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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>Platelet proteome analysis reveals an early hyperactive phenotype in SARS-CoV-2-infected humanized ACE2 mice</strong> -
<div>
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) provokes a hypercoagulable state with increased incidence of thromboembolism and mortality. Platelets are major effectors of thrombosis and hemostasis. Suitable animal models are needed to better understand COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC) and underlying platelet phenotypes. Here, we assessed K18-hACE2 mice undergoing a standardized SARS-CoV-2 infection protocol to study dynamic platelet responses via mass spectrometry-based proteomics. In total, we found significant changes in &gt;1,200 proteins. Strikingly, protein alterations occurred rapidly by 2 days post-infection (dpi) and preceded outward clinical signs of severe disease. Pathway enrichment analysis of 2dpi platelet proteomes revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection upregulated complement-coagulation networks (F2, F12, CFH, CD55/CD59), platelet activation-adhesion-degranulation proteins (PF4, SELP, PECAM1, HRG, PLG, vWF), and chemokines (CCL8, CXCL5, CXCL12). When mice started to lose weight at 4dpi, pattern recognition receptor signaling (RIG-I/MDA5, CASP8, MAPK3), and interferon pathways (IFIT1/IFIT3, STAT1) were predominant. Interestingly, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the lungs was observed by immunohistochemistry, but in platelets was undetected by proteomics. Similar to patients, K18-hACE2 mice during SARS-CoV-2 infection developed progressive lymphohistiocytic interstitial pneumonia with platelet aggregates in the lungs and kidneys. In conclusion, this model recapitulates activation of coagulation, complement, and interferon responses in circulating platelets, providing valuable insight into platelet pathology during COVID-19.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.19.457020v1" target="_blank">Platelet proteome analysis reveals an early hyperactive phenotype in SARS-CoV-2-infected humanized ACE2 mice</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>High-Spatiotemporal-Resolution Nanopore Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and Host Cell RNAs</strong> -
<div>
Recent studies have disclosed the genome, transcriptome and epigenetic compositions of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the effect of viral infection on gene expression of the host cells. It has been demonstrated that, besides the major canonical transcripts, the viral genome also codes for non-canonical RNA molecules. While the structural characterizations have revealed a detailed transcriptomic architecture of the virus, the kinetic studies provided poor and often misleading results on the dynamics of both the viral and host transcripts due to the low temporal resolution of the infection event and the low virus/cell ratio (MOI=0.1) applied for the infection. In this study, we used direct cDNA and direct RNA nanopore sequencings for the generation of high-coverage, high-temporal- resolution transcriptomic datasets on SARS-CoV-2 and on primate host cells infected with a high virus titer (MOI=5). Sixteen sampling time points ranging from 1 to 96h with a varying time resolution and three biological replicates were used in the experiment for both the infected and the non-infected cells.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html- link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.20.457128v1" target="_blank">High- Spatiotemporal-Resolution Nanopore Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and Host Cell RNAs</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Identification of a conserved neutralizing epitope present on spike proteins from all highly pathogenic coronaviruses</strong> -
<div>
Three pathogenic human coronaviruses have emerged within the last 20 years, with SARS-CoV-2 causing a global pandemic. Although therapeutic antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike currently focus on the poorly conserved receptor-binding domain, targeting essential neutralizing epitopes on the more conserved S2 domain may provide broader protection. We report an antibody binding an epitope conserved in the pre-fusion core of MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS- CoV-2 spike S2 domains. Antibody 3A3 binds a conformational epitope with ~2.5 nM affinity and neutralizes spike from SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern in in vitro pseudovirus assays. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry identified residues 980-1006 in the flexible hinge region at the S2 apex as the 3A3 epitope, suggesting 3A3 prevents the S2 conformational rearrangements required for conversion to the spike post-fusion state and virus-host cell fusion. This work defines a conserved vulnerable site on the SARS-CoV-2 S2 domain and guides the design of pan- protective spike immunogens.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.31.428824v2" target="_blank">Identification of a conserved neutralizing epitope present on spike proteins from all highly pathogenic coronaviruses</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Mutations that adapt SARS-CoV-2 to mustelid hosts do not increase fitness in the human airway.</strong> -
<div>
SARS-CoV-2 has a broad mammalian species tropism infecting humans, cats, dogs and farmed mink. Since the start of the 2019 pandemic several reverse zoonotic outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 have occurred in mink, one of which reinfected humans and caused a cluster of infections in Denmark. Here we investigate the molecular basis of mink and ferret adaptation and demonstrate the spike mutations Y453F, F486L, and N501T all specifically adapt SARS-CoV-2 to use mustelid ACE2. Furthermore, we risk assess these mutations and conclude mink-adapted viruses are unlikely to pose an increased threat to humans, as Y453F attenuates the virus replication in human cells and all 3 mink-adaptations have minimal antigenic impact. Finally, we show that certain SARS-CoV-2 variants emerging from circulation in humans may naturally have a greater propensity to infect mustelid hosts and therefore these species should continue to be surveyed for reverse zoonotic infections.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.20.456972v1" target="_blank">Mutations that adapt SARS-CoV-2 to mustelid hosts do not increase fitness in the human airway.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>The association between immunosuppressants use and COVID-19 adverse outcome: National COVID-19 cohort in South Korea</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background: There is uncertainty of the effect of immunosuppression, including corticosteroids, before COVID-19 infection on COVID-19 outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between prehospitalization immunosuppressants use (exposure), and COVID-19 patient outcomes. Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using a nationwide healthcare claims database of South Korea as of May 15, 2020. Confirmed COVID-19 infection in hospitalized individuals aged 40 years or older were included for analysis. We defined exposure variable by using inpatient and outpatient prescription records of immunosuppressants from the database. Our primary outcome was a composite endpoint of all-cause death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mechanical ventilation use. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW)-adjusted logistic regression analyses were used, to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals, comparing immunosuppressants users and non-users. Findings: We identified 4,349 patients, for which 1,356 were immunosuppressants users and 2,903 were non-users. Patients who used immunosuppressants were at increased odds of the primary outcome of all-cause death, ICU admission and mechanical ventilation use (IPTW OR 1.32; 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.63). Patients who used corticosteroids were at increased odds of the primary outcome (IPTW OR 1.33; 95% CI: 1.07 - 1.64). Interpretation: We support the latest guidelines from the CDC, that people on immunosuppressants are at high risk of severe COVID-19 and immunocompromised people may need booster COVID-19 vaccinations.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.17.21262183v1" target="_blank">The association between immunosuppressants use and COVID-19 adverse outcome: National COVID-19 cohort in South Korea</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Changes in the serial interval and transmission dynamics associated with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in South Korea</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
We estimated the mean serial interval and superspreading potential for the Delta variant SARS-CoV-2. As the Delta variant increased in prevalence, the mean serial interval declined from 4.0 to 2.5 days. However, the risk of superspreading events was similar, as 25% to 27% of cases seeded 80% of all transmission.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article- link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.18.21262166v1" target="_blank">Changes in the serial interval and transmission dynamics associated with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in South Korea</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>COVID-19 Incidence and Hospitalization Rates are Inversely Related to Vaccination Coverage Among the 112 Most Populous Counties in the United States</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
We tested whether COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization rates were inversely related to vaccination coverage among the 112 most populous counties in the United States, each with a population exceeding 600,000. We measured vaccination coverage as the percent of the total population fully vaccinated as of July 15, 2021, with the exception of 11 Texas counties, where the cutoff date was July 14, 2021. We measured COVID-19 incidence as the number of confirmed cases per 100,000 population during the 14-day period ending August 12, 2021. We measured hospitalization rates as the number of confirmed COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population during the same 14-day period. COVID-19 incidence was significantly higher among counties in the lower half of the distribution of vaccination coverage (incidence 543.8 per 100,000 among 56 counties with mean coverage 42.61%) than among counties in the lower half of the distribution of coverage (incidence 280.7 per 100,000 among 56 counties with mean coverage 57.37%, p &lt; 0.0001). Hospital admissions were also significantly higher among counties in the lower half of the distribution (55.37 per 100,000) than in the upper half of the distribution (20.48 per 100,000, p &lt; 0.0001). In log-linear regression models, a 10-percentage- point increase in vaccination coverage was associated with a 28.3% decrease in COVID-19 incidence (95% confidence interval, 16.8 - 39.7%), a 44.9 percent increase in the rate of COVID-19 hospitalization (95% CI, 28.8 - 61.0%), and a 16.6% decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100 cases (95% CI, 8.4 - 24.8%). Higher vaccination coverage is associated not only with significantly lower COVID-19 incidence, but also significantly less severe cases of the disease.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.17.21262195v1" target="_blank">COVID-19 Incidence and Hospitalization Rates are Inversely Related to Vaccination Coverage Among the 112 Most Populous Counties in the United States</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation and death Amongst People with Rare Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease in England. Results from the RECORDER Project.</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Objectives: To calculate the rates of COVID19 infection and COVID19 related death among people with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases (RAIRD) during the first wave of the COVID19 pandemic in England compared to the general population. Methods: We used Hospital Episode Statistics to identify all people alive 01 March 2020 with ICD10 codes for RAIRD from the whole population of England. We used linked national health records (demographic, death certificate, admissions and PCR testing data) to calculate rates of COVID19 infection and death up to 31 July 2020. Our primary definition of COVID19 related death was mention of COVID19 on the death certificate. General population data from Public Health England and the Office for National Statistics were used for comparison. We also describe COVID19 related hospital admissions and all cause deaths. Results: We identified a cohort of 168,680 people with RAIRD, of whom 1874 (1.11%) had a positive COVID19 PCR test. The age standardised infection rate was 1.54 (95% CI 1.50, 1.59) times higher than in the general population. 713 (0.42%) people with RAIRD died with COVID19 on their death certificate and the age sex standardised mortality rate for COVID19 related death was 2.41 (2.30, 2.53) times higher than in the general population. There was no evidence of an increase in deaths from other causes in the RAIRD population. Conclusions: During the first wave of COVID19 in England, people with RAIRD had a 54% increased risk of COVID19 infection and more than twice the risk of COVID19 related death compared to the general population. These increases were seen despite shielding policies.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.17.21260846v2" target="_blank">COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation and death Amongst People with Rare Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease in England. Results from the RECORDER Project.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Household Transmission and Clinical Features of SARS-CoV-2 Infections by Age in 2 US Communities</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
