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The role of primary care providers in testing for sexually transmitted infections in the MassHealth Medicaid program. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Eric O Mick,Meagan J Sabatino,Matthew J Alcusky,Frances E Eanet,William S Pearson,Arlene S Ash
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) under an accountable care model of health care delivery. Data sources were claims and encounter records from the Massachusetts Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (MassHealth) for enrollees aged 13 to 64 years in 2019. This cross-sectional study examines the
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Metric and fault-tolerant metric dimension for GeSbTe superlattice chemical structure. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Liu Liqin,Khurram Shahzad,Abdul Rauf,Fairouz Tchier,Adnan Aslam
The concept of metric dimension has many applications, including optimizing sensor placement in networks and identifying influential persons in social networks, which aids in effective resource allocation and focused interventions; finding the source of a spread in an arrangement; canonically labeling graphs; and inserting typical information in low-dimensional Euclidean spaces. In a graph G, the set
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Modelling the historical distribution of schistosomiasis-transmitting snails in South Africa using ecological niche models. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Nisa Ayob,Roelof P Burger,Monray D Belelie,Ncobile C Nkosi,Henno Havenga,Lizaan de Necker,Dirk P Cilliers
Schistosomiasis is a vector-borne disease transmitted by freshwater snails and is prevalent in rural areas with poor sanitation and no access to tap water. Three snail species are known to transmit schistosomiasis in South Africa (SA), namely Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Bulinus globosus and Bulinus africanus. In 2003, a predicted prevalence of 70% was reported in tropical climates in SA. Temperature and
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Experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic as a homeless person in Chennai, India: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Laalithya Konduru,Nishant Das
Persons experiencing homelessness (PEHs) have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality compared to the general population and are highly vulnerable during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Understanding their experience of the pandemic is important for mitigating the effects of the pandemic. Accordingly, we conducted a qualitative study on their lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic
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Unmasking hidden risks: The surprising link between PDE5 inhibitors and seizure susceptibility. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Alex Luiz Menezes da Silva,Chirlene Pinheiro Nascimento,Julianne Elba Cunha Azevedo,Luana Rodrigues Vieira,Akira Otake Hamoy,Allan Carlos da Silva Tiago,João Cleiton Martins Rodrigues,Daniella Bastos de Araujo,Dielly Catrina Favacho Lopes,Vanessa Jóia de Mello,Moisés Hamoy
BACKGROUND Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) are the first line treatment for erectile dysfunction; however, several articles and case reports have shown central nervous system effects, that can cause seizures in susceptible patients. This study aims to describe the changes caused by the use of Sildenafil and Tadalafil through the analysis of abnormalities expressed in the electrocorticogram (ECoG)
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Ageing society and the challenge for social robotics: A systematic review of Socially Assistive Robotics for MCI patients. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Giusi Figliano,Federico Manzi,Andrea Luna Tacci,Antonella Marchetti,Davide Massaro
The aging population in Western countries has led to a rise in predementia conditions like Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Social Assistive Robotics (SAR) interventions, among novel technological tools, offer a promising interdisciplinary approach to mitigate cognitive and social symptoms' progression in this clinical group. This systematic review aims to identify existing clinical protocols employing
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Limitations in predicting reduced susceptibility to third generation cephalosporins in Escherichia coli based on whole genome sequence data. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Anna Heydecke,Hong Yin,Eva Tano,Susanne Sütterlin
Prediction of antibiotic resistance from whole genome sequence (WGS) data has been proposed. However, the performance of WGS data analysis for this matter may be influenced by the resistance mechanism's biology. This study compared traditional antimicrobial susceptibility testing with whole genome sequencing for identification of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) in a collection of 419 Escherichia
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The effects of tryptophan loading on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity in adults: A remote double blind randomised controlled trial. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Larisa M Dinu,Samriddhi N Singh,Neo S Baker,Alexandra L Georgescu,Paul G Overton,Eleanor J Dommett
BACKGROUND Despite the impact and prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), current treatment options remain limited and there is a drive for alternative approaches, including those building on evidence of a role for tryptophan (TRP) and serotonin (5-HT). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of acute TRP loading on attention and impulsivity in adults with ADHD. TRIAL DESIGN
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Treatment and life goals among veterans with Gulf War illness. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Nicole Sullivan,Hannah Schorpp,Sarah Crosky,Scott Thien,Drew A Helmer,David R Litke,Wilfred R Pigeon,Karen S Quigley,Lisa M McAndrew
