Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Changes of Brain Activity in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness During Recovery of Consciousness

The disorder of brain activity dynamics is one of the main characteristics leading to disorders of consciousness (DOC). However, few studies have explored whether the dynamics of brain activity can be modulated, and whether the dynamics of brain activity can help to evaluate the state of consciousness and the recovery progress of consciousness. In current study, 20 patients with minimally conscious state (MCS) and 13 patients with vegetative state (VS) were enrolled, and resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) data and the coma recovery scale-revised (CRS-R) scores were collected three times before and after high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) treatment. The patients were divided into the improved group and the unimproved group according to whether the CRS-R scores were improved after the treatment, and the dynamic changes of resting state EEG microstate parameters during treatment were analyzed. The results showed the occurrence per second (OPS) of microstate D was significantly different between the MCS group and VS group, and it was positively correlated with the CRS-R before the treatment. After 2 weeks of the treatment, the OPS of microstate D improved significantly in the improved group. Meanwhile, the mean microstate duration (MMD), ratio of time coverage (Cov) of microstate C and the Cov of microstate D were significantly changed after the treatment. Compared with the microstates parameters before the treatment, the dynamic changes of parameters with significant difference in the improved group showed a consistent trend after the treatment. In contrast, the microstates parameters did not change significantly after the treatment in the unimproved group. The results suggest that the dynamics of EEG brain activity can be modulated by HD-tDCS, and the improvement in brain activity dynamics is closely related to the recovery of DOC, which is helpful to evaluate the level of DOC and the progress of recovery of consciousness.
Impact of Sprinting and Dribbling on Shoulder Joint and Pushrim Kinetics in Wheelchair Basketball Athletes

Background While wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular Paralympic sports, it eventually causes shoulder problems and pain in many athletes. However, shoulder kinetics has never been assessed during propulsion in wheelchair basketball. This study analyzes the impact of sprinting and dribbling on pushrim and shoulder kinetics in terms of external forces and net muscular moments. Methods A group of 10 experienced wheelchair basketball athletes with various classifications performed four, 9-m sprints on a basketball court using classic synchronous propulsion, and four sprints while dribbling forward. Pushrim and shoulder kinetics were calculated by inverse dynamics, using a motion capture device and instrumented wheels. Findings Sprinting was associated to peak shoulder load from 13 to 346% higher than in previous studies on standard wheelchair propulsion in most force/moment components. Compared to sprinting without a ball, dribbling reduced the speed, the peak external forces in the anterior and medial direction at the shoulder, and the peak net shoulder moment of internal rotation. Interpretation The high shoulder load calculated during both sprinting and dribbling should be considered during training sessions to avoid overloading the shoulder. Dribbling generally reduced the shoulder load, which suggests that propelling while dribbling does not put the shoulder at more risk of musculoskeletal disorders than sprinting.
The Eudemonic Wellbeing of Volunteers in a Public Health Emergency: COVID-19 in China

With improvements in the public awareness regarding volunteer opportunities, more people are participating in social work, particularly during emergency events. The mental health of volunteers has been attracting more academic attention due to its increasing social significance. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior, a qualitative interview was conducted to identify important attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control factors guiding people’s volunteering behaviors in an emergency context. Then, a sequential quantitative survey was implemented based on the results of the qualitative study to explore the impact of the aforementioned factors and job involvement on eudemonic well-being. The moderating role of empathy in these relationships was also investigated in this nested design. The results indicate that behavioral attitudes, perceived control, and job involvement have significant positive effects on volunteers’ eudemonic well-being. A high perspective taking (cognitive empathy) of volunteers positively moderates the relationship between job involvement and eudemonic well-being, while high personal distress (affective empathy) buffers this relationship. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed in relation to emergency volunteer activities.
Dynamic Immune Landscape and VZV-Specific T Cell Responses in Patients With Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia

