Search Results (3,834)

Fixation instability (FI) and vergence instability (VI) in amblyopia and strabismus are associated with disrupted physiologic fixation eye movements (FEMs). This study examined how viewing conditions affect FEM patterns in strabismic subjects with and without amblyopia. FEMs of the non-dominant/amblyopic and dominant/fellow eyes were recorded using video-oculography during both-eye viewing (BEV), fellow/dominant-eye viewing (FEV/DEV), and amblyopic/non-dominant-eye viewing (AEV/NDEV) in strabismic subjects with amblyopia (SA, n = 56), without amblyopia (S, n = 19), and controls (C, n = 25). FI, VI, fast FEM amplitudes, slow FEM velocities, and time-based control of eye deviation were analyzed. The SA group showed the greatest FI in the amblyopic eye during AEV compared with the fellow eye during FEV, whereas minimal inter-ocular FI differences were observed in the S group and controls. Under monocular viewing, both SA and S groups exhibited increased FI in the non-viewing eye and higher VI than controls. Regression analyses indicated that visual acuity deficits primarily influenced viewing-eye FI and FEM dynamics, while strabismus mainly affected non-viewing-eye FI and slow FEMs. C and S groups showed the least eye deviation during BEV, whereas the SA group showed the least eye deviation—but the highest VI—during AEV, indicating a distinct pattern of incomitance. Distinct FEM patterns shaped by viewing conditions may reflect underlying visuomotor control mechanisms and serve as biomarkers for AI (artificial intelligence)-based classification. Full article

Background: The integration of active breaks during the school day has been widely demonstrated to be effective in counteracting sedentary behaviors. The present study assessed the efficacy of a structured active breaks (ABs) intervention implemented during recess on multiple domains of Physical Literacy (PL) in primary-school children. Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with 139 children (aged 9–10 years). Classes were randomized into an Experimental Group (EG, n = 66) and a Control Group (CG, n = 73). The EG participated in an 8-week intervention (six sessions/week, ~10 min) consisting of coordinative and interdisciplinary motor tasks during recess. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included physical fitness (SLJ, 4 × 10 m SR, 6MWT, MBT), gross motor skills (TGMD-2), selective attention (Bell Test), physical activity levels (PAQ-C), physical self-perception (PSP), and enjoyment (PACES). Results: A mixed-design MANOVA revealed a significant multivariate Time × Group interaction (p < 0.001). Univariate analyses showed significant improvements in the EG compared to the CG for explosive strength (p < 0.001), agility (p < 0.001), Gross Motor Quotient (p = 0.003), and selective attention (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the EG demonstrated significant increases in physical activity levels, self-perception, and enjoyment (p < 0.05). No significant gender interaction was found, indicating equal effectiveness for boys and girls. Conclusions: Transforming recess into a structured opportunity for movement through ABs effectively enhances physical, cognitive, and affective domains. This intervention represents a sustainable strategy for Health-Promoting Schools to foster PL and psychophysical well-being without reducing curricular instruction time. Full article

Background/Objectives: Freezing of gait (FOG) and sleep disturbances are common in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). A bidirectional association between them has been suggested, but quantitative evaluations are scarce. This study aimed to compare sleep disturbances in mild-to-moderate PwPD with (PD+FOG) and without FOG (PD−FOG), and to assess the association between FOG severity and sleep parameters. Methods: Data from 54 PwPD with disease stage <4 and no severe cognitive decline were included (27 PD+FOG and 27 propensity score-matched for age, sex, and disease duration PD−FOG). Demographics and clinical variables were collected. Clinical assessment included the new freezing of gait questionnaire (NFOG-Q), Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS-2), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS). Mann–Whitney U, Fisher’s exact and Spearman’s tests were used for group comparisons and correlations, respectively. Results: Significant differences were observed between PD+FOG and PD−FOG groups in MDS-UPDRS part II (p = 0.011) and part IV (p = 0.011), with higher scores in PD+FOG participants. No significant differences were found in PDSS-2 or ESS between the two groups. A significant moderate positive correlation was found between NFOG-Q score and PDSS-2 (ρ = 0.416; p = 0.044) in PD+FOG participants. Conclusions: FOG severity was positively associated with sleep disturbances within the PD+FOG group. However, no significant difference in sleep quality or excessive daytime sleepiness was found between PD+FOG and PD−FOG after propensity score matching. PD+FOG participants experienced more severe motor complications and greater impairment in daily activities compared to PD−FOG. Full article

