PloS One[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Dosimetric characterization of CdZnTe radiation detectors under electron-beam irradiation.
Park C, Seo J, Kim S … +3 more , Kim H, Yeom JY, Cho S
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378223 · Full text
With the growing complexity of modern radiotherapy, the demand for dosimeters capable of delivering real-time, high-resolution, and reliable measurements has grown significantly. Although cadmium-zinc-tellurite (CZT) det...
With the growing complexity of modern radiotherapy, the demand for dosimeters capable of delivering real-time, high-resolution, and reliable measurements has grown significantly. Although cadmium-zinc-tellurite (CZT) detectors have emerged as potential solutions to this growing demand, the lack of comprehensive characterization data for these detectors deters their application in clinical electron-beam dosimetry, especially for high-precision tasks such as small-field and point-dose dosimetry. In this study, we systematically characterized CZT detectors, emphasizing the performance trade-offs associated with detector thickness for therapeutic electron-beam dosimetry. The performance of two CZT detectors (6 × 6 mm²), with thicknesses of 5 and 8 mm, was evaluated using a clinical linear accelerator (LINAC) over an electron energy range of 6-18 MeV. Both detectors demonstrated stable baseline performance, including proportional dose linearity (R² > 0.997), dose-rate independence, and excellent long-term stability (<1.3% variation over two months). Furthermore, a distinct thickness-dependent trade-off was identified: while both configurations exhibited highly comparable dose responses at the 6-MeV baseline, the 8-mm detector exhibited better energy capture efficiency for higher-energy electrons. By contrast, the 5‑mm detector offered enhanced angular isotropy with respect to the gantry angle as well as reduced signal variation (±3.5% vs. ± 6.4%), emerging as more suitable for rotational therapies and geometrically demanding scenarios. Additionally, a nonmonotonic energy dependence was observed, characterized by a pronounced response peak at 15 MeV, which was likely attributable to bremsstrahlung photon contamination from the LINAC head. These findings demonstrate that detector thickness serves as an application-specific optimization factor for sensitivity and angular fidelity, offering a practical framework for deploying CZT detectors in both initial clinical evaluations and challenging extra-clinical radiation environments.
Short-term rewetting after summer drought does not alter soil fungal community composition and manganese peroxidase activity in managed temperate beech forests.
Zaib S, Caboňová M, Adamčík S … +10 more , Zámocký M, Harichová J, Gajdošová Z, Adamčíková K, Valachovič M, Hrivnák R, Větrovský T, Gorfer M, Horváthová R, Caboň M
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378222 · Full text
Climate change is increasing the frequency of drought-rewetting cycles in temperate forests, yet the short-term responses of soil fungal communities to these events remain poorly resolved. We investigated whether an inte...
Climate change is increasing the frequency of drought-rewetting cycles in temperate forests, yet the short-term responses of soil fungal communities to these events remain poorly resolved. We investigated whether an intense summer drought followed by heavy rainfall alters fungal community composition and oxidative enzyme activity in managed temperate beech forests of Central Slovakia. Soil samples from litter and mineral horizons were collected before and seven days after a rainfall event that followed an 18-day dry period. Fungal communities were characterized using ITS2 metabarcoding, and manganese peroxidase (MnPox) activity was measured as an indicator of oxidative decomposition potential. Fungal communities differed strongly between litter and mineral soil horizons across taxonomic and trophic classifications. Ectomycorrhizal fungi and soil saprotrophs dominated the mineral soil, whereas plant pathogens, litter saprotrophs, and wood-decomposing fungi were more abundant in the litter layer. In contrast, short-term rewetting did not produce detectable changes in fungal community composition or alpha diversity within either horizon. MnPox activity showed substantial spatial variability among plots but no consistent response to the rainfall event. Together, these results indicate that vertical stratification exerts a stronger influence on fungal community structure than short-term moisture fluctuations in these beech forest soils. The absence of rapid compositional change suggests that fungal communities in mature temperate forests may exhibit short-term resistance to drought-rewetting pulses, highlighting the importance of soil structure and litter layers in buffering microbial communities against transient climatic extremes.
Understanding the "how" and "why": A mixed methods process evaluation for the PRO-HIIT intervention.
