Metáforas do novo coronavírus e da pandemia/COVID-19 em artigos de opinião publicados no Brasil

Apresentamos, neste texto, resultados de um estudo que teve por objetivo compreender como o coronavírus e a pandemia/COVID-19 são metaforicamente conceptualizados em artigos de opinião publicados em veículos de comunicação com ampla circulação no Brasil. Para isso, tomamos a Linguística Cognitiva como norte teórico. Assim sendo, traçamos diálogos com autores como Lakoff e Johnson (1980), Almeida e Santana (2019), Almeida e Santos (2019), Pérez (2018), entre outros. No que diz respeito à metodologia adotada para desenvolvimento da pesquisa empreendida, seguimos a abordagem qualitativa do objeto de estudo, dando-lhe um tratamento descritivo e interpretativo. Concluído o trabalho, verificamos que as conceptualizações postas em pauta foram estruturadas por metáforas, a exemplo de DOENÇA É GUERRA, DOENÇA É FENÔMENO NATURAL, VÍRUS É DIVINDADE, VÍRUS É SER VIVO.

Propaganda dan Teori Konspirasi: Wacana Masyarakat terhadap Covid-19 di Indonesia

The conspiracy theory allows non-existent information to be exist. Likewise with propaganda which causes information to roll without being able to ascertain its correctness because its purpose is to manipulate public opinion. This study aims to see the complexity of the fight against the Covid-19 discourse in Indonesian society. This study used a qualitative method with a critical discourse analysis approach. Data collection was obtained from online media and social media, especially Twitter in the April 2020 period. The data were analyzed by using the Critical Discourse Analysis model of Fairclough. The result of this study indicated that it was not enough for the Covid-19 outbreak to be reported as a natural virus, but to be explored into a controversial discourse in the form of a conspiracy theory. The propaganda of the Covid-19 conspiracy theory was carried out through social media. Belief in conspiracy theory was caused by three things, they were people needed definite and reasonable answer to the phenomenon of the Covid-19 pandemic, they wanted to have control over their lives, and the impact of Post Truth era. Keywords: Propaganda, Conspiracy Theory, Discourse, Covid-19

Heat Stress Reduces the Susceptibility of Caenorhabditis elegans to Orsay Virus Infection

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been a versatile model for understanding the molecular responses to abiotic stress and pathogens. In particular, the response to heat stress and virus infection has been studied in detail. The Orsay virus (OrV) is a natural virus of C. elegans and infection leads to intracellular infection and proteostatic stress, which activates the intracellular pathogen response (IPR). IPR related gene expression is regulated by the genes pals-22 and pals-25, which also control thermotolerance and immunity against other natural pathogens. So far, we have a limited understanding of the molecular responses upon the combined exposure to heat stress and virus infection. We test the hypothesis that the response of C. elegans to OrV infection and heat stress are co-regulated and may affect each other. We conducted a combined heat-stress-virus infection assay and found that after applying heat stress, the susceptibility of C. elegans to OrV was decreased. This difference was found across different wild types of C. elegans. Transcriptome analysis revealed a list of potential candidate genes associated with heat stress and OrV infection. Subsequent mutant screens suggest that pals-22 provides a link between viral response and heat stress, leading to enhanced OrV tolerance of C. elegans after heat stress.

Is COVID-19 Generating Pandemic Animosity among Nations and Consumers? A Theoretical Overview

COVID-19 is a massive geopolitical disturbance that will reset the international system once the fuzz is lifted, accelerate de-globalization as well as de-regionalization and establish new political and trade alignments, and probably a new world order. This virus divided the world into three narratives, foremost is in favor of the US and against China, and second is in favor of China and against the US, and the third represents the neutral people who believe it is a natural virus. Multiple conspiracy theories have emerged about the origin and spread of the virus. Hence, it has generated pandemic animosity among the people of different nations. China and the US need to be more transparent on the origin and spread of the pandemic and step back from confrontation. This is a time to be united to fight with the virus. COVID-19 has also opened the gateway avenue for future researchers in multiple disciplines of academia.

