Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and its S and N proteins using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy† † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/d1ra03481b

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the critical need for accurate and rapid testing for virus detection. This need has generated a high number of new testing methods aimed at replacing RT-PCR, which is the golden standard for testing. Most of the testing techniques are based on biochemistry methods and require chemicals that are often expensive and the supply might become scarce in a large crisis. In the present paper we suggest the use of methods based on physics that leverage novel nanomaterials. We demonstrate that using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) of virion particles a very distinct spectroscopic signature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be obtained. We demonstrate that the spectra are mainly composed by signals from the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. It is believed that a clinical test using SERS can be developed. The test will be fast, inexpensive, and reliable. It is also clear that SERS can be used for analysis of structural changes on the S and N proteins. This will be an example of application of nanotechnology and properties of nanoparticles for health and social related matters. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the critical need for accurate and rapid testing for virus detection.

Disinfection and Electrostatic Recovery of N95 Respirators by Corona Discharge for Safe Reuse.

With the COVID-19 pandemic surging, the demand for masks is challenging, especially in less-developed areas across the world. Billions of used masks are threatening the environment as a new source of plastic pollution. In this paper, corona discharge (CD) was explored as a safe and reliable method for mask reuse to alleviate the situation. CD can disinfect masks and simultaneously restore electrostatic charges to prevent filtration efficiency deterioration. Electric field, ions, and reactive species generated by CD cause DNA damage and protein denaturation to effectively disinfect N95 respirators. Log reduction of 2-3 against Escherichia coli can be easily reached within 7.5 min. Log reduction of up to 6 can be reached after three cycles of treatment with optimized parameters. CD disinfection is a broad spectrum with log reduction >1 against yeast and >2.5 against spores. N95 respirators can be recharged within 30 s of treatment and the charges can be retained at a higher level than brand-new masks for at least 5 days. The filtration efficiency of masks was maintained at ∼95% after 15 cycles of treatment. CD can provide at least 10 cycles of safe reuse with benefits of high safety, affordability, accessibility, and device scalability/portability.

Abdominotransanal resection of a strangulated rectal carcinosarcoma.

This is a case of a 75-year-old man who presented with a 7-month history of a reducible rectal mass. The patient came to the emergency department with a prolapsed necrotic bowel involving a strangulated segment with the rectal mass. He underwent an abdominotransanal resection through a combined abdominal and perineal approach. His postoperative course was unremarkable. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies showed a rectal carcinosarcoma. Because of a state-mandated lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the patient failed to follow-up. He was later seen to have metastatic progression. Owing to the poor functional status of the patient, the shared decision of the multidisciplinary team, the patient and his family was to manage him with palliative intent.

Conspiracy Beliefs and Distrust of Science Predicts Reluctance of Vaccine Uptake of Politically Right-Wing Citizens (preprint)

Conspiracy theories quickly flourished as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and this may have been an underlying factor for some individuals in their reluctance to adhere to lockdown policies. In the present study, we surveyed a community sample of 1358 adults just prior to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our results supported that right-wing individuals tended to have higher hesitancy associated with taking the COVID-19 vaccine. However, we demonstrated that this association, in part, can be explained by a corresponding belief in COVID-19 related conspiracies. Further, this association only emerged when associated with a general distrust in science. Our findings indicated that public interventions seeking to increase trust in science may mitigate right-wing endorsement of conspiracy theories and thus lead to a more unified and positive response to public health behaviours such as vaccination.

Left-wing support of authoritarian submission to protect against societal threat (preprint)

New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, adopted a “go hard, go early” approach to eliminate COVID-19. Although she and her Labour party are considered left-leaning, the policies implemented during the pandemic (e.g., police road blocks) have the hallmarks of Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA). RWA is characterised by three attitudinal clusters (authoritarian aggression, submission, and conventionalism). The uniqueness of the clusters, and whether they react to environmental change, has been debated. Here, in the context of the pandemic, we investigate the relationship between political orientation and RWA. Specifically, we measured political orientation, support for New Zealand’s major political parties, and RWA among 1,430 adult community members. A multivariate Bayesian model demonstrated that, in the middle of a pandemic, both left-leaning and right-leaning individuals endorsed items tapping authoritarian submission. Demonstrating the multidimensional nature of RWA, this change occurred at the same time the typical relationships between political orientation and authoritarian aggression and conventionalism was observed.