Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coping With COVID-19: Health Risk Communication and Vulnerable Groups

Abstract Objectives: This study sought to identify coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk communication materials distributed in Jamaica to mitigate the effects of the disease outbreak. It also sought to explore the effects of health risk communication on vulnerable groups in the context of the pandemic. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, including a content analysis of health risk communications and in-depth interviews with 35 purposively selected elderly, physically disabled, persons with mental health disorders, representatives of government agencies, advocacy and service groups, and caregivers of the vulnerable. Axial coding was applied to data from the interviews, and all data were analyzed using the constant comparison technique. Results: Twelve of the 141 COVID-19 risk communication messages directly targeted the vulnerable. All participants were aware of the relevant risk communication and largely complied. Barriers to messaging awareness and compliance included inappropriate message medium for the deaf and blind, rural location, lack of Internet service or digital devices, limited technology skills, and limited connection to agencies that serve the vulnerable. Conclusion: The vulnerable are at increased risk in times of crisis. Accessibility of targeted information was inadequate for universal access to health information and support for vulnerable persons regardless of location and vulnerability.
Local delivery of fingolimod through PLGA nanoparticles and PuraMatrix‐embedded neural precursor cells promote motor function recovery and tissue repair in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating clinical problem that can lead to permanent motor dysfunction. Fingolimod (FTY720) is a sphingosine structural analogue, and recently, its therapeutic benefits in SCI have been reported. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of fingolimod‐incorporated poly lactic‐co‐glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (nanofingolimod) delivered locally together with neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) transplantation in a mouse model of contusive acute SCI. Fingolimod was encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles by the emulsion–evaporation method. Mouse NS/PCs were harvested and cultured from embryonic Day 14 (E14) ganglionic eminences. Induction of SCI was followed by the intrathecal delivery of nanofingolimod with and without intralesional transplantation of PuraMatrix‐encapsulated NS/PCs. Functional recovery, injury size and the fate of the transplanted cells were evaluated after 28 days. The nanofingolimod particles represented spherical morphology. The entrapment efficiency determined by UV–visible spectroscopy was approximately 90%, and the drug content of fingolimod loaded nanoparticles was 13%. About 68% of encapsulated fingolimod was slowly released within 10 days. Local delivery of nanofingolimod in combination with NS/PCs transplantation led to a stronger improvement in neurological functions and minimized tissue damage. Furthermore, co‐administration of nanofingolimod and NS/PCs not only increased the survival of transplanted cells but also promoted their fate towards more oligodendrocytic phenotype. Our data suggest that local release of nanofingolimod in combination with three‐dimensional (3D) transplantation of NS/PCs in the acute phase of SCI could be a promising approach to restore the damaged tissues and improve neurological functions.
Non-canonical role for Lpar1-EGFP subplate neurons in early postnatal mouse somatosensory cortex

Subplate neurons (SPNs) are thought to play a role in nascent sensory processing in neocortex. To better understand how heterogeneity within this population relates to emergent function, we investigated the synaptic connectivity of Lpar1-EGFP SPNs through the first postnatal week in whisker somatosensory cortex (S1BF). These SPNs comprise of two morphological subtypes: fusiform SPNs with local axons and pyramidal SPNs with axons that extend through the marginal zone. The former receive translaminar synaptic input up until the emergence of the whisker barrels, a timepoint coincident with significant cell death. In contrast, pyramidal SPNs receive local input from the subplate at early ages but then – during the later time window – acquire input from overlying cortex. Combined electrical and optogenetic activation of thalamic afferents identified that Lpar1-EGFP SPNs receive sparse thalamic innervation. These data reveal components of the postnatal network that interpret sparse thalamic input to direct the emergent columnar structure of S1BF.
Determinants of voluntary turnover: A data-driven analysis for blue and white collar workers.

