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March 25, 2021 -- The new coronavirus variants are not just problems for humans. New research shows they can also infect animals, and for the first time, variants have been able to infect mice, a development that may complicate efforts to rein in the global spread of the virus. In addition, two new studies have implications for pets. Veterinarians in Texas and the United Kingdom have documented infections of B.1.1.7 — the fast-spreading variant first found in the U.K. — in dogs and cats. The animals in the U.K. study also had heart damage, but it's unclear if the damage was caused by the virus or was already there and was found as a result of their infections. Animal studies of coronavirus and its emerging variants are urgent, Sarah Hamer, DVM, a veterinarian and epidemiologist in the Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in College Station, says. She's part of a network of scientists who are swabbing the pets of people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 to find out how often the virus passes from people to animals. The collaboration is part of the CDC’s One Health initiative. One Health aims to tackle infectious diseases by recognizing that people can't be fully protected from pathogens unless animals and the environment are also safeguarded. "Over 70% of emerging diseases of humans have their origins in animal po[CENSORED]tions," Hamer said. "So if we are only focusing on studying disease as it emerges in humans and ignoring where those pathogens have been transmitted or circulating for years, then we might miss the ability to detect early emergence. We might miss the ability to control these diseases before they become problems for human health.” Variants Move to Mice In new work, researchers at the Institut Pasteur in Paris have shown that the B.1.351 and P.1 variants of concern, which were first identified in South Africa and Brazil, respectively, can infect mice, giving the virus a potential new host. Older versions of the virus couldn't infect mice because they weren't able to bind to receptors on their cells. These two variants can. On one hand, that's a good thing, because it will help scientists more easily conduct experiments in mice. Before, if they wanted to do an experiment with coronavirus in mice, they had to use a special strain of mouse that was bred to carry human ACE2 receptors on their lung cells. Now that mice can become naturally infected, any breed will do, making it less costly and time-consuming to study the virus in animals. On the other hand, the idea that the virus could have more and different ways to spread isn't good news. "From the beginning of the epidemic and since human coronaviruses emerged from animals, it has been very important to establish in which species the virus can replicate, in particular the species that live close to humans," said Xavier Montagutelli, DVM, , head of the Mouse Genetics Laboratory at the Institut Pasteur. His study was published as a preprint ahead of peer review on BioRXIV. Once a virus establishes itself within a po[CENSORED]tion of animals, it will continue to spread and change and may eventually be passed back to humans. It's the reason that birds and pigs are closely monitored for influenza viruses. So far, with this coronavirus, only one animal has been found to catch and spread the virus and pass it back to people — farmed mink. Researchers have also documented coronavirus antibodies in escaped mink living near farms in Utah, suggesting the virus has the potential to be transmitted to wild po[CENSORED]tions. And the move of the virus into mice suggests that the virus could establish itself in a po[CENSORED]tion of wild animals that live close to humans. "At this point, we have no evidence that wild mice are infected, or can become infected from humans," Montagutelli said. He added that his findings emphasize the need to regularly test animals for signs of the infection. He said these surveys will need to be updated as more variants emerge. "So far, we've been lucky that our livestock species aren't really susceptible to this," said Scott Weese, DVM, a professor at Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in Canada, who studies emerging infectious diseases that pass between animals and people. While the outbreaks on mink farms have been bad, imagine what would happen, Weese said, if the virus moved to pigs. "If this infects a barn with a few thousand pigs — which is like the mink scenario — but we have a lot more pig farms than mink farms," he said. "With these variants, we have to reset," he said. "We've figured all this about animals and how it spreads or how it doesn't, but now we need to repeat all those studies to make sure it's the same thing." Pets Catch Variants, Too Pets living with people who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 can catch it from their owners, and cats are particularly susceptible, Weese said. Contact tracing studies, which also tested animals for signs of the virus, have found that somewhere between 20% and 50% of cats living with infected people have signs of infection, while 20%-30% of dogs were infected. "It's quite common," for pets to get COVID, Weese said. Now, two new studies have shown that fur babies can also be infected by the newer B.1.1.7 variant. The first study, from researchers at Texas A&M, documented the variant in a dog and a cat from Brazos County, Texas. Neither the older black Lab mix or the older domestic shorthair cat had symptoms of COVID-19. They were tested as part of a project funded by the CDC. Weese said pets are at risk by people who are infected, but they don't seem to play a big role in spreading the disease to humans. So if you have pets, there's no reason to worry that they could bring the virus home to you. You're more likely to be a risk to them. The second study, from a specialty animal hospital in southeast England, documented infection by the B.1.1.7 virus variant in 11 dogs and cats. Most of the pets had unusual symptoms, including inflamed hearts and heart damage. Weese called this study interesting and said its findings deserve more investigation, but he pointed out that the study can't determine whether the infection caused the heart damage, or whether it was already there. "This is a human virus. There's no doubt about it. It can affect other species, but it likes people a lot better," he said. "If you think about the big picture and what is the potential role of animals, pets are pretty low risk," he said.

