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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="covid-19-sentry">Covid-19 Sentry</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-preprints">From Preprints</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-clinical-trials">From Clinical Trials</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-pubmed">From PubMed</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-patent-search">From Patent Search</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-preprints">From Preprints</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>Sustained seroprevalence of anti SARS-CoV-2 total immunoglobulins in asymptomatic blood donors</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background: Seroprevalence analysis of SARS-CoV-2 is one of the keys to accurately monitor pandemics and help the authorities make health decisions and adjust the current social interventions. The aim of this study was to determine retrospective seroprevalence evolution among blood donors before pandemic, and along the first wave in Spain. A secondary objective was to determine whether age, blood group or haematological parameters are related to recent past infection. Material and Methods: A total of 12719 donations SARS-CoV-2 from July 2019 to October 2020 were analysed. Donors were 60.9% males and their average age was 46+/-13. An automated chemiluminiscence double-antigen sandwich immunoassay for the in vitro semi quantitative detection of total antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in human serum and plasma was performed. Results: Seropositive donation rate grew up from week 11 to week 21, reaching plateau by near 8% donations, sustained until week 43 when 2nd wave arose in our country. 6.7% individuals were positive by the end of 1st wave. No differences by sex age or blood group were found regarding antibodies. Lymphocyte were significantly higher in positive woman as compared to negative ones and haemoglobin were lower in positive men as compared to negative ones. Discussion: Seroprevalence due to asymptomatic cases would be equivalent to that of general population. Sex and age would not affect COVID-19 susceptibility but its severity. Gender differences are present even in asymptomatic individuals: females are possibly protected by their relative lymphocytosis and neutropenia whereas males are would be weaker as seropositive men show a decrease of haematocrit and haemoglobin. Further studies are needed to confirm these gender differences not only in severe but as well in asymptomatic cases as they can help better understand COVID-19 pathogenesis and prognosis.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.28.21256242v1" target="_blank">Sustained seroprevalence of anti SARS-CoV-2 total immunoglobulins in asymptomatic blood donors</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Pre-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 potential natural immunity among population of the Democratic Republic of Congo</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
More than a year after the emergence of COVID-19, significant regional differences in terms of morbidity persist, showing lower incidence rates in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Like SARS-CoV-1 and MERS viruses, SARS-CoV-2 is monophyletically positioned with parental species of chiropteran coronavirus. Furthermore, we observe that the spatial distribution of several targeted bat species (i.e., Coronavirus species hosts) overlaps the distribution of countries with low COVID-19 incidence. The work presented here aims to test the presence of natural immunity among population with a low COVD-19 prevalence, potentially due to a previous exposure to coronavirus antigens of a virus close related to SARS-CoV-2. To identify such pre-existing immunity, an ELISA serological test was used to detect IgG antibodies targeting main SARS-CoV-2 proteins including: the N-protein, the Spike 1 (S1) protein, the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the S1 protein, the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the S1 protein, and the S2 protein. A total of 574 sera samples collected before 2019 in the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were tested). 189 control sera from blood donors in France were used as control samples. The results showed a statistically significant difference between the DRC samples and control samples for all antigens (N, S1, S2, NTD) except for RBD. The percentage of positive samples presenting reactive antibodies for S1 antigen was respectively of 19.2% for RDC versus 2.11% for the control, and of 9.3% versus 1.6% for the S2 antigen. In conclusion, our data showed that the study population has been potentially exposed to a SARS-CoV-2-like virus antigen before the pandemic in the Central African sub-region. Therefore, it is quite legitimate to think that this prior immunity may be protective and responsible for the observed low prevalence of COVID-19. Moreover, we can assume that this not yet identified SARS-CoV-2-like could be associated to a chiropteran species in close contact with the studied population. In order to confirm the presence of SARS-CoV-2-like virus antibodies and ultimately identify the neutralizing potential for the detected antibodies, our study is underway in other African and Asian countries, where the COVID-19 prevalence is limited.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.28.21256243v1" target="_blank">Pre-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 potential natural immunity among population of the Democratic Republic of Congo</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Identifying the Factor Structure of the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure (DSM-XC) is a transdiagnostic mental health symptom measure that has shown promise in informing clinical diagnostic evaluations and as a screening tool for research. However, few studies have assessed the latent dimensionality of the DSM-XC or provided guidance on how to score the survey. In this report, we examined the factor structure of the DSM-XC in a sample of over 3500 participants enrolled in a protocol on the mental health impact of COVID-19 conducted through the National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program (NIMH IRP) (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04339790). We began by conducting an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify the best solution for our data, and then employed a confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) to evaluate the fit of the two-factor solution proposed by Lace and Merz (Lace &amp; Merz, 2020), the fit of our proposed solution, and the measurement invariance of our proposed solution across age, sex, and calendar time. We found a six-factor solution stemming from our EFAs to best fit our data. Each factor captures symptoms related to a specific construct of psychopathology: mood, worry, activation, somatic, confusion, and substance use. Future research should evaluate this six-factor structure using additional datasets to confirm its consistency across research populations and settings.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.28.21256253v1" target="_blank">Identifying the Factor Structure of the DSM-5 Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Changes in English NHS outpatient activity during the early Covid-19 period</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Objective: To describe changes in NHS outpatient activity connected to the Covid-19 pandemic Design: Nationwide population-based retrospective study Setting: England, UK, 31 December 2018 to 25 October 2020 Data source: Outpatient Hospital Episode Statistics data Results: Between early March and late October 2020, there was a total reduction of 16.6 million outpatient attendances compared to the same period in 2019, equivalent to a 27% decline. The largest weekly drop of 48% relative to 2019 occurred the week beginning 30 March. Activity recovered more slowly than it fell, and by the end of the study period remained 16% lower than the equivalent week in 2019. Changes in patterns of attendances were broadly similar across most patient characteristic groups. There was a substantial increase in the proportion of attendances taking place remotely, peaking at more than one in three during April and May 2020. Differences were observed in trends of remote consultations between age and sex categories, ethnic groups, and proxy deprivation levels. There was also substantial variation in overall activity and use of remote consultations by clinical specialty. Conclusions: The large increase in remote outpatient consultations during the early Covid-19 period, variations in remote care use by specialty as well as proxy deprivation and ethnic groups all suggest a need to evaluate the impact of these changes particularly in light of national policy to encourage greater use of remote consultations.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.28.21256176v1" target="_blank">Changes in English NHS outpatient activity during the early Covid-19 period</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Elevated blood glucose levels as a primary risk factor for the severity of COVID-19</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
SARS-CoV-2 started spreading towards the end of 2019 causing COVID-19, a disease that reached pandemic proportions among the human population within months. The reasons for the spectrum of differences in the severity of the disease across the population, and in particular why the disease affects more severely the aging population and those with specific preconditions are unclear. We developed machine learning models to mine 240,000 scientific papers openly accessible in the CORD-19 database, and constructed knowledge graphs to synthesize the extracted information and navigate the collective knowledge in an attempt to search for a potential common underlying reason for disease severity. The literature repeatedly pointed to elevated blood glucose as a key facilitator in the progression of COVID-19. Indeed, when we retraced the steps of the SARS-CoV-2 infection we found evidence linking elevated glucose to each step of the life-cycle of the virus, progression of the disease, and presentation of symptoms. Specifically, elevations of glucose provide ideal conditions for the virus to evade and weaken the first level of the immune defense system in the lungs, gain access to deep alveolar cells, bind to the ACE2 receptor and enter the pulmonary cells, accelerate replication of the virus within cells increasing cell death and inducing an pulmonary inflammatory response, which overwhelms an already weakened innate immune system to trigger an avalanche of systemic infections, inflammation and cell damage, a cytokine storm and thrombotic events. We tested the feasibility of the hypothesis by analyzing data across papers, reconstructing atomistically the virus at the surface of the pulmonary airways, and performing quantitative computational modeling of the effects of glucose levels on the infection process. We conclude that elevation in glucose levels can facilitate the progression of the disease through multiple mechanisms and can explain much of the variance in disease severity seen across the population. The study proposes diagnostic recommendations, new areas of research and potential treatments, and cautions on treatment strategies and critical care conditions that induce elevations in blood glucose levels.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.29.21256294v1" target="_blank">Elevated blood glucose levels as a primary risk factor for the severity of COVID-19</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>The COVID States Project #48: Assessing the impact of the pause in Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine use on COVID-19 vaccination intent</strong> -
