Soft cluster-rectangle method for eliciting criteria weights in multi-criteria decision-making.

Subjective weighting methods are widely employed to determine criteria weights in multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) environment. Inputs from decision-makers, including opinions, assessments, assumptions, evaluations, interpretations, expectations, and judgments, are primarily relied upon in these methods. Significant challenges are faced due to two primary factors: the inherent uncertainty in inputs and the process of pairwise comparisons.

Novel mutation in patients with microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPD II).

A rare type of autosomal recessive skeletal disorder, known as microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism (MOPD) type II, causes a wide range of clinical abnormalities, including skeletal dysplasia, microcephaly, abnormal skin pigmentation, insulin resistance, typical facial features, and severe tooth deformities. Given the diverse manifestations of MOPD disorders and the overlapping clinical characteristics among primordial dwarfism (PD) subtypes, mutation analysis is crucial for accurate diagnosis and confirmation of MOPD II. In this study, whole-exome sequencing (WES) and GAP-PCR were employed to identify relevant genetic variants in three patients suspected of having MOPD.

Correction: Untangling population structure and genetic diversity of reticulocyte binding protein 2b (PvRBP2b) erythrocytic stage vaccine candidate in worldwide Plasmodium vivax isolates.

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

Malaria transmission blocking activity of Anopheles stephensi alanyl aminopeptidase N antigen formulated with MPL, CpG, and QS21 adjuvants.

Backgrounds: Malaria, a preventive and treatable disease, is still responsible for annual deaths reported in most tropical regions, principally in sub-Saharan Africa. Subunit recombinant transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs) have been proposed as promising vaccines to succeed in malaria elimination and eradication. Here, a provisional study was designed to assess the immunogenicity and functional activity of alanyl aminopeptidase N (APN1) of Anopheles stephensi, as a TBV candidate, administered with MPL, CpG, and QS21 adjuvants in the murine model.

The influence of Nrf2 gene promoter methylation on gene expression and oxidative stress parameters in preeclampsia.

Background And Aims: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious medical condition that usually causes high blood pressure and affects multiple organs. Considering the adverse effect of oxidative stress on the process of PE in pregnant women and regarding the role of the Nrf2 gene in placental oxidative pathways, this study was conducted to investigate the DNA methylation status of Nrf2 in PE and healthy pregnant women.

Materials And Methods: The present case-control study consisted of 70 PE and 70 healthy pregnant women.