Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0341890.].

In Fig 1, the comparison among the subgroups of the fourth bracket is incorrect.The fourth bracket should pertain to the comparison between the TBS value (y-axis) of the subgroups HFrEFG w/o DM and CG w/o DM.Please see the correct Fig 1 here.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322508.].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0342383.].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300637.].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0343239.].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254283.].

OBJECTIVE: Intracranial meningioma is the most common type of primary brain tumor globally. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological characteristics of intracranial meningioma in Palestine from 2018 to 2023. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective hospital-based descriptive study of radiologically and histologically confirmed intracranial meningiomas treated or referred to Al-Makassed Hospital, the main neurosurgical referral center in Palestine, from September 7th, 2023, to November 16th, 2023. Patients' reports were the main source for data collection. Histopathological types of meningioma were coded according to the 2016 WHO Classification for CNS tumors. The incidence rates of intracranial meningiomas were hospital-based referral-center minimum estimates, calculated based on the total population size. RESULTS: A total of 204 cases of intracranial meningioma were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 51.12 years (±13.96). The estimated minimum hospital-based crude incidence rate was 0.65 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 0.56-0.75), with a higher incidence in females than in males (0.88 vs 0.43, (0.88 vs 0.43 per 100,000 person-years, IRR = 2.07 [95% CI: 1.53-2.81]; p = 0.003). Grade I meningiomas were the most common, accounting for 81.4%. Grade II and III meningiomas were more common in males. Focal Neurological Symptoms (39.7%) were the most prevalent presenting symptoms. Intracranial meningiomas were most often managed with surgical resection alone (96.6%). CONCLUSION: This study provided insights into the epidemiological characteristics of meningioma in Palestine. These findings represent hospital-based minimum estimates and are not directly comparable to population-based registry data. Meningiomas were more common in females, while higher-grade meningiomas were more common in males. Further research is needed to ascertain the most common subtypes.

As the internationalization of higher education intensifies - particularly under China's "Double First-Class" initiative - Chinese scholars are increasingly expected not only to publish in English but also to perform effectively in high-stakes spoken genres such as conference talks, keynote lectures, and doctoral defences. Yet pragmatic features such as hedging remain a persistent barrier, often leading to pragmatic failure in real-time interactions. This study addresses this challenge through an integrated approach that couples corpus-based diagnostics with pedagogical design. Specifically, it investigates the use of lexical verb hedges in Chinese scholars' spoken academic English by comparing a self-compiled Chinese Scholars' Academic Spoken English Corpus (CASEC; 696,009 words; 279 events) with the Michigan Corpus of Academic Spoken English (MICASE; 1,848,364 words; 152 events). Following Granger's reappraised Contrastive Interlanguage Analysis 2.0, MICASE is treated not as a native-speaker benchmark but as one Anglo-American reference variety against which typical L2 patterns can be described. Quantitative analysis revealed that Chinese scholars significantly underused individualized stance markers (e.g., I think) and significantly overused collective, consensus-building markers (e.g., We see). Qualitative analysis interprets these patterns through the lens of cross-cultural pragmatics and genre constraints, suggesting a rhetorical strategy oriented toward collective harmony and the diffusion of authorial responsibility. Crucially, the study moves beyond diagnosis to propose a "diagnosis-to-treatment" pipeline, culminating in a step-by-step Data-Driven Learning (DDL) module complete with full classroom worksheets. The pedagogical design aims to raise scholars' pragmatic awareness and enhance their international academic communication competence.