<div>
On April 13, the FDA and CDC recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson and Johnson (J&amp;J) COVID-19 vaccine. This followed reports of a rare type of blood clot emerging in a small number of individuals following the use of the vaccine. This action raised serious concerns and criticisms of these agencies that the pause might lead to an increase in vaccine hesitancy and resistance in the United States.1 In this report, we evaluate the likely impact of the pause on vaccine resistance. We do this through two types of analyses, both of which took advantage of the fact that we began fielding our survey on April 1st, collecting over 8,000 responses before the April 13th pause, and continued beyond the April 23 suspension of the pause. The first analysis compares responses of individuals who participated in the survey before the pause to those who participated after the pause, to assess whether there was a post-pause change in intentions to vaccinate. For the second analysis, we conducted a smaller “panel” survey following the pause, re-interviewing a subset of respondents who had participated in our survey before April 13th and indicated that they were not yet vaccinated. This allows an evaluation of whether particular individuals changed their view toward vaccination from shortly before the pause to shortly after the pause. Below, we first evaluate the public awareness of the pause, and then turn to analyses of changes in vaccine attitudes in each of these samples.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/j5hf2/" target="_blank">The COVID States Project #48: Assessing the impact of the pause in Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine use on COVID-19 vaccination intent</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Multiplex SARS-CoV-2 Genotyping PCR for Population-Level Variant Screening and Epidemiologic Surveillance</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with concerning phenotypic mutations is of public health interest. Genomic surveillance is an important tool for pandemic response, but many laboratories do not have the resources to support population-level sequencing. We hypothesized that a spike genotyping nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) could facilitate high-throughput variant surveillance.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
We designed and analytically validated a one-step multiplex allele-specific reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect three non-synonymous spike protein mutations (L452R, E484K, N501Y). Assay specificity was validated with next-generation whole-genome sequencing. We then screened a large cohort of SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens from our San Francisco Bay Area population.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Between December 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021, we screened 4,049 unique infections by genotyping RT-qPCR, with an assay failure rate of 2.8%. We detected 1,567 L452R mutations (38.7%), 34 N501Y mutations (0.84%), 22 E484K mutations (0.54%), and 3 (0.07%) E484K+N501Y mutations. The assay had near-perfect (98-100%) concordance with whole-genome sequencing in a validation subset of 229 specimens, and detected B.1.1.7, B.1.351, B.1.427, B.1.429, B.1.526, and P.2 variants, among others. The assay revealed rapid emergence of L452R in our population, with a prevalence of 24.8% in December 2020 that increased to 62.5% in March 2021.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
We developed and clinically implemented a genotyping RT-qPCR to conduct high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 variant screening. This approach can be adapted for emerging mutations and immediately implemented in laboratories already performing NAAT worldwide using existing equipment, personnel, and extracted nucleic acid.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.20.21255480v2" target="_blank">Multiplex SARS-CoV-2 Genotyping PCR for Population-Level Variant Screening and Epidemiologic Surveillance</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>The plasmablast response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination is dominated by non-neutralizing antibodies that target both the NTD and the RBD</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
In this study we profiled vaccine-induced polyclonal antibodies as well as plasmablast derived mAbs from subjects who received SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA vaccine. Polyclonal antibody responses in vaccinees were robust and comparable to or exceeded those seen after natural infection. However, that the ratio of binding to neutralizing antibodies after vaccination was greater than that after natural infection and, at the monoclonal level, we found that the majority of vaccine-induced antibodies did not have neutralizing activity. We also found a co-dominance of mAbs targeting the NTD and RBD of SARS-CoV-2 spike and an original antigenic-sin like backboost to seasonal human coronaviruses OC43 and HKU1 spike proteins. Neutralizing activity of NTD mAbs but not RBD mAbs against a clinical viral isolate carrying E484K as well as extensive changes in the NTD was abolished, suggesting that a proportion of vaccine induced RBD binding antibodies may provide substantial protection against viral variants carrying E484K.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.07.21253098v2" target="_blank">The plasmablast response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination is dominated by non-neutralizing antibodies that target both the NTD and the RBD</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Effectiveness of CoronaVac in the setting of high SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant transmission in Brazil: A test-negative case-control study</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Objectives To estimate the effectiveness of the CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine in a setting of SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant transmission. Design Matched test-negative case-control study to estimate the effectiveness of an inactivated vaccine, CoronaVac, with an early analysis of effectiveness following administration at least one vaccine dose and an analysis of effectiveness following administration of the complete two dose schedule. Setting Cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Manaus, where P.1 accounted for 75% of genotyped SARS-CoV-2 samples at the peak of its epidemic. Participants For the early at-least-one-dose analysis, 53,176 HCWs residing in Manaus and aged 18 years or older, with complete information on age, residence, and vaccination status. For the two-dose analysis, 53,153 HCWs residing in Manaus and aged 18 years or older, with complete information on age, residence, and vaccination status. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results Among 53,153 HCWs eligible for the two-dose analysis, 47,170 (89%) received at least one dose of CoronaVac and 2,656 individuals (5%) underwent RT-PCR testing from 19 January, 2021 to 13 April, 2021. Of 3,195 RT-PCR tests, 885 (28%) were positive. 393 and 418 case-control pairs were selected for the early and two-dose analyses, respectively, matched on calendar time, age, and neighbourhood. In the early analysis, vaccination with at least one dose was associated with a 0.50-fold reduction (adjusted vaccine effectiveness, 49.6%, 95% CI 11.3 to 71.4) in the odds of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during the period 14 days or more after receiving the first dose. However, we estimated low effectiveness (adjusted VE 36.8%, 95% CI -54.9 to 74.2) of the two-dose schedule against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during the period 14 days or more after receiving the second dose. A finding that vaccinated individuals were much more likely to be infected than unvaccinated individuals in the period 0-13 days after first vaccination (aOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.36-3.27) suggests that among this population of healthcare workers, those at higher risk might take up vaccine earlier, leading to underestimation of its effectiveness. Conclusions Evidence from this test-negative study of the effectiveness of CoronaVac was mixed, and likely affected by bias in this setting. Administration of at least one vaccine dose showed effectiveness against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the setting of epidemic P.1 transmission. However, the low estimated effectiveness of the two-dose schedule underscores the need to maintain non-pharmaceutical interventions while vaccination campaigns with CoronaVac are being implemented.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.07.21255081v2" target="_blank">Effectiveness of CoronaVac in the setting of high SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant transmission in Brazil: A test-negative case-control study</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Modeling the impact of racial and ethnic disparities on COVID-19 epidemic dynamics</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The impact of variable infection risk by race and ethnicity on the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 spread is largely unknown. Here, we fit structured compartmental models to seroprevalence data from New York State and analyze how herd immunity thresholds (HITs), final sizes, and epidemic risk changes across groups. A simple model where interactions occur proportionally to contact rates reduced the HIT, but more realistic models of preferential mixing within groups increased the threshold toward the value observed in homogeneous populations. Across all models, the burden of infection fell disproportionately on minority populations: in a model fit to Long Island serosurvey and census data, 81% of Hispanics or Latinos were infected when the HIT was reached compared to 34% of non-Hispanic whites. Our findings, which are meant to be illustrative and not best estimates, demonstrate how racial and ethnic disparities can impact epidemic trajectories and result in unequal distributions of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.15.21249881v2" target="_blank">Modeling the impact of racial and ethnic disparities on COVID-19 epidemic dynamics</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>COVID-19-related conspiracy beliefs and their relationship with perceived stress and pre-existing conspiracy beliefs in a Prolific Academic sample: A replication and extension of Georgiou et al. (2020)</strong> -
