The impact of lockdown stress and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among university students in Germany

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a shutdown of universities in Germany. In a longitudinal design, we compared mental health (depression, anxiety, somatic complaints) of university students in Germany before (June to August 2019) and in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2020) and determined the impact of pandemic-related stress and loneliness on students’ mental health in self-report online surveys. We investigated 443 participants (mean age 22.8 years), among them 77% female, and 10.4% medical students. A small increase of depression mean scores was observed (F(1,420) = 5.21; p = .023), anxiety and somatic complaints have not significantly changed. There was a medium increase in loneliness from pre-pandemic scores to the pandemic situation (F(1,423) = 30.56; p < .001). Analyzed with regression analyses, current loneliness and pre-pandemic distress represented the strongest associations with mental health during the pandemic. Additionally, health-related concerns during the pandemic were associated with symptoms of depression [b = 0.21; 95%CI(0.08; 0.34); t = 3.12; p = .002], anxiety [b = 0.07; 95%CI(0.01; 0.12); t = 2.50; p = .013], somatic complaints [b = 0.33; 95%CI(0.18; 0.47); t = 4.49; p < .001], and loneliness [b = 0.10; 95%CI(0.03; 0.17); t = 2.74; p = .006]. Social stress due to the pandemic situation was associated with loneliness [b = 0.38; 95%CI(0.32; 0.45); t = 11.75; p < .001]. The results imply that university students represent a risk group for psychosocial long-term ramifications of the pandemic.

Farmers' Response on Field Performance of BSMRAU Developed IPSA Seem and BU Pepe1 Crop Variety

The study was conducted to investigate the adoption of IPSA seem and BU pepe1 crop variety by the farmers in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh and Meherpur Sadar upazila of Meherpur districts, respectively in Bangladesh. In-person interviews with 80 respondents and two focus group discussions were carried out to collect data. According to study findings, the highest portion of the respondents were young aged, literate, had medium farm size, low farming experience, and organizational participation and their average annual income were Tk. 192850 and Tk. 200500 for IPSA seem and BU pepe1 growers, respectively. Extent of adoption was above fifty percent in both cases of IPSA seem and BU pepe1 whereas the extent of BU pepe1 adoption was higher than IPSA seem. Performance of IPSA seem and BU pepe1 was satisfactory to the farmers in terms of ease of handling, better marketability and adaptation to the environment, vigor, and better physical appearance. Majority of the IPSA seem and BU pepe1 respondents experienced a medium increase in crop yield while medium to high-income increase by cultivating those varieties. Majority of them had a low to moderate knowledge gap in cultivating IPSA seem and BU pepe1. The major problems faced by the farmers were pod borer infestation, common mosaic virus for IPSA seem while low germination percentage, common mosaic virus for BU pepe1. The study results showed that respondents with small farm sizes were more interested in adopting IPSA seem than others. So, engaging small farmers in cultivating IPSA seem would make this technology more available and popular among the farmers.

Large-scale simulations of biological cell sorting driven by differential adhesion follow diffusion-limited domain coalescence regime

Cell sorting, whereby a heterogeneous cell mixture segregates and forms distinct homogeneous tissues, is one of the main collective cell behaviors at work during development. Although differences in interfacial energies are recognized to be a possible driving source for cell sorting, no clear consensus has emerged on the kinetic law of cell sorting driven by differential adhesion. Using a modified Cellular Potts Model algorithm that allows for efficient simulations while preserving the connectivity of cells, we numerically explore cell-sorting dynamics over very large scales in space and time. For a binary mixture of cells surrounded by a medium, increase of domain size follows a power-law with exponent n = 1/4 independently of the mixture ratio, revealing that the kinetics is dominated by the diffusion and coalescence of rounded domains. We compare these results with recent numerical studies on cell sorting, and discuss the importance of algorithmic differences as well as boundary conditions on the observed scaling.

