SARS-CoV-2 Infection Related Hyperglycemia during hospitalization and three months post-discharge (preprint)

Hyperglycemia or diabetes mellitus during COVID-19 has always been a great concern and heralds severe forms of the disease, we also don’t know whether this condition will continue as diabetes mellitus even after convalescence. For this purpose we conducted a study to investigate this condition and factors related to it in hospitalized patients and even three months post-discharge we followed them up. We gathered data from 202 patients that fulfilled our inclusion criteria, among them 100 patients were hyperglycemic. Patients in hyperglycemic status experienced significantly longer duration of hospitalization than normoglycemic patients and significantly showed more severe forms of the disease. During their follow up three months post-discharge for the investigation of glycemic status, 46 out of 97 patients were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and have been taking anti-diabetic drugs while 29 patients only had normal glycemic status.

The WHO Disease Outbreak News during the Covid-19 pandemic (preprint)

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) was faced with the task of regular public updating--about both the pandemic itself, and hundreds or potentially thousands of other health emergencies. Here, we examined the 242 reports published in the WHO Disease Outbreak News (DON) during the first four years of the Covid-19 pandemic (2020 to 2023), and document the diseases and regions that were reported. We find that multinational epidemics of diseases like Ebola virus and MERS-CoV continue to dominate the DON. However, recent years have also seen more reports of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, as well as a state shift in influenza outbreak reporting in both China and the rest of the world. Surprisingly, the DON was only minimally used to document the Covid-19 pandemic and the global mpox epidemic, almost exclusively before the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern. Notably, inconsistent reporting related to Covid-19 variants of concern speaks to the ongoing evolution of the DON as a resource, and potentially, to its complicated relationship with international travel and trade restrictions. We suggest that researchers should continue to exercise caution when treating the DON as a global record of outbreak history, but that the DON is a compelling record of the WHO itself, including the process it uses to assess outbreak risk.

Neural and Cognitive Consequences of COVID-19 Survival

Phase 1/2, Open-Label, Multi-Center Trial to Assess Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics , Pharmacodynamics, and Efficacy of CLN-081 in Patients with Locally-Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutations Who Have Previously Received Platinum-Based Systemic Chemotherapy

The starting dose for CLN-081 was 30 mg twice a day and increased as per the
protocol.

The rate and severity of treatment emergent AEs, DLTs, SAEs, incidence of

safety laboratory assessment abnormalities

Incidence of abnormalities in vital signs or other clinical safety assessments

ORR based upon both independent central review and local Investigator

assessment by RECIST v1.1

Tumor response characteristics including DOR, DCR, PFS, and time to tumor

response based upon both independent central review and local investigator

assessment and OS

CLN-081 PK

Metabolite identification

Other biomarker data

Diagnostic tumor samples

Please refer to protocol for Primary Objectives of Phase 2a, Module A, Module B

part 1 and Module B part 2.

