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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>Self-Interest Bias in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Cultural Comparison between the United States and China</strong> -
<div>
In the global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries attempt to enforce new social norms to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. A key to the success of these measures is the individual adherence to norms that are collectively beneficial to contain the spread of the pandemic. However, individuals’ self-interest bias (i.e., the prevalent tendency to license own but not others’ self-serving acts or norm violations) can pose a challenge to the success of such measures. The current research examines COVID-19-related self-interest bias from a cross-cultural perspective. Two studies (N = 1,558) sampled from the United States and China consistently revealed that participants from the United States evaluated their own self-serving acts (exploiting test kits in Study 1; social gathering and sneezing without covering the mouth in public in Study 2) as more acceptable than identical deeds of others, while such self-interest bias did not emerge among Chinese participants. Cultural underpinnings of independent versus interdependent self-construal may influence the extent to which individuals apply self-interest bias to justifications of their own self-serving behaviors during the pandemic.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/unjv6/" target="_blank">Self-Interest Bias in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Cultural Comparison between the United States and China</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Research Article What Impact has SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers (HCWs) Mortality &amp; Infections across 36 states &amp; union territories of India? How to prevent mortality &amp; morbidity of HCWs?</strong> -
<div>
Abstract: Background: The ongoing coronavirus pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2/covid-19/novel coronavirus is an acute infectious communicable disease spreading mainly via respiratory, eye, mouth and other possible routes from person to person as well as through contact with infected non living objects. The pandemic has massively increased healthcare systems burden due to high hospitals admission rate, infection rates, morbidity, and mortality. QALY (quality adjusted life years) &amp; DALY (disability adjusted life years) are also important for consideration of impact of this pandemic. The healthcare systems is under constant massive pressure to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus &amp; a huge part of this responsibility is being shouldered by frontline health care workers including doctors, nurses, paramedical workers, ASHAs and Anganwadi services etc. Hence HCWs are inevitably and routinely exposed to the virus hence naturally are at high risk of infection, possible mortality &amp; morbidities. Objectives: The key objective is to find out impact of SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers (HCWs) Mortality &amp; Infections across 36 states &amp; union territories of India. What are the reasons of mortality and morbidity &amp; How to prevent mortality &amp; morbidity of HCWs? Methodology/settings &amp; design (search strategy-Research Methods): Several databases were searched for deaths of HCWs in India between January 2019 and 18th May 2021, including MoHFW website, PUBMED, WHO COVID-19 database, COVID-19 Study Register, and Google scholar. The search terms used were: “healthcare providers /health care workers/nurses- death in India due to COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “Coronavirus,” using Google search. Whatever data obtained is tabulated. Results: There is increase in mortality of HCWs in India. The data is not available completely in my search. Beside increased death I have found a lot of controversy and questions raised on the issue of this data. There is lot of discrepancy in data given by Government and other sources. According to the Indian Medical Association, 244 doctors have lost their lives due to Covid in the second wave. Of them, 50 deaths were recorded on Sunday. The highest number of fatalities have been reported from Bihar (69) followed by Uttar Pradesh (34) and Delhi (27) . Conclusion: The government and other agencies should collect and provide the data publicly so that it can be analysed by different sections of researchers to give feedback which will help in making policies helpful to protect HCWs. A large number of medical staffs are infected due to the lack of adequate protection. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic is growing day by day with lack of essential facilities for treatment. Some experts have warned of a possible third wave of COVID-19. Keywords: Healthcare workers (HCWs), covid-19 infection, safety, pandemic, Mortality, Doctors, Nurses, Death, India
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/tk4f3/" target="_blank">Research Article What Impact has SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers (HCWs) Mortality &amp; Infections across 36 states &amp; union territories of India? How to prevent mortality &amp; morbidity of HCWs?</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity by a Rapid Antigen Detection Test</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The identification and isolation of highly infectious SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals is an important public health strategy. Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) are promising candidates for large-scale screenings due to timely results and feasibility for on-site testing. Nonetheless, the diagnostic performance of RADT in detecting infectious individuals is yet to be fully determined. Two combined oro- and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from individuals at a routine SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic center. Side-by-side evaluations of RT-qPCR and RADT as well as live virus cultures of positive samples were performed to determine the sensitivity of the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Test (SD Biosensor/Roche) in detecting SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals with cultivable virus. A total of 2,028 samples were tested and 118 virus cultures inoculated. SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected in 210 samples by RT-qPCR, representing a positive rate of 10.36%. The Standard Q COVID-19 Ag Test yielded a positive result in 92 (4.54%) samples resulting in an overall sensitivity and specificity of 42.86% and 99.89%. For adjusted Ct values &lt;20, &lt;25, and &lt;30 the RADT reached sensitivities of 100%, 98.15%, and 88.64%, respectively. All 29 culture positive samples were detected by RADT. While overall sensitivity was low, Standard Q COVID-19 RADT reliably detected patients with high RNA loads. Additionally, negative RADT results fully corresponded with the lack of viral cultivability in Vero E6 cells. These results indicate that RADT can be a valuable tool for the detection of individuals that are likely to transmit SARS-CoV-2. RADT testing could therefore guide public health testing strategies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.30.21254624v2" target="_blank">Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity by a Rapid Antigen Detection Test</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>An imperfect tool: contact tracing could provide valuable reductions in COVID-19 transmission if good adherence can be achieved and maintained.</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Emerging evidence suggests that contact tracing has had limited success in the UK in reducing the R number across the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate potential pitfalls and areas for improvement by extending an existing branching process contact tracing model, adding diagnostic testing and refining parameter estimates. Our results demonstrate that reporting and adherence are the most important predictors of programme impact but tracing coverage and speed plus diagnostic sensitivity also play an important role. We conclude that well-implemented contact tracing could bring small but potentially important benefits to controlling and preventing outbreaks, providing up to a 15% reduction in R, and reaffirm that contact tracing is not currently appropriate as the sole control measure.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.09.20124008v4" target="_blank">An imperfect tool: contact tracing could provide valuable reductions in COVID-19 transmission if good adherence can be achieved and maintained.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>The Impact of Pandemic to Medium, Small and Medium Enterprises and Digital Platforms in Indonesia</strong> -
<div>
The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic caused Indonesia’s economy to experience deflation, the group whose income is not affected prefer to save rather than spending their money, this happen with consideration that no one knows when the Covid-19 pandemic will end and when will the the situation return to normal. The pandemic has decreased people’s income and purchasing power. People saving are decreased used for consumption needs, especially for the employee that’s terminated from the the company or has been laid off, this cases resulting in and increasingly depleted source of household funds.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/w5sbj/" target="_blank">The Impact of Pandemic to Medium, Small and Medium Enterprises and Digital Platforms in Indonesia</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>The Importance of Supporting MSMEs’ Digitalization in Indonesia</strong> -
<div>
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have a very vital role in the development and economic growth in Indonesia. According to the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, in 2020, MSMEs have a total of 60% contribution to the Gross Domestic Bruto and 90% contribution to the national workforce absorption. Therefore, the recovery of MSMEs is very important for the well-being of the national economy. The Covid-19 pandemic must encourage MSMEs actors to transform their businesses if they want to survive. Business digitalization during the Covid-19 pandemic is growing faster. Therefore, the recovery of MSMEs cannot be separated from the utilization of information technology.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/5je9m/" target="_blank">The Importance of Supporting MSMEs’ Digitalization in Indonesia</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Pregnancy and birth outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in pregnancy</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is associated with significant maternal morbidity and increased rates of preterm birth. For this reason, COVID-19 vaccine administration in pregnancy has been endorsed by multiple professional societies including ACOG and SMFM despite exclusion of pregnant women from initial clinical trials of vaccine safety and efficacy. However, to date little data exists regarding outcomes after COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant patients. Study Design: A comprehensive vaccine registry was combined with a delivery database for an integrated healthcare system to create a delivery cohort including vaccinated patients. Maternal sociodemographic data were examined univariately for factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination. Pregnancy and birth outcomes were analyzed, including a composite measure of maternal and neonatal pregnancy complications, the Adverse Outcome Index. Results: Of 2002 patients in the delivery cohort, 140 (7.0%) received a COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and 212 (10.6%) experienced a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. The median gestational age at first vaccination was 32 weeks (range 13 6/7-40 4/7), and patients vaccinated during pregnancy were less likely than unvaccinated patients to experience COVID-19 infection prior to delivery (1.4% (2/140) vs. 11.3% (210/1862)) P&lt;0.001No maternal COVID-19 infections occurred after vaccination during pregnancy. Factors significantly associated with increased likelihood of vaccination included older age, higher level of maternal education, lower pre-pregnancy BMI, and use of infertility treatment for the current pregnancy. Tobacco or other substance use, Hispanic ethnicity, and higher gravidity were associated with a lower likelihood of vaccination. No significant difference in the composite adverse outcome (5.0% (7/140) vs. 4.9% (91/1862) P=0.95) or other maternal or neonatal complications, including thromboembolic events and preterm birth, was observed in vaccinated mothers compared to unvaccinated patients. Conclusions: Vaccinated pregnant women in this birth cohort were less likely to experience COVID-19 infection compared to unvaccinated pregnant patients, and COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy was not associated with increased pregnancy or delivery complications. Significant sociodemographic disparities in vaccine uptake and/or access were observed among pregnant patients, and future efforts should focus on outreach to low-uptake populations.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.17.21257337v1" target="_blank">Pregnancy and birth outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in pregnancy</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Comparison of dried blood spots and venous blood for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a population of nursing home residents</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
