Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Facilitators and Barriers to Healthy Midlife Transition among South Asian Immigrant Women in Canada: A Qualitative Exploration

Background: South Asian immigrant women make up the largest visible minority in Canada, where visible minorities include persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour, and approximately half of these women are above the age of 35. Few studies have investigated the factors that impact the midlife transition for these women. This study aims to identify the facilitators and barriers experienced by South Asian immigrant women during the midlife transition. Methods: Two focus groups and ten one-on-one interviews about the midlife transition were held with South Asian first-generation immigrant women in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada; discussions were analyzed thematically. Findings: Personal facilitators to the midlife transition included being employed and possessing adequate life skills. Personal barriers consisted of financial strain, overwhelming demands, and limited life skills. Familial facilitators were stable financial status and support. Familial barriers included limited understanding and support and high expectations. Community facilitators included a close social circle and adequate healthcare. Community barriers were limited social support and cultural expectations. Fair and respectful societies were a facilitator, whereas inadequate policy support and acculturative stress were societal barriers. An environmental barrier was the colder Canadian climate. Discussion: Employment and education programs for South Asian immigrant women need to be prioritized to help them integrate into society. Family-centred assessment and education can improve familial support. Communities need to foster peer support groups and culturally sensitive healthcare. Social and employment policies should accommodate the midlife transition. Conclusions: South Asian immigrant women experience unique facilitators and barriers to their midlife transition that should be considered by healthcare providers, policymakers and society to support them.
Screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Very Preterm Children: The EPIPAGE-2 Cohort Study

Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a blinding disease that requires screening by retinal examination. Screening practices are rarely evaluated. We aimed to determine the prevalence of ROP screening in very preterm infants and individual- and center-related factors associated with ROP screening. Methods: Data were extracted from the EPIPAGE-2 cohort, a French prospective population-based study of premature births in 2011. Children born before 32 weeks’ gestation (WG) without severe malformation and alive at the recommended time for ROP screening were included. Outcome measures were achievement of ROP screening and compliance with recommended screening timeline. Individual- and center-related factors associated with both measures were studied using mixed models. Results: Among 3,077 eligible infants, 2,169 (70.5%) had a ROP screening, ranging from 96% at 24 WG to 50% at 31 WG. Large variability among units was observed. Individual characteristics associated with screening were low gestational age, low birth weight, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia or neurological lesions, and transfer between neonatal units during the screening period. Odds of screening were higher in neonatal units using wide-angle imaging (odds ratio 2.65 [95% confidence interval 1.17–6.01]) but decreased in units without a local protocol for ROP screening (0.03 [0.01–0.09]). Among screened children, 1,641/2,169 (75.7%) were screened according to recommended timeline. Delayed screening was associated with low gestational age, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia or necrotizing enterocolitis, and absence of local protocol for ROP screening. Discussion/Conclusions: In this large cohort study of infants born very preterm, almost one-third were not screened for ROP. Children most at risk for ROP were the best screened but often with delay. The higher compliance of neonatal units using wide-angle imaging systems supports its use.
Improving pandemic preparedness through better, faster influenza vaccines

ABSTRACT Introduction. Timely availability of effective influenza vaccine will be critical to mitigate the next influenza pandemic. The mission of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is to develop medical countermeasures against pandemics, including influenza and other health security threats. Areas covered. Despite considerable gains in pandemic vaccine preparedness since 2009, old and new challenges threaten the pandemic influenza response capabilities of the U.S. Government: insufficient U.S.-based vaccine production, two-dose vaccination regimen, logistically complex adjuvanted formulation, and sustained surge manufacturing capacity despite no commercial market for pandemic vaccines. Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has re-exposed these gaps in preparedness and response, previous investments into flexible influenza vaccine technologies proved to be critical to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine development. Expert opinion. BARDA addresses these challenges by implementing a pandemic influenza vaccine strategy with two key goals: 1) accelerating vaccine development and production (faster) and 2) improving vaccine performance (better). This strategy involves an end-to-end approach, including increasing manufacturing and fill-finish capacity; improving release testing speed; and funding clinical trials to improve current vaccine utilization. As demonstrated by the COVID-19 response, continued investments into this pandemic influenza vaccine strategy will further enhance the ability to respond to future emerging pandemic pathogens.
Two Ecdysteroids Isolated from Micropropagated Lychnis flos-cuculi and the Biological Activity of Plant Material

