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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>Mothering and Stress During COVID-19: Exploring the Moderating Effects of Employment</strong> -
<div>
Using primary data from the Assessing the Social Consequences of COVID-19 study (N=1,647), we examined how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the stress levels (i.e., pre-pandemic vs. during-pandemic stress) of women with and without coresiding minor children, paying special attention to the moderating role of women’s employment status. Results from OLS regression models show that following the pandemic outbreak, among women who worked full-time, mothers reported smaller stress increases than non-mothers. Among part-time and non-employed women, mothers and non-mothers experienced similar levels of stress increase. Changes in women’s work hours and employment status, following the pandemic onset, had limited impacts on the patterns of stress level changes. This study contributes to research on parenting and health by showing that during times of crisis, full-time employment may play a protective role for mother’s mental health, but may not buffer the mental health deterioration of women not raising children.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/yrwvs/" target="_blank">Mothering and Stress During COVID-19: Exploring the Moderating Effects of Employment</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Candidate genes associated with neurological manifestations of COVID-19: Meta-analysis using multiple computational approaches</strong> -
<div>
COVID-19 develops certain neurological symptoms, the molecular pathophysiology of which is obscure. In the present study, two networks were constructed and their hub-bottleneck and driver nodes were evaluated to consider them as ‘target genes’ followed by identifying ‘candidate genes’ and their associations with neurological phenotypes of COVID-19. A tripartite network was first constructed using literature-based neurological symptoms of COVID-19 as input. The target genes evaluated therefrom were then used as query genes to identify the co-expressed genes from the RNA- sequence data of the frontal cortex of COVID-19 patients using pair-wise mutual information to genes. A ‘combined gene network’ (CGN) was constructed with 189 genes selected from TN and 225 genes co-expressed in COVID-19. Total 44 ‘target genes’ evaluated from both networks and their connecting genes in respective networks were analyzed functionally by measuring pair-wise ‘semantic similarity scores’ (SSS) and finding Enrichr annotation terms against a set of genes. A new integrated ‘weighted harmonic mean score’ was formulated using SSS and STRING-based ‘combined score’ to select 21 gene-pairs among ‘target genes’ that provided 21 ‘candidate genes’ with their properties as ‘indispensable driver nodes’ of CGN. Finally, six pairs providing seven prevalent candidate genes (ADAM10, ADAM17, AKT1, CTNNB1, ESR1, PIK3CA, FGFR1) exhibited direct linkage with the neurological phenotypes under tumour/cancer, cellular signalling, neurodegeneration and neurodevelopmental diseases. The other phenotypes under behaviour/cognitive and motor dysfunctions showed indirect associations with the former genes through other candidate genes. The pathophysiology of ‘prevalent candidate genes’ has been discussed for better interpretation of neurological manifestation in COVID-19.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.10.487761v1" target="_blank">Candidate genes associated with neurological manifestations of COVID-19: Meta-analysis using multiple computational approaches</a>
</div></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Independent acquisition of short insertions at the RIR1 site in the spike N-terminal domain of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 lineage</strong> -
<div>
Although the SARS-CoV-2 variants BA.1 and BA.2 share over 30 non-synonymous substitutions in the spike glycoprotein, they show several unique mutations that were likely acquired after the split between these two major omicron lineages. One of the most intriguing mutations associated with BA.1 is the presence of the inserted tripeptide Glu-Pro-Glu within the N-terminal domain. While the functional implications of this insertion are still unclear, several other SARS-CoV-2 lineages had previously independently acquired similarly short insertions at the very same site, named RIR1. We have previously identified this site, located approximately between codon 212 and codon 216, as a hotspot of insertions, which usually involve small nucleotide sequences including three or four codons. Here we show that similar insertion events have independently occurred at least 13 times in early 2022 within the BA.2 lineage, being occasionally associated with significant community transmission. One of these omicron sublineages, characterized by a Ser-Gly-Arg insertion in position 212, is responsible of over 2% of all SARS-CoV-2 cases recorded in Denmark, as of early April</div></li>
</ul>
<ol start="2022" type="1">
<li>Molecular surveillance data highlight a slow but steady growth compared with the parental BA.2 lineage in all Danish regions, suggesting that the RIR1 insertion may confer a selective advantage. We report the identification of other currently circulating BA.2 sublineages showing similar insertions, whose spread should be therefore carefully monitored in the upcoming months.
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.11.487924v1" target="_blank">Independent acquisition of short insertions at the RIR1 site in the spike N-terminal domain of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 lineage</a>
</div></li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Subtyping of major SARS-CoV-2 variants reveals different transmission dynamics</strong> -
<div>
SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, causing waves of the pandemic. Up to March 2022, eight million genome sequences have accumulated, which are classified into five major variants of concern. With the growing number of sequenced genomes, analysis of the big dataset has become increasingly challenging. Here we developed systematic approaches for comprehensive subtyping and pattern recognition for transmission dynamics. By analyzing the first two million viral genomes as of July 2021, we found that different subtypes of the same variant exhibited distinct temporal trajectories. For example, some Delta subtypes did not spread rapidly, while others did. We identified sets of characteristic single nucleotide variations (SNVs) that appeared to enhance transmission or decrease efficacy of antibodies for some subtypes of the Delta and Alpha variants. We also identified a set of SNVs that appeared to suppress transmission or increase viral sensitivity to antibodies. These findings are later confirmed in an analysis of six million genomes as of December</div></li>
</ul>
<ol start="2021" type="1">
<li>For the Omicron variant, the dominant type in the world, we identified the subtypes with enhanced and suppressed transmission in an analysis of seven million genomes as of January 2022 and further confirmed the findings in a later analysis of eight million genomes as of March 2022. While the “enhancer” SNVs exhibited an enriched presence on the spike protein, the suppressor SNVs are mainly elsewhere. Disruption of the SNV correlation largely destroyed the enhancer-suppressor phenomena. These results suggest the importance of fine subtyping of variants, and point to potential complex interactions among SNVs.
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.10.486823v1" target="_blank">Subtyping of major SARS-CoV-2 variants reveals different transmission dynamics</a>
</div></li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><strong>Single-cell colocalization analysis using a deep generative model</strong> -
<div>
Analyzing colocalization of single cells with heterogeneous molecular phenotypes is essential for understanding cell-cell interactions, cellular responses to external stimuli, and their biological func- tions in diseases and tissues. However, high-throughput methods for identifying spatial proximity at single-cell resolution are practically unavailable. Here, we introduce DeepCOLOR, a computational framework based on a deep generative model that recovers inter-cellular colocalization networks with single cell resolution by the integration of single cell and spatial transcriptomes. It segre- gates cell populations defined by the colocalization relationships and predicts cell-cell interactions between colocalized single cells. DeepCOLOR could identify plausible cell-cell interaction candi- dates in mouse brain tissues, human squamous cell carcinoma samples, and human lung tissues infected with SARS-CoV-2 by reconstructing spatial colocalization maps at single-cell resolution. DeepCOLOR is typically applicable to studying cell-cell interactions in any spatial niche. Our newly developed computational framework could help uncover molecular pathways across single cells connected with colocalization networks.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.10.487815v1" target="_blank">Single-cell colocalization analysis using a deep generative model</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Real-World Evidence of the Effectiveness and Safety of Generic Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Retrospective, Single-Centre Analysis from Western India</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background: Generic tofacitinib has been available in India for more than a year and is widely used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy. There is scarce real-world data on its effectiveness and safety from India especially given infection endemicity. Methods: We retrospectively analysed records (demographic and clinical information haematology and biochemistry adverse events) of patients prescribed generic tofacitinib from a single centre in Mumbai India. Disease activity was calculated using the disease activity score-28 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) and other tools and we used paired T-tests for significant response. We defined clinical tofacitinib failure as a composite outcome including clinicians decision to change to an alternative disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) or flare after self-withdrawal. We performed logistic regression and survival analysis for determinants of clinical failure. Results: We reviewed records of 102 patients (92 female; median age: 53 years) with mean RA duration of 146 months. Thirteen had prior treatment with innovator tofacitinib. There was significant improvement in disease activity parameters at a mean duration of 186 days. No serious adverse events were reported 4 patients had tuberculosis and 19 patients had mild COVID-19 while on treatment. Clinical failure was seen in 25 patients and mean time to failure on survival analysis was 357 days. No baseline characteristic predicted clinical failure. Interpretation: Generic tofacitinib showed good effectiveness and a tolerable adverse effect profile despite tuberculosis endemicity andCOVID-19.Setting up registries would be valuable in gaining more data on generic tofacitinib.