In the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, testing for SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies is paramount to monitor immune responses in post-authorization vaccination and sero-epidemiology studies. However, large scale and iterative serological testing by venipuncture in older persons can be challenging. Capillary blood sampled using a finger prick and collected on protein saver cards, i.e. dried blood spots (DBS), has already proven to be a promising alternative. However, elderly persons have a reduced cutaneous microvasculature, which may affect DBS-based antibody testing. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the performance of DBS for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in nursing homes residents. We collected venous blood and paired Whatman and EUROIMMUN DBS from nursing home residents, and from staff as a reference population. Venous blood samples were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies using the Abbot chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). DBS were analyzed by the EUROIMMUN enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. We performed a statistical assessment to optimize the ELISA cut-off value for the DBS using the Youden9s J index. A total of 273 paired DBS-serum samples were analyzed, of which 129 were positive as assessed by the reference test. The sensitivities and specificities of DBS ranged from 95% to 97.1% and from 97.1% to 98.8%, respectively, depending on population (residents or staff) or DBS card type. These results demonstrate that DBS sampling is a valid alternative to venepuncture for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the elderly.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.17.21256410v1" target="_blank">Comparison of dried blood spots and venous blood for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a population of nursing home residents</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Induced Antibody Response and Reinfection in Persons with Past Natural Infection</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Several studies have shown that subjects with a history of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection had significantly higher antibody titers than previously uninfected vaccinees after vaccination with mRNA vaccine. Yet no information is available for other vaccines. In the current observational cohort study, 105 health care workers who had received Covishield an Adeno associated viral vector-based DNA vaccine were enrolled at Sarojini Nadu Medical College Agra, India. The study included 40 (23 men and 17 women) subjects with a previous history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 65 participants (39 men and 26 women) who were not infected previously. Both the groups received the adenovirus vector vaccine ChAdOx1-S recombinant vaccines (Covishield, Astra Zeneca). The levels of SARS-CoV-2-anti-spike-IgG-antibodies titer were measured using Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay on Roche platform as arbitrary units per milliliter (AU/ml). After 28 days of the second dose, subjects with no previous SARSCoV-2 infection showed a significantly lower level of circulating anti-spike-IgG-antibody titers compared to previously infected participants. After the second dose, we also observed a significant increase in SARS-CoV-2 infection in subjects with no prior history of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to subjects with a previous history of natural infection. The most important observation of the study is a low percentage of infection in previously infected subjects. The finding of the study also indicates the presence of robust humoral memory response in previously infected patients.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.18.21257259v1" target="_blank">SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Induced Antibody Response and Reinfection in Persons with Past Natural Infection</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Phylogenomics and population genomics of SARS-CoV-2 in Mexico reveals variants of interest (VOI) and a mutation in the Nucleocapsid protein associated with symptomatic versus asymptomatic carriers</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Understanding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus in various regions of the world during the Covid19 pandemic is of the utmost importance to help mitigate the effects of this devastating disease. We describe the phylogenomic and population genetic patterns of the virus in Mexico during the pre-vaccination stage, including asymptomatic carriers. Our RT-qPCR screening and phylogenomics directed a sequence/structure analysis of the Spike glycoprotein, revealing mutation of concern E484K in genomes from central Mexico, in addition to the nationwide prevalence of the imported variant 20C/S:452R (B.1.427/9). Overall, the detected variants in Mexico show mutations in the N-terminal domain (i.e., R190M), in the receptor-binding motif (i.e., T478K, E484K), within the S1-S2 subdomains (i.e., P681R/H, T732A), and at the basis of the protein, V1176F, raising concerns about the lack of phenotypic and clinical data available for the postulated variants of interest (VOIs) 20B/478K.V1 and P.3. Moreover, the population patterns of Single Nucleotide Variants (SNVs) from symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers sampled with a self-sampling scheme, revealed a bimodal distribution of polymorphisms in all three sampled localities from central Mexico, and confirmed the presence of several fixed variants, mostly from the 241T-3037T-14408T-23403G haplotype common in Asia. Despite gene flow among Mexican localities, we found differences in both the allelic frequencies among localities and the allelic imbalance of the mutation S194L of the nucleocapsid protein between symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. Our results highlight the dual role of Spike and Nucleocapsid proteins in adaptive evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to their hosts and provide a baseline for specific follow-up of mutations of concern during the vaccination stage in Mexico.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.18.21256128v1" target="_blank">Phylogenomics and population genomics of SARS-CoV-2 in Mexico reveals variants of interest (VOI) and a mutation in the Nucleocapsid protein associated with symptomatic versus asymptomatic carriers</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Will there be a third COVID-19 wave? A SVEIRD model based study of Indian situation.</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Since first patient detected in India in late February, 2020, SARS-CoV-II virus is playing havoc on India. After the first wave, India is now riding the 2nd wave. As was in the case of European countries like Italy and UK, the 2nd wave is more contagious and at the time of writing this paper, the per day infection is as high as 400,000. The alarming thing is it is not uncommon that people is getting infected multiple time. On the other hand, mass vaccination has started step by step. There is also growing danger of potential 3rd wave is unavoidable, which can even infect kids and minors. In this situation, an estimation of the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 is absolutely necessary to combat the pandemic. We have used a modified SEIRD model, that includes vaccination and repeat infection as well. We have studied India and 8 Indian states with varying SARS-CoV-2 infection. We have shown that, Covid-19 wave will be repeated time to time, but the intensity will slow down with time. In most possible situation, our calculation shows COVID-19 will remain as endemic for foreseeable future, unless we are able to increase our vaccination rate manifold.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.16.21257300v1" target="_blank">Will there be a third COVID-19 wave? A SVEIRD model based study of Indian situation.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Evaluation of High Flow Local Extraction on control of the aerosol plume in an operating theatre</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background Engineering controls are a necessity for minimising aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2, yet so far, little attention has been given to such interventions. High flow local extraction (HFLE) is a standard in other industries that deal with airborne contaminants. This study provides a quantitative evaluation of an HFLE concept feasible to implement in most real clinical settings. Method A unique combined experimental model of Laser sheet illumination videography paired with continuous nanoparticle counts was used to quantitatively assess the impact of HFLE in an operating theatre. Propylene Glycol was aerosolised via a customised physiological lung simulator and dispersion was measured in 3 dimensions. Cumulative probability heat maps were generated to describe aerosol behaviour. Continuous particle counts were made at 15 locations throughout the room to validate laser assessments. Results HFLE effectively reduced dispersion of simulated exhaled aerosols to undetectable levels. With the HFLE in operation and optimally positioned, the aerosol plume was tightly controlled. Particle counts remained at baseline when HFLE was active. HFLE becomes less effective with increasing distance from source. Plume behaviour in the absence of HFLE was highly variable and unpredictable. Conclusions This analysis demonstrates great potential for HFLE to have a significant impact in reducing aerosol transmission. Simple HFLE devices can be easily engineered and could be widely deployed without impacting on the safe delivery of care. Keywords: aerosol; high flow local extraction; aerosol-generating procedure; tracheal intubation; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; plume; personal protective equipment; engineering controls
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.16.21257155v1" target="_blank">Evaluation of High Flow Local Extraction on control of the aerosol plume in an operating theatre</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Large-scale genomic study reveals robust activation of the immune system following advanced Inner Engineering meditation retreat.</strong> -
<div>
The positive impact of meditation on human wellbeing is well documented, yet its molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. We applied a comprehensive systems biology approach starting with whole blood gene expression profiling combined with multi-level bioinformatic analyses to characterize the co-expression, transcriptional, and protein-protein interaction networks to identify meditation-specific core network after an advanced 8-day Inner Engineering retreat program. We found the response to oxidative stress, detoxification, and cell cycle regulation pathways were downregulated after meditation. Strikingly, 220 genes directly associated with immune response, including 68 genes related to interferon (IFN) signaling were upregulated, with no significant expression changes in the inflammatory genes. This robust meditation-specific immune response network is significantly dysregulated in multiple sclerosis and severe COVID-19 patients. The work provides a foundation for understanding the effect of meditation and potential implications to voluntarily and non-pharmacologically improve the immune response before immunotherapy for many conditions, including multiple sclerosis and COVID-19 vaccination.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.18.444668v1" target="_blank">Large-scale genomic study reveals robust activation of the immune system following advanced Inner Engineering meditation retreat.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Implications Derived from S-Protein Variants of SARS-CoV-2 from Six Continents</strong> -
<div>
