Tag Archives: products

Whistleblowers Allege Meta Puts Children at Risk in VR Products

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A group of six whistleblowers has reported allegations of a cover-up regarding harm to children from Meta’s virtual reality devices and applications. They assert that the social media giant, which owns Facebook and Instagram, produces a range of VR headsets and games.

“Meta was aware that minors were using its products, but they believed, ‘Hey, kids are driving engagement.’ Meta compromised internal teams, manipulated research, and discarded data that was unfavorable,” they stated.

Sattizahn and other current or former Meta employees, who are also whistleblowers, shared these revelations along with numerous documents with Congress. The Washington Post was the first to publish these claims. Sattizahn and Casesavage, the principal investigators focused on the VR experience for youth users, are set to testify before the US Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and Law this Tuesday.


Meta spokesperson Dani Lever stated that the company has authorized 180 studies concerning VR reality labs since 2022.

“Some of these instances are cherry-picked to support a misleading narrative,” she remarked. Meta further claimed that it has installed features in its VR products to reduce unwanted interactions and provide supervision tools for parents.

The whistleblower allegations were released on Monday, asserting that Meta’s VR products could take further steps to enhance child safety. The whistleblower stated that a company manager directed staff to avoid research that could reveal instances of harm to children in virtual reality.

In one instance, researchers were reportedly instructed to “ignore issues like that.”

In another case, the Washington Post reported that researchers were directed to omit details from interviews conducted with German families. One teenager recounted that his younger brothers, under 10, “often encountered strangers” in Meta’s VR, with “adults making sexual suggestions to his younger brother.”

These claims emerge amidst a steady stream of former Meta employees speaking out against the company for failing to adequately safeguard children from the dangers posed by its social media products. Lawmakers have also criticized Meta executives for promoting content that encourages bullying, substance abuse, and self-harm among young people.

During a Congressional hearing in January 2024, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley compelled Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to publicly express regret.

“I’m sorry for everything you and your family have endured,” Zuckerberg acknowledged at that time. “No one should have to suffer what your family has experienced. This is why we invest heavily and will continue to collaborate across the industry to prevent such suffering.”

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Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn stated that Meta’s disclosures regarding its VR products demonstrate the necessity for Congress to enact legislation establishing regulations for social media companies.

“Rather than addressing significant concerns about widespread harm to children on the platform, Meta chose to conceal damning evidence and suppress the voices of innocent children for its interests,” Blackburn criticized. “These whistleblowers deserve commendation for their bravery in revealing Meta’s deceitful practices.”

The six whistleblowers are represented by a legal non-profit organization supporting whistleblowers and are expected to testify before the subcommittee on Tuesday.

Current and former Meta employees have submitted detailed disclosures to Congress, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Eating fruit, fiber, caffeine, and dairy products linked to reduced risk of tinnitus

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The key underlying mechanisms may include the protective effects of these diets on blood vessels and nerves, and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, according to new systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Increased consumption of fruit, dietary fiber, dairy products and caffeine may be associated with a lower risk of tinnitus. Image credit: SERP PAE.

Tinnitus is characterized by perceived sounds such as buzz, cicada, and currents, and occurs without external auditory stimuli.

It is associated with pain, depression, anxiety, stress, and in severe cases suicide, which has a major impact on the overall quality of life.

Recent epidemiological data suggest a globally pooled prevalence of approximately 14.4% in adults and 13.6% in children and adolescents.

The prominent prevalence of tinnitus and its major impact on life and mental well-being is becoming increasingly important medical and social concerns.

The origin of tinnitus remains elusive and involves a variety of factors.

Some researchers suggest neurological dysfunction or circulation problems in the inner ear, abnormal neural activity in the central auditory pathways, and irregular activity in nonauditory brain regions such as the anterior edge, anterior cingulate cortex, and thalamus.

Dieting can have a major impact on tinnitus, but it remains unclear which specific foods will aggravate or alleviate tinnitus symptoms.

In their review and meta-analysis, Dr. Menni Chang and his colleagues at the traditional Chinese Medical University University University searched a research database looking for research linking tinnitus and diet in adults published by May 2024.

They found eight observational studies, including 301,533 individuals who evaluated 15 dietary factors using a quality questionnaire suitable for inclusion in the analysis.

