Search Results (2,779)

Lactate was traditionally considered a metabolic by-product of anaerobic glycolysis, mainly associated with tissue hypoxia and muscle fatigue. However, increasing evidence has redefined lactate as a multifunctional metabolic intermediate and signaling molecule involved in exercise-induced systemic adaptations. During physical activity, circulating lactate levels rise markedly when skeletal muscle production exceeds systemic clearance, allowing lactate to act as an exercise-responsive metabolite, or exerkine, and as a mediator of cardiometabolic adaptation. In the cardiovascular system, lactate serves not only as an efficient substrate for myocardial energy production but also as a regulator of vascular tone, endothelial function, angiogenesis, inflammation, and cardiac remodeling. These effects occur through receptor-dependent and receptor-independent mechanisms, including activation of hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (HCAR1/GPR81), modulation of intracellular redox balance, and histone or non-histone protein lactylation. This review summarizes current evidence on lactate in cardiovascular physiology and disease, focusing on myocardial lactate metabolism, HCAR1/GPR81 signaling, protein lactylation, extracellular vesicle communication, gut microbiota interactions, and therapeutic implications in heart failure, atherosclerosis, and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Although lactate is also produced under resting, postprandial, and pathological conditions, exercise is characterized by the amplitude and kinetics of lactatemia, coordinated hormonal and hemodynamic responses, and transient high-concentration signaling. These features support exercise-derived lactate as a context-dependent cardiovascular exerkine. Full article

Helicopter operations are often underrepresented in environmental assessments due to their relatively low number of movements and the use of aggregated indicators that do not capture their localised impacts. At the same time, rotorcraft activity typically occurs at low altitude within urban environments, where noise and emissions are directly perceptible and spatially concentrated. This creates a need for assessment approaches based on observed operations and capable of providing spatially resolved results. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data provide high-resolution observations of aircraft trajectories and are increasingly used to analyse real-world aviation activity. However, existing approaches to ADS-B data processing have largely been developed for fixed-wing operations and do not address the specific challenges of rotorcraft activity, including low-altitude signal loss, positional artefacts, and incomplete trajectories. As a result, ADS-B data for helicopters are generally not suitable for direct use in applications requiring physically consistent and operationally defined inputs. This study proposes a methodology to condition ADS-B helicopter trajectories into a physically consistent and operationally characterised dataset suitable for downstream analysis. The approach integrates trajectory correction, reconstruction of incomplete operations, and the derivation of flight modes and associated parameters. The resulting dataset provides a complete, operation-level description of helicopter activity derived from observed data. The methodology is demonstrated through its application to helicopter operations in the Zurich area and its integration with established environmental modelling approaches, including a rotorcraft-specific noise model (NORAH2) and a flight-mode-based emissions estimation method (Rindlisbacher and Chabbey). The results produce spatially resolved maps and tabulated outputs describing environmental impacts over a defined period, enabling the identification of localised hotspots. The contribution of this work lies in providing a reproducible and integrated framework that bridges the gap between raw ADS-B rotorcraft observations and application-ready datasets for spatially explicit environmental assessment. Full article

To address the safety concerns of incapacitated patients caused by changes in vehicle pose during the operation of an autonomous rescue vehicle on an unstructured road surface, this paper proposes an active leveling control scheme based on the Stewart platform. First, a complete kinematic and dynamic model of the Stewart platform and a double-layer platform leveling control model were established. Subsequently, a non-singular terminal sliding-mode control (NTSMC) algorithm based on a radial basis function (RBF) neural network was designed. By using the neural network to approximate aggregate uncertainties online, high-precision control of the Stewart platform was achieved. Additionally, to enhance perception capabilities in dynamic environments, an ORB-SLAM3 algorithm was proposed that integrates the YOLO11n-Seg instance segmentation algorithm. This approach effectively filters out dynamic feature points, enabling robust vehicle pose estimation. Finally, a physical double-layer Stewart platform experimental system was constructed to comprehensively validate the proposed control and vision algorithms. Full article

