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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 data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Cauldron Has Cooled Down: A Systematic Literature Review on Home Advantage in Football during the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Socio- Economic and Psychological Perspective</strong> -
<div>
The phenomenon of home advantage (home bias) is well-analyzed in the scientific literature. But only the COVID-19 pandemic enabled studies on this phenomenon - for the first time in history - on a global scale. Thus, several studies to date examined the effects of empty stadiums by comparing regular matches (with supporters) before the COVID-19 restrictions with so-called ghost games (games without supporters) during the pandemic. To synthesize the existing knowledge and offer an overview regarding the effects of ghost games on home advantage we provide a systematic literature review on this topic. Our findings - based on 26 primary studies - indicate that ghost games have a considerable impact on the phenomenon of home advantage. Deeper analysis further indicates that this effect is based on a reduced “referee bias” and a lack of “emotional support from the ranks”. From a psychological perspective, we argue that our conclusions are highly relevant by emphasizing decision making under pressure and crowd-induced motivation in sports. From a socio-economic perspective, we argue that our findings legitimize a discussion regarding compensation of fans after sporting success as plausible and worth considering. Thus, our results are significant for scientists, sports and team managers, media executives, fan representatives and other persons responsible in the football industry.
</div></li>
</ul>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/qjp27/" target="_blank">The Cauldron Has Cooled Down: A Systematic Literature Review on Home Advantage in Football during the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Socio- Economic and Psychological Perspective</a>
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Modeling the dynamics of within-host viral infection and evolution predicts quasispecies distributions and phase boundaries separating distinct classes of infections</strong> -
<div>
We use computational modeling to study within-host viral infection and evolution. In our model, viruses exhibit variable binding to cells, with better infection and replication countered by a stronger immune response and a high rate of mutation. By varying host conditions (permissivity to viral entry T and immune clearance intensity A) for large numbers of cells and viruses, we study the dynamics of how viral populations evolve from initial infection to steady state and obtain a phase diagram of the range of cell and viral responses. We find three distinct replicative strategies corresponding to three physiological classes of viral infections: acute, chronic, and opportunistic. We show similarities between our findings and the behavior of real viral infections such as common flu, hepatitis, and SARS- CoV-2019. The phases associated with the three strategies are separated by a phase transition of primarily first order, in addition to a crossover region. Our simulations also reveal a wide range of physical phenomena, including metastable states, periodicity, and glassy dynamics. Lastly, our results suggest that the resolution of acute viral disease in patients whose immunity cannot be boosted can only be achieved by significant inhibition of viral infection and replication.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.16.473030v1" target="_blank">Modeling the dynamics of within-host viral infection and evolution predicts quasispecies distributions and phase boundaries separating distinct classes of infections</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Neutralization and Stability of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant</strong> -
<div>
The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529/Omicron variant was first characterized in South Africa and was swiftly designated a variant of concern. Of great concern is its high number of mutations, including 30-40 mutations in the virus spike (S) protein compared to 7-10 for other variants. Some of these mutations have been shown to enhance escape from vaccine- induced immunity, while others remain uncharacterized. Additionally, reports of increasing frequencies of the Omicron variant may indicate a higher rate of transmission compared to other variants. However, the transmissibility of Omicron and its degree of resistance to vaccine-induced immunity remain unclear. Here we show that Omicron exhibits significant immune evasion compared to other variants, but antibody neutralization is largely restored by mRNA vaccine booster doses. Additionally, the Omicron spike exhibits reduced receptor binding, cell-cell fusion, S1 subunit shedding, but increased cell-to-cell transmission, and homology modeling indicates a more stable closed S structure. These findings suggest dual immune evasion strategies for Omicron, due to altered epitopes and reduced exposure of the S receptor binding domain, coupled with enhanced transmissibility due to enhanced S protein stability. These results highlight the importance of booster vaccine doses for maintaining protection against the Omicron variant, and provide mechanistic insight into the altered functionality of the Omicron spike protein.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.16.472934v1" target="_blank">Neutralization and Stability of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Single Amino Acid Change Mutation in the Hydrophobic Core of the N-terminal Domain of P22 TSP affects the Proteins Stability.</strong> -
<div>
The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has significantly shifted the attention of researchers to critically investigate most viruses to understand specific characteristics that impart their virulence. For instance, the SARS-CoV-2 has undergone several mutations, with some variants classified as variants of concern, e.g., the Omicron and Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 are known for their rapid transmission and antigenicity due to mutation in the Spike protein. P22 bacteriophage is a bacterial virus that has a tailspike protein (TSP) that performs similar functions as the Spike protein of SARS-COV-2. We previously carried out a site-directed mutagenesis of the P22 TSP to bear disruptive mutations in the hydrophobic core of the N-terminal Domain (NTD), then partially characterized the properties of the mutant TSPs. In this process, the valine patch (triple valine residues that formed a hydrophobic core) was replaced with charged amino acids (Asp or lysine) or hydrophobic amino acids (Leucine or isoleucine). Some of the mutant TSPs characterized showed significant differences in migration in both native and SDS- PAGE. Mutants with such disruptive mutation are known to show non-native properties, and as expected, most of these mutants obtained showed significantly different properties from the WT P22 TSP. In this work, we further characterized these mutant species by computational and in vitro assays to demonstrate the validity of our previous inference that the valine patch is a critical player in the stability of the N-terminal domain of the P22 TSP.
</div>
<div class="article- link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.16.472976v1" target="_blank">Single Amino Acid Change Mutation in the Hydrophobic Core of the N-terminal Domain of P22 TSP affects the Proteins Stability.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>In vitro and computational analysis of the putative furin cleavage site (RRARS) in the divergent spike protein of the rodent coronavirus AcCoV-JC34 (sub-genus luchacovirus)</strong> -
<div>
The Coronaviridae is a highly diverse virus family, with reservoir hosts in a variety of wildlife species that encompass bats, birds and small mammals, including rodents. Within the taxonomic group alphacoronavirus, certain sub- genera (including the luchacoviruses) have phylogenetically distinct spike proteins, which remain essentially uncharacterized. Using in vitro and computational techniques, we analyzed the spike protein of the rodent coronavirus AcCoV-JC34 from the sub-genus luchacovirus, previously identified in Apodemus chevrieri (Chevriers field mouse). We show that AcCoV-JC34, unlike the other luchacoviruses, has a putative furin cleavage site (FCS) within its spike S1 domain, close to the S1/S2 interface. The pattern of basic amino acids within the AcCoV-JC34 FCS (-RR-R-) is identical to that found in pre-variant SARS-CoV-2, which is in itself atypical for an FCS, and suboptimal for furin cleavage. Our analysis shows that, while containing an -RR-R- motif, the AcCoVJC34 spike FCS is not cleaved by furin (unlike for SARS-CoV-2), suggesting the possible presence of a progenitor sequence for viral emergence from a distinct wildlife host.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.16.473025v1" target="_blank">In vitro and computational analysis of the putative furin cleavage site (RRARS) in the divergent spike protein of the rodent coronavirus AcCoV-JC34 (sub- genus luchacovirus)</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Conspiracy Beliefs and Generosity across 52 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic</strong> -
<div>
Previous research has demonstrated that higher levels of belief in conspiracy theories are related to higher levels of distrust toward others, greater antisocial tendencies, and more self-centeredness. These findings suggest that conspiracy believers may also be less likely to be generous. However, very little research has thus far investigated this possibility. In the current study, we examined the association between COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and generosity across a sample of 45,073 participants from 52 countries. We found that participants with higher COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs were less likely to donate to national and international charities, and that this negative association was stronger for donations to national charities. Exploratory analyses revealed that the discrepancy between national and international charity donations was more salient in countries with high levels of corruption, suggesting that conspiracy believers might be more suspicious of ingroups, rather than outgroups, in more corrupt countries.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/fdyxr/" target="_blank">Conspiracy Beliefs and Generosity across 52 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Stress and Sleep Across the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact of Distance Learning on U.S. College Students’ Health Trajectories</strong> -
<div>
Study Objectives. This study examined associations between average and intraindividual trajectories of stress, sleep duration, and sleep quality in college students before, during, and after transitioning to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. One hundred and sixty-four first-year college students answered twice-weekly questionnaires assessing stress exposure and perception, sleep duration, and sleep quality from January until May, 2020 (N=4,269 unique observations). Results. Multilevel growth modeling revealed that prior to distance learning, student stress was increasing and sleep duration and quality were decreasing. After transitioning online, students’ stress exposure and perception trajectories immediately and continuously decreased; sleep quality initially increased but decreased over time; and sleep duration increased but then plateaued for the remainder of the semester. Days with higher stress exposure than typical for that student were associated with lower sleep quality, and both higher stress exposure and perception at the transition were linked with simultaneous lower sleep quality. Specific groups (e.g., females) were identified as at-risk for stress and sleep problems. Conclusion. Although transitioning to remote learning initially alleviated college students’ stress and improved sleep, these effects plateaued, and greater exposure to academic, financial, and interpersonal stressors predicted worse sleep quality on both daily and average levels. Environmental stressors may particularly dictate sleep quality during times of transition, but adaptations in learning modalities may help mitigate short-term detrimental health outcomes during global emergencies, even during a developmental period with considerable stress vulnerability. Future studies should examine longer-term implications of these trajectories on mental and physical health.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/m5zv9/" target="_blank">Stress and Sleep Across the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact of Distance Learning on U.S. College Students’ Health Trajectories</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>The impact of diet and lifestyle on wellbeing during COVID-19-lockdown</strong> -