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.08.22273582v1" target="_blank">Real-World Evidence of the Effectiveness and Safety of Generic Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Retrospective, Single-Centre Analysis from Western India</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Risk and severity of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections during 2020-2022 in Vojvodina, Serbia: a population-level study</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background: Data on the rate and severity of reinfections with SARS-CoV-2 in real-world settings are scarce and the effects of booster vaccination on reinfection risk are unknown. Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, all SARS- CoV-2 laboratory-confirmed residents of Vojvodina, registered in the database of the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, between March 6, 2020 and October 31, 2021, were followed for reinfection &gt;90 days after primary infection. Data were censored at the end of follow-up (January 31, 2022) or death. The risk of reinfection was visualized with Kaplan-Meier plots. To examine whether vaccination protected from reinfection, the subset of Vojvodina residents with primary infection in 2020 (March 6-December 31) were matched (1:2) with controls without reinfection. Results: Until January 31, 2022, 13,792 reinfections were recorded among 251,104 COVID-19 primary infections (5.49%). Most reinfections (86.8%) were recorded in January 2022. Reinfections were mostly mild (99.2%). Hospitalizations were uncommon (1.08% vs. 3.70% in primary infection) and COVID-19 deaths were very rare (n=20, case fatality rate 0.15%). The overall incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections was 5.99 (95% CI 5.89-6.09) per 1,000 person-months for those who survived the first three months after primary infection. The reinfection risk was estimated as 0.76% at six months, 1.36% at nine months, 4.96% at 12 months, 16.7% at 15 months, and 18.9% at 18 months. Among 34 second reinfections, none resulted in hospitalization or death. Unvaccinated (OR=1.23; 95%CI=1.14-1.33), incompletely (OR=1.33; 95%CI=1.08-1.64) or completely vaccinated (OR=1.50; 95%CI=1.37-1.63), were modestly more likely to be reinfected compared with those who received a third (booster) vaccine dose. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 reinfections were exceptionally uncommon until the end of 2021 but became common with the advent of the Omicron variant. Very few reinfections were severe. A vaccination booster dose may modestly reduce reinfection risk.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.08.22273571v1" target="_blank">Risk and severity of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections during 2020-2022 in Vojvodina, Serbia: a population-level study</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Inequities in COVID-19 vaccine and booster coverage across Massachusetts ZIP codes: large gaps persist after the 2021/22 Omicron wave</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background. Inequities in COVID-19 vaccine coverage may contribute to future disparities in morbidity and mortality between Massachusetts (MA) communities. Methods. We obtained public-use data on residents vaccinated and boosted by ZIP code (and by age group: 5-19, 20-39, 40-64, 65+) from MA Department of Public Health. We constructed population denominators for postal ZIP codes by aggregating Census-tract population estimates from the 2015-2019 American Community Survey. We excluded non-residential ZIP codes and the smallest ZIP codes containing 1% of the state9s population. We mapped variation in ZIP-code level primary series vaccine and booster coverage and used regression models to evaluate the association of these measures with ZIP-code-level socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Because age is strongly associated with COVID-19 severity and vaccine access/uptake, we assessed whether observed socioeconomic and racial inequities persisted after adjusting for age composition and plotted age-specific vaccine and booster coverage by deciles of ZIP-code characteristics. Results. We analyzed data on 418 ZIP codes. We observed wide geographic variation in primary series vaccination and booster rates, with marked inequities by ZIP-code-level education, median household income, essential worker share, and racial-ethnic composition. In age-stratified analyses, primary series vaccine coverage was very high among the elderly. However, we found large inequities in vaccination rates among younger adults and children, and very large inequities in booster rates for all age groups. In multivariable regression models, each 10 percentage point increase in “percent college educated” was associated with a 5.0 percentage point increase in primary series vaccine coverage and a 4.9 percentage point increase in booster coverage. Although ZIP codes with higher “percent Black/Latino/Indigenous” and higher “percent essential workers” had lower vaccine coverage, these associations became strongly positive after adjusting for age and education, consistent with high demand for vaccines among Black/Latino/Indigenous and essential worker populations. Conclusion. One year into MA9s vaccine rollout, large disparities in COVID-19 primary series vaccine and booster coverage persist across MA ZIP codes.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.07.22273593v1" target="_blank">Inequities in COVID-19 vaccine and booster coverage across Massachusetts ZIP codes: large gaps persist after the 2021/22 Omicron wave</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>SARS-CoV-2 RdRp uses NDPs as a substrate and is able to incorporate NHC into RNA from diphosphate form molnupiravir</strong> -
<div>
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been ravaging throughout the world for more than two years and has severely impaired both human health and the economy. The causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) employs the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) complex for genome replication and transcription, making RdRp an appealing target for antiviral drug development. Here, we reveal that RdRp can recognize and utilize nucleoside diphosphates (NDPs) as a substrate to synthesize RNAs with an efficiency of about two thirds of using nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) as a substrate. NDPs incorporation is also template-specific and has high fidelity. Moreover, RdRp can incorporate {beta}-d-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) into RNA while using diphosphate form molnupiravir (MDP) as a substrate. We also observed that MDP is a better substrate for RdRp than the triphosphate form molnupiravir (MTP).
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.15.468737v2" target="_blank">SARS-CoV-2 RdRp uses NDPs as a substrate and is able to incorporate NHC into RNA from diphosphate form molnupiravir</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Quantifying the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentrations and building-level COVID-19 prevalence at an isolation residence using a passive sampling approach</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in the excreta of individuals with COVID-19 and has demonstrated a positive correlation with various clinical parameters. Consequently, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approaches have been implemented globally as a public health surveillance tool to monitor the community-level prevalence of infections. Over 270 higher education campuses monitor wastewater for SARS-CoV-2, with most gathering either composite samples via automatic samplers (autosamplers) or grab samples. However, autosamplers are expensive and challenging to manage with seasonal variability, while grab samples are particularly susceptible to temporal variation when sampling sewage directly from complex matrices outside residential buildings. Prior studies have demonstrated encouraging results utilizing passive sampling swabs. Such methods can offer affordable, practical, and scalable alternatives to traditional methods while maintaining a reproducible SARS-CoV-2 signal. In this regard, we deployed tampons as passive samplers outside of a COVID-19 isolation unit (a segregated residence hall) at a university campus from February 1, 2021 - May 21, 2021. Samples were collected several times weekly and remained within the sewer for a minimum of 24 hours (n = 64). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was quantified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) targeting the viral N1 and N2 gene fragments. We quantified the mean viral load captured per individual and the association between the daily viral load and total persons, adjusting for covariates using multivariable models to provide a baseline estimate of viral shedding. Samples were processed through two distinct laboratory pipelines on campus, yielding highly correlated N2 concentrations. Data obtained here highlight the success of passive sampling utilizing tampons to capture SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater coming from a COVID-19 isolation residence, indicating that this method can help inform public health responses in a range of settings.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html- link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.07.22273534v1" target="_blank">Quantifying the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentrations and building-level COVID-19 prevalence at an isolation residence using a passive sampling approach</a>
</div></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Evaluation and risk communication of effects of alcohol exposure on disposable procedure masks and portable air purifiers</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
As electret technology can drastically improve the filtration efficiency of disposable procedure masks and portable air purifiers, it is widely used to prevent the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, alcohol disinfectants are now widely used in offices, hospitals, and homes to prevent contact infection; hence, there is a concern that alcohol exposure may inactivate electret. In this study, 5 types of high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) air purifiers - of which, one was made of fiberglass HEPA filter - 14 types of cubical masks, and 11 types of pleated masks available to Japanese citizens were subjected to discharge according to the alcohol exposure protocol based on ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 16890, and changes in filtration efficiency and pressure drop were measured before and after the discharge. The results revealed that 17 (68%) of the 25 masks exhibited a significant decrease in filtration efficiency; this decrease due to discharge depended on the filter material. However, masks of polypropylene, polyethylene, and poly-vinylidene-difluoride composite fiber materials exhibited no significant decrease in filtration efficiency. In addition, 4 (80%) of the 5 HEPA filters showed a 40-64% decrease in filtration efficiency, while no decrease in filtration efficiency was observed for the fiberglass HEPA filter. Our survey (n = 500 Japanese adults, including 30 healthcare professionals) revealed that approximately 90% of the general public was unaware that the performance of masks and air purifiers could be degraded by direct spraying of alcohol - for disinfection purposes - or vapor exposure. Furthermore, 36% of the surveyed healthcare professionals indicated that they had sprayed alcohol directly on their masks. Therefore, based on the results of this experiment, we examined effective consumer warnings that could be utilized on the product labels and in the instructions. The results showed that it would be more effective to detail the extent and duration of the adverse effects of disregarding the precautions.
