Search Results (8,647)

Background: Lower limb amputation (LLA), due to non-traumatic causes such as vascular diseases and diabetes, significantly impacts patients’ physical, psychological, and social well-being. While multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs commonly address physical and functional recovery, psychological and subjective experiences related to limb loss remain less explored. Thus, this preliminary study aimed to investigate the psychological and behavioral adaptation processes in patients undergoing rehabilitation following lower limb amputation. Methods: A preliminary observational study with a mixed-method approach based on quantitative and qualitative data triangulation was conducted. This approach involves integrating multiple data sources and methodologies—in this case, quantitative psychometric measures and qualitative interviews via the prospective of amputees and those who use prostheses—to enhance the validity and depth of the research findings. Results: Fourteen inpatient amputees and fourteen inpatient prosthesis users (years: 66.6 ± 2.5 for amputee and 61.5 ± 1.9 for prosthesis users, male amputees: 85.7%, male prosthesis users: 100%) of a research hospital in the North of Italy were assessed using validated psychometric tools (GAD-7, PHQ-9, PID-5-BF, BIS, ASonA) alongside semi-structured interviews analyzed through the Interpretive Description approach. Key themes highlighted illness acceptance, prosthesis adaptation, body image, medication and behavioral adherence, anxiety, depression, quality of life, denial, optimism, and social support. Overall, anxiety–depressive symptomatology tended to decrease with the prosthesis, and pharmacological and behavioral adherence improved, as did the disease acceptance. Body image was fairly preserved in all patients despite some fears of others’ judgment with respect to the prosthesis. Interestingly, there was poor agreement between quantitative and qualitative data in both the amputee’ and prosthesis users’ groups: while the former returned a partial and neutral picture, a more multifaceted picture emerged from the interviews collected. Conclusions: These findings underline the importance of integrating quantitative psychometric evaluations with qualitative methods to comprehensively understand patients’ adaptive experiences. Such combined insights are essential to inform tailored psychological interventions throughout the rehabilitation journey. Full article

This study examines how objective (OSES) and subjective (SSES) socioeconomic status influence adolescent moral reasoning through distinct psychological mechanisms. Analyzing 4122 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 14.38), we found SSES enhanced moral internalization via strengthened social identity, while OSES reduced moral stereotyping through cognitive flexibility. Contrary to expectations, parental emotional warmth failed to buffer against SSES-related declines in internalization, with higher SSES predicting reduced internalization across parenting contexts. Results reveal socioeconomic status operates through dual pathways—social identity processes for SSES and cognitive flexibility for OSES—while challenging assumptions about parenting’s protective role. The findings suggest tailored interventions: identity-building programs for SSES-related moral development and cognitive training for OSES-linked reasoning biases, advancing theoretical understanding of moral development in diverse socioeconomic contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lay Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a critical role in reducing mental health disparities, particularly among underserved and vulnerable populations, by bridging gaps in care and promoting mental well-being. This narrative review aimed to identify and characterize training programs designed for CHWs, with a focus on those targeting cancer patients and individuals with chronic conditions. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scielo, Redalyc, and Google Scholar. From an initial pool of 10,372 references, 27 relevant articles were selected, encompassing research articles, training materials, curricula, and other resources. Results: The identified training methods included role-playing, instructional videos, and manuals designed to equip CHWs with skills in mental health intervention, prevention, management, education, and stigma reduction. Training programs also incorporated evidence-based interventions and psychological skill training. This review highlights a notable gap in research on CHW-led interventions in cancer palliative care and mental health. Conclusions: The findings support the development of a specialized mental health training program tailored for CHWs working with cancer survivors, to enhance their capacity to address mental health challenges, reduce stigma, and promote psychological well-being. Future efforts involve developing a training intervention for CHWs to support the needs of cancer survivors. Full article