Spike (S) proteins of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are critical determinants of the infectivity and antigenicity of the virus. Several mutations in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 have already been detected, and their effect in immune system evasion and enhanced transmission as a cause of increased morbidity and mortality are being investigated. From pathogenic and epidemiological perspectives, spike proteins are of prime interest to researchers. This study focused on the unique variants of S proteins from six continents Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, South America, and North America. In comparison to the other five continents, Africa (29.065%) had the highest percentage of unique S proteins. Notably, only North America had 87% (14046) of the total (16143) specific S proteins available in the NCBI database (across all continents). Based on the amino acid frequency distributions in the S protein variants from all the continents, the phylogenetic relationship implies that unique S proteins from North America were significantly different from those of the other five continents. Overtime, the unique variants originating from North America are most likely to spread to the other geographic locations through international travel or naturally by emerging mutations. Hence it is suggested that restriction of international travel should be considered, and massive vaccination as an utmost measure to combat the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. It is also further suggested that the efficacy of existing vaccines and future vaccine development must be reviewed with careful scrutiny, and if needed, further re-engineered based on requirements dictated by new emerging S protein variants.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.18.444675v1" target="_blank">Implications Derived from S-Protein Variants of SARS-CoV-2 from Six Continents</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>An intranasal ASO therapeutic targeting SARS-CoV-2</strong> -
<div>
The COVID-19 pandemic is exacting an increasing toll worldwide, with new SARS-CoV-2 variants emerging that exhibit higher infectivity rates and that may partially evade vaccine and antibody immunity. Rapid deployment of non-invasive therapeutic avenues capable of preventing infection by all SARS-CoV-2 variants could complement current vaccination efforts and help turn the tide on the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we describe a novel therapeutic strategy targeting the SARS-CoV-2 RNA using locked nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotides (LNA ASOs). We identified an LNA ASO binding to the 5’ leader sequence of SARS-CoV-2 ORF1a/b that disrupts a highly conserved stem-loop structure with nanomolar efficacy in preventing viral replication in human cells. Daily intranasal administration of this LNA ASO in the K18-hACE2 humanized COVID-19 mouse model potently (98-99%) suppressed viral replication in the lungs of infected mice, revealing strong prophylactic and treatment effects. We found that the LNA ASO also represses viral infection in golden Syrian hamsters, and is highly efficacious in countering all SARS-CoV-2 “variants of concern” tested in vitro and in vivo, including B.1.427, B.1.1.7, and B.1.351 variants. Hence, inhaled LNA ASOs targeting SARS-CoV-2 represents a promising therapeutic approach to reduce transmission of variants partially resistant to vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, and could be deployed intranasally for prophylaxis or via lung delivery by nebulizer to decrease severity of COVID-19 in infected individuals. LNA ASOs are chemically stable and can be flexibly modified to target different viral RNA sequences, and they may have particular impact in areas where vaccine distribution is a challenge, and could be stockpiled for future coronavirus pandemics.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.17.444397v1" target="_blank">An intranasal ASO therapeutic targeting SARS-CoV-2</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>Recombinant Hyperimmune Polyclonal Antibody (GIGA-2050) in COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: GIGA-2050<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   GigaGen, 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>Study to Evaluate the Effects of RO7496998 (AT-527) in Non-Hospitalized Adult and Adolescent Participants With Mild or Moderate COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: RO7496998;   Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc.;   Hoffmann-La Roche<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>The Role of High Dose Co-trimoxazole in Severe Covid-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19 Pneumonia<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Co-trimoxazole;   Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh<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>The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on COVID-19 Recovery</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Vit-D 0.2 MG/ML Oral Solution [Calcidol];   Drug: Physiological Irrigating Solution<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University of Monastir;   Loussaief Chawki;   Nissaf Ben Alaya;   Cyrine Ben Nasrallah;   Manel Ben Belgacem;   Hela Abroug;   Imen Zemni;   Manel Ben fredj;   Wafa Dhouib<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>A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effect of STC3141 Continuous Infusion in Subjects With Severe Corona Virus Disease 2019（COVID-19）Pneumonia</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: STC3141<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Grand Medical Pty Ltd.;   Trium Clinical Consulting<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>tDCS for Post COVID-19 Fatigue</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Post Covid-19 Patients<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Thorsten Rudroff<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>A Phase 2 Study of APX-115 in Hospitalized Patients With Confirmed Mild to Moderate COVID-19.</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: APX-115;   Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Aptabio Therapeutics, Inc.;   Covance<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>Leveraging CHWs to Improve COVID-19 Testing and Mitigation Among CJIs Accessing a Corrections-focused CBO</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Behavioral: Onsite Point-of-care<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Montefiore Medical Center;   The Fortune Society;   University of Bristol<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>Breathing Effort in Covid-19 Pneumonia: Effects of Positive Pressure, Inspired Oxygen Fraction and Decubitus</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19 Pneumonia<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Device: Esophageal catheter<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   San Luigi Gonzaga 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>Convalescent Plasma as Adjunct Therapy for COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Biological: Convalescent plasma treatment<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   National Institute of Health Research and Development, Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia;   Indonesian Red Cross;   Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology<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>Anti COVID 19 Intravenous Immunoglobulin (C-IVIG) Therapy for Severe COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Biological: Anti COVID 19 Intravenous Immunoglobulin (C-IVIG)<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Dow University of Health Sciences;   Higher Education Commission (Pakistan)<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>A Global Phase III Clinical Trial of Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cells)</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells);   Other: Placebo control<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Jiangsu Province Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;   WestVac Biopharma Co., Ltd.;   West China 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>ACTIV-6: COVID-19 Study of Repurposed Medications</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Ivermectin Tablets<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Susanna Naggie, MD;   National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS);   Vanderbilt University Medical Center<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>3R Rehabilitation Management of COVID-19 Survivors</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Other: Cardiopulmonary exercise (centre-based);   Other: Cardiopulmonary exercise (online-based)<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   The Hong Kong Polytechnic University;   Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong;   Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong;   Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong;   Tuen Mun Hospital Hong Kong<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>Symprove (Probiotic) as an add-on to COVID-19 Management</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Other: Symprove (probiotic);   Other: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   King’s College Hospital NHS Trust<br/><b>Not yet 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>Further insights into the molecular complexity of the human sinus node - The role of ‘novel’ transcription factors and microRNAs</strong> - RESEARCH PURPOSE: The sinus node (SN) is the heart’s primary pacemaker. Key ion channels (mainly the funny channel, HCN4) and Ca^(2+)-handling proteins in the SN are responsible for its function. Transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression through inhibition or activation and microRNAs (miRs) do this through inhibition. There is high expression of macrophages and mast cells within the SN connective tissue. ‘Novel’/unexplored TFs and miRs in the regulation of ion channels and immune…</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>Role of leukotriene pathway and montelukast in pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations of Covid-19: The enigmatic entity</strong> - Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the responsible agent for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), has its entry point through interaction with angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, highly expressed in lung type II alveolar cells and other tissues, like heart, pancreas, brain, and vascular endothelium. This review aimed to elucidate the potential role of leukotrienes (LTs) in the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to…</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>Disruption of disulfides within RBD of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein prevents fusion and represents a target for viral entry inhibition by registered drugs</strong> - The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic imposed a large burden on health and society. Therapeutics targeting different components and processes of the viral infection replication cycle are being investigated, particularly to repurpose already approved drugs. Spike protein is an important target for both vaccines and therapeutics. Insights into the mechanisms of spike-ACE2 binding and cell fusion could support the identification of compounds with inhibitory effects. Here, we demonstrate that the integrity 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>Computational designing of a peptide that potentially blocks the entry of SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV</strong> - Last decade has witnessed three major pandemics caused by SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV that belong to Coronavirus family. Currently, there are no effective therapies available for corona virus infections. Since the three viruses belong to the same family and share many common features, we can theoretically design a drug that can be effective on all the three of them. In this study, using computational approach, we designed a peptide (Peptide 7) that can bind to the Receptor Binding Domain…</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>ZMPSTE24 Regulates SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-enhanced Expression of Endothelial Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1</strong> - Endothelial dysfunction is implicated in the thrombotic events reported in COVID-19 patients, but underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Circulating levels of the coagulation cascade activator PAI-1 are substantially higher in COVID-19 patients with severe respiratory dysfunction than in patients with bacterial-sepsis and ARDS. Indeed, the elevation of PAI-1 is recognized as an early marker of endothelial dysfunction. Here, we report that recombinant SARS-CoV-2-S1 stimulated robust…</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>Opposing forces fight over the same ground to regulate interferon signaling</strong> - The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has spurred new interest in interferon signaling in response to viral pathogens. Much of what we know about the signaling molecules and associated signal transduction induced during the host cellular response to viral pathogens has been gained from research conducted from the 1990’s to the present day, but certain intricacies of the mechanisms involved, still remain unclear. In a recent study by Vaughn et al. the authors examine one of the main mechanisms…</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>Nodosome inhibition as a novel broad-spectrum antiviral strategy against arboviruses, enteroviruses and SARS-CoV-2</strong> - In the present report, we describe two small molecules with broad-spectrum