Monthly Archives: May 2020

What You Need To Know: Is Herd Immunity Too Risky? – Georgia Public Broadcasting

Posted: May 13, 2020 at 7:41 pm

Georgia Public Broadcastings new series What You Need To Know: Coronavirus provides succinct, fact-based information to help you get through the coronavirus pandemic with your health and sanity intact.

In the fight against COVID-19, many countries have shut down businesses and schools, but thats not the case in Sweden. The countrys relaxed approach is supposed to minimize the damage to the economy. The other goal is to slow the pandemics spread through herd immunity when enough people become immune to a disease after recovering from it or getting vaccinated. GPBs Virginia Prescott talks with Emory University professor Felipe Lobelo about the risks of herd immunity.

So herd immunity or herd protection? This is ultimately aimed at slowing the spread of infectious diseases. Can you give us a brief sketch of what that actually means and how it works?

Herd immunity is also referred to as the golden ring of protection. So if you have enough people in a community that have been immunized or that have gotten the disease and now are immune, then the transmission of an infectious disease or an agent or a virus in this case is going to slow or even stop completely because, you know, the virus essentially runs out of hosts to infect. So that's what we're trying to achieve with this coronavirus and with any infectious disease.

You mentioned with immunization, it does rely on the assumption that once you have had a disease, whether by getting it or getting a vaccine, you develop an immunity. Is there any evidence that that is the case with coronavirus?

We don't know for certain yet, but we know from previous coronaviruses that you do develop some kind of immunity. We just don't know how long and how strong, you know, whether it's going to be three months, six months, 12 months. We sort of have pretty good indication that a vaccine or getting the disease will protect you. But we still need to have more data in order to definitively say if it's going to be six months, 12 months or longer.

So how about, if we're looking at the difference in the Swedish model, how about risk factors for coronavirus: obesity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking? How do the Swedish and American populations compare on those factors?

Right. So, you know, when you look at the mortality or the impact of a virus, you also need to look at the host that that virus is infesting. And in this case, in the United States, we have much higher risks of poor being, with much higher prevalence of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, physical inactivity, bad diet compared to Sweden and other Scandinavian countries. And that may explain why in the U.S. we have to take stronger lockdown measures because we have a more vulnerable population.

The U.S. also has high rates of poverty and income inequality. How does this factor into the debate over herd immunity?

It's very important because we know the social determinants of health are drivers really of the outcomes not only of chronic diseases, but in this case infectious diseases. Because you start to see that vulnerable populations, populations of color, African Americans, Latinos are shouldering a much bigger burden of disease with coronavirus compared to white populations. And that is really partially explained by, you know, disparities in income, in education, in access to healthcare, you know, in the ability to self isolate, or stigma, work from home versus to being an essential worker. So all those factors, in addition to the biology of the virus, are driving the outcomes that we see.

So the results have been different in different countries. How is Sweden faring even compared to the Scandinavian countries which surround it? How is this model working?

Well, it's a mixed bag. We know that they have a higher total number of deaths and a higher mortality per capita compared to other Scandinavian countries.

Now, we also know that the percentage of the population that has been infected so far, it shouldn't appear to be higher. Maybe around 50% compared to 5% or less in most other countries.

So, you know, if this is a long process, they will slowly achieve herd immunity faster because the virus obviously is going faster through the population, but they're also paying a high toll in terms of mortality, particularly around elderly population. More than 80% of their deaths come from nursing homes.

But that is part of the argument for herd immunity. And critics of this strategy have also compared it to eugenics. Basically, you're depending on the younger, stronger population continuing to survive and in the crudest terms, you know, picking off the elderly and the less strong. What do you think of that criticism?

It's a very valid criticism. I mean, the reason we have public health and mitigation strategies is precisely to protect everyone. And, you know, we do know that the elderly are more vulnerable, but we also know that these virus can affect and does affect younger people and people that maybe don't have preexisting conditions.

Even we're starting to see cases in kids that develop of vasculitis or inflammation of their blood vessels or their heart. So, you know, we really don't know exactly how these virus kills necessarily.

So this idea that we can write off a whole segment of the population to keep the economy going is just a false alternative. We do have the public health and tools in order to mitigate a disaster like this.

But you mentioned that the Sweden is seeing a higher per capita death rate than its neighboring countries. This is a population of just above 10 million for the entire country. So were that to scale up, were the U.S. to adopt this kind of model, what kind of numbers do you think we'd be seeing?