OBJECTIVES. Examine age differences in SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk from primary cases and infection risk among household contacts, and symptoms among those with SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS. People with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Nashville, Tennessee and central and western Wisconsin and their household contacts were followed daily for 14 days to ascertain symptoms and secondary transmission events. Households were enrolled between April 2020 and April 2021. Secondary infection risks (SIR) by age of the primary case and contacts were estimated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS. The 226 primary cases were followed by 197 (49%) secondary SARS-CoV-2 infections among 404 household contacts. Age group-specific SIR among contacts ranged from 35% to 53%, with no differences by age. SIR was lower from primary cases aged 12-17 years than from primary cases 18-49 years (risk ratio [RR] 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19-0.92). SIR was 56% and 45%, respectively, among primary case-contact pairs in the same versus different age group (RR 1.54; 95% CI 1.03-2.31). SIR was highest among primary case-contacts pairs aged ≥65 years (77%) and 5-11 years (70%). Among secondary SARS-CoV-2 infections, 19% were asymptomatic; there was no difference in the frequency of asymptomatic infections by age group. CONCLUSIONS. Both children and adults can transmit and are susceptible to SARS- CoV-2 infection. SIR did not vary by age, but further research is needed to understand age-related differences in probability of transmission from primary cases by age.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.16.21262121v2" target="_blank">Household Transmission and Clinical Features of SARS-CoV-2 Infections by Age in 2 US Communities</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Significant reduction in humoral immunity among healthcare workers and nursing home residents 6 months after COVID-19 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
High COVID-19 mortality among nursing home (NH) residents led to their prioritization for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; most NH residents received BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination under the Emergency Use Authorization due to first to market and its availability. With NH residents poor initial vaccine response, the rise of NH breakthrough infections and outbreaks, characterization of the durability of immunity to inform public health policy on the need for boosting is needed. We report on humoral immunity from 2 weeks to 6-months post-vaccination in 120 NH residents and 92 ambulatory healthcare worker controls with and without pre-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection. Anti-spike and anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG, and serum neutralization titers, were assessed using a bead-based ELISA method and pseudovirus neutralization assay. Anti-spike, anti-RBD and neutralization levels dropped more than 84% over 6 months time in all groups irrespective of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. At 6 months post-vaccine, 70% of the infection-naive NH residents had neutralization titers at or below the lower limit of detection compared to 16% at 2 weeks after full vaccination. These data demonstrate a significant reduction in levels of antibody in all groups. In particular, those infection-naive NH residents had lower initial post-vaccination humoral immunity immediately and exhibited the greatest declines 6 months later. Healthcare workers, given their younger age and relative good-health, achieved higher initial antibody levels and better maintained them, yet also experienced significant declines in humoral immunity. Based on the rapid spread of the delta variant and reports of vaccine breakthrough in NH and among younger community populations, boosting NH residents may be warranted.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.15.21262067v3" target="_blank">Significant reduction in humoral immunity among healthcare workers and nursing home residents 6 months after COVID-19 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>RT-LAMP has high accuracy for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in saliva and naso/oropharyngeal swabs from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
To validate an improved sample preparation method for extraction free Direct RT-LAMP and define the clinical performance of four different RT-LAMP assay formats for detection of SARS-CoV-2 with a multisite clinical evaluation. We describe Direct RT-LAMP on 559 swabs and 86,760 saliva samples and RNA RT-LAMP on extracted RNA from 12,619 swabs and 12,521 saliva samples collected from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals across multiple healthcare and community settings. For Direct RT-LAMP, we found a diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) of 70.35% (95% CI 63.48-76.60%) on swabs and 84.62% (79.50-88.88%) on saliva, with diagnostic specificity (DSp) of 100% (98.98-100.00%) on swabs and 100% (99.72-100.00%) on saliva when compared to RT-qPCR. Analysing samples with RT-qPCR ORF1ab CT values of&lt;25 and &lt;33 (high and medium-high viral copy number, respectively), we found DSe of 100% (96.34-100%) and 77.78% (70.99-83.62%) for swabs, and 99.01% (94.61-99.97%) and 87.32% (80.71-92.31%) for saliva. For RNA RT-LAMP DSe and DSp were 95.98% (92.74-98.06%) and 99.99% (99.95-100%) for swabs, and 80.65% (73.54-86.54%) and 99.99% (99.95-100%) for saliva, respectively. The findings from these evaluations demonstrate that RT-LAMP testing of swabs and saliva is applicable to a variety of different use-cases, including frequent, interval-based testing of saliva from asymptomatic individuals via Direct RT-LAMP that may otherwise be missed using symptomatic testing alone.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.28.21259398v4" target="_blank">RT-LAMP has high accuracy for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in saliva and naso/oropharyngeal swabs from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Association of COVID-19 vaccination with risks of hospitalization and mortality due to cardiovascular and other diseases: A study of the UK Biobank</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background Vaccines for COVID-19 represent a breakthrough in the fight against the pandemic. However, worries about adverse effects have led to vaccine hesitancy in some people. On the other hand, as COVID-19 may be associated with a range of sequelae, it is possible that vaccines may protect against hospitalization and mortality of various diseases. Methods We leveraged a large prospective cohort, the UK-Biobank (UKBB), and studied associations of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination (BioNTech BNT162b2 or Oxford-AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) with hospitalization and mortalities from cardiovascular and other diseases (N=180,727). Multivariable Cox and Poisson regression was conducted controlling for main confounders. For hospitalizations, we also conducted separate analysis for new-onset and recurrent cases. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were also included as outcome. Results We observed that COVID-19 vaccination (at least one dose) was associated with lower risks of hospitalizations from stroke (hazard ratio [HR]=0.371, 95% CI: 0.254-0.543, p=3.36e-7), venous thromboembolism (VTE) (HR=0.485, 95% CI: 0.292-0.804, p=4.99e-3), dementia (HR=0.207, 95% CI 0.091-0.470; p=1.66e-4) and non-COVID-19 pneumonia (HR=0.482, 95% CI 0.313-0.742; p=9.18e-4). Regarding mortality, an association with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was observed, as well as lower mortality from several diseases including stroke, coronary artery disease(CAD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dementia. There is no evidence that vaccination was associated with increased hospitalization/fatality from any specific disorders. Conclusions Taken together, this study provides further support to the safety and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, and such benefits may extend beyond reduction of infection risk or severity per se. As an observational study, causal relationship cannot be concluded and further studies are required to verify the findings.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.15.21262097v1" target="_blank">Association of COVID-19 vaccination with risks of hospitalization and mortality due to cardiovascular and other diseases: A study of the UK Biobank</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Diminishing immune responses against variants of concern in dialysis patients four months after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis were among the first to receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations due to their increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease and high case fatality rates. To date, there have been minimal longitudinal studies in hemodialysis patients to ascertain whether protection offered by vaccination is long-lasting. To assess how surrogates for protection changed over time, we examined both the humoral and cellular response in a previously reported cohort of at-risk hemodialysis patients and healthy donors, four months after their second dose of Pfizer BNT162b2. Compared to three weeks post-second vaccination, both cellular and humoral responses against the original SARS-CoV-2 isolate as well as variants of concern were significantly reduced, with some dialyzed individuals having no B- or T-cell response. Our data strongly support the need for a third booster in hemodialysis patients and potentially other at-risk individuals.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.16.21262115v1" target="_blank">Diminishing immune responses against variants of concern in dialysis patients four months after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>COVID-19 ASSOCIATED MUCORMYCOSIS: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background: India has seen a surge in COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) cases during the second wave of the pandemic. We conducted a study to determine independent risk factors for CAM. Methods: We performed a retrospective case control study in a tertiary care private hospital in Pune, India. Fifty-two cases of CAM were compared with 166 concurrent controls randomly selected from the COVID-19 admissions during the same time period. Association of demographic factors, comorbidities, cumulative steroid dose used (calculated as dexamethasone equivalent), maximum respiratory support required, use of injectable/oral anticoagulation, and use of aspirin with CAM was assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 218 subjects (52 cases; 166 controls) were studied. Any diabetes (pre-existing diabetes and new onset diabetes during COVID-19) was noted in a significantly higher proportion of cases (73.1%, 45.8% P&lt;0.001) and cumulative dexamethasone dose used in cases was significantly greater (97.72 mg vs 60 mg; P=0.016). In a multivariate regression analysis cumulate dexamethasone dose &gt;120 mg (OR 9.03, confidence interval 1.75-46.59, P=0.009) and any diabetes (OR 4.78, confidence interval 1.46-15.65, P=0.01) were found to be risk factors for CAM. While use of anticoagulation (OR 0.01, confidence interval 0.00-0.09, P&lt;0.001) and use of aspirin (OR 0.02, confidence interval 0.01-0.07, P&lt;0.001) were found to be protective against CAM. Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus and cumulative dose of dexamethasone greater than 120 mg (or equivalent dose of other corticosteroid) were associated with an increased risk of CAM while use of aspirin and anticoagulation were associated with a lower risk.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.16.21262109v1" target="_blank">COVID-19 ASSOCIATED MUCORMYCOSIS: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY</a>
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<li><strong>The Rapid Assessment of Aggregated Wastewater Samples for Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 on a City-Wide Scale</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Throughout the course of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic there has been a need for approaches that enable rapid monitoring of public health using an unbiased and minimally invasive means. A major way this has been accomplished is through the regular assessment of wastewater samples by qRT-PCR to detect the prevalence of viral nucleic acid with respect to time and location. Further expansion of SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring efforts to include the detection of variants of interest / concern through next-generation sequencing have enhanced the understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. In this report we detail the results of a collaborative effort between public health and metropolitan wastewater management authorities and the University of Louisville to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic through the monitoring of aggregate wastewater samples over a period of 28 weeks. Our data indicates that wastewater monitoring of water quality treatment centers and smaller neighborhood-scale catchment areas is a viable means by which the prevalence and genetic variation of SARS-CoV-2 within a metropolitan community of approximately one million individuals may be monitored. Importantly, these efforts confirm that regional emergence and spread of variants of interest / concern may be detected as readily in aggregate wastewater samples as compared to the individual wastewater sheds.
