Forcing people in the US to shelter at home during the coronavirus outbreak may have resulted in less death from Covid-19 infections but also fewer victims of mass shootings.The number of mass shootings in the US plunged 24 per cent in April from a year earlier as churches, malls, restaurants, schools and parks were shuttered and most businesses closed, according to a Bloomberg analysis of data from an organisation that tracks information about firearm-related violence. The decline occurred…

Asia’s economies have generally maintained sound macroeconomic policies that can help the region withstand this latest challenge and emerge even stronger.

Key Points

Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) are a four-member family of G-protein–coupled receptors that are activated via proteolysis. PAR4 is a member of this family that is cleaved and activated by serine proteinases such as thrombin, trypsin, and cathepsin-G. PAR4 is expressed in a variety of tissues and cell types, including platelets, vascular smooth muscle cells, and neuronal cells. In studying PAR4 signaling and trafficking, we observed dynamic changes in the cell membrane, with spherical membrane protrusions that resemble plasma membrane blebbing. Since nonapoptotic membrane blebbing is now recognized as an important regulator of cell migration, cancer cell invasion, and vesicular content release, we sought to elucidate the signaling pathway downstream of PAR4 activation that leads to such events. Using a combination of pharmacological inhibition and CRISPR/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)–mediated gene editing approaches, we establish that PAR4-dependent membrane blebbing occurs independently of the Gα_q/11- and Gα_i-signaling pathways and is dependent on signaling via the β-arrestin-1/2 and Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) signaling pathways. Together these studies provide further mechanistic insight into PAR4 regulation of cellular function.

Although treatment with the glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor–related protein (GITR) agonistic antibody (DTA-1) has shown antitumor activity in various tumor models, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that interleukin (IL)-21–producing follicular helper T (Tfh) cells play a crucial role in DTA-1–induced tumor inhibition. The administration of DTA-1 increased IL21 expression by Tfh cells in an antigen-specific manner, and this activation led to enhanced antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Mice treated with an antibody that neutralizes the IL21 receptor exhibited decreased antitumor activity when treated with DTA-1. Tumor growth inhibition by DTA-1 was abrogated in Bcl6^fl/flCd4^Cre mice, which are genetically deficient in Tfh cells. IL4 was required for optimal induction of IL21-expressing Tfh cells by GITR costimulation, and c-Maf mediated this pathway. Thus, our findings identify GITR costimulation as an inducer of IL21-expressing Tfh cells and provide a mechanism for the antitumor activity of GITR agonism.

Supermarket and grocery store turnover leapt 22 per cent in March on panic buying of toilet paper and food but sales are expected to fall as stockpiling subsides and major retailers, including Myer, extend shutdowns.

Amid the lockdown, a message went viral on social media stating that a vegetable vendor from the big BMC building market near Borivli station was COVID-19 positive. The message also asked residents to avoid buying vegetables from small roadside vendors since they bought their stock from the BMC market.

The message led to panic among Borivli residents, especially when many have been depending on small vegetable vendors due to travel limitations. Several residents were confused on Wednesday whether to buy vegetables at all and if yes, from which vendor. After the panic, the BMC too shut the market located near Borivli station which led to further anxiety among locals.

Avinash S, a local resident, said, "I received this message just a day after we had bought vegetables from a vendor near our residential building. It was certainly going to add to the panic and stress that we are living in currently. Due to the movement limitations, most of us depend on such small vegetable vendors near our houses."

mid-day found out that one vendor had indeed tested positive but he had not visited the market for a couple of weeks and had self-quarantined himself at home. The BMC decided to seal the market as a precautionary measure only to reopen it after disinfecting.

A vegetable vendor in I C Colony, Pratap Yadav, said, "After the market was closed, it added to more stress as people believed the news. Many customers started asking me if I had bought vegetables from that market."

'No need to panic'
Former corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar said that it was important to note that the vendor has been away from the market for many days. "There is no reason to panic
because BMC is disinfecting the complete market," he added.

The vendor is a resident of Borivli and got himself tested around ten days ago after his symptoms refused to subside. His report was out on Sunday after which he was admitted to a hospital.

Another former corporator Shiva Shetty said the number of patients in Borivli was increasing and residents were, "still casual about it, especially in the slum areas."
Local BMC ward officer Bhagyashree Kapase was unavailable for comment.

Apr 26
Day the vendor got his positive COVID-19 report

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Another gas leakage from LG Polymers in Visakhapatnam late Thursday triggered panic in areas near the plant and forced people to move to safe places.

Fumes were seen billowing out of the chemical plant, where the gas leakage in the early hours of the day claimed 11 lives and affected over 300 others.

People from Gopalpatnam, Simhachalam and Pinagadi areas, which are four km away from the plant, were seen moving to safe places.

The gas smell sent panic in certain areas late Thursday night. Many people rushed out of their houses and were seen heading to safer places by their vehicles.

Local police at few places advised people to move to safe places as a precautionary measure.

Officials, however, said the gas emission was continuing since the major leakage around 3.45 a.m. on Thursday.

Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner R K Meena said there was no need for panic. "Efforts are going on to neutralize the gas leak. There is no danger," he said.

The police commissioner hoped that the work to plug the emissions will be completed in a couple of hours.

About 12,000 people from RR Venkatapuram and four other villages were evacuated after the leakage early Thursday.

Visakhapatnam District Fire Officer Sandeep Anand said 10 fire engines and two foam fighters were kept ready in the plant. He said some ambulances were also on standby as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, a cargo flight carrying a team of experts and PTBC inhibitor, an antidote for styrene, landed in Visakhapatnam late Thursday.

The experts in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) disaster are likely to begin the operation to plug the emissions after assessing the situation at the plant.

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