Liu Y, Barker AR, Li M … +6 more , Adlam AR, Duncombe SL, Agbaje AO, Gu Y, Zhou H, Williams CA
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378219 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: Process evaluation completes outcome evaluation by explaining "how" and "why" an intervention is (in)effective. The aim of this study was to conduct a mixed methods process evaluation for the PRO-HIIT inter...
INTRODUCTION: Process evaluation completes outcome evaluation by explaining "how" and "why" an intervention is (in)effective. The aim of this study was to conduct a mixed methods process evaluation for the PRO-HIIT intervention. METHODS: The PRO-HIIT intervention replaced the traditional warm-up period with 6-8 minutes of high-intensity interval training in the physical education and activity lessons, aiming to promote physical fitness, psychological parameters and academic performances among Chinese adolescents. The process evaluation was guided by the Medical Research Council guidance for the evaluation of complex interventions. Three process evaluation domains, including twelve process evaluation measures, were assessed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Key means for process evaluation included were training logbook recording, intensity monitoring, and semi structured focus groups. RESULTS: The PRO-HIIT intervention showed high level of retention rate and dose received. The dose delivered was slightly less than anticipated, with an average 26.5 sessions delivered over twelve intervention weeks. The average heart rate was 146 beats per minute, corresponding to 71% maximum heart rate, with the mean heart rate peak was 175 beats per minute (85% maximum heart rate). The average sessional rating of perceived exertion was 5, ranging from 3 to 8. Overall, participants and physical education teachers showed positive response towards the PRO-HIIT intervention. Session duration and work-to-rest ratio were adapted to balance the intervention satisfaction and effectiveness. Barriers to intervention delivery included competing priorities, severe weather, lack of sleep, repetition of exercises, and rating of perceived exertion administration, whereas facilitators included space efficiency, imparting knowledge, peer coaches, music, and physical education teachers perform the session with participants. No intervention-related injury occurred. CONCLUSIONS: This process evaluation provided a lens through which to facilitate the interpretation of the effectiveness of the PRO-HIIT intervention. The results provide valuable insights into how a school-based HIIT intervention can be implemented and refined.
Influence of symptom burden on physical activity among patients with atrial fibrillation: The chain-mediating roles of exercise sensitivity and kinesiophobia.
Wu J, Pu C, Zhang L
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378218 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: Grounded in an integrated fear-avoidance and cognitive-behavioural framework, this study aimed to examine the independent and sequential mediating roles of exercise sensitivity and kinesiophobia in the relatio...
OBJECTIVE: Grounded in an integrated fear-avoidance and cognitive-behavioural framework, this study aimed to examine the independent and sequential mediating roles of exercise sensitivity and kinesiophobia in the relationship between symptom burden and physical activity in patients with atrial fibrillation. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 533 patients with atrial fibrillation from five tertiary hospitals in Chongqing, China, between April and October 2024 using convenience sampling. Symptom burden was assessed using the University of Toronto Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (symptom subscale), exercise sensitivity with the Exercise Sensitivity Questionnaire, kinesiophobia with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart, and physical activity with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. Data were analysed using SPSS 25.0, and chain-mediation analysis was performed with the PROCESS macro (Model 6, 5000 bootstrap resamples). RESULTS: Symptom burden was significantly and directly associated with reduced physical activity (accounting for 37.00% of the total effect). Three significant indirect pathways were identified: through exercise sensitivity alone (27.60% of the total effect), through kinesiophobia alone (16.17%), and sequentially through exercise sensitivity and kinesiophobia (19.22%). The total indirect effect accounted for 62.99% of the total effect; the 95% bootstrap confidence intervals for all indirect effects did not contain zero. CONCLUSION: Exercise sensitivity and kinesiophobia were identified as statistically significant independent and sequential mediators between symptom burden and physical activity in patients with atrial fibrillation. These results suggest that routine screening and interventions addressing these psychological factors may be beneficial in atrial fibrillation management.
Lived experiences of diabetes self-management in North Shoa, Ethiopia: A phenomenological inquiry.