Medically unexplained syndromes (MUS), also termed persistent physical symptoms, are both prevalent and disabling. Yet treatments for MUS are marked by high rates of patient dissatisfaction, as well as disagreement between patients and providers on the management of persistent physical symptoms. A better understanding of patient-generated goals could increase collaborative goal setting and promote
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Parent-child communication about substance use, puberty, sex, and social media use among Hispanic parents and pre-adolescent children. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Yui Matsuda,Roxana D Thalasinos,Alexa Parra,Roberto Roman Laporte,Maria A Mejia-Botero,Abgail L Adera,Melody Siles,Gerardo Lazaro,Ronak N Venkata,Joseph P De Santis
BACKGROUND & PURPOSE Previous research has noted that Hispanic pre-adolescents may be at an increased probability for engagement in risk-taking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore parent-child communication among Hispanic parents and 4th-6th grade children related to substance use, puberty, sex, and social media use. METHODS A qualitative descriptive design was used to examine Hispanic
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Combining data discretization and missing value imputation for incomplete medical datasets. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Min-Wei Huang,Chih-Fong Tsai,Shu-Ching Tsui,Wei-Chao Lin
Data discretization aims to transform a set of continuous features into discrete features, thus simplifying the representation of information and making it easier to understand, use, and explain. In practice, users can take advantage of the discretization process to improve knowledge discovery and data analysis on medical domain problem datasets containing continuous features. However, certain feature
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Multidrug-resistant and carbapenemase-producing critical gram-negative bacteria isolated from the intensive care unit environment in Amhara region, Ethiopia. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Mizan Kindu,Feleke Moges,Degu Ashagrie,Zemene Tigabu,Baye Gelaw
BACKGROUND Intensive care units are units where healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are common and antimicrobial resistance rates are increasing. Microbial contamination in hospital environment plays an important role in the development of HAIs. Intervention-based improvements in infection prevention and control at national and facility level are critical for the containment of antimicrobial resistance
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Molecular evidence depicts genetic divergence among Agropyron elongatum and A. cristatum accessions from gene pool of Iran. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Hamid Hatami Maleki,Reza Mohammadi,Fatemeh Firouzkuhi,Reza Darvishzadeh,Hossein Zeinalzadeh-Tabrizi
The genus Agropyron has an important role in soil protection and forage production in rangelands. The investigation utilized 37 ISSR primers, resulting in the detection of 956 loci within the A. elongatum genome and 705 loci within the A. cristatum genome. The findings revealed a high level of polymorphism, with 97% of loci in A. elongatum and 84% of loci in A. cristatum exhibiting variability. Notably
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Upper glycolytic components contribute differently in controlling retinal vascular endothelial cellular behavior: Implications for endothelial-related retinal diseases. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Nicole Oska,Shaimaa Eltanani,Mohamed Shawky,Armaan Naghdi,Andrew Gregory,Thangal Yumnamcha,Ahmed S Ibrahim
BACKGROUND Retinal degenerative diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema are characterized by impaired retinal endothelial cells (RECs) functionality. While the role of glycolysis in glucose homeostasis is well-established, its contributions to REC barrier assembly and cell spreading remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the importance of upper glycolytic
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Competitiveness analysis of fresh tomatoes in Indonesia: Turning comparative advantage into competitive advantage. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Saptana,Syahrul Ganda Sukmaya,Atika Dyah Perwita,Fadhila Dhia Malihah,Irwanda Wisnu Wardhana,Atika Dian Pitaloka,Shabrina Austin Ghaisani,Bambang Sayaka,Nyak Ilham,Elna Karmawati,Mewa Ariani,Sri Hery Susilowati,Sumaryanto,Handewi Purwati Saliem
Tomato commodity ranks fifth regarding vegetable export volume and value in Indonesia. The main issues with tomato production in Indonesia are seemingly its lack of variations, quantity, quality, and supply continuity. This study aimed to analyze the comparative and the competitive advantages of tomato farming, evaluate the government policy on inputs, outputs, and input-output sectors, and formulate
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Interaction of insecticidal proteins from Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus thuringiensis for boll weevil management. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Jardel Diego Barbosa Rodrigues,Raquel Oliveira Moreira,Jackson Antônio Marcondes de Souza,Janete Apparecida Desidério
Cotton crop yields are largely affected by infestations of Anthonomus grandis, which is its main pest. Although Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) derived proteins can limit insect pest infestations, the diverse use of control methods becomes a viable alternative in order to prolong the use of technology in the field. One of the alternative methods to Bt technology has been the utilization of certain Pseudomonas
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Correction: An Intelligent Framework to Measure the Effects of COVID-19 on the Mental Health of Medical Staff. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286155.].