Background/Objectives: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a chronic inflammatory disease with a high prevalence, affecting various aspects of patients’ lives. Psychosocial factors may influence disease management and outcomes, including perceived stress, locus of control, and self-efficacy. This study examines the presence of these factors in ACD and their association with disease severity and patient characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 225 adults with ACD and 225 healthy controls. Exclusion criteria were other skin diseases, psychiatric disorders, or intellectual disabilities. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, such as disease duration and severity, were recorded. Perceived stress, locus of control, and self-efficacy were assessed using validated questionnaires. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and multiple linear regression, were performed to explore group differences and predictors of clinical and psychosocial outcomes. Results: ACD patients exhibited higher perceived stress than controls (M = 39.36 vs. 24.74, p < 0.001), with stress levels correlating with disease severity (B = 0.062, 95% CI [0.050, 0.074], p < 0.001). Female sex (B = −5.896, p < 0.001) and lower education (B = −2.606, p = 0.035) predicted higher stress. Locus of control and self-efficacy showed statistically significant but modest differences between groups. Conclusions: Perceived stress was significantly associated with the severity of ACD, highlighting the necessity of incorporating psychological interventions into disease management. Programs focused on stress reduction and patient education should be integrated into clinical care to enhance outcomes. Longitudinal research is essential to establish causal relationships and evaluate the long-term benefits of tailored psychological support on disease progression and patient well-being. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effects of an eight-week wearable resistance (WR) training program on jump performance and jump kinematics in experienced senior female volleyball players. It was hypothesised that using WR would increase training load, thereby enhancing vertical jump performance and influencing kinematic movement patterns. Methods: Sixteen competitive female volleyball players (mean age: 23.5 ± 3.24 years; mean weight: 66.8 ± 6.9 kg; mean height: 174.7 ± 5.8 cm) participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 8) or an intervention group (n = 8) that trained with calf-mounted WR. The intervention group performed supervised resistance training sessions twice per week for eight weeks, totalling 16 sessions. Jump performance was assessed using an Infrared Optical Contact Grid (MuscleLab, Ergotest Innovation AS, Norway), and jump kinematics were measured with the Xsens Link motion capture system (Movella, The Netherlands). Results: The WR group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in vertical jump height (p = 0.031), with no significant changes in kinematic variables. The control group, however, showed a significant increase in T8–pelvis flexion during the countermovement jump (CMJ) following the intervention period. Conclusions: Eight weeks of WR training can improve CMJ performance in-season among experienced female volleyball players without affecting movement kinematics. Future research should investigate optimal loading strategies and long-term adaptations. These findings suggest that integrating small wearable loads into regular volleyball practice can help athletes maintain and improve explosive performance without disrupting normal training routines. Full article

In higher education, institutional quality is traditionally assessed through metrics such as academic programs, research output, educational resources, and community services. However, it is important that their activities align with student expectations, particularly in relation to interactive learning environments, learning management system interaction, curricular and co-curricular activities, accessibility, support services and other learning resources that ensure academic success and, jointly, career readiness. The growing popularity of student engagement metrics as one of the key measures to evaluate institutional efficacy is now a feature across higher education. By monitoring student engagement, institutions assess the impact of existing resources and make necessary improvements or interventions to ensure student success. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of student feedback from the StudentSurvey.ie dataset (2016–2022), which consists of approximately 275,000 student responses, focusing on student self-perception of engagement in the learning process. By using classical topic modelling techniques such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and Bi-term Topic Modelling (BTM), along with the advanced transformer-based BERTopic model, we identify key themes in student responses that can impact institutional strength performance metrics. BTM proved more effective than LDA for short text analysis, whereas BERTopic offered greater semantic coherence and uncovered hidden themes using deep learning embeddings. Moreover, a custom Named Entity Recognition (NER) model successfully extracted entities such as university personnel, digital tools, and educational resources, with improved performance as the training data size increased. To enable students to offer actionable feedback, suggesting areas of improvement, an n-gram and bigram network analysis was used to focus on common modifiers such as “more” and “better” and trends across student groups. This study introduces a fully automated, scalable pipeline that integrates topic modelling, NER, and n-gram analysis to interpret student feedback, offering reportable insights and supporting structured enhancements to the student learning experience. Full article

Mobile applications are increasingly used for suicide prevention; however, their effectiveness remains unclear. This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of mobile applications for suicide prevention and investigated potential moderators influencing intervention outcomes. Following the PRISMA guidelines, four databases (ProQuest, PubMed, Cochrane Central, and IEEE) were systematically searched for studies published from January 2020 to February 2025. This review was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD420251029046). Twenty-two studies were included, comprising 47 effect sizes derived from 6556 participants (3623 in the intervention and 2933 in the control groups). Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 (RCTs) and ROBINS-I (NRSs). Effect sizes were synthesized using random-effects meta-analysis with heterogeneity and publication bias evaluated. The overall post-intervention effect size was small to moderate (g = 0.39), with sustained but smaller effects observed at follow-up (g = 0.15). Moderator analyses indicated stronger effects for universal interventions targeting adults, weekly interventions, 12-week programs, and those implemented in efficacy settings. The findings should be interpreted with caution because of substantial heterogeneity. Nevertheless, the effects were statistically significant and provided evidence for the utility of mobile applications in suicide prevention, underscoring the need for further research to refine intervention design and delivery. Full article

