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An empirical study on the psychological impact of medical AI on patients undergoing dental surgery
Abstract With the rapid integration of artificial intelligence technology into the medical field, this study focuses on dental surgery and systematically examines the complex impact mechanisms of AI on patients’ treatment anxiety and postoperative satisfaction through three progressive experiments involving a total of 470 participants. Guided by a TAM-informed, trust-augmented framework, we examine the mediating role of trust in AI and the moderating effects of gender and information transparency. Key findings indicate: (1) AI technology significantly reduces patient treatment anxiety levels ( p < 0.001) and enhances postoperative satisfaction ( p < 0.001); (2) Across the three studies, trust in AI functioned as a partial mediator overall. The mediation did not emerge in the text-based simulation (Study 1), emerged in the video simulation (Study 2), and became robust in the clinical field study (Study 3; indirect effect 95% CI [− 0.89, − 0.21]) while the direct paths remained significant; (3) Gender differences significantly moderate the effects of AI technology, with female patients showing lower levels of technology trust; (4) Technology transparency positively moderates the therapeutic effect of AI application. Under high transparency conditions, the anxiety relief effect of AI technology (ΔM = 3.04) is significantly stronger than that under low transparency conditions (ΔM = 2.06). Collectively, the findings indicate that trust in AI operates as a partial, context-dependent mediator whose magnitude increases with ecological validity and transparency, clarifying when and how AI use relates to patient anxiety and satisfaction.
UNet with self-adaptive Mamba-like attention and causal-resonance learning for medical image segmentation
Overexpression of Meis factors in late-stage retinal progenitors yields complex effects on temporal patterning and neurogenesis
Identifying and assessing the cloud computing implementation drivers for sustainable building projects
Brief mindfulness practice influences the self-reference effect by caring for others
Comparative evaluation of dry, wet, and minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) cooling strategies in the machining of GTD-450 martensitic stainless steel
Correction: Tenovin 3 induces apoptosis and ferroptosis in EGFR 19del non small cell lung cancer cells
The relationship between estimated glucose disposal rate and sarcopenia among middle-aged and older adults
Zn64 aspartate modulates inflammation, tryptophan metabolism, and pancreatic function in diet-induced obesity
A bone tool used by neanderthal for flaying carcasses at the Abri du Maras (France)
Serviceability design charts for partially prestressed high-strength concrete girders
Abstract This paper presents the development of serviceability-based design charts for partially prestressed high-strength concrete (HSC) girders, with a focus on cracking and deflection performance. Partially prestressed girders, which serve as an intermediate design between fully prestressed and conventionally reinforced concrete, offer both structural efficiency and economic benefits. However, there is a notable gap in research regarding specific serviceability guidelines, particularly for controlling cracking and deflection in these girders. To address this gap, this study utilizes validated finite element models to investigate key variables, including the concrete compressive strength, prestressing forces, and non-prestressed reinforcement ratios. Parametric investigation provides insights into the impact of these factors on girder behavior under service loads, leading to the development of practical design charts. These charts allow for quick estimation of the optimal prestressing and reinforcement ratios that meet predefined serviceability limits, simplifying the design process for engineers. The proposed charts offer an accessible, efficient tool for optimizing material usage while ensuring compliance with serviceability criteria, making them highly valuable for the design of HSC girders in bridges and other infrastructures. Ultimately, this research enhances the usability of partially prestressed HSC girders, promoting more effective and economical designs in structural engineering practice.
Narrative-driven virtual reality serious game to support type 1 diabetes self-management in children
Abstract Supporting type 1 diabetes (T1D) self-management in young children remains a major challenge. Traditional education often fails to sustain attention or meet developmental needs. This study introduces Tangbao Superman Transformation , a narrative-driven virtual reality (VR) serious game developed through participatory Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) methods, to enhance pediatric T1D self-management. A four-week single-group pre–post feasibility study was conducted with 54 children aged 4–9 years recruited from four pediatric hospitals in eastern China. The intervention translated the Chinese Diabetes Society’s seven-domain (CDS-7) framework into VR modules co-designed with children, parents, and clinicians. Quantitative measures included the Self-Management Scale for T1D Children (SMS-T1DC), the System Usability Scale for Children (SUS-C), and an Engagement and Motivation Questionnaire (EMQ). Attendance logs and field notes documented adherence and safety, while semi-structured interviews with children, parents, and providers provided qualitative insights. Children showed significant improvements across all seven self-management domains ( p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 0.78–1.27). Usability was rated as excellent (SUS-C = 86/100), engagement was high (95% session completion), and qualitative findings highlighted reduced resistance, increased confidence, and application of strategies in daily routines. This feasibility study provides preliminary evidence that participatory, narrative-driven VR interventions can enhance pediatric T1D self-management. However, the absence of a control group, short intervention duration, lack of biomedical endpoints, and sample homogeneity limit generalizability. Future trials should incorporate active comparators (traditional teaching or mobile apps), biomedical outcomes, multi-center recruitment, and long-term validation to establish incremental efficacy and scalability.