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Trehalose enhances mitochondria deficits in human NPC1 mutant fibroblasts but disrupts mouse Purkinje cell dendritic growth ex vivo. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Collin M MacLeod,Fawad A K Yousufzai,Liam T Spencer,Sarah Kim,Lucianne A Rivera-Rosario,Zerian D Barrera,Lindsay Walsh,Claude Krummenacher,Benjamin Carone,Ileana Soto
Lysosomes play important roles in catabolism, nutrient sensing, metabolic signaling, and homeostasis. NPC1 deficiency disrupts lysosomal function by inducing cholesterol accumulation that leads to early neurodegeneration in Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease. Mitochondria pathology and deficits in NPC1 deficient cells are associated with impaired lysosomal proteolysis and metabolic signaling. It is
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Exposure to childhood maltreatment predicts adult physiological dysregulation, particularly inflammation. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Jennifer C Cornman,Jacob Witt,Dana A Glei,Maxine Weinstein
Although a growing literature describes the effects of negative childhood experiences on biological outcomes, it is difficult to compare results across studies because of differences in measures of childhood experiences, biological markers, sample characteristics, and included covariates. To ensure comparability across its analyses, this study used a single national survey of adults in the United States-the
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Mutational analysis and clinical investigations of medically diagnosed GSD 1a patients from Pakistan. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Bushra Gul,Sabika Firasat,Tayyaba Shan,Raeesa Tehreem,Kiran Afshan
Glycogen storage disease type I (GSD I) is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of carbohydrate metabolism caused by the defects of glucose-6-phosphatase complex (G6PC). Disease causing variants in the G6PC gene, located on chromosome 17q21 result in glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD Ia). Age of onset of GSD Ia ranges from 0.5 to 25 years with presenting features including hemorrhage, hepatic
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Exploring the general public's and experts' risk and benefit perceptions of cultured meat in Singapore: A mental models approach. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Shirley S Ho,Mengxue Ou,Zhing Ting Ong
Despite the recent approval of cultured meat products in Singapore, the understanding of public perceptions towards this novel food technology remains limited. Utilizing attitude formation theory and the mental models approach, this study compares the mental models of the general public and experts regarding their risk and benefit perceptions of cultured meat. Through four online focus group discussions
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Different PfEMP1-expressing Plasmodium falciparum variants induce divergent endothelial transcriptional responses during co-culture. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Basim Othman,Leo Zeef,Tadge Szestak,Zineb Rchiad,Janet Storm,Caroline Askonas,Rohit Satyam,Aymen Madkhali,Michael Haley,Simon Wagstaff,Kevin Couper,Arnab Pain,Alister Craig
The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of mortality and morbidity caused by malaria infection and differs from other human malaria species in the degree of accumulation of parasite-infected red blood cells in the microvasculature, known as cytoadherence or sequestration. In P. falciparum, cytoadherence is mediated by a protein called PfEMP1 which, due to its
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National and subnational burden of leukemia and its risk factors, 1990-2019: Results from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Amirhossein Poopak,Sahar Saeedi Moghaddam,Zahra Esfahani,Mohammad Keykhaei,Negar Rezaei,Nazila Rezaei,Mohammad-Mahdi Rashidi,Naser Ahmadi,Mohsen Abbasi-Kangevari,Mohammad-Reza Malekpour,Seyyed-Hadi Ghamari,Shirin Djalalinia,Seyed Mohammad Tavangar,Bagher Larijani,Farzad Kompani
BACKGROUND Hematologic malignancies have a great essential role in cancer global burden. Leukemia which two major subtypes based on the onset, is one of the common subtypes of this malignancy. METHOD For the GBD 2019 study, cancer registry data and vital registration system were used to estimate leukemia mortality. The Meta-Regression-Bayesian Regularized Trimmed (MR-BRT), Cause of Death Ensemble model
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The efficacy and safety of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Bo Qiu,Jia Xu Liang,Manuel Romero Gómez
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The safety and efficacy of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for the treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) remain controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of G-CSF in treating ACLF. METHODS The estimated pooled risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) assessed the treatment effects of G-CSF. Mean differences
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The diagnostic accuracy of mean platelet volume in differentiating immune thrombocytopenic purpura from hypo-productive thrombocytopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Muluken Walle,Mesay Arkew,Haftu Asmerom,Addisu Tesfaye,Fasil Getu