Well, we know if had do we know nothing in the United States, early models predicted up to 2 million deaths due to coronavirus over the next 12 months. And we have now data showing that a big lockdown, a big hammer in order to suppress the virus, hopefully will bring that down to around 150,000 deaths, so like the latest estimate for the next few months.

So had we taken a middle approach, which is where Sweden is doing, which is just doing mitigation strategies but not for suppression, we'd probably be somewhere in between 150 and 2 million deaths. It's very hard to know because you know, these disparities, because our country is very diverse, because people by seeing what's happening in other countries are taking their own measures even before the governor's lockdown. So it's really impossible to tell like somewhere in between.

You could argue that Georgia has taken a somewhere in between strategy so far with Gov. Brian Kemp trying to open up the economy, opening up a lot of businesses. Do you think our health care system, especially here in Georgia and across the U.S., can handle that kind of the kind of numbers? Obviously not as the world not the country wide numbers that you mentioned of 2 million. But of what is to come?

Every aspect of health care and public health is local, so it's hard to make a prediction about how the state will fare. If we look at the state, we've been relatively doing okay in terms of the percentage of ICU beds, for example, that are being used statewide. But when you drill down into particular communities like Albany or like some areas of northeast Georgia, we do see an overrun in the health capacity of health care systems because outbreaks are localized and they don't all happen at the same time. So it's hard to know how this is going to affect the way the health care system in Georgia is fully going to cope.

I think it's going to cope in some areas, but unfortunately, in areas where there's more vulnerable populations, their likelihood to seethey will have likelihood to see outbreaks and more excess mortality unfortunately, because we're not taking all the public health measures that we need to take. It's not just the suppression, it is also improving our public health capacity to early detect, isolate and find the contacts of people that develop the disease. In an essence, we're not beaten, we're not able to do that anymore.

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The strange case of Michael Gove’s bookshelf – The Conservative Woman

Posted: at 7:41 pm

MICHAEL Gove has come under fire after his journalist wife Sarah Vine tweeted two pictures of their bookcases, showing a bookby David Irving, the Holocaust denier, andThe Bell Curve,which controversially claims that ethnicity can play a part in determining IQ.

Delving deeper into Mr Goves reading material, critics were appalled to discover that he also has biographies of Mussolini, Stalin and other leaders sharing shelf space with the memoirs of Baroness Thatcher.

Alastair Campbell duly tweeted: Having Hitler, Rommel and Napoleon next to Maggie is not a good look. Unfazed, Ms Vine replied: Dont be so absurd. They are books. You should try them sometime you can learn a lot from them. You will note there is also a Peter Mandelson.

Owen Jones, the Labour activist, demanded: Why does [sic] Michael Gove and his wife own a copy of a book by David Irving, one of the most notorious Holocaust deniers on earth? He was backed by supporters of Jeremy Corbyn, who said the former Labour leader would have been vilified for owning the same reading material.

The editor of theJewish Chronicle,Stephen Pollard, called the Twitter spat The Great Twitter Bookshelf Derangement and remarked of the criticism: The implication was clear that there is something very dodgy about reading a book by a man like Irving. In other words, if you read it, you clearly have some sort of sympathy with the views. Blimey. If thats how it works, I am beyond redemption. As well as two books by Irving, Ive got a book by the actual Adolf Hitler on my shelves, not to mention Mao and heres where it gets really bad I also have speeches by Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.

He insisted that Michael Gove, a member of the Holocaust Commission, set up in 2014 to explore ways in which Britain can have a permanent memorial to the Holocaust and educational resources for future generations, had probably done more for Holocaust education and the Jewish community in Britain than any senior politician other than Gordon Brown. Its obvious to anyone why he would have read the work of a Holocaust denier.

Gove did not comment but his wife said: To defeat prejudice you have to understand it.

This seems eminently sensible, although it might cause some concern that the former Secretary of State for Education under David Camerons Conservative-Liberal coalition owns a copy of Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murrays 1994 bookThe Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life, which caused controversy because, as theTelegraphnoted, it argued that IQ is largely inherited and that certain ethnic groups have poorer socio-economic prospects because they are less intelligent. And yet although Mr Gove has his critics on both Left and Right, including in the field of education, he seems not to have displayed any signs of eugenicist tendencies. Indeed, as someone who was adopted as a baby from a mother of humble background, surely he is a living refutation of the eugenics argument that backs nature against nurture.

