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BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid real-time surveillance of epidemiological data to advise governments and the public, but the accuracy of these data depend on myriad auxiliary assumptions, not least accurate reporting of cases by the public. Wastewater monitoring has emerged internationally as an accurate and objective means for assessing disease prevalence with reduced latency and less dependence on public vigilance, reliability, and engagement. How public interest aligns with COVID-19 personal testing data and wastewater monitoring is, however, very poorly characterised. OBJECTIVE This study assesses the associations between internet search volume data relevant to COVID-19, public healthcare statistics and national-scale wastewater monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 across South Wales, UK over time to investigate how interest in the pandemic may reflect the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, as detected by national testing and wastewater monitoring. METHODS Relative search volume data from Google Trends for search terms linked to the COVID-19 pandemic were extracted and compared against government-reported COVID-19 statistics and RT-qPCR SARS-CoV-2 data generated from wastewater in South Wales, UK, using multivariate linear models and correlation analysis. RESULTS Wastewater monitoring data suggests that prevalence of the virus exceeded that reported in self-testing national reports. Google search volumes surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic also decreased across the same period, potentially suggesting a reduction in public interest is reflected in lower volumes of self-testing and reporting with consequential loss of accuracy of those data. CONCLUSIONS Wastewater monitoring presents a valuable means for assessing population-level prevalence of SARS-CoV-2. The importance of such monitoring is increasingly clear as a means of objectively assessing the prevalence of COVID-19 despite the dynamic interest and participation of the public. Increased accessibility of wastewater monitoring data to the public, as is the case for other national data, may enhance public engagement with these forms of monitoring.

Macronutrients, comprising carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, underpin many ecological processes, but their quantification in ecological studies is often inaccurate and laborious, requiring large investments of time and bulk samples, which make individual-level studies impossible. This study presents Macronutrient Extraction and Determination from Invertebrates (MEDI), a protocol for the direct, rapid and relatively low-cost determination of macronutrient content from single small macroinvertebrates.Macronutrients were extracted by a sequential process of soaking in 1:12 chloroform:methanol solution to remove lipid and then solubilising tissue in 0.1 M NaOH. Proteins, carbohydrates and lipids were determined by colorimetric assays from the same individual specimens.The limits of detection of MEDI with the equipment and conditions used were 0.067, 0.065 and 0.006 mg/ml for proteins, carbohydrates and lipids respectively. Adjusting the volume of reagents used for extraction and determination can broaden the range of concentrations that can be detected. MEDI successfully identified taxonomic differences in macronutrient content between five insect species.Macronutrient Extraction and Determination from Invertebrates can directly and rapidly determine macronutrient content in tiny (dry mass ~3 mg) and much larger individual invertebrates. Using MEDI, the total macronutrient content of over 50 macroinvertebrates can be determined within around 3 days of collection at a cost of ~$1.35 per sample.Mae macromaetholion, sy'n cynnwys carbohydradau, proteinau a lipidau, yn sail i lawer o brosesau ecolegol, ond mae eu meintioli mewn astudiaethau yn aml yn medru bod yn wallus ac yn llafurus, ac yn galw am fuddsoddiadau mawr mewn amser a swmp‐samplau. Gwna hyn astudiaethau ar lefel unigol yn amhosibl. Mae'r astudiaeth hon yn disgrifio MEDI (Echdyniad ac Adnabod Macromaetholion o Anifeiliaid Di‐asgwrn‐cefn), protocol newydd sy'n mesur ac adnabod macromaetholion yn uniongyrchol, ond yn gyflym ac yn gymharol rad, o facroinfertebratau bach sengl.Echdynnwyd macromaetholion trwy glain‐guriad mewn hydoddiant clorofform 1:12 methanol i waredu'r lipid, cyn hydoddi'r meinwe mewn 0.1M NaOH. Adnabuwyd proteinau, carbohydradau a lipidau gan brofion lliwmetrig o'r un sbesimenau.Cyfyngiadau darganfod MEDI gyda'r offer a ddefnyddiwyd oedd 0.067, 0.065 a 0.006 mg/ml ar gyfer proteinau, carbohydradau a lipidau, yn ôl eu trefn. Gall addasu cryfderau'r adweithyddion a ddefnyddir i echdynnu ac adnabod ehangu'r ystod o grynodiadau y gellir eu canfod. Llwyddodd MEDI i nodi gwahaniaethau tacsonomig mewn cynnwys macrofaetholion rhwng pum rhywogaeth o bryfed.Gall MEDI bennu cynnwys macromaetholion yn gywir, yn uniongyrchol ac yn gyflym, mewn anifeiliaid di‐asgwrn cefn bach (màs sych ~3 mg) a mawr. Gan ddefnyddio MEDI, gellir pennu cyfanswm cynnwys dros 50 o facromaetholion o fewn oddeutu tridiau am gost o tua $ 1.35 y sampl.

