COVID-19 Concerns and Personality of Commerce Workers: Its Influence on Burnout

We analyze burnout in a sample of commercial workers in Spain and its relationship with sociodemographic variables, personality, and concern about the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on their jobs through a cross-sectional design. Participants (n = 614) answered an online survey, including questions about sociodemographic data, concern, NEO-FFI (personality), and MBI (burnout syndrome). The survey took place from October 2020 to May 2021. We assessed the relationships between sociodemographic variables, pandemic concern, and personality as predictors of burnout by hierarchical regression analysis and then tested using SEM (structural equation models). The proposed model showed adequate goodness-of-fit indices. The results of the present study suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had little effect to the development of burnout syndrome in commerce employees. However, in agreement with previous literature, the present study shows that personality has a significant role in predicting burnout. Neuroticism, introversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were strong predictors for burnout dimensions. In addition, we found that personality directly affected the pandemic concern: individuals with high levels of Neuroticism and low levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness have more pandemic concerns. In conclusion, personality is an important factor that affects the level of workers’ concern about the influence of the pandemic on their job and the development of burnout syndrome. Furthermore, although we found significant differences between groups formed by various sociodemographic characteristics, the conclusion regarding this type of variable is that their ability to predict burnout is deficient

Influence of the CoViD-19 Pandemic on Mental Workload and Burnout of Fashion Retailing Workers in Spain

This study analyzed the levels of mental workload and the presence of burnout on a sample of fashion retailing workers from Spain and its relationship with the current CoViD-19 (Coronavirus disease-19) pandemic. We established a cross-sectional design. Participants (n = 360) answered an online survey including questions about sociodemographic data, perception of CoViD-19, CarMen-Q questionnaire (workload), and MBI (burnout syndrome). The survey campaign took place in October and November 2020. The results showed that participants exhibited deep concern about the CoViD-19 pandemic and its influence in the workplace. Although the mental workload was near the middle point of the scale, participants showed moderate to high burnout levels, revealing that the sample was at risk of experiencing higher burnout levels over time as the pandemic and associated economic crisis continued. The multiple regression analysis results indicated that environmental changes, work overload, somatic symptoms, insomnia, negative job expectations, and uncertainty constituted significant mental workload predictors. Insomnia, somatic symptoms, and negative job expectations constituted significant predictors for burnout. Differences between job positions and genders in mental workload and burnout were found. In conclusion, the uncertainty at work derived from the CoViD-19 pandemic harms fashion retailing workers’ psychological well-being in Spain

Variables psicológicas implicadas en la actitud e iniciativa emprendedora (II): personalidad, cognición y emoción

El proyecto titulado: Variables implicadas en la actitud e iniciativa emprendedora (II): personalidad, cognición y emoción, es la continuidad de otro presentado en la convocatoria anterior (2016-2017) cuyo objetivo era evaluar variables psicológicas en la actitud emprendedora de los estudiantes universitarios de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM). Este segundo proyecto ha tenido por objetivo principal ampliar la evaluación a otras facultades y áreas de conocimiento de nuestra universidad a fin de obtener el mapa y perfil de la iniciativa emprendedora del universitario UCM

COVID-19 Concerns and Personality of Commerce Workers: Its Influence on Burnout

We analyze burnout in a sample of commercial workers in Spain and its relationship with sociodemographic variables, personality, and concern about the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on their jobs through a cross-sectional design. Participants (n = 614) answered an online survey, including questions about sociodemographic data, concern, NEO-FFI (personality), and MBI (burnout syndrome). The survey took place from October 2020 to May 2021. We assessed the relationships between sociodemographic variables, pandemic concern, and personality as predictors of burnout by hierarchical regression analysis and then tested using SEM (structural equation models). The proposed model showed adequate goodness-of-fit indices. The results of the present study suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had little effect to the development of burnout syndrome in commerce employees. However, in agreement with previous literature, the present study shows that personality has a significant role in predicting burnout. Neuroticism, introversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were strong predictors for burnout dimensions. In addition, we found that personality directly affected the pandemic concern: individuals with high levels of Neuroticism and low levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness have more pandemic concerns. In conclusion, personality is an important factor that affects the level of workers’ concern about the influence of the pandemic on their job and the development of burnout syndrome. Furthermore, although we found significant differences between groups formed by various sociodemographic characteristics, the conclusion regarding this type of variable is that their ability to predict burnout is deficient