A patient who meets all of the following inclusion criteria will be eligible to
participate in this study:
1. Histologically or cytologically confirmed recurrent and/locally advanced or
metastatic NSCLC (all patients). For module A only, histologically or
cytologically confirmed solid tumor with the exception of esophageal, gastric,
pancreatic, hepatobiliary, or small bowel carcinomas, or history of gastric
resection.
2. Documented EGFR exon 20 insertionex20ins mutation demonstrated by a
validated test routinely used by each institutionlisted in Section 9.7 and
performed in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA-)-certified or
equivalent laboratory (all patients other than Module A Food Effect PK
Assessment Module). Institutions that don*t have access to these tests should
contact the sponsor for assistance.
3. Prior treatment in the recurrent/metastatic disease setting including:
a. A platinum-based chemotherapy regiment (or other chemotherapy regimen if
platinum-based chemotherapy is contra-indicated)
b. Any other approved standard therapy that is available to the patient, unless
this therapy is contraindicated, intolerable to the patient, or is declined by
the patient. In the case of a patient declining such therapy, documentation
that the patient has been informed and declined should be documented in the
medical record.
c. No prior therapy is required for patients enrolled on Module A.
d. Prior therapy with an agent approved by the local regulatory authorities for
the treatment of EGFR ex20ins mutant NSCLC (Module C only).
4. Measurable disease by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST
1.1.) (except for patients enrolled on Module A).
5. Age >= 18 years.
6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1.
7. Ability to take pills by mouth.
8. Have the following laboratory values:
a. Serum creatinine < 1.5 × ULNupper limit of normal (ULN) or if higher than
normal range, calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) must be >= 50 mL/min/1.73
m2 (if calculated by Cockroft-Gault formula, the actual body weight must be
used for CrCl unless body mass index [BMI] >30 kg/m2 then lean body weight must
be used).
b. Total bilirubin <= 1.5 × ULN unless prior history of Gilbert*s syndrome.
c. Aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminaseAST and ALT <= 2.5 × ULN, or <=
5 × ULN if due to liver involvement by tumor.
d. Hemoglobin >= 9.0 g/dL in the absence of transfusion <= 14 days prior to the
first dose of study drug on C1D1.
e. Platelets >= 100 × 109 cells/L. in the absence of transfusion <14 days prior
to the first dose of study drug on Cycle 1 Day 1 (C1D1).
f. Absolute neutrophil count >= 1.5 ×109 cells/L.
9. For Module A patients only: patients must have a negative coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID 19) polymerase chain reaction test prior to enrolment.
10. For Module B and Module C patients only: verification of suitable archived
tumor tissue available at the participating center for biomarker analysis. A
fresh biopsy is required if an archived sample is not available.
11. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed
consent document and comply with study procedures.

R6, Phase 1 Expansion, Phase 2a, Module A and Module B Patients Only
1. Prior treatment with an EGFR ex20ins -targeting drug (eg, including, but not
limited to poziotinib, mobocertinib, amivantamab, DZD9008, BDTX-189).
Note: enrolment of patients treated previously with EGFR ex20ins targeting
drugs allowed selectively during accelerated titration dose escalation and
Module C only.
Module A Food Effect PK Assessment Module patients only
2. Conditions that compromise esophageal or GI function, including esophageal,
gastric, hepatobiliary, or small bowel carcinomas or history of gastric
resection.
3. Recurrent diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.
4. Unable to refrain from or anticipates the use of:
a. Any drug, including prescription and non-prescription medications, including
drugs that change gastrointestinal motility (eg, loperamide) or gastric pH (eg,
antacids, H2 antagonists, proton pump inhibitors), herbal remedies, or vitamin
supplements within 14 days prior to the first dosing on Day 1 to follow-up.
b. Any drugs known to be inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A
enzymes and/or p-glycoprotein (P-gp), including St. John*s Wort and grapefruit
juice, within 28 days prior to the first dosing and throughout the PK
assessment.
5. Any allergies to the composition of the high fat meal.
6. Patients who use tobacco products.
All Patients
7. History of COVID-19-related pneumonitis requiring hospitalization.
8. History of COVID-19 infection within 4 weeks prior to enrolment, have
clinically significant pulmonary symptoms related to prior COVID-19 pneumonitis.
9. Treatment with any of the following:
a. An EGFR TKIs <= 8 days or 5 × the terminal phase elimination half-lives,
whichever is longer, prior to the first dose of study drug on C1D1
b. Systemic anticancer treatment (excluding EGFR TKIs as described above) <= 14
days prior to the first dose of study drug on C1D1.
c. Radiotherapy < 28 days and palliative radiation <= 14 days prior to the first
dose of study drug on C1D1. If irradiated, lesions must have demonstrated
clear-cut progression prior to being eligible for evaluation as target lesions.
d. Immunotherapy <= 28 days prior to the first dose of study drug on C1D1.
e. Major surgery (excluding placement of vascular access) <= 28 days of the
first dose of study drug on C1D1.
10. Have any unresolved toxicity of Grade >= 2 from previous anti-cancer
treatment, except for alopecia and skin pigmentation. Patients with chronic,
but stable Grade 2 toxicities may be allowed to enroll after agreement between
the Investigator and Sponsor.
11. Have known or suspected leptomeningeal metastasis. Have known or suspected
brain metastases or spinal cord compression, unless the condition has been
asymptomatic, treated with surgery and/or radiation (if clinically indicated),
and has been stable without requiring escalating corticosteroids or
anti-convulsant medications for at least four weeks prior to the first dose of
study drug on C1D1.
12. Prior therapy with CLN-081.
13. Known hypersensitivity to CLN-081 or any drugs similar in structure or
class.
14. Past medical history of interstitial lung disease, treatment-related
pneumonitis, or any evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease.
15. Cardiac conditions as follows: Patient has a history of congestive

