Search Results (1,327)

Concurrent cognitive tasks, such as avoiding visual, auditory, chemical, and electrical hazards, and concurrent motor tasks, such as load carriage, are prevalent in ergonomic settings. Trips are extremely common in the workplace, leading to fatal and non-fatal fall-related injuries. Intrinsic factors, such as attention, fatigue, and anticipation, as well as extrinsic factors, including tasks at hand, affect trip recovery responses. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ankle joint kinematics in unexpected and expected trip responses during single-tasking (ST), dual-tasking (DT), and triple-tasking (TT), before and after a physically fatiguing protocol among young, healthy adults. Methods: Twenty volunteers’ (10 females, one left leg dominant, age 20.35 ± 1.04 years, height 174.83 ± 9.03 cm, mass 73.88 ± 15.55 kg) ankle joint kinematics were assessed using 3D motion capture system during unperturbed gait (NG), unexpected trip (UT), and expected trip (ET), during single-tasking (ST), cognitive dual-tasking (CDT), motor dual-tasking (MDT), and triple-tasking (TT), under both PRE and POST fatigue conditions. Results: Greater dorsiflexion angles were observed during UT compared to NG, MDT compared to ST, and TT compared to ST. Significantly greater plantar flexion angles were observed during ET compared to NG and during POST compared to PRE. Conclusions: Greater dorsiflexion angles during dual- and triple-tasking suggest that divided attention affects trip recovery. Greater plantar flexion angles following fatigue are likely an anticipatory mechanism due to altered muscle activity and increased postural control demands. Full article

Smartphones have revolutionized our daily lives, becoming portable pocket computers with easy internet access. India, the second-highest smartphone and internet user, experienced a significant rise in smartphone usage between 2013 and 2024. Prolonged smartphone use, exceeding 20 min at a time, can lead to physical and mental health issues, including psychophysiological disorders. Digital devices and their extended exposure to blue light cause digital eyestrain, sleep disorders and visual-related problems. This research examines the impact of 1 h smartphone usage on visual fatigue among young Indian adults. A portable, low-cost system has been developed to measure visual activity to address this. The developed visual activity measurement system measures blink rate, inter-blink interval, and pupil diameter. Measured eye activity was recorded during 1 h smartphone usage of e-book reading, video watching, and social-media reels (short videos). Social media reels show increased screen variations, affecting pupil dilation and reducing blink rate due to continuous screen brightness and intensity changes. This reduction in blink rate and increase in inter-blink interval or pupil dilation could lead to visual fatigue. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of mental fatigue on physical and cognitive performance (lower-limb power, isometric and handgrip strength, and psychomotor vigilance). Twenty-two physically active young adults (12 males, 10 females; M_age = 20.82 ± 1.47) were randomly assigned to either a Mental Fatigue (MF) or Control group (CON). The MF group showed a statistically significant (p = 0.019) reduction in non-dominant handgrip strength, declining by approximately 2.3 kg (about 5%), while no such change was observed in the CON group or in dominant handgrip strength across groups. Reaction time (RT) was significantly impaired following the mental fatigue protocol: RT increased by 117.82 ms, representing an approximate 46% longer response time in the MF group (p < 0.001), whereas the CON group showed a smaller, non-significant increase of 32.82 ms (~12% longer). No significant differences were found in squat jump performance, indicating that lower-limb explosive power may be less affected by acute mental fatigue. These findings demonstrate that mental fatigue selectively impairs fine motor strength and cognitive processing speed, particularly reaction time, while gross motor power remains resilient. Understanding these effects is critical for optimizing performance in contexts requiring fine motor control and sustained attention under cognitive load. Full article

