Research works

A conceptual methodological approach for addressing complex interdisciplinary challenges

Abstract Complex challenges are multi-faceted and, therefore, require the input of knowledge and expertise from different disciplines. However, the prevailing structures of academic institutions tend to be based on specialized disciplinary knowledge and expertise, rather than cro...

The Dunning–Kruger effect does not account for Covid-scepticism or vaccine hesitancy

Abstract Vaccine-scepticism and vaccine hesitancy are sometimes explained using the Dunning–Kruger effect (DKE), which posits that individuals with low knowledge in relevant domains are overconfident in their understanding. However, prior evidence often relies on discrepancy-base...

Contraception requirements in clinical HIV research: a qualitative analysis of adolescent perspectives from Malawi and Botswana

Abstract Background Clinical HIV research involving investigational or newly approved medications requires women of childbearing potential to use two forms of contraception to minimize fetal risk. These requirements also apply to adolescents who can become pregnant, yet ethical a...

The memory and purity cost of immediate delivery

How much memory does a device need to apply one quantum channel n times, if each output must leave before the next input arrives? The paper counts the qubits the device keeps, the qubits it exchanges for fresh ones, and the purity it is given, with error measured on the whole exp...

Assessment of infection prevention practices in office-based surgery: a multicentre regional audit

Abstract Background Office-based surgery (OBS) is increasingly used due to organizational constraints and perceived benefits. However, data on infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in OBS settings remain limited. This study aimed to assess the conditions in which OBS a...

Genome-wide identification and characterization of the galactinol synthase (GmGolS) gene family and its expression under drought, heat, and combined stress in soybean

Abstract Galactinol synthase (GolS) catalyzes the first committed step in raffinose family oligosaccharide (RFO) biosynthesis and is implicated in plant adaptation to abiotic stress. Although GolS gene families have been characterized in several plant species, a comprehensive gen...

From pelvic geometry to modal compliance: sex-specific deformation pathways in the human pelvic ring

Abstract Walking, posture and childbirth all depend on the pelvic ring, yet human pelvic dimorphism is usually interpreted from static birth-canal dimensions. We asked whether sex differences in pelvic function are explained by overall size and static pelvimetry or by available m...

Designing for access: implementation determinants of harm reduction vending machines in veterans supportive housing

Abstract Background Harm reduction vending machines (HRVMs) are an emerging strategy to provide convenient, low-threshold access to harm reduction and other health-related supplies, yet evidence and practical guidance on implementation, particularly in supportive housing and for...

Ant brain metabolomics reveals contrasting purine and amine dynamics in a reversible trematode-induced host manipulation

Abstract The neurochemical mechanisms underlying parasite-induced host manipulations remain poorly understood. Formicid ants infected with lancet fluke, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, attach to vegetation with their mandibles during cool conditions, facilitating ingestion by grazing m...

Effects of one night of sleep deprivation on single- and dual-task gait

Abstract Sleep deprivation (SDEP) impairs cognitive control, which may affect movements that rely on these processes, such as walking. To test whether gait changes after one night of SDEP reflect reduced cognitive capacity, we compared its effects with those of dual-task walking...

Five Maximal Incoming Classes Suffice: Exact Certificates and Structural Constraints for Seymour's Second-Neighbourhood Conjecture

This research preprint develops exact incoming-core certificates and structural restrictions related to Seymour's second-neighbourhood conjecture. Its principal computer-assisted theorem proves that every finite nonempty oriented graph with at most five inclusion-maximal incoming...

Implementing reproductive carrier screening to include diverse Asian populations: insights from Singapore

Abstract Background As part of Singapore’s effort towards precision medicine tailored to Asian diversity, we describe the implementation of a nationwide reproductive carrier screening program. Using a customised 112-gene panel, targeting population-specific recessive genetic dise...

Crashworthiness assessment of thin-walled columns with functionally graded stiffness induced by multi-level spherical crush initiators

Abstract This study investigates the crashworthiness performance of thin-walled columns equipped with functionally graded, multi-level spherical crush initiators. The proposed concept extends previous solutions by introducing a sequence of embossments with varying diameters and d...

Pneumococcal hydrogen peroxide production is associated with epithelial and pulmonary immune responses during pneumonia

Abstract Background Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) produces substantial amounts of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a metabolic byproduct with cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects. Although pneumococcal H₂O₂ has been implicated in pathogenesis, its contribution to pulmonary immune res...

Effects of installing a volatile organic compound-removal filter in a clinical embryology laboratory on embryo development

Objective: Improving embryo quality is essential for increasing pregnancy and live birth rates in assisted reproductive technology (ART). The culture environment strongly influences embryo quality, and air quality is one of its key components. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pr...

Interfacial Polarization and Charge Transfer in Al13 Superatom–Organic Interfaces: Role of Frontier Orbital Overlap

Abstract Superatoms (SAs) have emerged as atomically precise building blocks for functional materials; however, their interfacial electronic interactions with organic substrates remain poorly understood, particularly in the absence of ligand protection. While most reported SAs ar...

Ligand Accelerated Palladium-Catalyzed C–H Arylation of Electron-Deficient Polyfluoroarenes with Aryl Bromides

Abstract A ligand accelerated highly efficient palladium-catalyzed C–H arylation of electron-deficient polyfluoroarenes with aryl and heteroaryl bromides has been developed. The reaction proceeds efficiently under mild conditions with low catalyst loading (0.25 mol % Pd) and liga...

The Diffusion of Cohabitation Among Immigrants in Europe: The Role of the National Cohabitation Context

Abstract Immigrants and their descendants constitute an increasing share of European populations, yet research on how immigrant background shapes the cohabitation experience remains limited. This study investigates how generational status at the individual level and national cont...

FedSecure-IoT: Privacy-Preserving Intrusion Detection for IoT Networks Using Hybrid Deep Learning, Federated Learning and Homomorphic Encryption

FedSecure-IoT is a privacy-preserving intrusion detection framework for IoT networks. It combines a hybrid CNN-LSTM-DNN classifier, federated learning with Federated Averaging (FedAvg), and Paillier homomorphic encryption for protecting model updates during aggregation. On traffi...

Reprogramming the tumor immune landscape through SPP1 targeting

Abstract Beyond its canonical roles in bone mineralization and extracellular matrix remodeling, secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) has emerged as a central regulator of the tumor microenvironment (TME), orchestrating immunosuppressive programs that drive immune evasion and tumor pr...