This study explains private e-scooter purchase intention through a mechanism-based process model that links value cues to performance beliefs and, subsequently, to motivational readiness to commit. We argue that hedonic motivation, forward-looking expectations about the technology, and lower price sensitivity strengthen perceived performance (usefulness, reliability, and access). In turn, perceived performance primarily increases purchase intention by enhancing perceived autonomy and competence, while consumer innovativeness plays a limited role in translating beliefs into purchase intention. We employ a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Survey data (n = 338) are analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling, followed by 26 semi-structured interviews to interpret the pathways and identify boundary conditions. The findings show that perceived performance is the key appraisal in the model. It is shaped by enjoyment, future expectations, and price evaluation, and it influences purchase intention mainly through autonomy and competence rather than novelty-oriented exploration. The qualitative findings show that infrastructure, safety, parking clarity, service continuity, and transparency in ownership cost shape the strength of this mechanism. Overall, the findings support a utility-first adoption logic. For managers addressing younger urban consumers in emerging-market contexts, the priority is to make performance credibility and ownership support visible through reliable product performance and robust after-sales assurance. For policymakers in similar settings, protected links and more transparent governance can stabilize perceived performance and strengthen confidence in everyday use..

Stewart platforms are widely used in flight simulators, precision machining, and other fields due to their advantages in high precision, high dynamic response, and full six-degree-of-freedom spatial motion. However, the positioning accuracy of traditional rigid Stewart platforms is difficult to further improve due to limitations such as the structure of telescopic rods and insufficient kinematic solution accuracy. To address this technical challenge, this study proposes a flexible Stewart platform and conducts modeling and analysis on its forward and inverse kinematic solutions. First, by introducing piezoelectric ceramics to calculate the displacement loss caused by telescopic rods overcoming the inertia of the moving platform and load, a precise mathematical model for inverse kinematics is established based on geometric analysis and kinematic theory. Second, aiming at the problems of low efficiency and low accuracy in solving forward kinematics using the Newton-Raphson method and traditional BP neural networks, an improved BP neural network method based on the Levenberg-Marquardt (L-M) algorithm is innovatively proposed. By constructing a multi-layer feedforward neural network model and using inverse kinematic formulas to generate training datasets, a nonlinear mapping from rod lengths to platform pose is achieved, effectively avoiding the complexity of traditional calculation processes. Finally, MATLAB simulation results show that regarding inverse kinematics, the calculated displacement range of piezoelectric ceramics covers 27.9 nm to 47.4 nm. In terms of forward kinematics, the relative error of pose prediction using the proposed improved algorithm is controlled within 0.5% across the entire domain, with absolute errors in heatmaps controlled around 0.02 mm. The forward and inverse kinematic solution methods proposed in this paper for high-precision positioning flexible Stewart platforms are significantly superior to traditional methods in terms of friction displacement compensation range and pose prediction accuracy. This work not only provides an innovative solution for high-precision positioning technology but also lays an important theoretical foundation for applications in industrial robotics and precision measurement.

The genus Crataegus comprises a diverse group of species with significant medicinal and nutritional value. This study aimed to characterize the biochemical composition of Crataegus monogyna Jacq., C. pontica K.Koch, C. microphylla K.Koch, and C. pentagyna Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd fruits and leaves by evaluating their phenolic profiles, antioxidant capacities, and metabolic interactions. The study also assessed biochemical variations among the analyzed samples and the impact of different ecological conditions on biochemical traits. Descriptive statistical analysis revealed substantial variability in phenolic contents among species. The highest coefficients of variation were observed in ferulic acid (200.00%), flavonol (141.40%), and epicatechin (122.75%). Correlation matrix analysis (CMA) demonstrated strong positive relationships between fruit total phenol and fruit total flavonoid (r = 0.97*) and between fruit hydroxycinnamic acid and fruit ortho-diphenol (r = 1.00**), suggesting possible co-accumulation patterns among these metabolites within the analyzed dataset. Exploratory multiple regression analysis (MRA) indicated statistical associations between antioxidant capacity and several phenolic-related variables, including hydroxycinnamic acid, ortho-diphenol, and cinnamic acid within the analyzed dataset. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first three principal components (PCs) collectively explained 100.00% of the total variance, with PC1 accounting for 71.00%, PC2 for 19.91%, and PC3 for 9.09% of the variation. PC1 was primarily driven by hydroxycinnamic acid, total flavonoid, and total phenol, indicating their important contribution to the observed biochemical separation among the analyzed samples. PCA grouped C. monogyna and C. pontica closely together, whereas C. pentagyna exhibited a distinct profile, particularly in total phenol, total flavonoid, and hydroxycinnamic acid accumulation. Heat map analysis (HMA) classified the species and biochemical variables into distinct clusters, with 'C. pentagyna' exhibiting a unique metabolic profile, particularly in total phenol, total flavonoid, and hydroxycinnamic acid accumulation. These findings suggest potential biochemical associations between fruit and leaf phenolics, emphasizing the impact of genetic and ecological factors on phenolic metabolism in Crataegus species. The observed associations may provide preliminary information for future breeding-oriented studies aimed at enhancing bioactive compound content for functional food and medicinal applications. Further research integrating transcriptomic and enzymatic analyses is necessary to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underlying phenolic biosynthesis and environmental adaptability.

