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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>How has the emergence of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern influenced worry, perceived risk, and behaviour in the UK? A series of cross-sectional surveys</strong> -
<div>
Background: The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 was designated as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization on 26 November 2021. In response, the UK Government reinforced guidance to help prevent the spread of infection. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in people’s beliefs and behaviours following news of the Omicron variant and associated guidance; understanding of Omicron-related guidance, and factors associated with engaging with protective behaviours. Methods: Series of four online cross-sectional surveys conducted 1 November to 8 December</div></li>
</ul>
<ol start="2021" type="1">
<li>We investigated levels of worry and perceived risk, and levels of key behaviours (out-of-home activities, risky social mixing, wearing a face covering, and testing uptake). Using regression analyses, we investigated associations between out-of-home activities (shopping and non-essential workplace attendance), highest risk social mixing, and wearing a face covering (in shops and hospitality venues), with amount heard about Omicron, worry (about COVID-19 generally and Omicron specifically), and perceived risk (of COVID-19 generally and Omicron specifically). Results: Beliefs about worry and perceived risk of COVID-19 fluctuated over time, with worry, perceived risk to self and perceived risk to people increasing slightly around the time of the announcement about Omicron, then returning to pre- Omicron levels. In data collected 6 to 8 December 2021, 32% had not heard anything about Omicron; another 48% reported only hearing “a little” about it. 39.0% of people reported being very or extremely worried about Omicron, with 44.9% and 56.7% perceiving a major or significant risk of Omicron to themselves and people in the UK respectively. Understanding of the new rules was low, with people over-estimating the new rules. There were few changes in behaviour over time; only rates of wearing a face covering increased. There was no evidence for significant associations between out-of-home activity and worry or perceived risk (COVID-19 generally or Omicron-specific). Engaging in highest risk social mixing and always wearing a face covering in hospitality venues were associated with worry and perceived risk about COVID-19. Always wearing a face covering in shops was associated with having heard more about Omicron. Conclusions: Almost two years into the COVID-19 outbreak, the emergence of a novel variant of concern slightly influenced worry and perceived risk, and engagement with a protective behaviour (wearing a face covering). There was no change in engagement with other behaviours that were not legislated. This may be reflective of the early stage of the Omicron outbreak in England.
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/rpcu2/" target="_blank">How has the emergence of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern influenced worry, perceived risk, and behaviour in the UK? A series of cross-sectional surveys</a>
</div></li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><strong>Examination of motivations of Generation Z and Millennial consumers with regards to alternative payment options in terms of user experience and product offerings. Literature Review.</strong> -
<div>
Abstract With the acceleration of fintech innovations, the use of alternative payment methods has continued to increase globally. Generation Z and Y consumers are the highest adopters of these alternative payment methods, yet despite this, there is limited research examining their motivations and intentions for using alternative payment methods. This literature review aimed to address this gap through the evaluation of relevant quantitative empirical research by utilizing The Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) for its theoretical. The findings indicated that generation z and Y consumers adoption of alternative payment methods are driven largely by behavioural intention, wherein using the UTAUT model, finds a common positive effect across all five variables. Nevertheless, current literature fails to address how Covid-19 restrictions influenced this adoption and as such further primary research post-lockdown is recommended.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/hfynr/" target="_blank">Examination of motivations of Generation Z and Millennial consumers with regards to alternative payment options in terms of user experience and product offerings. Literature Review.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Parent and child mental health during COVID-19 in Australia: The role of pet attachment</strong> -
<div>
Restrictions, social isolation, and uncertainty related to the global COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted the ways that parents and children maintain family routines, health, and wellbeing. Companion animals (pets) can be a critical source of comfort during traumatic experiences, although changes to family routines, such as those caused by COVID-19, can also bring about challenges like managing undesirable pet behaviours or pet-human interactions. We aimed to examine the relationship between pet attachment and mental health for both parents and their children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. A total of 1,034 parents living with a child under 18 years and a cat or dog completed an online cross-sectional survey. Path analysis using multivariate linear regression was conducted to examine associations between objective COVID-19 impacts, subjective worry about COVID-19, human-pet attachment, and mental health. After adjusting for core demographic factors, stronger pet-child attachment was associated with greater child anxiety (parent-reported, p&lt;.001). Parent-pet attachment was not associated with self-reported psychological distress (p=.42), however, parents who reported a strong emotional closeness with their pet reported greater psychological distress (p=.002). Findings highlight the role of pets during times of change and uncertainty. It is possible that families are turning to animals as a source of comfort, during a time when traditional social supports are less accessible. Alternatively, strong pet attachment is likely to reflect high levels of empathy, which might increase vulnerability to psychological distress. Longitudinal evidence is required to delineate the mechanisms underpinning pet attachment and mental health.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/r2xhq/" target="_blank">Parent and child mental health during COVID-19 in Australia: The role of pet attachment</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Tuftsin: a natural molecule against SARS-CoV-2 infection</strong> -
<div>
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continuously proceeds despite the application of a variety of vaccines. It is still urgent to find effective ways to treat COVID-19. Recent studies indicate that NRP1, an important receptor of the natural peptide tuftsin, facilitates SARS-CoV-2 infection. Importantly, tuftsin is a natural human molecule released from IgG. Here, we found 91 overlapping genes between tuftsin targets and COVID-19-associated genes. Bioinformatics analyses indicated that tuftsin could also target ACE2 and exert some immune-related functions to treat COVID-19. Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis, we confirmed that tuftsin can bind ACE2 and NRP1 directly. Moreover, tuftsin effectively impairs the binding of SARS-CoV-2 S1 to ACE2. Thus, tuftsin is an attractive drug against COVID-19. And tuftsin as natural immunostimulating peptide in human, we speculate that tuftsin may has crucial roles in asymptomatic carriers or mild cases of COVID-19.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.10.475746v1" target="_blank">Tuftsin: a natural molecule against SARS-CoV-2 infection</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>SARS-CoV-2 infection induces soluble platelet activation markers and PAI-1 in the early moderate stage of COVID-19</strong> -
<div>
Introduction: Coagulation dysfunction and thromboembolism emerge as strong comorbidity factors in severe COVID-19. However, it is unclear when particularly platelet activation markers and coagulation factors dysregulated during the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Here, we sought to assess the levels of coagulation and platelet activation markers at moderate and severe stages of COVID-19 to understand the pathogenesis. Methods: To understand this, hospitalized COVID-19 patients with (severe cases that required intensive care) or without pneumonia (moderate cases) were recruited. Phenotypic and molecular characterizations were performed employing basic coagulation tests including PT, APTT, D-Dimer and TFPI. The flow cytometry-based multiplex assays were performed to assess FXI, anti-thrombin, prothrombin, fibrinogen, FXIII, P-selectin, sCD40L, plasminogen, tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and D-Dimer. Results: The investigations revealed induction of plasma P-selectin and CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in moderate COVID-19 cases which were significantly abolished with the progression of COVID-19 severity. Moreover, a profound reduction in plasma tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and FXIII were identified particularly in the severe COVID-19. Further analysis revealed fibrinogen induction in both moderate and severe patients. Interestingly, an elevated PAI-1 more prominently in moderate, and tPA particularly in severe COVID-19 cases were observed. Particularly, the levels of fibrinogen and tPA directly correlated with the severity of the disease. Conclusions: In summary, induction of soluble P-selectin, sCD40L, fibrinogen and PAI-1 in moderate COVID-19 cases suggests the activation of platelets and coagulation system before patients require intensive care. These findings would help in designing better thromboprophylaxis to limit the COVID-19 severity.
</div>
<div class="article-link article- html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.23.457378v2" target="_blank">SARS- CoV-2 infection induces soluble platelet activation markers and PAI-1 in the early moderate stage of COVID-19</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>The Impact of State Paid Sick Leave Policies on Longitudinal Weekday Workplace Mobility During the COVID-19 Pandemic</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Objectives. To evaluate whether the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) modified the association between pre-existing state paid sick leave (PSL) and weekday workplace mobility between February 15 and July 7, 2020. Methods. The 50 US states and Washington, D.C. were divided into exposure groups based on the presence or absence of pre-existing state PSL policies. Derived from Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports, the outcome was measured as the daily percent change in weekday workplace mobility. Mixed-effects, interrupted time series regression was performed to evaluate weekday workplace mobility after the implementation of the FFCRA on April 1st, 2020. Results. States with pre-existing PSL policies exhibited a greater drop in mobility following the passage of the FFCRA (𝛃=-8.86,95%CI:-11.6,-6.10,P&lt; 001). This remained significant after adjusting for state-level health, economic, and sociodemographic indicators (𝛃=-3.13,95%CI:-5.92,-0.34,P=.039). Conclusions. Pre-existing PSL policies contributed to a significant decline in weekday workplace mobility after the FFCRA, which may have influenced local health outcomes. Policy implications The presence of pre-existing state policies may differentially influence the impact of federal legislation enacted during emergencies.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html- link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.16.22269377v1" target="_blank">The Impact of State Paid Sick Leave Policies on Longitudinal Weekday Workplace Mobility During the COVID-19 Pandemic</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of convalescents boosts neutralization capacity against SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron that can be predicted by anti-S antibody concentrations in serological assays</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background : Recent data on immune evasion of new SARS-CoV-2 variants raise concerns about antibody-based COVID-19 therapies. Therefore in this study the in-vitro neutralization capacity against SARS-CoV-2 variants Wuhan D614G, Delta and Omicron in sera of convalescent individuals with and without boost by vaccination was assessed. Methods and Findings: This in-vitro study included 66 individuals with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, divided into subgroups without (n=29) and with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (n=37). We measured SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations by serological assays (anti-SARS-CoV-2-QuantiVac-ELISA (IgG) and Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S) and neutralizing titers against Wuhan D614G, Delta and Omicron in a pseudovirus neutralization assay. Sera of the majority of unvaccinated convalescents did not effectively neutralize Delta and Omicron (4/29, 13.8% and 19/29, 65.5%, resp.). Neutralizing titers against Wuhan D614G, Delta and Omicron were significantly higher in vaccinated compared to unvaccinated convalescents (p&lt;0.0001) with 11.1, 15.3 and 60-fold higher geometric mean of 50%-neutralizing titers (NT50) in vaccinated compared to unvaccinated convalescents. The increase in neutralizing titers was already achieved by one vaccination dose. Neutralizing titers were highest in the first 3 months after vaccination. Concentrations of anti-S antibodies in the serological assays anti-SARS-CoV-2 QuantiVac-ELISA (IgG) and Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S predict neutralization capacity against Wuhan D614G, Delta and Omicron. While Wuhan D614G was neutralized in-vitro by Bamlanivimab, Casirivimab and Imdevimab, Omicron was resistant to these monoclonal antibodies. Conclusions: These findings confirm substantial immune evasion of Delta and Omicron which can be overcome by vaccination of convalescents. This informs strategies for choosing of plasma donors in COVID-19 convalescent plasma programs that shall select specifically vaccinated convalescents with very high titers of anti-S antibodies.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.17.22269201v1" target="_blank">SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of convalescents boosts neutralization capacity against SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron that can be predicted by anti-S antibody concentrations in serological assays</a>
</div></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Sero-Prevalence of Covid-19 among workers in Malaysia</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
From the beginning of the pandemic in Feb 2020, Malaysia has been through 4 waves of outbreak, the magnitude of each wave is several orders larger than the preceding one. By the end of the fourth wave in October 2021, Malaysia has among the highest death toll in Asia, cumulative incidence of confirmed cases has reached 7.0 percent. However it remains uncertain what is the true proportion of the population infected. We conducted a serosurvey on 1078 workers from 17 worksites in Klang Valley and Perak between July and September 2021. We tested them for SARSCoV2 specific antibodies using Ecotest, a lateral flow immunoassay. The ability of antibody testing to detect prior infection depends on the assay and seroreversion. We therefore adjusted the prevalence estimates to correct for potential misclassification bias due to the use of LFIA and seroreversion using test sensitivity and specificity results estimated from an independent validation study. The mean age of the workers was 32 years, 89 percent were male and migrant workers comprised 81 percent of all subjects, 59 percent the subjects were from Klang valley. 33 percent of workers had prior PCR confirmed Covid19 infections. We estimated 82.2 percent of workers had been infected by Covid19 by September 2021. Prevalence was 99.9 percent among migrant workers and 12.1 percent among local workers. Klang Valley, the most industrialized region in Malaysia where most migrant workers are found, had 100 percent prevalence, giving an infection to case ratio of about</p></div></li>
</ul>
<ol start="3" type="1">
<li>Our seroprevalence results show that the incidence of Covid19 is extremely high among migrant workers in Malaysia, consistent with findings from other countries such as Kuwait and Singapore which also hosted large number of migrant workers.
