Deep learning for COVID-19 topic modelling via Twitter: Alpha, Delta and Omicron.

Topic modelling with innovative deep learning methods has gained interest for a wide range of applications that includes COVID-19. It can provide, psychological, social and cultural insights for understanding human behaviour in extreme events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we use prominent deep learning-based language models for COVID-19 topic modelling taking into account data from the emergence (Alpha) to the Omicron variant in India. Our results show that the topics extracted for the subsequent waves had certain overlapping themes such as governance, vaccination, and pandemic management while novel issues aroused in political, social and economic situations during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also find a strong correlation between the major topics with news media prevalent during the respective time period. Hence, our framework has the potential to capture major issues arising during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic which can be extended to other countries and regions.

Phycoerythrin: a pink pigment from red sources (rhodophyta) for a greener biorefining approach to food applications.

Phycoerythrin (PE) is a photosensitive red pigment from phycobiliprotein family predominantly present in the red algae. The concentration of PE depends on photon flux density (PFD) and the quality of light absorbed by the algae tissue. This necessitates robust techniques to extract PE from the embedded cell-wall matrix of the algal frond. Similarly, PE is sensitive to various factors which influence its stability and purity of PE. The PE is extracted from Red algae through different extraction techniques. This review explores an integrative approach of fractionating PE for the scaling-up process and commercialization. The mechanism for stabilizing PE pigment in food was critically evaluated for further retaining this pigment within the food system. The challenges and possibilities of employing efficient extraction for industrial adoption are meticulously estimated. The techniques involved in the sustainable way of extracting PE pigments improved at a laboratory scale in the past decade. Although, the complexity of industrial-scale biorefining was found to be a bottleneck. The extraction of PE using benign chemicals would be safe for food applications to promote health benefits. The precise selection of encapsulation technique with enhanced sensitivity and selectivity of the membrane would bring better stability of PE in the food matrix.

Distribution, toxicity, interactive effects, and detection of ochratoxin and deoxynivalenol in food: A review.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that cause severe damage to agricultural products and food in the food supply chain. These detrimental pollutants have been directly linked with poor socioeconomic patterns and human health issues. Among the natural micropollutants, ochratoxin A (OTA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) are widely distributed in food materials. The primary occurrence of these mycotoxins is reported in almost all cereal grains and fresh agro-products. Both mycotoxins have shown harmful effects, such as nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, and genotoxic effects, in humans due to their complex structural formation during the degradation/acetylation reaction. In addition, improper preharvest, harvest, and postharvest handling tend to lead to the formation of OTA and DON in various food commodities, which allows different harmful fungicides in practice. Therefore, this review provides more insight into the distribution and toxicity of OTA/DON in the food matrix and human health. Furthermore, the interactive effects of OTA/DON with co-contaminated organic and inorganic compounds are discussed. Finally, international regulation and mitigation strategies for detoxication are critically evaluated to meet food safety and good agriculture practices.

Packaged food supply in Fiji: nutrient levels, compliance with sodium targets and adherence to labelling regulations.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion of products meeting Fiji government labelling regulations, assess compliance with national Na reformulation targets and examine the Na and total sugar levels in packaged foods sold in selected major supermarkets. DESIGN: We selected five major supermarkets in 2018 and collected the product information and nutritional content from the labels of all packaged foods sold. We organised 4278 foods into fourteen major food categories and thirty-six sub-categories and recorded the proportion of products labelled in accordance with the Fiji labelling regulations. We looked at the levels of Na and total sugar in each food category and assessed how many products complied with the Fiji reformulation targets set for Na. We also listed the companies responsible for each product. SETTING: Suva, Fiji. RESULTS: Fourteen percentage of packaged foods in fourteen major categories met Fiji national labelling regulations. Na was labelled on 95·4 % products, and total sugar labelled on 92·4 %. The convenience foods category had the highest Na levels (1699 mg/100 g), while confectionery had the highest content of total sugar (52·6 g/100 g). Forty percentage of eligible products did not meet the proposed voluntary Na reformulation targets. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate significant room for improvement in nutrient labelling, as well as a need for further enforcement of reformulation targets and monitoring of changes in food composition. Through enacting these measures and establishing additional regulations such as mandatory front-of-pack labelling, government and food industry can drive consumers towards healthier food choices and improve the nutritional quality of packaged foods in Fiji.

Estimating mean population salt intake in Fiji and Samoa using spot urine samples.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing interest in finding less costly and burdensome alternatives to measuring population-level salt intake than 24-h urine collection, such as spot urine samples. However, little is known about their usefulness in developing countries like Fiji and Samoa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity of spot urine samples to estimate mean population salt intake in Fiji and Samoa. METHODS: The study involved secondary analyses of urine data from cross-sectional surveys conducted in Fiji and Samoa between 2012 and 2016. Mean salt intake was estimated from spot urine samples using six equations, and compared with the measured salt intake from 24-h urine samples. Differences and agreement between the two methods were examined through paired samples t-test, intraclass correlation coefficient analysis, and Bland-Altman plots and analyses. RESULTS: A total of 414 participants from Fiji and 725 participants from Samoa were included. Unweighted mean salt intake based on 24-h urine collection was 10.58 g/day (95% CI 9.95 to 11.22) in Fiji and 7.09 g/day (95% CI 6.83 to 7.36) in Samoa. In both samples, the INTERSALT equation with potassium produced the closest salt intake estimate to the 24-h urine (difference of - 0.92 g/day, 95% CI - 1.67 to - 0.18 in the Fiji sample and + 1.53 g/day, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.77 in the Samoa sample). The presence of proportional bias was evident for all equations except for the Kawasaki equation. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that additional studies where both 24-h urine and spot urine samples are collected are needed to further assess whether methods based on spot urine samples can be confidently used to estimate mean population salt intake in Fiji and Samoa.

