Chemical Market Reports

Ketan Mahajan

Farmers are skeptical about their chemical advisors. Data can be a great help…

by

Would you trust your doctor’s prescriptions to be objective if they worked for a pharmaceutical company? As a result of a series of prescription drug scandals, this question has become more prevalent in the medical community.

An analogous relationship is possible in the agriculture industry. Many of the “prescriptions” that agricultural advisors must sign for chemical pesticides or other products are signed by the same companies that produce and sell them.

Advisors and farmers are often in a mutually beneficial relationship. This relationship can lead to tension as farmers may question advisors’ motives. Advisors then have to debate with farmers about the best course of action. Both are not necessarily to blame. The system is the problem.

Some countries, like France, have taken steps to separate the advisor from the agrichemical business, but there is little talk about that happening in North America. There is a way to strengthen and repair these relationships without additional regulation.

We are seeing an important side effect as agriculture integrates technology and enhanced analytics. Independent technology companies have been collecting farm data which is helping farmers to see eye-to-eye.

Good intentions. Bad optics

Let me start by saying that there are many amazing agricultural advisors, and most of them play an essential role in the lives of farmers.

Advisors can be divided into three categories: Independent advisors who are independent and own their own businesses as well as in-house advisors who work on behalf of the farm.

The advisor is often included in a package when a farmer buys seeds or chemicals from a retailer. Many farmers appreciate the advice. These advisors are often called upon by farmers to obtain prescriptions for pesticides.

This relationship works well for many. Farmers swear by their advisors, which I have seen. There is also the risk of subtle misalignment between agendas, which can lead to unintended consequences, such as overspray. A survey of 540 advisors found that those associated with chemical companies were less likely to recommend lower pesticide doses. Overspray can lead to a cascading effect, from possible environmental damage to increased resistance and unneeded costs for farmers.

Instead of blaming anyone, it’s important to point out what is missing in the equation: reliable data that can be used to make collaborative decisions.

Advisors are able to bring years of experience and extensive training into the field. Farmers, on the other hand, are able to see and sense their field’s challenges and conditions better than anyone. The only thing that is lacking is an objective source of truth on which to base your decisions.

It doesn’t have that way.

Dieticians Claim Reducing The Amount Of Sweet Stuff From Packaged Meals Might Have Long Lasting Health Benefits

by

Health experts have been saying that added sugar content that is found in pre-packaged foods and drinks is increasing the number of people who are dealing with severe health conditions. Many people are at risk of death as well due to higher consumption of added sugar. Now, a study that has been done by experts from Massachusetts General Hospital has shown that cutting down added sugar content from packaged foods and beverages might have some long-term health benefits. The authors of the study have created a model to identify the effects of reducing added sugar content in 15 kinds of packaged foods and beverages. They have observed dietary data that have been taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They have combined the findings with the policy that has been proposed by the US National Salt and Sugar Reduction Initiative (NSSRI). The NSSRI is an association of more than 100 organizations and health officials across the country. The NSSRI comprises the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, the Friedman School of Nutrition Science, and Policy from Tufts University, and Massachusetts General Hospital. The results of the new study have been reported in a journal known as Circulation.

The findings of the study have shown that cutting down the amount of added sugar from packaged meals by 20 percent and reducing the content of added sugar in packaged drinks by 40 percent can prevent nearly 2.48 million events of cardiovascular issues such as strokes, heart attacks, and cardiac arrests. The authors of the study have said that these fractions of reduction in the amount of added sugar will halt nearly 490000 deaths linked to cardiovascular ailments. It will prevent around 750000 events of diabetes as well. The authors of the study have said that these reductions will also save nearly $4.28 billion in healthcare revenue as well in the next ten years. These cutbacks in the amount of added sugar will save around $118 billion in revenue over the life span of the adult population, said the experts. Another study as well has shown that eating ultra-processed foods like sweetened beverages, sodas, and fast foods each week is linked to an elevated risk of heart issues. This study has been done by the European Society of Cardiology. Experts from Greece have said that each highly processed food item that is eaten during the week can shoot up people’s odds of being diagnosed with a cardiovascular issue by 10 percent within 10 years. The authors of the new study have said that health officials should execute public health programs and nutrition policies to promote better food choices among people. A certified dietician, Sarah Koszyk has said that it is hard to keep a tab on companies that make processed foods; however, people can control what they eat. She has said that people should closely check the nutrition label present on the product to find out where the sugar is being sourced from in the food.