Life satisfaction (LS) is an important indicator of subjective well-being among college students. However, relatively few studies have integrated variable-centered and person-centered approaches to examine the associations among physical activity (PA), social support (SS), and LS in female college students. This cross-sectional study surveyed 2097 female college students from 11 universities in Jiangxi Province, China. PA, SS, and LS were assessed using self-report questionnaires. A mediation model was used to examine whether SS statistically mediated the association between PA and LS after controlling for education level and place of origin. Latent profile analysis was then conducted using six LS items, and the BCH method was used to compare PA and SS across profiles. The results showed that PA was positively associated with SS and LS, and SS was positively associated with LS. The indirect association between PA and LS through SS was statistically significant, suggesting a partial statistical mediation pattern. Latent profile analysis identified three level-based LS profiles: low-, medium-, and high-LS profiles. PA and SS increased progressively across these profiles, with the highest levels in the high-LS profile and the lowest levels in the low-LS profile. These findings suggest that PA, SS, and LS are closely interrelated and that meaningful quantitative heterogeneity exists in LS among female college students. Given the cross-sectional design and convenience sampling, the findings should be interpreted as statistical associations rather than causal effects. Full article

Aim: The aim of this study was to correlate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FTO and MC4R genes with body composition (BC) in populations with various levels of physical activity, and to investigate associations of SREBF1 methylation with the level of physical activity (PA) and BC. Methods: Fifty-six participants aged 18–65 years old with no underlying medical conditions were included in the study and were classified into sedentary/light PA (SLPA), moderate PA (MPA) and vigorous PA (VPA) groups using the International PA questionnaire (IPAQ). Anthropometric measures such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP) were recorded at the time of recruitment. Venous blood samples were collected during participant recruitment and DNA was extracted. Genotyping assays were performed for SNPs in FTO (rs9939609) and MC4R (rs17782313) using Taqman^® RT qPCR and TaqMan Genotyper software 1.7.1. Methylation analysis assay for CpG sites in the SREBF1 gene was performed on 56 samples using PyroMark^® Q48 Autoprep (Qiagen, Venlo, The Netherlands). The results were statistically analysed to identify any associations between FTO/MC4R genotypes and the level of PA, and between SREBF1 methylation status and the level of PA. This is the first study to investigate links between PA and quantitative methylation of SREBF1. Results: According to IPAQ guidance, the 56 participants were classified into SLPA n = 14, MPA n = 11 and VPA n = 31. The correlation analysis revealed that the FTO rs9939609 ‘A’ risk allele had a significant negative association with BFP in the VPA group (p = 0.0387); the MC4R rs17782313 ‘C’ risk allele had a significant positive association with BMI in the VPA group (p = 0.0256). In the SREBF1 pyrosequencing analysis, higher levels of methylation were observed in the VPA group (p = 0.07). Conclusions: We concluded that SNPs associated with obesity identified in FTO rs9939609 and MC4R rs17782313 could help to predict the molecular effects of PA. A high frequency of FTO risk variants in the cohort was observed and the VPA group could help maintain a healthy BFP. Full article

Background: Nutritional biomarkers are linked to body composition changes, but limited evidence has studied how nutritional biomarkers relate to low muscle mass, excess adiposity, and both coexisting conditions across different physical activity levels. This study aims to investigate associations between low muscle mass, obesity, and low muscle mass with obesity and nutritional biomarkers across physical activity levels among U.S. adults across physical activity levels. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from adults aged 20–59 years from the 2015–2018 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015–2018. Low muscle mass was defined by low appendicular lean mass relative to body weight (LALM/W). Obesity was classified using body mass index (BMI¹), waist circumference (WC²), and body fat percentage (FM%³), and low muscle mass with obesity was defined using three coexisting phenotypes (LALM/W-O1, LALM/W-O2, LALM/W-O3). Nutritional biomarkers included serum albumin, vitamin D, triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, iron, insulin resistance (HOMA IR), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Physical activity was categorized as inactive, insufficiently active, or sufficiently active based on MET minutes per week. Multivariable regression models accounted for the complex survey design and relevant covariates. Results: After adjustment, LALM/W was significantly associated with low serum albumin, low vitamin D, high triglyceride, high HOMA-IR, and high CRP. Obesity was significantly associated with low serum albumin, low vitamin D, high triglyceride, high LDL cholesterol, high HOMA-IR, and high CRP. LALM/W-O in all phenotypes were significantly associated with low serum albumin, low vitamin D, high triglyceride, high LDL cholesterol, high HOMA-IR, and high CRP. LALM/W-O phenotypes demonstrated the strongest associations, particularly with high HOMA-IR and hs-CRP. Although the associations varied by physical activity level, sufficiently active group was associated with lower odds of adverse nutritional biomarkers compared with insufficient activity. Conclusions: Nutritional biomarkers are associated with LALM/W and obesity. Sufficient physical activity was associated with fewer adverse outcomes. This suggests that adequate physical activity may be associated with better nutritional status and body composition. Full article

