Browse Articles

Discover research articles across all indexed journals

Author Correction: Pre-breeding in alfalfa germplasm develops highly differentiated populations, as revealed by genome-wide microhaplotype markers

Scientific Reports Cesar A. Medina, Dongyan Zhao, Meng Lin et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-94436-w

Tree biodiversity in Bornean lowland forest: What are the key species for forest city development in the new capital city of Indonesia?

PLoS ONE Tri Atmoko, Bina Swasta Sitepu, Wahyu Catur Adinugroho et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320489

The national capital of Indonesia is in the early stages of relocation from the island of Java to East Kalimantan; Indonesia’s new capital city (Ibu Kota Negara; IKN) will be called Nusantara. The development of IKN will utilise the concept of a forest city representing the lowland forest of Borneo containing its rich biodiversity. To realize this concept, sufficient data and information regarding the status of tree diversity in this area is required. To provide this information, research was conducted in sample plots totaling 20.75 ha spread over eight locations in East Kalimantan. The selection of priority tree species for rehabilitation was carried out by using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method with the criteria of conservation status, endemicity, climax species, distribution, food potential, ethnobotanical potential, animal food, and tree growth rates. In the sample plots, we found 5,745 trees representing 571 species with the family Dipterocarpaceae dominating, followed by Euphorbiaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Malvaceae and Annonaceae. Based on the priority categories of restoration, most of the species proposed for planting belong to the Dipterocarpaceae, in the genera Anisoptera (2 species), Anthoshorea (2 species), Cotylelobium (1 species), Dipterocarpus (3 species), Dryobalanops (1 species), Hopea (3 species), Richetia (3 species), Rubroshorea (7 species), Shorea (4 species), and Vatica (4 species). Hopea rudiformis is a Critically Endangered and Borneo endemic species with the highest score, and the only species included in 1st priority, followed by 14 species in 2nd priority, 62 species in 3rd priority, and the remainder in 4th priority. About 18% of tree species with potential food sources can be planted to meet the 10% target of forest cover to contribute to food security in IKN. Samboja Research Forest, Sungai Wain Protection Forest, and Bangkirai Hill are forested areas with high tree species diversity and can act as a source of seeds for the IKN nursery.

Insulator discharge severity assessment algorithm based on RDIDSNet

Scientific Reports Cheng Chi, Li Keyu, Yanhui Meng et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-97010-6

A pesticide residue detection model for food based on NIR and SERS

PLoS ONE Fuchao Yan, Rui Zhang, Shuqi Wang et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320456

This paper presents a multivariate calibration model based on Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) techniques, aiming to achieve efficient and accurate detection of pesticide residues in food by integrating the spectral information from both techniques. The study utilizes the Hilbert-Schmidt Independence Criterion-based Variable Space Iterative Optimization algorithm (HSIC-VSIO) for feature variable selection, and combines it with Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) to build a spectral fusion quantitative model. Experimental results show that the calibration set Root Mean Square Error (RMSE1) of the NIR and SERS feature-layer fusion model is 0.160, the prediction set RMSE (RMSE2) is 0.185, the prediction set coefficient of determination (R²) is 0.988, and the Relative Percent Deviation (RPD) is 8.290. Compared to single spectral techniques, the NIR and SERS spectral feature-layer fusion method demonstrates significant superiority in detecting pesticide residues in complex matrix samples. The findings further validate the high sensitivity of SERS technology in detecting low concentrations of pesticides and show that the feature-layer fusion method effectively suppresses matrix interference, enhancing the model’s generalization ability. This study provides a reliable tool for the rapid and accurate detection of pesticide residues in food and offers new insights into the application of spectral analysis technologies in the food safety field.

Environmentally sustainable fabrication of SnO2/fly ash/biochar nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic performance for degradation of Ofloxacin and Rose Bengal

Scientific Reports Khushboo Kumari, N. S. Moyon, Mohammed Ahmaruzzaman Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-96480-y

The effect of health-promoting leadership of nursing managers on the work withdrawal behaviors and psychological safety of nurses

PLoS ONE Darya Esmaeilbeigi, Mahdi Sahraei Beiranvand, Fatemeh Mohammadipour Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321131