<div>
A healthy diet and lifestyle may protect against adverse mental health outcomes, which is especially crucial during stressful times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This preregistered longitudinal online study explored whether diet and lifestyle (physical activity, sleep, and social interactions) could predict wellbeing and mood during a light lockdown in Germany. Participants (N = 117, 72 males; 28  9 years old) answered mental health and lifestyle questionnaires (social connections, sleep, activity) followed by submitting one week of food and mood-lifestyle diary (food intake, positive and negative mood, mental wellbeing, sleep quality, physical activity level, quantity and quality of social interactions) via a smartphone app. We used multivariate linear and mixed-effects models to predict mood and wellbeing by using dietary components and lifestyle factors. Inter-individual analyses revealed that sleep and social interaction significantly impacted mood and wellbeing. Interestingly, fruit and vegetable intake predicted wellbeing, even when controlling for all lifestyle factors. Fruit and vegetable intake also significantly predicted daily fluctuations in wellbeing within individuals next to sleep, physical activity, and social interactions. We observed gender differences in fruit and vegetable intake and anxiety levels. Our results emphasize the importance of diet contributing to individual wellbeing, even in the challenging times of a pandemic.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/erta5/" target="_blank">The impact of diet and lifestyle on wellbeing during COVID-19-lockdown</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Carbon dioxide, COVID-19 and the importance of restaurant ventilation: a case study from Spain approaching Christmas 2021</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Restaurants present an especial challenge in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 via exhalatory bioaerosols because customers are unprotected by facemasks while eating, so that ventilation protocols in such establishments become particularly important. However, despite the fact that this pandemic airborne disease has been with us for two full years, many restaurants are still not successfully prioritising air renovation as a key tool for reducing infection risk. We demonstrate this in the run-up to the 2021 Christmas celebrations by reporting on CO2 concentration data obtained from a hotel breakfast room and restaurants during the 5-day Spanish holiday period of 4th-8th December. In the case of the breakfast room, inadequate ventilation resulted in average CO2 levels ranging from 868 to 1237ppm on five consecutive days, with the highest levels coinciding with highest occupancy numbers. Inside the five restaurants, three of these were well ventilated, maintaining stable average CO2 concentrations below 700ppm. In contrast, two restaurants failed to keep average CO2 levels below 1000ppm, despite sporadic, but ineffective, attempts by one of them to ventilate the establishment. More effort needs to be made to foster in both restaurant managers and the general public an improved awareness of the value of CO2 concentrations as an infection risk proxy and the relevance of ventilation issues to the propagation of respiratory diseases.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.17.21267987v2" target="_blank">Carbon dioxide, COVID-19 and the importance of restaurant ventilation: a case study from Spain approaching Christmas 2021</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Incorporating the mutational landscape of SARS-COV-2 variants and case-dependent vaccination rates into epidemic models</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), which began as a small outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019, became a global pandemic within months due to its high transmissibility. In the absence of pharmaceutical treatment, various non- pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to contain the spread of COVID-19 brought the entire world to a halt. After almost a year of seemingly returning to normalcy with the world9s quickest vaccine development, the advent of more infectious and vaccine-resistant coronavirus variants is bringing the situation back to where it was a year ago. In the light of this new situation, we conducted a study to portray the possible scenarios based on the three key factors: impact of interventions (pharmaceutical and NPIs), vaccination rate, and vaccine efficacy. In our study, we assessed two of the most crucial factors, transmissibility and vaccination rate, in order to reduce the spreading of COVID in a simple but effective manner. In order to incorporate the time-varying mutational landscape of COVID-19 variants, we estimated weighted transmissibility composed of the proportion of existing strains that naturally vary over time. Additionally, we consider time-varying vaccination rates based on the number of daily new cases. Our method for calculating the vaccination rate from past active cases is an effective approach in forecasting probable future scenarios as it actively tracks people9s attitudes toward immunization as active cases change. Our simulations show that if a large number of individuals cannot be vaccinated in a short period of time, adopting NPIs is the best approach to manage disease transmission with the emergence of new vaccine breakthrough variants and more infectious variants.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.28.21266882v2" target="_blank">Incorporating the mutational landscape of SARS-COV-2 variants and case-dependent vaccination rates into epidemic models</a>
</div></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>SARS-CoV-2 transmission potential and rural-urban disease burden disparities across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, March 2020 — May 2021</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Purpose: To quantify and compare SARS-CoV-2 transmission potential across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi and selected counties with populations in the 50th, 75th, and 100th percentile. Methods: To determine the time-varying reproduction number R<sub>t</sub> of SARS-CoV-2, we applied the R package EpiEstim to the time series of daily incidence of confirmed cases. Median R<sub>t</sub> percentage change when policies changed was determined. Linear regression was performed between log<sub>10</sub>-transformed cumulative incidence and log<sub>10</sub>-transformed population size at four time points. Results: Stay-at-home orders, face mask mandates, and vaccinations were associated with the most significant reductions in SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the three southern states. R<sub>t</sub> across the three states decreased significantly by 20% following stay-at-home orders. We observed varying degrees of reductions in R<sub>t</sub> across states following other policies. Rural Alabama counties experienced higher per capita cumulative cases relative to urban ones as of June 17 and October 17, 2020. Meanwhile, Louisiana and Mississippi saw the disproportionate impact of SARS-CoV-2 in rural counties compared to urban ones throughout the study period. Conclusion: State and county policies had an impact on local pandemic trajectories. The rural-urban disparities in case burden call for evidence- based approaches in tailoring health promotion interventions and vaccination campaigns to rural residents.
</p>
</div></li>
</ul>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.18.21268032v1" target="_blank">SARS-CoV-2 transmission potential and rural-urban disease burden disparities across Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, March 2020 — May 2021</a>
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>COVID-19 endgame: from pandemic to endemic? Vaccination, reopening and evolution in a well-vaccinated population</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
COVID-19 remains a major public health concern, with large resurgences even where there has been widespread uptake of vaccines. Waning immunity and the emergence of new variants will shape the long-term burden and dynamics of COVID-19. We explore the transition to the endemic state, and the endemic incidence, using a combination of modelling approaches. We compare gradual and rapid reopening and reopening at different vaccination levels. We examine how the eventual endemic state depends on the duration of immunity, the rate of importations, the efficacy of vaccines and the transmissibility. These depend on the evolution of the virus, which continues to undergo selection. Slower reopening leads to a lower peak level of incidence and fewer overall infections: as much as a 60% lower peak and a 10% lower total in some illustrative simulations; under realistic parameters, reopening when 70% of the population is vaccinated leads to a large resurgence in cases. The long-term endemic behaviour may stabilize as late as January 2023, with further waves of high incidence occurring depending on the transmissibility of the prevalent variant, duration of immunity, and antigenic drift. We find that long term endemic levels are not necessarily lower than current pandemic levels: in a population of 100,000 with representative parameter settings (Reproduction number 5, 1-year duration of immunity, vaccine efficacy at 80% and importations at 3 cases per 100K per day) there are over 100 daily incident cases in the model. The consequent burden on health care systems depends on the severity of infection in immunized or previously infected individuals.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.18.21268002v1" target="_blank">COVID-19 endgame: from pandemic to endemic? Vaccination, reopening and evolution in a well-vaccinated population</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the global data involving 61,532 cancer patients with SARS- CoV-2 infection.</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Abstract Background SARS-CoV-2 have been shown to be associated with more severe disease and death in cancer patient. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the risk by age, tumour type and treatment of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in cancer patients. Methods Systematic review by searching PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for articles published in English up to June 14, 2021 of SARS-CoV-2 infection in &gt;10 patients with malignant disease. Outcomes included factors in patients with malignant disease that may predict a poor outcome from COVID-19 compared to patients without malignant disease, including patient demographics, tumour subtype and cancer treatments. A meta- analysis was performed using random effects model. Results 81 studies were included, totalling 61,532 cancer patients. Haematological malignancies comprised 22.1% (9,672 of 43,676) of cases. Relative risk (RR) of mortality when age and sex matched was 1.69 (95% CI, 1.46-1.95; p&lt;0.001; I2=51%). RR of mortality, versus non-cancer patients, was associated with decreasing age (exp(b)0.96; 95% CI, 0.922-0.994; p=0.028) but not male sex (exp(b)1.89; 95% CI, 0.222-6.366; p=0.83). RR of mortality in those with haematological malignancies versus non-cancer control was 1.81 (95% CI, 1.53-2.95; I2=0.0%). Compared to other cancers, increased risk of death was seen for lung (RR 1.68, 95% CI, 1.45-1.94; p&lt;0.001), genitourinary (RR 1.11; 95% CI, 1.00-1.24; p=0.059) and haematological malignancies (RR 1.42; 95% CI, 1.31-1.54; p&lt;0.001). Breast (RR 0.51; 95% CI, 0.36-0.71; p&lt;0.001) and gynaecological cancers (RR 0.76; 95% CI, 0.62-0.93; p=0.009) had lower risk of death. Receipt of chemotherapy had greatest overall pooled mortality risk of 30% (95% CI, 25-36%; I2=86.97%) and endocrine therapy the lowest at 11% (95% CI, 6-16%; I2=70.7%). Conclusions Cancer patients, particularly younger cancer patients, appear at increased risk of mortality from COVID-19 compared to non-cancer patients. Differences in outcomes were seen based on tumour types and treatment.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.18.21267261v1" target="_blank">A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the global data involving 61,532 cancer patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Carbon dioxide, COVID-19 and the importance of restaurant ventilation: a case study from Spain approaching Christmas 2021</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Restaurants present an especial challenge in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 via exhalatory bioaerosols because customers are unprotected by facemasks while eating, so that ventilation protocols in such establishments become especial important. However, despite the fact that this pandemic airborne disease has been with us for two full years, many restaurants are still not successfully prioritising air renovation as a key tool for reducing infection risk. We demonstrate this in the run-up to the 2021 Christmas celebrations by reporting on CO2 concentration data obtained from a hotel breakfast room and restaurants during the 5-day Spanish holiday period of 4th-8th December. In the case of the breakfast room, poor ventilation resulted in average CO2 levels ranging from 868 to 1237 on five consecutive days, with the highest levels coinciding with highest occupancy numbers. Inside the five restaurants, three of these were well ventilated, maintaining stable average CO2 concentrations below 700ppm. In contrast, two restaurants failed to keep average CO2 levels below 1000ppm, despite sporadic, but ineffective, attempts by one of them to ventilate the establishment. More effort needs to be made to foster in both restaurant managers and the general public an improved awareness of the value of CO2 concentrations as an infection risk proxy and the relevance of ventilation issues to the propagation of respiratory diseases.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.17.21267987v1" target="_blank">Carbon dioxide, COVID-19 and the importance of restaurant ventilation: a case study from Spain approaching Christmas 2021</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Measurement of the extent of Anxiety and Depression that has occurred in college students due to the COVID 19 pandemic: An Survey based cross-sectional study.</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