</p>
</div></li>
</ul>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.07.22273564v1" target="_blank">Evaluation and risk communication of effects of alcohol exposure on disposable procedure masks and portable air purifiers</a>
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Children’s judgments of interventions against norm violations: COVID-19 as a naturalistic case study</strong> -
<div>
The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant influence on social interactions, introducing novel social norms such as mask-wearing and social distancing to protect people’s health. Because these norms and associated practices are completely novel, it is unknown how children assess what kinds of interventions are appropriate under what circumstances and what principles they draw upon in their decisions. We investigated children’s reasoning about interventions against individuals who failed to adhere to COVID-19 norms. In this pre-registered study (N = 128), 4-to-7-year-olds heard stories about a norm violator, i.e., a person who refuses to wear a mask in class (COVID condition) or wear indoor shoes in class when his/her shoes are muddy (Muddy Shoes condition). Children evaluated four different interventions —giving a mask/indoor shoes (Giving), preventing the person from entering (Exclusion), throwing a paper ball at the person (Throwing), or not intervening (Doing Nothing)— in terms of its rightness, niceness, and effectiveness. We found that across measures, children evaluated Giving most positively, while they viewed Throwing most negatively. Doing nothing and Exclusion received mixed evaluations across measures, revealing nuanced judgments of these interventions in children. In most measures, there was no difference between COVID and Muddy Shoes condition, suggesting that children’s evaluations are not specific to the novel COVID-19 context. Together, our results show that children dynamically evaluate each intervention, taking multiple factors into account. The current study has implications for the development of interventions against norm violations.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/kn9yf/" target="_blank">Children’s judgments of interventions against norm violations: COVID-19 as a naturalistic case study</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Food intake patterns, social determinants and emotions during COVID-19 confinement: an online survey among adults in Panama.</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by varying movement restriction measures across populations worldwide. These restrictions altered daily activities at all levels, including food access and intake, as well as psychological feelings during lockdown. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate health, and nutrition behaviors during confinement during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Panama. We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online survey for data collection; a total of 1,561 surveys were validated. The majority of respondents were women (74.2%) between 18 and 49 years old. Among the respondents, 83.3% indicated a university education level, and 49.9% reported a monthly family income equal to or less than 1,000 USD. In addition, more than 50% self-reported overweight or obesity. Responses were analyzed using k-means algorithms to identify food intake patterns; we found three patterns: a healthy food intake pattern, a non-healthy food intake pattern and a mixed food intake pattern. The respondents with healthy food intake and non-healthy food intake patterns reported better socioeconomic conditions. Individuals classified as having mixed food intake patterns had lower incomes, less education and higher unemployment rates. Regarding emotions, we found that women experienced more negative emotions, such as fear, worry and anxiety, during the lockdown period. Taken together, these results suggest that the mobility restriction measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic affected food intake patterns by exacerbating existing inequalities. We believe that directing resources towards strategies with the greatest positive impacts on public health remains key, especially in critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.11.22270876v3" target="_blank">Food intake patterns, social determinants and emotions during COVID-19 confinement: an online survey among adults in Panama.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates and Vaccine Uptake</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
We evaluate the impact of government-mandated proof of vaccination requirements for access to public venues and non-essential businesses on COVID-19 vaccine uptake. We find that the of a mandate is associated with a rapid and significant surge in new vaccinations (more than 60% increase in weekly first doses), using the variation in the timing of these measures across Canadian provinces in a difference-in-differences approach. Time-series analysis for each province and for France, Italy and Germany corroborates this finding. Counterfactual simulations using our estimates suggest the following cumulative gains in the vaccination rate among the eligible population (age 12 and over) as of October 31, 2021: up to 5 percentage points (p.p.) (90% CI 3.9–5.8) for Canadian provinces, adding up to 979,000 (425,000–1,266,000) first doses in total for Canada (5 to 13 weeks after the provincial mandate announcements), 8 p.p. (4.3–11) for France (16 weeks post-announcement), 12 p.p. (5–15) for Italy (14 weeks post-announcement) and 4.7 p.p. (4.1–5.1) for Germany (11 weeks post-announcement).
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.21.21265355v4" target="_blank">COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates and Vaccine Uptake</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health care use in South Africa: an interrupted time series analysis</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Aims In March 2020, South Africa introduced a lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entailing the suspension of all non-essential activities and a complete ban of tobacco and alcohol sales. We studied the effect of the lockdown on mental health care utilisation rates in private-sector care in South Africa. Methods We did an interrupted time series analysis using insurance claims from January 1, 2017, to June 1, 2020 of beneficiaries 18 years or older from a large private sector medical aid scheme. We calculated weekly outpatient consultation and hospital admission rates for organic mental disorders, substance use disorders, serious mental disorders, depression, anxiety, other mental disorders, any mental disorder, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the effect of the lockdown on weekly outpatient consultation and hospital admission rates and the weekly change in rates during the lockdown until June 1, 2020. Results 710,367 persons were followed up for a median of 153 weeks. Hospital admission rates (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.33-0.44) and outpatient consultation rates (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.63-0.87) for any mental disorder decreased substantially after the lockdown and did not recover to pre-lockdown levels until June 1, 2020. Health care utilisation rates for alcohol withdrawal syndrome doubled after the introduction of the lockdown, but the statistical uncertainty around the estimates was large (OR 2.24; 95% CI 0.69-7.24). Conclusions Reduced mental health care contact rates during the COVID-19 lockdown likely reflect a substantial unmet need for mental health services with potential long-term consequences for mental health patients and their families. Steps to ensure access and continuity of mental health services during future lockdowns should be considered.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.07.22273561v1" target="_blank">The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health care use in South Africa: an interrupted time series analysis</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>Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate The Efficacy and Safety of Healthtone as Prophylaxis for COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Dietary Supplement: Rhea® Health Tone<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Indonesia 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>Functional Capacity in Patients Post Mild COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Device: Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Rambam Health Care Campus<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>Aerobic Exercise in People With Post-COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Other: Conventional rehabilitation;   Other: Aerobic exercise<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA<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>Circuit Training Program in Post COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Other: Circuit Training Exercise Program;   Other: Aerobic Training Exercise Program<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Riphah International 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>The Effect of Home-based Rehabilitation Program After COVID-19 Infection</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Behavioral: Add-on telerehabilitation and home-based rehabilitation;   Behavioral: Home-based rehabilitation alone<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:  <br/>
National Taiwan University Hospital<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Efficacy, Safety and Immunogenicity Study of COVID-19 Protein Subunit Recombinant Vaccine</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: SARS-CoV-2 protein subunit recombinant vaccine;   Biological: placebo<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   PT Bio Farma;   Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta;   Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang;   Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang;   Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Hassanudin, Makassar<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 to Evaluate the Effectiveness and Safety of SCTV01E (a Recombinant Protein COVID-19 Vaccine) in Population Aged ≥12 Years</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2 Infection<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: SCTV01E;   Biological: CoronaVac;   Biological: Sinopharm inactivated COVID-19 vaccine;   Biological: other approved COVID-19 vaccines<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Sinocelltech Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Tele-Rehabilitation in Individuals With Covid-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Other: Exercise<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:  <br/>
Hacettepe 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>A Study to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of SCTV01C and SCTV01E (Two Recombinant Protein COVID-19 Vaccines) in Population Aged ≥12 Years</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2 Infection<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: SCTV01C;   Biological: SCTV01E;   Biological: mRNA vaccine manufactured by Pfizer or Moderna;   Biological: Sinopharm inactivated COVID-19 vaccine<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Sinocelltech Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Study to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of Two Recombinant Protein COVID-19 Vaccines in Population Aged ≥18 Years as Booster Vaccines</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2 Infection<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: SCTV01C;   Biological: SCTV01E;   Biological: Sinopharm inactivated COVID-19 vaccine;   Biological: mRNA-1273<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Sinocelltech Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>COVID-19 Treatment Cascade Optimization Study</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Behavioral: Navigation Services;   Behavioral: Brief Counseling;   Behavioral: Critical Dialogue;   Behavioral: Referral and Digital Brochure<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;   National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID);   Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center;   North Jersey Community Research Initiative;   University of Michigan<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Safety and Efficacy of Enoxaparin and Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19 Pandemic<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Enoxaparin, Hydroxychloroquine<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>Phase 1&amp;2 Study to Evaluate the Safety &amp; Efficacy of Inhaled IBIO123 in Severe COVID-19 Illness</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: IBIO123;   Other: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Immune Biosolutions Inc<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Clinical Evaluation of Rapid RNA Test for Covid-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Diagnostic Test: rapid RT-LAMP test to detect SARS-COV-2 RNA<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   University of Southampton;   West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust;   University of Oxford<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>Non-inferiority Trial on Treatments in Early COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Sotrovimab;   Drug: Tixagevimab Cilgavimab;   Drug: Nirmatrelvir Ritonavir<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona;   Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco;   Azienda Sanitaria-Universitaria Integrata di Udine<br/><b>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>Targeted protein S-nitrosylation of ACE2 as potential treatment to prevent spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection</strong> - Prevention of infection and propagation of SARS-CoV-2 is of high priority in the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we describe S-nitrosylation of multiple proteins involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection, including angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor for viral entry. This reaction prevents binding of ACE2 to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, thereby inhibiting viral entry, infectivity, and cytotoxicity. Aminoadamantane compounds also inhibit coronavirus ion channels formed by envelope (E) protein….