<div>
The authors conducted a close replication of a study by Georgiou et al (2020), who found amongst 660 (reported in abstract) or 640 (reported in participant section) participants that 1) Covid-19 related conspiracy theory beliefs were strongly related to broader conspiracy theory beliefs, that 2) Covid-19 related conspiracy beliefs were higher in those with lower levels of education, and that 3) Covid-19 related conspiracy beliefs were positively (although weakly) correlated with more negative attitudes towards different individual items measuring the government’s response. Finally, they find that 4) Covid-19 beliefs were unrelated to self-reported stress. In a pre-registered replication and extension in a study sufficiently well-powered to detect f2 = 0.05, at an alpha level of .05, with an a priori power of .95, and with 5 Predictors in a multiple regression analysis, we do not find the same results. First, we find that education level is unrelated to Covid-19 related conspiracy beliefs, that stress is related to Covid-19 related conspiracy beliefs, but that the government’s response is indeed related to Covid-19 related conspiracy beliefs. We point out measurement problems in measuring conspiracy beliefs, extend the study through supervised machine learning by finding that attachment avoidance and anxiety are important predictors of conspiracy beliefs (Covid-19-related and beyond). Part of the differences between their and our study are likely due to differences in analysis approach; others may be due to the errors in Georgiou et al.’s (2020 reporting.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/t62s7/" target="_blank">COVID-19-related conspiracy beliefs and their relationship with perceived stress and pre-existing conspiracy beliefs in a Prolific Academic sample: A replication and extension of Georgiou et al. (2020)</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Can we use the internet to study speech production? Yes we can! Evidence contrasting online versus laboratory naming latencies and errors</strong> -
<div>
The closure of cognitive psychology labs around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented in-person testing. This has caused a particular challenge for speech production researchers, as before the pandemic there were no studies demonstrating that reliable overt speech production data could be collected via the internet. Here, we present evidence that both accurate and reliable overt articulation data can be collected from internet-based speech production experiments. We tested 100 participants in a picture naming paradigm, where we manipulated the word and phonotactic frequency of the picture names. We compared our results to a lab-based study which used the same materials and design. We found a significant word frequency effect but no phonotactic frequency effect, fully replicating the lab-based results. Effect sizes were similar between experiments, but with significantly longer latencies in the internet-collected data. We found no evidence that internet upload or download speed affected either naming latencies or errors. In addition, we carried out a permutation-style analysis which recommends a minimum sample size of 40 participants for online production paradigms. In sum, our study demonstrates that internet-based testing of speech production is a feasible and promising endeavour, with less challenges than many researchers (anecdotally) assumed.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/2bu4c/" target="_blank">Can we use the internet to study speech production? Yes we can! Evidence contrasting online versus laboratory naming latencies and errors</a>
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<li><strong>Evolutionary insights into a non-coding deletion of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7</strong> -
<div>
The SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern B.1.1.7 has quickly spread. To identify its crucial mutations, we explored the B.1.1.7 associated mutations on an evolutionary tree by the Coronavirus GenBrowser and VENAS. We found that a non-coding deletion g.a28271-, at upstream of the nucleocapsid (N) gene, has triggered the high transmissibility of B.1.1.7. The deletion changes the core Kozak site of the N gene and may reduce the expression of N protein and increase that of ORF9b. The expression of ORF9b is also regulated by another mutation (g.gat28280cta) that mutates the core Kozak sites of the ORF9b gene. If both mutations back-mutate, the B.1.1.7 variant loses its high transmissibility. Moreover, the deletion may interact with ORF1a:p.SGF3675-, S:p.P681H, and S:p.T716I to increase the viral transmissibility. Overall, these results demonstrate the importance of the non-coding deletion and provide evolutionary insight into the crucial mutations of B.1.1.7.
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.30.442029v1" target="_blank">Evolutionary insights into a non-coding deletion of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7</a>
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<li><strong>Reactance and Perceived Severity of a Disease as the Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccination Intention: an Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior</strong> -
<div>
Background We aimed to identify factors that affected COVID-19 vaccination intention within the framework of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). These were variables associated with the TPB, sex, age, perceived severity of COVID-19, knowing someone who was afflicted with COVID-19, and psychological reactance, which was an individual difference crucial for planning strategies to encourage people to get vaccinated. Methods A total of 551 Polish people answered an online research panel between December 8 and 14, 2020. Results We used structural equation modeling and showed that attitude (utility beliefs) toward COVID-19 vaccination was the strongest predictor, followed by social norms beliefs, and perceived behavioral control. Older age and knowing someone afflicted with COVID-19 led to higher vaccination intention by perceiving higher severity of COVID-19 and higher levels of all TPB components. Being female and having higher trait reactance negatively affected COVID-19 vaccination intention through lower levels of all TPB components. Conclusions The results indicate that COVID-19 vaccination intention is directly determined by all TPB components and affected by sex, age, COVID-19-related variables, and reactance. Our results contribute to the scientific pursuit of encouraging people to take the COVID-19 vaccine by suggesting changeable determinants that could be targeted in health campaigns.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/sghmf/" target="_blank">Reactance and Perceived Severity of a Disease as the Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccination Intention: an Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior</a>
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<li><strong>Treatment Patterns in US Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 and Pulmonary Involvement</strong> -
<div>
Introduction: Multiple treatments are being studied in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study describes the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics and treatment patterns of US patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19 and pulmonary involvement. Methods: From December 1, 2019, through August 27, 2020, patients hospitalized with pulmonary involvement due to COVID-19 (first hospitalization) were identified in the IBM Explorys® electronic health records database comprising patients predominantly from the Midwestern and Southern United States. Demographics, baseline clinical characteristics, and in-hospital medications were assessed. For evaluation of in-hospital medications, results were stratified by race, geographic region, and month of admission. Results: Of 6564 hospitalized patients with COVID-19–related pulmonary involvement, 50.4% were male, and mean (SD) age was 62.6 (16.4) years; 75.2% and 23.6% of patients were from the South and Midwest, respectively, and 50.2% of patients were African American. Overall, the most common medications were corticosteroids (31.3%), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; 28.2%), bronchodilators (22.1%), hydroxychloroquine (19.6%), and remdesivir (13.5%). Compared with African American patients, a numerically higher proportion of White patients received dexamethasone (19.7% vs 31.8%, respectively), NSAIDs (27.1% vs 34.9%), bronchodilators (19.8% vs 29.5%), and remdesivir (9.3% vs 21.0%). Numerically higher proportions of White patients than African American patients received select medications in the South but not in the Midwest. Compared with patients in the South, a numerically higher proportion of patients in the Midwest received dexamethasone (20.1% vs 34.5%, respectively), NSAIDs (19.6% vs 55.7%), bronchodilators (15.9% vs 41.3%), and remdesivir (10.6% vs 23.1%). Inpatient use of hydroxychloroquine decreased over time, whereas use of dexamethasone and remdesivir increased over time. Conclusion: Among US patients predominantly from the South and Midwest hospitalized with COVID-19 and pulmonary involvement, differences were seen in medication use between different races, geographic regions, and months of hospitalization.
