Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The use of head-mounted displays (HMD) for virtual reality (VR) application-based purposes including therapy, rehabilitation, and training is increasing. Despite advancements in VR technologies, many users still experience sickness symptoms. VR sickness may be influenced by technological differences within HMDs such as resolution and refresh rate, however, VR content also plays a significant role. The primary objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the literature on HMDs that report Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) scores to determine the impact of content. User factors associated with VR sickness were also examined. A systematic search was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Fifty-five articles met inclusion criteria, representing 3,016 participants (mean age range 19.5–80; 41% female). Findings show gaming content recorded the highest total SSQ mean 34.26 (95%CI 29.57–38.95). VR sickness profiles were also influenced by visual stimulation, locomotion and exposure times. Older samples (mean age ≥35 years) scored significantly lower total SSQ means than younger samples, however, these findings are based on a small evidence base as a limited number of studies included older users. No sex differences were found. Across all types of content, the pooled total SSQ mean was relatively high 28.00 (95%CI 24.66–31.35) compared with recommended SSQ cut-off scores. These findings are of relevance for informing future research and the application of VR in different contexts.
Circulating T Follicular Helper Cell Abnormalities Associated to Different Clinical Forms of Chronic Chagas Disease

Multiple perturbations of the immune response affecting a range of cells have been reported in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals and associated to clinical manifestations of chronic Chagas disease. There is a paucity of knowledge about the role of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in this infection. Here, we sought to characterize circulating Tfh (cTfh) cells in chronic Chagas disease patients and to identify potential associations with disease severity in humans. cTfh cells were characterized by flow cytometry in freshly isolated PBMCs from 7 T. cruzi-infected asymptomatic patients (ASYMP), 5 patients with chronic chagasic dilated cardiomyopathy (CCC) and 8 healthy controls, using antibodies against chemokine receptors CXCR5, CXCR3, CCR6, and CCR7. Our results showed significant expansion of CD4+CD45RO+CXCR5+CCR6+ cells in ASYMP and CCC patients, along with a contraction of CD4+CD45RO+CXCR5+CXCR3-CCR6- (cTfh2) cells. ASYMP patients further exhibited decreased CD4+CD45RO+CXCR5+CXCR3+CCR6- (cTfh1) cells and expanded CD4+CD45RO+CXCR5+CXCR3-CCR6+ (cTfh17) cells while CCC patients exhibited significantly increased frequencies of CD4+CD45RO+CXCR5+CCR7+ cells. Linear regression analysis revealed a positive trend of CD4+CD45RO+CXCR5+CXCR3+CCR6+ (cTfh1/17) cells and negative trends of cTfh1 and cTfh2 cells as disease was more severe. There was no correlation between the frequencies of cTfh cells and circulating CD19+IgD-IgG+ cells or serum levels of T. cruzi-specific IgG. These results demonstrate that the cTfh compartment of humans chronically infected with T. cruzi comprises expanded CCR6-expressing cells and reduced cTfh2 cells. The association of discrete phenotypic changes in cTfh subsets with different clinical forms suggests the potential contribution of T follicular helper cells to Chagas heart disease progression.
Transmural Remodeling of Cardiac Microstructure in Aged Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats by Diffusion Tensor MRI

The long-standing high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) overworks the heart. Microstructural remodeling is a key factor of hypertensive heart disease progression. Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) is a powerful tool for the rapid noninvasive nondestructive delineation of the cardiomyocyte organization. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is a well-established model of genetic hypertension. The goal of this study was to employ high-resolution DT-MRI and the SHR animal model to assess the transmural layer-specific remodeling of myocardial microstructure associated with hypertension. Ex vivo experiments were performed on excised formalin-fixed hearts of aged SHRs (n = 4) and age-matched controls (n = 4). The DT-MRI-derived fractional anisotropy (FA), longitudinal diffusivity (λL), transversal diffusivity (λT), and mean diffusivity (MD) served as the readout parameters investigated at three transmural zones (i.e., endocardium, mesocardium, and epicardium). The helix angles (HAs) of the aggregated cardiomyocytes and the orientation of laminar sheetlets were also studied. Compared with controls, the SHRs exhibited decreased epicardial FA, while FA changes in the other two transmural regions were insignificant. No substantial differences were observed in the diffusivity parameters and the transmural course of HAs between the two groups. A consistent distribution pattern of laminar sheetlet orientation was not identified for either group. Our findings are in line with the known cellular microstructure from early painstaking histological studies. Biophysical explanations of the study outcomes are provided. In conclusion, our experimental findings indicate that the epicardial microstructure is more vulnerable to high blood pressure leading to more pronounced changes in this region during remodeling. DT-MRI is well-suited for elucidating these alterations. The revealed transmural nonuniformity of myocardial reorganization may shed light on the mechanisms of the microstructure-function relationship in hypertension progression. Our results provide insights into the management of patients with systemic arterial hypertension, thus prevent the progression toward heart failure. The findings of this study should be acknowledged by electromechanical models of the heart that simulate the specific cardiac pathology.
A Needs-Based Support for #MeToo: Power and Morality Needs Shape Women’s and Men’s Support of the Campaign

