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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>Running ahead of evolution - AI based simulation for predicting future high-risk SARS-CoV-2 variants</strong> -
<div>
The never-ending emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variations of concern (VOCs) has challenged the whole world for pandemic control. In order to develop effective drugs and vaccines, one needs to efficiently simulate SARS- CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain (RBD) mutations and identify high-risk variants. We pretrain a large pro- tein language model on approximately 408 million pro- tein sequences and construct a high-throughput screen- ing for the prediction of binding affinity and antibody escape. As the first work on SARS-CoV-2 RBD mu- tation simulation, we successfully identify mutations in the RBD regions of 5 VOCs and can screen millions of potential variants in seconds. Our workflow scales to 4096 NPUs with 96.5% scalability and 493.9X speedup in mixed precision computing, while achieving a peak performance of 366.8 PFLOPS (reaching 34.9% theo- retical peak) on Pengcheng Cloudbrain-II. Our method paves the way for simulating coronavirus evolution in or- der to prepare for a future pandemic that will inevitably take place.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.17.516989v1" target="_blank">Running ahead of evolution - AI based simulation for predicting future high-risk SARS-CoV-2 variants</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Neutralizing antibodies to Omicron after the fourth SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose in immunocompromised patients highlight the need of additional boosters</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Immunocompromised patients have been shown to have an impaired immune response to COVID-19 vaccines. Here we compared the B-cell, T-cell and neutralizing antibody response to WT and Omicron BA.2 SARS-CoV-2 virus after the fourth dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with hematological malignancies (HM, n=71), solid tumors (ST, n=39) and immune-rheumatological (ID, n=25) diseases. We show that the T-cell response is similarly boosted by the fourth dose across the different subgroups, while the antibody response is improved only in patients not receiving B-cell targeted therapies, independent on the pathology. However, 9% of patients with anti-RBD antibodies did not have neutralizing antibodies to both virus variants, while an additional 5.7% did not have neutralizing antibodies to Omicron BA.2, making these patients particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The increment of neutralizing antibodies was very similar towards Omicron BA.2 and WT virus after the third or fourth dose of vaccine, suggesting that there is no preferential skewing towards either virus variant with the booster dose. The only limited step is the amount of antibodies that are elicited after vaccination, thus increasing the probability of developing neutralizing antibodies to both variants of virus. Hence, additional booster doses are recommended to frail patients.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.19.22282537v1" target="_blank">Neutralizing antibodies to Omicron after the fourth SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose in immunocompromised patients highlight the need of additional boosters</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Comparative analysis of pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus epidemiology and clinical severity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Canada</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) circulation and surveillance, causing logistical complexity for health systems. Our objective was to describe changes in epidemiology and clinical severity of RSV cases in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Methods: Comparative analysis of RSV detections in children &lt;36 months at BC Children9s Hospital (BCCH) between September 1 and August 31 of 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. Results: About one-fifth of children tested RSV positive on average across all periods. The median age of RSV cases was 11.8 [IQR: 3.8 to 22.3] months in 2021-22 versus 6.3 [IQR: 1.9 to 16.7] months in 2017-20 (p&lt;0.001). Increased testing in 2021-22 (n=3,120) compared to 2017-20 (average n=1,222) detected milder infections with lower proportion hospitalized in all age subgroups &lt;6 (26.0%), 6-11 (12.3%), 12-23 (12.2%) and 24-35 (16.0%) months versus 2017-20 (49.3%, 53.5%, 62.6%, 57.5%, respectively) (all p&lt;0.001). Children &lt;6 months consistently comprised most hospitalizations and those born prematurely &lt;29 weeks or with chronic respiratory co-morbidities remained at highest hospitalization risk in 2021-22. Among hospitalized cases, intensive care, respiratory support or supplemental oxygen use did not differ between the 2017-20 and 2021-22 periods. Conclusions: RSV circulation halted during the pandemic, but with the lifting of mitigation measures a subsequent resurgence in children &lt;36 months of age was accompanied by shift toward older (24-35 month) cases in 2021-22, without increased severity. For the 2022-23 season, increased circulation and residual vulnerability in additional birth cohorts spared from RSV infection during the pandemic could have marked cumulative healthcare impact, even with the same proportion hospitalized.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.18.22282477v1" target="_blank">Comparative analysis of pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus epidemiology and clinical severity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Canada</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Consumption Responses to an Unconditional Child Allowance in the United States</strong> -
<div>
The economic crisis triggered by COVID-19 put families with children in the United States under significant financial stress. The federal governments largest response in 2021 was the American Rescue Plan Act, which temporarily expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC) into a large, unconditional child allowance providing monthly income support to families with children. This study investigates consumption responses to the CTC expansion using anonymized mobile-location data and debit/credit card data that track visits and spending at 1.3 million establishments across counties that cover 99.6% of the U.S. population. For identification, we exploit variation in the size of households income gains due to the CTC across counties in a difference-in-differences framework spanning January 2021 through May 2022. We find that counties benefiting most from the CTC expansion experienced larger increases in visits to child care centers; increased spending amounts at personal care establishments, restaurants, and grocery and general stores; and no significant increase in consumption at alcohol, tobacco, or gambling establishments. We find some evidence that CTC payment frequency matters for spending decisions: when distributed at monthly frequency, the CTC payments contributed to greater consumption at grocery and general stores. When distributed as a lumpsum, the benefit contributed to greater consumption at childrens and family clothing stores. Both payment types contributed to greater visits to child care centers. These findings suggest that the CTC expansion increased household consumption and particularly spending on children.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/k2mwy/" target="_blank">Consumption Responses to an Unconditional Child Allowance in the United States</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Long-term temporal trends in incidence rate and case fatality of sepsis and COVID-19-related sepsis: nationwide registry study</strong> -
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Importance: Sepsis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The majority of sepsis cases is attributed to bacterial infections, but virus infections can also induce sepsis. Conflicting results in incidence rates and case fatality trends of sepsis is reported, and how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced these trends are unknown. Objective: To estimate temporal trends in incidence rate and case fatality during a 14-year period from 2008 through 2021, and to assess possible shifts in these trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A nationwide longitudinal registry study using ICD-10 discharge codes to identify sepsis. Setting: All Norwegian hospitals from 2008 through 2021. Participants: All sepsis cases included 317.705 patients and of these, 222.832 had a first sepsis episode. Main outcomes and measures: Annual age-standardized incidence rates with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Poisson regression was used to estimate changes in incidence rates across time, and logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for in-hospital death. Results: Among 12.619.803 adult hospitalizations, 317.705 (2.5%) patients met the sepsis criteria and 222.832 (70.0%) had a first sepsis episode. In the period 2009-2019, the annual incidence rate for a first sepsis episode was stable (incidence rate ratio per year, 0.999; 95% CI, 0.994-1.004), whereas for all sepsis the incidence rate increased by 15.5% during the period (annual incidence rate ratio, 1.013; 95% CI 1.007-1.019). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence rate ratio for a first sepsis was 0.877 (95% CI, 0.829-0.927) in 2020 and 0.929 (95% CI, 0.870-0.992) in 2021, and for all sepsis it was 0.870 (95% CI, 0.810-0.935) in 2020 and 0.908 (95% CI, 0.840-0.980) in 2021, compared to the previous 11-year period. In-hospital deaths declined in the period 2009-2019 (odds ratio per year, 0.954 [95% CI,0.950-0.958]), whereas deaths increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (odds ratios, 1.061 [95% CI 1.001-1.124] and in 2021 odds ratio (1.164 [95% CI, 1.098-1.233]). Conclusion and relevance: We found a stable incidence rate of a first sepsis episode during the years 2009-2019. However, the increasing burden of all sepsis admissions indicates that sepsis awareness with updated guidelines and education must continue.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.18.22282501v1" target="_blank">Long-term temporal trends in incidence rate and case fatality of sepsis and COVID-19-related sepsis: nationwide registry study</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Factors associated with release relief of Long COVID symptoms at 12-Months and their impact on daily life</strong> -
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Introduction: Our purpose was to describe the course of Long COVID symptoms after 12-month follow-up, their impact on daily life and the factors associated with the relief of symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted within an out-patient clinic for Long COVID patients. Participants, who had experienced their initial COVID-19 episode between January, 15 2020 and May 21, 2021, were contacted 12-months post onset. Their characteristics, symptom course at initial COVID-19 episode, Long COVID phase and one year follow-up along with remission status were collected through a questionnaire and a specific post COVID remission scale from complete remission to persistence of symptoms and dependence in daily life activities. Results: Among the 231 long COVID participants who answered the 12-month follow-up questionnaire, 63.2% had developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before COVID-19 vaccination. At 12-month follow-up, only 8.7% of the participants felt in complete remission while 28.6% noted a significant improvement of their symptoms. The prevalence rate of most symptoms remained high at 12 months: asthenia 83.1%, neurocognitive and neurological symptoms 91.8%, cardiothoracic symptoms 77.9%, musculoskeletal 78.8%. During Long COVID phase, 62.2% had to stop working at least once and only 32.5% resumed professional activities full time at one year follow-up. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before COVID-19 vaccination was associated with an increased probability of significant improvement at one year (aPRR: 1.60, p=0.028) while ageusia at initial Long COVID phase was associated with a lower probability of improvement (aPRR: 0.38, p=0.007). Conclusion: While observing a trend towards some improvement in a majority of long COVID patients at a 12-month follow-up, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, cardiothoracic symptoms and neurocognitive impairment persisted in most of them. Having developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was associated with a better prognosis while persistent ageusia at long COVID phase seems to be associated with the persistence of symptoms.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.18.22282459v1" target="_blank">Factors associated with release relief of Long COVID symptoms at 12-Months and their impact on daily life</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>In silico docking screen identifies airway host protease targets for human SERPINs</strong> -
<div>