Sarah Koszyk is a sports nutritionist as well. She has claimed that not all sugars are made equally. Sugars that are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, starches, and dairy products are natural sugar. Natural sugar accounts for the total sugar that is found on a nutrition label. Koszyk has said that all these foods except dairy foods have dietary fiber as well. As per the experts, dietary fiber is a kind of carbohydrate that encourages satiety and offers health benefits linked to the heart. The authors of the study have said that if people are buying dried fruits, they should opt for a product that has a nutrition label, which mentions fruits only. Additional ingredients of sugar that are mentioned in the nutrition label contribute to the content of added sugar that is not good for the overall health. Health experts have said that as sweet stuff is called by numerous names, the content of added sugar is hard to be identified in packaged foods. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has claimed that cane juice, dextrose, corn syrup, fruit nectars, lactose, maltose, maple syrup, fructose, glucose, malt syrup, molasses, raw sugar, sucrose, and high-fructose corn syrup are kinds of added sugar only. Dr. Sarah Koszyk has said that moderation and frequency matter the most when it comes to eating low sugar or reduced sugar items as the amounts of sugary items can still make a difference if people start eating them more often. She has said that stevia and monk fruit are good options for people who want to add some sweetness to their coffee or tea, as they are plant-based substitutes for sugar. These alternatives will help people maintain their glycemic index and promote low to no calorie consumption. Experts have said that one tablespoon of powdered stevia is equal to one cup of sugar.

Wildfire Devastates Towns Across Greece, 63 Evacuations Conducted in Just a Few Days

by

Greece is experiencing an environmental calamity of historic magnitude, with 586 forest fires raging throughout the nation. This European country is experiencing one of its deadliest heatwaves in several decades, with firemen battling wildfires all over the country. Just in the last several days, there have been 63 coordinated evacuations. Over the last week, the fire has burned hundreds of houses and caused the evacuation of tens of towns. The previous few days were perhaps some of the most challenging for the nation. With high heat as well as months of famine among factors complicating firefighting operations.

Environmental officials have cautioned that the consequences of global warming on the region will be most devastating in southern Europe, where droughts are getting increasingly regular and drastic. On Monday, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a climate report which found that it is unambiguous that human activities are to blame for the climate catastrophe and verified that irreversible widespread rapid alterations had already begun. As per the study, researchers are more convinced than ever before about the links connecting the climate problem and weather events: worldwide, disasters that might have occurred perhaps once every decade or so, are now occurring 70% more frequently. As a result of the devastating droughts, heat waves, and wildfires have lengthened, leading to more catastrophic incidents.

On the 9th of August, firefighters and volunteer groups were using a water hose to contain a smoldering flame to try and suppress the fire in the settlement of Glatsona on Evia island. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece’s Prime Minister, stated that any shortcomings in Greece’s emergency operation would be recognized, those guilty will be held accountable, and individuals whose property was damaged will be reimbursed. On Tuesday, the prime minister will preside over a cabinet meeting at which concrete steps to minimize the damage caused by the fires will be announced.

Tesla Resumes Delivery Of Refreshed Version Of Model S Electric Car After Brief Pause

by

Electric car giant Tesla has resumed the deliveries of Model S. This comes after a weeklong pause by the company. There were reports of delay in the deliveries by the company from customers’ end. Those with a booking for Model S were told by the company that delivery of their booked vehicles will be done later. Tesla, however, didn’t mention the reason behind the delay and preventing customers from booking the new vehicle. Several Model S buyers earlier reported that their vehicles arrived at the local delivery center. The sales advisers told them that the new cars cannot be delivered to them. Several buyers who reported about delayed deliveries have now confirmed picking up their new electric cars.

Buyers had said that sales advisers gave many different reasons about why the new cars cannot be delivered to the buyers. Initially, it was believed that the waiting could be due to some update in its software or missing part. The Model S was launched by Tesla in 2012. It is a five-door liftback sedan. In 2019, the 2013 model of the electric car was named the ‘car of the year’ by renowned American automobile magazine Motor Trend. The company launched a refreshed model of the variant in June 2021. Tesla has introduced changes in the new version of the variant. The company has updated its interior and exterior design.

Model S is one of two Tesla flagship electric vehicles. The second is the Model X. Tesla CEO Elon Musk had earlier announced that the company will no longer provide a regular steering wheel with the refreshed versions of the two vehicles. It has completely redesigned its steering. It looks like a yoke instead of a wheel. Tesla has also updated the vehicle’s battery pack. The 2021 version of the vehicle has already received an Environmental Protection Agency range rating. It tells the vehicles’ fuel-economy ratings. As per the law, car manufacturers must obtain fuel-economy ratings for their vehicles by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA rating shows an improvement in the new car’s efficiency level.