The #MeToo campaign mobilized millions of women around the world to draw attention to the pervasiveness of sexual harassment. We conducted an online survey in Hungary (N = 10,293) immediately at the campaign’s onset, and two subsequent studies in Israel and Germany (Ns = 356, 413) after it peaked, to reveal the motivations underlying people’s support for, or criticism of the campaign. Integrating the assumptions of the needs-based model of reconciliation and system justification theory, we predicted and found that, in all three samples, lower gender system justification was associated with (a) women’s perception of the campaign as empowering, and men’s (b) higher perception of the campaign as an opportunity for moral improvement, and (c) lower perception of the campaign as wrongfully staining men’s reputation. As expected, in all three samples, (a) perceptions of the campaign as empowering among women, and an opportunity for moral improvement among men, were associated with greater campaign support, whereas (b) men’s perceptions of the campaign as wrongfully staining their moral reputation were associated with lower campaign support. Thus, the link between system justification and campaign support was mediated by women’s empowerment needs, and men’s morality-related needs. In addition, perceptions of the campaign as disempowering their ingroup (i.e., presenting a status threat) predicted reduced campaign support among men in the Hungarian and Israeli samples, but not the German sample. We discuss the practical implications of these results for gender equality movements in general, and sexual harassment in particular, by identifying the psychological obstacles and catalysts of women’s and men’s support for social change.
Leader–Member Exchange, Work Engagement, and Psychological Withdrawal Behavior: The Mediating Role of Psychological Empowerment

Perceptions of psychological empowerment play a vital role in the way an individual perceives things at the workplace. In spite of this, there is scant research on the antecedents and consequences of psychological empowerment. This study is an attempt to fill this gap by analyzing the mediating role of psychological empowerment on the relationship between its antecedents (leader–member exchange) and its consequences (work engagement and psychological withdrawal behavior). Data were collected from 454 employees working in the Research and Development (R&D) departments of the information technology (IT) and pharmaceutical sectors operating in India. Results suggest that employees who have a high-quality relationship with their leader have high psychological empowerment, they are highly engaged at work, and their psychological withdrawal behavior is also low. In addition to this, high levels of psychological empowerment have a positive impact on their engagement toward work, which further leads to a low psychological withdrawal behavior. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
The Interactions Between Cancer Stem Cells and the Innate Interferon Signaling Pathway

Interferons (IFNs) form a family of cytokines with pleiotropic effects that modulate the immune response against multiple challenges like viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. While numerous anti-tumor activities have been described for IFNs, IFNs have also been associated with tumor growth and progression. The effect of IFNs on apoptosis, angiogenesis, tumor cell immunogenicity, and modulation of immune cells have been largely studied; however, less is known about their specific effects on cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs constitute a subpopulation of tumor cells endowed with stem-like properties including self-renewal, chemoresistance, tumorigenic capacity, and quiescence. This rare and unique subpopulation of cells is believed to be responsible for tumor maintenance, metastatic spread, and relapse. Thus, this review aims to summarize and discuss the current knowledge of the anti- and pro-CSCs effects of IFNs and also to highlight the need for further research on the interplay between IFNs and CSCs. Importantly, understanding this interplay will surely help to exploit the anti-tumor effects of IFNs, specifically those that target CSCs.
LOXL2 Inhibition Paves the Way for Macrophage-Mediated Collagen Degradation in Liver Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and enzymes, especially fibrillary collagens, and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Lysyl oxidases (LOXs) drive covalent crosslinking of collagen fibers, thereby promoting stabilization and accumulation of liver fibrosis while limiting its resolution. Here we show in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis murine model that treatment with a novel anti-lysyl oxidase like 2 (LOXL2) neutralizing antibody, which targets extracellular LOXL2, significantly improves fibrosis resolution. LOXL2 inhibition following the onset of fibrosis accelerated and augmented collagen degradation. This was accompanied by increased localization of reparative monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMFs) in the proximity of fibrotic fibers and their representation in the liver. These cells secreted collagenolytic matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and, in particular, the membrane-bound MT1-MMP (MMP-14) collagenase. Inducible and selective ablation of infiltrating MoMFs negated the increased “on-fiber” accumulation of MMP-14-expressing MoMFs and the accelerated collagenolytic activity observed in the anti-LOXL2-treated mice. Many studies of liver fibrosis focus on preventing the progression of the fibrotic process. In contrast, the therapeutic mechanism of LOXL2 inhibition presented herein aims at reversing existing fibrosis and facilitating endogenous liver regeneration by paving the way for collagenolytic macrophages.
Prevalence and Exposure Assessment of Aflatoxins Through Black Tea Consumption in the Multan City of Pakistan and the Impact of Tea Making Process on Aflatoxins

