Search Results (1,328)

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a prevalent overuse injury among recreational cyclists worldwide. Despite its ubiquity, little is known about the lived experiences of people with PFP, especially in Saudi Arabia, where healthcare and cultural factors may have a specific impact on how the condition is managed. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of recreational cyclists with patellofemoral pain in Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Method: A qualitative, descriptive design using reflexive thematic analysis was employed. Eleven male recreational cyclists aged 28–44 years diagnosed with PFP were purposely recruited from Al Madinah Physical Therapy Centre. Female participants were excluded due to cultural constraints regarding sports participation. The participants consented to participate in the study and to be audio recorded. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide. The interview data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using Atlas.ti, version 24. Results: The thematic analysis revealed six themes highlighting the multidimensional impact of PFP. The participants described localised mechanical impairment with rapid onset during activity and persistent symptoms lasting up to two weeks. Pain was exacerbated by eccentric loading and cycling-specific stressors, such as uphill riding, leading to significant anxiety and avoidance behaviours. To maintain activity, these cyclists employed adaptive strategies, including bike modifications and self-management. Notably, PFP imposed substantial cultural and social burdens, hindering spiritual practices, specifically Salah (prayer) postures, professional duties, and family caregiving. While the participants demonstrated resourcefulness through a hybrid of physiotherapy and independent research, pharmacological relief was viewed as a transient solution. Conclusions: Patellofemoral pain imposes significant multidimensional burdens on recreational cyclists in Al Madinah, which are exacerbated by cultural practices. Physiotherapy offers targeted interventions for pain relief, functional restoration, and participation enhancement, necessitating the need for culturally sensitive management programmes. Full article

This study assesses the innovation performance and convergence dynamics across 237 European regions (NUTS 2 level) from 2016 to 2023, explicitly accounting for the structural and behavioural changes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The article provides a novel regional-level assessment of how an unprecedented external shock reshaped innovation trajectories before and after the pandemic. To this end, the analysis combines Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), sigma-convergence measures, and a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) framework within an integrated multi-method empirical approach to evaluate shifts in regional innovation patterns over time. The results reveal a highly uneven distribution of innovation activities, with increasing polarization in the post-pandemic period. Northern and Western European regions strengthened their competitive advantage through robust digital infrastructure, strong human capital, and substantial R&D investments. In contrast, many Southern and Eastern European regions faced heightened structural barriers, leading to a widening innovation gap. Nevertheless, several regions exhibited notable resilience and achieved significant innovation catch-up, providing new empirical evidence on heterogeneous regional adaptive dynamics supported by targeted regional policies and improved local capabilities. The sigma-convergence analysis indicates a general increase in overall disparities, as reflected by rising dispersion in the Regional Innovation Index (RII) during 2020–2023. However, according to the DiD estimation, regions most severely affected by COVID-19 experienced a statistically significant relative increase (approximately 2.17%) in innovation performance, highlighting the pandemic’s role as a catalyst for accelerated digital transformation and innovation adjustment at the regional level. Full article

The recent development in polymer science has gone beyond the traditional linear and randomly functionalizable macromolecules to the architected polymer systems, which integrate modular synthesis and dynamic responsiveness. Although the literature related to polymer synthesis and stimuli-responsive materials and applications is widely discussed, it is common to review the aspects independently, restricting a complete picture of how architectural modularity controls adaptive performance. This gap is filled in this review with an integrated framework of relating modular polymer synthesis, stimuli-responsive design, and application-oriented functionality in a single coherent design philosophy. The scientific novelty of this review is that the focus on modular polymers is not only on synthetic constructs, but is a programmable functional scaffold where the structural precision is the direct determinant of responsiveness, multifunctionality, and performance. Controlled polymerization and post-polymerization modification regimes are mentioned to be tools that allow precise positioning of functional modules, and this allows polymers to respond in predictable ways to environmental stimuli like pH, temperature, light, redox conditions, etc. In addition, the review identifies the role of a synergistic combination of various responsive modules in the emergence of behaviours that would not be reached in conventional polymer systems. This review offers a coherent viewpoint on the future of functional polymers of the next generation by bringing together synthetic approaches to nano-responsive behaviour and real-world technologies, such as drug delivery, self-healing surfaces, adaptive surfaces, and biosensing surfaces. The framework in the present paper provides a logical route towards the development of environmentally friendly, multifunctional, and adjustable polymer structures. Full article