BACKGROUND Thrombocytopenia is defined as a decreased number of platelets in the circulating blood as a result of hypo-proliferation in marrow or peripheral destruction of platelets. Several diagnostic methods have been proposed to discriminate the underline cause of thrombocytopenia. Recent studies showed that mean platelet volume (MPV) could be used for differential diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenic
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Optimizing diagnostic networks to increase patient access to TB diagnostic services: Development of the diagnostic network optimization (DNO) approach and learnings from its application in Kenya, India and the Philippines. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Heidi Albert,Sidharth Rupani,Enos Masini,Jeremiah Ogoro,Maureen Kamene,Donna Geocaniga-Gaviola,Eddie Sistoso,Celina Garfin,Sarabjit Chadha,Nishant Kumar,Kekeletso Kao,Zachary Katz
Diagnostic network optimization (DNO) is an analytical approach that enables use of available country data to inform evidence-based decision-making to optimize access to diagnostic services. A DNO methodology was developed using available data sources and a commercial supply chain optimization software. In collaboration with Ministries of Health and partners, the approach was applied in Kenya, India
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Validation of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 in individuals with schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and diabetes in Singapore. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Edimansyah Abdin,Vanessa Seet,Anitha Jeyagurunathan,Sing Chik Tan,Yee Ming Mok,Swapna Verma,Eng Sing Lee,Mythily Subramaniam
BACKGROUND There is limited evidence on the reliability and validity of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) in an Asian patient population with mental and physical disorders. The current study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the WHODAS 2.0 among patients with schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and diabetes. METHODS A total of 1076 patients
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Ocelots in the moonlight: Influence of lunar phase on habitat selection and movement of two sympatric felids. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Maksim Sergeyev,Jason V Lombardi,Michael E Tewes,Tyler A Campbell
Various landscape and environmental factors influence animal movement and habitat selection. Lunar illumination affects nocturnal visual perception of many species and, consequently, may influence animal activity and habitat selection. However, the effects of varying moon stage may differ across taxa. Prey species often reduce activity during highly visible periods of night while predators may increase
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Antibiotic prescription patterns in patients with suspected urinary tract infections in Ecuador. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Xavier Sánchez,Alicia Latacunga,Iván Cárdenas,Ruth Jimbo-Sotomayor,Santiago Escalante
BACKGROUND Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common cause to prescribe antibiotics in primary care. Diagnosis is based on the presence of clinical symptoms in combination with the results of laboratory tests. Antibiotic therapy is the primary approach to the treatment of UTIs; however, some studies indicate that therapeutics in UTIs may be suboptimal, potentially leading to therapeutic
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Transcultural validation of the "revised sport motivation scale" (SMS-II) in Arabic language: Exploratory study on motivation in sport for a sample of Tunisian Athletes. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Mohamed Baaziz,Ali Aloui,Amel Tayech,Matthew Stults-Kolehmainen,Mohamed Arbi Mejri,Abderraouf Ben Abderrahman
BACKGROUND Sports performance is the result of an interaction of several variables, such as physical, technical, and psychological. The ability of athletes to use motivation, is an important predictor to achieve high performance in sport. SMS-II comprised 18 elements to measure six behavioral control factors. AIM This study aims to validate an Arabic version of the revised sports motivation scale-II
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Increased perception of the experience dimension of the animal mind reduces instrumental violence against animals. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Agnieszka Potocka,Maksymilian Bielecki
In this study, we investigated whether the perception of animal experience capacities, enabling individuals to recognize animals as moral patients, decreases instrumental violence against animals. Additionally, we aimed to distinguish this effect from the influence of perceptions of agency capacities, referred to as anthropomorphization. To achieve this, we conducted an online experimental study (N
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A novel objective for improving the sustainability of water supply system regarding hydrological response. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Mahdi Moudi,Qiuyan Gai,He Yuan,Li Guiqing,Mahdi Basirialmahjough,Artemis Motamedi,Majid Galoie
