide images (WSIs) obtained from 16 Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. A total of 14 stages were identified, and the approach was further applied to atrophied testicular samples as a real-world example. A total of 10 WSIs (nine normal and one atrophied testes) were used for model training, validation, and testing. Six additional WSIs (three normal and three atrophied testes) were used for model inference. For the test set, the model achieved a mean average precision of 0.869 and a mean average recall of 0.977 for detecting spermatogenic stages and atrophy. For the inference set, agreement with pathologist assessments exceeded 91%, providing objective benchmarks for stage evaluation and facilitating the comparison of stage frequencies across multiple samples. The model enabled the quantitative assessment of atrophied tissues by analyzing the proportional changes in atrophied seminiferous tubules relative to normal tubules. This automated approach has the potential to reduce the workload of pathologists by enabling rapid, reproducible assessment of toxicological changes during spermatogenesis. As a proof-of-concept, the integration of deep learning demonstrated the feasibility of improving the efficiency and objectivity of pathological evaluations in reproductive toxicity studies.
Lived experience of depression in women living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Gondar City health facilities, Northwest, Ethiopia: A phenomenological study.
Zeleke TA, Ayele TA, Denu ZA … +2 more , Mwanri L, Azale T
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371938 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Many women living with HIV (WLHIV) in worldwide experience mental health conditions, particularly depression, which can negatively affect their overall wellbeing. Their lived experiences play a crucial WLHIV...
BACKGROUND: Many women living with HIV (WLHIV) in worldwide experience mental health conditions, particularly depression, which can negatively affect their overall wellbeing. Their lived experiences play a crucial WLHIV has been explored in various global context, there is limited research focusing on the specific women's lived experience of depression in Ethiopia. Understanding these experience is essential to inform the development of culturally appropriate and targeted mental health interventions and support system. METHOD: A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to explore women's lived experience of depression in Ethiopia. Criterion-based sampling was used, and recruitment continued until data saturation was achieved. Data were collected through in-depth face to face interviews with 16 participants attending health facilities. An inductive approach was used for analysis, with code derived from the data using Ritchie and Spencer's analytical framework. Subsequently, Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was applied to identify key themes and subthemes. Data analysis was supported by MAXQDA (version 22) software. RESULTS: This study identified key themes on women's lived experience of depression, including symptoms, meaning, perceived causes, perpetuating and relieving factors, treatment perceptions, coping strategies, and challenges. Depression affected emotional, physical and social well-being, and was shaped by factors such as HIV status, stigma, financial hardship, and lack of support. Women used diverse coping strategies, including spiritual practices, social support, and daily routines. Some preferred spiritual healing over professional care. Depression also negatively affected memory, motivation, self-care, and ART adherence, contributing to isolation, unemployment, and decline health. CONCLUSION: Depression among WLHIV shaped by intersecting social, economic, and health related challenge. Addressing this requires the Ministry of Health to implement integrated, culturally sensitive mental health interventions and strengthen mental health awareness, combining psychosocial support, spiritual care, and improved access to professional services.
Effectiveness of a pedagogical module for the process of weaning from mechanical ventilation in advanced nursing education.
Awangharun S, Alias N
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371935 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Pedagogical module for weaning process from mechanical ventilation (WPMV) is the specific need for advanced nursing education in cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CICU). The CICU nurses need to have Advance...
BACKGROUND: Pedagogical module for weaning process from mechanical ventilation (WPMV) is the specific need for advanced nursing education in cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CICU). The CICU nurses need to have Advanced nursing personnel in the CICU require comprehensive theoretical knowledge and applied clinical reasoning skills including patient data analysis, structural decision-making, and care decision justifications to safely adjust ventilator settings following cardiothoracic surgery. However, currently no specific a pedagogical module for advanced nursing education used for CICU in Malaysia. AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of a structured pedagogical module for WPMV in improving knowledge and applied clinical reasoning among Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CICU) nurses. METHODS: This study utilizes a quasi-experimental, non-randomized pre-post design. A total of 24 CICU nurses participated. Participants were grouped based on an institutional competency threshold of 70%, which reflects the standard passing criterion for clinical assessments in the study setting. The 70% cutoff represents the standard institutional passing threshold established by the Medical Education and Nursing Division at the National Heart Institute (IJN) for postgraduate clinical assessments and unit privilege. This study focuses primarily on within-group changes following the intervention, while the comparison group is used as a performance benchmark rather than for inferential comparison. RESULTS: The implementation of the pedagogical module led to a statistically significant improvement in participants' knowledge and applied clinical reasoning. Participants in the intervention group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in theoretical scores (mean difference = 37.63, p < 0.001). The large effect size indicates substantial educational impact. Due to the small and unequal group sizes, between-group comparisons were interpreted descriptively rather than inferentially. CONCLUSION: The WPMV pedagogical module significantly improves theoretical knowledge and applied clinical reasoning among CICU nurses. However, conclusions are limited to educational outcomes, and further research is required to evaluate its impact on clinical practice and patient outcomes.
