Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“When Her Visa Expired, the Family Refused to Renew It,” Intersections of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence: Qualitative Document Analysis of Case Examples from a Major Midwest City

This study aimed to further understand typologies of trafficking that occur in the home, by an individual’s intimate partner (IP) or family members and this overlap with extant knowledge on perpetrator manipulation via the Power and Control Wheel. Inductive and deductive techniques were used to analyze secondary data from a federally funded anti-trafficking program in a Midwest metropolitan area recorded between 2008 and 2017. Cases were included if there was indication of sex or labor exploitation initiated by an IP, family member, or other in the domestic setting via elements of abuse; 59 cases of 213 met this criteria. Most cases included the IP as the trafficker, followed by family members, then others in the domestic setting. Abuse was more commonly used than the threat of abuse. From the Power and Control Wheel, the most frequent types of abuse were using privilege, physical abuse, economic abuse, isolation, and sexual abuse. Case typologies included: those with elements of sex trafficking, specifically forced commercial sex by an IP or family member; those with elements of labor trafficking such as domestic servitude (with or without childcare provision abuse), exploitation in a family business by an IP or family member, or work environments by family and non-family; those with elements of sex and labor trafficking included servile partnerships and forced marriage. Trafficking exploitation by an IP, family member, or in the domestic setting is not uncommon. Intimate relationships with a trafficker, psychological coercion, and threats may reduce reporting of abuse, subsequent provision of services, and result in misclassification as victims of IP violence. This study sheds light on various typologies of trafficking and exploitation in the domestic setting, further expanding the anti-trafficking movement’s evidence base for intervention and prevention and adding complexity and nuance to the pathways to trafficking exploitation.
Developing a cell-bound detection system for the screening of oxidase activity using the fluorescent peroxide sensor roGFP2-Orp1

Abstract Accurate yet efficient high-throughput screenings have emerged as essential technology for enzyme engineering via directed evolution. Modern high-throughput screening platforms for oxidoreductases are commonly assisted by technologies such as surface display and rely on emulsification techniques to facilitate single-cell analysis via fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Empowered by the dramatically increased throughput, the screening of significantly larger sequence spaces in acceptable time frames is achieved but usually comes at the cost of restricted applicability. In this work, we tackle this problem by utilizing roGFP2-Orp1 as a fluorescent one-component detection system for enzymatic H2O2 formation. We determined the kinetic parameters of the roGFP2-Orp1 reaction with H2O2 and established an efficient immobilization technique for the sensor on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells employing the lectin Concanavalin A. This allowed to realize a peroxide-sensing shell on enzyme-displaying cells, a system that was successfully employed to screen for H2O2 formation of enzyme variants in a whole-cell setting.
Routine Bedside Use of Obstetric Early Warning System in the Postnatal Ward to Identify Maternal Morbidity Among High-Risk Women

Objective Several authorities have recommended the use of an obstetric early warning system (OEWS) to prevent severe morbidity and mortality. Data on the accuracy of OEWS in different clinical settings and maternal populations are still scarce. Our aim was to validate OEWS to detect maternal morbidity among high-risk women in the postnatal ward. Methods An OEWS was assigned to women with a body mass index >35 kg/m2, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) >1500 mL, preeclampsia, concern over the maternal condition, chorioamnionitis, or type 1 diabetes. Morbidity was defined as worsening preeclampsia, action on hemorrhage, thromboembolia, diabetic ketoacidosis, puerperal infections, transfer to the intensive care unit, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, or death during the stay in the postnatal ward. The use of OEWS was implemented on November 1, 2016, and the study period ended on April 30, 2018. Results The study group included 827 women. The incidence of maternal morbidity was 29%. Women with PPH (odds ratio [OR], 6.4 [95% confidence interval, 3.5–11.6]) and preeclampsia (OR, 5.7 [3.5–9.6]) had the highest risk for morbidity. The sensitivity of OEWS for any morbidity was 42% (35%–48%), the specificity was 83% (80%–86%), the positive predictive value was 50% (44%–56%), and the negative predictive value was 78% (76%–80%). Systolic (OR, 6.8 [4.0–11.5]) and diastolic (OR, 3.3 [1.8–6.0]) blood pressure as well as pulse (OR, 2.1 [1.1–4.2]) predicted morbidity the most. Conclusions In high-risk women, OEWS revealed one-half of the morbidity. Women with PPH and preeclampsia benefited most from it. Abnormal blood pressure and pulse had the strongest associations with morbidity.
Extracellular microRNAs in human circulation are associated with miRISC complexes that are accessible to anti-AGO2 antibody and can bind target mimic oligonucleotides