Eshete A, Lambebo A, Getacher L … +4 more , Kifleyohans T, Assefa Y, Van Der Heever H, Mphuthi DD
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378217 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Despite government efforts, diabetes self-management remains inadequate for many patients due to complex barriers. Understanding the lived experiences and barriers to self-care practices is essential for faci...
BACKGROUND: Despite government efforts, diabetes self-management remains inadequate for many patients due to complex barriers. Understanding the lived experiences and barriers to self-care practices is essential for facilitating behavior change and achieving personal health goals for improved diabetes management. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the lived experiences and barriers faced by individuals living with diabetes in adhering to their self-care practices. METHODS: This phenomenological study was carried out in the North Shoa Zone from 1 to 30 July 2024. The study consisted of a total of 25 participants, 20 diabetic patients and five healthcare informants from four districts. The participants were selected using maximum variation sampling method, considering factors such as age, sex, marital status, occupation, and type of diabetes. A pretested interview guide was used to gather the data, which were then recorded, transcribed, and analyzed with ATLAS.Ti software. A thematic framework was applied to identify key codes, subthemes, and main themes associated with diabetes self-care and the barriers to its practice. RESULTS: Diabetes self-management behaviors were found to be insufficient, mainly due to barriers at the individual, interpersonal, and community levels. Despite high adherence to prescribed medications intake among most patients, many still have inadequate practices in self-blood glucose monitoring, diet, regular physical activity, and foot care. Key barriers included limited knowledge of self-care, socioeconomic constraints, lack of guidance, low motivation, stress, limited social support, cultural influences, and poor access to resources. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes self-care was inadequate due to several challenging barriers. To improve these practices, it is crucial to integrate behavioral change interventions, provide mental health support, implement stress management strategies, and foster community partnerships to address barriers comprehensively at all levels.
Time to maternal death and its predictors among obstetric ICU patients in a resource-limited setting: A 10-year survival analysis.
Alemu TN, Shiferaw WG, Orsongo WE … +2 more , Megule SM, Balcha WF
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378216 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Maternal mortality remains a major concern in resource-limited settings, particularly among critically ill obstetric patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. OBJECTIVE: To assess the time to ma...
BACKGROUND: Maternal mortality remains a major concern in resource-limited settings, particularly among critically ill obstetric patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. OBJECTIVE: To assess the time to maternal death and identify its predictors among obstetric patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a resource-limited tertiary hospital in southern Ethiopia, over a ten-year period. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 378 obstetric patients admitted to the ICU between 2014 and 2023. Kaplan-Meier analysis estimated survival probability, multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression identified independent predictors of time to maternal death reported as adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) with 95% confidence intervals, and a Fine-Gray competing-risks model was additionally conducted with discharge alive as the competing event. RESULTS: Of 378 obstetric ICU admissions, 126 resulted in maternal death, with a median time to death of 2.71 days (95% CI: 2.13-3.44); 71.4% of deaths occurred within the first five days, and survival probability declined rapidly before stabilizing after ten days. Rural residency (AHR 1.56, 95% CI 1.03-2.37), shock (AHR 2.27, 95% CI 1.44-3.56), multi-organ failure (AHR 1.75, 95% CI 1.09-2.78), mechanical ventilation (AHR 1.82, 95% CI 1.11-2.98), and impaired consciousness (moderate GCS: AHR 2.94; severe GCS: AHR 5.43, both p < 0.001) were independently associated with higher hazard of death, with findings consistent across the Fine-Gray competing-risks model. CONCLUSION: Maternal ICU deaths occurred early, with most fatalities within the first week of admission and survival probability declining sharply in the first ten days. Shock, multi-organ failure, invasive mechanical ventilation, impaired consciousness at admission, and rural residency were independent predictors of shortened time to maternal death. Interventions targeting these conditions must be initiated early and urgently, particularly within the critical first days of ICU admission, to improve survival in resource-limited settings.
Shared decision-making in pediatric physical therapy: A qualitative study among adolescents, parents, and physical therapists.
Limmen S, Korteling DL, Bloemen MAT … +8 more , Luijten MAJ, Ketelaar M, Engelbert RHH, Ubbink DT, Hillen MA, Rameckers EAA, van Oers HA, Haverman L
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378215 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: Shared Decision Making (SDM) is a collaborative process between patients and clinicians. A structured approach for SDM in pediatric physical therapy is lacking. This two-phase study aimed to 1) explore how and...
