Shame of flying (flygskam) and the application to tourism of the pragmatist ethics of the art of living

This text tries to relate the phenomenon of flygskam or shame of flying with the pragmatist ethics of the art of living. First, the meaning of the flygskam and its ecological motivations are briefly presented, followed by a brief overview of some conceptions of the ars vivendi proposed throughout the history of Western philosophy. Then, the Deweyan notion of the art of living is explained, constituted by the dispositions that make it possible to learn from experience, before presenting Rorty's conception, influenced by the idea of the strong poet formulated by Bloom and which clearly shows a duality between the dimensions of solidarity and self-creation. The following section deals with the consequences of considering that the flygskam is capable of encompassing both dimensions, presenting the results of an empirical study carried out in Sweden and also taking into account both the current expansion of tourist activity and the strong influence of the Internet and social media in today's world. The text ends with some reflections in which an attempt is made to respond to certain criticisms about the possible superficiality of some content on social networks, and to contextualize the exposition in the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to explore the relationships between art of living and the technology available at each historical moment.

Immersive architectures for visual data literacy

The datafication process transforming society enables us to witness the pandemic from a global perspective. This article provides an example of immersive architecture in which coronavirus-related scientific literature was revealed during Ars Electronica 2021. Like a starry sky, a network visualization representing more than 600,000 articles was showcased in the Deep Space 8K theater, where spectators were accompanied in reading insights. The case study of 3D Cartography of COVID-19 illustrates a novel way to present data in public spaces to foster conversations and reflects on how visual data literacy can be addressed in museums. © John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Role of Vitamin D, ACE2 and the Proteases as TMPRSS2 and Furin on SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis and COVID-19 Severity.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19, the 21st century pandemic disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has shown a wide clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic to deadly serious pneumonia. OBJECTIVE: In our study, the relationship between the pathogenesis and clinical severity of COVID-19 and vitamin D, ACE2, Furin and TMPRSS2 was investigated. METHODS: Serum 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D and ACE2 protein were measured in 85 COVID-19 cases, divided into 5 groups, according to disease severity, from asymptomatic to severe and including a healthy control group. Expression levels of ACE2, VDR, TMPRSS2 and Furin mRNAs in PBMC were also measured. The relationship of the parameters within each group, the severity of the disease and the effect on the patients' fate were investigated. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the severity of COVID-19 and all study parameters, except for serum 25(OH)D. A strong negative correlation was found between serum ACE2 protein, 1,25(OH)2D, and ACE2 mRNA, and disease severity, length of hospital stay and death/survival rate. Vitamin D deficiency increased the death risk by 5.6-fold (95% CI 0.75-41.47), and the levels of 1,25(OH)2D lower than 1 ng/mL increased the risk of death by 3.8-fold (95% CI 1.07-13.30). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that vitamin D supplementation could be beneficial in the treatment and/or prevention of COVID-19.

A novel paper-based lysis strip for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection at low resource settings.

Infectious respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 are serious and global concerns from the past to the present. To isolate the spread of infectious diseases even in the absence of a health system, a simple, inexpensive, reliable, sensitive, and selective molecular diagnosis platform for Point of Care Test (POCT) is required. Especially, the nucleic acid extraction step is difficult to perform out of laboratory. Here, we propose a paper-based lysis (PBL) strip for nucleic acid extraction, especially in low-resource settings (LRS). PBL strips are suitable for isolating RNA from viruses with biological interference and inhibitors. We optimized the buffer compositions and membranes of the strip. A simple preparation method using a PBL strip could obtain an eluent for downstream inspection within 20 min. Overall, 104 copies/swaps were detected for 20 min for amplification in combination with Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Amplification (RT-LAMP).

[The associative approach, a force for progress in a context of Covid-19]. / La démarche associative, force d'avancées dans un contexte de Covid-19.

The pioneering national association "TousPartenairesCovid" dedicated to Covid long has the singularity of operating in 2.0 and cultivating transversality. In two years, it has built up an unprecedented database based on online surveys, worked with the French National Authority for Health and regional health agencies, and designed digital tools including the "Covid long" adult, child and adolescent referral algorithm in partnership with the French National Health Insurance Fund. Very early on, it proposed positioning the coordination support systems- territorial support platforms as post-Covid cells. Today, its flexibility allows it to address other issues, such as facilitating the return to work of patients with long-standing Covid, or modeling care in medical deserts through hybridization between healthcare professionals and emerging e-health tools.