BACKGROUND There is a growing interest in HR-analytics because of its ability to analyze employee behavior based on HR data. Predicting voluntary turnover of employees is an important topic of study, both in academia and industry. OBJECTIVE The current study analyzes determinants for turnover, distinguishing between blue and white collar workers. The turnover analyses are based on a dataset from a payroll company, in contrary to previous turnover studies that used survey and interview data. METHODS The studied dataset contains demographic and work specific factors for more than 380000 employees in 15692 Belgian corporations. Logistic regression is used to estimate individual turnover probabilities, the goodness of the model is tested with the AUC method. RESULTS The study confirms turnover determinants and differences between blue and white collar workers that were described in previous work based on survey and interview data. Additionally, the study exposes so far unstudied turnover determinants and differences between blue and white collar workers. Confirmed determinants are among others age, seniority, pay and work distance. New determinants are company car, meal vouchers, night work and sickness. Different relationships to turnover are revealed for blue and white collar workers based on gender, number of children, nationality and pay. CONCLUSIONS The presented dataset-based approach has its merit in analyzing turnover: it enables to study actual turnover instead of turnover intentions, and reveals new turnover determinants and differences between blue and white collar workers.
Effects of iodine excess on serum thyrotropin-releasing hormone levels and type 2 deiodinase in the hypothalamus of Wistar rats

Abstract Iodine is an important element in thyroid hormone biosynthesis. Thyroid function is regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis. Excessive iodine leads to elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, but the mechanism is not yet clear. Type 2 deiodinase (Dio2) is a Se-containing protease that plays a vital role in thyroid function. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of hypothalamus Dio2 in regulating TSH increase caused by excessive iodine and to determine the effects of iodine excess on thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) levels. Male Wistar rats were randomised into five groups and administered different iodine dosages (folds of physiological dose): normal iodine, 3-fold iodine, 6-fold iodine, 10-fold iodine and 50-fold iodine. Rats were euthanised at 4, 8, 12 or 24 weeks after iodine administration. Serum TRH, TSH, total thyroxine (TT4) and total triiodothyronine (TT3) were determined. Hypothalamus tissues were frozen and sectioned to evaluate the expression of Dio2, Dio2 activity and monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8). Prolonged high iodine intake significantly increased TSH expression (P < 0·05) but did not affect TT3 and TT4 levels. Prolonged high iodine intake decreased serum TRH levels in the hypothalamus (P < 0·05). Dio2 expression and activity in the hypothalamus exhibited an increasing trend compared at each time point with increasing iodine intake (P < 0·05). Hypothalamic MCT8 expression was increased in rats with prolonged high iodine intake (P < 0·05). These results indicate that iodine excess affects the levels of Dio2, TRH and MCT8 in the hypothalamus.
Simultaneous evaluation of antibodies that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 variants via multiplex assay

The SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) is both the principal target of neutralizing antibodies and one of the most rapidly evolving domains, which can result in the emergence of immune escape mutations, limiting the effectiveness of vaccines and antibody therapeutics. To facilitate surveillance, we developed a rapid, high-throughput, multiplex assay able to assess the inhibitory response of antibodies to 24 RBD natural variants simultaneously. We demonstrate how this assay can be implemented as a rapid surrogate assay for functional cell-based serological methods to measure the SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing capacity of antibodies at the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2–RBD (ACE2-RBD) interface. We describe the enhanced affinity of RBD variants N439K, S477N, Q493L, S494P, and N501Y to the ACE2 receptor and demonstrate the ability of this assay to bridge a major gap for SARS-CoV-2 research, informing selection of complementary monoclonal antibody candidates and the rapid identification of immune escape to emerging RBD variants following vaccination or natural infection.
Efficacy information influences intention to take COVID‐19 vaccine