Although motion capture has become integral to contemporary animation pipelines, university teaching still asks students to learn motion largely through screen-based keyframing. To address this gap, this classroom-based comparative study evaluated one structured motion-design lesson within an immersive MoCap-supported training module. Sixty-eight undergraduates in a computer animation course completed the same task in either a Keyframe condition (n = 33) or a VR-MoCap condition (n = 35), with instructional delivery mode as the only difference. Creative performance was assessed in originality, fluency, aesthetic quality, clarity, and a composite score. MANOVA revealed a significant multivariate effect of condition (Pillai’s trace = 0.454, F(4, 63) = 13.12, p < 0.001). Relative to keyframe instruction, VR-MoCap produced significantly higher originality, fluency, clarity, and composite performance, whereas aesthetic quality did not differ significantly. Supplementary group-interview responses further indicated that students experienced the immersive condition as more engaging, more intuitive, and better suited to immediate feedback and embodied movement exploration. Immersive VR-MoCap appears most useful in the early phases of motion design and is better understood as complementing, rather than replacing, conventional keyframe training. Full article

Temperature and salinity are key environmental factors for sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) aquaculture. To better understand the molecular regulation mechanisms of A. japonicus under extreme environmental conditions, we collected metabolomic data from a control group (C: 16 °C, 30 salinity), a heat-stress group (HT: 30 °C, 30 salinity), a hypo-salinity group (LS: 16 °C, 20 salinity), and a heat plus hypo-salinity group (HL: 30 °C, 20 salinity). Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolomics was used to measure the changes in endogenous metabolites in the body wall of A. japonicus and detect differential metabolites and associated metabolic pathways. The results of metabolomic profiling identified a total of 349 secondary metabolites, enriched mainly in unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, cAMP signaling pathway, pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis, as well as vitamin metabolism. Compared to the control group, levels of amino acids and lipids were enhanced during adaptation to high-temperature stress (HT and HL groups). Levels of pantothenic acid content increased in the LS group compared with its content in the control group, which suggests that stress promoted the TCA cycle in the body of A. japonicus, providing energy for movement. A. japonicus may adjust energy metabolism by altering pathways or adapt to environmental changes by regulating the activities of certain enzymes to maintain life activities and metabolic homeostasis. In response to these stresses, A. japonicus metabolism increased to bolster its antioxidant capacity and maintain cellular homeostasis and organismal stability. These results clarified the complex physiological processes involved in the response to stress and the maintenance of metabolism of the A. japonicus. This study provides novel insights into the metabolic regulation mechanisms that enable A. japonicus to cope with heat and hypo-salinity stresses. Full article

Body positivity and body neutrality are increasingly referred to as alternatives to the idealized body representations on social media. These images can play a powerful role in body image development during adolescence. However, insights into how adolescents give meaning to these concepts and perceive their potential effectiveness are still limited. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting focus groups among adolescents (N = 27; aged between 13 and 17 years old) on (1) their conceptualization and familiarity with body positivity and neutrality, and (2) perceived effectiveness of these movements for adolescents’ healthy body image development. Moreover, we analyzed potential sex differences. The results of a thematic analysis indicated that although body positivity and body neutrality were not well-known and were only occasionally observed, most participants believed they could help, especially girls, to feel better about their bodies. The adolescents, however, were also critical in the sense that the approaches cannot be applied too excessively and that more attention is needed for body positivity for men as well. Full article