Transcriptomic analysis reveals the potential role of TOE1 in hepatocellular carcinoma
Herbal synergy enhances growth performance, antioxidant status, immunity, and lymphoid tissue architecture in pigeons
Abstract This study evaluated the effects of a herbal mixture (HM) composed of black seeds, dill, sage, and coriander on pigeon squabs and their parents. Using a randomized design, 54 squabs were divided into three groups. All groups were fed a basal diet, and HM was added to groups 2 and 3 at 1% and 2%, respectively. To receive crop milk, squabs were caged with their parents. Squab performance and the self-maintenance behaviors (sleeping and preening) of their parents were positively affected by HM supplementation ( P = 0.001). Blood metabolites, including cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), were significantly decreased ( P = 0.001). Antioxidation biomarkers glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were positively stimulated. The meat’s chemical composition, including fat, protein, amino acids, and moisture, was influenced by HM ( P = 0.004). Histomorphometrical investigation of the bursa and spleen showed the significant effects of HM on the follicle area, medulla, white pulp area, and their S100-positive cells. Overall, adding HM, especially at a 1% concentration, was more cost-effective and improved pigeon parents’ behavior, squabs’ performance, immunity, antioxidant status, meat quality, and bursal and spleen histology and immunohistochemistry.
Sustainable cement-based composites: the effect of blended cements and CO2-cured ladle slag on electrical conductivity of silicate composites
Abstract The cement industry is one of the largest environmental polluters, responsible for approximately 7–8% of global CO 2 emissions. The search for more sustainable alternative binders and innovative composites is therefore becoming a key direction in the development of building materials. This paper investigates the effect of cement type and CO 2 cured alternative binder on the resistivity of a silicate composite with carbon-based filler. The amount of electrically conductive filler was kept below the percolation threshold to observe changes in the electrical properties of the material due to chemical and microstructural modifications, and for the same reason the porosity of the material was maintained. The alternative binder was a 50/50 mixture of cement and grounded ladle slag, cured in a controlled CO 2 climatic chamber. The results show that the use of CO 2 cured binder not only helps to reduce the environmental footprint of the material but also contributes to the electrical conductivity parameters in the saturated state, which may be important for outdoor applications. The results further indicate that composites based on conventional CEM I and CEM II cements provide relatively good electrical conductivity, while furnace slag-rich CEM III cements show significantly reduced ionic conductivity and higher impedance, making them less suitable for electro-conductive applications. In contrast, the CO 2 -cured cement/ladle slag system demonstrated the highest leachate conductivity and the lowest impedance in the saturated state, confirming its potential as the most efficient and environmentally beneficial binder for outdoor electro-conductive composites. The study thus confirms that combining alternative binders with electrically conductive fillers can lead to more sustainable and functionally advanced building materials of the future.
Conditioned generalization of social anxiety effects based on positive and negative social evaluations
Abstract While negative social evaluations have been identified as a critical factor in social anxiety, the relationship between social anxiety (SA) levels and the generalization of positive and negative social evaluations remains unclear. To understand this relationship, 2 experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, a total of 45 participants completed a laboratory-based conditioning and generalization task with neutral faces paired with positive or negative social evaluations. Using morphed versions of these faces as generalization stimuli, participants rated their expectancy of receiving social evaluations for each face. In Experiment 2, high SA and low SA groups (27 in each group) extended these findings by examining whether social anxiety levels modulated the generalization of social evaluations, with the addition of negative emotion ratings as a dependent measure. In Experiment 1, participants’ strong generalization of negative evaluations for stimuli similar to conditioned faces positively correlated with their SA levels. Experiment 2 also demonstrated a positive relation between SA and the generalization of negative evaluations for conditioned faces. Specifically, both high and low SA groups showed generalization in the form of gradual decreases in expectancy ratings as faces became less similar to the conditioned stimuli. However, the high SA group, compared to the low SA group, displayed enhanced negative emotional responses to faces paired with negative evaluations and their morphed variants, with this effect being strongest for faces most similar to the negative-paired faces (i.e., generalization). These results supported the cognitive processing model of social anxiety and highlight the importance of considering evaluation generalization in understanding and treating social anxiety.