Attending state primary and independent secondary schools, he ended up at Oxford, and in his post as Education Secretary he took a deep interest in social mobility (or lack thereof under the previous Labour administration) and the role of education; he was keen to reintroduce classic authors into school lessons and rigour to examinations. For this he was accused of elitism by the Left, for whom he became a hate figure, despite the fact that their insistence on equality of outcomes and a one-size-fits-all approach led to a great many children who did not have academic leanings being perceived as having failed, thus playing into the hands of the eugenics lobby that they condemned.

Stephen Pollard notes Mr Goves support for Holocaust education, and an interest in Jewish affairs must include an interest in the Holocaust and its architect, Adolf Hitler. As a student of Jewish-Christian relations I also have a number of books about Hitler, includingMein Kampf, and the Holocaust; and as a researcher into the role of the Sexual Revolution in facilitating eugenics and population control, who has moreover suffered from a hereditary condition and chronic ill health for a number of years, my bookshelves would no doubt lead the academic detectives to deduce that I am a hypochondriac anti-Semitic Darwinian sex maniac. Having consulted the books for research purposes, there is the dilemma of how to dispose of them: one would not want them to fall into the wrong hands. Burning them is clearly out of the question.

I will not be tweeting pictures of my library any time soon, but Mr Goves life and political career are public knowledge, and with so many enemies on both sides of the House, as well as outside of it, any Nazi or eugenics involvements he may have had could scarcely remain secret. In short, regardless of his bookcases, Mr Gove is an open book, while actual eugenics and anti-Semitism in the shape of abortion advocacy and anti-Israel sentiment have flourished quite openly on the Left, most notoriously under anti-racist Jeremy Corbyn. No need to seek for hidden sympathies in his case, and yet Left-wing vilification is hard to find, while his defenders are many. Which just goes to show that youcanjudge a book by its cover.

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Scientists concerned that coronavirus is adapting to humans – msnNOW

Posted: May 12, 2020 at 10:54 am

Provided by The Guardian Photograph: David Cheskin/PA

Scientists have found evidence for mutations in some strains of the coronavirus that suggest the pathogen may be adapting to humans after spilling over from bats.

The analysis of more than 5,300 coronavirus genomes from 62 countries shows that while the virus is fairly stable, some have gained mutations, including two genetic changes that alter the critical spike protein the virus uses to infect human cells.

Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine stress that it is unclear how the mutations affects the virus, but since the changes arose independently in different countries they may help the virus spread more easily.

The spike mutations are rare at the moment but Martin Hibberd, professor of emerging infectious diseases and a senior author on the study, said their emergence highlights the need for global surveillance of the virus so that more worrying changes are picked up fast.

Related: When will a coronavirus vaccine be ready?

This is exactly what we need to look out for, Hibberd said. People are making vaccines and other therapies against this spike protein because it seems a very good target. We need to keep an eye on it and make sure that any mutations dont invalidate any of these approaches.

Studies of the virus revealed early on that the shape of its spike protein allowed it to bind to human cells more efficiently than Sars, a related virus that sparked an outbreak in 2002. The difference may have helped the latest coronavirus infect more people and spread rapidly around the world.

Scientists will be concerned if more extensive mutations in the spike protein arise, not only because they may alter how the virus behaves. The spike protein is the main target of leading vaccines around the world, and if it changes too much those vaccines may no longer work. Other potential therapies, such as synthetic antibodies that home in on the spike protein, could be less effective, too.

This is an early warning, Hibberd said. Even if these mutations are not important for vaccines, other mutations might be and we need to maintain our surveillance so we are not caught out by deploying a vaccine that only works against some strains.

The scientists analysed 5,349 coronavirus genomes that have been uploaded to two major genetics databases since the outbreak began. By studying the genetic makeup of the viruses, the scientists worked out how it has diversified into different strains and looked for signs that it was adapting to its human host.

In an unpublished study that has yet to be peer reviewed, the researchers identified two broad groups of coronavirus that have now spread globally. Of the two spike mutations, one was found in 788 viruses around the world, with the other present in only 32.

The study shows that, until January, one group of coronaviruses in China escaped detection because they had a mutation in the genetic region that early tests relied on. More recent tests detect all of the known types of the virus.

Last month, an international team of scientists used genetic analyses to show that the coronavirus likely originated in bats and was not made in a lab as some conspiracy theorists have claimed.

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Seattle Genetics Announces the Approval of TUKYSA (tucatinib) in Switzerland for the Treatment of Patients with Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer…

Posted: at 10:53 am

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seattle Genetics, Inc., Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) today announced that the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) has granted approval for TUKYSA (tucatinib) tablets in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine, for the treatment of patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, who have previously received two or more anti-HER2 regimens in any setting, including trastuzumab, pertuzumab and trastuzumab-emtansine (TDM1).