Vegetated field borders are widely promoted as tools to enhance biodiversity and strengthen biological control in agroecosystems. However, their role in pest dynamics remains conceptually fragmented and empirically inconsistent. Here, we develop a unified framework explaining how crop border vegetation influences pest populations through four interlinked ecological mechanisms. First, borders act as host reservoirs and selective filters, providing alternative hosts and overwintering habitat that enhance pest persistence across crop cycles. Second, borders modify pest colonization dynamics by shaping movement, aggregation, and host-location behavior at crop edges. Third, borders restructure multitrophic networks, simultaneously supporting natural enemies, alternative prey, vectors, and pathogens, generating nonlinear effects on pest suppression. Fourth, repeated disturbance and management function as selective filters, determining which plant functional groups dominate borders and, consequently, which pest and natural enemy communities are maintained. To ground this framework, we conduct a structured synthesis of published empirical and conceptual studies on crop-border vegetation, including weed and arthropod surveys, and classify them according to the proposed mechanisms. Our synthesis reveals a strong emphasis on multitrophic effects, whereas colonization processes and disturbance filtering are comparatively underexplored. Across mechanisms, plant identity and dominance structure consistently emerge as stronger predictors of pest outcomes than species richness alone. We argue that borders are not inherently beneficial or harmful but function as selectively structured ecological interfaces shaped by management history and species composition. By integrating temporal persistence, spatial behavior, network interactions, and anthropogenic filtering, our framework provides a predictive basis for IPM-oriented design of field borders, enabling management strategies that reduce pest carryover, disrupt colonization pathways, and enhance biological control while maintaining ecosystem services. This article is part of the theme issue “The Biology, Ecology, and Management of Plant Pests”. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the structure of anthropometric characteristics, motor skills and specific motor skills in young football players. Methods: Study participants (427 male football players) were divided into pre-pioneers (11–13 y), n = 133; pioneers (13–15 y), n = 160; and cadets (15–17 y), n = 134. The entire sample of subjects was evaluated using 13 anthropometric and seven motor variables. The factor structure for each chronological age group was determined using Hotelling’s method. Results: Anthropometric characteristics showed three extracted factors in the pre-pioneers group, four factors in the pioneer group and two factors in the cadet group. Motor skills displayed three factors for the youngest group, two factors for the pioneers and three factors for the cadet group. Four factors were determined for specific motor skills in pre-pioneers, four in pioneers and three in cadet age. Conclusions: This study revealed structural variability and non-uniformity in the latent dimensions across age groups, with the total number of factors fluctuating between two and four. This study revealed two consistent latent dimensions in anthropometric data across all age groups: general morphological parameters and subcutaneous fat tissue. In motor skills, an initial universal factor is separated into central and energetic regulation of movements. Finally, specific motor skills demonstrated a transition from a highly differentiated four-factor structure in younger players toward a more integrated functional system in the oldest cohort, comprising intermuscular coordination, running speed with and without a ball; segmental speed of the lower extremities with a ball; and explosive force in hitting a ball with the foot and head. Full article

Background and Objectives: Pelvic fixation during robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) may limit trunk–pelvis movement and influence functional recovery after stroke. This study investigated whether allowing pelvic motion during RAGT improves balance and gait performance in individuals with chronic stroke. Materials and Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in 49 individuals with chronic stroke (PFG, n = 24; PRG, n = 25). Participants received Lokomat-assisted gait training (30 min/session, 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks) in addition to conventional therapy. The primary outcome was balance (BBS), and secondary outcomes included DGI, 10 MWT, and pelvic kinematics. Group × time interactions were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Significant group × time interactions were observed for BBS and DGI (p < 0.001), indicating greater improvements in the PRG. Gait speed improved significantly over time in both groups (p < 0.001), with no significant interaction for the 10 MWT. No significant interaction effects were found for pelvic kinematics, although a group main effect was observed for pelvic tilt. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Allowing pelvic motion during RAGT was associated with greater improvements in balance and dynamic gait performance compared with pelvic fixation. However, no corresponding changes were observed in pelvic kinematics, suggesting that functional improvements may not be explained by kinematic changes alone. Full article