The textile industry generates significant volumes of waste, making the development of reliable methods to evaluate biodegradability a pressing need. While standardised protocols exist for plastics, no specific methodologies have been established for textiles, and the quantification of non-degraded residues is commonly based on mass loss: a measurement that is prone to recovery errors. This study investigated the biodegradation of cotton, polyester, and cotton/polyester blend fabrics in soil under thermophilic conditions using a combined methodological approach. Carbon mineralisation was quantified through a respirometric assay that was specifically adapted for textile substrates, while residual solid fractions were assessed in situ by X-ray microtomography (micro-CT), thus avoiding artefacts associated with sample recovery. Complementary analyses were performed using SEM and FTIR to characterise morphological and chemical changes. Results showed substantial biodegradation of cotton, negligible degradation of polyester, and intermediate behaviour for the cotton/polyester blend. Micro-CT enabled the visualisation of fibre fragmentation and the quantification of the residual. The integration of respirometric, imaging, and spectroscopic techniques provided a comprehensive assessment of textile biodegradability. This study highlights the potential of micro-CT as a non-destructive tool to improve the accuracy and robustness of textile biodegradability assessment by enabling direct quantification of the residual solid fraction that can support future LCA studies and the development of standardised protocols for textile biodegradability. Full article

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a significant environmental stressor that exerts profound impacts on insect physiology, behaviour and survival. Although some insects can use UV light for spatial orientation and navigation, it can induce DNA damage, oxidative stress, and impair critical biological functions, ultimately reducing ecological fitness. Sclerodermus alternatusi Yang (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is a dominant ectoparasitoid of the early instar larvae of Monochamus alternatus and plays a key role in the biological control of this pest in forestry systems; however, it faces intense UV exposure in the field environment. Despite its ecological importance, the molecular mechanisms underlying its responses to UV-induced stress remain poorly understood. In this study, newly emerged adult wasps (within 24 h post-eclosion) were exposed to UVA (365 nm) and UVC (253.7 nm) radiation for 9 h under controlled laboratory conditions. Total RNA was extracted from treated and control individuals for transcriptomic analysis using RNA-Seq. A total of 505 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified; gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that UVA exposure significantly upregulated genes involved in cellular respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, suggesting an enhanced metabolic response. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that UV stress modulates energy metabolism through the activation of oxidative phosphorylation and thermogenesis-related pathways, highlighting the reallocation of energy resources in response to UV-induced stress. To validate the RNA-Seq data, four representative DEGs were selected for quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis. The qPCR results were consistent with the transcriptomic trends, confirming the reliability of the sequencing data. Collectively, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular response mechanisms of S. alternatusi to UV stress, offering novel insights into its environmental adaptability and laying a theoretical foundation for its application in biological pest control under field conditions. Full article

Cloud-based Earth observation platforms, such as data cubes, enable reproducible analyses of long-term satellite time series for climate and urban studies. In parallel, Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) provide a standardised framework for monitoring climate dynamics, with urban land cover and temperature being particularly relevant in historic urban contexts. This study analyses long-term trends and statistical associations between satellite-based ECVs and urbanisation indicators within the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) of Sfax (Tunisia) from 1985 to 2021. Using the Digital Earth Africa (DEA) data cube, we derived six urban spectral indices (USIs), land surface temperature, air temperature at 2 m, wind characteristics, and precipitation from Landsat and ERA5 reanalysis data. An automated and reproducible Python-based workflow was implemented to assess USI behaviour, evaluate their performance against the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL), and explore spatio-temporal co-variations between urbanisation and climate variables. Results reveal a consistent increase in air and surface temperatures alongside a decreasing precipitation trend over the study period. The USIs demonstrate comparable accuracy levels (≈88–90%) in delineating urban areas, with indices based on SWIR and NIR bands (NDBI, BUI, NBI) showing the strongest statistical associations with temperature variables. Correlation and multivariate regression analyses indicate that temporal variations in USIs are more strongly associated with air temperature than with land surface temperature; however, these relationships reflect statistical co-variation rather than causality. By integrating satellite-based ECVs within a data cube framework, this study provides an operational methodology for long-term monitoring of urban-climate interactions in historic Mediterranean cities, supporting both climate adaptation strategies and the objectives of the UNESCO HUL approach. Full article