The Potentiating Effect of Graphene Oxide on the Arylhydrocarbon Receptor (AhR)–Cytochrome P4501A (Cyp1A) System Activated by Benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF) in Rainbow Trout Cell Line

The increasing use of graphene oxide (GO) will result in its release into the environment; therefore, it is essential to determine its final fate and possible metabolism by organisms. The objective of this study was to assess the possible role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent cytochrome P4501A (Cyp1A) detoxification activities on the catabolism of GO. Our hypothesis is that GO cannot initially interact with the AhR, but that after an initial degradation caused by other mechanisms, small fractions of GO could activate the AhR, inducing Cyp1A. The environmental pollutant benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF) was used for the initial activation of the AhR in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cell line RTL-W1. Pre-, co-, and post-exposure experiments with GO were performed and Cyp1A induction was monitored. The strong stimulation of Cyp1A observed in cells after exposure to GO, when BkF levels were not detected in the system, suggests a direct action of GO. The role of the AhR was confirmed by a blockage of the observed effects in co-treatment experiments with αNF (an AhR antagonist). These results suggest a possible role for the AhR and Cyp1A system in the cellular metabolism of GO and that GO could modulate the toxicity of environmental pollutants

Remediation efficiency of three treatments on water polluted with endocrine disruptors Assessment by means of in vitro techniques

Chemical substances with potential to disrupt endocrine systems have been detected in aquatic environments worldwide, making necessary the investigation about water treatments able to inhibit such potential. The present work aimed to assess the efficiency for removing endocrine disruptors (with estrogenic and androgenic activity) of three simple and inexpensive substrates that could be potentially used in sectors or regions with limited resources powdered activated carbon (PAC), powdered natural zeolite (ZEO) (both at a concentration of 500�mg�L−1) and natural aquatic humic substances (AHS) (at 30�mg�L−1). MilliQ-water and mature water from fish facilities (aquarium water, AW), were artificially spiked with 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethinylestradiol and dihydrotestosterone. Moreover, effluent samples from waste water treatment plants (WWTP) were also submitted to the remediation treatments. Estrogenic and androgenic activities were assessed with two cell lines permanently transfected with luciferase as reporter gene under the control of hormone receptors AR-EcoScreen containing the human androgen receptor and HER-LUC transfected with the sea bass estrogen receptor. PAC was efficiently removing the estrogenic and androgenic compounds added to milliQ and AW. However, androgenic activity detected in WWTP effluents was only reduced after treatment with ZEO. The higher surface area of PAC could have facilitated the removal of spiked hormones in clean waters. However, it is possible that the substances responsible of the hormonal activity in WWTP have adsorbed to micro and nanoparticles present in suspension that would have been retained with higher efficiency by ZEO that show pores of several microns in size. � 2017 Elsevier Lt

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) induces transactivation of EGFR and HER2 in human breast cancer cells

We analyzed the cross-talk between receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the human epidermal growth factor family of tyrosine kinase receptors (HER) in oestrogen-dependent (T47D) and oestrogen-independent (MDA-MB-468) human breast cancer cells. VIP treatment slowly increased the expression levels of EGFR but it rapidly augmented phosphorylation of EGFR and HER2 in both cell lines. This pattern of HERs transactivation was blocked by the specific VIP antagonist JV-1-53, supporting the direct involvement of VIP receptors in formation of P-EGFR and P-HER2. VIP-induced transactivation was also abolished by H89 (protein kinase A inhibitor), PP2 (Src inhibitor) or TAPI-1 (inhibitor of matrix metalloproteases), following a differential pattern. These results shed a new light on the specific signalling pathways involved in EGFR/HER2 transactivation by VPAC receptors and suggest the potential usefulness of VIP receptor antagonists together with current antibodies against EGFR/HER2 and/or tyrosine kinase inhibitors for breast cancer therapy

Detection of Effects Caused by Very Low Levels of Contaminants in Riverine Sediments Through a Combination of Chemical Analysis, In Vitro Bioassays, and Farmed Fish as Sentinel