Associations between body shape across the life course and adulthood concentrations of sex hormones in men and pre- and postmenopausal women: a multicohort study

The objective was to investigate associations between life-course adiposity and sex hormone concentrations: trajectory of adiposity from age 5 to 40 (premenopausal)/60 (postmenopausal women and men) in relation to levels of oestrone (E1), oestradiol (E2), sex hormone-binding globulins (SHBG), testosterone in 4801 premenopausal and 6019 postmenopausal women in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and NHS II, and 2431 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. We used group-based trajectory models to identify groups within each cohort based on recalled somatotypes and reported BMI. Multivariate linear regression models were used to compare sex hormone concentration across different trajectory groups. The mean age at blood draw was 64·1 ± 8·1 years for men, 59·4 ± 6·0 for postmenopausal and 44·1 ± 4·6 for premenopausal women. In men, compared with the medium-stable group, lean-marked increase and medium increase groups had lower levels of SHBG (percentage difference: −17 and −9 %) and testosterone (−15 and −13 %). In postmenopausal women, compared with the medium-stable group, lean-marked increase and medium increase groups had higher levels of E1 (21 and 34 %) and E2 (45 and 68 %) but lower level of SHBG (–29 and −35 %). In premenopausal women, compared with the lean-moderate increase group, medium-stable/increase and heavy-stable/increase groups had lower levels of SHBG (–6 and −28 %). Attained adulthood adiposity and middle-life weight gain were associated with lower SHBG and testosterone in men, higher E1 and E2 and lower SHBG in postmenopausal women, and lower SHBG in premenopausal women. The study indicates the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight throughout life course for homoeostasis of sex hormones.

Cryopreservation of Canine Erythrocytes Using Dimethyl Sulfoxide, Polyethylene Glycol and Sucrose

Cryoprotective properties of combined media of permeable (dimethyl sulfoxide) and impermeable (polyethylene glycol with m. w. 1500) cryoprotective agents during rapid cooling in liquid nitrogen of canine erythrocytes using saline and sucrose-saline media have been investigated. It was found that the use of combined solutions of cryoprotective agents based on polyethylene glycol with m.w. 1500 (15%) and dimethyl sulfoxide (2.5–10%) in saline was not quite effective for cryopreservation of canine erythrocytes. Reducing the salt concentration and adding cell-impermeable sucrose to the cryopreservation medium increase the preservation of erythrocytes after warming. The best cryoprotective properties for canine erythrocytes were demonstrated by 10% dimethyl sulfoxide based on sucrose-saline medium, with high preservation of cells after freeze-warming, mechanical and osmotic stability of warmed erythrocytes. This indicates the possibility of a long-term storage and use of cryopreserved canine erythrocytes for transfusions.

Implementation of Project Based Learning Student Worksheets to Improve Students' Science Process Skills on Environmental Pollution in High Schools

This study aims to determine the improvement of students' science process skills through the application of Project Based Learning based LKPD on environmental pollution material for Class X Senior High School. This research was conducted at MAN 1 Kuantan Singingi. The method used in research is development research (Research and Development). Sources of research data came from 25 students of class X IPA 3. Research design using one group pretest posttest only. Data collection obtained from the preetest and posttest results of the student's Science Process Skills instrument. The results showed that the students' science process skills experienced an increase in the posttest results, from 63.5 to 83.5 with a medium increase (N-Gain 0.54). From the research results, it can be concluded that LKPD based on project based learning can be used as a medium for learning biology in high school.

Effect of Tacca Starch Loading on Production of Amylolytic Enzymes from Ragi Tapai

The study was done to determine the effect of Tacca starch loading on production of amylolytic enzyme from Ragi Tapai. In this study, Ragi Tapai was used as a starter to produce amylolytic enzyme. The fermentation was done in a solid state fermentation with the presence of Tacca leontopetaloides starch as the carbon source. The analysis of total sugar was conducted using DNS method and amylolytic enzyme was determined using Lowry method. The mixture was fermented and incubated for 24, 48, 72 and 96h. The result revealed that the optimum production of amylase was found at 48 h of incubation with amylase activity of 1.91 U/ml/min and 1.42 mg/ml for total protein. The study shows that increment amount of the Tacca starch in cultivation medium, increase the production of the amylase and total protein content. The highest enzyme activity was obtained at 4% of Tacca starch loading with amylase activity and total protein content of 2.14 U/ml/min and 1.42 mg/ml respectively. The study indicated that growth promoters in Tacca starch capable to enhance the activity of microbial consortium in Ragi Tapai for production of the amylolytic enzyme.