Proteases play key roles in viral replication cycles. They can provide cleavage maturation of viral glycoproteins, processing of viral polyproteins, or disassembly of viral capsids. Thus, proteases constitute ideal targets for antiviral intervention: pharmaceutically, by small molecule inhibitors, or naturally, by host immune responses. Indeed, we and others have shown that individual members of the Serine protease inhibitor (SERPIN) family have specific antiviral function by blocking proteolytic steps inherent to viral replication cycles. Whether additional members of the large SERPIN family possess antiviral activity and whether SERPINs function as part of the antiviral cell-intrinsic immune response, is currently unknown. Here, we found that specific SERPINs are produced upon infection with clinically relevant respiratory viruses in vitro and in vivo, and in concert with classical interferon-stimulated genes. We next developed a structure-based in silico screen to uncover non-canonical SERPIN-protease pairs. We identified several SERPINs with potential antiviral function, including: SERPINE1 targeting cathepsin L, required for SARS-CoV-2 entry; SERPINB8 targeting furin, required for glycoprotein maturation cleavage of numerous viruses; and SERPINB2 targeting adenovirus protease, which suggests the first direct-acting antiviral SERPIN. Our study demonstrates how proteolysis is modulated for antiviral defense and how this process could inform antiviral targets against clinically relevant respiratory pathogens.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.18.517133v1" target="_blank">In silico docking screen identifies airway host protease targets for human SERPINs</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>The contribution of population age-sex structure to the excess mortality estimates of 2020-2021 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden</strong> -
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Background: The Nordic countries are an ideal case study of the COVID-19 pandemic due to their comparability, high data quality, and variable responses. Excess mortality is a key metric but it is sensitive to data quality, model assumptions, and population structure, with diverse estimates published so far. Methods: We investigated the age- and sex-specific mortality patterns during 2020-2021 for the five Nordic countries using annualized age- and sex specific death rates and populations. We compared the total age- and sex-adjusted excess deaths, ratios of actual vs. expected death rates, and age-standardized excess death estimates. We estimated excess deaths with several time periods and sensitivity tests, using 42 sex and age groups. Our models are less sensitive to outlier years than models based on 5 years of data. Results: Age-specific death rates have declining trends that reflect real improving health demographics. Our total excess mortality is close to WHO9s estimates, except higher for Norway and lower for Sweden, partly due to data used. Total excess deaths were dominated by the age group 70-89 years, was not identified in children, and more pronounced in men than women. Sweden had more excess deaths in 2020 than 2021 whereas Finland, Norway, and Denmark had the opposite. Denmark has the highest death rates before and during the pandemic, whereas Sweden in 2020 had the largest mortality increase. The age-standardized mortality of Denmark, Iceland and Norway was lowest in 2020, and 2021 was one of the lowest mortality years for all Nordic countries. We show that neutral baseline methods underestimate excess deaths and we document the importance of outlier mortality years. Conclusions: We provide excess mortality estimates mortality of the Nordic countries in relation to sex and age, with several metrics important in combination for a full understanding and comparison of the countries. We additionally identify important effects such as mortality displacement and sensitivities that affect our estimates and those of other excess mortality models.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.18.22282495v1" target="_blank">The contribution of population age-sex structure to the excess mortality estimates of 2020-2021 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Special Olympics global report on COVID-19 vaccination and reasons not to vaccinate among adults with intellectual disabilities</strong> -
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Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. The objective of this study was to identify global rates of COVID-19 vaccination and reasons not to vaccinate among adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) associated with country economic income levels. Methods The Special Olympics COVID-19 online survey was administered in January-February 2022 to adults with ID from 138 countries. Descriptive analyses of survey responses include 95% margins of error. Logistic regression and Pearson Chi-squared tests were calculated to assess associations with predictive variables for vaccination using R 4.1.2 software. Results Participants (n=3560) represented 18 low (n=410), 35 lower-middle (n=1182), 41 upper-middle (n=837), and 44 high (n=1131) income countries. Globally, 76% (74.8-77.6%) received a COVID-19 vaccination while 49.5% (47.9-51.2%) received a COVID-19 booster. Upper-middle (93% (91.2-94.7%)) and high-income country (94% (92.1-95.0%)) participants had the highest rates of vaccination while low-income countries had the lowest rates (38% (33.3-42.7%)). In multivariate regression models, country economic income level (OR = 3.12, 95% CI [2.81, 3.48]), age (OR = 1.04, 95% CI [1.03, 1.05]), and living with family (OR = 0.70, 95% CI [0.53, 0.92]) were associated with vaccination. Among LLMICs, the major reason for not vaccinating was lack of access (41.2% (29.5-52.9%)). Globally, concerns about side effects (42%, (36.5-48.1%)) and parent/guardian not wanting the adult with ID to vaccinate (32% (26.1-37.0%)) were the most common reasons for not vaccinating. Conclusion Adults with ID from low and low-middle income countries reported fewer COVID-19 vaccinations, suggesting reduced access and availability of resources in these countries. Globally, COVID-19 vaccination levels among adults with ID were higher than the general population. Interventions should address the increased risk of infection for those in congregate living situations and family caregiver apprehension to vaccinate this high-risk population.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.16.22282406v1" target="_blank">Special Olympics global report on COVID-19 vaccination and reasons not to vaccinate among adults with intellectual disabilities</a>
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<li><strong>Human Early Syncytiotrophoblasts Are Highly Susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 Infection</strong> -
<div>
The ongoing and devastating pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a global public health crisis. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and can potentially pose a serious risk to maternal and neonatal health. Cases of abnormal pregnancy and vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to foetus have been reported but no firm conclusions are drawn. Trophoblasts are the major constituents of the placenta to protect and nourish the developing foetus. However, direct in vivo investigation of trophoblast susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and of COVID-19 and pregnancy is challenging. Here we report that human early syncytiotrophoblasts (eSTBs) are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-dependent manner. From human expanded potential stem cells (hEPSCs), we derived bona fide trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) that resembled those originated from the blastocyst and the placenta in generating functional syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs) and extravillus trophoblasts (EVTs) and in low expression of HLA-A/B and amniotic epithelial (AME) cell signature. The EPSC-TSCs and their derivative trophoblasts including trophoblast organoids could be infected by SARS-CoV-2. Remarkably, eSTBs were highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. They expressed high levels of ACE2 and produced substantially higher amounts of virion than Vero E6 cells which are widely used in SARS-CoV-2 research and vaccine production. These findings provide experimental evidence for the clinical observations that opportunistic SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy can occur. At low concentrations, two well characterized antivirals, remdesivir and GC376, effectively eliminated infection of eSTBs by SARS-CoV-2 and middle east respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and rescued their developmental arrest caused by the virus infection. Several human cell lines have been used in coronavirus research. However, they suffer from genetic and/or innate immune defects and have some of the long-standing technical challenges such as cell transfection and genetic manipulation. In contrast, hEPSCs are normal human stem cells that are robust in culture, genetically stable and permit efficient gene-editing. They can produce and supply large amounts of physiologically relevant normal and genome-edited human cells such as eSTBs for isolation, propagation and production of coronaviruses for basic research, antiviral drug tests and safety evaluation.
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.17.516978v1" target="_blank">Human Early Syncytiotrophoblasts Are Highly Susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 Infection</a>
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<li><strong>Mindfulness supports emotional resilience in children during the COVID-19 Pandemic</strong> -
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An important aspect of mental health in children is emotional resilience, the capacity to adapt to, and recover from, stressors and emotional challenges. Variation in trait mindfulness, ones disposition to attend to experiences with an open and nonjudgmental attitude, may be an important individual difference in children that supports emotional resilience. In this study, we investigated whether trait mindfulness was related to emotional resilience in response to stressful changes in education and home-life during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. We conducted a correlational study examining self-report data from July 2020 to February 2021, from 163 eight-to-ten-year-old children living in the US. Higher trait mindfulness scores correlated with less stress, anxiety, depression, and negative affect in children, and lower ratings of COVID-19 impact on their lives. Mindfulness moderated the relationship between COVID-19 child impact and negative affect. Children scoring high on mindfulness showed no correlation between rated COVID-19 impact and negative affect, whereas those who scored low on mindfulness showed a positive correlation between child COVID-19 impact and negative affect. Higher levels of trait mindfulness may have helped children to better cope with a wide range of COVID-19 stressors. Future studies should investigate the mechanisms by which trait mindfulness supports emotional resilience in children.
</p>
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.18.22282510v1" target="_blank">Mindfulness supports emotional resilience in children during the COVID-19 Pandemic</a>
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<li><strong>Comprative evaluation of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral load from campus sewage water</strong> -
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Although the presence of SARS-CoV-2 fragments in raw sewage water are not much concerning, since it is a new pathogen and its fate in the environment is poorly understood; therefore efforts are needed for their effective removal. In under-developed countries with poor sewersheds and sanitation practices, the raw sewage water might come in contact with rivers and other water bodies and is generally used by the population for various purposes including drinking water. Hence it is important to properly treat sewage water to reduce public health risks, if any. Our study evaluated various advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 from sewage water collected from the academic institutional residential campus. The present study is the first report showing hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) used to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load from sewage water. Additionally, we have also evaluated hybrid techniques like HC/O3, HC/O3/H2O2, HC/H2O2, O3/UV, UV/H2O2, UV/H2O2/O3, and O3/H2O2 for the minimization of the SARS-CoV-2 viral load from sewage water. The sewage water treatment techniques were evaluated based on its viral concentration-reducing efficiency by comparing it with the same raw sewage water sample. However, ozone alone and its combination with other disinfecting techniques (like HC, UV, and H2O2) showed &gt;95% SARS-CoV-2 specific RNA-reducing efficiency (also known as viral load). The AOPs treated sewage water was subjected to total nucleic acid isolation followed by RT-qPCR for viral load estimation. Interestingly, all sewage water treatment techniques used in this study significantly reduces both the SARS-CoV-2 viral load as well as PMMoV (faecal indicator) load.
