Background: Pandemic caused due to the coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) has contributed to changes in everyday life among people around the world and also in Sweden. This has led to unusual circumstances regarding work, school, daily routines and also leisure and physical activity. Aim: The aim of the study is to compare levels of physical activity and sedentary life among students at Malmö University before and during the pandemic caused by Covid-19. Method: Random selection was made for the study. The study compared different levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior before and during the pandemic. The IPAQ survey was used twice. In addition, there were 5 estimation questions about how the pandemic has affected life in general. A total of 341 questionnaires were sent and a total of (n = 83) participants participated. The gender distribution was 42 percent men (n = 35) and 58 percent women (n = 48). Results: The results showed a significant reduction in the students' level of physical activity during the pandemic compared with before the pandemic (p <0.05). In addition, the results of the study showed a significant increase in the time spent sitting still during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic (p <0.05). Conclusion: The pandemic has affected students' activity habits and sitting still. On average, students spend less time on physical activities during the pandemic and sedentary life has increased among students during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic began.

Introduktion: Sedan mars 2020 pågår en global pandemi efter att SARS-CoV-2 tog världen med storm och sjukdomen covid-19 utvecklades. Sjukdomen ger främst symtom på luftvägarna, vilka varierar i grad från milda till att ibland kräva intensivvårdsbehandling. Intensivt arbete under året har lett till att flera vaccin numera finns att tillgå. Pandemin har dessutom genererat i en infodemi, vilket innebär att informationsspridning har eskalerat och digitaliseringen har varit högst bidragande. För att komma till bukt med falsk och alarmerande informationsspridning behövs målgruppsanalyser genomföras i syfte att rikta och förbättra kommunikationsarbetet. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur aktiva deltagare på Flashback Forum talade om och förstod covid-19-pandemin. Metod: Foruminlägg från Flashback Forum samlades in och analyserades med diskursanalys och Foucaults teori. Resultat: Analysarbetet genererade i fyra olika diskurser: Spekulationsdiskursen, känslodiskursen, samhällskritiska diskursen och diskrimineringsdiskursen. Analysen frambringade även vad som togs för givet i diskurerna samt vad som osyndliggjordes genom dessa. Slutsats: Fynden i detta arbetet visar på vikten av att vara närvarande på digitala plattformar, nyttan av hur kunskapen kring dessa plattformar och diskurserna som förekommer kan användas för att nå ut till nya och fler målgrupper i kommunikationsarbetet. / Introduction: Since March 2020, a global pandemic is underway after SARS-CoV-2 took the world by storm and the COVID-19 disease developed. The disease mainly causes symptoms of the respiratory tract, which vary in degree from mild to sometimes requiring intensive care treatment. Intensive work during the year has led to several vaccines now available. In addition, the pandemic has generated an infodemic, which means that information dissemination has escalated and digitalization has been highly contributing. In order to overcome false and alarming information dissemination, target group analyses need to be carried out in order to target and improve communication work. Aim: The purpose of the study was to investigate how active participants on the Flashback Forum talked about and understood the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Forum posts from Flashback Forum were collected and analyzed using discourse analysis and Foucault's theory. Results: The analysis generated in four different discourses: the speculation discourse, the emotion discourse, the socially critical discourse and the discrimination discourse. The analysis also produced what was taken for granted in the discourses and what was indisclosed by them. Conclusion: The findings in this work show the importance of being present on digital platforms, the benefits of how the knowledge about these platforms and the discourses that occur can be used to reach new and more target groups in the communication work.