In general, the sustainability of the water supply system is indicative of an adaptive operational approach, wherein the decision-maker adjusts the system's performance based on the availability of water resources in a given time frame. In light of this, a novel framework is proposed in this study to evaluate sustainability, including three key indicators: resilience, reliability, and vulnerability
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The impact of frontal lesions after mild to moderate traumatic brain injury on frontal network measures. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Sandra E Rakers,Edith J Liemburg,Harm J van der Horn,Jan Cees de Groot,Jacoba M Spikman,Joukje van der Naalt
To investigate the impact of frontal macro-structural lesions on intrinsic network measures, we examined brain network function during resting-state fMRI in patients with frontal lesions in the subacute phase after mild to moderate traumatic brain injury. Additionally, network function was related to neuropsychological performances. 17 patients with frontal lesions, identified on admission CT after
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Improving the pragmatic usefulness of the scoring matrix for the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). A proposal for a more frequency-based approach: The CFIR-f. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 George Economidis,Anne-Marie Eades,Anthony Shakeshaft,Sara Farnbach
The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) is a well-established framework for systematically identifying key factors influencing the implementation of programs. To enhance the classification of existing CFIR definitions, as well as its +2/-2 scoring system, this study incorporated the views of relevant experts to: i) improve how themes are scored; and ii) utilise more information
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Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among undergraduate admission candidates in Bangladesh: A nation-wide cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Md Abu Bakkar Siddik,Md Nafiul Hasan,Al Mahmud,Morioum Sarkar Munmun,Mahmudul Hasan Milad,Akher Ali,Zobayer Ahmed,Md Jamal Uddin
BACKGROUND The undergraduate admission test is one of the most stressful assessments in a student's life, as it is required for admission to any of Bangladesh's public universities or medical colleges. Those taking the admissions test are under a lot of pressure to perform well. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of clinical depression among Bangladeshi admission candidates and the factors
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The association between bullous pemphigoid and cognitive outcomes in middle-aged and older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Qi Zhou,Zhenrong Xiong,Dejiang Yang,Chongyu Xiong,Xinming Li
BACKGROUND Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare autoimmune skin condition that causes large fluid-filled blisters on the skin, especially in older adults. BP has been linked to various diseases and medications, but its association with cognitive outcomes is unclear. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating the association between BP and cognitive outcomes, such
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Evaluation of the diagnostic performance of EpiTuub® Fecal Rotavirus Antigen Rapid Test Kit in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia: A multi-center cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Debasu Damtie,Aschalew Gelaw,Yitayih Wondimeneh,Yetemwork Aleka,Zewdu Siyoum Tarekegn,Ulrich Sack,Anastasia N Vlasova,Belay Tessema
Rotavirus is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality due to acute gastroenteritis among children under five years globally. Early diagnosis of rotavirus infection minimizes its spread and helps to determine the appropriate management of diarrhea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of EpiTuub® Fecal Rotavirus Antigen Rapid Test Kit for the diagnosis of rotavirus infection among
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Body condition as a descriptor of American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) health status in the Greater Everglades, Florida, United States. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Sergio A Balaguera-Reina,Laura A Brandt,Nicole D Hernandez,Brittany M Mason,Christopher D Smith,Frank J Mazzotti
Body condition is used as an indicator of the degree of body fat in an animal but evidence of its actual relationship with health diagnostics (e.g., blood parameters) is usually lacking across species. In American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), body condition has been used as a performance metric within the Greater Everglades ecosystem to provide insight on hydrological and landscape changes
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What is it like to be a sport school student-athlete? A mixed method evaluation of holistic impacts and experiences. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Ffion Thompson,Fieke Rongen,Ian Cowburn,Kevin Till
