Social asset or social liability? How partisanship moderates the relationship between social capital and Covid-19 vaccination rates across United States counties.

This study investigates the interactive effect of social capital and partisanship on COVID-19 vaccination rates. Using county-level data from the United States (U.S.), we empirically find that social capital is a double-edged sword. Its effect on the vaccination rate depends on the dominant partisanship of the jurisdiction. In more liberal counties, stronger social capital is a social asset that encourages people to seek vaccination and results in a higher vaccination rate. In contrast, in more conservative counties where the Trump-voting rate reaches 73% and beyond, stronger social capital becomes a social liability for public health by reinforcing residents' hesitancy toward or rejection of vaccinations, leading to a lower vaccination rate. This study implies the need for reducing the partisanship salience and investing in bridging and linking social capital in polarized communities.

Association of CT Findings with clinical severity in Patients with COVID-19, a multicenter Cohort observational study (preprint)

Background 2019 Novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may cause critical illness including severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Our purpose is to was to analyze the radiological features of COVID-19 pneumonia and its association with clinical severity.Methods This retrospective study included 212 patients (122 males, Mean age, 45.6 ± 12.8 years) from 10 hospitals. Chest CT, chest X-ray (CXR), clinical and laboratory data at admission and follow-up CT were collected. Chest CT and CXR were reviewed and CT score of the involved lung was calculated.Results 94.3% patients had pneumonia on the baseline CT at admission. The most CT findings were as follows: GGO (140/200), GGO with consolidation (38/200) and consolidation (16/200) most involving the lower lobes with a predilection for the peripheral aspects. The CT score negatively correlated with Lymphocyte count while it positively correlated with C-reactive protein. ROC curve showed an optimal cutoff value of the CT score of 15 had a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 96.5% for the prediction of severe status. Series CT showed GGO or consolidation gradually reduced in 52 patients while 6 patients had reticular opacities. 14 patients showed the normal CXR while GGO were found on CT.Conclusion COVID-19 pneumonia manifests as focal, multifocal ground-glass opacities with/without consolidations. Higher CT score correlated severe clinical status. CXR is yet insufficient for evaluation of COVID-19 pneumonia.