Aim Health-promoting leadership is a novel organizational strategy aimed at preventing the occurrence of diseases in the workplace and promoting the health needs of staff. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of health-promoting leadership of nursing managers on the nurses’ withdrawal behaviors and psychological safety. Design Structural equation modelling was used to verify the conceptual model. Methods A total of 346 nurses working in educational hospitals in the western provinces of Iran were included using stratified random sampling by 2023. The research instruments included a checklist of demographic and occupational characteristics, health-promoting leadership, withdrawal behaviors, and psychological safety questionnaires. Pearson’s correlation and structural equation modelling were used to investigate the relationships between the variables. We followed the STROBE Checklist. Results The findings showed a significant negative relationship between health-promoting leadership and withdrawal behaviors and a significant positive relationship with nurses’ psychological safety. There was also a negative and significant relationship between the withdrawal behaviors and psychological safety. Health-promoting leadership can explain 45% and 52% of the variance in psychological safety and withdrawal behaviors, respectively. Conclusions While emphasizing the importance of leadership styles, the findings of this study indicate that nurse leaders should acknowledge the significance of health promotion leadership as a crucial set of behaviors to foster psychological safety and reduce withdrawal behaviors among nurses, thereby enhancing their quality of care and performance. Implications for nursing management The results draw the attention of nursing managers to health-promoting leadership and its relationships, and create an impetus for changing leadership styles and addressing the lack of mutual understanding. Considering this finding, it appears necessary to create clearer prospect for the nursing profession by teaching health-promoting leadership principles to nursing managers and nurses without managerial positions.

Machine learning integration of multimodal data identifies key features of circulating NT-proBNP in people without cardiovascular diseases

Scientific Reports Zhiyuan Ning, Xuanfei Jiang, Huan Huang et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-96689-x

Correction: Analysis of human capital effects introducing Bayesian quantile regression in the process of industrial structural upgrading

PLoS ONE Xinbo Wang, Shaodong Shi Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322560

Image based quantification method reveals differential patterns of lip desquamation associated with age and sex

Scientific Reports Hanji Kim, Jung Yeon Seo, Sangseob Leem et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-89264-x

Abstract The rough surface of lip skin is a dermatological and aesthetic issue that affects facial appearance. While several studies have addressed this common problem, none of them have exclusively utilized image analysis techniques. In this study, we aimed to quantify lip desquamation from facial images in a total of 55 participants and compare the results to those obtained from the tape-stripping method. The central region of the lower lip was extracted from each facial image, and global thresholding was applied using the threshold value T, which is defined as Mean + 2.5 SD. In this equation, Mean and SD represent the average and standard deviation of each grayscale values within the image, respectively. The desquamation rate was calculated as the proportion of pixels corresponding to desquamated flakes within the analyzed region. We found that our approach accurately represented the lip surface states, with a strong correlation with visual assessment (VA) scores (r = 0.715, p < 0.001). To investigate the relationship between lip desquamation and age, we further analyzed the facial images of 1,000 individuals. A gradual decline in lip desquamation with age was observed in males (r = -0.151, p < 0.001) and females over 38 years (r = -0.133, p < 0.05). In contrast, the variation of lip desquamation among females under the age of 38 showed an increasing trend (r = 0.234, p < 0.01). It is notable that the most pronounced differences between sexes were only observed in individuals in their 20s (p < 0.001). Such results imply that the characteristics of epithelial layer of lip can be segmented based on chronological age and sex. These notable changes in lip desquamation were discovered for the first time in this study. Given the current ease of acquiring image data, our image-based method has the potential to advance the lip skin research.

Correction: High Caveolin-1 mRNA expression in triple-negative breast cancer is associated with an aggressive tumor microenvironment, chemoresistance, and poor clinical outcome

PLoS ONE Christopher Godina, Somayeh Khazaei, Mattias Belting et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322403

Comparative diabetes mellitus burden trends across global, Chinese, US, and Indian populations using GBD 2021 database

Scientific Reports Yafei Chen, Guoyu Wang, Zhiyong Hou et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-96175-4

Virtual Reality experiments in the field

PLoS ONE Maria Alejandra Quirós-Ramírez, Anna Feineisen, Stephan Streuber et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318688

Virtual Reality (VR) has paved its way into experimental psychology due to its capacity to realistically simulate real-world experiences in a controlled way. Theoretically, this technology opens the possibility to conduct experiments anywhere in the world using consumer hardware (e.g. mobile-VR). This would allow researchers to access large scale, heterogeneous samples and to conduct experiments in the field in cases where social distancing is required – e.g. during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we investigate the feasibility of carrying VR experiments in the field using mobile-VR through a stress inductive (public speaking task) and a relaxation (nature) task and contrast them with results in the laboratory (HTC Vive and mobile-VR). The first experiment employed a 2 (device: HTC Vive Pro (HMD) versus Wearality Sky VR smartphone adapter) x 3 (audience: ‘none’, ‘attentive’, ‘inattentive’) between-subjects design. Thirty-four participants took part in the experiment and completed a public speaking task. No significant difference was detected in participants’ sense of presence, cybersickness, or stress levels. In the second experiment, using an inexpensive Google Cardboard smartphone adapter a 3 (between: device setting) x 2 (within: task) mixed-design was employed. Sixty participants joined the experiment, and completed a public speaking and a nature observation task. No significant difference in participants’ sense of presence, cybersickness, perceived stress and relaxation were detected. Taken together, our results provide initial evidence supporting the feasibility and validity of using mobile VR in specific psychological field experiments, such as stress induction and relaxation tasks, conducted in the field. We discuss challenges and concrete recommendations for using VR in field experiments. Future research is needed to evaluate its applicability across a broader range of experimental paradigms.