Dietary factors include carbohydrates, caffeine, eggs, fruits, fiber, fat, meat, protein, sugar, fish, vegetables, and dairy products.

The combined findings revealed that increased consumption of fruit, dietary fiber, dairy products and caffeine is associated with a decrease in the incidence of tinnitus.

These reductions were 35% for fruit intake, 9% for dietary fiber, 17% for dairy products, and 10% for caffeine intake.

Although no association was found between other dietary factors and tinnitus, the results were inconsistent after further analysis, the authors point out that the association between caffeine intake and tinnitus is controversial.

The authors acknowledge that the observational design of the included studies did not establish causal relationships, and that a relatively small number of included studies may have led to certain traditional beneficial dietary factors (such as vegetables and eggs) not showing significant differences.

“The major underlying mechanisms may include the protective effects of these diets on blood vessels and nerves, as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties,” they said.

“A further extensive research is needed to complement and verify the relationship between dietary intake and tinnitus.”

Their paper It will be displayed in the journal BMJ Open.

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M.Chan et al. 2025. 15 common dietary factors and tinnitus relationships: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. BMJ Open 15: E091507; doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091507

Source: www.sci.news

Breakdown products of Vitamin B3 in excess may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

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Despite intensive efforts to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), substantial residual CVD risk remains, even in people who receive all guideline-recommended interventions. Niacin (vitamin B3) is an essential micronutrient fortified in staple foods, but its role in CVD is poorly understood. Excessive amounts of niacin's breakdown products may be associated with an increased risk of death, heart attack, and stroke, according to a new study.

Niacin is an essential micronutrient that is fortified in staple foods beyond dietary requirements. Image credit: Ferrell other., doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02793-8.

Although CVD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, only a portion of the attributable risk is explained by established risk factors.

Despite significant advances in treatment, the risk of residual cardiovascular disease remains high, and it has been suggested that additional, as yet unrecognized factors contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Research has previously shown that niacin (vitamin B3) reduces levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

However, this vitamin does not seem to have the expected effect in reducing CVD risk, the so-called “niacin paradox”.

“Our study shows that niacin breakdown products can promote vascular inflammation, providing a potential explanation for this discrepancy,” said Cleveland Clinic researcher Stanley Hazen, Ph.D. said.

In the study, the authors analyzed plasma samples from 4,325 people in three patient cohorts, including men and women from the United States and Europe.

They found that two breakdown products of niacin, the metabolites N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2PY) and N1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide (4PY), are associated with increased CVD risk. I discovered that

In subsequent human genetic studies and mouse studies, the research team found that this increased risk is due to these breakdown products increasing the abundance of the pro-inflammatory protein VCAM-1 within the endothelial cells lining the blood. showed that it may be mediated by the ability of one of the (4PY). ship.

“Further studies are needed in large-scale studies to investigate the association between niacin and its degradation products and CVD,” the researchers said.

their findings It was published in the magazine natural medicine.

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M. Ferrell other. 2024. End metabolites of niacin promote vascular inflammation and contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. Nat Med 30, 424-434; doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02793-8

Source: www.sci.news

Common household products and cosmetics found to impact cell epigenetics

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New research has found that formaldehyde poses serious risks to epigenetics, interfering with gene activity and potentially causing cancer and other diseases. The study emphasizes the need for stricter policies to limit exposure to formaldehyde, given its prevalence in various household products, cosmetics, polluted air, architecture, and other industries.

The research, conducted by Dr. Manel Esteller and Dr. Lucas Pontel from the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Dr. Christopher J. Chan from the University of California, Berkeley, focused on the effects of high formaldehyde concentrations in the body. The study revealed formaldehyde’s harmful impact on normal epigenetic patterns and its association with cancer, liver degeneration, and increased asthma risk.

Formaldehyde is commonly found in products used in architecture, furniture manufacturing, textiles, and hair products, as well as in polluted gases and the metabolism of certain food substances. It can also be produced in the body and has the potential to alter the epigenetic landscape of cells.

The study concluded that formaldehyde inhibits the production of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), a universal donor of the methyl chemical group that regulates genetic activity. This decrease in SAM content leads to a loss of methylation of histones, proteins that package DNA and control gene function, contributing to formaldehyde’s carcinogenic properties.