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.16.22282387v1" target="_blank">Comprative evaluation of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral load from campus sewage water</a>
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<li><strong>Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents: determinants and association with quality of life and mental health - A cross-sectional study</strong> -
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Background The medium-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of children and adolescents remains unclear. More than two years into the pandemic, we aimed to quantify the frequency and determinants of having been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and estimate its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health. Methods Data was drawn from a population-based cohort of children and adolescents, recruited between December 2021 and June 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland. We measured the impact of the pandemic via the Coronavirus impact scale, which assesses the multidimensional impact of the pandemic at the child and family level through parent9s report. A score higher than one standard deviation above the mean was deemed a severe impact. Parents additionally reported about their offspring HRQoL and mental health with validated scales. Determinants of having been severely impacted were assessed with logistic models, as were the associations between having experienced a severe impact and poor HRQoL or mental health. Results Out of 2101 participants aged 2-17, 12.7% had experienced a severe pandemic impact. Having a lasting health condition, a pandemic-related worsening of lifestyle habits or an unfavorable family environment were associated with having been severely impacted by the pandemic. Participants who had experienced a severe pandemic impact were more likely to present poor HRQoL (aOR=3.1; 95%CI: 2.3-4.4) and poor mental health (aOR=3.9; 95%CI: 2.5-6.2). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic may have persistent consequences on the wellbeing of children and adolescents, especially among those with health and family vulnerabilities.
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.18.22282491v1" target="_blank">Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents: determinants and association with quality of life and mental health - A cross-sectional study</a>
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<li><strong>Proteomic analysis of circulating immune cells identifies novel cellular phenotypes associated with COVID-19 severity</strong> -
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Certain serum proteins, including CRP and D-dimer, have prognostic value in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nonetheless, these factors are non-specific, and provide limited mechanistic insight into the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) populations which drive the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19. To identify novel cellular phenotypes associated with disease progression, we here describe a comprehensive, unbiased analysis of the total and plasma membrane proteomes of PBMCs from a cohort of 40 unvaccinated individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection, spanning the whole spectrum of disease severity. Combined with RNA-seq and flow cytometry data from the same donors, we define a comprehensive multi-omic profile for each severity level, revealing cumulative immune cell dysregulation in progressive disease. In particular, the cell surface proteins CEACAMs1, 6 and 8, CD177, CD63 and CD89 are strongly associated with severe COVID-19, corresponding to the emergence of atypical CD3+CD4+CD177+ and CD16+CEACAM1/6/8+ mononuclear cells. Utilisation of these markers may facilitate real-time patient assessment by flow cytometry, and identify immune cell populations that could be targeted to ameliorate immunopathology.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.16.22282338v1" target="_blank">Proteomic analysis of circulating immune cells identifies novel cellular phenotypes associated with COVID-19 severity</a>
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<li><strong>Hospital length of stay throughout bed pathways and factors affecting this time: a non-concurrent cohort study of Colombia COVID-19 patients and an unCoVer network project</strong> -
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Predictions of hospital beds occupancy depends on hospital admission rates and the length of stay (LoS) according to bed type (hospital and intensive care unit beds). The objective of this study was to describe the LoS of COVID-19 hospital patients in Colombia during 2020-2021. Accelerated failure time models were used to estimate the LoS distribution according to each bed type and throughout each bed pathway. Acceleration factors and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to measure the effect on LoS of the outcome, sex, age, admission period during the epidemic (i.e., epidemic waves, peaks or valleys, and before/after vaccination period), and patients geographic origin. Most of the admitted COVID-19 patients occupied just hospital bed. Recovered patients spent more time in the hospital and intensive care unit than deceased patients. Men had longer LoS than women. In general, the LoS increased with age. Finally, the LoS varied along epidemic waves. It was lower in epidemic valleys than peaks, and became shorter after vaccinations began in Colombia than before. Our study highlights the necessity of analyzing local data on hospital admission rates and LoS to design strategies to prioritize hospital beds resources during the current and future pandemics.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.17.22282466v1" target="_blank">Hospital length of stay throughout bed pathways and factors affecting this time: a non-concurrent cohort study of Colombia COVID-19 patients and an unCoVer network project</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>COVID-19 Bivalent Booster Megastudy</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Behavioral: COVID Booster text messages<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   University of Pennsylvania<br/><b>Enrolling by invitation</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 on Utilization, Adherence, and Acceptability of Voluntary Routine COVID-19 Self-testing Among Students, Staff and Health Workers at Two Institutions in Mizoram, India.</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19 Pandemic<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Diagnostic Test: COVID-19 Self testing and related messaging<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   PATH;   UNITAID;   Zoram Medical College;   Pacchunga University College;   ALERT India;   Government of Mizoram<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>Assessing Performance of the Testing Done Simple Covid 19 Antigen Test</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Diagnostic Test: Testing Done Simple SARS CoV-2 Antigen Test<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Testing Done Simple;   Nao Medical Urgent Care<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 Study to Evaluate EDP-235 in Non-hospitalized Adults With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: EDP-235;   Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc<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 LAVA (Lateral Flow Antigen Validation and Applicability) 2 Study for COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   SARS-CoV-2 Infection<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Diagnostic Test: Innova Lateral Flow Test<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust<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>Q-POC COVID-19 Clinical Evaluation</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Diagnostic Test: RT-PCR Test;   Diagnostic Test: Real-time PCR Test<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   QuantuMDx Group Ltd;   EDP Biotech;   Paragon Rx Clinical;   PathAI;   PRX Research and Development<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>Acute Rehabilitation in Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19;   Rehabilitation;   Physical Medicine<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Procedure: Acute rehabilitation program<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Institut za Rehabilitaciju Sokobanjska Beograd<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Study of RAY1216 Tablets Compared With Placebo in Patients With Mild to Moderate SARS-CoV-2 Infection</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Mild to Moderate COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: RAY1216;   Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Guangdong Raynovent Biotech Co., Ltd<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Enhancing Protection Against Influenza and COVID-19 for Pregnant Women and Medically at Risk Children</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Influenza;   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Behavioral: Nudge<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   University of Adelaide<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 Trial Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of Recombinant COVID-19 Omicron-Delta Variant Vaccine (CHO Cell)</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: Omicron-Delta Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Protein Vaccine (CHO cells);   Biological: Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Protein Vaccine (CHO cells)<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co., Ltd.<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>COVID-19 Antibody Responses in Cystic Fibrosis</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19;   Cystic Fibrosis<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Biological: Blood sample<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Hospices Civils de Lyon;   Queens University, Belfast<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 1, Randomised, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled, Dose-escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of RH109 as Booster</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19 Pandemic<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: Lyophilized COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine;   Drug: Sodium chloride<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Wuhan Recogen Biotechnology Co., Ltd.;   Shenzhen Rhegen Biotechnology Co., Ltd.;   Wuhan Rhegen Biotechnology Co., Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Message Communicating Latest Data on COVID Transmission in Patients Area</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Behavioral: COVID Booster text messages<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   University of Pennsylvania<br/><b>Enrolling by invitation</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>Message From Local Pharmacy Team</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Behavioral: COVID Booster text messages<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   University of Pennsylvania<br/><b>Enrolling by invitation</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>Planning Message Recommending Same Time/Location as Last Vaccine</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Behavioral: COVID Booster text messages<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   University of Pennsylvania<br/><b>Enrolling by invitation</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>In vitro and in vivo effects of 3-indoleacetonitrile-A potential new broad-spectrum therapeutic agent for SARS-CoV-2 infection</strong> - The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has resulted in significant global morbidity, mortality, and societal disruption. Currently, effective antiviral drugs for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection are limited. Therefore, safe and effective antiviral drugs to combat COVID-19 are urgently required. In previous studies, we showed that 3-indoleacetonitrile, a plant growth hormone produced by cruciferous (Brassica) vegetables, is effective in treating influenza A…</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>Exploring new catechin derivatives as SARS-CoV-2 M<sup>pro</sup> inhibitors from tea by molecular networking, surface plasma resonance, enzyme inhibition, induced fit docking, and metadynamics simulations</strong> - SARS-CoV-2 M^(pro) (Mpro) is the critical cysteine protease in coronavirus viral replication. Tea polyphenols are effective M^(pro) inhibitors. Therefore, we aim to isolate and synthesize more novel tea polyphenols from Zhenghedabai (ZHDB) white tea methanol-water (MW) extracts that might inhibit COVID-19. Through molecular networking, 33 compounds were identified and divided into 5 clusters. Further, natural products molecular network (MN) analysis showed that MN1 has new…</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>Bridging the Gap between Target-Based and Cell-Based Drug Discovery with a Graph Generative Multitask Model</strong> - The development of new drugs is crucial for protecting humans from disease. In the past several decades, target-based screening has been one of the most popular methods for developing new drugs. This method efficiently screens potential inhibitors of a target protein in vitro, but it frequently fails in vivo due to insufficient activity of the selected drugs. There is a need for accurate computational methods to bridge this gap. Here, we present a novel graph multi-task deep learning model 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>SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody response in vaccinated and non-vaccinated hospital healthcare workers with or without history of infection</strong> - Between March 2021 and February 2022, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies dynamics was investigated in a prospective observational study in 903 healthcare workers of a hospital in Switzerland. A surrogate neutralization assay measuring the competitive inhibition of the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding to the spike protein (S) of the SARS-CoV-2 wild type virus and to five variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron) was used. We observed a broad distribution 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>Acute stress of the typical disinfectant glutaraldehyde-didecyldimethylammonium bromide (GD) on sludge microecology in livestock wastewater treatment plants: Effect and its mechanisms</strong> - Glutaraldehyde and didecyldimethylammonium bromide (GD) is a disinfectant widely used to prevent African swine fever (ASF) in livestock farms. However, the effect of residual GD on the activated sludge microbial ecology of receiving wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) remains largely unknown. In this study, seven simulated systems were established to research the effects of GD on WWTPs and reveal the underlying mechanisms of microecological responses to GD at different concentrations. Both the…</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>Gastrointestinal, liver, pancreas, oral