PLoS ONE
Articles in this Issue
Integrated approach to model distribution and assess habitat suitability of killifish species in Oman’s local streams (wadis) under current and future climate conditions
Freshwater ecosystems in arid regions possess extraordinary levels of biodiversity, yet they are subject to unprecedented pressures of climate change and anthropogenic activities. We employed an integ...
Protocol for the development of a procedure guide on Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Beyond bile duct injury prevention
Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most frequently performed operations worldwide and the standard treatment for benign gallbladder disease. Although several “sa...
A scalable variational method for estimating the latent infection-rate field of an outbreak
In this paper, we explore whether the infection-rate of a disease can serve as a robust monitoring variable in epidemiological surveillance algorithms. The infection-rate is dependent on population mi...
A qualitative investigation of young people’s experiences and views of Early Support Hubs across England
Background Youth is a period of elevated risk for mental ill health, yet young people often do not receive timely support. Barriers can include high clinical thresholds for treatme...
Family-led post-ICU discharge intervention for tracheostomized patients in India: Feasibility and formative impact evaluation
Background Survival after critical illness is increasing, but many patients remain chronically critically ill (CCI), dependent on tracheostomy and ongoing care. In low- and middle-...
Immediate mood changes and practice adherence during a self-directed SKT1 meditation program in university students: An intensive longitudinal study
Background University students frequently report elevated stress, yet access to formal mental health services is often constrained. Self-directed mind-body practices, such as the S...
Spatial analysis of accessibility to healthcare-related facilities in Tokyo Metropolis using geographic information systems
Geographic disparities in access to health services are a growing concern in Japan as population aging and decline increase care needs and as resources concentrate in dense urban cores. Focusing on To...
Change in walking cadence as a digital outcome measure of clinically meaningful improvement in gait speed and 6-minute walk test distance after a mobility intervention in older adults
Mobility assessments are essential for evaluating baseline function and monitoring responses to interventions in older adults. Usual-pace gait speed and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) are widely used a...
Optimizing sustainable healthcare location routing problem: Incorporating triage, automated medicine lockers, and soft time windows
For the past few years, pharmaceutical logistics has undergone significant changes, especially in the period referred to as the post-pandemic era, which brought major transformations to healthcare sys...
Complexity of leaf surface texture affects microbial colonization in temperate forest tree species
Throughout their life cycle, tree leaves are subject to colonization and degradation by microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria, and algae. These relationships co-evolved with chemical properties, l...
Participant lived experiences of high-intensity interval training in UK cardiac rehabilitation (HIIT or MISS UK): A qualitative study
Background Exercise programmes are an important component of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR). High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has been proposed as an alternative...
Prevalence of re-laparotomy and its risk factors in patients who underwent gastrointestinal procedure at Referral Hospital in Ethiopia
Background Re-laparotomy is one of the causes of morbidity and mortality among patients who have had abdominal surgery. Due to the unavailability of laparoscopic surgery in the reg...
TransGrid-CostOpt: A hybrid transformer framework for cost prediction and optimization of distribution network assets
The prediction and optimization of distribution network asset costs is a complex problem in the power industry, involving the optimization of multiple objectives and the response to dynamic demands. T...
Correction: Validating self-reported exclusive breastfeeding in Eswatini using stable isotope techniques
Evidence mapping of preference elicitation for non-pharmaceutical interventions targeting respiratory viral transmission: A scoping review protocol
Introduction Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as mask use, physical distancing, business or school closure, and isolation have been central to controlling respiratory v...
Feasibility of local anesthesia for full-endoscopic spine surgery: A retrospective cohort study of body weight-based thresholds
Background While transforaminal full-endoscopic spine surgery (TF-FESS) under local anesthesia offers the advantages of real-time neurological feedback and minimized physiological...
Patients’ preference for receiving healthcare services from out-of-area hospitals based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP): A mixed-methods study
Introduction Meeting patients’ needs and expectations is one of the core responsibilities of healthcare delivery organizations in any region. Patients have two options for receivin...
Challenges and opportunities in hydroxyurea access and adherence for sickle cell disease patients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital: Insights from healthcare providers
Hydroxyurea is a vital medication for managing Sickle cell disease, yet access and adherence remain significant challenges in low-resource settings. This qualitative study explored challenges and oppo...
Beyond the Numbers: Quantitative and qualitative analysis of quality of life after deep brain stimulation for OCD
Purpose Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) severely impairs quality of life (QoL) in many sufferers. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) can be effective therapy for OCD that is refracto...
What did the dove sing to Pope Gregory? Ancestral melody reconstruction in Gregorian chant using Bayesian phylogenetics
An attractive goal in the study of Gregorian chant melodies is reconstructing unobserved melodies as they may have been transmitted along their history, especially as early chant notation does not cap...
A comparative analysis of co-contraction indices using synthetic EMG data: Implications for selection and interpretation
Co-contraction—the simultaneous activation of opposing muscles—influences movement efficiency, joint stability, and motor learning. While consensus exists for EMG acquisition and processing, comparabl...
The influence of coach leadership behavior on athletes’ prosocial behavior in sports: The mediating effect of goal orientation and moral disengagement in sports
To investigate the impact of coach leadership behavior on athletes’ prosocial behavior in sports, as well as the mediating role of goal orientation and moral disengagement in it, a questionnaire surve...
Thinking Ability and Creativity Quotient in the landscape of basic education: A contextual and demographic perspective
Thinking Ability (THI) and Creativity Quotient (CQ) equips students to navigate a complex, fast-changing world. These cognitive functions drive problem-solving, innovation, and adaptability, essential...
Correction: Public attitudes to potential synthetic cells applications: Pragmatic support and ethical acceptance
Older age and sex differences in the proportion of vital signs flagged as abnormal
Background The variability of vital signs thresholds has not been well described in relation to older age and sex assigned at birth. Significant variations may influence clinical i...