What strategies help reduce Australian adults’ beliefs in COVID-19 vaccine misinformation?

phuEGO: A network-based method to reconstruct active signalling pathways from phosphoproteomics datasets (preprint)

Signalling networks are critical for virtually all cell functions. Our current knowledge of cell signalling has been summarised in signalling pathway databases, which, while useful, are highly biassed towards well-studied processes, and don't capture context specific network wiring or pathway cross-talk. Mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics data can provide a more unbiased view of active cell signalling processes in a given context, however, it suffers from low signal-to-noise ratio and poor reproducibility across experiments. Methods to extract active signalling signatures from such data struggle to produce unbiased and interpretable networks that can be used for hypothesis generation and designing downstream experiments. Here we present phuEGO, which combines three-layer network propagation with ego network decomposition to provide small networks comprising active functional signalling modules. PhuEGO boosts the signal-to-noise ratio from global phosphoproteomics datasets, enriches the resulting networks for functional phosphosites and allows the improved comparison and integration across datasets. We applied phuEGO to five phosphoproteomics data sets from cell lines collected upon infection with SARS CoV2. PhuEGO was better able to identify common active functions across datasets and to point to a subnetwork enriched for known COVID-19 targets. Overall, phuEGO provides a tool to the community for the improved functional interpretation of global phosphoproteomics datasets.

Agent-Based Model: Simulating a Virus Expansion Based on the Acceptance of Containment Measures (preprint)

Compartmental epidemiological models categorize individuals based on their disease status, such as the SEIRD model (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered-Dead). These models determine the parameters that influence the magnitude of an outbreak, such as contagion and recovery rates. However, they don't account for individual characteristics or population actions, which are crucial for assessing mitigation strategies like mask usage in COVID-19 or condom distribution in HIV. Additionally, studies highlight the role of citizen solidarity, interpersonal trust, and government credibility in explaining differences in contagion rates between countries. Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) offers a valuable approach to study complex systems by simulating individual components, their actions, and interactions within an environment. ABM provides a useful tool for analyzing social phenomena. In this study, we propose an ABM architecture that combines an adapted SEIRD model with a decision-making model for citizens. In this paper, we propose an ABM architecture that allows us to analyze the evolution of virus infections in a society based on two components: 1) an adaptation of the SEIRD model and 2) a decision-making model for citizens. In this way, the evolution of infections is affected, in addition to the spread of the virus itself, by individual behavior when accepting or rejecting public health measures. We illustrate the designed model by examining the progression of SARS-CoV-2 infections in A Coru\~na, Spain. This approach makes it possible to analyze the effect of the individual actions of citizens during an epidemic on the spread of the virus.