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"></p>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.16.22269388v1" target="_blank">Sero-Prevalence of Covid-19 among workers in Malaysia</a>
</div></li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The emergence of two distinct SARS-CoV-2 Gamma related variants during the second wave of COVID-19 in Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil and the rapid spread of P.1-like-II SARS-CoV-2 variant transmission and a regionalization in the Western region</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
COVID-19 has assumed significant and lasting proportions worldwide. Following initial cases in the Western mesoregion, the State of Santa Catarina (SC), southern Brazil, was heavily affected as a whole by the pandemic in early</p></div></li>
</ul>
<ol start="2021" type="1">
<li>This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreading patterns in the SC state through March 2020 to April 2021 using genomic surveillance. During this period, 23 distinct variants, including two VOCs (Beta and Gamma) were identified, among which, the Gamma and related lineages were predominant in the second pandemic wave within SC. However, a regionalization of P.1-like-II in the Western region was observed, concomitant to the increase in cases, mortality, and case fatality rate (CFR) index. This is the first evidence of the regionalization of the SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the and highlight the importance of tracking variants, dispersion and their impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the public health system in Brazilian states.
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"></p>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.13.22268697v2" target="_blank">The emergence of two distinct SARS- CoV-2 Gamma related variants during the second wave of COVID-19 in Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil and the rapid spread of P.1-like-II SARS-CoV-2 variant transmission and a regionalization in the Western region</a>
</div></li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><strong>Evaluation of an emergency safe supply drug and managed alcohol program in COVID-19 isolation hotel shelters for people experiencing homelessness</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background: During a COVID-19 outbreak in the congregate shelter system in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, a multidisciplinary health care team provided an emergency safe supply of pharmaceutical-grade medications and beverage- grade alcohol to facilitate isolation in COVID-19 hotel shelters for residents who are dependent on these substances. We aimed to evaluate (a) substances and dosages provided, and (b) effectiveness and safety of the program. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all COVID-19 isolation hotel shelter residents during May 2021. We extracted data on medication and alcohol dosages provided each day. The primary outcome was residents prematurely leaving isolation against public health orders. Adverse events included (a) overdose; (b) intoxication; and (c) diversion, selling, or sharing of medications or alcohol. Results: Over 25 days, 77 isolation hotel residents were assessed (mean age 42 +/- 14 years; 24% women). Sixty-two (81%) residents were provided medications, alcohol, or cigarettes. Seventeen residents (22%) received opioid agonist treatment medications (methadone, buprenorphine, or slow-release oral morphine) and 27 (35%) received hydromorphone tablets. Thirty-one (40%) residents received stimulant tablets with methylphenidate (27; 35%), dextroamphetamine (8; 10%), or lisdexamfetamine (2; 3%). Six residents (8%) received benzodiazepines. Forty-two (55%) residents received alcohol, including 41 (53%) with strong beer, three (3%) with wine, and one (1%) with hard liquor. Over 14 days in isolation, mean daily dosages increased of hydromorphone (45 +/- 32 to 57 +/- 42mg), methylphenidate (51 +/- 28 to 77 +/- 37mg), dextroamphetamine (33 +/- 16 to 46 +/- 13mg), and alcohol (12.3 +/- 7.6 to 13.0 +/- 6.9 standard drinks). Six residents (8%) left isolation prematurely, but four of those residents returned. Over 1,059 person-days in isolation, there were zero overdoses. Documented concerns regarding intoxication occurred six times (0.005 events/person-day) and medication diversion or sharing three times (0.003 events/person-day). Conclusions: An emergency safe supply and managed alcohol program, paired with housing, was associated with low rates of adverse events and high rates of successful completion of the 14-day isolation period in COVID-19 isolation hotel shelters. This supports the effectiveness and safety of emergency safe supply prescribing and managed alcohol in this setting.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.14.22269074v1" target="_blank">Evaluation of an emergency safe supply drug and managed alcohol program in COVID-19 isolation hotel shelters for people experiencing homelessness</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>EFCAB4B (CRACR2A) genetic variants associated with COVID-19 fatality</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in more than 235 million cases worldwide and 4.8 million deaths (October 2021). Severe COVID-19 is characterised in part by vascular thrombosis and cytokine storms due to increased plasma concentrations of factors secreted from endothelial and T-cells. Here, using patient data recorded in the UK Biobank, we demonstrate the importance of variations in Rab46 (CRACR2A) and clinical outcomes. Using logistic regression analysis, we determined that three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene EFCAB4B cause missense variations in Rab46, which are associated with COVID-19 fatality independently of risk factors. All three SNPs cause changes in amino acid residues that are highly conserved across species, indicating their importance in protein structure and function. Two SNPs, rs17836273 (A98T) and rs36030417 (H212Q), cause amino acid changes in important functional domains: the EF-hand and coiled-coil domain respectively. By using molecular modelling, we suggest that the substitution of threonine at position 98 causes structural changes in the EF-hand calcium binding domain. Rab46 is a Rab GTPase that plays regulates both regulating endothelial cell secretion and T-cell cytokine signalling and this study supports the hypothesis that genetic variations in Rab46 plays a role in COVID-19 severity.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.17.22269412v1" target="_blank">EFCAB4B (CRACR2A) genetic variants associated with COVID-19 fatality</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Phylodynamic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spread in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, highlights how metropolitan areas act as dispersal hubs for new variants.</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
During the first semester of 2021, all of Brazil has suffered an intense wave of COVID-19 associated with the Gamma variant. In July, the first cases of Delta variant were detected in the state of Rio de Janeiro. In this work, we have employed phylodynamic methods to analyze more than 1,600 genomic sequences of Delta variant collected until September in Rio de Janeiro to reconstruct how this variant has surpassed Gamma and dispersed throughout the state. After the introduction of Delta, it has initially spread mostly in the homonymous city of Rio de Janeiro, the most populous of the state. In a second stage, dispersal occurred to mid- and long-range cities, which acted as new close- range hubs for spread. We observed that the substitution of Gamma by Delta was possibly caused by its higher viral load, a proxy for transmissibility. This variant turnover prompted a new surge in cases, but with lower lethality than was observed during the peak caused by Gamma. We reason that high vaccination rates in the state of Rio de Janeiro were possibly what prevented a higher number of deaths.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.17.22269136v1" target="_blank">Phylodynamic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spread in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, highlights how metropolitan areas act as dispersal hubs for new variants.</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Real-world monitoring of BNT162b2 vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 B and T cell immunity in naive healthcare workers: a prospective single center study</strong> -
<div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To prevent the massive COVID-19 burden, several vaccination campaigns were initiated. We performed a single center observational trial to evaluate adaptive immunity in naive healthcare workers upon BNT162b2 vaccination. Methods: Serological analysis was performed through conventional immunoassays. Antibody functionality was analyzed via in vitro neutralization assays. Circulating receptor-binding domain (RBD) specific B cells were assessed via flowcytometry. The induction of SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells was investigated through interferon-γ release assay combined with flowcytometric profiling of activated CD4 and CD8 T cells. Results: Three months after vaccination, all but one of the subjects (N = 31) displayed vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies. In 10 out of 31 subjects, circulating RBD specific B cells were found of which the rate showed moderate correlation to serological parameters. Specific interferon-γ release was present in all subjects and correlated with the significant upregulation of CD69 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and CD40L on CD4+ T cells. Interestingly, no relation was found between B and T cell parameters. In addition, one symptomatic breakthrough infection with the SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant of concern was reported. Conclusion: Three months post vaccination, both humoral and cellular immune responses are detectable in all but one participant. No correlation was found between the magnitude of both B and T cell responses.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.17.22269081v1" target="_blank">Real-world monitoring of BNT162b2 vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 B and T cell immunity in naive healthcare workers: a prospective single center study</a>
</div></li>
<li><strong>Chronic loneliness: neurocognitive mechanisms and interventions</strong> -
<div>
Loneliness has been associated with detrimental effects on mental and physical health and is increasingly recognized as a critical public health issue which may be further exacerbated by societal challenges such as increasing urbanization, an aging society as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. We here review recent findings on the neurocognitive mechanisms and brain alterations that underpin social disconnectedness, therapeutic approaches for chronic loneliness and how these lines of research can be integrated to improve the efficacy of loneliness interventions in healthy individuals and patients with mental disorders.