The application for TUKYSA approval was reviewed by Swissmedic as part of Project Orbis, an initiative of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncology Center of Excellence that provides a framework for concurrent submission and review of oncology drugs among participating international regulatory agencies in Canada, Australia and Singapore. On April 17, the FDA approved TUKYSA in the U.S. under the FDAs Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) pilot program, four months prior to its action date, and represented the first new drug approved under Project Orbis.

Were grateful to Swissmedic for their collaboration through FDAs Project Orbis in approving this important new medicine in Switzerland, said Jennifer Stephens, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Seattle Genetics. We're committed to bringing new targeted therapies to patients, and we are excited about this important first step toward making TUKYSA available to patients in Switzerland.

TUKYSA is an oral, small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of HER2, a protein that contributes to cancer cell growth.i,ii

The approval is based on results from the pivotal trial HER2CLIMB, a randomized (2:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 612 patients with HER2-positive unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who had previously received, either separately or in combination, trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1). The study results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in December 2019.

About HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer have tumors with high levels of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. In 2018, more than two million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed worldwide, including 522,513 in Europe. iii Between 15 and 20 percent of breast cancer cases are HER2-positive.iv Historically, HER2-positive breast cancer tends to be more aggressive and more likely to recur than HER2-negative breast cancer.v,vi,vii Up to 50 percent of metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer patients develop brain metastases over time.viii,ix,x

About TUKYSA (tucatinib)

TUKYSA is an oral medicine that is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the HER2 protein. In vitro (in lab studies), TUKYSA inhibited phosphorylation of HER2 and HER3, resulting in inhibition of downstream MAPK and AKT signaling and cell growth (proliferation), and showed anti-tumor activity in HER2-expressing tumor cells. In vivo (in living organisms), TUKYSA inhibited the growth of HER2-expressing tumors. The combination of TUKYSA and the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab showed increased anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo compared to either medicine alone.xi In the U.S., TUKYSA is approved in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine for adult patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including patients with brain metastases, who have received one or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting.

Important U.S. Safety Information

Warnings and Precautions

If diarrhea occurs, administer antidiarrheal treatment as clinically indicated. Perform diagnostic tests as clinically indicated to exclude other causes of diarrhea. Based on the severity of the diarrhea, interrupt dose, then dose reduce or permanently discontinue TUKYSA.

Monitor ALT, AST, and bilirubin prior to starting TUKYSA, every 3 weeks during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Based on the severity of hepatoxicity, interrupt dose, then dose reduce or permanently discontinue TUKYSA.

Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 26% of patients who received TUKYSA. Serious adverse reactions in 2% of patients who received TUKYSA were diarrhea (4%), vomiting (2.5%), nausea (2%), abdominal pain (2%), and seizure (2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 2% of patients who received TUKYSA including sudden death, sepsis, dehydration, and cardiogenic shock.

Adverse reactions led to treatment discontinuation in 6% of patients who received TUKYSA; those occurring in 1% of patients were hepatotoxicity (1.5%) and diarrhea (1%). Adverse reactions led to dose reduction in 21% of patients who received TUKYSA; those occurring in 2% of patients were hepatotoxicity (8%) and diarrhea (6%).

The most common adverse reactions in patients who received TUKYSA (20%) were diarrhea, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, nausea, fatigue, hepatotoxicity, vomiting, stomatitis, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, headache, anemia, and rash.

Lab Abnormalities

In HER2CLIMB, Grade 3 laboratory abnormalities reported in 5% of patients who received TUKYSA were: decreased phosphate, increased ALT, decreased potassium, and increased AST. The mean increase in serum creatinine was 32% within the first 21 days of treatment with TUKYSA. The serum creatinine increases persisted throughout treatment and were reversible upon treatment completion. Consider alternative markers of renal function if persistent elevations in serum creatinine are observed.

Drug Interactions

Use in Specific Populations

For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information for TUKYSA here.

