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Higher pulse frequency of near-infrared laser irradiation increases penetration depth for novel biomedical applications PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Ayan Barbora; Oryan Bohar; Ariel Alexander Sivan; Eyal Magory; Ariel Nause; Refael Minnes
Background The clinical efficiency of laser treatments is limited by the low penetration of visible light used in certain procedures like photodynamic therapy (PDT). Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) PDT is an innovative technique to overcome this limitation that enables the use of Near Infrared (NIR) light instead of visible light. NIR frequency bands present an optical window for deeper penetration
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Prevalence of and factors associated with anaemia in women of reproductive age in Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal: Evidence from nationally-representative survey data PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Md. Ashfikur Rahman; Md. Sazedur Rahman; Muhammad Aziz Rahman; Ewa A. Szymlek-Gay; Riaz Uddin; Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam
Background Anaemia is a significant public health problem in most South-Asian countries, causing increased maternal and child mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with anaemia in women of reproductive age in Bangladesh, Maldives, and Nepal. Methods We used the nationally-representative Demographic and Health Surveys Program data collected from
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Psychological impacts from COVID-19 among university students: Risk factors across seven states in the United States PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Matthew H. E. M. Browning; Lincoln R. Larson; Iryna Sharaievska; Alessandro Rigolon; Olivia McAnirlin; Lauren Mullenbach; Scott Cloutier; Tue M. Vu; Jennifer Thomsen; Nathan Reigner; Elizabeth Covelli Metcalf; Ashley D'Antonio; Marco Helbich; Gregory N. Bratman; Hector Olvera Alvarez
Background University students are increasingly recognized as a vulnerable population, suffering from higher levels of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and disordered eating compared to the general population. Therefore, when the nature of their educational experience radically changes—such as sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic—the burden on the mental health of this vulnerable population
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The influence of travel time to health facilities on stillbirths: A geospatial case-control analysis of facility-based data in Gombe, Nigeria PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Oghenebrume Wariri; Egwu Onuwabuchi; Jacob Albin Korem Alhassan; Eseoghene Dase; Iliya Jalo; Christopher Hassan Laima; Halima Usman Farouk; Aliyu U. El-Nafaty; Uduak Okomo; Winfred Dotse-Gborgbortsi
Access to quality emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC); having a skilled attendant at birth (SBA); adequate antenatal care; and efficient referral systems are considered the most effective interventions in preventing stillbirths. We determined the influence of travel time from mother’s area of residence to a tertiary health facility where women sought care on the likelihood of delivering a
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Characteristics of anti-IL-17/23 biologics-induced interstitial pneumonia in patients with psoriasis PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Hanae Miyagawa; Hiromichi Hara; Jun Araya; Shunsuke Minagawa; Takanori Numata; Yoshinori Umezawa; Akihiko Asahina; Hidemi Nakagawa; Kazuyoshi Kuwano
Objectives Anti-IL-17/23 biologics are increasingly used to treat psoriasis. We aimed to elucidate characteristics of drug-induced interstitial pneumonia (DIIP) caused by anti-IL-17/23 biologics. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of psoriasis patients treated with anti-IL-17/23 biologics. Chest CT was performed to evaluate DIIP. Serum KL-6 levels were measured before treatment (baseline)
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Current status of cervical cytology during pregnancy in Japan PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Shunji Suzuki; Eijiro Hayata; Shin-ichi Hoshi; Akihiko Sekizawa; Yoko Sagara; Masanobu Tanaka; Katsuyuki Kinoshita; Tadaichi Kitamura
In Japan, uterine cancer screening during pregnancy is subsidized by public funds. We examined the current status of the results of cervical cytology conducted during pregnancy in Japan. We requested 2,293 obstetrical facilities to provide information on cervical cytology in pregnant women who delivered between October 2018 and March 2019. A total of 1,292 obstetrical facilities responded, with valid
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Comparison of multidirectional jump performance and lower limb passive range of motion profile between soccer and basketball young players PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Marta Domínguez-Díez; Daniel Castillo; Javier Raya-González; Silvia Sánchez-Díaz; María Soto-Célix; Tara Rendo-Urteaga; Ángel Lago-Rodríguez
This study was performed aimed at comparing multidirectional bilateral and unilateral jump performance and passive range of motion (ROM) of lower limbs between soccer and basketball young players and evaluating associations between inter-limb ROM asymmetry and bilateral jump performance. A total of 67 young male athletes participated in this study, who were classified as soccer (n = 40; 15.55 ± 1.5