Objectives Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) can induce herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Immune cells play an important role in regulating HZ and PHN pathogenesis, but the dynamic immune profiles and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to screen dynamic immune signatures during HZ progression and elucidate the mechanism of VZV-specific T cells in PHN. Methods We used cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) to analyze peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) samples from 45 patients with HZ and eight age-sex-matched healthy controls, eight PHN samples and seven non-PHN samples. Correlations between the immune subsets and clinical pain-related scores were performed. Further, the characteristics of VZV-specific T cells between PHN and non-PHN patients were evaluated by VZV peptide pools stimulation. The expression level of cytokines, including granzyme B, interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was performed via cytometric bead array. Finally, we analyzed the alteration of Ca2+ signals in dorsal root ganglion (DRG)-derived cells after TNF-α stimulation. Results We investigated the dynamic characteristics of the immune landscape of peripheral blood samples of patients with HZ and PHN, and depicted two major dynamic signatures in NK, CD4+ and CD8+ T subsets in patients with HZ, which closely correlated with clinical pain-related scores. The frequency of PD-1+CD4+ T cells, VZV-specific PD-1+CD4+ T cells, and the amount of TNF-α produced by VZV-specific T cells were higher in patients with PHN than without PHN. Furthermore, we showed that TNF-α could induce calcium influx in DRG-derived cells in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions Our results profiled the dynamic signatures of immune cells in patients with HZ and highlighted the important role of VZV-specific T cells in the pathogenesis of PHN.
Walking the Tightrope of Job Demands and Resources: Leveraging Work Engagement to Counter Turnover Intentions of Information Technology Professionals

Organisations within the banking industry are increasingly confronted with attraction and retention challenges within their Information Technology (IT) divisions, driven by an increase in demand for skilled resources within the market. Therefore, the primary objective of the study was to explore the impact of job resources and job demands on work engagement and employee turnover intentions within the IT division of a South African bank. The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model was applied as theoretical framework to identify the unique job resources and job demands driving work engagement and turnover intentions of employees within this highly specialised section of the South African banking industry. Quantitative data was collected from 239 IT professionals via a self-administered, web-based survey measuring work engagement, job demands and resources, and turnover intentions. After confirmation of the factor structures of each of the variables, the direct and indirect relationships between the variables were analysed. The results indicate statistically significant relationships between job resources, work engagement and turnover intentions. Job demands moderated the relationship between job resources and work engagement, whilst work engagement mediated the relationship between job resources and turnover intention. By applying the JD-R model as a theoretical framework for the study, the unique job resources and job demands as drivers of work engagement and turnover intentions of IT employees could be highlighted to direct the development of focused work engagement and retention strategies.
A Microbiota-Dependent Response to Anticancer Treatment in an In Vitro Human Microbiota Model: A Pilot Study With Hydroxycarbamide and Daunorubicin

Background Anticancer drug efficacy is linked to the gut microbiota’s composition, and there is a dire need to better understand these interactions for personalized medicine. In vitro microbiota models are promising tools for studies requiring controlled and repeatable conditions. We evaluated the impact of two anticancer drugs on human feces in the MiniBioReactor Array (MBRA) in vitro microbiota system. Methods The MBRA is a single-stage continuous-flow culture model, hosted in an anaerobic chamber. We evaluated the effect of a 5-day treatment with hydroxycarbamide or daunorubicine on the fecal bacterial communities of two healthy donors. 16S microbiome profiling allowed analysis of microbial richness, diversity, and taxonomic changes. Results In this host-free setting, anticancer drugs diversely affect gut microbiota composition. Daunorubicin was associated with significant changes in alpha- and beta-diversity as well as in the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes in a donor-dependent manner. The impact of hydroxycarbamide on microbiota composition was not significant. Conclusion We demonstrated, for the first time, the impact of anticancer drugs on human microbiota composition, in a donor- and molecule-dependent manner in an in vitro human microbiota model. We confirm the importance of personalized studies to better predict drug-associated-dysbiosis in vivo, linked to the host’s response to treatment.
Optimization of Monascus purpureus for Natural Food Pigments Production on Potato Wastes and Their Application in Ice Lolly

During potato chips manufacturing, large amounts of wastewater and potato powder wastes are produced. The wastewater obtained at washing after cutting the peeled potatoes into slices was analyzed, and a large quantity of organic compounds and minerals such as starch (1.69%), protein (1.5%), total carbohydrate (4.94%), reducing sugar (0.01%), ash (0.14%), crude fat (0.11%), Ca (28 mg/L), Mg (245 mg/L), Fe (45.5 mg/L), and Zn (6.5 mg/L) were recorded; these wastes could be considered as valuable by-products if used as a fermentation medium to increase the value of the subsequent products and to exceed the cost of reprocessing. In this study, we used wastewater and potato powder wastes as a growth medium for pigment and biomass production by Monascus purpureus (Went NRRL 1992). The response surface methodology was used to optimize total pigment and fungal biomass production. The influence of potato powder waste concentration, fermentation period, and peptone concentration on total pigment and biomass production was investigated using the Box-Behnken design method with 3-factors and 3-levels. The optimal production parameters were potato powder waste concentration of 7.81%, fermentation period of 12.82 days, and peptone concentration of 2.87%, which produced a maximum total pigment of 29.86 AU/ml that include, respectively, a maximum biomass weight of 0.126 g/ml and the yield of pigment of 236.98 AU/g biomass. The pigments produced were used as coloring agents for ice lolly. This study has revealed that the ice lolly preparations supplemented with these pigments received high acceptability. Finally, we recommend using wastewater and potato powder wastes for pigment and biomass production, which could reduce the cost of the pigment production process on an industrial scale in the future.
Sex-Specific Associations Between Serum Lipids, Antinuclear Antibodies, and Statin Use in National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2004