OVERVIEW: The ongoing Pandemic because of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused all the educational institutes including colleges to be closed for a very long time. As a result the students are compelled to remain in their homes for this time. Prolonged stay at home along with excess use of social media and other modes to kill the time are quite famous to cause certain health issues in a person, specially the teenagers and adolescents. Mental wellbegin, being a dimension of health as per WHO should not be ignored at all specially in these situations. METHOD OF STUDY: A Online Questionnaire is prepared based of the ZUNG Self Rating Anxiety and Self Rating Depression Scale (Pre-validated Scales). The Form is circulated digitally among the people and then we have collected the data in excel. Based on the result we have prepared our statistical chart RESULT: Quite a significant number of candidates were suffering due to the pandemic situation. 17.091% were suffering from mild to moderate anxiety, 1.785% had marked to severe anxiety levels, (Constituting approximately 18.9% of the total). On the other hand, 8.673% of the students had mild depression, while 1 candidate (0.255%) had moderate depression and 1 (0.255%) had severe depression, (Constituting approximately 9.20% of the total). We found that candidates in the age group of 23-24 years had the maximum prevalence of depression. It was followed by candidates with ages between 21-22 years. We found that the candidates with age between 23 to 24 years were having highest prevalence of significant anxiety levels which is closely followed by candidates having age which lies between 22 years to 23 years.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.18.21268026v1" target="_blank">Measurement of the extent of Anxiety and Depression that has occurred in college students due to the COVID 19 pandemic: An Survey based cross- sectional study.</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>Trial to Evaluate Nitazoxanide for Treatment of Mild COVID-19 in Subjects Not at High Risk of Severe Illness</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Nitazoxanide;   Drug: Placebo;   Dietary Supplement: Vitamin Super-B Complex<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Romark Laboratories L.C.<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>Trial to Evaluate Nitazoxanide for Treatment of Mild or Moderate COVID-19 in Subjects at High Risk of Severe Illness</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Nitazoxanide;   Dietary Supplement: Vitamin Super-B Complex;   Drug: Placebo;   Other: Standard of Care<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:  <br/>
Romark Laboratories L.C.<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 Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial of Ivermectin With Favipiravir in Mild-to-moderate COVID-19 Patients</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Ivermectin Tablets;   Other: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Mahidol University;   Prince of Songkla 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>Australian Phase 2/3b Study to Assess Effectiveness of a Protein-based Covid-19 Vaccine (Spikogen)</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Biological: Spikogen/Covax-19<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:  <br/>
Vaxine Pty Ltd;   Australian Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Institute;   Cinnagen<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Study of GRT-R910 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Boost Vaccine in Healthy Volunteers</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: GRT-R910 booster 113 days after prime;   Biological: GRT-R910 booster 28 days after prime<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Gritstone Oncology, 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>A Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy Study of IBI314 in Ambulatory Patients With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: IBI314;   Other: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Innovent Biologics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Adrecizumab (HAM8101) to Improve Prognosis and Outcomes in COVID-19 Trial</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: Adrecizumab (HAM 8101);   Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf<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>Immunogenicity Study of the Covid-19 (Recombinante) Vaccine With a 4 or 8 Week Interval Between the First Doses.</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Biological: Covid-19 (recombinante) vaccine<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   The Immunobiological Technology Institute (Bio-Manguinhos) / Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz)<br/><b>Active, not recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of the Combination of SCTA01 &amp; SCTA01C in Outpatients With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: SCTA01 and SCTA01C;   Drug: Placebo<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>Efficacy,Immunogenicity and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccine , Inactivated Booster Dose in Adults Aged 18 Years and Above</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: Medium-dosage COVID-19 Vaccine,Inactivated;   Biological: High-dosage COVID-19 Vaccine,Inactivated;   Biological: Placebo-comparator group<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:  <br/>
Sinovac Research and Development Co., Ltd.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Communities Fighting COVID-19!</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Other: COVID-19 Testing Home-based (Aim 1);   Other: COVID-19 Testing Mobile (Aim 1);   Other: COVID-19 Testing Mobile Approach 1 (Aim 2);   Other: COVID-19 Testing Mobile Approach 2 (Aim 2)<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   San Diego State University;   National Cancer Institute (NCI)<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 Trial for Oral Formula of Vanillin and Wheat Germ Oil for Treatment of Mild and Moderate COVID-19 Viral Disease</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Mild-to-moderate COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Oral Capsule<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:  <br/>
Alexandria University;   Assoc. Prof. Ayman Baeis;   Dr. Noha Alaa Eldine Hassan Hamdy;   Ph. Hanya Hesham Sweilam<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Combination Assessment Trial of COVID-19 Vaccines (COMBAT-COVID)</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID 19 Vaccine<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: BIBP (CNBG, Sinopharm) WIV;   Biological: CanSinoBIO;   Biological: AstraZeneca ChAdOx<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:  <br/>
Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan;   Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations;   University of Oxford;   International Vaccine Institute;   Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM);   Chughtai Lab;   National Institute of Health, Pakistan<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>Oral Neutralizing Antibody Booster for Post-vaccinated People With COVID19 Vaccine</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19 Pandemic<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Dietary Supplement: Bacillus subtilis spore extract<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   DreamTec Research Limited;   Hong Kong Metropolitan University;   DreamTec Cytokine Limited<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>Transplantation of Deceased Donors With COVID-19 Into COVID-19 Negative Recipients Utilizing Casirivimab and Imdevimab Antibody Cocktail</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19;   Organ Transplant<br/><b>Intervention</b>:  <br/>
Drug: Casirivimab and Imdevimab Antibody Cocktail<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Northwell Health;   Regeneron Pharmaceuticals<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-pubmed">From PubMed</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Structural Analysis on the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Non-structural Protein 13 Mutants Revealed Altered Bonding Network With TANK Binding Kinase 1 to Evade Host Immune System</strong> - Mutations in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have made this virus more infectious. Previous studies have confirmed that non-structural protein 13 (NSP13) plays an important role in immune evasion by physically interacting with TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1) to inhibit IFNβ production. Mutations have been reported in NSP13; hence, in the current study, biophysical and structural modeling methodologies were adapted to dissect the influence of major mutations in NSP13,…</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>Network Pharmacology and Experimental Assessment to Explore the Pharmacological Mechanism of Qimai Feiluoping Decoction Against Pulmonary Fibrosis</strong> - Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is one of the pathologic changes in COVID-19 patients in convalescence, and it is also a potential long-term sequela in severe COVID-19 patients. Qimai Feiluoping decoction (QM) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula recommended in the Chinese national medical program for COVID-19 convalescent patients, and PF is one of its indications. Through clinical observation, QM was found to improve the clinical symptoms and pulmonary function and reduce the degree of PF of…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>In-Silico Design of a Novel Tridecapeptide Targeting Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern</strong> - Several mutations in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have increased the transmission and mortality rate of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) across the globe. Although many vaccines have been developed, a large proportion of the global population remains at high risk of infection. The current study aims to develop an antiviral peptide capable of inhibiting the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and its six major variants with the host cell angiotensin-converting…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Systemic corticosteroids for management of COVID-19: Saving lives or causing harm?