Pengembangan Media Pembelajaran Fisika Berbasis Mobile Learning Untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Berpikir Kritis Peserta Didik

Research on the development of mobile-based learning media has been conducted to determine its feasibility, the affect on the improvement of students' critical thinking skill, and effectiveness of the media used in leraning. The type of this research is the development that refers to the ADDIE development model, namely: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. This research was conducted in SMA Negeri 5 Purworejo with the subjects of the trial amounting to 29 students. The instruments used in this study are: validation sheets, learners' responses, learning outcome tests, and learning implementation sheets. Based on the research data obtained from the validation of mobile-based media for learning from four validators namely: three expert lecturers and physics teachers had an overall score 3.56, included in the good category and feasible to use in learning. The improvement of critical thinking skills in the implementation phase obtained N-gain 0.61 and included the medium increase category. The effectiveness of the media used in the assessment learning with learners’ responses received an overall contribution of 84% and included good categories, and was shown by the learning implementation sheet with an overall contribution of 95.8% and included in the excellent category. Thus the development of mobile-based learning media in this study is categorized as good and suitable to use as learning media, and also could help to improve students' critical thinking skills.

Elucidating Under-Studied Aspects of the Link Between Obesity and Multiple Myeloma: Weight Pattern, Body Shape Trajectory, and Body Fat Distribution

Background Although obesity is an established modifiable risk factor for multiple myeloma (MM), several nuanced aspects of its relation to MM remain unelucidated, limiting public health and prevention messages. Methods We analyzed prospective data from the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study to examine MM risk associated with 20-year weight patterns in adulthood, body shape trajectory from ages 5 to 60 years, and body fat distribution. For each aforementioned risk factor, we report hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident MM from multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models. Results We documented 582 incident MM cases during 4 280 712 person-years of follow-up. Persons who exhibited extreme weight cycling, for example, those with net weight gain and one or more episodes of intentional loss of at least 20 pounds or whose cumulative intentional weight loss exceeded net weight loss with at least one episode of intentional loss of 20 pounds or more had an increased MM risk compared with individuals who maintained their weight (HR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.05 to 2.80); the association was statistically nonsignificant after adjustment for body mass index. We identified four body shape trajectories: lean-stable, lean-increase, medium-stable, and medium-increase. MM risk was higher in the medium-increase group than in the lean-stable group (HR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.22 to 2.14). Additionally, MM risk increased with increasing hip circumference (HR per 1-inch increase: 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.06) but was not associated with other body fat distribution measures. Conclusions Maintaining a lean and stable weight throughout life may provide the strongest benefit in terms of MM prevention.

A pilot study of acceptance-based behavioural weight loss for adolescents with obesity

Background:Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a psychological treatment that has been found to increase weight loss in adults when combined with lifestyle modification, compared with the latter treatment alone. However, an ACT-based treatment for weight loss has never been tested in adolescents.Methods:The present pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a 16-week, group ACT-based lifestyle modification treatment for adolescents and their parents/guardians. The co-primary outcomes were: (1) mean acceptability scores from up to 8 biweekly ratings; and (2) the percentage reduction in body mass index (BMI) from baseline to week 16. The effect size for changes in cardiometabolic and psychosocial outcomes from baseline to week 16 also was examined.Results:Seven families enrolled and six completed treatment (14.3% attrition). The mean acceptability score was 8.8 for adolescents and 9.0 for parents (on a 1–10 scale), indicating high acceptability. The six adolescents who completed treatment experienced a 1.3% reduction in BMI (SD = 2.3, d = 0.54). They reported a medium increase in cognitive restraint, a small reduction in hunger, and a small increase in physical activity. They experienced small improvements in most quality of life domains and a large reduction in depression.Conclusions:These preliminary findings indicate that ACT plus lifestyle modification was a highly acceptable treatment that improved weight, cognitive restraint, hunger, physical activity, and psychosocial outcomes in adolescents with obesity.