About Seattle Genetics

Seattle Genetics, Inc. is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops and commercializes transformative cancer medicines to make a meaningful difference in peoples lives. ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) and PADCEVTM (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) use the companys industry-leading antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. ADCETRIS is approved in certain CD30-expressing lymphomas, and PADCEV is approved in certain metastatic urothelial cancers. TUKYSATM (tucatinib), a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved in certain HER2-positive metastatic breast cancers. The company is headquartered in Bothell, Washington, with locations in California, Switzerland and the European Union. For more information on our robust pipeline, visit http://www.seattlegenetics.com and follow @SeattleGenetics on Twitter.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are forward looking, such as those, among others, relating to the therapeutic potential of TUKYSA including its efficacy, safety and therapeutic uses including the potential use of TUKYSA in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine for the treatment of patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, who have previously received two or more anti-HER2 regimens in any setting, including trastuzumab, pertuzumab and trastuzumab-emtansine (TDM1) and the potential to bring TUKYSA to patients in Switzerland. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include reimbursement processes, the extent of reimbursement, the possibility that adverse events or safety signals may occur, the possibility that the ultimate utilization and adoption of TUKYSA by prescribing physicians may be limited, including due to impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the possibility of difficulties in supplying and commercializing a new therapeutic agent, and the possibility of adverse regulatory actions. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Seattle Genetics is contained under the caption Risk Factors included in the companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Seattle Genetics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

i TUKYSA [package insert]. Bothell, WA: Seattle Genetics, Inc.ii Anita Kulukian, Patrice Lee, Janelle Taylor, et al. Preclinical Activity of HER2-Selective Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Tucatinib as a Single Agent or in Combination with Trastuzumab or Docetaxel in Solid Tumor ModelsMol Cancer Ther 2020;19:976-987.iii Breast. Globocan 2018. World Health Organization. 2019. https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/cancers/20-Breast-fact-sheet.pdf iv Slamon D, Clark G, Wong S, et al. Human breast cancer: correlation of relapse and survival with amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene. Science. 1987; 235(4785): 177-82.v Loibli S, Gianni L. HER2-positive breast cancer. Lancet. 2017; 389(10087): 2415-29.vi Slamon D, Clark G, Wong S, et al. Human breast cancer: correlation of relapse and survival with amplification of the HER-2/neu oncogene. Science. 1987; 235(4785): 177-82.vii Breast Cancer HER2 Status. American Cancer Society website. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-her2-status.html. Accessed March 9, 2020.viii Freedman RA, Gelman RS, Anders CK, et al. TBCRC 022: a phase II trial of neratinib and capecitabine for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer and brain metastases. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37:1081-1089.ix Olson EM, Najita JS, Sohl J, et al. Clinical outcomes and treatment practice patterns of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in the post-trastuzumab era. Breast. 2013;22:525-531.x Bendell JC, Domchek SM, Burstein HJ, et al. Central nervous system metastases in women who receive trastuzumab-based therapy for metastatic breast carcinoma. Cancer. 2003;97:2972-2977.xi TUKYSA [package insert]. Bothell, WA: Seattle Genetics, Inc.

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Responding to the Spike in Domestic Violence Across Oceania – The Diplomat

Posted: at 10:51 am

Oceania|Society|Oceania

Societies need to move beyond reacting to the consequences of violence to changing norms of behavior that allow violence to occur.

One of the innumerable awful side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a rise around the world in reported cases of domestic violence. Across the Oceania region there have been reports that violence against women and children has spiked, from Australia and New Zealand to Fiji and Samoa. While governments have a long list of competing interests they will have to prioritize due to the pandemic, it is of critical importance that domestic violence is not ignored. It is an issue of basic human security, with immeasurable negative consequences.

It has long been acknowledged that women are most likely to be victims of violence from within their own home, either by a partner or another family member. It is also incredibly difficult to measure the true scale of violence against women, as most incidences of both domestic violence and sexual assault remain unreported either due to a fear of repercussions or a distrust of justice systems.

Yet even with just the reported cases of violence against women the statistics are brutal. The Australian governments Institute of Health and Welfare states that in Australia one woman is killed every nine days by a partner, and that one in six women have experienced physical or sexual violence from a current or former cohabiting partner. Globally the rate of violence rises to 35 percent of women, according to the United Nations.

Reasonable people read these statistics and nod along, recognizing their blunt reality, but it is important to take a step back and ask ourselves a fundamental question: If relationships and families are meant to be bonds of mutual love and care, then how does this violence exist within them?

The fact of violence is so normalized that I dont think we quite comprehend just how extraordinary it actually is that the core purpose of a relationship has been inverted in an astonishing number of cases. It is not something we should be comfortable with.

Part of this normalization stems from our societal approach to this issue. In early April, the Australian government announced that it was providing an additional $20.8 million to the states and territories to immediately reinforce frontline services that seek to assist victims of domestic violence. This was a welcome acknowledgment that the pandemic is creating an increase in instances of domestic violence, yet it remains a reactive measure: The provision of services after the fact.