</strong> - The underlying cause of many complications associated with severe COVID-19 is attributed to the inflammatory cytokine storm that leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which appears to be the leading cause of death in COVID-19. Systemic corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory activity through repression of pro-inflammatory genes and inhibition of inflammatory cytokines, which makes them a potential medical intervention to diminish the upregulated inflammatory response. Early 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>Recovery of SARS-CoV-2 from large volumes of raw wastewater is enhanced with the inuvai R180 system</strong> - Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a powerful tool to complement syndromic surveillance. Although detection of SARS-CoV-2 in raw wastewater may be prompted with good recoveries during periods of high community prevalence, in the early stages of population outbreaks concentration procedures are required to overcome low viral concentrations. Several methods have become available for the recovery of SARS-CoV-2 from raw wastewater,…</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>Effect of Jinzhen granule on two coronaviruses: The novel SARS-CoV-2 and the HCoV-229E and the evidences for their mechanisms of action</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, JZ (gallic acid 1.97 mg/g, baicalin 20.69 mg/g, glycyrrhizic acid 4.92 mg/g, hyodeoxycholic acid 4.86 mg/g, cholic acid 4.07 mg/g) exhibited antiviral activities against SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-229E by regulating the NF-κB/MAPK pathway and the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway. These findings demonstrated the efficacy of JZ against CoVs and suggested JZ treatment as a novel clinical therapeutic strategy for COVID-19.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>SARS-CoV-2 ferritin nanoparticle vaccines elicit broad SARS coronavirus immunogenicity</strong> - The need for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) next-generation vaccines has been highlighted by the rise of variants of concern (VoCs) and the long-term threat of emerging coronaviruses. Here, we design and characterize four categories of engineered nanoparticle immunogens that recapitulate the structural and antigenic properties of the prefusion SARS-CoV-2 spike (S), S1, and receptor-binding domain (RBD). These immunogens induce robust S binding, ACE2 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>Possible mechanistic insights into iron homeostasis role of the action of 4-aminoquinolines (chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine) on COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) infection</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: This study aims to show the functional role of CQ and HCQ, as well as to provide possible mechanistic insight on the role of iron on viral infection, iron starvation and its downstream cellular pathways involving hepcidin and proinflammatory cytokines. The overall aim of providing possible mode of action of CQ and HCQ in the management of COVID-19 infection is exhibited via its anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic activities.</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>Cannabidiol Inhibits In Vitro Human Liver Microsomal Metabolism of Remdesivir: A Promising Adjuvant for COVID-19 Treatment</strong> - Introduction: The year 2020 began with the world being flounced with a wave of novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) disease, named COVID-19. Based on promising pre-clinical and clinical data, remdesivir (RDV) was the first drug to receive FDA approval and so far, it is the most common therapy for treatment of SARS-CoV-2/MERS-CoV. However, following intravenous administration, RDV metabolizes majorly by human liver carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) 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 Triangle Relationship Between Long Noncoding RNA, RIG-I-like Receptor Signaling Pathway, and Glycolysis</strong> - Long noncoding RNA (LncRNA), a noncoding RNA over 200nt in length, can regulate glycolysis through metabolic pathways, glucose metabolizing enzymes, and epigenetic reprogramming. Upon viral infection, increased aerobic glycolysis providzes material and energy for viral replication. Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) is the only protein- specified downstream of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) that bridges the gap between antiviral immunity and glycolysis. MAVS binding to RIG-I…</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>Active Life for Brain Health: A Narrative Review of the Mechanism Underlying the Protective Effects of Physical Activity on the Brain</strong> - A growing body of evidence clearly indicates the beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) on cognition. The importance of PA is now being reevaluated due to the increase in sedentary behavior in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many studies in humans have revealed that PA helps to preserve brain health, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. In this review, which mainly focuses on studies in humans, we comprehensively summarize the mechanisms…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Dexmedetomidine does not directly inhibit neutrophil extracellular trap production</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>A qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on food decisions of economically disadvantaged families in Northern Ireland</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: The restrictions put in place to inhibit the spread of COVID-19 influenced all aspects of dietary decisions of low-income families. Changes observed during this period included frequent consumption of homemade meals, but also increased unhealthy snacking. Infrequent food shopping encouraged good meal planning, but was also a barrier to securing adequate fresh food. Food-related support including school meal assistance contributed to families’ food security, particularly those of…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>In vitro interaction of potential antiviral TMPRSS2 inhibitors with human serum albumin and cytochrome P 450 isoenzymes</strong> - The interactions of four sulfonylated Phe(3-Am)-derived inhibitors (MI-432, MI-463, MI-482 and MI-1900) of type II transmembrane serine proteases (TTSP) such as transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) were examined with serum albumin and cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes. Complex formation with albumin was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, microsomal hepatic CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19 and 3A4 activities in presence of these inhibitors were determined using fluorometric assays….</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>RNA polymerization actuating nucleic acid membrane (RANAM)-based biosensing for universal RNA virus detection</strong> - The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has shown the importance of early disease diagnosis in preventing further infection and mortality. Despite major advances in the development of highly precise and rapid detection approaches, the time-consuming process of designing a virus-specific diagnostic kit has been a limiting factor in the early management of the pandemic. Here, we propose an RNA polymerase activity-sensing strategy utilizing an RNA polymerization actuating nucleic acid membrane…</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>METHODS OF TREATING SARS-COV-2 INFECTION</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU344309338">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>REAL-TIME REST BREAK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR WORKPLACE</strong> - The present invention relates to a real-time rest break management system for workplace that comprises of a work desk, wherein first portion is incorporated with a biometric unit 4 for authenticating first user, and a second portion with a telescopic panel 2 associated with a weight sensor 6 and timer unit 7 calculating weight of head/hand manifesting user presence and their resting time period is mounted with an inflated cushion 5, an interactive primary display unit 1 attached over desk enables user to set first/second threshold time for sleeping/taking break, further linked with a tracking interface keeping track of activities and a vibrating unit crafted inside the cushion 5 which is linked to a secondary display unit 8 of second user, giving them access to actuate vibrating unit generating impulses to wake first user when threshold time period is exceeded by the first user. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN342791215">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>P2P 네트워크를 이용한 내장된 화상회의 시스템</strong> - 본 발명은 P2P 네트워크를 이용한 내장된 화상회의 시스템에 관한 것으로, 상태표시부(1), 영상송출부(2), 제어부(3), 광고부(4), 입력부(5)를 포함한다. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=KR342781397">link</a></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>小分子化合物肌醇六磷酸酯钠水合物在制备抗SARS-CoV-2药物中的应用</strong> - 本发明公开了小分子化合物肌醇六磷酸酯钠水合物在制备抗严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2(SARS‑CoV‑2)药物中的应用，所述抗SARS‑CoV‑2药物是以肌醇六磷酸酯钠水合物为唯一的活性成份，或包含肌醇六磷酸酯钠水合物的药物组合物，所述抗SARS‑CoV‑2药物是指预防或治疗SARS‑CoV‑2感染的药物。本发明利用SARS‑CoV‑2的易感细胞系，包括非洲绿猴肾细胞Vero</p></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">E6以及人肺腺癌细胞Calu‑3，检测肌醇六磷酸酯钠水合物的抗SARS‑CoV‑2活性。实验结果显示，肌醇六磷酸酯钠水合物能有效抑制SARS‑CoV‑2对上述易感细胞的感染，且细胞毒性较小，有希望作为有效抗SARS‑CoV‑2感染的药物，具有应用前景。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN344462859">link</a></p>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A DOORBELL SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND RECORDING A PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA OF A PERSON</strong> - AbstractTitle: A doorbell system for monitoring and recording a physiological data of a person The present invention provides a doorbell system 500 for monitoring and recording a physiological data of a person. The doorbell system 500 having a transmitter module 100 and a receiving module 200. The transmitter module 100 is having a TOF sensor module 110, an ultrasound detector 120, and an infrared detector 130. Further, a speech recognition system 150, a facial recognition system 160, and a temperature detector 190 are provided for recognizing speech, face, and temperature of the person by comparing pre-stored data. A controlling module 180 is set with a predefined commands for communicating with the transmitter module 100 and receiving module 200. The collected facial and speech data is compared and matched with the pre-stored data then the temperature detector 190 triggers and the door opens when the captured body temperature of the person is matched within the predefined range of temperature.Figure 1 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN340503637">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A study of contemporary trends in investing patterns, household savings, and economic investment.</strong> - Because household savings and household investments are intertwined and interdependent, they are discussed briefly in this paper. Household savings account for more than half of a country’s capital formation, which fluctuates due to a variety of economic factors such as inflation and interest rates. Households should gradually shift their savings and investments from physical assets to financial assets to avoid a sudden change in wealth. They should also save and invest using a variety of platforms. Trends in investing and saving will be easier to track and measure this way. This year’s domestic saving rate in India is 2.3 percent lower than last year’s and 1.2 percent lower than the year before. Since 2011, general domestic savings have been steadily declining, with the trend continuing into the following year. According to official data, the GDP in 2020 shrank by 23.9%, the least in previous years and the least since the Covid-19 pandemic in previous years. As a result, the information presented in this paper is drawn from and evaluated from other sources - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN340502149">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>靶向刺激体液免疫和细胞免疫的新冠病毒mRNA疫苗</strong> - 本发明公开了一种靶向刺激体液免疫和细胞免疫的新冠病毒mRNA疫苗。本申请的第一方面提供一种分离的DNA分子组合，该DNA分子组合包括第一DNA分子和第二DNA分子和第三DNA分子中的至少一种。通过第一DNA分子以及第二DNA分子和/或第三DNA分子的组合，利用第一DNA分子最终合成的mRNA诱导高滴度的交叉中和抗体，利用第二DNA分子和/或第三DNA分子最终合成的mRNA诱导新冠病毒特异性的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞，从而高效地同时激活相对独立的体液免疫应答和细胞免疫应答，应对新冠病毒在流行传播过程中产生的突变毒株所引发的突破性感染。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN343418093">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶2抑制剂在制备治疗和/或预防冠状病毒感染药物中的用途</strong> - 本发明公开了跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶2抑制剂在制备治疗和/或预防冠状病毒感染药物中的用途。本发明通过亲和垂钓及活性导向分离获得3种化合物，证实该类化合物可以直接地与跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶2结合，KD&lt;13μM，且能够显著抑制跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶2的催化活性。在细胞水平上可以有效的抑制新型冠状病毒SARS‑CoV‑2假病毒入侵，表明该类化合物对于制备治疗和/或预防病毒感染药物具有非常积极的作用。化合物1 化合物2 化合物3。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN343418164">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>PROLIPOSOMAL DRY POWDER INHALER OF REMDESIVIR</strong> - The present invention is related to Proliposomal Dry Powder Inhaler of Remdesivir and its method thereof for the treatment of viral infections such Coronaviridae (including COVID-19 infection). - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN342291904">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Use of Diminazene Aceturate, Xanthenone, ACE 2 activators or analogs for the Treatment and therapeutic use of COVID-19 on human patients.</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU340325322">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
