A Yeast-Based Screening System for Differential Identification of Poison Inhibitors and Catalytic Inhibitors of Human Topoisomerase I -
+
+Inhibition of human topoisomerase I (TOP1) by camptothecin and topotecan has been shown to reduce excessive transcription of PAMP (Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern) -induced genes in prior studies, preventing death from sepsis in animal models of bacterial and SARS-CoV-2 infections. The TOP1 catalytic activity likely resolves the topological constraints on DNA that encodes these genes to facilitate the transcription induction that leads to excess inflammation. The increased accumulation of TOP1 covalent complex (TOP1cc) following DNA cleavage is the basis for the anticancer efficacy of the TOP1 poison inhibitors developed for anticancer treatment. The potential cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of TOP1 targeting cancer drugs pose serious concerns for employing them as therapies in sepsis prevention. The aim of this study is to develop a novel yeast-based screening system that employs yeast strains expressing wild-type or a dominant lethal mutant recombinant human TOP1. This yeast-based screening system can identify human TOP1 poison inhibitors for anticancer efficacy as well as catalytic inhibitors that can inhibit TOP1 DNA binding or cleavage activity in steps prior to the formation of the TOP1cc. In addition to distinguishing between such TOP1 catalytic inhibitors and TOP1 poison inhibitors, results from this yeast-based screening system will also allow elimination of compounds that are likely to be cytotoxic based on their effect on yeast cell growth that is independent of recombinant human TOP1 overexpression.
+
COVID-19 in the Republic of Belarus: pandemic features and the interim safety and efficacy assessment of the Gam- COVID-Vac vaccine -
+
+
+Objective. To study the COVID-19 pandemic features among the population of the Republic of Belarus from February 2020 to September 2021 and assess the safety (tolerance) and epidemiological efficacy of the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine (Sputnik V). Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of COVID-19 cases in the Republic of Belarus from the beginning of registration (February 28, 2020) to September 12, 2021 was performed. To assess the COVID-19 case detection dynamics, official registration data available on the website of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus were used. Vaccine safety (tolerance) and efficacy were assessed in an observational study. Safety (tolerance) was assessed by presence/absence of adverse reactions: general and local ones. The efficacy rate (E) and the epidemiological efficacy index (K) was calculated according to the formula: E(%)=100*(b-a)/b, K=b/a. Results. Our data show that The COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Belarus is characterized by successive development stages: the first is the absence of COVID-19 cases in the country; the second is the registration of individual infection cases that came from abroad followed by local pathogen spread among the country9s population; the third is a local spread of COVID-19 among individuals who had contact with infected people; the fourth is the detection of cases where patients had no history of exposure to COVID-19 patients. As of calendar week 26, 2021 Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has become the prevalent in the country. Follow-up results in January-August 2021 showed that the Sputnik V vaccine was well tolerated, with 80,832 adverse reactions reported (2.99% (95% CI 2.9-3.0) of the total number of vaccine doses administered). In terms of severity, adverse reactions were mild (91.4% (95% CI 91.2-91.6)) and moderate (8.6% (95% CI 8.6-8.8)). The epidemiological efficacy rate was 96.3%, the epidemiological efficacy index was 26.7. Thus, the results obtained testify to high prophylactic efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Belarus is characterized by successive development stages: from no cases in early 2020 to detected cases where most individuals had no history of contact with COVID-19 patients; periods of rising and falling incidence. The Sputnik V vaccine has demonstrated a high safety profile and epidemiological efficacy throughout mass vaccination in the Republic of Belarus.
+
COVID-19 in Elderly Patients with Acute Kidney Injury -
+
+
+Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid 19) started in China in December 2019 and spread all over the world, is more progressive in patients who are elderly and with chronic diseases. Especially kidney involvement affects the survival of patients. In this study, we analyzed Covid 19 patients who developed acute kidney injury treated in our unit, retrospectively. Matherials: The clinical and laboratory data of 610 patients who hospitalized due to Covid 19 pandemic between 01.06.2020 and 30.06.2021 in the intensive care and other clinics of our hospital evaluated from the records, retrospectively. One hundred-fourty patients diagnosed with AKI according to the criteria of KDIGO (Kidney Disease Global Outcomes). The patients divided into two groups as KDIGO stage 1 and 2, 3. Results: The median age in both groups was 70 (35-92) and 73 (35-90) years. Approximately seventy percent of them were over 65 years old. Almost all of the patients had hypertension. Most of the patients were using angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inh) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) (84%). AKI was present at the time of admission (61.9%) in the KDIGO 1 group and at the time of hospitalization (64.3%) in the KDIGO 2, 3 group. The mortality rate was higher in stage 2-3 AKI patients (35.7%). Ferritin and fibrinogen levels were high in the KDIGO 2, 3 group, while lymphocyte levels were low. Conclusion: AKI can be seen at the time of admission and during treatment in patients who are hospitalized and treated due to Covid 19. Covid 19 is more mortal in patients with advanced AKI.
+
The COVID States Project #69: Student Attitudes About University COVID-19 Policies -
+
+With the return of students to U.S. colleges and universities this September, more than 1,000 institutions of higher education have implemented COVID-19 vaccine mandates to keep COVID-19 cases low. The majority of students have complied with these mandates, and according to our recent survey data, nearly three-fourths of university students report having received at least one COVID-19 vaccine (Figure 1). Also according to our data, university students in the U.S. are getting vaccinated at around the same rate as the full survey sample. University students therefore may have slightly higher vaccination rates than others in their age group; according to our survey data, 67% of Americans aged 18-24 have received at least one vaccine. However, the contentiousness of COVID-19 vaccine mandates on university campuses echoes the broader societal divide on this issue. Many campuses have struggled with COVID-19 vaccine policy implementation and exemption requests, with some students even withdrawing in protest of the vaccine mandates. Given this trend, we take a closer look at university mandates on college campuses, including whether students can accurately say whether their institutions have COVID-19 vaccine policies.1 We also examine college students’ attitudes toward mandates on campus and in general, as well as student approval of their university administration’s handling of COVID-19 vaccination.
