Higher Subjective Burden in Psychiatric Compared to Somatic Healthcare Workers in Germany During the first wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for health care workers (HCWs) worldwide. While the adverse effects of the pandemic on the well-being of HCWs in general have now been established, little is known about the impact on HCWs of psychiatric hospitals (PHCWs). PHCWs are of special interest, given that they faced both an increase in infection rates among psychiatric patients as well as in mental strain of the general public due to consequences of the pandemic. The aim of the present study was to investigate how the pandemic affected PHCWs as well as possible differences between PHCWs and other health care workers (OHCWs) in Germany during the first wave of the pandemic. We conducted a country-wide anonymous online survey early during the first pandemic wave between April 15th and May 1st, 2020, to assess different aspects of subjective burden and perceived stress using 5-point Likert-scale questions. We analysed data of 1530 PHCWs and 2114 OHCWs and showed that PHCWs reported higher subjective burden and stress compared to OHCWs (p<0.001). Overall, nurses from both groups of HCWs showed higher ratings in subjective burden and stress than physicians. These higher ratings for subjective burden were even more pronounced for nurses working in psychiatric hospitals. Future research is needed to investigate the causes for PHCWs' increased stress and subjective burden, especially when taking into account the long-term effects of the pandemic, which may lead to further challenges and an ever-increasing workload, especially for PHCWs.

Subjective burden and perspectives of German healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthcare workers (HCW) face tremendous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the subjective burden, views, and COVID-19 infection status of HCWs. The aim of this work was to evaluate the subjective burden, the perception of the information policies, and the agreement on structural measures in a large cohort of German HCW during the COVID-19 pandemic. This country-wide anonymous online survey was carried out from April 15th until May 1st, 2020. 25 content-related questions regarding the subjective burden and other dimensions were evaluated. We evaluated different dimensions of subjective burden, stress, and perspectives using 5-point Likert-scale questions. Moreover, the individual COVID-19 infection status, the amount of people infected in circle of friends and acquaintances and the hours working overtime were assessed. A total of 3669 HCWs provided sufficient responses for analyses. 2.8% of HCWs reported to have been tested positive for COVID-19. Nurses reported in principle higher ratings on all questions of subjective burden and stress than doctors and other hospital staff. Doctors (3.6%) and nurses (3.1%) were more likely to be tested positive for COVID-19 than other hospital staff (0.6%, Chi (2) 2 = 17.39, p < 0.0005). HCWs who worked in a COVID-19 environment reported higher levels of subjective burden and stress compared to all other participants. Working in a COVID-19 environment increased the likelihood to be tested positive for COVID-19 (4.8% vs. 2.3%, Chi (1) 2 = 12.62, p < 0.0005) and the severity of the subjective burden. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses experience more stress than doctors. Overall, German HCWs showed high scores of agreement with the measures taken by the hospitals.

Envisioning emerging nanotechnologies: a three-year panel study of South Carolina citizens.

This article reports results from a three-year panel study of a nonrandom sample of 76 South Carolina citizens, recruited from a variety of walks of life, and their impressions of emerging nanotechnology. This discussion focuses on material from depth interviews conducted alongside a baseline opinion and awareness inventory at the beginning of the study, the most intensive data-gathering phase. These results are placed in the context of data from three additional surveys conducted at about equal intervals over the three years, plus exit interviews from 21 of the 34 individuals who completed the entire study. The results give insight into popular thinking about technology but little indication of strong emerging concerns, a trajectory of amplification of those concerns, or opinion polarization over time, despite some awareness of risks and potential ethical dimensions. Nanotechnology may stand out more as an example of risk attenuation than of risk amplification, consistent with most results from national surveys.

Risk perceptions starting to shift? U.S. citizens are forming opinions about nanotechnology.

This article presents early results from an opinion formation study based on a 76-member panel of U.S. citizens, with comparison data from a group of 177 nanotechnology experts. While initially similar to the expert group in terms of their perceptions of the risks, benefits, and need for regulation characterizing several forms of nanotechnology, the first follow-up survey indicates that the panel is beginning to diverge from the experts, particularly with respect to perceptions of the levels of various "societal" risks that nanotechnology might present. The data suggest that responding to public concerns may involve more than attention to physical risks in areas such as health and environment; concerns about other forms of risk actually appear more salient.

A chronic increase in physical activity inhibits fed-state mTOR/S6K1 signaling and reduces IRS-1 serine phosphorylation in rat skeletal muscle.

A chronic increase in physical activity and (or) endurance training can improve insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle. Cellular mechanisms responsible for the development of insulin resistance are unclear, though one proposed mechanism is that nutrient overload chronically increases available energy, over-activating the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) signaling pathway leading to increased phosphorylation of serine residues on insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). The objective of this study was to determine if increased physical activity would inhibit mTOR/S6K1 signaling and reduce IRS-1 serine phosphorylation in rat skeletal muscle. Soleus muscle was collected from fed male Sprague-Dawley sedentary rats (Inactive) and rats with free access to running wheels for 9 weeks (Active). Immunoblotting methods were used to measure phosphorylation status of mTOR, S6K1, IRS-1, and PKB/Akt (protein kinase B/AKT), and total abundance of proteins associated with the mTOR pathway. Muscle citrate synthase activity and plasma insulin and glucose concentrations were measured. Phosphorylation of mTOR (Ser2448), S6K1 (Thr389), and IRS-1 (Ser636-639) was reduced in Active rats (p<0.05). Total protein abundance of mTOR, S6K1, IRS-1, 4E-BP1, eEF2, PKB/Akt and AMPKalpha, and phosphorylation of PKB/Akt were unaffected (p>0.05). Total SKAR protein, a downstream target of S6K1, and citrate synthase activity increased in Active rats (p<0.05), though plasma insulin and glucose levels were unchanged (p>0.05). Reduced mTOR/S6K1 signaling during chronic increases in physical activity may play an important regulatory role in the serine phosphorylation of IRS-1, which should be examined as a potential mechanism for attenuation of insulin resistance associated with increased IRS-1 serine phosphorylation.