Background: Thailand is rapidly transitioning into an aging society, creating an intergenerational caregiving gap that strains existing support systems. Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of “Young Care,” a community-based intervention designed to enhance youth knowledge, attitudes, and caregiving practices (KAP) toward older adults. Methods: A two-day structured training was conducted in Maha Sarakham Province in 2023 using a pre-post mixed-methods design. Middle and high school students participated in lectures, multimedia sessions, and experiential learning activities related to caregiving. Quantitative data were collected using validated KAP questionnaires, while qualitative insights were obtained from focus group discussions involving students, older persons, caregivers, and local leaders. Results: Post-intervention analysis revealed significant improvements in knowledge and attitudes (p < 0.001), accompanied by increased empathy, caregiving initiative, and a sense of moral responsibility among participants. Conclusions: The initiative fostered formal partnerships among schools, local governments, healthcare providers, and universities through memoranda of understanding. These collaborations enabled budgetary support and outreach to out-of-school youth, positioning “Young Care” as a scalable, youth-centered strategy to address Thailand’s long-term care challenges. Full article

This story began half a century ago with the discovery of an unusually high presence of tryptophan (Trp, W) in transthyretin (TTR), one of the three carrier proteins of thyroid hormones. With the Trp-rich retinol-binding protein (RBP), TTR forms a plasma complex implicated in the delivery of retinoid compounds to body tissues. W has the lowest concentration among all AAs involved in the sequencing of human body proteins. The present review proposes molecular maps focusing on the ratio of W/AA residues found in the sequence of proteins involved in immune events, allowing us to ascribe the guidance of inflammatory processes as fully under the influence of W. Under the control of cytokine stimulation, plasma biomarkers of protein nutritional status work in concert with major acute-phase reactants (APRs) and with carrier proteins to release, in a free and active form, their W and hormonal ligands, interacting to generate hot spots affecting the course of acute stress disorders. The prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index (PINI) scoring formula contributes to identifying the respective roles played by each of the components prevailing during the progression of the disease. Glucagon demonstrates ambivalent properties, remaining passive under steady-state conditions while displaying stronger effects after cytokine activation. In developing countries, inappropriate weaning periods lead to toddlers eating W-deficient cereals as a staple, causing a dramatic reduction in the levels of W-rich biomarkers in plasma, constituting a novel nutritional deficiency at the global scale. Appropriate counseling should be set up using W implementations to cover the weaning period and extended until school age. In adult and elderly subjects, the helpful immune protections provided by W may be hindered by the surge in harmful catabolites with the occurrence of chronic complications, which can have a significant public health impact but lack the uncontrolled surges in PINI observed in young infants and teenagers. Biomarkers of neurodegenerative and neoplastic disorders measured in elderly patients indicate the slow-moving elevation of APRs due to rampant degradation processes. Full article

First-generation students can experience a cultural mismatch between their values and those that colleges and universities tend to prioritize. This mismatch can increase cognitive load, leaving fewer resources available for learning. Effective and long-lasting learning requires actively processing new information and connecting it to existing knowledge—an effort that demands significant cognitive resources. Value affirmation exercises, where students select and reflect upon values that are important to them, have shown promise in reducing cultural mismatch and improving performance on cognitive tasks. However, the impact of these exercises on the learning and recall of new information is less clear. The current study investigated whether a value affirmation exercise, completed before reading an educational passage, would improve memory recall for that passage in a sample of 400 first-generation and continuing-generation young adults, as compared to not affirming. Our results failed to provide evidence that value affirmation exercises impacted recall performance, regardless of whether participants affirmed independent values, interdependent values, or both. Given the importance and implications of this outcome for student learning, we discuss possible explanations for these null findings and suggest future directions in affirmation research. Full article