Process Evaluation and Costing of a Multifaceted Population-Wide Intervention to Reduce Salt Consumption in Fiji.

This paper reports the process evaluation and costing of a national salt reduction intervention in Fiji. The population-wide intervention included engaging food industry to reduce salt in foods, strategic health communication and a hospital program. The evaluation showed a 1.4 g/day drop in salt intake from the 11.7 g/day at baseline; however, this was not statistically significant. To better understand intervention implementation, we collated data to assess intervention fidelity, reach, context and costs. Government and management changes affected intervention implementation, meaning fidelity was relatively low. There was no active mechanism for ensuring food companies adhered to the voluntary salt reduction targets. Communication activities had wide reach but most activities were one-off, meaning the overall dose was low and impact on behavior limited. Intervention costs were moderate (FJD $277,410 or $0.31 per person) but the strategy relied on multi-sector action which was not fully operationalised. The cyclone also delayed monitoring and likely impacted the results. However, 73% of people surveyed had heard about the campaign and salt reduction policies have been mainstreamed into government programs. Longer-term monitoring of salt intake is planned through future surveys and lessons from this process evaluation will be used to inform future strategies in the Pacific Islands and globally.

Assessment of a Salt Reduction Intervention on Adult Population Salt Intake in Fiji.

Reducing population salt intake is a global public health priority due to the potential to save lives and reduce the burden on the healthcare system through decreased blood pressure. This implementation science research project set out to measure salt consumption patterns and to assess the impact of a complex, multi-faceted intervention to reduce population salt intake in Fiji between 2012 and 2016. The intervention combined initiatives to engage food businesses to reduce salt in foods and meals with targeted consumer behavior change programs. There were 169 participants at baseline (response rate 28.2%) and 272 at 20 months (response rate 22.4%). The mean salt intake from 24-h urine samples was estimated to be 11.7 grams per day (g/d) at baseline and 10.3 g/d after 20 months (difference: -1.4 g/day, 95% CI -3.1 to 0.3, p = 0.115). Sub-analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in female salt intake in the Central Division but no differential impact in relation to age or ethnicity. Whilst the low response rate means it is not possible to draw firm conclusions about these changes, the population salt intake in Fiji, at 10.3 g/day, is still twice the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended maximum intake. This project also assessed iodine intake levels in women of child-bearing age and found that they were within recommended guidelines. Existing policies and programs to reduce salt intake and prevent iodine deficiency need to be maintained or strengthened. Monitoring to assess changes in salt intake and to ensure that iodine levels remain adequate should be built into future surveys.

A systematic review of economic evaluations of population-based sodium reduction interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To summarise evidence describing the cost-effectiveness of population-based interventions targeting sodium reduction. METHODS: A systematic search of published and grey literature databases and websites was conducted using specified key words. Characteristics of identified economic evaluations were recorded, and included studies were appraised for reporting quality using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist. RESULTS: Twenty studies met the study inclusion criteria and received a full paper review. Fourteen studies were identified as full economic evaluations in that they included both costs and benefits associated with an intervention measured against a comparator. Most studies were modelling exercises based on scenarios for achieving salt reduction and assumed effects on health outcomes. All 14 studies concluded that their specified intervention(s) targeting reductions in population sodium consumption were cost-effective, and in the majority of cases, were cost saving. Just over half the studies (8/14) were assessed as being of 'excellent' reporting quality, five studies fell into the 'very good' quality category and one into the 'good' category. All of the identified evaluations were based on modelling, whereby inputs for all the key parameters including the effect size were either drawn from published datasets, existing literature or based on expert advice. CONCLUSION: Despite a clear increase in evaluations of salt reduction programs in recent years, this review identified relatively few economic evaluations of population salt reduction interventions. None of the studies were based on actual implementation of intervention(s) and the associated collection of new empirical data. The studies universally showed that population-based salt reduction strategies are likely to be cost effective or cost saving. However, given the reliance on modelling, there is a need for the effectiveness of new interventions to be evaluated in the field using strong study designs and parallel economic evaluations.

Innovative Approaches to Hypertension Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Elevated blood pressure, a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and stroke, is the leading global risk for mortality. Treatment and control rates are very low in low- and middle-income countries. There is an urgent need to address this problem. The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases sponsored research projects focus on controlling hypertension, including community engagement, salt reduction, salt substitution, task redistribution, mHealth, and fixed-dose combination therapies. This paper reviews the rationale for each approach and summarizes the experience of some of the research teams. The studies demonstrate innovative and practical methods for improving hypertension control.