No, this is not an April Fool's Day. According to our colleagues at Road & Track , the American branch of the brand adopts the “Voltswagen of America” identity . You will have obviously noted the play on words between "Volk" - the people, in German - and the "Volt", difference in electric potential between two points of a circuit The information was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon by VW's official North American Twitter account. “We know 66 is an unusual age for a name change, but we have always been young at heart. Here is Voltswagen. It's like Volkswagen, but with a particular emphasis on electric driving. It starts with our brand new 100% electric ID.4 - available now ”. The info, first revealed by CNBC , was taken from a press release published in error on March 29 on the manufacturer's local media site . This revealed that this change underlined Volkswagen's commitment to “electric mobility”. “ Voltswagen will be inscribed on a badge on all electric models, while combustion vehicles will still bear the VW emblem,” assures CNBC. The dark blue logo would be used on petrol and diesel while a light blue VW would appear on electrics. For now, we do not know whether the initiative concerns - or not - the group's European activities. Nor if it is quite simply a marketing stunt intended to make noise around the launch of the ID.4 . This would not be surprising from a manufacturer who had deliberately scratched his name (in Wolkswagen) on billboards during a France-Brazil football match in 2015. In recent months, the boss of the group - Herbert Diess - has multiplied the signals, indicating a big turn of the mark of Wolfsburg towards the electric one. He even spoke at length with the “king of the VE”, Elon Musk , who came to Germany to supervise the construction of Tesla's European plant. The VW boss recently indicated that his brand would not develop a new thermal block in the next few years. So, change your name, why not ... As long as the client does not "amp" his Latin

Hectic schedules can take a toll on one’s well-being. Hence, it is essential to adopt adequate stress-relief measures to go about your day-to-day life in a holistic way. While working out and eating healthy prove to be immensely beneficial, did you know that quick yet effective breathing technioque can also help you allviate stress? Sharing more about the breathing technique of Bhramari or the bumblebee breath, known as a “grounding pranayama”, ayurvedic practitioner Geeta Vara said, “Simply a heaven-sent technique to bring balance and relief to our stress and anxiety.” How does it work? The vibration of the breath does not allow any thoughts to enter the mind, creating a sense of peace and calm within us, said Vara. “It can help with our focus and concentration as well as soothe the nervous system, throat, and voice. It’s truly blissful,” she said on Instagram. *Push the front flap of the ear with the thumbs to shut out outer noise, close the eyes and cover with the fingers. *Take a deep inhalation to your natural full lung capacity and as you exhale a long and slow breath, produce a deep bumblebee humming sound. *Allow the vibration to fill your entire upper body (head, throat, chest and abdomen). *Repeat 8-10 times.

BTS have called out to end racist hate crimes against Asian people which has been prevalent as of recently due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The widely loved group took to their social media accounts to share a message in Korean and English demanding the end of anti-Asian violence. They also penned their own painful experiences with being subjected to racism. "We send our deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones," the statement read. "We feel grief and anger. We recall moments when we faced discrimination as Asians. We have endured expletives without reason and were mocked for the way we look. We were even asked why Asians spoke in English. "We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the subject of hatred and violence for such a reason. Our own experiences are inconsequential compared to the events that have occurred over the past few weeks. But these experiences were enough to make us feel powerless and chip away our self-esteem."