Significance MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are abundant inside cells, where they regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally, but are also found in circulation as remarkably stable extracellular constituents of body fluids such as human blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. We observed that these circulating miRNAs are predominantly associated with free Argonaut 2 (AGO2) complexes that are accessible to immunoprecipitation by AGO2 antibodies and are able to base-pair with complementary target RNAs, suggesting that, under normal physiological conditions, circulating miRNAs are largely contained in functional miRNA-mediated silencing complexes (miRISCs). However, we observe that, under certain pathological conditions, more miRNAs become associated with complexes other than free AGO2/miRISC, suggesting that the assortment of circulating miRNAs into distinct complexes offers a potential new dimension to miRNA-based diagnostics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function cell-intrinsically to regulate gene expression by base-pairing to complementary mRNA targets while in association with Argonaute, the effector protein of the miRNA-mediated silencing complex (miRISC). A relatively dilute population of miRNAs can be found extracellularly in body fluids such as human blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The remarkable stability of circulating miRNAs in such harsh extracellular environments can be attributed to their association with protective macromolecular complexes, including extracellular vesicles (EVs), proteins such as Argonaut 2 (AGO2), or high-density lipoproteins. The precise origins and the potential biological significance of various forms of miRNA-containing extracellular complexes are poorly understood. It is also not known whether extracellular miRNAs in their native state may retain the capacity for miRISC-mediated target RNA binding. To explore the potential functionality of circulating extracellular miRNAs, we comprehensively investigated the association between circulating miRNAs and the miRISC Argonaute AGO2. Using AGO2 immunoprecipitation (IP) followed by small-RNA sequencing, we find that miRNAs in circulation are primarily associated with antibody-accessible miRISC/AGO2 complexes. Moreover, we show that circulating miRNAs can base-pair with a target mimic in a seed-based manner, and that the target-bound AGO2 can be recovered from blood plasma in an ∼1:1 ratio with the respective miRNA. Our findings suggest that miRNAs in circulation are largely contained in functional miRISC/AGO2 complexes under normal physiological conditions. However, we find that, in human CSF, the assortment of certain extracellular miRNAs into free miRISC/AGO2 complexes can be affected by pathological conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Association between mode of delivery and postpartum depression: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background: Postpartum depression is one of the most common postpartum diseases, which has an important impact on the interaction between mother, infant, partner and family, as well as the long-term emotional and cognitive development of infants. However, there are still great disagreements on whether the delivery mode will affect the risk of postpartum depression. The purpose of this study is to explore whether the mode of delivery will affect the risk of postpartum depression through the comprehensive network meta-analysis of elective cesarean section, emergency cesarean section, instrumental vaginal delivery and spontaneous vaginal delivery. Methods: We searched in three electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. Results: This paper included 43 studies with a total sample size of 1,827,456 participants. Direct meta-analysis showed that the odds ratio of postpartum depression risk was 1.33 (95% confidence interval = [1.21, 1.46]) between cesarean section and vaginal delivery. The odds ratios of high Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale score between cesarean section and vaginal delivery in the three postpartum periods (within 2 weeks, within half a year and over half a year) were basically the same. There was no difference between cesarean section and vaginal delivery in the risk of severe postpartum depression at the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale cut-off point ⩾13 (odds ratio = 1.07; 95% confidence interval = [0.99, 1.16]). Network meta-analysis showed that the risk of postpartum depression in the pairwise comparisons emergency cesarean section vs spontaneous vaginal delivery and elective cesarean section vs spontaneous vaginal delivery was odds ratio = 1.53 (95% confidence interval = [1.22, 1.91]) and 1.47 (95% confidence interval = [1.16, 1.86]). Conclusion: The mode of delivery has a significant effect on the occurrence of mild postpartum depression. Women who give birth by cesarean section, especially who give birth by emergency cesarean section, are at a higher risk of mild postpartum depression. We should carefully monitor the progress of postpartum mental disorders in women who delivered by cesarean section and make it possible for women to have a quick access to mental healthcare.
Oxygen, reactive oxygen species and developmental redox networks: Evo-Devo Evil-Devils?