Communication in mammals constitutes a complex, multimodal system that integrates visual, acoustic, tactile, and chemical signals whose functions extend beyond simple information transfer to include the regulation of social relationships, coordination of behaviour, and expression of emotional states. This article examines the fundamental mechanisms of communication from biological, neuroethological, and behavioural perspectives, with particular emphasis on domesticated and farmed species. Analysis of sensory signals demonstrates that their perception and interpretation are closely linked to the physiology of sensory organs as well as to social experience and environmental context. In companion animals such as dogs and cats, domestication has significantly modified communicative repertoires ranging from the development of specialised facial musculature in dogs to adaptive diversification of vocalisations in cats. The neurobiological foundations of communication, including the activity of the amygdala, limbic structures, and mirror-neuron systems, provide evidence for homologous mechanisms of emotion recognition across species. The article also highlights the role of communication in shaping social structures and the influence of husbandry conditions on the behaviour of farm animals. In intensive production environments, acoustic, visual, and chemical signals are often shaped or distorted by crowding, noise, and chronic stress, with direct consequences for welfare. Furthermore, the growing importance of multimodal technologies such as Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) and Animal–Computer Interaction (ACI) is discussed, particularly their role in enabling objective monitoring of emotional states and behaviour and supporting individualised care. Overall, the analysis underscores that communication forms the foundation of social functioning in mammals, and that understanding this complexity is essential for ethology, animal welfare, training practices, and the design of modern technologies facilitating human–animal interaction. Full article

Early detection of suicidal risk in adolescents requires valid tools adapted to the clinical and educational context. However, there are currently no observational scales developed specifically for use by significant people in the adolescent’s environment. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to design, validate and apply to a pilot sample an observational scale to identify behavioural and emotional signs of suicidal risk in adolescents, from the perspective of adolescents, parents and teachers. Validation study of an Observational Adolescent Suicide Risk Scale (EORSA) based on a theoretical review and expert consensus. Content validity was evaluated through expert judgement by professionals with recognised experience in mental health, psychometrics, and suicide prevention. The scale was subsequently applied to a sample of adolescents, parents and teachers, analysing the mean scores per item in each group. The final scale included 19 items with a high level of agreement among experts (content validity index > 0.80). When applied to the pilot sample, significant differences were observed in the items considered most frequent by each group. The EORSA is a valid and potentially useful tool for identifying signs of suicidal risk in adolescents from an observational perspective. Its design and application allow for a contextualised and multidimensional assessment, favouring preventive interventions adapted to each setting. Full article

Low-income individuals are unlikely to save relatively large sums on a regular basis; however, many still fall short of even the modest threshold required for long-term financial security. This study examines the determinants of benchmark-defined undersaving among retail e-payment agents (REAs) operating in the urban slums of Lagos, Nigeria. We use a contingent valuation survey, descriptive analysis, and logistic regression to examine how selected behavioural and demographic factors, alongside a 60-day experimental intervention—the Programmed Microsaving Scheme (PMSS), a hard daily commitment savings device—affect the likelihood of undersaving, defined as saving less than 12% of each REA’s average daily income. While the PMSS appears to have contributed to improvements in post-treatment saving participation and performance among REAs, it did not significantly increase the likelihood of reaching or exceeding the benchmark savings threshold. Consistent with this, average daily income, age, gender, marital status, education, and religion are statistically insignificant predictors of benchmark-defined undersaving. In contrast, self-control, measured using a literature-validated instrument, exhibits a statistically significant negative association with benchmark-defined undersaving, indicating that higher self-control reduces the likelihood of failing to meet the benchmark. Measured risk aversion similarly shows no significant association. Notably, this study introduces a novel 60-day PMSS, co-designed with REAs and neobanks to accommodate daily income savings—a characteristic of the informal sector largely overlooked in the literature on commitment savings devices. From a policy perspective, the findings suggest that while short-horizon commitment devices (such as the 60-day PMSS) and financial literacy are associated with improvements in microsavings among low-income daily earners, achieving benchmark-level saving might require longer-term and more adaptive mechanisms that address income volatility and mitigate other inherent risks. Full article