The Hype and Disruptive Technologies of Industry 4.0 in Major Industrial Sectors: A State of the Art

Very well into the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution (industry 4.0), we hardly distinguish between what is artificial and what is natural (e.g. man-made virus and natural virus). Thus, the level of discombobulation among people, companies or countries is indeed unprecedented. The fact that industry 4.0 is explosively disrupting or retrofitting each and every industrial sector, makes industry 4.0 the famous buzzword amongst researchers today. However, the insight of industry 4.0 disruption in the industrial sectors remains ill-defined in both academic and non-academic literature. The present study aimed at identifying industry 4.0 neologisms, understanding the industry 4.0 disruption and illustrating the disruptive technologies convergence in the major industrial sectors. A total of 99 neologisms of industry 4.0 were identified. Industry 4.0 disruption in Education industry (Education 4.0), Energy industry (Energy 4.0), Agriculture industry (Agriculture 4.0), Healthcare industry (Healthcare 4.0), and Logistics industry (Logistics 4.0) are described. The convergence of 12 disruptive technologies including 3D printing, Artificial intelligence, Augmented reality, Big Data, Blockchain, Cloud computing, Drones, Internet of things, Nanotechnology, Robotics, Simulation and Synthetic biology in agriculture, healthcare and logistics industries are illustrated.

Variation of positiveness to enhance testing of specimens during an epidemic

Rapid testing of appropriate specimens from patients suspected for a disease during an epidemic, such as the current Coronavirus outbreak, is of a great importance for the disease management and control. We propose a method to enhance processing large amounts of collected samples. The method is based on mixing samples in testing tubes in a specific configuration, as opposed to testing single samples in each tube, and accounting for natural virus amounts in infected patients from variation of positiveness in test tubes. To illustrate the efficiency of the suggested method we carry out numerical tests for actual scenarios under various tests. Applying the proposed method enhances the number of tests by order of magnitudes, where all positives are identified with no false negatives, and the effective testing time can be reduced drastically even when the uncertainty in the test is relatively high.

Variation of positiveness to enhance testing of specimens during an epidemic

Rapid testing of appropriate specimens from patients suspected for a disease during an epidemic, such as the current Coronavirus outbreak, is of a great importance for the disease management and control. We propose a method to enhance processing large amounts of collected samples. The method is based on mixing samples in testing tubes in a specific configuration, as opposed to testing single samples in each tube, and accounting for natural virus amounts in infected patients from variation of positiveness in test tubes. To illustrate the efficiency of the suggested method we carry out numerical tests for actual scenarios under various tests. Applying the proposed method enhances the number of tests by order of magnitudes, where all positives are identified with no false negatives, and the effective testing time can be reduced drastically even when the uncertainty in the test is relatively high.

Comprehensive mapping of adaptation of the avian influenza polymerase protein PB2 to humans

Viruses like influenza are infamous for their ability to adapt to new hosts. Retrospective studies of natural zoonoses and passaging in the lab have identified a modest number of host-adaptive mutations. However, it is unclear if these mutations represent all ways that influenza can adapt to a new host. Here we take a prospective approach to this question by completely mapping amino-acid mutations to the avian influenza virus polymerase protein PB2 that enhance growth in human cells. We identify numerous previously uncharacterized human-adaptive mutations. These mutations cluster on PB2’s surface, highlighting potential interfaces with host factors. Some previously uncharacterized adaptive mutations occur in avian-to-human transmission of H7N9 influenza, showing their importance for natural virus evolution. But other adaptive mutations do not occur in nature because they are inaccessible via single-nucleotide mutations. Overall, our work shows how selection at key molecular surfaces combines with evolutionary accessibility to shape viral host adaptation.

Response of Selected Potato Genotypes to Natural Virus Infection in the Field

Potato viruses are one of the major biotic factors causing high yield losses in potato production fields. In contrast to other disease causing pathogens, potato viruses’ lack well documented chemical control strategy and hence difficult to control once established in the field. The aim of the study was to assess the reaction of different potato genotypes to natural virus infection in the field. The present study was carried out on 12 potato genotypes (7 CIP clones and 5 commercial varieties) at the Field Station of the University of Nairobi, Upper Kabete campus Kenya in two potato growth seasons. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) of 4 replications was adopted with 12 treatments. Data was collected on percent crop emergence, disease incidence, growth and yield performance. At the end of season 2, tubers were sampled randomly per genotype and tested for presence of viruses using CIP DAS-ELISA kit. Analysis of variance on different parameters revealed varied response of each genotype to virus infection in the field in both seasons. Four potato viruses: PVS (67%), PVY (20%), PLRV (12%) and PVM (7%), were detected infecting tested potato tubers either as single or as multiple infections. The results revealed that four clones: 392797.22, 393371.157, 398190.200 and 397073.7 had high levels of tolerance to virus infection. Therefore further studies should be done to understand whether they possess quantitative or qualitative resistant traits to specific potato viruses and other biotic factors.