ABSTRACT
We investigate connectedness between energy cryptocurrencies and common asset classes, including oil, using TVP-VAR modeling, evidencing that energy cryptocurrencies, as diversifiers, normally have strong connections with bitcoin and nothing else. However, their connectedness to other assets changes rapidly during shocks such as COVID-19 and the start of the Russian-Ukraine war. Connectedness spiked in April 2020, when WTI oil prices fell to negative pricing. Economic policy uncertainty, Twitter-based uncertainty, and infectious disease-related uncertainty all have significant impact on the system's total connectedness. Energy cryptocurrencies, while normally diversifiers, are highly sensitive to shocks and changes in uncertainty.
ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 has caused over 100 million infections and over 2 million deaths globally. Patients who have received a hematogenic stem cell transplant or cellular therapy (HCT) have a high risk of mortality and morbidity with COVID-19 due to severe immune dysregulation. We conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis aimed to evaluate the outcomes of COVID-19 in HCT patients. Methods: A literature search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines (PRISMA) guidelines was performed on 3 databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and Clinical trials.gov) from the date of inception to Jan 2021. MeSH terms included 'hematological malignancies', 'hematopoietic stem cell transplantation', 'SARS-CoV-2', and 'COVID 19'. We screened 99 articles and 6 studies (4 retrospective studies, 2 prospective) were included after excluding review, duplicate, and non-relevant articles. Quality evaluation was done using the NIH quality assessment tool. The Inter-study heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the Q statistic proposed by Cochrane and the I2 index introduced by Higgins and Thompson. Pooled analysis was done using the 'metaXL', and the random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence with 95% CI. Results: Of 1619 patients in 6studies, 646 HCT patients were analyzed (Table ). The median age of patients was 63 years and 59% were males. Median days since HCT for autologous (auto) HCT and allogeneic (allo) HCT patients were 690 and 450 days respectively. The average follow-up duration after COVID-19 was 24 days. COVID-19 mortality in HCT patients was 20% (95%CI 0.17 to 0.23, I2=0). Roedl et al (n=6) reported a mortality of 83% and was excluded from the pooled analysis. The mortality rate was 19% (95% CI 0.15 to 0.24, I2=0%) in auto HCT patients and 21% (95% CI 0.17 to 0.25, I2=0%) in allo HCT patients. Conclusions: The HCT patients are at significant risk of increased mortality and morbidity due to COVID-19. There is a need to prioritize HCT patients for COVID-19 vaccination, close surveillance, and aggressive management. (Table Presented).
ABSTRACT
In this study, we investigate the return and volatility spillovers between emerging markets and US government bonds during the Covid-19-triggered pandemic by accounting for the market sentiment captured by the media coverage index. To study the dynamic spillovers, we use a TVP-VAR approach. Our results show a significant increase in the dynamic connectedness between media coverage, emerging market bonds, and US bonds, as well as between the respective volatilities, especially during the early phases of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the highest values observed in March 2020. The emerging market bonds appear to be net transmitters to the system and lead the system;whereas, the US bond market is the net receiver. These results show that, during the pandemic, the US bond market is less vulnerable and more resilient to changes in market sentiment vis-`a-vis the fixed-income markets of the developing countries.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: South Africa, and the African continent, have a shortage of ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic not only had an adverse impact on specialist training, but also impacted the ability of trainees to undertake the final examinations in order to qualify as ENT specialists. RECENT FINDINGS: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the postponement of the final examination of the Fellowship of the College of Otorhinolaryngologists of South Africa (FCORL (SA)). A virtual clinical examination was held via videoconferencing to assess clinical judgement, insight, reasoning and decision making. SUMMARY: The virtual clinical assessment allowed trainees to undertake the final examination despite the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that they could be added to the limited number of specialists in South Africa and the African continent.