Sex influences the susceptibility to reperfusion-induced sustained ventricular tachycardia and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade in conscious rats.

Reperfusion after a brief period of cardiac ischemia can lead to potentially lethal arrhythmias. Importantly, there are sex-related differences in cardiac physiology and in the types and severity of cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that gonadal hormones influence the susceptibility to reperfusion-induced sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), as well as the response to beta-adrenergic receptor blockade. Male and female intact and gonadectomized rats were instrumented, and arterial pressure, temperature, ECG, and cardiac output were recorded. In addition, a snare was placed around the left main coronary artery. Tension was applied to the snare for determination of susceptibility to sustained VT produced by 3 min of occlusion and reperfusion of the left main coronary artery in conscious rats. Reperfusion culminated in sustained VT in 77% (10 of 13 susceptible) of female rats and 56% (9 of 16 susceptible) of male rats (P > 0.05, male vs. female). beta-Adrenergic receptor blockade prevented sustained VT in females only [1 of 9 susceptible females (11%) vs. 6 of 9 susceptible males (67%), P < 0.05]. Ovariectomy did not significantly reduce the susceptibility to reperfusion arrhythmias [5 of 9 susceptible (56%)]. In sharp contrast, orchidectomy significantly increased the susceptibility to reperfusion arrhythmias [9 of 9 susceptible (100%)]. Finally, beta-adrenergic receptor blockade prevented sustained VT in ovariectomized females [0 of 4 susceptible (0%)] and orchidectomized males [0 of 7 susceptible (0%)], but the protective effect of beta-blockade was due to a reduction in heart rate in males only. Thus gonadal hormones influence the susceptibility to reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, as well as the effects and mechanisms of beta-adrenergic receptor blockade.

Electroacupuncture decreases the susceptibility to ventricular tachycardia in conscious rats by reducing cardiac metabolic demand.

Reperfusion after a brief period of cardiac ischemia can lead to potentially lethal arrhythmias. Clinical observations and experimental work with animals suggest that acupuncture may have therapeutic effects for individuals with coronary heart disease, certain arrhythmias, and myocardial ischemia. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that electroacupuncture reduces the susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion-mediated ventricular tachyarrhythmias. To test this hypothesis, we measured the susceptibility to ventricular tachyarrhythmias produced by 3 min of occlusion and reperfusion of the left main coronary artery in conscious rats under two experimental conditions: 1) control and 2) with electroacupuncture. Acupuncture was simulated by electrically stimulating the median nerves, corresponding to the Jianshi-Neiguan [pericardial meridian (P) 5-6] acupoints. Results document a significantly lower incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias with electroacupuncture (2 of 8, 25%) relative to control (14 of 14, 100%) rats. The decreased susceptibility to tachyarrhythmias with electroacupuncture was associated with a reduced cardiac metabolic demand (lower rate-pressure product and ST-segment elevation) during ischemia.

The promotion of gravitropism in Arabidopsis roots upon actin disruption is coupled with the extended alkalinization of the columella cytoplasm and a persistent lateral auxin gradient.

The actin cytoskeleton has been implicated in regulating plant gravitropism. However, its precise role in this process remains uncertain. We have shown previously that disruption of the actin cytoskeleton with Latrunculin B (Lat B) strongly promoted gravitropism in maize roots. These effects were most evident on a clinostat as curvature that would exceed 90 degrees despite short periods of horizontal stimulation. To probe further the cellular mechanisms underlying these enhanced gravity responses, we extended our studies to roots of Arabidopsis. Similar to our observations in other plant species, Lat B enhanced the response of Arabidopsis roots to gravity. Lat B (100 nm) and a stimulation time of 5-10 min were sufficient to induce enhanced bending responses during clinorotation. Lat B (100 nm) disrupted the fine actin filament network in different regions of the root and altered the dynamics of amyloplasts in the columella but did not inhibit the gravity-induced alkalinization of the columella cytoplasm. However, the duration of the alkalinization response during continuous gravistimulation was extended in Lat B-treated roots. Indirect visualization of auxin redistribution using the DR5:beta-glucuronidase (DR5:GUS) auxin-responsive reporter showed that the enhanced curvature of Lat B-treated roots during clinorotation was accompanied by a persistent lateral auxin gradient. Blocking the gravity-induced alkalinization of the columella cytoplasm with caged protons reduced Lat B-induced curvature and the development of the lateral auxin gradient. Our data indicate that the actin cytoskeleton is unnecessary for the initial perception of gravity but likely acts to downregulate gravitropism by continuously resetting the gravitropic-signaling system.