A Potent Recombinant Polyclonal Antibody Therapeutic for Protection Against New SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern.

Emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 possess mutations that prevent antibody therapeutics from maintaining anti-viral binding and neutralizing efficacy. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) shown to neutralize Wuhan-Hu-1 SARS-CoV-2 (ancestral) strain have reduced potency against newer variants. Plasma derived polyclonal hyperimmune drugs have improved neutralization breadth compared to mAbs, but lower titers against SARS-CoV-2 require higher dosages for treatment. We previously developed a highly diverse, recombinant polyclonal antibody therapeutic anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin hyperimmune (rCIG). Compared to plasma-derived standard (NIBSC-20/130) or mAb SAD-S35, rCIG has improved neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 across World Health Organization (WHO) variants; however, its potency was reduced against some variants relative to ancestral, in particular omicron. Omicron-specific antibody sequences were enriched from yeast expressing rCIG-scFv antibodies and exhibited increased binding and neutralization to omicron BA.2 while maintaining binding and neutralization to the ancestral strain. Polyclonal antibody libraries such as rCIG can be utilized to develop antibody therapeutics against present and future SARS-CoV-2 threats.

Sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and increased frequency of intimate partner violence among LGBTQ people in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: A brief report

Sociodemographic characteristics and depressive symptoms were assessed for their association with increased frequency of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in a US sample of (N = 1,090) LGBTQ people, using an anonymous online survey. Among those (n = 98) endorsing IPV victimization in their current relationship, more than 18% reported increased frequency since the onset of the pandemic. Respondents in the Southern US, and those with more severe depressive symptoms, were more likely to report an increased frequency of IPV victimization. Providers, researchers, and policymakers should address this prevalent health problem, particularly during public health emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Clinical research in ovarian cancer: consensus recommendations from the Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup.

The Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup (GCIG) sixth Ovarian Cancer Conference on Clinical Research was held virtually in October, 2021, following published consensus guidelines. The goal of the consensus meeting was to achieve harmonisation on the design elements of upcoming trials in ovarian cancer, to select important questions for future study, and to identify unmet needs. All 33 GCIG member groups participated in the development, refinement, and adoption of 20 statements within four topic groups on clinical research in ovarian cancer including first line treatment, recurrent disease, disease subgroups, and future trials. Unanimous consensus was obtained for 14 of 20 statements, with greater than 90% concordance in the remaining six statements. The high acceptance rate following active deliberation among the GCIG groups confirmed that a consensus process could be applied in a virtual setting. Together with detailed categorisation of unmet needs, these consensus statements will promote the harmonisation of international clinical research in ovarian cancer.

The applicability of force majeure clause during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia and France