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a common neoplasm in adolescents and young adults, primarily treated with doxorubicin (DOX) and bleomycin (BLM), which may cause severe adverse effects. The cure rate decreases to 75% in advanced-stage disease, highlighting the need for improved treatment strategies. Pentoxifylline (PTX), an NF-κB pathway inhibitor, enhances chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in cancer cells, making it a promising candidate for HL therapy. This study assessed the effects of PTX, DOX, and BLM on apoptosis, proliferation, and senescence in Hs-445 HL cells. Cell viability and clonogenicity were measured by spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry, while apoptosis, caspase activity, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), proliferation, and senescence were analyzed via flow cytometry. Gene expression was assessed by qPCR. PTX significantly induced apoptosis, especially when combined with BLM or BLM+DOX (triple therapy), and modulated gene expression by upregulating proapoptotic and downregulating antiapoptotic markers. PTX increased caspase-3, -8, and -9 activity and disrupted the ΔΨm, particularly with BLM or triple therapy. Furthermore, PTX abolished DOX-induced G2 cell cycle arrest, reduced proliferation, and clonogenicity, and reversed DOX- and BLM-induced senescence. In conclusion, PTX induces apoptosis in HL cells, enhances DOX and BLM cytotoxicity synergistically, and reverses senescence, suggesting its potential as an adjunct therapy for HL. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ewing sarcoma (ES), a highly aggressive bone and soft tissue cancer occurring in children and young adults, is defined by the ETS fusion oncoprotein EWS::FLI1. Although event-free survival rates remain high in ES patients with localized disease, those with metastatic or relapsed disease face poor long-term survival odds. Topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) inhibitors are commonly used therapeutics in ES relapse regimens. Methods: In this work, we used a genome-wide CRISPR knockout library screen to identify the deletion of the TOP1 gene as a mechanism for resistance to topoisomerase 1 inhibitors. Using isogenic cell line models, we performed a high-throughput small-molecule screen to discover a small molecule, GNF-7, which had an IC50 that was 10-fold lower in TOP1-deficient cells when compared to the wild-type cells. Results: The characterization of GNF-7 demonstrated the molecule was highly active in the inhibition of CSK, p38α, EphA2, Lyn, and ZAK and specifically downregulated genes induced by the EWS::FLI1 fusion oncoprotein. Conclusions: Together, these results suggest that GNF-7 or small molecules with a similar kinase profile could be effective treatments for ES patients in combination with TOP1 inhibitors or for those patients who have developed resistance to TOP1 inhibitors. Full article

Background: Gum chewing is a common habit among young adults, often promoted for its oral health and psychological benefits. However, as a repetitive and non-functional activity, it is also considered a potential risk factor for temporomandibular disorder (TMD), particularly when practiced chronically. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether excessive gum chewing is associated with a higher prevalence of TMD among young adults presumed to be under elevated academic stress based on their demographic characteristics. Methods: Participants were examined in Krakow, Poland, using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) protocol. Participants completed a structured questionnaire assessing gum-chewing frequency, duration, and chronicity. Associations between chewing behaviors and TMD presence were analyzed using univariate logistic regression (α = 0.05). Results: This study included young adults 66 participants aged 19–30. TMD was diagnosed in 55 participants (83.3%), including muscular disorders (n = 9; 16.4%), articular disorders (n = 10; 18.2%), and combined muscular–articular disorders (n = 38; 57.6%). More than 70% of participants reported chewing gum for over five years. No statistically significant associations were found between TMD occurrence and the frequency, duration, or chronicity of gum chewing (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that, in the absence of other contributing factors, gum chewing may not independently contribute to TMD development. The elevated TMD prevalence may reflect confounding variables such as high academic stress, narrow age distribution, or female predominance. However, the limited sample size limits statistical power, particularly for detecting subtle effects potentially distorted by other variables. Additionally, the cross-sectional nature of this study precludes causal interpretation. Further studies in larger and more heterogeneous populations are recommended. Full article