Genetically uniform plant material, derived from Lychnis flos-cuculi propagated in vitro, was used for the isolation of 20-hydroxyecdysone and polypodine B and subjected to an evaluation of the antifungal and antiamoebic activity. The activity of 80% aqueous methanolic extracts, their fractions, and isolated ecdysteroids were studied against pathogenic Acanthamoeba castellani. Additionally, a Microtox® acute toxicity assay was performed. It was found that an 80% methanolic fraction of root extract exerts the most potent amoebicidal activity at IC50 of 0.06 mg/mL at the 3rd day of treatment. Both ecdysteroids show comparable activity at IC50 of 0.07 mg/mL. The acute toxicity of 80% fractions at similar concentrations is significantly higher than that of 40% fractions. Crude extracts exhibited moderate antifungal activity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) within the range of 1.25–2.5 mg/mL. To the best of our knowledge, the present report is the first to show the biological activity of L. flos-cuculi in terms of the antifungal and antiamoebic activities and acute toxicity. It is also the first isolation of the main ecdysteroids from L. flos-cuculi micropropagated, ecdysteroid-rich plant material.
Varietal Differences of Prokupac, Evita and Čokot Zemun Based on Their Anthocyanins Content in Grape Skin Extract

In this study, we have analyzed the anthocyanin composition of skin extracts of three red grape varieties Prokupac, Evita and Čokot Zemun in order to distinguish these cultivars based on their anthocyanin profile. Also, mechanical analysis of grape bunches and berries was performed. According to our results, seventeen anthocyanins were identified using LC/MS technique and quantitative differences were recorded using HPLC‐DAD method. The highest content of total anthocyanins was obtained for Evita variety and the lowest one was recorded in Prokupac. Also, clear differences were observed in anthocyanins ratios. In comparison to Prokupac and Evita varieties, Čokot Zemun was characterized with a high content of coumaroyl derivatives of anthocyanin compounds, while high levels of acetylated derivatives were recorded in Prokupac. Data reported in this study represent a certain contribution to a database of mechanical properties and chemical composition of grape varieties originating from Balkan.
SELECTED RADICAL AZOINITIATORS IN THE SYNTHESIS OF SOLVENT-BORNE ACRYLIC PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVES

Functional azoinitiators: 2,2’-azobis(2-methyl- 4-hydroxybutyl propionate) (AIB-BD), 2,2’-azobis[2- methyl-? -hydroxy-tri(oxyethylene) propionate] [AIBTri(OE)] and 2,2’-azobis[2-methyl-? -hydroxyoligo( oxyethylene) propionate] [AIB-OOE(400)] were used in radical polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl acrylate and acrylic acid in organic solvent ethyl тacetate to prepare solvent-borne acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA). After polymerization the viscosity, molecular weight and polydispersity of received acrylic PSA have been evaluated and compared with the product of polymerization initiated by the conventional azoinitiator 2,2’-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). Показана можливість використання функційних азоініціаторів: 2,2’-азобіс(2-метил-4-гідроксибутил пропіонату), 2,2’-азобіс[2-метил-ω-гідрокси-три(оксиетилен) пропіонату] та 2,2’-азобіс[2-метил-ω-гідрокси-оліго(оксиетилен) пропіонату] в радикальній полімеризації 2-етилгексилакрилату, метилакрилату і метакрилової кислоти в органічному розчиннику етилацетаті для одержання обмежено розчинних акрилових клеїв, здатних склеюватись при надавлюванні.
Phosphorylation of Microglial IRF5 and IRF4 by IRAK4 Regulates Inflammatory Responses to Ischemia