Sustainable agricultural technologies are essential to respond to environmental and social pressures, ensuring the maintenance of global food security. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for more sustainable agricultural practices that promote soil quality, as this factor directly impacts the global economy. Agricultural yield is directly associated with soil health and fertility. The use of organic waste serves as a source of essential nutrients for plants, increasing soil organic matter, contributing to the improvement of soil physical and chemical properties, as well as increasing crop yield. Based on this context, this research aimed to evaluate the effects of incorporating organic waste aiming to mitigate the oxidative damage in maize plants grown under different levels of soil fertility (low, average, and high), evaluating soil and plant, more specifically chemical, physiological, biochemical, and morphological responses. In soil, organic waste promoted significant increases in the activities of arylsulfatase and β-glucosidase and improved the chemical parameters, including cation exchange capacity, soil organic matter, base saturation, and sum of bases. The application of organic waste, regardless of fertility level, improved the nutritional status in maize plants, increased concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, maximized the photochemical efficiency and photosynthesis rate. In plant metabolism, the results demonstrated that organic waste promoted significant increases in plant antioxidant defense, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and peroxidase, minimizing the oxidative stress on photosynthetic machinery, especially in plants cultivated on soil with low fertility. Therefore, this research proves that organic waste mitigates the negative impacts associated with nutritional starvation, improves soil health and fertility, favors the maintenance of redox metabolism, and stimulates photosynthesis in maize plants cultivated in low-fertility soil. Full article

This study aims to design and develop an innovative manual kitchen tool that integrates the functionalities of a Lazy Susan and a Dough Kneader into a two-in-one setup, addressing common challenges experienced by students during laboratory activities—crowdedness, inconvenience, and physical strain associated with manual dough kneading. Employing a descriptive–developmental research design, the study focused on the prototype’s conceptualization, construction, and evaluation in terms of its design, construction quality and availability of materials, functionality, usability, aesthetics, modularity, and ergonomics. Survey questionnaires were administered to faculty members and field experts to assess the overall acceptability of the product. The study was conducted at Caraga State University—Cabadbaran City. Results indicated a high level of acceptability across all evaluative criteria. Although minor design issues emerged during testing, these were addressed and refined accordingly. Findings suggest that the two-in-one Lazy Susan and Dough Kneader offers significant benefits in terms of space-saving, user convenience, and manual labor reduction. With its practical design and market viability, the product is a promising tool for educational and domestic culinary settings. Further research is recommended to enhance the tool’s features, particularly by exploring the integration of solar-powered functionality to improve efficiency and sustainability. Full article

Background/aim: Physical inactivity remains widespread globally, with most adults not achieving recommended physical activity levels. Exercise motives and goals, central to Self-Determination Theory, strongly influence sustained participation. The Bernese Motive and Goal Inventory (BMZI) is a validated tool to assess exercise motivation; however, no Arabic version exists. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the BMZI for Arabic-speaking adults. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia between September and October 2025 among native Arabic-speaking adults via social media and community networks. The survey included sociodemographic data, the Arabic version of the Bernese Motive and Goal Inventory (Ar-BMZI), the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS), and the SF-12 Health Survey. Reliability was assessed through Cronbach’s α, McDonald’s ω, and ICC for test–retest consistency; construct validity via exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis; and convergent validity by correlating Ar-BMZI with the Arabic-SMS and Arabic-SF-12 physical component. Results: A total of 680 participants were included, with a mean age of 30.4 ± 12.9 years. Most were female (61.6%) and held a bachelor’s degree (73.5%). Nearly half (50.9%) reported a low monthly income. The Ar-BMZI demonstrated strong overall psychometric performance. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s α = 0.883; ω = 0.868), and test–retest reliability indicated high stability over time (ICC = 0.870, 95% CI = 0.786–0.933). Convergent validity was supported by a moderate correlation with the Arabic Sport Motivation Scale (r = 0.613, p < 0.001) and a weak correlation with the SF-12 physical health domain (r = 0.098, p = 0.011), which supported discriminant validity. Exploratory principal component analysis with Varimax rotation identified a five-factor structure explaining 69.2% of the total variance, and confirmatory factor analysis further supported this structure, demonstrating an excellent model fit. Conclusions: The Ar-BMZI demonstrates high reliability and good validity, supporting its use among Arabic-speaking adults. Full article

