PLOS https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ customercare@plos.org https://journals.plos.org/plosone/feed/atom All PLOS articles are Open Access. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/resource/img/favicon.ico https://journals.plos.org/plosone/resource/img/favicon.ico 2026-08-20T00:18:15Z Xingyue Pu Zhigang Zhong 10.1371/journal.pone.0356697 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Xingyue Pu, Zhigang Zhong</p> Objective <p>Cancer has emerged as one of the most significant public health challenges in the 21st century. With rapidly growing demand for oncology services, the allocation of oncology bed resources is closely associated with the accessibility and effectiveness of cancer diagnosis and treatment. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of equity in oncology bed allocation across Chinese hospitals, providing evidence to inform policy decisions for optimizing cancer care resource distribution.</p> Methods <p>Data were extracted from the China Health Statistics Yearbook (2007–2023), and analyzed using Lorenz curves, Gini coefficients(G), and Theil index (T) to evaluate the equity of oncology bed resource allocation in China.</p> Results <p>From 2008 to 2022, the number of oncology beds in Chinese hospitals showed an increasing trend, but the growth rate slowed down. According to Lorenz curves, the equity of oncology bed allocation by population was better than by geographic area. Compared to 2008, the population-based equity improved in 2022, while the geographic area-based equity showed no improvement. Based on G, the population-based allocation of oncology beds from 2008 to 2022 had G between 0.15 and 0.20, indicating absolute equity with an overall declining trend, while the geographic area-based allocation maintained G around 0.69, consistently showing severe inequity. According to T, population-based allocation demonstrated better equity with T all below 0.1, whereas geographic area-based allocation showed poorer equity with indices all above 0.6. For both population and geographic dimensions, within-group T were greater than between-group indices, indicating that inequity primarily stemmed from intra-regional disparities.</p> Conclusion <p>While China’s oncology bed resources are expanding in scale, they are facing dual challenges of imbalanced “population-geography” allocation and significant regional differences. We should focus on improving geographical accessibility and regional balance to help alleviate the ‘difficulty in hospitalization’ for cancer patients.</p> Haolun Xu Wei Wang Yuanli Lu Haotian Shi Zhongyong Zhao Chao Tang Gang Lyu Liang Cao 10.1371/journal.pone.0356685 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Haolun Xu, Wei Wang, Yuanli Lu, Haotian Shi, Zhongyong Zhao, Chao Tang, Gang Lyu, Liang Cao</p> High-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables demand a high-performance insulation system to ensure the operational reliability. Protrusions located on cable interfaces can cause electric field distortion, resulting in insulation degradation and a reduced lifespan. By using the finite element method, a 3D model was established to explore how protrusions affect the electric field within HVDC cable insulation, considering different sizes and shapes of protrusions, the activation energy of conductivity for insulation materials and the temperature difference across the insulation. The results indicate that under full load conditions, protrusions at the interface between the insulation layer and the semiconductive shielding layer significantly affect the electric field distribution, and the height of the protrusion has a greater impact than the cross-sectional shape and size. By increasing the protrusion height from 50 μm to 300 μm, an increase of electric field distortion rate from 9.78 to 102.04 was observed. Furthermore, the electric field distortion rate near the protrusions exhibits a positive correlation with the activation energy of the insulation material, specifically increasing by 0.72 for every 0.1 eV increment. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and evaluation of HVDC cable insulation. June Labbancz Luke Gustafson Preston Andrews Amit Dhingra 10.1371/journal.pone.0356650 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by June Labbancz, Luke Gustafson, Preston Andrews, Amit Dhingra</p> Huiling Chen Zhichun Xue Zhaohan Sun Jia Chen Qing Xue Kunhuang Han 10.1371/journal.pone.0356620 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Huiling Chen, Zhichun Xue, Zhaohan Sun, Jia Chen, Qing Xue, Kunhuang Han</p> Background <p>Food recalls constitute a central risk management tool within the United States food safety system; however, the distribution of recall severity—particularly high-risk Class I recalls—across temporal and structural dimensions remains insufficiently characterized.</p> Methods <p>Food recall data from the Food Enforcement Reports issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 2012 and 2024 were analyzed. In accordance with FDA regulatory definitions, Class I recalls were treated as high-risk outcome events. Recall reasons, food categories, distribution scope, geographic region, and calendar year were systematically classified. Multivariable logistic regression models including recall reason, product category, distribution scope, geographic region, and calendar year (modeled as a categorical variable) were used to evaluate characteristics associated with Class I classification, and marginal standardization was applied to estimate adjusted temporal trends. Exploratory stratified analyses examined Class I proportions across recall reason–food category combinations and over time for the two most frequent recall reasons.</p> Results <p>In total, 26,877 FDA-regulated food recall events were included in the analysis. Annual recall counts ranged from approximately 1,100 to more than 3,000 events per year, without evidence of a sustained monotonic trend. Microbial contamination and undeclared allergens accounted for the majority of recall events and were the predominant hazard categories associated with Class I classification. Bacterial pathogen contamination recalls generally showed high Class I proportions across major food categories, whereas undeclared allergen recalls displayed greater variation across product categories and years. Recall classification was closely aligned with hazard-related characteristics, reflecting the regulatory criteria used to define Class I recalls. Classification patterns varied across hazard types. In contrast, no consistent association was observed for distribution scope after adjustment, and associations for product categories and geographic regions were generally modest. No sustained monotonic temporal trend was identified, with substantial inter-annual variability in adjusted probabilities. Sensitivity analyses using alternative outcome definitions and restriction approaches yielded consistent results.</p> Conclusions <p>FDA Class I classification patterns in the United States were strongly structured by hazard characteristics, whereas associations with broader structural features, including food categories, geographic regions, and distribution scope, were generally more limited and inconsistent. Exploratory analyses showed relatively stable high Class I proportions across many bacterial pathogen–food profiles but greater variation among allergen-related recalls across product categories and calendar years. These findings characterize patterns in regulatory outcomes and may inform risk-oriented food safety management, but they do not independently establish whether individual FDA classifications were appropriate, proportionate, or scientifically justified.