At the core of this kind of response is a collective, whole of society, expectation that men will continue to commit violence against women, and the best we can do is to try to clean up afterward. We remain at a complete loss about how to reform masculinity away from this instinctive use of violence as an instrument of human interaction. Yet if we continue to expect this kind of behavior from men we will maintain its insidious and destructive presence in our societies. Social values that tolerate these abuses and justice systems that downplay them perpetuate the violence.

There are obviously limited actions that governments can take toward getting in front of this issue, but it remains a matter that they should take incredibly seriously. If providing basic human security is the primary function of states, then millions of female citizens are currently existing in insecure conditions, demonstrating a failure of the states duty. These millions of individual cases of insecurity also have the ability to compound into wider security dilemmas, as is the case with the related issue of cross-border human trafficking. In this way, states should consider the continued prevalence of domestic violence as an internal security threat.

The financial burden that countries carry from these abuses should also be a considerable concern for governments. It is estimated that domestic violence costs Australia $14 billion a year, alongside the far greater costs in the destruction of peoples lives. In regards to the new environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic it should also be acknowledged that many women may now have their personal financial resources diminished, affecting their ability to leave abusive relationships. Governments can provide resources to assist these women as Canberra did in early April but often the realities of peoples lives make accessing such resources difficult.

It is important that we recognize that the current insecurities created by the COVID-19 pandemic are not just related to personal health and finances. For many women, their personal safety has also been negatively affected. Women already live with violence either directly or the threat of it as an everyday facet of their existence; it should be unacceptable that this current global crisis has accentuated that reality.

If COVID-19 is prompting us to question our assumptions about how states should be organized, then the increase in domestic violence due to the virus should also prompt us to question persistent harmful norms of human behavior. Collectively, we need to question whether we will continue to accept violence against women as an issue that we can only respond to after the fact, or whether we have the will to wholeheartedly reject such violence, and seek to find ways to evolve masculinity away from these destructive traits.

If you are in need of help in Australia a list of resources is available here; resources for those in New Zealand are available here.

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PLAE and BeaverFit formalise partnership to boost athletic training options in Oceania – Australasian Leisure Management

Posted: at 10:51 am

Leading sports flooring provider PLAE and functional training equipment suppliers BeaverFit have agreed a new joint-venture to expand athletic training solutions in the Oceanic region.

PLAEs new formal partnership with UK-founded BeaverFit presents an expanded range of athletic training solutions and follows the two companies having collaborated on a number of projects globally in recent years.

The partnership, which is set to increase their scope within the industry, will see PLAEs Australian-based office, in collaboration with BeaverFit, manufacture the Beaverfit range in Australia, adding its diversity of outdoor training solutions to its already extensive consultative offering.

Founded in 2010 by Tom Beaver, BeaverFit is the original designer and manufacturer of patented shipping-container training lockers. BeaverFit training solutions have been used by military units worldwide in need of a flexible and semi-permanent training solution for large groups.

With PLAEs extensive background and experience with professional sporting clubs, schools, universities and council projects, being able to able to partner with BeaverFit to offer end-to-end outdoor training solutions for Australian clients is seen as a solution that will solve industry limitations.

PLAEs continued innovation and growth throughout Oceania has seen major projects completed in recent times at the Canberra Raiders Centre of Excellence, St Kilda Football Club, Shore School Physical Education Centre, YMCA Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre and many more private and commercial facilities.

In a statement, the company advised the new joint venture with BeaverFit will see PLAE take new steps into the outdoor training space, combining its experience in surfacing and customised solutions with BeaverFits Training Lockers. PLAE will project manage and maintain all elements of the process throughout the Oceania region, from civil and structural reviews through to equipment design, engineering, accessories, concrete base preparation and construction.

In consultation with PLAE's in-house Design and Construct team, a previously under-utilised area within a school campus, a council carpark, a sporting clubs training base or a commercial gym facility can now be converted into a dynamic training experience for athletes of all kinds.

A true partnership in every sense, PLAE and BeaverFit look forward to enhancing the training experience throughout the region in the coming years.

Click hereto contact PLAE via theirAustralasian Leisure ManagementSupplier Directory entry.

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PLAE and BeaverFit formalise partnership to boost athletic training options in Oceania - Australasian Leisure Management

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Oceania Healthcare Invites Kiwis To Take A Walk In Nurses’ Shoes This International Nurses Day – Scoop.co.nz

Posted: at 10:51 am

Tuesday, 12 May 2020, 9:34 amPress Release: Oceania Healthcare

Leading aged care provider, Oceania Healthcare will bemarking International Nurses Day with the launch of a uniqueinitiative In Their Shoes a celebration ofthe dedicated and clinically skilled nurses who work at theforefront of New Zealands aged care sector.