+
Disordered eating and self-harm as risk factors for poorer mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A UK-based birth cohort study -
+
+
+Background: Young adults and especially those with pre-existing mental health conditions, such as disordered eating and self-harm, appear to be at greater risk of developing metal health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is unclear whether this increased risk is affected by any changes in lockdown restrictions, and whether any lifestyle changes could moderate this increased risk. Methods: In a longitudinal UK-based birth cohort (The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, ALSPAC) we assessed the relationship between pre-pandemic measures of disordered eating and self-harm and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2,657 young adults. Regression models examined the relationship between self-reported disordered eating, self-harm, and both disordered eating and self-harm at age 25 years and depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and mental wellbeing during a period of eased restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic (May-July 2020) when participants were aged 27-29 years. Analyses were adjusted for sex, questionnaire completion date, pre-pandemic socioeconomic disadvantage and pre-pandemic mental health and wellbeing. We also examined whether lifestyle changes (sleep, exercise, alcohol, visiting green space, eating, talking with family/friends, hobbies, relaxation) in the initial UK lockdown (April-May 2020) moderated these associations. Results: Pre-existing disordered eating, self-harm and comorbid disordered eating and self-harm were all associated with the reporting of a higher frequency of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms, and poorer mental wellbeing during the pandemic compared to individuals without disordered eating and self-harm. Associations remained when adjusting for pre- pandemic mental health measures. There was little evidence that interactions between disordered eating and self-harm exposures and lifestyle change moderators affected pandemic mental health and wellbeing. Conclusions: Young adults with pre-pandemic disordered eating, self-harm and comorbid disordered eating and self-harm were at increased risk for developing symptoms of depression, anxiety and poor mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, even when accounting for pre-pandemic mental health. Lifestyle changes during the pandemic do not appear to alter this risk. A greater focus on rapid and responsive service provision is essential to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of these already vulnerable individuals.
+
Two paths towards the future of remote studies using social VR -
+
+Over the last decade, remote experiments have become a widely used and integral method for many human-computer interaction domains. Nonetheless, extended reality (XR) researchers have been slow to adopt remote research methods. This can largely be attributed to standard remote experimentation techniques being ill-suited for the unique XR domain constraints. Existing research, albeit limited, has aimed to overcome these constraints and demonstrate the viability of traditional remote research methods for XR studies, yet most XR experiments have remained in-lab. This gap in XR methodology has never been more evident or detrimental than during the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, safe and ethical co-present in-lab experimentation has become increasingly difficult, if not impossible. Many researchers struggled to transition to remote research methods resulting in delayed, canceled, or unsatisfactory experiments. Beyond this current crisis, remote research methods present several advantages, such as obtaining a larger sample and accessing specific user populations that have not been leveraged in XR research — leading to missed opportunities and potentially less rigorous results. Our previous research demonstrated the efficacy of using existing social virtual reality (VR) platforms to implement and conduct remote VR experiments. Social VR platforms provide an experienced and VR-equipped user base to recruit from and customizable distributed synchronous virtual environments to implement experiments, which makes them a natural fit for VR experiments. They allow researchers to be co-present in the same virtual environment as participants to proctor experiments, similar to how they would during a co-present in-lab study. However, existing social VR platforms were not built with this use-case in mind, resulting in several limitations, such as the inability to easily save data externally. These limitations prevent existing social VR platforms from being a viable long-term XR research method. Our previous work identified two potential paths towards establishing long-term social VR remote research methods. The first potential path is to partner with existing social VR platforms to create official channels for remote studies. The second potential path is to build a bespoke social VR platform specifically for conducting XR remote experiments. We believe both of these paths have their respective strengths and weakness and are viable long-term solutions for remote XR studies. In this position paper, we aim to contribute a detailed discussion of both of these paths, their benefits, limitations, and potential architecture. In so doing, we hope to provide the XR community our insights into how social VR research methods can be expanded and inspiration for the potential future of remote XR research.
+
Continued Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccination among Urban Healthcare Workers during Delta Variant Predominance -
+
+
+Background: Data on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) among healthcare workers (HCWs) during periods of delta variant predominance are limited. Methods: We followed a population of urban Massachusetts HCWs (45% non-White) subject to epidemiologic surveillance. We accounted for covariates such as demographics and community background infection incidence, as well as information bias regarding COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination status. Results and Discussion: During the study period (December 16, 2020 to September 30, 2021), 4615 HCWs contributed to a total of 1,152,486 person- days at risk (excluding 309 HCWs with prior infection) and had a COVID-19 incidence rate of 5.2/10,000 (114 infections out of 219,842 person-days) for unvaccinated person-days and 0.6/10,000 (49 infections out of 830,084 person-days) for fully vaccinated person-days, resulting in an adjusted VE of 82.3% (95% CI: 75.1-87.4%). For the secondary analysis limited to the period of delta variant predominance in Massachusetts (i.e., July 1 to September 30, 2021), we observed an adjusted VE of 76.5% (95% CI: 40.9-90.6%). Independently, we found no re-infection among those with prior COVID-19, contributing to 74,557 re-infection-free person-days, adding to the evidence base for the robustness of naturally acquired immunity.
+
COVID-19 vaccination, risk-compensatory behaviours, and social contacts in four countries in the UK -
+
+
+The physiological effects of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) are well documented, yet the behavioural effects are largely unknown. Risk compensation suggests that gains in personal safety, as a result of vaccination, are offset by increases in risky behaviour, such as socialising, commuting and working outside the home. This is potentially problematic because transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is driven by contacts, which could be amplified by vaccine-related risk compensation behaviours. Here, we show that social behaviours were overall unrelated to personal vaccination, but - adjusting for variation in mitigation policies - were responsive to the level of vaccination in the wider population: individuals in the UK were risk compensating when rates of vaccination were rising. This effect was observed across four nations of the UK, each of which varied policies autonomously.
+
From online data collection to identification of disease mechanisms: The IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha; cytokine triad is associated with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 in a digital research cohort -
+
+
+Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) emerge as a global problem with unknown molecular drivers. In a digital epidemiology approach, we rapidly recruited 8,077 individuals out of 129,733 households in Halle (Saale) to the cohort study for digital health research in Germany (DigiHero). These responded to a basic questionnaire followed by a PASC- focused survey and blood sampling in case of prior positive SARS-CoV-2 testing in their household. The presented analysis is based on the first 318 DigiHero participants, the majority thereof after mild infections. PASC were reported in 67.8% of cases, consisted predominantly in fatigue, dyspnea and concentration deficit, persisted in 60% over the follow-up period of on average eight months and their resolution was unaffected by post-infection vaccination. PASC was not associated with post-COVID-19 autoantibodies, but with elevated levels of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Blood profiling and single-cell data from validation cohorts with early infection suggested the induction of these cytokines in COVID-19 lung pro-inflammatory macrophages creating a self-sustaining feedback loop. Our data indicate a long-lasting cytokine triad - potentially underlying PASC symptoms - to be driven by macrophage primed during infection. We demonstrate how the combination of digital epidemiology with selective biobanking can rapidly generate hints towards disease mechanisms.