</p> Stefan T. Kulnik Anna E. Carrozzo Devender Kumar Melanie Roth Jens Blechert Rik Crutzen Patrick Langthaler Martin Pühringer Ludmilla Kedenko Arne C. Bathke Bernhard Iglseder Bernhard Paulweber Eugen Trinka 10.1371/journal.pone.0356607 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Stefan T. Kulnik, Anna E. Carrozzo, Devender Kumar, Melanie Roth, Jens Blechert, Rik Crutzen, Patrick Langthaler, Martin Pühringer, Ludmilla Kedenko, Arne C. Bathke, Bernhard Iglseder, Bernhard Paulweber, Eugen Trinka</p> Regular physical activity (PA) remains challenging for many people with high cardiovascular risk and established cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to study correlates of PA behaviour in a population sample with increased cardiovascular risk and established CVD in Austria. We analysed cross-sectional data from the Paracelsus 10,000 study, a population-based cohort study of 40–70-year-olds in the city of Salzburg, Austria, and its surroundings. In a sub-sample of participants with increased cardiovascular risk and established CVD, we examined the associations between 29 correlates and leisure-time PA (weekly hours of walking, cycling and doing sports) as the primary PA outcome, as well as four secondary PA outcomes. We used stepwise multiple regression and machine learning models (decision trees, support vector machines, k-nearest neighbours, random forest and gradient boosting) to examine these associations. We analysed data from 1,173 participants with mean age 60.5 years (range 42–72 years). Nineteen percent of participants were female. Across the different PA outcomes and statistical analysis models, retirement, more PA during earlier life decades, and adherence to a Mediterranean diet were positively associated with PA behaviour. Greater comorbidity and depression were inversely associated with PA. In stepwise multiple regression, adjusted effect estimates on the primary PA outcome were 1.5 (SE 0.7, p = 0.0310) for retirement, 4.1 (SE 3.1, p < 0.0001) for past PA behaviour, 0.5 (SE 0.2, p = 0.0027) for Mediterranean diet, and −0.2 (SE 0.1, p = 0.0180) for depression. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the correlates of PA behaviour in populations at increased cardiovascular risk and with established CVD and may inform approaches for selective and personalised PA promotion strategies in cardiovascular care. Eric Pelzl Yuka Tatsumi Zhisheng Cui Navin Viswanathan Annie J. Olmstead 10.1371/journal.pone.0356597 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Eric Pelzl, Yuka Tatsumi, Zhisheng Cui, Navin Viswanathan, Annie J. Olmstead</p> The Mandarin low tone (T3) undergoes an alteration, third tone sandhi, when followed by another T3. The resulting F0 is superficially the same as that of the rising tone (T2) and has the potential to induce confusion. We investigated how Mandarin speakers adjust their speech production to overcome potential ambiguities induced by third tone sandhi during a structured interactive task. Ten pairs of L1 Chinese participants completed an interactive phrase matching task. Participants were shown displays with Chinese phrases (surname+title). One participant read an indicated phrase which the other selected from their display. There were two conditions. In the no sandhi condition, the title did not induce sandhi, and should result in distinct F0 patterns for the surnames. In the sandhi condition, the title induced third tone sandhi, and should result in homophonous surnames. Task performance showed clear evidence of sandhi-induced ambiguity. Examination of accuracy and tone acoustics suggested that pairs reduced sandhi-induced ambiguity primarily by lowering the F0 of T3 towards the end of its trajectory. We interpret this as avoidance of sandhi application. This study shows that even highly structured interactive tasks have potential to reveal new insights into how speakers and listeners navigate communicative ambiguities caused by tone sandhi. This constitutes an important first step to evaluating how phenomena such as tone sandhi generalize to everyday interactive communication. Berna Dizer Nilufer Ozgurbuz Arzu Bahar Murat Runa 10.1371/journal.pone.0356550 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Berna Dizer, Nilufer Ozgurbuz, Arzu Bahar, Murat Runa</p> Objective <p>Medical device-related pressure injuries (MDRPIs) are a common complication in healthcare, leading to increased healthcare costs, prolonged hospital stays, and decreased quality of life. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of nurses in these units regarding MDRPIs to identify gaps and inform preventive nursing practices.</p> Methods <p>This cross-sectional study was conducted between 15 November 2022 and 30 December 2022 in the surgical and intensive care units of a state hospital. Data were collected from 150 nurses using a structured questionnaire assessing MDRPI-related knowledge and attitudes (MDRPIKAQ). Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward MDRPIs.</p> Results <p>The mean knowledge score was 24.33 ± 5.20, and the mean attitude score was 16.64 ± 3.48. According to the MDRPIKAQ cutoff score (≥45/80, indicating adequate knowledge and positive attitudes), approximately one-third of nurses scored at or above this threshold. Item-based analysis indicated persistent misconceptions regarding MDRPI prevention and healing.</p> Conclusion <p>Nurses demonstrated moderate knowledge and generally positive attitudes toward MDRPI prevention, although important misconceptions remain. Knowledge and attitude scores varied across selected characteristics, but no statistically significant association was observed between the total scores. These findings highlight the potential value of structured, MDRPI-focused education within nursing education and institutional training programs. However, because this was a single-center cross-sectional study, the generalizability of the findings is limited.</p> Pengfei Xu Liang Zhao Changyu Tan Duanying Li Lin Xie Wei Han 10.1371/journal.pone.0356542 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Pengfei Xu, Liang Zhao, Changyu Tan, Duanying Li, Lin Xie, Wei Han</p> Background <p>Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) is a strategy in sports science that improves athletic performance through preconditioning muscle activity. This study investigates the acute effects of sub-maximal load back squats with different ranges of motion (ROM) and intra-set fatigue on countermovement jump (CMJ) height.</p> Methods <p>This study employed a counterbalanced, repeated-measures experimental design to investigate the acute effects of sub-maximal load back squat with varied ROM and intra-set fatigue on CMJ height in trained males. A total of 12 resistance-trained athletes participated in a single-set protocol intervention comprising 4 conditioning activities (CAs): (i) deep squats with proximity-to-failure (SDP); (ii) deep squats to failure (SDF); (iii) half squats with proximity-to-failure (SHP); and (iv) half squats to failure (SHF). CMJ height was measured before the CAs and at 4, 8, and 12 minutes post-intervention, while mean velocity was continuously monitored during the CAs.</p> Results <p>No significant differences were observed in initial mean velocity across conditioning activities (F = 1.10, η_p² = 0.07, <i>p</i> = 0.36). Final repetition mean velocity differed significantly across conditions (F = 6.67, η_p² = 0.31, <i>p</i> < 0.01), with lower velocities and a greater number of repetitions observed in the failure conditions compared with the proximity-to-failure conditions (<i>p</i> < 0.01). A significant condition × time interaction was found for CMJ height (F = 2.231, η_p² = 0.13, <i>p</i> = 0.02). CMJ height increased at 4 minutes post-CA in the SDP and SHP conditions (<i>p</i> < 0.01 and <i>p</i> = 0.03, respectively), while increases occurred at 8 minutes post-CA in the SDF and SHF conditions (<i>p</i> = 0.03 and <i>p</i> < 0.01, respectively). A significant between-group effect was also observed (F = 3.949, η_p² = 0.21, <i>p</i> = 0.01). No between-group differences were present at 4 minutes post-CA (<i>p</i> = 0.24), but significant differences emerged at 8 and 12 minutes post-CA (both <i>p</i> < 0.01).