Adolescence is a critical window for health behavior consolidation, yet the combined influence of physical activity level (PAL) and the body mass index (BMI) on aerobic capacity remains understudied, especially in transitioning periurban environments. This study examined the association between PAL, BMI, and aerobic capacity in adolescents from Montería, Colombia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 112 adolescents (aged 12–17 years). Aerobic capacity was assessed using the 20 m shuttle run test (Course Navette), and PAL was measured via the validated Assessment of Physical Activity Levels Questionnaire (APALQ), following standard fitness assessment protocols. Multivariable linear regression models were utilized to estimate independent associations, adjusting for age and sex. The multivariable model was significant (F = 8.45; p < 0.001), explaining 21% of the variance in aerobic capacity (adjusted R² = 0.21). PAL was positively and independently associated with aerobic capacity (B = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.05–0.38; p = 0.010), regardless of BMI. While age showed a positive association (B = 0.09; p = 0.032) and sex was inversely associated (B = −0.39; p < 0.001), BMI did not emerge as an independent predictor in the adjusted model (B = −0.04; p = 0.080). Aerobic capacity in adolescents is more consistently explained by behavioral factors (what they “do”) than by anthropometric status (what they “weigh”). These findings support a paradigm shift in pediatric public health, prioritizing high-intensity movement overweight control to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in transitioning urban territories. Full article

Background/Objectives: Melanoma is a major and growing public health concern in Poland, with a five-year survival around 60–70%. While UV radiation and genetic susceptibility are well-known risk factors, lifestyle and environmental exposures may also contribute. This study examined how selected risk factors relate to one-year melanoma prevalence across Poland’s 16 voivodeships and assessed whether these factors can support short-term prediction. Methods: Annual melanoma prevalence for 2011–2021 was obtained from the Polish National Cancer Registry, and voivodeship-level estimates of metabolic risk factors, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, smoking, high BMI, air pollution, water pollution and limited data on UV exposure were used to build a general estimating equations model. Model predictions for 2020–2021 were compared with observed data, and forecasts were generated through 2030. Results: Melanoma cases increased in every voivodeship between 2011 and 2021. Metabolic risk factors, high BMI, low physical activity and smoking were associated with higher melanoma prevalence. When other factors were considered, air pollution showed an inverse association, suggesting complex relationships that warrant further analysis. Forecasts indicated increasing prevalence in all of 16 voivodeships through 2030, although three regions showed large prediction errors for 2020–2021. A key limitation was the lack of sufficient UV exposure data. Conclusions: The findings support further evaluation of public health actions targeting the reduction of unhealthy lifestyle regarding diet, low physical activity, and smoking to help slow the projected rise in melanoma. Full article

Limited access to clean water and reliable electricity infrastructure remains a major challenge in many remote regions of Indonesia, particularly for building-scale domestic use. Conventional water treatment systems are often constrained by high operational costs and dependence on grid power, highlighting the need for sustainable and autonomous infrastructure solutions. This study presents the design, development, and performance evaluation of an integrated solar-powered clean water treatment system for smart building applications in remote areas using a Research and Development (R&D) approach. The proposed system combines off-grid polycrystalline photovoltaic panels with a multi-stage water treatment process consisting of a floss (mud) filter, activated carbon filter, water hyacinth cellulose bio-filter, ultraviolet (UV) sterilization unit, storage tank, and an IoT-based real-time water quality monitoring system. System performance was evaluated through microbiological, physical, and chemical water quality testing, with monitoring conducted via Wi-Fi-enabled sensors connected to the Blynk platform. The results demonstrate substantial improvements in treated water quality. Escherichia coli and total coliform bacteria were eliminated (100% reduction). Total dissolved solids (TDSs) decreased from 450 mg/L to 218 mg/L (51.6%), and dissolved manganese was reduced from 30 mg/L to 0.01 mg/L (99.97%), while nitrate levels decreased by 50%. Water pH and temperature remained stable and within regulatory limits. All treated water parameters complied with national clean water standards for hygiene and sanitation. The system operated independently using solar energy and achieved a clean water production capacity of 1000–1500 L/day. These findings indicate that the proposed system is a feasible, cost-effective, and sustainable civil engineering solution for clean water infrastructure in remote building environments. Full article