A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Concentration of SNS812 in Mild to Moderate COVID-19 Patients

The effect of aerobic activity on recovered patients from COVID-19

Don't let corona become our only story

This chapter is about, what impact can the corona crisis have on our mental health? Besides the relational tensions that can arise from living on top of each other, many of us are also stuck in one negative story. The chapter is about the importance making room for stories that are not about corona. It discusses about work that consisting of broadening people's horizon by letting participants discover that they consist of multiple stories. This will have an enormous impact on the mental well-being of a large part of the population, which will have lots of consequences. That is why it is important to actively make room for other stories right now, in the middle of the pandemic. Memories from the past and dreams for the future. This is a responsibility one has to take towards one's own mental health (and resilience), just as we have to do for others. Sharing other stories and making sure people don't get stuck in that one difficult story is just as much part of caring about each other and will help us get through this crisis healthier. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Mask wearing behavior, type of mask, frequency replacement of mask, and duration of mask wearing with skindemic

One of the health protocols to prevent the occurrence of being infected with the coronavirus is using a mask. The use of masks can be a skin disorder, one of which triggers the emergence of a skin epidemic, especially if you don't pay attention to cleanliness, especially on facial skin. The purpose of the study was to determine the mask-wearing behavior, type of mask, frequency of replacement of mask, and duration of mask-wearing with skindemic. This research is an analytical study of Rank Spearmen with the cross-sectional method. The sample used was 5400 respondents using the total sampling technique. The data was obtained by giving a questionnaire with google form to the respondents. Data were collected and then analyzed using SPSS. The results of the research on the behavior of mask-wearing with skindemic (p=0.000). The behavior of the use of this type of mask with the incidence of skindemic (p=0.001). Frequency replacement of mask with skindemic (p=0.001). the duration of mask-wearing on skindemic (p=0.003). Mask-wearing behavior, type of mask, frequency replacement of mask, and duration of mask-wearing with skindemic. It is necessary to keep the facial clean and replace masks regularly to prevent facial irritation, especially skindemic. © 2023 Author(s).

Competitiveness-the engine that boosts economic growth and revives the economy

Competitiveness is a concept that shows up in all aspects of human life, both at the micro level, in personal, social, and professional life, and at the macro level, linked to organizational and national competitiveness with long-term effects on global competitiveness. In this paper, we aim to address competitiveness in Romania in the current context, before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its role in reviving the economy. While until the onset of the pandemic Romania's competitiveness performance was growing, more recently, because of the global health crisis, it dropped a few places, according to the Global Competitiveness Index report. In order to have a clear picture of the degree of competitiveness in Romania, we have presented a series of statistical data for the most relevant macroeconomic indicators for our study for the 2017-2022 timeframe: the global competitiveness index, the minimum wage, labor productivity, the evolution of real labor productivity per employed person, the economic growth rate, the unemployment rate, the inflation rate, the European innovation index, gross domestic expenditure on research and development, export of goods and services as a share of GDP, etc. The methodology used involves the use of quantitative techniques, performing an econometric analysis, and correlating how the most important macroeconomic indicators can influence the degree of competitiveness at both the national and international level. For the post-pandemic timeframe, the analysis switches focus, just as the economic reality did, looking at energy costs and energy use as determinants of competitiveness. Since notions like circular economy and sustainable development correlate being energy-efficient with being competitive, however, at the same time, the high cost of investments necessary for individual businesses and countries to switch from polluting energies to clean energies impedes or at the very least heavily impacts their ability to compete with entities that don't make that same switch, it becomes apparent that the energy market impacts competitiveness metrics. Competitiveness promotes valuable contributors and underpins performance at group and company level, and the effects from the micro level will propagate, with an emission effect, to the entire national economy with obvious implications at the international level, through real growth in macroeconomic indicators, increased labor productivity, increased economic performance (market share, export share, return on capital), raising living standards and economic and social wellbeing (life expectancy index, human development index, poverty rate), education (skills, knowledge, abilities, managerial and marketing skills, corporate culture), competitive potential (innovation, R&D, promotion), and in raising the Global Competitiveness Index by focusing on factors of production, efficiency, and innovation, etc.