</p> Conclusion <p>Both proximity-to-failure and repetitions-to-failure protocols performed at 87% 1RM effectively enhanced CMJ performance. However, peak performance occurred earlier following the proximity-to-failure protocols, and half squats elicited greater enhancement effects than deep squats. These findings suggest that 3 repetitions of the half squat at 87% 1RM may represent a time-efficient strategy for inducing PAPE when explosive performance is required shortly before competition or training.</p> Moritz Knoche Bruno Carra Sara Serra Bishnu P. Khanal Grecia Hurtado Simon Sitzenstock Stefano Musacchi 10.1371/journal.pone.0356529 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Moritz Knoche, Bruno Carra, Sara Serra, Bishnu P. Khanal, Grecia Hurtado, Simon Sitzenstock, Stefano Musacchi</p> The green spot (GS) disorder impairs appearance and restricts ‘WA 38’ marketing. The objectives of the present study were to characterize GS in developing ‘WA 38’ fruit. Green halos around lenticels were the first GS symptoms visible at 47 days after full bloom (DAFB) (GHL stage). Green halos darkened with the onset of red coloring (stage GHGS). By 96 DAFB, GS symptoms began to turn brown and sink relative to the surrounding surface (BHL stage). The first macroscopically visible cracks appeared by 133 DAFB. Most GS (92.5%) were associated with lenticels. Frequency of GS decreased from the proximal stem end to the distal calyx end. The frequency of fruit with GHGS or BHL symptoms increased as fruit diameter increased (r² = 0.36***, n = 66). Lenticels on bagged fruit did not develop GS. Thin sections through the skins within GHGS revealed coagulated, brownish cytoplasm and positive lignin staining. Epidermal cells were smaller, and cuticular ridges were thicker within GS symptoms than in peripheral asymptomatic peels. The frequency of cracked lenticels markedly increased from intact asymptomatic lenticels (OKL) to the final BHL stage (severe GS). The skin tension was highest for the GHGS and the BHL stages and lowest in bagged ‘WA 38’ (BL). Cuticle and wax mass per unit area were higher within a GS than outside of a GS area. Strain relaxation on wax extraction was largest for cuticles from GS. There was little relaxation on excision and isolation. Transpiration was significantly higher through skin segments with GHGS symptoms than those with OKL. In summary, skin characteristics within a GS on ‘WA 38’ resembled those of a severely strained fruit skin where the strain results from a localized restriction of surface growth. The skin characteristics of symptomatic apples must be considered a consequence rather than a cause of the GS disorder. Michael Jones Richard Dawson Jon Mills 10.1371/journal.pone.0356492 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Michael Jones, Richard Dawson, Jon Mills</p> Maria Grazia Santi Stefania Fatone Andrew H. Hansen Steven A. Gard Andrea Giovanni Cutti Residual Limb Shape Capture Group 10.1371/journal.pone.0356483 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Maria Grazia Santi, Stefania Fatone, Andrew H. Hansen, Steven A. Gard, Andrea Giovanni Cutti, Residual Limb Shape Capture Group </p> The prosthetic socket is the most critical component of a lower limb prosthesis, requiring precise customization to the individual’s residual limb. This study presents proof-of-concept for a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-driven rectification template for transfemoral sockets tailored to a single prosthetist. Using a dataset of nine persons with transfemoral amputation, the study workflow required the manual casting and 3D scanning of unrectified and rectified plaster positives, anatomical landmark identification, and unsupervised training of an algorithm using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The AI captured both explicit and implicit rectification strategies, generating an average rectification template and synergistic modes of variation. Validation was conducted via a leave-one-out approach, comparing AI-generated versus manually crafted rectified positives using clinically-relevant metrics: perimeter and volume differences. The first four PCA modes explained 78% of rectification variability, with key modifications observed in distal and medial regions. Volume differences between AI and manually rectified positives were within clinically acceptable limits for all participants, with 44% rated “good” and 56% “acceptable”. This proof-of-concept provides a new perspective on the application of AI to replicate prosthetist-specific rectification strategies for transfemoral sockets. It may potentially help streamline fabrication by capturing both explicit and implicit prosthetist knowledge. The approach may be useful in clinical training, documentation, and socket fabrication, particularly in resource-limited settings, and may contribute to more consistent and efficient prosthetics care. Lisha Zou Shiyu Tian Zhipiao Tang Keyi Zou 10.1371/journal.pone.0356482 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Lisha Zou, Shiyu Tian, Zhipiao Tang, Keyi Zou</p> Virtual screening is most useful when it improves top-<i>k</i> prioritization under limited experimental budgets. We evaluated the full TASC-VS package on a curated 15-target subset of the LIT-PCBA virtual-screening benchmark. Methodologically, TASC-VS combines test-time adaptation (TTA), calibration, and uncertainty-aware ranking to support fixed-budget decisions. Coverage analysis showed that the subset is not full LIT-PCBA: it contains 23,250 evaluated molecule-target records and 181 positives, with positives in seven targets. Empirically, TASC-VS full showed modest, directionally consistent benefits over the evaluated comparators. On the seven positive targets, normalized enrichment factor at 1% (NEF1) and Boltzmann-enhanced discrimination of receiver operating characteristic (BEDROC) were 0.052 and 0.062 for TASC-VS full, compared with 0.0057 and 0.0279 for RTMScore-on-Vina-poses. Across all 15 targets, precision and false-positive count among the top 20 candidates (P20 and FP20) were 0.0433 and 19.13 for TASC-VS full, compared with 0.0067 and 19.87 for RTMScore-on-Vina-poses. Calibration improved reliability metrics, uncertainty penalization produced a small top-20 benefit, and TTA changed reliability slightly without driving the main ranking gain. Paired P20 analysis versus RTMScore-on-Vina-poses gave a mean benefit of 0.0367 (95% bootstrap confidence interval (CI), 0.0067–0.0733; raw Wilcoxon <i>p</i> = 0.026), but multiplicity-corrected values were not significant (Holm <i>p</i> = 1.0; Benjamini–Hochberg (BH) <i>q</i> = 0.322). An external Directory of Useful Decoys, Enhanced (DUD-E) stress test favored Vina over TASC-VS full. Thus, TASC-VS full provides calibration-aware top-<i>k</i> decision support on the curated LIT-PCBA subset; broader deployment requires separate validation. Joseph Harrison Matthew Wallace 10.1371/journal.pone.0356481 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Joseph Harrison, Matthew Wallace</p> Research regularly reports lower mortality among migrants, leading to conclusions of a “Healthy Immigrant Effect”. However, evidence on migrant health is less consistent, suggesting a disconnect between mortality and health outcomes. This highlights the need to examine both health and mortality simultaneously rather than relying on single-outcome measures. We estimate life expectancy (LE) and disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) at age 50 for 37 countries of birth in England and Wales. Life tables were constructed using whole-population mortality data from 2000–02, 2010–12 and 2020–22, while DFLE was estimated using the Sullivan method and self-reported limiting long-term illness data from the 2001, 2011 and 2021 censuses. By comparing LE and DFLE with those of the England and Wales-born population across three time points, we assessed differences in both mortality and