Molecular oxygen (O2), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and associated redox networks are cornerstones of aerobic life, these molecules and networks have gained recognition as fundamental players in mechanisms that regulate the development of multicellular organisms. First, we present a brief review in which we provide a historical description of some relevant discoveries that led to this recognition. We also discuss that despite its abundance in nature, oxygen is a limiting factor, and its high availability variation impacted the evolution of adaptive mechanisms to guarantee the proper development of diverse species under such extreme environments. Finally, some examples when oxygen and ROS were identified as relevant for the control of developmental processes are discussed. We take into account not only the current knowledge on animal redox developmental biology, but also briefly discuss potential scenarios on the origin and evolution of redox developmental mechanisms and the importance of the ever-changing environment.
Roles of Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators in Autophagy and Inflammation

Autophagy is a catabolic pathway that accounts for degradation and recycling of cellular components to extend cell survival under stress conditions. In addition to this prominent role, recent evidence indicates that autophagy is crucially involved in the regulation of the inflammatory response, a tightly controlled process aimed at clearing the inflammatory stimulus and restoring tissue homeostasis. To be efficient and beneficial to the host, inflammation should be controlled by a resolution program, since uncontrolled inflammation is the underlying cause of many pathologies. Resolution of inflammation is an active process mediated by a variety of mediators, including the so-called specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), a family of endogenous lipid autacoids known to regulate leukocyte infiltration and activities, and counterbalance cytokine production. Recently, regulation of autophagic mechanisms by these mediators has emerged, uncovering unappreciated connections between inflammation resolution and autophagy. Here, we summarize mechanisms of autophagy and resolution, focusing on the contribution of autophagy in sustaining paradigmatic examples of chronic inflammatory disorders. Then, we discuss the evidence that SPMs can restore dysregulated autophagy, hypothesizing that resolution of inflammation could represent an innovative approach to modulate autophagy and its impact on the inflammatory response.
Melatonin Improves Mitochondrial Dynamics and Function in the Kidney of Zücker Diabetic Fatty Rats

Obesity and associated diabetes (diabesity) impair kidney mitochondrial dynamics by augmenting fission and diminishing fusion, which results in mitochondrial and renal dysfunction. Based on available evidence, the antioxidant activities of melatonin may improve impaired renal mitochondrial function in obese diabetic animals by restoring the imbalanced dynamics through inhibiting fission and promoting fusion. Male Zücker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and lean littermates (ZL) were orally treated either with melatonin (10 mg/kg BW/day) (M-ZDF and M-ZL) or vehicle (C-ZDF and C-ZL) for 17 weeks. Kidney function was evaluated by measurement of total urine volume, proteinuria, creatinine clearance, and assessment of kidney mitochondrial dynamics and function. C-ZDF exhibited impaired dynamics and function of kidney mitochondria in comparison to C-ZL. Melatonin improved nephropathy of ZDF rats and modulated their mitochondrial dynamics by reducing expression of Drp1 fission marker and increasing that of fusion markers, Mfn2 and Opa1. Furthermore, melatonin ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing respiratory control index and electron transfer chain complex IV activity. In addition, it lowered mitochondrial oxidative status. Our findings show that melatonin supplementation improves nephropathy likely via modulation of the mitochondrial fission/fusion balance and function in ZDF rats.
Profile of Patients with Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Osaka Prefecture, Japan: A Population-Based Descriptive Study