</p>
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<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.17.21262170v1" target="_blank">The Rapid Assessment of Aggregated Wastewater Samples for Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 on a City-Wide Scale</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>Pulmonary Rehabilitation Post-COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Other: Exercise program (virtual/remote)<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University of Manitoba;   Health Sciences Centre Foundation, Manitoba;   Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Study of PF-07321332/Ritonavir in Non-hospitalized Low-Risk Adult Participants With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: PF-07321332;   Drug: Ritonavir;   Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Pfizer<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>Mix and Match Heterologous Prime-Boost Study Using Approved COVID-19 Vaccines in Mozambique</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: BBIBP-CorV - Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Vero cell);   Biological: AZD1222 (replication-deficient Ad type 5 vector expressing full-length spike protein)<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   International Vaccine Institute;   The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI);   Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Mozambique;   University of Antananarivo;   International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh;   Harvard University;   Heidelberg University<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Targeting de Novo Pyrimidine Biosynthesis by Leflunomide for the Treatment of COVID-19 Virus Disease</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: leflunomide<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:  <br/>
Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust<br/><b>Active, not 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 Methylene Blue Antiviral Treatment</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Methylene Blue;   Drug: Saline nasal spray<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Irkutsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences;   Irkutsk State Medical University<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>Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (Sf9 Cells) in Children and Adolescents</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells);   Other: Placebo control<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   WestVac Biopharma Co., Ltd.;   West China Hospital<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>To Evaluate Efficacy &amp; Safety of Proxalutamide in Hospitalized Covid-19 Subjects</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: GT0918;   Drug: Standard of care;   Drug: Matching placebo<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Suzhou Kintor Pharmaceutical Inc,;   IQVIA Biotech<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>Double Blind Randomized Clinical Trial of Use of Colchicine Added to Standard Treatment in Hospitalized With Covid-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19 Infection<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Colchcine<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:  <br/>
Asociacion Instituto Biodonostia<br/><b>Active, not 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>Relaxation Exercise in Patients With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Other: Relaxation technique<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Beni- Suef University<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Philippine Trial to Determine Efficacy and Safety of Favipiravir for COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Combination Product: Favipiravir + Standard of Care;   Procedure: Standard of Care<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University of the Philippines;   Department of Health, Philippines<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>Combination of Dietary Supplements Curcumin, Quercetin and Vitamin D for Early Symptoms of COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Standard of care;   Dietary Supplement: combination of curcumin, quercetin and Vitamin D<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Ayub Teaching Hospital<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Evaluation of the Effects of Bradykinin Antagonists on Pulmonary Manifestations of COVID-19 Infections (AntagoBrad- Cov Study).</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: C1 Inhibitor Human;   Drug: Icatibant Injection;   Other: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   GCS Ramsay Santé pour l’Enseignement et la Recherche<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Artemisinin- a Herbal Supplement on COVID-19 Subjects</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Dietary Supplement: Artemisinin;   Drug: Dexamethasone<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Mateon Therapeutics;   Windlas Biotech Private Limited<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>Clinical Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Inhaled AQ001S in the Management of Acute COVID-19 Symptoms</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Drug, inhalation<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:  <br/>
Aquilon Pharmaceuticals S.A.<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>Local and General Immune Response After Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Vaccination in Volunteers</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Procedure: Blood and nasal fluid sampling before and after COVID-19 vaccination<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University Hospital, Ghent;   University Ghent;   Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie<br/><b>Active, not recruiting</b></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-pubmed">From PubMed</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>OFF-State-Specific Inhibition of the Proprotein Convertase Furin</strong> - The pro-protein convertase furin is a highly specific serine protease involved in the proteolytic maturation of many proteins in the secretory pathway. It also activates surface proteins of many viruses including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Furin inhibitors effectively suppress viral replication and thus are promising antiviral therapeutics with broad application potential. Polybasic substrate-like ligands typically trigger conformational changes shifting…</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>Vitamin D3 and its hydroxyderivatives as promising drugs against COVID-19: a computational study</strong> - The epidemiologic correlation between the poor prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vitamin D deficiency has been observed worldwide, however, their molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we used combined molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy analyses to investigate the potentials of vitamin D3 and its hydroxyderivatives as TMPRSS2 inhibitor and to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) binding to angiotensin-converting…</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>Probing the Allosteric Inhibition Mechanism of a Spike Protein Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Active Compound Identifications</strong> - The receptor recognition of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 relies on the “down-to-up” conformational change in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S) protein. Therefore, understanding the process of this change at the molecular level facilitates the design of therapeutic agents. With the help of coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations, we provide evidence showing that the conformational dynamics of the S protein are globally cooperative. Importantly, an allosteric path was…</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>Phase 1 study in healthy participants of the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of enpatoran (M5049), a dual antagonist of toll-like receptors 7 and 8</strong> - This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of single and multiple oral doses of enpatoran (formerly named M5049), a new toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and 8 dual antagonist, and the effect of food on a single dose in healthy participants. In this single phase 1, randomized (3:1), double-blind, placebo- controlled study, 96 participants received single and multiple ascending oral doses of enpatoran. Participants in single-dose cohorts received one…</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>MicroRNA-28-3p inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ectodomain shedding in 293T cells treated with the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by targeting A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17</strong> - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019. Angiotensin‑converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the SARS‑CoV binding site and is ubiquitously expressed in endothelial cells of several organs, with the highest levels in the cardiovascular system, kidney and lungs. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) is involved in ectodomain shedding of ACE2. In the present study, reverse‑transcription‑quantitative PCR, transfection, TUNNEL…</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>Rational Design of Hybrid SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors Guided by the Superimposed Cocrystal Structures with the Peptidomimetic Inhibitors GC-376, Telaprevir, and Boceprevir</strong> - SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^(pro)) is a cysteine protease that mediates the cleavage of viral polyproteins and is a validated antiviral drug target. M^(pro) is highly conserved among all seven human coronaviruses, with certain M^(pro) inhibitors having broad-spectrum antiviral activity. In this study, we designed two hybrid inhibitors UAWJ9-36-1 and UAWJ9-36-3 based on the superimposed X-ray crystal structures of SARS-CoV-2 M^(pro) with GC-376, telaprevir, and boceprevir. Both UAWJ9-36-1 and…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Poliovirus Vaccination Induces a Humoral Immune Response That Cross Reacts With SARS-CoV-2</strong> - Background: Millions have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, but the severity of resultant infections has varied among adults and children, with adults presenting more serious symptomatic cases. Children may possess an immunity that adults lack, possibly from childhood vaccinations. This retrospective study suggests immunization against the poliovirus may provide an immunity to SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Publicly available data were analyzed for possible correlations between national median ages and…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Downregulation of CD45 Signaling in COVID-19 Patients Is Reversed by C24D, a Novel CD45 Targeting Peptide</strong> - CD45, the predominant transmembrane tyrosine phosphatase in leukocytes, is required for the efficient induction of T cell receptor signaling and activation. We recently reported that the CD45-intracellular signals in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients are inhibited. We also reported that C24D, an immune modulating therapeutic peptide, binds to CD45 on immune-suppressed cells and resets the functionality of the immune system via the CD45…</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>Morphological cell profiling of SARS-CoV-2 infection identifies drug repurposing candidates for COVID-19</strong> - The global spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the associated disease COVID-19, requires therapeutic interventions that can be rapidly identified and translated to clinical care. Traditional drug discovery methods have a &gt;90% failure rate and can take 10 to 15 y from target identification to clinical use. In contrast, drug repurposing can significantly accelerate translation. We developed a quantitative high-throughput screen to identify efficacious…</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>An overview of the preclinical discovery and development of remdesivir for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)</strong> - INTRODUCTION: Remdesivir (RDV) is an inhibitor of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases that are active in some RNA viruses, including the Ebola virus and zoonotic coronaviruses. When severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the etiologic agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), several investigations have assessed the potential activity of RDV in inhibiting viral replication, giving rise to hope for an effective treatment.</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>Efficient inactivation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in human apheresis platelet concentrates with amotosalen and ultraviolet A light</strong> - CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 was efficiently inactivated in platelet concentrates by amotosalen/UVA treatment. These results are in line with previous inactivation data for SARS-CoV-2 in plasma as well as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-1 in platelets and plasma, demonstrating efficient inactivation of human coronaviruses.