disability and examined how these changed over time. We find substantial heterogeneity in migrant health. Most migrant populations consistently experienced a “healthy migrant effect”, with higher LE and DFLE than the England and Wales-born population at all three time points. In contrast, several of the largest migrant groups exhibited an “unhealthy migrant effect”, characterised by lower LE and DFLE (including those born in Scotland, the Republic of Ireland, and men born in Poland and Lithuania), while others experienced longer lives but greater disability burdens, with higher LE but lower DFLE (including women born in Pakistan and Bangladesh). These findings demonstrate that migrant populations are far from homogeneous and some groups face elevated burdens of disability and/or premature mortality and would benefit from targeted public health interventions. Xinru Guo Yijie Lin Shiting Mi Yuqi Yin 10.1371/journal.pone.0356477 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Xinru Guo, Yijie Lin, Shiting Mi, Yuqi Yin</p> Background <p>The Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) has been proposed as a marker of endothelial stress and may be associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. Whether urinary genistein modifies this association remains unclear.</p> Methods <p>Multivariable logistic regression examined the association between EASIX and estimated 10-year ASCVD risk classification. Effect modification by urinary genistein (<54.105 vs. ≥ 54.105 μg/g) was assessed using interaction terms and stratified analyses. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) evaluated dose–response relationships.</p> Results <p>In the fully adjusted model, higher EASIX was independently associated with increased ASCVD risk (OR per unit increase = 1.407; 95% CI: 1.208–1.640; <i>P</i> < 0.001). A significant multiplicative interaction between EASIX and genistein was observed (OR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.17–2.35; <i>P</i> = 0.005). Stratified analysis showed that this adverse association was slightly attenuated in the higher genistein group (OR = 1.360; 95% CI: 1.066–1.736; <i>P</i> = 0.015) compared to the lower group (OR = 1.397; 95% CI: 1.202–1.624; <i>P</i> < 0.001). RCS analyses showed a non-linear S-shaped association in the lower-genistein group (<i>P</i> _nonlinear = 0.020), whereas a predominantly linear relationship was observed in the higher-genistein group (<i>P</i> _nonlinear = 0.108).</p> Conclusions <p>Higher EASIX was associated with elevated estimated 10-year ASCVD risk classification, and this association differed across urinary genistein strata. These findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating.</p> Lidong Hou Shaojie Li Jinsong Bai Changhao Wang Yunzhao Liu Ziyang Zhu 10.1371/journal.pone.0356473 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Lidong Hou, Shaojie Li, Jinsong Bai, Changhao Wang, Yunzhao Liu, Ziyang Zhu</p> Aiming at the common problem of borehole instability caused by mineral hydration in water-sensitive mudstone formations during petroleum drilling, this paper conducts a multi-scale study by integrating X-ray diffraction, triaxial mechanical experiments, and molecular dynamics simulation methods. It systematically analyzes the mineral composition of mudstone, the evolution law of its mechanical properties after hydration, and the microscopic mechanism of hydration. The results indicate that: ① The montmorillonite content in the mudstone dominates its strong water sensitivity, leading to a sharp deterioration in mechanical properties after immersion, with compressive strength decreasing by over 55%; ② Molecular dynamics simulation reveals that montmorillonite hydration is a staged process: water molecules intrude into the interlayer to sequentially form single-layer, double-layer, and triple-layer water film structures, with the interlayer spacing expanding nonlinearly. Na⁺ migrates accordingly and distributes alternately with water molecules. The diffusion coefficient of water molecules is significantly higher than that of Na ⁺ . These factors collectively cause a continuous decline in interlayer structural stability; ③ This microscopic process, from “staged formation of water films” to “gradual structural destabilization,” directly explains the macroscopic phenomenon of cores exhibiting progressive failure characterized by “initial spalling followed by fragmentation” with increasing immersion time. This study establishes a complete evolution path of mudstone hydration damage from the atomic scale to the core scale, providing a key theoretical basis for controlling borehole stability by inhibiting interlayer hydration of montmorillonite. Mairobys Socorro Xudong Dong Juan M. Taboas Alejandro J. Almarza 10.1371/journal.pone.0356421 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Mairobys Socorro, Xudong Dong, Juan M. Taboas, Alejandro J. Almarza</p> Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) is a type of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) characterized by structural changes in the joint due to the gradual degeneration and loss of articular cartilage, as well as remodeling of the underlying bone. The complexity of these structural and functional changes underscores the importance of evaluating regenerative therapies in large- animal models that closely mimic human joint physiology prior to clinical translation. Considering that TMJ cartilage consists of fibrocartilage, dissimilar from hyaline cartilage found in other diarthrodial joints, and that osteochondral defects (OCDs) are reproducible injuries for developing regenerative therapies for osteoarthritis (OA), this study aimed to establish a suitable large-animal model of OCD in the TMJ condyle of goats. We surgically generated and compared two types of OCDs, a novel tunnel defect drilled retrograde from the posterior aspect of the condyle to the articular surface and a superior defect drilled anterograde. Live computed tomography (CT) and histological assessment showed that the defects were critically sized, with incomplete subchondral bone healing and no cartilage regeneration up to 60 days post-surgery. All defects were filled with fibrous tissue throughout and woven bone at the periphery. The articular fibrocartilage surrounding both defect types displayed signs of arthritic degeneration per the modified OARSI scale, including the loss of the zonal structure (fibrous, transition, and cartilaginous layers). Given similar impaired healing, the tunnel OCD is favorable to preserve the disc attachments and minimize surgical manipulation of the TMJ while creating larger defects and OA-like degeneration in the goat. In summary, this study presents a practical preclinical goat model for evaluating future regenerative therapies targeting TMJ-OA. Osamah Azzam Iyad Nazzal Usama AlKhuffash Ahmad Abuhassan Mohammad Abuawad Ramzi Shawahna 10.1371/journal.pone.0356393 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Osamah Azzam, Iyad Nazzal, Usama AlKhuffash, Ahmad Abuhassan, Mohammad Abuawad, Ramzi Shawahna</p> Background <p>Cognitive impairment in older adults represents a critical global public health challenge. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of cognitive impairment and the clinical characteristics of Palestinian older adults living in nursing homes and in the community.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to October 2024 among 441 Palestinians aged 55 years and older, recruited from 10 charitable nursing homes and primary healthcare centers across the West Bank. Cognitive function was evaluated using the validated Arabic version of the Mini-Mental State Examination A-MMSE (GTD-USJ). Comprehensive sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle information was collected to describe the two groups.