OceaniaHealthcare will gift each of their several hundred frontlinenurses around the country a pair of custom Allbirds - whilethe story of a day in those shoes will be brought to lifefor Kiwis across print, digital, radio and PR.

OceaniaHealthcares GM Nursing & Clinical Strategy, DrFrances Hughes, said they wanted to do something special tomark International Nurses Day this year, particularlyagainst the backdrop of the dedication shown by ourhealthcare sector throughout COVID-19.

The theme ofthis years celebration is nursing the world tohealth, and with In Their Shoes, wereacknowledging every facet of what is required to deliver onthat vital role. The initiative is a recognition not just ofthe kindness and compassion that nurses bring to each andevery interaction but, more importantly, their skills,knowledge, commitment and professionalism.

Nursesare adept and highly-skilled problem solvers, criticalthinkers, clinical decision-makers, planners, organisers,and patient advocates who are continually training andupskilling to be able to provide us with the very best levelof care.

Within the aged care sector, inparticular, COVID-19 has been a vivid reminder of theimportance of that continued investment in our nurses,because it does directly translate to the health andwellbeing of our aged population. Thats why we wanted toshow our respect for their continued, unparalleled hardwork.

Oceania Healthcare Chief Executive EarlGasparich adds, For so many, their view of the nursingprofession is defined by that softer side of the story so we wanted to take International Nurses Day as anopportunity to acknowledge our nurses for the incredibleskills and expertise they bring to our business and ourcommunities.

This gift is just a small token ofrespect for the skill and dedication this communitydemonstrates day in and day out, making a huge difference tothe lives of some of our most vulnerable, and treasuredcommunities.

To mark the day, each of our nurseswill be gifted a pair of bespoke Allbirds, with a speciallycrafted message in the insoles of what it's like to walk aday in their shoes a token of our respect for the workthat they do.

If these shoes couldtalk,

They would tell a story thats notoften shared.

A tale of dedication, knowledgeand putting in the mahi,

To care for those whoonce cared for you and me.

An account of mileswalked and corridors paced.

If these shoescould talk,

It would be of education,experience and intuition,

Applied in equalmeasure.

Tales of patient advocacy and clinicalexpertise,

To bring comfort and kindness toevery day.

If these shoes couldtalk,

They would tell the story of an aged carenurse.

Thank you for the extra miles you go tocare for those in need.

We celebrate you todayand every day.

Allbirds said "We've been inspiredby the way New Zealanders have banded together in the faceof monumental challenges, led by these incredible frontlineworkers. It's great to see organisations like Oceaniashowing a little extra appreciation for nurses this year, asthese healthcare professionals have been so instrumental inkeeping their communities safe andhealthy.

International Nurses Day (IND) iscelebrated around the world every 12 May, the anniversary ofFlorence Nightingales birth. Florence Nightingale was thefounder of modern nursing, and a British social reformer andstatistician.

To find out more about the initiative,head to InTheirShoes.co.nz

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Oceania Healthcare Invites Kiwis To Take A Walk In Nurses' Shoes This International Nurses Day - Scoop.co.nz

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Auimatagi is excited for the future with Dragon Fire – Big Fight Weekend

Posted: at 10:51 am

Published on May 11, 2020

New Zealand standout Mose Auimatagi Jr. is raring to get back in the ring after it was announced he had linked up with Dragon Fire Boxing headed up by Oceania boxing kingpin Tony Tolj.

Auimatagi Jr. has had a baptism by fire since he turned professional, having already successfully competed for the WBA Oceania and OBPF Super Middleweight titles against now stablemate Kerry Foley. The heavy-hitting Kiwi has also held the New Zealand middleweight title on two occasions and holds a knockout win against world rated Reagan Dessaix who is also under the Dragon Fire Boxing banner.

Auimatagi Jr. opened up about his career success so far and his link-up with manager Tolj.

Auimatagi said, Im absolutely delighted to have linked up with Tony Tolj and Dragon Fire Boxing. Dragon Fire Boxing and Tony have established themselves as the most powerful company in the Oceania region, but its the honesty and professionalism that Tony has that really attracted me to them and Im very excited about the future.

I have not really had any easy fights as a pro. Ive boxed an undefeated Welsh fighter away from home and won via knockout on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker. I really enjoyed that experience and it showed me I have a big future in this sport. I hold wins over Kerry Foley and Reagan Dessaix who are both quality fighters so that should really show boxing fans who havent heard of me what level I am on.

