House prices and COVID-19 pandemic shocks in India: a nonlinear ARDL analysis

PurposeIndia is one of those countries that are severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the upsurge in the cases, the country recorded high unemployment rates, economic uncertainties and slugging growth rates. This adversely affected the real estate sector in India. As the relation of the housing market with the gross domestic product is quite lasting thus, the decline in housing prices has severely impacted the economic growth of the nation. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to gauge the asymmetric impact of COVID-19 shocks on housing prices in India.Design/methodology/approachStudies revealed the symmetric impact of macroeconomic variables, and contingencies on housing prices dominate the literature. However, the assumption of linearity fails to apprehend the asymmetric dynamics of the housing sector. Thus, the author uses a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model to address this limitation and test the existence of short- and long-run asymmetry.FindingsThe findings revealed the long- and short-run asymmetric impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the peak of the COVID-19 on housing prices. The results indicate that the peak of COVID-19 had a greater impact on housing prices in comparison to the outbreak of COVID-19. This can be explained as prices will revert to normal at a speed of 0.978% with the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases. Whereas the housing prices rise at a rate of 0.714 as a result of government intervention to deal with the ill effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, it can be inferred that both the outbreak and peak of COVID-19 will lead to a minimal decline in housing prices, while with the decline in the number of cases and reduction in the impact of the outbreak of COVID, the housing prices will rise at an increasing rate.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to understand the impact of the outbreak and peak of COVID-19 on the housing prices separately.

Biological Matrix Supply Chain Shortages: More Matrices Are Now Rare-the Case for Surrogate Matrices.

The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the biological matrix supply chain. An upsurge in demand driven by numerous COVID-19 therapeutic and vaccine development programs to combat the pandemic, along with logistical challenges sourcing and transporting matrix, has led to increased lead times for multiple matrices. Biological matrix shortages can potentially cause significant delays in drug development programs across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Given the current circumstances, discussion is warranted around what will likely be increased use of surrogate matrices in support of pharmacokinetic (PK), immunogenicity, and biomarker assays for regulatory filings. Regulatory authorities permit the use of surrogate matrix in bioanalytical methods in instances where matrix is rare or difficult to obtain, as long as the surrogate is appropriately selected and scientifically justified. Herein, the scientific justification and possible regulatory implications of employing surrogate matrix in PK, immunogenicity, and biomarker assays are discussed. In addition, the unique challenges that cell and gene therapy (C>) and other innovative therapeutic modalities place on matrix supply chains are outlined. Matrix suppliers and contract research organizations (CROs) are actively implementing mitigation strategies to alleviate the current strain on the matrix supply chain and better prepare the industry for any future unexpected strains. To maintain ethical standards, these mitigation strategies include projecting matrix needs with suppliers at least 6 months in advance and writing or updating study protocols to allow for additional matrix draws from study subjects and/or re-purposing of subject matrix from one drug development program to another.

In Addition to Vaccination, Can More Be Done to Prevent Severe COVID-19?

The available vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus all are highly effective and substantially reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19, especially severe disease (including death).2,3 Previous studies have demonstrated vaccine effectiveness extends to populations disproportionately affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection and includes those requiring hospitalization, ICU admission, or an ED or urgent care clinic visit.2 Yek et al analyzed data from 465 U.S. facilities to learn more about individuals who completed primary vaccination between December 2020 and October 2021. [...]28 out of 36 people who died had four or more risk factors. At a time when this public health crisis has been mired in political debates, taking an evidence-based approach to ensure patients are optimally managing their chronic medical conditions, are fully vaccinated, and are taking reasonable precautions to minimize their exposure may make the difference between life and death. 1.