Background/Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health concern, affecting over 60 million people annually. It is associated with high rates of mortality and disability, particularly among young and economically active individuals, and remains the leading cause of death in people under 40 years of age. Although computed tomography (CT) is the standard method for excluding intracranial bleeding (ICB), it is frequently unavailable in resource-limited settings where the burden of TBI is greatest. The InfraScanner 2000 is a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device designed to detect ICB and may serve as a triage tool in environments without access to CT imaging. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the InfraScanner 2000 for detecting ICB in the emergency department (ED) of a trauma center in a cohort of Colombian patients with TBI. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in Cali, Colombia, between December 2019 and February 2021. Adult patients presenting to the ED with blunt TBI were enrolled. InfraScanner assessments were performed according to a standardized protocol, and all participants underwent head CT within 6 h of injury. Results: A total of 140 patients were included. Of these, 66% were male and 34% were female. Most patients (63.57%) were between 18 and 39 years old, with a median age of 39 years (IQR: 18–86). The InfraScanner demonstrated a sensitivity of 60.0% (95% CI: 32.5–84.8), specificity of 78.4% (95% CI: 71.2–85.6), positive predictive value (PPV) of 25.0%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 94.2% for detecting ICB. Conclusions: The InfraScanner 2000 showed good specificity and high NPV in identifying ICB among Colombian patients with TBI. These findings suggest it could serve as a useful triage tool to support decision-making in emergency settings with limited access to CT imaging. Full article

Background/Objectives: There is evidence concerning herbal medicines and plant-based compounds, including Lamiaceae species, as putative senolytic agents; however, there are only a few reports on Ocimum americanum properties using rat models. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects and potential modes of action of Ocimum americanum L. using ex vivo and in vivo assays to assess the effects of OAEE on hippocampal tissue from young adult and late middle-aged Wistar rats, with a focus on oxidative stress, cholinesterase activity, and neuroinflammatory markers. Methods: Ocimum americanum ethanol extract (OAEE) was incubated with hippocampal slices of young adult and late middle-aged male Wistar rats exposed to H₂O₂; an acute treatment with OAEE was evaluated in aversive memory performance and neurochemical parameters, such as hippocampal cellular oxidative state, and anticholinesterase activity, and a diet supplementation of OAEE were evaluated on several hippocampal biochemical parameters, such as oxidative state, anticholinesterase activity, and neuroinflammatory parameters in young adult and late middle-aged male rats. Results: OAEE reversed the H₂O₂-induced impaired cellular viability in hippocampal slices from young adult rats, as well as protected hippocampal slices against H₂O₂-induced damage in both young adult and late middle-aged Wistar rats, indicating its neuroprotective action. Chronic dietary OAEE supplementation reduced aging-induced increases in reactive species and lipid peroxidation levels in the hippocampus. Indeed, this supplementation reduced the TNF-α content in hippocampus from both ages, and IL-1β levels in young adult rats. Conclusions: The antioxidant actions of OAEE here observed, preventing the lipoperoxidation, as well as its anti-neuroinflammatory effect, might be related to neuroprotective effect. Our findings add evidence to support the idea of the potential use of Ocimum americanum as a nutraceutical or functional food in the aging process. Full article

Background: Biomechanical and neuromuscular differences between falls and recoveries have been well-studied; however, the cortical correlations remain unclear. Using mobile brain imaging via electroencephalography (EEG), we examined differences in sensorimotor beta frequencies between falls and recoveries during an unpredicted slip in walking. Methods: We recruited 22 young adults (15 female; 18–35 years) who experienced a slip (65 cm) during walking. Raw EEG signals were band-pass filtered, and independent component analysis was performed to remove non-neural sources, eventually three participants were excluded due to excessive artifacts. Peak beta power was extracted from three time-bins: 400 milliseconds pre-, 0–150 milliseconds post and 150–300 milliseconds post-perturbation from the midline (Cz) electrode. A 2 × 3 Analysis of Covariance assessed the interaction between time-bins and group on beta power, followed by Independent and Paired t-tests for between and within-group post hoc comparisons. Results: All participants (n = 19) experienced a balance loss, seven experienced a fall. There was a time × group interaction on beta power (p < 0.05). With no group differences pre-perturbation, participants who experienced a fall exhibited higher beta power during 0–150 milliseconds post-perturbation than those who recovered (p < 0.001). However, there were no group differences in beta power during 150–300 milliseconds post-perturbation. Conclusions: Young adults exhibiting a greater increase in beta power during the early post-perturbation period experienced a fall, suggesting a higher cortical error detection due to a larger mismatch in the expected and ongoing postural state and greater cortical dependence for sensorimotor processing. Our study results provide an overview of the possible cortical governance to modulate slip-fall/recovery outcomes. Full article