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://psyarxiv.com/r4f9e/" target="_blank">Chronic loneliness: neurocognitive mechanisms and interventions</a>
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<li><strong>Attitudes towards vaccines, intent to vaccinate and the relationship with COVID-19 vaccination rates in individuals with schizophrenia</strong> -
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Abstract Background: People with schizophrenia are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19 outcomes but recent evidence suggests that this population have lower vaccination rates than the general population. This gap in vaccination rates could be explained by attitudinal and structural barriers. Aims: This study explored the role of potential attitudinal barriers by comparing schizophrenia patients with participants from the general population regarding COVID-19 vaccination rates, general attitudes towards vaccines, and willingness to take a COVID-19 vaccine. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study between April 2021 and October 2021. 100 schizophrenia patients and 72 controls were recruited. Attitudes towards vaccines were assessed with the Vaccination Attitudes Examination Scale. COVID-19 vaccination rates, sociodemographic, clinical and health-related variables were also assessed. Results: In our study, the proportion of individuals with schizophrenia were under-vaccinated despite similar general attitudes towards vaccination and higher willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 compared to the participants from the general population. In patients, negative attitudes toward vaccines was related to higher level of negative psychotic symptoms and higher level of paranoid ideation. As a whole, participants with more negative attitudes towards vaccines were less likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and had lower levels of trust in institutions. Conclusions: Vaccine hesitancy does not appear to be a major barrier for COVID-19 vaccine uptake amongst people with schizophrenia. This study suggests that disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates in schizophrenia do not seem related to attitudinal but rather structural barriers.
</p>
</div>
<div class="article-link article-html-link">
🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.12.22269167v1" target="_blank">Attitudes towards vaccines, intent to vaccinate and the relationship with COVID-19 vaccination rates in individuals with schizophrenia</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>Quantifying Viral Load in Respiratory Particles That Are Generated by Children and Adults With COVID-19 Infection</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Device: COVID-19 Aerosol Collection<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:  <br/>
Massachusetts General Hospital<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Evaluation of Safety &amp; Efficacy of MIR 19 ® Inhalation Solution in Patients With Moderate COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: MIR 19 ®;   Combination Product: Standard COVID-19 therapy<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   National Research Center - Institute of Immunology Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia;   St. Petersburg Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Telemedicine Brief Mindfulness Intervention in Post-COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Post COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Other: Mindfulness<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:  <br/>
Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus;   Catholic University of the Sacred Heart<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>Immunogenicity and Safety of a Booster Dose of the SpikoGen COVID-19 Vaccine</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein + Advax-SM adjuvant;   Biological: Saline placebo<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Cinnagen;   Vaxine Pty Ltd<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>Plasma Exchange in Covid-19 Patients With Anti-interferon Autoantibodies</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: Therapeutic plasma exchange<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:  <br/>
Centre Hospitalier St Anne<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>Randomized Multicenter Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Favipiravir for Parenteral Administration Compared to Standard of Care in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Drug: Favipiravir;   Drug: Remdesivir<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Promomed, LLC;   Solyur Pharmaceuticals Group<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Inhaled Heparin for Hospitalised Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Drug: unfractionated Heparin<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:  <br/>
Australian National University;   The George Institute;   St George Hospital, Australia;   St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne;   John Hunter Hospital;   Royal North Shore Hospital<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>PTX-COVID19-B, an mRNA Humoral Vaccine, Intended for Prevention of COVID-19 in a General Population. This Study is Designed to Demonstrate the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of PTX-COVID19-B in Comparison to the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   Covid19 Vaccine<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Biological: PTX-COVID19-B;   Biological: Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine;   Biological: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Providence Therapeutics Holdings 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>Immunogenicity and Safety Study of a SCB-2019 Vaccine Booster Dose to Adults Who Previously Received Primary Series of Selected COVID-19 Vaccines</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Biological: Candidate vaccine, SCB-2019<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Clover Biopharmaceuticals AUS Pty Ltd<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>COVID-19 Messaging for Vaccination</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Vaccination Refusal;   COVID-19 Pandemic<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Behavioral: Doctor Videos;   Behavioral: Sharing Videos;   Behavioral: Sharing Videos (Influencers);   Behavioral: Vaccine Ambassador;   Behavioral: Video framing;   Behavioral: Video order<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Massachusetts Institute of Technology;   Facebook, Inc.;   Code3;   Stanford University;   Harvard University;   Yale University;   Johns Hopkins University;   Massachusetts General Hospital;   Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich;   National Institutes of Health (NIH)<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>Respiratory Physiotherapy and Neurorehabilitation in Patients With Post-covid19 Sequelae.</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19 Pandemic<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Other: respiratory treatment<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Universidad Católica de Ávila<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>IMPACT OF THERAPEUTIC PLASMA EXCHANGE ON ACQUIRED VACCINAL ANTI-SARS-CoV-2 ANTIBODIES.</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>:   Diagnostic Test: Evolution of antibodies titre<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain<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>Spa Rehabilitation, Antioxidant and Bioenergetic Supportive Treatment of Patients With Post-Covid-19 Syndrome</strong> - <b>Condition</b>:   COVID-19 Respiratory Infection<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Dietary Supplement: ubiquinol (reduced coenzyme Q10);   Other: mountain spa rehabilitation;   Diagnostic Test: 2x14 ml of peripheral blood collected in a tube with anticoagulant<br/><b>Sponsors</b>:   Comenius University;   Sanatórium of Dr. Guhr, n.o.<br/><b>Completed</b></p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Effect of Dietary Intervation on Endothelial Glycocalyx in COVID-19 Patients.</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   COVID-19;   Endothelial Dysfunction<br/><b>Interventions</b>:  <br/>
Dietary Supplement: Food supplement Endocalyx;   Dietary Supplement: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:  <br/>
University of Athens<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>Public Support for COVID-19 Test Allocation</strong> - <b>Conditions</b>:   Health Equity;   COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>:   Behavioral: First Come, First Served;   Behavioral: Random;   Behavioral: Disadvantaged Priority &amp; Random<br/><b>Sponsor</b>:   University of Pennsylvania<br/><b>Completed</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>Factors associated with insomnia among frontline nurses during COVID-19: a cross-sectional survey study</strong> - CONCLUSION: The present study’s findings help to explain how pandemic consequences can be associated with insomnia. Additionally, the findings make a significant contribution to better understanding the role of neuroticism, emotion dysregulation, beliefs, and psychopathology vulnerability in the development of insomnia among nurses. The findings suggest the potential influence of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and transdiagnostic integrated therapies that could be incorporated…</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>Acyl-Coenzyme A Synthetase Long-Chain Family Member 4 Is Involved in Viral Replication Organelle Formation and Facilitates Virus Replication via Ferroptosis</strong> - Enterovirus infections can cause severe complications, such as poliomyelitis, encephalitis, myocarditis, meningitis, neurological pulmonary edema, and even death. Here, we used genome-wide CRISPR screens to gain new insight into the mechanism by which enteroviruses co-opt host pathways to potentiate replication and propagation. We found that acyl- coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) is involved in viral replication organelle formation. ACSL4 is a key component of ferroptosis,…</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>JIB-04 Has Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Activity and Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication and Coronavirus Pathogenesis</strong> - Pathogenic coronaviruses are a major threat to global public health. Here, using a recombinant reporter virus-based compound screening approach, we identified small-molecule inhibitors that potently block the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Among them, JIB-04 inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells with a 50% effective concentration of 695 nM, with a specificity index of greater than 1,000. JIB-04 showed in vitro antiviral activity in multiple…</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>Expression and immunogenicity of nsp10 protein of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus</strong> - Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a swine enteropathogenic coronavirus, causes lethal watery diarrhea to the piglets, which poses significant economic losses and public health concerns. The nsp10 protein of PEDV is essential regulatory subunits that are critical for virus replication. Since PEDV nsp10 is a crucial regulator of viral RNA synthesis, it is promising that nsp10 might become anti-virus drugs target or candidate for rapid diagnosis of PEDV infection. In this study, the PEDV…</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>ACE2 internalization induced by a SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protein is modulated by angiotensin II type 1 and bradykinin 2 receptors</strong> - AIMS: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a key regulator of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) recently identified as the membrane receptor for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here we aim to study whether two receptors from RAS, the angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1R) and the bradykinin 2 receptor (B2R) modulate ACE2 internalization induced by a recombinant receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Also, we investigated the impact of ACE2…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Evaluation of adult patients with atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab: a single-center real-life experience</strong> - Adult atopic dermatitis (AD), especially adult-onset type appears to have different clinical manifestations. Dupilumab is an IL-4 receptor antagonist used in patients with moderate and severe atopic dermatitis, aged 12 years and older and it works by inhibiting the IL-4 and IL-13 signaling pathway. The purpose of our study is to retrospectively investigate the side effect profile and drug efficacy of thirteen adult patients who received dupilumab treatment and to evaluate the drug use status 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>Molecular modelling and structure-activity relationship of a natural derivative of o-hydroxybenzoate as a potent inhibitor of dual NSP3 and NSP12 of SARS-CoV-2: in silico study</strong> - The nsp3 macrodomain and nsp12 (RdRp) enzymes are strongly implicated in the virulent regulation of the host immune response and viral replication of SARS-CoV-2, making them plausible therapeutic targets for mitigating infectivity. Remdesivir remains the only FDA-approved small-molecule inhibitor of the nsp12 in clinical conditions while none has been approved yet for the nsp3 macrodomain. In this study, 69,067 natural compounds from the IBScreen database were screened for efficacious potentials…</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>Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 ExoN (nsp14ExoN-nsp10) complex: implications for its role in viral genome stability and inhibitor identification</strong> - The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is the causal agent of the current global pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to an order, Nidovirales, with very large RNA genomes. It is proposed that the fidelity of coronavirus (CoV) genome replication is aided by an RNA nuclease complex, comprising the non-structural proteins 14 and 10 (nsp14-nsp10), an attractive target for antiviral inhibition. Our results validate reports that the SARS-CoV-2 nsp14-nsp10 complex has RNase activity. Detailed functional characterization…</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>I(2)-Catalyzed Carbonylation of alpha-Methylene Ketones to Synthesize 1,2-Diaryl Diketones and Antiviral Quinoxalines in One Pot</strong> - An efficient approach for the synthesis of 1,2-diaryl diketones was developed from readily available α-methylene ketones by catalysis of I(2). In the same oxidation system, a novel one-pot procedure was established for the construction of antiviral and anticancer quinoxalines. The reactions proceeded well with a wide variety of substrates and good functional group tolerance, affording desired compounds in moderate to excellent yields. Quinoxalines 4ca and 4ad inhibited viral entry of SARS-CoV-2…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes by targeting the Sigma-1 receptor disrupts cytoarchitecture and beating</strong> - SARS-CoV-2 infects cardiac cells and causes heart dysfunction. Conditions such as myocarditis and arrhythmia have been reported in COVID-19 patients. The Sigma-1 receptor (S1R) is a ubiquitously expressed chaperone that plays a central role in cardiomyocyte function. S1R has been proposed as a therapeutic target because it may affect SARS-CoV-2 replication; however, the impact of the inhibition of S1R in human cardiomyocytes remains to be described. In this study, we investigated 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>Impact of Warhead Modulations on the Covalent Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M(pro) Explored by QM/MM Simulations</strong> - The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, SARS-CoV-2, shows the need for effective antiviral treatments. Here, we present a simulation study of the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^(pro)), a cysteine hydrolase essential for the life cycle of the virus. The free energy landscape for the mechanism of the inhibition process is explored by QM/MM umbrella sampling and free energy perturbation simulations at the M06-2X/MM level of theory for two…</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>Validation of a Saliva-Based Test for the Molecular Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: RT-PCR assays conducted on a stored saliva sample achieved similar performance to those on NP swabs, and this may provide a very effective tool for population screening and diagnosis. Collection of saliva in a stabilizing solution makes the test more convenient and widely available; furthermore, the denaturing properties of the solution reduce the infective risks belonging to sample manipulation.