Rebadging Gains Momentum Amidst COVID

Rebadging also reduces fixed or direct costs for clients, as well as the legal risks associated with using contractors in full-time, long-term engagements. * Employees are assured secure employment, re-assigned back to their original employer (as a vendor contractor) or via new positions within the FSP vendor. * Vendors find rebadging not only an important source of revenue, but also gain broader access to top-level talent, critical for any successful service provider. While FSP models with or without rebadging are ultimately about capacity management, the best vendors deliver wide-ranging value to help the client: * retain access to a dedicated team of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff for a broad range of services (data management, medical writing, program leadership, clinical supplies, regulatory, clinical monitoring, statistics, medical, etc.). * increase flexibility, including on-demand access to time and materials (T&M) or unit-based models that can deliver services with work volume that does not require dedicated FTEs. * access additional vendor expert staff from across the globe and shift or centralize services to increase efficiency, reduce timelines and save costs. * accelerate and optimize key HR processes, including hiring, onboarding and training. [...]in the EU and elsewhere, ARD-type regulations are in place to help ensure employers don't take advantage of their employees by offshoring their work or forcing them to rebadge with lower salaries and benefits. [...]joining a successful FSP vendor gives the employees a range of value beyond job security. Vendors The global market for outsourced clinical development services to CROs, including FSP providers, is estimated at approximately US $44.3 billion, and projected to grow to US $57.2 billion by 2024 (CAGR: 6.5%).'

COVID-19 and The Surgical Neonate

COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 affected millions of people including children. Though uncommon, there are few reports of COVID in neonates also. COVID is primarily managed by pediatricians;however, they are involved when providing anesthesia to these neonates for surgery. The role of anesthetists, besides during surgery, has proven to be vital in COVID pandemic for their expertise in airway and ventilatory management, also putting them to the highest risk of exposure. Various testing methods are available, and TrueNAT and RTPCR have emerged as most reliable. Most neonates remain asymptomatic or have mild symptoms;however, RTPCR testing should be done in all at least 72 h of preoperative. Utmost care should be taken during the preoperative evaluation, and in the perioperative period, goal is to prevent transmission of COVID to noninfected HCW involved in the perioperative period, to other newborns and neonates, and also to avoid increasing the severity of the diseases in the positive neonates, while keeping in mind the vulnerability of these babies in combination with their surgical disease and the changing neonatal physiology. COVID care protocols should be followed at all times. Anesthetic considerations remain the same as described in other chapters in the book, in newborns and neonates, both term and preterm. All OT personnel need to don the PPE, which can be problematic especially for the anesthetist, as it restricts the normal unhindered movements, use of stethoscope for chest auscultation for heart rate, respiration, and ETT positioning. Hence, one needs to be very meticulous in IV line and ET placement and their securing to prevent accidental dislodging during positioning and under the drapes. All disposable and non-disposable equipment used for the covid positive baby, should be adequately treated or discarded, as the case may be, after each surgery. Only emergency surgery should be undertaken in COVID-positive neonates to prevent high postoperative morbidity and mortality. There is not much data available in neonates, and most guidelines have been introduced for children and adolescents. Neonatal care has emerged from the experience of the anesthesiologist and from extrapolation of the available pediatric guidelines. Here, we will be discussing COVID in neonates and anesthetic management in COVID-positive neonates undergoing surgery. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.

On the Frontline Against COVID-19: Provision of Community Pharmacy Services during a Public Health Crises