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/tb5kn/" target="_blank">Treatment Patterns in US Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 and Pulmonary Involvement</a>
</div></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-clinical-trials">From Clinical Trials</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Oestrogen Treatment for COVID-19 Symptoms</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Transdermal estradiol gel<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Hamad Medical Corporation;   Laboratoires Besins International<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Virgin Coconut Oil as Adjunctive Therapy for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Virgin Coconut Oil<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University of the Philippines;   Philippine Coconut Authority;   Philippine Council for Health Research &amp; Development<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Impact of GSE and Xylitol (Xlear) on COVID-19 Symptoms and Time to PCR Negativisation in COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: GSE and Xylitol<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Larkin Community Hospital<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for Prevention of COVID-19</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Covid19;   COVID-19 Prevention<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ);   Other: Standard care;   Other: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Study to Evaluate a Single Dose of LTX-109 in Subjects With COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Infection.</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: LTX-109 gel, 3%;   Drug: Placebo gel<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Pharma Holdings AS;   Clinical Trial Consultants AB<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Safety and Efficacy of Niclosamide in Patients With COVID-19 With Gastrointestinal Infection</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Niclosamide;   Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   AzurRx BioPharma, Inc.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Immunobridging and Immunization Schedules Study of COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: 3-doses schedule 1 of COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated;   Biological: 3-doses schedule 2 of COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated;   Biological: 3-doses schedule 3 of COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated;   Biological: 2 doses of vaccine<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   China National Biotec Group Company Limited;   Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Estradiol and Progesterone in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Other: Placebo injection and placebo pill;   Drug: Estradiol Cypionate 5 MG/ML;   Drug: Progesterone 200 MG Oral Capsule<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Tulane University<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>COVID-19 Close Contact Self-Testing Study</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Behavioral: COVID-19 self-test;   Behavioral: COVID-19 test referral<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University of Pennsylvania;   Public Health Management Corporation<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Detection of Covid-19 in Nasopharyngeal Swabs by Using Multi-Spectral Spectrophotometry</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Diagnostic Test: AP-23<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Fable Biyoteknoloji San ve Tic A.S<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>COVID-19 Vaccination Take-Up</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Covid19;   Vaccination<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Behavioral: Financial incentives;   Behavioral: Convenient scheduling link;   Behavioral: Race concordant;   Behavioral: Gender concordant<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University of Southern California;   Contra Costa Health Services;   J-PAL North America, State and Local Innovation Initiative;   National Bureau of Economic Research Roybal Center;   National Institute on Aging (NIA)<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Safety and Immunogenicity of Demi-dose of Two Covid-19 mRNA Vaccines in Healthy Population</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Diagnostic Test: immunogenicity after first and second dose<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Sciensano;   Mensura EDPB;   Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium;   Erasme University Hospital<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Remdesivir Efficacy In Management Of COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Remdesivir;   Drug: Standard of care_1;   Drug: Standard of care_2<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Ain Shams University<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Assessment of Efficacy of KAN-JANG® in Mild COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Kan Jang capsules;   Other: Placebo capsules<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Swedish Herbal Institute AB;   Tbilisi State Medical University;   Phytomed AB<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Hydroxychloroquine for Treatment of Non-Severe COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Hydroxychloroquine tablets<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Makerere University<br/><b>Active, not recruiting</b></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-pubmed">From PubMed</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Virucidal and antiviral effects of Thymus vulgaris essential oil on feline coronavirus</strong> - Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal systemic disease of felids caused by a Coronavirus (CoV) (FIPV). In spite of its clinical relevance and impact on feline health, currently the therapeutic possibilities for treatment of FIP in cats are limited. The emergence of the pandemic Severe Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), etiological agent of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), able to infect a broad spectrum of animal species including cats, triggered…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Astemizole as a drug to inhibit the effect of SARS-COV-2 in vitro</strong> - Since the beginning of December 2019, a novel Coronavirus severe respiratory disease, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which also been termed 2019-new CoV (2019-nCoV), has continued to spread worldwide. As of August 27, 2020, a total of 24,232,429 people have been infected and 826,518 people have died. In our study, we found that astemizole can antagonize ACE2 and inhibit the entry of SARS-COV-2 spike pseudovirus into ACE2-expressed HEK293T cells (ACE2hi…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Pharmacokinetics-based identification of pseudoaldosterogenic compounds originating from Glycyrrhiza uralensis roots (Gancao) after dosing LianhuaQingwen capsule</strong> - LianhuaQingwen capsule, prepared from an herbal combination, is officially recommended as treatment for COVID-19 in China. Of the serial pharmacokinetic investigations we designed to facilitate identifying LianhuaQingwen compounds that are likely to be therapeutically important, the current investigation focused on the component Glycyrrhiza uralensis roots (Gancao). Besides its function in COVID-19 treatment, Gancao is able to induce pseudoaldosteronism by inhibiting renal 11β-HSD2. Systemic and…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A monoclonal antibody against staphylococcal enterotoxin B superantigen inhibits SARS-CoV-2 entry in vitro</strong> - We recently discovered a superantigen-like motif sequentially and structurally similar to a staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) segment, near the S1/S2 cleavage site of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which might explain the multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) observed in children and the cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 patients. We show here that an anti-SEB monoclonal antibody (mAb), 6D3, can bind this viral motif at its polybasic (PRRA) insert to inhibit infection in live virus assays….</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Glycyrrhizic Acid Nanoparticles as Antiviral and Anti-inflammatory Agents for COVID-19 Treatment</strong> - COVID-19 has been diffusely pandemic around the world, characterized by massive morbidity and mortality. One of the remarkable threats associated with mortality may be the uncontrolled inflammatory processes, which were induced by SARS-CoV-2 in infected patients. As there are no specific drugs, exploiting safe and effective treatment strategies is an instant requirement to dwindle viral damage and relieve extreme inflammation simultaneously. Here, highly biocompatible glycyrrhizic acid (GA)…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Assessing Public Willingness to Wear Face Masks during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Fresh Insights from the Theory of Planned Behavior</strong> - Face masks are considered an effective intervention in controlling the spread of airborne viruses, as evidenced by the 2009’s H1N1 swine flu and 2003’s severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreaks. However, research aiming to examine public willingness to wear (WTW) face masks in Pakistan are scarce. The current research aims to overcome this research void and contributes by expanding the theoretical mechanism of theory of planned behavior (TPB) to include three novel dimensions (risk…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Next-Generation Probiotics and Their Metabolites in COVID-19</strong> - Since December 2019, a global pandemic has been observed, caused by the emergence of a new coronavirus, SARS CoV-2. The latter is responsible for the respiratory disease, COVID-19. The infection is also characterized by renal, hepatic, and gastrointestinal dysfunctions suggesting the spread of the virus to other organs. A dysregulated immune response was also reported. To date, there is no measure to treat or prevent SARS CoV-2 infection. Additionally, as gut microbiota composition is altered in…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Plasmids Expressing shRNAs Specific to the Nucleocapsid Gene Inhibit the Replication of Porcine Deltacoronavirus In Vivo</strong> - Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a novel enteric coronavirus and is becoming one of the major causative agents of diarrhea in pig herds in recent years. To date, there are no commercial vaccines or antiviral pharmaceutical agents available to control PDCoV infection. Therefore, developing a reliable strategy against PDCoV is urgently needed. In this study, to observe the antiviral activity of RNA interference (RNAi), four short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) specific to the nucleocapsid (N) gene of…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Baicalein and Baicalin Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 RNA-Dependent-RNA Polymerase</strong> - Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a deadly emerging infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Because SARS-CoV-2 is easily transmitted through the air and has a relatively long incubation time, COVID-19 has rapidly developed into a global pandemic. As there are no antiviral agents for the prevention and treatment of this severe pathogen except for remdesivir, development of antiviral therapies to treat infected individuals remains highly…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Virus Entry by the Crude Polysaccharides of Seaweeds and Abalone Viscera In Vitro</strong> - Much attention is being devoted to the potential of marine sulfated polysaccharides as antiviral agents in preventing COVID-19. In this study, sulfated fucoidan and crude polysaccharides, extracted from six seaweed species (Undaria pinnatifida sporophyll, Laminaria japonica, Hizikia fusiforme, Sargassum horneri, Codium fragile, Porphyra tenera) and Haliotis discus hannai (abalone viscera), were screened for their inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 virus entry. Most of them showed significant…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Pharmacological Modulators of Autophagy as a Potential Strategy for the Treatment of COVID-19</strong> - The family of coronaviruses (CoVs) uses the autophagy machinery of host cells to promote their growth and replication; thus, this process stands out as a potential target to combat COVID-19. Considering the different roles of autophagy during viral infection, including SARS-CoV-2 infection, in this review, we discuss several clinically used drugs that have effects at different stages of autophagy. Among them, we mention (1) lysosomotropic agents, which can prevent CoVs infection by alkalinizing…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Molecular Simulation-Based Investigation of Highly Potent Natural Products to Abrogate Formation of the nsp10-nsp16 Complex of SARS-CoV-2</strong> - The SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein (nsp) nsp10-nsp16 complex is essential for the 2’-O-methylation of viral mRNA, a crucial step for evading the innate immune system, and it is an essential process in SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. Therefore, detecting molecules that can disrupt the nsp10-nsp16 interaction are prospective antiviral drugs. In this study, we screened the North African Natural Products database (NANPDB) for molecules that can interact with the nsp10 interface and disturb the nsp10-nsp16…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Effect of Proinflammatory Cytokines on the Proliferation, Migration and Secretory Activity of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells (WJ-MSCs) under 5% O(2) and 21% O(2) Culture Conditions</strong> - Treatment with Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells (MSCs) in clinical trials is becoming one of the most-popular and fast-developing branches of modern regenerative medicine, as it is still in an experimental phase. The cross-section of diseases to which these cells are applied is very wide, ranging from degenerative diseases, through autoimmune processes and to acute inflammatory diseases, e.g., viral infections. Indeed, now that first clinical trials applying MSCs against COVID-19 have started,…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Supramolecular cylinders target bulge structures in the 5’ UTR of the RNA genome of SARS-CoV-2 and inhibit viral replication</strong> - The untranslated regions (UTRs) of viral genomes contain a variety of conserved yet dynamic structures crucial for viral replication, providing drug targets for the development of broad spectrum anti-virals. We combine RNA analysis with Molecular Dynamics simulations to build the first 3D models of the structure and dynamics of key regions of the 5’ UTR of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Furthermore, we determine the binding of metallo-supramolecular helicates (cylinders) to this RNA structure. These…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Detection of binding sites on SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor-binding domain by molecular dynamics simulations in mixed solvents</strong> - The novel SARS-CoV-2 uses the ACE2 (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2) receptor as an entry point. Insights on S protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) interaction with ACE2 receptor and drug repurposing has accelerated drug discovery for the novel SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finding small molecule binding sites in the S protein and ACE2 interface is crucial in the search of effective drugs to prevent viral entry. In this study, we employed molecular dynamics simulations in mixed solvents together with…</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-patent-search">From Patent Search</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A COMPREHENSIVE DISINFECTION SYSTEM DURING PANDEMIC FOR PERSONAL ITEMS AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) TO SAFEGUARD PEOPLE</strong> - The current Covid-19 pandemic has led to an enormous demand for gadgets / objects for personal protection. To prevent the spread of virus, it is important to disinfect commonly touched objects. One of the ways suggested is to use a personal UV-C disinfecting box that is “efficient and effective in deactivating the COVID-19 virus. The present model has implemented the use of a UV transparent material (fused silica quartz glass tubes) as the medium of support for the objects to be disinfected to increase the effectiveness of disinfection without compromising the load bearing capacity. Aluminum foil, a UV reflecting material, was used as the inner lining of the box for effective utilization of the UVC light emitted by the UVC lamps. Care has been taken to prevent leakage of UVC radiation out of the system. COVID-19 virus can be inactivated in 5 minutes by UVC irradiation in this disinfection box - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN322882412">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>USE OF IMINOSUGAR COMPOUND IN PREPARATION OF ANTI-SARS-COV-2 VIRUS DRUG</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU322897928">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Compositions and methods for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU321590214">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>METHOD FOR QUANTIFICATION OF PIRFENIDONE, A COVID-19 ANTI-FIBROTIC AGENT, BY SENSITIVE ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES</strong> - This invention relates to the development of specific methods for quantification of pirfenidone, an anti-fibrotic drug which is used to treat Covid-19 for curing lung infections. Ultra-Violet spectroscopy detection and quantification conducted using HPLC grade water as solvent. Linearity constructed for the concentration range of 3-15µL for UV spectroscopy, 2-10 µg/ml for HPLC using methanol as diluent and 5-25µg/ml using methanol as diluent for HPTLC. The chromatographic system comprised of HPLC system equipped with quaternary gradient pump and Shim-Pack GIST C18 (250X 4.6 mm, 5µm) column with PDA detector monitored at 310nm. HPTLC performed on silica gel 60 F254 plates using mobile phase in the ratio of toluene and methanol 8:2 v/v. Analytical method validation done according to ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines. System suitability, intraday precision and inter day precision calculations performed and reported which found to be within limits (%RSD&lt;2%). Recovery studies performed and amount recovered is found between 98.20-102.20%. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN322881663">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>5-(4-TERT-BUTOXY PHENYL)-3-(4N-OCTYLOXYPHENYL)-4,5-DIHYDROISOXAZOLE MOLECULE (C-I): A PROMISING DRUG FOR SARS-COV-2 (TARGET I) AND BLOOD CANCER (TARGET II)</strong> - The present invention relates to a method ofmolecular docking of crystalline compound (C-I) with SARS-COV 2 proteins and its repurposing with proteins of blood cancer, comprising the steps of ; employing an algorithmto carry molecular docking calculations of the crystalized compound (C-I); studying the compound computationally to understand the effect of binding groups with the atoms of the amino acids on at least four target proteins of SARS-COV 2; downloading the structure of the proteins; removing water molecules, co enzymes and inhibitors attached to the enzymes; drawing the structure using Chem Sketch software; converting the mol file into a PDB file; using crystalized compound (C-I) for comparative and drug repurposing with two other mutated proteins; docking compound into the groove of the proteins; saving format of docked molecules retrieved; and filtering and docking the best docked results. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN320884617">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>新闻传播速度测评方法和系统</strong> - 本发明实施例提供一种新闻传播速度测评方法和系统，核心是基于新闻媒体权重计算新闻事件主题的传播速度，再通过聚类分析确定传播速度测评体系，最后评定新闻事件主题的传播等级。其中方法包括：确定待测评的新闻事件主题，获取新闻事件主题的新闻数据；基于新闻数据中每一新闻文本的传播媒体信息，计算新闻事件主题的初始传播速度；基于初始传播速度，以及预先设定的传播速度测评体系，确定新闻事件主题的传播速度等级；其中，传播速度测评体系包括多个传播速度等级与初始传播速度之间的对应关系。本发明实施例提供的方法和系统，实现了基于大数据的新闻事件舆情监测，能够有效提高新闻事件舆情响应效率，有利于决策管理者及时做出舆情应对。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN322592921">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>AQUEOUS ZINC OXIDE NANOSPRAY COMPOSITIONS</strong> - Disclosed herein is aqueous zinc oxide nano spray compositions comprising zinc oxide nanoparticles and a synthetic surfactant for controlling the spread of Covid-19 virus. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN321836709">link</a></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Bettverlängerungssystem</strong> -
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</p><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">Bettverlängerungssystem (1) für in Bauchlage beatmungspflichtige Patienten in Gestalt mit zumindest einer Platte (16), dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Platte (16) im Kopflagerungsbereich einen Luftwegezugangsdurchbruch (8) mit einem den Luftwegezugangsdurchbruch (8) umgebenden Auflagerbereich für ein durchbrochenes Kopfauflagepolster (14) aufweist, durch den von der Bettunterseite her und durch das Kopfauflagepolster (14) hindurch die Ver- und Entsorgungsschläuche für eine orotracheale Intubation oder eine nasotracheale Intubation ventral an das Gesicht des Patienten herangeführt werden können, und dass die Platte (16) im Bereich ihrer dem Kopfende eines Bettrosts (15) zugeordneten Stirnseite (6) ein Fixierelement (2) zur Befestigung der Platte (16) am Bettrost (15) nach Art eines einseitig frei über das Kopfende des Bettrosts hinausragenden Kragträgers aufweist.</p></li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=DE322212040">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>一种肝素类药物组合物、喷鼻剂及其制备方法及应用</strong> - 本发明公开了一种肝素类药物组合物、喷鼻剂及其制备方法及应用。该肝素类药物组合物包括肝素钠和阿比朵尔。本发明中的肝素类药物组合物首次采用肝素钠和阿比朵尔联合使用，普通肝素钠联合1μM/L以上的阿比朵尔病毒抑制效率显著高于单独普通肝素钠或单独阿比多尔组（p&lt;0.05）。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN321712860">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>USING CLINICAL ONTOLOGIES TO BUILD KNOWLEDGE BASED CLINICAL DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) WITH THE ADOPTION OF TELECONFERENCING FOR THE PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRES/SATELLITE CLINICS OF ROYAL OMAN POLICE IN SULTANATE OF OMAN</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU320796026">link</a></p></li>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="daily-dose">Daily-Dose</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-vox">From Vox</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Bodies Piled High, Whatever Boris Johnson Said</strong> - The Prime Minister is known for his gaffes, but it’s hard to minimize the grief of the family members of those lost to COVID-19. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/the-bodies-piled-high-whatever-boris-johnson-said">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Bargaining with China Today to Save the World Tomorrow</strong> - As climate czar, John Kerry has been tasked with a moral balancing act that few leaders have ever faced. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/bargaining-with-china-today-to-save-the-world-tomorrow">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Biden’s Speech Offers an Alternative Vision for Democrats to Love</strong> - The President, channelling his inner Elizabeth Warren, pitches an American utopia after a dystopian plague year. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-bidens-washington/bidens-speech-offers-an-alternate-reality-for-democrats-to-love-after-four-years-of-trumpian-fantasy">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Surviving the Crackdown in Xinjiang, in Mandarin</strong> - The New Yorker translates its recent report on China’s mass internment of Uyghurs and Kazakhs. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/surviving-the-crackdown-in-xinjiang-in-mandarin">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Watch Highlights from “How Memes Become Money”</strong> - The latest installment of The New Yorker Live examined how Internet culture is influencing the economy, and what that might mean for financial inequality, art, and the environment. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/watch-highlights-from-how-memes-become-money">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>The J&amp;J vaccine isn’t causing nausea and fainting, anxiety is</strong> -
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<img alt="Vials of vaccine sitting on a wooden surface." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Cf1F_QDK1IOkSEg6H_Gc_htOrh4=/241x0:4085x2883/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69219771/1232604888.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Vials of the Johnson &amp; Johnson Covid-19 vaccine. | Dirk Waem/Belga Mag/AFP/Getty Images
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
CDC suspects anxiety as the culprit for negative effects in needle-averse people.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="S6sUgv">
A new <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7018e3.htm?s_cid=mm7018e3_w">report</a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that anxiety is to blame for a series of adverse effects from the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine, rather than the shot itself.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4GLJEB">
From April 7 to 9, the CDC received reports of “clusters of anxiety-related events” after patients received the J&amp;J<strong> </strong>vaccine, including hyperventilation, low blood pressure, headaches, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, nausea, and fainting, among others, at five mass vaccination sites.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YxhFwF">
At four of those sites, administrators temporarily suspended offering coronavirus vaccines due to the high relative frequency of patients fainting — 8.2 people per 100,000, according to the CDC. For comparison, 0.05 people per 100,000<strong> </strong>faint after receiving an influenza vaccine.