Objectives A successful response to the COVID‐19 pandemic requires achieving high levels of vaccine uptake. We tested whether directly contrasting the high efficacy of COVID‐19 vaccines with the lower efficacy of the annual flu vaccine would increase intentions to take a COVID‐19 vaccine. Design A pre‐registered online study of 481 participants compared four information conditions: (1) no information; (2) COVID‐19 Vaccine Information Only; and COVID‐19 Vaccine Information combined with flu vaccine information suggesting either (3) 60% efficacy or (4) 40% efficacy; we measured COVID‐19 and flu vaccine intentions along with several other vaccine‐related variables. Methods The Prolific platform was used to recruit 481 UK participants (64% female; aged between 18 and 85 years) who had been pre‐screened to have intermediate levels of vaccine hesitancy. After reading a short text (~200 words) about COVID‐19 vaccines, participants were asked about their vaccination intentions. Results Providing information about the safety and efficacy of the new COVID‐19 vaccines resulted in vaccination intentions that were, on average, 0.39 standard deviations (SDs) higher than those in the no information condition; providing the same COVID vaccine efficacy information in the context of information about flu vaccine efficacy resulted in a further significant increase in vaccination intentions that were 0.68 SD higher than those in the no information condition. This positive contrast effect for the COVID‐19 vaccine was not associated with reduced flu vaccine intentions. Conclusions Vaccination intentions can be strengthened through a simple messaging intervention that utilizes context effects to increase perceived response efficacy.
Isolation and identification of leukocyte populations in intracranial blood collected during mechanical thrombectomy

Using standard techniques during mechanical thrombectomy, the Blood and Clot Thrombectomy Registry and Collaboration (BACTRAC) protocol (NCT03153683) isolates intracranial arterial blood distal to the thrombus and proximal systemic blood in the carotid artery. We augmented the current protocol to study leukocyte subpopulations both distal and proximal to the thrombus during human stroke (n = 16 patients), and from patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) undergoing angiography for unrelated conditions (e.g. carotid artery stenosis; n = 12 patients). We isolated leukocytes for flow cytometry from small volume (<1 mL) intracranial blood and systemic blood (5–10 mL) to identify adaptive and innate leukocyte populations, in addition to platelets and endothelial cells (ECs). Intracranial blood exhibited significant increases in T cell representation and decreases in myeloid/macrophage representation compared to within-patient carotid artery samples. CD4+ T cells and classical dendritic cells were significantly lower than CVD controls and correlated to within-patient edema volume and last known normal. This novel protocol successfully isolates leukocytes from small volume intracranial blood samples of stroke patients at time of mechanical thrombectomy and can be used to confirm preclinical results, as well as identify novel targets for immunotherapies.
Monitoring lung injury with particle flow rate in LPS‐ and COVID‐19‐induced ARDS

In severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life‐prolonging treatment, especially among COVID‐19 patients. Evaluation of lung injury progression is challenging with current techniques. Diagnostic imaging or invasive diagnostics are risky given the difficulties of intra‐hospital transportation, contraindication of biopsies, and the potential for the spread of infections, such as in COVID‐19 patients. We have recently shown that particle flow rate (PFR) from exhaled breath could be a noninvasive, early detection method for ARDS during mechanical ventilation. We hypothesized that PFR could also measure the progress of lung injury during ECMO treatment. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was thus used to induce ARDS in pigs under mechanical ventilation. Eight were connected to ECMO, whereas seven animals were not. In addition, six animals received sham treatment with saline. Four human patients with ECMO and ARDS were also monitored. In the pigs, as lung injury ensued, the PFR dramatically increased and a particular spike followed the establishment of ECMO in the LPS‐treated animals. PFR remained elevated in all animals with no signs of lung recovery. In the human patients, in the two that recovered, PFR decreased. In the two whose lung function deteriorated while on ECMO, there was increased PFR with no sign of recovery in lung function. The present results indicate that real‐time monitoring of PFR may be a new, complementary approach in the clinic for measurement of the extent of lung injury and recovery over time in ECMO patients with ARDS.
Diaphragm dysfunction in severe COVID‐19 as determined by neuromuscular ultrasound