Little is known about the epidemiological characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan. This is a retrospective observational study of COVID-19 patients; study was conducted from February 1 to May 31, 2020. We used publicly collected data on cases of COVID-19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. We described the patient characteristics. The Cox proportional-hazards model was applied to evaluate the association between factors (sex, onset month, age group, city of residence) and mortality, and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals were estimated. During the study period, 5.7% (1782/31,152) of individuals who underwent PCR testing for COVID-19 showed positive results. Among 244 patients with information on symptoms, the most common symptom was fever (76.6%), followed by cough (44.3%). Of the 1782 patients, 86 patients died. Compared with those aged 0–59 years, higher mortality was observed among those aged 60–69 years (HR: 12.02 [3.37–42.93]), 70–79 years (HR: 44.62 [15.16–131.30]), 80–89 years (HR: 68.38 [22.93–203.89]), and ≥90 years (HR: 144.71 [42.55–492.15]). In conclusion, in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, the most common symptom was fever, and older adults had higher mortality among COVID-19 patients.
Calcitriol Effect on Outcomes of in Vitro Fertilization in Infertile Women with Vitamin D Deficiency: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract Introduction Recent studies have addressed the role of micronutrients in fertilization, such as vitamin D. The present study aims to explore the effects of using calcitriol, an active form of vitamin D, on IVF results in women with vitamin D deficiency. Method This double-blinded randomized clinical trial was done on 180 infertile women, undergone IVF treatment. Out of them, 95 were found to have vitamin D deficiency (blood serum 25-dihydroxy vitamin D <30 ng/ml). Fifty one women in experimental group were treated with two 0.25 µg calcitriol pills daily during 4 weeks (discontinued 8 hours prior to the embryo transfer) and 44 subjects to the placebo group (mean vitamin D deficiency 27.5 ±1.8 in case group vs. 27.6±1.8 in control group, P>0.05). Final analysis includes outcomes of chemical and clinical pregnancy was done on 74 women (including 36 in case and 38 in control group). Results Our study showed that in the experimental group, chemical pregnancy success was significantly higher than that in the control group, 31.4 vs. 18.2% (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in reaching the clinical pregnancy stage (25.5% in case group vs. 13.6% in control group) and continuation of pregnancy into week 20 (9.8% in case group vs. 11.6% in control group) (P>0.05). Conclusion Calcitriol administration by improving the implantation process can significantly increase the chances of successful IVF cycle results in infertile women with vitamin D deficiency.
Land motor vehicle-related fatal drowning in Finland: A nation-wide population-based survey

Abstract Objective WHO mortality statistics overlook land motor-vehicle accident (LMVA)-related drowning. The aim of the study was to provide an overview of the prevalence and trends of fatal LMVA-related drowning in Finland, plus the main crash settings, victims’ demographic characteristics, and contributing factors leading to such deaths. Methods A descriptive, retrospective, population-based study of drowning deaths associated with LMVA among Finnish residents of all ages, 1971–2013. LMVA-related drownings and applicable variables were extracted from the Statistics Finland (SF) mortality database by cross-analysis of ICD injury- and external cause-of-death codes. Results During the study period, 538 LMVAs leading to drowning occurred among Finnish residents (2.5/1 000 000/year; 4.9% of all unintentional drownings, 3.7% of all LMVA). Three main settings, ones responsible for over 95% of LMVA-related drownings, were recognized: traffic vehicle accidents involving a passenger car; non-traffic vehicle accident involving a snowmobile; and non-traffic accidents involving agricultural, industrial, or construction vehicles. Alcohol use was a contributing factor for death in > 40% of the victims, whereas severe injuries were reported in less than 6%. Conclusion Because transport safety is crucial to prevent any vehicle entering the water, placing LMVA-related drowning in the category of transport accidents is warranted. Once the vehicle becomes submersed, however, prevention measures to avoid death by drowning remains decisive.
Quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound to predict intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation: a cohort study