Assessing the holistic impact of student-athletes within sport schools is important due to the increasing popularity of sport school programmes, the likelihood that most youth athletes do not ultimately succeed in their sport and the multiple and wide ranging positive and negative impacts associated with intensified youth sport. Therefore, this study, using a mixed method design, aimed to evaluate
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Analyzing game statistics and career trajectories of female elite junior tennis players: A machine learning approach. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Michal Bozděch,Jiří Zháněl
Tennis is a popular and complex sport influenced by various factors. Early training increases the risk of career dropout before peak performance. This study analyzed game statistics of World Junior Tennis Final participants (2012-2016), their career paths and it examined how game statistics impact rankings of top 300 female players, aiming to develop an accurate model using percentage-based variables
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Eyes on incivility in surgical teams: Teamwork, well-being, and an intervention. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Cheri Ostroff,Chelsea Benincasa,Belinda Rae,Douglas Fahlbusch,Nicholas Wallwork
Incivility in surgery is prevalent and negatively impacts effectiveness and staff well-being. The purpose of this study was to a) examine relationships between incivility, team dynamics, and well-being outcomes, and b) explore a low-cost intervention of 'eye' signage in operating theater areas to reduce incivility in surgical teams. A mixed methods design was used in an orthopedic hospital. Surveys
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A simulation-based assessment of the efficiency of QTL mapping under environment and genotype x environment interaction effects. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Grace Sunshine David,José Marcelo Soriano Viana,Kaio Olimpio das Graças Dias
The objective of this simulation-based study was to assess how genes, environments, and genotype x environment (GxE) interaction affect the quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping efficiency. The simulation software performed 50 samplings of 300 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a F2, which were assessed in six environments. The RILs were genotyped for 977 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and
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Reasons for stopping Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC): A retrospective study to improve future patient selection. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Anne-Cécile Ezanno,Brice Malgras,Pierre-Louis Conan,Adeline Aime,Jade Fawaz,Hugo Picchi,Solène Doat,Marc Pocard
To improve the prognosis and maintain quality of life in patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM), a novel treatment has been introduced-pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC). The majority of teams propose at least 3 PIPAC procedures. However, for many patients PIPAC is stopped after only one or two procedures. The aim of this study was to identify the reasons for stopping PIPAC
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Availability and price of fruits and vegetables in the surroundings of food and nutrition public establishments. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Gabriela Gomes de Paiva,Rafael Moreira Claro,Bruna Vieira de Lima Costa
BACKGROUND Inequalities of access to healthy food reinforce the need to strengthen public policies on Food and Nutritional Security. In this context, Food and Nutrition Public Establishments, which are public spaces for distribution and commercialization of healthy foods, stand out. However, in middle-income countries there is little monitoring of the impacts of public policies on food environments
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Estimation of regional meteorological aridity and drought characteristics in Baluchistan province, Pakistan. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Muhammad Rafiq,Yue Cong Li,Yanpei Cheng,Ghani Rahman,Yuanjie Zhao,Hammed Ullah Khan
Droughts and prevailing arid conditions have a significant impacts on the natural environment, agriculture, and human life. To analyze the regional characteristics of drought in Baluchistan province, the aridity index (AI) and standardized potential evapotranspiration index (SPEI) were used in. The study analyzed the rainfall, temperature, and potential evapotranspiration (PET) data and the same were
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Gamification as a health education strategy of adolescents at school: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Thais Teixeira Dos Santos,Manuel Pardo Ríos,Gidyenne Christine Bandeira Silva de Medeiros,Ádala Nayana de Sousa Mata,Danyllo do Nascimento Silva Junior,Daniel Martínez Guillen,Grasiela Piuvezam
The objective of the study is to present a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol for evaluating the effects of health education gamification-based interventions, on health parameters (food consumption, sleep quality and physical activity) of adolescent students. This protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42022373833).