Perceived academic achievement and school commitment in the context of school sports: A qualitative study based on students', teachers', and parents' perspectives.
Taş Z, Baykara S, Ünlü Y … +3 more , Önal A, Dilek AN, Şen M
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371931 · Full text
School sports are widely associated with students' academic and psychosocial development, yet their educational value cannot be fully understood through outcomes alone. How sports participation shapes academic achievemen...
School sports are widely associated with students' academic and psychosocial development, yet their educational value cannot be fully understood through outcomes alone. How sports participation shapes academic achievement and school commitment depends on how it is experienced and interpreted by students, teachers, and parents. Examining these stakeholder perspectives is essential for understanding the perceived academic implications of school sports and their role within everyday school contexts. This study adopted a qualitative descriptive research design to explore perceptions of school sports and their perceived influence on academic achievement and school commitment. The study group consisted of 18 participants, including 6 high school students (grades 10-12), 6 parents whose children participated in school sports, and 6 physical education teachers working at a public high school in Sakarya, Türkiye. Participants were selected using criterion sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face focus group interviews conducted separately with each stakeholder group. The data were analyzed using descriptive qualitative analysis supported by inductive content analysis to identify recurring patterns and themes related to participants' views and experiences of school sports. The findings indicate that school sports are perceived to positively influence students' academic achievement and school commitment, particularly through increased motivation, concentration, and engagement with school life. Participants emphasized that sports participation strengthens emotional and behavioral commitment by enhancing feelings of belonging and active involvement in school activities. Teachers' guidance and parents' supportive attitudes were identified as key contextual factors, while students' personal interest in sports shaped whether participation was experienced as supportive or demanding. This study concludes that school sports play a meaningful role in supporting students' perceived academic achievement and school commitment when embedded within supportive school and family contexts. The findings highlight that the educational value of sports is shaped not only by participation itself but also by students' experiences, teachers' guidance, and parental support. By integrating multiple stakeholder perspectives, the study underscores the importance of aligning school sports practices with academic goals to foster sustained engagement and positive educational experiences.
Long-term neuron tracking reveals balance of stability and plasticity in functional properties.
Lu HY, Stealey HM, Zhao Y … +3 more , Barnett CR, Contreras-Hernandez E, Santacruz SR
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371930 · Full text
Neural stability is essential for executing learned motor behaviors while plasticity provides the flexibility needed to adapt to new tasks and environments. Although low-dimensional neural population dynamics exhibit lon...
Neural stability is essential for executing learned motor behaviors while plasticity provides the flexibility needed to adapt to new tasks and environments. Although low-dimensional neural population dynamics exhibit long-term stability, the extent to which individual neurons retain their functional properties over time and balance the need for both stability and plasticity remains an open question. Tracking individual neurons across multiple recording sessions is crucial to addressing this question, yet conventional methods face challenges such as electrode drift, waveform variability, and large inter-electrode distances that limit the number of channels a neuron is observed on. Here, we introduce a waveform-based neuron tracking method optimized for standard microelectrode arrays, enabling the identification of the same neurons across sessions without relying on spatial overlap, a strategy commonly leveraged with high-density electrode arrays. We apply this method to assess the longitudinal stability of multiple neural properties, including firing rates, inter-spike intervals, tuning properties, and spike-field interactions. Our findings reveal that while spike waveform properties remain stable, certain functional properties such as ISI and tuning can exhibit gradual shifts, suggesting a balance between neural stability and plasticity. Understanding the persistence of individual neural signals provides insight into learning and adaptation while advancing the study of neural stability and plasticity over extended timescales. Beyond basic neuroscience, this framework has potential to enhance the long-term reliability of brain-machine interfaces and closed-loop deep brain stimulation systems that rely on chronic neural sensing.
The forms and purpose of work undertaken by family carers of people living in a care home with a cognitive impairment across a care trajectory.
Harrad-Hyde F, Faull C, Birt L
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42371929 · Full text
When older people move into care homes, family carers continue to provide unpaid support and care but little is known about how the types of work they undertake and how work changes over time. Drawing on data collected f...
When older people move into care homes, family carers continue to provide unpaid support and care but little is known about how the types of work they undertake and how work changes over time. Drawing on data collected from semi-structured interviews with 29 family carers, we describe six forms of work carers undertook across the care trajectory. These were body work, comfort work, information work, coordination work, safety work and biography work. Whilst the nature of each form of work changed over time, carers undertook work across all phases of the care trajectory. This work was purposeful, undertaken to maintain the care recipient's dignity, health, wellbeing and functional and cognitive abilities.
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