Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Camera Stabilization in 360° Videos and Its Impact on Cyber Sickness, Environmental Perceptions, and Psychophysiological Responses to a Simulated Nature Walk: A Single-Blinded Randomized Trial

Immersive virtual environments (IVEs) technology has emerged as a valuable tool to environmental psychology research in general, and specifically to studies of human–nature interactions. However, virtual reality is known to induce cyber sickness, which limits its application and highlights the need for scientific strategies to optimize virtual experiences. In this study, we assessed the impact of improved camera stability on cyber sickness, presence, and psychophysiological responses to a simulated nature walk. In a single-blinded trial, 50 participants were assigned to watch, using a head-mounted display, one of two 10-min 360° videos showing a first-person nature walk: one video contained small-magnitude scene oscillations associated with cameraman locomotion, while in the other video, the oscillations were drastically reduced thanks to an electric stabilizer and a dolly. Measurements of cyber sickness (in terms of both occurrence and severity of symptoms), perceptions of the IVE (presence and perceived environmental restorativeness), and indicators of psychophysiological responses [affect, enjoyment, and heart rate (HR)] were collected before and/or after the exposure. Compared to the low-stability (LS) condition, in the high-stability (HS) condition, participants reported lower severity of cyber sickness symptoms. The delta values for pre–post changes in affect for the LS video revealed a deterioration of participants’ affect profile with a significant increase in ratings of negative affect and fatigue, and decrease in ratings of positive affect. In contrast, there were no pre–post changes in affect for the HS video. No differences were found between the HS and LS conditions with respect to presence, perceived environmental restorativeness, enjoyment, and HR. Cyber sickness was significantly correlated with all components of affect and enjoyment, but not with presence, perceived environmental restorativeness, or HR. These findings demonstrate that improved camera stability in 360° videos is crucial to reduce cyber sickness symptoms and negative affective responses in IVE users. The lack of associations between improved stability and presence, perceived environmental restorativeness, and HR suggests that other aspects of IVE technology must be taken into account in order to improve virtual experiences of nature.
Advances in the accuracy, stability, and reliability of the PTB primary fountain clocks

Improvements of the systematic uncertainty, frequency instability, and long-term reliability of the two caesium fountain primary frequency standards CSF1 and CSF2 at PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) are described. We have further investigated many of the systematic effects and made a number of modifications of the fountains. With an optically stabilized microwave oscillator, the quantum projection noise limited frequency instabilities are improved to for CSF1 and for CSF2 at high atom density. The systematic uncertainties of CSF1 and CSF2 are reduced to and , respectively. Both fountain clocks regularly calibrate the scale unit of International Atomic Time (TAI) and the local realization of Coordinated Universal Time, UTC(PTB), and serve as references to measure the frequencies of local and remote optical frequency standards.
Heated Permeable Stretching Surface in a Porous Medium Using Nanofluids

In this article, two-dimensional laminar-forced convection nanofluids flow over a stretching surface in a porous medium has been studied. The governing partial differential equations with the corresponding boundary conditions are reduced to a set of ordinary differential equations with the appropriate boundary conditions using similarity transformation, which is then solved numerically by the fourth order Runge–Kutta integration scheme featuring a shooting technique. Different models of nanofluid based on different formulas for thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity are used. Different types of nanoparticles as copper, silver, alumina and titanium Oxide with water and Ethylene glycol as their base fluids has been considered. The influence of significant parameters such as nanoparticle volume fraction, kind of nanofluid, Magnetic parameter and Reynolds number on the flow and heat transfer characteristics is discussed. The influence of significant parameters such as Thermal conductivity parameter, volume fraction of the nanoparticles, Permeability parameter, suction/injection parameter and Velocity ratio parameter on the flow and heat transfer characteristics is discussed. It was found that choosing Titanium oxide as the nanoparticle and Ethylene glycol as base fluid proved to have the highest cooling performance for this problem.
Statistical Shape Modeling of Skeletal Anatomy for Sex Discrimination: Their Training Size, Sexual Dimorphism, and Asymmetry

