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I was the only visitor at the art gallery when she came out from her office and asked if I needed some information about the exhibition.

I was looking at Sara Bjarland's Venetian blinds hanging from the ceiling all the way down to the floor and I just had to laugh. It reminded me how frustrated one can get when something goes wrong with the blinds and one can never get them to work properly again.

Eveliina, 29y/o--working in art management--was a friendly hostess. She pointed out that the pieces of tyres on the floor were actually ceramics. It was amazing how real they looked !

"Ceramic casts of exploded tyres, collected from the roadside and now spread around the room, are like fossils from an age when the internal-combustion engine was the world’s pulse and life ran on wheels."

Way into our conversation, I suddenly asked Eveliina if she would like to participate in my photo project.

She wondered a bit, asking where it would be shown. I briefed her and she agreed. We made a few pictures inside and then I suggested we step outside for better light.

I am glad we did because the picture in front of the gallery is my favourite.

When we were done with the photo-shooting I asked if she would have a message to share and she said:

"It might sound a cliché, but I think people should care about each other."

I agree, it's an important message we must never forget.

"Eveliina, what advice would you give to your younger self?"

"I would give the same advice to the younger me as I would give to the current me: don't worry too much."

"What does life mean to you?"

"I think we are here now, and then, at some point, we are not, and that's okay."

"What inspires you in life? What do you love about yourself?"

"Art and people inspire me, and that's what I have a passion for. If there's one thing I'd say I love about myself is the fact that I am passionate towards the art around me and being there for the people around me."

"What do you like to do in your spare time / hobbies?"

"More art, meaning visiting galleries, museums, performances. When working in the art field, work and hobbies intertwine."

I gave Eveliina my Flickr name and she looked it up on her smartphone. She immediately found my albums of Strangers and started to browse through them.

"This is the first time I've been asked to participate in such a project," she said with a smile, and I was happy she liked the idea.

About the exhibition:

"In Crumple, fail, faint, fall, time is powerfully present; it has passed through the objects and all that remains is the unwanted, the rejected and the fragile. She uses familiar objects to construct an integrated whole that acts like a faded photograph from a not-too-distant era. Bjarland turns our gaze to look back at the landscape we have left behind. Venetian blinds hang from ceiling to floor like dead office plants. Ceramic casts of exploded tyres, collected from the roadside and now spread around the room, are like fossils from an age when the internal-combustion engine was the world’s pulse and life ran on wheels. And the infamous white, polypropylene-plastic Monobloc chairs from the 1980s are like bones from dreams that died out. Ultimately this is not about the objects or the material itself, but about human beings in change, about how they grow out of their clothes like a snake sheds its skin, about how the party fizzles out, and about how anxiety builds as they slowly, but surely recognize that they are stuck and cannot get out."

sinne.proartibus.fi/en/event/sara-bjarland-3/

This is my 831st submission to The Human Family group.

Visit the group here to see more portraits and stories: The Human Family

in primary colors by Colloid Farl

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In the Philippines, the most common method of planting seaweed is tying propagules on long rope lines fastened to stakes at each end. Seedlings are tied on the rope at regular intervals with polypropylene raffia, referred to as soft ties in the trade. These are the yellow straw you see in this pic. Having the guy wear a red shirt and an amusing blue umbrella cap was glamour heaven-sent.

Hilutungan Island, Cordova, Cebu, the Philippines

more pics and journeys in colloidfarl.blogspot.com/

curved frosted polyprop by polly verity

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More sculptures by polyscene

Hands by Luca Gennari

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A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene, and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their structure.

The term "carpet" derives from Armenian "karpet" (կարպետ), "kar" meaning a "knot" or "stitch". Sometimes the term "carpet" is used interchangeably with the term "rug". The hand-knotted pile carpet probably originated in the Caucasus between the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC. Cilician Armenia which had intensive trade relations with Venice, brought carpets to all of Europe, where they were primarily hung on walls or used on tables. Only with the opening of trade routes in the 17th century were significant numbers of Persian rugs introduced to Western Europe. Historically the word was also used for table and wall coverings, as carpets were not commonly used on the floor in European interiors until the 18th century.

(by Wikipedia)

Satoshi Kamiya Diamond, polypropylene, cut and scored on a Craft ROBO by En Why See

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Folded from a 7.5" octagon

How I Distinguish Types of Dolly Hair & Video by A Thousand Splendid Dolls

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Please note that I am not an expert, nor am I claiming to be one. This information is based on my personal experience collecting dolls for 20 years and heavily restoring/rerooting them for 10 years. I also cross referenced my experience with information from Dollyhair.com and other sites that are in direct contact with the manufacturers of doll hair. I am human, I make mistakes.

Video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y7IRQ6jPG0

SARAN:

Description & Texture: This is the silkiest and densest of the hair fibers. It is known for its shine and heaviness. This hair tends to clump together and is often rooted with further spaced hair plugs due to its density.

Dolls commonly seen with it: Early Bratz dolls as well as those made in 2015 are notorious for having saran hair (although not all from this time frame do). Saran began popping up on Mattel dolls in the late 70s, and is still used to this day in 2020. Of course other manufacturers use saran too, but it is most common on dolls produced by larger companies like MGA and Mattel (most likely because it is a more expensive/high quality fiber).

Treatment & Care: This hair type requires longer, hotter boil washes. I always make sure the boil wash is actually bubbling before placing dolls in the water. After briefly brushing through the hair to set the style, I leave the doll in the hot water bowl until it is mostly cooled down. This yields the best results. I do not recommend flat ironing saran hair as it is prone to burning. This is only a last resort (after you've tried many boil washes without success, if the doll has nothing to lose).

Pros: This is the shiniest fiber, and therefore tends to look and feel more expensive than other kinds. It holds its original color well and is not known for fading or staining easily. This hair is easy to reroot as the fibers clump together nicely. Curls and waves will not go straight in the boil wash, meaning you can restore such styles with just a straight boil wash (it will reform the curls). This hair also tends to shed less during regular brushing.

Cons: Since saran is more resistant to the boil wash, it is difficult to change the style. So if you want curly hair to be straight or vice versa, you will need to use extra hot water, let the doll sit for a very long time, and you may need to repeat many times. It is also prone to split ends as saran is thicker than other types of hair (each individual strand). The split ends can cause the hair to look dull and lifeless over time, and can make dolls appear less nice in photos (so you may have to trim these split ends out...a painstaking process). Although it sheds less usually, when saran does start to loosen from the inside of the head, it is notorious for coming out in entire plugs (due to its clumping nature). This often leaves dolls with massive bald spots, which is especially inconvenient if it happens around the hairline. If you are looking to dye hair, saran is not ideal. Due to its sleek, impenetrable nature, most dyes will not stick.

KANEKALON:

Description & Texture: This is the finest and fluffiest of the hair fibers. It is very delicate and soft, with each strand being incredibly thin, making it prone to breakage, fly away hairs, and shedding. It is also porous and has a sponge like reaction when being washed (many bubbles are produced, and it needs more care when being rinsed). There are two grades of kanekalon that I have seen. The type on fashion dolls is as described above. American Girls and other larger scale dolls with wigs use a type of kanekalon that is similar in terms of fineness, but a bit more straw like. Kanekalon tends to be rooted much closer together due to its fine nature.

Dolls commonly seen with it: As far as I know all American Girls use kanekalon, and many porcelain dolls as well. This is also common on Mattel dolls from the mid 1980s and was recently discontinued in the mid 2010s. As it is a different kind of kanekalon than that used on American Girls, AG dolls still use their grade of kanekalon. Kanekalon is less common on Bratz and other MGA dolls. However, it was known for being used on particular lines, like Wintertime Wonderland (not all use kanekalon though--it just appears to be the most common fiber for the collection). It is much less prevalent on smaller doll brands, however you will occasionally see kanekalon on them.

Treatment & Care: For fashion doll grade kanekalon, a boil wash is all you need. As it is finer and more sensitive, it can ball up in the hot water if the temperature is not right. This is an easy problem to fix. Simply reheat the water (just make sure the water does not fully bubble, or wait a few seconds before dunking if it is bubbling), and then re-dunk the doll, making sure to brush out the areas that balled up. I only recommend flat ironing the American Girl grade of kanekalon, as it is less delicate. However, a boil wash can do wonders for American Girl grade kanekalon so start with one before flat ironing. Since this hair type is prone to breakage and fly away hairs, diluting a few drops of gel in water, and then drizzling this mixture over the kankekalon hair can keep it sleeker looking. This can be done on wet hair after a boil wash, or dry hair before a photo shoot. Obviously this gel technique is great for any type of hair, but it keeps kanekalon tame especially.

Pros: Kanekalon is so responsive to just a boil wash that it is easy to fix up. Even dolls who are incredibly dreaded can be restored to a near factory fresh look with minimal effort. It is also easy to customize hair styles--kanekalon goes completely straight in the boil wash. This means it is easy to curl or straighten with just hot water. Even American Girl grade kanekalon is easy to work with--you can wet set curls if you don't feel like boil washing them in. It also is the best kind of hair to dye, due to its porous nature. It clings to the dye well, and won't transfer it easily to other surfaces.

Cons: If you don't know how to curl doll hair, the fact that kanekalon hair goes straight in the boil wash can be annoying. You will have to be mindful of curly bangs while boil washing, unless you want to straighten them (I recommend dunking the comb in the hot water and running it through the hair, rather than dunking the whole head, for these circumstances). Since kanekalon is so fine, it is known to shed easily during routine grooming. This means many dolls lose a TON of hair. It also breaks easily, leaving many fly away hairs. This can be annoying when you are attempting to create sleek/precise hair styles (such as buns or braids). It is also difficult to reroot with as the fibers are so fine and don't stay together well. The American Girl grade kanekalon is also difficult to reroot with (it can be found on wigs and human hair accessories too), as it is more straw like and sticks up. I recommend using fashion doll grade kanekalon for reroots if you want to use it on a smaller doll. This hair's porous nature may make it ideal for dyeing, however it stains easily in unwanted ways. Metal hair ties or colored ones can leave stains on it if they are left in too long. This hair type also loses its color with age. The hair colors will be duller and often will have a grey cast. Boil washing can be more finicky as kanekalon can ball up in too hot water, making extra steps required to fix it.

NYLON:

Description & Texture: There are at least two grades of nylon (confirmed by Dollyhair.com). The lower quality hair is notorious for being easily frizzed, super stretchy, and coarse feeling. It can at times feel wiry if it is very damaged. Despite it's thickness, this hair is very lightweight (almost hollow feeling compared to saran). The higher quality nylon, which was used on My Little Ponies in the 80s, is softer, sleeker, and shinier. It feels very much like saran, just lighter weight and more pliable to change. It should be noted that there is another type of hair, called Polypropylene, which is identical to nylon. So for all intents and purposes, treat it just as you would nylon.

