Evaluating for Evidence of Sociodemographic Bias in Conversational AI for Mental Health Support.

The integration of large language models (LLMs) into healthcare highlights the need to ensure their efficacy while mitigating potential harms, such as the perpetuation of biases. Current evidence on the existence of bias within LLMs remains inconclusive. In this study, we present an approach to investigate the presence of bias within an LLM designed for mental health support.

Fipronil Affects Craniofacial and Heart Development in Zebrafish Embryos ().

Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide that has off-target effects in developing vertebrate embryos. In this study, we investigate treatment of zebrafish embryos with fipronil over the course of 5 days and examine the effects on body length, the cardiovascular system, and craniofacial morphology. We found the insecticide caused shorter body length and a decrease in eye size.

Applications of Ultrasound-Mediated Gene Delivery in Regenerative Medicine.

Research on the capability of non-viral gene delivery systems to induce tissue regeneration is a continued effort as the current use of viral vectors can present with significant limitations. Despite initially showing lower gene transfection and gene expression efficiencies, non-viral delivery methods continue to be optimized to match that of their viral counterparts. Ultrasound-mediated gene transfer, referred to as sonoporation, occurs by the induction of transient membrane permeabilization and has been found to significantly increase the uptake and expression of DNA in cells across many organ systems.

PTH-Induced Bone Regeneration and Vascular Modulation Are Both Dependent on Endothelial Signaling.

The use of a bone allograft presents a promising approach for healing nonunion fractures. We have previously reported that parathyroid hormone (PTH) therapy induced allograft integration while modulating angiogenesis at the allograft proximity. Here, we hypothesize that PTH-induced vascular modulation and the osteogenic effect of PTH are both dependent on endothelial PTH receptor-1 (PTHR1) signaling.

Stem Cells and Exosomes: New Therapies for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) occurs as a result of an imbalance of the anabolic and catabolic processes in the intervertebral disc, leading to an alteration in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM), loss of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, excessive oxidative stress and inflammation. Degeneration of the IVD occurs naturally with age, but mechanical trauma, lifestyle factors and certain genetic abnormalities can increase the likelihood of symptomatic disease progression. IVDD, often referred to as degenerative disc disease (DDD), poses an increasingly substantial financial burden due to the aging population and increasing incidence of obesity in the United States.