Purpose: Statistical shape modeling provides a powerful tool for describing and analyzing human anatomy. By linearly combining the variance of the shape of a population of a given anatomical entity, statistical shape models (SSMs) identify its main modes of variation and may approximate the total variance of that population to a selected threshold, while reducing its dimensionality. Even though SSMs have been used for over two decades, they lack in characterization of their goodness of prediction, in particular when defining whether these models are actually representative for a given population. Methods: The current paper presents, to the authors' knowledge, the most extent lower limb anatomy shape model considering the pelvis, femur, patella, tibia, fibula, talus, and calcaneum to date. The present study includes the segmented training shapes (n = 542) obtained from 271 lower limb CT scans. The different models were evaluated in terms of accuracy, compactness, generalizability as well as specificity. Results: The size of training samples needed in each model so that it can be considered population covering was estimated to approximate around 200 samples, based on the generalizability properties of the different models. Simultaneously differences in gender and patterns in left-right asymmetry were identified and characterized. Size was found to be the most pronounced sexual discriminator whereas intra-individual variations in asymmetry were most pronounced at the insertion site of muscles. Conclusion: For models aimed at population covering descriptive studies, the number of training samples required should amount a sizeable 200 samples. The geometric morphometric method for sex discrimination scored excellent, however, it did not largely outperformed traditional methods based on discrete measures.
VARIED RIVERBANK STABILITY IN THE FORELAND OF THE TATRA MOUNTAINS

Karol Augustowski, Dorota Chmielowska, Jozef Kukulak, Joanna Zawiejska: Varied riverbank stability in the foreland of the Tatra Mountains. Geomorphologia Slovaca et Bohemica, 12, 2012, 1, 4 figs., 35 refs. The northern foreland of the Tatra Mountains is drained by local streams (e.g. Cichy, Bystry, Czer- wony ) and transit rivers flowing from the Tatra Mountains (Czarny and Bialy Dunajec, Bialka Tatrzan- ska). Riverbanks of smaller channels are cut in the Podhale Flysch or in alluvia of these rivers. In the downstream river reaches, the banks are typically composed of undercut rock (sandstone-shale or loam) topped with sandy-silty or gravelly overbank deposits. The rocks were examined in terms of their resis- tance to frost weathering and gravitational processes at several study sites on the banks of the Czarny Dunajec River and the Cichy Stream. Erosion pins method was used to determine the rate of frost proc- esses. Measurements of bank retreat were carried out several times during the freezing and thawing peri- ods. Grain-size distribution and cohesion of the fine-grained alluvium were determined. Density and pattern of the cracks as well as textural and structural properties of rocks were measured on the sand- stone and shale undercut riverbanks. Frost action first blasts the banks built of silty-sandy material, then gravelly, poorly cemented ones (young terraces), and finally sandstone and shale outcrops. There are also significant differences in the dynamics of bank retreat depending on its lithology. High riverbanks are also subject to mass move- ments. Landslides occur mainly in places where the terrace bedrock consists of clay material and the accumulation cover is gravelly and sandy-silty. Groundwater seepage from the surface of the slope in- creases the plasticity of clay thus inducing landsliding processes. Others mass movements occur when the banks are undercut during flood events and during the spring thawing of the soil. Stability of the banks is minimal in areas with no vegetation cover as geological structure is exposed directly to the ac- tivity of weathering and gravitational processes.
Coupling Robot-Aided Assessment and Surface Electromyography (sEMG) to Evaluate the Effect of Muscle Fatigue on Wrist Position Sense in the Flexion-Extension Plane