Dolls commonly seen with it: This hair type is very uncommon on most Mattel dolls. However it is a myth that it was never used on them until the mid 2010s. It was used once in a while on super curly/kinky haired dolls (think Generation Girl Nichelle, Mystery Squad Kenzie, certain My Scene Madison dolls, etc). There were also the rare cases for super cheap lines, such as the 2010 Bath Beauty Disney dolls, when Mattel used nylon. It is more common, and frequently seen on cheaper quality dolls. The majority of clone dolls, dolls made by smaller manufacturers, and Disney Store dolls have nylon hair. I also see this on Jakks Pacific, Hasbro, and Play Along dolls often. Bratz and Moxie Girlz dolls are notorious for using nylon in 2008 up until 2013 (although it was also seen on early lines, such as 2003 Style It). It is also used for styling heads, doll horses, and larger dolls with rooted hair, most likely to cut costs. Since nylon is more inexpensive, that was probably the reason companies used it when they were making budget dolls or larger scale dolls who would need more hair over all. The higher quality nylon (identical to polypropylene from my understanding) is seen on MGA dolls, such as L.O.L. Surprise and O.M.G.s, vintage My Little Ponies, and some Disney Store dolls.

Treatment & Care: For the lower quality nylon, a boil wash generally speaking won't accomplish much. It is useful to do one anyways, to remove some bulk from the hair and make it less difficult to comb through. But a flat iron treatment, followed by a slight trim is almost always necessary. The "My Little Pony" nylon hair however, is much more responsive to the boil wash and does not need to be flat ironed in most cases.

Pros: Although nylon has a bad reputation for being cheap and frizzy, once it is properly treated it feels very lovely. It is shinier than kanekalon hair and comes in a very wide range of colors. The "My Little Pony" grade has the same shine and sleekness of saran, but the light weight feel of kanekalon (so it has a combination of those hair types pros, like easy styling and re-rooting). It also can bend in with saran hair seamlessly if you need it to finish/partially re-root a doll.

Cons: Needless to say the frizzy, bulky nature of nylon is not appreciated. Dolls who are not treated/properly taken care of end up with massive, puffy, coarse, nasty feeling hair. This often leads to them getting haircuts by children. When trying to comb out this hair to treat it, it will stretch making the process more difficult. Dolls with super kinky/curly cheap nylon tend to lose ringlets easily. This hair type is the hardest to restore, as it requires a flat iron in most cases. The damage done to secondhand dolls often leaves them with dull hair, despite many restoration efforts. It also feels the most synthetic of the hair fibers, due to its stretchy, frizzy nature. I do not recommend this hair type to beginner restorers or re-rooters as it is difficult to work with. Since it is so thick and bulky, it is easy to re-root with too much hair, leaving an unattractive finished product.

SPECIALTY HAIR TYPES:

***This includes magic, memory, color change, gimmicky hair that is available in a wide range of types (saran, nylon, kanekalon, etc). These features, regardless of the type of hair, render it more sensitive. While boil washing is safe from my experience, I do not recommend flat ironing specialty hair (especially those with "memory" hair that is meant to be crimped, curled, etc), as it is prone to burning. Specialty hair is also less likely to clean up nicely, compared to traditional types (this more so applies to dolls who have memory hair or wires rooted into their heads).

***IMPORTANT NOTES***

*It is a misconception that dolls universally have the same types of hair (ex. ALL Xpress It! Yasmin dolls have X hair type). This is simply not true. Larger manufacturers produce thousands of dolls each year and supplies may run out. Dolls can be on the production line for a long period of time too, meaning there may be changes to the quality of materials used. Making blanket statements about dolls having only one quality of hair is misleading, and can often result in people purchasing a doll with the wrong expectations (thinking they will get saran hair, because it is more common, but ending up with nylon). It is true that there are more common hair variations, but unless a manufacturer has confirmed that only one type of hair was used for a line, I always say expect variations.

*What is or isn't better quality is subjective. It depends on your needs and personal tastes as a collector. Knowing the hair types apart is important strictly from a restoration/customization perspective. By having the knowledge of which hair types responds best to which treatment or is most ideal for a project can save you time and a headache. But all hair types can be beautiful if you learn how to care for them properly.

*Don't over complicate this. Think in broader terms, not doll type by doll type. MGA produces many brands of dolls, so does Mattel, so do many companies. So Monster High dolls, produced by Mattel like Barbie, will use the same hair fibers. This applies to all of the brands. Likewise, even older dolls from the 80s are similar in materials to new dolls. So saran hair on an 80s Barbie is the same as saran on a doll from 2020.

*Even experienced collectors/restorers, such as myself, make mistakes (believe me, I've been wrong a million times). We unintentionally hear incorrect information and then pass it around thinking we are being helpful, while we really just add to the confusion. Even people who sell hair professionally, and who are in contact with the manufacturers, can be misleading (sometimes they brand a type of hair claiming it is special, when it is actually not, for competitive purposes). Please think for yourself and always do your own research!

*There are technically other types of hair out there. These are just the main ones I have been able to identify. But the names are not as important from a restoration perspective. Focus on the descriptions, not the names. Coarser, thicker hair is harder to tame and will require more work. Finer, softer hair is more responsive so take it slow (don't be flat iron happy basically). Hair that is more porous is better for dyeing, but will also not hold its factory color as well. Shinier, sleeker hair does not dye well, but will retain its factory fresh look for longer. Very old dolls, like Barbies from the 60s, may use hair types that are discontinued (or have unknown fiber names). But I have found in this case that boil washing is safe and effective.

*Some dolls utilize more than one type of hair at once. For instance, a doll may have all kanekalon hair, except the bangs. A doll's dark streaks may not be the same type of hair used throughout the rest of the head, etc. While it is not that common, this does occur from time to time.

Paper Sculpture: folded architectural detail by polly verity

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From one sheet. Just folded, no cuts or glue

more paper and origami sculpture here: www.polyscene.com

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped by Chris Baldock

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, a temporary artwork for Paris, was on view for 16 days from Saturday, September 18 to Sunday, October 3, 2021. The project was realized in partnership with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux and in coordination with the City of Paris. It also received the support of the Centre Pompidou. The Arc de Triomphe was wrapped in 25,000 square meters of recyclable polypropylene fabric in silvery blue, and with 3,000 meters of red rope.

In 1961, three years after they met in Paris, Christo and Jeanne-Claude began creating works of art in public spaces. One of their projects was to wrap a public building. When he arrived in Paris, Christo rented a small room near the Arc de Triomphe and had been attracted by the monument ever since. In 1962, he made a photomontage of the Arc de Triomphe wrapped, seen from the Avenue Foch and, in 1988, a collage. 60 years later, the project was finally concretized.

summer shade by Graeme Jones

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The Summer Architecture Commissions are a new initiative of the Department of Contemporary Design and Architecture offering the opportunity for emerging and established architects to present their architecture to a broad audience in the Grollo Equiset Garden at NGV International. For 2015 John Wardle Architects (JWA) has developed the inaugural Commission.

Taking inspiration from the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, an iconic public performance venue in Melbourne, JWA’s playful steel, timber and textile structure will create a theatrical centrepiece offering shade, retreat and a place for performance and workshops.

Adaptable and evocative, the structure merges the digital and the handmade. The design utilises 3D modelling and cutting edge engineering and fabrication systems to achieve the generous span of a lightweight steel structure. Beneath this outer high-tech layer of precision-engineered steel is a low-tech layer of timber, and a mass array of 1350 hand folded polypropylene elements. These 3-D textile elements are individually suspended to create a textural pink skin that provides colourful shade by day and a unique nocturnal glow.

Paper Sculpture: Origami Frame Test by polly verity

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Trying out some recent folds in box frames. Really enjoying trying to get exactly the right number of repeats and size to fit snuggly.

More sculptures by polyscene

Chateau Frontenac - Quebec - by Sue Everett

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The Château Frontenac is a grand hotel in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, which is operated as Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980. Prior to the building of the hotel, the site was occupied by the Chateau Haldimand, residence of the British colonial governors of Lower Canada and Quebec. The hotel is generally recognized as the most photographed hotel in the world, largely due to its prominence in the skyline of Quebec City

The Château Frontenac was designed by American architect Bruce Price, as one of a series of "château" style hotels built for the Canadian Pacific Railway company (aka CPR) during the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the newer portions of the hotel—including the central tower—were designed by William Sutherland Maxwell. CPR's policy was to promote luxury tourism by appealing to wealthy travelers. The Château Frontenac opened in 1893, six years after the Banff Springs Hotel, which was owned by the same company and similar in style. Another reason for the construction of the Chateau Frontenac was to accommodate tourists for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, however the hotel was not finished in time.

An early postcard of the hotel, circa 1910, before later expansions and the construction of the central tower

The Château Frontenac was named after Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac, who was governor of the colony of New France from 1672 to 1682 and 1689 to 1698. The Château was built near the historic Citadelle, the construction of which Frontenac had begun at the end of the 17th century. The Quebec Conference of 1943, at which Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Mackenzie King discussed strategy for World War II, was held at the Château Frontenac while much of the staff stayed nearby at the Citadel.

Although several of Quebec City's buildings are taller, the landmark hotel is perched atop a tall cape overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, affording a spectacular view for several kilometers. The building is the most prominent feature of the Quebec City skyline as seen from across the St. Lawrence.

In 1944, Château became the action center of the Quebec Conferences of World War II.

In 1953, this hotel was used as the filming location for Alfred Hitchcock's film I Confess, featuring Montgomery Clift and Anne Baxter.

In 2001, the hotel was sold to Legacy REIT, which is partially owned by Fairmont, for $185 million. When Canadian Pacific Hotels was renamed Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in 2001, the hotel became Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.

In 2011, the hotel was sold to Ivanhoé Cambridge, and work began on replacement of the main tower's copper roof, at the cost of $7.5 million. An image of the roof was printed on polypropylene safety netting and hung from scaffolding to hide the refurbishing project from view.

On June 14, 1993, Canada Post issued 'Le Château Frontenac, Québec' designed by Kosta Tsetsekas, based on illustrations by Heather Price. The stamp features an image of Château Frontenac, which was designed architect Bruce Price in 1893. The 43¢ stamps are perforated 13.5 and were printed by Ashton-Potter Limited

Source: Wikipedia Freee Encyclopedia

Photo taken looking up the hill towards the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec.

Sinclair C5 by Karls Kamera

A Sinclair C5 from 1985 - an early attempt at an electric vehicle - seen at Cockermouth show. Made of durable polypropylene and easy to store in a shed its quite possible there are more of these surving than some of the successful cars of the period. Originally, entering the market at under £400 and failing to sell in numbers, mint boxed versions were valued at up to £5000 a decade later.

Fina Multigrade motor oil advert, Motor Trader magazine, 1 May 1963 by Dan Lockton

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I'm not sure when oil cartons like this (along with the cardboard cans with metal top and bases) stopped being common, replaced by plastic bottles, but despite the claims in the advert, I'm sure they were harder for customers to pour without spillage than the bottles. In 1963 it was probably garage / forecourt staff often doing the pouring, but equally there were many more home mechanics and oil changes were required much more regularly.