Intel To Build Qualcomm Chips, Lays Roadmap To Expand Its New Foundry Business

by

Intel is leaving no stone unturned in its attempt to regain the lead in the chip-making space. The company has now chalked out a strategy to catch Asian rivals like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Samsung Electronics. Intel said that is expanding its new foundry business with the goal of retaking the top position in the space by 2025. The company also said that its factories would start building Qualcomm chips. Intel has been a leader in the field of building the smallest and fastest computing chips for decades. Speaking at Intel Accelerated webcast, chief executive officer Pat Gelsinger made several plans for the next five years. One of the major announcements made was Intel will no longer use the nanometer-based nomenclature.

There are several chip manufacturers that are still using this nomenclature. For decades this was considered to be a gold standard. But as companies are working to pack more transistors in their small area of chips, things are bound to change. The company has announced a new scheme to name its chips. Intel said that new nomenclature being adopted by it would give a more “accurate view of process nodes across the industry.” Under this, 10nm chips would no longer be referred to as some name base on 10nm. Instead, they would be called ‘Intel 7.’

But there are some who believe that it could simply be a marketing tactic. Commenting on this, Intel senior vice president Sanjay Natarajan said that the shift is aimed at making it easier for customers to make a comparison with rivals. Natarajan said that it is important as the company is moving into a foundry market. But these changes came a little late as Intel has lost the title of being a leader in the industry to TSMC and Samsung. Intel’s rivals Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Nvidia have used their manufacturing services to manufacture chips that outperform those produced by Intel.

Ingenuity Breaks Several Records In Ninth Test Flight On Mars As NASA Plans To Push Helicopter To Its Limit

by

Ingenuity has completed its most challenging flight. Ingenuity is a helicopter designed and developed by NASA to fly on Mars. It arrived at the Red Planet in February along with the Perseverance rover. The helicopter has so far conducted nine flights on the planet. According to NASA, the ninth flight was the most challenging for Ingenuity since its arrival. The helicopter broke several of its records. According to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which oversees the mission, the helicopter flew for 166.4 seconds in the Martian atmosphere. It broke the previous record of 139.9 seconds. The helicopter had achieved this feat during its sixth flight in May.

The helicopter weighs 4 pounds. Its height is 19 inches. It covered a distance of 625 meters during the ninth flight. This is more than twice the previous highest distance the helicopter had covered. Ingenuity’s last highest distance during a flight was 266 meters. It made this record during the fourth flight in April. Besides, the helicopter also hit a speed of 5 meters per second. This is 1 mph faster than the previous record achieved during the sixth flight. Ingenuity is the only object that has flown on any planet outside Earth. NASA becomes the only agency to achieve this feat. A controlled flight in a thin Martian atmosphere is full of challenges. Ingenuity has carbon-fiber blades. These blades are arranged into two rotors. The rotors can complete 2,400 revolutions in a minute.

The helicopter has survived all the challenges on the planet. NASA said that it has surpassed expectations. It is a demonstration of the technology by NASA that can redefine the human approach towards Mars’ exploration. More advanced versions of the helicopter can be developed and sent to the planet to explore the Earth’s neighbor. It can help scientists to find safe routes for rovers so that they can move quickly on the surface. It will help scientists to explore areas that are difficult to reach by a rover. NASA said that more test flights will be conducted to push Ingenuity to its limit. This will help the agency to refine the technology and its design as well.

Dentists In The US Are More Likely To Raise Their Fee Due To Restricted Practice Amid The COVID19 Pandemic

by

A report shows that millions of people in the US have been delaying their dental appointments due to the fear of COVID19 infection. Experts say this situation might lead to increased fees for patients, job loss, and fewer family practices. Since the pandemic has hit the United States this spring, all the dental clinics have been temporarily shut down except for emergency appointments. It has thrown hundreds of thousands of American people out of work. Now, when 99.9 percent of dental clinics have reopened again, however, the number of patients coming in remains 20 percent lower than usual day. This data has been released by the American Dental Association (ADA). Although the dentists have been taking all the safety measures to protect themselves and patients from coronavirus, they do not think this situation will improve any time soon.

A study shows that the expenditure on dental care will go down by 38 percent in 2020. It says that 46 percent of dentist groups have said that the volume of their patients has reduced by 15 percent than usual levels in the first week of October. The study shows that nearly 15 to 20 percent of patients have confessed that they will not visit their dentists until there is a proven treatment or a vaccine for COVID19. The Chief Economist of ADA projects, Marko Vujicic has said that a large section of people is very cautious about the pandemic and it is difficult to make people return to usual activities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has earlier said that oral health check-ups, dental cleanings, and preventive care will be delayed until there is a sufficient decline in the rate of COVID19 transmission. The ADA has strongly opposed the WHO’s stand and said that dentists are taking many safety measures to reduce the risk of infection.