The COVID-19 pandemic that has occurred almost all over the world has had a very significant impact on various aspects. In this regard, the pandemic has directly or indirectly affected international trade. International business contracts are one of the essential elements in carrying out an international trade. The COVID-19 pandemic that has occurred has resulted in implications and disruption to the ongoing contracts carried out on international scale. The current pandemic has raised a question, whether the COVID-19 pandemic can be classified as a force majeure circumstance or not. Reflecting on these problems, this study will examine the rules and regulations of force majeure from the legal perspective of Indonesia and France as countries that have adopted the civil law legal system. In addition, this study also discusses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on international trade contracts. This study uses normative legal research methods, namely methods based on written regulations and literature that examines aspects of theories, structure, and legal explanations related to the material in this research. The approach used in writing this journal is a comparative approach, which is to compare the legal regulations in Indonesia and France. From the second data sources obtained, it is found that there are some differences between Indonesian and French laws regarding force majeure. The Indonesian civil code does not explicitly mention force majeure but calls it a state of coercion. Meanwhile, civil law in France clearly mentions force majeure in the France Civil Code. Related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is classified as a force majeure condition, the parties bound in international business contracts can renegotiate the contracts they made. Keywords: COVID-19, International Business Contract, Force Majeure, Indonesia, France Pandemi COVID-19 yang terjadi hampir di seluruh dunia memberikan dampak yang sangat signifikan di berbagai aspek. Dalam hal ini, pandemi secara langsung atau tidak langsung mempengaruhi perdagangan internasional. Kontrak bisnis internasional merupakan salah satu elemen penting dalam melakukan perdagangan internasional. Pandemi COVID-19 yang terjadi telah mengakibatkan implikasi dan gangguan terhadap kontrak yang sedang berjalan yang dilakukan dalam skala internasional. Pandemi yang terjadi saat ini menimbulkan pertanyaan, apakah pandemi COVID-19 dapat digolongkan sebagai keadaan force majeure atau tidak. Berkaca dari permasalahan tersebut, penelitian ini akan mengkaji peraturan perundang-undangan force majeure dari perspektif hukum Indonesia dan Perancis sebagai negara yang telah menganut sistem hukum civil law. Selain itu, penelitian ini juga membahas tentang dampak pandemi COVID-19 terhadap kontrak perdagangan internasional. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian hukum normatif, yaitu metode berdasarkan peraturan tertulis dan literatur yang mengkaji aspek teori, struktur, dan penjelasan hukum terkait dengan materi dalam penelitian ini. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penulisan jurnal ini adalah pendekatan komparatif yaitu membandingkan peraturan perundang-undangan di Indonesia dan Perancis. Dari sumber data kedua yang diperoleh, ditemukan beberapa perbedaan antara hukum Indonesia dan Perancis mengenai force majeure. KUHPerdata Indonesia tidak secara eksplisit menyebutkan force majeure, tetapi menyebutnya sebagai keadaan memaksa. Sementara itu, civil law di Prancis secara jelas menyebutkan force majeure dalam KUHPerdata Prancis. Terkait pandemi COVID-19 yang tergolong kondisi force majeure, para pihak yang terikat dalam kontrak bisnis internasional dapat menegosiasikan kembali kontrak yang dibuatnya. Kata kunci: COVID-19, Kontrak Bisnis Internasional, Force Majeure, Indonesia, Prancis

Identifying the drivers of profitable airline growth

While regulatory changes in the global economic environment have facilitated airline capacity growth, profitability remains as a challenging issue for airlines globally. This study examines whether the airline business model has an impact on the tension between growth and profits and is the first to apply the dynamic system generalised method of moments model to this relationship. We find that full-service network carriers are faced with a trade-off between growth and operating profits, whereas low-cost carriers are able to simultaneously pursue growth-oriented strategies whilst improving profitability. We discuss the key differences in the business models that drive these results and identify that short-term impacts of COVID-19 travel constraints will impact different airlines in distinct ways.

The Cervical Cancer Research Network (Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup) roadmap to expand research in low- and middle-income countries.

Cervical cancer is a global health problem which disproportionally affects women in low- and middle- income countries. The World Health Organization recently launched its global strategy to eliminate this disease in the next two decades. For those women diagnosed today with cervical cancer better strategies are needed to improve outcome and reduce treatment-related morbidity. Clinical trials are critical to shaping future treatment, and much has been achieved already. However, such opportunities are limited in low resource settings, and the Cervical Cancer Research Network is dedicated to expanding access to new technologies in surgery, radiation, and medical oncology. In this article we review the status of the trials portfolio and outline future objectives, including the launch of a number of research grants for aspiring or established researchers in low- and middle-income settings.

Gold as a financial instrument

This paper explores the effectiveness of gold as a hedging and safe haven instrument for a variety of market risks. Rather than confining the analysis to specific countries, we treat gold as a global asset and apply the novel Phillips, Shi and Yu (2015a) and Phillips, Shi and Yu (2015b) methodology to identify extreme price movements. This method accounts for both the level and speed of changes in price dynamics that better characterises periods of abnormally high risks. We uncover safe haven properties for the European sovereign debt crisis, stock market crash, and oil inflationary pressures. We also show that gold exhibits hedging properties when investors are faced with currency, European sovereign debt, stock market, and oil inflation risks. Finally, we demonstrate that gold was a weak safe haven for investors during the 2020 Covid-19 crisis, and highlight the importance of accounting for speed and price levels in the identification of abnormal risk periods.

