Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of seasonal and temperature variation on hospitalizations for stroke over a 10-year period in Brazil

Background Seasonal variation in stroke incidence remains controversial. Aims We aimed to describe the pattern of seasonality in hospitalizations for stroke in Brazil. Methods We evaluated age-adjusted hospitalization rates for stroke per month using data from the Brazilian Unified Healthcare System and median monthly temperature data obtained from the National Institute of Meteorology. To detect a seasonality pattern in time series, we used seasonal-trend decomposition using LOESS. We calculated a seasonal strength statistic and used Kruskal–Wallis test to evaluate the presence of seasonality in Brazil and its five regions. We also assessed the association of temperature and stroke hospitalization rates using Spearman’s rho correlation. Results We identified 1,422,496 stroke-related hospitalizations between 2009 and 2018. Mean age was 67 years, 51% were male and 77.5% of stroke diagnoses were not specified as ischemic or hemorrhagic. Median temperature was 23.8℃ (IQR 22.3–24.4). Age-adjusted hospitalizations demonstrated significant seasonal variation during all the years analyzed, with increased rates during the winter. When regional differences were analyzed, seasonal behavior was present in the south, southeast and northeast regions of the country. These were also the regions with lower median temperatures during the winter months and greater amplitude of average temperatures between warmer and colder months. Conclusions In this large national cohort of stroke patients in Brazil, we demonstrated the presence of seasonal variation in the age-adjusted hospitalization rate, with peak rates during the winter months. The regional gradient of incidence of stroke was directly associated with colder winters and greater amplitude of temperature.
Discovery and biological characterization of a novel scaffold for potent inhibitors of peripheral serotonin synthesis.

Aim: Tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) catalyzes serotonin synthesis in peripheral tissues. Selective TPH1 inhibitors may be useful for treating disorders related to serotonin dysregulation. Results & methodology: Screening using a thermal shift assay for TPH1 binders yielded Compound 1 (2-(4-methylphenyl)-1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one), which showed high potency (50% inhibition at 98 ± 30 nM) and selectivity for inhibiting TPH over related aromatic amino acid hydroxylases in enzyme activity assays. Structure-activity relationships studies revealed several analogs of 1 showing comparable potency. Kinetic studies suggested a noncompetitive mode of action of 1, with regards to tryptophan and tetrahydrobiopterin. Computational docking studies and live cell assays were also performed. Conclusion: This TPH1 inhibitor scaffold may be useful for developing new therapeutics for treating elevated peripheral serotonin.
Regulatory B Lymphocytes Colonize the Respiratory Tract of Neonatal Mice and Modulate Immune Responses of Alveolar Macrophages to RSV Infection in IL-10-Dependant Manner

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the prevalent pathogen of lower respiratory tract infections in children. The presence of neonatal regulatory B lymphocytes (nBreg) has been associated with a poor control of RSV infection in human newborns and with bronchiolitis severity. So far, little is known about how nBreg may contribute to neonatal immunopathology to RSV. We tracked nBreg in neonatal BALB/c mice and we investigated their impact on lung innate immunity, especially their crosstalk with alveolar macrophages (AMs) upon RSV infection. We showed that the colonization by nBreg during the first week of life is a hallmark of neonatal lung whereas this population is almost absent in adult lung. This particular period of age when nBreg are abundant corresponds to the same period when RSV replication in lungs fails to generate a type-I interferons (IFN-I) response and is not contained. When neonatal AMs are exposed to RSV in vitro, they produce IFN-I that in turn enhances IL-10 production by nBreg. IL-10 reciprocally can decrease IFN-I secretion by AMs. Thus, our work identified nBreg as an important component of neonatal lungs and pointed out new immunoregulatory interactions with AMs in the context of RSV infection.
Current status and strategic possibilities on potential use of combinational drug therapy against COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2

Abstract The spread of new coronavirus infection starting December 2019 as novel SARS-CoV-2, identified as the causing agent of COVID-19, has affected all over the world and been declared as pandemic. Approximately, more than 8,807,398 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection and 464,483 deaths have been reported globally till the end of 21 June 2020. Until now, there is no specific drug therapy or vaccine available for the treatment of COVID-19. However, some potential antimalarial drugs like hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, antifilarial drug ivermectin and antiviral drugs have been tested by many research groups worldwide for their possible effect against the COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin have been identified to act by creating the acidic condition in cells and inhibiting the importin (IMPα/β1) mediated viral import. There is a possibility that some other antimalarial drugs/antibiotics in combination with immunomodulators may help in combatting this pandemic disease. Therefore, this review focuses on the current use of various drugs as single agents (hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, azithromycin, favipiravir, remdesivir, umifenovir, teicoplanin, nitazoxanide, doxycycline, and dexamethasone) or in combinations with immunomodulators additionally. Furthermore, possible mode of action, efficacy and current stage of clinical trials of various drug combinations against COVID-19 disease has also been discussed in detail. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Extensive Genetic Connectivity and Historical Persistence Are Features of Two Widespread Tree Species in the Ancient Pilbara Region of Western Australia