</p>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VqlYL6">
After conducting interviews with the 64 patients (out of 8,624) who displayed those symptoms, the CDC concluded that none of the cases met their definition of serious side effects, and the majority were resolved within 15 minutes. The researchers attributed the symptoms to anxiety rather than any discrepancies between the J&amp;J<strong> </strong>vaccine and its Pfizer and Moderna counterparts.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="AFAxch">
In fact, the main difference between Johnson &amp; Johnson — also known as the Janssen vaccine — and the other vaccines is that it only requires one dose, which the CDC hypothesized could be the source of increased anxiety around it.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="k1uUML">
“Because the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is administered as a single dose, this vaccine might be a more attractive option for persons who have needle aversion,” the report said. “Therefore, it is possible that some persons seeking Janssen COVID-19 vaccination could be more highly predisposed to anxiety-related events after being vaccinated.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="b7enll">
Fainting events were mostly highly concentrated among the youngest eligible group — those aged 18 to 29. The report found that to be expected, considering adolescents have the highest rates of dizziness and fainting after other vaccines.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Eisajf">
The CDC recommended vaccine administrators observe patients for at least 15 minutes after injection, in order to monitor them for anxiety-related effects.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lsmVTf">
The adverse effects described in the study are unrelated to the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/30/health/cdc-johnson-and-johnson-vaccine-reactions-mmwr-study/index.html">17 cases of patients developing blood clots</a>, which led to a nationwide pause of the J&amp;J<strong> </strong>vaccine’s usage in mid-April. The CDC found those instances to be extremely rare, and, along with the FDA, <a href="https://www.vox.com/22399353/johnson-covid-19-vaccine-pause-cdc-fda-blood-clots-cvst">lifted the pause</a> after 10 days. The vaccine now carries a warning for women under 50 regarding the risk of developing a blood clot.
</p>
<h3 id="LDLvfl">
Biden restricts travel from India as the coronavirus surges
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YYchl4">
The US vaccination campaign recently hit a milestone, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/30/us/politics/us-100-million-vaccinated.html">over 100 million people</a> are fully vaccinated, representing a near doubling since the end of March. And while the case count is dropping in the US, with the daily average at<strong> </strong>its <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/covid-cases-dropping/2021/04/30/0f0bb988-a845-11eb-bca5-048b2759a489_story.html">lowest total since mid-October</a>, global virus cases reached a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/01/world/virus-cases-world-peak.html">new peak last week</a>, per the New York Times.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cBCfxP">
Much of the surge is being driven by a second wave in India, which now accounts for over 40 percent of the world’s new cases, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/05/01/world/virus-cases-world-peak.html">the Times</a>. As <a href="https://www.vox.com/world/22403722/india-covid-19-vaccine-variant-cases-coronavirus">Jen Kirby and Umair Irfam reported for Vox</a>, Indian hospitals desperately need oxygen, ventilators, beds, and vaccines, with less than 2 percent of the country fully vaccinated.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="qsidjE">
The Biden administration has promised to send supplies, including raw materials for vaccine manufacturing, though some experts have called for intellectual property rules to be waived for coronavirus vaccines so that India, a global manufacturing leader, can catch up. The administration is <a href="https://www.vox.com/world/22403722/india-covid-19-vaccine-variant-cases-coronavirus">considering that option</a>, but in the meantime, the US will <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/30/politics/us-india-travel-restrictions/index.html">impose restrictions on travel</a> from India beginning Tuesday.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="jtp3IE">
In a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/30/politics/us-india-travel-restrictions/index.html">statement to CNN</a>, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the high case count in India, as well as potential new variants, drove the creation of the policy. Foreign nationals who have been in India over the past 14 days will be temporarily barred from entering the United States. The rule will not apply to American citizens, permanent residents, and humanitarian workers.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="S56UXi">
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<li><strong>Mysterious Havana syndrome attacks are now documented in the US</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="Intelligence Chiefs Brief Senate On Worldwide Threats To National Security" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EoaNvKp0Z8QBZNX3mcQZF8JaQhI=/0x0:3569x2677/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69219303/1232306860.0.jpg"/>
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Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) speaks at a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on Capitol Hill. | Saul Loeb/Getty Images
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Senate Intelligence Committee is investigating events that are targeting US spies and diplomats.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Zu9R5D">
Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee confirmed cases of the mysterious “Havana syndrome” — instances of neurological harm to US personnel from direct energy attacks — are on the rise, in a Friday hearing. Over the past two years, two attacks have occurred in the US — including one in close proximity to the White House.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="vfd0Gl">
Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), the chair and vice chair of the committee, respectively, said in a statement that they plan to investigate the pattern of attacks and work with the CIA to identify who is behind them.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="sXMy3f">
Havana syndrome refers to a series of invisible attacks against US personnel, first reported in 2016 in Havana, Cuba, when US diplomats began to experience neurological problems such as insomnia and vertigo. Since then, about 40 government officials, mostly employed by the CIA or State Department, have been attacked, reports <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/551205-senate-intel-vows-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-havana-syndrome-attacks?rl=1">the Hill’s Rebecca Beitsch</a>, with sometimes debilitating symptoms.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="qpoQXA">
The majority of the attacks have been against officials stationed in other countries. But federal agencies are also investigating two neurological attacks that occurred on US soil, including one from November of last year that occurred alarmingly close to the White House, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/29/politics/us-investigating-mysterious-directed-energy-attack-white-house/index.html">according to CNN</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="nJB0Uf">
The other attack occurred in 2019, against a White House official in a Virginia suburb of Washington, DC, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/29/politics/us-investigating-mysterious-directed-energy-attack-white-house/index.html">per CNN</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kXcVrX">
Warner and Rubio committed to work with the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/senate-confirms-burns-cia-director/2021/03/18/dcdce4ae-881f-11eb-bfdf-4d36dab83a6d_story.html">recently-confirmed CIA director</a>, William Burns, who they say has dedicated agency focus to the attacks, as well as to provide medical and financial support for victims.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="S1brze">
“For nearly five years, we have been aware of reports of mysterious attacks on United States Government personnel in Havana, Cuba and around the world,” they said in <a href="https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=7D068456-8BBE-4FDF-9878-A40732593732">a statement</a>. “This pattern of attacking our fellow citizens serving our government appears to be increasing.”
</p>
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“The Senate Intelligence Committee intends to get to the bottom of this,” the statement<strong> </strong>continued. “We have already held fact finding hearings on these debilitating attacks, many of which result in medically confirmed cases of Traumatic Brain Injury, and will do more.”
</p>
<h3 id="Y7p9Qq">
What is Havana syndrome?