</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>Osteopathic interventions via telehealth in a pediatric population: a retrospective case series</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: In our small retrospective case series, osteopathic interventions via telehealth resulted in decreased average pain scores following treatment while minimizing risk of viral exposure and transmission. Further study is needed to determine if such treatment methods could be effective on a larger scale when distance or illness preclude an in-person OMT visit.</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>Deconstructing the Treatment Effect of Remdesivir in the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial-1: Implications for Critical Care Resource Utilization</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: Remdesivir speeds time to recovery by preventing worsening to clinical states that would extend the course of hospitalization and increase intensive respiratory support, thereby reducing the overall demand for hospital care.</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>Optimization of Triarylpyridinone Inhibitors of the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2 to Low-Nanomolar Antiviral Potency</strong> - Non-covalent inhibitors of the main protease (M^(pro)) of SARS-CoV-2 having a pyridinone core were previously reported with IC(50) values as low as 0.018 μM for inhibition of enzymatic activity and EC(50) values as low as 0.8 μM for inhibition of viral replication in Vero E6 cells. The series has now been further advanced by consideration of placement of substituted five-membered-ring heterocycles in the S4 pocket of M^(pro) and N-methylation of a uracil ring. Free energy perturbation…</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>Long Noncoding RNAs as Emerging Regulators of COVID-19</strong> - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has high incidence rates with rapid rate of transmission, is a pandemic that spread across the world, resulting in more than 3,000,000 deaths globally. Currently, several drugs have been used for the clinical treatment of COVID-19, such as antivirals (radecivir, baritinib), monoclonal antibodies (tocilizumab), and glucocorticoids (dexamethasone). Accumulating evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are essential regulators of virus…</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-patent-search">From Patent Search</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>SARS-COV-2 BINDING PROTEINS</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU333402004">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>자외선살균등</strong> - 본 발명은 사람의 의복이나 사용한 마스크 등에 부착하여 있다 호흡기로 유입되어 감염을 유발할 수 있는 COVID-19와 같은 유해균류를 간편하게 살균하기 위한 휴대용 자와선살균등에 관한 것이다. 반감기가 길고 인체에 유해한 오존을 발생하지 않으면서 탁월한 살균능력이 있는 250~265nm(최적은 253.7nm) 파장의 자외선을 발광하는 자외선램프를 본 발명의 막대형의 자외선살균등 광원으로 사용하고 비광원부를 손으로 잡고 의복이나 사용한 마스크 등 유해균류가 부착되었을 것으로 의심되는 곳에 자외선을 조사하여 간편하게 유해균류를 살균하므로써 감염을 예방하기 위한 휴대용 자외선살균등에 관함 것이다. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=KR332958765">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Protein chip and kit for detecting SARS-CoV-2 N protein and its preparation method</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU333400881">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Protein chip and kit for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 S antigen</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU333400883">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Cabina de desinfección de doble carga exterior</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=ES331945699">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Novel Method COVID -19 infection using Deep Learning Based System</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU331907400">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>一种新冠病毒疫苗的表达载体及其构建方法、应用和疫苗</strong> - 本发明适用于生物技术领域，提供了一种新冠病毒疫苗的表达载体及其构建方法、应用和疫苗，该表达载体的构建方法包括以下步骤：将表达新冠病毒S蛋白与NP蛋白的核苷酸序列使用2A肽进行连接，合成融合基因；在融合基因的两端分别包含两个酶切位点，并装载到质粒，得到重组质粒；对重组质粒进行双酶切，切胶回收目的基因片段；对原始的质粒进行双酶切，切胶回收载体片段；将目的基因片段和载体片段进行连接，得到所述表达载体。本发明实施例通过同时表达冠状病毒S蛋白受体结合区与NP蛋白，使该表达载体感染的细胞不但可以诱导抗体反应还能诱导T细胞反应，从而有效诱导体液免疫和细胞免疫，为受试者提供更强的免疫保护。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN333442015">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>EMPUNADURA DE RAQUETA O PALA PARA JUEGO DE PELOTA CON DISPENSADOR LIQUIDO POR CAPILARIDAD INSERTADO</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=ES331563132">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COVID- 19 DIAGNOSIS USING DETECTION RESULTS FROM CHEST X- RAY IMAGES</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU330927328">link</a></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>System zum computergestützten Nachverfolgen einer von einer Person durchzuführenden Prozedur</strong> -
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Ein System (2000) zum computergestützten Nachverfolgen einer von einer Person (1) durchzuführenden Testprozedur, insbesondere für einen Virusnachweistest, bevorzugt zur Durchführung eines SARS-CoV-2 Tests, wobei das System (2000) umfasst:</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">eine Identifizierungseinheit eines Endgeräts (30), die eingerichtet ist zum Identifizieren (201) der Person</li>
</ul>
<ol type="1">
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">unmittelbar vor einem Durchführen der Testprozedur durch die Person (1);</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">wobei die Identifizierungseinheit des Endgeräts (30) weiter eingerichtet ist zum Identifizieren (202) zumindest eines Testobjekts (20), bevorzugt einer Testkassette, insbesondere für einen SARS-CoV-2 Test, mehr bevorzugt eines Teststreifens, weiter bevorzugt ein Reagenz in einem Behälter, weiter bevorzugt eines Testsensors, unmittelbar vor der Durchführung der Testprozedur, die Identifizierungseinheit aufweisend:</li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">eine Kamera (31) des Endgeräts (30), eingerichtet zum Erfassen (2021) eines Objektidentifizierungsdatensatzes (21) als maschinenlesbaren Datensatz; und</li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">eine Auswerteeinheit (33) des Endgeräts (30), eingerichtet zum Vergleichen (2022) des erfassten Objektidentifizierungsdatensatzes (21) mit einem Objektdatensatz</li>
</ul>
<ol start="420" type="1">
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">eines Hintergrundsystems (40);</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">eine Nachverfolgungseinheit des Endgeräts (30), die eingerichtet ist zum Nachverfolgen (203) einer oder mehrerer Positionen der Person (1) während der Durchführung der Testprozedur mittels Methoden computergestützter Gesten- und/oder Muster- und/oder Bilderkennung mittels eines Prüfens, ob beide Hände (12) der Person (1) während der gesamten Durchführung der Testprozedur in einem vordefinierten Bereich oder einem von der Kamera (31a) des Endgeräts (30) erfassbaren Bereich sind;</li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">die Nachverfolgungseinheit des Endgeräts (30), zudem eingerichtet zum Nachverfolgen (203) von einer oder mehreren Positionen des zumindest einen Testobjekts (20) anhand der Form des Objekts während der Durchführung der Testprozedur mittels Methoden computergestützter Gesten- und/oder Muster- und/oder Bilderkennung; und</li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">einer Anzeigeeinheit (34) des Endgeräts, eingerichtet zum Anleiten (204) der Person (1) zum Durchführen der Testprozedur während der Durchführung der Testprozedur.</li>
</ul>
<img alt="embedded image" id="EMI-D00000"/>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=DE333370869">link</a></li>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="daily-dose">Daily-Dose</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-vox">From Vox</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Trying—and Failing—to Save the Family of the Afghan Who Saved Me</strong> - Twelve years ago, Tahir Luddin helped us both escape after we were kidnapped by the Taliban. Now I am struggling to get his family out of Kabul. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/trying-and-failing-to-save-the-family-of-the-afghan-who-saved-me">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Pumpers, Dumpers, and Shills: The Skycoin Saga</strong> - The cryptocurrency promised to change the world and make its users rich in the process. Then it began to fall apart. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/pumpers-dumpers-and-shills-the-skycoin-saga">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Will the Next American War Be with China?</strong> - Elbridge Colby is leading a conservative effort to prepare Americans for a military conflict in Taiwan. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/will-the-next-american-war-be-with-china">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>After the Earthquake, a Mayor in Haiti Struggles to Console His Town</strong> - In Saint-Louis-du-Sud, ten miles from the epicenter, the medical clinic is overrun and thousands of people are sleeping in the streets. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/as-told-to/after-the-earthquake-a-mayor-in-haiti-struggles-to-console-his-town">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Hyper-Patriotic Trends</strong> - The hippest new ways to show how much you love America. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/cartoons/blitts-kvetchbook/hyper-patriotic-trends">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>Fox News ignores a DC bomb threat inspired by right-wing conspiracy theory culture</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/DtUSHi2fryBb6cLpcgyQuckrHmE=/0x0:7135x5351/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69754406/GettyImages_1335150156.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
The police and blockades are seen on Constitution Avenue as a suspect bomb threat is under investigation on August 19, 2021, in Washington, DC. | Chen Mengtong/China News Service via Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Nothing to see here.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="UUdGL9">
A Thursday night news brief on Fox News contained a remarkable claim — that the network doesn’t have enough information to determine what motivated a man spouting right-wing conspiracy theories to shut down a significant portion of Washington, DC, around the Library of Congress by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/19/politics/us-capitol-suspected-explosives/index.html">claiming to have a bomb</a> earlier in the day.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="itX0B4">
“So far, no word on a possible motive,” said anchor Jackie Ibanez at the conclusion of a 15-second brief that amounted to <a href="https://twitter.com/LisPower1/status/1428549866339319809">the entirety</a> of Fox News’s Thursday night coverage of the incident.
</p>
<div id="hWrQbr">
<blockquote class="twitter- tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
Incredible — Fox News just reported “no word on a possible motive” for DC bomb threat suspect Floyd Ray Roseberry, even though Roseberry posted video rants in which he echoed right-wing Trump and Fox News talking points <a href="https://t.co/warM2ulPCS">pic.twitter.com/warM2ulPCS</a>
</p>
— Aaron Rupar (<span class="citation" data-cites="atrupar">@atrupar</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1428557825404510211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2021</a>
</blockquote></div></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CTrHOk">
The brevity could conceivably be excused: No one was injured, and US Capitol Police <a href="https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-arrests-bomb-threat-suspect-clears-vehicle">announced</a> Thursday evening they had cleared the suspect’s black pickup truck. And Fox News covered the incident as it was ongoing earlier in the day. But Ibanez’s claim about motive bears more scrutiny.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZlGH13">
It’s true that after the bomb threat suspect — later identified as 49-year-old Floyd Ray Roseberry, of Grover, North Carolina — surrendered to law enforcement, police <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/08/19/1029275390/bomb-threat-near-capitol-library-of-
congress">said</a> “we don’t know what his motives are at this time.” (Fox News didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry from Vox asking the network to explain Ibanez’s “no word on a possible motive” report.)
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="dehPsw">
But Ibanez’s comment may have been intended to obscure an uncomfortable truth for America’s most-watched cable news network. In <a href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/suspect-in-capitol-bomb-threat-echoed-big-lie-demanded-free-
health-insurance-floyd-ray-roseberry-grover-north-carolina-donald-
trump/65-588eb04d-b12e-4191-84b7-a5718f6cce90">videos</a> streamed to Facebook before and during the bomb threat while he sat in a truck,<strong> </strong>Roseberry made clear he’s immersed in right-wing conspiracy theories and grievances that receive heavy play on Fox.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="rpcHlK">
“Once this dickhead Biden’s out of office and the Democrats sitting down there in the f**kin’ jailhouse, our president’s gonna be Donald Trump, and this is no limit on his pardons,” claimed Roseberry in a video posted early Tuesday morning, alluding to a lie propagated by former President Donald Trump on Fox News as recently as Wednesday about the 2020 election being stolen from him.