</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and ADMET analysis of levamisole derivatives against the SARS- CoV-2 main protease (M<sup>Pro</sup>)</strong> - Introduction: The new species of coronaviruses (CoVs), SARS-CoV-2, was reported as responsible for an outbreak of respiratory disease. Scientists and researchers are endeavoring to develop new approaches for the effective treatment against of the COVID-19 disease. There are no finally targeted antiviral agents able to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 at present. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate the potential uses of levamisole derivatives, which are reported to be antiviral agents targeting the…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Aptamer blocking S-TLR4 interaction selectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 induced inflammation</strong> - No abstract</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Drug-Free Nasal Spray as a Barrier against SARS-CoV-2 and Its Delta Variant: In Vitro Study of Safety and Efficacy in Human Nasal Airway Epithelia</strong> - The nasal epithelium is a key portal for infection by respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and represents an important target for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. In the present study, we test the safety and efficacy of a newly developed nasal spray (AM-301, marketed as Bentrio) against infection by SARS-CoV-2 and its Delta variant on an in vitro 3D-model of the primary human nasal airway epithelium. Safety was assessed in assays for tight junction integrity, cytotoxicity and cilia…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Identification of Entry Inhibitors against Delta and Omicron Variants of SARS-CoV-2</strong> - Entry inhibitors against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are urgently needed to control the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study developed a robust and straightforward assay that detected the molecular interaction between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of viral spike protein and the angiotensin- converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in just 10 min. A drug library of 1068 approved compounds was used to screen for SARS-CoV2 entry inhibition, 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>The Current Status of Research on High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL): A Paradigm Shift from HDL Quantity to HDL Quality and HDL Functionality</strong> - The quantity of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) is represented as the serum HDL-C concentration (mg/dL), while the HDL quality manifests as the diverse features of protein and lipid content, extent of oxidation, and extent of glycation. The HDL functionality represents several performance metrics of HDL, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol efflux activities. The quantity and quality of HDL can change during one’s lifetime, depending on infection, disease, and lifestyle, such…</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>What Is Currently Known about the Role of CXCL10 in SARS-CoV-2 Infection?</strong> - Dysregulation of the immune response plays an important role in the progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A “cytokine storm”, which is a phenomenon associated with uncontrolled production of large amounts of cytokines, very often affects patients with COVID-19. Elevated activity of chemotactic cytokines, called chemokines, can lead to serious consequences. CXCL10 has an ability to activate its receptor CXCR3, predominantly expressed on macrophages, T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer…</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>Antiviral Effects of Animal Toxins: Is There a Way to Drugs?</strong> - Viruses infect all types of organisms, causing viral diseases, which are very common in humans. Since viruses use the metabolic pathways of their host cells to replicate, they are difficult to eradicate without affecting the cells. The most effective measures against viral infections are vaccinations and antiviral drugs, which selectively inhibit the viral replication cycle. Both methods have disadvantages, which requires the development of new approaches to the treatment of viral diseases. In…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Path to Therapeutic Furin Inhibitors: From Yeast Pheromones to SARS-CoV-2</strong> - The spurious acquisition and optimization of a furin cleavage site in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is associated with increased viral transmission and disease, and has generated intense interest in the development and application of therapeutic furin inhibitors to thwart the COVID-19 pandemic. This review summarizes the seminal studies that informed current efforts to inhibit furin. These include the convergent efforts of endocrinologists, virologists, and yeast geneticists that, together,…</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>Isolation and In Silico SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibition Potential of Jusan Coumarin, a New Dicoumarin from <em>Artemisia glauca</em></strong> - A new dicoumarin, jusan coumarin, (1), has been isolated from Artemisia glauca aerial parts. The chemical structure of jusan coumarin was estimated, by 1D, 2D NMR as well as HR-Ms spectroscopic methods, to be 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-[(2-oxo-2H-chromen-6-yl)oxy]-2H-chromen-2-one. As the first time to be introduced in nature, its potential against SARS-CoV-2 has been estimated using various in silico methods. Molecular similarity and fingerprints experiments have been utilized for 1 against nine…</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>Potential Effects of Ibuprofen, Remdesivir and Omeprazole on Dexamethasone Metabolism in Control Sprague Dawley Male Rat Liver Microsomes (Drugs Often Used Together Alongside COVID-19 Treatment)</strong> - The role of individual cytochrome P450 (CYPs) responsible for the drug metabolism can be determined through their chemical inhibition. During the pandemic, dexamethasone and remdesivir with omeprazole were used for the treatment of COVID-19, while Ibuprofen was taken to treat the symptoms of fever and headache. This study aimed to examine the potency of ibuprofen remdesivir, and omeprazole as inhibitors of cytochrome P450s using rat liver microsomes in vitro. Dexamethasone a corticosteroid,…</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>Thiazole/Thiadiazole/Benzothiazole Based Thiazolidin-4-One Derivatives as Potential Inhibitors of Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2</strong> - Since the time of its appearance until present, COVID-19 has spread worldwide, with over 71 million confirmed cases and over 1.6 million deaths reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition to the fact that cases of COVID-19 are increasing worldwide, the Delta and Omicron variants have also made the situation more challenging. Herein, we report the evaluation of several thiazole/thiadiazole/benzothiazole based thiazolidinone derivatives which were chosen from 112 designed…</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>Angiotensin II Type I Receptor (AT1R): The Gate towards COVID-19-Associated Diseases</strong> - The binding of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike glycoprotein to its cellular receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), causes its downregulation, which subsequently leads to the dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in favor of the ACE-angiotensin II (Ang II)-angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) axis. AT1R has a major role in RAS by being involved in several physiological events including blood pressure control and electrolyte…</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>Does the Serum Concentration of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Have an Effect on the Severity of COVID-19? A Prospective Preliminary Observational Study among Healthcare Professionals</strong> - SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that causes severe respiratory distress syndrome. The pathophysiology of COVID-19 is related to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). SARS-CoV-2, a vector of COVID-19, uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), which is highly expressed in human lung tissue, nasal cavity, and oral mucosa, to gain access into human cells. After entering the cell, SARS-CoV-2 inhibits ACE-2, thus favouring the ACE/Ang II/angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) axis, which plays a role in the…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha Variant and Murine Noroviruses on Copper-Silver Nanocomposite Surfaces</strong> - With the continued scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is still seeking out-of-the-box solutions to break its transmission cycle and contain the pandemic. There are different transmission routes for viruses, including indirect transmission via surfaces. To this end, we used two relevant viruses in our study. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the pandemic and human norovirus (HuNV), both known to be transmitted via surfaces. Several nanoformulations…</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>SYSTEM FOR MONITORING COVID-19 PATIENTS USING A VIRTUAL TELEPRESENCE ROBOT</strong> - Attached Separately - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN356991740">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUE TO ANALYZE THE WORK PRESSURE OF PARAMEDICAL STAFF DURING COVID 19</strong> - Machine learning technique to analyse the work pressure of paramedical staff during covid 19 is the proposed invention that focuses on identifying the stress levels of paramedical staff. The invention focuses on analysing the level of stress that is induced on the paramedical staff especially during pandemic. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN353347401">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>基于SARS-CoV-2的S蛋白的疫苗及其用途</strong> - 本公开提供了基于SARS‑CoV‑2的S蛋白的疫苗及其用途，并具体涉及重组SARS‑CoV‑2刺突蛋白(S蛋白)及编码其的mRNA和DNA。本公开还涉及包含编码重组S蛋白的DNA序列的重组质粒。本公开的重组质粒经转录得到mRNA，其包含SEQ ID NO.12所示的序列。本公开进一步涉及包含前述mRNA的mRNA‑载体颗粒例如脂质纳米颗粒(LNP)和组合物例如疫苗组合物。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN356073372">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>CBD Covid 19 Protection</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU353359094">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>一种双价可电离脂质化合物、组合物及其应用</strong> - 本发明涉及核酸药物递送技术领域，特别是关于一种双价可电离脂质化合物、组合物及其应用。本发明提供多种可以递送核酸药物的可电离阳离子脂质，具备较强的可设计性、可生物降解性及高效的体内外转染效率，由其组成的脂质纳米递送系统用于递送mRNA，在细胞水平上，优于目前上市的产品，并且在动物水平也具有良好的递送效率，可以作为核酸药物的递送新的方法，促进核酸药物的发展。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN356073405">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>一种双价可电离脂质化合物、组合物及其应用</strong> - 本发明涉及核酸药物递送技术领域，特别是关于一种双价可电离脂质化合物、组合物及其应用。本发明提供多种可以递送核酸药物的可电离阳离子脂质，具备较强的可设计性、可生物降解性及高效的体内外转染效率，由其组成的脂质纳米递送系统用于递送mRNA，在细胞水平上，优于目前上市的产品，并且在动物水平也具有良好的递送效率，可以作为核酸药物的递送新的方法，促进核酸药物的发展。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN356073406">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>新冠肺炎CT图像分割方法及终端设备</strong> - 本发明公开了一种新冠肺炎CT图像分割方法及终端设备，方法包括获取待分割新冠肺炎CT图像；将该图像输入至训练好的分割模型中，得到新冠肺炎病灶区域的图像；其中分割模型包括依次连接的多个下采样模块和下采样模块对应的上采样模块；每个采样模块均包括依次连接的第一提取单元和第二提取单元；上述两个提取单元的卷积模块均为结构重参数化卷积模块。本发明的结构重参数化卷积模块为训练时使用多分支结构，加强模型表达能力，推理时使用单路结构，加快推理速度，快速得出诊断结果。同时，为从不同尺度特征图中学习分层表示，加强模型对图像边缘信息提取，并使梯度更快回流，上采样每一侧输出都连接混合损失函数，实现图像的像素级分割。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN356073393">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>一种一步法核酸检测方法及其所用的密封性核酸检测装置</strong> - 本发明涉及一种一步法核酸检测方法及其所用的密封性核酸检测装置，该密封性核酸检测装置，主体为PCR管，包括管盖、管体，管体内分为三层，最下层为PCR冻干试剂层，是将PCR冻干试剂密封在第一石蜡层中构成；中间层为盐酸溶液；最上层为核酸提取试剂层，核酸提取试剂层与盐酸溶液之间通过第二石蜡层隔离；核酸提取试剂层中放置核酸检测所需的一步法核酸提取试剂。本发明实现同一PCR管内的空间隔离，做到只需一次加样，即可完成PCR检测，无需中间繁琐的核酸提取过程和核酸加样操作，反应完成后，也无需开盖分析，核酸提取和检测过程做到真正的零污染，且整个过程操作简单，大大降低了检测成本。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN356042517">link</a></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Vorrichtung zur Aufnahme von Proben</strong> -