(1) Background: The provision of monofunctional or inadequately distributed services in urban park green spaces often constrains residents’ opportunities and diversity for outdoor activities, particularly limiting access and participation for specific age groups or activity preferences. However, functional nodes with temporal and spatial flexibility demonstrate high-quality characteristics of resilient and shared services through integrated development. Accurately identifying user demand provides a solid basis for optimizing the functional configuration of urban parks. (2) Methods: This study took the old city area of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, as a case study. By collecting and integrating various types of data, such as geographic spatial data, field investigation data, and behavioral observations, we developed a population demand quantification method and a modular analysis approach for park service functions. This framework enabled correlation analysis between diverse user needs and park services. The study further classified and combined park functions into modular units, quantifying their elastic and shared service capabilities—namely, the adaptive flexibility and shared utilization capacity of park services. Additionally, we established a demand-responsive evaluation system for identifying and diagnosing problem areas in park services based on multi-source data. (3) Results: The demand response index and diagnostic results indicate that the supply of fitness facilities—particularly equipment-based installations—is insufficient within the old urban district of Zhengzhou. Among the three user groups—children, young and middle-aged adults, and the elderly—the elderly population exhibited the lowest demand response index, revealing a significant gap in meeting their specific needs. (4) Conclusions: Based on the research findings, a three-tier optimization strategy is proposed: A. improve green space connectivity to expand the service coverage of parks; B. implement multifunctional overlay and coordinated integration in spatial design based on site characteristics and demand diagnostics; and C. increase the total supply of facilities to enhance spatial efficiency in parks. By integrating the demand assessment data and diagnostic results, this approach enabled a data-driven reorganization of service types and targeted allocation of resources within existing park infrastructure, offering a practical tool and reference for the planning of urban outdoor activity spaces. Full article

Background: Bertolotti syndrome describes a painful lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) with a pseudoarticulation between an enlarged lateral process of the caudal lumbar vertebra (L5) and ilium or sacrum. It often presents with chronic lower back pain with or without radiculopathy. The current literature emphasizes Bertolotti as a differential diagnosis in young adults. However, it is presumably underdiagnosed in middle-aged and older patients. Treatment ranges from conservative treatment with physiotherapy, infiltration, and radiofrequency ablation to surgical interventions. Case Description: In this case illustration, we present the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in a 48-year-old female triathlete with persistent left gluteal pain caused by Bertolotti syndrome. When conservative treatment with physiotherapy, infiltrations, thermocoagulation, and radiofrequency ablation of the pseudoarticulation failed, microsurgical reduction of the hypertrophic transverse process was performed. This minimally invasive intervention achieved satisfactory pain relief of at least 70% one year after surgery, allowing the patient to resume her athletic activities. Conclusions: Bertolotti syndrome should be considered a potential differential diagnosis in patients of all ages. Since many patients endure years of misdiagnosis, adequate treatment is crucial upon diagnosis. If conservative measures fail, surgical treatment such as “processectomy” or spinal fusion should be evaluated. This case follows the CARE reporting guidelines. Full article

The study examines how individual skills influence adolescents’ and young adults’ commitment to climate protection and global health. Based on 21st-century skills and transformative education, it focuses on competences in science, geography, mathematics, religion, ethics, and media. A representative online survey of 783 participants in Germany assessed topic relevance, information-seeking behavior, and active engagement. The results show that subject-specific skills significantly affect engagement, especially when closely related to the topics. Scientific, mathematical, and geographical competences enhance all three engagement dimensions. Media competence primarily increases perceived importance, while religious and ethical competences positively influence all areas. Structural equation modeling reveals a process: perceived relevance leads to information search, which then drives engagement. Thus, competences have both direct and indirect effects on active involvement. The findings highlight that long-term engagement is not only driven by campaigns but also by education that equips young people with the skills to recognize important issues, seek information, and take action independently. Full article