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A diverse Eocene charophyte flora from a section at Gánt (Vértes Hills), Transdanubian Central Range, north-western Hungary, provides significant new information building on previous studies based only on sub-surface data published from the mid-twentieth century. This newly acquired material facilitates the taxonomic revision and emendation of the species Raskyella peckii and thereby defines a new anagenetic lineage based on three successive varieties that were formerly considered as separate species or subspecies: Raskyella peckii var. peckii (early Lutetian–early Bartonian), Raskyella peckii var. caliciformis (early Bartonian), and Raskyella peckii var. vadaszii (late Bartonian). Based on this lineage, we propose a new local charophyte biozonation that consists of a 'Raskyella peckii Superzone' (Lutetian–Bartonian), sub-divided into three successive charophyte partial range zones: the 'Raskyella peckii peckii Zone' (Lutetian–lower-most Bartonian) characterized by an assemblage of R. peckii peckii, Gyrogona caelata forma caelata, G. caelata forma monolifera and Nitellopsis (Tectochara) aff. palaeohungarica, the 'Raskyella peckii caliciformis Zone' (lower Bartonian) characterized by the assemblage of R. peckii var. caliciformis, G. caelata forma caelata, G. caelata forma monolifera, G. caelata forma baccata, Nitellopsis (Tectochara) aff. palaeohungarica and Chara media, and the 'Raskyella peckii vadaszii Zone' (upper Bartonian) characterized by R. peckii var. vadaszii, G. caelata forma bicincta, G. caelata forma baccata, G. caelata forma fasciata, G. tuberosa, Psilochara polita, Psilochara sp., Chara media and Chara subcylindrica. Future research may show the new local biozonation as applicable to the whole of Europe and complementary to the current European charophyte biozonation. Our results show that the sequences from Gánt, which were previously regarded as upper mid-Eocene (upper Lutetian–lower Bartonian) in age, appear to represent a longer chronostratigraphic interval: lower Lutetian to upper Bartonian. Our chronostratigraphic results imply a longer and more stepwise Eocene major transgression in the Transdanubian Central Range than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 lockdown could engender disruption to lifestyle behaviors, thus impairing mental wellbeing in the general population. This study investigated whether sociodemographic variables, changes in physical activity, and sleep quality from pre- to during lockdown were predictors of change in mental wellbeing in quarantined older adults., Methods: A 12-week international online survey was launched in 14 languages on 6 April 2020. Forty-one research institutions from Europe, Western-Asia, North-Africa, and the Americas, promoted the survey. The survey was presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "pre" and "during" the lockdown period. Participants responded to the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire., Results: Replies from older adults (aged >55 years, n = 517), mainly from Europe (50.1%), Western-Asia (6.8%), America (30%), and North-Africa (9.3%) were analyzed. The COVID-19 lockdown led to significantly decreased mental wellbeing, sleep quality, and total physical activity energy expenditure levels (all p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that the change in total PSQI score and total physical activity energy expenditure (F (2, 514) = 66.41 p < 0.001) were significant predictors of the decrease in mental wellbeing from pre- to during lockdown ( p < 0.001, R 2 : 0.20)., Conclusion: COVID-19 lockdown deleteriously affected physical activity and sleep patterns. Furthermore, change in the total PSQI score and total physical activity energy expenditure were significant predictors for the decrease in mental wellbeing.

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced people from all around the globe to strongly modify their daily routines, putting a significant strain on the social aspects of daily lives. While the first wave of the pandemic was a very challenging time in all countries, it is still uncertain whether various lockdown intensities and infection rates differed regarding their psychosocial impact. This work therefore aimed to investigate (i) the psychosocial effects of home confinement in two European countries that underwent different lockdown intensities: Italy and the Netherlands and (ii) the role of communication technology in relation to feelings of loneliness. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional online survey inquiring about different psychosocial variables and the use of and satisfaction towards communication technology was circulated among the general public during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 629 participants (66% female, 68% from the Netherlands) answered each question twice, referring to "before" and "during" the pandemic. (3) Results: We found significant negative effects of COVID-19 home confinement on depressive feelings ( p < 0.001, %∆ = +54%), loneliness ( p < 0.001, %∆ = +37.3%), life satisfaction ( p < 0.001, %∆ = -19.8%) and mental wellbeing ( p < 0.001, %∆ = -10.6%) which were accompanied with a significantly increased need for psychosocial support ( p < 0.001, %∆ = +17.3%). However, the magnitude of psychosocial impact did not significantly differ between residents undergoing a more intense (Italy) versus a less intense (Netherlands) lockdown, although the decrease in social participation was found to be significantly different for both countries (z = -7.714, p < 0.001). Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that the increase in loneliness was associated with the adoption of new digital communication tools (r = 0.21, p < 0.001), and significantly higher for individuals who started to adopt at least one new digital communication tool during confinement than for those who did not (z = -4.252, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: This study highlights that, although COVID-19 home confinement significantly impacted psychosocial wellbeing during the first wave of the pandemic, this impact did not differ based on lockdown intensity. Recognizing the increasing adoption of digital communication technology in an attempt to reduce lockdown loneliness, future studies should investigate what is needed from the technology to achieve this effect.

Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation, and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to mitigate spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on psychosocial health is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020 to elucidate the behavioral and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the preliminary results from more than one thousand responders on social participation and life satisfaction., Methods: Thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia, and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, in 7 languages (English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and Slovenian). Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "before" and "during" confinement conditions., Results: 1047 participations (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%), and others (3%) were included in the analysis. Findings revealed psychosocial strain during the enforced COVID-19 home confinement. Large decreases ( p < 0.001) in the amount of social activity through family (-58%), friends/neighbors (-44.9%), or entertainment (-46.7%) were triggered by the enforced confinement. These negative effects on social participation were also associated with lower life satisfaction (-30.5%) during the confinement period. Conversely, the social contact score through digital technologies significantly increased ( p < 0.001) during the confinement period with more individuals (+24.8%) being socially connected through digital technology., Conclusion: These preliminary findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the early COVID-19 home confinement period in 2020. Therefore, in order to mitigate the negative psychosocial effects of home confinement, implementation of national strategies focused on promoting social inclusion through a technology-based solution is strongly suggested.