An alkaline phosphatase-induced immunosensor for SARS-CoV-2 N protein and cardiac troponin I based on the in situ fluorogenic self-assembly between N-heterocyclic boronic acids and alizarin red S.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-induced in situ fluorescent immunosensor is less investigated and reported. Herein, a high-performance ALP-labeled in situ fluorescent immunoassay platform was constructed. The developed platform was based on a fluorogenic self-assembly reaction between pyridineboronic acid (PyB(OH)2) and alizarin red S (ARS). We first used density functional theory (DFT) to theoretically calculate the changes of Gibbs free energy of the used chemicals before and after the combination and simulated the electrostatic potential on its' surfaces. The free ARS and PyB(OH)2 exist alone, neither emits no fluorescence. However, the ARS/PyB(OH)2 complex emits strong fluorescence, which could be effectively quenched by PPi based on the stronger affinity between PPi and PyB(OH)2 than that of ARS and PyB(OH)2. PyB(OH)2 coordinated with ARS again in the presence of ALP due to the ALP-catalyzed hydrolysis of PPi, and correspondingly, the fluorescence was restored. We chose cTnI and SARS-CoV-2 N protein as the model antigen to construct ALP-induced immunosensor, which exhibited a wide dynamic range of 0-175 ng/mL for cTnI and SARS-CoV-2 N protein with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.03 ng/mL and 0.17 ng/mL, respectively. Moreover, the proposed immunosensor was used to evaluate cTnI and SARS-CoV-2 N protein level in serum with satisfactory results. Consequently, the method laid the foundation for developing novel fluorescence-based ALP-labeled ELISA technologies in the early diagnosis of diseases.

A Rare Case of Anti-glycyl transfer RNA (tRNA) Synthetase Antibody-Related Non-specific Interstitial Pneumonia.

This is a case of a 65-year-old female with a past medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypothyroidism who presented with a five-day history of shortness of breath, dry cough, and fatigue. Shortness of breath was exertional, and cough was intermittent. She had no exposure to COVID-19 infection. During the presentation, the patient required supplemental oxygen up to 6 liters per minute (L/m) and was tachypneic and tachycardic. Initial computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed bilateral parenchymal disease compatible with COVID-19 pneumonia, however, the patient's COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was persistently negative. Despite being treated for COVID-19 pneumonia, the patients' oxygen requirement increased, leading to the requirement of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (BiPAP - bilevel positive airway pressure). The pulmonologist initiated a workup for possible underlying interstitial lung disease (ILD). Anti-glycyl transfer RNA (anti-EJ) antibody was positive on two occasions. The patient was started on pulse dose steroid and long-term steroid taper. The patient responded very well to the steroid and was later able to wean off the oxygen to room air. High-resolution CT which was done 3 months after the hospital stay revealed features suggestive of non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). Anti-synthetase syndrome is a rare but treatable etiology of ILD and should always be considered as a differential during workups.

[POCT-management during the first wave of Covid-19 in France. Results of a national survey leaded by the SFBC-POCT Working Group]. / Gestion de la biologie délocalisée lors de la première vague de Covid-19 en France. Résultats de l'enquête nationale menée par le groupe de travail des EBMD de la SFBC.

During the first wave of Covid-19 in France, in spring 2020, healthcare institution's laboratory had to adapt itself quickly to the growing demand for emergency biology, in particular by reorganizing their POCT analyzers: redeployment of analyzers and/or new installations. In order to analyze this management, a subgroup of 15 hospital biologists from the SFBC Working Group "Biochemical markers of Covid-19" sent, in fall 2020, an on-line survey to French hospital laboratories using POCT. Answers analysis (n = 86) shows a territorial disparity related to the severity of the first wave: increased activity essentially in red zones, management of unexpected situations, training of additional nursing staff for 40 % of the laboratories... The survey also showed simplification of aspects related to accreditation those periods of health crisis. An additional survey, carried out in the spring of 2021, showed good overall satisfaction of the healthcare services (n = 139) concerning the services provided by biology in the POCT sector. Because of their great adaptation capacity, the laboratories and their POCT-teams have played a key role in the management of the first wave of Covid-19 in France. However, the success of these organizations requires an essential collaboration between laboratories and healthcare services. The results of this survey are fundamental in the context of the prolongation of the pandemia throughout the world with a POCT sector appearing to be growing.

Modelling SARS-CoV-2 unreported cases in Italy: Analysis of serological survey and vaccination scenarios.