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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 Person of the Year: Jamie Raskin</strong> - How one politician devoted his fight for democracy to his lost son. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/a-person-of-the-year-jamie-raskin">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Year in Climate</strong> - A summer that really scared scientists. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/2021-in-review/the-year-in-climate">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Inside an Oklahoma City Abortion Clinic</strong> - The staff is struggling to meet the needs of Texas patients, with no relief in sight. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/inside-an-oklahoma-city-abortion-clinic">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Joe Manchin Kills the Build Back Better Bill</strong> - How will the country ever address the enduring market failures, glaring inequality, and big social-safety-net gaps that the plan was designed to tackle? - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/joe-manchin-kills-the-build-back-better-bill">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Rio Grande Valley’s Abortion Desert</strong> - Texas’s new law is the culmination of decades of legal restrictions and budget cuts that have left women in one of the country’s poorest regions with scant access to abortion. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-rio-grande-valleys-abortion-desert">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Progressives’ biggest fear about the Build Back Better Act has come to pass</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="House Democrats Meet Behind Closed Doors To Discuss Legislation With Pres. Biden" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N6PChXayo7OP-YzbvPAkYkUMjT8=/542x0:8222x5760/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70295076/1236187206.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) speaks to reporters as she leaves a meeting with Progressive House Democrats at the US Capitol on October 28, 2021, in Washington,</figcaption></figure></li>
</ul>
<ol start="600" type="I">
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">| Drew Angerer/Getty Images
<pre><code>&lt;/figure&gt;</code></pre></li>
</ol>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
There’s a reason they wanted the social spending bill tied to infrastructure.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="dQpXVG">
For members of “the Squad,” a group of staunch progressives in the House, <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/19/22845122/manchin-build-back-better-psaki">Sen. Joe Manchin’s statement opposing the Build Back Better Act</a> didn’t come as a surprise. They’d long warned it was just a matter of time before Manchin derailed the bill if a vote on infrastructure legislation, which he supported, was held first.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tCBS3V">
It turns out they were right.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="fkvYCg">
Manchin has previously voiced a variety of concerns about the massive climate and social spending bill, and has repeatedly demanded it be trimmed down. In an attempt to pressure the moderate senator to support the measure, progressives lobbied Democratic leaders to keep it linked to a vote on a massive infrastructure package known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, as that latter bill was seen as a priority for Manchin.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="iM6WbC">
The bills were coupled for weeks but were eventually separated due to pressure from House moderates and an assurance from President Joe Biden that he’d secure a yes vote from Manchin on the Build Back Better Act. Most House progressives voted in favor of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework; in the end, the six House members in “the Squad” were the only ones within the Congressional Progressive Caucus who voted against it. At the time, they reiterated fears that passing the infrastructure bill first would give up any leverage they had to pressure moderate lawmakers like Manchin to consider the Build Back Better Act.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="RJOlf4">
Just over a month after that vote, <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/19/22844969/manchin-build-back-better-setback-biden-social-spending-
bill">Manchin has told Fox News he’s “a no” on Build Back Better</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="doJIM2">
“We have been saying this for weeks that this would happen,” Squad member Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepCori/status/1472612619534094346?s=20">said in an MSNBC interview on Sunday</a>. “Having [the infrastructure bill and Build Back Better] coupled together was the only leverage we had. And what did the caucus do? We tossed it.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1gDEbL">
Bush’s stance was echoed by other Squad members, like Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and it’s now clear these progressives were correct to be worried. Although it’s uncertain how open Manchin might be to a different version of the Build Back Better Act, his stance has effectively doomed the current version.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="9H6HG3">
Democrats are attempting to pass Build Back Better via a process known as budget reconciliation, which allows legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority. They need all 50 members of the Senate Democratic caucus on board to approve it — a fragile unity that’s impossible to achieve without Manchin’s vote. That fact has given Manchin, the bill’s largest detractor in the Senate, a lot of say over its fate. Over the past few months, he’s shown he’s more than willing to make full use of that influence. He did so again Sunday, shaking what little faith many progressives had left in him.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Rjd5iQ">
“Maybe they’ll believe us next time. Or maybe people will just keep calling us naive,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) tweeted on Sunday.
</p>
<div id="Ra7YbI">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
When a handful of us in the House warned this would happen if Dem leaders gave Manchin everything he wanted 1st by moving BIF before BBB instead of passing together, many ridiculed our position.<br/><br/>Maybe they’ll believe us next time. Or maybe people will just keep calling us naïve. <a href="https://t.co/TtKW6VOOCF">https://t.co/TtKW6VOOCF</a>
</p>
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (<span class="citation" data-cites="AOC">@AOC</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1472624829362757634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<h3 id="G73fV2">
Progressives have long feared that moderates would abandon Build Back Better without the infrastructure bill
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="sOYEMX">
For months, the Congressional Progressive Caucus emphasized that it wouldn’t move along the bipartisan infrastructure bill without a concurrent vote on the Build Back Better Act. Members worried that moderates including Manchin would potentially abandon the social spending legislation once infrastructure passed. They were able to issue this ultimatum because the House also has a thin Democratic majority and the Congressional Progressive Caucus has the numbers to keep any bill without Republican support from passing.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="y5iN6K">
At the start of November, however, as pressure to pass the infrastructure bill grew from both the White House and impatient moderates, most members in the progressive caucus agreed to a compromise. Armed with a written agreement from House moderates agreeing to consider the Build Back Better Act once the Congressional Budget Office released a cost estimate, as well as Biden’s promise that he would get Manchin’s support, progressives allowed the infrastructure vote to move forward.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2QaIC3">
“The president’s word is on the line here, and I do still believe that he is going to do what he told me and what he told our caucus and what he told the country he would do,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), the chair of the Progressive Caucus, <a href="https://twitter.com/mehdirhasan/status/1471290969857396745?s=21">said in an MSNBC interview last week</a>. Manchin “made a commitment to the president, the president made a commitment to us, and I believe we’re going to get it done.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="zyGOJB">
The White House said that Manchin was still participating in negotiations <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/19/statement-from-press-
secretary-jen-psaki-4/">as recently as Tuesday</a>, and that Manchin had brought the president a more limited version of the bill he could support. (As <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/19/22845122/manchin-build-back-better-psaki">Vox’s Andrew Prokop has explained</a>, Manchin’s statements do not explicitly indicate whether he’s closed the door to negotiating on a different version of the Build Back Better plan.)
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OSGVM9">
“If his comments on FOX and written statement indicate an end to that effort, they represent a sudden and inexplicable reversal in his position, and a breach of his commitments to the President and the Senator’s colleagues in the House and Senate,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki wrote in a statement Sunday.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="7CcJAi">
Jayapal, in the MSNBC interview last week, said she did not regret the Congressional Progressive Caucus’s decision to vote for the infrastructure bill when it did.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Ew8CV7">
“I don’t regret it because I think our leverage was at the maximum point,” Jayapal said. “Had we not done that, I think we would have lost even more on Build Back Better.”
</p>
<div id="vESy4o">
<blockquote class="twitter- tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
Me: “Do you feel Joe Biden let you down? And do you feel you got played by Joe Manchin?”<a href="https://twitter.com/RepJayapal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"><span class="citation" data-cites="RepJayapal">@RepJayapal</span></a>: “No and no.”<br/><br/>I pushed <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJayapal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"><span class="citation" data-cites="RepJayapal">@RepJayapal</span></a> on whether she and the progressives gave up leverage too soon by voting for BIF before BBB.<br/><br/>Watch our full exchange:<a href="https://t.co/52NVcoSP5n">pic.twitter.com/52NVcoSP5n</a>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">— Mehdi Hasan (<span class="citation" data-cites="mehdirhasan">@mehdirhasan</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/mehdirhasan/status/1471290969857396745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2021</a></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oSUxbG">
It’s impossible to say exactly what would have happened had progressives not chosen to put their trust in the president’s ability to seal a deal.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VrhoPg">
On one hand, questions have been raised about how much leverage progressives actually had throughout this process. Although Manchin helped negotiate the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, it was never clear whether he wanted it to pass so badly that he’d be willing to overlook his concerns about the size of the Build Back Better Act and many of its programs. It’s possible he would have been willing to vote down the social spending legislation even if that meant jeopardizing infrastructure legislation, too.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="rdCfNP">
On the other hand, it did appear that the infrastructure legislation was a proposal that Manchin was invested in. He has long emphasized his support of bipartisanship and commitment to a measure addressing much-needed funding for roads and bridges that could garner both Democratic and Republican support. For that reason, the Squad is among those who now believe Democrats made a major miscalculation — one that didn’t just potentially squander a chance to pass Build Back Better quickly but that has put Democrats in a position in which further negotiation will be exponentially more difficult.