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Trajectories of sickness absence and disability pension before and after colorectal cancer: A Swedish longitudinal population-based matched cohort study PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Lingjing Chen; Kristina A. E. Alexanderson
Objectives Working-aged colorectal cancer (CRC) patients have a much better survival, indicating the importance of their future work situation. We investigated trajectories of sickness absence and disability pension (SADP) days before and after CRC diagnosis, and risk factors associated with different trajectories. Methods A longitudinal, population-based matched cohort study of 4735 CRC survivors
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Application of artificial neural network and support vector regression in predicting mass of ber fruits (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) based on fruit axial dimensions PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Mahmoud Abdel-Sattar; Abdulwahed M. Aboukarima; Bandar M. Alnahdi
Fruit quality attributes are important factors for designing a market for agricultural goods and commodities. Support vector regression (SVR), MLR, and ANN models were established to predict the mass of ber fruits (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) based on the axial dimensions of the fruit from manual measurements of fruit length, minor fruit diameter, and maximum fruit diameter of four ber cultivars. The
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Impact of different management measures on the colonization of broiler chickens with ESBL- and pAmpC- producing Escherichia coli in an experimental seeder-bird model PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Caroline Robé; Katrin Daehre; Roswitha Merle; Anika Friese; Sebastian Guenther; Uwe Roesler
The colonization of broilers with extended-spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL-) and plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase- (pAmpC-) producing Enterobacteriaceae has been extensively studied. However, only limited data on intervention strategies to reduce the colonization throughout the fattening period are available. To investigate practically relevant management measures for their potential to reduce colonization
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Pastoralism in the highest peaks: Role of the traditional grazing systems in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function in the alpine Himalaya PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Tenzing Ingty
Rangelands cover around half of the planet’s land mass and provide vital ecosystem services to over a quarter of humanity. The Himalayan rangelands, part of a global biodiversity hotspot is among the most threatened regions in the world. In rangelands of many developing nations policies banning grazing in protected areas is common practice. In 1998, the Indian state of Sikkim, in the Eastern Himalaya
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Poria cocos polysaccharide induced Th1-type immune responses to ovalbumin in mice PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Xiaoxiao Dong; Boye Li; Boyang Yu; Tian Chen; Qin Hu; Bo Peng; Wang Sheng
In the present study, we evaluated adjuvant potential of Poria cocos polysaccharide (PCP) on the Th1-type immune responses of C57/BL6 mice against ovalbumin (OVA). We first determined the effect of PCP on maturation of murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), PCP significantly upregulated surface expression of MHCII, CD40, CD80, CD86 and enhanced production of IL-6 and IL-12p40. In addition
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Health behavior patterns of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among Brazilian adolescents in a nationally representative school-based study PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Luana Lara Rocha; Milene Cristine Pessoa; Lucia Helena Almeida Gratão; Ariene Silva do Carmo; Cristiane de Freitas Cunha; Tatiana Rezende Prado Rangel de Oliveira; Larissa Loures Mendes
Studies on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption patterns can help in the individual and population level management of chronic non-communicable diseases and other conditions. This study aimed to identify the association between health behavior patterns and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among Brazilian adolescents from a nationally representative school-based study. A cross-sectional
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Patients’ experiences and wellbeing after injury: A focus group study PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Eva Visser; Brenda Leontine Den Oudsten; Marjan Johanna Traa; Taco Gosens; Jolanda De Vries
Background Injury can have physical, psychological and social consequences. It is unclear which factors have an impact on patients’ wellbeing after injury. This study aimed to explore, using focus groups, patients’ experiences and wellbeing after injury and which factors, impede or facilitate patients’ wellbeing. Methods Trauma patients, treated in the shock room of the Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital
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How using brain-machine interfaces influences the human sense of agency PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Emilie A. Caspar; Albert De Beir; Gil Lauwers; Axel Cleeremans; Bram Vanderborght
Brain-machine interfaces (BMI) allows individuals to control an external device by controlling their own brain activity, without requiring bodily or muscle movements. Performing voluntary movements is associated with the experience of agency (“sense of agency”) over those movements and their outcomes. When people voluntarily control a BMI, they should likewise experience a sense of agency. However