OBJECTIVE: Shared Decision Making (SDM) is a collaborative process between patients and clinicians. A structured approach for SDM in pediatric physical therapy is lacking. This two-phase study aimed to 1) explore how and when to apply SDM in pediatric physical therapy in primary healthcare, and to identify barriers and facilitators influencing its use, and 2) adapt an SDM model for use in pediatric physical therapy and propose strategies for implementation. METHODS: The study consisted of two phases. In Phase 1, six focus groups were conducted, two per participant group: adolescents (12-18y, n = 11), parents of children (4-18y, n = 9), and pediatric physical therapists (n = 6). A qualitative survey among 46 pediatric physical therapists validated focus group results. An inductive analysis explored how and when SDM should be applied, and a deductive analysis identified barriers and facilitators by linking codes to Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) domains. In Phase 2, the research team integrated results into an existing goal-based SDM-model, and implementation strategies were selected using the CFIR-Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change tool. RESULTS: SDM can begin at intake and goal setting, with ongoing, individualized involvement of children and parents throughout therapy. When comparing therapy options, treatment frequency, duration, homework, expectations, and possibilities at home can be discussed. Barriers included time constraints and the challenge of balancing multiple perspectives, while facilitators were the possibility to adapt SDM conversations per family and a supportive practice culture. A goal-based SDM-model was adapted for pediatric physical therapy. Implementation strategies identified were professional training, use of SDM tools, sufficient contact with parents, time to learn SDM, a supportive team culture, and empowering parents and children. DISCUSSION: This study provides guidelines for implementing SDM in pediatric physical therapy in primary care. A multifaceted implementation approach, guided by this study's implementation strategies, may enhance SDM integration into clinical practice.
Progression of radial tears in L5-S1 intervertebral disc depends on location and type of movements: An in-silico study.
Vinyas, Bhat SK, Yamada H … +2 more , Adhikari R, N SB
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378214 · Full text
Low back pain is a global health challenge, with disc degeneration and annular tears contributing significantly to its onset and persistence. This numerical study evaluates how degeneration and the location of radial tea...
Low back pain is a global health challenge, with disc degeneration and annular tears contributing significantly to its onset and persistence. This numerical study evaluates how degeneration and the location of radial tears jointly influence the mechanical behavior of the L5-S1 spinal unit during flexion, extension, and lateral bending. A subject‑specific finite element (FE) model employing an anisotropic hyperelastic formulation was used to simulate healthy, mild, and moderate degeneration, along with radial tears spanning 75% of the annular width at four clinically relevant locations. Quantitative stress analysis revealed pronounced movement-tear location specificity, with posterior tears exhibiting approximately 4-6x higher boundary stresses during flexion, whereas anterior tears demonstrated 1.5-2x higher stresses during extension relative to other tear locations. Posterolateral (PL) tears exhibited their highest stresses during lateral bending, with PL1 (posterior‑shifted PL tear) showing 2-3x higher values and PL2 (more lateral PL tear) reaching 3-5x higher stresses compared to sagittal motions. Degeneration shifted the dominant stress contribution in PL2 from contralateral to ipsilateral lateral bending at the tear site, concurrently amplifying stress magnitudes in flexion and extension without altering the motion-dependent vulnerability patterns associated with each tear location. These findings offer biomechanical insights into how tear location and degeneration affect tear progression and may help guide clinicians in tailoring movement‑specific conservative or interventional treatment strategies.
The dynamics of innovative behavior in sports professionals: An ecological dynamics approach to the serial mediation of motivation and cognitive flexibility in the influence of perceived social support.
Ekinci HB, Mallı AY
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378213 · Full text
This study aims to explain how perceived social support is associated with innovative behavior in sports professionals. The psychological processes explaining this relationship are not sufficiently explained in the liter...