Objectives: During the current pandemic, it is recognised that pharmacies will often be the first point of contact with the health system for individuals with COVID-19 related health concerns or who require reliable information and advice. It is also important in the midst of the current public health crisis to reduce general practitioners' (GP) minor ailment-related workload. The aim of our study is to examine the problems in the midst of public health crisis of the current magnitude with the roles and activities of pharmacists. This information could help to inform future decisions about the restructuring of existing health services by governments, public health bodies and policy makers in response to public health crises such as COVID-19. Method(s): The study was carried out among 384 consumers using pharmacy in the regions of Armenia and Yerevan. Research instrument was questionnaire. Number of questionnaires distribution was determined by The Survey System Version 11.0. Analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 12.0). Result(s): During the study it becomes clear that very few percentage of consumers (17%) consulted by a pharmacy employees. Most of them don't get the necessary information from the pharmacy employee about medicine. Only 29 % of consumers are clearly satisfied with the answers of a pharmacy employee and 26% fully trust them. Conclusion(s): Steps should be taken for improving the professional knowledge of pharmacists about medicines and pharmaceutical care, which, in turn, can restore consumer trust in them, will help avoid self-medication errors by providing advice on medicines in response to public health crises such as COVID-19. There is a need to develop pharmaceutical care algorithms for minor ailments, national emergency drug formularies for COVID-19.Copyright © 2023

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ONLINE "FATIGUE AND ACTIVITY MANAGEMENT EDUCATION IN WORK” (FAME-W) INTERVENTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS

BackgroundA Fatigue and Activity Management Education in Work (FAME-W) programme was developed for individuals with inflammatory arthritis to manage fatigue in work (McCormick, 2018). FAME-W was designed as an in-person programme;however, due to COVID-19 pandemic it was modified to be an online group-based self-management intervention.ObjectivesThis study tested the effectiveness of an online format of FAME-W for future use by occupational therapist to help individuals with inflammatory arthritis to stay in work.MethodsParticipants were randomly allocated to intervention or control groups. Participants in the intervention group received the online four-week FAME-W and the control group participants received a FAME-W handbook. Participants in the intervention group attended a focus group immediately after the completion of the online FAME-W programme. A qualitative descriptive design was used with semi-structured focus groups. Data were analysed by thematic analysis (Braun and Clark, 2021).ResultsTwenty-six individuals took part in five separate focus groups. The average number of participants per group was 5 individuals with the largest group having 8 and smallest having 3 participants. The majority of participants were female, working full time and had Rheumatoid Arthritis. The four themes emerging from the focus groups were: "content and delivery of the programme” where participants discussed the relevance of the content to their symptoms and the online delivery format of FAME-W. In the second theme, participants discussed "understanding the effects of symptoms on their own and combined” and how symptoms effect mood, work, cognitive and physical abilities. In the third theme, "implementing the knowledge gained from the programme” through goal setting and practicality of the self-management strategies provided were discussed. Final theme "impact of the FAME-W on symptoms and work” including reassurance of normalising symptoms, change in mindset and approach to their condition were discussed.Table 1.ThemesQuotesContent and delivery of the programme"Each of the four sections were all very relevant” "I am quite happy that it is online because face to face would depend on location if I had the choice”Understanding the effects of symptoms on their own and combined"Now I know that I can sleep better when I manage my pain, and I can manage my pain by managing fatigue” "When you have a long-term illness, you don't look at the symptoms individually, you need to break it and look at it individually to know how to manage it”Implementing the knowledge gained from the programme"I'm in a different place today than I was four weeks ago. I am doing well now. So, for me the goal setting is excellent” "Helps you implement the knowledge into your regular routine and check in with yourself”Impact of the FAME-W on symptoms and work"Just a lightbulb moment to say, great, this is not my fault, because you can blame yourself for all the symptoms”ConclusionPreliminary results show that participants found the online FAME-W to be effective, relevant, reassuring, and helpful. These results suggest that work-related self-management skills are essential in assisting participants with symptom management in the workplace. Furthermore, these preliminary results suggest that the online format of FAME-W may be helpful for individuals with inflammatory arthritis to stay in work and it may become a standard part of clinical care for occupational therapists.References[1] McCormack, RC, O'Shea, F, Doran, M, Connolly, D. Impact of a fatigue management in work programme on meeting work demands of individuals with rheumatic diseases: A pilot study. Musculoskeletal Care. 2018;16: 398– 404.[2] Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. SAGE.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of InterestsNone Declared.