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Social isolation stress facilitates chemically induced oral carcinogenesis PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Flávia Alves Verza; Vitor Bonetti Valente; Lia Kobayashi Oliveira; Giseli Mitsuy Kayahara; Marcelo Macedo Crivelini; Cristiane Furuse; Éder Ricardo Biasoli; Glauco Issamu Miyahara; Sandra Helena Penha Oliveira; Daniel Galera Bernabé
Social isolation has affected a large number of people and may lead to impairment of physical and mental health. Although stress resulting from social isolation may increase cancer progression, its interference on tumorigenesis is poorly known. In this study, we used a preclinical model to evaluate the effects of social isolation stress on chemically induced oral carcinogenesis. Sixty-two 21-day-old
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Detection and differentiation of Burkholderia species with pathogenic potential in environmental soil samples PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Sujintana Janesomboon; Veerachat Muangsombut; Varintip Srinon; Chatruthai Meethai; Chayada S. Tharinjaroen; Premjit Amornchai; Patoo Withatanung; Narisara Chantratita; Mark Mayo; Vanaporn Wuthiekanun; Bart J. Currie; Joanne M. Stevens; Sunee Korbsrisate
The Burkholderia pseudomallei phylogenetic cluster includes B. pseudomallei, B. mallei, B. thailandensis, B. oklahomensis, B. humptydooensis and B. singularis. Regarded as the only pathogenic members of this group, B. pseudomallei and B. mallei cause the diseases melioidosis and glanders, respectively. Additionally, variant strains of B. pseudomallei and B. thailandensis exist that include the geographically
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Brain folding shapes the branching pattern of the middle cerebral artery PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Diego E. Shalom; Marcos A. Trevisan; Arka Mallela; Maximiliano Nuñez; Ezequiel Goldschmidt
The folds of the brain offer a particular challenge for the subarachnoid vascular grid. The primitive blood vessels that occupy this space, when the brain is flat, have to adapt to an everchanging geometry while constructing an efficient network. Surprisingly, the result is a non-redundant arterial system easily challenged by acute occlusions. Here, we generalize the optimal network building principles
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UV-LED lights enhance the establishment and biological control efficacy of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Young-gyun Park; Joon-Ho Lee
The zoophytophagous mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) is one of the biological control agents against the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), a major pest of greenhouse crops. The successful establishment of a biological control agent and its co-occurrence with the target pests increases the efficacy of biological control programs in greenhouses. In this study, we explored
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Mental health literacy in Arab states of the Gulf Cooperation Council: A systematic review PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Rowaida Elyamani; Sarah Naja; Ayman Al-Dahshan; Hamed Hamoud; Mohammed Iheb Bougmiza; Noora Alkubaisi
Background Mental health literacy (MHL) has been relatively neglected, despite the increase of mental health illnesses worldwide, as well as within the Middle East region. A low level of MHL may hinder public acceptance of evidence-based mental health care. Aim This systematic review aims to identify and appraise existing research, focusing on MHL among adults in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
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Clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of gastrointestinal stromal tumors with high progranulin expression PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 In-Gu Do; Kyung Uk Jung; Dong-Hoe Koo; Yun-Gyoo Lee; Sukjoong Oh; Kyungeun Kim; Dong-Hoon Kim; Jin Hee Sohn; Byung Ho Son; Sung Ryol Lee; Jun Ho Shin; Hyung Ook Kim; Hungdai Kim; Ho-Kyung Chun; Ginette Serrero; Chang Hak Yoo
Background & aims Progranulin (PGRN) is known to promote tumorigenesis and proliferation of several types of cancer cells. However, little is known about the clinicopathological features of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with regard to PGRN expression. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with GISTs who underwent curative surgical resection between 2007
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Increase in white blood cell counts by pegbovigrastim in primiparous and multiparous grazing dairy cows and the interaction with prepartum body condition score and non-esterified fatty acids concentration PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Joaquín Barca; Ynte H. Schukken; Ana Meikle
The objective of this study was to determine if parity affected the effect of pegbovigrastim (PEG) treatment on white blood cell (WBC) counts in grazing dairy cows. Additionally, the association of prepartum body condition score (BCS) and non-esterified fatty acid (Pre-NEFA) concentration with WBC counts was investigated. The effect of early-lactation disease was included in the statistical analysis