Many survivors from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) suffer from persistent dyspnea and fatigue long after resolution of the active infection. In a cohort of 21 consecutive severe post‐COVID‐19 survivors admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, 16 (76%) of them had at least one sonographic abnormality of diaphragm muscle structure or function. This corresponded to a significant reduction in diaphragm muscle contractility as represented by thickening ratio (muscle thickness at maximal inspiration/end‐expiration) for the post‐COVID‐19 compared to non‐COVID‐19 cohorts. These findings may shed new light on neuromuscular respiratory dysfunction as a contributor to prolonged functional impairments after hospitalization for post‐COVID‐19.
Elucidating the Roles of Zeolite H-BEA in Aqueous-Phase Fructose Dehydration and HMF Rehydration

The main paths by which zeolites carry out the dehydration of fructose to HMF and the rehydration of HMF to levulinic acid in aqueous solutions are elucidated using an H-BEA zeolite with SiO2/Al2O3 = 18 (H-BEA-18) as a representative solid acid catalyst. Specifically, the relative role of homogeneous chemistry (both solvent- and zeolite-induced), the effect of external surface acid sites, and the effect of adsorption of products and reactants on the catalyst for these reactions is delineated. We found that H-BEA-18 increases the conversion of fructose and HMF in part by catalyzing fructose isomerization to glucose and HMF rehydration to formic and levulinic acids, respectively. The glucose-to-fructose isomerization is caused by octahedral aluminum atoms that act as Lewis acid sites as shown by 1H and 13C NMR. These Lewis sites are formed during calcination and are stable under reaction conditions. They also catalyze reactions to unknown products from both fructose and HMF. The acids produced from HMF rehy.
mTOR Inhibition Promotes Pneumonitis Through Inducing Endothelial Contraction and Hyperpermeability.

Compromised endothelial (EC) barrier function is a hallmark of inflammatory diseases. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, widely applied as clinical therapies, cause pneumonitis through mechanisms not yet fully understood. This study aimed to elucidate the EC mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of pneumonitis caused by mTOR inhibition (mTORi). Mice with EC-specific deletion of mTOR complex components (Mtor, Rptor or Rictor) were administered LPS to induce pulmonary injury. Cultured EC were treated with pharmacological inhibitors, small interfering RNA or overexpression-plasmids. EC barrier function was evaluated in vivo with Evan's blue assay and in vitro by measurement of transendothelial electrical resistance and albumin flux. mTORi increased basal and TNFα-induced EC permeability, which was caused by myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation-dependent cell contraction. Inactivation of mTOR kinase activity by mTORi triggered PKCδ/p38/NF-κB signaling that significantly upregulated TNFα-induced MLC kinase (MLCK) expression, while Raptor promoted the phosphorylation of PKCα/MYPT1 independent of its interaction with mTOR, leading to suppression of MLC phosphatase (MLCP) activity. EC-specific deficiency in mTOR, Raptor or Rictor aggravated lung inflammation in LPS-treated mice. These findings reveal that mTORi induces PKC-dependent endothelial MLC phosphorylation, contraction and hyperpermeability that promote pneumonitis.
Parsing the Mechanisms Underlying Ingroup Facial Resemblance

People prefer to form relationships with people like themselves—a tendency that extends even to facial appearance, resulting in groups whose members look alike. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying homophilic resemblance using facial photos of fraternity/sorority members from two time points: before joining the group and after belonging to the group for three years. Analyses of both subjective trait impressions and objective face-shape measurements revealed that not only did group members look alike, they resembled one another even before joining the group. Moreover, photos of potential fraternity recruits revealed that facial appearance predicted both the group that individuals sought to join and the group’s likelihood of accepting them. Individuals, therefore, seek to join groups consisting of people who look like them, and the groups preferentially accept new members who resemble those already in the group. This bidirectional preference for homophily likely perpetuates intragroup homogeneity, suggesting potential implications beyond appearance.
When to Consider Lynch Syndrome in Non-Colon and Non-Endometrial Malignancies