It's interesting here how Fina suggested that garage owners could simply burn the polypropylene-lined paper cartons to dispose of them, as an alternative to putting them in the refuse to be collected. These kinds of cartons were a predecessor of today's Tetra-Pak and similar which I believe mainly use polythene (polyethylene) layers, and for aseptic uses, an aluminium layer too. Efforts have been made to improve recyclability, but it requires a more complex process due to the multiple layers.

The Fina branding here is smart and simple, using the version of the logo introduced in 1960. Petrofina House, at 75–79 York Road, London, was built in 1957 and refurbished in 2009—adjacent to both Guy's & St Thomas's Hospital, and the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo International Station. I don't know what date Fina moved out (to Epsom), but possibly early 1980s.

Coronavirus disease 2019...Passive antibodies... immune systems... antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity...Sex differences...Gendered impact of the pandemic and mortality rates are different for men and women. by Hughes Songe

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).[8] The disease was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province, and has since spread globally, resulting in the ongoing 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.[9][10] As of 26 April 2020, more than 2.89 million cases have been reported across 185 countries and territories, resulting in more than 203,000 deaths. More than 822,000 people have recovered.[7]

Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and loss of smell.[5][11][12] While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to viral pneumonia, multi-organ failure, or cytokine storm.[13][9][14] More concerning symptoms include difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain, confusion, difficulty waking, and bluish skin.[5] The time from exposure to onset of symptoms is typically around five days but may range from two to fourteen days.[5][15]

The virus is primarily spread between people during close contact,[a] often via small droplets produced by coughing,[b] sneezing, or talking.[6][16][18] The droplets usually fall to the ground or onto surfaces rather than remaining in the air over long distances.[6][19][20] People may also become infected by touching a contaminated surface and then touching their face.[6][16] In experimental settings, the virus may survive on surfaces for up to 72 hours.[21][22][23] It is most contagious during the first three days after the onset of symptoms, although spread may be possible before symptoms appear and in later stages of the disease.[24] The standard method of diagnosis is by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) from a nasopharyngeal swab.[25] Chest CT imaging may also be helpful for diagnosis in individuals where there is a high suspicion of infection based on symptoms and risk factors; however, guidelines do not recommend using it for routine screening.[26][27]

Recommended measures to prevent infection include frequent hand washing, maintaining physical distance from others (especially from those with symptoms), covering coughs, and keeping unwashed hands away from the face.[28][29] In addition, the use of a face covering is recommended for those who suspect they have the virus and their caregivers.[30][31] Recommendations for face covering use by the general public vary, with some authorities recommending against their use, some recommending their use, and others requiring their use.[32][31][33] Currently, there is not enough evidence for or against the use of masks (medical or other) in healthy individuals in the wider community.[6] Also masks purchased by the public may impact availability for health care providers.

Currently, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19.[6] Management involves the treatment of symptoms, supportive care, isolation, and experimental measures.[34] The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)[35][36] on 30 January 2020 and a pandemic on 11 March 2020.[10] Local transmission of the disease has occurred in most countries across all six WHO regions.[37]

File:En.Wikipedia-VideoWiki-Coronavirus disease 2019.webm

Video summary (script)

Contents

1Signs and symptoms

2Cause

2.1Transmission

2.2Virology

3Pathophysiology

3.1Immunopathology

4Diagnosis

4.1Pathology

5Prevention

6Management

6.1Medications

6.2Protective equipment

6.3Mechanical ventilation

6.4Acute respiratory distress syndrome

6.5Experimental treatment

6.6Information technology

6.7Psychological support

7Prognosis

7.1Reinfection

8History

9Epidemiology

9.1Infection fatality rate

9.2Sex differences

10Society and culture

10.1Name

10.2Misinformation

10.3Protests

11Other animals

12Research

12.1Vaccine

12.2Medications

12.3Anti-cytokine storm

12.4Passive antibodies

13See also

14Notes

15References

16External links

16.1Health agencies

16.2Directories

16.3Medical journals

Signs and symptoms

Symptom[4]Range

Fever83–99%

Cough59–82%

Loss of Appetite40–84%

Fatigue44–70%

Shortness of breath31–40%

Coughing up sputum28–33%

Loss of smell15[38] to 30%[12][39]

Muscle aches and pains11–35%

Fever is the most common symptom, although some older people and those with other health problems experience fever later in the disease.[4][40] In one study, 44% of people had fever when they presented to the hospital, while 89% went on to develop fever at some point during their hospitalization.[4][41]

Other common symptoms include cough, loss of appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, sputum production, and muscle and joint pains.[4][5][42][43] Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea have been observed in varying percentages.[44][45][46] Less common symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, or sore throat.[47]

More serious symptoms include difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, confusion, difficulty waking, and bluish face or lips. Immediate medical attention is advised if these symptoms are present.[5][48]

In some, the disease may progress to pneumonia, multi-organ failure, and death.[9][14] In those who develop severe symptoms, time from symptom onset to needing mechanical ventilation is typically eight days.[4] Some cases in China initially presented with only chest tightness and palpitations.[49]

Loss of smell was identified as a common symptom of COVID‑19 in March 2020,[12][39] although perhaps not as common as initially reported.[38] A decreased sense of smell and/or disturbances in taste have also been reported.[50] Estimates for loss of smell range from 15%[38] to 30%.[12][39]

As is common with infections, there is a delay between the moment a person is first infected and the time he or she develops symptoms. This is called the incubation period. The incubation period for COVID‑19 is typically five to six days but may range from two to 14 days,[51][52] although 97.5% of people who develop symptoms will do so within 11.5 days of infection.[53]

A minority of cases do not develop noticeable symptoms at any point in time.[54][55] These asymptomatic carriers tend not to get tested, and their role in transmission is not yet fully known.[56][57] However, preliminary evidence suggests they may contribute to the spread of the disease.[58][59] In March 2020, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported that 20% of confirmed cases remained asymptomatic during their hospital stay.[59][60]

A number of neurological symptoms has been reported including seizures, stroke, encephalitis and Guillain-Barre syndrome.[61] Cardiovascular related complications may include heart failure, irregular electrical activity, blood clots, and heart inflammation.[62]

Cause

See also: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Transmission

Cough/sneeze droplets visualised in dark background using Tyndall scattering

Respiratory droplets produced when a man is sneezing visualised using Tyndall scattering

File:COVID19 in numbers- R0, the case fatality rate and why we need to flatten the curve.webm

A video discussing the basic reproduction number and case fatality rate in the context of the pandemic

Some details about how the disease is spread are still being determined.[16][18] The WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say it is primarily spread during close contact and by small droplets produced when people cough, sneeze or talk;[6][16] with close contact being within approximately 1–2 m (3–7 ft).[6][63] Both sputum and saliva can carry large viral loads.[64] Loud talking releases more droplets than normal talking.[65] A study in Singapore found that an uncovered cough can lead to droplets travelling up to 4.5 metres (15 feet).[66] An article published in March 2020 argued that advice on droplet distance might be based on 1930s research which ignored the effects of warm moist exhaled air surrounding the droplets and that an uncovered cough or sneeze can travel up to 8.2 metres (27 feet).[17]

Respiratory droplets may also be produced while breathing out, including when talking. Though the virus is not generally airborne,[6][67] the National Academy of Sciences has suggested that bioaerosol transmission may be possible.[68] In one study cited, air collectors positioned in the hallway outside of people's rooms yielded samples positive for viral RNA but finding infectious virus has proven elusive.[68] The droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.[16] Some medical procedures such as intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may cause respiratory secretions to be aerosolised and thus result in an airborne spread.[67] Initial studies suggested a doubling time of the number of infected persons of 6–7 days and a basic reproduction number (R0 ) of 2.2–2.7, but a study published on April 7, 2020, calculated a much higher median R0 value of 5.7 in Wuhan.[69]

It may also spread when one touches a contaminated surface, known as fomite transmission, and then touches one's eyes, nose or mouth.[6] While there are concerns it may spread via faeces, this risk is believed to be low.[6][16]

The virus is most contagious when people are symptomatic; though spread is may be possible before symptoms emerge and from those who never develop symptoms.[6][70] A portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms.[71] The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says while it is not entirely clear how easily the disease spreads, one person generally infects two or three others.[18]

The virus survives for hours to days on surfaces.[6][18] Specifically, the virus was found to be detectable for one day on cardboard, for up to three days on plastic (polypropylene) and stainless steel (AISI 304), and for up to four hours on 99% copper.[21][23] This, however, varies depending on the humidity and temperature.[72][73] Surfaces may be decontaminated with many solutions (with one minute of exposure to the product achieving a 4 or more log reduction (99.99% reduction)), including 78–95% ethanol (alcohol used in spirits), 70–100% 2-propanol (isopropyl alcohol), the combination of 45% 2-propanol with 30% 1-propanol, 0.21% sodium hypochlorite (bleach), 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, or 0.23–7.5% povidone-iodine. Soap and detergent are also effective if correctly used; soap products degrade the virus' fatty protective layer, deactivating it, as well as freeing them from the skin and other surfaces.[74] Other solutions, such as benzalkonium chloride and chlorhexidine gluconate (a surgical disinfectant), are less effective.[75]

In a Hong Kong study, saliva samples were taken a median of two days after the start of hospitalization. In five of six patients, the first sample showed the highest viral load, and the sixth patient showed the highest viral load on the second day tested.[64]

Virology

Main article: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Illustration of SARSr-CoV virion

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, first isolated from three people with pneumonia connected to the cluster of acute respiratory illness cases in Wuhan.[76] All features of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus occur in related coronaviruses in nature.[77] Outside the human body, the virus is killed by household soap, which bursts its protective bubble.[26]

SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to the original SARS-CoV.[78] It is thought to have a zoonotic origin. Genetic analysis has revealed that the coronavirus genetically clusters with the genus Betacoronavirus, in subgenus Sarbecovirus (lineage B) together with two bat-derived strains. It is 96% identical at the whole genome level to other bat coronavirus samples (BatCov RaTG13).[47] In February 2020, Chinese researchers found that there is only one amino acid difference in the binding domain of the S protein between the coronaviruses from pangolins and those from humans; however, whole-genome comparison to date found that at most 92% of genetic material was shared between pangolin coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2, which is insufficient to prove pangolins to be the intermediate host.[79]

Pathophysiology

The lungs are the organs most affected by COVID‑19 because the virus accesses host cells via the enzyme angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is most abundant in type II alveolar cells of the lungs. The virus uses a special surface glycoprotein called a "spike" (peplomer) to connect to ACE2 and enter the host cell.[80] The density of ACE2 in each tissue correlates with the severity of the disease in that tissue and some have suggested that decreasing ACE2 activity might be protective,[81][82] though another view is that increasing ACE2 using angiotensin II receptor blocker medications could be protective and these hypotheses need to be tested.[83] As the alveolar disease progresses, respiratory failure might develop and death may follow.[82]

The virus also affects gastrointestinal organs as ACE2 is abundantly expressed in the glandular cells of gastric, duodenal and rectal epithelium[84] as well as endothelial cells and enterocytes of the small intestine.[85]