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Histologic factors associated with nintedanib efficacy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Masahiro Nemoto; Yoshiaki Zaizen; Kensuke Kataoka; Kishio Kuroda; Kazuhiro Tabata; Andrey Bychkov; Hiromitsu Sumikawa; Takeshi Johkoh; Masahiro Aoshima; Yasuhiro Kondoh; Junya Fukuoka
Background Histopathologic factors predictive of nintedanib efficacy in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have not been studied. We aimed to describe the characteristics, focusing on histopathology, of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients who did and did not respond to nintedanib. Methods This study retrospectively examined the clinicoradiopathologic features of 40 consecutive patients with surgical
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Rapid detection of Clostridium perfringens in food by loop-mediated isothermal amplification combined with a lateral flow biosensor PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Thanawat Sridapan; Wanida Tangkawsakul; Tavan Janvilisri; Wansika Kiatpathomchai; Sirintip Dangtip; Natharin Ngamwongsatit; Duangjai Nacapricha; Puey Ounjai; Surang Chankhamhaengdecha
Clostridium perfringens is a key anaerobic pathogen causing food poisoning. Definitive detection by standard culture method is time-consuming and labor intensive. Current rapid commercial test kits are prohibitively expensive. It is thus necessary to develop rapid and cost-effective detection tool. Here, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in combination with a lateral-flow biosensor (LFB)
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Personality dimensions of patients can change during the course of parkinson’s disease PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Mathilde Boussac; Christophe Arbus; Julia Dupouy; Estelle Harroch; Vanessa Rousseau; Aurélie Croiset; Fabienne Ory-Magne; Olivier Rascol; Caroline Moreau; Anne-Sophie Rolland; David Maltête; Tiphaine Rouaud; Mylène Meyer; Sophie Drapier; Bruno Giordana; Mathieu Anheim; Elodie Hainque; Béchir Jarraya; Isabelle Benatru; Nicolas Auzou; Lhaouas Belamri; Mélissa Tir; Ana-Raquel Marques; Stephane Thobois;
Background Studies assessing personality dimensions by the “Temperament and Character Inventory” (TCI) have previously found an association between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and lower Novelty Seeking and higher Harm Avoidance scores. Here, we aimed to describe personality dimensions of PD patients with motor fluctuations and compare them to a normative population and other PD populations. Methods All
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Quantitative analysis of dynamic computed tomography angiography for the detection of endoleaks after abdominal aorta aneurysm endovascular repair: A feasibility study PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-07 Georg Apfaltrer; Francesco Lavra; U. Joseph Schoepf; Marco Scarabello; Ricardo Yamada; Marly van Assen; Akos Varga-Szemes; Brian E. Jacobs; Maximilian J. Bauer; William T. Greenberg; Marcelo Guimaraes; Luca Saba; Carlo N. De Cecco
Objectives To assess the feasibility of quantitative analysis of dynamic computed tomography angiography (dCTA) for the detection of endoleaks in patients who underwent endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR). Material and methods Twenty patients scheduled for contrast-enhanced CT angiography (CTA) of the abdominal aorta post-EVAR were prospectively enrolled. All patients received
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Incidents of aggression in German psychiatric hospitals: Is there an increase? PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Frank Eisele; Erich Flammer; Tilman Steinert
Introduction In a meta-analysis of international studies, 17% of admitted patients in psychiatric hospitals had exhibited violent behavior toward others. Reported data from studies in Germany were considerably lower until recent years. However, studies examining only single hospitals, as well as the quality of the data itself, have raised questions as to the validity of these findings. Indeed, a debate
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Safety and efficacy study: Short-term application of radiofrequency ablation and stereotactic body radiotherapy for Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer stage 0–B1 hepatocellular carcinoma PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Feiqian Wang; Kazushi Numata; Atsuya Takeda; Katsuaki Ogushi; Hiroyuki Fukuda; Koji Hara; Makoto Chuma; Takahisa Eriguchi; Yuichirou Tsurugai; Shin Maeda
Aim To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the administration of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the short term to the same patients in Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages 0–B1. Methods From April 2014 to June 2019, we retrospectively reviewed BCLC stage 0–B1 patients with fresh hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions that were repeatedly treated
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Self-reported challenges to border screening of travelers for Ebola by district health workers in northern Ghana: An observational study PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 John Koku Awoonor-Williams; Cheryl A. Moyer; Martin Nyaaba Adokiya
Background The 2013–2016 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak remains the largest on record, resulting in the highest mortality and widest geographic spread experienced in Africa. Ghana, like many other African nations, began screening travelers at all entry points into the country to enhance disease surveillance and response. This study aimed to assess the challenges of screening travelers for EVD at