Proprioception is a crucial sensory modality involved in the control and regulation of coordinated movements and in motor learning. However, the extent to which proprioceptive acuity is influenced by local muscle fatigue is obscured by methodological differences in proprioceptive and fatiguing protocols. In this study, we used high resolution kinematic measurements provided by a robotic device, as well as both frequency and time domain analysis of signals captured via surface electromyography (sEMG) to examine the effects of local muscle fatigue on wrist proprioceptive acuity in 16 physically and neurologically healthy young adults. To this end, participants performed a flexion/extension ipsilateral joint position matching test (JPM), after which a high-resistive robotic task was used to induce muscle fatigue of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle. The JPM test was then repeated in order to analyze potential changes in proprioceptive acuity. Results indicated that the fatigue protocol had a significant effect on movements performed in flexion direction, with participants exhibiting a tendency to undershoot the target before the fatigue protocol (−1.218°), but overshooting after the fatigue protocol (0.587°). In contrast, in the extension direction error bias values were similar before and after the fatigue protocol as expected (pre = −1.852°, post = −1.237°) and reflected a tendency to undershoot the target. Moreover, statistical analysis indicated that movement variability was not influenced by the fatigue protocol or movement direction. In sum, results of the present study demonstrate that an individual’s estimation of wrist joint displacement (i.e., error bias), but not precision (i.e., variability), is affected by muscular fatigue in a sample of neurologically and physically healthy adults.
MicroRNA-425-5p Expression Affects BRAF/RAS/MAPK Pathways In Colorectal Cancers

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide and about 20% is metastatic at diagnosis and untreatable. The anti-EGFR therapy in metastatic patients is led by the presence of KRAS-mutations in tumor tissue. KRAS-wild-type CRC patients showed a positive response rate of about 70% to cetuximab or panitumumab combined with chemotherapy. MiRNAs are promising markers in oncology and could improve our knowledge on pathogenesis and drug resistance in CRC patients. This class of molecules represents an opportunity for the development of miRNA-based strategies to overcome the ineffectiveness of anti-EGFR therapy. We performed an integrative analysis of miRNA expression profile between KRAS-mutated CRC and KRAS-wildtype CRC and paired normal colic tissue (NCT). We revealed an overexpression of miR-425-5p in KRAS-mutated CRC compared to KRAS-wild type CRC and NCT and demonstrated that miR-425-5p exerts regulatory effects on target genes involved in cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis molecular networks. These epigenetic mechanisms could be responsible of the strong aggressiveness of KRAS-mutated CRC compared to KRAS-wildtype CRC. We proved that some miR-425-5p targeted genes are involved in EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance pathway, suggesting that therapies based on miR-425-5p may have strong potential in targeting KRAS-driven CRC. Moreover, we demonstrated a role in the oncogenesis of miR-31-5p, miR-625-5p and miR-579 by comparing CRC versus NCT. Our results underlined that miR-425-5p might act as an oncogene to participate in the pathogenesis of KRAS-mutated CRC and contribute to increase the aggressiveness of this subcategory of CRC, controlling a complex molecular network.
Blocking Complement Factor B Activation Reduces Renal Injury and Inflammation in a Rat Brain Death Model

Introduction: The majority of kidneys used for transplantation are retrieved from brain-dead organ donors. In brain death, the irreversible loss of brain functions results in hemodynamic instability, hormonal changes and immunological activation. Recently, brain death has been shown to cause activation of the complement system, which is adversely associated with renal allograft outcome in recipients. Modulation of the complement system in the brain-dead donor might be a promising strategy to improve organ quality before transplantation. This study investigated the effect of an inhibitory antibody against complement factor B on brain death-induced renal inflammation and injury. Method: Brain death was induced in male Fischer rats by inflating a balloon catheter in the epidural space. Anti-factor B (anti-FB) or saline was administered intravenously 20 min before the induction of brain death (n = 8/group). Sham-operated rats served as controls (n = 4). After 4 h of brain death, renal function, renal injury, and inflammation were assessed. Results: Pretreatment with anti-FB resulted in significantly less systemic and local complement activation than in saline-treated rats after brain death. Moreover, anti-FB treatment preserved renal function, reflected by significantly reduced serum creatinine levels compared to saline-treated rats after 4 h of brain death. Furthermore, anti-FB significantly attenuated histological injury, as seen by reduced tubular injury scores, lower renal gene expression levels (>75%) and renal deposition of kidney injury marker-1. In addition, anti-FB treatment significantly prevented renal macrophage influx and reduced systemic IL-6 levels compared to saline-treated rats after brain death. Lastly, renal gene expression of IL-6, MCP-1, and VCAM-1 were significantly reduced in rats treated with anti-FB. Conclusion: This study shows that donor pretreatment with anti-FB preserved renal function, reduced renal damage and inflammation prior to transplantation. Therefore, inhibition of factor B in organ donors might be a promising strategy to reduce brain death-induced renal injury and inflammation.
Hematological Adaptations to Prolonged Heat Acclimation in Endurance-Trained Males