Phylogeographic studies can be used as a tool to understand the evolutionary history of a landscape, including the major drivers of species distributions and diversity. Extensive research has been conducted on phylogeographic patterns of species found in northern hemisphere landscapes that were affected by glaciations, yet the body of literature for older, unaffected landscapes is still underrepresented. The Pilbara region of north-western Australia is an ancient and vast landscape that is topographically complex, consisting of plateaus, gorges, valleys, and ranges, and experiences extreme meteorological phenomena including seasonal cyclonic activity. These features are expected to influence patterns of genetic structuring throughout the landscape either by promoting or restricting the movement of pollen and seed. Whilst a growing body of literature exists for the fauna endemic to this region, less is known about the forces shaping the evolution of plant taxa. In this study we investigate the phylogeography of two iconic Pilbara tree species, the Hamersley Bloodwood (Corymbia hamersleyana) and Western Gidgee (Acacia pruinocarpa), by assessing patterns of variation and structure in several chloroplast DNA regions and nuclear microsatellite loci developed for each species. Gene flow was found to be extensive in both taxa and there was evidence of long-distance seed dispersal across the region (pollen to seed ratios of 6.67 and 2.96 for C. hamersleyana and A. pruinocarpa, respectively), which may result from flooding and strong wind gusts associated with extreme cyclonic activity. Both species possessed high levels of cpDNA genetic diversity in comparison to those from formerly glaciated landscapes (C. hamersleyana = 14 haplotypes, A. pruinocarpa = 37 haplotypes) and showed evidence of deep lineage diversification occurring from the late Miocene, a time of intensifying aridity in this landscape that appears to be a critical driver of evolution in Pilbara taxa. In contrast to another study, we did not find evidence for topographic features acting as refugia for the widely sampled C. hamersleyana.
Microbial Consortium of PGPR, Rhizobia and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Makes Pea Mutant SGECdt Comparable with Indian Mustard in Cadmium Tolerance and Accumulation

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most widespread and toxic soil pollutants that inhibits plant growth and microbial activity. Polluted soils can be remediated using plants that either accumulate metals (phytoextraction) or convert them to biologically inaccessible forms (phytostabilization). The phytoremediation potential of a symbiotic system comprising the Cd-tolerant pea (Pisum sativum L.) mutant SGECdt and selected Cd-tolerant microorganisms, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Variovorax paradoxus 5C-2, nodule bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae RCAM1066, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus sp. 1Fo, was evaluated in comparison with wild-type pea SGE and the Cd-accumulating plant Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern.) VIR263. Plants were grown in pots in sterilized uncontaminated or Cd-supplemented (15 mg Cd kg−1) soil and inoculated or not with the microbial consortium. Cadmium significantly inhibited growth of uninoculated and particularly inoculated SGE plants, but had no effect on SGECdt and decreased shoot biomass of B. juncea. Inoculation with the microbial consortium more than doubled pea biomass (both genotypes) irrespective of Cd contamination, but had little effect on B. juncea biomass. Cadmium decreased nodule number and acetylene reduction activity of SGE by 5.6 and 10.8 times, whereas this decrease in SGECdt was 2.1 and 2.8 times only, and the frequency of mycorrhizal structures decreased only in SGE roots. Inoculation decreased shoot Cd concentration and increased seed Cd concentration of both pea genotypes, but had little effect on Cd concentration of B. juncea. Inoculation also significantly increased concentration and/or accumulation of nutrients (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, P, S, and Zn) by Cd-treated pea plants, particularly by the SGECdt mutant. Shoot Cd concentration of SGECdt was twice that of SGE, and the inoculated SGECdt had approximately similar Cd accumulation capacity as compared with B. juncea. Thus, plant–microbe systems based on Cd-tolerant micro-symbionts and plant genotypes offer considerable opportunities to increase plant HM tolerance and accumulation.
Faktor Penyebab Anak Stunting Usia 25-60 Bulan di Kecamatan Sukorejo Kota Blitar