Lipid metabolism contributes to the regulation of leukocyte activity and immune responses, and may serve as a therapeutic target in the pathophysiology and clinical management of autoimmune disorders. In addition to lipid-lowering properties, statins have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects within the context of autoimmunity. Importantly, autoimmune incidence and lipid markers differ between men and women, suggesting that the relationship between lipid metabolism and immune function may vary by sex. Therefore, we investigated whether a predictive, sex-specific relationship exists between serum lipids, statin use, and antinuclear antibodies (ANA)—a routine clinical marker of autoimmunity and immune dysfunction—in U.S. men and women (>20 years old; n = 1,526) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004. Within this population, a greater proportion of women were positive for ANA (ANA+) and had higher ANA titers, as compared to men. While we did not observe statistical differences in average total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), or triglyceride levels in ANA positive (ANA+) vs. ANA negative (ANA–) men or women, we observed that a greater proportion of ANA+ women had high total cholesterol levels (>240 mg/dL) when compared to ANA+ men (13.0 vs. 9.0%), and that a greater percentage of ANA+ women had low HDL-C as compared to ANA+ men (29.2 vs. 19.6%). However, in logistic regression models, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels were not able to predict ANA status, whereas elevated serum triglycerides (150 to < 200 mg/dL) were significantly less likely to be ANA+ vs. ANA– (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.11–0.92) in men only. Interestingly, women who reported taking statins have significantly lower odds of being ANA+ (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.09–0.76), whereas no significant association between statin use and ANA status was observed in men. Together, our findings provide novel insight into the relationship between lipid metabolism and autoimmunity by elucidating the limited, albeit sex-specific utility of routine clinical serum lipid levels to predict ANA status at the population level, while further identifying a sex-specific and protective role for statins in predicting ANA status in women.
The Predictive Effects of Family and Individual Wellbeing on University Students' Online Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed university students' life routines, such as prolonged stay at home and learning online without prior preparation. Identifying factors influencing student online learning has become a great concern of educators and researchers. The present study aimed to investigate whether family wellbeing (i.e., family support and conflict) would significantly predict university students' online learning effectiveness indicated by engagement and gains. The mediational role of individual wellbeing such as life satisfaction and sleep difficulties was also tested. This study collected data from 511 undergraduate students (Mean age = 20.04 ± 1.79 years, 64.8% female students) via an online survey. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed positive effects of family support on students' learning engagement and gains through the mediational effects of life satisfaction and sleep difficulties. In contrast to our expectation, family conflict during the pandemic also positively predicted students' learning gains, which, however, was not mediated by individual wellbeing. The findings add value to the existing literature by delineating the inter-relationships between family wellbeing, individual wellbeing, and online learning effectiveness. The study also sheds light on the unique meaning of family conflict, which needs further clarification in future studies.
Problems of EnergyTech Financing in the Context of the COVID-19 Crisis and the Post-Pandemic Period and the Prospects for Their Solution