antiviral activity. These drugs block formation of the nodosome. The studies were prompted by the observation that infection of human fetal brain cells with Zika virus (ZIKV) induces expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), a host factor that was found to promote ZIKV replication and spread. A drug that targets NOD2 was shown to have potent broad-spectrum antiviral activity…</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>Review of antiviral peptides for use against zoonotic and selected non-zoonotic viruses</strong> - Viruses remain one of the leading causes of animal and human disease. Some animal viral infections spread sporadically to human populations, posing a serious health risk. Particularly the emerging viral zoonotic diseases such as the novel, zoonotic coronavirus represent an actual challenge for the scientific and medical community. Besides human health risks, some animal viral infections, although still not zoonotic, represent important economic loses to the livestock industry. Viral infections…</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 Convenient and Biosafe Replicon with Accessory Genes of SARS-CoV-2 and Its Potential Application in Antiviral Drug Discovery</strong> - SARS-CoV-2 causes the pandemic of COVID-19 and no effective drugs for this disease are available thus far. Due to the high infectivity and pathogenicity of this virus, all studies on the live virus are strictly confined in the biosafety level 3 (BSL3) laboratory but this would hinder the basic research and antiviral drug development of SARS-CoV-2 because the BSL3 facility is not commonly available and the work in the containment is costly and laborious. In this study, we constructed a reverse…</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 large-scale computational screen identifies strong potential inhibitors for disrupting SARS-CoV-2 S-protein and human ACE2 interaction</strong> - SARS-CoV-2 has infected millions of individuals across the globe and has killed over 2.7 million people. Even though vaccines against this virus have recently been introduced, the antibody generated in the process has been reported to decline quickly. This can reduce the efficacy of vaccines over time and can result in re-infections. Thus, drugs that are effective against COVID-19 can provide a second line of defence and can prevent occurrence of the severe form of the disease. The interaction…</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>Computational basis of SARS-CoV 2 main protease inhibition: an insight from molecular dynamics simulation based findings</strong> - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by newly discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One of the striking targets amongst all the proteins in coronavirus is the main protease (M^(pro)), as it plays vital biological roles in replication and maturation of the virus, and hence the potential target. The aim of this study is to repurpose the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved molecules via computer-aided drug designing against M^(pro)…</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>Complement inhibition in severe COVID-19 - Blocking C5a seems to be key</strong> - No abstract</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>Computational Identification of a Putative Allosteric Binding Pocket in TMPRSS2</strong> - Camostat, nafamostat, and bromhexine are inhibitors of the transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS2. The inhibition of TMPRSS2 has been shown to prevent the viral infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other viruses. However, while camostat and nafamostat inhibit TMPRSS2 by forming a covalent adduct, the mode of action of bromhexine remains unclear. TMPRSS2 is autocatalytically activated from its inactive form, zymogen, through a proteolytic cleavage that…</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>Pomegranate Peel Extract as an Inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Binding to Human ACE2 Receptor (in vitro): A Promising Source of Novel Antiviral Drugs</strong> - Plant extracts are rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, sesquiterpenes, and triterpenes, which potentially have antiviral activities. As a consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, thousands of scientists have been working tirelessly trying to understand the biology of this new virus and the disease pathophysiology, with the main goal of discovering effective preventive treatments 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>Design of advanced siRNA therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19</strong> - COVID-19 is a newly emerged viral disease that is currently affecting the whole globe. A variety of therapeutic approaches are underway to block the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Among these methods, siRNAs could be a safe and specific option, as they have been tested against other viruses. siRNAs are a class of inhibitor RNAs that act promisingly as mRNA expression blockers and they can be designed to interfere with viral mRNA to block virus replication. In order to do this, we designed and evaluated the…</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>IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO PARTICLE, INCLUDING SARS-CoV-2, DETECTION AND METHODS THEREFOR</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU323295937">link</a></p></li>
<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>UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING SYSTEM FOR MENTAL HEALTH MONITORING OF PERSON DURING THE PANDEMIC OF COVID-19</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU323295498">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>一种高灵敏SARS-CoV-2中和抗体的检测方法、检测试剂盒</strong> - 本发明公开了一种高灵敏SARS‑CoV‑2中和抗体的检测方法、检测试剂盒，属于生物医学检测技术领域，本发明试剂盒包括层析试纸、卡壳和样本稀释液，所述层析试纸包括底板、样品垫、结合垫、NC膜和吸水垫，所述NC膜上依次设置有捕获线、检测线和质控线，所述捕获线包被有ACE2蛋白，所述检测线包被有RBD蛋白，所述结合垫设置有RBD蛋白标记物；本发明采用阻断法加夹心法原理提高检测中和抗体的灵敏度，通过添加捕获线的方式，将靶向RBD的非中和抗体提前捕获，保证后续通过夹心法检测中和抗体的特异性。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN323798634">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>逆转录酶突变体及其应用</strong> - 本发明提供一种MMLV逆转录酶突变体，在野生型MMLV逆转录酶氨基酸序列（如SEQ ID No.1序列所示）中进行七个氨基酸位点的突变，氨基酸突变位点为：R205H；V288T；L304K；G525D；S526D；E531G；E574G。该突变体可以降低MMLV逆转录酶对Taq DNA聚合酶的抑制作用，大大提高了一步法RT‑qPCR的灵敏度。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN323494119">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>用于检测新型冠状病毒的试纸和试剂盒</strong> - 本发明涉及生物技术和免疫检测技术领域，具体涉及一种用于检测新型冠状病毒的试纸和试剂盒。所述试纸或试剂盒含有抗体1和/或抗体2，所述抗体1的重、轻链可变区的氨基酸序列分别如SEQ ID NO:1‑2所示，所述抗体2的重、轻链可变区的氨基酸序列分别如SEQ ID NO:3‑4所示。本发明对于大批量的新型冠状病毒样本，包括新型冠状病毒突变（英国、南非）与非突变株的人血清、鼻咽拭子等样本的检测有普遍检测意义，避免突变株的漏检。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN322953478">link</a></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Fahrgastleitsystem und Verfahren zum Leiten von Fahrgästen</strong> -
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</p><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">Die Erfindung betrifft ein Fahrgastleitsystem zum Leiten von mit einem Fahrzeug (1) mit wenigstens zwei Türen (2.L, 2.R) transportieren Fahrgästen (3), mit wenigstens einem Sensor (4) zur Überwachung der Fahrgäste (3), wenigstens einem Anzeigemittel (5) zur Ausgabe von Leitinformationen, wenigstens einem Aktor zum Öffnen oder Verriegeln einer Tür (2.L, 2.R) und wenigstens einer Recheneinheit (7). Das erfindungsgemäße Fahrgastleitsystem ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Recheneinheit (7) dazu eingerichtet ist durch Auswertung vom wenigstens einen Sensor (4) erzeugter Sensordaten zu erkennen an welcher Tür (2.L, 2.R) des Fahrzeugs (1) Fahrgäste (3) ein- und/oder aussteigen möchten und wenigstens eine Tür (2.L, 2.R) für einen Ausstieg festzulegen und/oder wenigstens eine Tür (2.L, 2.R) für einen Einstieg festzulegen, sodass eine Anzahl an Begegnungen von sich durch das Fahrzeug (1) bewegender Fahrgäste (3) und/oder aus dem Fahrzeug (1) aussteigenden und/oder in das Fahrzeug (1) einsteigenden Fahrgästen (3) minimiert wird.</p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=DE323289145">link</a></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Vorrichtung zum Desinfizieren, der Körperpflege oder dergleichen</strong> -
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</p><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">Vorrichtung zum Desinfizieren, der Körperpflege oder dergleichen mittels einer flüssigen oder cremigen Substanz (20), dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung mit einem elektrisch betriebenen Erinnerungs-Modul und einem Vorratsbehälter (10) für die Substanz (20) versehen ist, die Substanz (20) in dosierter Menge zur Ausgabeöffnung (9) gefördert wird und die Vorrichtung dazu geeignet ist, am Körper oder der Kleidung einer Person getragen zu werden.</p></li>
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<li><a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=DE323289850">link</a></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>Saying Her Name</strong> - Remains that were found to be those of a Black teen who was killed by Philadelphia police in 1985 were treated as an anthropological specimen. How was her identity known and then forgotten? - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/essay/saying-her-name">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Policing Politics Takes Over the New York City Mayoral Race</strong> - With the spectre of crime suddenly top of mind for many voters, the language of “defund the police” has been deemed a political liability. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-local-correspondents/policing-politics-takes-over-the-new-york-city-mayoral-race">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Japan’s Olympic-Sized Problem</strong> - The government’s inept response to the coronavirus pandemic has led to widespread discontent about hosting the Games. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/japans-olympic-sized-problem">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack and the Perils of Privately Owned Infrastructure</strong> - For years, businesses have resisted efforts from the federal government to hold them to robust cybersecurity standards. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-colonial-pipeline-ransomware-attack-and-the-perils-of-privately-owned-infrastructure">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The International Energy Agency Issues a Landmark Statement About Fossil Fuels</strong> - Our hope for a livable world rests on a series of crucial sentences. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-international-energy-agency-issues-a-milestone-statement-about-fossil-fuels">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
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<li><strong>Stacey Abrams breaks down the politics of her Supreme Court thriller</strong> -
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S_0vzGonB89C6uOVXK9HlT-85Yc=/358x0:1798x1080/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69310121/1318536790.0.jpg"/>
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Stacey Abrams speaking at TV One’s Third Annual Urban One Honors, on May 16. | TV One/Getty Images
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Stacey Abrams wrote a thriller. People said the president was too evil. Then came Trump.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="N6T5LJ">
In between <a href="https://www.vox.com/ezra-klein-show-podcast/21540804/stacey-abrams-2020-biden-trump-election-voter-suppression-laws-republicans">organizing for voting rights</a> and <a href="https://www.vox.com/21556742/georgia-votes-election-organizers-stacey-abrams">helping convince Georgia to vote blue</a> in a presidential election for the first time since 1992, Stacey Abrams somehow found the time to write a thriller. <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516588&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fbookshop.org%2Fbooks%2Fwhile-justice-sleeps-9780593452721%2F9780593452721&amp;referrer=vox.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2Fculture%2F2021%2F5%2F19%2F22440541%2Fstacey-abrams-interview-while-justice-sleeps-thriller-supreme-court-book-novel" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>While Justice Sleeps</em></a>, out now, is Abrams’s ninth novel and first straight thriller. (Her previous eight novels, all originally published under the pen name Selena Montgomery, were romantic suspense.) She’s also written two nonfiction books. To find out how she does it all, I called her up on the phone.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="imN0n1">
<em>While Justice Sleeps</em> is an unusually wonky thriller. It begins when Supreme Court Justice Howard Wynn, a cranky libertarian and the court’s swing vote, falls into a coma right before the court is set to consider a case involving a pharmaceutical merger. With Howard out of commission, the court faces an existential crisis. The only way to vacate a Supreme Court justice’s seat is for them to die or retire. So what do you do if a justice isn’t dead or retired, but definitely isn’t in a position to hear cases any time soon?