Optimal fuzzy-PID controller design for object tracking

Scientific Reports Yaregal Limenih Melese, Girma Kassa Alitasb, Mequanent Degu Belete Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-92309-w

Disparities between native americans and white individuals in global outcome trajectories over the 5 years after traumatic brain injury: A model systems study

PLoS ONE Jack D. Watson, Paul B. Perrin, Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321279

Purpose Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to a host of challenges and negatively impacts Native Americans more than any other ethnic group in the U.S. Despite this, little research exists on Native Americans with TBI. The current study examined disparities in global outcome trajectories (overall level of function post-injury) between Native Americans and White individuals in the 5 years following TBI and whether sociodemographic or injury-related characteristics could account for this disparity. Method The current study used a sample of 75 Native Americans demographically matched by sex, age, and injury severity to 75 White individuals from the U.S. Traumatic Brian Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) database (n =  150). A series of hierarchical linear models (HLMs) was used to examine longitudinal global outcome trajectories between the two groups. Results Native Americans showed lower global outcome scores than their White counterparts with this difference worsening (i.e., growing larger) over time. The difference in scores and the differential movement over time were associated with differences between the ethnic groups in employment at the time of injury, substance use patterns, and type of insurance. Conclusion This study highlights the need for identification of and early intervention for risk factors that predict disparities in rehabilitation outcomes and points to the need for greater access to culturally informed care for Native Americans with TBI.

Effects of transcranial electrical stimulation of the cerebellum, parietal cortex, anterior cingulate, and motor cortex on postural adaptation

Scientific Reports Nastaran Bahadorani, Roya Khanmohammadi Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-92617-1

Abstract Several cortical regions, such as the cerebellum, posterior parietal cortex (PPC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and primary motor cortex (M1), play critical roles in postural adaptation. However, studies examining the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on postural adaptation in healthy individuals are limited and often yield inconsistent findings, making it challenging to draw definitive conclusions. Most research has focused on individual brain regions, leaving a gap in understanding how the cerebellum, PPC, ACC, and M1 differentially contribute to postural adaptation. Identifying the most effective brain regions for postural adaptation could optimize rehabilitation strategies for individuals with postural control impairments. Thus, this study compared the effects of tDCS over these specific brain regions on postural adaptation. This parallel, randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial involved 75 participants, divided into five groups: anodal stimulation of the PPC, cerebellum, M1, ACC, or a sham group. Each group received 20 min of direct current stimulation in a single session. Center of pressure (COP) displacement, path length, velocity, and standard deviation (SD) were measured across three trials in the anteroposterior (AP) direction during standing disturbed using vibrators attached to bilateral Achilles tendons. A repeated measure ANOVA was used to assess within-group effects, while one-way ANOVA compared between-group differences. Between-group analysis did not reveal statistically significant differences during both the vibration and post-vibration phases. Nonetheless, the within-group analysis revealed significant enhancements in postural adaptation for the PPC and cerebellum groups during the vibration phase. Specifically, the PPC group demonstrated significant reductions in COP displacement (P = 0.005), path length (P = 0.018), and SD of COP displacement (P = 0.045) across trials. Similarly, in the cerebellar group, significant improvements were noted in COP displacement (P = 0.044), velocity (P = 0.006), and phase plane (P = 0.016) across trials. In contrast, no significant changes were found in the M1, ACC, or sham groups during either the vibration or post-vibration phases. In conclusion, while intergroup comparisons were not significant, intra-group analysis revealed that PPC and cerebellar stimulation significantly enhanced postural adaptation. Incorporating tDCS over the PPC or cerebellum in postural training programs could improve postural control, potentially reducing fall risk in clinical populations such as older adults or individuals with neurological dysfunction. RCT registration: On the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20220819055745N1). Registration date: 15/11/2022.