Stunting merupakan isu baru yang menjadi sorotan WHO untuk segera dituntaskan karena mempengaruhi fisik dan fungsional tubuh serta meningkatnya angka kesakitan anak. Stunting dapat dituntaskan bila faktor penyebab stuting disetiap wilayah dapat dikendalikan. Tujuan penelitian menggambarkan faktor penyebab stunting pada anak stunting usia 25-60 bulan. Desain penelitian menggunakan rancangan penelitian deskriptif. Dalam penelitian ini menggunakan teknik quota sampling dengan besar sampel yang diambil 31 anak. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara wawancara berdasarkan kuesioner dan lembar food recall 24 jam. Waktu pengumpulan data dilakukan pada 17-22 April 2017. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan faktor penyebab stunting yaitu asupan energi rendah (93,5%), penyakit infeksi (80,6%), jenis kelamin laki-laki (64,5%), pendidikan ibu rendah (48,4%), asupan protein rendah (45,2%), Tidak Asi Ekslusif (32,3%), pendidikan ayah rendah (32,3%) dan ibu bekerja (29%). Faktor tersebut disebabkan oleh kurangnya pengetahuan keluarga tentang pemenuhan gizi dan terdapat orangtua dengan pendidikan rendah yang diperlukan lintas sektor dalam penanganannya. Rekomendasi untuk petugas kesehatan UPTD Kesehatan Kecamatan Sukorejo yaitu melakukan penyuluhan tentang keluarga sadar gizi dan pemberian makanan tambahan selama 3 bulan pada balita dengan asupan energi dan protein rendah serta bekerjasama dengan dinas pendidikan kota Blitar dalam sosialisasi wajib belajar 12 tahun.
Presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in COVID-19: a case series study

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and its associated coagulopathy are particularly worrisome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), as these diseases carry an increased risk of thrombotic complications. Mathian et al recently reported the clinical course of COVID-19 in a series of 17 patients with SLE under chronic hydroxychloroquine therapy.1 Of note, only one patient (6%) presented thrombosis despite the fact that four patients (24%) had a history of secondary APS, and five patients (29%) were receiving oral anticoagulants. Antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies were not measured in these patients during active SARS-CoV-2 infection.1 The American Society of Hematology recently stated that ‘at the current time, there are only very limited data on aPL antibodies in COVID-19 and it is unclear if they represent an epiphenomenon or are actually involved in any haemostatic abnormalities seen in COVID-19 disease’. 2 Furthermore, almost all the available information refers to the lupus anticoagulant, with frequencies ranging from 45% to 87%. 3 4 This paucity of data led us to test a panel of aPL antibodies in blood specimens from 21 patients hospitalised in the intensive care unit between 12 and 19 …
Utility of C4D deposits in native renal diseases and relation with disease progression

INTRODUCTION: C4D is a well-known biomarker of complement cascade. The utility of C4D in identification of antibody-mediated rejection has been known since its incorporation in Banff classification in 2003. Recently, many researchers have turned their attention to C4D deposition in native renal diseases. The present study was done at our tertiary care center to adjudge the significance of C4D deposits in native renal diseases across Indian cohort of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was done on fifty cases of native renal diseases and followed up at 6 months. C4D immunohistochemical analysis was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded renal tissue sections with antibody against C4D (polyclonal rabbit immunoglobulin G antihuman C4D antibody). RESULTS: All cases of membranous nephropathy, immunoglobulin A nephropathy, and hypertensive nephropathy showed glomerular C4D positivity ranging from 2+ to 3+. Nearly 50%, 50%, 43%, and 40% cases of diabetic nephropathy, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis, and postinfectious glomerulonephritis, respectively, demonstrated positive glomerular C4D deposits. Increased intensity expression of glomerular C4D deposits was in significant concordance with presenting 24 h urinary protein level at the time of biopsy and in follow-up trends; C4D positive cases were noted to have slowed recovery process as evidenced by delay in returning to normal range proteinuria. Higher histological grades in respective native diseases' classification correlated with increased glomerular C4D intensity expression. C4D positivity in other renal compartments did not yield any significant results. CONCLUSION: C4D positivity can be explored as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in native renal diseases as well, apart from transplant biopsies' evaluation
Health Promoting School Interventions in Latin America: A Systematic Review Protocol on the Dimensions of the RE-AIM Framework

Understanding the dimensions of internal and external validities (e.g., using the RE-AIM model: Reach, Effectiveness/Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) of school interventions is important to guide research and practice in this context. The aim of this systematic review protocol is to synthesize evidence on the RE-AIM dimensions in interventions based on the Health Promoting School (HPS) approach from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Latin America. Studies of interventions based on HPS-WHO that were carried out in Latin America involving the population of 5 to 18-year-olds will be eligible. Searches in nine electronic databases, a study repository, the gray literature, and the retrieved articles’ reference lists will be performed, without year or publication language limits. Study selection and data extraction will be conducted by independent researchers. Data on intervention implementation will be summarized in categories of HPS-WHO actions: (1) school curriculum, (2) changes in the social and/or physical environment of schools, and (3) actions with families and the community. A previously validated tool will be used to summarize the information on the dimensions of the RE-AIM model. The strengths and limitations of the included studies will be evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) tool, and the confidence level of evidence will be assessed according to the GRADE CERQual tool.
Endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19: a position paper of the ESC Working Group for Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology, and the ESC Council of Basic Cardiovascular Science