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SvVNno">
To rid the country of this pesky ambiguity, shadowy forces threaten Howard’s life — including, we gradually learn, a war hero Republican president, who is drawing on his military connections to try to get Howard assassinated. The only person who can protect Howard is his law clerk Avery, who is mystified to find that shortly before falling into his coma, Howard designated her his legal guardian and granted her power of attorney. With assassins lurking around every corner, Avery slowly learns that Howard is playing a complicated chess game, one that seems to have involved seeing his coma coming. Now it’s up to her to decode his strategy.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6teI21">
<em>While Justice Sleeps</em> is a political book, and its author is one of the most interesting organizers in American politics today. So I wanted to ask Abrams about how she built the political landscape of her fictional world, and how she sees it interacting with our own world. Our conversation, lightly edited for length and clarity, is below.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="l10tvZ">
<strong>You were writing under a pen name for the first part of your career. Why did you first adopt your pen name, Selena Montgomery, and when did you decide to stop using it? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="o0UO80">
I used my pen name from 2001 through 2009, which is the last time I wrote romantic suspense. The pen name was truly born of my dual obligations in writing. I was writing romantic suspense, and I was also starting to publish tax treatises and social justice policy papers and op-eds. It is much easier to separate your identities than to try to explain why Alan Greenspan is writing romance.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="zcfDel">
I was always very clear that I was Selena Montgomery. I had my face on my website. My face was in every book. There was never an intent to disguise that I wrote romantic suspense. It was just a very different dynamic. This was also at the time that Google was coming into being.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="60OUmw">
But now the need to separate my identities is no longer necessary. At the time, no one really cared who Stacey Abrams was. Now it’s slightly more relevant, and I am perfectly happy for people to know all nine of my novels, including <em>While Justice Sleeps</em>, as well as my two nonfiction works.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2FBOEC">
<strong>I know you first worked on this book some time ago. And I read that one of the reasons you put it aside was that publishers said the president was too evil for people to believe in, and that changed after the Trump presidency. Which is so interesting to me, because the fictional president in </strong><em><strong>While Justice Sleeps</strong></em><strong> seems in so many ways like a Bush-era figure, especially in terms of the press focus on his military credentials and his evangelicalism. So how do you think the post-Trump landscape changes the way readers approach this character? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QDiFlm">
It was my agents that I sent the book to, because that’s the first step to getting it in front of the publisher. And each time, there was pushback. The first time I pitched it was in 2010, 2011, so it was in the midst of the Obama era, and I think part of what the pushback was, was really around the president character’s involvement in international intrigue. Although to your point, this was not anathema to who American politicians had been before.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1ceQwW">
I think what happened this time is that the very clear and slightly caricatured behavior of Trump, as someone who openly courted international interference, who openly courted and rebuked our political norms, made my character, by comparison, seem a lot less far-fetched.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="xDP0wE">
<strong>And then there’s the figure of Justice Wynn, who’s in kind of a tricky place, right? Because he has to be the crucial swing vote on the Supreme Court for the plot to work, but he also has to have a really clear, stringent moral code. So how did you develop the politics for this fictional character? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EBhTCC">
I really did study Supreme Court justices who have found themselves in positions of high influence. But I also wanted to situate that justice in the space where you had thorny moral questions, where there wasn’t a clear through-line of where people would fit. And I wanted to make certain that the question created by this merger really implicated not only his more libertarian streaks, but also his sense of moral justice, and how those two things could intersect.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aK3Orv">
<strong>So in addition to having your female protagonist, Avery, this book also has a female chief justice on the Supreme Court. What was important to you about showing women in positions of leadership in this book? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="evTci6">
Well, part of it was paying homage to Teresa Wynn Roseborough [a former deputy assistant attorney general during the Clinton administration and Abrams’s former colleague], whose name appears twice. The chief justice is Teresa Roseborough, and there’s also Howard Wynn. She was the catalyst for this thought for me.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kR41eY">
But it was also important to me that that the chief justice, the person who could help Avery, that she be a strong figure, who is not in contrast to Avery’s mother, but is another example of that kind of leadership figure. And because the president was a man, I also wanted to be very clear about having that gender balance. Which unfortunately does not actually exist, but I wanted to give it more context and more possibilities.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="b442Pr">
<strong>One of the book’s most entertaining moments — and I am maybe showing my Voxiness here, because this is a thriller with a lot of gun fights and kissing — but the scene where the Senate majority leader and the House speaker discussed the possibility of </strong><a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/7/2/17513520/court-packing-explained-fdr-roosevelt-new-deal-democrats-supreme-court"><strong>court-packing</strong></a><strong> was so fun for me. Was that part of your original conception of the book, or did you bring it more in after the events of 2020? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="9CJr7a">
Oh no, there was actually a whole chapter! So many of those scenes had to get cut. That was rough. That was some of the most fun I had writing. But for, you know, pacing and to keep the plot moving, there were sacrifices that had to be made. I sacrificed car chases, yes, but I also had to sacrifice that longer dialogue. They had a few more scenes where they came together, and the push-pull tension in their relationship was a lot of fun for me to write. I love the politics.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="j3Wjqx">
<strong>Is that ever like a busman’s holiday for you? Or is this sort of wonky political intrigue always a fun thing for you to write? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="iPt2EI">
I like to write both what I know and what I learn, and so in every one of my books you’ll find kernels of what I’ve already assimilated or absorbed, and then new things I’ve gotten to learn in order to make the book work. This was one of the few times I was truly and wholly in my own wheelhouse. And that was founded even there: spending time doing research about the history of court-packing. Thinking about how the law works, on the surface, but also how about regulation and how bureaucracy is this separate form of government.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NjvFFU">
That’s something we often give short shrift to, which is why Betty [a bureaucrat in <em>While Justice Sleeps</em> who becomes key to solving the book’s central mystery] was such an important character to me. I’ve never been at her level, but as a program analyst for the Office of Management and Budget, I was reading through reams of reports. I’m one of like 10 people who actually read all of those reports, and there’s so much I learned about how our government works because of it.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="UnFbIH">
It always stuck with me that that’s just part of how we operate as a society, and we don’t pay much attention. I’m not saying we should, but there’s a whole separate layer, a substrata of how we operate as a society, that sometimes goes unnoticed.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Cw0vBs">
<strong>So how do you tend to approach the work you do as an author in balance with all of the important work you do in politics and organizing? How do you find the best way to keep them supporting each other? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ByFBYE">
I write because I love to tell stories, whether it’s in fiction or nonfiction. When I was running for governor, I wrote [a leadership handbook for marginalized people] <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516588&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fbookshop.org%2Fbooks%2Flead-from-the-outside-how-to-build-your-future-and-make-real-change%2F9781250214805&amp;referrer=vox.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2Fculture%2F2021%2F5%2F19%2F22440541%2Fstacey-abrams-interview-while-justice-sleeps-thriller-supreme-court-book-novel" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>Lead From the Outside</em></a>. When I was launching and bringing [voting rights organization] Fair Fight to full power, I was writing [a treatise on ending voter suppression] <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516588&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fbookshop.org%2Fbooks%2Four-time-is-now-power-purpose-and-the-fight-for-a-fair-america-9781250798466%2F9781250257703&amp;referrer=vox.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2Fculture%2F2021%2F5%2F19%2F22440541%2Fstacey-abrams-interview-while-justice-sleeps-thriller-supreme-court-book-novel" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>Our Time Is Now</em></a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="AMzAA4">
I’ve written for as long as I’ve had an actual career, whether it was as a tax attorney or as an entrepreneur or as a legislator. And to me it’s about respecting both parts of me, or all the parts of me, and giving primacy, one, to what has the greatest urgency; two, to what has the most relevance.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="In7jjF">
I’m also a really disciplined writer, in the sense that if I’ve got a contract or if I’ve got an idea and I need to get it down, I’m going to carve out the time to get it done. But in the same way, if I’ve got a day job that requires my more focused attention, I will find a way to squeeze, out of the rest of the time in my life, the time to get my writing done.
</p></li>
<li><strong>How can we make it right? What the world’s religions have to say about justice.</strong> -
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W30jLzd8Ec5qVvPfUkGKW7ApBdA=/0x0:8164x6123/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69265553/GettyImages_1173357732.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Getty Images/iStockphoto
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</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
From a Buddhist to a humanist, seven faith leaders weigh in on building a better world.
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<img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YYgW4HsU995yniG4Y5QuEoQvF0Y=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21899595/VOX_The_Highlight_Box_Logo_Horizontal.png"/>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="U5gRuI">
Part of <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/22424892/the-fairness-issue">The Fairness Issue</a> of <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-highlight"><strong>The Highlight</strong></a>, our home for ambitious stories that explain our world.
</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="MuGnS4"/>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="l22jrX">
Laurie Zoloth, <a href="https://divinity.uchicago.edu/directory/laurie-zoloth">a religious scholar and bioethicist</a>, has spent years helping scientists and policymakers around the world examine complex ethical dilemmas. What responsibilities do humans have in the face of climate change? How can we address health care disparities that continue to devastate Black and brown communities? How do we convince people to set aside their personal preferences and do the right thing? And above all, how do we make our world more fair?
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="9jYUsN">
For Zoloth, a professor at the University of Chicago’s Divinity School, the coronavirus pandemic offered yet more proof that it’s not enough to appeal to Americans’ feelings of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/17/opinions/coronavirus-hand-washing-world-war-ii-jacobs/index.html">patriotism</a> or even to other secular ideas about working for the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/utilitarianism-philosophy">greater good</a> of the greatest number of people. Tackling Covid-19 required every American to make personal sacrifices to protect society as a whole. But there was still <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2020/3/24/21191184/coronavirus-masks-social-distancing-memorial-day-pandemic-keep-calm-carry-on-fauci">loud resistance</a> from individuals who thought that the ask was too great — who did not want to be part of that mutual project or were opposed to submitting to the state’s regulations.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QcE5ZV">
The language people use to think through public health and justice issues has become deeply fractured and politicized, Zoloth said. That’s why she believes religion, which offers a rich and complex set of metaphors capable of uniting a broad swath of people, is so important. Particularly in a country <a href="https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/">where most people identify as belonging to a religion</a>, Zoloth said, faith-based appeals for fairness can have resonance.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EyjahE">
“Religion has been a great historical source for people interested in reasons to love their neighbors and vulnerable people, because religion doesn’t disregard the broken,” she said. “In a culture that valorizes youth and fitness and health, religion still remains powerful in part because it understands the fragility of human life.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YqE7ew">
Many religious texts describe how ancient peoples struggled to achieve fairness and confront scarcity, and how they set standards to equitably divide resources and labor during periods of famine and plague. Today, many religious leaders still posit a radical egalitarianism that asks people to consider their neighbors’ plight, cultivate compassion, and envision a more equal world.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DRYekX">
Vox asked seven religious and ethical leaders to reflect on how their respective traditions approach the concept of fairness. Several told Vox that it’s not enough that the good things in life — wealth, security, happiness — are distributed fairly. They should also be distributed justly, in a way that redresses past wrongs and addresses systemic problems.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VuyByS">
As the US races toward subduing Covid-19 within its borders, Zoloth said religious perspectives on fairness and justice can help Americans realize the country’s obligations to the rest of the world, particularly to impoverished nations currently devastated by the virus.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="0OZe6F">
“We have an obligation to our neighbor,” she said. “Not only because it’s in our interests, but because it’s the right thing to do, the ethical thing to do.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="My5HBs">
<em>These interviews have been edited for clarity and length. </em>
</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="X2m7UN"/>
<h4 id="ccSgqL">
Greg Epstein
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="x044sU">
<strong>Chaplain, Harvard University and MIT </strong><br/><strong>Humanist </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Pliqzb">
I don’t tend to speak much about fairness. We can understand fairness when we are children, fighting with our siblings or classmates. But as we mature, I think that what we want more is a just world. What we want is a world in which there aren’t massive systemic gaps in the kinds of lives that some people get to have, based on their gender, race, birthplace, sexual orientation, or when and how their ancestors got to the place where they live. We want a world that provides for a good and decent life for every person on it.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4QfbgP">
Human beings have two core impulses. First, the impulse to be selfish, to conquer. But we also have, in my belief, an equally powerful impulse to appreciate, support, and nurture one another. Which impulse wins out depends on what we’re fighting for. For me, a humanism that is worth working toward is a humanism that insists that we’re all worthy of care, respect, and love. And therefore, we’ve got to push back as hard as we can against a world that strips some people of their dignity.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2wloio">
I’m very close with religious people who believe deeply in a divine vision for fairness and justice. I think it causes them as individuals and communities to do wonderful, reparative, and life-giving work. But from a humanist perspective, I wonder — is it better to believe in an afterlife of some kind that provides for more fairness?