BACKGROUND: Prehospital triage supports destination decisions, resource activation, and early risk stratification, yet accurate triage of children in the field remains challenging. In South Korea, a five-level emergency department triage framework has recently been extended to the Prehospital setting through nationwide implementation of a prehospital triage scale. This study aimed to evaluate agreement between EMS provider-assigned prehospital triage and initial ED triage, with a pediatric-focused primary analysis and adults as a secondary comparator. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study using linked EMS run-sheet and emergency department records from one university hospital during the first year of nationwide implementation (February-December 2024). We included all EMS-transported emergency department encounters that were registered and assigned an initial emergency department triage level on arrival. Agreement between prehospital and emergency department triage levels was assessed using overall exact agreement, Cohen's unweighted κ, and quadratically weighted κ. RESULTS: Among 5,182 EMS-transported emergency department encounters during the study period, 4,729 were included in the final analysis, comprising 1,242 pediatric and 3,487 adult encounters. Overall agreement was 47.7% in pediatric encounters and 52.8% in adults. Quadratically weighted κ indicated modest agreement in children (0.27) and higher agreement in adult encounters (0.40). Disagreement was concentrated at adjacent-level boundaries, particularly between levels 2-3 and 3-4. Discordance toward higher prehospital acuity predominated in pediatric encounters, whereas discordance toward lower prehospital acuity was more common in adults. CONCLUSIONS: During the first year of nationwide implementation, prehospital and emergency department triage showed modest agreement, with lower concordance and a predominance of discordance toward higher prehospital acuity in pediatric encounters. Adjacent-level boundaries represent practical targets for pediatric-focused training and feedback to improve consistency of prehospital triage assignments.

We present a systematic method for generating solutions of charged, spherically symmetric compact objects in modified f(R) gravity. The stellar interior is modeled with an anisotropic matter distribution, allowing distinct radial and tangential stresses. The modified field equations initially provide three relations among five unknown functions. To construct a consistent system, we impose a linear equation of state together with two geometric constraints: the conformally flat condition (vanishing Weyl tensor) and the Karmarkar condition associated with class-I embedding. These conditions lead to a closed expression for the energy density, which serves as a generating function for the model. Within this framework, the radial pressure, tangential pressure, and anisotropy factor naturally emerge as key drivers in the generation of solutions. The resulting Riccati equation is transformed into a second-order linear homogeneous form, enabling explicit construction of stellar models. Our analysis demonstrates that once a particular solution is identified, entire families of generating solutions can be obtained in f(R) gravity, with the anisotropy factor playing a central role in their formulation.