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Validation of a culturally adapted Swedish-language version of the Death Literacy Index. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Therese Johansson,Åsa Olsson,Carol Tishelman,Kerrie Noonan,Rosemary Leonard,Lars E Eriksson,Ida Goliath,Joachim Cohen
The death literacy index (DLI) was developed in Australia to measure death literacy, a set of experience-based knowledge needed to understand and act on end-of-life (EOL) care options but has not yet been validated outside its original context. The aim of this study was to develop a culturally adapted Swedish-language version of the DLI, the DLI-S, and assess sources of evidence for its validity in
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Hospital pharmacists', doctors' and nurses' perceptions of intra- and inter- professional communication in the context of electronic prescribing and medication administration systems: A qualitative study. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Soomal Mohsin-Shaikh,Ann Blandford,Bryony Dean Franklin
BACKGROUND Effective, integrated and coordinated communication is essential in providing high quality patient care. Little prior research has detailed the impact of electronic prescribing and medication administration (ePMA) systems on healthcare professionals' (HCPs') communication. We investigated hospital pharmacists', doctors' and nurses' perceptions of how ePMA systems have affected, or are expected
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Wrack line formation and composition on shores of a large Alpine lake: The role of littoral topography and wave exposure. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Wolfgang Ostendorp,Hilmar Hofmann,Jens Peter Armbruster
Wrack lines are a key formation along shorelines that provide organic matter and bring ecological diversity to the local environment. Although wrack line formation has been extensively studied along marine beaches and estuaries, in contrast, knowledge about the environmental variables that promote wrack line formation within inland lakes is widely lacking. In one of the first studies to focus on wrack
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The epidemiology of superficial Streptococcal A (impetigo and pharyngitis) infections in Australia: A systematic review. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Sophie Wiegele,Elizabeth McKinnon,Bede van Schaijik,Stephanie Enkel,Katharine Noonan,Asha C Bowen,Rosemary Wyber
BACKGROUND Streptoccocal A (Strep A, GAS) infections in Australia are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality through both invasive (iGAS) and post-streptococcal (postGAS) diseases as well as preceding superficial (sGAS) skin and throat infection. The burden of iGAS and postGAS are addressed in some jurisdictions by mandatory notification systems; in contrast, the burden of preceding sGAS
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The possible impact of escaped captive American mink (Neogale vison) on the population of feral mink in Denmark. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Tobias Astell Andersen,René Worup Rørbæk,Cino Pertoldi,Sussie Pagh
The Danish feral mink (Neogale vison) population can be divided into wild-born and captive-born mink newly escaped from a farm. The impact of the captive-born mink on the population of feral population is unknown. Captive-born mink has lately been estimated to make up 25-30% of the feral mink population. In December 2020 Danish mink farms were decommissioned until January 2023. The aim of this study
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Role of the redox state of the Pirin-bound cofactor on interaction with the master regulators of inflammation and other pathways. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Tamim Ahsan,Sabrina Samad Shoily,Tasnim Ahmed,Abu Ashfaqur Sajib
Persistent cellular stress induced perpetuation and uncontrolled amplification of inflammatory response results in a shift from tissue repair toward collateral damage, significant alterations of tissue functions, and derangements of homeostasis which in turn can lead to a large number of acute and chronic pathological conditions, such as chronic heart failure, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction
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TK1 expression influences pathogenicity by cell cycle progression, cellular migration, and cellular survival in HCC 1806 breast cancer cells. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Eliza E Bitter,Jonathan Skidmore,Carolyn I Allen,Rachel I Erickson,Rachel M Morris,Toni Mortimer,Audrey Meade,Rachel Brog,Tim Phares,Michelle Townsend,Brett E Pickett,Kim L O'Neill
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis worldwide accounting for 1 out of every 8 cancer diagnoses. The elevated expression of Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) is associated with more aggressive tumor grades, including breast cancer. Recent studies indicate that TK1 may be involved in cancer pathogenesis; however, its direct involvement in breast cancer has not been identified. Here, we evaluate
