Quantitative Analysis: Its Importance for the Undergraduate Business Student

Commentary Dr. Parrish is an Associate Professor of Management in the School of Business, Georgia Southern College

Business Simulations: Competition or Learning

This paper discusses the desirability of emphasizing winning as opposed to experimentation and learning in intercollegiate business games, of the type sponsored by Emory University, the University of Nevada at Reno, and Michigan State University, and classroom use of business simulations. Discussion is based on two years of experience as faculty advisor to the Georgia Southern College teams in the Emory Intercollegiate Business Games [1, p.263] and use of the same simulation [2] (The Business Management Laboratory), in an MBA course in business policy

Computer Applications in Georgia Manufacturing Firms

Dr. Parrish is an Associate Professor and Acting Head of the Department of Management at Georgia Southern College, Dr. Carter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management at Georgia Southern College

The Canadian Hospital Executive Simulation System (Chess)

This paper discusses the development of the Canadian Hospital Executive Simulation System (CHESS), a computer-based management decision-making game designed specifically for Canadian hospital administrators. It begins with a brief introduction regarding the development of health care industry-specific simulation games. Next, it examines the need for, and the steps in the development of CHESS; finally, it concludes with a description of the CHESS model and plans for a field test of the model

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Stabilized in the Closed State Induces Potent Neutralizing Responses

The majority of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in use or advanced development are based on the viral spike protein (S) as their immunogen. S is present on virions as prefusion trimers in which the receptor binding domain (RBD) is stochastically open or closed. Neutralizing antibodies have been described against both open and closed conformations. The long-term success of vaccination strategies depends upon inducing antibodies that provide long-lasting broad immunity against evolving SARS-CoV-2 strains. Here, we have assessed the results of immunization in a mouse model using an S protein trimer stabilized in the closed state to prevent full exposure of the receptor binding site and therefore interaction with the receptor. We compared this with other modified S protein constructs, including representatives used in current vaccines. We found that all trimeric S proteins induced a T cell response and long-lived, strongly neutralizing antibody responses against 2019 SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern P.1 and B.1.351. Notably, the protein binding properties of sera induced by the closed spike differed from those induced by standard S protein constructs. Closed S proteins induced more potent neutralizing responses than expected based on the degree to which they inhibit interactions between the RBD and ACE2. These observations suggest that closed spikes recruit different, but equally potent, immune responses than open spikes and that this is likely to include neutralizing antibodies against conformational epitopes present in the closed conformation. We suggest that closed spikes, together with their improved stability and storage properties, may be a valuable component of refined, next-generation vaccines. IMPORTANCE Vaccines in use against SARS-CoV-2 induce immune responses against the spike protein. There is intense interest in whether the antibody response induced by vaccines will be robust against new variants, as well as in next -generation vaccines for use in previously infected or immunized individuals. We assessed the use as an immunogen of a spike protein engineered to be conformationally stabilized in the closed state where the receptor binding site is occluded. Despite occlusion of the receptor binding site, the spike induces potently neutralizing sera against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. Antibodies are raised against a different pattern of epitopes to those induced by other spike constructs, preferring conformational epitopes present in the closed conformation. Closed spikes, or mRNA vaccines based on their sequence, can be a valuable component of next-generation vaccines