Heat acclimation is associated with plasma volume (PV) expansion that occurs within the first week of exposure. However, prolonged effects on hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) are unclear as intervention periods in previous studies have not allowed sufficient time for erythropoiesis to manifest. Therefore, Hbmass, intravascular volumes, and blood volume (BV)-regulating hormones were assessed with 5½ weeks of exercise-heat acclimation (HEAT) or matched training in cold conditions (CON) in 21 male cyclists [(mean ± SD) age: 38 ± 9 years, body weight: 80.4 ± 7.9 kg, VO2peak: 59.1 ± 5.2 ml/min/kg]. HEAT (n = 12) consisted of 1 h cycling at 60% VO2peak in 40°C for 5 days/week in addition to regular training, whereas CON (n = 9) trained exclusively in cold conditions (<15°C). Before and after the intervention, Hbmass and intravascular volumes were assessed by carbon monoxide rebreathing, while reticulocyte count and BV-regulating hormones were measured before, after 2 weeks and post intervention. Total training volume during the intervention was similar (p = 0.282) between HEAT (509 ± 173 min/week) and CON (576 ± 143 min/week). PV increased (p = 0.004) in both groups, by 303 ± 345 ml in HEAT and 188 ± 286 ml in CON. There was also a main effect of time (p = 0.038) for Hbmass with +34 ± 36 g in HEAT and +2 ± 33 g in CON and a tendency toward a higher increase in Hbmass in HEAT compared to CON (time × group interaction: p = 0.061). The Hbmass changes were weakly correlated to alterations in PV (r = 0.493, p = 0.023). Reticulocyte count and BV-regulating hormones remained unchanged for both groups. In conclusion, Hbmass was slightly increased following prolonged training in the heat and although the mechanistic link remains to be revealed, the increase could represent a compensatory response in erythropoiesis secondary to PV expansion.
Depression, Anxiety, Stress and Perceived Social Support Among Breast Cancer Survivors in Tertiary Hospital in Malaysia

The emotional distress and psychosocial factors are links to worst quality of life among cancer patients as well as survivors. It gives negative impact to the survivors and their family. The objective of the study was to determine the correlation of depression, anxiety and stress with perceived social support among breast cancer survivors. This is a baseline finding of an educational intervention study. A total of 131 female breast cancer survivors were recruited while they went for their appointment at the Oncology clinic in one of the Tertiary Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Baseline data was collected using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaires. Descriptive analysis and correlation tests were used to determine the strength of a linear relationship between depression, anxiety and stress with perceived social support. The descriptive analysis showed that breast cancer survivors had a higher prevalence of anxiety (30.5%) as compared to depression (14.5%) and stress (12.2%). Perceived social support was higher among family support (96.2%) as compared to significant others (84.7%) and friend (71.8%). There was a fair negative correlation between: (i) depression and family support (r = -0.372, p < 0.001), and (ii) stress and family support (r = -0.342, p < 0.001). Other domains had a poor correlation (r < 0.030). The finding shows that social support from the family and significant others have a significant but fair inverse association with the emotional aspect (depression and stress) of breast cancer survivors.
The production and the perception of English vowels by Mandarin speakers