+
mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna): a better option than BNT162b2 (Pfizer) in kidney transplant recipients and dialysis patients? -
+
+
+In this study of the humoral immune response after the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, low seroconversion rates were noted in both kidney transplant recipients and dialysis patients after first dose administration. While in DP the seroconversion rate levelled up to 92.8% after a second dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, KTR stayed behind with a seroconversion rate of 62.4%. Futhermore, vaccination with the mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna) resulted in both higher seroconversion rates and mean log-transformed antibody titer concentrations compared to BNT162b2 (Pfizer).
+
Public opinion on global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines: evidence from two nationally representative surveys in Germany and the United States -
+
+
+We conducted representative surveys among the adult population in Germany (n=1,003) and the United States (n=1,000) with discrete choice experiments and analytical hierarchy process items to elicit opinions about global COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Results unveil a high consent towards utilitarian or egalitarian distribution principles, prioritizing countries with weak health care systems and high numbers of current cases or deaths. This implies that the public in Germany and the United States has very well understood the global nature of the pandemic and how important sharing of resources and vaccines really is.
+
Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in food surfaces and public space surfaces in 3 districts of Lima, Peru. -
+
+
+Objective: The goal of this study is to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in food surfaces and public space surfaces in 3 districts of Lima, Peru. Material and methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study, carried out in the districts of San Juan de Lurigancho, San Martin de Porres and Villa el Salvador. Surfaces that were exposed to the greatest user manipulation were selected, samples were swabbed for 4 weeks and transported to the laboratory to determine the presence of the virus. Results: 1095 inert surface samples and 960 food surface samples were evaluated for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 by the RT-PCR molecular test, whereby only one sample from an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) was positive. Conclusions: Most of the inert and food surfaces evaluated did not show the presence of SARS- CoV-2 during the time of sample collection. Despite the negative results, the frequency of disinfection measures should be maintained and increased, especially on inert high-contact surfaces, and hygiene measures on food should be continue.
+
Inhaled Prostacyclin Improves Oxygenation in Patients with COVID-19-induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome -
+
+
+Background. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) results in significant hypoxia, and ARDS is the central pathology of COVID-19. Inhaled prostacyclin has been proposed as a therapy for ARDS, but data regarding its role in this syndrome are unavailable. Therefore, we investigated whether inhaled prostacyclin would affect the oxygenation and survival of patients suffering from ARDS. Methods. We performed a prospective randomized controlled single-blind multicenter trial across Germany. The trial was conducted from March 2019 with final follow-up on 12 th of August 2021. Patients with moderate to severe ARDS were included and randomized to receive either inhaled prostacyclin (3 times/day for 5 days) or sodium chloride. The primary outcome was the oxygenation index in the intervention and control groups on Day 5 of therapy. Secondary outcomes were mortality, secondary organ failure, disease severity and adverse events. Findings. Of 707 patients approached 150 patients were randomized to receive inhaled prostacyclin (n=73) or sodium chloride (n=77). Data from 144 patients were analyzed. The baseline oxygenation index did not differ between groups. The primary analysis of the study was negative, and prostacyclin improved oxygenation by 20 mmHg more than NaCl (p=0.17). Oxygenation was significantly improved in patients with ARDS who were COVID-19-positive (34 mmHg, p=0.04). Mortality did not differ between groups. Secondary organ failure and adverse events were similar in the intervention and control groups. Interpretation. Although the primary result of our study was negative, our data suggest that inhaled prostacyclin might be a more beneficial treatment than standard care for patients with ARDS.
+
Positive end expiratory pressure in invasive and non-invasive ventilation of COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome: computational modeling illuminates the data -
+
+
+Positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) is routinely used as part of lung protective ventilation strategies in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In the case of ARDS arising due to COVID-19 (CARDS), there is some debate as to whether the atypical pathophysiological characteristics of the disease which lead to hypoxaemia could warrant a modified approach to ventilator management, particularly with regards to PEEP settings. Here we review the available evidence for the existence of a unique underlying lung pathophysiology in CARDS, and for the suitability of standard approaches to setting PEEP, in both the invasive and non-invasive ventilation settings. We show how detailed computational models informed by this evidence can shed light on the available data, and help to interpret recent results in the literature.
+
Assessment of Airborne Disease Transmission Risk and Energy Impact of HVAC Mitigation Strategies -
+
+
+The COVID-19 pandemic has focused renewed attention on the ways in which building HVAC systems may be operated to mitigate the risk of airborne disease transmission. The most common suggestion is to increase outdoor-air ventilation rates so as to dilute the concentrations of infectious aerosol particles indoors. Although this strategy does reduce the likelihood of disease spread, it is often much more costly than other strategies that provide equivalent particle removal or deactivation. To address this tradeoff and arrive at practical recommendations, we explain how different mitigation strategies can be expressed in terms of equivalent outdoor air (EOA) to provide a common basis for energy analysis. We then show the effects of each strategy on EOA delivery and energy cost in simulations of realistic buildings in a variety of climates. Key findings are that in-duct filtration is often the most efficient mitigation strategy, while significant risk reduction generally requires increasing total airflow to the system, either through adjusted HVAC setpoints or standalone disinfection devices.