Background: Interferon Regulatory Factor (IRF) 5 and 4 play a determinant role in regulating microglial pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to cerebral ischemia. How microglial IRF5 and IRF4 signaling are activated has been elusive. We hypothesized that interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) phosphorylates and activates IRF5 and IRF4 in ischemic microglia. We aimed to explore the upstream signals of the two IRFs, and to determine how the IRAK4-IRF signaling regulates the expression of inflammatory mediators, and impacts neuropathology. Methods: Spontaneously Immortalized Murine (SIM)-A9 microglial cell line, primary microglia and neurons from C57BL/6 WT mice were cultured and exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), followed by stimulation with LPS or IL-4. An IRAK4 inhibitor (ND2158) was used to examine IRAK4′s effects on the phosphorylation of IRF5/IRF4 and the impacts on neuronal morphology by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP)/Western blot, ELISA, and immunofluorescence assays. Results: We confirmed that IRAK4 formed a Myddosome with MyD88/IRF5/IRF4, and phosphorylated both IRFs, which subsequently translocated into the nucleus. Inhibition of IRAK4 phosphorylation quenched microglial pro-inflammatory response primarily, and increased neuronal viability and neurite lengths after ischemia. Conclusions: IRAK4 signaling is critical for microglial inflammatory responses and a potential therapeutic target for neuroinflammatory diseases including cerebral ischemia.
Simultaneous HPTLC Analysis of Aspirin, Atorvastatin Calcium and Clopidogrel Bisulphate in the Bulk Drug and in Capsules

Summary. A simple, precise, and accurate HPTLC method has been established for simultaneous quantification of aspirin, atorvastatin calcium and clopidogrel bisulphate in the bulk drug and in a capsule dosage form. Chromatographic separation of the drugs was performed on aluminium foil plates precoated with silica gel 60 F254, with toluene– methanol–formic acid 6.5:3.5:0.1 (v/v) as mobile phase. Densitometric evaluation of the separated zones was performed at 254 nm. The three drugs were satisfactorily resolved with RF ± SD values 0.26 ± 0.01, 0.47 ± 0.01, and 0.78 ± 0.01 for aspirin, atorvastatin calcium, and clopidogrel bisulphate, respectively. The method was validated for linearity, specificity, accuracy, precision, and robustness, in accordance with ICH guidelines. Results from recovery studies indicated acceptable recovery of the drugs from the capsule dosage form. The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations were in the ranges 0.17–0.73% and 0.46–1.03% for aspirin, 0.36–0.87% and 0.44–0.62% for atorvastatin calcium, and 0.25–0.69% and 0.35–0.94% for clopidogrel bisulphate. The method proved to be a rapid and cost-effective quality-control tool for routine simultaneous analysis of aspirin, atorvastatin calcium, and clopidogrel bisulphate in the bulk drug and in a capsule formulation.
FrenchFISH: Poisson Models for Quantifying DNA Copy Number From Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization of Tissue Sections

PURPOSE Chromosomal aberration and DNA copy number change are robust hallmarks of cancer. The gold standard for detecting copy number changes in tumor cells is fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using locus-specific probes that are imaged as fluorescent spots. However, spot counting often does not perform well on solid tumor tissue sections due to partially represented or overlapping nuclei. MATERIALS AND METHODS To overcome these challenges, we have developed a computational approach called FrenchFISH, which comprises a nuclear volume correction method coupled with two types of Poisson models: either a Poisson model for improved manual spot counting without the need for control probes or a homogeneous Poisson point process model for automated spot counting. RESULTS We benchmarked the performance of FrenchFISH against previous approaches using a controlled simulation scenario and tested it experimentally in 12 ovarian carcinoma FFPE-tissue sections for copy number alterations at three loci (c-Myc, hTERC, and SE7). FrenchFISH outperformed standard spot counting with 74% of the automated counts having < 1 copy number difference from the manual counts and 17% having < 2 copy number differences, while taking less than one third of the time of manual counting. CONCLUSION FrenchFISH is a general approach that can be used to enhance clinical diagnosis on sections of any tissue by both speeding up and improving the accuracy of spot count estimates.
The Diffusion Theory of Adhesion