ACE2 is present in the brain, and there is growing evidence of neurological manifestations in people with COVID‑19. It is not certain if the virus can directly infect the brain by crossing the barriers that separate the circulation of the brain and the general circulation. Other coronaviruses are able to infect the brain via a synaptic route to the respiratory centre in the medulla, through mechanoreceptors like pulmonary stretch receptors and chemoreceptors (primarily central chemoreceptors) within the lungs.[medical citation needed] It is possible that dysfunction within the respiratory centre further worsens the ARDS seen in COVID‑19 patients. Common neurological presentations include a loss of smell, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Encephalopathy has been noted to occur in some patients (and confirmed with imaging), with some reports of detection of the virus after cerebrospinal fluid assays although the presence of oligoclonal bands seems to be a common denominator in these patients.[86]

The virus can cause acute myocardial injury and chronic damage to the cardiovascular system.[87] An acute cardiac injury was found in 12% of infected people admitted to the hospital in Wuhan, China,[88] and is more frequent in severe disease.[89] Rates of cardiovascular symptoms are high, owing to the systemic inflammatory response and immune system disorders during disease progression, but acute myocardial injuries may also be related to ACE2 receptors in the heart.[87] ACE2 receptors are highly expressed in the heart and are involved in heart function.[87][90] A high incidence of thrombosis (31%) and venous thromboembolism (25%) have been found in ICU patients with COVID‑19 infections and may be related to poor prognosis.[91][92] Blood vessel dysfunction and clot formation (as suggested by high D-dimer levels) are thought to play a significant role in mortality, incidences of clots leading to pulmonary embolisms, and ischaemic events within the brain have been noted as complications leading to death in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Infection appears to set off a chain of vasoconstrictive responses within the body, constriction of blood vessels within the pulmonary circulation has also been posited as a mechanism in which oxygenation decreases alongside with the presentation of viral pneumonia.[93]

Another common cause of death is complications related to the kidneys[93]—SARS-CoV-2 directly infects kidney cells, as confirmed in post-mortem studies. Acute kidney injury is a common complication and cause of death; this is more significant in patients with already compromised kidney function, especially in people with pre-existing chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes which specifically cause nephropathy in the long run.[94]

Autopsies of people who died of COVID‑19 have found diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), and lymphocyte-containing inflammatory infiltrates within the lung.[95]

Immunopathology

Although SARS-COV-2 has a tropism for ACE2-expressing epithelial cells of the respiratory tract, patients with severe COVID‑19 have symptoms of systemic hyperinflammation. Clinical laboratory findings of elevated IL-2, IL-7, IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon-γ inducible protein 10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein 1-α (MIP-1α), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) indicative of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) suggest an underlying immunopathology.[96]

Additionally, people with COVID‑19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have classical serum biomarkers of CRS, including elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer, and ferritin.[97]

Systemic inflammation results in vasodilation, allowing inflammatory lymphocytic and monocytic infiltration of the lung and the heart. In particular, pathogenic GM-CSF-secreting T-cells were shown to correlate with the recruitment of inflammatory IL-6-secreting monocytes and severe lung pathology in COVID‑19 patients.[98] Lymphocytic infiltrates have also been reported at autopsy.[95]

Diagnosis

Main article: COVID-19 testing

Demonstration of a nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19 testing

CDC rRT-PCR test kit for COVID-19[99]

The WHO has published several testing protocols for the disease.[100] The standard method of testing is real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR).[101] The test is typically done on respiratory samples obtained by a nasopharyngeal swab; however, a nasal swab or sputum sample may also be used.[25][102] Results are generally available within a few hours to two days.[103][104] Blood tests can be used, but these require two blood samples taken two weeks apart, and the results have little immediate value.[105] Chinese scientists were able to isolate a strain of the coronavirus and publish the genetic sequence so laboratories across the world could independently develop polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to detect infection by the virus.[9][106][107] As of 4 April 2020, antibody tests (which may detect active infections and whether a person had been infected in the past) were in development, but not yet widely used.[108][109][110] The Chinese experience with testing has shown the accuracy is only 60 to 70%.[111] The FDA in the United States approved the first point-of-care test on 21 March 2020 for use at the end of that month.[112]

Diagnostic guidelines released by Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University suggested methods for detecting infections based upon clinical features and epidemiological risk. These involved identifying people who had at least two of the following symptoms in addition to a history of travel to Wuhan or contact with other infected people: fever, imaging features of pneumonia, normal or reduced white blood cell count, or reduced lymphocyte count.[113]

A study asked hospitalised COVID‑19 patients to cough into a sterile container, thus producing a saliva sample, and detected the virus in eleven of twelve patients using RT-PCR. This technique has the potential of being quicker than a swab and involving less risk to health care workers (collection at home or in the car).[64]

Along with laboratory testing, chest CT scans may be helpful to diagnose COVID-19 in individuals with a high clinical suspicion of infection but are not recommended for routine screening.[26][27] Bilateral multilobar ground-glass opacities with a peripheral, asymmetric, and posterior distribution are common in early infection.[26] Subpleural dominance, crazy paving (lobular septal thickening with variable alveolar filling), and consolidation may appear as the disease progresses.[26][114]

In late 2019, WHO assigned the emergency ICD-10 disease codes U07.1 for deaths from lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and U07.2 for deaths from clinically or epidemiologically diagnosed COVID‑19 without lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.[115]

Typical CT imaging findings

CT imaging of rapid progression stage

Pathology

Few data are available about microscopic lesions and the pathophysiology of COVID‑19.[116][117] The main pathological findings at autopsy are:

Macroscopy: pleurisy, pericarditis, lung consolidation and pulmonary oedema

Four types of severity of viral pneumonia can be observed:

minor pneumonia: minor serous exudation, minor fibrin exudation

mild pneumonia: pulmonary oedema, pneumocyte hyperplasia, large atypical pneumocytes, interstitial inflammation with lymphocytic infiltration and multinucleated giant cell formation

severe pneumonia: diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) with diffuse alveolar exudates. DAD is the cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and severe hypoxemia.

healing pneumonia: organisation of exudates in alveolar cavities and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis

plasmocytosis in BAL[118]

Blood: disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC);[119] leukoerythroblastic reaction[120]

Liver: microvesicular steatosis

Prevention

See also: 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic § Prevention, flatten the curve, and workplace hazard controls for COVID-19

Progressively stronger mitigation efforts to reduce the number of active cases at any given time—known as "flattening the curve"—allows healthcare services to better manage the same volume of patients.[121][122][123] Likewise, progressively greater increases in healthcare capacity—called raising the line—such as by increasing bed count, personnel, and equipment, helps to meet increased demand.[124]

Mitigation attempts that are inadequate in strictness or duration—such as premature relaxation of distancing rules or stay-at-home orders—can allow a resurgence after the initial surge and mitigation.[122][125]

Preventive measures to reduce the chances of infection include staying at home, avoiding crowded places, keeping distance from others, washing hands with soap and water often and for at least 20 seconds, practising good respiratory hygiene, and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.[126][127][128] The CDC recommends covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and recommends using the inside of the elbow if no tissue is available.[126] Proper hand hygiene after any cough or sneeze is encouraged.[126] The CDC has recommended the use of cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, in part to limit transmission by asymptomatic individuals.[129] The U.S. National Institutes of Health guidelines do not recommend any medication for prevention of COVID‑19, before or after exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, outside of the setting of a clinical trial.[130]

Social distancing strategies aim to reduce contact of infected persons with large groups by closing schools and workplaces, restricting travel, and cancelling large public gatherings.[131] Distancing guidelines also include that people stay at least 6 feet (1.8 m) apart.[132] There is no medication known to be effective at preventing COVID‑19.[133] After the implementation of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, many regions have been able to sustain an effective transmission rate ("Rt") of less than one, meaning the disease is in remission in those areas.[134]

As a vaccine is not expected until 2021 at the earliest,[135] a key part of managing COVID‑19 is trying to decrease the epidemic peak, known as "flattening the curve".[122] This is done by slowing the infection rate to decrease the risk of health services being overwhelmed, allowing for better treatment of current cases, and delaying additional cases until effective treatments or a vaccine become available.[122][125]

According to the WHO, the use of masks is recommended only if a person is coughing or sneezing or when one is taking care of someone with a suspected infection.[136] For the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) face masks "... could be considered especially when visiting busy closed spaces ..." but "... only as a complementary measure ..."[137] Several countries have recommended that healthy individuals wear face masks or cloth face coverings (like scarves or bandanas) at least in certain public settings, including China,[138] Hong Kong,[139] Spain,[140] Italy (Lombardy region),[141] and the United States.[129]

Those diagnosed with COVID‑19 or who believe they may be infected are advised by the CDC to stay home except to get medical care, call ahead before visiting a healthcare provider, wear a face mask before entering the healthcare provider's office and when in any room or vehicle with another person, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, regularly wash hands with soap and water and avoid sharing personal household items.[30][142] The CDC also recommends that individuals wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the toilet or when hands are visibly dirty, before eating and after blowing one's nose, coughing or sneezing. It further recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol, but only when soap and water are not readily available.[126]

For areas where commercial hand sanitisers are not readily available, the WHO provides two formulations for local production. In these formulations, the antimicrobial activity arises from ethanol or isopropanol. Hydrogen peroxide is used to help eliminate bacterial spores in the alcohol; it is "not an active substance for hand antisepsis". Glycerol is added as a humectant.[143]

Prevention efforts are multiplicative, with effects far beyond that of a single spread. Each avoided case leads to more avoided cases down the line, which in turn can stop the outbreak in its tracks.