</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>Sustained generation of peroxide from the air by carbon nano onion under visible light to combat RNA virus</strong> - Carbon nano onion (CNO) from dried grass has been synthesized by carbonization in the size range, 20 to 100 nm. This shows catalytic property to transform aerial oxygen under visible light to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). A concept has been presented herein to show that this CNO even under room light generates hydrogen peroxide which inhibits WSN influenza virus (H1N1). The advantage of introducing CNO, synthesized from a cheap source to cater to the global need, is to sterilize…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Local practices and production confer resilience to rural Pacific food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic</strong> - Resilience of food systems is key to ensuring food security through crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented shock that reveals varying levels of resilience of increasingly interconnected food systems across the globe. We contribute to the ongoing debate about whether increased connectivity reduces or enhances resilience in the context of rural Pacific food systems, while examining how communities have adapted to the global shocks associated with the pandemic to ensure food…</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Potential of phytocompounds from Brassica oleracea targeting S2-domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins: Structural and molecular insights</strong> - By 24th Sep. 2021, there are more than 229 million COVID-19 cases worldwide, the researchers are tirelessly working to discover and develop an efficient drug molecule against this devastative viral infection. This study aims to evaluate the inhibitory efficiency of the organic acids and phenolic compounds present in Brassica oleracea (Tronchuda Cabbage) against spike glycoprotein in SARS-CoV-2. Thirty-seven phytocompounds are screened on the basis of their molecular weight (&lt;500 g/mol) and 14…</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>IDENTIFICATION AND ALARM SYSTEM FOR FACIAL CORONA MASK USING CNN BASED IMAGE PROCESSING</strong> - tThe covid-19 epidemic is the world’s largest wake-up call for people to pay attention to their own and society’s health. One thing to keep in mind is that there is a segment of the population that has been exposed to the covid-19 virus and has generated antibodies without developing any significant illnesses and is continuing to be healthy. This indicates that a significant section of the population, even excluding the elderly, lacks the necessary bodily immunity to combat a Viral infection. As terrible as covid-19 is on a global scale, developing personal health standards and preventative measures for any pathogenic virus as a community would have spared many lives. In’this work, a camera is combined with an image processing system to recognise facial masks, which may be improved in a variety of ways. First and foremost, this method is meant to identify masks on a single person’s face. While this method is efficient in identifying someone has a mask, it does not ensure that they will wear it all of the time. The most effective update for this task is to install a camera with a wide field of view so that many individuals can be seen in the frame, and the faces of those who aren’t wearing markings can be identified, as well as the number of people and the timing. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN346889253">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>ANTIMICROBIAL SANITIZING FORMULATION</strong> - An antimicrobial sanitizing formulation, comprising, i) isopropyl alcohol in the range of 0.1%- 80% w/w, ii) an emollient in the range of 0.1%-15% w/w, iii) hydrogen peroxide in the range of 0.1 0.13% w/w, iv) citric acid in the range of 0.1% to 2.0% w/w, v) silver nitrate in the range of 0.1% to 0.5% w/w, and vi) a fragrance imparting agent in the range of 0.1% to 2.0% w/w. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN346888094">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A HEALTH BAND WITH A BIOMETRIC MODULE AND WORKING METHOD THEREOF</strong> - The present invention discloses a health band with a biometric module and method thereof. The assembly includes, but not limited to, a plurality of sensors configured to gather health data associated with a predefined symptom of a medical condition of a user; a memory unit configured to store the data and an interface, which is configured to determine the medical condition using the data;a processing unit configured to execute the application; and a notification facility configured to provide a notification upon receiving from the interface an instruction associated with the notification, wherein the notification is associated with a drug reminder and the like. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN346889061">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>RNA 검출 방법</strong> - 본 발명은 RNA의 분석 및 검출 방법에 관한 것이다. 특히, 본 발명은 특히, 본 발명은 짧은 염기서열의 RNA까지 분석이 가능하면서도 높은 민감도 및 정확도로 정량적 검출까지 가능하여 감염증, 암 등 여러 질환의 진단 용도로도 널리 활용될 수 있다. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=KR346026620">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>REUNION OF PHOTOTHERMAL THERAPY WITH MXENE ADSORBED UREMIC TOXINS AND CYTOKINES: A SHILED FOR COVID-19 PATENTS</strong> - The COVID-19 pandemic has created havoc throughout the world. The disease has proved to be more fatalfor patients having comorbidities like diabetics, lungs and kidney infections, etc. In the case of COVID-19 patientsI having kidney injury, the. removal of uremic toxins from the blood is hindered and there is a rapid surge in the levelj of cytokine hormone resulting in the death of the patient in a short interval of time. To resolve this issue,iI; researchers have examined that the immediate removal of these toxins can improve the condition of the patient to a |greater extent. Studies have also found the presence of SARS CoV-2 viral RNAs in the blood of COVID-19patients, which risks their life as well as impacts the blood transfusion process, especially in the case ofasymptomatic patients. Hence it is required to control the surge of cytokines and uremic toxins as well as disinfectthe blood of the patient from the virus. MXenes, having a foam-like porous structure and hydrophilic negativesurface functionalization have greater adsorption efficiency as well as superior photothermal activity. Utilizingthese properties of MXenes, the MXene membranes can be used in the dialyzer that can help in the efficient andBiuick removal of the uremic toxins, cytokines, and other impurities from the blood. Along with this the greaterTJAdsorption efficiency of MXenes to amino acids result in the trapping of the SARS CoV-2 viruses on the surface J)3&gt;f the MXene. Many researchers as well as the WHO have proved the efficient reduction of the viral copy numbersjjvith the increase of temperature. Hence, followed by the trapping of the viruses, the implementation of"Zphotothermal Therapy can result in the inactivation and denaturation of the viruses and their respective viral RNAsBJlby the produced heat. The same process can be repeated several times to get better results. This whole process canr&gt;oQ-esult in impurity-free and infection-free blood, that can be returned back to the body of the patient or can be!— I Sitilized for the blood transfusion process without any risk of infection.IM - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN346889224">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>REDUCING AND STOPPING OXYGEN WASTAGE IN HOSPITAL</strong> - In an aspect, the present invention discloses a system (200) for prevention and reduction of oxygen wastage from oxygen mask (202). The system (200) includes the oxygen mask (202) having straps; a tension sensor (204), the tension sensor being sensitive towards tension produced in the straps as the oxygen gets leakage through sides of the mask (202); a processor configured in alignment with the tension sensor (204); and a buzzer (206) in alignment with processor. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN346042219">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Hung Thanh Phan COVID-19 NEW SOLUTION</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU344983394">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A METHOD TO REVEAL MOTIF PATTERNS OF COVID-19 USING MULTIPLE SEQUENCE ALIGNMENT</strong> - This present invention consists of different levels of computation and work in a pipeline manner i.e., input of one will be output of another and it is sequential process. Input data given in form of nucleotide sequence (DNA) of different COVID-19 patients (1). Using these nucleotide sequence perform mutation if possible and arrange them in a sequential order (2). Arrange number of nucleotide sequences of different patients in row wise and also compute number of characters in each row. (3). Compute frequency of occurrence of character in column wise and create a matrix having 4 rows and maximum sequence length will be the column size (4). Find the character like A, T, C, and G which one has maximum score and similarly find for each column to produce a final sequence (5). - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN346039750">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>REUSABILITY OF ANTIMICROBIAL MULTILAYER NANOFIBER MASK WITH HIGH PROTECTIVE</strong> - According to the present Invention, an antimicrobial multi-layer protective mask has a body section including at least first and second fabric layers having random fiber configuration; a middle layer including nanofiber membrane; and third and fourth fabric layers. There are two layers of fabric sandwiched between the nanofiber membrane and the third fabric layer. Fabric layers 1 through 4 each include a synergistic mixture of at least two metal oxide powders that exhibit synergistic antibacterial capabilities, such as the first metal’s mixed-oxidation state oxide and a second metal’s single-oxidation-state oxide. - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=IN346039053">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>用于检测新型冠状病毒的引物、探针及其应用</strong> - 本发明属于医学检测领域，具体涉及用于检测新型冠状病毒的引物、探针及其应用。本发明设计了四组引物探针，采用常用的TaqMan‑MGB探针法对新型冠状病毒进行检测，可用于检测新型冠状病毒野生型、新型冠状病毒变异株、新型冠状病毒B.1.617亚型变异株以及新型冠状病毒B.1.617.2亚型变异株。假病毒测试结果表明，试剂灵敏度可达到500copies/mL。10份健康志愿者和4份常见其他呼吸道病原体检测均没有非特异性扩增，引物探针组合及试剂特异性较好。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN346990286">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>Prince Andrew’s Very Bad Week</strong> - A ruling in a New York legal case, in which Andrew is accused of sexual abuse, led to the Duke of York being stripped of his military titles. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/prince-andrews-very-bad-week">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Supreme Court’s Vexing Mixed Message on Vaccine Mandates</strong> - Two rulings reveal just how hard-conservative the core of the Court is. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-supreme-courts-vexing-mixed-message-on-vaccine-mandates">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Latinx Community and COVID-Disinformation Campaigns</strong> - Researchers debate how best to counter false narratives—and racial stereotypes. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-latinx-community-and-covid-disinformation-campaigns">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Sunday Reading: Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.</strong> - From the magazine’s archive: a selection of pieces about the significance of Dr. King’s extraordinary work and devotion to principle. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/books/double-take/sunday-reading-honoring-martin-luther-king-jr">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Rival Shows of “Yellowjackets”</strong> - On watching girls—and genres—devour one another. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-television/the-rival-shows-of-yellowjackets">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>We’ll never have a normal flu season again</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hp4mz817AnguURele-
JeDTia13A=/544x0:4899x3266/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70402519/GettyImages_1338773814t.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Two people stand near a “Free flu &amp; Covid-19 vaccines here” sign at a CVS in New York City on September 6, 2021. | Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
This terrible Covid and flu season is a preview of the post-pandemic normal.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="d4OXOh">
Even as <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-
perfect/22849891/omicron-pandemic-endemic">omicron</a> is surging, the seasonal flu is back: More than 2,500 Americans <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm">were admitted</a> to the hospital with influenza in the last week of December. The flu hospitalization rate is still about half of the pre-Covid normal, but it is eight times higher than it was last year when one side effect of pandemic restrictions was that <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-
health/22272237/flu-cases-down-historic-what-does-it-mean">flu cases fell off dramatically</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="txQuuw">
This is the first glimpse of a harsh new reality that will outlast this wave of the pandemic: Flu season has transformed into Covid-and-flu season — a “flu-rona” wave every winter.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="PJDQLp">
Before the pandemic, the flu alone could sometimes push hospital systems into crisis mode, where they cancel elective procedures and limit other kinds of care. Now there’s Covid-19, which has <a href="https://www.vox.com/coronavirus-covid19/2021/9/14/22650733/us-
covid-19-hospitals-full-texas-alabama">done the same thing</a> on its own.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WJik3o">
Suddenly conjuring more hospital capacity every winter to handle the expected surges of flu and Covid-19 is not going to happen. Thousands of additional hospital beds are not coming in the next few years, and <a href="https://www.vox.com/coronavirus-
covid19/22763417/us-covid-19-hospitals-nurses-shortage">the US would not have the doctors and nurses to staff them anyway</a>. It will take much longer — years or maybe decades — to improve the gaps in America’s health care infrastructure and workforce that have been exposed during Covid-19.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="01DBpi">
This means the imperative to “flatten the curve,” to limit the spread of these viruses to stop hospitals from being overwhelmed, will be with us for a long time. But the makeup of the curve will change, measuring multiple diseases instead of one.