Dentists have been maintaining safety standards by using N95 masks, surgical masks, disposable gowns, air purifiers, cleaning solutions, temperature checks, hand hygiene, and social distancing. They have been forcing patients as well to wait in their cars until their appointments start. Experts from the dental industry have said that there is no documented proof of COVID19 cases stemming from a dental care facility. The ADA officials have said that if the situation remains the same for a few more months, dentists will consider raising their fees. They have said that they will raise the fee for insured patients too. Dentists might consider privatizing their practices as well, said the officials from ADA. The organization has revealed that a dentist spends an additional $15 to $20 per patient due to the safety measures taken for COVID19 prevention.

Experts Say Standard Genetic Testing Might Be Cost Effective For Newly Diagnosed Patients With GIST

by

Scientists have said that a standard gene testing for patients who have been diagnosed with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) will be more cost-effective. They have said that the financial estimate will support the widespread adoption of this approach. A study of genetic tests and modified first-line cure shows that using genetic testing to match the treatment of KIT differences to the imatinib dose is a less expensive way as compared to empirical imatinib. Experts have said that genetic test helps doctors to give chemotherapy in a tumor-specific way. In this case, those patients who do not get any relief from imatinib are given the alternative cure. This study has been published in JAMA Network Open.

The author of the study, David Geffen has said that genetic test is cheap as it avoids futile treatment and low rates of disease growth. He has made a Markov model to match the efficiency of the targeted gene test and modified first-line therapy with imatinib therapy in patients with GIST. The key factor for assessing the cost efficiency of the gene test has been quality of life years (QALY). The cost-efficiency of gene testing is defined by the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, which is less than $100000, is considered cost-effective. As per the study, a therapy directed by the gene test is linked with an increase of 0.10 QALYs, at $9513 as compared to empirical imatinib. It leads to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $92100. However, experts have said that the findings are sensitive to the costs of targeted gene tests, drugs, and health utility model efforts.

Experts have said that 70 percent of times, a targeted gene test is quite cost-efficient. The results of the study show that therapy directed by targeted gene tests can be cheaper if it gets hold of more share in the market, as of now imatinib therapy has a larger market share. Experts have advised patients with newly detected GIST that they should go for genetic testing before the start of first-line chemotherapy. They have said that this way patients who do not get any relief from imatinib, can be given a better treatment for their lumps. Experts have said that there is a need for further studies to substantiate the findings.

The US Health Authorities Report An Alarming Increase In Hispanic American Deaths Due To COVID19

by

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a report saying that the number of Hispanic people dying due to COVID19 is growing rapidly. Minorities in the United States have been majorly hit by the global pandemic. The number of death among them is still on the rise, said the experts. As per the data, Hispanic Americans have made up 16.3 percent of COVID19 deaths in the US in the month of May. In August, the proportion has gone up to 26.4 percent. Reports show that more than half of the US deaths due to the pandemic include white Americans; however, the number of black and Hispanic people who have lost their lives amid the pandemic is higher than their share of the population. The rise in deaths among Hispanic people might be due to the shift of the epidemic from the northeast to the south and west regions. South and west regions are highly populated with black and Hispanic people.

The CDC suggests that black and Hispanic people are highly prone to the virus and they are more likely to die due to the infection. As per the data fetched from Johns Hopkins University, 217000 people have lost their lives due to COVID19 so far. Around 8 million people have been infected with the virus. Although the pandemic has confirmed that it does not differentiate in infecting the people of all ages, races, and ethnicities, and genders, however, it does not hit all these groups equally either. Nearly 114411 people have died due to COVID19 between May and August. Reports say that 49 percent of them have been black and Hispanic people. Nearly 51.3 percent of them have been white people. Experts have said that the proportion of white people dying will be more than three quarters if the virus would have hit the people of all races equally. Black people make up only 13 percent of the US total population; however, they account for 19 percent of people who have died due to COVID19 in the US. Latinx and Hispanic people contribute to 18 percent of the population in the US, but they make up for more than 24 percent of deaths in the last four months.

The shift of COVID19 outbreak from northeast to south and west regions has been instrumental in increasing the death toll among minorities. With overwhelming cases in New York City and tri-state area under control, other regions of the country, which have fewer cases and do not require aggressive measures, have started to see a surge in deaths and further infection. South region has seen only 23 percent of COVID19 deaths in May; however, the share of deaths across the region has increased by threefold and reached up to 62 percent. The share of deaths in the west region as well has increased from 10.4 percent to 21.4 percent. As per the experts, the geographic shift of the outbreak might be due to the difference in the implementation of community mitigation efforts across the nation. The authors of the study have said that ethnic disparity among the descendants of south and west has increased in the months of May and August. It might be another reason for the rising deaths among black and Hispanic people.