File:COVID19 W ENG.ogv

Handwashing instructions

Management

People are managed with supportive care, which may include fluid therapy, oxygen support, and supporting other affected vital organs.[144][145][146] The CDC recommends that those who suspect they carry the virus wear a simple face mask.[30] Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used to address the issue of respiratory failure, but its benefits are still under consideration.[41][147] Personal hygiene and a healthy lifestyle and diet have been recommended to improve immunity.[148] Supportive treatments may be useful in those with mild symptoms at the early stage of infection.[149]

The WHO, the Chinese National Health Commission, and the United States' National Institutes of Health have published recommendations for taking care of people who are hospitalised with COVID‑19.[130][150][151] Intensivists and pulmonologists in the U.S. have compiled treatment recommendations from various agencies into a free resource, the IBCC.[152][153]

Medications

See also: Coronavirus disease 2019 § Research

As of April 2020, there is no specific treatment for COVID‑19.[6][133] Research is, however, ongoing. For symptoms, some medical professionals recommend paracetamol (acetaminophen) over ibuprofen for first-line use.[154][155][156] The WHO and NIH do not oppose the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen for symptoms,[130][157] and the FDA says currently there is no evidence that NSAIDs worsen COVID‑19 symptoms.[158]

While theoretical concerns have been raised about ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, as of 19 March 2020, these are not sufficient to justify stopping these medications.[130][159][160][161] Steroids, such as methylprednisolone, are not recommended unless the disease is complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome.[162][163]

Medications to prevent blood clotting have been suggested for treatment,[91] and anticoagulant therapy with low molecular weight heparin appears to be associated with better outcomes in severe COVID‐19 showing signs of coagulopathy (elevated D-dimer).[164]

Protective equipment

See also: § Research

Research into potential treatments started in January 2020,[182] and several antiviral drugs are in clinical trials.[183][184] Remdesivir appears to be the most promising.[133] Although new medications may take until 2021 to develop,[185] several of the medications being tested are already approved for other uses or are already in advanced testing.[186] Antiviral medication may be tried in people with severe disease.[144] The WHO recommended volunteers take part in trials of the effectiveness and safety of potential treatments.[187]

The FDA has granted temporary authorisation to convalescent plasma as an experimental treatment in cases where the person's life is seriously or immediately threatened. It has not undergone the clinical studies needed to show it is safe and effective for the disease.[188][189][190]

Information technology

See also: Contact tracing and Government by algorithm

In February 2020, China launched a mobile app to deal with the disease outbreak.[191] Users are asked to enter their name and ID number. The app can detect 'close contact' using surveillance data and therefore a potential risk of infection. Every user can also check the status of three other users. If a potential risk is detected, the app not only recommends self-quarantine, it also alerts local health officials.[192]

Big data analytics on cellphone data, facial recognition technology, mobile phone tracking, and artificial intelligence are used to track infected people and people whom they contacted in South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore.[193][194] In March 2020, the Israeli government enabled security agencies to track mobile phone data of people supposed to have coronavirus. The measure was taken to enforce quarantine and protect those who may come into contact with infected citizens.[195] Also in March 2020, Deutsche Telekom shared aggregated phone location data with the German federal government agency, Robert Koch Institute, to research and prevent the spread of the virus.[196] Russia deployed facial recognition technology to detect quarantine breakers.[197] Italian regional health commissioner Giulio Gallera said he has been informed by mobile phone operators that "40% of people are continuing to move around anyway".[198] German government conducted a 48 hours weekend hackathon with more than 42.000 participants.[199][200] Two million people in the UK used an app developed in March 2020 by King's College London and Zoe to track people with COVID‑19 symptoms.[201] Also, the president of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, made a global call for creative solutions against the spread of coronavirus.[202]

Psychological support

See also: Mental health during the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

Individuals may experience distress from quarantine, travel restrictions, side effects of treatment, or fear of the infection itself. To address these concerns, the National Health Commission of China published a national guideline for psychological crisis intervention on 27 January 2020.[203][204]

The Lancet published a 14-page call for action focusing on the UK and stated conditions were such that a range of mental health issues was likely to become more common. BBC quoted Rory O'Connor in saying, "Increased social isolation, loneliness, health anxiety, stress and an economic downturn are a perfect storm to harm people's mental health and wellbeing."[205][206]

Prognosis

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The severity of diagnosed cases in China

The severity of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in China[207]

Case fatality rates for COVID-19 by age by country.

Case fatality rates by age group:

China, as of 11 February 2020[208]

South Korea, as of 15 April 2020[209]

Spain, as of 24 April 2020[210]

Italy, as of 23 April 2020[211]

Case fatality rate depending on other health problems

Case fatality rate in China depending on other health problems. Data through 11 February 2020.[208]

Case fatality rate by country and number of cases

The number of deaths vs total cases by country and approximate case fatality rate[212]

The severity of COVID‑19 varies. The disease may take a mild course with few or no symptoms, resembling other common upper respiratory diseases such as the common cold. Mild cases typically recover within two weeks, while those with severe or critical diseases may take three to six weeks to recover. Among those who have died, the time from symptom onset to death has ranged from two to eight weeks.[47]

Children make up a small proportion of reported cases, with about 1% of cases being under 10 years, and 4% aged 10-19 years.[22] They are likely to have milder symptoms and a lower chance of severe disease than adults; in those younger than 50 years, the risk of death is less than 0.5%, while in those older than 70 it is more than 8%.[213][214][215] Pregnant women may be at higher risk for severe infection with COVID-19 based on data from other similar viruses, like SARS and MERS, but data for COVID-19 is lacking.[216][217] In China, children acquired infections mainly through close contact with their parents or other family members who lived in Wuhan or had traveled there.[213]

In some people, COVID‑19 may affect the lungs causing pneumonia. In those most severely affected, COVID-19 may rapidly progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) causing respiratory failure, septic shock, or multi-organ failure.[218][219] Complications associated with COVID‑19 include sepsis, abnormal clotting, and damage to the heart, kidneys, and liver. Clotting abnormalities, specifically an increase in prothrombin time, have been described in 6% of those admitted to hospital with COVID-19, while abnormal kidney function is seen in 4% of this group.[220] Approximately 20-30% of people who present with COVID‑19 demonstrate elevated liver enzymes (transaminases).[133] Liver injury as shown by blood markers of liver damage is frequently seen in severe cases.[221]

Some studies have found that the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) may be helpful in early screening for severe illness.[222]

Most of those who die of COVID‑19 have pre-existing (underlying) conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease.[223] The Istituto Superiore di Sanità reported that out of 8.8% of deaths where medical charts were available for review, 97.2% of sampled patients had at least one comorbidity with the average patient having 2.7 diseases.[224] According to the same report, the median time between the onset of symptoms and death was ten days, with five being spent hospitalised. However, patients transferred to an ICU had a median time of seven days between hospitalisation and death.[224] In a study of early cases, the median time from exhibiting initial symptoms to death was 14 days, with a full range of six to 41 days.[225] In a study by the National Health Commission (NHC) of China, men had a death rate of 2.8% while women had a death rate of 1.7%.[226] Histopathological examinations of post-mortem lung samples show diffuse alveolar damage with cellular fibromyxoid exudates in both lungs. Viral cytopathic changes were observed in the pneumocytes. The lung picture resembled acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).[47] In 11.8% of the deaths reported by the National Health Commission of China, heart damage was noted by elevated levels of troponin or cardiac arrest.[49] According to March data from the United States, 89% of those hospitalised had preexisting conditions.[227]

The availability of medical resources and the socioeconomics of a region may also affect mortality.[228] Estimates of the mortality from the condition vary because of those regional differences,[229] but also because of methodological difficulties. The under-counting of mild cases can cause the mortality rate to be overestimated.[230] However, the fact that deaths are the result of cases contracted in the past can mean the current mortality rate is underestimated.[231][232] Smokers were 1.4 times more likely to have severe symptoms of COVID‑19 and approximately 2.4 times more likely to require intensive care or die compared to non-smokers.[233]

Concerns have been raised about long-term sequelae of the disease. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority found a drop of 20% to 30% in lung capacity in some people who recovered from the disease, and lung scans suggested organ damage.[234] This may also lead to post-intensive care syndrome following recovery.[235]

Case fatality rates (%) by age and country

Age0–910–1920–2930–3940–4950–5960–6970–7980-8990+

China as of 11 February[208]0.00.20.20.20.41.33.68.014.8

Denmark as of 25 April[236]0.24.515.524.940.7

Italy as of 23 April[211]0.20.00.10.40.92.610.024.930.826.1

Netherlands as of 17 April[237]0.00.30.10.20.51.57.623.230.029.3

Portugal as of 24 April[238]0.00.00.00.00.30.62.88.516.5

S. Korea as of 15 April[209]0.00.00.00.10.20.72.59.722.2

Spain as of 24 April[210]0.30.40.30.30.61.34.413.220.320.1

Switzerland as of 25 April[239]0.90.00.00.10.00.52.710.124.0

Case fatality rates (%) by age in the United States

Age0–1920–4445–5455–6465–7475–8485+

United States as of 16 March[240]0.00.1–0.20.5–0.81.4–2.62.7–4.94.3–10.510.4–27.3

Note: The lower bound includes all cases. The upper bound excludes cases that were missing data.

Estimate of infection fatality rates and probability of severe disease course (%) by age based on cases from China[241]

0–910–1920–2930–3940–4950–5960–6970–7980+

Severe disease0.0

(0.0–0.0)0.04

(0.02–0.08)1.0

(0.62–2.1)3.4

(2.0–7.0)4.3

(2.5–8.7)8.2

(4.9–17)11

(7.0–24)17

(9.9–34)18

(11–38)

Death0.0016

(0.00016–0.025)0.0070

(0.0015–0.050)0.031

(0.014–0.092)0.084

(0.041–0.19)0.16

(0.076–0.32)0.60

(0.34–1.3)1.9

(1.1–3.9)4.3

(2.5–8.4)7.8

(3.8–13)

Total infection fatality rate is estimated to be 0.66% (0.39–1.3). Infection fatality rate is fatality per all infected individuals, regardless of whether they were diagnosed or had any symptoms. Numbers in parentheses are 95% credible intervals for the estimates.

Reinfection

As of March 2020, it was unknown if past infection provides effective and long-term immunity in people who recover from the disease.[242] Immunity is seen as likely, based on the behaviour of other coronaviruses,[243] but cases in which recovery from COVID‑19 have been followed by positive tests for coronavirus at a later date have been reported.[244][245][246][247] These cases are believed to be worsening of a lingering infection rather than re-infection.[247]

History

Main article: Timeline of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

The virus is thought to be natural and has an animal origin,[77] through spillover infection.[248] The actual origin is unknown, but by December 2019 the spread of infection was almost entirely driven by human-to-human transmission.[208][249] A study of the first 41 cases of confirmed COVID‑19, published in January 2020 in The Lancet, revealed the earliest date of onset of symptoms as 1 December 2019.[250][251][252] Official publications from the WHO reported the earliest onset of symptoms as 8 December 2019.[253] Human-to-human transmission was confirmed by the WHO and Chinese authorities by 20 January 2020.[254][255]

Epidemiology

Main article: 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

Several measures are commonly used to quantify mortality.[256] These numbers vary by region and over time and are influenced by the volume of testing, healthcare system quality, treatment options, time since the initial outbreak, and population characteristics such as age, sex, and overall health.[257]

The death-to-case ratio reflects the number of deaths divided by the number of diagnosed cases within a given time interval. Based on Johns Hopkins University statistics, the global death-to-case ratio is 7.0% (203,044/2,899,830) as of 26 April 2020.[7] The number varies by region.[258]

Other measures include the case fatality rate (CFR), which reflects the percent of diagnosed individuals who die from a disease, and the infection fatality rate (IFR), which reflects the percent of infected individuals (diagnosed and undiagnosed) who die from a disease. These statistics are not time-bound and follow a specific population from infection through case resolution. Many academics have attempted to calculate these numbers for specific populations.[259]

Total confirmed cases over time

Total deaths over time

Total confirmed cases of COVID‑19 per million people, 10 April 2020[260]

Total confirmed deaths due to COVID‑19 per million people, 10 April 2020[261]