</p>
<div class="c-float-right">
<div id="vzapZN">
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="C8Olt9">
Public health experts believe now and going forward the US needs a new public health strategy that treats Covid-19 and influenza as one unified threat. We can’t think that we will endure the omicron wave and then all of these problems will be behind us. This is the new reality. Responding to it adequately, along the lines some experts are calling for, would require a massive effort — nothing less than a complete rethinking of how we respond to the annual winter surge in respiratory illness.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="g5kOsb">
“We are on the lip. We are in a transitional phase, moving from pandemic to endemic,” William Schaffner, the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and a Vanderbilt University professor, told me. “With two of these respiratory viruses going on at pretty much the same time, I think that will create a greater stress on the health care system.”
</p>
<h3 id="hUOIkZ">
Get ready to live through Covid-and-flu seasons for the foreseeable future
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ARTTyE">
The flu is <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm">reliably seasonal</a>. The dominant strains for a given year usually start circulating in October and November before reaching their peak between December and February. Then the virus peters out over the next few months, then a new mutation arrives the next fall.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tdfzxG">
Every year, influenza strains the US health care system. In the flu season before Covid-19 arrived, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2018-2019.html">2018-2019</a>, an estimated 29 million Americans were infected, there were more than 380,000 flu-related hospitalizations, and 28,000 people died from the virus. Covid-19 is not as bound by the calendar. US hospitals may endure not only a winter wave, in tandem with the flu, but also periodic spikes throughout the year as well. Both 2020 and 2021 saw small surges in the summer, followed by a massive wave once winter and the cold weather hit.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ROTN2R">
“It is sort of the worst of both worlds,” said Emily Martin, a University of Michigan epidemiologist. “You’re always gonna expect a really bad winter season, but then you might have other bad times as well.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QpMXBa">
The reasons for seasonality are complex. But generally speaking, viruses survive better in colder environments and people’s behavior also tends to change when the weather gets cold — spending more time inside, traveling for the holidays — in ways that makes it easier for pathogens to spread.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CMPJX4">
Last winter was an aberration: widespread social distancing dramatically reduced the spread of flu. But this winter, the CDC estimates that there have been about <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm">four times as many outpatient visits for respiratory illnesses</a>, including flu, as last year, closer to the level seen in the two years before the pandemic.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Ecf528">
Meanwhile, Covid-19 is surging again too, with case numbers and hospitalizations surpassing the records set the previous winter. Hospitals also report a significant jump in flu cases compared to last year, with some such as Houston Methodist <a href="https://flu.houstonmethodist.org/">seeing comparable case numbers</a> to their pre-Covid normal. This rebound in flu is happening at the same time that some hospitals are seeing as many Covid-19 patients as they have at any point in the pandemic so far.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/5IHX2LAza8hnAl5OuYKDyh4K0hE=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23169054/GettyImages_1334894422t.jpg"/> <cite>Brandon Bell/Getty Images</cite></p>
<figcaption>
Emergency room nurses and EMTs tend to patients in the hallways of Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital on August 18, 2021, in Texas.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gUVSr5">
The crunch already being felt by US hospitals has spurred some public health experts to propose comprehensive policy plans that would help the health system tackle the flu and Covid-19 in the future.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="r0oNEx">
“The ‘new normal’ requires recognizing that SARS-CoV-2 is but one of several circulating respiratory viruses that include influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and more,” a group of advisers to President Joe Biden’s transition team wrote in <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787944">a recent medical journal<strong> </strong>article</a>. “Covid-19 must now be considered among the risks posed by all respiratory viral illnesses combined.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4mWNuS">
They argued that public health officials should begin by discarding distinct case and death counts for flu, Covid-19, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses. Instead, they say we should focus on the aggregate risk of all these diseases combined. Based on the available evidence, we should expect that risk to peak every winter.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TsJSpq">
These experts said the goal should be to keep the collective effect of all these infections at or below those of a severe flu season. In the 2017-2018 flu season, for example, the US <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2017-2018.htm">had</a> 41 million cases, 710,000 hospitalizations, and 52,000 deaths. And that was without Covid-19, another highly contagious and dangerous virus that will make future winters even more difficult for the health care system to manage.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YYNI5i">
“We know during a pretty bad flu season, that can put a strain on things,” Richard Webby, influenza expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, told me. “Now we’re talking about two flu seasons.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pXImJe">
This is all still somewhat hypothetical. It’s possible, Webby pointed out, that the flu and Covid-19 won’t surge simultaneously, but will trade off, spiking and fading in cycles, over months. Alternating waves might decrease the risk of an enormous flood of patients overwhelming hospitals at any particular moment, but they would still create a sustained crisis every winter that strains hospitals for months without a break.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="8Q0odG">
The steps to avoid worst-case scenarios of overwhelmed hospitals and rationed care might sound familiar.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GRAZTk">
Anand Parekh, chief medical adviser at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said any strategy for navigating the Covid-and-flu seasons to come should have at least four components: vaccination, testing, treatment, and masking.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="plEvr3">
But executing that plan is easier said than done. The US has struggled with some of these interventions throughout the pandemic. Deploying them annually would require a fundamental shift in how US hospitals and all of society approach the winter season. We can no longer muddle through every year and hope for the best.
</p>
<h3 id="3l08J8">
<ol type="1">
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">Vaccination
</li></ol></h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NuTVJG">
Vaccination is the best way to stop a bad Covid-and-flu season before it starts.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TrmymF">
Every year, the FDA fast-tracks approval of that season’s flu vaccine, which must be updated annually to protect against whatever flu strain is expected to become dominant. A similar routine could happen with Covid-19. The former Biden advisers, in their plan, <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787946">wrote</a> that people should anticipate a need for periodic, possibly seasonal Covid-19 vaccines as well and urged the federal government to start preparing an expedited approval process. Moderna has also <a href="https://investors.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2021/Moderna-Announces-
Significant-Advances-Across-Industry-Leading-mRNA-Portfolio-at-2021-RD-Day-09-09-2021/default.aspx">announced</a> it’s working on a shot that would combine its flu and Covid-19 vaccines. So, in theory, you would have to get only one shot each year to be protected from both Covid-19 and the flu.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YTHGRE">
The problem is that, historically, the United States has not done a good job of vaccinating people against the flu. Fewer than half of US adults <a href="https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/sep/25/michael-burgess/how-many-adults-get-flu-shots-each-year/">get their flu shots every year</a>. Even among people over 65, the most vulnerable to dying from the flu, the vaccination rate is usually stuck under 70 percent.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/GqZVqy8AEIvxwmdZx8C_Do0WJXE=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23169071/GettyImages_1232272941t.jpg"/> <cite>Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
A sign that reads “Flu Shots &amp; Other Vaccinations” outside of a pharmacy in Washington, DC, on April 12, 2021.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="botPgc">
A Covid-and-flu public health response could build on the momentum of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign. Though the US has struggled somewhat compared to its European peers, it is still <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html">outperforming</a> the typical flu vaccine drive, with more than 70 percent of eligible Americans receiving at least two shots, including almost 90 percent of people over 65.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZXkZCw">
Mandates and other policies — such as paid sick leave that makes it easier for people to take time off, a policy that <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/press-
release/workers-are-more-likely-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-when-their-employers-encourage-it-and-provide-paid-sick-leave-
though-most-workers-dont-want-their-employers-to-require-it/">surveys have found</a> makes it more likely people will get the Covid-19 vaccine — could help push vaccination rates higher, Biden’s former advisers said.
</p>
<h3 id="cdb5sp">
<ol start="2" type="1">
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">At-home testing
</li></ol></h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Q1pUOJ">
Surveillance is critical, starting with early-warning systems. Public health institutions have long monitored the flu and they are already tracking Covid-19 in a similar manner. Monitoring the amount of virus detected in local wastewater has proven to be a reliable leading indicator of new Covid-19 waves during the pandemic. And widespread, reliable testing will be essential — including at-home tests for both Covid-19 and the flu.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Blnolh">
Right now, flu tests are common at the doctor’s office, but there’s never been an option for people to administer a test themselves at home. In their recommendations for adjusting to an endemic Covid-19 world, former Biden advisers <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787945">urged</a> the government to invest in new technologies that could test for multiple pathogens at once. Public health experts are imagining a future in which people can take <a href="https://www.questdiagnostics.com/patients/get-
tested/conditions/infectious-disease/covid-19/covidflu">one test</a>, find out if they have the flu or Covid-19 or neither, and respond accordingly. They could isolate rather than going into their work and spreading it to other people; several experts told me they hoped it would become more common after the pandemic for people to stay home if they are sick. People at higher risk of severe flu symptoms could also get prescribed antivirals earlier, when those medications are most effective.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aAZUT8">
“I think it is highly likely, finally, that home testing will become something that virtually everybody becomes comfortable with,” said Mara Aspinall, an Arizona State University professor who publishes a newsletter on Covid-19 testing. “A lot of at-home testing in this scenario is really important and I think will be a key factor going forward.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HamI7W">
There’s a long history of tests moving from doctor’s offices into the home. Aspinall pointed to pregnancy tests as one example of a diagnostic test that used to be done almost exclusively by doctors until at-home tests came to market and flourished. The same thing happened for HIV testing and is already underway with Covid-19.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HGZ1Vm">
But there is still work to do to prepare for that shift. It would start with making tests available for free or at a reasonable cost. Experts have <a href="https://www.vox.com/coronavirus-covid19/2021/12/3/22814174/biden-covid-winter-plan-vaccines-boosters-tests-
treatments">criticized</a> the Biden White House’s current plan of asking people with private insurance to submit their bills for reimbursement; his former transition advisers <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787945">pointed</a> to the example of states sending free kits to their residents as one possible model to follow.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4ciPZj">
A lot of at-home testing will be useful for surveillance, but only if people report the results. That has already been a problem with at-home Covid-19 tests. In one memorable case, public health officials in Las Vegas realized only <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2021/12/07/growing-use-of-home-covid19-tests-leaves-health-agencies-in-the-dark/">weeks after the fact</a> that a Phish concert on Halloween had been a superspreader event. They had no idea because people took tests at home and never reported the results.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hURM7W">
The point being: Sorting out which tests to use when and what to do with the results has already been a struggle in the heat of the pandemic. Coming up with clear guidelines and educating the public will be necessary if we are to get the most out of at-home tests in the Covid-and- flu seasons to come.