</p>
<div id="wgraIx">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
Remember when Fox News was trying to prevent Trump and company from lying about the 2020 election on its programming? Those days are loooooong gone. <a href="https://t.co/fXIAeSuyTc">pic.twitter.com/fXIAeSuyTc</a>
</p>
— Aaron Rupar (<span class="citation" data-cites="atrupar">@atrupar</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1428046099403710475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="y1ByKV">
“I just got chose for the job. Unlike you,” Roseberry added. “This ain’t about politics. I don’t care if Donald Trump ever becomes president again. I think y’all Democrats need to step down. Y’all need to understand people don’t want you there.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="jqcQgO">
Talking Points Memo editor and publisher Josh Marshall <a href="https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/inspired-by-trump">reviewed</a> Roseberry’s videos and concluded that “his core grievance seemed to be focused on the illegitimacy of Joe Biden and his need to resign from office,” adding:
</p>
<blockquote>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="F7qtj4">
As the day grew nearer he would speak to Joe Biden, essentially saying that if anyone were killed in Washington it would be the President’s fault since he wouldn’t fire the first shot. The videos are strewn with what we might call the ideational detritus of Trumpism: Trump’s reinstatement as President, the imprisonment of Democratic leaders, refusals to mask, claims that Hunter Biden was wealthy enough that Biden could afford to retire peacefully, etc.
</p>
</blockquote>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3ya6zt">
Roseberry <a href="https://twitter.com/donmoyn/status/1428415640025669634">ranted</a> about alleged Facebook shadow-banning and complained about immigrants receiving government subsidies for health care — gripes regularly stoked by Fox during segments that frame social media companies’ effort to root out hate speech and disinformation <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/vaccine-protect-censorship-frederick-pinto">as censorship</a> and portray immigration as <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/tucker-carlson-s-great-replacement-fox-news-segment-uses-
newer-ncna1263880">an existential threat to white America</a>. He complained about the quality of American coinage, said “Southern boys are here,” and vowed, “You can take me out. But when you do, you know what’s going to happen, Joe Biden? There’s going to be a chain reaction. And that chain reaction’s going to be on your hands.” He ultimately surrendered to police.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LFdFxt">
Facebook eventually removed Roseberry’s profile, but not before his videos were widely watched and summarized in media reports. Yet if you’d watched Fox News Thursday night, you’d have no idea those videos existed.
</p>
<h3 id="OlIqwz">
The bomb threat isn’t just the story of an individual conspiracy theorist — it’s about US political culture, too
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VzmEXx">
It’s certainly possible to dismiss Roseberry as a disturbed individual, but notably, one of the Trumpiest members of Congress went out of his way on Thursday to do the opposite.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VVCnG2">
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), who’s perhaps best known for the speech he delivered before the January 6 Capitol insurrection urging Trump supporters to start “<a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1347973909870739472">kicking ass</a>,” released a statement condemning the suspect’s tactics — even as he expressed sympathy with Roseberry’s views.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KvfxQj">
“Although this terrorist’s motivation is not yet publicly known, and generally speaking, I understand citizenry anger directed at dictatorial Socialism and its threat to liberty, freedom and the very fabric of American society. The way to stop Socialism’s march is for patriotic Americans to fight back in the 2022 and 2024 election,” Brooks wrote.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OfVdBk">
Brooks wasn’t alone among members of Congress in identifying Thursday’s bomb threat as a symptom of political culture. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) decried the incident as a manifestation of the “violent cult” surrounding Trump that views “violence as an extension of politics.”
</p>
<div id="Ra1v9z">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
There’s a right wing domestic terrorist threatening to blow up the Capitol this very moment. We must confront the violent cult that created this. This isn’t about tax rates or abortion or the EPA - this is about whether we will tolerate violence as an extension of politics.
</p>
— Brian Schatz (<span class="citation" data-cites="brianschatz">@brianschatz</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianschatz/status/1428400799583916034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="0DLCLS">
Meanwhile, another Democratic senator, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1428479516893122564">tweeted</a> in response to Brooks’s statement that “I know it seems like hyperbole when we say that Republicans have become enemies of democracy, but here is a mainstream Republican taking the side of the bomber.”
</p>
<div id="ZIqovM">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
I know it seems like hyperbole when we say that Republicans have become enemies of democracy, but here is a mainstream Republican<br/><br/>TAKING <br/>THE <br/>SIDE <br/>OF <br/>THE <br/>BOMBER. <a href="https://t.co/O0VGgbJANI">https://t.co/O0VGgbJANI</a>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">— Chris Murphy (<span class="citation" data-cites="ChrisMurphyCT">@ChrisMurphyCT</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1428479516893122564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2021</a></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WZpPNg">
But Brooks’s remarkable statement and the backlash to it have been totally ignored by Fox, which didn’t mention the bomb threat a single time on Friday morning after barely covering it Thursday evening, even as CNN and MSNBC covered the incident and its fallout extensively.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3HNJHd">
This isn’t the first time in recent years a violent right-wing extremist has been motivated by the same sort of incendiary rhetoric that the network traffics in.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="l61rYj">
In October 2018, social media posts from the lone suspect in a shooting that killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh indicated he was motivated by conspiracy theories about migrant caravans to the southern border representing an “invasion” of the country, conspiracy theories that continued to receive play on the network <a href="https://archive.thinkprogress.org/fox-news-invasion-migrant-caravan-robert-bowers-4850831b6bd4/">even in the days immediately following the shooting</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Y9cNfm">
That same month, Fox News <a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/10/cesar-sayoc-fox-news-trump-fanaticism.html">strained to avoid acknowledging</a> the right-wing fanaticism that inspired a man to send explosive devices to CNN and other perceived enemies of then-President Trump.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="J8i9gz">
Hammering people with lies about Democrats stealing elections and overseeing an immigrant invasion of the country can have deadly consequences. It’s notable but not surprising that Fox News is unwilling to reckon with those consequences — especially in comparison to the wall-to-wall coverage that would likely ensue if an adherent of antifa or Black Lives Matter shut down the Capitol area with a bomb threat.
</p>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The West’s megadrought is so bad, authorities are airlifting water for animals</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/oDzzMmFYRd0kEO4G-oi7CFyCOxU=/403x0:3866x2597/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69752612/Copy_of_GFD_2189.0.jpeg"/>
<figcaption>
Wildlife agencies in the Southwest transport water to tanks that provide a lifeline for thirsty animals during severe drought. Here, two bears at a catchment this summer in Arizona. | Courtesy of George Andrejko/Arizona Game and Fish Department
</figcaption></figure></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
What do we owe animals suffering under climate-fueled drought?
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="mCVQbd">
<em>This story is part of </em><a href="https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth"><strong>Down to Earth</strong></a><em>, a Vox reporting initiative on the science, politics, and economics of the biodiversity crisis.</em>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4hS2Ta">
The 20-plus-year drought in the American West hit a new extreme this week as the US government <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/16/climate/colorado-river-water-cuts.html">declared a water shortage</a> on the Colorado River for the first time in history.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hag9JA">
The flow of the river, which shaped the Grand Canyon and cuts through seven western states, has fallen by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/21/weather/colorado-river-
flow-dwindling-warming-temperatures-climate-change/index.html">20 percent</a> over the past century. It feeds the nation’s largest human-made reservoir, <a href="https://www.vox.com/22392710/southwest-water-drought-arizona-nevada-
california-colorado-river-lake-mead-climate-change">Lake Mead</a>, which has also sunk to a record low.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FvAQTK">
The announcement of the shortage isn’t just symbolic. It also triggers mandatory water consumption cuts, which mostly impact Arizona, that take effect early next year. Some 40 million people rely on the river for water, contributing to its decline — to say nothing of the nearly <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/bsp/docs/finalreport/ColoradoRiver/CRBS_Executive_Summary_FINAL.pdf">5.5 million</a> acres of farmland that it irrigates.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="amgbhz">
What those figures miss are the countless plants and animals that also depend on water to survive in the harsh terrain of the western US. The megadrought is threatening wildlife, and state agencies are pouring in resources to keep important species alive — in some cases, by flying water in helicopters to remote, artificial watering holes where bears, sheep, and other thirsty animals seek relief.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/bvLtKlWnOeJA05_l90HiWFr9J4k=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22793861/headshots_1629414301337.jpg"/> <cite>Courtesy of George Andrejko/Arizona Game and Fish Department</cite>
<figcaption>
A female elk drinks from a water catchment site in Arizona in the summer of 2021.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="r5CJKy">
These measures are quickly becoming the new normal, and they aren’t cheap. Flying a helicopter that air-drops hundreds of gallons of water, for example, can cost as much as $1,800 an hour, according to a biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SOW4d0">
Scientists involved in wildlife conservation are concerned that as<strong> </strong>climate change <a href="https://www.vox.com/22616968/ipcc-climate-change-report-attribution-extreme-weather-heat-fire">makes droughts more frequent and severe</a>, they’ll have to work harder to conserve plants and animals. And as more areas are forced to ration the scarce resource of water, they have to answer a difficult question: What do humans owe animals that are<strong> </strong>perishing from a problem of our own making?
</p>
<h3 id="B81Keu">
How drought hurts animals
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4HP9TQ">
Wild animals can die of dehydration, but many of the major impacts of drought are far less obvious.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lSjyJr">
As the water level<strong> </strong>in lakes or streams falls, for example, it can heat up, causing the metabolism of cold-water fish to increase, according to Blair Wolf, a biology professor at the University of New Mexico. To sustain a faster metabolism, fish need more oxygen, yet warm water tends to hold <em>less</em> oxygen, he said. “The fish basically have a higher metabolism and there’s less oxygen available for them to breathe,” Wolf said.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kXTwUk">
What’s more, warmer water in the Colorado River basin tends to favor invasive species like smallmouth bass, <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/eap.2279">research has found</a>. “In the absence of effective management interventions, future warming is likely to disproportionately benefit nonnative species to the detriment of native species,” authors of a <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/eap.2279">recent study</a> wrote.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OwfPIn">
Drought also affects birds’ ability to tolerate extreme heat, according to Steven Beissinger, an ecologist at the University of California, Berkeley. Birds perspire through their mouth and skin<strong> </strong>to stay cool on hot days, which requires water. Plus, many species get all of their water from the food they eat. “So if it’s hotter and drier, they will need to eat more food,” Beissinger said. “This requires more energy or effort to obtain more food, which increases water needs further.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lvdAH5">
At the same time, drought — and especially drought combined with rising temperatures — can make it <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-015-3456-6">harder for baby birds to survive</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26367541/">lead to population declines</a> in at least some species, in part by making it tougher to find food, Wolf’s research has found. Water is incredibly important to desert plants, Wolf said, which feed rodents and other animals that birds eat.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="yVwQmr">
“We found a rapid decline in burrowing owl population size strongly linked to extreme drought conditions,” he and his co-author wrote in a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26367541/">2016 study</a> about a population of owls in the Southwest that fell by more than 98 percent in 16 years.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ogXiiy">
Vegetation shortages can even<strong> </strong>make it <a href="https://wildlife.utah.gov/drought.html">harder for bucks to grow full-size antlers</a>, which they use to compete with each other for mates and territory, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
</p>
<div id="bCSAC9">
</div>
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Not every species suffers when water levels fall.<strong> </strong>Some native fish, for example, actually seem to benefit from rising water temperatures in parts of the Colorado River basin, said Charles Yackulic, a researcher at the United States Geological Survey.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3ljYkp">
When reservoirs like Lake Mead are full, the water flowing out of dams tends to be cold and therefore uninhabitable for certain fish, including the humpback chub, an endangered species that prefers warmer waters. When the reservoirs shrink and release warmer water, certain downstream species may benefit: The humpback chub is doing so well these days that the Fish and Wildlife Service <a href="https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2020/01212020-USFWS-Proposes-
Downlisting-Native-Colorado-Humpback-Chub-Endangered-to-Threatened.php#.YR6nB9NKj9A">proposed downlisting the species</a> last year from endangered to threatened.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Rp8cPQ">
But even those benefits likely have a limit, Yackulic says. Humpback chub can only tolerate warming water up to a point, and other parts of the river — where dams haven’t historically cooled the water as much — could soon become intolerably hot for native species, Yackulic said.