</p>
<h3 id="KTWIb3">
Manchin’s statement has damaged trust
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6Bvvla">
Democrats are where they are now because of trust.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3WKD3v">
Progressives made a number of concessions on the Build Back Better Act, agreeing to a $3.5 trillion framework after initially proposing a $6 trillion option. Then they agreed to winnow it down further to $1.75 trillion, cutting some of their key priorities, including Medicare expansion of dental and vision coverage.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="IvmlJU">
Throughout this process, willingness to move forward has relied on a sense that Manchin was participating in talks in good faith. And there was a sense that Biden, who has often touted the power of his personal relationship with Manchin, could find a way to get the senator to yes. For the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Manchin’s new statement seems to have shattered that trust.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DkYAEh">
“Today, Senator Manchin has betrayed his commitment not only to the President and Democrats in Congress but most importantly, to the American people,” caucus chair Jayapal said in a Sunday statement. “He routinely touts that he is a man of his word, but he can no longer say that.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gIikW7">
Now it will be more difficult to move forward. Progressives may feel less willing to compromise on provisions that remain outstanding in the bill, like drug pricing and Medicaid expansion, feeling that further compromise won’t net them anything from Manchin.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="yKRnjk">
Manchin has also created confusion about what he wants, making it difficult for Democratic leaders to know where they should restart negotiations. It’s unclear if he simply doesn’t like the current shape of the Build Back Better Act and would be willing to vote for the proposal he brought to Biden recently, or if he’s now a no on any more spending.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="dKiCM7">
The senator has placed Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a tough position as well. Schumer is under increasing pressure from his caucus to simply bring a vote on the Build Back Better Act to the floor of the Senate, in hopes of forcing Manchin to vote yes.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EVlbTO">
The weeks to come will reveal if Manchin is willing to consider a version of the legislation that takes his concerns into consideration, or if he’s willing to walk away from it altogether. In both respects, however, his statement has made it tougher for progressives to trust that he’s willing to engage with this legislation seriously moving forward.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KLhR8H">
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BUgCV5">
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gTKjec">
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Manchin may have doomed American climate policy</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/rme1kwddHYeY18fhcyuyeOJO14c=/651x0:5848x3898/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70294891/GettyImages_1359569124.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Sen. Joe Manchin delivered the news on Fox that he was a “no” vote on the centerpiece of Biden’s domestic agenda. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“This is the last best shot we’re really going to have.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ngnfxN">
On Sunday, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) may have delivered a final blow to the United States’s best chance to take action on the climate crisis this decade.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DQQw4k">
After months of <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/16/22838189/manchin-build-back-better-vote-delay">negotiations</a> with the White House and Democratic leaders, <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/19/22844969/manchin-build-back-better-setback-biden-
social-spending-bill">Manchin announced on Fox News</a> that he will be a “no” vote on the centerpiece of the president’s domestic agenda in its current form. That agenda — known as the Build Back Better Act — would have invested <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/10/28/22748554/biden-budget-build-back-better-democrats-child-care-taxes">$555 billion</a> in clean electricity, electric vehicles, and reducing methane emissions. Although the $1.75 trillion bill has already passed the House of Representatives, a no vote from Manchin would ensure the bill does not have a path forward in the Senate. That’s because Democrats were relying on a budget process that requires 50 Senate votes to get it to President Joe Biden’s desk.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="k1HONY">
As Vox’s Andrew Prokop <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/19/22845122/manchin-build-back-better-psaki">wrote</a>, it’s possible that Manchin’s Sunday comments were just another negotiating tactic, and he could be convinced to support a revised version of the Build Back Better plan that delivers on what he wants.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QGr1Xk">
But if the bill truly is a goner, it will be much more than a political setback for the Biden agenda. It will be a colossal tragedy for the planet and future generations, which are depending on the US government to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels this decade with major legislation like this bill, to avoid the worst effects of climate change. The bill also contains funding for adapting to climate change and helping the most vulnerable communities; without it, the US will be far less prepared to face escalating climate disasters here at home.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SN3kbZ">
It’s unlikely Democrats will have exactly the same set of political circumstances — in control of both the presidency and Congress — to pass a similarly ambitious climate agenda in the next decade. “We won’t be acting on the climate crisis if we don’t pass this bill, and there’s not a decade left to waste,” said Leah Stokes, a climate political scientist at UC-Santa Barbara who has been advising Democrats. “Senator Manchin talks a lot about that and what he owes to his grandchildren, and the number one thing he owes to his grandchildren is a livable planet.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="fGViQu">
Democrats probably won’t get a second chance after next year’s midterms to act. And the next time they do have a chance, it may be too late to limit some of the worst effects of warming.
</p>
<h3 id="2VpAli">
The US can’t reach its climate goals without congressional legislation
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pZ2tAR">
If passed, the Build Back Better Act would deliver the largest injection of federal funds into clean energy and emissions reductions that the country has ever seen. It would tackle the two biggest sources of US pollution that come from the transportation and electricity sectors, by boosting clean energy, electric vehicles, and charging stations.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FhGAP6">
The US is responsible for the <a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-
environment/2019/4/24/18512804/climate-change-united-states-china-emissions">largest share</a> of global warming, so serious federal action is essential to closing the gap. Climate scientists have <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/">warned</a> that once the atmosphere warms more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, we will live in a <a href="https://www.vox.com/22613027/un-ipcc-climate-change-report-ar6-disaster">drastically changed world</a>. If countries, corporations, and individuals don’t take immediate action to reduce pollution, the world may hit that grim milestone <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/07/climate/ipcc-climate-report-2040.html">in just 10 years</a>.
</p></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XDoYq7">
The bill would also literally save lives. For example, its clean energy funding would help close the nation’s last coal plants, eliminating an energy source that releases particulate matter that contributes to asthma, heart attacks, and other diseases. One Harvard <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/c-change/news/80x30ces/">estimate</a> found that reaching 80 percent clean electricity by 2030 would save 9,200 lives in 2030 alone, and another 317,500 through 2050.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WDQePP">
Finally, the bill would dedicate hundreds of millions of dollars to helping communities prepare for worsening floods, heat, and fires in the name of climate justice. One program would <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/climate-
change-efforts-set-big-boost-build-back-better-bill-passes-rcna6471">help tribes relocate</a> away from areas threatened by climate change, and other <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/briefing-room/2021/12/02/delivering-on-
justice40/">investments</a> would help disadvantaged communities improve their water and physical infrastructure.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EtLaoG">
By the time the bill passed the House of Representatives, progressive Democrats had already made some concessions that weakened some of the key provisions. They scaled down the overall cost of the bill and cut some proposals, including setting a national standard to reach 80 percent clean energy by 2030. All of that was to appease Manchin. It just didn’t work.
</p>
<h3 id="s1IIQ0">
“Utter nonsense,” a “catastrophic failure”: The climate community reacts
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="X9dVMh">
Manchin released <a href="https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-
statement-on-build-back-better-act">a statement</a> after his Fox appearance elaborating on why he said “I just can’t” vote for the legislation. Several of his complaints targeted the climate provisions in the bill. He said the Build Back Better Act would harm the electric grid and increase dependence on foreign supply chains. He worried a faster energy transition “will have catastrophic consequences for the American people like we have seen in both Texas and California in the last two years”— likely a reference to power outages and volatile energy rates from extreme weather the past few years. (In fact, a major reason his West Virginia constituents have faced higher utility rates in recent years is coal is <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/19/politics/west-virginia-coal-rates-manchin-climate/index.html">getting more</a> expensive.)
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hJ52nV">
Climate advocates who helped Democrats design the Build Back Better plan were grieving Sunday over what the loss would mean for both the planet and public health. Jesse Jenkins, a Princeton expert on the electricity sector and adviser to the White House on the Build Back Better plan, <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseJenkins/status/1472599326341926915">called</a> Manchin’s news “devastating” and his excuses “utter nonsense.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="fG3kun">
Sam Ricketts, co-director of the advocacy group Evergreen Action, who has advised Democrats on the bill, called Manchin “duplicitous” for leaving “the important needs of the country unfulfilled.” He countered Manchin’s claims, saying, “The Build Back Better act would reduce Americans’ energy costs, not increase [them]. It would enhance American economic competitiveness, not decrease it. It would increase the reliability and resiliency of the electric grid, not the opposite.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="qhgV1r">
Ricketts suspected Manchin had it backward because, he said, the senator was more informed “by corporate donors or by ignorance.” Manchin’s son is a leader in the coal industry, and Manchin himself has made $4.5 million from his investments in coal over the course of <a href="https://theintercept.com/2021/09/03/joe-manchin-coal-fossil-fuels-pollution/">his Senate career</a>. Over the past year, Manchin has reaped more campaign donations from the oil, gas, and coal industries than <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?ind=E01%20%20&amp;cycle=2022&amp;recipdetail=S&amp;Mem=Y&amp;sortorder=U">any other senator</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="wUy3b4">
Climate activists are also dismayed because Congress has promised action for years, but failed to deliver. And they point to a larger pattern of how obstructionists — both in the Republican and Democratic parties — have sunk the US’s best chances of action again and again. Longtime climate activist and writer Bill McKibben noted that Manchin’s obstruction fits the long legacy of a Congress that can’t pass climate legislation to meet the scale of the crisis.
</p>
<div id="zhtol7">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
Joe Manchin preserves Congress’s perfect record: no real climate legislation in the 33 years they’ve been debating the issue.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">— Bill McKibben (<span class="citation" data-cites="billmckibben">@billmckibben</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/billmckibben/status/1472593885385957382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cx6rnp">
There are still plenty of unanswered questions after Manchin’s announcement.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="F3VbAy">
Will Congress be able to salvage a smaller deal that still delivers on climate cuts? In a <a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-build-back-better-pass-climate-and-
clean-energy-provisions-now">statement</a> Sunday, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) advocated for that path. “Major climate and clean energy provisions of the Build Back Better Act have largely been negotiated, scored for ten years, and financed,” he said. “Let’s pass these provisions now. We cannot let this moment pass.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3s9FES">
Another question: Could Democrats find another legislative vehicle that will finally win Manchin’s support? Progressive lawmakers have already pointed fingers at the White House and Democratic leadership for their political failure, but some have hinted there may still be a path forward.
</p>
<div id="hiadGM">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
We are facing unprecedented challenges and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BuildBackBetter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BuildBackBetter</a> is about tackling them head on: addressing the climate crisis, fighting inflation and giving hard working Americans a shot at prosperity. To walk away from those challenges is the height of irresponsibility and betrayal.
</p>
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (<span class="citation" data-cites="RepEscobar">@RepEscobar</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepEscobar/status/1472614183590113286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1FIUJe">
Grieving climate activists also echoed that this isn’t a moment to give up. “This is the last best shot we’re really going to have to enact national policy that deals with the climate crisis in the scope and scale that’s necessary,” said Ricketts. “We still have a Democratic president in the White House who has claimed that climate is a top priority for his administration. Now let’s see them deliver.”
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Did Joe Manchin just kill Build Back Better on Fox News?</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) walks through a hallway in the basement of the US Capitol on December
15, 2021, in Washington, DC." src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/kauUykLa0y2EmyuEHpvqs3if2A0=/182x0:3335x2365/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70294710/1359229081.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) walks through a hallway in the basement of the US Capitol on December 15. | Alex Wong/Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The conservative Democrat said he couldn’t vote for the bill, despite months of negotiations.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WJcyGG">
The Build Back Better Act —<strong> </strong>at least as currently written — is dead, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1472572066633326601?s=20">said Sunday</a> in an appearance on <em>Fox News Sunday</em>. Whether it can be resurrected in some new form depends on Manchin.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3M4sTu">
The bill, which proposed <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/13/22799436/build-back-better-senate-manchin-parliamentarian">$1.75 trillion</a> in social and climate spending, has been on shaky ground for a while. Despite the measure being a key part of President Joe Biden’s agenda, Manchin has for months raised concerns about the bill’s scope and cost. Now, Manchin, whose vote is crucial given Democrats’ slim majority in the Senate, says he won’t support it because of concerns about the <a href="https://www.vox.com/coronavirus-covid19/22839842/covid-omicron-variant-us-response-
hospitalizations">resurgent Covid-19 pandemic</a> and <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/585557-manchin-
raises-inflation-concerns-ahead-of-pivotal-biden-talk">rising inflation</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="01cEt0">
“I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation,” Manchin <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472572131124912136?s=20">told <em>Fox News Sunday</em> host Bret Baier</a>. “This is a no on this legislation.”