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented healthcare emergency causing mortality and illness across the world. Although primarily affecting the lungs, the SARS-CoV-2 virus also affects the cardiovascular system. In addition to cardiac effects, e.g. myocarditis, arrhythmias, and myocardial damage, the vasculature is affected in COVID-19, both directly by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and indirectly as a result of a systemic inflammatory cytokine storm. This includes the role of the vascular endothelium in the recruitment of inflammatory leucocytes where they contribute to tissue damage and cytokine release, which are key drivers of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in disseminated intravascular coagulation, and cardiovascular complications in COVID-19. There is also evidence linking endothelial cells (ECs) to SARS-CoV-2 infection including: (i) the expression and function of its receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the vasculature; (ii) the prevalence of a Kawasaki disease-like syndrome (vasculitis) in COVID-19; and (iii) evidence of EC infection with SARS-CoV-2 in patients with fatal COVID-19. Here, the Working Group on Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology together with the Council of Basic Cardiovascular Science of the European Society of Cardiology provide a Position Statement on the importance of the endothelium in the underlying pathophysiology behind the clinical presentation in COVID-19 and identify key questions for future research to address. We propose that endothelial biomarkers and tests of function (e.g. flow-mediated dilatation) should be evaluated for their usefulness in the risk stratification of COVID-19 patients. A better understanding of the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on endothelial biology in both the micro- and macrovasculature is required, and endothelial function testing should be considered in the follow-up of convalescent COVID-19 patients for early detection of long-term cardiovascular complications.
A Study on Analysis of Non -Performing Assets and its Impact on Profitability

The banking industry plays a critical role in the Indian economy. Measuring and maintaining the asset quality of banks is important for the development of the banking sector. Nowadays, the asset quality in banks, especially the Public Sector Banks is constantly deteriorating and thus causing intolerable stress to the banking sector, regulators, and Indian economy. The objective of the present study is to understand the level of Non-performing Assets (NPA), and how it influences the profitability of the banks. For this purpose, the study considered Gross and Net NPA of 10 Public & Private sector banks from April 2014 to March 2018. The study identified that both the public and private sector banks gradually increase their Gross & Net NPA during the period. The study found that there is a significant positive relationship between Gross NPA and Net NPA of public and private sector banks. The study also found a significant negative relationship between NPA with Return on Assets (ROA) of public & private sector banks. The impact of ownership (public and private sector banks) significantly influences the Gross and Net NPA. The Gross NPA has a significant negative influence on ROA whereas, Net NPA has a positive influence on ROA of both public and private sector banks. So the study recommends to the regulators and respective bank officials to take the necessary steps to reduce the NPA and improve the recovery mechanism.
Food and COVID-19: Preventive/Co-therapeutic Strategies Explored by Current Clinical Trials and in Silico Studies

Foods, food ingredients, and their balanced consumption are recognized to have an important role in achieving or maintaining a state of wellbeing by acting as carriers of functional components and bioactive molecules. However, the potential contribution of foods to consumers’ health has so far only been partially exploited. The rapidly evolving scenario of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is stimulating profound reflection on the relationships between food and the etiological agent, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, the status of knowledge regarding food as a possible defense/co-therapeutic strategy against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is considered through the discussion of two main current lines of research. One line of research relates to the role of micronutrients, food components, and diets in the strengthening of the immune system through clinical trials; formulations could be developed as immune system enhancers or as co-adjuvants in therapies. The other line of research relates to investigation of the chemical interactions that specific food compounds can have with host or virus targets so as to interfere with the viral infective cycle of SARS-CoV-2. This line requires, as a first step, an in silico evaluation to discover lead compounds, which may be further developed through drug-design studies, in vitro and in vivo tests, and, finally, clinical trials to obtain therapeutic molecules. All of these promising strategies promote the role of food in preventive/co-therapeutic strategies to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multiple Trajectory Prediction of Moving Agents With Memory Augmented Networks

Pedestrians and drivers are expected to safely navigate complex urban environments along with several non cooperating agents. Autonomous vehicles will soon replicate this capability. Each agent acquires a representation of the world from an egocentric perspective and must make decisions ensuring safety for itself and others. This requires to predict motion patterns of observed agents for a far enough future. In this paper we propose MANTRA, a model that exploits memory augmented networks to effectively predict multiple trajectories of other agents, observed from an egocentric perspective. Our model stores observations in memory and uses trained controllers to write meaningful pattern encodings and read trajectories that are most likely to occur in future. We show that our method is able to natively perform multi-modal trajectory prediction obtaining state-of-the art results on four datasets. Moreover, thanks to the non-parametric nature of the memory module, we show how once trained our system can continuously improve by ingesting novel patterns.