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<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/OkJCq6QR6G1HdugniPSB9bLgyco=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22793107/GettyImages_1234103128.jpg"/> <cite>Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
Lake Mead on July 20, 2021, from Boulder City, Nevada.
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<h3 id="BuSE4z">
It’s getting harder and harder to keep animals alive
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="7BFXMo">
The US is the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, but it also has some of the world’s strongest environmental protections and institutions. They’re helping offset some of climate change’s worst symptoms, including severe drought.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="W6Uy1s">
A handful of states resort to dumping water in outdoor tanks where animals can reach them, creating a liquid lifeline that wild animals depend on. Last year, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) hauled a record 2.4 million gallons of water to these catchments, and this year the state’s on track to haul 3 million gallons, according to Larisa Harding, the AGFD small game program manager. There are roughly 3,000 catchments in the state that hold anywhere from 2,500 to 10,000 gallons of water each, <a href="https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2018/08/08/arizona-officials-maintain-thousands-of-water-
catchments-to-ensure-healthy-wildlife-populations/">Cronkite News’s Nick Serpa reported</a> in 2018.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YkBh2N">
“When we don’t get rain, we can make up that difference at least enough to keep those animals persisting,” Harding said. While it may sound far-out to build a whole separate network of water infrastructure for animals, the catchments are essential “if we want wildlife on the landscape when we have these extreme conditions,” Harding said. Providing water also means animals won’t have to walk far in pursuit of a drink, which can lower the likelihood of road collisions, she said.
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<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/BtIUw_881lsj6etQAOQQ3hYTdL8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22790893/Water_Hauls_Muddy_Mtns_055_06082021.JPG"/> <cite>Courtesy of Nevada Department of Wildlife</cite>
<figcaption>
A helicopter picks up water to fill artificial catchment sites in Arizona.
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<img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/IpPxxfpjV0f6NvjE7XaRjYm_UTE=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22790897/Water_Hauls_Muddy_Mtns_074_06082021.JPG"/> <cite>Courtesy of Nevada Department of Wildlife</cite>
<figcaption>
Nevada’s wildife agency carries water to artificial watering holes that benefit bighorn sheep.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LnNDi3">
Wildlife agencies have a number of other tools at their disposal, some of which require more work than others. Earlier this year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife <a href="https://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2021/04/28/cdfw-takes-proactive-measures-to-increase-salmon-smolt-
survival">trucked millions of juvenile salmon</a> from rivers that were drying up in the Central Valley to the Pacific Ocean. Some states have also <a href="https://wildlife.utah.gov/drought.html">limited hunting</a> permits owing to “reduced productivity of critical wildlife ranges.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lM9pi9">
There are also a number of other government-run conservation programs across the Colorado River basin. The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, for example, was set up to offset damages to wildlife — especially animals listed under the Endangered Species Act — caused by all kinds of river operations, including diverting water and generating hydroelectric power, according to John Swett, who manages the program.
</p>
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But experts say many of these projects are only temporary solutions, and it’s not clear to what extent they help. Catchments, for example, have a pretty isolated effect and aren’t typically used by migratory birds, Wolf said. Plus, flying helicopters, hauling salmon, and limiting permits are expensive and already hard to sustain. A lot of effort is going into just keeping populations stable.
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So what happens as climate change makes these problems worse?
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“I talk to a lot of management agency folks, and that is a concern: How much longer can we maintain efforts as water becomes just rare in general?” Yackulic said. “Sometimes it’s about the financial costs, but sometimes it’s just about the water itself.”
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/sxIHkt2b_G2GJN6aGCuZSgy8738=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22793384/GettyImages_1234075776.jpg"/> <cite>AFP via Getty Images</cite></p>
<figcaption>
The Lake Mead Marina, where trash is visible due to the low water level, on July 19, 2021.
</figcaption>
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<h3 id="4rlhde">
What humans owe animals
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hQjeVP">
Government agencies in the US are required by law to <a href="https://www.vox.com/22584103/biodiversity-species-conservation-debate">protect endangered and threatened species</a>, and we conserve some<strong> </strong>animals because they provide valuable services, like pollination. But aside from that, what do humans owe animals that are in decline thanks to problems — like severe drought — that people helped create?
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“You would hope humans would have some sense of responsibility,” Wolf said. But “humans are selfish,” he added. “Allocating water for a minnow or a trout or a fish or a frog is hard to justify in people’s minds.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OZqSqu">
Other scientists Vox spoke to were also at a loss for how to balance rising human demands with the needs of wildlife in a rapidly warming world, though they all felt a personal sense of responsibility. “I try to be a good steward of the land,” Harding said. “I try to look for the best ways to promote wildlife health and habitat health.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tjesPR">
Wolf, meanwhile, finds fulfillment in educating the next generation “on what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what can be done about it,” he said.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6aNeTY">
Of course, it’s that last part — <em>what we can do</em> — that really matters. And ultimately, it will have to be much more than airlifting water and, perhaps, require us to put the needs of ecosystems and the animals that inhabit them above our own.
</p>
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</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Wealth inequality exists among influencers, too</strong> -
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<img alt="Colourful overlapping silhouettes of mobile phone users" src="https://cdn.vox-
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Getty Images
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Gaps in knowledge, particularly for creators from marginalized backgrounds, can equal gaps in pay.
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I used to be a pint-sized Instagram creator. Before the era of ring lights and <a href="https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/vaccine-micro-influencers/">micro influencers</a> and whatever <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2021/7/20/22584329/hot-girl-summer-tiktok-twitter-ibs">hot girl culture</a> is, I ran a food Instagram called <a href="https://www.instagram.com/honeybrunches/?hl=en"><span class="citation" data-cites="honeybrunches">@honeybrunches</span></a>, where I would share VSCO-filtered scenes of brunch spreads, lopsided ice cream cones, and over-dressed kale salads. It was a seriously unserious venture until the end of 2017, when I flew past a thousand followers and began getting invited to things like yogurt brand launches and private cooking classes.
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I produced a lot of free marketing collateral — social media posts, photos, <a href="https://spoonuniversity.com/author/beatriceforman">articles that more or less functioned as sponsored content</a> — because I thought I had to. I was a Latina teen and among the first in my family to have choices about things like college or what I wanted to be when I grew up, so to turn down or negotiate an opportunity meant, to my mind, another one might not pop up.
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The whisperings I heard of brand deals and $5,000 contracts for a set of Instagram stories hovered just above me, something that only felt attainable with a college degree and a day job in marketing. So when a local supermarket chain reached out to me for a back-to-school collaboration and asked for my rate, I ghosted them. As cliché as it sounds, I didn’t know my worth. Nor did I know where to go to learn how to calculate it.
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Fast forward four years later, and while the barriers of entry to social media are still just as low, the barriers to success continue to feel sky high. Sure, plenty of the influencers clogging our Explore and For You Pages are people who still can’t legally drink, but the savvy required to make it online is distinctly … corporate. Creators are drafting contracts, negotiating pay for nebulous freelance assignments, and sending stern follow-up emails — tasks I didn’t master until three years into college.
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<aside id="9DY9Yr">
<q>As cliché as it sounds, I didn’t know my worth. Nor did I know where to go to learn how to calculate it.</q>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HbBVxa">
For those who grow up around upper-middle-class office jargon, the jump from regular person to marketable online celebrity is a bit more natural, and that divide can be felt along racial lines. Only<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/blacks-corporate-america-still-largely-invisible-
study-finds-n1098981"> 3.2 percent of executives and senior-level employees</a> in the United States are Black, with the majority of corporate positions at America’s biggest companies <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/diversity-
equality-in-american-business/">still held by white people</a>.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VuqDvQ">
A report from SevenSix Agency, a UK- based influencer marketing agency with a focus on diversity and inclusion, <a href="https://www.socialday.live/features/uncovering-the-influencer-pay-gap">found that 99 percent of BIPOC influencers</a> who felt lowballed by collaborators cited their ethnicity as the reason why. Set against this backdrop, the wealth gap between white and nonwhite households transposes on to the creator economy, with white influencers much more likely to have a built-in network of lawyers, business managers, and accountants to support the business side of their hustle.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="170vUC">
Just like how the child who’s a double legacy at Harvard has a leg up in college admissions, the same goes for the influencer born into privilege. White creators are better primed to know where to look in an industry that keeps details of <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-finally-explains-for-you-algorithm-
works/">social media algorithms,</a> <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7mqq4/how-much-does-tiktok-creator-fund-
pay">payouts</a>, and influencer sponsorship deals secret. Meanwhile, BIPOC influencers are left to navigate a space that, despite promising a new chance at the American Dream, is a breeding ground for the same pay inequality and discrimination that contaminated virtually every other industry before it.