BACKGROUND The ongoing pandemic has placed an unprecedented strain on global society, health care, governments, and mass media. Public dissemination of government policies, medical interventions, and misinformation has been remarkably rapid and largely unregulated during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in increased misinterpretations, miscommunication, and public panic. Being the first full-scale global pandemic of the digital age, COVID-19 has presented novel challenges pertinent to government advice, the spread of news and misinformation, and the trade-off between the accessibility of science and the premature public use of unproven medical interventions. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the use of internet search terms relating to COVID-19 information and misinformation during the global pandemic, identify which were most used in six affected countries, investigate any temporal trends and the likely propagators of key search terms, and determine any correlation between the per capita cases and deaths with the adoption of these search terms in each of the six countries. METHODS This study uses relative search volume data extracted from Google Trends for search terms linked to the COVID-19 pandemic alongside per capita case and mortality data extracted from the European Open Data Portal to identify the temporal dynamics of the spread of news and misinformation during the global pandemic in six affected countries (Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States). A correlation analysis was carried out to ascertain any correlation between the temporal trends of search term use and the rise of per capita mortality and disease cases. RESULTS Of the selected search terms, most were searched immediately following promotion by governments, public figures, or viral circulation of information, but also in relation to the publication of scientific resources, which were sometimes misinterpreted before further dissemination. Strong correlations were identified between the volume of these COVID-19–related search terms (overall mean Spearman rho 0.753, SD 0.158), and per capita mortality (mean per capita deaths Spearman rho 0.690, SD 0.168) and cases (mean per capita cases Spearman rho 0.800, SD 0.112). CONCLUSIONS These findings illustrate the increased rate and volume of the public consumption of novel information during a global health care crisis. The positive correlation between mortality and online searching, particularly in countries with lower COVID-19 testing rates, may demonstrate the imperative to safeguard official communications and dispel misinformation in these countries. Online news, government briefings, and social media provide a powerful tool for the dissemination of important information to the public during pandemics, but their misuse and the presentation of misrepresented medical information should be monitored, minimized, and addressed to safeguard public safety. Ultimately, governments, public health authorities, and scientists have a moral imperative to safeguard the truth and maintain an accessible discourse with the public to limit fear.

Background The ongoing pandemic has placed an unprecedented strain on global society, health care, governments, and mass media. Public dissemination of government policies, medical interventions, and misinformation has been remarkably rapid and largely unregulated during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in increased misinterpretations, miscommunication, and public panic. Being the first full-scale global pandemic of the digital age, COVID-19 has presented novel challenges pertinent to government advice, the spread of news and misinformation, and the trade-off between the accessibility of science and the premature public use of unproven medical interventions. Objective This study aims to assess the use of internet search terms relating to COVID-19 information and misinformation during the global pandemic, identify which were most used in six affected countries, investigate any temporal trends and the likely propagators of key search terms, and determine any correlation between the per capita cases and deaths with the adoption of these search terms in each of the six countries. Methods This study uses relative search volume data extracted from Google Trends for search terms linked to the COVID-19 pandemic alongside per capita case and mortality data extracted from the European Open Data Portal to identify the temporal dynamics of the spread of news and misinformation during the global pandemic in six affected countries (Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States). A correlation analysis was carried out to ascertain any correlation between the temporal trends of search term use and the rise of per capita mortality and disease cases. Results Of the selected search terms, most were searched immediately following promotion by governments, public figures, or viral circulation of information, but also in relation to the publication of scientific resources, which were sometimes misinterpreted before further dissemination. Strong correlations were identified between the volume of these COVID-19–related search terms (overall mean Spearman rho 0.753, SD 0.158), and per capita mortality (mean per capita deaths Spearman rho 0.690, SD 0.168) and cases (mean per capita cases Spearman rho 0.800, SD 0.112). Conclusions These findings illustrate the increased rate and volume of the public consumption of novel information during a global health care crisis. The positive correlation between mortality and online searching, particularly in countries with lower COVID-19 testing rates, may demonstrate the imperative to safeguard official communications and dispel misinformation in these countries. Online news, government briefings, and social media provide a powerful tool for the dissemination of important information to the public during pandemics, but their misuse and the presentation of misrepresented medical information should be monitored, minimized, and addressed to safeguard public safety. Ultimately, governments, public health authorities, and scientists have a moral imperative to safeguard the truth and maintain an accessible discourse with the public to limit fear.

Good’s buffers are commonly used for cell culture and, although developed to have minimal to no biological impact, they cause alterations in cellular processes such as autophagy and lysosomal enzyme activity. Using Chinese hamster ovary cells and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons, this study explores the effect of zwitterionic buffers, specifically HEPES, on lysosomal volume and Ca2+levels. Certain zwitterionic buffers lead to lysosomal expansion and reduced lysosomal Ca2+. Care should be taken when selecting buffers for growth media to avoid detrimental impacts on lysosomal function.