This study presents a triple-band perfect metamaterial absorber with a compact microstructured design, achieving near-unity absorption rates of 99.92%, 99.97%, and 99.58% at three distinct terahertz resonance frequencies of 0.925 THz, 1.71 THz, and 2.7675 THz, respectively, for advanced biomedical biosensing applications. The work represents a theoretical and numerical proof-of-concept investigation based on full-wave electromagnetic simulations and refractive-index-assisted biosensing analysis, demonstrating the feasibility of high-sensitivity terahertz detection of biological analytes. The proposed absorber consists of concentric copper ring resonators combined with a central 7-shaped snowflake pattern, developed on an FR-4 dielectric substrate and backed by a continuous copper ground plane. Numerical simulations using the FDTD method were combined with a genetic algorithm approach, enabling the design of high-performance terahertz metamaterials, yielding three sharp, high-Q resonances with near-perfect absorption and ultra-narrow linewidths characteristics. The proposed sensor also demonstrates excellent capabilities including breast cancer cell identification with peak sensitivity of 10,142.86 GHz/RIU, infectious agent recognition, and polarization insensitivity over 0-90°, alongside enhanced absorption tolerance that supports clinical deployment. To evaluate biosensing capability, refractive-index-assisted numerical modeling was performed using literature-reported dielectric properties of biological analytes, including cancer cells, viruses, glucose concentrations, blood components, intracellular materials, and biological tissues. The proposed sensor achieves a maximum sensitivity of 529 GHz/RIU at the third resonance mode with strong linear resonance shifts and high spectral selectivity. Owing to its multi-band terahertz sensor facilitates and strong confinement of electric and magnetic fields at the resonant frequencies enhances the device's sensitivity to minimal changes in the surrounding medium, allowing for precise, label-free detection of biological analytes including viral variants, malaria pathogens, glucose concentrations, hemoglobin elements, classification of diabetes severity and can also differentiate in anemia categorization across diverse biomedical applications.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapies have revolutionized breast cancer treatment, necessitating standardized HER2 testing. However, current immunochemistry-based HER2 assessment faces challenges due to subjectivity and variability among observers, prompting the guidance of artificial intelligence (AI). We evaluated AI's efficacy in HER2 status assessment and treatment response prediction, especially focusing on complete and intense circumferential HER2-positive (3+) tumor cells. An AI-powered HER2 analyzer (Lunit SCOPE HER2, Lunit Inc., Seoul, South Korea) and three pathologists independently assessed HER2 3 + tumor cell proportions from whole-slide images of 191 breast cancer cases from Kyung Hee University Hospital. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves determined predictive accuracy. AI-detected 3 + tumor cell proportions strongly correlated with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) positivity (area under ROC curve [AUC]: 0.783) and pathological complete response (pCR) rates (odds ratio [OR]: 1.003-1.052), outperforming pathologists' assessments. Combining AI improved prediction accuracy of pathologists, with an AUC increased from 0.712-0.813 to 0.790-0.821 for predicting FISH positivity and median OR increased from 0.996-1.061 to 1.003-1.055 for predicting pCR. Overall, this preliminary study suggests that AI could enhance HER2 status determination and treatment response prediction, complementing traditional pathological evaluation of HER2 immunohistochemistry.

Inherently poor soil quality, compounded by widespread soil degradation from unsustainable farming practices, continues to constrain agricultural productivity in Madagascar. As a result, fertilizer application has become essential for improving crop yields. This study assessed the effects of cricket frass fertilizer (CFF) from Gryllus madagascariensis on zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) production, in comparison with cattle manure (CM) and NPK, across two contrasting sites in southeastern Madagascar: Tsaratanàna, a relatively nutrient-rich coastal site, and Namohora, a nutrient-poor inland site. Seven fertilizer treatments were evaluated: an unfertilized control, CM (3.75 g N/plant), NPK (3.75 g N/plant), CFF at the baseline dose (3.75 g N/plant), ¼ × CFF (0.94 g N/plant), 2 × CFF (7.50 g N/plant), and a CM + CFF combination (7.50 g N/plant total). Plant survival was highest with ¼ × CFF in Tsaratanàna and with 2 × CFF in Namohora. Plant height and leaf number generally increased with increasing CFF dose at both sites. Yield responses were site-dependent: NPK produced the highest yield in Tsaratanàna, whereas 2 × CFF produced the highest yield in Namohora. Overall, CFF improved zucchini survival, growth, and yield relative to the unfertilized control. CFF performance relative to cattle manure varied across sites but generally remained comparable or superior, whereas its performance relative to NPK was not consistently superior across sites. These findings indicate that CFF is a promising organic fertilizer for zucchini, particularly under nutrient-poor conditions.