Abstract Purpose Quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) reflects tumor blood perfusion. There are very few studies on the relationship between intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and tumor perfusion. We investigated the correlation of dynamic CEUS parameters with intrahepatic recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Methods This retrospective study enrolled 125 native HCC patients who underwent RFA between September 2017 and January 2019 with curative intent. Pre-ablation quantitative dynamic CEUS was performed. CEUS parameters were extracted from time–intensity curves. The correlation of CEUS parameters with intrahepatic recurrence was investigated. Results The mean follow-up time was 21.6 ± 7.9 months. The recurrence rate was 33.6%. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that tumor peak intensity (PI) was a significant independent risk factor for intrahepatic recurrence after RFA (hazard ratio (HR), 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1–0.9). A PI of 58.8% (area under curve, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.63–0.81) was considered as the optimal cutoff level to predict the intrahepatic recurrence of HCC in patients after RFA. The recurrence-free survival rate in patients with a PI > 58.8% was 94.4% at 1 year and 77.8% at 2 years. Subgroup analysis showed that the HR of time to peak (TTP) in intrahepatic recurrence was 1.1417 (95% CI, 0.9748–1.1436; p = 0.1973) in the patient group with tumor diameter > 31 mm. Conclusion CEUS is commonly used in HCC patients who undergo RFA. The CEUS parameters PI and TTP are associated with intrahepatic recurrence after RFA, and can thus be used to identify patients at risk for intrahepatic recurrence.
Survival patterns of childhood neuroblastoma: an analysis of clinical data from Southern-Eastern European countries

The prognosis of children with neuroblastoma (NBL) can be dismal with significant variations depending on the stage and biology of the tumor. We assessed the event-free (EFS) and overall (OS) survival using harmonized data from three Southern-Eastern European (SEE) countries. Data for 520 incident NBL cases (2009–2018) were collected from Greece, Slovenia and Russia. Kaplan–Meier curves were fitted, and EFS/OS were derived from Cox proportional models by study variables including the protocol-based risk-group (low/observation, intermediate, high). Over one-third of cases were coded in the high-risk group, of which 23 children (4.4%) received treatment with anti-ganglioside 2 (GD2) mAb. Survival rates were inferior in older (OS 5-year; 1.5–4.9 years: 61%; EFS 5-year; 1.5–4.9 years: 48%) compared to children younger than 1.5 years (OS 5-year; <1.5 years: 91%; EFS 5-year; <1.5 years: 78%). Predictors of poor OS included stage 4 (hazard ratio, HROS: 18.12, 95% confidence intervals, CI: 3.47–94.54), N-myc amplification (HROS: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.40–3.34), no surgical excision (HROS: 3.27, 95% CI: 1.91–5.61) and relapse/progression (HROS: 5.46, 95% CI: 3.23–9.24). Similar unfavorable EFS was found for the same subsets of patients. By contrast, treatment with anti-GD2 antibody in high-risk patients was associated with decreased risk of death or unfavorable events (HROS: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02–0.79; HREFS: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.07–0.52). Our results confirm the outstanding prognosis of the early NBL stages, especially in children <1.5 years, and the improved outcomes of the anti-GD2 treatment in high-risk patients. Ongoing high-quality clinical cancer registration is needed to ensure comparability of survival across Europe and refine our understanding of the NBL biology.
Person-Message Fit: Racial Identification Moderates the Benefits of Multicultural and Colorblind Diversity Approaches

Although diversity approaches attempt to foster inclusion, one size may not fit all. In five studies, African Americans (N = 1,316), who varied in strength of racial identification, contemplated interviewing at a company with a multicultural or colorblind approach. Participants in the multicultural condition anticipated pressure to be prototypical group members relative to colorblind and control conditions. Only weakly identified participants reacted to this pressure, experiencing more anxiety and inauthenticity in the multicultural relative to colorblind (not control) company. Strongly identified participants experienced less anxiety and inauthenticity in the multicultural relative to colorblind and control companies. Inauthenticity among weakly identified participants was apparent in self-descriptions and linked with worse hiring outcomes in multicultural relative to colorblind and control contexts. Despite predictions, there were no self-stereotyping effects. Diversity approaches that make some group members more comfortable may prove simultaneously constraining for others, highlighting the complexity in how diversity approaches affect individuals.