As such, the researchers stressed the need for environmental and health policies aimed at reducing exposure to formaldehyde in various industries and environmental sources. Despite restrictions by international health authorities, there are still areas of work where formaldehyde is used at high levels, necessitating further regulations to minimize exposure to this hazardous substance.

Reference: Vanha N. Pham, Kevin J. Bruemmer, Joel DW Toh, Eva J. Ge, Logan Tenney, Carl C. Ward, Felix A Dingler, Christopher L. Millington, Carlos A. Garcia Prieto, Mia C. Pross Holmes, Nicholas T. Ingoglia, Lucas B. Pontel, Manel Esther, Keetan J. Patel, and Daniel K.・Nomura, Christopher J. Chan, November 3, 2023, science. DOI: 10.1126/science.abp9201

Source: scitechdaily.com

Utilize Arduino to investigate Indian manufacturing and curb the sale of counterfeit products

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Arduino is considering manufacturing in India. The startup, best known for its open source microcontroller boards, wants to limit the rise in counterfeit boards and meet growing demand from India’s youth.

The Italian company is currently exploring partnerships with electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies in South Asia to start local production as early as the first quarter of next year, CEO Fabio Violante said in a virtual interview. told TechCrunch. This marks a significant change from the company’s current practice of producing all its boards in Italy.

India is the largest market for Arduino IDE downloads with 3.2 million. The country also has local branches of global Arduino distributors such as DigiKey, Mouser Electronics, and Avnet. However, India’s contribution to the customer base is currently less than 1%. Violante believes that her fake Arduino board is the main reason for this discrepancy.

“The strange situation for us in India is that even though the community is very large and the user base of the Arduino IDE is very large, we have no original product to sell to the Indian market, especially because people can’t afford the original product. “The amount is very small because finished electronic products are subject to high import duties,” he said. “So people mainly buy substitute products or clones, and in some cases those counterfeit products are made in China.”

Arduino clones are currently available for less than half the price of the original board. The latter also includes import duties. Therefore, by starting local manufacturing, Arduino will be selling its boards in India at the same low prices as their Chinese counterparts.

However, the problem with cloned boards is not limited to India, Biollante acknowledged, adding that the company currently sells one original board for every five to six clones in the market.

“This is difficult because we are open source and we make money by selling our original hardware,” he said. “So clones and counterfeits are a big part of the market.”

Arduino is trying to address the problem of counterfeit boards around the world by making its hardware more sophisticated and harder to counterfeit.

“Continuous innovation gives us a competitive edge,” Biollante said. “[The new boards] It uses a more sophisticated microcontroller, a more sophisticated power section that is not as easy to copy and paste. ”

The executive was in New Delhi last week to attend an investor-focused event organized by state agency Invest India, where he met with government officials and members of parliament, including India’s Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar. did.

To compete with China, India has been offering cashbacks and subsidies to global manufacturers to become production hubs. As a result, the country’s domestic electronics manufacturing increased by more than 111% to $99 billion in fiscal year 2022-23, from $47 billion in 2017-18, according to government data shared in parliament last week. However, most of this is due to growth in local mobile phone manufacturing. The country is already the second largest manufacturer of mobile phones, with Indian-made handsets accounting for more than 99% of domestic mobile phone sales. The government wants to expand local production not just for mobile phone assembly, but also for components including displays and semiconductors.

Violante told TechCrunch that Arduino is currently considering both large international EMS companies and small local companies in India that specialize in manufacturing electronic circuit boards and development boards.

The executive indicated that the company may initially consider making a $27 product. Uno R4 WiFi It was launched globally earlier this year. It aims to appeal to the masses with specifications such as a 32-bit Cortex M4 processor, 32KB RAM, and 256KB flash storage. However, over time, it may start producing the enterprise-oriented Pro series model that was launched last year.

Violante said Arduino is also looking to work with educational institutions in India to increase brand awareness among students and become part of local curricula. Additionally, partnerships with research institutions help the company connect with companies that collaborate with those institutions. The company already has a partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in the US, and plans to expand that partnership in India as well. Furthermore, Arduino specifically plans to cater to local demand, and its initial start in the country means that, unlike many other startups, it does not rely on China for manufacturing, so over time it will grow locally. There is a possibility that the company will move towards exporting the manufactured boards to other countries.

Source: techcrunch.com