Wells Fargo Fires Employees For Allegedly Misusing COVID-19 Relief Funds

by

Financial services company Wells Fargo has fired employees for allegedly misusing COVID-19 funds that were meant for struggling small businesses. The company, in an employee memo, said that it has detected some false representations made by bank staff while applying for coronavirus relief funds. The relief program was an initiative by the US Small Business Administration. The abuse involved the loan program of Economic Injury Disaster, reports said. Funds for Economic Injury Disaster Loan came directly from the SBA. The bank stated that the action by its employees was outside of their assigned work responsibilities. “These employees of the bank have been terminated with an immediate effect. We will give full corporation in the investigation of the matter by law enforcement,” Wells Fargo said.

David Galloreese, head of human resources, said that wrongful actions were employees’ personal actions and our customers were not involved in it. “We follow the zero-tolerance policy. We will continue to monitor these matters. If we identify any more employees involved in wrongdoing, we will take appropriate action,” he added. There are around 100 to 125 employees against whom action has been taken. According to an employee of the company, the investigation initiated by Wells Fargo is still underway.

It must be noted that Wells Fargo is not the first bank that has unearthed abuse of government programs by its own employees. JPMorgan Chase is one of them. It found that over 500 of its employees were among the beneficiaries of the coronavirus pandemic relief programs. Reports suggest that dozens of them did improper things to receive assistance. The advance of up to USD 10,000 is offered under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan of the SBA. The best part about the assistance is that it needs not to be repaid. Not only employees of the bank, others too are abusing such programs. The SBA has been encouraging banks to be alert about such suspicious deposits in accounts of both customers as well as staff from the disaster loan program. The SBA has flagged serious concerns about potential fraud in the disaster program. A memo regarding this was issued in July.

Experts Reveal Antibody Levels Decrease Quickly In The COVID19 Patients During Recovery

by

Many hospitals have been treating severe COVID19 patients with blood plasma of recovering patients due to the absence of an effective and approved treatment. Doctors believe that blood plasma extracted from recovering patients carry antibodies, which fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although plasma has not shown any advantage during the randomized trials, however, some small studies claim that it might help reduce the severity of the disease. A new study has found that the levels of antibodies reduce quickly in the blood of COVID19 patients during recovery. Experts have said that the levels of antibodies keep decreasing as the body of the patient starts clearing the virus and its symptoms. A new study has been done by experts from the American Society for Microbiology.

Experts have said that if the convalescent plasma is effective in the treatment of COVID19 disease it should be taken within a precise window of time after recovery. Nevertheless, recovering patients are not allowed to donate blood until at least 14 days after their symptoms have been reduced. Doctors need to give this much time to the patient’s body to clear out the viral infection. Dr. Andres Finzi, a professor at the University of Montreal, Canada has said that the ability of plasma to eliminate the viral particles is slowing down during the first weeks after recovery. Some of the past studies have found that the antibodies, which fight against the virus, start acting in full force, 2 or 3 weeks after the onset of the symptoms. A previous study, which has been done by Dr. Finzi and his team, has shown that the capacity of plasma to fight the infection has reduced between 3 to 6 weeks after symptoms have started showing. Around 100 patients have been included in this study.

In a new longitudinal study, experts have taken blood samples of 31 people who have been recovering from COVID19 infection. These blood samples have been taken at a one-month interval. They have observed levels of immunoglobulin, which fight against the virus’s spike protein. Experts have examined the ability of the antibodies to eliminate the virus. They have seen a variation in the levels of antibodies among the patients. There has been a consistent signal in the levels of antibodies. As per the study, the levels of immunoglobulin G, A, M has rapidly reduced between six and ten weeks after symptoms have started showing. During the same time, the capacity of the antibodies to kill the virus has also gone down.

People With Blood Type O Might Be At A Reduced Risk Of Severe COVID19 Disease And Its Implications

by

Two new studies have revealed that there is a link between people with O blood type and lower chances of being diagnosed with severe COVID19 infection. These studies have shown that people with O blood group, who have been diagnosed with COVID19, will have milder symptoms than others. Experts have not been able to find out the cause and effect of the statistical link in the study. One study has been published in Denmark and another study with the same findings has been released in Canada. However, experts have said that there is a need for further studies for more substantial conclusions. Experts have said that the O blood group plays a significant role in people’s susceptibility to COVID19 infection.

The study published in Denmark has revealed that only 38.4 percent of people with O blood type have tested positive for COVID19 out of 7422 Danish people. The study has reported that people with blood type O make up only 41.4 percent of nearly 2.2 million of the untested population. People with blood type A contribute to 44.4 percent of people who have been diagnosed with the disease. They make up 42.2 percent of people who have not been tested yet. The Canadian study has analyzed 95 patients who have been diagnosed with COVID19. The study shows that people with A and AB have required a ventilator as compared to 61 percent of people with blood type O and B. People with blood type O and B have stayed only for 9 days in the intensive care as compared to those with A and AB blood groups, who have spent nearly 13.5 days in the intensive care.