and psychological long-term symptoms of COVID-19 after recovery; A review</strong> - Due to the importance of control and prevention of COVID-19-correlated long-term symptoms, the present review article has summarized what has been currently known regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms linking COVID-19 to important long-term complications including psychological complications, liver and gastrointestinal manifestations, oral signs as well as even diabetes. COVID-19 can directly affect the body cells through their Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [ACE-2] to induce…</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>Pexidartinib (PLX3397) through restoring hippocampal synaptic plasticity ameliorates social isolation-induced mood disorders</strong> - Social behavior is essential for the well-being and survival of individuals. However, social isolation is a serious public health issue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting a significant number of people worldwide, and can lead to serious psychological crises. Microglia, innate immune cells in the brain, are strongly implicated in the development of psychiatry. Although many microglial inhibitors have been used to treat depression, there is no literature report on pexidartinib…</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>Discovery and mechanism of action of Thonzonium bromide from an FDA-approved drug library with potent and broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against main proteases of human coronaviruses</strong> - Although the effective drugs or vaccines have been developed to prevent the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), their efficacy may be limited for the viral evolution and immune escape. Thus, it is urgently needed to develop the novel broad-spectrum antiviral agents to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. The 3C-like protease (3CL^(pro)) is a highly conserved cysteine proteinase that plays a pivotal role in processing the viral…</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>Diabetes medications and associations with Covid-19 outcomes in the N3C database: A national retrospective cohort study</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: There were clinically significant associations between metformin use and less severe COVID-19 compared to SU, but not compared to DPP4i. New-user studies and randomized trials are needed to assess early outpatient treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis with therapeutics that are safe in adults, children, pregnancy and available worldwide.</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 GABA-receptor agonist reduces pneumonitis severity, viral load, and death rate in SARS-CoV-2-infected mice</strong> - Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABA-receptors (GABA-Rs) form a major neurotransmitter system in the brain. GABA-Rs are also expressed by 1) cells of the innate and adaptive immune system and act to inhibit their inflammatory activities, and 2) lung epithelial cells and GABA-R agonists/potentiators have been observed to limit acute lung injuries. These biological properties suggest that GABA-R agonists may have potential for treating COVID-19. We previously reported that GABA-R agonist…</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>Translation suppression underlies the restrained COVID-19 mRNA vaccine response in the high-risk immunocompromised group</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate that ISs, sirolimus and mycophenolate inhibited Co-mV-induced Sp protein synthesis via translation repression. Selective use of tacrolimus or drug holiday of sirolimus can be a potential means to rescue translation-dependent Sp protein production. These findings lay a strong foundation for guiding future studies aimed at improving Co-mV responses in high-risk IC patients.</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>SARS-CoV-2 modulates inflammatory responses of alveolar epithelial type II cells <em>via</em> PI3K/AKT pathway</strong> - CONCLUSION: The findings of our study, showed that SARS-CoV-2 S protein suppressed inflammatory responses in alveolar epithelial type II cells at early stages of infection through activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Thus, our results suggest that at early stages SARS-CoV-2 S protein signals inhibit immune responses to the virus allowing it to propagate the infection while in combination with TLR2 signals enhances PAI-1 expression, potentially affecting the local coagulation cascade.</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>Nucleotide and nucleoside-based drugs: past, present, and future</strong> - Nucleotide and nucleoside-based analogue drugs are widely used for the treatment of both acute and chronic viral infections. These drugs inhibit viral replication due to one or more distinct mechanisms. It modifies the viruss genetic structure by reducing viral capacity in every replication cycle. Their clinical success has shown strong effectiveness against several viruses, including ebolavirus, hepatitis C virus, HIV, MERS, SARS-Cov, and the most recent emergent SARS-Cov2. In this review,…</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>User experience reevaluation and diffusion of technology in the context of compulsory usage illustrated by the example of telepsychotherapy-a literature review</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: Telepsychohtherapy has become an integral part of psychotherapeutic care. A hybrid system in close coordination between provider and patient may prevail, addressing individual needs of both parties to achieve optimal care and provider well-being. This requires transparent regulations, guidelines, and standards.</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>Identification of a potent dual-function inhibitor for hIMPDH isoforms by computer-aided drug discovery approaches</strong> - Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a key enzyme in de novo biosynthesis of purine nucleotides. Due to this important role, it is a great target to drug discovery for a wide range of activities, especially immunosuppressant in heart and kidney transplantation. Both human IMPDH isoforms are expressed in stimulated lymphocytes. In addition to the side effects of existing drugs, previous studies have mainly focused on the type II isoform. In this study, virtual screening and…</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-patent-search">From Patent Search</h1>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="daily-dose">Daily-Dose</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-vox">From Vox</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Indian Coal Mine That Razed a Village and Shrank a Forest</strong> - A company run by Asias richest man, Gautam Adani, is strip-mining tribal lands for fossil fuels. Forest-dwellers are fighting back. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-indian-coal-mine-that-razed-a-village-and-shrank-a-forest">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Why Jerome Powell Could Be the Most Important Person in Washington Between Now and 2024</strong> - With gridlock looming in Congress, the task of stabilizing the economy will fall largely on the Fed chair. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/why-jerome-powell-could-be-the-most-important-person-in-washington-between-now-and-2024">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>When Election Deniers Concede</strong> - In the midterms, voters rejected Stop the Steal candidates in critical swing states. Is the democracy crisis over? - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-political-scene/when-election-deniers-concede">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>How to Pay for Climate Justice When Polluters Have All the Money</strong> - The COP27 climate conference, in Egypt, was in large part a global search for cash. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/how-to-pay-for-climate-justice-when-polluters-have-all-the-money">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Will the New Special Counsel Bring Donald Trump to Justice?</strong> - The task for Merrick Garland—and now Jack Smith—is to ignore political considerations and resolve the investigations as speedily and equitably as possible. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/will-the-new-special-counsel-bring-donald-trump-to-justice">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>Holiday traditions arent set in stone. You can update them.</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="A family walks together over the image of a holiday globe ornament and holly leaves." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ucBOrW-rNIZXNwjjpz4V963fDA4=/225x0:1576x1013/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71652553/holiday_tradition_EB_board_2b.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Christina Animashaun/Vox
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Renegotiating your holiday traditions should be a group effort.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="py54b1">
Every Thanksgiving for over a decade, Jen Darnell would pack her kids up and hop on a flight from their home in Argyle, Texas, to meet the rest of her family where they live in Las Vegas. As the season approached each year, she dreaded spending thousands of dollars on flights for herself and her four kids only to contend with tension and bickering once she arrived. “There is some fight of some kind,” Darnell, 40, says. “Always.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Hm937I">
Eight years ago, Darnell had a change of heart. She made a conscious effort to only partake in events or people that brought her peace, she says. This particular tradition didnt. She sat it out — and continued to skip Las Vegas Thanksgivings thereafter. Instead, Darnell and her kids swap turkey for tacos at a local Mexican restaurant, a less stressful tradition. “It seems harsh, but [for] the last eight years I havent celebrated Thanksgiving with my family, I have had the best, most peaceful times,” she says, “with tacos and margaritas.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YOETI6">
The holiday season is prime time for family <a href="https://www.vox.com/even-better/23144784/why-rituals-not-routine">rituals</a> and customs. From baking and decorating to games and gift-giving, many of these traditions can be unifying and bring back fond memories. “Its something we can all agree on,” says <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/alexandra-cromer-richmond-va/853300">Alexandra Cromer</a>, a licensed professional counselor from<a href="https://thriveworks.com/richmond-counseling/counselors-and-therapists/"> Thriveworks in Richmond, Virginia</a>. “Its a really stressful world we live in, so having something to look forward to, in the form of a tradition, can help us because its something thats safe, its something thats reliable, and we know it doesnt change.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aHsRM3">
Often, many of these customs become shorthand for the family and are passed down from generation to generation without evaluating their purpose, says licensed marriage and family therapist <a href="https://www.monalmft.com/">Mona Eshaiker</a>. However, there may come a point when family members who championed certain rituals die, new partners and children enter the fold, or long-held customs simply dont serve you any longer and you want to shift the way you celebrate. Broaching the topic can be unsettling for members of your family, so you want to consider their attachments to certain traditions but move forward in a way that feels most authentic for everyone. Heres what to keep in mind.
</p>
<h3 id="9g8WIt">
When a tradition needs an update
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FQtSCa">
Holiday rituals can fall out of favor for any number of reasons, from the painful to the mundane. Coordinating travel with young kids can make gathering at your out-of-state relatives house a pain. Maybe singing songs with the entire family lost its sheen when you were 12. Perhaps the gift exchange game your grandfather loved feels too painful to continue after his passing. This year, <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2022/10/31/23428781/inflation-federal-reserve-gas-prices-congress-biden">inflation</a> is making gifting an expensive and potentially stressful endeavor, so continuing a tradition of buying individual presents for every friend could be unfeasible.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="h2yvIu">
Cromer recommends looking at your customs and evaluating whether theyre both healthy and helpful based on what is considered normal for your family or friend circle. (Because what one group considers healthy may differ from anothers.) Even though it may be inconvenient for you to get to your parents house for Hanukkah, their place may be the most helpful place due to its central location for most of the family and the fact that they have a big living room where everyone can fit.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="bpdTej">
When thinking about the upcoming event or tradition, check in with your body and see what feelings and emotions are brought up, says <a href="https://theemoeari.com/">Moe Ari Brown</a>, a licensed marriage and family therapist. Notice if youre feeling stressed, anxious, or uncomfortable. Is your heart beating fast? Are you dreading the tradition? “Thats a sign that youre not really wanting to engage in that if there are any of those symptoms,” Brown says.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="i3HBhQ">
The cause of your anxiety could be an issue more complicated than simply “I dont feel like cooking with my family.” For those with relatives who dont accept your sexuality, your partner, or other aspect of your identity, seeing these people or engaging with their old-school customs may harm you, Eshaiker says. Depending on how safe you feel in the situation, Eshaiker recommends talking to your relative and letting them know how youd like to be treated. Tell them how their words or actions impact you. Try saying, “It doesnt make me feel welcome. I dont know what parts to bring. The world is changing. I think you might be surprised if Im just myself that things might end up being fine.” If you know this conversation wouldnt go over well, Eshaiker says to give yourself a time limit of an hour or two of family time and leave.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="l9xHuG">
Think about why the ritual is triggering those bodily reactions — and get specific. It may not be that the potluck-style meal itself upsets you, but the fact that everyone criticizes your cooking after. You could love spending time with family, but get exhausted after only a few hours. Knowing what your exact pain points are can better help you frame a conversation later.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KRUIYz">
Avoid falling into the trap of obligation, too. Just because a holiday has always been done this way doesnt mean everyone is enjoying it. If youre noticing the tradition is causing more stress than it used to and is bringing up more negative feelings than positive, its worth reconsidering.