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Does the longevity of the Sardinian population date back to Roman times? A comprehensive review of the available evidence PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Piergiorgio Floris; Maria Pina Dore; Giovanni Mario Pes
The discovery early in this century of the exceptional longevity of the Sardinian population has given new impetus to demographic studies of this phenomenon during the classical period. In the 1970s, it was hypothesised that the average mortality rate in Roman Sardinia was lower than in metropolitan Rome itself, postulating an ancient precedent for the remarkable longevity observable nowadays in the
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Propagation of viral bioaerosols indoors PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Olga B. Kudryashova; Evgeny V. Muravlev; Aleksandra A. Antonnikova; Sergey S. Titov
Here we look into the spread of aerosols indoors that may potentially carry viruses. Many viruses, including the novel SARS-CoV-2, are known to spread via airborne and air-dust pathways. From the literature data and our research on the propagation of fine aerosols, we simulate herein the carryover of viral aerosols in indoor air. We demonstrate that a lot of fine droplets released from an infected
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Cohort profile: Study on Zika virus infection in Brazil (ZIKABRA study) PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Guilherme Amaral Calvet; Edna Oliveira Kara; Sihem Landoulsi; Ndema Habib; Camila Helena Aguiar Bôtto-Menezes; Rafael Freitas de Oliveira Franca; Armando Menezes Neto; Marcia da Costa Castilho; Tatiana Jorge Fernandes; Gerson Fernando Pereira; Silvana Pereira Giozza; Ximena Pamela Díaz Bermúdez; Kayvon Modjarrad; Noemia Lima; Patrícia Brasil; Marcus Vinicius Guimarães de Lacerda; Ana Maria Bispo de
Zika virus (ZIKV) has been detected in blood, urine, semen, cerebral spinal fluid, saliva, amniotic fluid, and breast milk. In most ZIKV infected individuals, the virus is detected in the blood to one week after the onset of symptoms and has been found to persist longer in urine and semen. To better understand virus dynamics, a prospective cohort study was conducted in Brazil to assess the presence
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Chemical stabilization of dispersed Escherichia coli for enhanced recovery with a handheld electroflotation system and detection by Loop-mediated Isothermal AMPlification PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Lena Diaz; Yong Li; Daniel M. Jenkins
Constraints related to sample preparation are some of the primary obstacles to widespread deployment of molecular diagnostics for rapid detection of trace quantities (≤103 CFU/mL) of food-borne pathogens. In this research, we report a sample preparation method using a novel handheld electroflotation system to concentrate and recover dilute quantities (102−103 CFU/mL) of Escherichia coli (E. coli) 25922
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Probe into the targeted poverty mitigation policy in China based on causal inference: Evidence from Chongqing in the Three Gorges Reservoir region PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Min Zhu; Chuanmin Shuai
A quantitative analysis of the panel data of 21 districts in Chongqing City in the Three Gorges Reservoir region from 1998 to 2015 was conducted to determine the influence of China’s focused poverty reduction policy in terms of causal inference. Specifically, the effects of this policy at the initial phase of execution through break-point regression; the impacts of this policy during the implementation
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Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19 among Palestinians during the COVID-19 outbreak: A cross-sectional survey PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Nouar Qutob; Faisal Awartani
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious illness that spreads rapidly through human-to-human transmission. On March 5, the government of Palestine declared a state of emergency in order to curb the spread of the virus, a declaration that it extended for a fifth time on July 5th. The degree to which a population complies with corresponding safety measures is surely affected by the
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What have we learned about positive changes experienced during COVID-19 lockdown? Evidence of the social patterning of change PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Lynn Williams; Lesley Rollins; David Young; Leanne Fleming; Madeleine Grealy; Xanne Janssen; Alison Kirk; Bradley MacDonald; Paul Flowers
Background Multiple studies have highlighted the negative impact of COVID-19 and its particular effects on vulnerable sub-populations. Complementing this work, here, we report on the social patterning of self-reported positive changes experienced during COVID-19 national lockdown in Scotland. Methods The CATALYST study collected data from 3342 adults in Scotland during weeks 9–12 of a national lockdown
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Empirical evaluation of the association between daily living skills of adults with autism and parental caregiver burden PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Christina N. Marsack-Topolewski; Preethy Sarah Samuel; Wassim Tarraf
Background Despite the joy of parenting, the burden of daily caregiving for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can be overwhelming and constant. Parents can expect to provide enduring care for their children with ASD. Given that the majority of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) remain in their family homes well into adulthood, often the need for assistance with activities