Dr. Mypinder Sekhon, the author of the Canadian study has said that authorities need to conduct more study to consider this as a definitive marker. It is uncertain whether this link is a certain kind of protection for O blood type people or some kind of vulnerability linked to other blood groups. Experts have said that the findings of the study should not change the way people have been taking their daily lives so far. Both studies have been published in the Journal of Blood Advances.

Experts Claim Child Care Centers Are Not Responsible For Speeding Up The COVID19 Transmission

by

A national study has shown enough evidence that child care centers are not liable for spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus even in communities where largely the infection is quite high. This study has been published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It has been touted to be the largest research, which has been done on the transmission of the COVID19 in child care programs in the US. The study has been led by Professor Walter Gilliam. The lead author of the study has said that the findings of the study are very encouraging and it will provide relief to the child care providers and families, who have been relying on them.

The study has analyzed around 57335 child care providers, which accommodate almost 4 million children in two-thirds of counties in the US. Experts have revealed that people who have been working during the first three months of the pandemic are no more prone to fall sick as compared to those who have not been working. Experts have said that there is no link between people working in child care centers and catching the virus. The study has clearly mentioned that child care providers are not at a higher risk of COVID19 if they have stayed at home. Earlier reports have shown that adults are at a greater risk of contracting the virus than children. Such findings have helped the experts to come up with a measuring stick for the spread of the virus in these child care centers.

Many past studies have shown that child care centers are not the hotspot for the spread of the virus. However, experts have said that in the case of influenza, children might be the main spreader and schools might stand as major hotspots. Well, it is a different case for COVID19. The findings of the national study are constant with reduced rates of infection and transmission, which have been reported by more than 33000 licensed preschool and daycare centers in California. There have been only 657 children and 1000 providers who have fallen sick due to COVID19 since March. However, many experts have been opposing the findings of the study. They have said that the study has been done much before more cases have started coming up. However, the authors of the new study have said that people should not extrapolate their findings to K-12 schools, where containing the spread of the virus is quite difficult due to the extra size of the class and more group mixing.

Scientists Claim Survivors Of Severe COVID19 Infection Have Long-Lasting Protective Antibodies

by

A study has revealed that people who have recovered from a severe COVID19 infection have a long-lasting immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This study has been done by experts from the Massachusetts General Hospital. New research gives some hope that people who have survived a severe COVID19 infection will have enduring protective antibodies to keep the reoccurrence of the disease at bay. Experts have said that assessing antibodies can be a precise tool to track the transmission of the virus as well. Experts have not been able to determine how long these antibodies can last until now. The senior author of the study, Dr. Richelle Charles, and her colleagues have studied the blood samples of 343 patients who have been diagnosed with severe COVID19 infection. In the study, the blood samples of the patients have been extracted up to four months after patients have started showing symptoms. This study has been published in Science Immunology.

Experts have applied these blood samples on laboratory plates layered with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the virus’s spike protein. The virus’s spike protein binds to the surface of the cell and causes infection. The study of these blood samples shows how antibodies present in the blood plasma attach to RBD. The findings of the research have been compared with blood samples taken from more than 1500 people before the COVID19 pandemic. Scientists have revealed that calculating the antibody called immunoglobulin (IgG) has been highly precise in tracking patients with the disease who have been showing symptoms for at least 14 days. The senior author of the study has said that since the nasal swab test for COVID19 infection has lost its sensitivity with time, replacing it with an antibody test for the patients who have been showing symptoms for at least eight days will help to spot some positive cases, which have been missed.

Experts have found that there have been elevated levels of IgG in these patients for four months. The IgG levels are linked with the existence of protective neutralizing antibodies. It has shown a little decrease in activity over time as well, which means such patients will be protected for a particular time span. The study has found two other protective antibodies as well, immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). These antibodies live up to two and a half months or less in the bodies of the patients who have recovered from a severe COVID19 infection. Experts clearly state that if a person who has recovered from the disease and has IgA and IgM antibodies, he or she is likely to be diagnosed with COVID19 again within the last two months of recovery.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Clears Key Environmental Testing, Set To Launch In October 2021

by

The James Webb Space Telescope has successfully cleared key tests. The telescope is developed by the US space agency NASA. According to the agency, it has just completed environmental testing. The scientific equipment has survived all of the conditions that it will face during the launch and operations in the space. NASA said that the telescope can easily survive the rocket launch phase. The launch is one of the most crucial parts of the operation. The JWST will be launched in October next year. It will succeed the Hubble Space Telescope. According to NASA, the completion of environmental testing is a crucial milestone in its journey.