</p>
<h3 id="hJeMH0">
How to talk about changing a tradition with family and friends
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="q0txv6">
Before broaching a conversation with your family, be prepared for a wide range of emotions and responses. Holiday traditions can mean a lot to some members of the group. Brown says to focus on the positive emotions the custom once brought you. Open up the conversation to your family members and ask them their thoughts on changing the ritual. Inviting others into new tradition-building is a way to get everyone on board and excited. Try saying, “I love how our family gift exchange brings us all together, but my finances wont allow me to buy presents for everyone. How does a White Elephant or Secret Santa where everyone has to bring an item they already own sound to you?” It can be helpful to emphasize that the change doesnt have to be permanent, but youd like to see if something else might be more enjoyable for the whole family.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<aside id="V9U2ba">
<q>“It seems harsh, but [for] the last eight years I havent celebrated Thanksgiving with my family, I have had the best, most peaceful times — with tacos and margaritas”</q>
</aside>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="khVOzj">
Keep the focus of your concerns on yourself and your experience, Cromer says, by saying something like, “I feel like this tradition has lost its luster,” or, “This tradition is hard for me to participate in,” and explain why. The cost of these events can be a huge factor in whether youre able and willing to continue, so make that known to your loved ones.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="yP72vS">
Its common to fall back into old dynamics when speaking to family members — like parents treating their adult children like little kids — and it can be difficult asking for what you need, but its important to set boundaries around the holidays, Eshaiker says. “This is an opportunity for us to show them how to treat us and whats accepted and normal,” she says.
</p>
<h3 id="Sdgx9O">
What to consider when starting a new tradition
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="5rwkh1">
As families grow and change, so will the ways you celebrate. If your parents are used to having a big breakfast on holiday mornings but you have your own kids now, take the opportunity to build a new tradition instead of harping on how things have changed, Brown says. Acknowledge how it can be hard for parents to experience these new dynamics while still finding ways to fulfill the positive emotions the tradition brought. “What is it that you always wanted to get from that tradition?” Brown says. “There are ways that youre able to access that even if youre not with your [parents].” Maybe you can offer to host the holiday breakfast at your house instead.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YIfqx7">
Be ready to meet family members halfway. When Darnell began skipping family Thanksgiving, her grandmother was upset. To compromise, she says she visits her and other family members throughout the year.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="dWn7EN">
When suggesting new holiday rituals, think about your audience, Eshaiker says, both in terms of logistics and finances. You might not want to suggest a long day of baking with a group of kids. A lavish warm-weather holiday getaway may not be the best option for a loved one who recently lost their job. Also keep any ideas light and fun since “people have enough going on in their lives,” Eshaiker says.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hKcQ3B">
After the event, you may want to ask for feedback to see if everyone enjoyed the trial tradition, Eshaiker says. “I actually do have a family member who, after they organize something, will literally text us one-on-one and will be like, how was that? Was there anything I could have improved?” she says. “Which feels very business, but I remember really appreciating it.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="u8El49">
Dont get upset if some family members arent jazzed about trying something new. Take that feedback and adjust for next year. Or if youre really dedicated to your idea, make it a tradition of one. “Maybe we used to have an ugly Christmas sweater party but now that grandpas died, everyone else hated it and doesnt want to have it,” Cromer says. “Maybe I just wear an ugly Christmas sweater being like, Hey, this is a tradition that makes me feel festive.’”
</p>
<h3 id="1hDeBT">
How to manage the emotions that come with changing traditions
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tX60kb">
Because holiday traditions are rooted in family history and fond memories, some may not be too thrilled about the idea of changing them. Cromer says to expect emotions ranging from anger and blame to sadness and nostalgia. Honor your relatives reactions and approach a conversation with curiosity. Ask them what the tradition meant to them and then offer what it meant to you, Brown suggests. What is a compromise that centers those emotions and memories? “Its important for us to be clear about what our desires are,” Brown says. “So if its for connection, joy, love, to really put that at the forefront so that that one member knows … were not trying to change all the things you want to keep, its really about wanting to connect with you deeper.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WQ9GzW">
A change in holiday customs may be sad for you, too. This could be a first holiday without a loved one or after a breakup. Acknowledge those feelings; its likely youre not the only one feeling them. This can also bring you and your loved ones closer.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2uY5aT">
The goal of family rituals is to foster closeness and warmth, not obligation and resentment. Remember to keep the lines of communication open, focus on the feelings you hope to achieve with the tradition, and be open to renegotiation.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Q5docg">
<a href="http://www.vox.com/even-better"><em>Even Better</em></a><em> is here to offer deeply sourced, actionable advice for helping you live a better life. Do you have a question on money and work; friends, family, and community; or personal growth and health? Send us your question by filling out this </em><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiStGSlsWDBmglim7Dh1Y9Hy386rkeKGpfwF6BCjmgnZdqfQ/viewform"><em>form</em></a><em>. We might turn it into a story.</em>
</p></li>
<li><strong>Nancy Pelosi was really, really good at her job</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hI6cZcDF9-UuM7UcNj62ne88t80=/422x0:7358x5202/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71652516/1244861771.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi makes her way to the floor before announcing she is stepping down from her leadership position on November 17, 2022. | Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Pelosis legacy as speaker is defined by formidable wins on policy including the Affordable Care Act.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="rShg5K">
<a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/11/17/23464543/nancy-pelosi-house-speaker-hakeem-jeffries">House Speaker Nancy Pelosi</a>, who announced shed step down from leading the House Democrats on Thursday, made history as the first woman to ever hold the position and was <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/10/29/23430340/nancy-pelosi-paul-pelosi-political-violence-republican-attacks">a political target</a> — and thorn in the side — of Republicans for the better part of two decades. All that frequently obscured her mastery of her job and her singular skills as a legislator, according to Molly Ball, a Time political correspondent and author of the biography <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/pelosi-molly-ball/15043082?ean=9781250798459"><em>Pelosi</em></a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ebY4t4">
Pelosi has been central to many of Democrats biggest policy wins in recent years. She kept a divided caucus unified to pass landmark bills, including the Affordable Care Act, Dodd-Frank banking reforms, and the American Rescue Plan. She won so many concessions from Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin on Covid-19 relief that he had to be pulled from the talks, according to Ball. And shes corralled members time and again when the party seemed on the verge of fracturing over their differences.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="warmUR">
“Heres someone who had a 30-year career being the force behind all kinds of major legislation and liberal accomplishments in the House, chief among them the ACA. But when people talked about her, the only thing they seemed to talk about was just how disliked she was,” says Ball of the misconceptions people held of Pelosi when she first began reporting on the speaker.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WC47YX">
Ball sat down with Vox to walk through the policy legacy Pelosi leaves, and the unique, historic path she carved for herself.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2zcnMk">
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
</p>
<h4 id="u7iwjX">
<strong>Li Zhou</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XuPlhp">
What drew you to writing a book about Pelosi — and what surprised you in the process?
</p>
<h4 id="iu7GBZ">
<strong>Molly Ball</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lSiOmi">
It was one of my first assignments when I joined Time magazine in 2017. I was not actually super psyched or inspired to write about her. I think, like a lot of people, I had in my mind the caricature of her as this static establishment figure who didnt seem particularly exciting. And it was only in digging into her backstory that I came to appreciate what a remarkable human being she really is. What surprised me was that the perception of her for so long overshadowed the person that she is, and obscured the reality of her accomplishments.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pYzz59">
If you think back to 2017, 2018, Democrats were in the minority and had been since 2010. She was under a lot of pressure, increasingly seen as this ineffective anachronism, this throwback to the past; she was clinging to power, she refused to go away. And there were a lot of Democrats who were agitating for her to move on, saying that because of the way that shed been vilified by the Republicans, put in all those attack ads, that she was a big political problem for the party.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KNpqFf">
Heres someone who had a 30-year career being the force behind all kinds of major legislation and liberal accomplishments in the House, chief among them the Affordable Care Act. But when people talked about her, the only thing they seemed to talk about was just how disliked she was.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VBonlu">
And so starting with that piece, I undertook a feminist revision of her image, just making the case that particularly in 2018, which was the year that the Womens March came to political fruition, there was this huge outpouring of womens mobilization and women running for office, and women getting involved in politics spurred on by Donald Trump. And so it was fitting, I thought, that it would be that womens wave that restored the first woman speaker to her historical position, leading the Democrats in the House. And then, Trump went on to make her look good and I think a lot of Democrats really appreciated the qualities she brought to the table.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="nr6C4o">
The things that shes good at, theyre not necessarily the public-facing things. Shes not a great speechmaker, she doesnt give inspiring speeches or sweep anybody off their feet. But [shes really good at] the legislative blocking and tackling. Running the House of Representatives is an incredibly difficult and complicated and specific job. And she seems to have a specific skill set for it that is really rare.
</p>
<h4 id="LwrKPJ">
<strong>Li Zhou</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="f4shBU">
Can you talk a little bit more about that skill set and what she brings to it that is truly unique?
</p>
<h4 id="3BlrEM">
<strong>Molly Ball</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SUBP3K">
First is just managing the caucus, which she makes it look easy, but the Democratic majority is geographically, ideologically, generationally, ethnically diverse in all kinds of ways. And I argue that a lot of the skills that she brings to the table actually come from her background as a housewife and a young mother, when she spent 20 years raising children before she ran for office.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="T2Chfp">
And as a mother of three, myself, I recognize a lot of the techniques that she used to keep those five kids in line. When she gets up in front of the Democratic caucus, the line she always uses is “our diversity is our strength, but our unity is our power.” And Ive actually used that line on my kids to put their shoes on and get in the minivan.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ouj22P">
Theres negotiating with the other side. Theres counting votes, all of these things shes legendarily good at, and theres various little tips and tricks that she keeps in her bag. But more than any specific technique, I really came to believe that she just has an incredible understanding of human nature, she just knows each one of her 220-odd members, knows what makes them tick.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uF2aJN">
Not only does she remember what district theyre from, and what their family is like, and what they care about, and what committees they want to be on, and who they might be feuding with at any given moment in time, and so on and so forth. But she really just understands what motivates people. And so shes able to put pressure on people when she needs to and ask for favors and give out favors in return. And thats made her incredibly effective.
