1/n May I propose a solution to this standoff? Maybe for every peer-reviewed article in a widely read publication (Nature etc.) there should be an online commentary by a historian, sociologist, anthropologist
scientificamerican.com/article/the-co… 2/n I did not understand some things about this piece (my fault). No one that I know extrapolates from ants to humans. But to demolish the entire field of behavioral genetics as "racist" seems an equal and opposite sin
scientificamerican.com/article/the-co…

1/n So, here's our latest work in PNAS. pnas.org/content/119/1/… 2/n The mystery begins because mutations in splicing factors (SF3b1) cause a blood disease called Myelodysplasia.

1/n It might be an interesting idea to create a SUBGROUP of researchers to study the B1617 (Delta) SARS-Cov2 variant that dominated the Indian wave of the pandemic and caused such enormous lethality 2/n What do we know about the "real world" effectiveness of the current vaccines against this variant? How many fully vaccinated people got SARS-C2-Delta after being fully vaccinated?

1/n The anecdotal stories about the number of people in India getting COVID after AZ or Covaxin need to be addressed. 2/n Either it’s a question of the denominator. Even with 90 percent effectiveness, 10 percent breakthrough in a country of 1.3 billion is a HUGE number. So maybe the anecdotes are that 10 percent

1/n Long thread, but of crucial importance. The COVID-19 situation in India is as dire as can be. And it is not just THEIR problem, as long as virus circulates in the world, it becomes EVERYONE'S problem. We live in a global society; viruses don't respect national borders. 2/n This is, or was, a moment of historic importance for the US/ Biden administration to show leadership and solidarity. Recall the legacy of WW2 that established America as a world leader. Compare that to the leadership today.

1/n Please pay attention, please. I'm afraid that we are falling behind in this COVID race. There are at least 4 variants of concern: variants arising in London, Manaus, Japan and South Africa. 2/n The London variant is more contagious. The Manaus and South African variants may -- MAY -- cause repeat infections.

Ok let’s start by chopping the mushrooms. Mix of Crimini, Enoki and Japanese

Ok, cumin, coriander, red chilies ready to roast. You can roast a few garlic cloves if you’d like too Starting in 15 minutes. Get the rice cooking

I'll post all the steps, but it won't be prescriptive. I believe in improvisational cooking. Add, subtract, make it yours. But be honest: $20 to a food bank. Only requirements: cumin, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, chilies, ORGANIC chicken with skin on, oil (or butter), coconut milk, green cardamom (optional), coriander leaves(optional), $20 to food bank (not optional)

1/2 OK, let's move the challenge. I'm a good cook. Shamelessly good (mostly Asian). If you agree to donate $20 to a local food bank or charity, I'll post our family dinner recipes every night. I'll donate as well until Chistmas (I'm not religious but it's a date) 2/n Tonight I made hotpot. Boiled water, added soy sauce, chillies, SLUG of Miso and Chinese Szechuan Chili Crisp. Cut Tofu, mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, pork slices, scallions, noodles. Everyone had a bowl and had hot pot...

1/n As we watch NEW strains of COVID emerge, it becomes even more important to get vaccinated. New strains can only emerge as the virus multiplies within hosts. More hosts = more strains. It is a number's game. 2/n If one of those strains was to become resistant to the vaccine, then the entire effort to vaccinate will become moot.

1/n And no one is claiming that we’ve studied the vaccine for long enough; or that we know all the side effects. There may be side effects — some unknown. 2/n But extrapolating from the 7 severe cases in the 20,000 in the unvaccinated group, it would mean around 100,000 severe cases. And that’s likely a strong underestimate because the control group contains young people and those with no comorbidities.

1/n The AZ vaccine adverse effects are seriously concerning. First, since public money flowed into the project through OWS, we need to have access to the data to figure out what happened. If needed, this should be escalated (legally) 2/n Transverse myelitis is a rare event but has been seen with vaccines before. Several questions need to be addressed -/ but systematically

@VincentRK @manal_mehta @jhuber 1/n Important discussion with several unresolved questions. First, there are people with T cells to SARS-Cov2 because they have been exposed to other beta-coronaviruses. There is substantial homology in the nucleoproteins. This is shown in 2 papers, including the Nature paper. @VincentRK @manal_mehta @jhuber 2/n Are these people "immune" to SARS-Cov2 or do they get attenuated disease ? We don't know. Do they spread virus ? We don't know. Intriguingly, the number is around 40% which is around the number that were not infected in the Antarctic cruise.

1/n IMPORTANT: Can someone please publish a homology map of all the beta coronaviruses that have been circulating in human populations ?

Why? Because at least 2-3 papers suggest that there is pre-existing immunity, at least CD4/8 cell mediated, because of cross reactivity. 2/n Just two lines of evidence: the Antarctic cruise had 59 percent infection. But what about the other 41 percent ? And the Cell paper by Nusszenweig suggests that at least 40 percent (odd) showed CD4 responses.

1/n A rather broad, technical question. There's been a theory going around about BCG being protective of COVID-19 infections 1/2 BCG (the TB vaccine) is known to elicit innate immunity, and people have been discussing whether it is this aspect that is protective.

1/n Listen up: I am no huge fan of Remdesivir (full disclosure, I own GILD stock) but if its going to work, it has to be given early 2/n But that means LOTS MORE TESTING AND EARLY INTERVENTION particularly in high risk people (that we know). So, the FDA approval can only work if a LOT more testing was available.

1/n Listen: this is getting into irritating territory. If you want to re-open business, scientists have offered a plan. 2/n Vastly increase testing. Expensive, but the cost is minimal compared to the losses. Mandatory masking indoors. Mandatory masking on subways and buses.

1/n So, the rate of seropositivity in NYC is 20-25%. Not far from what we had guessed. Open the city, and it will be 50%. But that means countenancing another several 1000 deaths. 2/n So..masks, social distancing and school closures must still be in place. New data suggests that subways and closed spaces are sites of infection.

1/n Please stop harassing me about maths. First, I am attacked by the Christian Right for being Muslim (I am not). Then, I am attacked by the Hindu right for not giving credit to Hindu mathematics. Sure ! I can read SANSKRIT. I know the history of mathematics as well as anyone 2/n Read the original tweet before spreading fake news. I wrote Arab mathematics "ENABLED" the understanding of exponentials. I wrote nothing about who invented exponentials. Enabled is the correct word. Arab mathematicians drew inspiration from works by Indian/Buddhist maths

1/n Sometimes, we have to work under imperfect information. Here is information from Camrbidge about how to make a cloth mask

researchgate.net/publication/34… 2/n And here is a practical guide about how to make one with a simple T shirt or pillowcase or handkerchief

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…