New Peugeot 308: it has been transformed into an RCZ coupé - It has been more than six years since the iconic Lion coupé left the catalog. Despite the success it met, regularly allowing itself to lead the Audi TT in terms of sales, at European level, Peugeot preferred not to follow up on this project . Badly in the early 2010s, the French manufacturer had other (big) fish to fry to save his skin, rather than developing a niche model. What's more, the global industry was also feeling the tide, given the growing disaffection with this type of architecture.. So much so that Audi today gives up offering offspring to its coupe, preferring to focus on the development of SUVs and on the electrification of its future models. Peugeot, despite its good commercial results, is also not inclined to resurrect the RCZ coupe. This is the reason why Auto-Moto has undertaken to revive it, in a virtual way , on the occasion of the revelation of the new generation of 308 Remember, in 2007, Peugeot unveiled the replacement for the 307, logically named 308, a compact that looks like a “minivan” which was not really predestined to turn into a coupe. However, a few months after its revelation, it created the event at the Frankfurt Motor Show by lifting the veil on the 308 RCZ concept , unanimously praised for its style. Three years later, finally giving up the patronymic 308, the RCZ coupe materialized in the street, until almost 68,000 copies were sold in the space of 5 years. Rather weak in performance (200 hp max) , it was not until the very end of his career that he adopted a cavalry at the height of his rank, via the exciting R version of 270 hp Other times, other manners. In 2021, the new Peugeot 308, despite the dynamism it shows, refuses any sporting career . She who has just buried the previous generation of GTi, plans even less to turn into a coupe. By 2022, it will prefer to give birth to an SUV cut to cut croupiers to the Renault Arkana , and focus on plug-in hybrid engines to offer acceptable performance . But, whether in sedan or SUV, the new 308 will ignore the PSE (Peugeot Sport Engineered) version so much hoped for after the launch of the 508 of the same name. An avalanche of bad news which did not prevent Auto-Moto from imagining what could look like a second generation of RCZ coupe , in particular by grafting a dented glass roof to the new 308. Certainly, such a project would be useful. allure , but Carlos Tavarès, at the head of the Stellantis group, could not give it the green light, so much environmental issues obsess the automotive industry in 2021. All that remains is the pleasure of the eyes ...

Meghan Markle’s half-sister is at the end of her rope with the former Duchess of Sussex and believes the duo is living in a ‘fantasyland’ of their own design. The author got candid about the impact of Harry and Meghan’s decision on their children and explained to New Zealand journalist Heather Du Plessis-Allan, “Honestly, I don't think that's realistic, especially when you're dealing with a narcissist who is not capable of empathy, remorse or shame.” During her time on the Newstalk ZB Radio Show, she also touched upon the broken bond between Meghan and her father and claimed, “If she did apologize, it probably wouldn't be sincere, but it would be great if she could give him that. Even if it wasn't sincere, just so that he gets some feeling of love, even if it's not real. At his age, I would just like him to feel a moment of happiness and reciprocation." Samantha concluded by saying, "I would suggest for the benefit of all them, especially the children, that they get counseling. Harry is in no position to work for a company that deals with misinformation or mental health issues until he himself is made whole, and until they get a grip on what the truth is.”

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Just like there are no shortcuts to acing exams, there are no shortcuts to a good diet that can help you stay focused. Now, with the exam fever catching up, nutrition experts suggest making a few diet tweaks that can help your stomach feel full and also boost memory. Celebrity nutritionist Munmun Ganeriwal recently took to Instagram to share quick nutrition tips for those appearing for their exams. Here’s what she said: “March-April is exams season in India. Eating the right food before the exams not only helps boost the memory but also helps in keeping calm in stressful times. Ensure your best self on exam day. Packaged foods like cereals and instant oats contain synthetic molecules that are not recognised by our bodies and brain. Eating them will make the body feel dull and sluggish. Instead have fresh poha, upma etc. Ghee Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, ghee boosts memory power and improves cognitive function. Include one teaspoon of ghee each with breakfast-lunch-dinner. Curd The live bacteria in curd acts in the gut and enhances the release of the happy hormone serotonin that helps to control stress levels during exams. “Do not miss the ‘dahi-shakkar’ before appearing for exams,” said Ganeriwal, referring to the ritual of eating curd with sugar that many Indian families follow just before stepping out for any important work. Sugar re-energises the body and brain and provides the mental ability and energy needed for a long-duration study. Choose laddoos, chikki, kokam/lemon sherbets to keep the blood sugar levels stable. Rice Rice being prebiotic helps to keep the stomach light, keeps away the feeling of bloating, induces good sleep, and makes sure you wake up feeling fresh the next day. Eat dal, rice, khichdi, ghee, curd rice for dinner, mentioned Ganeriwal.