</p>
<h4 id="ukwZdQ">
<strong>Li Zhou</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="p4IZ9R">
Could you talk about some of the key policies where she was forced to keep a very disparate caucus together, as well as the tactics she used to maintain that unity?
</p>
<h4 id="hHU5Hh">
<strong>Molly Ball</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="A1jU4x">
Obamacare is the big one. And her role in it has been neglected over the years. When President Obama put out his memoir a few years ago, I searched the chapter on Obamacare, and shes barely mentioned, because so much of the drama on Capitol Hill around passing Obamacare was whether they could get that last vote in the Senate. I think, because she often makes it look easy, people dont necessarily appreciate how difficult her job is.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FJgtwu">
But there were times when there were 60 Democratic votes that she had to get off the fence and instead of delegating to a team of whips or whatever, she would just take that list and literally spend all night just sitting up calling her members one by one and letting them talk for as long as they needed to. The therapy sessions or prayer sessions, sometimes, where you just have to let people wear themselves out until they come around to your position.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="9wdJnW">
She knows whats out there in the universe that she can summon to aid her in these fights. For example, Joe Donnelly was a congressman from Indiana at the time, a conservative Democrat; she needed his vote and she knew that she wasnt going to get it out of him. But she also knew that he, like her, was a very devout Catholic and she had the president of Notre Dame call him and put pressure on him.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZhAKua">
Then theres this climactic final scene before the House passage where she couldnt get the Catholic Church to budge on a abortion provision. And so she had to have a long talk with the pro-choice women in the Democratic caucus — some of her most stalwart allies, strong liberal feminists, many of whom had been motivated by the abortion issue to get into politics. And just had to sit there with them over cheeseburgers, I believe, and go over that whip count until they came to the same realization she had, that they were just going to have to suck it up and vote for this thing that they really didnt like.
</p>
<h4 id="VJwgjs">
<strong>Li Zhou</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="43GKBb">
Are there examples of when lawmakers have either challenged her or when youve seen her wield power and influence in a way to counter that opposition?
</p>
<h4 id="A6QPQp">
<strong>Molly Ball</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GbzeYA">
For the most part, it is certainly the case that people fear her. But shes like the Catholic mother who just has to give you a look and thats punishment enough, right?
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="794uG7">
She doesnt really punish people because shed rather keep them on her side for the next thing. So if you do something to cross her, it benefits her more to keep you in the tent owing her something than to punish you and cast you out. Now, theres certainly exceptions to that. And there have certainly been members whove gotten into sort of her permanent doghouse, particularly some of the ones who tried to take her out in 2018. But for the most part, thats not her style.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="45VB8J">
Her members know that shes watching their every move, and that if they do anything without her sanction, theyre going to hear about it from her.
</p>
<h4 id="MY2UO3">
<strong>Li Zhou</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pzQk4L">
How have you seen gender affect how Pelosi was treated in Congress and by the media, and just general perceptions people have of her strength as a leader?
</p>
<h4 id="MaNlZb">
<strong>Molly Ball</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2WbLlp">
I think people dont fully appreciate how much she really had to break into the male-dominated Democratic establishment against their will. When she got to Congress in 1987, out of 435 members of the House of Representatives, there were 23 women on both sides of the aisle. And particularly because she was this wealthy housewife from San Francisco, people were inclined to not take her seriously. She seemed almost like a bimbo to some of the older, crustier male members of the House. So she really had to prove herself as a serious legislator and a force to be reckoned with, in order to overcome that.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BIXJjU">
Pelosi has [also] always been unapologetically feminine. And whether thats just her wanting to be unapologetically who she is, or whether it is even a sort of disarming tactic, she doesnt threaten peoples stereotypes of what it means to be a woman. And maybe that makes it easier for them to tolerate a woman in a position of power the way that she is.
</p>
<h4 id="r96qnF">
<strong>Li Zhou</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="IhPGbV">
One of the interesting things related to the ACA fight is the comment that Pelosi made about how the president <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/books/review/pelosi-molly-ball.html">could either get it done or be beloved,</a> but not both. And I was wondering if you could talk about what shaped Pelosis thinking about politics in this way, and how youve seen her apply it?
</p>
<h4 id="aJX49i">
<strong>Molly Ball</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BXLVa2">
She and Obama both believed from the beginning of that fight that there was a very good chance that they would pay a political price for it, but that it would be worth it, that it was just that important to get health care done.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gPdfjM">
So shes willing to pay a political price to get things done, because its the results that matter to her. And she ultimately was willing to lose the speakership if it meant that Americans would have health care in perpetuity.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="c4YgFn">
The word that one of her mentors always used for her was “operational.” And I really think that word is the Rosetta Stone to her mindset, because she is always focused on the result, always focused on the goal. And she really is not interested in peoples perceptions. Even when it leads to her being deeply hated by large segments of the electorate.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="y8tMmJ">
She just doesnt view it as material to her goals, as long as she can keep getting reelected in her district, as long as her members of the Democratic caucus support her. And as long as she has the power internally to pass legislation and achieve her goals. Thats what shes focused on. And the other stuff just seems like noise.
</p>
<h4 id="7slOjf">
<strong>Li Zhou</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WZIGcq">
What are your thoughts on Pelosis decision to step down at this moment and how shes handling this transition of power?
</p>
<h4 id="pD1hRQ">
<strong>Molly Ball</strong>
</h4>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XoaOBD">
Shes been thinking about stepping down for a long time, but she hasnt been able to bring herself to do it. And I think some of her critics might see that as part of her controlling nature. She is someone who likes to be in control of absolutely everything. She was never going to do this on somebody elses terms.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CopUCO">
She didnt want to feel like she was being forced out. She didnt want to leave as a loser, basically. And the Democrats did lose the House in this election, and she would be forced from the speakership, whether she wanted to or not. But I think because the result was so much better for Democrats than anybody expected, and because the nature of the result was seen as a repudiation of some of what she views as the most toxic aspects of the contemporary Republican Party — I think she drew great satisfaction from that and was able to view it as almost leaving on a victorious note.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="R1cQm0">
When I interviewed her, when I spoke with her [Thursday], immediately after her floor speech, she did talk about the election as if it had been a victory.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ke5fVU">
She still isnt leaving Congress, so I think shes had a really hard time letting go. Something that one of her former aides said to me once, that Ive also seen as a key to her personality, was, “Everything she does is motivated by a combination of obligation and entitlement.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FUM7Sf">
And I dont necessarily mean entitlement in a bad way. Its like a confidence where she looks around and she says, “Well, somebody has to do this.” And then she doesnt see anyone else that she thinks can do it. And so it falls to her. And so she cant quite walk away. So shes halfway there. Well see if she gets there over the next couple of years.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uMlkDF">
</p></li>
<li><strong>The good and bad news for the planet after the latest UN climate talks</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="A participant in a demonstration at the UN Climate Summit COP27 holds a placard reading “Pay up for loss and damage.”" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jX2pt-XIPzeiO6DlNP-jrNFFeWg=/97x0:3741x2733/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71651777/GettyImages_1244874277.0.jpeg"/>
<figcaption>
Loss and damage payments from wealthy countries to poorer nations suffering from the effects of climate change were a central theme at this years COP27 climate negotiations. | Christophe Gateau/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
COP27, the climate change meeting in Egypt, finally got a deal on one of the most critical outstanding issues.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4UquqQ">
The latest round of United Nations climate talks closed in the early morning hours on Sunday, November 20 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, overshooting their Friday deadline but finally reaching an agreement on the thorniest outstanding issue: paying for climate change damages.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="43mm4L">
The meeting, known as COP27, ended with an agreement to create a fund to compensate less wealthy countries already suffering destruction stemming from rising average temperatures. The meeting also secured more commitments to cut methane pollution and a renewed, desperate call to keep the planet from warming more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), one of the targets of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. (COP27 stands for the 27th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.)
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lET5AS">
“We have literally exhausted all of our efforts here at COP27 to bring home the climate action commitments our vulnerable people desperately need,” said Molwyn Joseph, chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, a group representing 39 island countries at the meeting, in a statement. “Today, the international community has restored global faith in this critical process that is dedicated to ensuring no one is left behind.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="a0bcUX">
But the agreement, called the <a href="https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cp2022_L19_adv.pdf">Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan</a>, only secured tepid language around limiting the causes of climate change, namely burning fossil fuels. And critical details about how countries are expected to meet their commitments were left unresolved.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="k5OCb0">
More than 35,000 people from every country in the world gathered at the two-week meeting to take this tiny step forward, but it was hard-fought, and the challenge remains in putting all the promises made into action.