To address the difficulty of quantifying risks in current automotive styling-design task management, this study proposes a risk identification method for automotive styling design tasks based on an improved FAHP-VIKOR approach. First, the work breakdown structure (WBS) is constructed based on the principle of task modularity, and the risk breakdown structure (RBS) is established through the analysis of factors influencing risk, thereby forming the WBS-RBS coupling matrix for automotive styling design. Then, the improved fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is employed to determine the weights of risk factors such as technical, schedule, and cost risks, while the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method is applied to perform comprehensive ranking that adapts to the multidimensional and dynamic characteristics of styling design risks, thereby enabling quantitative risk assessment and identification. Finally, the design tasks involved in the exterior styling concept-design phase of a certain sport utility vehicle (SUV) model are taken as a case study and compared with the single FAHP method, the FAHP-TOPSIS method and the FAHP-VIKOR method. The results indicate that the proposed approach can classify the 27 core design tasks into high, medium and low risks, and can effectively identifies high-risk nodes such as the front bumper surface, lidar surface, and rear bumper surface. Compared with the other methods, the proposed method produces more stable and reasonable risk identification results and can provide decision-making support for risk management and optimal resource allocation in automotive styling design projects.

Viewer engagement is central to the live-streaming economy. While existing literature primarily examines the dyadic relationship between a viewer and a streamer, it largely overlooks the social context: viewers simultaneously witness the streamer's real-time interactions with peers. Drawing on Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) differentiation and Social Comparison Theory, we introduce Perceived Closeness Difference (PCD), defined as the cognitive gap between a viewer's perceived closeness to the streamer and their perception of a peer's closeness. Across six experimental studies (N = 1,980), we examine how PCD is associated with engagement behaviors. Study 1 shows that witnessing a streamer favor a peer (Negative PCD) is associated with lower engagement, whereas witnessing peer rejection (Positive PCD) is associated with higher engagement, partly mediated by participants' subjectively measured PCD scores. Studies 2 and 3 identify boundary conditions, indicating that these effects are stronger in emotional (vs. utility) contexts and among more emotionally oriented viewers. Study 4 shows that the pattern varies with the peer's group identity (in-group vs. out-group). Study 5 indicates that PCD is more strongly related to public/social engagement (e.g., commenting) than to private/financial engagement. Finally, Study 6 links PCD to long-term loyalty via perceived streamer trustworthiness. Together, these findings extend one-and-a-half-sided relationship perspectives and offer implications for community management in interactive media.

Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has been increasingly integrated into stroke rehabilitation albeit the effectiveness across different outcome domains remains unclear. This study aimed to review evidence from randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of IVR, used alone or in combination with conventional rehabilitation, on motor-, functional-, and participation-related outcomes after stroke. Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and CINAHL were screened up to April 2025 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A systematic literature search was conducted. Randomized controlled trials including adults with stroke and evaluating immersive virtual reality interventions were eligible. Studies using non-immersive VR, non-randomized designs, or not reporting motor, functional, or participation outcomes were excluded. Meta-analyses were performed where data were sufficiently homogeneous; otherwise, outcomes were summarized descriptively. Risk of bias was assessed using standardized appraisal tools, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Out of 3,574, we included 34 RCTs involving post-acute, subacute and chronic stroke survivors, with a total of1200 participants. Meta-analyses showed IVR, most commonly delivered in combination with conventional rehabilitation, to be associated with improvements in upper extremity motor impairment, particularly measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity (FMA-UE). Small but significant effects were also found for selected gait parameters. In contrast, effects on functional performance, balance, and quality of life were inconsistent and could not be robustly quantified. The overall certainty of evidence ranged from low to very low, primarily due to heterogeneity, methodological limitations, and small sample sizes. In conclusion, IVR appears to be a promising and safe supplement to conventional stroke rehabilitation, particularly for improving motor impairment. However, evidence remains limited and inconsistent across functional outcomes. More well-designed, adequately powered trials with standardized interventions and clinically meaningful outcome measures are needed to clarify the role of IVR in stroke rehabilitation. PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD420250639792).