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Embodied working memory during ongoing input streams PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Nareg Berberian; Matt Ross; Sylvain Chartier
Sensory stimuli endow animals with the ability to generate an internal representation. This representation can be maintained for a certain duration in the absence of previously elicited inputs. The reliance on an internal representation rather than purely on the basis of external stimuli is a hallmark feature of higher-order functions such as working memory. Patterns of neural activity produced in
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The chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury involvement in COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Ya-Fei Liu; Zhe Zhang; Xiao-Li Pan; Guo-Lan Xing; Ying Zhang; Zhang-Suo Liu; Sheng-Hao Tu
Background Currently, the SARS-CoV-2 promptly spread across China and around the world. However, there are controversies about whether preexisting chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury complication (AKI) are involved in the COVID-19 pandemic. Measurements Studies reported the kidney outcomes in different severity of COVID-19 were included in this study. Standardized mean differences
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Phase-locking of resting-state brain networks with the gastric basal electrical rhythm PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Ann S. Choe; Bohao Tang; Kimberly R. Smith; Hamed Honari; Martin A. Lindquist; Brian S. Caffo; James J. Pekar
A network of myenteric interstitial cells of Cajal in the corpus of the stomach serves as its “pacemaker”, continuously generating a ca 0.05 Hz electrical slow wave, which is transmitted to the brain chiefly by vagal afferents. A recent study combining resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) with concurrent surface electrogastrography (EGG), with cutaneous electrodes placed on the epigastrium, found
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Predicting the current and future distribution of the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus, across the Western US using citizen science collections PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 W. Tanner Porter; Zachary A. Barrand; Julie Wachara; Kaila DaVall; Joseph R. Mihaljevic; Talima Pearson; Daniel J. Salkeld; Nathan C. Nieto
In the twenty-first century, ticks and tick-borne diseases have expanded their ranges and impact across the US. With this spread, it has become vital to monitor vector and disease distributions, as these shifts have public health implications. Typically, tick-borne disease surveillance (e.g., Lyme disease) is passive and relies on case reports, while disease risk is calculated using active surveillance
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Swine hemorrhagic shock model and pathophysiological changes in a desert dry-heat environment PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Caifu Shen; Dunhong Wei; Guangjun Wang; Yan Kang; Fan Yang; Qin Xu; Liang Xia; Jiangwei Liu
Background This study aimed to establish a traumatic hemorrhagic shock (THS) model in swine and examine pathophysiological characteristics in a dry-heat environment. Methods Forty domestic Landrace piglets were randomly assigned to four study groups: normal temperature non-shock (NS), normal temperature THS (NTHS), desert dry-heat non-shock (DS), and desert dry-hot THS (DTHS) groups. The groups were
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Memory impairment in chronic experimental Chagas disease: Benznidazole therapy reversed cognitive deficit in association with reduction of parasite load and oxidative stress in the nervous tissue PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Glaucia Vilar-Pereira; Leda Castaño Barrios; Andrea Alice da Silva; Angelica Martins Batista; Isabela Resende Pereira; Otacílio Cruz Moreira; Constança Britto; Hílton Antônio Mata dos Santos; Joseli Lannes-Vieira
Memory impairment has been associated with chronic Chagas disease (CD), a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. In degenerative diseases, memory loss has been associated with increased oxidative stress, revealed as enhanced lipid peroxidation, in the cerebral cortex. Benznidazole (Bz), a trypanocidal drug efficient to reduce blood parasite load in the acute
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Nephrotic syndrome with focal segmental glomerular lesions unclassified by Columbia classification; Pathology and clinical implication PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Takaya Ozeki; Michio Nagata; Takayuki Katsuno; Koji Inagaki; Kazunori Goto; Sawako Kato; Yoshinari Yasuda; Naotake Tsuboi; Shoichi Maruyama
Background The Columbia classification is widely used for diagnosis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). In practice, we occasionally encounter segmental glomerular lesions unclassified as Columbia classification. We analyzed the clinical implication of unclassified segmental lesions comparing with Columbia-classified FSGS. Methods A retrospective cohort study from 13 local hospitals in Japan
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Dynamics of facial actions for assessing smile genuineness PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Michal Kawulok; Jakub Nalepa; Jolanta Kawulok; Bogdan Smolka