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uXi0RN">
A US government <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/business/economy/havana-syndrome-microwave-attack.html?referringSource=articleShare">report</a> from the National Academy of Sciences on the attacks found commonalities among the victims, including nausea, headaches, dizziness, and loss of hearing, occasionally severe enough to force some into<strong> </strong>early retirement. The report found that directed radio frequency energy, a form of radiation that also includes microwaves, is behind the attacks, giving credence to the theory that a foreign entity is behind them.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="w9nhPr">
Some in the intelligence community believe Russia is the culprit, which <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/12/6/22156988/havana-syndrome-micowave-weapons-report">Vox’s Zeeshan Aleem explained in December</a>:
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="wsQ0Xk">
The timeline of the incidents, the plausible explanation of microwave weapons, and the specific locations in which they occurred have raised questions of whether Russia is behind them.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SZwPXW">
In 2018, US intelligence officials <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latin-america/u-s-officials-suspect-russia-mystery-attacks-diplomats-cuba-china-n908141">described Russia</a> as the primary suspect behind what they believed to be attacks in Cuba and China. Russia has denied any involvement. NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/havana-syndrome-likely-caused-microwave-energy-government-study-finds-n1250094">reports</a> that, now or then, no conclusive intelligence has pointed to that explanation. However, the Times notes a number of Russia experts at the CIA believe that all evidence points to the country being behind the illnesses.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="mp5CLa">
In the past, both Russia and the former Soviet Union have used <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/business/economy/havana-syndrome-microwave-attack.html?referringSource=articleShare">microwave weaponry</a>, including against the US. In the 1970s and 1980s, the USSR <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1979/05/30/archives/soviet-halts-microwaves-aimed-at-us-embassy.html">bombarded</a> the American embassy with microwave beams.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="nutua4">
In his confirmation hearing, Burns addressed the attacks, saying he planned to review evidence. House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff also committed to using his committee to continue to investigate, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/30/politics/directed-energy-attacks-senate-intelligence/index.html">according to CNN</a>.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hyQI2m">
Additionally, <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/551205-senate-intel-vows-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-havana-syndrome-attacks?rl=1">the Hill reports</a>, the CIA has launched a task force to provide support to victims of past and future attacks.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BKhScR">
The Senate Intelligence leaders also committed to holding perpetrators accountable, while acknowledging the current focus is on gathering more information about how the radiation technology works.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VfA9up">
“Ultimately, we will identify those responsible for these attacks on American personnel and will hold them accountable,” the statement said.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6aFUHe">
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<li><strong>Giuliani raid has Trumpworld on high alert</strong> -
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Tf_g2XHbWWn0evR6uhHN6MPnQKg=/0x0:4271x3203/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69218607/1229918538.0.jpg"/>
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Rudy Giuliani, former President Donald Trump’s personal attorney. | Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
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Federal investigators are looking into Giuliani’s dealings in Ukraine as potential evidence of criminal conduct.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aE3tbI">
Federal law enforcement is ramping up their investigation into Rudy Giuliani, leaving other allies of former President Donald Trump on alert.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oJxdNU">
Giuliani was formerly Trump’s personal lawyer, and became one of his most loyal defenders, becoming a central figure in Trump’s failed efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Now, he may be paying the price for that loyalty. On Wednesday, FBI<strong> </strong>agents, armed with search warrants, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-trump-investigation-warrant-7a413e1bbb819cb52cd402d64a982185">raided his home and office</a> in Manhattan, seizing electronic devices.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="13cOoO">
Giuliani is currently the focus of an ongoing criminal probe from the US attorney’s office in Manhattan, centering on his business dealings in Ukraine and potential illegal activity involving his efforts to investigate Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son. Wednesday’s raid confirms the seriousness of the investigation, which required Justice Department approval due to Giuliani’s status as a lawyer. The raid clarified the potential for Giuliani, and perhaps other Trump figures, to face federal charges.
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The investigation hinges on Giuliani’s dealings in Ukraine
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Investigators are looking for evidence related to Giuliani’s role in the firing of Marie Yovanovitch, Trump’s former ambassador to Ukraine and a central figure in his first impeachment trial, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/nyregion/giuliani-yovanovitch-search-warrant-ukraine.html">according to the New York Times</a>. Yovanovitch was ousted in 2019 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/26/us/politics/yovanovitch-trump-ukraine-ambassador.html">at the behest of Giuliani</a>, who felt she was standing in the way of his attempts to find damaging information on the Biden family.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2RSdux">
That saga played out as a small part of the larger impeachment probe regarding Trump’s conduct with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Yovanovitch <a href="https://www.vox.com/2019/11/4/20948280/impeachment-transcripts-marie-yovanovitch">testified in 2019</a> that Giuliani was working with Ukraine’s former prosecutor general, Yuriy Lutsenko, asking him to open inquiries into political<strong> </strong>enemies including Hunter Biden — related to his time on the board of a Ukrainian energy company — and initiating a smear campaign against her when she attempted to follow protocol in arranging meetings between Ukrainian and American law enforcement officials.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DNwXMR">
Now, the Justice Department is investigating whether Giuliani’s conduct in that situation, and other events in Ukraine, were a violation of federal lobbying laws, according to the Times. Lobbying the US government at the behest of a foreign official without registering the activity with the Justice Department — a registration Giuliani never made — is a violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
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Giuliani went on <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/rudy-giuliani-reacts-fbi-raid-apartment-hunter-biden-ukraine">Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show</a> Thursday night to dispute the claims against him.
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“I never represented a Ukrainian national or official before the United States government,” he said. “I’ve declined it several times. I’ve had contracts in countries like Ukraine. In the contract is a clause that says I will not engage in lobbying or foreign representation. I don’t do it because I felt it would be too compromising.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cf4PK5">
Giuliani also claimed to have hard drives from Hunter Biden’s laptop that the agents were uninterested in despite his pleas; said he could have destroyed any evidence at any time over the last two years in which he has known about the probe; and asserted that the Justice Department, under Biden, was making up a case against him. He called on the officials overseeing his investigation to be investigated themselves, likening the situation to “East Berlin before the wall fell.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BqZiPg">
Robert Costello, Giuliani’s lawyer, said <a href="https://rudygiulianics.com/2021/04/28/statement-by-robert-j-costello-on-april-28-2021/">in a statement</a> that the investigation was evidence of a “double standard” in which the Justice Department will investigate prominent Trump supporters but will not open inquiries into Democrats such as Hunter Biden, whom he accused of “blatant,” though unsubstantiated, crimes.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HzZqHQ">
Agents also obtained a warrant for the phone of Victoria Toensing, a lawyer who collaborated with Giuliani on efforts to investigate the Bidens in Ukraine. Toensing handed over her phone on Wednesday morning, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/rudy-giulianis-new-york-apartment-searched-by-federal-investigators-11619628650">according to the Wall Street Journal</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kHd65i">
The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/nyregion/rudy-giuliani-trump-ukraine-warrant.html">New York Times has reported</a> that in addition to Giuliani’s dealings regarding Yovanovitch, federal investigators are looking into his conversations with Lutsenko regarding a draft retainer for legal consulting services that eventually fell through. The investigation hinges on whether or not Giuliani was solely representing Trump in his dealings with Ukrainians, or if he was also working on behalf of Ukrainian officials and business associates’ interests.
</p>
<h3 id="yhrOkz">
The DOJ’s hard line could have implications beyond Giuliani
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WAwS32">
The raid is a major escalation of the federal investigation into Giuliani, and represents a serious willingness by the Justice Department to look into the shadowy dealings of Trump figures. Considering Giuliani is a lawyer protected in his dealings with Trump by attorney-client privilege on some level, the fact that investigators obtained a warrant indicates the high-level nature of the investigation and the potential for consequences of the informal relationships between Trump figures. Giuliani’s work for Trump was often done informally — limiting the scope of what attorney-client privilege can protect.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="p0DUeQ">
Sources close to the former president <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/30/politics/giuliani-raid-donald-trump-inner-circle/index.html">told CNN</a> that the raid on Giuliani has left them uneasy about what else the Justice Department might be investigating.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QQaRxx">
Former Trump lawyer Michael<strong> </strong>Cohen, who pled guilty to charges of tax fraud, false statements to a bank, and campaign finance violations, flipped on his former boss in 2018. On CNN, he said he expected Giuliani to eventually do the same.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DXMahS">
“Prior to Donald becoming president, Rudy didn’t like Donald and Donald didn’t like Rudy,” <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/30/politics/giuliani-raid-donald-trump-inner-circle/index.html">Cohen said on CNN</a>. “He certainly doesn’t want to follow my path down into a 36-month sentence.”