The expansion of digital communication has increasingly blurred the boundaries between work and personal life, making work scheduling through communication tools more common. In China, mobile platforms such as WeChat are widely used to facilitate work-related scheduling and coordination, allowing work instructions and messages to be communicated without being confined to fixed time periods. Using nationally representative data from the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS), this study examines the association between communication-tool-mediated work scheduling and employees' job satisfaction. We use multiple linear regression models to assess whether respondents' work could be scheduled at any time via WeChat or phone and whether this workplace practice is associated with job satisfaction. Then, we further examine the mediating roles of work-family conflict and perceived work pressure using the KHB method, and conduct supplementary subgroup analyses by socioeconomic status (SES). The results show that work scheduling through communication tools is negatively associated with job satisfaction, and that this relationship is largely mediated by higher levels of work-family conflict and perceived work pressure. In addition, SES-based subgroup regressions provide suggestive evidence that this negative association is mainly observed among individuals with higher educational attainment and those in professional occupations. These findings document how work scheduling through communication tools is related to employees' subjective evaluations of work and highlight heterogeneity in these associations across socioeconomic groups in contemporary Chinese workplaces.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0351934.].

BACKGROUND: Unrecognized myocardial infarction (UMI) is associated with adverse outcomes and may occur in patients with obesity, who are at increased cardiovascular risk. Although cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) enables accurate detection of UMI, prognostic data in patients with obesity remain limited, particularly in Asian populations. This study evaluated the prevalence and prognostic impact of CMR-detected UMI in Thai patients with obesity. METHODS: This cohort study included 1,053 patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, without a prior diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) or coronary revascularization (mean age, 67 ± 11 years; 71.3% grade 1 and 28.7% grade 2 obesity), who underwent CMR at an academic hospital in Thailand between 2014 and 2016. The most common indication was suspected coronary artery disease (78.3%). UMI was identified using late gadolinium enhancement imaging. Patients were followed for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal MI, or hospitalization for heart failure. RESULTS: UMI was identified in 105 patients (9.9%). During a median follow-up of 9.2 (5.2-10.2) years, patients with UMI had a significantly higher rate of MACE compared with those without UMI (2.58 vs. 0.89 per 100 patient-years; HR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.68-4.88; p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, age, diabetes, cigarette smoking, history of heart failure, LVEF, and UMI were independently associated with MACE. The presence of UMI provided incremental prognostic value beyond traditional risk factors (Δχ2 = 22.43; p < 0.001). Across all subgroups defined by age, sex, obesity grade, diabetes status, symptoms, LVEF, and myocardial ischemia, UMI was consistently associated with higher risks of MACE, with no significant interactions observed (all p for interaction>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In Thai patients with obesity undergoing CMR, the prevalence of UMI was 9.9% and was independently associated with MACE, providing incremental prognostic value. These findings suggest that CMR-detected UMI may play a role in risk stratification in this population.

This paper presents the design and fabrication of a novel suppressing cell (SC) implemented on a RO4003 substrate for microwave circuit applications. Experimental results indicate that the SC functions as a low-pass filter (LPF) with a 3 dB cutoff frequency at 5.7 GHz and a transition band of 0.6 GHz from -3 dB to -20 dB. The design achieves an ultra-wide stopband from 6.3 GHz to 50 GHz, with significant attenuation noted in the S22 parameter around 38 GHz, effectively covering five harmonics of the cutoff frequency. The return loss in the passband is measured at 10 dB, with an insertion loss of just 0.5 dB at 1.3 GHz. Additionally, the size of the SC is compact at 15.3 mm × 10.5 mm (15.3 λg × 10.5 λg), and the group delay in the passband exhibits minimal variation, recorded at only 0.53 ns.