During the global pandemic of coronavirus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak, the world was desperately searching for simpler yet more effective solutions to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Since no one was prepared for the fast spread of such a contagious virus, there was a shortage of proper protective solutions to stop the spread. Large quantities of alcohol-based disinfectant and hand sanitizers were used, but it led to global shortages. It is desired to have a water-based, easily applied, low-cost and long-lasting disinfectant that can prevent the spread of coronavirus on any surface, without the issue of skin allergies or skin-drying as often found while using alcohol. Inspired by nature, chitosan (CS), a natural biopolymer with well-known antimicrobial and film-forming properties, was tested in this study for the preparation of coatings spread onto various surfaces and the antiviral effect was evaluated. Zinc oxide (ZnO), a material generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a photocatalyst that was embedded in chitosan to enhance the antimicrobial and antiviral performance of the coatings. In order to apply water-based chitosan formulation on hydrophobic polypropylene (PP) surgical mask and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface, the plastics were treated with either oxygen plasma or corona plasma to improve the surface hydrophilicity. The corona plasma treatment decreased the water contact angle (WCA) of the surgical mask from approximately 125° to 101° and drastically reduced WCA of the PET film from approximately 100° to 29°. The PET film was coated with CS – ZnO nanocomposite, which contains 1% chitosan and 5 wt.% (w.r.t weight of chitosan) ZnO nanoparticles. The capability of photocatalytic degradation of CS – ZnO coating was demonstrated during the degradation of methylene blue dye molecules. Additionally, we evaluated the antiviral effect of the CS – ZnO nanocomposite coating on PET plastic films under typical room lighting conditions by measuring the inactivation of lentivirus. This approach utilizes the pseudotype system, which is a reliable tool to study under conventional biosafety conditions, particularly for certain pathogenic strains of coronaviruses (CoVs) which have a strong pathogenicity. / Under den globala coronapandemin, utbrottet av allvarligt akut respiratoriskt syndrom coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), sökte världen desperat efter enklare men ändå mer effektiva lösningar för att stoppa spridningen av coronaviruset (COVID-19). Eftersom ingen var förberedd på en så smittsam sjukdom uppstod en brist på lämpliga skyddsmetoder för att stoppa spridningen. Stora mängder alkoholbaserade desinfektionsmedel och handdesinfektionsmedel användes, vilket skapade en global brist. Det önskades en vattenbaserad, lättapplicerad, kostnadseffektiv och långvarig desinfektionsmedel som kunde förhindra spridningen av coronaviruset på vilken yta som helst, utan problem med allergiska reaktioner eller uttorkning av huden som ofta uppstår vid användning av alkohol. Med inspiration från naturen testades kitosan, en naturlig biopolymer med välkända antimikrobiella och film-formande egenskaper, för att göra beläggningar på olika ytor och testa deras antivirala effekt. Zinkoxid (ZnO), ett material som allmänt erkänns som säkert (GRAS) av US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), är en fotokatalysator och användes i kitosanbeläggningen för att förbättra den antimikrobiella och antivirala effekten. För att applicera den vattenbaserade kitosanformuleringen på hydrofoba ytor på en kirurgisk mask av polypropen (PP) och en plastfilm av polyetylentereftalat (PET), behandlades plasterna med antingen O2 eller corona plasma för att förbättra ytornas hydrofilicitet. Behandlingen av corona plasma minskade vattenkontaktvinkeln på den kirurgiska masken från cirka 125° till 101° och för PET-filmen från cirka 100° till 29°. PET-filmen belades med CS – ZnO nanokomposit, som innehåller 1% kitosan och 5 wt.% (med avseende på vikten av kitosan) ZnO nanopartiklar. Förmågan till fotokatalytisk nedbrytning av CS – ZnO-beläggningen demonstrerades genom att bryta ned metylenblå färgmolekyler. Dessutom utvärderades vi den antivirala effekten av CS – ZnO nanokompositbeläggningen på PET-filmer i normal rumsbelysning genom att mäta dess förmåga att inaktivera lentivirus. Denna metod använder pseudotypsystemet, vilket är ett tillförlitligt verktyg för att studera under konventionella biosäkerhetsförhållanden, särskilt för vissa patogena stammar av coronavirusen (CoVs) som har en hög patogenicitet.