Applying computer vision techniques to distinguish between spontaneous and posed smiles is an active research topic of affective computing. Although there have been many works published addressing this problem and a couple of excellent benchmark databases created, the existing state-of-the-art approaches do not exploit the action units defined within the Facial Action Coding System that has become
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Development of Glycerol-Rose Bengal-Polidocanol (GRP) foam for enhanced sclerosis of a cyst for cystic diseases PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Soohyun Jeong; Sujin Kim; Youngjoo Choi; Han Na Jung; Kangwon Lee; Min Hee Park
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a common genetic disorder that results in a proliferating and enlarging cyst and ultimately leads to loss of kidney function. Because an enlarged cyst is a primary factor for limited kidney function, the large cyst is surgically removed by laparoscopic deroofing or sclerosant. This a relatively nascent treatment method entails complications and sometimes fail due
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Migrations of young spotted seals (Phoca largha) from Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan/East Sea, and the pattern of their use of seasonal habitats PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Alexey M. Trukhin; Peter A. Permyakov; Sergey D. Ryazanov; Vyacheslav B. Lobanov; Hyun Woo Kim; Young Min Choi; Hawsun Sohn
We studied the migrations of young spotted seals during their annual cycle. In May 2017, we attached satellite tags (SPOT-293A) to three individuals (two underyearlings and one yearling) captured at their breeding ground in Peter the Great Bay, western Sea of Japan/East Sea. The operational time of the installed tags ranged from 207 to 333 days; a total of 27195 locations were uploaded. All three seals
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Feasibility study on recycled vegetable oil waste and recycled polyethylene for the modification of aged asphalt PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Xiangqian Ye; Xiaoling Zou; Fafu Tian; Honglin He
The application of reclaimed asphalt pavement has been widely encouraged due to its significant economic and environmental benefits. However, it is necessary to add rejuvenators to ensure its performance. Currently, bio-oil-based regenerants have attracted attention owing to their advantages of renewability and cost savings. The purpose of this paper is to study the use of recycled vegetable oil waste
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Quantile regression in genomic selection for oligogenic traits in autogamous plants: A simulation study PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Gabriela França Oliveira; Ana Carolina Campana Nascimento; Moysés Nascimento; Isabela de Castro Sant'Anna; Juan Vicente Romero; Camila Ferreira Azevedo; Leonardo Lopes Bhering; Eveline Teixeira Caixeta Moura
This study assessed the efficiency of Genomic selection (GS) or genome‐wide selection (GWS), based on Regularized Quantile Regression (RQR), in the selection of genotypes to breed autogamous plant populations with oligogenic traits. To this end, simulated data of an F2 population were used, with traits with different heritability levels (0.10, 0.20 and 0.40), controlled by four genes. The generations
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Developing English language learners’ oral production with a digital game-based mobile application PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 Zehua Wang; Feifei Han
This study examined the effect of using a digital game-based language learning mobile application “Liulishuo” (speaking English fluently) to develop complexity, accuracy, and fluency of English monologic oral production among 30 English language learners in China. Monologic oral production was measured using the same narrative picture description task in pre- and post-tests. The learners followed the
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Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with exposure to Leishmania infantum in dogs, in an endemic Mediterranean region PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-04 Pasquale Rombolà; Giulia Barlozzari; Andrea Carvelli; Manuela Scarpulla; Francesca Iacoponi; Gladia Macrì
Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Leishmania infantum in the Mediterranean area and transmitted by phlebotomine sand fly vectors. The domestic dog is the main reservoir host. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of different individual, environmental and spatial risk factors on the dog exposure to L. infantum and to estimate the seroprevalence among
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Pass-through of the Oakland, California, sugar-sweetened beverage tax in food stores two years post-implementation: A difference-in-differences study PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-04 Julien Leider; Yu Li; Lisa M. Powell
Introduction Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have gained support as a policy response to adverse health effects associated with SSB consumption. On July 1, 2017, Oakland, California, implemented a one-cent/ounce tax on SSBs with ≥25 calories/12 fluid ounces. This study estimated the long-term impact of the tax on taxed and untaxed beverage prices. Methods Data on 5,830 taxed and 5,146 untaxed
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Expression pattern determines regulatory logic PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-04 Carlos Mora-Martinez