</p> Results <p>Of the 441 participants, 305 were recruited from primary healthcare centers and 136 from nursing homes. The median age of residents in nursing homes was 73.0 years. The population had a high prevalence of illiteracy (41.9%) and was predominantly female (66.9%). Clinically, 58% were obese or overweight. The most common illnesses were hypertension (47.8%) and diabetes (30.9%). On the other hand, the median age of primary health care attendees was 65.0 years. The population was 45.2% male, 27.9% smokers, 16.1% illiterate, and 27.5% had completed university. The most common conditions were dyslipidemia (59%), diabetes (50.2%), and hypertension (67.9%). In the nursing home cohort, significant associations with cognitive impairment were identified for gender (p = 0.030), smoking status (p < 0.001), educational attainment (p < 0.001), and monolingualism (p < 0.001). Among primary healthcare attendees, cognitive impairment was significantly correlated with gender (p < 0.001), smoking status (p < 0.001), educational attainment (p < 0.001), and monolingualism (p = 0.003).</p> Conclusion <p>This descriptive study documents the first baseline prevalence data for both care settings and nursing home residents in Palestine and underscores the need for geriatric care standards tailored to the local population. The data support investment in longitudinal cohort research to characterize the natural history of cognitive decline in this population, as well as enhanced management of modifiable risk factors and evidence-based cognitive stimulation programs within nursing facilities.</p> Benjamin Hägglund Johan Jirlén Christina Brogårdh Elisabeth Ekstrand Ulrik Röijezon 10.1371/journal.pone.0356388 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Benjamin Hägglund, Johan Jirlén, Christina Brogårdh, Elisabeth Ekstrand, Ulrik Röijezon</p> Sensorimotor control of the arm and hand can be disturbed in various health conditions causing deviant and unfavourable movement patterns. This study aimed to evaluate a new clinical test protocol for pointing acuity using the Leap Motion Controller (LMC) and assess the concurrent validity against a standard laboratory motion capture system (Qualisys Motion Capture, QMC). Twenty participants (mean age 44.4 years) performed the pointing acuity tests with eyes open and closed, and with left and right hand. Outcome measure was the mean absolute error (AE) in millimeters (mm) of 10 trials. Pearson’s r or Spearman’s rho were used to analyse the correlations between LMC and QMC, and Bland-Altman were used to analyse the agreement. There were moderate to very strong correlations (r: 0.67 to 0.95) between LMC and QMC in tests with eyes closed. In contrast, tests with eyes open showed weak correlations; rho 0.27 for both left and right hand. Bland-Altman showed median bias of ≤ 1.4 mm (LoA 0.1 to 17.5 mm) between LMC and QMC with eyes open, and ≤ 5.1 mm (LoA −31.6 to 21.5 mm) with eyes closed. Assessing pointing acuity using LMC with a standardized test protocol has an acceptable concurrent validity when compared to a 3D-based multi camera system (QMC), supporting its potential use in clinical settings. Future research should evaluate its psychometric properties regarding discriminative validity, reliability and responsiveness in various populations. I. M. Shindy Aymen Flah Mostafa G. Rabea Said Elmasry Adel A. El Samhay M. M. R. Ahmed A. M. Hamada 10.1371/journal.pone.0356375 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by I. M. Shindy, Aymen Flah, Mostafa G. Rabea, Said Elmasry, Adel A. El Samhay, M. M. R. Ahmed, A. M. Hamada</p> Power systems, particularly distribution networks, are currently facing increasing challenges due to rising energy demand and the growing complexity of modern grids. The integration of Distributed Generators (DGs) within Microgrids (MGs) introduces additional fault current contributions, which significantly modify short-circuit levels. This change can result in miscoordination problems in existing Overcurrent Relay (OCR)-based protection systems, including both maloperation and delayed tripping. In addition, the increased fault current contribution from MGs may exceed the design limits of equipment such as circuit breakers (CBs), exposing them to higher electrical stress and increasing the risk of failure to operate properly. Consequently, these issues collectively degrade the overall reliability and security of the power system. To overcome these challenges, installing a Directional Fault Current Limiter (DFCL) between the microgrid and the upstream network is considered an effective mitigation approach. The DFCL helps in controlling fault current levels and improving protection coordination. However, determining the optimal impedance setting of the DFCL is a complex task, as it must simultaneously ensure proper coordination among OCRs and reduce short-circuit levels to enhance system reliability. In this context, this paper proposes an analytical methodology for determining the optimal DFCL impedance based on Thevenin equivalent impedance analysis. The proposed approach provides a straightforward impedance sizing procedure that restores overcurrent relay coordination following distributed generation integration while maintaining system reliability. Unlike optimization-based methods, the proposed analytical approach determines the required DFCL impedance directly from the equivalent Thevenin impedance without iterative computation, making it computationally efficient and suitable for real-time engineering application The methodology is validated under different operating scenarios involving synchronous generators, wind turbine generators, and photovoltaic systems. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach effectively restores relay coordination, limits excessive fault currents, and enhances the reliability of microgrid protection without requiring adaptive protection schemes or additional relay installation. Fayyaz Ahmad Sheheryar Mohsin Qureshi Ayesha Younas Muhammad Babar Ramzan Gulam Fareed 10.1371/journal.pone.0356367 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Fayyaz Ahmad, Sheheryar Mohsin Qureshi, Ayesha Younas, Muhammad Babar Ramzan, Gulam Fareed</p> This study aims to provide rapid and precise methods for industrial users to predict the amount of sewing thread required to sew garments using different stitches of class 600. To avoid unused stocks, sewing consumption for each stitch was computed using the Extra Trees machine learning method. Multiple machine learning models including Extra Trees, Support Vector Machine, CatBoost, Random Forest, Linear Regression, and Artificial Neural Networks were compared. The Extra Trees model achieved superior performance with mean absolute error (MAE) of 4.24 cm, root mean squared error (RMSE) of 5.05 cm, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 1.81%, and R² of 0.974. In accordance with the findings, the prediction of sewing thread consumption related to each stitch was proposed as a function of the studied input parameters (Plies and Stitch Length). Extensive cross-validation (5-fold cross-validation) showed that the performance is strong and the overfitting is low. Extra Trees was the best model among all others, including Support Vector Machine (<i>R</i>² = 0.939), CatBoost (<i>R</i>² = 0.898), and Random Forest (<i>R</i>² = 0.884). These findings support the practical use of the Extra Trees ensemble approach for industrial thread consumption prediction, and the stringent validation protocol acts as a guarantee that the approach will be applicable to novel data. Oscar Emil Puntervold Pia Johansson Heinsvig Mads Gustav Skytte Kristine Boisen Olsen Jytte Banner Jacob Tfelt-Hansen Kristian Linnet Marie Mardal 10.1371/journal.pone.0356269 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Oscar Emil Puntervold, Pia Johansson Heinsvig, Mads Gustav Skytte, Kristine Boisen Olsen, Jytte Banner, Jacob Tfelt-Hansen, Kristian Linnet, Marie Mardal</p> Aim <p>This proof-of-concept study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and analytical performance of the Biocrates MxP® Quant 500 kit, originally developed for biofluids, to postmortem human cardiac tissue obtained from forensic autopsies, evaluating its potential as a standardized, cost-effective alternative to complex, resource-intensive metabolomics workflows.