As artificial intelligence (AI) systems continue to remain prevalent in society, ensuring their accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities, is of great importance. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for AI Testing, Evaluation, Verification and Validation (TEVV) focused on accessibility. The proposed methodology incorporates methods for red teaming, model testing, and field testing with a particular emphasis on usability testing for accessibility. The results demonstrate, through detailed case studies, that systematically evaluating AI systems for accessibility barriers and biases improves the inclusivity and effectiveness of AI technologies for diverse user populations. The findings suggest that this accessibility-focused TEVV framework provides a structured approach for developing more equitable and universally usable AI systems that benefit all members of society.
The BioDIGS project is a nationwide initiative involving students, researchers and educators across more than 40 research and teaching institutions. Participants lead sample collection, computational analysis and results interpretation to understand the relationships between the soil microbiome, environment and health.
This study proposes CIRCLE, a six-stage, lifecycle-based framework to bridge the “reality gap” between model-centric performance metrics and AI system outcomes in deployment. Current approaches such as MLOps frameworks and AI model benchmarks offer detailed insights into system stability and model capabilities, but they do not provide decision-makers outside the AI stack with systematic evidence of how these systems actually behave in real-world contexts or affect their organizations over time. CIRCLE operationalizes the “Validation” phase of TEVV (Test, Evaluation, Verification, and Validation) by translating priorities of stakeholders outside the stack into measurable signals. Unlike participatory design which often remains localized, or algorithmic audits which are often retrospective, CIRCLE provides a structured, prospective protocol for linking context-sensitive qualitative insights to scalable quantitative metrics. By integrating methods such as field testing, red teaming, and longitudinal studies into a coordinated pipeline, CIRCLE produces “systematic knowledge”—evidence that is comparable across sites yet sensitive to local context. This can enable governance based on materialized downstream effects rather than theoretical capabilities.
Importance:Patients with breast cancer (BC) with comorbid obesity or type 2 diabetes (T2D) experience poorer survival. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are approved to treat these comorbidities; however, their associations with BC survival and recurrence remain unclear. Objective:To evaluate the association between GLP-1 RA use and 10-year all-cause mortality and recurrence-free survival (RFS) over the 10-year follow-up period, as well as 5- and 10-year all-cause mortality and RFS probabilities among patients with BC. Design, Setting, and Participants:This retrospective cohort study used TriNetX US Collaborative Network data from women (≥18 years) with BC from 68 health care organizations who received a diagnosis between April 1, 2006, and April 1, 2023. Propensity score matching balanced characteristics. Data were analyzed between September 16 and October 3, 2025. Exposures:GLP-1 RA use (≥2 prescriptions) during the 6 months before and any time after the index diagnosis; nonuse (0 entries). Main Outcomes and Measures:The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome was RFS. Cox proportional hazards regression model-estimated hazard ratios (HRs) were restricted to 10 years. Kaplan-Meier estimators were used to calculate 5- and 10-year all-cause mortality and RFS probabilities. Prespecified subgroup (postmenopausal) and landmark (6- and 12-month) analyses were conducted. Results:The study comprised 841 831 eligible patients with BC (mean [SD] age, 69.1 [12.2] years). After exclusions and 1:1 propensity score matching, 3 cohorts were identified: 1610 patients for GLP-1 RA use vs nonuse (patients with obesity [body mass index ≥30]), 2323 patients for GLP-1 RA use vs insulin or metformin (patients with T2D), and 4052 patients for GLP-1 RA use vs sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (patients with T2D). Among patients with obesity, GLP-1 RAs were associated with lower hazard of all-cause mortality (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.21-0.58; P < .001) and RFS (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.30-0.64; P < .001) over a 10-year follow-up period. Among patients with T2D, GLP-1 RAs vs insulin or metformin were associated with lower hazard of all-cause mortality (HR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.06-0.15; P < .001) and RFS (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.21-0.50; P < .001). No significant differences were observed between GLP-1 RA and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor groups. Subgroup and landmark analyses yielded similar findings. Conclusions and Relevance:In this cohort study of patients with BC, findings suggested a potential association between GLP-1 RA use and improved outcomes among patients with BC who have obesity and related metabolic conditions. These findings support further evaluation of GLP-1 RA therapy in randomized clinical trials.
Hormetic effects refer to the phenomenon in which lowdoses of certain herbicides, such as glyphosate, stimulate plant growth rather than inhibit it. A field experiment was conducted using six glyphosate application rates (5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 g a.e. ha−1), along with an untreated control on potato plants. The activity of enzymatic antioxidants, including catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), as well as levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and leaf protein content, were evaluated, along with plant height, tuber yield, and tuber size distribution. The highest yield was recorded at a low glyphosate dose of (20 g a.e. ha−1), where tuber production increased by approximately 30% compared to the control. This treatment also resulted in a 54% increase in marketable tubers (> 150 g) and a 14% increase in total biomass. In contrast, the highest glyphosate rate (160 g a.e. ha−1) significantly reduced total yield, marketable tubers, total biomass, and plant height. This treatment also led to the highest levels of APX and GPX activity, along with elevated concentrations of MDA and H2O2. However, the highest CAT enzyme activity was observed at 20 g a.e. ha−1 glyphosate rate. These findings suggest that low-dose glyphosate applications, up to 20 g a.e. ha−1, can enhance potato yield; however, rates exceeding this threshold may negatively affect yield.