Validation of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire among clinical clerkship students in Malaysia

PLoS ONE Sahar Fatima, Vinod Pallath, Wei-Han Hong Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319763

The 81-item Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) is a validated tool for measuring self-regulated learning (SRL) and comprises two scales, Motivation and Learning strategies. Although its use in health professions education has been well established, validation in clinical clerkship years is scant. This study aims to investigate the structural validity and internal consistency of MSLQ in the context of Malaysian clinical clerkship students. The data from 349 clinical clerkship students, who completed the adapted MSLQ was used to test the internal consistency and hypothesised factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis for both the Motivation and Learning strategies scales. For the Motivation scale, the Cronbach’s alpha values ranged from 0.63 to 0.90 and for the Learning strategies scale from 0.61 to 0.86, indicating acceptable to high internal consistency. Cronbach’s alpha for whole MSLQ was 0.91, suggesting an excellent reliability of MSLQ in our sample. The model fit indices for the Motivation scale were comparable to the original MSLQ indicating a reasonable fit whereas the model fit indices for the Learning strategies scale did not fit well with our sample and required re-specification to attain a marginal fit. After re-specification for a better model fit, the six-factor Motivational scale and nine-factor Learning strategies scale retained their original constructs in our population sample of clinical clerkship students. Comparing our findings with the original MSLQ and previous studies, we can claim a marginal fit of our data and the theoretical model and suggest the need for further testing with a larger sample size and across different institutions. We recommend that the 75-item re-specified MSLQ-CL could be valuable for future SRL investigations among clinical clerkship students in general as well as in context of Asian medical education context.

Editorial Expression of Concern: Development of deep learning algorithm for detecting dyskalemia based on electrocardiogram

Scientific Reports Jung Nam An, Minje Park, Sunghoon Joo et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-96414-8

Correction: Analysis of clinicopathological factors associate with the visibility of early gastric cancer in endoscopic examination and usefulness of linked color imaging: A multicenter prospective study

PLoS ONE Kensuke Fukuda, Kazuhiro Mizukami, Daisuke Yamaguchi et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322354

Exploring the factors influencing continuance intention to use simulation software in mechatronic engineering by integrating the TAM and TTF model

Scientific Reports Jiaxing Li, Wenhong Liang Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-90585-0

Abstract This study aims to investigate the factors influencing students’ continuance intention to use simulation software in mechatronic engineering education by integrating the technology acceptance model (TAM) and task technology fit (TTF) model. This study distributed questionnaires and collected data through the WJX platform. The questionnaire incorporated established and validated scales to measure key constructs, including perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, task‒technology fit, student satisfaction, and continuance intention. The participants were 351 mechatronics engineering students (including undergraduates, postgraduates, and doctoral students) from universities in Shaanxi Province, China, who had some experience using simulation software. The data were analysed via structural equation modelling (SEM) to ensure that the sample size matched the number of model variables. The results indicated that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and task‒technology fit positively affected students’ satisfaction with the simulation software. Task‒technology fit and satisfaction have a positive effect on the students’ continuance intention to use the simulation software. Notably, the effects of task‒technology fit and satisfaction on students’ willingness to persist in using the simulation software are approximately similar. In addition, task‒technology fit not only directly influenced the willingness to persist in using simulation software in mechatronics learning but also indirectly affected these intentions through students’ satisfaction with the simulation software. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and implementation of simulation software in mechatronics engineering education, emphasizing the importance of aligning software functions with students’ learning tasks and goals.

Long-term trends and projections of stomach cancer burden in China: Insights from the GBD 2021 study

PLoS ONE Zhouwei Zhan, Bijuan Chen, Yi Zeng et al. Apr 08, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320751

Stomach cancer continues to be a major public health concern in China, with its incidence, prevalence, mortality, and overall burden showing notable changes over time. This study set out to analyze the long-term trends of stomach cancer from 1990 to 2021, figure out the effects of aging, epidemiological changes, and population growth, and also make projections for the future. To conduct the study, data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 was used. This data allowed for the analysis of various aspects such as age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality rates, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and years of life lost (YLLs) related to stomach cancer in China. Joinpoint regression analysis was carried out to spot significant trends and turning points. Decomposition analysis was done to assess how much aging, epidemiological changes, and population growth contributed. Additionally, the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was employed to predict what the trends might be from 2021 to 2030. In 2021, there were 611,799 new cases of stomach cancer in China. The age-standardized incidence rate was 29.05 per 100,000 people, with males having a much higher rate of 44.48 compared to females at 15.23. The age-standardized prevalence and mortality rates were 57.22 and 21.51 per 100,000 respectively, and both were higher in males as well. There were also significant gender differences in DALYs, YLDs, and YLLs, with males shouldering a greater burden. From 1990 to 2021, the incidence and mortality rates went down, especially after 2004. Through decomposition analysis, it was found that aging led to a decrease in incidence but an increase in mortality, especially among males. Epidemiological changes caused both the incidence and mortality rates to drop, and the effect was more pronounced in males. The BAPC model forecasts that the incidence and mortality rates will continue to decline for both genders from 2021 to 2030, with a more rapid decrease in males. Overall, this study emphasizes the changing trends of the stomach cancer burden in China, the significant gender differences, and the impacts of aging, epidemiological changes, and population growth. It’s crucial to keep monitoring and implement targeted public health strategies to further reduce the burden of stomach cancer.