Edible alginate-based films with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

The viability of SARS-CoV-2 on food surfaces and its propagation through the food chain has been discussed by several stakeholders, as it may represent a serious public health problem, bringing new challenges to the food system. This work shows for the first time that edible films can be used against SARS-CoV-2. Sodium alginate-based films containing gallic acid, geraniol, and green tea extract were evaluated in terms of their antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that all these films have strong in vitro antiviral activity against this virus. However, a higher concentration of the active compound (1.25%) is needed for the film containing gallic acid to achieve similar results to those obtained for lower concentrations of geraniol and green tea extract (0.313%). Furthermore, critical concentrations of the active compounds in the films were used to evaluate their stability during storage. Results showed that gallic acid-loaded films lose their activity from the second week of storage, while films with geraniol and green tea extract only show a drop in activity after four weeks. These results highlight the possibility of using edible films and coatings as antiviral materials on food surfaces or food contact materials, which may help to reduce the spreading of viruses through the food chain.

The effects of social and organizational connectedness on employee well-being and remote working experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Maintaining social connectedness is crucial for health and well-being-especially during uncertain times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study examined (1) the effects of general and organizational indicators of connectedness on employee well-being and (involuntary) remote work experiences during lockdown and (2) whether organizational connectedness attenuated the ill effects of isolation on employee well-being. Full- and part-time workers (N = 188) recruited during the UK's second national COVID-19 lockdown completed a questionnaire measuring time spent interacting and alone during lockdown, social connectedness, organizational identification, perceived organizational support, organizational communication, ill-being, organizational well-being (i.e., well-being at work), and remote working experiences. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that those with greater social connectedness and organizational support reported less ill-being. In contrast, those spending more time alone and, unexpectedly, those strongly identifying with their organization, reported more ill-being. Additionally, those who felt greater organizational support had more positive remote working experiences, whereas stronger organizational identification negatively related to the latter. Only organizational support was significantly associated with (more positive) well-being at work. Furthermore, moderation analyses showed that time spent alone during the pandemic was associated with poorer organizational well-being but only among those with lower levels of organizational identification, and those whose organizational communication strategies were poorer. These findings demonstrate that indicators of organizational connectedness played a distinct role in explaining ill-being, workplace well-being, and remote working experiences, above and beyond the effects of general connectedness, during lockdown. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The effects of social and organizational connectedness on employee well‐being and remote working experiences during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Maintaining social connectedness is crucial for health and well‐being—especially during uncertain times such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. The present study examined (1) the effects of general and organizational indicators of connectedness on employee well‐being and (involuntary) remote work experiences during lockdown and (2) whether organizational connectedness attenuated the ill effects of isolation on employee well‐being. Full‐ and part‐time workers (N = 188) recruited during the UK's second national COVID‐19 lockdown completed a questionnaire measuring time spent interacting and alone during lockdown, social connectedness, organizational identification, perceived organizational support, organizational communication, ill‐being, organizational well‐being (i.e., well‐being at work), and remote working experiences. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that those with greater social connectedness and organizational support reported less ill‐being. In contrast, those spending more time alone and, unexpectedly, those strongly identifying with their organization, reported more ill‐being. Additionally, those who felt greater organizational support had more positive remote working experiences, whereas stronger organizational identification negatively related to the latter. Only organizational support was significantly associated with (more positive) well‐being at work. Furthermore, moderation analyses showed that time spent alone during the pandemic was associated with poorer organizational well‐being but only among those with lower levels of organizational identification, and those whose organizational communication strategies were poorer. These findings demonstrate that indicators of organizational connectedness played a distinct role in explaining ill‐being, workplace well‐being, and remote working experiences, above and beyond the effects of general connectedness, during lockdown. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Applied Social Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The impact of risk perceptions and belief in conspiracy theories on COVID-19 pandemic-related behaviours.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, conspiracy theories about the virus spread rapidly, and whilst governments across the globe put in place different restrictions and guidelines to contain the pandemic, these were not universally adhered to. This research examined the association between pandemic related risk perceptions, belief in conspiracy theories, and compliance with COVID-19 public guidelines amongst a UK sample (n = 368). Participants rated their level of concern for a series of potential risks during the pandemic (to the economy, personal health, freedom, media integrity and health risk to others). Participants also rated their level of belief in different conspiracy theories and self-reported their behaviour during the first UK lockdown. Mediational analyses showed that stronger belief in conspiracy theories was associated with perceptions of lower risk to health and higher risk to the economy and freedom, which in turn were associated with lower compliance with COVID-19 related governmental guidelines. Perception of information transparency risks did not mediate the association between belief in conspiracy theories and compliant behaviours. These results highlight the key role that risk perception may play in translating belief in conspiracy theories into low compliance with governmental COVID-19 related guidelines. Our findings suggest new patterns with respect to the relationship between conspiracy theory adherence and salience of different risk perceptions amidst the pandemic, which could have implications for the development of public health messaging and communication interventions.