Abstract A theory of adhesion of polymers to each other is suggested ; according to it adhesion of dissimilar polymers as well as auto-adhesion is explained by the diffusion of chainlike molecules segmentally or otherwise. Starting with this theory, the effects of various factors on the adhesion of polymers to each other are discussed. The factors considered are: duration of contact between adhesive and substrate, temperature, molecular weight of adhesive, molecular shape and polarity.
Effects of Perinatal MeHg and/or 2, 2', 4, 4', 5, 5'- Hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB153) Exposure on Adult Vulnerability to Amphetamine in Rats

Methylmercury (MeHg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous and persistent environmental pollutants and known neurotoxicants. It has been recognized that dietary exposure to neurotoxic substances during pregnancy and breast feeding may affect the development of the child’s nervous system and result in various neurological and neurobehavioural alterations later in life. One of the suspected consequences of such exposure may be an increased propensity to psychostimulant abuse and psychostimulant addiction. Data from animal studies indicate that behavioural sensitivity to psychostimulants is a good predictor of the propensity to psychostimulant self-administration – an animal model of drug abuse in humans. The aim of this study was to find out whether and how perinatal exposure to MeHg and/or PCB153 determines behavioural sensitivity and sensitizability to the psychostimulant amphetamine (AMPH) in adulthood. The subjects were adult rats, Wistars, born to mothers exposed, via drinking water, to MeHg (CH3HgCl) at 0.5 mg/kg/day; or PCB153 (2,2’,4,4’,5,5’-hexachlorobiphenyl) at 5.0 mg/kg/day by gavage, or jointly MeHg (0.5 mg/kg/day, and PCB153 (5.0 mg/kg/day), from day 7 of pregnancy to day 21 post partum. The testing started at the age of 3 months. It consisted in measuring the behavioural response to a test dose of AMPH (0.5 mg/kg. i.p.) twice: 1) before a sensitization treatment in order to assess the rat’s “normal” sensitivity to the psychostimulant, and 2) three weeks after the sensitizing treatment. The sensitization treatment consisted in a repeated (once a day for five consecutive days) administration of AMPH at 2.5 mg/kg. Results: 1) Before the sensitization treatment there were no differences between the exposed and the control rats in the response to the psychostimulant. 2) Three weeks after the sensitizing treatment the response to an AMPH challenge was increased in all rats. However, in males exposed perinatally to MeHg alone, this increase was significantly more pronounced than in males of the control group. A similar effect was not present in MeHg-exposed females as well as males or females exposed to PCB153 alone or in combination with MeHg. Perinatal exposure to MeHg may result in an increased susceptibility to psychostimulant sensitization in the male progeny. Co- exposure to PCB153 may compromise this effect of MeHg-exposure.
Data-Driven Computational Modeling Identifies Determinants of Glioblastoma Response to SHP2 Inhibition

