The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Daily Activities, Cognitions, and Stress in a Lonely and Distressed Population: Temporal Dynamic Network Analysis

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown measures impacted mental health worldwide. However, the temporal dynamics of causal factors that modulate mental health during lockdown are not well understood. Objective: We aimed to understand how a COVID-19 lockdown changes the temporal dynamics of loneliness and other factors affecting mental health. This is the first study that compares network characteristics between lockdown stages to prioritize mental health intervention targets. Methods: We combined ecological momentary assessments with wrist-worn motion tracking to investigate the mechanism and changes in network centrality of symptoms and behaviors before and during lockdown. A total of 258 participants who reported at least mild loneliness and distress were assessed 8 times a day for 7 consecutive days over a 213-day period from August 8, 2020, through March 9, 2021, in Germany, covering a “no-lockdown” and a “lockdown” stage. COVID-19–related worry, information-seeking, perceived restriction, and loneliness were assessed by digital visual analog scales ranging from 0 to 100. Social activity was assessed on a 7-point Likert scale, while physical activity was recorded from wrist-worn actigraphy devices. Results: We built a multilevel vector autoregressive model to estimate dynamic networks. To compare network characteristics between a no-lockdown stage and a lockdown stage, we performed permutation tests. During lockdown, loneliness had the highest impact within the network, as indicated by its centrality index (ie, an index to identify variables that have a strong influence on the other variables). Moreover, during lockdown, the centrality of loneliness significantly increased. Physical activity contributed to a decrease in loneliness amid the lockdown stage. Conclusions: The COVID-19 lockdown increased the central role of loneliness in triggering stress-related behaviors and cognition. Our study indicates that loneliness should be prioritized in mental health interventions during lockdown. Moreover, physical activity can serve as a buffer for loneliness amid social restrictions

Long-Term Impact of Economic Downturn and Loneliness on Psychological Distress: Triple Crises of COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 crisis poses global mental health and global economy challenges. However, there is a lack of longitudinal research investigating whether financial instability and social disruption may increase the risk of developing mental health problems over time that may potentially outlast the pandemic. Methods: We conducted an online survey for members of the general population (n = 2703) in Germany during the twelve months spanning from April 2020 to March 2021. We investigated the development of COVID-19 related psychological distress, the number of unemployed people, federal government debt, income distribution, and loneliness over the time period. Results: Over a period of twelve months, 53.6% of respondents in Germany reported experiencing psychological distress, varying from mild levels, 34.2%, to severe levels, 19.4%, of distress. High federal government debt, high incident COVID-19 cases, low incomes, and the prevalence of loneliness were found to be associated with increased long-term mental health problems. Psychological distress scores were most strongly increased in female and young respondents as well as those who reported fewer years of education, low income, and higher loneliness. Conclusions: Our study highlights factors that have a long-term impact on mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We suggest that specific mental-health services could be offered to support high-risk groups experiencing financial fragility and loneliness. For purposes of safeguarding their mental health there is a need to monitor and track such risk factors in real time

Increased Psychological Distress, Loneliness, and Unemployment in the Spread of COVID-19 over 6 Months in Germany

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic poses a challenge to global mental health. Loneliness and isolation may put people at higher risk for increased psychological distress. However, there is a lack of research investigating the development of COVID-19-related distress over time. Materials and Methods: We undertook an online survey among general population (N = 1903) in Germany throughout 6 months from the peak transmission period in April to the off-peak period by September 2020. Results: We found that the average prevalence of psychological distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic significantly rose from 24% to 66% between the peak and off-peak transmission period, respectively. Unemployment rate and loneliness increased negative mental health outcomes, although the number of active COVID-19 cases decreased from April to September. Psychological distress scores increased mostly in female, young, and lonely people. Conclusions: Our results underline the importance of considering innovative alternatives to facilitate employment opportunities, distant contacts, and self-help over the course of the pandemic. Our study highlights the urgent need to pay attention to mental health services specifically targeting female, young, unemployed, and lonely people