</p> Methods <p>Left ventricular tissue samples were collected from 40 forensic autopsy cases, comprising 10 decedents with type 2 diabetes, 20 decedents with ischemic heart disease without type 2 diabetes, and 10 control cases without cardiac pathology. Cases were selected to represent the range of myocardial conditions commonly encountered in forensic practice, enabling assessment of analytical feasibility across heterogeneous postmortem cardiac tissue. Samples were analyzed using the MxP® Quant 500 kit following the standard protocol and using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and flow injection analysis methods, measuring and quantifying a total of 630 endogenous metabolites across diverse classes.</p> Results <p>Out of the 630 metabolites, 463 (74%) were within the quantifiable range. Lipid-related metabolites were notably well represented, with sphingomyelins (100% retained), phosphatidylcholines (93% retained), triacylglycerols (82% retained), and fatty acids (83% retained) showing the highest retention. Other metabolite classes such as acylcarnitines (45% retained) demonstrated greater variability, with some measurements falling below the limit of detection (e.g., 47% of acylcarnitines below this limit) or exceeding the upper limit of quantification (e.g., 35% of amino acids above this limit). Univariate analyses showed nominal group differences among specific metabolite subclasses (unadjusted p < 0.05). However, no metabolites remained statistically significant after correcting for false discovery rate. Multivariate analysis using PERMANOVA or PCA showed no strong global separation.</p> Conclusion <p>The Biocrates MxP® Quant 500 kit demonstrated technical feasibility for postmortem cardiac tissue analysis, enabling quantification of a broad range of metabolites, particularly lipids. While variability was observed across certain metabolite classes, the approach provides a promising basis for standardized metabolomic investigations in forensic and cardiovascular research.</p> Md Salek Miah 10.1371/journal.pone.0356265 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Md Salek Miah</p> Objective <p>To identify the risk factors of depression and anxiety among ever-married Mozambican women, including rural–urban, internet-use, and province- wide geographic inequalities, and to inform mental health policy.</p> Methodology <p>This study used cross-sectional design and 13,183 ever-married women aged 15−49 years from the nationally representative Mozambique Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) 2022−2023. The outcome variables were assessed using the Patients Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), with score (>=10) indicating depression and anxiety respectively. Survey-weighted multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with anxiety and depression, and results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).</p> Findings <p>Among all women, 11% reported anxiety symptoms, and 10% reported depressive symptoms. Women aged 35–39 years associated the highest odds of anxiety (aOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.48–2.87) and depression (aOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.07–2.08). Additionally, women aged 45–49 years showed the second-highest odds of anxiety (aOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.12–2.23), while the second-highest odds of depressive symptoms were also observed among women aged 45–49 years (aOR = 1.32, 95% CI: 0.92–1.89), compared with women aged 15–19 years. Age at first sex (<18 years) was significantly associated with anxiety (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.25–2.19) and depression (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.17–2.18) compared to aged ≥18 years. Women participation in decision making autonomy significantly associated with lower odds of anxiety (aOR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.54–0.83) and depression (aOR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.53–0.81). Household asset ownership of (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.62–0.92), and improved sanitation facilities associated with lower odds for anxiety (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60–0.98) only. While, improved household materials (aOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.07–1.76) and internet use (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.07–1.99) were associated with higher anxiety. Geographically, women Cabo Delgado and Zambézia, Nampula consistently associated with higher odds while Gaza associated with lower odds of both anxiety and depression compared to Maputo City respectively.</p> Conclusions <p>Targeted mental health symptoms interventions should prioritize aged 35–49 years and high burden provinces such as Nampula strengthening women’s decision-making autonomy. Integrating routine mental health symptoms screening into reproductive and women’s health services may help decrease anxiety and depression among Mozambican women.</p> Maria Betânia Niehues Daniel Ioan Campos Gomes de Gouvêa Alexandre Perdigão Victor Valério Carvalho Tiago Sabella Acedo Luis Fernando Monteiro Tamassia Cyntia Ludovico Martins Mário De Beni Arrigoni 10.1371/journal.pone.0356262 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Maria Betânia Niehues, Daniel Ioan Campos Gomes de Gouvêa, Alexandre Perdigão, Victor Valério Carvalho, Tiago Sabella Acedo, Luis Fernando Monteiro Tamassia, Cyntia Ludovico Martins, Mário De Beni Arrigoni</p> The search for alternatives to ionophore antibiotics such as monensin has increased due to regulatory restrictions and consumer demand for natural feed additives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feed additive combinations compared with sodium monensin on performance, carcass traits, ruminal and cecal health, and meat quality in feedlot-finished cattle. Twenty-four F1 Angus–Nellore crossbred bulls (BW = 456 ± 21.77 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) sodium monensin (MON; 26 mg/kg DM); 2) a blend of essential oils plus α-amylase (BEO, 90 and 560 mg/kg of DM, respectively); and 3) BEO + 25-hydroxicholecalciferol (BEO + HyD; 1 mg/animal/day). Animals were considered the experimental units, and data were analyzed using a mixed model with treatment as fixed effect and animal as random effect. Feeding BEO and BEO + HyD increased DMI (P < 0.0001), HCW (P = 0.01), and dressing percentage (P = 0.03), and tended to increase ADG (P = 0.07) and final BW (P = 0.08) compared with MON, with no differences in feed efficiency (P > 0.50). Feed additives did not affect most meat quality traits (P > 0.05). During the adaptation period and overall, animals fed BEO and BEO + HyD maintained higher mean and minimum ruminal pH, spent less time below pH 6.2 and 6.0, and had a lower area under the curve below these thresholds, along with lower ruminal temperature compared with MON (P ≤ 0.05). Additionally, over the entire feeding period, animals fed BEO and BEO + HyD spent less time below pH 5.8 (P = 0.02). Animals fed MON and BEO exhibited greater ruminal absorptive surface area (P = 0.007) than those fed BEO + HyD. Cecal morphometric parameters were not affected by treatments (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the combination of a blend of essential oils and α-amylase improved ruminal health and enhanced performance and carcass production without affecting meat quality or cecal morphology compared with monensin. Supplementation with 1 mg of 25-(OH)D₃ showed limited additional effects on carcass traits. Suzanne Ablard Jedidah Mould Rosemarie Gough Colin O’Keeffe Maxine Kuczawski Fiona Sampson Natasha Treagust Suzanne Mason 10.1371/journal.pone.0356237 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Suzanne Ablard, Jedidah Mould, Rosemarie Gough, Colin O’Keeffe, Maxine Kuczawski, Fiona Sampson, Natasha Treagust, Suzanne Mason</p> Background <p>High demand for emergency care continues to place strain on ambulance services and emergency departments. Many patients present with acute problems that, while requiring an urgent response, do not require hospital care. Providing safe alternatives to hospital conveyance for these patients is a priority. Community unscheduled care co-ordination hubs (UCCH) support clinicians (e.g., paramedics) to identify and refer patients with acute care needs into community services, allowing patient care close to or in their own home and reducing ambulance callouts or conveyance to hospital. Our study identified the barriers and enablers to the operation and impact of UCCHs in three locations across England.