Competitor of the Renault Captur, this first generation Peugeot 2008, widely distributed, is one of the best small crossovers on the market. From 2013 to 2019, from € 7,000 Replaced in 2019 by the current and second generation, this small crossover which replaced, in 2013, the old 208 station wagon was among the bestsellers in the segment, alongside the Renault Captur. In addition to a successful design, elegantly restyled in June 2016, it emphasizes modularity and spaciousness . Benefiting from ergonomics, running gear, damping and typical Peugeot steering, it offers very rigorous behavior which serves driving pleasure . If possible, avoid high finishes, for which the “Grip Control” traction optimization system requires 4-season tires which extend stopping distances. Or replace them. Pleasant little 3-cylinder Pure-Tech petrol 82 hp - or 110 hp, rarer at this price - or 1.6 HDi diesel 92 or 100/115 hp , particularly sober. Reliability marred by youthful flaws and numerous recalls. PT 1.2 engine : noisy accessory belt (pulley screw). HDi : noisy distribution (crankshaft pinion); poorly tightened high pressure rail ducts (recall in April 2014); EGR valve ; stop & start (calculator). Front axle: tightening necessary, cradle to be replaced or screw to be changed (recall summer 2014). Handbrake : lack of efficiency (recall of models manufactured winter 2014-2015).

What Is Homocysteine? As you start to develop a more heart-healthy lifestyle, you should be aware of the role that homocysteine plays in heart disease. Homocysteine is a highly reactive, sulfur-containing amino acid formed from the metabolism of an essential amino acid called methionine. It may contribute to increased damage to the lining of the arterial wall, which opens the door for cholesterol building plaque and can lead to fatal blockages. An increased level of homocysteine in the blood results from the increased consumption of protein-rich foods and insufficient consumption of vitamin-rich foods. A lot of the research on this topic is still emerging, but the proposed defense mechanism for this process is that the vitamins found in fresh foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables can catabolize or break down homocysteine, sparing the damage to your arterial walls. Vitamins of particular importance include vitamin B12, B6, and folic acid. When we look at other ways of assessing our disease risk, another strategy comes up. Why You Need a HS-CRP Test Many scientists believe that part of what’s happening in cardiovascular disease and other diseases is the inflammatory process. You can request a test called C-reactive protein from your physician, which is a measure of inflammatory response. It can be further refined to discriminate between general inflammation—such as bumping your knee—and heart disease-specific inflammation. This would be a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test, often abbreviated to HS-CRP. According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, the HS-CRP is probably the most predictive measure of heart disease for women. Elevated CRP can also predict age-related macular degeneration. Values in general—though this largely depends on the lab that you use—should be less than one milligram per deciliter of blood. Some research suggests that elevated CRP also may be increased with infectious diseases, most notably the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia. The New England Journal of Medicine study indicated that those who had a near optimal level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (known as “bad cholesterol”) but an elevated inflammatory marker CRP had a 44% change in cardiovascular disease risk when medication was given that reduced CRP. Simple Fixes for Your Diet Now that you know your risk, you may be wondering what steps you can take to prevent heart disease. First of all, you can increase your dietary intake of polyunsaturated fats, decrease saturated fatty acid, and increase monounsaturated fats. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and come from animals and plants. Polyunsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and primarily oils—not including coconut oil or palm oil. Monounsaturated fats come from nuts, oils, and seeds. Additionally, you can increase dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids, eliminate trans fats, and moderate your alcohol consumption. Incorporating these recommendations into your daily life is simple. Instead of eating a ribeye, which contains a lot of fat, you can eat a top sirloin instead. When you’re shopping for red meat, keep in mind that the word “loin” in the name—in this case top sirloin—indicates lean. Other examples include pork tenderloin and beef tenderloin, which is filet mignon. Instead of having a baked potato loaded with cheese and sour cream, try a baked potato with Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is protein-rich and tastes like sour cream. “I use it in all recipes that call for sour cream,” Professor Anding said. “You can’t boil it or get it real hot, but it really serves as a great surrogate for sour cream on baked potatoes.” Instead of a salad with Ranch dressing, try a salad with reduced-fat salad dressing. In the first option with ribeye, baked potato with cheese and sour cream, and salad with regular Ranch dressing, the total fat content is 114 grams. The modified meal—which still includes red meat, a baked potato, and a salad—you’ve cut that down to 45 grams. You can still have foods that you like; you’re just being a smarter fat consumer in order to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, integrating more fresh vegetables into your diet will reduce your chances of developing excess homocysteine, thus, protecting your heart.