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JZj4m7">
Or is it better and more true to believe, as I do, that we get one chance, while we are alive, while we are trillions of interconnected cells composed of the material of ancient exploded stars, making each and every one of us one of an unplanned experiment that allows the universe to know itself? Is it better to recognize how finite our lives are? The more we recognize that this is our one shot, the more it focuses our minds and hearts to take action immediately.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gNOlaV">
We really can’t continue to pass this state of affairs on to the next generation. Which generation will be the one to finally commit to more fairness and justice? A lot of people want it to be this generation. I’m hopeful that it can be this one. If we’re going to have fairness, if we’re going to have justice, we have to recognize that it is in our own hands.
</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="dYBLvz"/>
<h4 id="jL0VSP">
Imam Omar Suleiman
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FCFbmm">
<strong>President, Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research </strong><br/><strong>Sunni Muslim</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="czxbqO">
When Malcolm X went to Hajj, his entire worldview was transformed by the possibility of humanity coming together as one, under one God. In Mecca, he saw people from all walks of life, racial backgrounds, and economic statuses honoring one another as brothers and sisters in the sight of God. Malcolm was shocked by the sight of “white” Muslims who ate with him and loved him like a brother. But it was about more than just breaking bread together — the pilgrimage taught Malcolm that humans also have a responsibility to advocate on behalf of those who didn’t have a loaf of bread in the first place, or had it taken from them. When we dishonor human beings, we dishonor our covenant with God.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HK4who">
Fairness means striving against inequity in pursuit of comprehensive justice. Justice (adl in Arabic) and fairness (qist in Arabic) can be used more or less synonymously, but they do have subtle differences. Justice is an approach to life, and fairness is a more tangible manifestation of it. If justice is the tree, fairness is the fruit.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<aside id="exgSyf">
<q>If justice is the tree, fairness is the fruit</q>
</aside>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LeLGnn">
God can never be blamed for any unpleasant experiences in life, because our perspective is very limited. What we may consider unfair at a particular moment is ultimately fair in the context of God’s plan for us. So Muslims persevere until the fairness of God’s plan becomes apparent.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="AoaR7W">
Created beings can certainly be unfair to each other. And Muslims are strongly encouraged to pursue and demand fair treatment for themselves, and even more importantly for others, through a range of reasonable means depending on the situation (e.g. arbitration, a legal process, advocacy, etc.).
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="xVuSTM">
Fairness is not necessarily an elusive goal in Islam. In many situations, fairness can be achieved. But, of course, many people in this world are dealt with unfairly or they are unfair to others, and the scales never seem to be balanced in their case until they pass away. From an Islamic perspective, they are only moving on to receive God’s inevitable, perfect justice. So Muslims believe that all matters will ultimately end in the fairest way, but the timeline for reaching that point extends beyond this life, to the Day of Judgment and the eternal life to come.
</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="IrzAbh"/>
<h4 id="7JHHIr">
Alexia Salvatierra
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="RDeeEL">
<strong>Assistant professor of integral mission and global transformation, Fuller Theological Seminary </strong><br/><strong>Charismatic/Pentecostal Christian</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="mSM3A6">
My religious tradition wouldn’t use the term “fairness” here. Instead, we talk about justice. We believe that injustice is a manifestation of human sin, that it occurs both individually and communally, and that it is often embedded in systems and structures.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="0VrBRT">
For Christians, fairness, or justice, is rooted in the idea that everyone’s desires and needs are equally important. Fairness is also contextual — it’s a balancing act. To do this well, we need to be in a right relationship with others. Scripture often uses the metaphors of a family or a body to describe that relationship. Sometimes, we must intentionally prioritize those who have not been prioritized in the past, in order to restore a vibrant balance. 1 Corinthians 12:24-25 refers to the members of the body of Christ and instructs us to give more honor to the parts that have lacked it, so that “there should be no division in the body but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="togvka">
In the Christian context, mercy and justice are connected. Many people in our society see justice as receiving what you have earned. The truth is that we all need more goodness than we have earned. We all need second chances, the room to make mistakes and cause damage without losing the opportunity to grow and fulfill our dreams.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="5mUT7S">
At the same time, justice requires that a price be paid. Christians believe that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid what is cosmically owed, satisfying the balanced scales of justice, so that we can all start over again together, and so that our future potential overcomes the pain of the past. Starting over means working to create just relationships in the present and future. This may require extra effort and contribution on the part of the offender or the one who has broken the relationship.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OQuftE">
If justice is the will of God, then we have to use whatever power we have to achieve it, regardless of whether we’re the ones who directly benefit. That does not mean that we can expect to always achieve justice. Christians believe we live in a broken world that is in a long process of redemption and restoration, which will not be complete until Christ comes back.
</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="rx4oiZ"/>
<h4 id="qmPumz">
Shivani Parikh
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3DGJJ9">
<strong>Board member, Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus</strong><br/><strong>Vaishnava Hindu</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Hmy27Z">
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JxwVD5">
There are myriad ways to interpret and practice Hinduism. As someone brought up in Swadhyay Parivar — a movement that is intercaste, multiethnic, and welcoming of all religious traditions and families with affinities to any deities —<strong> </strong>I’ve learned that when we assess what is fair, it’s important to be aware of our own feelings of entitlement and our inflated egos. Unfairness is caused by humans’ desire to exercise power over others. This is why God blessed us with intellect in a way that the other creatures were not — ideally, to use that intellect in ways that are fair, good, and just.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="0GPQBG">
The focus of Hinduism is not on the problem of good and evil, but rather on sublimating attachment to the material world to seek moksha, or release from the cycle of rebirth. Hindu texts do not lay out a utopian setting for fairness and overall take a very blunt assessment of the state of human affairs. It may be naive to expect fairness, which is interpreted by human beings.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<aside id="yZyi12">
<q>Unfairness is caused by humans’ desire to exercise power over others</q>
</aside>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="9ulnUj">
Karma, on the other hand, is cosmic. Karma, which refers to the totality of our actions in this and previous lives, deals with our motivations. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna describes three types of karma. The first, sātvika, is motivated by goodness, performed without ego and gives one liberation and inner peace. The second, rājasī, is performed in passion, which means one becomes attached. The third type, tāmasī, is performed out of ignorance and results in the downfall of the body, mind, and soul.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="yMwnwQ">
As long as we are motivated by materialism and our understanding of the world is clouded by ignorance, fairness will remain elusive. Maybe fairness would be achieved by all if everyone practiced seva (selfless service) as their form of bhakti (devotional worship), but Hinduism asserts that our being in samsara (the world) makes suffering unavoidable. If our goal is moksha, then the relevance of fairness plays out in an individual’s sātvika<em> </em>karma. That means taking actions that prioritize fair outcomes is an element of our quest toward oneness with God.
</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="IwXvko"/>
<h4 id="TM7F8K">
Karma Lekshe Tsomo
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="sJOp4L">
<strong>Professor of Buddhist studies, University of San Diego</strong><br/><strong>Non-sectarian Buddhist</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EXiyEM">
There is no direct correlation to fairness in Buddhism. Fairness in the sense of justice is most closely related to karma (actions) and the law of cause and effect. Situations in this world often seem unfair — it’s the perennial question of why bad things happen to good people while some despicable people seem to thrive.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="glykaY">
For Buddhists, the question is answered by understanding that life experiences are the result of our own actions. Just as mango seeds give rise to sweet fruit and bitter melon seeds give rise to bitter fruit, good fortune is the result of wholesome actions of body, speech, and mind, while misfortune results from unwholesome actions. The Buddha is quoted as saying, “All beings are the owners of their karma. Whatever volitional actions they do, good or evil, of those they shall become the heir.” This means that we are responsible for our own actions and their consequences. The doer of an action experiences the results of the action and no one else.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="yS1HH7">
The law of cause and effect is predicated on an understanding of the theory of rebirth. This theory presupposes that sentient beings are born into different states of existence and experience favorable and unfavorable experiences in accordance with their actions. The system operates over multiple lifetimes, which resolves the nagging perennial question above. The seeds of wholesome actions may ripen either in this lifetime or some future lifetime, when conditions are conducive, with no predictable timeline. From a Buddhist perspective, the system is perfectly fair.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gMN7UC">
Most of us cannot see the past lives of ourselves and others, but we can grasp the general outlines of how karma works. For example, if we witness an incident of injustice, it may be appropriate to intervene skillfully but unwise to use aggression or violence. Generating lovingkindness and compassion is a skillful way of diffusing sticky situations and helps create a happier future for all.
</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="9kZkL2"/>
<h4 id="E71r8u">
Noam Marans
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QngR7Z">
<strong>Rabbi, director of interreligious and intergroup relations, American Jewish Committee </strong><br/><strong>Conservative Jew </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="I821A3">
Fairness as a value is first introduced in the Jewish tradition implicitly in <a href="https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.18.19?lang=bi&amp;aliyot=0">God’s mission statement</a> for Abraham and his descendants, the Jewish people: “To keep the way of the Lord by doing what is just and right.” Included in “doing what is just and right” is a mandate — spelled out in Judaism’s sacred texts — that our personal dealings and societal structures be conducted with fairness.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lcTbC2">
Fairness can manifest when we treat all human beings as creations in the Divine image. This is particularly important today as we respond to polarization in the US and elsewhere that has expressed itself, at times, with demonization of the “other.” The Jewish people have experienced discrimination and much worse throughout history. Therefore, as America grapples with racial injustice, Jewish values of fairness and its corollaries are and will be brought to bear as we work together to address America’s challenges.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KDhTFj">
Fairness is something worth working toward, but it is only one of many values. In fact, although the concept of fairness exists in the earliest Jewish texts, there is not a specific word in those texts that captures our modern understanding of the English word “fairness.” Other important values include righteousness, justice, goodness, lovingkindness, graciousness, honesty, humility, etc.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3rVCb2">
The Jewish concepts of the immortality of the soul and afterlife are, in part, responses to a theological challenge — that is, the realities of life are rectified through reward (and punishment) after death. This is small comfort to many who suffer in this life. Some who have been significantly hurt by life’s experiences adapt an alternative or complementary approach. They seize their pain and utilize it for good by helping others who are in pain or by adopting a cause.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="udOcLd">
Important Jewish texts espouse belief in a physical messianic figure who will lead the world toward redemption. Many modern Jews believe in a less literal messianic redemption. They see it as their responsibility to redeem the world and therefore participate in tikkun olam, literally fixing the world, i.e., through social justice and lovingkindness endeavors.