Background: In dual-task (DT) conditions, individuals must walk while simultaneously engaging in cognitive or motor tasks, which impacts gait performance, especially in older adults and individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Gait impairments in PD under DT conditions have implications for intersegmental coordination. Research question: Intersegmental coordination and gait biomechanics during the DTs were compared between people with PD and older adults. Methods: Thirty-two individuals (16 PD, H&Y 1–3; and 16 older adults) participated in this study and were asked to walk under the following self-selected conditions: single task, DT with a math component, and texting on a cell phone. Spatiotemporal, angular, and intersegmental coordination data were collected using a markerless motion analysis system (OpenCap). Results: Dual-task conditions significantly affected spatiotemporal and kinematic variables, as well as intersegmental coordination. A significant task effect was observed for thigh–shank coordination, whereas no significant group effect was found for the main coordination outcomes. Significance: Significant task effects were observed for intersegmental coordination (thigh–shank CRP), with no significant group differences. The concurrent demands of processing visual and motor information for texting and walking lead to significant reductions in gait speed and lower limb movement, as well as altered intersegmental coordination, with task demands rather than disease status being the primary driver of coordination changes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Plant-derived phytochemicals are being increasingly explored for their ability to treat various illnesses, especially those affecting the vasculature. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) acts as a crucial mediator during the late phase of sepsis, promoting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and thereby fueling inflammation and systemic complications. Higher plasma HMGB1 levels not only hinder accurate diagnosis and prognosis but also worsen disease outcomes in inflammatory states. Picropodophyllotoxin (PPT), a key bioactive ingredient isolated from the root of Podophyllum hexandrum, has shown a range of beneficial effects, including anti-cancer and anti-proliferative actions, across several tumor types. Nevertheless, its possible involvement in HMGB1-driven severe vascular inflammation remains unexplored. The current work aimed to investigate whether PPT could influence lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HMGB1 activity and its related inflammatory signaling in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: A combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches was used to assess the anti-inflammatory action of PPT. These included measurements of endothelial barrier function, cell survival, leukocyte attachment and migration, levels of cell adhesion molecules, and the release of pro-inflammatory factors. Both cultured human endothelial cells and mouse disease models were used to thoroughly evaluate how PPT affects HMGB1-triggered inflammatory reactions. Results: The findings showed that PPT markedly reduced HMGB1 movement from inside HUVECs to the outside, thereby limiting its release into the environment. Moreover, PPT effectively decreased neutrophil sticking and migration, lowered the appearance of HMGB1 receptors, and prevented the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a master switch in inflammatory signaling. At the same time, PPT treatment strongly lowered tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production, adding to its anti-inflammatory profile. Conclusions: Taken together, these results indicate that PPT potently inhibits HMGB1-driven inflammatory processes by acting at several levels of the inflammatory cascade, such as HMGB1 movement, receptor binding, NF-κB activation, and subsequent cytokine release. Therefore, PPT stands out as a hopeful therapeutic option for HMGB1-related inflammatory diseases and deserves further exploration in preclinical and clinical studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early postnatal nutrition is a modifiable determinant of brain maturation in preterm infants. Exclusive human milk-based diets (EHMD) are associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes. The objective of this exploratory ancillary analysis of the NEOVASC randomized controlled trial was to determine whether prolonging an exclusive human milk-based diet, specifically through continued human milk-based fortification until 36 weeks postmenstrual age, is associated with differences in early brain structure and functional motor development compared with earlier introduction of bovine milk-based fortifier or formula at 32 weeks postmenstrual age. Methods: This ancillary study of the NEOVASC trial included preterm infants (<32 gestational weeks and birthweight of 500–1250 g) randomized to either prolonged EHMD until 36 weeks PMA or a diet introducing bovine milk-based fortifier or formula from 32 weeks. Quantitative brain metrics, fractional anisotropy (FA), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were analyzed at 40 weeks PMA. Functional maturation was assessed repetitively using the General Movement Optimality Score (GMOS) (34, 36, and 40 weeks PMA) and Motor Optimality Score (52 weeks PMA). Results: Fifty-four infants were included. Groups did not differ in brain growth metrics. After adjustment for imbalances in clinical characteristics, no FA or ADC differences remained statistically significant. GMOS at 40 weeks PMA was higher in the intervention group, with no differences at other time points. Conclusions: In this exploratory ancillary analysis of the NEOVASC trial, prolonging an exclusive EHMD until 36 weeks postmenstrual age was not associated with consistent differences in early brain maturation or motor performance. Given the high overall exposure to human milk in both groups, subtle effects may have been attenuated. These findings require confirmation in larger, adequately powered studies with long-term follow-up. Full article