Driving Consistency in Validation Management

FDA also explained that system designs and controls should allow for detecting errors, omissions, and unusual results-outcomes that cannot be easily identified with paper-based processes. Because the guidance requirements for record retention and review don't differ between paper or electronic, this update supports the shift to a digital model. Using paper to check and mark things off is a normal practice in life sciences, even if it is not a very good process for error detection, data collection, or metrics, says Bryony Borneo, quality assurance director at global contract research organization (CRO) Emmes. Building a solid data foundation and gaining more experience with remote ways of working are driving positive change and making it easier for quality teams to remain compliant with regulations. According to Sanjeev Kumar, senior director, data integrity and technology at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, there is greater awareness of data standardization to identify developing trends and insights from information.

Steps Towards Diversity in Clinical Trials

Building authentic trust lays at the heart of creating more patient-centric trials While neither the lack of diversity in clinical research nor the need for patient centricity is new, recently, the clinical research community has been more determined than ever to ensure that we take steps now to increase both in the most impactful, effective way possible. If a patient or the patient's family doesn't trust the provider, or they don't trust the information from the provider, they're never going to 'buy in' to the treatment or medical advice." [...]there are no shortcuts if researchers truly want to be part of the change that will ultimately increase diversity in clinical research in a way that is sustaining and authentic.

Black Poetics of Affect: Intimate Public Encounters with Strangers in Claudia Rankine's Just Us (2020)

This article aims to explore how Jamaican-born writer Claudia Rankine displays the ways in which, as a black woman and a first-generation migrant settled in the United States, she 'regularly has to negotiate conscious and unconscious dismissal, erasure, disrespect, and abuse' (Rankine [2020] Just Us: An American Conversation, New York: Penguin, p. 23). Just Us: An American Conversation is a genre-defying work that includes poems, essays, photography, visual art, posts from social media, and academic and journalistic sources that tackle the discursive constructions of whiteness in cultural and political life in the United States. In this volume, the private and the public merge through conversations with white strangers and friends at the airport and the train station, in the classroom, in the backyard, in the street and in social distancing interactions via Zoom. Berlant ([2011] Cruel Optimism, Durham: Duke UP.) writes about public spheres as 'affect worlds', where emotions precede rational or deliberative thought, attaching strangers to each other and defining the terms of the state-civil society relation. I also use Sara Ahmed's idea of 'encounter' (2000, 2012), defined as a meeting with others that surprises and involves conflict, because it shifts the boundaries of the familiar or assumed knowledge. In this sense, Rankine creatively looks for traces of racialized and gendered experiences in encounters that involve bodies or texts, including the devastating effects of Covid-19 on marginalized black communities. The volume completes a vital trilogy that includes the hybrid book-length poems Don't Let Me Be Lonely (2004) and Citizen (2014). This lyrical series conform what I call 'a black poetics of affect', shaped by intimate public encounters with racism and sexism that disrupt the fantasy of a post-racial society. Rankine's sustained reflections on 'the affective dimensions of Black life' (Palmer [2017] '"What Feels More Than Feeling?": Theorizing the Unthinkability of Black Affect', Critical Ethnic Studies 3:2, pp. 31-56.) provide new and situated insights on affect theories and feminist studies.

Why some hotels get it right and others don't: Perspective of situational crisis communication theory towards crisis response strategies

As the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, hotels depend on effective crisis leadership to respond to the crisis. Despite its significance, limited studies have accentuated the role of crisis leadership in an organization's intention to engage in effective crisis response. To fill this gap, this study examines the hotels' crisis responses in a Victim crisis cluster based on the intention to respond using Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT). The findings reveal Denial along with Bolstering strategies to be prominent. The findings offer theoretical and practical implications to tourism and hospitality research by illustrating the role of crisis leadership for an effective crisis response during an unprecedented crisis, especially during the victim type crisis.