[pt] Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar os rebatimentos da pandemia de Covid-19 do novo coronavírus nas medidas de reintegração familiar de crianças e adolescentes acolhidos em unidades de acolhimento institucional do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Durante o período caracterizado como de pandemia foram aprovadas algumas medidas de incentivo à agilização do desligamento dos acolhidos por meio de recomendações e notas técnicas. Esta prática pode resultar em reintegrações malsucedidas, visto a realização de acompanhamento das crianças, dos adolescentes e de suas famílias de maneira virtual ou, quando presencial, com a frequência reduzida. Esta dissertação tem como foco uma discussão sobre a reintegração familiar em tempos de pandemia, considerando antigos e novos desafios. A metodologia de pesquisa incluiu um levantamento sistemático da produção acadêmica sobre acolhimento institucional, reintegração familiar e os rebatimentos da pandemia do novo coronavírus; entrevistas com técnicos de 4 instituições de acolhimento em 3 regiões do estado do Rio de Janeiro e consulta a uma pesquisadora/especialista no assunto. Conclui-se que a pandemia desvelou diversos desafios às instituições de acolhimento como um todo, modificando a rotina institucional e exigindo adaptações à nova realidade, tanto por parte dos técnicos como dos acolhidos. Contudo, estes desafios não foram os mesmos em todas as instituições pesquisadas e à medida de reintegração familiar na pandemia foram atribuídos significados distintos de acordo com as características da instituição e com a metodologia de trabalho da equipe técnica. / [en] This study aims to analyze the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on methods for the reintegration of families of children and adolescents in institutions in the state of Rio de Janeiro. During the period of the pandemic various methods for incentivizing the deinstitutionalization of the young people were approved by various recommendations and technical notes. This effort could result in unsuccessful reintegration given the reliance on virtual meetings or, if in person, with a reduced frequency. This dissertation focuses on family reintegration in the time of a pandemic considering old and new challenges. The methods include a systematic review of the academic literature about family unification and the consequences of the new Covid19 pandemic; interviews with staff in four residential institutions in three regions of the state of Rio de Janeiro and a consultation with a researcher/specialist in the area. I concluded that the pandemic created various challenges for the institutions such as changing the institutional routines and demanding adaptations to the new realities on the part of both the staff and young people. However, the challenges were not the same in all the institutions studied and ways of reintegrating families were quite different depending on the characteristics of individual institutions and on the methods of the staff.

[pt] Frente aos acontecimentos advindos do enfrentamento da pandemia de Covid-19 no Brasil, o presente trabalho se propõe a uma análise das práticas e discursos do governo no combate ao vírus através da identificação de estratégias negacionistas por ele utilizadas. Assim, com o objetivo de entender como este movimento influenciou as ações do governo durante o período, principalmente na escolha pelo uso da cloroquina como foco do combate, e seus impactos tanto na política e opinião pública como nas instituições estatais. O trabalho analisa os discursos e as práticas do governo Bolsonaro para entender como o negacionismo foi articulado para o fim de promover o uso de um medicamento comprovadamente ineficaz, impactando assim na efetividade das medidas sanitárias e não sanitárias de combate à pandemia. / [en] Faced with the events arising from the actions against the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil, this present work proposes an analysis of the practices and speeches of the government regarding the confrontation of the virus through the identification of denialist strategies used by it. Thus, with the objective of understanding how this movement influenced government actions during this period, principally in the choice of using chloroquine as the main course of action, and its impacts both on public politics and opinion as on the state institutions. The work analyses the speeches and practices of Bolsonaro and his government to understand how denialism was articulated in order to promote the use of a medicine prove ineffective, with that, impacting the effectiveness of sanitary and nonsanitary measures to combat the pandemic.