Concept and application of a computational vaccinology workflow

BACKGROUND : The last years have seen a renaissance of the vaccine area, driven by clinical needs in infectious diseases but also chronic diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. Equally important are technological improvements involving nano-scale delivery platforms as well as third generation adjuvants. In parallel immunoinformatics routines have reached essential maturity for supporting central aspects in vaccinology going beyond prediction of antigenic determinants. On this basis computational vaccinology has emerged as a discipline aimed at ab-initio rational vaccine design.Here we present a computational workflow for implementing computational vaccinology covering aspects from vaccine target identification to functional characterization and epitope selection supported by a Systems Biology assessment of central aspects in host-pathogen interaction. We exemplify the procedures for Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), a clinically relevant pathogen causing chronic infection and suspected of triggering malignancies and autoimmune disorders. RESULTS : We introduce pBone/pView as a computational workflow supporting design and execution of immunoinformatics workflow modules, additionally involving aspects of results visualization, knowledge sharing and re-use. Specific elements of the workflow involve identification of vaccine targets in the realm of a Systems Biology assessment of host-pathogen interaction for identifying functionally relevant targets, as well as various methodologies for delineating B- and T-cell epitopes with particular emphasis on broad coverage of viral isolates as well as MHC alleles.Applying the workflow on EBV specifically proposes sequences from the viral proteins LMP2, EBNA2 and BALF4 as vaccine targets holding specific B- and T-cell epitopes promising broad strain and allele coverage. CONCLUSION : Based on advancements in the experimental assessment of genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes for both, pathogen and (human) host, the fundaments for rational design of vaccines have been laid out. In parallel, immunoinformatics modules have been designed and successfully applied for supporting specific aspects in vaccine design. Joining these advancements, further complemented by novel vaccine formulation and delivery aspects, have paved the way for implementing computational vaccinology for rational vaccine design tackling presently unmet vaccine challenges

Differential effects of wakeful rest, music and video game playing on working memory performance in the n-back task

The interruption of learning processes by breaks filled with diverse activities is common in everyday life. We investigated the effects of active computer gaming and passive relaxation (rest and music) breaks on working memory performance. Young adults were exposed to breaks involving (i) eyes-open resting, (ii) listening to music and (iii) playing the video game “Angry Birds” before performing the n-back working memory task. Based on linear mixed-effects modeling, we found that playing the “Angry Birds” video game during a short learning break led to a decline in task performance over the course of the task as compared to eyes-open resting and listening to music, although overall task performance was not impaired. This effect was associated with high levels of daily mind wandering and low self-reported ability to concentrate. These findings indicate that video games can negatively affect working memory performance over time when played in between learning tasks. We suggest further investigation of these effects because of their relevance to everyday activity.Peer Reviewe

Short-term effects of video gaming on brain response during working memory performance

Breaks filled with different break activities often interrupt cognitive performance in everyday life. Previous studies have reported that both enhancing and deteriorating effects on challenging ongoing tasks such as working memory updating, depend on the type of break activity. However, neural mechanisms of these break-related alterations in working memory performance have not been studied, to date. Therefore, we conducted a brain imaging study to identify the neurobiological correlates of effects on the n-back working memory task related to different break activities. Before performing the n-back task in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, young adults were exposed to break activities in the MRI scanner involving (i) eyes-open resting, (ii) listening to music, and (iii) playing the video game “Angry Birds”. Heart rate was measured by a pulse oximeter during the experiment. We found that increased heart rate during gaming as well as decreased relaxation levels after a video gaming break was related to poorer n-back task performance, as compared to listening to music. On the neural level, video gaming reduced supplementary motor area activation during working memory performance. These results may indicate that video gaming during a break may affect working memory performance by interfering with arousal state and frontal cognitive control functions

Basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration in major depressive disorder

Basic psychological needs theory postulates that a social environment that satisfies individuals’ three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness leads to optimal growth and well-being. On the other hand, the frustration of these needs is associated with ill-being and depressive symptoms foremost investigated in non-clinical samples; yet, there is a paucity of research on need frustration in clinical samples. Survey data were compared between adult individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 115; 48.69% female; 38.46 years, SD = 10.46) with those of a non-depressed comparison sample (n = 201; 53.23% female; 30.16 years, SD = 12.81). Need profiles were examined with a linear mixed model (LMM). Individuals with depression reported higher levels of frustration and lower levels of satisfaction in relation to the three basic psychological needs when compared to non-depressed adults. The difference between depressed and non-depressed groups was significantly larger for frustration than satisfaction regarding the needs for relatedness and competence. LMM correlation parameters confirmed the expected positive correlation between the three needs. This is the first study showing substantial differences in need-based experiences between depressed and non-depressed adults. The results confirm basic assumptions of the self-determination theory and have preliminary implications in tailoring therapy for depression

The governance of mining and the human security of local community: a case study of the Indonesian coal mining industry

