Browse Articles

ISNR-PQC: isometry noise resilience post quantum cryptography primitive

Viscoelastic finite element modeling of asphalt pavement behavior under overloaded traffic conditions

Analgesic effect of robotic stroking with speech

Abstract In medical and nursing care settings, stroking with speech, which combines physical touch with verbal communication, is extensively employed to enhance positive outcomes, such as anxiety relief and analgesia. Although human–robot interaction studies have demonstrated that robotic stroking with speech elicits stronger positive emotions than stroking or speaking alone, only a few studies have quantitatively verified its analgesic effects. This study investigates whether robotic stroking with speech modulates pain perception. Using the gate control theory as an interpretive framework, we examined whether this multimodal interaction increases pain thresholds and exceeds the effect of stroking only. In an experiment with 37 healthy volunteers, pain thresholds were measured under conditions of No Interaction, Stroking Only, and Stroking with Speech via electrical stimulation. The results revealed that Stroking Only and Stroking with Speech significantly increased the pain thresholds compared with the No Interaction condition. Notably, Stroking with Speech produced a significantly higher threshold than Stroking Only. These findings demonstrate that the benefits of robotic stroking with speech extend to the modulation of pain perception, highlighting its potential as an effective nonpharmacological intervention for pain relief.

SuperiorGAT: graph attention networks for sparse LiDAR point cloud reconstruction in autonomous systems

Characteristic expression patterns of PROX1, GLAST, GFAP, and PLP1 in the cochlea of the common marmoset

Sequential mediation linking perceived government autonomy support and public-sphere water conservation intentions via autonomy satisfaction and intrinsic motivation in karst regions

Tailoring the performance of polypropylene nanocomposites with hybrid fillers for high-voltage electrical applications

OCPP integrated artificial intelligence for forecasting scheduling and anomaly detection in city scale electric vehicle charging under urban tariffs

Interactive recommendation algorithm based on intelligent assistance for project application

A phase II study of alpelisib and capecitabine in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (KCSG-CO21-04)

Steroid hormone responses to three exercise modalities assessed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in a randomized crossover trial

Abstract Exercise disrupts hormonal balance, driving physiological adaptations. However, inconsistent findings exist due to methodological limitations. To address this, this study simultaneously profiled 16 steroid hormones via LC-MS/MS in response to three distinct exercise modalities – moderate intensity continuous exercise (MICE), resistance exercise (RE), and High-intensity Intermittent Exercise (HIIE) – using a randomized crossover design. Ten healthy adult males completed HIIE (> 80% V̇O 2max ), MICE (< 65% V̇O 2max ) and whole-body RE (3 sets×10 reps at 70% 1RM with 90 s rest) in a randomized sequence. Blood samples were collected pre-, 10 min post-, and 2 h post-exercise, and analyzed for glucose, lactate, and steroid hormones. DHEA and androstenedione increased post-exercise following MICE, HIIE (both P  < 0.01), and RE ( P  < 0.05), but declined below rest by 2 h. Estrone increased 2 h post-RE vs. post-exercise ( P  < 0.01), and 2 h post-HIIE vs. rest ( P  < 0.01). Only HIIE elevated cortisol ( P  < 0.001) and cortisone ( P  < 0.01) post-exercise, while cortisol fell below rest at 2 h across all modalities ( P  < 0.001). HIIE also raised corticosterone ( P  < 0.001), exceeding post-MICE ( P  < 0.01) which showed sub-resting corticosterone at 2 h post-exercise ( P  < 0.01). All exercise modalities increased aldosterone ( P  < 0.01), with greater responses in MICE and HIIE than RE. At 2 h, all protocols elevated the testosterone: cortisol ratio ( P  < 0.05). RE and HIIE altered sex hormone ratios, decreasing testosterone:17b-estradiol and androgens: estrogens, and increasing estrogens: progesterone ( P  < 0.05). These exploratory findings demonstrate mode-specific acute hormonal responses in young males. Future studies should explore circulating hormonal tissue interactions to clarify potential functional adaptations.

Effect of muscle fatigue on cycling asymmetry during a constant-power test

Paddy leaf disease detection and classification using improved Gorilla Troops optimized YOLO-V8 network

Techno-economic optimization of a hybrid heliostat-based CSP-hydropower-biopower system under hydro-limited conditions using Harris Hawks optimization

Daily briefing: Editing the epigenome with CRISPR to treat disease

Controlling the formation of endotaxial CoSi2 nanowires and nanodots on Si(001)

Analysis of the boundary load impact on porcelain insulators and DIC test

How one US scientist is adapting to life abroad after DOGE cuts

Effect of ZnO/MWCNT incorporation on the multifunctional properties of chitosan–PEO nanocomposites for potential food-packaging applications

Perception and knowledge of Fabry disease: a comparative survey of patients and medical professionals in South Korea

Abstract Fabry disease (FD) is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder associated with progressive multiorgan damage. Because perceptual differences between patients and clinicians regarding diagnosis and treatment can contribute to suboptimal management. We aimed to compare the perceptions of patients with FD and nephrologists in South Korea regarding the diagnostic process, treatment decisions, and genetic counseling. We conducted a cross-sectional survey enrolling 25 patients with FD, 33 patients with chronic kidney disease (without a known genetic etiology), and 27 nephrologists. The surveys assessed diagnostic testing considerations, treatment preferences, attitudes toward angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEi/ARB), and genetic counseling priorities. All three groups prioritized diagnostic accuracy, while both patient groups emphasized procedural concerns (e.g., pain from blood draw and blood loss risk) significantly more than clinicians. A perception gap existed regarding ACEi/ARB therapy: 92.3% of clinicians believed in its renoprotective effect, whereas only 26.1% of patients agreed to treatment without strong evidence. Both groups agreed on the importance of genetic counseling for family screening. Regarding treatment, 96% of patients and 81.5% of clinicians preferred oral over injectable enzyme replacement therapy. These significant perception gaps highlight the need for improved patient education and shared decision-making to enhance treatment adherence and clinical outcomes in FD management.