</p>
<div id="y7zLNz">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
History was made today at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP27?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP27</a> in Sharm El-Sheikh as parties agreed to the establishment of a long-awaited loss and damage fund for assisting developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. <a href="https://t.co/spmWVUjTva">pic.twitter.com/spmWVUjTva</a>
</p>
— COP27 (<span class="citation" data-cites="COP27P">@COP27P</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/COP27P/status/1594161317333581826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a>
</blockquote></div></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1KB3vY">
All the while, global greenhouse gas <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/cop27-global-co2-emissions-rise-again-climate-goals-risk-scientists-say-2022-11-11/">emissions are still rising</a>, the planets temperature continues climbing, and the window for keeping warming in check is almost closed. “The world is bending the curve of greenhouse gas emissions downward, but these efforts remain woefully insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C,” UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell <a href="https://unfccc.int/news/government-ministers-at-cop27-call-for-more-ambitious-climate-action">told attendees</a>. The COP climate negotiation process once again failed to bring the world in line with this goal, but the commitments secured so far have closed the gap further than ever.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HKIcCz">
While the agenda was narrower than in previous climate meetings, this years negotiations were particularly fraught. Russias invasion of Ukraine triggered a <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22949683/russia-ukraine-gas-prices-oil-inflation-stock-market">global spike in energy prices</a>, igniting <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/09/inflation-rising-food-energy-prices-economy">rampant inflation</a> and sapping the will to invest more to deal with climate change. Some countries, like Germany, actually <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-energy-u-turn-coal-instead-of-gas/a-62709160">increased their fossil fuel consumption</a> this year.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uyA8z8">
Even as the conference was going on, major players experienced huge political changes back home. The midterm election in the United States, the worlds second-largest greenhouse gas emitter, led to a <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/23439492/midterm-elections-2022-results-house-majority-republicans">divided legislature</a>, throttling the potential for more climate legislation. Brazils President-elect <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtAWPMLYMpQ&amp;t=3s">Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva</a> received a heros welcome at COP27 after defeating Jair Bolsonaro, who presided over a <a href="https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/2022/9/29/23373427/amazon-rainforest-brazil-jair-bolsonaro-lula-deforestation">massive spike in deforestation</a> in the Amazon rainforest. Then on Friday, US climate envoy John Kerry tested positive for Covid-19.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ebBpm4">
Many delegates also <a href="https://twitter.com/sharifkouddous/status/1593193294057869312">sharply criticized the host country Egypt</a> for its continued detention of political prisoner <a href="https://www.vox.com/world/2022/11/9/23447942/egypt-prominent-political-prisoner-alaa-hunger-strike-copt27-climate">Alaa Abd el-Fattah</a>, who was on a hunger strike during the meeting. He <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2022/11/18/alaa_abd_el_fattah_aunt_visits">ended his strike Thursday after collapsing</a>, but remains in prison.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Egyptian Foreign Minister Samih Shukri makes a speech as part of the UN climate summit COP27 held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on November 18, 2022." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2Z8dRlp1GiezyFnEycRx6Y25Z6I=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24210141/GettyImages_1244873519.jpeg"/> <cite>Mohamed Abdel Hamid/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
Representatives from every country met at COP27 to negotiate details on how they will limit climate change.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kWcwsY">
With so many other issues directly or indirectly on the table, its remarkable anything got done on climate change at all. On the sidelines, delegates signed smaller deals to <a href="https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/11/07/cop27-more-than-25-countries-band-together-to-keep-deforestation-pledges-made-in-glasgow">end deforestation</a> and invest in clean energy. Wealthy countries also negotiated a massive <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/15/climate/indonesia-coal-agreement.html">$20 billion deal to help Indonesia transition</a> toward cleaner energy.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="P0Hwgy">
But on the whole, few countries committed to stepping up their efforts further to curb greenhouse gases. And those commitments are growing further divorced from their actions, as global <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/global-carbon-emissions-are-still-record-highs-rcna56576">emissions remain at record highs</a>.
</p>
<h3 id="ywuDP4">
COP27 finally got a deal on the tricky issue of paying for climate change damages, but its weak and vague
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FG8VGg">
Compared to past climate meetings, COP27 was unusual in that so much of the discussion revolved around one main topic: how to pay for the loss and damages caused by climate change. Its an acrimonious issue that has derailed past meeting and has remained unresolved for years.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="nq3vsk">
Wealthy countries have burned the most fossil fuels and produced most of the greenhouse gases heating up the planet today, but the damage from that warming — things like heat waves and sea level rise — is more directly harming poorer countries who contributed little to the problem. The <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-which-countries-are-historically-responsible-for-climate-change/">United States accounts for the largest historical share</a> of greenhouse gas emissions.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OuRTAw">
At COP27, more 190 countries agreed to establish a fund for <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/cop27-loss-damage-finance">loss and damage</a>, built on a previous proposal known as the <a href="https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/workstreams/loss-and-damage-ld/warsaw-international-mechanism-for-loss-and-damage-associated-with-climate-change-impacts-wim">Warsaw International Mechanism</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KByh8u">
“This represents a significant step forward in the global fight against the climate emergency,” Achim Steiner, administrator of the UN Development Programme, in a statement.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OyJJdZ">
However, the language is vague, with no guidance on how much money the fund needs, who needs to pay in, and who is eligible for compensation. Wealthy countries have already failed to meet a commitment to provide <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02846-3">$100 billion per year</a> in financing to developing countries for climate-related projects. These are contentious questions, and the discussion will have to continue at the next COP.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="0BNKij">
The logic behind a loss and damage fund is that while climate change could get worse in the future, its already causing destruction now. Island countries, for instance, are facing sea level rise while other developing countries are suffering from problems like drought worsened by rising temperatures. Climate change has already rendered <a href="https://www.vox.com/22951182/climate-change-report-ipcc-un-adaptation-warming">parts of the world unlivable</a> and by 2030, loss and damage from warming could cost the world anywhere from <a href="https://www.vox.com/22774622/cop26-climate-change-glasgow-money-finance-aid">$290 billion to $580 billion a year</a>, according to one estimate from the 2021 climate summit. Much of that will be borne by developing countries.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4aq7KG">
That was especially evident this year. <a href="https://www.vox.com/world/2022/8/30/23327725/pakistan-flooding-unprecedented-political-economic-humanitarian-crisis">Pakistan suffered extensive flooding</a> that left one-third of the country underwater, fueled by rapidly melting glaciers. <a href="https://www.vox.com/23057267/india-pakistan-heat-wave-climate-change-coal-south-asia">India and Pakistan</a> also baked under a massive heat wave this spring. In Africa, <a href="https://www.oxfam.org/en/drought-east-africa-if-rains-do-not-come-none-us-will-survive">droughts afflicted the eastern part</a> of the continent while <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/10/1129997">floods drenched western and central regions</a>. These disasters brought huge humanitarian and economic burdens.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6YqTdR">
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif <a href="https://news.sky.com/video/cop27-shehbaz-sharif-the-prime-minister-of-pakistan-has-given-an-emotive-address-at-cop27-in-the-wake-of-devastating-floods-12741950">told attendees</a> the floods caused $30 billion in damage. “This all happened despite our very low carbon footprint, and yet we became a victim of something with which we had nothing to do,” he said.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="A sign reading “climate reparations” outside the COP27 venue in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cl9jnlOzl1NiqV9suikH7nD5PjI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24210171/GettyImages_1244877413.jpeg"/> <cite>Mohamed Abdel Hamid/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
Climate activists held demonstrations in front of the COP27 venue to protest the negative effects of climate change, as the UN climate summit continues in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on November 18, 2022.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Zfh0oH">
Thats why many developing countries are so intent on getting more money through the loss and damage mechanism, which can serve as a form of reparations.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kQQGzR">
But wealthy countries like the US have long resisted such a program. They worry it would open the door to liability claims, putting them on the hook for more money over time. Instead, they prefer to fund programs that look forward, helping developing countries adapt to climate change and reduce emissions, while avoiding any language that assigns responsibility for climate change.
</p>
<h3 id="fx6AtG">
What else happened at COP27?
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3EZ775">
A big agenda item at the meeting was the <a href="https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/">Global Methane Pledge</a>, which aims to cut human-caused methane emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030, compared to 2020 levels. It was initially launched at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, and since then more than 150 countries have signed on. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, but it tends to come from distinct sources, mainly leaks from natural gas production. Thats unlike carbon dioxide, which is emitted when anything burns. As a result, targeting methane emissions could potentially lead to greater climate benefits at lower costs. If met, the methane pledge on its own could avert <a href="https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/#about">0.2°C of warming by 2050</a> (0.36°F).
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3DDuqn">
The <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2022/overview#:~:text=world%E2%80%99s%20five%20largest%20methane%20emitters">five largest methane emitters</a> in the world are China, India, the United States, Russia, and Brazil, accounting for half of the global share. The <a href="https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/#pledges">US and Brazil</a> have signed on. Chinas climate envoy Xie Zhenhua made a surprise <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/cop27-china-chief-negotiator-attends-global-methane-event-2022-11-17/">announcement of new efforts to curb methane</a> at COP27, but stopped short of signing the pledge.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YRxC0O">
Environmental campaigners are now arguing that a promise is not enough and that countries need to draft a treaty to phase down methane. “We need a binding global methane agreement inspired by the worlds most successful climate treaty — the Montreal Protocol,” Durwood Zaelke, president of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, said in a statement.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="5y6gTB">
Another big development was a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/15/climate/indonesia-coal-agreement.html">$20 billion financing deal between Indonesia</a> — one of the worlds largest coal consumers — and a group of wealthy countries including Japan, the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany. The deal was announced at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, which was taking place concurrently with COP27, and its the largest effort to date to persuade a developing country to give up coal. It echoes the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_22_6664">$8.5 billion clean energy finance deal with South Africa</a> announced at the last COP.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Activists protest and demand phasing out of fossil fuels on the final day of the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qRhBrcW4hCnVsGq1Xq6W0Y85gOg=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24210147/GettyImages_1244877201.jpeg"/> <cite>Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
Activists at COP27 called for a phaseout of all fossil fuels, but some countries are resistant.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="7m9RJe">
President Joe Biden also announced new US funding commitments for <a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/23451350/joe-biden-cop27-speech-climate-change-finance">international climate change projects</a>, but the US has struggled to meet its existing promises. Biden last year promised more than <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/21/biden-united-nations-climate-aid-513414">$11 billion for global climate finance</a> by 2024, but Congress only <a href="https://www.climatechangenews.com/2022/03/11/betrayal-us-approves-just-1bn-climate-finance-for-developing-countries-in-2022/">approved $1 billion</a>. With the House now under Republican control, the prospect of any more money going abroad has grown dimmer. The US has also proposed more investment in <a href="https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/2022/11/17/23460525/nature-based-solutions-climate-change-cop27">nature-based solutions</a>, but was vague about the details.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="iemcEE">
COP27 also fleshed out more details about international carbon credit trading, but <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/un-carbon-market-talks-drag-beyond-cop27-deals-elusive-2022-11-17/">failed to achieve a full agreement</a> on the rules. Under Article 6 of the Paris climate agreement, countries can trade <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/2/27/20994118/carbon-offset-climate-change-net-zero-neutral-emissions">carbon emissions credits and offsets</a> to help meet their climate goals. But credits and offsets are only as good as the accounting behind them, and few have actually delivered the emissions reductions that were promised. Establishing rules around these markets is tricky and the negotiation will resume at COP28 in Dubai.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QTYk3H">
As for fossil fuels, the COP27 agreement calls for “accelerating efforts towards the phasedown of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies,” but not the outright end of coal, oil, and natural gas burning as activists and some delegates demanded.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="jLhVXi">
“I wish we got fossil fuel phase out,” said Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, the climate envoy from the Marshall Islands. “The current text is not enough.”