This thesis explores the ‘disruption’ of human security of local communities by the Indonesian coal mining industry at the level of the individual and also at the aggregate level of the ‘community’. Human security refers to freedom from want (poverty and unemployment), fear (violence and conflict), and indignity (displacement and human rights abuse). As a result of poor mining practices such as land grabbing, deforestation, unmaintained mining pits and waste local communities encounter social and environmental problems. I argue that the principle of commodification, as outlined in Karl Polanyi’s book The Great Transformation, dictates how the mining industry governs the use of land and labour. I also examine counter-movements, including action by local communities, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the state, that aim to ‘decommodify’ land and labour and protect local communities from the detrimental impacts of mining. This study examines East Kalimantan as the most prolific coal-producing province in Indonesia, with high levels of mining investment and revenue. I examine why East Kalimantan has higher levels of poverty and unemployment than the neighbouring provinces of South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan, which have medium and low levels of mining investment and revenue (respectively). Building on Polanyi’s double movement and using ‘explaining-outcome process tracing’ methods, this research traces commodification and counter-movement during different eras of Indonesian governance: the New Order (1966-1998), the early Reform Era (1999-2009) and the later Reform Era (2009-2015). Process tracing methods are used to analyse how causal processes explain the nexus of commodification, human insecurity, and counter-commodification. I argue that government commitment to economic liberalisation facilitates the commodification of land and labour, and enables disruptive mining practices. In the short term the mining industry can bring employment and economic benefit to local communities. However, this often also brings an immediate cost for those dependent on the land for a living. In the longer term this process is often incompatible with sustainable mining and non-mining related livelihood and the maintenance of the local environment. The end result has been a double or counter-move against the mining industry. I track the governance of mining in Indonesia from centralistic governance under the New Order Era to decentralist governance in the Reform Era. Changing socio-political economic structures have challenged the capabilities of actors to govern the mining industry. Globalisation, democratisation and the demand for decentralisation have all had an impact on the governance of mining. Specifically, weak state effectiveness and political accountability enabled the mining industry to intensify commodification during the early Reform Era (1999-2009). Subsequently the Indonesian government introduced policies (2009-present) to improve the governance of mining and to enhance the human security of local communities within a framework of sustainable economic development

Diffractively coupled Fabry-Perot resonator with power-recycling

We demonstrate the optical coupling of two cavities without light transmission through a substrate. Compared to a conventional coupling component, that is a partially transmissive mirror, an all-reflective coupler avoids light absorption in the substrate and therefore associated thermal problems, and even allows the use of opaque materials with possibly favourable mechanical and thermal properties. Recently, the all-reflective coupling of two cavities with a low-efficiency 3-port diffraction grating was theoretically investigated. Such a grating has an additional (a third) port. However, it was shown that the additional port does not necessarily decrease the bandwidth of the coupled cavities. Such an all-reflective scheme for cavity coupling is of interest in the field of gravitational wave detection. In such detectors light that is resonantly enhanced inside the so-called power-recycling cavity is coupled to (kilometre-scale) Fabry-Perot resonators representing the arms of a Michelson interferometer. In order to achieve a high sensitivity over a broad spectrum, the Fabry-Perot resonators need to have a high bandwidth for a given (high) power build-up. We realized such an all-reflective coupling in a table-top experiment. Our findings are in full agreement with the theoretical model incorporating the characteristics of the 3-port grating used, and therefore encourage the application of all-reflective cavity couplers in future gravitational wave detectors

Die Nationalitätenfrage im Russischen Reich: Auswertung der Volkszählung von 1897

Zu den grundlegenden Vorrausetzungen nationaler Konflikte gehört die Verbindung nationaler mit sozialen Faktoren. Die Analyse der sozio-ethnischen Struktur des Russischen Reiches ist deshalb ein Desiderat historischer Forschung. Die einzige übergreifende Quelle für eine solche Untersuchung ist die russische Volkszählung von 1897. Der vorliegende Beitrag berichtet über ein Forschungsprojekt des Seminars für osteuropäische Geschichte der Universität Köln, das aus den 89 Bänden der Volkszählung eine Datenbank angelegt hat und auf dieser Basis die Nationalitätenfrage im Russischen Reich studiert. Über 130 ethnische Gruppen sind (aufgrund ihrer Muttersprache) registriert, und diese Daten sind mit einer Anzahl anderer Kategorien (Alter, Religion/Konfession, Beruf, Stand, Bildung, Krankheiten usw.) korreliert und in Tabellen zusammengefaßt. (pmb)'One of the basic preconditions for national conflicts is the connection and interdependancy of national and social factors. The analysis of the socio-ethnic structure of the late Russian Empire, the complex network of social strata and ethnic composure of the population was the main purpose of a research project which was carried out by A. Kappeler and his team at the Seminar for East-European History of the University of Cologne. As an outstanding source for this objective, the first Russian census of 1897 was evaluated which contains a wide variety of information. More than 130 ethnic groups have been registered with additional aggregated information about age, denomination, occupation, social position etc. All this data have been integrated after intensive operations concerning source criticism into a database which is now available at the Center for Historical Social Research for further research.' (author's abstract