</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="6JC9Jw"/>
<h4 id="azVcvZ">
Vahisha Hasan
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GknhuM">
<strong>Executive director, Movement in Faith</strong><br/><strong>Progressive Baptist</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="B79Dsd">
It’s difficult to know what is fair and unfair if we’re not aware of how our own economic, ethnic, and social class impacts our views. Even when someone is aware, they can become so bound in the privilege of that identity that they take a defensive position.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JB58nR">
Fairness cannot be defined by capitalism, which measures the value of the earth, its creatures, and humanity by how their production benefits those in power. Christians take God’s metric into account. What does God value, and then value most? Love will always be the answer. What could the earth, its humans, and all of creation look like with a lot more love and a lot less everything else?
</p>
<p class="c-end-para" data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="0AbC3A">
The Christian tradition speaks to an abundant life in the present and a new heaven, new earth, and new body after death, without sorrow, pain, lack, or want. So the goal of transformation feels more accessible than that of fairness. How can we be transformed while we live — just as we are comforted by the transformation that happens in death, when we no longer have the struggles of life? Mary Hooks, a Black Lives Matter organizer in Atlanta, says in her <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516588&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F174684690&amp;referrer=vox.com&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2Fthe-highlight%2F22419487%2Freligion-justice-fairness" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">mandate</a> that we should “be willing to be transformed in the service of the work,” the work of fighting for justice. This is my goal, to answer that call from God, that mandate from Hooks, for abundant life for everyone, not just for some.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZyjO0W">
<em>Carol Kuruvilla is a religion reporter, formerly of HuffPost and the New York Daily News.</em>
</p>
<div>
<div id="O7gsQq">
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Why dating apps make you feel awful</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="Hands holding a phone displaying a picture of a person in a dating app." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wsrWh1uQKJU4nJgZBE797EQQwv4=/118x0:2003x1414/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69309922/GettyImages_1291370255.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Nancy Jo Sales’s new memoir reckons with the effects of “Big Dating.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oRlAHH">
In 2015, the journalist Nancy Jo Sales — she of <a href="https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/share/e9cc0cc3-dbf1-4fab-8367-5fc7c05608e6"><em>The Bling Ring</em></a> and many a buzzy celebrity <a href="https://nymag.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/1395/">profile in the ’90s</a> and <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2009/10/jon-and-kate-gosselin-200910">aughts</a> — published <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/08/tinder-hook-up-culture-end-of-dating">an article about Tinder</a>. But it wasn’t really about Tinder per se; it was about how Tinder and dating apps like it were ushering in a new, dystopian romantic landscape in which sex was the result of an algorithm and relationships were almost never actually formed. Instead of offering real, human connection with a single swipe, Sales argued that dating apps were simply turning up the dial on hookup culture, and hetero women were once again left to work out the mental gymnastics to convince ourselves that, actually, this was good.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aarUtq">
Yet throughout her years reporting the story, and later her book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Girls-Social-Secret-Teenagers/dp/0804173184"><em>American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers</em></a> and her documentary <a href="https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/swiped-hooking-up-in-the-digital-age"><em>Swiped: Hooking Up in the Digital Age</em>,</a> Sales became one of Tinder’s most enthusiastic power users. A single mom in her 50s, she reported finding particular success on the apps with young men in their 20s, some of whom turned into exciting trysts, others awkward sexual partners, and one a life-altering heartbreak.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="PZ4emH">
These are the subjects of Sales’s latest book, a memoir entitled <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Personal-Secret-Dating-Inferno/dp/0316492744"><em>Nothing Personal: My Secret Life in the Dating App Inferno</em></a>, in which she also recounts her childhood and the many instances of sexual assault she underwent as a young woman, combined with analysis of the depressing state of sexual violence and oppression that social media, she argues, exacerbates.
</p>
<div class="c-float-left">
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8odIrx1sDC2NremO6pAt6HyfPWk=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22523041/NancyJoSales_Wexler_Final.jpg"/> <cite>Courtesy of Hachette Books</cite>
<figcaption>
Nancy Jo Sales
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</figure>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="K0OUh6">
The result is an intensely personal (and incredibly juicy) retelling of Sales’s life as a marquee writer at New York magazine and Vanity Fair, replete with media gossip and detailed sex scenes that make it impossible to put down. In my interview with Sales, we talk about how dating apps make us feel terrible, and discuss some ideas on how to make the internet a more tolerable place for women.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aYkmh0">
<strong>Your 2015 Vanity Fair story </strong><a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/08/tinder-hook-up-culture-end-of-dating"><strong>“Tinder and the Dawn of the Dating Apocalypse”</strong></a><strong> was one of the first viral articles that pushed back against the idea that dating apps were a net good to society. Do you feel vindicated at all that in the six years since, people have been a lot less sympathetic to Big Tech?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JqioNx">
We’re in a techlash, which I think started around 2016 or 2017 with Cambridge Analytica and the congressional hearings. The media, finally, is criticizing the moves of Big Tech, and we’ve come to realize that this is a really big problem in all of our lives, and we all need to go a little Upton Sinclair on this.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<aside id="j40f2M">
<q>People who would normally not have had these thoughts in their heads are doing this because of dating apps</q>
</aside>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="dsTHOb">
I call it Big Dating because it’s like Big Pharma in the sense that they’re more interested in selling you pills than curing what’s really wrong with you. Dating happens 24/7 now, whereas there used to be times when we date. To the extent that disruption is good business, I see it as an insidious thing because they’re disrupting our lives — especially women, people of color, trans people, LGBTQ people, who are more vulnerable to abuse. There has not been a reckoning at all in the way it needs to happen. Columbia Journalism Investigations surveyed 1,200 women and found that <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/tinder-lets-known-sex-offenders-use-the-app-its-not-the-only-one#methodology">more than a third of them</a> reported being sexually assaulted or raped by someone they’d met through a dating site.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cOApIm">
<strong>One of the points you turn to a lot is that dating apps make people feel disposable and that they gamify dating. What impact does that have on the way we date?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KlqdpJ">
Everybody’s on these sites now, and I think different generations use dating apps in slightly different ways — older people sometimes retain the dating norms of their generations. But I also think that the app controls our behavior and makes us treat everybody as disposable. My friend who is referred to as Constance in the book, who is 60, feels like she’s getting used by all these guys who are her age. She’ll check their phones and find out [these older men] are trying to hit up 20-year-olds to be their sugar daddy.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ohJrt1">
People who would normally not have had these thoughts in their heads are doing this because of dating apps. It’s imposed on you by platforms and algorithms that aren’t really about you finding love, they just want you to engage. The more you see 18-year-old women or whatever — and [the apps] have fake bots, too — it gets your dopamine spiking. So you think, “maybe if I just keep swiping and keep swiping, I’ll get another one.” It’s like gambling.
</p>
<div class="c-float-left">
<aside id="wwUbDo">
<q>I want people to let themselves fall in love and don’t think that there are 5 million other people out there, because probably there aren’t</q>
</aside>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Ymt0ll">
<strong>At the time of the Tinder story, people accused you of creating a moral panic and of being a pearl-clutcher. What’s your response to that? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Ussa66">
I’m not saying we need courtly love. I did my whole thesis on courtly love and feminism. I know the pitfalls and the problems, and I’m not saying that we should go back to, like, the Sir Lancelot idea of somebody being in your thrall. But it really is nice to have somebody in your thrall, trying to make you feel special. That should be a goal on both sides, to make someone feel special. Let’s not have a competition to see who can care less and who’s gonna text back after more time has passed. All this hedging that people do over dating apps is so tiresome to me. They bend over backward to say, “I didn’t mean to say I cared about you!” What’s wrong with caring about somebody? You don’t have to marry them. But just like, could you just care a little bit?
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hZHSK5">
I want people to let themselves fall in love, and even if they get the heartbreak, they fall in love and have good sex and they don’t think that there are 5 million other people out there, because probably there aren’t. It’s like when you sit down and watch Netflix, you spend more time checking out all the different options than you actually do watching the show.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="qnlQL6">
<strong>The irony, of course, is that as you were doing all this research in the mid-2010s, you’re also using Tinder and hooking up with younger guys constantly. How did you see your own dating patterns change when you got on the apps?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="H2R25q">
There used to be a lot more randomness. Believe me, I can’t stress enough that I’m not romanticizing the past. You read the book — in the past, a lot of bad things have happened to me. But I do remember having a lot of fun, and the kind of fun that was about being an independent young woman in New York. You’d run around and go to parties and then you’re on a rooftop making out. It was random. It was a mystery. It was magic. Everybody wasn’t watching porn — they were starting to, but it wasn’t accessible in the way it became in the late ’90s. They’d connect with you more in bed.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1kyL3r">
Then I went on dating apps, and I felt like I was in service to the app. It was labor. A lot of young women that I’ve interviewed have actually described it as exhausting. You’re working for this company to create data, and you don’t really realize that because it’s never openly expressed. You’re being judged constantly. You’re being approached by these guys that might be sweet and cute, but they might be a bot. They also might be an incel. You might be having a good conversation but then they want to get a nude, or they want to come over right away and you say no, and they turn on a dime and turn abusive.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3UH31I">
Very often with young men, I felt like they didn’t know how to have a conversation. I definitely met some interesting guys, and the reason why I was going out with younger guys was because I was trying to get over a heartbreak and it seemed like a fun thing to do to date a 24-year-old for a minute as a nice distraction. But also, there weren’t a lot of people my age. Tinder, at that point, didn’t even go past 40!