With the boxing world changing, Auimatagi Jr. along with his new management Dragon Fire Boxing, has established a plan of action moving forward for the Kiwi puncher. The 25-year-old stated his plans for the immediate future, I want to clear up in the Oceania region and show that I am the best at super middleweight within Australia, New Zealand, and the surrounding areas. I really want to continue to develop by having real fights and Im sure Tony will get me these opportunities.

Id like to fight the likes of Istvan Szili who beat Jayde Mitchell and Id love a clash with Zach Dunn at some point. These are good level fighters but I believe I am more and ready to these types of talents and I believe that I am the best Oceania based fighter at 168 and 175.

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Auimatagi is excited for the future with Dragon Fire - Big Fight Weekend

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Report: Apple on cloud computing hiring spree as it plays catch up with Amazon and others – 9to5Mac

Posted: at 10:49 am

A new report from Protocol today details that Apple has gone on a cloud computing hiring spree over the last few months. Apple has reportedly hired a handful fo software engineers from companies AWS, Docker, and others.

The report highlights four new hires:

The report explains that its notable to see Apple investing in the software side of its business. These hires also come as concerns mount over the state of Apples Information Systems & Technology group, which was described as a a Game of Thrones nightmare in a recent report.

Meanwhile, Apple announced in 2018 that it is investing $10 billion in US data centers over the next five years and this hiring seems key to that process. The report concludes:

Apple has long sought to own and control the key technologies that have made its products so successful, going so far as to hire its own mobile chip development team shortly after launching the iPhone. As the smartphone and personal computer markets mature, Apple has turned to services for much of its revenue growth over the past few years. Now it appears to be getting serious about running more of the behind-the-scenes technology that powers those services.

The full report from Protocol is well worth a read and can be found here.

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Insights on the Worldwide Healthcare Cloud Computing Industry (2019 to 2025) – Impact of COVID-19 – ResearchAndMarkets.com – Business Wire

Posted: at 10:49 am

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market By Component (Software v/s Services), By Delivery Model (Software-As-A-Service (SaaS), Others), By Deployment Mode, By Pricing Model, By Application, By End User, By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market is expected to grow at a formidable rate during the forecast period. The Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market is driven by the improving healthcare IT infrastructure. Additionally, increasing adoption of IoT, AI, big data, machine learning, among others in the healthcare industry is further expected to foster the market growth over next few years. Furthermore, increasing investments and new product launches by the key vendors operating in the market is expected to create lucrative opportunities for the market growth over next few years.

The Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market is segmented based on component, delivery model, deployment mode, pricing model, application, end-user, company and region. Based on component, the market can be bifurcated into software and services. The software segment is expected to dominate the market during forecast period since they can manage raw patient data. The raw data collected on cloud is sorted and integrated which further helps healthcare providers in decision making process.

Regionally, the Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market has been segmented into Asia-Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Among these regions, Europe is expected to witness significant growth in the overall healthcare cloud computing market owing to the increasing geriatric population, which is susceptible to various chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, among others. This has drastically increased the number of patients getting admitted in hospitals thereby increasing the demand for healthcare cloud computing solutions in the region. This in turn is positively impacting the market growth in Europe.

Companies Mentioned

Objective of the Study:

Key Topics Covered:

1. Product Overview

2. Research Methodology

3. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market

4. Executive Summary

5. Voice of Customer

6. Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.1.1. By Value

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.2.1. By Component (Software v/s Services)

6.2.2. By Delivery Model (Software-As-A-Service (SaaS), Infrastructure-As-A-Service (IaaS), Platform-As-A-Service (PaaS))

6.2.3. By Deployment Mode (On-Premise v/s Cloud)

6.2.4. By Pricing Model (Pay-As-You-Go v/s Spot Pricing Model)

6.2.5. By Application (Clinical Information System v/s Non-Clinical Information System)

6.2.6. By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Pharmacies, Ambulatory Centers, Diagnostic Centers, Others)

6.2.7. By Company (2019)

6.2.8. By Region

6.3. Product Market Map

7. Asia-Pacific Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Outlook

8. Europe Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Outlook

9. North America Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Outlook

10. South America Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Outlook

11. Middle East and Africa Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Outlook

12. Market Dynamics

12.1. Drivers

12.2. Challenges

13. Market Trends & Developments

14. Competitive Landscape

15. Strategic Recommendations

16. About Us & Disclaimer

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ggtd0a

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Insights on the Worldwide Healthcare Cloud Computing Industry (2019 to 2025) - Impact of COVID-19 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

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