The introduction of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) into the diagnostic setting has provided unprecedented opportunities in the field of respiratory medicine, not only because pathogens need no longer be cultivable for detection but also through improved sensitivity, specificity and turnaround time compared with traditional methods. The recent discovery of several novel respiratory viruses, such as human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human bocavirus and human coronaviruses (HCoVs) NL63 and HKU1 has nevertheless created significant challenges in respiratory diagnostics, as identification of which pathogens should be tested for is increasingly difficult. The recent discovery of two novel respiratory coronaviruses (HCoV-HKU1 and HCoV-NL63) presented the opportunity to undertake large scale clinical and epidemiologic study of these alongside two previously known respiratory coronaviruses, HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43. Over 12,000 samples collected over three years were screened using a novel four-way multiplex real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RTPCR). Clinically, coronaviruses were similar to viruses currently included in routine diagnostics, with the exception of HCoV-229E which was identified as an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised hosts. Variability in detection frequencies of HCoVHKU1 and HCoV-OC43 was evident. The low detection frequencies of HCoVs, comparable to those of parainfluenza viruses 1 and 2 (which are included in the routine diagnostic screening panel) indicate a borderline case for inclusion of these pathogens in routine respiratory diagnostics. To investigate the epidemiology and clinical correlates of HMPV in Edinburgh, large scale retrospective screening of over 7000 respiratory samples collected over two years was conducted. Nucleotide sequencing of HMPV-positive samples was undertaken to determine phylogenetic relationships of circulating HMPV strains. HMPV comprises two genotypes, A and B. Comparisons of the clinical presentations of the two genotypes revealed little difference, with only the observation that sub-genotype B2 was more frequently associated with infection of immunocompromised patients. Detection frequencies and symptomatology associated with HMPV infections were comparable to respiratory viruses currently included in the routine diagnostic panel, mandating its inclusion in future diagnostic screening. A switch of the predominantly circulating genotype of HMPV was observed between respiratory seasons. This is a phenomenon more widely reported for the closely related respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), which also comprises two circulating groups. To further investigate subtype (HRSV)/ genotype (HMPV) switching, evolutionary analyses of nucleotide sequence data generated from isolates collected from geographically disparate referral centres was undertaken. The fusion and attachment (G) genes were targeted, as these encode major surface proteins and are immunogenic. Analyses were by MCMC analyses using Bayesian Evolutionary Analyses of Sampling Trees (BEAST) software. Identification of positively selected sites was performed using Phylogenetic Analysis Maximum Likelihood (PAML). Switching of the predominantly circulating lineage does not arise for either virus due to emergence of novel strains, but through fluctuating circulation frequencies of pre-existing lineages which have been circulating for several decades, indicated by the time since the most recent common ancestor. Two HRSV-A lineages comprising genotypes undergoing turnover and replacement were identified. This finding is agreeable with serologic studies of the 1970s which reported three HRSV serogroups, two within HRSV-A and one within HRSV-B. HMPV and HRSV have similar mutation rates. Positively selected sites identified within the HRSV G gene were incongruent with those identified in a previous study, generating the hypothesis that immune evasion occurs within linear epitopes rather than at specific sites. A great deal of clinical and epidemiologic data was generated through this work, parallel studies of other respiratory viruses and through diagnostic screening results. To provide a robust indication of where resources should be diverted in terms of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccine development, and to inform infection control measures and public health policy planning, quantification of the relative disease burden attributable to the most commonly detected respiratory viruses was calculated using the World Health Organization- endorsed Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) model. Relative disease burden was calculated in an age stratified manner to reflect the differences in sampling in different age groups. HRSV and influenza A were consistently one of the greatest causes of disease regardless of sampled population, although HRSV caused more disease in children under 5 than influenza A and B combined. Rhinoviruses and PIV-3 were significant pathogens in all groups except those aged 16-64 years; rhinoviruses were the leading cause of disease in the immunocompromised patient group. The potential for patient-specific diagnostic screening and guidance of interventions such as patient cohorting were clear.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