</p>
<div id="7ZcNWZ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
“I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation.” — Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) says President Biden’s Build Back Better plan “is a no.”<br/><br/>“I’ve tried everything humanly possible. I can’t get there.” <a href="https://t.co/HsgXgYms3e">pic.twitter.com/HsgXgYms3e</a>
</p>
— The Recount (<span class="citation" data-cites="therecount">@therecount</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472572131124912136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a>
</blockquote></div></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tcRf9T">
Manchin has repeatedly claimed that Build Back Better spending would increase and entrench inflation, although the White House and many economists have pushed back on this. A <a href="https://www.epi.org/open-
letter-from-nobel-laureates-in-support-of-economic-recovery-agenda/">letter from 17 Nobel Prize-winning economists</a> in support of the bill’s policies argues that, in the long term, it will actually slow inflation:
</p>
<blockquote>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="9LBxnf">
While we all have different views on the particulars of various economic policies, we believe that key components of this broader agenda are critical—including tax reforms that make our tax system more equitable and that enable our system to raise the additional funds required to facilitate necessary public investments and achieve our collective goals. Because this agenda invests in long-term economic capacity and will enhance the ability of more Americans to participate productively in the economy, it will ease longer-term inflationary pressures.
</p>
</blockquote>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="h5uvnL">
At a Wall Street Journal event in December, when<strong> </strong>November’s Consumer Price Index numbers showed <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/11/22829221/inflation-rate-cpi-supply-chain-biden-transitory">inflation rose 6.8 percent over the past year</a> — the fastest increase and highest rate in nearly 40 years — Manchin claimed the new data proved the economists’ arguments wrong, although they were referring to longer-term trends. “We had people at that time saying inflation would be transitory,” <a href="https://twitter.com/maxpcohen/status/1468343540258328584?s=20">Manchin said</a>. “We had 17 Nobel laureates saying it’s going to be no problem. Well, 17 Nobel laureates were wrong.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QWQKUA">
It remains possible <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/19/22845122/manchin-build-back-better-psaki">Manchin may support</a> a different social spending package, though it’s not clear what that might look like.
</p>
<h3 id="X0Cmak">
Biden’s domestic agenda has suffered a serious setback
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="AOEK9k">
Any one senator has the power to derail Build Back Better, because Democrats have the narrowest possible majority in Congress and<strong> </strong>hoped to pass the bill through the budget reconciliation process. That allows legislation to be passed by a simple majority in both chambers of Congress so long as its provisions are related to budgetary matters, circumventing the filibuster in the Senate.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="dypQwy">
As the most conservative member of Democrats’ slim Senate majority, Manchin has used that fact to<strong> </strong>exercise outsized influence on the bill from the start — both its costs and its contents. Largely due to Manchin’s priorities, what began as a $3.5 trillion piece of legislation <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/13/22799436/build-back-better-senate-manchin-parliamentarian">dwindled</a> to about <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/11/19/22776638/house-democrats-pass-185-trillion-social-spending-bill">$1.85 trillion</a> by the time it passed the House, and was facing further cuts in the Senate.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="G2g9i4">
Last week, Manchin <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/16/22838189/manchin-build-back-better-vote-delay">quashed Democratic hopes</a> that the bill might pass the Senate ahead of the chamber’s holiday break, again due to cost and scope concerns. That forced<strong> </strong>Congress to end its 2021 session early Saturday morning after <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/18/22843610/senate-confirmation-votes-ambassadors-judges-schumer-cruz-hawley">a run of ambassadorial and judicial confirmations</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="c2FrEr">
The White House had tried for months, and particularly over the past week, to get Manchin on board with the legislation. Congressional Democrats see Manchin’s about-face as a betrayal, given that they passed Biden’s infrastructure bill with the understanding that the <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/586395-democrats-end-year-reopening-old-wounds">White House and Senate would reciprocate and pass the social spending bill</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="fjfNfZ">
“You may recall that the agreement from the beginning was that there was one package: Part of it would be the bipartisan infrastructure, but the other part would be all these things that are now in Build Back Better,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/586395-democrats-end-year-reopening-old-wounds">said Sunday</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lrzOlJ">
In a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/19/statement-from-press-
secretary-jen-psaki-4/">scathing statement</a> Sunday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Manchin had reneged on previous promises with the White House to support the bill and continue with negotiations.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="T0AUjs">
“If his comments on FOX and written statement indicate an end to that effort, they represent a sudden and inexplicable reversal in his position, and a breach of his commitments to the President and the Senator’s colleagues in the House and Senate,” Psaki wrote.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1XWYEa">
The implications of the bill’s potential demise are massive.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TuoosA">
It contained a measure extending the <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/14/22826684/build-back-better-child-tax-credit-
expires-poverty">expanded child tax credit</a> Democrats passed in response to the pandemic. That credit sent monthly payments to nearly all US parents, and<strong> </strong>cut child poverty substantially in its first year of existence, but its last payment went out Wednesday, and the program will now lapse. If extended by the Build Back Better Act, it could reduce poverty <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/build-back-betters-child-tax-credit-changes-
would-protect-millions-from">by 40 percent</a> going forward, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Additionally, as Vox’s Rebecca Leber <a href="https://www.vox.com/e/22609101">pointed out</a>, the end of the Build Back Better Act could be the end of a once-in-a-decade chance to fight <a href="https://www.vox.com/22709379/moderate-
versus-progressive-democrats-climate">climate change</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XC2Lr9">
While Manchin had previously expressed a desire to make a deal with Biden and progressive Democrats on the bill, he’s<strong> </strong>also been clear that he wants to limit any new spending. He sent a proposal to Democrats in the Senate back in July stating he wanted to keep costs for the reconciliation bill to $1.5 trillion, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/30/manchin-
proposed-15t-topline-number-to-schumer-this-summer-514803">Politico reported at the time</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cfO3if">
That proposal included a tax plan to help cover the cost of the bill, with any additional revenue going to paying down the deficit, one of Manchin’s persistent concerns. At the time, he also requested that the Federal Reserve begin its tapering plan to combat inflation, something it’s now committed to doing.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ltyZcs">
“My Democratic colleagues in Washington are determined to dramatically reshape our society in a way that leaves our country even more vulnerable to the threats we face,” <a href="https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-statement-on-build-
back-better-act">Manchin said in his statement</a>. “I cannot take that risk with a staggering debt of more than $29 trillion and inflation taxes that are real and harmful to every hard-working American at the gasoline pumps, grocery stores and utility bills with no end in sight.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1NRACz">
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472576877139304451?s=20">reacted to the news</a> on CNN’s <em>State of the Union</em> Sunday, telling host Jake Tapper, “Well, I think he’s gonna have a lot of explaining to do to the people of West Virginia,” chiding Manchin for refusing to pass the legislation, which would also lower prescription drug costs, expand Medicaid, and provide funding for increased home health care.
</p>
<div id="ZVLI5f">
<blockquote class="twitter- tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) responds to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) coming out against President Biden’s Build Back Better plan:<br/><br/>“Well, I think he’s gonna have a lot of explaining to do to the people of West Virginia.” <a href="https://t.co/448VFowzPC">pic.twitter.com/448VFowzPC</a>
</p>
— The Recount (<span class="citation" data-cites="therecount">@therecount</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1472576877139304451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LzxcMB">
A number of lawmakers, including Sanders and <a href="https://twitter.com/RepEspaillat/status/1472589085818724356?s=20">Rep. Adriano Espaillat</a> (D-NY), said Sunday that the bill should be brought to a vote in January despite Manchin’s statement, essentially daring him to vote against a bill that’s a Democratic and presidential priority.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hBPDOQ">
“If Sen. Joe Manchin wants to vote against the Build Back Better Act, he should have the opportunity to do so with a floor vote as soon as the Senate returns,” Sanders wrote in <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/1472601546739359747">a statement Sunday</a>, adding he found it “amusing” that Manchin would approve the National Defense Authorization Act at nearly $780 billion in military spending while eschewing the Build Back Better Act’s social programs.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZwxRGW">
<a href="https://www.vox.com/e/22609231">Many progressives in the House</a> echoed this statement, while also sharply criticizing Manchin; Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) called Manchin’s claim that he had “done all he can” to reconcile his priorities with Build Back Better “bullshit” <a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1472590752484139014?s=20">in a tweet on Sunday</a>, while her colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus <a href="https://twitter.com/hctrudo/status/1472626963718316033?s=21">issued a critical statement</a>, calling Manchin’s comments a betrayal. “He routinely touts that he is a man of his word, but he can no longer say that,” the CPC wrote in the statement. “West Virginians, and the country, see clearly who he is.”