James Webb Space Telescope engineers conducted acoustic and vibration tests. The test was conducted at California’s Northrop Grumman center. Northrop Grumman is an aerospace company based in Virginia. That company is developing Webb for the space agency. NASA said that the telescope will go through more testing. The complete system’s evaluation is awaited. Its engineers will pack it up after full evaluation and take it to its launch site. It will be launched from French Guiana on an Ariane 5 rocket. The agency had earlier planned to launch the telescope in March 2021, but pushed the date to October 2021. It added that the program is on schedule for October 2021 launch.

The James Webb Space Telescope is said to be the largest and most technically complex space telescope. NASA said that it will help scientists in solving the mysteries of the solar system. The Hubble Space Telescope was placed into the low Earth orbit in 1990. It is still operational. Scientists consider it as the most versatile research tools in the space. The new telescope will offer scientists an improved infrared resolution and sensitivity of space events. Besides, it is aimed at helping to expand astronomy and cosmology probes. The telescope’s main objective is to assist scientists to examine the most distant objects and events millions of km away from Earth.

Google To Bring New Safety Feature Within Apps, To Send Alerts To Users About Critical Issues

by

Search engine giant Google has promised to bring a comprehensive safety feature in apps on its platform. This will send alerts to users about issues within apps. According to Google, the new feature will automatically send alerts in case of any suspicious attack or malware. These alerts will tell people about the critical issues, if any, within the apps on its platform. This way, the company said, it will assist people to address their concerns and make their device safe and secure. Users will no longer require to checking their phone alerts or email separately in case of a hack or a compromise. Google said that the alerts are resistant to spoofing. It added that a user receiving alerts can be pretty sure that the company is sending these notifications.

At present, Google said that it uses Android alerts to inform users about such issues in apps. It sends alerts to their Google Accounts. According to the company, it will begin with a limited rollout of the feature. It will expand the feature next year. Google observed that people get engaged with such alerts within an hour of receiving them. It said that there is at least a 20-fold increase in the number of users who notice these notifications. But in the case of an email alert, users often notice such notifications lately. There are high chances of users skipping such emails as well.

According to Google, the Safety Centre is now live in the United States. It will be expanded globally soon. Google claims that it blocks over 100 million phishing attempts daily. It said that measures by the company help protect four billion devices for safe browsing. Its Google Play Protect algorithm protects users from becoming vulnerable to such attacks. It scans over 100 billion apps for suspected malware and critical issues daily. Google Play Protect is the company’s security services for the Android platform. Google said that it addresses nearly three million privacy and security questions every month worldwide. The company said that Google is planning to generate Smart Replies in Android 11 as well.

European Space Agency’s Cheops Mission Discovers ‘Hot Jupiter’ WASP-189 b

by

The European Space Agency has discovered a new exoplanet. The new exoplanet is named WASP-189 b. The discovery was made by the ESA’s Cheops mission. Cheops is a space telescope. It was launched by the ESA in December 2019. Its objective is to map the known exoplanets in the solar system. According to the ESA, WASP-189 b is one of the hottest and most extreme solar planets ever discovered. It is also called ‘ultra-hot Jupiter’ because it appears like Jupiter. As the name suggests, it is a gas giant just like the solar system’s Jupiter. The new exoplanet is approximately 20 times closer to its host star than Earth is close to the Sun.

WASP-189 b takes 2.7 days to complete one full orbit of its host star. According to the researchers, the ‘hot Jupiters’ orbit much closer to their host star. This is the reason why they are extremely hot. Researchers said that the new exoplanet is extremely hot. It has a temperature of about 3,200 degrees Celsius. This makes it clear that the just discovered exoplanet is inhabitable. Researchers noted that there are very few planets that are known to exist around stars with extremely hot temperatures. The WASP-189 b is the brightest hot Jupiter. Researchers observed the celestial body as it passed behind and in front of its star.

The latest finding shows Cheops’ ability to discover the secrets of the solar system. Researchers used the telescope to observe WASP-189 b as it passed behind its host star. They measured its brightness and temperature as well. They concluded that WASP-189 b is one of the hottest planets. It is not like any of the eight known planets of the solar system. WASP-189b was first detected by scientists in 2018. The ESA’s telescope provided the first picture of the planet. The ESA said that the first result from the Cheops is exciting. It added that the Cheops mission is living up to expectations.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Signs USD 13 Billion Deal To By Heart Drug Maker MyoKardia

by

Bristol Myers Squibb Co. has announced that it will buy MyoKardia Inc. for USD 13.1 billion in cash in a deal. The move by the drug giant is aimed at expanding its offering of heart therapies. It will also reduce Bristol Myers’ dependency on cancer drugs. The deal comes after the largest pharmaceutical deal in history that the company clinched last year. According to a statement issued by the company, It will pay USD 225 a share for MyoKardia. With this deal, Bristol Myers will get access to MyoKardia lead product mavacamten. It is an experimental drug to treat obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In this disease, the muscle of the heart becomes abnormally thick.