This study aims to explain how perceived social support is associated with innovative behavior in sports professionals. The psychological processes explaining this relationship are not sufficiently explained in the literature; in particular, the roles played by intrinsic motivation and cognitive flexibility in this process need to be investigated in more detail. In this context, the sequential mediating roles of these two variables were tested within the framework of the Ecological Dynamics Approach, and a comprehensive model that could contribute to the development of innovative practices was proposed. This cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from 243 sports professionals working in the province in Eastern Turkey. To examine the predictive role of perceived social support on innovative behavior, a series of mediation models were tested using the PROCESS macro. In this model, intrinsic motivation and cognitive flexibility were positioned as sequential mediators. The analysis revealed that perceived social support did not have a statistically significant direct link with innovative behavior; instead, this relationship was mediated entirely through intrinsic motivation and cognitive flexibility. Specifically, the sequential mediation pathway was found to be significant, in which perceived social support is positively associated with intrinsic motivation and then cognitive flexibility, which in turn relates to higher levels of innovative behavior. The findings support the Ecological Dynamics Approach, which posits that innovative behavior is a dynamic product of individual-environment interaction. Social support functions not only as a motivational factor but also as a contextual affordance that supports cognitive flexibility. This study provides a theoretical and practical framework for explaining the psychological mechanisms that support innovation in sports.
Cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Health Literacy Instrument for Adults with Tuberculosis (HELIA-TB) in India.
Chauhan A, Govani K, Kshatri JS … +8 more , Chauhan S, Patel P, Baluku J, Sinha A, Van Den Akker M, Jansen J, Valderas J, Pati S
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378212 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a critical public health challenge in India, where sustained patient engagement is essential for its effective management. Despite the pivotal role of health literacy, the ability to...
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a critical public health challenge in India, where sustained patient engagement is essential for its effective management. Despite the pivotal role of health literacy, the ability to access, understand, appraise, and apply health-related information in treatment adherence and outcomes, few tools are TB specific, culturally attuned to India, and psychometrically validated. The Health Literacy Instrument for Adults (HELIA), developed in Iran, is a multidimensional, World Health Organization (WHO)-aligned measure with proven reliability and open access, making it an ideal candidate for adaptation. This study aimed to culturally adapt and validate the HELIA for use among adults receiving TB treatment in India (HELIA-TB). METHODS: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was employed for the cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the HELIA-TB in Junagadh district, Gujarat, India, between March 2024 and March 2025. The qualitative phase included expert review, forward translation, cognitive interviews with adults with TB and frontline healthcare workers, back translation, and pilot testing, following international cross-cultural validation guidelines. Findings from the qualitative phase directly informed item modification, simplification of terminology, and contextual adaptation of the HELIA-TB prior to quantitative psychometric validation. The finalized instrument was subsequently administered to 393 adults with TB to assess internal consistency, test-retest reliability, content validity, and construct validity. RESULTS: HELIA-TB retained the original five domains, access, reading, understanding, appraisal, decision-making with TB specific modifications. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were high (α = 0.82-0.89 across domains; 0.86 overall; ICC = 0.88), and so was content validity (S-CVI/Ave = 0.92). Health literacy scores were significantly associated with treatment adherence (Cohen's d = 0.89, p < 0.001) and self-rated health (Cohen's d = 0.76, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed by TB type or drug resistance status. CONCLUSIONS: The adapted HELIA-TB demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties and may support assessment of health literacy and development of targeted TB care interventions in the Indian context.
Dynamic patterns of communication and workload during cardiac surgery: An explorative study.
Wietzorrek L, Craenen E, van Boven I … +2 more , Mariani MA, Cnossen F
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378211 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Effective communication amongst operating room (OR) teams is crucial for ensuring patient safety and optimizing surgical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate communication within the context of physiolog...