</p>
<h3 id="jrawRa">
The COP process remains deeply flawed and frustrating
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GWuhhQ">
The inherent problem of international climate negotiations is that limiting rising temperatures requires everyone to act aggressively — and quickly — but no one can force anyone else to do anything. The commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions are self-imposed. And the rules around meeting these targets are established by consensus, so major oil producers like Saudi Arabia and countries like Tuvalu, losing land to sea level rise, have to agree.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OIhEiA">
It makes for a slow and tense negotiation process. And as the COP meetings have grown in profile over the years, theyve become a more difficult forum to make progress on climate change. The meetings have developed a festival-like atmosphere with actors and musicians stopping by to lend their celebrity to the cause. But the resulting agreements from recent meetings have become narrower and weaker, leaving few happy.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Plenary Session of the UNFCCC COP27 climate conference on November 20, 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sdbJUO6GetO85w6ugvVHocEpZH8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24212871/GettyImages_1244914577.jpeg"/> <cite>Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
The COP27 meeting, like many before, dragged on well past its deadline.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ndyYZ0">
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who famously sailed across the ocean to attend a COP meeting in order to avoid the greenhouse gas emissions of flying, decided not to attend COP27. Neither did the leaders of China and India, the largest and third-largest greenhouse gas emitters. But fossil fuel companies sent more <a href="https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/fossil-gas/636-fossil-fuel-lobbyists-granted-access-cop27/">representatives than ever</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ltksNf">
This year, even representatives from developing countries were calling to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/african-hosted-climate-talks-give-fossil-fuel-voice-2022-11-10/">develop more of their fossil fuel resources</a> as frustration mounts with the unmet commitments from wealthier countries for international clean energy financing.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="P6nj6h">
But without everyone working together, there is little hope of slowing the warming of the planet, and the UN climate negotiations are one of the few venues where representatives from different countries can sit down face to face, eye to eye, and hammer out difficult details of how they will curb climate change and adapt to it. Its necessary, but clearly, its not enough.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="J0W4c5">
</p>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A journey to the site of the Nord Stream explosions</strong> - As Sweden says the gas lines were blown up deliberately, our Europe editor reports from the scene.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The World Cup ball has the aerodynamics of a champion</strong> - A sports physicist breaks down the Al Rihla, the official ball of the World Cup. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1899073">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Binance has a plan to save crypto—if its not too late</strong> - Crypto exchanges want to prove that the market can thrive after the FTX collapse. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1898837">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The road to low-carbon concrete</strong> - Humanitys love affair with cement and concrete results in massive CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1898748">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>New Meta AI demo writes racist and inaccurate scientific literature, gets pulled</strong> - Galactica language model generated convincing text about fact and nonsense alike. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1899005">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Elizabeth Holmes sentenced to 11.25 years in prison for Theranos fraud</strong> - Holmes is expected to appeal. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1898947">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
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<li><strong>Brunette tells blonde she had sex with a Brazilian.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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Blonde says oh my god you slut, how many is a Brazillion.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/jsiesel929"> /u/jsiesel929 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/yzm7qk/brunette_tells_blonde_she_had_sex_with_a_brazilian/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/yzm7qk/brunette_tells_blonde_she_had_sex_with_a_brazilian/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>Dear redditors, I really need your advice on what could be a crucial decision.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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Ive suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs…phone rings, but if I answer, the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out with the girls a lot recently, although when I ask their names she always says, “Just some friends from work, you dont know them.”r&gt; I sometimes stay awake to look out for her cab coming home, but she always comes walking up the drive as I hear the sound of a car leaving, around the corner, as if she has gotten out and walked the rest of the way. Why? Maybe she wasnt in a taxi at all?
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I once picked up her cell phone, just to see what time it was. This caused her to go completely berserk. She quickly snatched the phone out of my hand and cursed me hysterically, screaming that I should never touch her personal property, then accused me of trying to spy on her.
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Anyway, I have never broached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just didnt want to know the truth, but last night she went out again and I decided to really check on her. I decided I was going to park my Harley Davidson Lowrider next to the garage and then hide behind it so I could get a good view of the street around the corner when she came home. It was at that moment, crouching behind my motorcycle that I noticed a small amount of motor oil leaking through the gasket between the rear head and rocker arm cover.
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So…is this something I can easily repair myself or do you think I should take it back to the dealer?
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Oscar-2020"> /u/Oscar-2020 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/yzs6zd/dear_redditors_i_really_need_your_advice_on_what/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/yzs6zd/dear_redditors_i_really_need_your_advice_on_what/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>List if 10 worst dog breeds</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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There
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Are
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No
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Bad
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Dog
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Breeds
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Only
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Bad
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Owners
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Chihuahuas
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/bizzywhipped"> /u/bizzywhipped </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/yzjbz9/list_if_10_worst_dog_breeds/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/yzjbz9/list_if_10_worst_dog_breeds/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>Yo mama so fat, they did a story on how fat she was on the channel 3 news</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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I switched to channel 7 and you could still see her ass in the corner of the screen
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/oehheo"> /u/oehheo </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/yz9rxm/yo_mama_so_fat_they_did_a_story_on_how_fat_she/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/yz9rxm/yo_mama_so_fat_they_did_a_story_on_how_fat_she/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A politician dies</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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So a politician dies and ends up standing in front of the pearly gates. Saint Peter looks at him for a second, flicks through his book, and finds his name.
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“So, youre a politician…” “Well, yes, is that a problem?” “Oh no, no problem. But weve recently adopted a new system for people in your line of work, and unfortunately you will have to spend a day in Hell. After that however, youre free to choose where you want to spend eternity!”
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“Wait, I have to spend a day in Hell??” says the politician. “Thems the rules” Says St Peter, clicks his fingers, and WOOMPH, the guy dissapears…
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And awakes, curled up with his hands over his eyes, knowing hes in Hell. Cautiously, he listens for the screams, sniffs the air for brimstone, and finds… Nothing. Just the smell of, is that fabric softener? And cut grass, this cant be right?
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“Open your eyes!” says a voice. “Cmon, wakey wakey, weve only got 24 hours!”. Nervously, he uncovers his eyes, looks around, and sees hes in a hotel room. A nice one too. Wait, this is a penthouse suite… And theres a smiling man in a suit, holding a martini. “Who are you??” The politician asks. “Well, Im Satan!” says the man, handing him the drink and helping him to his feet. “Welcome to Hell!” “Wait, this is Hell? But… Wheres all the pain and suffering?” he asks. Satan throws him a wink. “Oh, weve been a bit mis-represented over the years, its a long story. Anyway, this is your room! The minibar is of course free, as is the room service, theres extra towels next to the hot-tub, and if you need anything, just call reception. But enough of this! Its a beautiful day, and if youd care to look outside…” Slightly stunned by the opulent surroundings, the man wanders over to the floor-to-ceiling windows through which the sun is glowing, looks far down, and sees a group of people cheering and waving at him from a golf course. “Its one of 5 pro-level courses on site, and theres another 6 just a few minutes drive out past the beach and harbour!” says Satan, answering his unasked question. So they head down in the lift, walk out through the glittering lobby where everyone waves and welcomes the man, as Satan signs autographs and cherrily talks shop with the laughing staff. And as he walks out, he sees the group on the golf course are made up of every one of his old friends, people hes admired for years but never met or worked with, and people whose work hes admired but died long before his career started. And out of the middle of this group walks his wife, with a massive smile and the body she had when she was 20, who throws her arms around him and plants a delicate kiss on his cheek. Everyone cheers and applauds, and as they slap him on the back and trade jokes, his worst enemy arrives, as a 2 foot tall goblin-esque caddy. He spends the day in the bright sunshine on the course, having the time of his life laughing at jokes and carrying important discussions, putting the world to rights with his friends while holding his delighted wife next to him as she gazes lovingly at him. Later, they return to the hotel for dinner and have an enormous meal, perfectly cooked, which descends into a food-fight when someone accidentally throws a bread roll at the next table (where Ghandi is having a game of truth-or-dare with Marylin Monroe). As everyone is falling about laughing and flinging breadsticks at each other, his wife whispers in his ear… And they return to their penthouse suite, and spend the rest of the night making love like they did on their honeymoon. After 6 hours of intense passion, the man falls deep into the 100% Egyptian cotton pillows, and falls into a deep and happy sleep…
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And is woken up by St Peter. “So, that was Hell. Wasnt what you were expecting, I bet?” “No sir!” says the man. “So then” says St Peter “you can make your choice. Its Hell, which you saw, or Heaven, which has choral singing, talking to God, white robes, and so on”. “Well… I know this sounds strange, but on balance, I think Id prefer Hell” says the politician. “Not a problem, we totally understand! Enjoy!” Says St Peter, and clicks his fingers again.
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The man wakes up in total darkness, the stench of ammonia filling the air and distant screams the only noise. As he adjusts, he can see the only light is from belches of flame far away, illuminating the ragged remains of people being tortured or burning in a sulphurous ocean. A sudden bolt of lightning reveals Satan next to him, wearing the same suit as before and grinning, holding a soldering iron in one hand and a coil of razor-wire in the other. “Whats this??” He cries. “Wheres the hotel?? Wheres my wife??? Wheres the minibar, the golf-courses, the pool, the restaurant, the free drinks and the sunshine???”
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“Ah”, says Satan. “You see, yesterday, we were campaigning. But today, you voted…”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/LadeeAlana"> /u/LadeeAlana </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/yz7n8e/a_politician_dies/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/yz7n8e/a_politician_dies/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
</ul>
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