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood announced on Wednesday that educational institutes in areas with a high incidence of Covid-19, including Islamabad, will remain closed till April 11. He made the announcement at a press conference after chairing a meeting at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the health and education department, and provincial education ministers. Earlier this month, the NCOC had decided on a two-week spring vacation in educational institutions in 10 cities of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Islamabad from March 15 till March 28. Shortly after today's meeting ended, the provinces announced the areas where schools will remain closed. Sindh announced that its schools will remain open as usual, with 50 per cent student attendance allowed. Areas other than Islamabad where schools will remain closed: Punjab Lahore Rawalpindi Gujranwala Gujrat Multan Faisalabad Sialkot Sargodha Sheikhupura KP Peshawar Mardan Charsadda Swabi Kohat Lower Dir Malakand Swat Nowshera Buner During the press conference, Mahmood said that the forum noted the high incidence of coronavirus cases in several districts of Punjab, KP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. "However, the number of cases in Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan is relatively low. "Therefore, it was decided that educational institutions in selected areas, where restrictions were imposed previously, will continue to be closed till April 11," he said, adding that this applied to schools, colleges, academies and universities alike. Mahmood stated that the provincial governments will also decide if schools need to be closed down in other areas. "As you know there were nine districts in Punjab [where schools were closed down], then another was added. We closed them in Peshawar and then eight other districts were added." He said that the provincial governments will take the necessary steps based on the numbers. "If they wish to call teachers and administrative staff, they can do so." The minister said that the forum will continue to review the country's coronavirus outbreak. "We know that closing down schools has caused harm to children's education, but we can't risk their health." He reiterated that the provincial government will decide the areas where educational institutions will be closed, adding that the closure will last till April 11. He said that board examinations will take place according to their timetable as giving students the "baseline" grade was no longer an option. "We will also have a meeting with the Cambridge education board to see if we can move the exams forward," he said, but refrained from making any further comments before the meeting. On Sunday, Mahmood had said that the third wave was serious and required careful review, adding that the health of students, teachers and staff was the "primary consideration". Pakistan's Covid-19 cases have drastically risen in recent weeks, with the country reporting more than 3,000 virus cases for the past seven days straight. On Wednesday, 3,301 cases and 30 deaths were reported in the country. Educational institutions in Sindh to remain open Meanwhile, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said that all educational institutions across the province will remain open as usual. "At present, the situation of coronavirus in Sindh is under control but if SOPs are not implemented, problems may arise," a statement quoted him as saying. Ghani said it was agreed in the NCOC meeting that no student would be promoted to any level without examinations this year. He noted the number of coronavirus patients in Sindh was less than in Punjab and KP. "Given the situation, we have decided that all educational institutions across Sindh will remain open as usual, but only 50 per cent children will be invited under SOPs," he said. He said all private and public educational institutions would be bound to fully implement SOPs and if any case of coronavirus was found in any institution, the school or college would be closed. Regarding the schedule of examinations in the province, Ghani said all the examinations in Sindh would be conducted on time as per the decision and schedule of the steering committee of the education department. 10 cities placed under lockdown On Monday, the NCOC had imposed further restrictions which will remain in force till April 11. The NCOC, at its meeting, decided to impose broader lockdowns, with no mobility except for emergencies, in 10 cities where the positivity ratio was over 8pc. These cities included Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Swat and Muzaffarabad. According to the new policy, residents of the areas concerned will be informed about the duration of lockdown and will be suggested to store edible items. People will not be able to move freely, except for emergencies. Edible items will be provided at their doorstep, through online services. These decisions will be reviewed during the centre’s next meeting on April 7. The NCOC decided to close commercial activities by 8pm and ban all types of indoor gatherings — cultural, musical and religious. Two safe days per week will also be observed. Inter-city public transport will operate at 50pc and rail service at 70pc capacity. Complete closure of amusement parks will be ensured and reduced presence will be observed in courts (city, district, high courts and Supreme Court). Stringent protocols for tourism will also be followed in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and other tourist places.