Large amounts of effort have been invested in trying to understand how a single genome is able to specify the identity of hundreds of cell types. Inspired by some aspects of Caenorhabditis elegans biology, we implemented an in silico evolutionary strategy to produce gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that drive cell-specific gene expression patterns, mimicking the process of terminal cell differentiation
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Effectiveness of surgery and hyperbaric oxygen for antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: A subgroup analysis by disease stage PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-04 Takuma Watanabe; Keita Asai; Shizuko Fukuhara; Ryuji Uozumi; Kazuhisa Bessho
Antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) is an adverse event induced by antiresorptive agents (ARAs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate variables, mainly surgery and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, associated with treatment outcomes in patients with a diagnosis of ARONJ at a single center. We enrolled consecutive patients who presented to our hospital for the management
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Influence of graphene on the multiple metabolic pathways of Zea mays roots based on transcriptome analysis PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-04 Zhiwen Chen; Jianguo Zhao; Jie Song; Shenghua Han; Yaqin Du; Yuying Qiao; Zehui Liu; Jun Qiao; Weijia Li; Jingwei Li; Haiyan Wang; Baoyan Xing; Qiliang Pan
Graphene reportedly exerts positive effects on plant root growth and development, although the corresponding molecular response mechanism remains to be elucidated. Maize seeds were randomly divided into a control and experimental group, and the roots of Zea mays L. seedlings were watered with different concentrations (0–100 mg/L) of graphene to explore the effects and molecular mechanism of graphene
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The effects of prolonged sitting, prolonged standing, and activity breaks on vascular function, and postprandial glucose and insulin responses: A randomised crossover trial PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-04 Meredith C. Peddie; Chris Kessell; Tom Bergen; Travis D. Gibbons; Holly A. Campbell; James D. Cotter; Nancy J. Rehrer; Kate N. Thomas
The objective of this study was to compare acute effects of prolonged sitting, prolonged standing and sitting interrupted with regular activity breaks on vascular function and postprandial glucose metabolism. In a randomized cross-over trial, 18 adults completed: 1. Prolonged Sitting; 2. Prolonged Standing and 3. Sitting with 2-min walking (5 km/h, 10% incline) every 30 min (Regular Activity Breaks)
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Association between age at first calving and lactation performance, lactation curve, calving interval, calf birth weight, and dystocia in Holstein dairy cows PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-04 Hadi Atashi; Anise Asaadi; Miel Hostens
In the present study, records on 115,291 heifers distributed in 113 herds were used to investigate the association between age at the first calving (AFC) and lactation performance, lactation curve, the length of the first calving interval (CI), calf birth weight (CBW), and the incidence of dystocia in Holstein heifers in Iran. Based on the AFC, the heifers were classified into eight classes: AFC of
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Dynamic aspiration based on Win-Stay-Lose-Learn rule in spatial prisoner’s dilemma game PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-04 Zhenyu Shi; Wei Wei; Xiangnan Feng; Xing Li; Zhiming Zheng
Prisoner’s dilemma game is the most commonly used model of spatial evolutionary game which is considered as a paradigm to portray competition among selfish individuals. In recent years, Win-Stay-Lose-Learn, a strategy updating rule base on aspiration, has been proved to be an effective model to promote cooperation in spatial prisoner’s dilemma game, which leads aspiration to receive lots of attention
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What influences home delivery among women who live in urban areas? Analysis of 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-04 Bright Opoku Ahinkorah; Abdul-Aziz Seidu; Eugene Budu; Ebenezer Agbaglo; Francis Appiah; Collins Adu; Anita Gracious Archer; Edward Kwabena Ameyaw
Background In Ghana, home delivery among women in urban areas is relatively low compared to rural areas. However, the few women who deliver at home in urban areas still face enormous risk of infections and death, just like those in rural areas. The present study investigated the factors associated with home delivery among women who live in urban areas in Ghana. Materials and methods Data for this study
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Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: Identifying research priorities for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis through a priority setting partnership PLOS ONE (IF 2.74) Pub Date : 2021-01-04 Rebecca C. Tatum; Cathy M. McGowan; Rachel S. Dean; Joanne L. Ireland
Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is the most prevalent endocrine disorder of older equids. To date, key research areas likely to have the greatest impact on equine health have not been identified. In human medicine, public and patient involvement is widely used to inform research agendas. This study aimed to engage with veterinary surgeons and horse owners to identify evidence gaps (‘uncertainties’)
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