</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Indain Premier League 2021 | Buttler strikes maiden IPL century, powers RR to competitive total</strong> - Sunrisers Hyderabad made three changes while Rajasthan Royals two in their playing XI.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Indian Premier League | Star-studded RCB stand in way of KKR revival</strong> - Royal Challengers Bangalore lost two in last three matches while Kolkata suffered five defeats in seven matches.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>COVID-19 surge | RCB promises financial help for oxygen support, to also raise funds</strong> - RCB players will be sporting a special Blue jersey in one of the upcoming matches and will also auction all the signed player jerseys from this game to raise money</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Former national selector Kishan Rungta dies of COVID-19</strong> - Rungta served as a national selector from Central Zone in 1998. He played 59 first class games between 1953 to 1970, scoring 2717 runs.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Delhi’s veteran football administrator and Hindustan FC owner DK Bose dead</strong> - Bose was part of Executive Committee of the then Delhi Soccer Association for many years</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Defectors turn game changers in Puducherry</strong> - Among the clutch of leaders who quit the Congress were A. Namassivayam, former Minister and second-in-command in the Narayanasamy Cabinet, and A. John Kumar, with a reputation of massive victory margins, who joined the BJP.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Samyukt Kisan Morcha welcomes mandate against BJP</strong> - Results prove that the people have rejected divisive communal politics, it says</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>West Bengal election results | Congratulations pour in as Mamata Banerjee wins Nandigram</strong> - Wishes poured in from various quarters as the Trinamool Congress chief is set to form a government in the State for a third time.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Analysis | BJP faces organisational challenges post polls</strong> - Impact of setback in West Bengal, COVID wave on U.P. and Gujarat elections next years</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>West Bengal Assembly polls | Kolkatans borrow from Satyajit Ray to celebrate Mamata’s massive win</strong> - Mamata Banerjee was being hailed as ‘Aparajito’ (The Unvanquished) who had no ‘Pratidwandi’ (Rival) — both titles of Ray movies.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Spain’s far-right Vox eye share of power in Madrid</strong> - A rancorous election in the Spanish capital highlights the country’s deeply divided politics.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>May Day protests: Turkey arrests hundreds as rallies sweep globe</strong> - Violence flares in some countries where rallies to mark Labour Day are held despite Covid-19 rules.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Apple charged over ‘anti-competitive’ app policies</strong> - The tech giant faces a huge fine and may be forced to make changes to the App Store.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Bronze Age treasure found in Swedish forest by mapmaker</strong> - A man stumbled on ancient jewellery while surveying a forest for his orienteering club.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Haiti: Seven abducted Catholic clergy released</strong> - The case led to the resignation of the government in Haiti, where kidnappings have surged recently.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>How one naughty bird cheats with fancy feather structures</strong> - Male tanager birds have more than way to make their colors really pop for the ladies - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1761656">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Four astronauts make first nighttime landing in the ocean since 1968</strong> - “I would just like to say, quite frankly, y’all are changing the world.” - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1761816">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>White House says Vice President Kamala Harris will chair the space council</strong> - “I think her approach to this is just going to be to get the job done.” - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1761787">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>What became of 2009’s Left 4 Dead 2 boycott? Here’s the inside story</strong> - In gaming since <em>L4D2</em>, fan campaigns have even pressured devs to release entirely new endings. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1761388">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>An ambitious plan to tackle ransomware faces long odds</strong> - Heavyweight task force proposes framework to tackle a major cybersecurity problem. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1761651">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>My dentist told me “This might hurt a little bit. Are you ready?”</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
I said “Yes, I’m ready.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He said “I’m sleeping with your wife.”
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/LemonZeppelin27"> /u/LemonZeppelin27 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/n3229w/my_dentist_told_me_this_might_hurt_a_little_bit/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/n3229w/my_dentist_told_me_this_might_hurt_a_little_bit/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>As I slipped my finger slowly inside her hole, I could immediately feel it getting wetter and wetter.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
I slid my finger back out, and within seconds, she was going down on me.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
I thought to myself, “I really need a new fucking boat.”
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/MudakMudakov"> /u/MudakMudakov </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/n2kuv6/as_i_slipped_my_finger_slowly_inside_her_hole_i/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/n2kuv6/as_i_slipped_my_finger_slowly_inside_her_hole_i/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>There is nothing worse than a doctors receptionist who insists you tell her what is wrong with you in a room full of patients</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
I know most of us have experienced this, and I love the way this guy handled it.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
A 65-year-old man walked into a crowded waiting room and approached the desk.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Receptionist said, ‘Yes sir, what are you seeing the Doctor for today?’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
‘There’s something wrong with my dick’, he replied.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The receptionist became irritated and said, ‘You shouldn’t come into a crowded waiting room and say things like that.’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
‘Why not, you asked me what was wrong and I told you,’ he said.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Receptionist replied; ‘Now you’ve caused some embarrassment in this room full of people. You should have said there is something wrong with your ear or something and discussed the problem further with the Doctor in private.’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The man replied, ’You shouldn’t ask people questions in a roomful of strangers, if the answer could embarrass anyone. The man walked out, waited several minutes, and then re-entered.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Receptionist smiled smugly and asked, ‘Yes??’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
‘There’s something wrong with my ear,’ he stated.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Receptionist nodded approvingly and smiled, knowing he had taken her advice.. ‘And what is wrong with your ear, Sir?’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
‘I can’t piss out of it,’ he replied.
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/John87Nintendo"> /u/John87Nintendo </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/n2lwgz/there_is_nothing_worse_than_a_doctors/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/n2lwgz/there_is_nothing_worse_than_a_doctors/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A man dies and is waiting to be transported to heaven</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He asks Death about what happens next. Death replies “YOU WERE A GOOD MAN ON EARTH , YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN , WHERE YOU WILL ENJOY ETERNAL YOUTH , YOU CAN DO BASICALLY ANYTHING YOU WANT , ANYTHING YOUR HEART DESIRES”. The man thinks to himself, “that’s wonderful”, and settles down for the journey.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Death announces that he has to go and speak to St Peter and do the paperwork, so the man is left alone for a while in Death’s office.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He thinks to himself about what he wants to do when he gets there, he could eat all of the delicious foods he never got to try on earth, he could drive the best sports cars he could imagine, he could even be a care-free child again.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He lingers on that final thought for a moment, it’s so appealing to him to be able to run around, play, be silly, with nobody judging him. He gets excited, and stands up.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Death walks back into the office, just in time to see the man bouncing on the sofa. He asks “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?” to which the man replies “I’m having the time of my life, or should I say time of my death?” Just as he finishes speaking, the sofa tears open, and the man falls all the way through. Death is furious and screams “DO YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THAT WAS!? I HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO EARTH NOW TO GET A NEW ONE”. The man sheepishly apologises.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Death asks the man to stand up, and they begin their journey to the afterlife. As they arrive, Death says to the man “GO INSIDE, THEY WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO FROM HERE”. He obliges.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
As he walks in, Satan says to the man “Welcome to Hell”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Hell!?” the man splutters. "But I was told I was going to heaven, there must have been some kind of mistake!“
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Unfortunately that is not the case. You see, in life, you were a good man, however in death, you have behaved recklessly and with no consideration for the reaper cushions.”
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/AverageJoe313"> /u/AverageJoe313 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/n2h7gf/a_man_dies_and_is_waiting_to_be_transported_to/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/n2h7gf/a_man_dies_and_is_waiting_to_be_transported_to/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>An Englishman and Welshman were in a pub discusing their sexual prowess.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Englishman boasts he’s gotten laid with 27 different partners this year.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“What about <em>you</em>?” he asks the Welshman, who promptly falls asleep.
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Glass-Paramedic"> /u/Glass-Paramedic </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/n3317c/an_englishman_and_welshman_were_in_a_pub/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/n3317c/an_englishman_and_welshman_were_in_a_pub/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
</ul>
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