</p>
<h3 id="0pOlZT">
<ol start="3" type="1">
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">Treatments
</li></ol></h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="l3mbXL">
Frequent testing lets people know that they should isolate. If they are at higher risk of severe illness, they can get on antivirals quickly. The current therapies are most effective at stopping serious symptoms that could require hospitalization if they are taken within the first few days of an illness. Research in the last decade <a href="https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/59/6/774/2895501?login=true">has found</a> that flu antivirals are too often underprescribed for patients who would benefit most; improving prescription rates is only more critical now that the health system will be contending with both the flu and Covid-19 going forward.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QwEI2a">
That’s because the goal of these plans is really to “flatten the curve” by preventing as much severe illness as possible, which reserves hospitals’ capacity for the most vulnerable patients and also allows them to treat all of the other patients who need hospital-level care.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="I29SMI">
Capacity at “the brick and mortar hospitals that are needed for care for the severely ill will continue to be finite,” Schaffner said. “There will not be a major increase there.” That means alleviating the pressure on hospitals is crucial. But it will take more than a lot of at-home testing to achieve it.
</p></li>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/RMlXuodoMAKxaEef20c4J60bsCY=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23169305/GettyImages_1362467655t.jpg"/> <cite>Brontë Wittpenn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>
The Alameda County superintendent of schools holds boxes of Covid-19 at-home testing kits while passing them to families on December 31, 2021, in California.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="fnN8Tr">
The former Biden advisers said the US needs to come up with a mechanism so that, the moment somebody tests positive for Covid-19, they are offered treatment. They also said that it may make sense for certain at-risk populations to be prescribed antivirals preemptively, as a prophylactic.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2GhML2">
Other experts also argued it needs to be as easy as possible for people to get flu and Covid-19 treatments, either over the counter at the pharmacy or after a brief doctor’s visit.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hxybsU">
“Over-the-counter testing and over-the-counter treatment can be really powerful going forward,” Martin said.
</p>
<h3 id="IldObu">
<ol start="4" type="1">
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">Masks and other non-pharmaceutical interventions
</li></ol></h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="eBuWwA">
Other successful pieces of the pandemic response should also stick, experts said. We have the playbook and we’ve now run more plays from it than ever before.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Acfpda">
Masking has become normalized for many people, and experts expect public health authorities to continue to recommend it for particular populations or even for everybody if respiratory viruses are spreading rapidly. Medical providers have more experience using telemedicine during health emergencies, in order to reduce the risks of exposure while still providing guidance and remote care for their patients. Public health experts say Covid has demonstrated <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-
health/22436152/covid-19-airborne-air-quality-ventilation">the importance of good ventilation</a>, which could be improved in schools and other public spaces to reduce the chances of transmission.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kmyGkp">
During severe outbreaks of flu or Covid-19 or both, experts think companies could more readily switch to remote work now that managers and workers are accustomed to it. Social distancing measures — mask mandates, even restrictions for large gatherings — could be put back in place on a selective basis, now that we have experience with them because of Covid-19.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="82Sp8i">
If, that is, politicians are willing to implement them and the public will abide by them. The current crisis has revealed just how delicate even the best-laid plans are because they are subject to backlash, confusion, and politicization. In some states, lawmakers have actually acted <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-
watch/568644-georgia-bars-local-governments-from-enacting-mask-vaccine-mandates">to limit the ability of local governments or public health officials</a> to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/world/greg-abbott-mask-
vaccine-mandate.html">take these steps on their own</a> in the middle of a public health crisis.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YweuVp">
“Public health laws are being dismantled in many jurisdictions, dramatically limiting the ability of public health officials to require actions that limit disease transmission,” said Ron Bialek, president of the Public Health Foundation. “Unfortunately, for too many elected officials, making political points has become a higher priority than serving and helping to protect their constituencies.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="AdE0X2">
We are not going to leave Covid-19 behind. The same policy problems and debates that have defined the pandemic will be with us in the flu/Covid-19 seasons going forward.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="bLdeAC">
“The role of government in this communicable disease arena will continue to be under discussion. We’re divided about this,” Schaffner said. “It’s not going to be eliminated by a reflection on what did and didn’t work with Covid.”
</p>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A physicist’s lessons about race, power, and the universe</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="The physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein looks at the camera while standing in front of a
painting depicting two dark-skinned women hanging laundry in front of a field of stars." src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/RAlmiwI8osS1fKkcphpt6tWVSqQ=/374x0:5921x4160/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70399641/painting_background_hi_res.0.jpeg"/>
<figcaption>
Chanda Prescod- Weinstein, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, explores how society and physics influence each other in her book <em>The Disordered Cosmos.</em> | Courtesy of Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
In her book The Disordered Cosmos, Black queer scientist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein argues that physics can be more universal.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Tv1QSd">
When Chanda Prescod-Weinstein was a 10-year-old growing up in East Los Angeles, she came across the Errol Morris documentary <em>A Brief History of Time</em>, which chronicled the life of the physicist Stephen Hawking. Watching it, Prescod-Weinstein says, she realized Hawking “was being paid to use math all day to solve problems Einstein hadn’t worked out.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oxuxPh">
For a queer Black Jewish kid from a working-class neighborhood who liked doing math, that seemed like a pretty good deal. “That was really where I got my first taste of the idea that math is kind of like the language of the universe,” Prescod-Weinstein told me.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uAeaTn">
She’s now an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Hampshire, where she studies dark matter and particle physics. She’s also on the core faculty of the university’s Women’s Studies department — a seemingly unusual combination that hints at the multifaceted approach she brings to her work.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CZk8qv">
In 2021, Prescod- Weinstein published <em>The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, &amp; Dreams Deferred</em>, a wide-ranging book that is both a scientific explainer and an argument that unjust power structures shape the world of physics. She tells stories of subatomic particles like baryons, which are the building blocks of atoms; she critiques a trend she’s seen, in which writers compare the mystery and invisibility of dark matter to the lived experiences of Black people. In a chapter called “Rape Is Part of This Scientific Story” — a chapter that grew unexpectedly out of her writing on the dark universe, and that she debated including in the book — she writes about how her own experience of sexual assault shaped her understanding of injustices in her field.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DVoa3F">
I recently asked Prescod- Weinstein about being one of the few Black women in her field, how concepts from physics apply to our lives, and why dark matter is a complicated metaphor. She spoke to me from her home office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at a desk covered with books, notepads, and at least two figurines of Star Trek’s Lieutenant Commander Uhura. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LT9ITc">
<strong>Early in your book, you write that particle physics continues to teach you that “the universe is always more bizarre and more wonderfully queer than we think.” How do you see queerness in the universe? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="erE7dx">
Yeah, I think the universe is weird, man! There are so many things about it that are counterintuitive. What we do in science is exist at the boundary of what humanity understands about the universe, and you try and push that boundary forward. And that means living in the place where things are not known, and that means being confused and asking a lot of questions. So science is really a practice of question asking.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lF6jWD">
Queerness is just like that. Queerness is living at that boundary of what is known and unknown. There are certain understandings of queerness that in 2021 seem antiquated. And similarly, there were scientific ideas back in 2000 that we know better than now. We know what the mass of the Higgs [boson] is now. We did not know that in</p></li>
</ul>
<ol start="2000" type="1">
<li>So I think there’s a real way in which queerness and science track with each other.