+
BREATHE: Virtual Self-management for Long COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19 Intervention: Other: BREATHE Sponsor:
+University of Calgary Not yet recruiting
+
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome In Severe Cases of COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19 Interventions: Biological: Injection of secretome - mesenchymal stem cell; Other: Placebo; Drug: Standard treatment of Covid-19 Sponsor: Indonesia University Completed
+
Adding Colchicine to Tocilizumab in Patients With Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia. - Condition: COVID-19 Pneumonia Intervention: Drug: Colchicine Sponsor:
+Hamad Medical Corporation Recruiting
+
Partnerships to Address COVID-19 Inequities - Condition: COVID-19 Interventions: Behavioral: Crowdsourced campaign package; Behavioral: Standard information Sponsor: Duke University Not yet recruiting
+
Controlled Trial of Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) & Chemokine Receptor Type 2 (CCR2) Antagonist for the Treatment of COVID-19 - Conditions: COVID-19; SARS-CoV2 Infection Interventions: Drug: Candesartan Cilexetil; Drug: Repagermanium; Drug: Candesartan Placebo; Drug: Repagermanium Placebo Sponsors:
+University of Sydney; The George Institute for Global Health, India Not yet recruiting
+
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Safety of Single-dose Sotrovimab in High-risk Pediatric Participants With Mild to Moderate COVID-19 - Condition: COVID-19 Intervention: Biological: Sotrovimab Sponsors:
+GlaxoSmithKline; Vir Biotechnology, Inc. Not yet recruiting
+
PREVENT-COVID-19: A Q-Griffithsin Intranasal Spray - Condition: COVID-19 Prevention Interventions: Drug: Q-Griffithsin; Other: Placebo Sponsors: Kenneth Palmer; United States Department of Defense Recruiting
+
the Safety and Efficacy of Meplazumab in Patients With COVID-19 - Condition: Covid19 Interventions: Drug: Meplazumab for Injection; Drug: Sterile normal saline (0.9%) Sponsor: Jiangsu Pacific Meinuoke Bio Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Not yet recruiting
+
Health Information Technology for COVID-19 Testing in Schools (SCALE-UP Counts) - Condition: COVID-19 Interventions: Behavioral: Text Messaging (TM); Behavioral: Text Messaging + Health Navigation (TM+HN) Sponsors: University of Utah; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Not yet recruiting
+
Hypertonic Saline Nasal Irrigation and Gargling (HSNIG) for Suspected COVID-19 in Pakistan - Condition: COVID-19 Intervention: Other: Hypertonic Saline Nasal Irrigation and Gargles (HSNIG) Sponsors: The Allergy and Asthma Institute, Pakistan; University of Edinburgh Recruiting
+
Immunogenicity And Safety of COVID-19 Vaccine , Inactivated Co -Administration With EV71 Vaccine (Vero Cell) - Condition: COVID-19 Intervention: Biological: Experimental Group Sponsor:
+Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd Not yet recruiting
+
Homeopathic Treatment of Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome - Condition: Post-acute Covid-19 Syndrome Interventions: Drug: Homeopathic Medication; Other: Placebo Sponsors: Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine; Samueli Institute for Information Biology Recruiting
+
Intranasal INNA-051 for Prevention of COVID-19 in Adults - Condition: COVID-19 Pandemic Interventions: Drug: INNA-051; Other: Placebo Sponsor: ENA Respiratory Pty Ltd Not yet recruiting
+
Feasibility Pilot Clinical Trial of Omega-3 Supplement vs. Placebo for Post Covid-19 Recovery Among Health Care Workers - Condition: COVID-19 Interventions: Drug: Omega-3 (EPA+DHA); Drug: Placebo Sponsor: Hackensack Meridian Health Not yet recruiting
+
Effectiveness of Interactive Voice Response for COVID-19 Vaccination Training in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - Conditions: COVID-19 Vaccine Knowledge; COVID-19 Vaccine Beliefs Interventions:
+Behavioral: COVID-19 Vaccine IVR Training; Behavioral: Control Condition Sponsors: Stanford University; Viamo Not yet recruiting
+
+
From PubMed
+
+
Assessment of proarrhythmogenic risk for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine using the CiPA concept - Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been proposed recently as therapy for SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, but during 3 months of extensive use concerns were raised related to their clinical effectiveness and arrhythmogenic risk. Therefore, we estimated for these compounds several proarrhythmogenic risk predictors according to the Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) paradigm. Experiments were performed with either CytoPatch™2 automated or manual patch- clamp setups on HEK293T cells…
+
Yindan Jiedu granules exhibit anti-inflammatory effect in patients with novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by suppressing the NF-kappaB signaling pathway - CONCLUSION: YDJDG may shorten the COVID-19 course and delay its progression by suppressing inflammation via targeting the NF-κB pathway.
+
Absent antibody production following COVID19 vaccination with mRNA in patients under immunosuppressive treatments - Patients undergoing immunosuppressive treatments have a higher need for protection against coronavirus disease (COVID19) that follows infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus but their ability to respond sufficiently to COVID vaccines is uncertain. We retrospectively evaluated SARS-CoV-2 spike subunit 1 (S1)-specific antibody levels after two mRNA doses in 242 patients with underlying chronic inflammatory, hematooncological or metabolic diseases and in solid organ transplant recipients. S1-specific…
+
A comparison between virus- versus patients-centred therapeutic attempts to reduce COVID-19 mortality - AbstractSince December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has changed our lives. Elderly, and those with comorbidities represent the vast majority of patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 symptoms, including acute respiratory disease syndrome, and cardiac dysfunction. Despite a huge effort of the scientific community, improved treatment modalities limiting the severity and mortality of…
+
Lipid droplet accumulation occurs early following Salmonella infection and contributes to intracellular bacterial survival and replication - Salmonellosis is a public health problem caused by Salmonella sp., a highly adapted facultative intracellular pathogen. After internalization, Salmonella sp. manipulates several host processes, mainly through the activation of the type III secretion system (T3SS), including modification of host lipid metabolism and lipid droplet (LD) accumulation. LDs are dynamic and complex lipid-rich organelles involved in several cellular processes. The present study investigated the mechanism involved in LD…
+
SARS-CoV-2 inhibits induction of the MHC class I pathway by targeting the STAT1-IRF1-NLRC5 axis - The MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation pathway plays a critical role in antiviral immunity. Here we show that the MHC class I pathway is targeted by SARS-CoV-2. Analysis of the gene expression profile from COVID-19 patients as well as SARS-CoV-2 infected epithelial cell lines reveals that the induction of the MHC class I pathway is inhibited by SARS- CoV-2 infection. We show that NLRC5, an MHC class I transactivator, is suppressed both transcriptionally and functionally by the SARS-CoV-2…
+
Impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on hospital presentations and admissions in the context of low community transmission: evidence from time series analysis in Melbourne, Australia - CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses suggest citizens were willing and able to present with life-threatening conditions during Melbourne’s lockdowns, and that switching to telemedicine did not cause widespread spill-over from primary care into ED. During a pandemic, lockdowns may not inhibit appropriate hospital attendance where rates of infectious disease are low.
+
Bemcentinib and gilteritinib inhibit cell growth and impair the endo-lysosomal and autophagy systems in an AXL- independent manner - AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase from the TAM (TYRO3 AXL and MER) subfamily, and its ligand growth arrest specific 6 (GAS6) are implicated in pathogenesis of a wide array of cancers, acquisition of resistance to diverse anti-cancer therapies and cellular entry of viruses. The continuous development of AXL inhibitors for treatment of cancer and COVID-19 patients underscores the need to better characterize the cellular effects of AXL targeting. In the present study, we compared the cellular…
+
A Previously Undiscovered Circular RNA, circTNFAIP3, and Its Role in Coronavirus Replication - Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a newly discovered class of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) present in various tissues and cells. However, the functions of most circRNAs have not been verified experimentally. Here, using deltacoronavirus as a model, differentially expressed circRNAs in cells with or without deltacoronavirus infection were analyzed by RNA sequencing to characterize the cellular responses to RNA virus infection. More than 57,000 circRNA candidates were detected, and seven significantly…
+
25-Hydroxycholesterol Inhibits Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus and Epstein-Barr Virus Infections and Activates Inflammatory Cytokine Responses - Oncogenic gammaherpesviruses express viral products during latent and lytic infection that block the innate immune response. Previously, we found that Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV/human herpesvirus-8) viral microRNAs (miRNAs) downregulate cholesterol biogenesis, and we hypothesized that this prevents the production of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC), a cholesterol derivative. 25HC blocks KSHV de novo infection of primary endothelial cells at a postentry step and decreases viral gene…
+
Interleukin-6 in SARS-CoV-2 induced disease: Interactions and therapeutic applications - Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multi-tasking cytokine that represents high activity in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and cancer. High concentration of this pleiotropic cytokine accounts for hyperinflammation and cytokine storm, and is related to multi-organ failure in patients with SARS-CoV-2 induced disease. IL-6 promotes lymphopenia and increases C-reactive protein (CRP) in such cases. However, blockade of IL-6 is not a full-proof of complete response….