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Q5tYH3">
<strong>One of the moments in the book that stuck with me is the feeling of trying to explain to a male friend — someone who likely thinks of himself as a feminist — about sexism and watching his eyes just totally glaze over. Why is it still so hard for people to accept that some things are sexist and that we’re doing ourselves a disservice by not talking about them?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kADi3u">
As much as we are having a moment and are moving forward, I think this technology is exacerbating misogyny. I don’t think it’s good for men, either: It’s making it harder for all of us to truly connect and find lasting relationships, and not just relationships, even just good sex.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="PaCmka">
I had a lot of one-night stands in the ’90s when I was a girl about town that were just like … <em>muah</em>. Like, “Wow, that’s a nice memory.” But those are harder and harder to find because you’re in this box now where you have to do things the way the corporation makes you do them. That’s really a problem when it comes to dating because dating should be all about agency and choice, yet algorithms are getting you addicted and making you turn yourself into an object. “Am I fuckable, or not?” I want to see radical change, and that all starts with thinking about what you’re doing and what people are making you do. I don’t mean to sound like I have all the answers. I honestly don’t know.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<aside id="s9TLS1">
<q>Dating is often seen as a trivial thing, but it’s not. We have companies that are actively blocking us from finding what we need under the guise of doing the opposite.</q>
</aside>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aUbaJT">
<strong>In your documentary, you interview a psychologist who theorizes that the two biggest shifts in dating have been the agricultural revolution and the internet. That made me feel like we’re this generation of guinea pigs who are being tested on by these forces we have no control over. When we look back at early dating apps a few decades down the line, what do you think or hope we will have learned by then?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YRDjxb">
That this was a dark age; that this was a period of acceptable and normalized brutality that encouraged things that are completely at odds with our health, our well-being, and our humanity. I know that sounds extreme, but I do hope that’s what will happen. Dating is often seen as a trivial thing, but it’s not trivial. It’s how we get family, which is pretty important. We have companies that are actively blocking us from finding what we need under the guise of doing the opposite. I think that is so wrong.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Qk5Iy3">
<strong>For those of us who know you mostly for your narrative reporting pieces, this book was strikingly personal. What was it like going from writing about other people to writing about yourself?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SjgB4M">
It didn’t start out great. I went to an Airbnb in the Catskills in fall 2018, and I would sit down with my computer and think, “I don’t want to write about that.” And then I realized, every time you think to yourself, “I’m scared to say that,” that’s the thing you have to write about. Just like when you’re interviewing someone, you do things to make them comfortable enough so that their real self starts to come out, I had to do that to myself. I was very scared.
</p>
<p class="c-end-para" data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OfnBUh">
There’s some things that you discover about yourself that are going to be valuable when you share them because they’re probably very, very human [experiences] that everyone can relate to. That was stuff that once upon a time I would have considered shameful or embarrassing or pathetic — dating situations where you’re having sex with a guy and just getting through it, like you did consent but you’re not really excited about it. I had heard about these kinds of things from young women, and secretly I would be thinking, “I know exactly what you mean, I’ve done that a thousand times.” By talking about it, it’s not so scary anymore.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="iBQbPf">
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ci2eh8">
</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>10-man Manchester City loses 3-2 at Brighton, Gundogan off injured</strong> - Potentially worrying for City was the sight of key midfielder Ilkay Gundogan coming off with a leg injury 11 days before the team plays in the Champions League final against Chelsea.</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>History repeats itself: first for the men, then for the women</strong> - In his letter of resignation from the Committee of Administrators, Ramachandra Guha emphasised the bane of the ‘superstar’ culture in Indian cricket.</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>Hetmyer, Russell return to West Indies squad</strong> - Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, and Shimron Hetmyer were on Tuesday named in West Indies’ provisional 18-man squad for the five-match T20 International ho</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>England names Robinson and Bracey for NZ Tests</strong> - Moeen, Bairstow, Buttler, Sam Curran rested</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>NRAI gets into Esport</strong> - The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), in collaboration with the Mobile Premier League (MPL), will release a mobile version of non-violent sh</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>Senior doctor booked in Mangaluru for not wearing mask at supermarket</strong> - The police on Wednesday filed a case against senior physician B. Srinivas Kakkilaya under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act for not wearing a face m</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>Curbs tightened in Chikkamagaluru</strong> - Chikkamagaluru district administration has announced stricter lockdown for five days from tomorrow. The number of participants in marriage programmes</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>Fertilizer prices | Maharashtra Congress warns of State-wide agitation</strong> - Hike will result in big industrialists grabbing agriculture from farmers, 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>233 Assam jail inmates test positive for COVID-19</strong> - Vaccination enabled for 958 prisoners, many of whom do not have valid documents such as Aadhaar card</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>HC stays order directing Chief Secretary to revisit 2008 G.O. approving sale of Dunlop land</strong> - It pertains to huge tracts of land sold to real estate firm VGN in July 2004</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>Belgian manhunt for soldier who threatened top virologist Ranst</strong> - Police search woodland for a soldier said to be armed with a rocket launcher and guns.</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>Spain migrants: ‘I said goodbye to my family and left with nothing’</strong> - Around half of the 8,000 migrants who reached a Spanish enclave in Morocco have been sent back.</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>EU envoys back entry for non-essential travel</strong> - They recommend reopening borders for countries with low Covid rates - a list will be agreed this week.</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: France and Austria reopens bars and restaurants as lockdowns ease</strong> - Both countries ease restrictions from Wednesday amid a fall in the number of daily Covid cases.</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>Denmark asylum: The Syrian refugees no longer welcome to stay</strong> - Denmark is criticised for becoming the first European country to revoke residence status for 200 people.</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>Shake-up reported at the CDC; two high-profile officials depart</strong> - Recent hiccups reportedly led to tensions within the agency. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1765994">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>20 percent of Switch sales now going to households that already had a Switch</strong> - Miyamoto wants a Switch “not just [for] every family, but [for] every single person.” - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1765955">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Rare quasicrystal found in trinitite formed during 1945 Trinity Test</strong> - Research suggests other quasicrystals might form in lighting strikes, meteor impacts. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1765764">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Google, Samsung, and Fitbit team up to save Wear OS</strong> - Samsung is bringing the hardware, Google is bringing the software. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1765728">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Verizon forces users onto pricier plans to get $50-per-month gov’t subsidy</strong> - You might have to change Internet plans to get the FCC’s $50 low-income subsidy. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1765823">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>Just got a vasectomy. I was looking forward to not having any more kids…</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
…but when I got home, the fuckers were still there
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/trevdak2"> /u/trevdak2 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/nflkeu/just_got_a_vasectomy_i_was_looking_forward_to_not/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/nflkeu/just_got_a_vasectomy_i_was_looking_forward_to_not/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>The Pope decides to take a cross-country tour across America, beginning in California and ending in New York.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Somewhere in the Mid-West, the Popemobile breaks down, and while it’s repaired, the Pope continued his journey with a limousine rental.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
After a few hours, the limousine driver rolled down the glass partition, and spoke: “I know I’m not supposed to talk to you, your holiness, or highness - I’m not even sure what to call you?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“It’s okay, my son, say what you want to say.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Well, when they told me who I’d be driving, I was really thrilled. It’s such an honor, and if there is anything I can do to make it a better trip, I’ll do my best to make sure it happens.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Pope thought for a while, then replied, “You know, before I became Pope, I really enjoyed driving. I would drive for hours. But now, no one will allow me to drive anywhere. Would you mind if we switched places and I can drive?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The limousine driver agreed and the two switched places.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
After a while, the Pope became relaxed, turned the radio on, hung his arm out the window, and just enjoyed cruising. However, not aware of his increasing speed, he was soon pulled over by a motorcycle cop.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The cop walked up to the limousine, saw who was driving, said, “Excuse me, your holiness, for a moment”, then returned to his bike and got on the radio.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Chief, I think I have a problem. I believe I pulled over someone pretty important, and I’m not sure how to deal with it.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Chief responded: “Don’t tell me you pulled over a state representative again, Johnson?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“No, I think this person is more important.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Not our Governor?!”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“No, I believe more important than the Governor.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Johnson, tell me you didn’t pull over a Presidential Motorcade.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“No, they may be even more important than the President.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“What? Really? Who’s more important than the President?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Hell if I know, but the Pope’s driving.”
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/GodOfArk"> /u/GodOfArk </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/nfzbky/the_pope_decides_to_take_a_crosscountry_tour/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/nfzbky/the_pope_decides_to_take_a_crosscountry_tour/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A couple was invited to a swanky masked Halloween party.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
They were ready to leave when the wife came down with a headache. She told her husband to go to the party, no need to miss it because of her headache. So the husband left for the party.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
About an hour later his wife’s headache went away and she felt better. She put on her costume and went to the party. As she arrived, she spotted her husband cavorting around the dance floor, dancing with every nice chick he could, copping a little feel here and a little kiss there. The wife siddled up to him and let him go as far as he wished, naturally because he was her husband. Finally, he whispered a little proposition in her ear and she agreed. So they went off to one of the cars and had a little bang. Just before midnight unmasking she slipped away and went home, got in bed, and wondered what kind of explanation he would have. As he entered the bedroom she asked, “Did you have a good time? Did you dance much?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He replied, “You know I never have any fun if you are not with me. I never danced one dance, When I got there I met some of my friends and we played cards. I lent my costume to some guy. He said he had a terrific time.”
</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/nfprur/a_couple_was_invited_to_a_swanky_masked_halloween/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/nfprur/a_couple_was_invited_to_a_swanky_masked_halloween/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>I was born male and I identify as male, yet…</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
… according to Tesco’s Finest Sticky Toffee Pudding, I’m a family of four!
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/thetomahawk42"> /u/thetomahawk42 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ng0ac4/i_was_born_male_and_i_identify_as_male_yet/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ng0ac4/i_was_born_male_and_i_identify_as_male_yet/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A guy got chatting to a girl in a club. “Can I buy you a drink?” he asked…..</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Have you not got a girlfriend?” she replied, “Guys like you always have girlfriends.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He looked downcast, “No, sadly we broke up just over a month ago.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Oh I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, “Go on then, I’ll have a white wine please.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
One glass of wine led to a second. A few drinks later after a kiss and a cuddle they headed off back to her place and made passionate love.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
While he was putting his clothes back on she said, “So, you’re good looking, a nice guy and amazing in bed. Can I ask why on earth you split with your girlfriend?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He said, “My wife found out.”
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/orgasmic2021"> /u/orgasmic2021 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/nfwuz3/a_guy_got_chatting_to_a_girl_in_a_club_can_i_buy/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/nfwuz3/a_guy_got_chatting_to_a_girl_in_a_club_can_i_buy/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
</ul>
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