Globally, the effects of widowhood on the welfare, health, financial security and education of the widow’s children in many contexts have been the subject of much research. This paper aims to uncover the nexus among culture, gender and language on widowhood dignity and welfare among four chosen African ethnic groups in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The widowhood phenomenon is culture-bound and value-laden as it signposts the reality of existence in the linguistic and cultural contexts in which it is created and operationalised. Through Kimberlé Crenshaw’s 1989 intersectional theory, this paper provides an in-depth, inductive qualitative investigation of the implications of culture, gender, language, and especially the nomenclature that African communities ascribe to the widowed, which in turn stigmatises widowhood. Two (2) South African and two (2) Zimbabwean ethnic groups were purposefully chosen for the multiple case study approach. Grounded theory is the coding framework and analysis technique. The coding starts off with picking key words, phrases and sentences and axial coding which is a higher level in which related data are grouped into sub-themes, themes and global themes. The search revealed that widowhood language, culture and nomenclature denote gendered, culturally contested spaces in which the widowed women especially face dehumanising and dewomanising rituals. The results gathered fall into five broad categories, namely, sexualised widowhood mourning rituals, psychological and emotional widowhood torture rituals, ritualised widowhood dispossession, swearing, movement and space restriction widowhood rituals. The rituals affirm the ascribed socially depressed widowed status implied in the stigmatising nomenclature. The paper recommends redefining widowhood in terms of humanising and womanising language, cultural rituals and nomenclature in the context of equality before the law. Such a move prevents discrimination against the widowed that unintentionally violates their constitutionally espoused right to equality. Full article

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is widely used as a simple anthropometric indicator, but its functional relevance to physical fitness in physically active populations, such as Physical Education students, remains debated. Aim: This study examined the association between BMI and selected components of physical fitness in Physical Education students, considering sex and country differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate Physical Education students from Poland and Romania (n = 515; mean age: 21.64 ± 1.34 years). BMI was calculated from measured height and body mass and analyzed as both a continuous and categorical variable. Physical fitness was assessed using three Eurofit tests evaluating upper-limb movement speed, trunk muscular endurance, and lower-limb explosive power. Analyses included correlation methods and multiple linear regression models with subgroup analyses, interaction terms, and quadratic BMI terms to assess nonlinearity. Results: Associations between BMI and fitness components were small in magnitude and inconsistent (r = −0.28 to 0.143; β = −1.614 to 0.005) and varied across tests and subgroups. No significant interaction effects by sex or country were observed, as interaction terms were not statistically significant, and no clear nonlinear relationships were identified. Sex and country were significantly associated with performance levels, whereas BMI contributed only marginally to explaining variability (ΔR² = 0.005–0.011). Conclusions: BMI showed limited and inconsistent associations with the assessed fitness components in this relatively homogeneous group of Physical Education students. It should be interpreted cautiously as a functional indicator and complemented with more precise measures of body composition and physical fitness. Full article

Background/Objective: In late adulthood, the increasing prevalence of diabetes overlaps with the highest prevalence of postural instability. A cross-sectional study was designed to explore the combined influence of age, gender, history of COVID-19 quadriceps strength, and Body Mass Index (B.M.I.) on the postural stability of adults with/without diabetes, under a variety of sensory conditions. Methods: A total of 263 adults aged 21 to 82 years old accepted to participate, 99 with and 164 without diabetes. They had no history of vestibular/otology/neurology/autoimmune/orthopedic disease or proliferative retinopathy/severe renal dysfunction/traumatic injury. After clinical and vestibular evaluations, postural sway was recorded on hard/soft surface, eyes open/closed, and without/with 30° neck extension. Bivariate analysis and repeated measures multivariate analysis of covariance were performed with 0.05 significance. Results: In the two groups, two thirds of the participants had excess weight and almost half had history of COVID-19. Overall conditions, gender and diabetes were the main factors contributing to sway area (multiple R = 0.28–0.31, p ≤ 0.001) and to sway length (multiple R = 0.34–0.47, p ≤ 0.00001). Compared to adults without diabetes, in those with diabetes, the age was not related to sway measurements; with contribution to sway from history of COVID-19 and quadriceps strength, and decreased contribution of the study variables to both the anterior–posterior position of the center of pressure and ankle movement (velocity as a function of the anterior–posterior position of the center of pressure) (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Diabetes may interfere with the influence of individual cofactors contributing to postural sway, including decreased influence of age and reduced ankle movement. A history of mild–moderate COVID-19 may have influence on postural control in varied sensory conditions. Full article