These findings demonstrate that allosteric SHP2 inhibitors have multivariate and context-dependent effects in glioblastoma that may make them useful components of some combination therapies, but not others. Oncogenic protein tyrosine phosphatases have long been viewed as drug targets of interest, and recently developed allosteric inhibitors of SH2 domain–containing phosphatase-2 (SHP2) have entered clinical trials. However, the ability of phosphatases to regulate many targets directly or indirectly and to both promote and antagonize oncogenic signaling may make the efficacy of phosphatase inhibition challenging to predict. Here we explore the consequences of antagonizing SHP2 in glioblastoma, a recalcitrant cancer where SHP2 has been proposed as a useful drug target. Measuring protein phosphorylation and expression in glioblastoma cells across 40 signaling pathway nodes in response to different drugs and for different oxygen tensions revealed that SHP2 antagonism has network-level, context-dependent signaling consequences that affect cell phenotypes (e.g., cell death) in unanticipated ways. To map specific signaling consequences of SHP2 antagonism to phenotypes of interest, a data-driven computational model was constructed based on the paired signaling and phenotype data. Model predictions aided in identifying three signaling processes with implications for treating glioblastoma with SHP2 inhibitors. These included PTEN-dependent DNA damage repair in response to SHP2 inhibition, AKT-mediated bypass resistance in response to chronic SHP2 inhibition, and SHP2 control of hypoxia-inducible factor expression through multiple MAPKs. Model-generated hypotheses were validated in multiple glioblastoma cell lines, in mouse tumor xenografts, and through analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas data. Collectively, these results suggest that in glioblastoma, SHP2 inhibitors antagonize some signaling processes more effectively than existing kinase inhibitors but can also limit the efficacy of other drugs when used in combination. Significance: These findings demonstrate that allosteric SHP2 inhibitors have multivariate and context-dependent effects in glioblastoma that may make them useful components of some combination therapies, but not others.
An Estimation Model of Urban Land Accessibility

Given that there are no practical quantitative indicators of traffic conditions for facility location selection in the process of urbanization, this article proposes a comprehensive accessibility index of location and its measurement method. Urban land is rasterized using GIS to obtain the grids, and the road network data are used to calculate the external accessibility and internal accessibility of the grids. The external accessibility and the internal accessibility of a grid are combined to obtain the comprehensive accessibility of the location. The comprehensive accessibilities of grids are measured for Zhicheng, an urban area in China. The results show that the pattern of gradual spatial changes in the comprehensive accessibility of the grids in Zhicheng is highly consistent with the urban land’s spatial development trend, which verifies the feasibility and accuracy of the comprehensive accessibility measurement method. On one hand, the comprehensive accessibility of the grid is more portable than the accessibility of a single point and can be calculated in batches. On the other hand, it is more specific than the regional accessibility and better guides the location selection of urban facilities.
Structure of the Eurasian moorhen spleen: A comprehensive study using gross anatomy, light, and transmission electron microscopy

The spleen is the largest secondary lymphoid organ with major roles in the removal of blood‐borne antigens. The Eurasian moorhen is a wild aquatic bird that revealed the adaptation to harsh environmental conditions. Information regarding the structural features of moorhen's spleen is lacking. The present study aimed to describe the composition of moorhen's spleen using anatomical dissection, histology, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. The spleen appeared as a brownish red sickle‐shaped organ close to the proventriculus and gizzard. The splenic capsule was very thin, and the trabeculae were poorly developed. The white pulp formed of the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath, lymphoid follicles, and periellipsoidal lymphatic sheath. The red pulp composed of sinusoids and cords and contained various types of blood cells. Blood vessels were observed within the splenic capsule and inside the parenchyma. Notably, penicillar capillaries (PCs) appeared branched and surrounded by well‐developed ellipsoids. Direct connections were observed between PCs and splenic sinusoids suggesting a closed type of circulation. Ultrastructurally, intercellular spaces and vascular channels were evident in the wall of PCs. Ellipsoid‐associated cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, and heterophils were observed within splenic ellipsoids. Ellipsoids were thus suggested as a crucial component of moorhen's spleen. Numerous MafB‐immunoreactive (IR) macrophages were seen within the red pulp. Splenic cords contained the highest number of PHH3‐IR cells, while CCASP3‐IR cells were exclusive to follicles of the white pulp. In conclusion, the structure of moorhen's spleen revealed species‐specific features. The findings of the present study could help to improve the immunity of domestic birds.