+
Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in patients with epilepsy during COVID-19: A systematic review - CONCLUSIONS: People with epilepsy were considered as a susceptible group to the impact of the pandemic. Therefore, great attention should be paid to PWE and adequate psychological supports provided in this period to relieve or inhibit risks to mental health in PWE.
+
Disulfide bonds play a critical role in the structure and function of the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike antigen - The current coronavirus pandemic is exerting a tremendously detrimental impact on global health. The Spike proteins of coronaviruses, responsible for cell receptor binding and viral internalization, possess multiple and frequently conserved disulfide bonds raising the question about their role in these proteins. Here, we present a detailed structural and functional investigation of the disulfide bonds of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike receptor-binding domain (RBD). Molecular dynamics simulations of the…
+
Chronic pharmacological antagonism of murine GM-CSF-R-alpha does not replicate the Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis phenotype but does alter lung surfactant turnover - Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a key participant in, and a clinical target for, the treatment of inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therapeutic inhibition of GM-CSF signalling using monoclonal antibodies to the α-subunit of the GM-CSF receptor (GMCSFRα) has shown clear benefit in patients with RA, giant cell arteritis (GCA) and some efficacy in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, GM-CSF autoantibodies are associated with the development of…
+
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus nsp14 inhibits NF-kappaB pathway activation by targeting the IKK complex and p65 - Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of related enveloped RNA viruses that have severe consequences in a wide variety of animals by causing respiratory, enteric or systemic diseases. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is an economically important CoV distributed worldwide that causes diarrhea in pigs. nsp14 is a nonstructural protein of PEDV that is involved in regulation of innate immunity and viral replication. However, the function and mechanism by which nsp14 modulates and manipulates host…
+
+
From Patent Search
+
+
A DOORBELL SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND RECORDING A PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA OF A PERSON - AbstractTitle: A doorbell system for monitoring and recording a physiological data of a person The present invention provides a doorbell system 500 for monitoring and recording a physiological data of a person. The doorbell system 500 having a transmitter module 100 and a receiving module 200. The transmitter module 100 is having a TOF sensor module 110, an ultrasound detector 120, and an infrared detector 130. Further, a speech recognition system 150, a facial recognition system 160, and a temperature detector 190 are provided for recognizing speech, face, and temperature of the person by comparing pre-stored data. A controlling module 180 is set with a predefined commands for communicating with the transmitter module 100 and receiving module 200. The collected facial and speech data is compared and matched with the pre-stored data then the temperature detector 190 triggers and the door opens when the captured body temperature of the person is matched within the predefined range of temperature.Figure 1 - link
+
A study of contemporary trends in investing patterns, household savings, and economic investment. - Because household savings and household investments are intertwined and interdependent, they are discussed briefly in this paper. Household savings account for more than half of a country’s capital formation, which fluctuates due to a variety of economic factors such as inflation and interest rates. Households should gradually shift their savings and investments from physical assets to financial assets to avoid a sudden change in wealth. They should also save and invest using a variety of platforms. Trends in investing and saving will be easier to track and measure this way. This year’s domestic saving rate in India is 2.3 percent lower than last year’s and 1.2 percent lower than the year before. Since 2011, general domestic savings have been steadily declining, with the trend continuing into the following year. According to official data, the GDP in 2020 shrank by 23.9%, the least in previous years and the least since the Covid-19 pandemic in previous years. As a result, the information presented in this paper is drawn from and evaluated from other sources - link
+
Use of Diminazene Aceturate, Xanthenone, ACE 2 activators or analogs for the Treatment and therapeutic use of COVID-19 on human patients. - - link
+
ACTIVE RIDER SAFETY SYSTEM FOR TWO WHEELERS - The present invention relates to an active rider safety system for two wheelers comprising, a protective case equipped by a user for riding, where the case is integrated with multiple piezoelectric sensor that determines fastening of the case by user, a processing unit linked to the sensor, where the unit detects absence of case upon fetching data from the sensor below a threshold value and thereby terminates operation of ignition by stopping a coupled motor operated via a radio frequency module, an alcohol detection sensor that detects presence of alcohol and send data to processing unit, a temperature sensor that measures temperature of the user, an accelerometer sensor that activates upon ignition us tuned on to determine presence of a crash and a navigation module that via communication module sends location of user to pre saved users and concerned authorities. - link
+
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and uses thereof I - - link
+
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and uses thereof II - - link
+
Secured Health monitoring system using cloud computing - As used in public health surveillance, the invention generally relates to remote health monitoring systems with cloud computing. This is particularly relevant about a multi-user remote health monitoring system that can detect and gather data from healthcare professionals on the ground and systems in laboratories and hospitals to help the public health sector. It is possible to utilize the system for tracking, monitoring, and collecting patient data and for querying and collecting more information on the health of the people. - link
+
SPIRAL GROOVES SQUEEZER - The present invention relates to squeezer that extracts the most of the juice or pulp from the citrus fruits like lemon, orange, etc. because of its design. The present invention works on the principle of reamer having left hand spiral. In general, Left hand spiral reamers have the tendency to push chips and coolant in front of the cut, pushing coolant into the hole and the reamer back out of the hole. The concept of the left hand spiral is used the subject squeezer to design the groves of squeezer to get maximum juice and to help prevent grabbing and binding of the fruit. It will release all the juice extracted from the fruit and will also be easy to remove the waste fruit skin from squeezer. - link
+
基于拉曼光谱的新型冠状病毒核酸检测试剂盒及方法 - 本发明公开了一种基于拉曼光谱的新型冠状病毒核酸检测试剂盒及方法，所述试剂盒包括正向引物，和纳米银针SERS基底，所述纳米银针SERS基底由5’端有巯基修饰的反向引物和纳米银针共价连接而得。其检测方法为：先采集纳米银针SERS基底的拉曼光谱信号；在包含待检测样品的反应溶液中插入所述纳米银针SERS基底，恒温扩增；取出纳米银针SERS基底，采集拉曼光谱信号，检测两次拉曼光谱信号的位移差异。相比起根据拉曼峰强度定量检测核酸的方法，本发明的新型冠状病毒核酸检测方法可以实现定性检测核酸，检测方法更简单、更准确、更可靠。 - link
+
Infektionsschutz-Ausrüstung und das ihr zugrundeliegende System -
+
+
Antivirusausrüstung, hergestellt aus einem mehrschichtigen Fasermaterial und ausgestattet mit Bindungen und einem antiviral wirkenden Element, das sich dadurch auszeichnet, dass das antiviral wirkende Element mindestens eine Gewebeschicht enthält, die mit dem Aerosol einer Emulsion bearbeitet wurde, das eine Aprotinin-Lösung enthält.