Infection fatality rate

Our World in Data states that as of March 25, 2020, the infection fatality rate (IFR) cannot be accurately calculated.[262] In February, the World Health Organization estimated the IFR at 0.94%, with a confidence interval between 0.37 percent to 2.9 percent.[263] The University of Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) estimated a global CFR of 0.72 percent and IFR of 0.1 percent to 0.36 percent.[264] According to CEBM, random antibody testing in Germany suggested an IFR of 0.37 percent there.[264] Firm lower limits to local infection fatality rates were established, such as in Bergamo province, where 0.57% of the population has died, leading to a minimum IFR of 0.57% in the province. This population fatality rate (PFR) minimum increases as more people get infected and run through their disease.[265][266] Similarly, as of April 22 in the New York City area, there were 15,411 deaths confirmed from COVID-19, and 19,200 excess deaths.[267] Very recently, the first results of antibody testing have come in, but there are no valid scientific reports based on them available yet. A Bloomberg Opinion piece provides a survey.[268][269]

Sex differences

Main article: Gendered impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

The impact of the pandemic and its mortality rate are different for men and women.[270] Mortality is higher in men in studies conducted in China and Italy.[271][272][273] The highest risk for men is in their 50s, with the gap between men and women closing only at 90.[273] In China, the death rate was 2.8 percent for men and 1.7 percent for women.[273] The exact reasons for this sex-difference are not known, but genetic and behavioural factors could be a reason.[270] Sex-based immunological differences, a lower prevalence of smoking in women, and men developing co-morbid conditions such as hypertension at a younger age than women could have contributed to the higher mortality in men.[273] In Europe, of those infected with COVID‑19, 57% were men; of those infected with COVID‑19 who also died, 72% were men.[274] As of April 2020, the U.S. government is not tracking sex-related data of COVID‑19 infections.[275] Research has shown that viral illnesses like Ebola, HIV, influenza, and SARS affect men and women differently.[275] A higher percentage of health workers, particularly nurses, are women, and they have a higher chance of being exposed to the virus.[276] School closures, lockdowns, and reduced access to healthcare following the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic may differentially affect the genders and possibly exaggerate existing gender disparity.[270][277]

Society and culture

Name

During the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, the virus and disease were commonly referred to as "coronavirus" and "Wuhan coronavirus",[278][279][280] with the disease sometimes called "Wuhan pneumonia".[281][282] In the past, many diseases have been named after geographical locations, such as the Spanish flu,[283] Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, and Zika virus.[284]

In January 2020, the World Health Organisation recommended 2019-nCov[285] and 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease[286] as interim names for the virus and disease per 2015 guidance and international guidelines against using geographical locations (e.g. Wuhan, China), animal species or groups of people in disease and virus names to prevent social stigma.[287][288][289]

The official names COVID‑19 and SARS-CoV-2 were issued by the WHO on 11 February 2020.[290] WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained: CO for corona, VI for virus, D for disease and 19 for when the outbreak was first identified (31 December 2019).[291] The WHO additionally uses "the COVID‑19 virus" and "the virus responsible for COVID‑19" in public communications.[290] Both the disease and virus are commonly referred to as "coronavirus" in the media and public discourse.

Misinformation

Main article: Misinformation related to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

After the initial outbreak of COVID‑19, conspiracy theories, misinformation, and disinformation emerged regarding the origin, scale, prevention, treatment, and other aspects of the disease and rapidly spread online.[292][293][294][295]

Protests

Beginning April 17, 2020, news media began reporting on a wave of demonstrations protesting against state-mandated quarantine restrictions in in Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky.[296][297]

Other animals

Humans appear to be capable of spreading the virus to some other animals. A domestic cat in Liège, Belgium, tested positive after it started showing symptoms (diarrhoea, vomiting, shortness of breath) a week later than its owner, who was also positive.[298] Tigers at the Bronx Zoo in New York, United States, tested positive for the virus and showed symptoms of COVID‑19, including a dry cough and loss of appetite.[299]

A study on domesticated animals inoculated with the virus found that cats and ferrets appear to be "highly susceptible" to the disease, while dogs appear to be less susceptible, with lower levels of viral replication. The study failed to find evidence of viral replication in pigs, ducks, and chickens.[300]

Research

Main article: COVID-19 drug development

No medication or vaccine is approved to treat the disease.[186] International research on vaccines and medicines in COVID‑19 is underway by government organisations, academic groups, and industry researchers.[301][302] In March, the World Health Organisation initiated the "SOLIDARITY Trial" to assess the treatment effects of four existing antiviral compounds with the most promise of efficacy.[303]

Vaccine

Main article: COVID-19 vaccine

There is no available vaccine, but various agencies are actively developing vaccine candidates. Previous work on SARS-CoV is being used because both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 use the ACE2 receptor to enter human cells.[304] Three vaccination strategies are being investigated. First, researchers aim to build a whole virus vaccine. The use of such a virus, be it inactive or dead, aims to elicit a prompt immune response of the human body to a new infection with COVID‑19. A second strategy, subunit vaccines, aims to create a vaccine that sensitises the immune system to certain subunits of the virus. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, such research focuses on the S-spike protein that helps the virus intrude the ACE2 enzyme receptor. A third strategy is that of the nucleic acid vaccines (DNA or RNA vaccines, a novel technique for creating a vaccination). Experimental vaccines from any of these strategies would have to be tested for safety and efficacy.[305]

On 16 March 2020, the first clinical trial of a vaccine started with four volunteers in Seattle, United States. The vaccine contains a harmless genetic code copied from the virus that causes the disease.[306]

Antibody-dependent enhancement has been suggested as a potential challenge for vaccine development for SARS-COV-2, but this is controversial.[307]

Medications

Main article: COVID-19 drug repurposing research

At least 29 phase II–IV efficacy trials in COVID‑19 were concluded in March 2020 or scheduled to provide results in April from hospitals in China.[308][309] There are more than 300 active clinical trials underway as of April 2020.[133] Seven trials were evaluating already approved treatments, including four studies on hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine.[309] Repurposed antiviral drugs make up most of the Chinese research, with nine phase III trials on remdesivir across several countries due to report by the end of April.[308][309] Other candidates in trials include vasodilators, corticosteroids, immune therapies, lipoic acid, bevacizumab, and recombinant angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.[309]

The COVID‑19 Clinical Research Coalition has goals to 1) facilitate rapid reviews of clinical trial proposals by ethics committees and national regulatory agencies, 2) fast-track approvals for the candidate therapeutic compounds, 3) ensure standardised and rapid analysis of emerging efficacy and safety data and 4) facilitate sharing of clinical trial outcomes before publication.[310][311]

Several existing medications are being evaluated for the treatment of COVID‑19,[186] including remdesivir, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, and lopinavir/ritonavir combined with interferon beta.[303][312] There is tentative evidence for efficacy by remdesivir, as of March 2020.[313][314] Clinical improvement was observed in patients treated with compassionate-use remdesivir.[315] Remdesivir inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.[316] Phase III clinical trials are underway in the U.S., China, and Italy.[186][308][317]

In 2020, a trial found that lopinavir/ritonavir was ineffective in the treatment of severe illness.[318] Nitazoxanide has been recommended for further in vivo study after demonstrating low concentration inhibition of SARS-CoV-2.[316]

There are mixed results as of 3 April 2020 as to the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID‑19, with some studies showing little or no improvement.[319][320] The studies of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin have major limitations that have prevented the medical community from embracing these therapies without further study.[133]

Oseltamivir does not inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and has no known role in COVID‑19 treatment.[133]

Anti-cytokine storm

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) can be a complication in the later stages of severe COVID‑19. There is preliminary evidence that hydroxychloroquine may have anti-cytokine storm properties.[321]

Tocilizumab has been included in treatment guidelines by China's National Health Commission after a small study was completed.[322][323] It is undergoing a phase 2 non-randomised trial at the national level in Italy after showing positive results in people with severe disease.[324][325] Combined with a serum ferritin blood test to identify cytokine storms, it is meant to counter such developments, which are thought to be the cause of death in some affected people.[326][327][328] The interleukin-6 receptor antagonist was approved by the FDA to undergo a phase III clinical trial assessing the medication's impact on COVID‑19 based on retrospective case studies for the treatment of steroid-refractory cytokine release syndrome induced by a different cause, CAR T cell therapy, in 2017.[329] To date, there is no randomised, controlled evidence that tocilizumab is an efficacious treatment for CRS. Prophylactic tocilizumab has been shown to increase serum IL-6 levels by saturating the IL-6R, driving IL-6 across the blood-brain barrier, and exacerbating neurotoxicity while having no impact on the incidence of CRS.[330]

Lenzilumab, an anti-GM-CSF monoclonal antibody, is protective in murine models for CAR T cell-induced CRS and neurotoxicity and is a viable therapeutic option due to the observed increase of pathogenic GM-CSF secreting T-cells in hospitalised patients with COVID‑19.[331]

The Feinstein Institute of Northwell Health announced in March a study on "a human antibody that may prevent the activity" of IL-6.[332]

Passive antibodies

Transferring purified and concentrated antibodies produced by the immune systems of those who have recovered from COVID‑19 to people who need them is being investigated as a non-vaccine method of passive immunisation.[333] This strategy was tried for SARS with inconclusive results.[333] Viral neutralisation is the anticipated mechanism of action by which passive antibody therapy can mediate defence against SARS-CoV-2. Other mechanisms, however, such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and/or phagocytosis, may be possible.[333] Other forms of passive antibody therapy, for example, using manufactured monoclonal antibodies, are in development.[333] Production of convalescent serum, which consists of the liquid portion of the blood from recovered patients and contains antibodies specific to this virus, could be increased for quicker deployment.[334]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_disease_2019

Camera Bean Bag,With Shoulder Strap. 75% of weight filled with Plastic pellets by Trevor Hannant

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Shoulder Strap for easy carry, with strap or with out, check my website www.trevorhannant.com

CAMERA BEAN BAG.70% of weight filled with PLASTIC PELLETS for extra support,

Support my 500 lens no problems

made from a High quality poly/cotton fabric printed with a camouflage pattern. The bag is also fully lined in all compartments.

The bean bag comes with an attached Polypropylene Strap Webbing (25 mm wide, olive green colour) handle for easy carrying and has 3 separate compartments, with 20mm Velcro Tape and 10 mm Press Studs Snap Fasteners PRYM.

Each one is fully lined and filled with “Poly plastic pellets” and mixed with poly balls, total weight of bean bag is approx 900 grams, 700 grams of that is taken up with poly plastic pellets, the plastic pellets gives extra support and stability the rest is made up with poly balls and the material.

This bean bag is invaluable in bird hides, where it can be rested on the window ledges and avoid camera shake and also car windows, the weight of the bag is also ideal to carry around all-day. To have a bean bag just filled with poly balls is not heavy enough or stable, the plastic pellets in these bags gives that extra weight and support. It is lightweight, but stable on the surface.

This is really a great convenience for a photographer taking photos in the CAR, BIRD HIDE.

The quality of each bag is made to the highest standard and individually made in the UK.

Pacific Leader - Aberdeen Harbour Scotland - 2/3/2018 by DanoAberdeen

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Very rough sea today, so I spent most of my time over at Donmouth Nature reserve capturing the weather impacts from the “Beast From The East “ and the impacts its had on the coastline though popped down to the harbour before heading home, I only managed to capture some shots around Footdee and Aberdeen Beach coastline, only vessel that I could get access to at the harbour was Pacific Leader, I have captured her many times before though never on this berth .