</p>
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“More often than not, the conversation of privilege doesn’t play a role in a lot of the rhetoric that’s out there around Black creators and ethnic minorities within the [creator] space, but across the board, Black talent feel as though they have to work ten times harder, and the access they have to success is slim in comparison to their non-Black counterparts,” says Adesuwa Ajayi, a senior talent and partnerships lead at AGM and the creator of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/influencerpaygap/?hl=en"><span class="citation" data-cites="influencerpaygap">@influencerpaygap</span></a>, a 59,000 follower-strong Instagram page where creators can anonymously detail their highest — or lowest — paid gig.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2k2waB">
Though inactive since March, <span class="citation" data-cites="influencerpaygap">@influencerpaygap</span> is filled with horror stories. One Black fashion influencer details<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMVU65ohN7y/"> a $250 3-month contract with a fashion brand</a> for monthly content shoots across TikTok, Instagram, and the brand’s website. Another recounts an offer from Crocs that asks for Instagram Reels and grid posts<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMVU65ohN7y/"> in exchange for a pair of clogs.</a> Others reveal patterns, with major fashion brands like Fashion Nova, Zaful, and Shein paying influencers in clothes for materials that comprise the majority of their social media marketing.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NOJNAh">
Ajayi hopes the page injects transparency into the creator economy and enables influencers to make fair comparisons between themselves and others in their market who are often working with similar brands and agencies.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="UcbTXt">
“A big thing for me was really identifying how much of a gap in knowledge there was,” she says. “A lot of people tend to feel like the higher up you are, the more you know, and it’s not always the case. There’s talent with significant influence who are still learning what they are worth in terms of pay and how to navigate contracts and the business side of things.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="I5J1fk">
Keith Dorsey is the CEO of <a href="https://younggunsent.com/pages/work">Young Guns Entertainment,</a> an Atlanta-based creative marketing agency that manages a suite of emerging Black social media talent. He runs <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/style/atlanta-black-tiktok-creators.html">Collab Crib</a>, TikTok’s first Black content house and the subject of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/who-gets-to-be-an-influencer.html">a New York Times documentary</a>, and soon, a <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2021/06/07/atlanta-tiktok-house-
collab-crib.html">Facebook Watch reality series</a>. The collective — which includes stars like Kaelyn Kastle, Theo Wissseh, and Khmayra Sikes — has a joint reach of upward of 30 million total followers and juggles brand partnerships and an upcoming skin care line alongside their daily stream of content that mixes performance, comedy, and riffs on TikTok trends.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EFk7Yp">
For Collab Crib, a sponsored content deal that involves all nine members of the house creating a unique post on their TikTok accounts can start at $50,000, which works out to about $5,000 per creator once Keith takes his cut. By comparison, Addison Rae is said to earn <a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a36037331/addison-rae-net-worth/">over $69,000 per sponsored Instagram post</a>, while the Clubhouse Beverly Hills (an L.A-based content house that features a rotating cast of pretty people) can rake in <a href="https://www.onlinegambling.com/highest-earning-tiktok-houses/">about $1.3 million for group content</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="f2vpSk">
“I’ll overhear managers say they charged $40,000 for one person. Meanwhile, we’re splitting $40,000. That doesn’t make any sense,” says Dorsey, who is now furnishing Collab Crib’s 9,000-square- foot house out of pocket after a home furnishing company declined to work with them, citing contrasting demographics. “As I’m learning, there’s a lot more money that has to be made, and a lot of that stems from untapped knowledge.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QMtWNQ">
On their face, the big pay disparities between marquee mainstream TikTok content houses and Collab Crib make sense. The Hype House is inarguably more famous, with a brand that’s approachable and aspirational, so of course they’d make more money.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="X3VZKk">
However, their fame stems from an algorithm that may favor white creators, with TikTok facing consistent charges of racial bias in <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/tiktok-algorithim-racial-bias">its algorithm</a> and <a href="https://time.com/5863350/tiktok-black-creators/">content moderation</a>. For every Shawn Mendes and Dixie D’Amelio, there are hundreds of other creators who get stuck on the path to mainstream success, in some cases bogged down by <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/21459677/tiktok-house-la-hype-sway-girls-in-the-valley">predatory managers</a> and <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/2/27/21153364/tiktok-famous-backlash">a lack of mental health resources</a> as fame ebbs and flows. And just like with every other job title that promises a shot at overnight wealth — entrepreneur, actor, consultant — those who have to overcome institutional barriers will still be playing catch up.
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“If the most popular creators on a platform are white, and the app keeps recommending other white creators, it makes it hard for creators of color to gain a following,” writes BuzzFeed’s Lauren Strapagiel of TikTok’s filtering practices, which recommends new accounts based on the accounts someone you follow follows. This leaves BIPOC creators working around an algorithm that doesn’t seem to prioritize them to mainstream audiences. Case in point: In the New York Times documentary, Collab Crib’s Kaelyn Castle said she dyed her hair bright pink after hearing the algorithm favored bright colors, and saw engagement numbers increase.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DZ2pin">
“All these new adversities keep piling up [on TikTok] against Black women, so there’s certain things that need to be done in order to be seen,” she tells me before mentioning that she plans to go blonde after seeing a dip in traction. “It sucks.” Kastle says her content is often shadowbanned or removed for violating community guidelines, even if it follows the same anodyne diet of dance trends and tasteful thirst traps that turned content houses like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/influencers-describe-problems-at-
clubhouse-media-group-content-mansions-2021-4">Clubhouse Beverly Hills</a> into household names.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="zywWTk">
Ultimately, the systemic biases built into the structure of social media create a feedback loop that deepens the gap between white and BIPOC creators. The majority of <span class="citation" data-cites="influencerpaygap">@influencerpaygap</span> posts detail the experiences of minority creators who worked with big brands for free because of the exposure it offered, hoping that a shot at a larger audience could catapult them into a new stratosphere.
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“Even for a 30-minute Instagram Live, I have to go through 15 emails of back and forth trying to convince you to pay either myself or Elyse to have this conversation with you. That is time and energy,” says Brianne Patrice, the executive director of <a href="https://sadgirlsclub.org/">Sad Girls Club</a>, a mental health nonprofit serving Black youth that saw an uptick in social media attention following the murder of George Floyd. “Because I’m a Black woman specifically, you want to say, ‘Well, I’m gonna pay you in exposure.’ Exposure is not putting food on my table and keeping the lights on.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="qMfWcZ">
The Covid-19 pandemic is setting the stage for greater wealth inequality in the future. Per a recent report from the <a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2021/07/28/501552/wealth-matters-black-white-wealth-gap-
pandemic/">Center for American Progress</a>, the average Black household held only 14.5 percent of the wealth of the average white household in 2019 — and we can expect that share to decrease as Black homeworkers were over four times more likely to fall behind on their mortgages and 12.1 percent more likely to borrow money to deal with emergency expenses than their white counterparts.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="w6MOQi">
These conditions replicate in seemingly small ways, too. Prior to the pandemic, Black people were <a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2020/10/15/491495/creating-postal-banking-system-help-
address-structural-inequality/">unbanked at a rate five times higher</a> than that of white people, and the average Black household has only $1,300 in liquid savings compared with $7,850 for white households. To put it plainly: the majority of Black households in the United States exist in an environment of scarcity, of always saving and yearning, and of dreaming for solutions to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/13/opinion/black-people-states.html">systems built to fail them</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cC4BxG">
Set against this backdrop, the stakes are high for many young Black creators. “I really just want to create generational wealth for my family because I don’t want to see my mom working no more. I really just want to be that person that my family looks up to,” said <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@traybills?lang=en">Tray Bills</a>, a 25-year-old social media creator and inaugural Collab Crib member with 1.1 million TikTok followers in the Times’s “Who Gets to Be an Influencer” documentary.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6hBjyZ">
“A lot of Black creators use [social media] as a survival mechanism to eat. They don’t have anything else,” says Dorsey. “A lot of them don’t come from families where they have financial accounts set up for them or financial backing or money sitting in the bank. They use this as a way out.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="7V5QqI">
Influencer burnout, the <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2021/5/25/22451987/influencer-burnout-tiktok-clubhouse">all-encompassing pressure to strike viral gold</a> or fade into obscurity, permeates creator circles of all sizes. In the 2010s, colossal YouTubers from <a href="https://www.insider.com/youtube-burnout-alishamarie-pewdiepie-casey-neistat-describe-pressures-of-the-
industry-2019-1">PewDiePie to Alissa Marie</a> took breaks from the platform after feeling drained from keeping up with <a href="https://www.insider.com/youtube-burnout-alishamarie-pewdiepie-casey-neistat-describe-pressures-of-the-
industry-2019-1">an algorithm they didn’t understand</a>. On TikTok, proximity breeds paranoia, as mid-sized personalities juggle the need for enough attention to pay the bills and<a href="https://embedded.substack.com/p/the-
crushing-isolation-of-
tiktok?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo4Nzc4ODcsInBvc3RfaWQiOjM2Nzg1OTg3LCJfIjoibTJOV0oiLCJpYXQiOjE2MjE4NzQ0ODEsImV4cCI6MTYyMTg3ODA4MSwiaXNzIjoicHViLTMxMjA4OCIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.gXwdpZtt0RB_Y5Kt0U6lZcNpbQw6muvkk3cs_orWXG0"> the fear of cancellation</a>. Hell, even Charli D’Amelio <a href="https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/charli-damelio-
admits-difficult-to-enjoy-tiktok-fame-with-constant-hate-1569713/">has bad days.</a>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="vLDbnD">
“I have to take everything I do way more seriously now because I’m actually a celebrity who’s constantly looked at and judged. … Everything I do needs to contribute towards me in a positive way, and not hold me back or risk my reputation,” says Noah Webster, a Collab Crib member.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="iAR9ma">
Pursuing social media full-time is anxiety-inducing for even the most mythic creators. But for Black creators chasing financial freedom in an industry that rewards privilege, that anxiety can mutate into something deeper: a self-limiting fear.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="F6DflA">
“When you’re focused on freedom, there’s a pressure placed on creativity that goes beyond simply a matter of ‘I just want to create.’ So when you’re then dealing with situations around pay, it then becomes really tricky to respond to opportunities that aren’t right for you,” says Ajayi. “You’re thinking of other things than others who are solely focused clout aren’t thinking about. You’re thinking, ‘This is something that I really want to become my bread and butter. And if I say no to this, what else will come my way?’ There comes a point where, even though it’s not easy, we need to be okay saying no to opportunities that don’t respect the time and effort we put into our crafts.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="j4itTT">
For her, the key to reaching that involves transparency, something the creator economy lacks as it spawns a cottage industry of <a href="https://influencermarketinghub.com/influencer-marketing-courses/">marketing courses</a>, managers, and <a href="https://www.starboxaccountants.com/">accountants</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LIZVmj">
Though YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok all have built-in monetization plans where creators are paid based on views, engagement, and advertising revenue, the formulas behind these programs are deliberately opaque. The Creator Fund, TikTok’s billion-dollar initiative to compensate creators for driving engagement on the platform, calculates payouts based on a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-creator-fund-how-to-qualify-and-how-payment-determined-2020-8">mix of metrics</a> ranging from views to geography. This means each creator’s rate is different, with some earning between <a href="https://www.tubefilter.com/2020/10/01/tiktok-creator-fund-creators-getting-paid-money/">2 and 4 cents per thousand views</a>.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<aside id="kiEBwk">
<q>“When you’re focused on freedom, there’s a pressure placed on creativity that goes beyond simply a matter of ‘I just want to create’”</q>
</aside>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="m8YFaQ">
Sponsored content isn’t any more straightforward. As Ajayi and <span class="citation" data-cites="influencerpaygap">@influencerpaygap</span> demonstrate, brand deals aren’t consistent among each company, and there’s no clear formula for how to actually determine what clout is worth. Webster, the creator managed by Dorsey, tells me every 10,000 views equates to $1,000, while Neal Schafer, the founder of digital marketing consultancy PDCA and a professor at Rutgers, <a href="https://nealschaffer.com/how-much-do-
instagram-influencers-make/">recommends using rate calculators</a> that adjust for platform and engagement variables.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NmBy7z">
That said, the expanse of the internet won’t be a black box forever. Two subscription- based startups for creators to hawk premium content — Fanhouse and Fanbase — are baking in feedback mechanisms as they move into the mainstream. Fanhouse, which operates as an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fanhouse-influencers-
turning-personalities-profits-paywall-2020-12">OnlyFans-finsta hybrid</a> that pays 90 percent of earnings out to creators, invites all users who’ve made $30 on the platform to a group chat where creators can talk shop.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="fYpH8t">
As for Fanbase, the company announced the formation of a creator advisory board. A council of 25 social media creators that includes both Dorsey and Webster, as well as Renegade choreographer Jaliah Harmon, the group will advise the platform as it builds its short-form video editor and continues to improve its monetization strategy. Fanbase is unique in the sense that financial freedom is explicitly tied to its mission. The company crowdsourced <a href="https://www.startengine.com/fanbase">small-dollar investments from over 5,200 people</a> in exchange for equity in the platform, and hopes to continue finding ways to explore long-term monetization strategies for creators beyond their content.