The Complex Task Facing the Kyle Rittenhouse Jury - The panel may consider lesser charges when determining whether the teen-ager committed crimes or acted in self- defense. - link
+
Europe’s Migration Crisis, Born in Belarus - “Europe’s last dictator” won’t hold on to power forever. But he has invented a new weapon. - link
+
How Britney Spears Got Free, and What Comes Next - Spears fought for years to end the conservatorship she was under, and finally won. But the legal battles aren’t over. - link
+
How Big a Threat Is Steve Bannon? - The case of Donald Trump’s former adviser marks a strange and perilous period in American democracy. - link
+
Can Biden’s Agenda Survive Inflation? - The economist Jason Furman explains why prices are rising and what is at stake for the Administration. - link
+
+
From Vox
+
+
Join the Vox Book Club! -
+
+
+
+Zac Freeland/Vox
+
+
+
+Our pick for November 2021 is Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid.
+
+
+The Vox Book Club is linking to Bookshop.org to support local and independent booksellers.
+
+
+Here’s how the Vox Book Club works: Each month, we pick a book. Around the middle of the month, we publish a discussion post containing thoughts and questions from Vox book critic Constance Grady, but we also have comments turned on and moderated so you can share your thoughts, too. Talk among yourselves! Post your opinions and questions! Or use the conversation as a jumping-off point for your own conversations with friends and family. And at the end of the month, we gather on Zoom for a virtual live discussion.
+
+
+Our pick for November 2021 is Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. It’s a witty and biting debut novel that also contains one of the cringiest Thanksgiving scenes ever committed to the page. We’ll have plenty to discuss here on the site, and at the end of the month, we’ll meet with Reid herself live on Zoom to discuss the whole thing. RSVP here to join the fun, and in the meantime, subscribe to the Vox Book Club newsletter to make sure you don’t miss anything.
+
+
+
+
+Here’s the full Vox Book Club schedule for November 2021:
+
+
+Friday, November 19: Discussion post on Such a Fun Age published to Vox.com
+
+
+Tuesday, November 30, 5 pm Eastern: Virtual live event with author Kiley Reid. RSVP here. Reader questions are encouraged!
+
+
+
+
+
+
Netflix is finally going to reveal how much time people spend watching its shows and movies -
+
+
+
+A scene from Netflix’s Red Notice starring Gal Gadot. | Frank Masi/Netflix
+
+
+
+The streaming giant is launching a ratings system, of sorts.
+
+
+When Netflix ushered in the streaming video era, it helped kill off traditional TV ratings. Now, the company says it wants to bring them back, sort of: The streaming giant is going to start publishing lists of its most popular TV shows and movies, which it will update weekly.
+
+
+Netflix’s data will show up on its own website, where it will offer multiple top 10 lists that rank titles by the number of hours the company’s subscribers have spent watching them. The company will have global rankings for TV shows and movies, as well as top 10 lists for 90 different countries. Netflix also says it will bring in accounting firm Ernst & Young to audit its numbers, and will publish a report from that company next year.
+
+
+This will have almost zero impact on the way you watch Netflix — unless you are into tracking data about the way other people watch Netflix. Which, to be fair, some people are.
+
+
+Here’s a sample of what Netflix’s ratings will look like — these charts rank Netflix’s global viewing for the second week of November, and include stuff Netflix owns as well as stuff it licenses from other companies:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+One streaming company publishing its own viewing data on a regular basis isn’t the same as the old TV world, when Nielsen regularly tracked viewing consumption for all TV networks and made that data widely available.
+
+
+But we’re not living in that world anymore. Instead, video viewing is increasingly fragmented into different streaming services owned by different companies, which cherry-pick audience data to share when they think they have something to boast about.
+
+
+Netflix isn’t any different from its competitors in that respect: It’s putting these new numbers out because they think they reflect well on Netflix.
+
+
+And while those numbers may be interesting for you, A Person Who Watches Netflix, the numbers are really aimed at a professional audience. That includes investors, who want to see if the billions of dollars Netflix spends on content are being turned into Things People Watch (note that the two Top 10 lists above are dominated by stuff Netflix made instead of rented). It also means Hollywood talent, who want to be reassured that things they make for Netflix are being watched by lots of people.
+
+
+The numbers also represent an unspoken challenge to rival streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, and Peacock: We dare you to publish your numbers using the same methodology because we bet they’re much smaller than ours. It’s also worth noting that the main audience for traditional TV ratings numbers — advertisers who wanted to know where to spend their money — isn’t material here, since Netflix doesn’t run ads.
+
+
+Netflix used to keep all of its viewing data to itself, and initially bristled when outsiders tried to measure shows on their own. But two years ago, it started to selectively and periodically release some of its own numbers — always ones that flattered the company.
+
+
+The numbers also drew derision from competitors and critics. That’s in part because there was no real transparency to the reporting, and in part because of Netflix’s odd and changing definition of what a “view” is. At first Netflix said a view happened if someone watched 70 percent of a TV show; then the company revised that and said anyone who watched at least two minutes of a show counted as a viewer.
+
+
+Now, Netflix is simply tracking how much time its viewers spend, in aggregate, with a show or movie. That means, in theory, that two people watching Red Notice, its lousy but popular action movie starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot, would count the same as a single person watching the movie twice.
+
+
+So let’s say Netflix makes a Red Notice sequel. (Pro: The movie, which reportedly had a $200 million budget, is supposed to be Netflix’s attempt to make its own action franchise; Con: It looks and feels like it was made for a lot less than $200 million.) But with the new numbers Netflix is releasing, you won’t have to rely on context-free boasts like this one to gauge whether that’s a good idea:
+
+On the other hand, consumer fetishization of behind-the-scenes info about the entertainment they consume doesn’t necessarily make for a better experience. We used to watch TV shows and movies with almost no idea how many other people were watching, and that was just fine. Feel free to ignore all of this.