L’étiologie des bronchopneumonies infectieuses (BPI) des jeunes bovins est multifactorielle, mettant en cause des agents infectieux comme des bactéries, virus ou parasites, et également des facteurs de risques liés à la conduite d’élevage et à l’environnement. Dans cette thèse nous nous sommes intéressés aux virus respiratoires bovins. Nous avons étudié le virome de l’appareil respiratoire superficiel et profond des jeunes veaux atteints de BPI par des approches de séquençage à haut débit pour mieux caractériser les co-infections virales et identifier de nouveaux virus. Par ailleurs nous nous sommes intéressés au contexte dans lequel les virus opèrent en analysant la structure, la diversité, et le dynamisme du bactériote respiratoire chez des veaux sains et atteints de BPI. Les résultats suggèrent que de nombreux virus agissent en interactions et montrent une prédominance du coronavirus bovin (BCoV) dans les cavités nasopharyngées et également dans les poumons des veaux atteints de BPI. L’étude phylogénétique des BCoV isolés indique une ségrégation entre souches européennes d’une part et américaines et asiatiques d’autre part qui semble résulter d’un phénomène de recombinaison dans les années 1960-70. Par ailleurs un astrovirus bovin a été clairement détecté pour la première fois principalement dans les poumons de veaux atteints de BPI. L’analyse du microbiote indique, elle, une disparité écologique entre cavités superficielles et profondes et des interactions possibles entre agents pathogènes connus et différentes communautés bactériennes de la flore résidente. Enfin une partie des travaux a concerné le virus influenza D (IDV), un nouveau virus respiratoire bovin émergent récemment identifié en France. Lors d’une infection expérimentale chez des veaux nous avons démontré que IDV possède un pouvoir pathogène respiratoire modéré et qu’il module la réponse immunitaire innée du veau. Nous avons aussi confirmé le caractère ubiquiste d’IDV en démontrant sa circulation sur le continent africain. En conclusion, grâce à des méthodes de séquençages à haut débit ce travail a permis une meilleure description et caractérisation des virus respiratoires bovins et de leur environnement immédiat. Il ouvre des perspectives pour mieux comprendre le rôle des interactions virales dans la genèse des signes cliniques respiratoires.

Este estudo teve como objetivo pesquisar a ocorrência e diversidade molecular de coronavírus aviários em codornas e galinhas criadas nas mesmas propriedades e determinar o papel epidemiológico das codornas na bronquite infecciosa das galinhas (BIG). Para isso, foram coletados em granjas localizadas no estado de São Paulo e Espírito Santo pools de aparelho reprodutivo, pulmões, rins, traquéia e conteúdo entérico de codornas e galinhas com histórico de manifestações clínicas compatíveis com BIG. Estas amostras foram testadas para coronavírus aviário mediante uma semi-nested RT-PCR dirigida a região não-traduzida 3 (3´UTR) e as amostras positivas foram submetidas a RT-PCR do gene codificador da proteína RNA-polimerase RNA-dependente (RdRp) e duas RT-PCR, incluindo uma tipo multiplex dirigidas a proteína de espícula S do vírus da BIG, para genotipagem. Amplicons ou fragmentos amplificados da 3\'UTR (a partir de amostras de codorna) foram clonados e sequenciados. Outras duas RT-PCR foram utilizadas para detecção de metapneumovírus aviário (aMPV) e o vírus da doença de Newcastle (NDV). Coronavírus aviários foram encontrados em todos os tipos de amostras estudadas em galinhas e codornas criadas nas mesmas propriedades, sendo que aMPV subtipo B foi encontrado em galinhas e o NDV não foi encontrado em nenhuma amostras. Todos os coronavírus aviários encontrados, foram classificados como variantes pela multiplex RT-PCR, não sendo entretanto, obtidas sequências de DNA para o gene S. Com base em sequências de DNA para os genes codificadores da proteína RdRp e da região 3´UTR pode-se demonstrar que as codornas estudadas apresentaram o coronavírus aviário identificados como próximo àqueles relacionados à bronquite infecciosa das galinhas, havendo diversidade molecular filogeográfica para os vírus de codornas. Desta forma, sugere-se que as codornas podem servir como reservatórios para coronavírus aviários onde haja criações em proximidade com outras espécies aviárias. / This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and molecular diversity of avian coronavirus in quails and laying hens, raised on the same farms and determine the role of quails in the epidemiology of avian infectious bronchitis (IB). To this end, pools of lungs, trachea, female reproductive tracts, kidneys and enteric contents were collected from quails and laying hens flocks with IB-like symptoms, co-housed in farms located in Sao Paulo and Espírito Santo states, Brazil, during 2009-2010. Chickens and quails samples were screened for IBV with an RT-PCR to the 3UTR and positive samples were submitted to RT-PCRs to the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase gene (RdRp) and two different RT-PCRs to the spike gene, including a typing-multiplex one. Amplicons of 3UTR (from quails samples) were cloned and sequenced. Two other RT-PCRs were used to detect the avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Avian coronavirus was found in all types of samples analyzed in chickens and quails raised on the same farms, aMPV subtype B was found in chickens and the NDV was not observed in any samples. All avian coronavirus found were classified as variants by multiplex RT-PCR, however, DNA sequences for gene S were not obtained. Based on the DNA sequences for genes encoding the protein RdRp and the 3\'UTR region can be show that avian coronavirus in quails are closely related to avian infectious bronchitis virus, with a molecular phylogeographic diversity for quails viruses; thus, quails might act as reservoirs for avian coronaviroses when in close contact with other avian species.