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Vorrichtung (1) zur Aufnahme von Proben, insbesondere Speichelproben zum Nachweis von SARS-CoV-2 Virus im Speichel, mit</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">einem Aufnahmebehälter (2) mit einer ersten Öffnung (4),</li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">einer Verschlusseinrichtung (6), die an die Öffnung (4) des Aufnahmebehälters (2) angepasst ist, so dass die Öffnung (4) des Aufnahmebehälters (2) mit der Verschlusseinrichtung (6) verschließbar ist,</li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">einer Probenentnahmeeinrichtung (8), die an einem ersten freien Ende (10) zumindest ein erstes Entnahmeelement (12) aufweist, mit dem die Probe entnehmbar ist, und wobei die Probenentnahmeeinrichtung (8) in den Aufnahmebehälter (2) einführbar ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Probenentnahmeeinrichtung (8) an einem dem ersten freien Ende (10) gegenüberliegenden zweiten Ende (14) mit der Verschlusseinrichtung (6) verbunden ist, so dass die Probenentnahmeeinrichtung (8) mittels der Verschlusseinrichtung (6) in den Aufnahmebehälter (2) einführbar ist.</p></li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=DE356989422">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>一种氮化硅消毒喷剂</strong> - 一种氮化硅消毒喷剂，所述氮化硅消毒喷剂包括：氮化硅粉5重量份；溶剂50‑500重量份；增稠剂0.05‑0.6重量份；所述氮化硅消毒喷剂粘度为30 cP‑300 cP。本发明提供的氮化硅消毒喷剂能够杀灭包括新冠病毒在内的多种细菌、病毒，并且具有长效杀毒效果。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN356042429">link</a></p></li>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="daily-dose">Daily-Dose</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-vox">From Vox</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Ukrainian Judge Joins the Nation’s Ferocious Resistance</strong> - How a forty-year-old father of three joined other civilians to help thwart the Russian Army’s attempt to seize Kyiv. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/a-ukrainian-judge-joins-the-nations-ferocious-resistance">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Ketanji Brown Jackson Hearings May Be Only the Beginning</strong> - The final Senate confirmation vote of 53–47 sparked joy and relief that the ugly part was over, at least for Jackson. The rest of the country may not be so lucky. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/04/18/the-ketanji-brown-jackson-hearings-may-be-only-the-beginning">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Is Larry Summers Really Right About Inflation and Biden?</strong> - The Harvard economist is getting plaudits for the warnings he issued early last year, but some Administration officials and economists are questioning the basis of his arguments. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/is-larry-summers-really-right-about-inflation-and-biden">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Surviving the Standoff with the Republic of Texas</strong> - Twenty-five years ago, an armed militia tried to secede. When will it happen again? - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-southwest/surviving-the-standoff-with-the-republic-of-texas">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Aging and Abandoned in Venezuela’s Failing State</strong> - Like elderly across the country, professors and staff at one of the country’s premier state-funded universities are malnourished, unable to afford rent, and growing food to survive. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/aging-and-abandoned-in-venezuelas-failing-state">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>They warned about pandemics before Covid-19. Now they have a $100 billion plan to stop the next one.</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/qe7KOPt_u_JiUhRgntbTXa7-wNw=/0x0:2667x2000/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70739399/495464068.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
<a class="ql-link" href="https://biodefensecommission.org/mission-our-team/" target="_blank">Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense</a> co- chairs Tom Ridge and Joe Lieberman testifying before the House in 2015. | Alex Wong/Getty Images
</figcaption></figure></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
2003’s most famous politicians are begging the US to stop ignoring biosecurity.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="RwHm6B">
A bipartisan group of retired public officials is begging Congress to finally get serious on <a href="https://www.vox.com/23001426/pandemic-proof">preventing pandemics</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="sV3fji">
The <a href="https://biodefensecommission.org/mission-our-team/">Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense</a> released <a href="https://biodefensecommission.org/reports/the-athena-agenda-advancing-the-apollo-program-for-biodefense/">a new report</a> this morning urging policymakers to fund, and the executive branch to implement, what it calls the <a href="https://biodefensecommission.org/reports/the-apollo-program-for-biodefense-winning-the-race-against-biological-
threats/">Apollo Program for Biodefense</a>, a $100 billion, 10-year effort that would prepare the nation to meet any future viral threat head-on. The new report, called the Athena Agenda (they like Greek gods), takes the framework the Apollo report outlined and provides more detail on how to fund and achieve it. Commission deputy director Ambika Bumb, a medical scientist who served in the Biden White House and Trump State Department, told me that the new report aims to put the recommendations in terms that “Congress can directly take and put in legislation.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uQYvVf">
Among other priorities, the plan includes funding for: <a href="https://www.vox.com/22937351/next-pandemic-vaccine">creating vaccine candidates</a> for each of the 26 families of viruses known to infect humans; developing antiviral medications that can work against a broad spectrum of viruses; <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22397914/vaccine-mrna-
adenovirus-manufacturing-process-investment">building out manufacturing capacity</a> for vaccines, antivirals, tests, and other countermeasures; <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22937355/testing-new-virus-outbreak-pandemic-
prevention">deploying genomic sequencing</a> as a way to track outbreaks; developing broadly useful diagnostic technologies and better regulatory processes for approving and disseminating plentiful rapid tests; and <a href="https://www.vox.com/22937531/virus-lab-safety-pandemic-prevention">improving security in laboratories</a> dealing with dangerous viruses.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="agxGKR">
The White House, to its credit, has already proposed funding around this level. Most recently, in its 2023 budget proposal, <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-
releases/2022/03/28/fact-sheet-the-biden-administrations-historic-investment-in-pandemic-preparedness-and-biodefense-in-
the-fy-2023-presidents-budget/">the Biden administration asked for $88.2 billion in funding</a> over five years on pandemic preparedness. That includes $40 billion for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the Department of Health and Human Services to “invest in advanced development and manufacturing of countermeasures for high priority threats and viral families, including vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and personal protective equipment (PPE),” as well as $12.1 billion in research funding for the National Institutes of Health for vaccine, therapeutics, and diagnostics development.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2BGbgH">
Bumb, who worked on the Biden administration’s pandemic preparedness agenda during her time in the White House, notes that the Biden proposal actually drew on the original Apollo plan put out by the bipartisan commission. That’s part of why the new commission report is so notable: This is a group that’s capable of driving policymaking at high levels.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="C5PwY5">
That said, <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22983046/congress-covid-pandemic-prevention">Congress has yet to appropriate</a> money at the commission’s desired level to prevent the next pandemic. It’s barely interested in further funding response to the current<em>,</em> ongoing pandemic, which is still <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html">killing hundreds of Americans a day</a>. A group of senators recently cut a deal for $10 billion to fund Covid-19 response, after slashing funding the White House wanted to help fight the pandemic abroad — only to have <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-relief-deal-
senate-10-billion-republicans/">Republicans block the deal on the Senate floor</a> over separate immigration concerns. Even if the funding eventually passes, it’ll have to wait until after the <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/2022_schedule.htm">Easter recess</a> ends on April 22.
</p>
<h3 id="zqJMY6">
The commission members are desperate for Congress to act
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="xN6DOa">
The biodefense commission is a bipartisan group that has existed since 2014 and aims to “<a href="https://biodefensecommission.org/mission-our-team/">provide for a comprehensive assessment</a> of the state of US biodefense efforts, and to issue recommendations that will foster change.” Its <a href="https://biodefensecommission.org/reports/a-national-blueprint-for-biodefense/">initial report in 2015</a> called for heavy investment to “prevent, deter, prepare for, detect, respond to, attribute, recover from, and mitigate biological incidents.” That call was obviously not heeded in time for the Covid-19 pandemic.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="8kJrvx">
The group is chaired by former Sen. Joe Lieberman and former Pennsylvania governor and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge. The other members include former Congress member and Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala; former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle; former Reps. Susan Brooks and James Greenwood; former FDA commissioner Peggy Hamburg; and former Justice Department official Kenneth Wainstein.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4phZCz">
This is not some group of big-spending left-wing ideologues. It’s a collection of old-fashioned moderates, one of whom (Lieberman) is perhaps most famous for frustrating Democratic spending ambitions on health care. Theirs is a dying breed given the extent of partisan polarization in 2022.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="PZ9o8Y">
We at Vox argued for a number of these measures in our recent series, <a href="https://www.vox.com/23001426/pandemic-proof">Pandemic-Proof</a>. And the commission notes that had the plan been in place before Covid-19 (for instance, after the commission’s initial 2015 report), the US response to the pandemic would’ve been vastly improved. “Had we created a vaccine for SARS-CoV-1,” the virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak, “we could have produced a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2,” which causes Covid-19, “even faster,” they write.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="bbqCEP">
“This is not about some theoretical future threat only,” Bumb told me. It might have been theoretical when the commission first issued its 2015 report, but after Covid-19, the consequences of inaction should be incredibly vivid.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ntlCCS">
This Apollo program pales next to the budget of the original Apollo project aimed at putting a man on the Moon. That effort, the commission estimates, cost roughly $280 billion in today’s dollars; the International Space Station cost about $255 billion.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WlhVwj">
The federal government can make major investments like this when it wants to. The question when it comes to pandemic prevention is, does it want to?