+
+
+
The space debris problem is getting dangerous -
+
+
+
+Russia’s latest antisatellite test has created more than 1,500 pieces of space junk. | Getty Images/iStockphoto
+
+
+
+
+The ISS seems fine after a Russian weapons test blew up a defunct satellite, but these incidents could become more common.
+
+
+Russia shot down one of its Soviet-era satellites in a weapons test on Monday, sending more than 1,500 pieces of trackable debris into space. This forced astronauts on the International Space Station to shelter for about two hours in two spacecraft that could return them to Earth in the event of an imminent collision. While the ISS appears to be in the clear for now, experts say the situation is still dangerous. Satellite operators will likely need to navigate around this new cloud of space junk for several years and possibly decades.
+
+
+In fact, Russia’s latest missile test may have increased the total amount of space junk, including discarded pieces of rockets and satellites in Earth’s orbit, by as much as 10 percent. These shards are spinning at incredibly fast speeds and risk hitting active satellites that power critical technologies, like GPS navigation and weather forecasting. Space debris like this is actually so dangerous that national security officials are worried it could be used as a weapon in a future space war. In fact, the State Department has already said the Monday missile test is evidence that Russia is more than willing to create debris that jeopardizes the safety of all countries operating in low-Earth orbit, and even risks disrupting the peace in space.
+
+
+These risks have only heightened concerns that we’re far from solving the space junk problem, especially as private companies and foreign governments launch thousands of new satellites into orbit — inevitably creating even more space junk.
+
+
+Monday’s events, however, were more politically fraught than your average space debris incident. The Russian government launched a so-called antisatellite test (ASAT), which, as the name implies, is designed to destroy satellites in orbit. Launched from a site a few hundred miles north of Moscow, the missile struck a non-operational Russian spy satellite called Kosmos-1408 that had been orbiting the Earth since 1982. The satellite has now been broken into thousands of pieces that are currently whizzing around Earth at about 17,000 miles an hour, passing the International Space Station approximately every 90 minutes. While astronauts no longer need to shelter, the threat to the ISS or other satellites has not gone away.
+
+
+“I’m outraged by this irresponsible and destabilizing action,” NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement. “With its long and storied history in human spaceflight, it is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS, but also their own cosmonauts.” Nelson added that Russia’s actions were “reckless and dangerous” and also imperiled those aboard China’s Tiangong space station.
+
+
+While Russia admitted to destroying a satellite in the recent test, its defense ministry insisted the event did not put the ISS at risk.
+
+
+Russia is one of four countries, including India, the US, and China, to blow up its own satelliteusing an antisatellite missile. This trend is alarming because governments with ASAT systems could use the tech to attack other countries’ satellites, turning space into a battlefield. But even if countries only target their own space objects, Russia’s missile test shows how governments can also use antisatellite missiles to create debris that endangers every country, company, or person operating in orbit. And again, once this debris is created, it can remain a threat for years. Just last week, the ISS had to adjust its altitude by about a mile to avoid hitting space debris from a satellite that China shot down in 2007.
+
+
+The space junk problem is only getting bigger, too. Right now, there are more than 100 million pieces of space trash larger than a millimeter orbiting Earth, according to NASA. And as of May, the Department of Defense tracked more than 27,000 larger pieces of orbital debris, but even smaller pieces can still pose a massive danger to other satellites and space stations because of the incredibly high velocity at which they travel.
+
+
+“I don’t think you can overstate the danger of space debris at this point,” Wendy Whitman Cobb, a professor at the US Air Force School of Air and Space Studies, told Recode. “As you create more debris, the chances of that debris hitting other things and creating more debris kind of just grows.”
+
+
+What makes the space junk problem especially difficult is that no one has taken responsibility for it. According to the Outer Space Treaty, the foundation of international space law, countries remain the proprietors of whatever objects they send into space, so Russia still technically owns all the satellite fragments created by its Monday missile test. There isn’t a global consensus on what the penalties for creating space junk should be, and tracking and attributing different pieces of debris to different countries’ space operations is still difficult.
+
+
+Government agencies and private space companies are developing technology to remove space junk, like nets that could catch debris in orbit and devices that would push satellites into the atmosphere to disintegrate. But there’s concern that governments could use the very same tools to take down another country’s satellites. At the same time, the cost of creating space junk — and removing it — is rarely factored into the decision to launch a vehicle or satellite into space.
+
+
+“In a lot of ways, this is the same type of problem, an environmental issue that we’ve been dealing with on Earth in many, many forms,” Akhil Rao, an economist at Middlebury who has studied space debris, told Recode. “We’ve struggled with fisheries collapse, we’ve struggled with atmospheric pollution, [and] we’ve struggled with ozone depletion.”
+
+
+Right now, the best way we have right now to ameliorate the many risks of orbital debris is to not create space junk in the first place. That might happen through better international cooperation or creating new economic incentives for private companies, but the sooner it happens, the better. While we’re generally able to navigate around the space junk that already exists, that will get more and more difficult as more debris builds up. And if we don’t figure out a solution in time, we could end up in a situation where low-Earth orbit is so packed with space trash that it’s unnavigable.
+
+
From The Hindu: Sports
+
+
‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ posts Naomi Osaka - Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai had accused a former vice premier of sexual abuse
+
Tim Bresnan denies racism claim but apologises to Azeem Rafiq for bullying - In his witness statement, Rafiq said Bresnan “frequently made racist comments” and also claimed that he was one of “six or seven” other players who had made bullying complaints against the pacer due to his alleged behaviour.
+
Ramiz Raja part of ICC working group formed to review cricket in Afghanistan - Afghanistan cricket was plunged into uncertainty due to the drastic changes in the political landscape following the takeover of the country by the Taliban
+
Federer set to miss Wimbledon, won’t play Australian Open - Roger Federer , Wimbledon, Australian Open
+
Ganguly replaces Kumble as ICC Cricket’s Committee chairman - Anil Kumble stepped down after serving a maximum of three, three-year terms
+
+
From The Hindu: National News
+
+
Local bodies to depend on fundraising, donations - Local Self-Government dept. circular seeks measures to cut down on extra expenses
+
CBI apprehends 2 havildars over irregularities in army recruitment - The CBI has arrested two army havildars over alleged bribery charges in the recruitment of multitasking staff (MTS) in the force, officials said Wedn
+
Gunfights erupt in Kulgam during search operations - Two groups of militants are believed to be trapped at two sites in south Kashmir’s Kulgam, after security forces established contact with them on Wed
+
Free treatment and surgery for epilepsy patients - The offer comes from Sakra World Hospital in association with Rotary International and First Meridian
+
Privilege motion moved against CBI, ED officials in Bengal Assembly - West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee referred the matter to the committee of privileges and urged the panel to investigate and submit its report to the House in its next session.