Background/Objectives: Anxiety disorders (ADs) affect up to 20% of mothers in the postpartum period, characterized by psychological symptoms (e.g., emotion dysregulation; ER) and physical symptoms (e.g., disrupted bodily awareness). Although Cognitive Behavioural Therapy effectively reduces anxiety and mood symptoms, it shows limited efficacy in addressing ER difficulties and rarely targets interoceptive dysfunction—both common in postpartum ADs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a brief mindfulness-based intervention in improving anxiety, ER, and interoception in mothers with postpartum ADs. A secondary aim is to examine changes in brain connectivity associated with these domains. Methods: This protocol describes a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial involving 50 postpartum mothers with ADs. Participants will be randomized to receive either a 4-week mindfulness intervention plus treatment-as-usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Participants in the mindfulness + TAU group will complete a virtual 4-week group intervention adapted from Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. The TAU group will receive usual care for 4 weeks and then be offered the mindfulness intervention. Self-report measures of anxiety, ER, and interoception will be collected at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. Resting-state functional MRI will be conducted at baseline and post-intervention to assess functional connectivity changes. This trial has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07262801). Results: Improvements in anxiety, ER, and interoception are anticipated, along with decreased default mode network, and increased salience network connectivity post-intervention is hypothesized. Conclusions: This study will be the first to examine the combined psychological and neural effects of mindfulness in postpartum ADs, offering a potentially scalable mind–body treatment. Full article

Biological decision-making under uncertainty relies on somatic markers, which are affective signals that bias choices without exhaustive computation. This study biomimetically translates the Somatic Marker Hypothesis (SMH) into synthetic somatic markers (SSMs), a minimal and interpretable evaluative mechanism that assigns a scalar valence to compressed environmental states in the high-dimensional discrete grid-world Pixelverse, without modelling subjective feelings. SSMs are implemented as a lightweight Python routine in which agents accumulate valence from experience and use a simple threshold rule (θ = −0.5) to decide whether to keep the current trajectory or reset the environment. In repeated simulations, agents perform few resets on average and spend a higher proportion of time in stable “good” configurations, indicating that non-trivial adaptive behaviour can emerge from a single evaluative dimension rather than explicit planning in this small stochastic grid-world. The main conclusion is that, in this minimalist 3 × 3 Pixelverse testbed, SMH-inspired SSMs provide an economical and transparent heuristic that can bias decision-making despite combinatorial state growth. Within this toy setting, they offer a conceptually grounded alternative and potential complement to more complex affective and optimisation model. However, their applicability to richer environments remains an open question for future research. The ethical implications of deploying such bio-inspired evaluative systems, including transparency, bias mitigation, and human oversight, are briefly outlined. Full article

Background: Children with disabilities and special educational needs show heterogeneous developmental profiles that may be associated with executive functioning and family factors. This study examined functional developmental profiles in primary education and their associations with executive functions, behavioural indicators, and parental mental health. Methods: Participants were 106 children aged 6–12 years attending mainstream schools, including a subgroup with special educational needs. Parents completed the Developmental Profile-3 (DP-3) and a family mental-health record, while teachers completed the Screening of Emotional and Behavioural Problems in Children (SPECI) and Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2 (BRIEF-2) based on structured ratings derived from daily interaction with the child. Correlational and regression analyses were conducted. Results: Executive functions—particularly working memory and planning/organisation—were consistently associated with global, adaptive, and social development. Parental overload showed negative associations with several developmental domains. Associations with behavioural indicators were modest. Conclusions: Developmental functioning in children with and without special educational needs is associated with executive functions and family factors as perceived by parents and teachers. Findings should be interpreted as relational and inform future assessment and inclusive educational planning. Full article