</p>
<p class="c-end-para" data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1dxTLK">
“Addison and Charli don’t mind giving their content away for two reasons. One, they primarily don’t create the choreography they use in their videos. Two, they don’t make the records they dance to,” says Isaac Hayes III, Fanbase’s founder. “That’s why I tell every user — especially Black creators — to start monetizing their content immediately.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2lejYa">
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="01HZqW">
</p>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Tudor Treasure, Roses In My Dreams, and Symphony In Style please</strong> - Tudor Treasure, Roses In My Dreams, and Symphony In Style pleased when the horses were exercised here on Saturday (Aug.  21).Inner sand: 800m: Pragmat</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>Sri Lankan leg-spin sensation Wanindu Hasaranga joins RCB, Katich steps down as head coach</strong> - Big Bash Sensation Tim David will come in as replacement of New Zealand’s Finn Allen</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>Amit Khatri wins silver in 10km race walk at World U-20 Athletics Meet</strong> - Khatri clocked 42:17.94 minutes to finish behind host country’s Heristone Wanyoni of Kenya</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>Punjab Kings name Australian pacer Nathan Ellis as replacement player</strong> - Punjab Kings will miss Riley Meredith and Kane Richardson during the second phase of the IPL</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>Aditi makes cut at Women’s Open golf</strong> - This is the second time Aditi made the cut at the Women’s Open. In 2018, she achieved her career-best in a Major with T-22 finish.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>LeT, JeM terrorists may intensify infiltration bids, warn officials</strong> - Groups have close links with Taliban and Al-Qaeda</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>Indians detained on way to Kabul airport; Released subsequently: Reports</strong> - A group of Indian nationals is learnt to have been stopped and taken to an unknown location near the Kabul airport on August 21 for questioning and ve</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>Railways lift ban on photo shoots in Mysuru rail museum</strong> - SWR bows to feedback from rail enthusiasts, amateur and hobbyist photographers, and the general public</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>JNTU-K constitutes Committee to probe ‘honeymoon’ in university guesthouse</strong> - State Women Commission swings into action, to seek a report from APSCHE.</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>Government gives pension to folk artiste forced to sell palm fruit</strong> - P. Gurusamy Thevar, an udukkai artiste, began selling palm fruit as the COVID-19 pandemic had hit his livelihood; the Thoothukudi administration has now sanctioned him with an old age pension</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Greece erects fence at Turkey border amid warnings of Afghan migrant surge</strong> - A 40km (25-mile) barrier is placed at the land border amid warnings of a surge of Afghan migrants.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Spain migrants: Sole survivor rescued in dinghy in Atlantic</strong> - The woman, who was spotted clinging to an upturned boat, says at least 52 other people died.</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>Alexei Navalny: UK sanctions for seven Russians over poisoning</strong> - The staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin almost died in a nerve agent attack last year.</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>Belgium stabbing suspect won’t be charged over unborn baby’s death</strong> - A man in Belgium is charged with allegedly stabbing his partner, but not her unborn baby’s death.</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>Trabzonspor 1-2 Roma: Jose Mourinho reign starts with European win</strong> - Jose Mourinho’s spell as Roma boss starts with a win at Turkish side Trabzonspor in the Europa Conference League play- off.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Hydrogen lobbyist quits, slams oil companies’ “false claims” about blue hydrogen</strong> - Recent studies have questioned blue hydrogen’s low-carbon bona fides. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1788930">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>On Roblox, kids learn it’s hard to earn money making games</strong> - New report claims that the massive video game platform can exploit young developers. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1788915">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Now that machines can learn, can they unlearn?</strong> - Researchers see if they can remove sensitive data without retraining AI from scratch. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1788910">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Report: Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine may get full FDA approval Monday</strong> - Regulators are reportedly working to finish approval Friday, but timeline could slip. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1788948">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>US sees jump in vaccinations amid devastating delta surge</strong> - US just hit 200M people with at least one vaccine dose. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1788941">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>My parrot died today…</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
His last words were
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Fuck, I think my parrot is about to die”
</p>
</div>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Bragapple"> /u/Bragapple </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/p8hdgd/my_parrot_died_today/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/p8hdgd/my_parrot_died_today/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>There was a mouse that used to stop by a neighborhood tavern every night…</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Like clockwork, at 5:15 pm that screen door would kick open and if you looked closely you’d see that crazy little mouse. He’d sprint to his bar stool, spin around the pole on one arm and hop right up to the cushion with a big shit-eating grin. High fives with the bartender. “Gimme a beer, Sam!” “Sure thing, Mouse!” Their usual routine before the small talk.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
One Friday, Mouse hops onto his stool, sips his first beer and looks sideways down the bar. There, at the very end, is this really cute Giraffe. She sees Mouse, looks away a second, then looks back and smiles. Blink, blink. Damn, those big long eyelashes. She is adorable.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Mouse whispers, “Sam! Who’s that?” The bartender explains she just came in awhile ago all by herself. Seems lonely.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Mouse sends her a drink. Giraffe smiles again. Blink, blink.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Minutes later, Mouse shinnies down his stool and climbs up the stool next to the Giraffe. They sit there for an hour, then two, laughing and drinking, having a wonderful time.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Suddenly, Mouse and Giraffe get up and leave the bar together.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The next evening at the bar, 5:15 comes and passes. No Mouse.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Then 6:00. Then 6:30. Very unusual; Sam is concerned.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Around 7 pm, there is an odd thwack against the screen door. Then another. The door shakes and eventually opens a bit and in stumbles Mouse. He is moving slow. His ears curl down, clothes and hair are a mess.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Mouse struggles to climb to the top of the stool and when he finally gets there he sits silently, head in his hands. Sam lays a beer down and doesn’t say anything. Mouse looks like shit.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Finally, Sam can’t resist. He says “Mouse, what in the world happened to you?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Mouse takes a big pull off his beer. Finally says, “Sam, remember that Giraffe from last night? The one I left with?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Sam replies, “Yeah, of course, Mouse. What happened?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Mouse rolls his eyes, pauses and says, “Oh man, Sam. Between the kissing and the fucking I must have run 400 miles last night.”
</p>
</div>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/West_of_Ishigaki"> /u/West_of_Ishigaki </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/p8mwfm/there_was_a_mouse_that_used_to_stop_by_a/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/p8mwfm/there_was_a_mouse_that_used_to_stop_by_a/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>How many anti-vaxxers does it take to change a light bulb?</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
None. They’re happy living in the dark
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/sewn_of_a_gun"> /u/sewn_of_a_gun </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/p88m46/how_many_antivaxxers_does_it_take_to_change_a/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/p88m46/how_many_antivaxxers_does_it_take_to_change_a/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>Do you know 10+10 is equal to 11+11?</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
10+10 is twenty, 11+11 is twenty two
</p>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/SnowyMooncake"> /u/SnowyMooncake </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/p87yl4/do_you_know_1010_is_equal_to_1111/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/p87yl4/do_you_know_1010_is_equal_to_1111/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>What’s the difference between Black Eyed Peas and Chickpeas?</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Black Eyed Peas can sing us a song and Chickpeas can only Hummus one.
</p>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/VERBERD"> /u/VERBERD </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/p89kpw/whats_the_difference_between_black_eyed_peas_and/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/p89kpw/whats_the_difference_between_black_eyed_peas_and/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
</ul>
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