BACKGROUND: Effective communication amongst operating room (OR) teams is crucial for ensuring patient safety and optimizing surgical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate communication within the context of physiologically assessed workload during cardiac surgeries. Specifically, the relationship between team members' workload and both case-relevant and case-irrelevant communication exchanges was explored, as well as their association with the length of surgical phases. METHODS: Intraoperative communication exchanges were annotated from incision until skin closure across 24 recorded cardiac surgeries (>100h surgery time). OR team members wore heart rate monitors throughout the surgical procedures. HRV was calculated as the RMSSD across 5-minute non-overlapping windows. Mixed effect models were used to assess the relationship between workload and the frequency of communication exchanges across OR roles and surgical phases. RESULTS: Relevant communication was most frequent during the initiation and discontinuation of extracorporeal bypass, while case-irrelevant communication was most frequent during the final closing phase of surgery. Team members were more likely to engage in case-irrelevant communication during periods of reduced workload (χ2 = 30.15, p = .001). However, this did not necessarily align with the workload of other team members, as increased workload was associated with more frequent case-irrelevant communication initiated by other team members (χ2 = 5.97, p = .015). Workload and case-relevant communication had a significant effect on surgical phase length. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the dynamic relationship between workload and intraoperative communication patterns. Integrating observational data with physiological indicators of workload appears a promising approach to studying team dynamics in the operating room, though further research is needed to advance the use of such methods for improving team performance.
Global land footprint of UK food and feed imports under future socioeconomic scenarios.
Arendarczyk B, Rabin S, Bampoh D … +4 more , Arneth A, Brown C, Rounsevell M, Alexander P
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378210 · Full text
Globalisation in the food system has led to interdependencies between countries for food security and has distributed the environmental impacts of the food consumption. In the UK, food imports account for nearly half of...
Globalisation in the food system has led to interdependencies between countries for food security and has distributed the environmental impacts of the food consumption. In the UK, food imports account for nearly half of domestic consumption. However, there has been limited research quantifying the UK's current global land use footprint, and no previous work has explored how this might evolve under future scenarios. We provide an update on the historical land footprint of UK food and feed imports from 2010 to 2020 and produce spatially explicit estimates of the land footprint from 2020 to 2100. Food and feed demand, agricultural production and trade are simulated using a food system model under four global socioeconomic and climate scenarios. Using biophysical accounting, we estimate that 11 Mha of agricultural land is currently linked to UK food and feed imports. Across all scenarios, we estimate that the global land footprint of UK food and feed imports will reach 10-12 Mha of agricultural land by 2050 and 10-16 Mha by 2100. With 17 Mha of UK land currently used for agriculture, the land footprint of food and feed imports should be an important focus when evaluating the environmental consequences of UK food consumption.
In silico-predicted B-cell epitopes for bovine brucellosis serodiagnosis: Preliminary analytical evaluation of synthetic peptide- and multi-epitope protein-based indirect ELISAs.
de Souza LDR, Souza MFS, Lima PA … +11 more , Cirilo TM, Ribeiro LN, Carvalho SAP, de Sá Guimarães A, de Souza PG, Soares Filho PM, Reis Cunha JL, Bueno LL, Alves da Paixão T, Fujiwara RT, Santos RL
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378208 · Full text
Serological methods are valuable diagnostic tools for bovine brucellosis, a zoonotic infectious disease with a worldwide distribution. Currently employed diagnostic methods utilize crude bacterial extract or regions of L...
Serological methods are valuable diagnostic tools for bovine brucellosis, a zoonotic infectious disease with a worldwide distribution. Currently employed diagnostic methods utilize crude bacterial extract or regions of LPS, a molecule that can exhibit cross-reactions with other infectious agents. The goal of this study was to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISAi) using synthetic peptides or a multi-epitope protein based on in silico-predicted B cell epitopes. Peptides were synthesized on a cellulose membrane using spot synthesis, and immunoblots were performed to evaluate reactivity by densitometry against bovine sera of interest. Peptides reacting with serum from positive cattle and non-reactive to the serum from negative controls were selected, synthesized in a soluble form, and used as antigens for the development of the ELISAi. Two peptides (P1 and P2) were selected and, after standardization of the ELISAi, positive (25) and negative (175) samples were tested, resulting in a sensitivity of 84% (21/25) and specificity of 83.43% (146/175). The sequence of the two peptides in replicates with spacers were inserted into a multi-epitope protein, which was also used as antigen in an ELISAi resulting in a sensitivity of 72% (18/25) and a specificity of 61.71% (108/175). This study provided a preliminary analytical assessment of in silico-predicted epitopes for developing novel serologic diagnostic tests.
Correction: The association between RDW-to-platelet ratio and in-hospital mortality in critically ill stroke patients: A retrospective cohort study based on the eICU database.