Aflatoxins are the highly toxic secondary metabolites of certain fungi, being mainly produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxins are classified as group 1 category carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). A large number of food commodities are reported to be contaminated with aflatoxins. Tea is the world’s second most consumed beverage and the consumption of tea is increasing day by day. Besides being a source of several health promoting substances, tea leaves are also reported to be contaminated with aflatoxins. However, not a single study is reported from Pakistan regarding the level of aflatoxins in commercially available black tea samples. The current study aimed to quantify the level of aflatoxins in commercially available branded and non-branded black tea samples. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of aflatoxins through branded and non-branded black tea consumption and the health risk assessment based on margin of exposure (MOE) approach was assessed. Furthermore, the impact of local tea making processes on the concentration of aflatoxins in tea beverage (filtrate) was also investigated.
Probing the Diversity of Polycomb and Trithorax Proteins in Cultured and Environmentally Sampled Microalgae

Polycomb (PcG) and Trithorax (TrxG) complexes are two evolutionarily conserved epigenetic regulatory components that act antagonistically to regulate the expression of genes involved in cell differentiation and development in multicellular organisms. The absence of PcG in both yeast models Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe suggested that polycomb proteins might have evolved together with the emergence of multicellular organisms. However, high throughput sequencing of several microalgal genomes and transcriptomes reveals an unprecedented abundance and diversity of genes encoding the components of these complexes. We report here the diversity of genes encoding PcG and TrxG proteins in microalgae from the Marine Microbial Eukaryote Transcriptome Sequencing Project database (MMETSP) and detected at broad scale in Tara Oceans genomics datasets using a highly sensitive method called eDAF (enhanced Domain Architecture Filtering). Further, we explored the correlation between environmental factors measured during the Tara Oceans expedition and transcript levels of PcG and TrxG components. PcG and TrxG are responsible for the deposition of a number of histone marks among which a TrxG associated mark, H3K4me3 which we profiled genome wide in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum to understand its role in microalgae and revisited the previously published histone code and co-occurrence with other histone marks including the antagonizing Polycomb deposited mark H3K27me3.
Short-Term Efficacy and Tolerability of Paroxetine Versus Placebo for Panic Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objective To explore the short-term efficacy and tolerability of paroxetine in the treatment of panic disorder in adults. Methods Multiple electronic databases were searched to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on paroxetine and panic disorder. The primary efficacy outcomes were: the mean change compared to the baseline in the total number of full panic attacks, Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) score, and the proportion of participants with zero full panic attacks and with a 50% or greater reduction in the number of full panic attacks. The tolerability outcomes included withdrawal rate and the incidence of adverse events (AEs). Results 13RCTs were included. The pooled analyses showed patients who received paroxetine experienced greater improvements in the number of full panic attacks (total: MD=-1.96, 95%CI -3.45 to -0.47, P=0.010; ≥50% reduction: OR=1.66, 95%CI 1.08 to 2.55, P=0.02; zero full panic attacks: OR=1.70, 95%CI 1.42 to 2.03, P < 0.00001) and CGI-S (MD=-0.37, 95%CI -0.74 to -0.01, P=0.05) than placebo. There was no evident difference in the total withdrawal rate (OR=0.91, 95%CI 0.76 to 1.08, P=0.26) and withdrawal rate due to AEs (OR=1.29, 95%CI 0.97 to 1.72, P=0.07) between the two groups. Withdrawal rate due to lack of efficacy or relapse (OR=0.44, 95%CI 0.31 to 0.63, P < 0.00001) and the incidence of serious AEs (OR=0.42, 95%CI 0.23 to 0.79, P=0.007) in the paroxetine group was lower than the placebo group. Meanwhile, the incidence of any treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) (OR=1.32, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.64, P=0.02) in the paroxetine group was higher in comparison with the placebo. Conclusions Paroxetine is an effective and well-tolerated short-term treatment for adults with panic disorder.
Advancements in Soft-Tissue Prosthetics Part A: The Art of Imitating Life