+
+
From BBC: Europe
+
+
Bulgarian election: Kiril Petkov, Assen Vassilev, a battle-bus and a brand new party - Two entrepreneurs heading an anti-corruption party look to form a government in Bulgaria.
+
Decathlon halts canoe sales to curb English Channel migrant crossings - Decathlon’s decision comes after a sharp rise in attempts to reach the UK from northern France.
+
Armenian troops killed in Azerbaijan border clash - Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a Russian-backed ceasefire, reports say.
+
Nord Stream 2: Gas prices soar after setback for Russian pipeline - Gas prices surge 17% after German regulators suspend approval of the Nord Stream 2 project.
+
Lidl to become UK’s highest-paying supermarket - The retailer says it will increase its minimum pay level to £10.10 an hour from March next year.
+
+
From Ars Technica
+
+
Visitors from other universes converge in new trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home - “Scooby-Doo this crap.” Please. - link
+
Why Thanos couldn’t have snapped his fingers while wearing the Infinity Glove - A “Goldilocks zone” of friction produces the perfect finger snap, study finds. - link
+
Doctors are fighting back against fringe doctors pushing COVID misinformation - Misinformation from doctors is “unethical, unprofessional and dangerous.” - link
+
Netflix begins reporting viewer numbers for its biggest hits - Red Notice and Narcos: Mexico top the charts in first release of streaming data. - link
+
After bombshell report, Activision employees walk out, demand CEO resign - WSJ report offers disturbing allegations of Kotick’s treatment of harassment complaints. - link
+
+
From Jokes Subreddit
+
+
An old Soviet communist lies on his death bed, on the verge of death. His friends are gathered around him all somber. The old man turns to one of them and says, “Dimitri, remember in 1921 you were almost executed? Well, you should know that I ratted you out to the Cheka. I hope you forgive me.” -
+
+
+“Oh comrade, it is In the past and all is forgiven” says Dimitri.
+
+
+The Communist then turns to another friend.
+
+
+“Petya, remember being sentenced in 1937 to 25 years in the gulag? Well, it was me who went to the NKVD. Please forgive me.”
+
+
+“No more hard feelings, my friend. You are forgiven,” says Petya.
+
+
+"Misha, I must confess to you that I had you sent to the penal battalion in
+
+
+
I am terribly sorry about that day."
+
+
+“Please my friend, we all forgive you. You may go in peace,” says Misha.
+
+
+“Thank you, comrades, for being with me throughout all these years,” says the old communist with a tear streaming down his face. “I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for you. I’m sorry for betraying you all, and I hope you will forgive me.”
+
+
+His friends are visibly touched by his words. Finally, he gathers his last strength and says.
+
+
+“And in honor of our deep friendship I want you to fulfill my last wish. See that cactus plant on the windowsill? As soon as I die, I want you to take it and shove it up my ass.”
+
+
+Just as his friends were about to say something the old communist took his last breath.
+
+
+So Petya goes to the window, takes the cactus plant off and with the other two holding up the old communist’s legs, shoves it up their dead friend’s butt. Suddenly, they hear a loud banging on the door followed by a gruff voice shouting:
+
+
+“Open up, it’s the police. We’ve received information that an old Bolshevik has been tortured to death.”
+
My friend got really mad when he caught me sniffing his sister’s underwear. -
+
+
+I don’t know if it was because she was still wearing them or that the rest of the family was watching. Either way, the funeral got very awkward after that.
+
“I do not tolerate tardiness,” a professor tells his class at the beginning on the semester. -
+
+
+Looking out at the sea of stricken faces in the large lecture hall he continues. “There are 300 of you, and only one of me. I will not allow you to waste my time. If you are late to class, I will count you as absent for the day. If you hand in an assignment late, it will not count towards your grade. If you are even one minute late for a test, do not bother handing it in, I will not grade it.”
+
+
+Throughout the semester he makes good on his promise, throwing out late papers and marking late students absent. At the end of the semester, the day before the final, he reminds the students to be on time or their tests will not be graded.
+
+
+The next day all of the students arrive on time for the test, except for one. Twenty minutes into the test this last student casually walks into the class, goes to the front of the room, and picks up a test. He takes it to a desk and proceeds to fill in the answers.
+
+
+The professor watches, first in annoyance, and then with an air of smug satisfaction at the life lesson he’s about to deliver. “Just wait until he tries to turn it in and finds I won’t grade it!”
+
+
+The test period winds down and students start to hand in their tests. All the students, that is, except for the late student. As the pile of papers grows, so does the professor’s anger. The late student continues to fill in his answers all the way to the end of the period, even going ten minutes over. Finally, he gets up to hand in his paper.
+
+
+By this time, the professor is absolutely fuming. “How dare you!” He rants at the student. “Coming in late, staying after the bell has rung! Just who do you think you are?!”
+
+
+The student gives the professor a scathing look. "Don’t you *know who I am?"
+
+
+“No,” the professor scoffs, “I certainly do not!”
+
+
+“Oh thank goodness!” says the student, relieved. He shoves his test into the middle of the stack of exams and runs out of the room.
+
It is 1939 and a Soviet army is marching on Finland. As they pass the border, they hear a Finnish voice over the hill; -
+
+
+It is 1939 and a Soviet army is marching on Finland. As they pass the border, they hear a Finnish voice over the hill; “One Finnish soldier is better than 10 Soviet soldiers!” The Soviet general laughs, as he sends 10 men on the hill to capture it. There is gunfire for a minute and then everything goes silent for a moment, and they then hear the same voice; “One Finnish soldier is better than a hundred of yours!” Annoyed, the Soviet general sends hundred men to capture the hill. There is gunfire and bombs going for ten minutes, and everything goes silent again. Suddenly, the same voice yells out; “One Finnish soldier is better than thousand of Soviet soldiers!” Enraged, the general sends a thousand men, accompanied with tanks, artillery, mortar teams, and tells them to not return until the hill is theirs. For half an hour hell breaks loose, bombs and explosions, gunfire, screams and death all around, and then it goes silent again. One Soviet soldier crawls back, severely wounded and battered. Before the general could say anything, the soldier says; “Do not send more troops, comrade general, it’s a trap! There is two of them.”
+
+
+/cdn.vox-
+cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23019049/Top_10_Films__English__November_8___November_1420211116_4498_5mzlzq.jpeg)
/cdn.vox-
+cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23019053/Top_10_TV__English__November_8___November_1420211116_4460_v779dw.jpeg)
+