Aquatic organisms are often exposed to mixtures of low levels of pollutants whose presence and effects can pass easily unnoticed if only traditional monitoring strategies are employed. The main aim of this work was to assess the presence and effects of trace levels of pollutants in a scarcely affected area through the combination of chemical and biological approaches. Sediments were collected along a river with little anthropogenic pressure and assayed for cytochrome P450 (Cyp1a)-dependent ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity with the rainbow trout gonadal cell line RTG-2. Chemical analyses were performed in these sediments using two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Sediment samples induced EROD activity, and chemical analyses evidenced the presence of a wide variety of contaminants in the range of nanograms per gram of dry weight. Correlation analysis between EROD induction and chemical analyses data showed an r value of 0.840 (p < 0.05). In addition, fish from a fish farm located downstream of the sampling points exhibited high hepatic EROD levels as well as an induced expression of cyp1a and cyp3a. In conclusion, only an appropriate combination of biological and chemical techniques allowed the detection of the presence of trace levels of contaminants in a theoretically nonaffected river

From satisfaction to happiness in the co-creation of value: the role of moral emotions in the Spanish tourism sector

• Financiación de acceso abierto gracias al acuerdo CRUE-CSIC con Springer NatureLa búsqueda de la felicidad, entendida como una actitud interior y personal que va más allá de la mera satisfacción, es uno de los objetivos de la creación de valor de los turistas. la mera satisfacción, es uno de los objetivos de la cocreación de valor por parte de los turistas. Hasta la fecha, pocos estudios han analizado la importancia de los principios morales de las personas en la cocreación de valor turístico. turístico. Las emociones morales desempeñan un papel esencial en este proceso. En este estudio, 12 gestores turísticos de la administración, 28 directores de hotel y 24 agencias de viajes participaron activamente en la definición de los indicadores seleccionados para medir cómo la cocreación de valor de cinco ciudades españolas afectaba a la felicidad de los clientes. ciudades españolas afectaba a la felicidad de los clientes. Además, 444 turistas participaron en el estudio. Se utilizó la técnica PLS-SEM para examinar los datos obtenidos. Los resultados muestran que la co-creación de valor contribuye a la felicidad del turista. Especialmente significativa es la influencia de la cocreación de valor de los clientes en la felicidad de éstos. Además, la capacidad predictiva del modelo es replicable a otros destinos turísticos.The search for happiness, understood as an inner and personal attitude that goes beyond mere satisfaction, is one of the aims of tourists’ co-creation of value. To date, few studies have analysed the importance of people’s moral principles in the co-creation of tourist value. Moral emotions play an essential role in this process. In this study, 12 tourism managers within administration, 28 hotel managers and 24 travel agencies actively participated in defining the indicators selected to measure how the co-creation of value from five Spanish towns affected customers’ happiness. Moreover, 444 tourists participated in the study. The PLS-SEM technique was used to examine the data obtained. Results show that the co-creation of value contributes to the happiness of the tourist. Of particular significance is the influence of customers’ co-creation of value on customer happiness. Additionally, the predictive capacity of the model is replicable to other tourist destinations.• Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional; Junta de Extremadura. Consejería de Economía, Ciencia y Agenda Digital. Subvención GR18052peerReviewe

Effects of aflatoxin B1, fumonisin B1 and their mixture on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and cytochrome P450 1A induction

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) are mycotoxins widely found as cereal contaminants and their co-occurrence in corn has been associated with a high incidence of liver cancer. Both toxins are immunotoxic, with AFB1 being a procarcinogen, and its bioactivation through specific cytochrome P450 (Cyp) enzymes, such as Cyp1A, being a requirement for hepatocarcinogenic and toxic activities. This study evaluated the effects of these mycotoxins, alone or combined, on activation and expression of Cyp1A and its transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) in hepatoma cell line H4IIE and spleen mononuclear cells of rats. The results demonstrate that in H4IIE cells, AFB1 induced an increase in Cyp1A activity and cyp1A transcription, associated with an enhanced Ahr activity, which suggests that this toxin can act as an Ahr agonist. Moreover, FB1 caused a small rise in Cyp1A activity and cyp1A expression. Similarly in spleen cells, AFB1 and FB1 induced overexpression of cyp1A and ahr genes. This work shows that the response potency was significantly higher for the mixture, indicating the existence of an interaction between both toxins. This study proposes the Ahr pathway activation as a toxicity mechanism of AFB1 and FB1, and highlights that FB1 may increase AFB1 bioactivation.Fil: Mary, Verónica Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Valdehita, Ana. Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria; EspañaFil: Navas, José M.. Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria; EspañaFil: Rubinstein, Héctor Ramón. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Fernández-Cruz, María L.. Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria; Españ