Gastroenterites são uma das causas mais comuns e importantes de morbidade e mortalidade entre animais neonatos e juvenis, em muitos casos, ocasionadas por uma infecção intestinal múltipla, sendo os principais agentes virais entéricos em bovinos o rotavírus e o coronavírus bovino (BCoV). O BCoV tem distribuição mundial e causa gastroenterites em bezerros, disenteria de inverno em bovinos adultos e processos patológicos respiratórios, enquanto que nos equinos os coronavírus causam enterocolite neonatal em potros. Considerando-se que o coronavírus bovino é mais estudado do que os coronavírus equinos, havendo possibilidade de transmissão interespécies, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo a comparação multigênica do coronavírus em bovinos adultos com disenteria de inverno e bezerros com diarréia neonatal e em equinos do Brasil, com base em sequências parciais dos genes codificadores das proteínas hemagluninina-esterase (HE), espícula (S) e nucleoproteína (N). Foram utilizadas amostras fecais de 11 vacas leiteiras de um surto de disenteria de inverno e de 27 equinos testadas quanto a presença de Betacoronavirus com uma RT-PCR dirigida ao gene RdRp; em seguida, as amostras positivas foram submetidas as reações parciais de PCR para os genes N, HE e S, e posterior sequenciamento e análise genealógica. Além destas amostras, foram utilizadas 15 amostras fecais de bezerros, já estudadas parcialmente quanto ao gene S, submetidas as reações de RT-PCR para N e HE, e posterior sequenciamento e análise genealógica. Sequências representativas da população em estudo foram obtidas para todos os genes. Pode-se concluir que a genealogia de amostras entéricas de BCoV detectadas em bovinos jovens e adultos é diretamente associada a padrões geográficos quando se consideram os genes S e HE, sendo a genealogia de menor resolução para os genes HE e nucleoproteína N, para a qual há uma tendência a segregação por faixa etária do hospedeiro e que equinos podem apresentar Betacoronavirus indistinguíveis daqueles encontrados em bovinos. / Gastroenteritis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality amongst young and newborn animals, often caused by multiple intestinal infections, being rotavirus and Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) the main viral causes in cattle. BCoV has a worldwide distribution and caused diarrhea in calves, winter dysentery in adult cattle and respiratory disease, while in horses coronaviruses lead to neonatal enterocolitis in foals. Taking into account that BCoV is more largely studied than equine coronaviruses and the possibility of interspecies transmission of these viruses, this research aimed to assess a multigenic comparison of coronaviruses from adult cattle with winter dysentery and calves with neonatal diarrhea as well as from equines, all from Brazil, based on partial sequences of the hemagglutinin-esterase (HE), spike (S) and nucleoprotein (N) genes. To this end, 11 samples from dairy cows with winter dysentery and 27 from horses were tested for Betacoronavirus using an RT-PCR targeted to the RdRp gene and the positive samples were next submitted to RT-PCRs to the partial amplification and sequencing of N, HE and S genes for genealogic analysis. Besides, 15 calves samples previously studied for the same S gene region were also submitted to the N and HE genes RT-PCRs and sequencing for genealogic analysis. Sequences representative of the population under study were obtained for all genes. It could be concluded that enteric BCoV genealogy from newborn and adult cattle is directly associated to geographic patterns when S and HE genes are taken into account, with a less-resolved genealogy for the HE and N genes, with a trend for an age-related segregation pattern for the last and also that horses might present Betacoronavirus undistinguishable from those found in cattle, a fact previously unknown.