Vessel PACIFIC LEADER (IMO: 9648362, MMSI: 564871000) is an offshore tug/supply ship built in 2014 and currently sailing under the flag of Singapore.

PACIFIC LEADER has 97m length overall and beam of 20m. Her gross tonnage is 5179 tons.

M/V Pacific Leader

Brake Horsepower 10,616 BHP

Clear Deck Space 912 m2

Deadweight 5,000 - 5,258 tonnes

Deck Cargo Capacity 2,500 tonnes

General Information

Built: JMU Japan, April 2014

Flag: Singapore

Call Sign: 9V7283

IMO No.: 9648362

Classification: DNV +1A1 Fire fighter(I) Offshore service vessel(Supply) SPS Clean

DYNPOS(AUTR) E0 SF

Dimensions

Length, overall: 97.29 metres

Length, BP: 86.552 metres

Breadth, moulded: 20.00 metres

Depth, main deck: 9.00 metres

Design draft: 6.40 metres @ 4500 DWT

Maximum draft midship: 6.80 metres @ 5263 DWT

GT: 5179 tonnes

NT: 1554 tonnes

Capacities

Deadweight (maximum): 5258 metric tonnes

Clear Deck Area: 912 m2 (57m x 16m)

Deck Strength: 10 t/m2 Aft of frame 30, 5 t/m2 Fwd of frame 30

Deck Cargo: 2500 tonnes

Ship Fuel: 494 m3

Cargo Fuel: 825 m3 @ 100%

Potable Water: 732 m3

Ballast Water: 1146 m3

Drill Water: 382 m3

Brine / DMA / Glycol / Liquid

Mud:

1799 m3, Sg 2.5 t/m3 flash point above 60°C.

NLS(Noxius Liquid Substances)

Drilling Brine: 1034 m3

Dry Bulk: 340.8 m3, Sg 2.6 t/m3 - 5 tanks

Ship's Stores: Freezer (-25°C.) - approximately 31 m3

Cold Room (+4°C.) - approximately 26 m3

Provisions store - approximately 52 m3 ~ 12°C

Machinery

Main Engines: 4 x 1,980 kW = 7,920 kW (10,616 BHP) @ 720 rpm, MAN Diesel & Turbo

6L27/38 TIER II compliant

Propulsion: 2 x 2,500 kW (2 x 3,351.21 BHP) Inovelis POD GE, Azimuth

Bow Thrusters: 3 x 965 kW (3 x 1,294 BHP) electric motor driven tunnel type, CPP, frequency

controlled

Emergency Generators: 1 x 365 kW @1800 rpm / 450V / 3ph / 60Hz (also harbour generator), TIER II

compliant

Deck Machinery

Tuggers: Rolls Royce Brattvaag 2 x 10 t @ 0 - 20 m/min, capacity 240 m of 20 mm dia.

wire each , electric drive

Capstans: Rolls Royce Brattvaag 2 x 10 t @ 0 - 15 m/min, vertical type warping head,

electric drive

Windlass: Rolls Royce Brattvaag 2 x combined mooring winch/anchor windlasses

Cable lifter, mooring drum and warping end electric drive

Duty on cable lifter nominal 11.9 t @ 0 - 12 m/min, max pull 17.8 t

Mooring drum, declutchable rope drum with band brake, dia. 530 mm, flange

dia. 1360 mm, drum length 600 mm, stowing capacity 270 m of 52mm dia

polypropylene 8 strand rope, duty on 1st layer 12 t @ 0 - 12 m/min, light line @

0 - 40 m/min

Fixed warping end on drum shaft, dia. 560 mm, length 500 mm, approximately

11 t pull

Bow Mooring: See windlass. Roller type chain stopper with lashing arrangement for dia. 50

mm K3 chain cable.

Smit Towing Bracket: 1 x 200 t

Crane Capacity: Heila 1 x 5t @ 15 metres radius, knuckle boom crane

Electronics

Main Radar: Furuno FAR-2837S-D ARPA Radar, S Band, 23.1"

Auxiliary Radar: Furuno FAR-2817-D ARPA Radar, X Band, 23.1"

Auto Pilot: Tokyo Keiki PR6344A-22

Gyro Compass: 3 x Tokyo Keiki TG-8000/8500 Type S

Magnetic Compass: Tokyo Keiki SH - 165 A1 Reflector Type

Echo Sounder: Furuno FE-700, dual frequency 50Hz and 200Hz

DGPS : Furuno GP-150

Anemometer : 2 x Gill WindObserver 2

Speed Log: Furuno Doppler Speed Log DS-80

Communications: Furuno MF-HF (SSB) Transceiver integrated with DSC/Watch Receiver.

Furuno Inmarsat-C (no.1) - Felcom 18 (Integrated with EGC)

Furuno Inmarsat-C (no.2) - Felcom 18

Watch System: Furuno BRR-500

Navtex Receiver: Furuno NX-700A

Weather Fax: Furuno FAX-410

Satellite Communication: FBB: Sailor 500

VSAT: Sailor 900

AIS: Furuno FA-150

Satellite Navigation: Furuno GP150

Voyage Data Recorder(VDR): Furuno VDR VR-3000

VHF: Furuno FM-8900S Semiduplex VHF

Electronic Chart Display: 1 set - Furuno FMD-3300

VRU: SMC IMU-007

BNWAS: Furuno BR-500

Paper Sculpture created for European Paper Recycling Award Prize by polly verity

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HRH Prince Laurent of Belgium presented the European Paper Recycling Award and this Paper Sculpture Prize to the Paper Chain Forum

From one sheet of paper, scored and folded, no cuts or glue

PP (Polypropylene) by Rylie Howerter

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Polypropylene is a tough, flexible plastic used for most Bionicle weapons and minifigure parts that might break easily if they were a more rigid plastic. The plastic’s flexibility allows for it to be used as a “living hinge”, as in the book pictured here. Because it cannot be fully transparent, colors like 48 Transparent Green (pictured) look nearly opaque in PP, sometimes being mistaken for their solid counterpart color. PP often turns whitish along the edges as it wears. It is used for as varied applications as large buckets and pick-a-brick cups, and even the polybags that parts and small sets come in!

lampshade - working out a modular by polly verity

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It's only a polyurethane moon/ Sailing over a polypropylene sea... by Steve Ashby

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Additive color photograph. Olympus OM-PC, 28/3.5 Zuiko, Ilford HP5+ in APH-09 1:50, 11' @ 20°C

Amie Oliver, “Ascension Series,” inkwash on polypropylene vellum, 2013, private collection by Amie Oliver

Mesh Enmeshed... by Grover Schrayer

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space divider by Fernando Sierra

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Polypropylene space divider inspired in Erwin Hauer's 201 architectural screen

Splicing by Rick Vince

29/05/2025, Smit Lamnalco Port of Gladstone tug base (16 tugs), Queensland, Australia 🦘.

How good to see that these tug crew members are trained to splice their own polypropylene mooring line eyes.

Cutting Fabric for Homemade COVID-19 Masks by Lee Rentz

Karen Rentz cutting fabric for homemade cloth masks with polypropylene furnace filter inserts to prepare for going out in public during the Covid-19 pandemic in hard-hit Michigan, USA

folded frosted polypropylene 200 micron by polly verity

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More sculptures by polyscene

egg and dart ceiling boss by polly verity

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Tessellation of Jeannine Moseley's rose buds possible

More sculptures by polyscene

Facetious - Low Relief Paper Sculpture repeat fold by polly verity

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More sculptures by polyscene

Little Rocks on the glass by Joel Torres

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Después de varios intentos fue que conseguí la toma que titulé "Experiment... and... o..." esta serie fue lo que conseguí en el proceso.// After several attempts I was got it the picture titled "Experiment ... and ... o ...". This series was what I did get it through the process------

Strobist info: Flash Yongnuo YN-560 to 1/4 power, to left side in a DIY softbox( flic.kr/p/qwRrfn ) and 45 degree angle. Reflector of polypropylene white behind the glass and angled 45 degrees to the camera, but parallel to the softbox. +//+ flash Yongnuo YN-560 a lado izquierdo a 1/4 de potencia dentro de un softbox de bricolaje( flic.kr/p/qwRrfn ) y en angulo de 45 grados. Reflector blanco de polipropileno detras del vaso y en angulo de 45 grados con respecto a la cámara, pero paralelo al softbox

Homemade Translucent Grid/Snoot by Clint Eckhardt

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Strobist: Grid/snoot is approximately 2 inches long. Translucent extruded polypropylene with two black side pieces. Velcro attachment not yet made, so held on with asparagus band.

grey flowers [curvetesstwist] front by polly verity

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More frosted polypropylene scored by CraftRobo. If I used paper instead I think the inner twists would hold this fold together more successfully - here the fingers are needed to squeeze from the sides a little to keep the twists in place.

More sculptures by polyscene

Tuesdays Texture by standhisround

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A Giant Chess Board made of Polypropylene Plastic Squares fitted together and laid on the floor !

HTT !

Twisted Band - Curved Tessellation by polly verity

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More sculptures by polyscene

Washed up, Advocate, Nova Scotia, Iscorama anamorphic by Art Vaughan

This is a view from the top of the barrier beach that separates Advocate Harbor from Advocate Bay, showing a small sample of the type of material that washes up here. Taken in July of 2003 with A Nikon F3-HP (Ektachrome 100 film), and a 50mm Iscorama Anamorphic lens (1968 version). This spot, about 100 yards east of the "fish farm" (Cape d'Or Sustainable Seafoods), shows Advocate village along the shore, the area of the wharf where fishing boats tie up being about in line with the right end of the large log. Common items found here are a wide variety of rope... most being manila, nylon and polypropylene, all sorts of plastic waste, and wood... both natural (trees, logs, stumps), and lumber (boards, pallets, pieces from docks and floats). If something falls off a boat in the Bay of Fundy (and sometimes the Gulf of Maine), there's a strong possibility it will find its way here, or somewhere else along the southern shore of Nova Scotia.

This section of the Advocate shore has a relatively light load of washed up stuff. Other areas several hundred yards to my left have so much debris that crossing from the bay side of the barrier "berm" to the gravel / dirt road on the marsh side can be quite challenging, requiring a walker to pick their way slowly or risk falling. Folks do occasionally remove some material when walking, especially around the area over at Fox Point and Port Greville, but at Advocate in particular, the sea is always acting as a "flotsam and jetsam conveyor", depositing material faster than it can be removed by visitors.

WS-DSC3352-F

Twin-Lite Flash Diffusion by Ed Phillips

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Lots of people ask me what method of diffusion I use for macros lit with the Canon MT24-EX Twin-Lite flash. I regularly change the setup as I experiment with different arrangements, but this is what I'm using at the moment (with the MP-E 65mm).