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The Supreme Court’s “praying coach” case, explained</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/A0IuCLVg0nlx3ZGxgQo80JGEke4=/275x0:4674x3299/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70739343/1229298764.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
James Manship, dressed as George Washington, kneels and prays in front of the Supreme Court as protesters for and against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett demonstrated, on October 26, 2020. | Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Kennedy v. Bremerton School District is the culmination of 60 years of fears about religious coercion by public schools.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Hzz7Ne">
Six decades ago, in <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/370/421"><em>Engel v. Vitale</em></a> (1962), the Supreme Court held that the state may not pressure schoolchildren to pray in a particular way. “One of the greatest dangers to the freedom of the individual to worship in his own way,” Justice Hugo Black wrote for the Court, “lay in the Government’s placing its official stamp of approval upon one particular kind of prayer or one particular form of religious services.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="RFW7jv">
This basic premise — that government employees should not elevate one kind of faith or religious practice over another — is at stake in <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/kennedy-v-bremerton-school-
district-2/"><em>Kennedy v. Bremerton School District</em></a>, which the Supreme Court will hear in late April.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="S77rVB">
The case involves Joseph Kennedy, a former football coach in Bremerton, Washington. For years, Kennedy <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/21/21-418/214753/20220223131330291_2022-02-23%20Kennedy%20Opening%20Brief%20FINAL.pdf">incorporated “motivational” prayers into his coaching</a>. Eventually, these prayers culminated in public sessions after games, where <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/21/21-418/219478/20220325122535237_21-418%20Resp%20merits%20br.%20FINAL.pdf">players from both teams would kneel around Kennedy</a> as he held up helmets from both teams and<strong> </strong>led students in prayer.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<div id="ilHb3D">
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="RygPMZ">
Kennedy also engaged in other overt performances of his religion while he was coaching public school students. After each game, while players and spectators were still present, Kennedy would walk out to the 50-yard line, kneel, and pray. Initially, he did this alone, but after a few games students started to join him — until eventually a majority of his players joined him as well.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4bIz9M">
The school initially tried to work with Kennedy to find ways to accommodate his religious convictions, but eventually placed him on leave after he stopped cooperating — and after one of his prayer sessions inspired a crowd of people to rush the field, knocking over members of the marching band and potentially endangering students.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NlqT4r">
The Supreme Court’s decisions interpreting the First Amendment ban on “<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment">an establishment of religion</a>” have, at times, relied on different frameworks to determine if this ban is violated. Legal scholars refer to these competing frameworks by names such as the “<a href="https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/833/endorsement-
test#:~:text=Courts%20use%20the%20endorsement%20test,public%20displays%20of%20religious%20symbols.">endorsement test</a>” or the “<a href="https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/899/coercion-
test#:~:text=The%20coercion%20test%20is%20one,used%20in%20public%20school%20cases.">coercion test</a>.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="47b8C2">
Under the first framework, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote in 1984, government actions that endorse a particular religion or religious belief are disfavored because such endorsements send “<a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/465/668/">a message to nonadherents that they are outsiders</a>, not full members of the political community, and an accompanying message to adherents that they are insiders, favored members of the political community.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kVFnBJ">
Under the latter framework, endorsements are sometimes permitted, but not if they coerce individuals into a religious exercise. The Court’s decision in <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/90-1014.ZO.html"><em>Lee v. Weisman</em></a><em> </em>(1992), moreover, suggests that school-sponsored religious activities are inherently coercive — both because of the power school officials wield over students, and because of the peer pressure facing young people who visibly refuse to participate.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="MipftT">
Meanwhile, in a 2006 opinion, Justice Stephen Breyer appeared to propose a third framework, arguing that the establishment clause of the First Amendment must be interpreted to prevent “<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-1500.ZC2.html">divisiveness based upon religion that promotes social conflict</a>.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="s7coje">
There are important differences among these frameworks. The endorsement test, for example, disfavors many governmental displays of religious symbols that are permitted under the coercion test. But Kennedy’s actions violate any of these competing legal tests. He endorsed a religious viewpoint while acting as a representative of the school district. His actions pressured students into joining him in a religious activity. And he appears to have actively stoked religious divisions.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ULrPYg">
<em>Kennedy</em> should not be a hard case. It is well established that school officials cannot use their official government position to pressure students into religious exercise.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ohZaY8">
Or, at least, it is well established for now that school officials cannot do this. Three years ago, during an earlier phase of the <em>Kennedy </em>litigation, a total of four justices joined an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito, which suggested that the <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/18-12_d18e.pdf">school district violated Kennedy’s constitutional rights</a> by denying him the free speech right to pray while at work.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="IQvTPX">
The Court has only grown more conservative since then, and it has treated “religious liberty” cases brought by conservative Christian litigants <a href="https://www.vox.com/22889417/supreme-court-religious-liberty-christian-right-revolution-amy-coney-barrett">as its highest priority</a> since Republicans gained a supermajority on the Court in 2020.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6Pby1E">
There is a very real risk, in other words, that the Court could use this case to upend 60 years of established law.
</p>
<h3 id="eG9ShG">
Coach Kennedy turned his public school’s football games into a culture-war battlefield
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="z65jX8">
As mentioned above, Kennedy spent much of his coaching career behaving like a preacher, holding public prayer sessions for students — many of whom Kennedy wielded authority over. And, while there’s no evidence that he ever ordered a student to kneel with him when he performed a religious ceremony on the 50-yard line, he did not discourage students from joining him, either, and a majority of the students on his team eventually did so.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TX7JNk">
At least some students felt pressured to participate in these prayer sessions, even though they did not share Kennedy’s religious beliefs. One parent eventually complained to the school district that his son “felt compelled to participate,” despite the fact that he is an atheist, because the student feared “<a href="https://casetext.com/case/kennedy-v-
bremerton-sch-dist-5">he wouldn’t get to play as much if he didn’t participate</a>.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="5ezwPc">
The school district first learned about Kennedy’s behavior in September of 2015, when an opposing coach spoke to the high school principal about it. After an investigation, school district superintendent Aaron Leavell ordered Kennedy to stop using his position as a public school employee to preach religion.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="wqrNdu">
Though Kennedy was allowed to continue giving motivational speeches to students, <a href="https://casetext.com/case/kennedy-v-bremerton-sch-dist-5">Leavell told him</a> that “they must remain entirely secular in nature, so as to avoid alienation of any team member.” Kennedy could also continue to pray after games, but his prayers “must be physically separate from any student activity” and “such activity should either be non-demonstrative (i.e., not outwardly discernible as religious activity) if students are also engaged in religious conduct, or it should occur while students are not engaging in such conduct.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EfGYvY">
Initially, the coach complied. But he soon unleashed a coordinated legal and PR campaign against the school district. About a month after the superintendent ordered Kennedy to stop preaching religion to his students, Kennedy’s lawyer informed the school district that the coach would resume praying at the 50-yard line immediately after games.
</p></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gUVJit">
What followed was a circus. Kennedy went on a media tour presenting himself as a devout coach who “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odQ37UozhoY">made a commitment with God</a>” to performatively pray after each game. <em>Good Morning America</em> did a segment on him. Conservative media ran with headlines like “<a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/high-school-coach-bullied-into-dropping-prayer-at-football-games.html">High School Coach Bullied Into Dropping Prayer at Football Games</a>.” By the end of the month, <a href="https://www.lankford.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Bremerton_Coach_Kennedy_Letter.pdf">47 members of Congress</a> — all Republicans — wrote to Leavell in support of Kennedy.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="wAOxdf">
At the conclusion of the next game, coaches, players, and members of the general public mobbed the field when Kennedy knelt to pray. A federal appeals court described the rush of people onto the field as a “<a href="https://casetext.com/case/kennedy-v-bremerton-sch-
dist-5">stampede,</a>” and the school principal complained that he “saw people fall” and that, due to the crush of people, the district was unable “to keep kids safe.” Members of the school’s marching band were knocked over by the crowds.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="PqsrcK">
Eventually, the school placed Kennedy on leave, and Kennedy did not reapply for his coaching position the next year. But he did sue, claiming that he has a constitutional right to say “a quiet prayer by himself at midfield after” football games where he is a coach.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="E6Namp">
For what it’s worth, Kennedy does appear to have made some concessions to the establishment clause. His brief to the Supreme Court largely asserts a right to <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/21/21-418/214753/20220223131330291_2022-02-23%20Kennedy%20Opening%20Brief%20FINAL.pdf">say a post-game prayer on the 50-yard line</a>, not a right to hold “motivational” prayer sessions surrounded by public school students.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Qe9CiB">
But Kennedy is still claiming that he had a right to make a public performance of his own religious beliefs, while he was very visibly acting as a representative of a public school district, and in full view of a crowd of students, parents, players, and spectators.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KL6WN8">
Under existing law, that’s not allowed.