</p>
<div id="JHk3kA">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
New statement from the CPC: “Senator Manchin has betrayed his commitment not only to the President and Democrats in Congress but most importantly, to the American people” <a href="https://t.co/U22KamW7bb">pic.twitter.com/U22KamW7bb</a>
</p>
— Hanna Trudo (<span class="citation" data-cites="HCTrudo">@HCTrudo</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/HCTrudo/status/1472626963718316033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="42mU38">
Republicans, for their part, have praised Manchin’s decision to waylay the bill, which was universally opposed by the GOP from the start.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Qncjrs">
“President Biden’s mega-spending bill is dead and Joe Manchin put the nail in the coffin,” Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse <a href="https://www.sasse.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=63D52FEE-4B8B-4137-98E2-F90A703E6019">said in a statement</a>. “This should be a reality check to wild-eyed progressives that they are not the mainstream: With a divided country, a 50-50 Senate, and blowout inflation, the American people don’t want to upend this country with nakedly-partisan legislation.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GIPeCV">
While Manchin’s statement sounds quite final, and has been interpreted that way <a href="https://twitter.com/taragolshan/status/1472591141874933767">in some cases</a>, it’s not clear whether this is actually the end for Biden’s domestic policy agenda.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="xTVFVy">
<a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/12/19/22845122/manchin-build-back-better-psaki">As Vox’s Andrew Prokop explained</a> on Sunday, it’s possible Manchin is “fully dug in against any form of Build Back Better.” However, his Sunday Fox News appearance could also be a negotiating tactic — a strategy Manchin has used previously to extract changes to the Democrats’ voting rights bill, the <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/6/8/22521563/manchin-hr1-s1-for-the-people-act">For the People Act</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aKVYtR">
In his statement Sunday, Manchin didn’t close the door to future negotiations entirely, and it’s ultimately unclear what will come next for Build Back Better.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TzpZhh">
“I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address the needs of all Americans and do so in a way that does not risk our nation’s independence, security and way of life,” Manchin said.
</p>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Rosberg’s team are first Extreme E champions</strong> - Rosberg X Racing’s Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor finished fourth in the event won by X44 drivers Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez to finish level on points but ahead 3-1 on wins</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 Ashes | Australia name unchanged 15-member squad for last three Tests</strong> - Pat Cummins is set to return to lead Asutralia in the Boxing Day Ashes Test, while Hazlewood is also expected to return to the playing XI</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 Ashes | Australia win day-night Adelaide Test despite Buttler’s resistance</strong> - Home side win by 275-runs to take a lead of 2-0 after two Tests</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>New Zealand to return to Pakistan in 2022-23 to make up for abandoned tour</strong> - In April, Pakistan and New Zealand will face each other in five ODIs and five T20Is</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>Boxing Day Test between India and SA to be played without spectators: report</strong> - The organisers are, however, waiting to see if there are any changes to government regulations regarding COVID-19 next week</p></li>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</h1>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>In Manipur, campaign for Assembly polls gains momentum</strong> - EC yet to announce schedule; war of words between BJP, Cong.</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>Mohan Bhagwat calls on Dalai Lama</strong> - Meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of continuing border face-off between China and India</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>Malayalam composer Justin Varghese is on a roll with back-to-back releases</strong> - The composer talks about working in a Lal Jose movie and the kind of music he loves to make</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>Bombay HC extends time till January 7 for Varavara Rao to surrender</strong> - He is accused in the Bhima Koregaon caste violence</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>CSIR-CCMB working on improving diagnostic methods to check for Omicron variant</strong> - Vaccines do provide protection and the focus in our country should be on vaccinating the remaining 22% population with double dosage, says Director Vinay Kumar Nandicoori</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</h1>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Covid: Germany tightens restrictions on UK travellers</strong> - Germany follows France in banning British tourists and business travellers over Omicron concerns.</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>Nadal tests positive for Covid</strong> - Rafael Nadal tests positive for Covid-19 after returning home from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.</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>Carlos Marin: Simon Cowell ‘devastated’ at death of Il Divo singer at 53</strong> - The classical group’s Carlos Marin died at the age of 53 after going into hospital during a UK tour.</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: Irish hospitality restrictions come into force</strong> - From Monday, pubs, restaurants, cinemas and cultural venues must close by 20:00.</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: Dutch go into Christmas lockdown over Omicron wave</strong> - Non-essential shops, schools, bars and other public venues have been closed until at least 14 January.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>How will our warming climate stabilize? Scientists look to the distant past</strong> - Can the deep past help us understand our future? - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1820348">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>That time Catherine the Great championed smallpox vaccinations</strong> - The Russian monarch’s 1787 letter calling for widespread vaccination is up for auction. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1821789">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>ESPN, other Disney-owned channels return to YouTube TV [Updated]</strong> - Disney-owned channels had been removed from YouTube TV due to a carriage dispute. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1821766">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The weekend’s best deals: Epic Games Store holiday sale, Apple devices, and more</strong> - Dealmaster also includes good noise-canceling headphones and Philips Hue lights. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1821507">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Mask up! The best face masks for use against COVID-19 [Updated]</strong> - Finding masks that meet CDC and WHO guidelines is tough. We did the work for you. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1722673">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
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<li><strong>A priest and a rabbi are spending a day off together at a lake..</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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Since they’re alone, they decide to swim naked as god intended..
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Just as they leave the water, two busses pull up, parking right in front of them. Members of the priest’s parish pour out of the first bus, members of the rabbi’s parish pour out of the other.
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In shock, with nowhere to hide and their clothes out of reach, the priest covers his penis. The rabbi instead covers his face and the priest asks him “Dear friend, what are you doing??” to which the rabbi replies: “Well, in MY parish, people recognise me by my face!”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/stonedCowboy69"> /u/stonedCowboy69 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/rk5aji/a_priest_and_a_rabbi_are_spending_a_day_off/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/rk5aji/a_priest_and_a_rabbi_are_spending_a_day_off/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A man was sitting at a bar enjoying an after work cocktail when an exceptionally gorgeous and sexy young woman entered.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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She was so striking that the man could not take his eyes from her. The young woman noticed his overly-attentive stare and walked directly toward him.
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Before he could offer his apologies for being so rude, the young woman said to him, “I’ll do anything, absolutely anything, that you want me to do, no matter how kinky, for $100 on one condition.”
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Flabbergasted, the man asked what the condition was.
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The young woman replied, “You have to tell me what you want me to do in just 3 words.”
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The man considered her proposition for a moment, withdrew his wallet from his pocket and slowly counted out five $20 bills, which he pressed into the young woman’s hand.
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He looked into her eyes and slowly, meaningfully said, “Paint my house.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/6ileys"> /u/6ileys </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/rkaiwo/a_man_was_sitting_at_a_bar_enjoying_an_after_work/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/rkaiwo/a_man_was_sitting_at_a_bar_enjoying_an_after_work/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>There are a pair of twins called Ving and Ling. Ving decided to go to the town hall to change his name. Ling decided to give him a lift there. When they arrived Ling reminded Ving that he would disgrace their family if he changed his name to Lee.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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Ving takes a form and quickly fills it out to change his name. He sends off the form, but immediately starts to regret it. He is told that to revoke his form he must pay a small fee. Ling takes out her purse and is about to hand over the money when suddenly… A man, their father, bursts through the door and embraces Ving and tells them, “Don’t stop, be Lee, Ving”, “Hold on to that fee, ling.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/YZXFILE"> /u/YZXFILE </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/rk6nz4/there_are_a_pair_of_twins_called_ving_and_ling/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/rk6nz4/there_are_a_pair_of_twins_called_ving_and_ling/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A Muslim, a Hindu and a lawyer are travelling through the desert…</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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They’ve tried to make good time in their travels, but find that night will fall before they can make it to the next town. Luckily they find a farm nearby, and they ask the farmer if they can stay for the night. When he agrees, not wanting to impose too much, they set their sleeping rolls in his barn. The farmer goes to bed inside, and was on the verge of sleep when he hears a knock at the door. Slightly annoyed, he goes and opens the door. The Hindu is at the door with his bedroll and says: “My deepest apologies, but I’ve just realised there is a cow in the barn. In my religion, cows are sacred and I learned growing up that it is presumptuous to sleep on the same ground as them. Would you mind if I slept inside?” The farmer is understanding and allows him to sleep in a spare room. He goes back to bed and is again on the verge of sleep when another knock arrives. Disgruntled, he goes to the door and finds the Muslim there with his bedroll. The Muslim says: “I’m terribly sorry but I’ve realised there is a pig in your barn. In my religion we consider pigs to be unclean, and I feel it would be impious of me to sleep on the same ground as one. May I sleep inside?” The farmer is frustrated, but again understand and allows the Muslim in. Only the lawyer is left in the barn. Once more, the farmer is on the verge of sleep but hears a knock at the door. Furious, he stomps to the door, throws it open and is on the verge of shouting when he is brought up short. The cow and the pig are at the door.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/MervShmerv"> /u/MervShmerv </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/rkgjle/a_muslim_a_hindu_and_a_lawyer_are_travelling/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/rkgjle/a_muslim_a_hindu_and_a_lawyer_are_travelling/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A despondent young woman who had lost her job and her house had decided to commit suicide.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
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She was walking along a bridge across the harbor, getting the nerve to jump in, when a young man saw her.
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“Don’t do it!” he called out. He looked at her and realized she was incredibly beautiful. He came closer.
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“What’s wrong?” he asked. The woman told him.
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“Okay, here’s the thing,” he said. “I’m a crew member on a ship that leaves for Europe tomorrow morning. How about you come with me on the ship. I’ll bring you food and drink.” He slid his arm around her. “I keep you happy, you keep me happy.”
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She agreed. After all, there wasn’t much else to do. She didn’t have family. The man was quite handsome as well. No harm in trying.
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The next morning, he hid her in one of the lifeboats on the ship with a pillow and a blanket. Every night, he brought her three sandwiches and a piece of fruit, and they made love until dawn.
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One day, about a week after the affair started, the captain was doing his rounds and found her inside one of the lifeboats. “What the hell are you doing here?” She explained what was going on.
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“I get food and a trip to Europe, and he gets to screw me.”
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“He sure does, sweetheart. This is the Sydney Harbor Ferry.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/ninja_snail62"> /u/ninja_snail62 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/rklnow/a_despondent_young_woman_who_had_lost_her_job_and/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/rklnow/a_despondent_young_woman_who_had_lost_her_job_and/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
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