EnergyTech is a promising investment project for three reasons. The first reason is the overall high investment attractiveness of energy projects due to high global energy demand and broad prospects for return on investment (Ayub et al., 2022; Verba et al., 2022). The second reason is that EnergyTech is not just “smart” technologies in the energy sector but a transition to clean energy (Ratner et al., 2022; Štreimikienė et al., 2022). The implementation of projects on the creation of “smart” infrastructure in the field of clean (renewable) energy allows the operation of infrastructure facilities for a longer period compared to projects for the extraction and use of non-renewable energy (for example, fossil fuels) (Gallo et al., 2020; Sisodia et al., 2020; Ratner et al., 2021). The third reason is the strategic importance of the projects under consideration for the state, combined with their high social significance, providing support for the state and society (Knayer and Kryvinska, 2022; Kamruzzaman and Alruwaili, 2022). The focus of this article is the problem related to the fact that, despite the prospects, investment projects in the field of EnergyTech in 2020–2021 faced the problem of a shortage of financial resources due to the COVID-19 crisis. In the existing literature, much attention is paid to the issues of energy financing. Chien et al. (2021), Gong et al. (2021), Li et al. (2022), Popkova et al. (2019) in their works point to the key role of financing in the development of the energy economy, and also note that this role is to ensure the lack of energy resources for economic systems. The cited works emphasize the infrastructure formative function of the energy sector in the system of entrepreneurship, as well as the need for energy availability to maintain a high quality of life of the population, ensure uninterrupted industrial production and continuous economic growth. Taking into account the general economic downturn, the worsening investment climate, acute government budget deficits and the increase in public debt in many countries, Iqbal and Bilal (2021), Taghizadeh-Hesary et al. (2022), Tran (2021) note that in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, the amount of financing for EnergyTech decreased and progress in its development has slowed down. The works of Lean and Lee (2022), Popkova et al. (2021), Zhao et al. (2022), Zhou and Liu (2022) also indicate that the pandemic and the COVID-19 crisis had a contradictory impact on EnergyTech, on the one hand, causing a shortage of its financing and increased risks of practical implementation of SDG 7, but, on the other hand, by creating common financing conditions for the countries of the world, thereby ensuring equal opportunities for the development of EnergyTech in developed and developing countries. Edited by: Bruno Sergi, Harvard University, United States
Top-Down Influence Leads to a Reduced Sense of Body Ownership in Individuals With Depersonalization Tendencies: A Focus on Full Body Illusion

Sense of body ownership, that is, the feeling that “my body belongs to me,” has been examined by both the rubber hand illusion (RHI) and full body illusion (FBI). In a study that examined the relationship between RHI and depersonalization, a symptom in which people experience a lower sense of body ownership, people with a high depersonalization tendency experienced RHI through the bottom-up process of visual-tactile integration. Why is it that people with depersonalization feel a lower sense of body ownership over their bodies? Case studies of depersonalization suggest that the top-down cognition in people with depersonalization may make them less likely to feel a sense of body ownership. However, the top-down influence on the sense of body ownership in depersonalization has not yet been experimentally demonstrated. By incorporating top-down manipulation (e.g., instructing participants to regard a fake body as their own) into the FBI procedure, we aimed to clarify the cause of the reduced sense of body ownership in people with a high depersonalization tendency. The FBI procedure was conducted in a virtual reality environment using an avatar as a fake body. The avatar was presented from a third-person perspective, and visual-tactile stimuli were presented to create an illusion. To examine the degree of illusion, we measured the skin conductance responses to the fear stimulus presented after the visual-tactile stimuli presentation. The degree of depersonalization was measured using the Japanese version of the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale. To manipulate the top-down influence, we provided self-association instructions before the presentation of the visual-tactile stimuli. We predicted that the higher the degree of depersonalization, the lower the degree of illusion in the self-association instruction. The results showed that participants with a higher depersonalization tendency had a lower degree of illusion (rho = −0.424, p = 0.035) in the self-association condition. This indicates that in people with a high depersonalization tendency, top-down cognition of the body as their own leads to a decrease in the sense of body ownership.
Increased Seroprevalence and Improved Antibody Responses Following Third Primary SARS-CoV-2 Immunisation: An Update From the COV-AD Study

Background Patients with primary and secondary antibody deficiency are vulnerable to COVID-19 and demonstrate diminished responses following two-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine schedules. Third primary vaccinations have been deployed to enhance their humoral and cellular immunity. Objectives To determine the immunogenicity of the third primary SARS-CoV-2 immunisation in a heterogeneous cohort of patients with antibody deficiency. Methods Participants enrolled in the COV-AD study were sampled before and after their third vaccine dose. Serological and cellular responses were determined using ELISA, live-virus neutralisation and ELISPOT assays. Results Following a two-dose schedule, 100% of healthy controls mounted a serological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, however, 38.6% of individuals with antibody deficiency remained seronegative. A third primary SARS-CoV-2 vaccine significantly increased anti-spike glycoprotein antibody seroprevalence from 61.4% to 76.0%, the magnitude of the antibody response, its neutralising capacity and induced seroconversion in individuals who were seronegative after two vaccine doses. Vaccine-induced serological responses were broadly cross-reactive against the SARS-CoV-2 B.1. 1.529 variant of concern, however, seroprevalence and antibody levels remained significantly lower than healthy controls. No differences in serological responses were observed between individuals who received AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and Pfizer BioNTech 162b2 during their initial two-dose vaccine schedule. SARS-CoV-2 infection-naive participants who had received a heterologous vaccine as a third dose were significantly more likely to have a detectable T cell response following their third vaccine dose (61.5% vs 11.1%). Conclusion These data support the widespread use of third primary immunisations to enhance humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in individuals with antibody deficiency.