Looking Back, COVID-19 Vaccination Woes Were Predictable

Attributes analyzed included minor and major adverse effects, protection duration, efficacy, FDA approval, endorsements, and national origin. An increase in the duration of vaccine protection from one year to five years and a decrease in the incidence of major adverse effects from one in 10,000 to one in 1 million also were associated with a higher probability of choosing a vaccine. Factors associated with higher probability of choosing a vaccine, such as better efficacy, low incidence of major adverse effects, and endorsements by the CDC and WHO, currently exist.3 But the FDA has been slow to approve vaccines, and the ongoing politicization of science, from mask-wearing to vaccine mandates and school openings, has led to an erosion of the public’s confidence in vaccines.4,5 Vaccines were a chance to redeem failures in the U.S. coronavirus response.

The Role of Nanotechnology in Antiviral Regime: An Overview

Nanomedicine or nanotechnology exhibits outstanding features to challenge severe health issues including pathogenic viral infections, the most culpable invaders in the present situation. The perpetual mutational pattern in viruses topped with raising resistance to drug epitomizes the current situation as a trigger to explore nanotech platforms in antiviral therapies. Referring to novel physicochemical features of nanomaterials associated with effective drug delivery, it is viewed as an ideal strategy for treatment of viral infections. The coronavirus induced pathogenesis, including MERS, SARS and SARS-CoV-2 infections, has triggered alarming and highly dangerous precedents against existence of humans. Applications of nanotechnology can serve a new direction for disinfection or treatment of viruses. Presently, various types of nanomaterials, such as nanogels, nanospheres, nanocapsules, liposomes, nanoparticles and many others, that have been investigated in vivo and in vitro for successful drug delivery, vaccination, diagnostic assay and device development with anticipation to be translated in advanced clinical practices, need a collective relook. This paper intents to contribute insightful critique of current studies on the efficacy of nanoplatforms as drug transporter, diagnostic tool and vaccine candidate against pathogenic viruses counting the highly pathogenic and incurable “coronaviruses”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Nano Life is the property of World Scientific Publishing Company 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.)

Catering the Needs of Cancer Contemporary to this Contagious Corona Catastrophe: Institution Based Changes in Cancer Management and Protection Procedures.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has drastically affected the health care facility worldwide, posing unprecedented challenges in front of the caregivers. All hospitals need adopt measures to protect patients and health professionals and to safely triage patients (according to country/regional directives) for identifying those infected with coronavirus. As very few guidelines are available for care of cancer patients during COVID times, institutes have had to make their own strategies, based on their own expertise keeping in mind local directives and their effect on available resources and routine processes to offer best possible care. In this article, we have discussed in-house protocols for modification and prioritization of radical and palliative multimodality treatment of cancer patients along with our infection control measures in accordance with national and local guidelines during COVID emergency to stay safe and health. Also, the current study aims to modify cancer treatment and care during the COVID-19 pandemic adhering and fulfilling all protective measures.

Vitamin D Deficiency and COVID-19 Infection

[...]several agents are under investigation as potential therapeutic targets.1 Of these, vitamin D supplementation has been identified for its potential.2 Recent evidence suggests extra vitamin D can lower the incidence of acute respiratory infection and the severity of respiratory tract diseases in children and adults. Controlling for comorbidity and demographic indicators, the authors conducted a multivariable analysis to evaluate whether vitamin D status before a COVID-19 test was associated with testing positive. Concurrently, vitamin D deficiency remains a serious public health issue, with an estimated 1 billion people recording low vitamin D levels across all ages and ethnicities.5 The Meltzer et al study provides an initial assessment of the association of vitamin D deficiency with substantially higher risk of testing positive for COVID-19.

Public Health Interventions to Reduce COVID-19 Spread

[...]the daily confirmed case rate per million people increased from 2.0 before Jan. 10 to 45.9 between Jan. 10 and Jan. 22 and to 162.6 between Jan. 23 and Feb. 1. [...]R0 cannot account for the time-varying nature of an epidemic. [...]investigators may substitute a time-varying effective reproductive number (Rt) to provide more information because it tracks the subsequent evolution of transmission. [...]we must enhance access to real-time data in the United States for those who are infected as well as those who need to undergo further testing, surveillance, and/or quarantine.5 There may be an extended period before a vaccine and/or effective pharmacotherapy is widely available.