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Impact of youth lay health workers on HIV service delivery in South Africa: A pragmatic cluster randomized trial of the Youth Health Africa program. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Deanna Tollefson,Sayan Dasgupta,Geoffrey Setswe,Sarah Reeves,Salome Charalambous,Ann Duerr
BACKGROUND Innovative approaches are needed to increase lay health workers in HIV programs. The Youth Health Africa (YHA) program is a novel approach that places young adults seeking work experience in one-year internships in health facilities to support HIV-related programming (e.g., HIV testing) or administration (e.g., filing). METHODS We implemented a pragmatic, randomized trial among 20 facilities
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Examining the exposure-reception-retention link in realistic communication environments via VR and eye-tracking: The VR billboard paradigm. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Ralf Schmälzle,Sue Lim,Hee Jung Cho,Juncheng Wu,Gary Bente
Exposure is key to message effects. No effects can ensue if a health, political, or commercial message is not noticed. Yet, existing research in communication, advertising, and related disciplines often measures 'opportunities for exposure' at an aggregate level, whereas knowing whether recipients were 'actually exposed' to a message requires a micro-level approach. Micro-level research, on the other
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Determinants of prelabor rupture of membrane among pregnant women attending governmental hospitals in Jimma zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia: A multi-center case-control study. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Ebrahim Msaye Assefa,Getachew Chane,Addis Teme,Tilahun Alemayehu Nigatu
BACKGROUND Prelabor rupture of membrane defined as the rupture of fetal membranes before the beginning of uterine contractions, is a common complication of pregnancy and the leading cause of preterm birth. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of prelabor rupture of membrane varied significantly between settings due to variations in risk factors. Besides, there was no study conducted using primary data, particularly
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Immigrant-critical alternative media in online conversations. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Victoria Yantseva,Davide Vega,Matteo Magnani
In this work, we explore the role of immigrant-critical alternative media in shaping collective emotions and users' evaluations of the immigration issue, using a conversational approach and an empirical case of Flashback, a prominent Swedish online platform where many immigration-related discussions take place. Our text and network-based analysis of more than 9,000 conversations during the last election
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Extended Kalman Filter design for sensorless sliding mode predictive control of induction motors without weighting factor: An experimental investigation. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Mohamed Chebaani,Mohamed Metwally Mahmoud,Ahmad F Tazay,Mohamed I Mosaad,Noura A Nouraldin
Due to their simplicity, cheapness, and ease of maintenance, induction motors (IMs) are the most widely used motors in the industry. However, if they are not properly controlled, the load torque and motor speed will fluctuate in an unsatisfactory fashion. To effectively control the load torque and speed of these IMs, it is necessary to use specialized drives. The entire system (IMs + Drives) will experience
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Management of Helicobacter pylori treatment failures: A large population-based study (HP treatment failures trial). PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Natsuda Aumpan,Navapan Issariyakulkarn,Varocha Mahachai,David Graham,Yoshio Yamaoka,Ratha-Korn Vilaichone
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori treatment failure remains a challenging problem. This study aimed to identify predictive factors for successful eradication in patients following treatment failures. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study. This study included 1,050 dyspeptic patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection at tertiary care center in Thailand between March 2014 and October 2021. Patients'
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Hepatocellular Brg1 promotes CCl4-induced liver inflammation, ECM accumulation and fibrosis in mice. PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Baocai Wang,Benedikt Kaufmann,Carolin Mogler,Suyang Zhong,Yuhan Yin,Zhangjun Cheng,Roland M Schmid,Helmut Friess,Norbert Hüser,Guido von Figura,Daniel Hartmann
INTRODUCTION Hepatic fibrosis is a progressive pathological process involving the exhaustion of hepatocellular regenerative capacity and ultimately leading to the development of cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Brg1, the core subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex, was recently identified as important for liver regeneration. This study investigates the role of Brg1 in hepatic