Physical disfigurement due to congenital defects, trauma, or cancer causes considerable distress and physical impairment for millions of people worldwide; impacting their economic, psychological and social wellbeing. Since 3000 B.C., prosthetic devices have been used to address these issues by restoring both aesthetics and utility to those with disfigurement. Internationally, academic and industry researchers are constantly developing new materials and manufacturing techniques to provide higher quality and lower cost prostheses to those people who need them. New advanced technologies including 3D imaging, modeling, and printing are revolutionizing the way prostheses are now made. These new approaches are disrupting the traditional and manual art form of prosthetic production which are laborious and costly and are being replaced by more precise and quantitative processes which enable the rapid, low cost production of patient-specific prostheses. In this two part review, we provide a comprehensive report of past, present and emerging soft-tissue prosthetic materials and manufacturing techniques. In this review, part A, we examine, historically, the ideal properts of a polymeric material when applied in soft-tissue prosthetics. We also detail new research approaches to target specific tissues which commonly require aesthetic restoration (e.g. ear, nose and eyes) and discuss both traditional and advanced fabrication methods, from hand-crafted impression based approaches to advanced manufactured prosthetics. We discuss the chemistry and related details of most significant synthetic polymers used in soft-tissue prosthetics in Part B. As advanced manufacturing transitions from research into practice, the five millennia history of prosthetics enters a new age of economic, personalized, advanced soft tissue prosthetics and with this comes significantly improved quality of life for the people affected by tissue loss.
The Impact of Early Deafness on Brain Plasticity: A Systematic Review of the White and Gray Matter Changes

Background: Auditory deprivation alters cortical and subcortical brain regions, primarily linked to auditory and language processing, resulting in behavioral consequences. Neuroimaging studies have reported various degrees of structural changes, yet multiple variables in deafness profiles need to be considered for proper interpretation of results. To date, many inconsistencies are reported in the gray and white matter alterations following early profound deafness. The purpose of this study was to provide the first systematic review synthesizing gray and white matter changes in deaf individuals. Methods: We conducted a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement in 27 studies comprising 626 deaf individuals. Results: Evidence shows that auditory deprivation significantly alters the white matter across the primary and secondary auditory cortices. The most consistent alteration across studies was in the bilateral superior temporal gyri. Furthermore, reductions in the fractional anisotropy of white matter fibers comprising in inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, the superior longitudinal fasciculus, and the subcortical auditory pathway are reported. The reviewed studies also suggest that gray and white matter integrity is sensitive to early sign language acquisition, attenuating the effect of auditory deprivation on neurocognitive development. Conclusions: These findings suggest that understanding cortical reorganization through gray and white matter changes in auditory and non-auditory areas is an important factor in the development of auditory rehabilitation strategies in the deaf population.
Dynamic Functional Connectivity Patterns in Schizophrenia and the Relationship With Hallucinations

There is a wealth of evidence showing aberrant functional connectivity (FC) in schizophrenia but with considerable variability in findings across studies. Dynamic FC is an extension of traditional static FC, in that such analyses allow for explorations of temporal changes in connectivity. Thereby they also provide more detailed information on connectivity abnormalities in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. The current study investigated dynamic FC in a sample of 80 schizophrenia patients and 80 matched healthy control subjects, replicating previous findings of aberrant dwell times in specific FC states, and further supporting a role for default mode network (DMN) dysfunction. Furthermore, relationships with hallucinations, a core symptom of schizophrenia, were explored. Two measures of hallucinations were used, one measure of current hallucination severity assessed on the day of scanning, and one trait-measure where hallucinations were assessed repeatedly over the course of 1 year. Current hallucination severity did not show a significant relationship with dynamic FC. However, the trait-measure of hallucination proneness over 1 year showed a significant relationship with dynamic FC. Patients with high hallucination proneness spent less time in connectivity states characterized by strong anti-correlation between the DMN and task-positive networks. The findings support theoretical models of hallucinations which have proposed an instability of the DMN and impaired cognitive control in patients with hallucinations. Furthermore, the results point to hallucination proneness as a potential marker for identifying distinct subgroups of schizophrenia patients.