Supervisory Committee Dr. Hua Lin, Department of Linguistics Supervisor Dr. Li-Shih Huang, Department of Linguistics Departmental Member This study set out to examine how correctly Mandarin speakers produced and perceived English vowels and to explore the relationship between the production and the perception of English vowels by Mandarin speakers. Fifteen native Mandarin speakers, who had lived in Canada for at least two years and received an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, participated in this study. Fifteen native speakers of Canadian English living in Vancouver at the time of the study also participated as a control group. Two experiments were conducted involving 10 English vowels: /i/, /ɪ/, /ɛ/, /ae/, /ʊ/, /u/, /ʊ/, /ɔ/, /o/, and /ʌ/. In Experiment 1, both the Mandarin speakers and the native English speakers were recorded producing the ten vowels in a /bVt/ syllable in a carrier sentence. The vowels in the recordings were then identified by four native English listeners. In Experiment 2, the Mandarin speakers did an identification test of the vowels produced by the English speakers in Experiment 1. The results showed that Mandarin speakers in this study were able to produce and perceive certain English vowels correctly, but not all of them. The results also indicated that the relationship between the production and perception of English vowels by Mandarin speakers cannot be interpreted in a straightforward way, and that that L2 experience, in terms of length of residence, age of arrival, years of learning, iv and age when ESL learning starts, might also play an important role in the production and perception of English vowels by Mandarin speakers.
Facing the environment: small RNAs and the regulation of gene expression under abiotic stress in plants

Plant growth and development is highly dependent on a variety of environmental conditions such as temperature, light, water availability and soil conditions that strongly affect productivity worldwide. Over the past years, several reports have raised awareness for the fact that extreme weather conditions are predicted to become more frequent in a near future, which is likely to have a strong impact in crop production. For instance, it is estimated that by 2030, global water demand solely for agriculture may have increased by more than 30% as a consequence of foreseen climate changes (Foresight, 2011). Therefore, there is an urgency to understand how plants behave when facing adverse conditions, in order to reduce productivity losses in sub-optimal environments. Plants have developed different strategies to cope with abiotic stress conditions. Upon environmental stimuli, changes in metabolism, signal transduction pathways and gene expression can be detected (Shinozaki & Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, 2007). Post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, as well as epigenetic and post-translational modifications, like ubiquitination and sumoylation, seem to play an important role in the regulation of gene expression in stress conditions (reviewed in Hirayama & Shinozaki, 2010). In this chapter we will provide evidences of the involvement of small RNAs (sRNAs) in the regulation of gene expression as response to abiotic stress. The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) and other sRNAs under water deficit, high salinity, cold and oxidative stress, among others, as well as their relation to hormone signalling in plants, will be reviewed. Moreover, we will show that key enzymes involved in sRNA synthesis pathways also seem to be regulated upon environmental stimuli, affecting the expression of most sRNAs and consequently of several genes.
Stress training and the new military environment

The new environment in which current military operations take place is often characterized by unpredictable and ambiguous situations. This places new demands on military personnel. In combination with high levels of violence and threat, these situations will elicit acute stress reactions, which can impair performance and the ability to operate effectively. It may be questioned whether the current practices to train military personnel to cope with stress are still appropriate. The topic of this study is to examine whether the current training practices are appropriate to prepare military personnel for the new demands of these challenging situations. To answer this question a research program was set up. This program focuses on the current stress training practices and their effectiveness in acute stress situations in the military environment. The study consists of a review and analysis of literature on current military stress training practices and research. Also, interviews were held with military personnel to get a deeper understanding of the demands that acute, unpredictable and ambiguous threatening situations place on military personnel. Interviews with instructors of the Dutch army in the field of stress training were conducted to help asses the successful factors and constraints of the current training methods. Supported by knowledge about acute stress reactions, this will provide criteria for structural factors that have to be present in the stress training. The results of the review and interviews will be presented and discussed.