Theoretical and practical assessments over SSH

During the COVID-19 pandemic, universities worldwide were forced to close, causing a shift from presential to remote classes. This situation motivated teachers to find suitable tools to evaluate students remotely, fairly, and accurately. However, currently available systems are either survey or exercise evaluation based, not suitable for competency-based assessments. Faced with this context and limitations of available evaluation systems, we developed TestsOverSSH, a system to devise, deliver, and automatically correct assessments performed in a Command Line Interface (CLI) environment. Unique assessments are generated per student when they access the proposed system via Secure SHell (SSH). TestsOverSSH is composed of shell scripts that orchestrate a series of tools and services that come pre-installed in Linux distributions. It can be used to construct multiple-choice or direct answer questions while also requiring students to perform tasks in the environment per se, namely computer programming or CLI manipulation-related assignments. We present examples of the question types in this system, explaining question formats and operating guidelines. Since the assessments are directly performed in the system, logs and command history can be easily retrieved while keeping information within student devices uncollected. We performed evaluations using this system in a real context and obtained student feedback through a custom survey and the System Usability Scale (SUS). Survey results and SUS score suggest that TestsOverSSH is an intuitive evaluation tool, with eased access and usage, making it applicable for e-learning. © The Author(s). 2023.

Technological order and technology transfer of the vaccine for COVID-19 in Brazil: a case study of the model used by AstraZeneca/Oxford and Fiocruz

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, showed a rapid increase in the number of cases and deaths in the five continents, with a major impact in the public health and the economy of the countries. The effects of COVID-19 have highlighted an increase in existing inequalities in society. A global mobilization for the development and rapid production of vaccines was needed to meet the emergency demand caused by COVID-19. Objective: To discuss actions carried out by Fiocruz in the challenges imposed by the emergency to combat the disease, in addition to analyzing and discussing the partnership established between Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz and AstraZeneca, through Technological Order (ETEC), aiming at the verticalized Technology Transfer (TT) of the CHADOX1 NCOV-19 vaccine. Method: A documentary analysis of a descriptive nature and qualitative approach was carried out, based on the search for scientific articles on the subject, and institutional documents, as well as a thorough procedural analysis of ETEC, formalized between Fiocruz and AstraZeneca. Results: Although the National Policy for Technological Innovation in Health (PNITS) describes three viable legal instruments for formalizing partnerships, ETEC was the most adequate to meet the demands imposed by the health emergency of COVID-19, reinforcing the importance of using the State's purchasing power as an instrument for strengthening the State Health Care System (SUS) within the scope of the Health Industrial Complex. Conclusions: Even considering the health emergency caused by COVID-19, Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz managed to establish a partnership with AstraZeneca, aiming at the TT for the national verticalized production of the COVID-19 vaccine, for the attendance of SUS acute accent s demand. The legal instrument chosen for the formalization of the partnership was ETEC, the first used in the public health area, which proved feasible to be reproduced in future partnerships aiming at the internalization of technologies of national interest. From the absorption of this technology, Bio-Manguinhos will be able to develop new vaccines of HM's interest using the same technology.

Cardiac rehabilitation in COVID-19 pandemic period

Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a challenge in cardiovascular disease (CVD) management. Little is known on how the virus impacts cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs (CRP) safety and efficacy. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of basic sanitary procedures to limit the risk of virus spreading in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation in ambulatory setting. Methods: From august to October 2020, all patients admitted in a single ambulatory CR program were screened for COVID-19 infection before and after CR. Negative naso-pharyngeal swab through RT-PCR was mandatory within seven days before starting the program, and advised after leaving the program. Serologic tests were also advised before and after the CRP. Number of patients were reduced from 9 to 4 in each group, 2 meters distancing respected, and all patients and staff had to wear surgical mask during sessions. Regular hand washing and hydro-alcoholic solutions use were mandatory for both patients and health professionnals. Material disinfection was systematic before and after each session. Results: Among the 81 patients included, 63 (76%) were male, mean age was 57±11 years (see table). Sanitary protection measures were well applied and tolerated, especially use of surgical mask during exercice sessions. After RT-PCR on nasal swab, none (0%) were positive before entering CR and only 2 (2.7%) were tested positive after CR. These two patients were asymptomatic. The other patients in the same group as those having positive nasal test after CR were tested negative and were asymptomatic. According to serological analysis, the same 3 patients (3.8%) had antibodies against SARS-COV-2 before and after participating CR (see graph). These 3 patients were negative on nasal swab before and after CR. No seroconversion was observed. Mean delay between first and second RT-PCR on nasal swab and serological analysis were 30±15 and 32±15 days, respectively. In total (before and after CR), 5 patients (6.0%) were tested positive with SARS-COV-2. Those 5 patients were younger (mean age 51 years old versus 58, p=0.2), with better functional capacity before and after CR: respectively 7.1 METs (versus 5.2 METs, p=0.014) and 8.3 METs (versus 6.3 METs, p=0.03). In COVID+ patients, improvement of functional capacity was similar to COVID- patients: respectively 0.8 METs (p=0.9) and 15 Watts (p=0.9). Conclusion: During COVID-19 pandemic, cardiac rehabilitation is not associated with risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2, provided that basic sanitary measures are stricly applied. It is also associated with functionnal capacity improvement, especially in patients who previously had COVID- 19. (Figure Presented).

A new SYBR Green real-time PCR to detect SARS-CoV-2.

Phylogenetic analysis has demonstrated that the etiologic agent of the 2020 pandemic outbreak is a betacoronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. For public health interventions, a diagnostic test with high sensitivity and specificity is required. The gold standard protocol for diagnosis by the Word Health Organization (WHO) is RT-PCR. To detect low viral loads and perform large-scale screening, a low-cost diagnostic test is necessary. Here, we developed a cost-effective test capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2. We validated an auxiliary protocol for molecular diagnosis with the SYBR Green RT-PCR methodology to successfully screen negative cases of SARS-CoV-2. Our results revealed a set of primers with high specificity and no homology with other viruses from the Coronovideae family or human respiratory tract pathogenic viruses, presenting with complementarity only for rhinoviruses/enteroviruses and Legionella spp. Optimization of the annealing temperature and polymerization time led to a high specificity in the PCR products. We have developed a more affordable and swift methodology for negative SARS-CoV-2 screening. This methodology can be applied on a large scale to soften panic and economic burden through guidance for isolation strategies.

Placental maternal vascular malperfusion affecting late fetuses development and multi-organ infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 (preprint)

Background: Pregnant women are susceptible to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the consequences on the fetus are still uncertain. Here, we present a case of a pregnant woman with subclinical hypothyroidism and PAI-1 4G/5G mutation who was infected with SARS-CoV-2 at the end of the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: nested PCR were performed to detect the virus, followed by ssDNA sequencing. Results: transplacental transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can cause placental inflammation, ischemia and neonatal viremia, with complications such as preterm labor and damage to the placental barrier in patients with PAI-1 4G/5G mutation. Conclusion: we show the possibility of transplacental transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the last weeks of pregnancy.