</p>
<h3 id="Yd3SRf">
Kennedy’s actions obviously violate the Constitution
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="x46ZnG">
In <em>Engel</em>, the <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/370/421">1962 school prayer case</a>, the Court offered a historical account of why government officials should not promote a particular method of prayer.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KVY3kn">
In the mid-16th century, the English Parliament approved the Book of Common Prayer, which “set out in minute detail the accepted form and content of prayer and other religious ceremonies to be used in the established, tax-supported Church of England.” This led to perpetual lobbying, and frequent strife, over just what prayers the government should endorse and which ones it should reject. Powerful religious groups “struggled among themselves to impress their particular views upon the Government,” while less powerful religious believers literally fled the country — many of them becoming early American colonists.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="MvpBC3">
According to <em>Engel</em>, the First Amendment was drafted in large part to ward off this kind of strife among religious factions. The founding generation, Justice Black wrote, were not willing “to let the content of their prayers and their privilege of praying whenever they pleased be influenced by the ballot box.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="eP8ccA">
Alternatively, several justices have warned against government endorsements of religion. As Justice O’Connor warned in her <a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/465/668/">1984 concurring opinion</a>, such endorsements undermine the basic liberal democratic notion that all citizens enjoy equal political standing. They tell “nonadherents that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community” while simultaneously telling “adherents that they are insiders, favored members of the political community.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="RnKvA3">
Then, in <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/90-1014.ZO.html"><em>Lee v. Weisman</em></a> (1992) a majority of the Court embraced a third reason why schools should not pressure students into religious exercise: because school-sponsored religious activity is inherently coercive. In <em>Lee</em>, a public middle school invited a rabbi to open and close the school’s graduate ceremony with prayers. This melding of government and faith, according to Justice Anthony Kennedy’s majority opinion, was not allowed — at least in the context of a school.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="C8sI0u">
“The undeniable fact,” Justice Kennedy added, “is that the school district’s supervision and control of a high school graduation ceremony places public pressure, as well as peer pressure, on attending students to stand as a group or, at least, maintain respectful silence during the Invocation and Benediction.” Such pressure, “though subtle and indirect, can be as real as any overt compulsion,” as it leaves a young nonadherent with “a reasonable perception that she is being forced by the State to pray in a manner her conscience will not allow.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CmISJv">
Coach Kennedy’s very public prayer violates any of these constitutional standards. It was an inherently divisive act, which rallied members of the public — and members of Congress — who share Kennedy’s faith into a disruptive conflict with the school itself. It communicated to non-Christian community members and students that they were less a part of the Bremerton community than people who share Kennedy’s faith. And it coerced football players who may not share Kennedy’s religious beliefs into joining his prayers, out of fear that they may anger a school official who wields considerable authority over them.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="RMKRCt">
In the face of these arguments, the coach’s legal team attempts to flip this case on its head, presenting it not as a dispute about whether a school official violated the rights of nonbelievers, but as a case about whether the school violated Kennedy’s free speech rights and his right to practice his faith.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="g9pOqZ">
This claim turns on whether Kennedy was acting as a private citizen when he performed a religious ceremony on the 50-yard line, in full view of players and spectators, or whether he was acting as a representative of the school district when he did so.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hkVZiF">
Public employees retain broad free speech rights when they are not performing their official duties, and a public school teacher or coach should also be allowed to engage in ordinary acts of religious devotion while on the job — such as bowing their head before lunch or quietly asking for God’s blessing before a game — so long as those acts do not suggest that the school district is itself expressing a religious viewpoint.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="jjRo6c">
But the Supreme Court has also long recognized that “when a citizen enters government service, the citizen by necessity <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/05pdf/04-473.pdf">must accept certain limitations on his or her freedom</a>.” As the Court held in <em>Garcetti v. Ceballos</em> (2006), “when public employees make statements pursuant to their official duties, the employees are not speaking as citizens for First Amendment purposes, and the Constitution does not insulate their communications from employer discipline.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="jXUZe8">
There’s no reasonable question that Kennedy was engaged in his official duties when he knelt before his players and the gathered spectators in a public display of prayer. For one thing, as the school district emphasizes in its brief, Kennedy was <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/21/21-418/219478/20220325122535237_21-418%20Resp%20merits%20br.%20FINAL.pdf">only allowed on the football field in the first place</a> because he was a school employee performing official duties. And as a <a href="https://casetext.com/case/kennedy-v-bremerton-sch-dist-5">federal appeals court held</a>, Kennedy was selected by the school district specifically to “teach on the field, in the locker room, and at the stadium.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="X7ct2K">
Thus, when Kennedy walked out to the 50-yard line to performatively pray, “he was clothed with the mantle of one who imparts knowledge and wisdom,” and he was clothed in this mantle specifically because of his employment by the school district. The whole point of Coach Kennedy’s prayer was to wrap himself in the moral authority given to him by the school district, and to use this authority to convey a religious message.
</p>
<h3 id="1024De">
Kennedy could win anyway
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="wlHz9h">
Given that existing law so clearly favors the school district in the <em>Kennedy </em>case, the Supreme Court’s decision to hear this case at all suggests that a majority of the justices are eager to change the law to make it more favorable to government-sanctioned religious activity.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="PRRTW5">
For one thing, when the case reached the Supreme Court in 2019, a total of four justices signed on to <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/18-12_d18e.pdf">Alito’s opinion</a> claiming that a lower court that ruled against Kennedy demonstrated an “understanding of the free speech rights of public school teachers [that] is troubling and may justify review in the future.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LTYQSi">
Alito appeared unconcerned that a school official might wield his authority to pressure students into religious exercise. Instead, he fretted that coaches should not be told that their “duty to serve as a good role model requires the coach to refrain from any manifestation of religious faith.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="haJPEi">
Less than two years after Alito wrote these words, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, and she was replaced by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Almost immediately after Barrett’s confirmation gave Republicans a supermajority on the Supreme Court, the Court’s new majority started handing down <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/12/2/21726876/supreme-court-religious-liberty-revolutionary-roman-catholic-diocese-cuomo-
amy-coney-barrett">transformative new religion decisions</a> granting broad new rights to the religious right.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="atG9ag">
Thus, while the weight of established law should crush Kennedy’s case, the biggest open question in <em>Kennedy</em> is most likely to be just how much leeway the Court will give public school teachers and coaches to preach their religious beliefs to their students.
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Congrats! You formed a union. Now comes the hard part.</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/uFdk3SGU8S4TqvEez26R0c6J25k=/0x0:4949x3712/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70739266/1239668877.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Amazon Labor Union workers celebrate their election win on April 1. The next battle is getting a contract. | Andrea Renault/AFP via Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The boring, crucial work that happens now that Starbucks and Amazon have unionized.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="MjTE9E">
Union membership in the US has been in <a href="https://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cpslutab1.htm">decline</a> for decades, but there’s recently been a potential shift. Seventeen corporate Starbucks locations in the US have <a href="https://www.vox.com/recode/22993509/starbucks-
successful-union-drive">voted to form a union</a> since the end of last year, and another 170 or so are slated to vote in the coming weeks and months — all in an industry where unionizing is rare. And in early April, workers at a Staten Island Amazon warehouse also <a href="https://www.vox.com/recode/23005336/amazon-union-new-york-warehouse">voted for a union</a>, making them the first to organize in a company known for quashing organizing. These successful votes are historic, and they’re an optimistic sign for unions in America.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="eMya9H">
But while the hard-won union votes might be the most cinematic part, it’s not the end of the story. The lengthy and difficult process of negotiating a contract that benefits workers has only just begun — and its conclusion is far from certain.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Ezx08I">
To move forward, the union must write a contract with the company, the union and the company must agree on it, and then union members vote on whether they also agree. The process can take anywhere from six months to a few years — and some don’t end with a contract at all. Some 30 percent of unions <a href="https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/74292">don’t establish a contract</a> within three years.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JOaGsK">
The unions representing Starbucks and Amazon workers are off to a good start because, for the most part, their goals are clear. The Amazon Labor Union (ALU) <a href="https://www.vox.com/recode/23005336/amazon-union-new-york-warehouse">has said</a> its main objectives are to raise wages to $30 an hour, give workers longer breaks, and mostly eliminate mandatory overtime. The <a href="https://www.vox.com/recode/22825850/starbucks-union-first-organizing-vote-nlrb">first Starbucks Workers United union</a>, at the Elmwood Avenue store in Buffalo, New York, has been in contract negotiations since January 31; it has so far proposed “just cause” firing, better health and safety protocols, and giving customers the option to tip on credit cards. Future proposals include better wages and benefits.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="K5Vqae">
The harder part, experts say, will be getting Amazon and Starbucks to agree on contracts. That’s not for lack of trying on the unions’ part. Rather, unions often face uphill battles with uncooperative companies and toothless labor laws.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="nirnCU">
Companies can find any number of ways to stall. Amazon is already <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/amazon-objects-
unions-victory-staten-island-alleging-interference-2022-04-07/">objecting to the historic Staten Island vote</a>, accusing the union of threatening voters to vote for the union, among other complaints. Starbucks has filed appeals that have <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/starbucks-union-irate-as-appeal-delays-ballot-count-
at-3-stores">delayed union votes</a> but <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2021/letter-to-starbucks-partners-
our-path-forward-after-buffalo-union-vote/">has said</a> it will respect the bargaining process for the stores that have voted to unionize.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="7yFfAm">
Companies are supposed to bargain in good faith, but there’s no timeline on when that should happen, nor are they compelled to agree to the contract. “Our law has no mechanism to force management,” Harry Katz, a professor at Cornell University’s labor relations school, told Recode. If the NLRB, the federal body charged with enforcing labor law, finds that they’re stalling unnecessarily, there’s not much it can do.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="eFYQzC">
It’s clear why many companies stall: It can make unions lose momentum. If years pass without a contract, workers might wonder what the point of the union is at all. Additionally, both Amazon and Starbucks are in industries with high turnover, where the people who were so keen on unionizing might not be in that job long enough to see the contract through, which could potentially stunt the union drive.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="zovl8o">
The trick for the unions will be leveraging collective action like strikes, as well as public and political pressure, to try to get these employers to agree to a contract.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DXodwA">
The Amazon Labor Union, which was created to organize the Staten Island warehouse, is not affiliated with an older union, so it doesn’t have the infrastructure — or cash — from unions that have been collecting dues for years. That means the union, which has so far been funded by <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-amazon-labor-union-solidarity-fund">crowdsourced money</a> and pro bono help, will have to figure out on its own the labyrinthine processes of writing, negotiating, and enforcing a contract. Most importantly, its lack of affiliation might stymie workers’ ability to strike. Unlike established unions, the ALU doesn’t have a fund to help workers — many of whom make a low hourly wage and might not have cash reserves — get through a protracted strike in which they would forgo their pay.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Y1pwXd">
However, a strike at an 8,000-person warehouse in New York City wouldn’t take that long to be effective, according to Rebecca Givan, a professor at Rutgers’ School of Management and Labor Studies. “It’s possible that fairly modest actions can cause significant disruption,” she said, saying that one-hour or one-day strikes might be enough to push management to agree. It would be very difficult for Amazon to quickly replace striking workers at such a large warehouse.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="AODkTz">
It’s also possible that the Amazon Labor Union could accept formal or informal help from an existing union, like the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which is affiliated with the Starbucks parent union. Mary Kay Henry, international president of the SEIU, told Recode in a statement her union would “offer whatever support we can to help workers at Amazon who are fighting for a voice on the job to bargain a better future.” The Teamsters, a union that represents warehouse and distribution workers, may also get involved: On Thursday, ALU leaders <a href="https://twitter.com/Teamsters/status/1512139683282702344?s=20&amp;t=zdDStHLnbfU_iLb4Rqni5Q">Christian Smalls and Derrick Palmer met with Sean M. O’Brien</a>, the Teamsters’ general president. They discussed resources and assistance the Teamsters could provide to help them get their first contract with Amazon, according to a Teamsters spokesperson. Amazon Labor Union did not respond to requests for comment.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XWNrlh">
Growing union membership across the US, even if it’s not for their own union, is in unions’ best interest, according to Givan. “Amazon is a huge threat to the quality of jobs in the shipping and logistics sector, many of which are Teamsters jobs,” she said.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="x2Scih">
Part of what has made the Starbucks and Amazon unions successful is their worker-led structure, which has allowed them to largely avoided the criticism that they are outsiders. Starbucks workers themselves are negotiating their contracts — not union lawyers. That will most likely be the case with the Amazon union as well, which is formed entirely of Amazon workers.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6cNHsT">
The Starbucks union, however, is part of a larger, established union called Workers United. That means it has a lot more resources to guide them through writing and negotiating a contract. That union could also help it with a strike fund if it chose to do so. However, Starbucks stores are a lot smaller than an Amazon warehouse, so a strike at just one of its 9,000 stores would have less of an impact. It would also be relatively easier to replace 20 or so striking baristas.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="67FxLp">
Something that could work in the unions’ favor is that both Amazon and Starbucks are widely known, customer-facing companies, making it potentially easier for workers to attract political and public boosters.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WhrXK2">
Politicians from <a href="https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/prepared-remarks-sanders-floor-speech-on-growing-union-
movement/">Sen. Bernie Sanders</a> (I-VT) to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/06/amazon-here-we-come-biden-boosts-
warehouse-unionization-efforts.html">President Joe Biden</a> have shown support for these union efforts. Public approval of unions is at its highest level since 1965, according to <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/354455/approval-labor-
unions-highest-point-1965.aspx">Gallup</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cp43Wp">
“The whole country is watching and working people everywhere are watching, and they are judging Amazon and Starbucks by their actions,” Givan said.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="brjyzF">
Public and political union supporters could help pressure the companies to agree to union demands. Perhaps more directly, Starbucks’ <a href="https://www.trilliuminvest.com/documents/sbux-investor-letter-
march-15-2022-public">own investors</a> have asked the company to remain neutral on unions and quickly come to collective bargaining agreements with stores that unionize.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cqY2dl">
As to whether the recent spate of successful organizing and current contract negotiations are enough to reverse long-declining union membership, Katz said, “I think it’s going to lead to more [organizing] but I don’t think it’s yet an indication of a massive turnaround.” He added, “We need more Amazons, we need a lot of the Starbucks to get organized. And then we need more signs [of increased unionizing] in the more traditional sectors.”