Expanding the lineup to heart drugs would help Bristol Myers maintain a more diversified lineup of therapies. The company has so far emphasized the expansion of its oncology business of late. Eliquis, a blood thinner, has been the company’s top-seller, however, it is expected to face tough competition in the coming years. Chief Executive Officer Giovanni Caforio said that they have been trying to find different ways to strengthen the company. “This is a disease that has no treatment available at the moment and therefore the value is very significant. The deal can really be a multi-billion dollar asset,” he added.

Nearly a year ago, Bristol Myers closed a USD 74 billion deal with Celgene Corp. This placed the company in a better position in the increasingly competitive market for cancer therapies. But investors are concerned about the prospect of the company in the next half of the decade. Revlimid was the main drug that was obtained in the deal. It is expected to drop US patent exclusivity in 2027. Similarly, Eliquis is also expected to lose patent exclusivity in 2026. It is expected that an application for the approval of mavacamten will be submitted in the first quarter of the year 2021. The company’s executives said that this is too early to discuss such things.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Extends Suspension Of All Cruises Until November 30

by

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd has decided to suspend all cruises until November 30. The world’s third-largest cruise line, in terms of passengers, also operates brands like Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and, Oceania Cruises. The company has issued a press release stating that all cruises between November 1 and November 30 have been canceled. It has also suspended all voyages onboard Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Star, and Norwegian Dawn until March 2021. The company has asked its guest of canceled voyages to contact the cruise line of their travel advisor for more information.

The company has assured that guests who had an active reservation on a suspended cruise in November 2020 through March 2021 will receive a refund of their cruise fare automatically and that too in the original form of payment for the total amount paid within 25 days. Additionally, a 10 percent off coupon will be given to such guests and it will get added to their account. The discount coupon will be valid for one year from the date of issue. Guests can use the coupon for any Norwegian Cruise Line voyage going for a trip through 2022. Norwegian, the third-largest cruise operator in the world, has a combined fleet of 28 ships with approximately 59,150 berths.

The decision comes at a time when the White House has cleared the way for cruising from November 1. Meanwhile, the company has said that it will continue to work with the public health authorities and global government and expert advisors of its Healthy Sail Panel to take all measures required for the safety of the guests. Not only Norwegian but Carnival Cruise Line has scrubbed all of its remaining 2020 cruises except those sailing out of Florida, its home ports. Royal Caribbean too has suspended all its cruises till October 31 and has canceled Australian and European itineraries beyond that date. Earlier, the CDC orders to suspend cruising in US waters has been extended multiple times.

Experts Claim Having Coffee Before The Breakfast Can Adversely Impact Blood Sugar Levels

by

Scientists have said that people who drink coffee before having their breakfast might be at a higher risk of irregular blood sugar levels. Having coffee as a way to wake up in the morning can harm people, said, the experts. On the other hand, they have said drinking coffee after breakfast can help in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. This study has come from the Center for Nutrition Exercise and Metabolism at the University of Bath. Experts have said that the blood sugar control goes for a toss when the first thing body gets is coffee in the morning especially after a disturbed sleep. Health experts have advised people to drink coffee after they eat something in the morning. They have said that it will improve the glucose levels in the blood.

The authors of the study have observed 29 men and women after three overnight trials. In the study, participants who have disrupted sleep a night before have been made to drink a sugary drink in the morning. The participants who have been waking up every hour for five minutes during their sleep have been given a sugary drink as the first thing in the morning in the second trial. During the third trial, volunteers have been made to drink a black coffee 30 minutes before a sugary drink, who have similar disrupted sleep a night before. Each of the men and women has got their blood sugar levels checked before having anything and after ingesting the first thing they had in the morning. Experts have found those participants who have had sugary coffee first, their blood glucose levels have increased by 50 percent after having the breakfast drink. On the other hand, people who have had a breakfast meal replacement drink; there has not been any negative effect on their blood sugar levels.

The early findings of the study have revealed that drinking coffee as the first thing in the morning can restrict the body’s ability to process sugar immediately. However, experts have said that there is a need for further study to determine the effect of caffeine as first thing in the morning on people’s metabolism. Scientists have said that we need to learn a lot about how sleep impacts our metabolism. It is still uncertain how much sleep disruption can harm people’s metabolism. This study has been published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Office Address
Prudour Pvt. Ltd. Office No 8, 3rd Floor, Aston Plaza, Katraj - Ambegaon Road, Ambegaon BK, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Pin- 411046