The southeastern coastal region of China is extensively influenced by the circum-Pacific geothermal activity, particularly during the excavation of deep-buried tunnels, where the confined space leads to the accumulation of heat flow, resulting in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. These conditions are detrimental to both the physical and mental health of workers and the safe operation of equipment. Based on this, the Lijiashan deep-buried high-temperature tunnel along the Wen-Yu High-Speed Railway (Wenling-Yuhuan) was selected as a case study. Field monitoring was conducted to assess the surrounding rock stress, temperature distribution characteristics of the surrounding rock and structure, and the humid and high-temperature environment within the tunnel during construction. A comprehensive evaluation index considering both temperature and humidity was employed to evaluate the tunnel construction environment. The results indicate the following: (1) During tunnel excavation, the maximum surrounding rock pressure occurs at the arched shoulder, and the fractures induced by blasting effectively relieve stress, mitigating the risk of rockburst. (2) The seepage paths of the surrounding rock are redistributed during excavation, converging towards the invert, with the osmotic pressure being approximately 10 times that of the upper structure. (3) The temperature at the tunnel face, secondary lining, and surrounding rock is significantly influenced by the heat released from concrete hydration. The closer the surrounding rock is to the support structure, the higher the temperature, with the secondary lining reaching up to 58.6 °C and the working area up to 35.2 °C. (4) Water spraying can reduce the temperature in the construction area by approximately 0.65% at the Kelvin temperature conditions, but it increases humidity by about 16%. The average humidity levels within the tunnel are 75.3% during the day and 87.5% at night. (5) Evaluation of workers’ physiological parameters reveals that the humid and high-temperature environment during tunnel construction is consistently unfavorable for workers’ health. Full article

Earthquake-induced landslides represent a critical threat to transportation infrastructure in tectonically active mountainous regions, particularly in tropical volcanic settings where weak, highly weathered geomaterials dominate. This study develops an integrated framework that directly links physically based seismic threshold modelling with real-time landslide monitoring and operational early warning. The approach is demonstrated in the Cugenang area of Cianjur Regency, West Java, Indonesia, which was severely impacted by the moment magnitude (Mw) 5.6 earthquake in 2022. Slopes composed of highly weathered pyroclastic deposits [Plasticity Index (PI) = 54–68%; porosity > 60%] exhibit low shear strength and high sensitivity to seismic loading. Limit equilibrium analysis using the Morgenstern–Price method that combines the influence of seismic loading and groundwater conditions suggests that a horizontal seismic coefficient (kh) of approximately 0.06, corresponding to a Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) of about 0.12 gravitational acceleration (g), is a critical threshold for initial landsliding. This comparatively low threshold challenges commonly reported values and demonstrates that slope failure in tropical volcanic terrains can occur under moderate ground shaking, reinforcing the need for site-specific hazard characterisation. The derived thresholds are operationalised within a multi-sensor early warning system integrating Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometers and inclinometer measurements. Three hazard levels—Normal (<0.06 g), Alert (0.06–0.12 g), and Emergency (≥0.12 g)are combined with deformation thresholds [<10 milimeter (mm), 10–30 mm, >30 mm] to capture progressive failure processes and minimise false alarms. By coupling geotechnical modelling and real-time monitoring, this study provides a transferable and scalable framework for enhancing infrastructure resilience in landslide-prone regions. Full article

Background: Violence against healthcare professionals constitutes a global and persistent problem, with significant consequences for professionals’ physical and mental health, organisational climate, and the quality of care provided to patients. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a training activity on the prevention and management of aggression in healthcare settings among fourth-year undergraduate nursing students. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria School of Nursing, University of La Laguna. An intervention study with a quasi-experimental design without a control group was conducted through the implementation of a training workshop. A pre- and post-intervention questionnaire was administered to a sample of 59 fourth-year nursing students. In addition, two questionnaires were distributed at the end of the session to assess satisfaction with the training received and students’ self-perceived acquisition of knowledge. This research complied with the TREND statement. Results: Descriptive analysis showed higher post-test scores than pre-test scores. The Wilcoxon test indicated a statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores. Mean knowledge scores increased from 3.16 to 7.58 following the intervention, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) and a very large effect size (r = 0.87). Conclusions: The training workshop was associated with a significant immediate improvement in knowledge, high levels of satisfaction, and enhanced self-perceived learning. Full article