</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Deadly spell by Sanjay Kumar</strong> - Deadly spell by Sanjay Kumar</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>IPL 2022 | Batters have stopped taking risks against me: Rashid Khan</strong> - Rashid has taken six wickets from four matches at an economy rate of 6.68</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>IPL 2022 | Mumbai Indians in transition phase every team goes through: Bumrah</strong> - MI have already lost four games on the trot and lack of bowling options is hurting the five-time champions badly</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>IPL 2022 | Winless Mumbai Indians seek change of fortunes against Punjab Kings</strong> - It has been a nightmarish beginning for the five-time champions who are known for their slow starts.</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>Back injury rules Deepak Chahar out of IPL-15</strong> - Deepak Chahar suffered the back injury during his rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.</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>Andhra Pradesh: NRI seat fee at SVIMS College slashed</strong> - Special round of counselling to be done by NTRUHS</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>Stalin unveils new buildings</strong> - They were constructed at a total cost of ₹66.48 crore</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>Andhra Pradesh: Bodies of train accident victims sent to their native places in Assam, West Bengal</strong> - Five people run over by Konark Express near Batuva village in Srikakualm district on April 11 night</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>Grocery shop owner held for selling banned gutkha products near Villupuram</strong> - Over 3,000 packets of banned tobacco-based products seized</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>Andhra Pradesh: TTD lifts curbs on ‘sarva darshan’ tokens due to surge of devotees</strong> - Footfalls at the hill town peaked on Tuesday morning</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>Ukraine conflict: ‘Russian soldiers raped me and killed my husband’</strong> - The BBC has uncovered first-hand evidence of Russian soldiers raping and killing civilians in a village west of Kyiv.</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>Hidden wealth of one of Putin’s ‘inner circle’ revealed</strong> - Leaked documents show how sanctioned oligarch Suleiman Kerimov used shell companies to move $700m.</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>French elections: Macron targets Le Pen as run-off campaign begins</strong> - The French president fires up his re-election campaign visiting a stronghold of his far-right rival.</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>Marina Ovsyannikova: German outlet hires Russian protester</strong> - Marina Ovsyannikova staged an anti-war protest on a live broadcast of Russian state TV last month.</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>Could Marine Le Pen win?</strong> - Marine Le Pen will go head-to-head with President Macron in an election run off in a fortnight.</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>“Implausible:” Zero deaths in Shanghai’s COVID spike spurs skepticism</strong> - Low vaccination among elderly and reports of deaths in hospitals raise questions. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1847272">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Fitbit gains FDA clearance for new atrial fibrillation-detection feature</strong> - The Google-owned company adds a feature previously seen in the Apple Watch. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1847251">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The simple 9-minute, no-attack method for beating Elden Ring</strong> - Speedrunners use glitches to warp through the entire map without killing a single enemy. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1847241">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Apparent software signing issue breaks updates for some Studio Displays</strong> - Apple appears to have fixed the server-side update issue as of Sunday night. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1847212">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Check out the portable, cranky Playdate before our review goes live next week</strong> - Unboxing and cute intro video for now; full crank-filled review coming in a week. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1847102">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>Pizza guy: your total is $26.34</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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Me: I can’t afford that
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Pizza guy: well you’re gonna have to pay some other way, then
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Me: [takes out wallet] wait I forgot I had 30 bucks
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Porn director: Cut, WTF?
</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/karatekid430"> /u/karatekid430 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/u1qgza/pizza_guy_your_total_is_2634/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/u1qgza/pizza_guy_your_total_is_2634/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>James Bond walks into a bar</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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He looks around, and takes a seat neat to a very attractive women.
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He gives her a quick glance, then causally looks at his watch for a moment.
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The women notices this and asks, “<em>Is your date running late?</em>”
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“<em>No</em>”, he replies, “<em>Q has just given me this state- of-the-art watch. I was just testing it</em>.”
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The intrigued women says “<em>A state-of-the-art watch? Whats so special about it?</em>”
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Bond explains “<em>It uses alpha waves to talk to me telepathically</em>”.
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The lady says “<em>Whats it telling you now?”</em>
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“<em>Well, it says you are not wearing any panties.</em>”
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The women giggles and replies, “<em>Well , it must be broken because I am wearing panties</em>”
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Bond smirks, taps his watch and says,
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“<em>Bloody thing’s an hour fast</em>”
</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/B-L-O-C-K-S"> /u/B-L-O-C-K-S </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/u1n3m8/james_bond_walks_into_a_bar/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/u1n3m8/james_bond_walks_into_a_bar/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>My local drug dealer started dressing up as a Jehovah’s Witness so he wouldn’t arouse suspicion.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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He got arrested after the police saw people actually letting him in.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Kyle______"> /u/Kyle______ </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/u1k850/my_local_drug_dealer_started_dressing_up_as_a/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/u1k850/my_local_drug_dealer_started_dressing_up_as_a/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A gorilla dies of old age at a zoo right before the zoo opens. It is the only gorilla at the zoo since they are not very profitable. (one of my favourite jokes, worth the read)</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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​
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However, the gorilla is their most popular attraction by far, and they can’t afford to go a day without it. So the zoo owner asks one of his workers to wear a gorilla suit they have in storage for an extra $100 a day if he will go in the gorilla cage and pretend to be the gorilla until the zoo can afford a new one.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Quickly, the new “gorilla” becomes the most popular craze at the zoo. People from all over are coming to see the “Human-like” gorilla.
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About a month in, the craze has started to wear off. So, to get peoples’ attention back, he decides to climb over his enclosure and hang from the net ceiling above the lions’ den next to him. A large crowd of people gather watching the spectacle in awe and terror. Suddenly the man loses his grip and falls to the floor of the lion’s den. The man starts screaming “HELP!! HELP!!!” Suddenly a lion pounces him from behind and whispers in his ear, “Shut the fuck up right now or you’re going to get us both fired.”
</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/MrGuttor"> /u/MrGuttor </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/u1amg9/a_gorilla_dies_of_old_age_at_a_zoo_right_before/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/u1amg9/a_gorilla_dies_of_old_age_at_a_zoo_right_before/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A man complains to his wife his dick is numb and he’s freaking out…</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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[Dumb joke I just thought up.]
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So he says “wrap your hand around my dick and I’ll see if I can feel it.”
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She does so and he shakes his head. She tells him “honey, go to the doctor!”
</p>
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The next day he thinks up another idea and asks her, “maybe if you put your mouth on my dick I can feel something?”
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So she rolls her eyes but gives it a shot. He shakes his head. She tells him again, “honey please go to the doctor!”
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The next morning he wakes up, kisses his wife and tells her he’ll be back. He’s off to see the doctor. He arrives home later in the evening and she asks, “well what did the doctor say?”
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He says “not very much. He put his mouth on it too and I still couldn’t feel anything.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/apaluq"> /u/apaluq </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/u1ol56/a_man_complains_to_his_wife_his_dick_is_numb_and/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/u1ol56/a_man_complains_to_his_wife_his_dick_is_numb_and/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
</ul>
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