OBJECTIVES: Aim of the present paper is the study of the large unreported component, characterizing the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic event in Italy, taking advantage of the Istat survey. Particular attention is devoted to the sensitivity and specificity of the serological test and their effects. METHODS: The model satisfactory reproduces the data of the Italian survey showing a relevant predictive power and relegating in a secondary position models which do not include, in the simulation, the presence of asymptomatic groups. The corrections due to the serological test sensitivity (in particular those ones depending on the symptoms onset) are crucial for a realistic analysis of the unreported (and asymptomatic) components. RESULTS: The relevant presence of an unreported component during the second pandemic wave in Italy is confirmed and the ratio of reported to unreported cases is predicted to be roughly 1:4 in the last months of year 2020. A method to correct the serological data on the basis of the antibody sensitivity is suggested and systematically applied. The asymptomatic component is also studied in some detail and its amount quantified. A model analyses of the vaccination scenarios is performed confirming the relevance of a massive campaign (at least 80000 immunized per day) during the first six months of the year 2021, to obtain important immunization effects within August/September 2021.

Choice of assemblers has a critical impact on de novo assembly of SARS-CoV-2 genome and characterizing variants.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global pandemic following its initial emergence in China. SARS-CoV-2 has a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus genome of around 30Kb. Using next-generation sequencing technologies, a large number of SARS-CoV-2 genomes are being sequenced at an unprecedented rate and being deposited in public repositories. For the de novo assembly of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes, a myriad of assemblers is being used, although their impact on the assembly quality has not been characterized for this virus. In this study, we aim to understand the variabilities on assembly qualities due to the choice of the assemblers. RESULTS: We performed 6648 de novo assemblies of 416 SARS-CoV-2 samples using eight different assemblers with different k-mer lengths. We used Illumina paired-end sequencing reads and compared the assembly quality of those assemblers. We showed that the choice of assembler plays a significant role in reconstructing the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Two metagenomic assemblers, e.g. MEGAHIT and metaSPAdes, performed better compared with others in most of the assembly quality metrics including, recovery of a larger fraction of the genome, constructing larger contigs and higher N50, NA50 values, etc. We showed that at least 09% (259/2873) of the variants present in the assemblies between MEGAHIT and metaSPAdes are unique to one of the assembly methods. CONCLUSION: Our analyses indicate the critical role of assembly methods for assembling SARS-CoV-2 genome using short reads and their impact on variant characterization. This study could help guide future studies to determine the best-suited assembler for the de novo assembly of virus genomes.

Performance analysis of portable HEPA filters and temporary plastic anterooms on the spread of surrogate coronavirus.

The outbreak of COVID-19, and its current resurgence in the United States has resulted in a shortage of isolation rooms within many U.S. hospitals admitting COVID-19-positive cases. As a result, hospital systems, especially those at an epicenter of this outbreak, have initiated task forces to identify and implement various approaches to increase their isolation capacities. This paper describes an innovative temporary anteroom in addition to a portable air purifier unit to turn a general patient room into an isolation space. Using an aerosolization system with a surrogate oil-based substance, we evaluated the effectiveness of the temporary plastic anteroom and the portable air purifier unit. Moreover, the optimal location of the portable unit, as well as the effect of negative pressurization and door opening on the containment of surrogate aerosols were assessed. Results suggested that the temporary anteroom alone could prevent the migration of nearly 98% of the surrogate aerosols into the adjacent corridor. Also, it was shown that the best location of a single portable air purifier unit is inside the isolation room and near the patient's bed. The outcome of this paper can be widely used by hospital facilities managers when attempting to retrofit a general patient room into an airborne infection isolation room.

[Point-of-care testing: place of France in the world National survey in healthcare establisments in 2019]. / Examens de biologie médicale délocalisée : place de la France dans le monde Enquête nationale en 2019 dans les établissements de santé.

The point-of-care tests (POCT) are subject to accreditation. A national inventory survey provides a synthesis of knowledge. The survey distributed 31 questions in 2019. 147 responses were received (75% biologists, 49% CHU, 42% CHG). Only 20.41% are accredited ISO22870, the majority for <50% of the medical departments; 70% say they are going there at the end of 2019 or in 2020. The maps are unknown for 32% (EBMD) and 82% (TROD). Visibility is poor with: medical establishment committee (40%), IT department (31%). Connection is necessary for 87-95% depending on the criterion (QC, authorizations, etc.) and 66% of answers highlight that less than 50% of connexion is effective. The major advantage is the delay of the result (62.5%), then the relationship with the health teams (33.3%). The disadvantages: difficulty of the quality approach (45%), cost of tests (34.3%). Human resource requirements are identified for technicians (82%) and biologists (76%). The multiplicity of sites, devices and operators means that it is difficult to set up and maintain. Biology outside the laboratories, under biological responsibility, must meet a rigorous imperative quality approach.