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"></p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="15y2tT">
<strong>You describe yourself in the book as a “griot of the universe, a storyteller.” Could you explain what that means? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="i5Np5k">
Griot is a West African word that I think comes up in a few different languages across the region. As I understand it, it’s traditionally a community storyteller and oral historian, and I think that’s what I do. I’m a storyteller about the universe. I’m using a very particular language — mathematics — with a set of rules associated with it. But all forms of storytelling have rules that we impose on them.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="S1qcNT">
<strong>You write a lot about invisibility — literally, in the case of dark matter, and metaphorically when it comes to the contributions of women, nonbinary folks, and people of color in the field of physics. At one point, you write about physicists who draw a comparison between dark matter and the lived experiences of Black people. Can you talk a bit about that?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="n295Nk">
I literally have this chapter called “Black People Are Luminous Matter.” I have a very clear agenda there that I wanted to hit home. We’re not magical Negros. We feel pain. We feel pain just as much as white people do, despite <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843483/">a widespread belief</a> from medical students and doctors.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="asBaI2">
I wanted to look at our physicality, not as a uniform thing but in its breadth. There are a lot of different ways to be Black. But all of them come from baryons, and none of them come from dark matter.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="kkj2LE">
<strong>How are baryons and dark matter different? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="WzMusS">
When I say baryons, I mean the stuff that everything we can see is generally made of. When I talk about dark matter, I’m talking about this invisible, transparent thing that seems to dominate galaxy structure. But it’s literally invisible. It doesn’t have a color.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="IrMbbh">
<strong>Is there a better metaphor to be found in physics? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="hzmFfo">
Yeah, if you really want a cosmic analogy for race and racism, weak gravitational lensing is much more useful.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="AlDntQ">
Essentially, one of the big lessons of general relativity is that spacetime tells matter how to move, and matter tells spacetime how to curve. So when you have matter in spacetime — say, the sun — the spacetime is being distorted by the presence of that matter. Your spacetime is actually bending. If you get a lot of dark matter together, it can bend light as though it has gone through a funhouse mirror. The light looks like it’s coming from one place when it’s actually coming from another.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="jxgLyy">
This is called gravitational lensing, and the most fantastical version of it, when you really have a lot of dark matter, is that you can actually see multiple images of a galaxy. There’s only one galaxy, but your telescope sees multiple images because the photons are riding on very funny paths. Sometimes it’s really dramatic and you see multiple images, and sometimes you just see distortion. The question always is, “Is that gravitational lensing, or is that galaxy just weird?” The way that you figure that out is you do statistics. You look at everything and say, “Are all of these distorted in a way that is consistent?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="0951Uf">
I’ve been a Black Jew around white Jews. It’s very easy to be, like, “Are you <em>sure</em> that when that white Jewish professor was asking you if you’re really Jewish, it was because you’re Black?” But get a bunch of Black Jews together and talk to them about their experiences, and you’re like, “Ah, we all seem to experience that same distortion, and how people think it’s okay to talk to us.” That’s systemic. It becomes a lot harder to deny when there’s a systemic picture there.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><img alt="The cover of the book The Disordered
Cosmos: A Journey Into Dark Matter, Spacetime, &amp;amp; Dreams Deferred, which depicts a photograph of deep space
superimposed on the silhouette of a Black woman in profile." src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/hV4WCqI4jYJgAxno1KnU1Voo1js=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23167237/DisorderedCosmos_5h.jpg"/> <cite>Cover design by Pete Garceau</cite></p>
<figcaption>
“<em>The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, &amp; Dreams Deferred</em>” was published March 2021 by Bold Type Books.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="eOP0Y1">
<strong>You write about the difficulties of joining the field as one of the few Black woman physicists in the country, and the shame you still feel about your B-minus college average. This really spoke to me — I didn’t know cosmology professors have imposter syndrome! How do you keep working through that? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="f4KLwe">
I should say that I don’t actually think I have imposter syndrome. We often tell people that they have imposter syndrome when people are correctly identifying: “Oh, I don’t belong here.” The system is not built for them. And that’s correct. There is some fundamental sense in which you do not belong.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="sKkpUB">
Should you feel like you belong? Should the space be a place where you do belong? Yes. But are you wrong for assessing that you don’t? No. That means your capacity for analysis is working. I actually think that we need to be telling people that their ability to identify that is actually a sign of competency.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="MopQiz">
<strong>I like that reframing. Throughout the book, you point to scientists assuming their work is free from the messiness of society and politics and history. You show us that culture and society are deeply embedded in physics, but few people are willing to have that conversation. Is that starting to change? </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EW5ROw">
I guess there are two different answers to this question. I feel like things are dramatically different than they were 15 years ago, and I also feel like there’s been very little change. I have a chapter on sexual misconduct and specifically the impact it had on my daily life. We’re still at the point where whisper networks are essential, and that relies unreasonably on women and other minoritized-gender people to do the labor of sharing information that could cause us professional problems if people find out that they are the ones sharing the information.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="t8sUka">
<strong>This brings to mind the name of another chapter, called “Wages for Scientific Housework.”</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Jhvvj7">
Absolutely. The victims or survivors, however they see themselves, who come forward do an enormous service to the community. It’s an incredible piece of emotional housework and labor to push astronomy to be a better place and safer place. And people who have survived serious incidents of sexual misconduct, myself included, live with an enormous amount of guilt about not naming names in public. But it’s really like, do you feel like climbing on a cross or not? Or do you want to have a life and be doing this work? You know, I like math. I still actually really like math. I want to be able to do that in peace, and it seems like this is the more peaceful option than the alternative.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Zxiqor">
<strong>Your book ends with a letter to your mother and a section from the Torah. How do your family and your faith fit into your work?</strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ueLbMk">
Until I was 10, I thought being Jewish meant you were a labor organizer, because that was the kind of Jewish family I came from. I know it’s super dorky, but it’s also 100 percent what I thought, coming from an organizing family. I think their influences imprinted all over the book. I don’t think I would be a scientist who thinks so deeply about these social questions if I hadn’t been raised to ask all of these questions, and to think expansively about what it means to understand the world. That’s not just a mathematical question. It’s not just a physical question. It is also a social and a political question.
</p></li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>How to sponsor an Afghan refugee family</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-
cdn.com/thumbor/TUOrVS9pDS4LsUWfVRVTJtgdEEs=/202x0:5066x3648/1310x983/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70399621/GettyImages_1336699614t.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Refugees from Afghanistan board buses that will take them to a processing center at Dulles International Airport in Virginia after being evacuated from Kabul on August 27, 2021. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Americans have an incredible new opportunity to do good.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Pf50vn">
The Biden administration has begun allowing private citizens to sponsor Afghan refugees looking to start a new life in the US. Under the <a href="https://www.sponsorcircles.org/">Sponsor Circle Program</a>, you and a few of your friends can pool together funds to dramatically improve the prospects for an Afghan family.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gGB03G">
It’s a desperately needed program: The botched US withdrawal from Afghanistan last year <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-
politics/2021/8/9/22612320/afghan-evacuation-biden-refugee-taliban-withdrawal">left many vulnerable Afghans behind</a>. Some are now stuck at home under the control of the Taliban, or in nearby countries to which they fled.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="zqDDS0">
More than 75,000 Afghans have made it into the US through Operation Allies Welcome, and around <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/12/31/operation-allies-welcome-announces-departure-last-afghan-nationals-fort-bliss-
texas">52,000</a> of them have been resettled in communities across the country. But the rest are still <a href="https://www.vox.com/22728486/afghanistan-evacuation-us-military-bases-refugee-resettlement-fort-bliss-fort-
pickett">waiting on US military bases</a> — safe from the Taliban but unable to get jobs, enroll their kids in school, or begin to heal and move on from the trauma they’ve experienced.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="jTYE2G">
Americans can help them get resettled in a community so they can do all those things sooner.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6iiS7c">
Forming a Sponsor Circle involves bringing together at least five adults in your area and raising $2,275 for each Afghan individual you want to resettle in your community. Sponsors commit to assisting them through the first three months there, which can include locating housing, helping adults find jobs, and registering kids for school.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QllLm7">
To be clear, by forming a Sponsor Circle, you’re not directly enabling Afghans to enter the US who otherwise wouldn’t be able to do so.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="feroiy">
Instead, you’re speeding up the process of resettling Afghans who have already entered the US through what is known as humanitarian <a href="https://www.vox.com/22636742/afghan-siv-refugee-resettlement-biden">“parole,”</a> but who are stuck on military bases because the official resettlement infrastructure — <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-
and-politics/22422368/biden-refugee-cap-resettlement">decimated under the Trump administration</a> — can’t get everyone settled right away.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="PyF3Fg">
Don’t underestimate the good speeding up resettlement can do. “Getting off a base and into a community sooner can have a profound impact on a family,” said Elizabeth Foydel, ​​the private sponsorship program director at the nonprofit <a href="https://refugeerights.org/">International Refugee Assistance Project</a>. “It’s the difference between being stuck in limbo for several months or being able to really begin your life again.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="jJ6jI7">
That said, she added there’s another big development coming down the pike: The Biden administration is <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-administration-private-groups-sponsor-afghan-
evacuees/">planning</a> in the first half of this year to launch a fuller private sponsorship program — one that would allow Americans to sponsor an Afghan family to enter the US who otherwise would not be able to.
</p>
<h3 id="gAKoF0">
How to form a Sponsor Circle, in 6 steps
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SUtxMb">
Afghans who’ve been stuck on military bases for months have noted how psychologically taxing it is to live life in limbo. “I stayed at Fort Pickett [in Virginia] for 91 days and some of my colleagues are still at the fort and probably will not be out until mid-February 2022,” Ahmad Zafar Shakibi <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/29/politics/afghan-refugees-wait/index.html">told</a> CNN. “This caused mass depression.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="u53Yfu">
Others have <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/afghan-refugees-military-bases-
conditions_n_618ecba4e4b0b1aee9250537">described</a> the difficulty of not having enough warm clothes to go around; of being unable to access timely medical care; of feeling misunderstood by US military staff; and of enduring crushing boredom in their barracks or tents day after day. As Esrar Ahmad Saber <a href="https://www.opb.org/article/2021/12/08/afghans-wait-and-worry-at-us-bases-after-frantic-evacuation/">said</a> of his fellow refugees at a base in New Jersey, ”They just want to get out as soon as possible.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3ck3P4">
Here’s how you can help them achieve that.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YGuN9C">
<strong>1) Form a group of five or more adults.</strong> If you’re excited about this program, you can reach out to four friends to start<strong> </strong>a conversation. (You can email them this <a href="https://www.sponsorcircles.org/">page</a> or even this article to get the conversation going.)
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="rn1qaH">
<strong>2) Have each group member complete a mandatory </strong><a href="https://app.sterlingvolunteers.com/en/Candidates/Account/Register"><strong>background check</strong></a><strong>.</strong> This is a quick online process checking whether you have a criminal record.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="PKEGpZ">
<strong>3) Have one group member complete an </strong><a href="https://sponsorcircles.talentlms.com/catalog/info/id:126"><strong>online course</strong></a><strong>.</strong> This gives you some tips on how to ensure your sponsor circle will be skillful and successful.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BIG4va">
<strong>4) Fill out a </strong><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61646bf4b4d54060a39e8039/t/617d93399cbeae5eedeee510/1635619642295/20211030+-+Sponsor+Circle+Welcome+Plan+and+Undertaking_fillable.pdf"><strong>welcome plan</strong></a><strong>.</strong> You’ll want to devote at least a day to this since it requires you to research the resources available in your community for needs like job and language training.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BcZRzD">
<strong>5) Fundraise.</strong> You’ll need bank records or other proof showing that you’ve got $2,275 per Afghan newcomer you hope to welcome.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="N5ct62">
<strong>6) Fill out the </strong><a href="https://www.sponsorcircles.org/application"><strong>application form</strong></a><strong>. </strong>Once you’ve done steps 1-5, this will only take 10 minutes.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="uUSzqt">
That’s it! If your group is motivated, you can probably complete this process over a couple of weeks of intermittent work. If your application is approved, you can welcome an Afghan family into your community — which <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/12/28/afghan-
refugees-welcome-america/">research suggests</a> will likely benefit not just the newcomers, but your community as a whole.
</p>
<h3 id="pyWeEb">
Want to sponsor Afghans for immigration to the US? Prepare now.
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cGiFiJ">
If you prefer to wait until the US launches its fuller private sponsorship program — the program that provides an immigration pathway so more Afghans can enter the US — it’s a good idea to start preparing now.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="mEMpK4">
This will likely require more money. Canada’s highly successful private sponsorship program, for example, requires a sponsor to raise <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-
sponsor-refugee-groups-five.html">nearly $23,000 USD</a> to bring over a family of four refugees. The US equivalent of that program could easily require money on a similar scale.