</p> Methods <p>Twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinical and non-clinical staff working in UCCHs, and clinical staff working in services which refer patients into UCCHs (e.g., paramedics). Transcripts were analysed thematically.</p> Results <p>Four themes were identified: (1) UCCHs promote integrated community working by improving clinicians’ access to rapid community-based support for patients; (2) there was a tension between maintaining easy access for referring clinicians and ensuring consistent referral decision-making, with unclear eligibility criteria creating uncertainty about the remit of UCCHs (3) UCCH staff perceived limited ambulance service engagement as a key barrier to maximising the service’s impact on avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions; (4) Recruiting and retaining individuals with the right skills mix was a significant challenge, limiting the pace at which the UCCH could expand.</p> Discussion <p>UCCHs have the potential to simplify access to community services and support avoidance of unnecessary ED conveyance. However, their impact may be limited by inconsistent referral processes, variable engagement from ambulance services, and workforce challenges. Addressing these factors may enhance the effectiveness, sustainability, and scalability of UCCHs as part of wider efforts to deliver urgent care closer to home.</p> Tao Zhao Xin Dong Hengfa Wu Yang Gao Ting Lei Fei Zheng 10.1371/journal.pone.0356177 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Tao Zhao, Xin Dong, Hengfa Wu, Yang Gao, Ting Lei, Fei Zheng</p> This study investigates the effects of nozzle diameter and continuous carbon fiber (CCF) volume fraction on the tensile properties and failure mechanisms of fused deposition modeling (FDM) printed CCF/polylactic acid (PLA) composites. Two nozzle sizes (1.0 mm and 0.8 mm) and four CCF volume fractions (0%, 20%, 30%, 50%) were adopted to prepare six groups of specimens for uniaxial tensile tests and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) characterization. The results indicate that CCF-reinforced specimens exhibit nearly no plastic deformation and fail mainly by fiber fracture, while neat PLA shows obvious plastic deformation and tensile fracture. For the 1.0 mm nozzle, the tensile strengths reach 36.4 MPa, 34.8 MPa and 19.8 MPa at CCF volume fractions of 50%, 30% and 20%, respectively. The tensile strength is 16.9 MPa for specimens with 50% CCF printed using the 0.8 mm nozzle. Larger nozzle diameter effectively improves tensile strength, which increases approximately linearly with rising CCF content. Microscopic observations reveal that the 1.0 mm nozzle ensures uniform fiber distribution and strong fiber-matrix interfacial bonding. Considering mechanical performance and cost, 30% is determined as the optimal CCF volume fraction. With the merits of light weight, high strength and environmental friendliness, the composites are suitable for aerospace lightweight parts, automotive components, civil engineering load-bearing structures, customized tooling and medical devices. Mohamad Radwan Sirri Mohammad Osama Namera Mohamad Yaman Salahi Alasbahi Zaher Alswaidan Salar Karim Khalil 10.1371/journal.pone.0356175 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Mohamad Radwan Sirri, Mohammad Osama Namera, Mohamad Yaman Salahi Alasbahi, Zaher Alswaidan, Salar Karim Khalil</p> Background <p>Orthodontically induced root resorption (RR) is frequent, and invasive surgically accelerated orthodontic (ISAO) procedures may increase it. This study aimed to assess the effect of ISAO on RR in teeth adjacent to surgically treated segments compared with conventional orthodontic treatment.</p> Methods <p>Following PRISMA, five major databases and four grey literature sources were searched through August 2025 without language or date restrictions. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials and comparative non-randomized intervention studies, including split-mouth designs, that reported quantitative root resorption after flap-based procedures. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I. Root resorption ascertainment and harms reporting were appraised with a modified McMaster Harms tool, and certainty was evaluated with GRADE. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251166274).</p> Results <p>Eleven studies involving 352 patients were included. Because of substantial heterogeneity in surgical protocols, imaging methods, root resorption metrics, and follow-up periods, findings were synthesized narratively. In cone-beam computed tomography studies, plain corticotomy showed either small increases or no clear between-group differences in root resorption. Some graft-augmented corticotomy or osteotomy protocols were associated with slightly lower measured root resorption than conventional controls. In two-dimensional or index-based assessments, most comparisons showed no clear difference. Across studies, observed root resorption generally remained within commonly accepted clinical limits, but evidence certainty was low to very low.</p> Conclusions <p>Current low- to very low-certainty evidence does not demonstrate a large increase in root resorption with invasive surgically accelerated orthodontics. However, the available studies are small, heterogeneous, and frequently at high risk of bias, preventing firm conclusions about safety. Findings suggesting slightly lower measured root resorption with some graft-augmented protocols remain hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in larger, better-designed studies with standardized outcomes and harms reporting.</p> Harsimran Kaur Brar Atieh Moradimotlagh Dilraj Kaur Longowal Kyung-Mee Moon Leonard J. Foster Alice L-F Mui Neil Reiner Devki Nandan 10.1371/journal.pone.0356144 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Harsimran Kaur Brar, Atieh Moradimotlagh, Dilraj Kaur Longowal, Kyung-Mee Moon, Leonard J. Foster, Alice L-F Mui, Neil Reiner, Devki Nandan</p> Protozoan parasites of the genus <i>Leishmania,</i> the causative agents of human leishmaniasis, have evolved mechanisms to manipulate host cell functions to their advantage. Recently, small non-coding RNAs have been identified as contributors to the pathogenesis of <i>Leishmania</i> infection. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that <i>Leishmania</i> tRNA-derived small non-coding RNAs, also known as <i>Leishmania</i> tRNA-derived fragments (Ld-tRFs), can be delivered to host cells via exosomes, thereby influencing host cell function. Here, we investigated the potential effects of <i>Leishmania</i> exosomal Ld-tRF-Asp and Ld-tRF-Leu in THP-1-derived host macrophages. SILAC (Stable Isotope Labelling by Amino acids in Cell culture) based quantitative proteomics was used to investigate the effects of synthetic Ld-tRF-Asp and Ld-tRF-Leu by analyzing how these Ld-tRFs affect the macrophage proteome. Ld-tRF-Asp modulated 20 proteins, whereas Ld-tRF-Leu affected 18 proteins in macrophages. Interestingly, 7 of the Ld-tRF-Asp-modulated proteins and 7 of the Ld-tRF-Leu-modulated proteins showed potential pro-<i>Leishmania</i> effects. Biochemical isolation of Argonaute (Ago) protein complexes by “Ago proteins Affinity Purification by Peptide,” followed by identification of interacting small non-coding RNAs, revealed the selective presence of both tRFs in <i>Leishmania-</i>infected macrophages. This striking finding suggested that Ld-tRFs engage macrophage Ago proteins for their effects. In addition, an <i>in vivo</i> biotin-RNA pull-down assay showed that Ld-tRF-Leu selectively interacted with Ago 1, suggesting that Ago 1 is the preferred Ago guiding Ld-tRFs to target host genes. Taken together, this study shows, for the first time, that <i>Leishmania</i> exosomal tRFs significantly alter the host macrophage proteome in favour of <i>Leishmania</i> survival. This may offer new insights into the mechanisms of leishmaniasis and may provide future therapeutic interventions targeting these regulatory molecules. Chuanyin Liu Jingjing Zhang Rui Chen Xiangdong Bi Wei Dai Wenjie Zhao Dajuan Zhang Qian Wang Xinyu Wang 10.1371/journal.pone.0355950 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Chuanyin Liu, Jingjing Zhang, Rui Chen, Xiangdong Bi, Wei Dai, Wenjie Zhao, Dajuan Zhang, Qian Wang, Xinyu Wang</p> The degradation mechanism of MC-RR by an anaerobic degrading microbial community (ADMC), enriched from shrimp pond sediment, was investigated using LC-MS/MS, metagenomic, and metatranscriptomic analyses. Three key degradation products of ¹⁵N-labeled MC-RR were tentatively identified: Adda-Glu-Mdha-Ala (m/z 618.3216), a deamination product (m/z 600.2965), and Glu-MeAsp-Ala-Arg-CO₂ (m/z 466.2233). The pathway was inferred to involve hydrolytic ring-opening at Arg-Adda or Ala-Arg bonds, followed by deamination, decarboxylation, and stepwise degradation into short peptides and amino acids. Metagenomics revealed Citrobacter amalonaticus as the core dominant species and Shewanella as a low-abundance but transcriptionally active genus. Metatranscriptomic differential expression analysis (1,648 DEGs; 460 upregulated, 1,188 downregulated) showed significant upregulation of non-canonical peptidases including U32 family (YhbU, UbiU), M23 family (MepM), and S9 family serine peptidases, suggesting the involvement of a non-canonical, <i>mlr</i>-independent peptidase system in MC-RR transformation. Genes of the dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) pathway (<i>narG–nirB–nrfA</i>) and nitric oxide reductase (<i>norB</i>) were concurrently upregulated, a transcriptional pattern consistent with DNRA-linked nitrogen turnover and NO detoxification during degradation, although the corresponding nitrogen fluxes were not directly measured. Among quorum sensing (QS) systems, the AI-2 system exhibited the most pronounced transcriptional response, with AHLs, DSF, and c-di-GMP genes also concurrently upregulated, suggesting a multi-signal transcriptional response during degradation of this complex substrate. These findings provide an important theoretical reference for revealing the mechanisms of anaerobic degradation of microcystins (MCs) by complex microbial communities in situ environments, while also offering scientific data to support the targeted development of efficient MCs-degrading microbial community or specific MCs-degrading enzymes. Eva Débora de Oliveira Andrade Érika Paula Silva Freitas Daniele de Souza Marinho do Nascimento Rafaela Nayara da Costa Pelonha Liana Letícia Paulino Galvão Annamaria Barbosa do Nascimento Grasiela Piuvezam Manuela Mika Jomori Thais Souza Passos Bruna Leal Lima Maciel 10.1371/journal.pone.0355940 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Eva Débora de Oliveira Andrade, Érika Paula Silva Freitas, Daniele de Souza Marinho do Nascimento, Rafaela Nayara da Costa Pelonha, Liana Letícia Paulino Galvão, Annamaria Barbosa do Nascimento, Grasiela Piuvezam, Manuela Mika Jomori, Thais Souza Passos, Bruna Leal Lima Maciel</p> Cooking skills are defined as the individual knowledge, confidence, and attitude necessary to perform culinary tasks.. Despite the growing number of primary studies investigating culinary skills and dietary outcomes, there remains a significant gap in systematic reviews synthesizing the evidence regarding their impact on the nutritional status and diet of healthy adults. The aim of this systematic review was to assess whether the development of culinary skills influences nutritional status and diet. A systematic search of studies was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool for non-randomized intervention studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias for Randomized Studies (RoB 2) tool for randomized intervention studies. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to assess the quality of the evidence. Fifteen studies were included, most of which were classified as having a serious risk of methodological bias, such as the absence of randomization of participants and control groups. The results highlighted the importance of cooking skills and increased cooking frequency in improving diet quality among adults. However, no evidence of an association with nutritional status was found. Thus, this systematic review suggests that the development of cooking skills in healthy adults is associated with improvements in selected self-reported dietary behaviors, especially fruit and vegetable intake and cooking confidence, but the certainty of evidence is low or very low, and no reliable conclusion can be drawn regarding nutritional status. Further clinical trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base. Giulia Tomasetig Lucia Maria Sacheli Margherita Adelaide Musco Stefano Pizzi Gianpaolo Basso Grazia Fernanda Spitoni Gabriella Bottini Luigi Pizzamiglio Eraldo Paulesu 10.1371/journal.pone.0355737 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z 2026-08-19T14:00:00Z <p>by Giulia Tomasetig, Lucia Maria Sacheli, Margherita Adelaide Musco, Stefano Pizzi, Gianpaolo Basso, Grazia Fernanda Spitoni, Gabriella Bottini, Luigi Pizzamiglio, Eraldo Paulesu</p> Humanity has always admired and created art, but the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying artistic experience remain elusive. Professional artists and their intimate relationship with their artworks provide a unique opportunity to study the nature of the art experience, given their expertise in both art-making and art appreciation. During two fMRI tasks, professional artists (N = 20) made aesthetic judgments on their own and other artists’ paintings (aesthetic judgment task); they also mentally reconstructed the moments when they conceived their artworks or, as a control condition, when they visited for the first time now-familiar places (reconstruction by imagery task). During aesthetic judgments of their own (as compared to other artists’) paintings, participants showed stronger recruitment of bilateral posterior parietal cortices, the left lateral occipitotemporal cortex, and the dorso-central sector of the right insula, that is, action-related brain regions also involved in encoding the emotional components of movements. The reconstruction of their own artistic creation (compared with episodic memory retrieval connected with places) involved the left fronto-parietal network associated with motor cognition, providing evidence that the sensorimotor dimension may be intrinsically entailed in the creative process. Moreover, the aesthetic judgments attributed to one’s own artworks positively covaried with activity in the right dorsal premotor cortex during creative reconstruction, suggesting that aesthetic value may be linked to the reactivation of sensorimotor components associated with the creative gesture. Altogether, these results hint that the mental representations of the actions involved in creating art are integral to the overall artistic experience of painters, from conception to appreciation, supporting an embodied view of the artists’ experience of art.