Research works

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity in HepG2 Human Hepatoma Cells

Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) commonly occur as complex mixtures, yet the relationships among PFAS structure, cytotoxicity, and DNA strand-break responses remain incompletely resolved. We evaluated 11 PFASs selected to span environmentally prevalent and reg...

Comparing large language models and prompting techniques to control an embodied persuasive coach

Embodied agents play a crucial role in applications designed to influence user behaviour. Traditionally, crafting these agents requires considerable human effort. Large Language Models (LLMs) might open the possibility of creating agents capable of autonomous, open-ended interact...

True Triaxial Physical Simulation Experiment on the Fracture Propagation Law of Hydraulic Fracturing for Horizontal Wells in the Roof of Soft and Low-Permeability Coal Seams

The key to exploiting coalbed methane in soft and low-permeability coal seams by deploying horizontal wells in roof strata lies in whether hydraulic fractures can propagate into the coal seam after initiating from the roof. True triaxial physical simulation experiments based on 1...

Still building the foundation: Why reliability and validity studies in AI remain essential for anatomical sciences education

Artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from speculative novelty to an everyday presence among both learners and educators in medical education, with applications spanning tutoring, assessment, feedback, and support for clinical reasoning.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Within the anatomica...

Multiple introductions and spread of novel reassortant highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses via wild birds, South Korea, 2024–2025

Abstract Between 14 October 2024 and 24 March 2025, 43 cases of clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) type A (H5N1) infections in wild birds and 1 case in a leopard cat were detected through the national HPAI surveillance program. We performed whole-genome seque...

Feasibility of a standardized three-dose intravenous tranexamic acid protocol in bariatric surgery: a pilot study

Abstract Background Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been increasingly evaluated in bariatric surgery; however, heterogeneity remains in dosing and timing, and the feasibility of implementing a standardized multidose regimen in routine practice is not well established. This pilot study...

Comparative efficacy of exercise modalities for mild cognitive impairment in older adults: A network meta-analysis

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a critical window for dementia prevention, yet the comparative efficacy of diverse exercise modalities remains unclear. We conducted a frequentist network meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials to identify the optimal exercise...

Pressure-Gated Ionic Contact in Multilayered Nanomeshes Enables Strain-Insensitive Pressure Sensing

Abstract Soft robotic grippers require tactile interfaces that selectively detect contact pressure at the object–gripper interface without strain-induced artifacts from gripper deformation. Here, we report an ultrathin pressure-gated ionic-contact (PGIC) sensor for multidirection...

A chronic intra-parenchymal foreign body mimicking lung cancer in a healthy adult: a case report

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is rare in healthy adults and often presents with non-specific respiratory symptoms, leading to diagnostic delays. Chronic FBA can mimic pulmonary malignancies, particularly in the absence of a witnessed aspiration event, making diagnosis challenging...

Isolation of diverse nontuberculous mycobacteria from Hawai’i feral pigs and identification of Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii

Abstract Background Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmentally acquired opportunistic pathogens that can cause recalcitrant pulmonary disease, particularly in susceptible individuals. Hawai’i has a high incidence of NTM infections, meriting a better understanding of th...

Metrology, Standards, and Mission: Synopsis of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards (CIRMS)

The Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards (CIRMS) is an independent, non-profit council composed of experts from academia, government, and industry across all areas of ionizing radiation science and technology, providing leadership, focus, and coordinated actio...

Living with Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Qualitative Study on the Role of the Social Determinants of Health

Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is a major cause of ischemic stroke, yet little is known about how social determinants of health (SDHs) shape patients’ experiences beyond biomedical risk factors. This qualitative study explored how individuals living with CAS perceive the influence...

Temporal trends in congenital syphilis incidence per 1000 live births in the Americas

Congenital syphilis (CS) is a significant infectious condition associated with a high social and economic burden. In the Americas, the epidemiological situation remains concerning, with varying patterns across countries. Our study evaluated temporal trends in CS incidence per 100...

Crisis, segmentation, and immigrant labor market incorporation: COVID-19 in the U.S. restaurant industry

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic generated an unprecedented labor market shock that disproportionately affected face-to-face service sectors central to immigrant employment. This study examines whether the pandemic reaffirmed or revealed limits to the narrative of immigrant resilie...

Intensive vs Standard Blood Pressure Lowering in People With and Without Chronic Kidney Disease

Importance There is uncertainty about the effects of intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering on risks of cardiovascular disease and kidney failure in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Objective To assess the standardized effects of intensive BP lowering on cardiovascular...

Impact of Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status on Presentation and Treatment of Thyroid Cancer

Abstract Objective We examined associations between multilevel sociodemographic factors and extent of disease at presentation and time to treatment in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Study Design Population‐based study. Setting California Cancer Registry (CCR)....

Super Bloom: Fast and Precise Filter for Streaming k -Mer Queries

Approximate membership query structures are used throughout sequence bioinformatics, from read screening and metagenomic classification to assembly, indexing, and error correction. Among them, Bloom filters remain the default choice. They are not the most efficient structures in...

An integrated model of executive function, AI literacy, and Chinese L2 reading comprehension among ethnic minority adolescents in Hong Kong

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded in second language (L2) learning, yet the cognitive demands of AI-mediated environments, particularly for logographic languages such as Chinese, remain underexplored. This study investigated the interrelationships among execut...

Identification of small defects in three-dimensional molded objects

The mold filling process can create small defects being trapped within the material, which compromise the strength of the cast piece. Here, we address the inverse problem of identifying the locations of these flaws using boundary measurements. To achieve this, we develop a numeri...

Non-pharmacological analgesia and sedation in the pediatric intensive care unit: a narrative review

Abstract Managing pain, anxiety, and agitation in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is often challenging. Pharmacological sedation and analgesia with opioids and benzodiazepines are essential components of PICU management. Although these are effective, they carry risks of...