Chen Y, Yang X, Lan M … +3 more , Qin X, Yi D, Chen L
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378207 · Full text
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0344361.].
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0344361.].
Robust policy evaluation from large-scale observational studies.
Islam MS, Morshed MS, Young GJ … +1 more , Noor-E-Alam M
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378205 · Full text
Under the current policy decision making paradigm we make or evaluate a policy decision by intervening different socio-economic parameters and analyzing the impact of those interventions. This process involves identifyin...
Under the current policy decision making paradigm we make or evaluate a policy decision by intervening different socio-economic parameters and analyzing the impact of those interventions. This process involves identifying the causal relation between interventions and outcomes. Matching method is one of the popular techniques to identify such causal relations. However, in one-to-one matching, when a treatment or control unit has multiple pair assignment options with similar match quality, different matching algorithms often assign different pairs. Since all the matching algorithms assign pairs without considering the outcomes, it is possible that with the same data and same hypothesis, different experimenters can reach different conclusions creating an uncertainty in policy decision making. This problem becomes more prominent in the case of large-scale observational studies as there are more pair assignment options. Recently, a robust approach has been proposed to tackle the uncertainty that uses an integer programming model to explore all possible assignments. Though the proposed integer programming model is very efficient in making robust causal inference, it is not scalable to big data observational studies. With the current approach, an observational study with 50,000 samples will generate hundreds of thousands binary variables. Solving such integer programming problem is computationally expensive and becomes even worse with the increase of sample size. In this work, we consider causal inference testing with binary outcomes and propose computationally efficient algorithms that are adaptable for large-scale observational studies. By leveraging the structure of the optimization model, we propose a robustness condition that further reduces the computational burden. We validate the efficiency of the proposed algorithms by testing the causal relation between the Medicare Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) and non-index readmissions (i.e., readmission to a hospital that is different from the hospital that discharged the patient) from the State of California Patient Discharge Database from 2010 to 2014. Our result shows that HRRP does not have a causal relation with the increase in non-index readmissions. The proposed algorithms proved to be highly scalable in testing causal relations from large-scale observational studies.
Correction: Resilient distributed model predictive control for cooperative microgrids under communication loss with demand response integration.
PLOS One Staff
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378204 · Full text
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0345857.].
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0345857.].
Editorial Note: Terahertz Irradiation Promotes Angiogenesis in vitro by Enhancing Permeability of the Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel.
PLOS One Editors
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378203 · Full text
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Retraction: Robust policy evaluation from large-scale observational studies.
PLOS One Editors
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378197 · Full text
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Expression of Concern: Differential microRNA profiling of the Marshallese population in Arkansas reveals a higher association with chronic diseases.
PLOS One Editors
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378195 · Full text
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Extraction and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from kelp (Laminaria japonica) waste.
Liu Z, Xie W, Ye L … +1 more , Chen C
PLoS One · 2026 · PMID 42378194 · Full text
Kelp, an economically important brown alga widely cultivated in East Asia, produces kelp waste rich in cellulose as a byproduct of alginate extraction. In this study, kelp cellulose (KC) was first extracted from the kelp...
Kelp, an economically important brown alga widely cultivated in East Asia, produces kelp waste rich in cellulose as a byproduct of alginate extraction. In this study, kelp cellulose (KC) was first extracted from the kelp waste. Subsequently, 2 wt% hydrochloric acid was used to hydrolyze the kelp cellulose at 100 °C for 30 min to isolate kelp microcrystalline cellulose (KMCC) from the KC. Characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that the chemical structures and cellulose I crystal form remained intact during hydrolysis, with the crystallinity index increasing from 76.4% to 78.1%. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and derivative TGA indicated enhanced thermostability of KMCC compared to KC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations showed that acid hydrolysis transformed the irregular thin-sheet structure of KC into smaller-sized KMCC with a morphology distinct from the rod-like structure of commercial microcrystalline cellulose (CMCC). The level-off degree of polymerization (LODP) of KMCC measured around 164.3, closely resembling the value for CMCC at 166.5, with a yield of 85.5%. This study proposes a novel method to utilize kelp waste by converting it into MCC, offering a potential avenue for its valorization.
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