The structural vulnerability of RC structures during major seismic events raises several concerns regarding structural design and behaviour. Additionally, corrosion’s impact on steel and concrete, including a reduction in ductility, confinement and strength, can compromise structural performance, especially for reversal loading. This work investigates the combined effect of corrosion and seismic actions on the structural performance of RC structures. Numerical models of RC structures with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% corrosion were proposed. The effect of corrosion in the numerical models was calibrated based on experimental studies carried out on corroded RC elements. Afterwards, we considered the scenario of corrosion in all peripheral structural elements of 5- and 10-storey MRF structures in three distinct conditions. To enforce vertical irregularity, we have imposed vertical irregularity at the ground level in each structure. An adaptive pushover analysis was performed to assess the effect of corrosion and vertical irregularity on the seismic response. The results demonstrate that, for the levels of 5% and 10% corrosion, uniform corrosion produces a deleterious impact on structural responses in 10- and 5-storey MRF structures, respectively, regardless of the level of irregularity of the elevation. However, the irregularity generates a higher impact in the seismic response than the uniformly distributed corrosion in height. The combined effect of those parameters must be considered in seismic codes for new and existing buildings in order to maintain safe performance levels. Full article

Background: Dementia poses a significant health concern among Australia’s First Nations peoples, who experience higher prevalence and earlier onset compared to non-First Nations populations. Despite growing research attention, the overall scope and characteristics of existing literature on dementia in these communities remain unclear. Objective: This scoping review aimed to map and synthesise existing evidence on the burden of dementia among First Nations peoples, focusing on associated risk factors and culturally responsive approaches to prevention, intervention, and care. Methods: Following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across Scopus, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, the Indigenous Studies Portal, and Google Scholar for English-language studies published between 2004 and 2025. Search terms combined dementia and cognitive impairment with First Nations, Indigenous peoples, and related concepts, alongside terms for risk factors, intervention, prevention, care strategies, and health disparities. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data using a standardised template. Of the 620 records identified, 324 were screened, 130 were assessed in full, and 75 met the inclusion criteria. Data were narratively synthesised to identify key themes and evidence gaps. Results: The review revealed a disproportionate burden of dementia among First Nations peoples, characterised by earlier onset and higher prevalence than in non-First Nations populations. Major modifiable risk factors included social determinants of health, lifestyle behaviours, and inequitable access to healthcare. Studies emphasised the importance of culturally safe, community-led, and multidisciplinary approaches; however, many interventions remain poorly adapted to the diverse cultural contexts of First Nations communities. The review also identified gaps in diagnostic tools, culturally appropriate care pathways, and the integration of traditional knowledge and digital innovations in dementia management. Conclusions: Addressing dementia inequities among First Nations Australians demands transformative, community-driven action that extends beyond descriptive research. Future work should prioritise co-designed, culturally grounded interventions that embed First Nations knowledge systems, strengthen healthcare capacity, and foster long-term community empowerment. Embedding cultural safety within policy and clinical frameworks, and shifting toward preventive, strengths-based approaches, will advance equity in dementia care and provide valuable insights for First Nations health systems globally. Full article

The increasing demand for active and light mobility (including bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters) has become a key driver of sustainable urban transport, calling for a renewed approach to urban planning. A central challenge is redesigning infrastructure around users’ needs, inspired by the “15-min city” concept developed by Carlos Moreno. However, the existing literature on user preferences in this domain remains fragmented, both methodologically and thematically, and often lacks integration of user behaviour analysis. This paper presents a structured review of recent international studies on factors influencing route and infrastructure choices in active and light mobility. The findings are organized into an analytical framework based on five macro-criteria: external and infrastructural factors, transport mode, user typology, experimental methodology and infrastructure attributes. The synthesis tables aim to summarize the findings to guide planners, researchers and decision-makers towards more inclusive, adaptable and effective mobility systems, through the development of user-oriented planning tools, attractiveness indexes and strategies for cycling and micromobility networks. Moreover, the review contributes to an ongoing national research initiative and lays the groundwork for developing decision-making tools, attractiveness indexes and route recommendation systems. Full article