Prepared and highly committed despite the risk of COVID-19 infection: a cross-sectional survey of primary care physicians' concerns and coping strategies in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: Primary care physicians (PCPs) are first points-of-contact between suspected cases and the healthcare system in the current COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines PCPs' concerns, impact on personal lives and work, and level of pandemic preparedness in the context of COVID-19 in Singapore. We also examine factors and coping strategies that PCPs have used to manage stress during the outbreak. METHODS: Two hundred and sixteen PCPs actively practicing in either a public or private clinic were cluster sampled via email invitation from three primary care organizations in Singapore from 6th to 29th March 2020. Participants completed a cross-sectional online questionnaire consisting of items on work- and non-work-related concerns, impact on personal and work life, perceived pandemic preparedness, stress-reduction factors, and personal coping strategies related to COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 158 questionnaires were usable for analyses. PCPs perceived themselves to be at high risk of COVID-19 infection (89.9%), and a source of risk (74.7%) and concern (71.5%) to loved ones. PCPs reported acceptance of these risks (91.1%) and the need to care for COVID-19 patients (85.4%). Overall perceived pandemic preparedness was extremely high (75.9 to 89.9%). PCPs prioritized availability of personal protective equipment, strict infection prevention guidelines, accessible information about COVID-19, and well-being of their colleagues and family as the most effective stress management factors. CONCLUSIONS: PCPs continue to serve willingly on the frontlines of this pandemic despite the high perception of risk to themselves and loved ones. Healthcare organizations should continue to support PCPs by managing both their psychosocial (e.g. stress management) and professional (e.g. pandemic preparedness) needs.

A Tale of 3 Asian Cities: How is Primary Care Responding to COVID-19 in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Beijing.

Hong Kong, Singapore, and Beijing have some of the highest numbers of international arrivals and densest living spaces globally, yet these cities have reported low numbers of deaths amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Primary care has played different roles in each of the health systems in combatting the pandemic. Both Hong Kong and Singapore have a 2-tiered health system with the majority of primary care provided in the private sector. The primary care system in Beijing consists of community health facilities, township health centers, and village clinics. The role of primary care in Hong Kong includes using the public primary care clinics as part of an enhanced surveillance program together with accident and emergency departments, as well as triaging patients with suspected infection to hospitals. Singapore's response to COVID-19 has included close cooperation between redeveloped polyclinics and private and public health preparedness clinics to provide screening with swab tests for suspected cases in the primary care setting. Beijing's unique response has consisted of using online platforms for general practitioners to facilitate monitoring among community residents, as well as public health education and a mobilized pharmacy refill program to reduce risk of transmission. Established challenges, however, include shortages of personal protective equipment and the heavy workload for health care staff. Regardless, all 3 cities have demonstrated enhanced preparedness since experiencing the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic, and the responses of their primary care systems therefore may offer learning points for other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 on private and public primary care physicians: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Primary care physicians (PCP) are at a high risk of contracting COVID-19 as they manage patients with fever or respiratory symptoms, but it is intuitive that private and public practice PCPs may face different challenges during this pandemic. This study compared work- and non-work-related concerns, COVID-19's impact on personal and professional lives, and perceived pandemic preparedness between private and public PCPs in Singapore. METHODS: 216 PCPs who were a registered member of either the National University Polyclinics, National University Health System Primary Care Network or College of Family Physicians Singapore, participated in this online cross-sectional study. The data collection period lasted from 6th March 2020 to 29th March 2020. RESULTS: A final sample of 172 questionnaires were analysed. Private PCPs tended to be older and more experienced. Perceived COVID-19 exposure and overall preparedness was high in both groups. More private PCPs perceived their exposure risk as unacceptable, aOR = 3.96 (1.07, 14.62); that they should not be caring for COVID-19 patients, aOR = 3.55 (1.23, 10.24); and perceived more stigma against their loved ones, aOR = 4.27 (1.74, 10.44). Private PCPs felt less well-trained, aOR = 0.05 (0.01, 0.23); and supported, aOR = 0.14 (0.03, 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: Private PCPs are more likely to be self-employed or work in smaller practices where COVID-19 infection could mean loss of livelihood. As a healthcare system without primary care is crippled in its ability to manage outbreaks, authorities should respond appropriately to the needs of their general practitioners and family physicians.