Lynch syndrome (LS) is a common genetic syndrome characterized by pathogenic mutations of DNA mismatch repair genes resulting in a hereditary predisposition to cancer. While typically associated with colonic and endometrial cancer, LS additionally influences the development of many other malignancies. The Amsterdam II and Revised Bethesda Guidelines are the established clinical criteria for diagnosing LS. These guidelines are based on the most general characteristics of LS and do not address specific characteristics of the less commonly LS-associated malignancies. For individuals that present initially with a non-colon and non-endometrial malignancy, recommendations and guidelines on when to consider screening for LS are limited. Therefore, it is essential that clinicians are familiar with distinct LS-associated patient- and tumor-specific characteristics, especially of the less common LS-associated cancers, so that LS’s diagnosis is not missed. In this review article, we focus on extra-colonic and extra-endometrial LS-associated cancers, paying particular attention to any established or currently investigated cancer features that help raise suspicion for LS and potentially lead to its earlier diagnosis. This review will also discuss current guidelines specific to each LS-associated malignancy.
Predictive Value of Verbatim Parkinson’s Disease Patient-Reported Symptoms of Postural Instability and Falling

Background: Postural instability is an intractable sign of Parkinson’s disease, associated with poor disease prognosis, fall risk, and decreased quality of life. Objective: 1) Characterize verbatim reports of postural instability and associated symptoms (gait disorder, balance, falling, freezing, and posture), 2) compare reports with responses to three pre-specified questions from Part II of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), and 3) examine postural instability symptoms and MDS-UPDRS responses as predictors of future falls. Methods: Fox Insight research participants reported their problems attributed to PD in their own words using the Parkinson Disease Patient Reports of Problems (PD-PROP). Natural language processing, clinical curation, and data mining techniques were applied to classify text into problem domains and clinically-curated symptoms. Baseline postural instability symptoms were mapped to MDS-UPDRS questions 2.11–2.13. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare postural instability reporters and non-reporters, and Cochran-Armitage trend tests were used to evaluate associations between PD-PROP and MDS-UPDRS responses; survival methods were utilized to evaluate the predictive utility of PD-PROP and MDS-UPDRS responses in time-to-fall analyses. Results: Of participants within 10 years of PD diagnosis, 9,692 (56.0%) reported postural instability symptoms referable to gait unsteadiness, balance, falling, freezing, or posture at baseline. Postural instability symptoms were significantly associated with patient-reported measures from the MDS-UPDRS questions. Balance problems reported on PD-PROP and MDS-UPDRS 2.11–2.13 measures were predictive of future falls. Conclusion: Verbatim-reported problems captured by the PD-PROP and categorized by natural language processing and clinical curation and MDS-UPDRS responses predicted falls. The PD-PROP output was more granular than, and as informative as, the categorical responses.
Socio-economic inequalities in dietary intake in Chile: a systematic review

Abstract Objective: Understanding the socio-economic inequalities in dietary intake is crucial when addressing the socio-economic gradient in obesity rates and non-communicable diseases. We aimed to systematically assess the association between socio-economic position (SEP) and dietary intake in Chile. Design: We searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature from inception until 31 December 2019 in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Sciences and LILACS databases. Observational studies published in English and Spanish, reporting the comparison of at least one dietary factor between at least two groups of different SEP in the general Chilean population, were selected. Two researchers independently conducted data searches, screening and extraction and assessed study quality using an adaptation of the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Results: Twenty-one articles (from eighteen studies) were included. Study quality was considered low, medium and high for 24, 52 and 24 % of articles, respectively. Moderate-to-large associations indicated lower intake of fruit and vegetables, dairy products and fish/seafood and higher pulses consumption among adults of lower SEP. Variable evidence of association was found for energy intake and macronutrients, in both children and adults. Conclusions: Our findings highlight some socio-economic inequalities in diets in Chile, evidencing an overall less healthy food consumption among the lower SEP groups. New policies to reduce these inequalities should tackle the unequal distribution of factors affecting healthy eating among the lower SEP groups. These findings also provide important insights for developing strategies to reduce dietary inequalities in Chile and other countries that have undergone similar nutritional transitions.