Each of the two flash-heads is fitted with a Stofen-type diffuser. I then have an additional piece of flexible polypropylene sheet. This is held in place with a couple of elastic bands, to form a slight curve. I cut this from a box that I had some printed stationery delivered in. I have a range of different sizes that I'm experimenting with, but it needs to be large enough to cover the Stofen diffusers.

Undoubtedly, superior diffusion can be obtained with an off-camera speedlight-type hotshoe flash, used with a mini-softbox type arrangement. This needs to be connected to the camera's hotshoe with a cable and held in place over the lens, with a bracket. I have considered this, but as many of my photographic subjects are in foliage or "awkward" locations, I'm sticking with this at the moment.

The other important factors are the camera settings. I always recommend the camera's Manual mode for macro photography with flash. Typically, I would set ISO to between 100 and 200 and shutter speed at around 1/200th of a second or a little slower. Aperture would be at around F11 for 1:1 macro.

I generally use the flash in E-TTL mode. I further control this using the camera’s flash-exposure compensation (FEC) controls. For subject on dark backgrounds, this will generally require up to -1.0 EV and for pale backgrounds, up to +1.0 EV. For “bright white” backgrounds; up to +2.0 EV or a little more may be required. The important thing is to supply just enough flash to give the level of illumination required for the "subject". ISO and shutter speed can be juggled to adjust the background/ambient light levels.

Step Stool (Backstage) by Goran Patlejch

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Polypropylene / Synthetic rubber

www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90291330/#/60265163

Silver Kamen Poly backing card by scott

Fruit Fly by Carlos Magno

Nikon CF Achromat 10X NA 0.25 160/-

Nikon PB-6 Bellow, 93mm (150mm from base lens to sensor plane; with K2 adapter)

--mm, 1/60s, f/--, ISO 100

Flash with diffuser, SB-80DX, manual mode, 1/4 output level and SB-23 manual mode

Diffuser consisting of six sheets of opal polypropylene 5mm thick and 45cm x 62cm.

Focus Stacking: 60 slices, step≈0.007mm / 0.4mm of total step size, Zerene Stacker with PMax method

Paper (polypropylene) Sculpture: stylised flowers by polly verity

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folded from one sheet - this is the other side of the tiled scallops

More sculptures by Polly can be found at www.polyscene.com

Polyhedra by Sharon Pazner

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#Small - Monkey’s Fist Throwing Line by Saf37y

Monkey's Fist Throwing Line fully spliced along side a 5 new pence piece

London 201301 - Canary Wharf by ken_davis

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We had a trip to London in January (yes I know I seem to be behind as usual) with some friends. Main purpose was to see the Ansel Adams exhibition at the Maritime Museum and William Klein ' / Moriyami at Tate Modern. The Adams was outstanding, the Klein I thought provoking and the Moriyami missable!

These were taken around Canary Wharf, I didn't know what the boat (or are they ducks - see comment) invasion is all about. However Shurlee has investigated and found this:

Playing with a toy boat in the bathtub as a kid is an activity that has stood the test of time. So, it's no surprise that media architect Claudio Benghi and artist Gloria Ronchi, of Aether & Hemera, joined forces to develop this awesome take on such a simple concept. Voyage is an extensive journey of illuminated 'paper boats,' floating across the surface of London’s Canary Wharf. The artists say that their artistic vision is to "provoke memories, explore aesthetic interactions, and to elicit feelings of connective human experiences in a required-to-participate audience."

Passers-by can't help but notice the watery landscape filled with the vibrant rainbow rows, which is unusually organized for a fleet of 300. To master the shape, which is formed out of polypropylene sheets, Benghi and Ronchi planned out the perfect geometry and structure by using special computer software. They maintained an organized installation by connecting the boats, with threads, to the ones nearby, and several threads are also anchored to the riverbed. Finally, each design is weighted so as to not tip over in a blur of sinking ships.

Illuminated by LED lights, the lighting creates an enchanting atmosphere where the artists say everyone is invited to "make the transition from reality to imagination." The site-specific installation encourages viewers to think back on those bathtub days when pirates roamed the soapy seas and to experience the freedom of traveling anywhere their imaginatiosn will take them.

ken_davis on Flickeflu

Ubiquitous Monobloc Plastic Chair-Thikshey Monastry, Ladakh by anandamoy chatterji

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The Monobloc chair is a lightweight stackable polypropylene chair, often described as the world's most common.

Based on original designs by the Italian designer Vico Magistretti in 1967, variants of the one-piece plastic chair went into production with Allibert Group and Grossfillex Group in the 1970s. Since then, millions have been manufactured in countries including Russia, Taiwan, Australia, Mexico, the United States, Italy, France, Germany, Morocco, Turkey, Israel and China. Many design variants of the basic idea exist.

The Monobloc chair is named because it is injection moulded from thermoplastic polypropylene, the granules being heated to about 220 degrees Celsius, and the melt injected into a mold. The gate of the mould is usually located in the seat, so ensuring smooth flow to all parts of the tool. The chairs cost approximately $3 to produce, making them affordable across the world.

Social theorist Ethan Zuckerman describes them as having achieved a global ubiquity:

The Monobloc is one of the few objects I can think of that is free of any specific context. Seeing a white plastic chair in a photograph offers you no clues about where or when you are.

Wikipedia

38/52 Arc de Triomphe "Wrapped" by Perry Tak

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52 Weeks Project

A once in a life time experience!

Location: Place Charles de Gaulle (Étoile) corner Avenue Foch, Paris 16ème quartier Chaillot.

Coordinates: Click on the link to see the exact location:

48°52'25.1"N 2°17'38.0"E

Reason: One of the biggest projects of Christo and Jeanne-Claude they both ever made. The Arc de Triomphe "Wrapped" could be seen from September 18 to Sunday, October 3, 2021.

I visited the Arc de Triomphe "Wrapped" two times in this period. This was during an early evening.

Arc de Triomphe "Wrapped": L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped is an artwork by Christo and Jeanne-Claude in 2021 that wrapped the Parisian Arc de Triomphe in a silver-blue fabric.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude are known for their wrapping of public monuments, including Wrapped Reichstag, The Pont Neuf Wrapped, and The Gates in New York. L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, one of their largest works, will use 25,000 square meters of silver-blue fabric fastened with 3,000 meters of red rope. Its polypropylene fabric.

Christo first thought of wrapping the Arc de Triomphe when he lived nearby in 1961. Actual planning began in 2018 in preparation for a Pompidou Center exhibition. While the show will display documentation of the artists' The Pont-Neuf Wrapped, Christo wanted to work "beyond the exhibition". Governmental approval came easily in comparison to the waits for their prior projects. Initially slated to run for two weeks in April 2020, the work was first delayed until September to accommodate the nesting of kestrel falcons who nest in the monument during the spring and then delayed until September 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The work will be self-financed through sales of project documentation, including drawings and models. It will be the first work in their signature style since Jeanne-Claude's death in 2009.

On May 31, 2020 France 24 announced, the project in Paris will be - in accordance with Christo's wishes - continued.

Christo Vladimirov Javacheff (1935–2020) and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon (1935–2009), known as Christo and Jeanne-Claude, were artists noted for their large-scale, site-specific environmental installations, often large landmarks and landscape elements wrapped in fabric, including the Wrapped Reichstag, The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Running Fence in California, and The Gates in New York City's Central Park.

[ Wikipedia 2021 ]

Weather: Mostly sunny, 18° C

To Listen ♫: Joe Dassin - Aux Champs Elysées (Youtube)

Self-portrait technics: 'Stretched arm' method without self-timer. ("SPAAL")

Jamais Deux sans Trois by knightbefore_99

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Many modern hoopers make their own hoops out of PVC piping, or polypropylene tubing (known as polypro). The polyethylene hoops, and especially the polyvinyl chloride hoops, are much larger and heavier than hoops of the 1950s. The size and the weight of the hoop affect the style of the hooper. Heavier, larger hoops are more often used for beginner dancers and easier tricks, while lighter, thinner tubing is used for quick hand tricks. These hoops may be covered in a fabric or plastic tape to create more of a visual image and distinguish between the hoop and dancer

Day 4, Alligator, Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Centre, South Texas by Anne Elliott

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I churned out (at least, that is what it felt like) 25 new photos this afternoon, all taken at the Leonabelle Turner Birding Centre on 22 March 2019. This was such a great place to visit - would recommend it to anyone! We were so lucky to have sunshine while we were there, too.

Day 4, 22 March 2019, was a day of birding and also driving from Rockport, where we had stayed for three nights, to Kingsville, where we were going to stay for two nights at the Hampton Inn. All of these 25 photos were taken at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Centre, on the edge of the Port Aransas Nature Preserve. We really enjoyed this birding centre and their new boardwalk and tower. Lots of birds; even a huge Alligator.

From an article published on 2 January 2019:

"Work on a new boardwalk is underway at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center. The old structure was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. A 700-foot replacement will connect the birding center to the Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture. It’s the first new construction to take place in the preserve since the hurricane.

The new boardwalk, which will cost about $670,000, is more than a replacement, according to officials. It will be the first leg of future boardwalks designed to link sections of the preserve for better wildlife viewing.

It is being built of fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene grating rather than wood, which will make it stronger and less likely to be damaged by future storms. Because it is not buoyant, waves will crash through it and not lift it. At 7 feet above the surface, the new boardwalk is 2 feet higher than the previous structure."

www.ccbiznews.com/news/new-boardwalk-underway-at-port-ara...

47330 Partington Junction 28th November 1984 a by Skelton80s

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47330 starts its train of polypropylene bogie tankers away from Partington Junction bound for Baglan Bay on the 28th November 1984. The train would recess into the loop at the nearby Skelton Jn. where the loco would run round before taking the 'branch' line to join the former MSJ&AR to Altrincham and onwards towards Chester.

British Cellophane advert, 1961 by mikeyashworth

A colourful trade advert for the many different wrapping films produced by the British Cellophane Company in 1961 - and a reminder of how a proprietary trade mark has entered the language as name for generic uses as in 'cellophane wrapped'. The British Cellophane Company was a joint venture between the French Cellophane SA and British comapny Courtaulds in 1938 to manufacture wrapping films based on viscose technology that had been initated in the late 1890s and that the French company had successfully commercialised in the years before WW1.

BCL set up business in Bridgwater, Somerset, and the factory grew to be an important employer in the town. With other plants in Bristol and Barrow in Furness, BCL also moved into associated film and wrapping materials and processes.

In the late 1990 the company was bought by Innovia and the inevitavle happened with the Bridgwater plant closing in 2005 and the site cleared apart from the Listed Sydenham House, the grounds of which had formed the location for the works.

Amid Oliver Studios by Amie Oliver

Astral Diary Series

Ink wash on polypropylene paper

24" x 30"

2011

LEGO: Bendy 2x4 brick by Maxx 3001

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A recent arrival from Norway, a bendy 2x4 brick (Polypropylene?)

The material looks to be the same as the old bendy trees, there were two kinds, the tough breakable and the bendable ones.

I have known about this brick for a long time, but never had one of my own.

Btw, the other brick I know bends like this is a 1xA brick......

Thanks Fabian!

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