</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><img alt=" " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Z5xVu-MTzGFDJIHnvaO2cX4pckU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-
cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23169439/GettyImages_1236355246t.jpg"/> <cite>Jon Cherry/Getty Images</cite></p>
<figcaption>
Children play with a ball as they walk with a group of media and military service members in an Afghan refugee camp on November 4, 2021 in Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VW4jMM">
You might be thinking: Why should it fall to private citizens to fork over so much cash to resettle refugees — that’s the government’s job!
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="nO0apF">
It’s a fair point. That’s why Foydel and others have been advocating for any refugees who come to the US via private sponsorship to be in addition to the number of traditional, government- assisted resettlement cases.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="bHr3aL">
“That is what we are anticipating,” Foydel told me. “We think it’s important to make clear that the US government is maintaining its responsibility to resettle refugees itself.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="f35VFc">
Biden’s official <a href="https://www.state.gov/the-presidential-determination-on-refugee-admissions-for-
fiscal-year-2022/">target for fiscal year 2022</a> is to resettle 125,000 refugees (coming from all countries, not just Afghanistan). The government is <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/22777209/immigration-refugee-cap-biden-
afghan-resettlement">unlikely to meet that goal</a> because refugee agencies don’t have the capacity to absorb that many newcomers. Their funding is tied to the refugee cap, and since the Trump administration slashed refugee admissions — 2020 saw a historic low of <a href="https://www.rollcall.com/2020/10/01/trump-administration-slashes-refugee-cap-to-new-
historic-low/">15,000</a> allowed to enter — the agencies were forced to lay off staff and shutter offices. They’re now in the undesirable position of having to rebuild even as they try to serve thousands of Afghans with the scant resources they currently have.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="D5URPb">
Even if the government does manage to resettle 125,000 refugees this fiscal year, though, refugee advocates’ expectation is that private sponsorship would be able to bring in thousands more above and beyond that.
</p>
<div id="NfxRup">
<div class="volume-video" id="volume-placement-417">
</div>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2BFfba">
The US spent 20 years in Afghanistan trying and failing to remake the country. Now, Americans arguably have a moral responsibility to assist Afghans suffering the consequences. And considering that refugee programs may have much less support if a Republican wins the White House in 2024, now is the time to fulfill that responsibility.<strong> </strong>
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EzsoqU">
As my colleague Nicole Narea has <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-
politics/2021/9/14/22665614/afghan-refugee-biden-republicans-vetting">written</a>, even if the US was right to withdraw last year, “the ensuing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is the product of America’s ill-conceived and failed attempts at nation-building. The US therefore has a responsibility to ensure that Afghans facing danger or persecution as the Taliban reassert their vision of religious law can reach safety in the US or in other countries, whether or not they worked alongside American troops.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="bSoaPG">
So, if you’re thinking about forming either a Sponsor Circle or a private sponsorship, it makes sense to view it not as an act of charity, but as an act of justice. Neither will fully right the wrong that’s been done, but as Foydel told me, “They’re both incredibly impactful.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Hy2Zj5">
</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>Australian Open | Medvedev advances, Fernandez out in first round</strong> - Aiming to be the first man in the Open era to win his second major title on his next Grand Slam appearance, Medvedev had a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (3) win over Henri Laaksonen</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>Prost and Alpine F1 team part ways</strong> - Prost said on his Instagram page that he was “very disappointed” with how the news had come out</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>U-19 WC | Sri Lanka defeats Australia; Pak scores easy win over Zimbabwe</strong> - West Indies beat Scotland in a Group D match in Basseterre</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>FIH introduces new penalty corner rule</strong> - Defenders can keep wearing protective face gear within the 23m area</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>PKL-8 | Gill powers Yoddha past Paltan</strong> - Second phase begins on Jan. 20</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Minister inaugurates oxygen plant in Cuddalore</strong> - The plant, at Kurinjipadi GH, will cater to 13 ICU beds, help treat COVID patients and address other related ailments</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>PM’s Davos address | Rahul Gandhi takes ‘teleprompter’ jibe at Modi, BJP leaders cite ‘technical glitch’</strong> - Fact-checking website Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha said it is unlikely that the Prime Minister had a teleprompter gaffe</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>IEI to hold discussion on Mekedatu project, invite Medha Patkar and Chethan Ahimsa</strong> - Social activist Medha Patkar argues that the project will have an adverse impact on the environment and has urged the Karnataka Government to drop the project</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>OPS calls for Chennai airport’s re-inclusion for Haj pilgrimage</strong> - He wants Chief Minister Stalin to personally get in touch with the Prime Minister regarding the issue</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>WFH has put working women under ‘triple burden’: Kovind</strong> - “The new stress on family time should be welcome for male employees, so that they can share some of the responsibilities of their partners.”</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Sweden drones: Sightings reported over nuclear plants and palace</strong> - Security services take over an inquiry into a series of sightings and it is unclear who is to blame.</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>Dean Verberckmoes: Police find body of Belgian four-year old</strong> - Dean Verberckmoes disappeared last week, sparking a major search in Belgium and the Netherlands.</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>Russia-Ukraine crisis: UK sending weapons to defend Ukraine, says defence secretary</strong> - The defence secretary says he is sending short-range anti-tank missiles amid Russian invasion fears.</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>Russia-Ukraine crisis: Why Brussels fears Europe is ‘closest to war’ in decades</strong> - Fears are rising over Russia’s plans to shake up the region, writes BBC Europe editor Katya Adler.</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>Eric Zemmour: Far-right candidate found guilty of hate speech</strong> - Eric Zemmour called unaccompanied migrant children coming to France “thieves” and “murderers”.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Oscar Isaac finally enters the MCU with official Moon Knight trailer</strong> - “The voices in your head—there’s chaos in you. Embrace the chaos.” - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1826311">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Over 100 different species made this 2,200-year-old shipwreck home, study finds</strong> - Ship’s ram from First Punic War serves as “ecological memory” of 2 millennia of underwater life. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1821977">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Microsoft warns of destructive disk wiper targeting Ukraine</strong> - Ukrainian authorities blame Russia for attacks as geopolitical tensions escalate. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1826361">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Pfizer and Moderna expect seasonal booster shots after omicron wave</strong> - Seasonal COVID boosters may be combined with flu shots in the future, Moderna says. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1826364">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Fan does Blizzard’s job, releases remastered WarCraft III campaign files</strong> - Cinematic angles, remixed maps hark back to 2018 BlizzCon promises. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1826297">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>Joe had suffered from really bad headaches for the last 20 years. He eventually decides to go and see a Doctor.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Doctor said, ’Joe, the good news is I can cure your headaches. The bad news is that it will require castration. You have a very rare condition which causes your testicles to press on your spine and the pressure creates one hell of a headache.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The only way to relieve the pressure is to remove the testicles.’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Joe was shocked and depressed. He wondered if he had anything to live for.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He had no choice but to go under the knife. The surgery cost him $15,000.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
When he left the hospital, he was without a headache for the first time in 20 years, but he felt like he was missing an important part of himself.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
As he walked down the street, he realized that he felt like a different person. He could make a new beginning and live a new life.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He saw a Men’s clothing store and thought, ‘That’s what I need… A new suit.’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He entered the shop and told the salesman, ‘I’d like a new suit.’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The elderly tailor eyed him briefly and said, ’Let’s see… size 44 long.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Joe laughed, ‘That’s right, how did you know?’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
‘Been in the business 60 years!’ the tailor said.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Joe tried on the suit it fitted perfectly.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
As Joe admired himself in the mirror, the salesman asked, ‘How about a new shirt?’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Joe thought for a moment and then said, ‘Sure.’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The salesman eyed Joe and said, ‘Let’s see, 34 sleeves and 16-1/2 neck.’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Joe was surprised, ‘That’s right, how did you know?’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
‘Been in the business 60 years.’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Joe tried the shirt and it fitted perfectly.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Joe walked comfortably around the shop and the salesman asked, ‘How about some new underwear?’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Joe thought for a moment and said, ‘Sure.’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The salesman said, ‘Let’s see… size 36’.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Joe laughed, ‘Ah ha! I got you! I’ve worn a size 34 since I was 18 years old.’
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The salesman shook his head, ‘You can’t wear a size 34. A size 34 would press your testicles up against the base of your spine and give you one hell of a Headache.’
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/xerxes_dandy"> /u/xerxes_dandy </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/s6n66r/joe_had_suffered_from_really_bad_headaches_for/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/s6n66r/joe_had_suffered_from_really_bad_headaches_for/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A Montana cowboy was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud toward him.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, “If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, will you give me a calf?” The cowboy looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, “Sure, Why not?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Iphone cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo. The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he receives an email on his Ipad that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, “You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves.” “That’s right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves,” says the cowboy. He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car. Then the cowboy says to the young man, “Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, “Okay, why not?” “You’re a Congressman in the U.S. government,” says the cowboy. “Wow, that’s correct,” says the yuppie. “But how did you guess that?” “No guessing required,” answered the cowboy. “You showed up here even though nobody called you, you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are, and you don’t know a thing about cows. This is a herd of sheep. Now give me back my dog.”
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<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/s694r0/a_montana_cowboy_was_overseeing_his_herd_in_a/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/s694r0/a_montana_cowboy_was_overseeing_his_herd_in_a/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>Monday - Greg, Tuesday - Ian, Wednesday - Greg, Thursday - Ian, Friday - Greg, Saturday - Ian, and Sunday - Greg</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The Gregorian Calendar
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/jrobbio"> /u/jrobbio </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/s6k9wv/monday_greg_tuesday_ian_wednesday_greg_thursday/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/s6k9wv/monday_greg_tuesday_ian_wednesday_greg_thursday/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>NASA was interviewing professionals to be sent to Mars. Only one could go, and he couldn’t return to Earth.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The first applicant, an engineer, was asked how much he wanted to be paid for going. “A million dollars,” he answered, “because I want to donate it to M.I.T.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The next applicant, a doctor, was asked the same question. He asked for two million dollars. “I want to give a million to my family”, he explained, “and leave the other million for the advancement of medical research.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The last applicant was a politician. When asked how much money he wanted, he whispered in the interviewer’s ear, “Three million dollars.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Why so much more than the others?” the interviewer asked.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The politician replied, “If you give me $3 million, I’ll give you $1 million, I’ll keep $1 million, and we’ll send the engineer.”
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<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/s68un4/nasa_was_interviewing_professionals_to_be_sent_to/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/s68un4/nasa_was_interviewing_professionals_to_be_sent_to/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>Every day, my teacher reads a joke from Reddit to start the class, but today she is absent.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
So instead, a subreddit.
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Fantastic-Throat2665"> /u/Fantastic-Throat2665 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/s6b8hm/every_day_my_teacher_reads_a_joke_from_reddit_to/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/s6b8hm/every_day_my_teacher_reads_a_joke_from_reddit_to/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
</ul>
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