The global transition to a circular bioeconomy is accelerating the demand for sustainable, high-performance materials. Filamentous fungi represent a promising solution, as they function as living foundries that transform low-value biomass into advanced, self-assembling materials. While mycelium-based composites have proven potential, progress has been predominantly driven by empirical screening of fungal species and substrates. To unlock their full potential, a paradigm shift from empirical screening to rational design is required. This review introduces a conceptual framework centered on the biochemical programming of the fungal cell wall. Viewed through a materials science lens, the cell wall is a dynamic, hierarchical nanocomposite whose properties can be deliberately tuned. We analyze the contributions of its principal components—the chitin–glucan structural scaffold, the glycoprotein functional matrix, and surface-active hydrophobins—to the bulk characteristics of mycelium-derived materials. We then identify biochemical levers for controlling these properties. External factors such as substrate composition and environmental cues (e.g., pH) modulate cell wall architecture through conserved signaling pathways. Complementing these, an internal synthetic biology toolkit enables direct genetic and chemical intervention. Strategies include targeted engineering of biosynthetic and regulatory genes (e.g., CHS, AGS, GCN5), chemical genetics to dynamically adjust synthesis during growth, and modification of surface chemistry for specialized applications like tissue engineering. By integrating fungal cell wall biochemistry, materials science, and synthetic biology, this framework moves the field from incidental discovery toward the intentional creation of smart, functional, and sustainable mycelium-based materials—aligning material innovation with the imperatives of the circular bioeconomy. Full article

Creativity is central to innovation and problem-solving, yet scalable training solutions remain limited. This study evaluates Creativeable, an AI-powered creativity training program that provides automated feedback and adjusts creative story writing task difficulty without human intervention. A total of 385 participants completed five rounds of creative story writing using semantically distant word prompts across four conditions: (1) feedback with adaptive difficulty (F/VL); (2) feedback with constant difficulty (F/CL); (3) no feedback with adaptive difficulty (NF/VL); (4) no feedback with constant difficulty (NF/CL). Before and after using Creativeable, participants were assessed for their creativity, via the alternative uses task, as well as undergoing a control semantic fluency task. While creativity improvements were evident across conditions, the degree of effectiveness varied. The F/CL condition led to the most notable gains, followed by the NF/CL and NF/VL conditions, while the F/VL condition exhibited comparatively smaller improvements. These findings highlight the potential of AI to democratize creativity training by offering scalable, personalized interventions, while also emphasizing the importance of balancing structured feedback with increasing task complexity to support sustained creative growth. Full article

Bullying is a global issue that is associated with negative life outcomes. Anti-bullying programs have been shown to be effective, but with heterogeneity across studies. Thus, we examined how sensory processing sensitivity (SPS)—a biologically based trait associated with Differential Susceptibility to environmental factors—moderates the effects of a school-based, anti-bullying program. Students (301 middle-school students, M age = 12 years) in the United States underwent a 4-week anti-bullying and competency-enhancing program. They also completed competency (e.g., social skills) and bullying prevention skills measures prior to (T1) and after the intervention (T2); and the Highly Sensitive Child Scale (measure of SPS). Results of multivariate analyses revealed that youth with higher SPS showed greater increases in decision-making, media resistance, social, and bullying prevention skills at T2. Consistent with theories of Differential Susceptibility and Environmental Sensitivity, results revealed that high SPS was associated with stronger responsivity to a psychoeducational intervention, as shown by increased cognitive, social, and behavioral domain scores. Findings from the present study underscore the moderating role of SPS on factors that impact human health and development. Full article

Background: The Pharm2Home Initiative’s Community Health Arm adopts a health-equitable approach to chronic disease education and medication therapy management (MTM). We serve senior residents of Solano County, California, who live in affordable housing and have limited financial resources. Aim: This evaluation assesses the uptake of chronic disease management recommendations provided by clinical pharmacists during MTM sessions at community events. Methods: The program engaged clinical pharmacists to provide tailored education and healthcare interventions in senior housing facilities. The goal was to empower seniors to manage their health effectively. The sessions covered various topics, including expired or duplicated medications, incorrect medication use, consultations on medication management, immunizations, and lifestyle adjustments. Results: Over an 18-month period, from January 2022 to August 2023, the program involved 65 participants across ten community health events. These events provided approximately 65 h of direct intervention. Many participants reported significant improvements in understanding their treatment plans and navigating their health needs more confidently. Feedback from 60 seniors after the sessions indicated that 88% felt much better informed about their medications, and 75% expressed that their concerns were addressed extremely well. Conclusions: These outcomes demonstrate the importance of clinical pharmacist-led interventions in improving seniors’ medication use and chronic disease management. The initiative’s approach advocates for integrating clinical pharmacists into community health settings, suggesting a scalable model for enhancing person-centered care. However, further studies are necessary to assess the long-term impacts of these interventions and explore their effectiveness across diverse age groups and more complex conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Stroke is a major cause of disability worldwide, with ischemic stroke being the most common type. This study investigated face perception in patients with lacunar strokes, specifically examining the ability to distinguish and recognize familiar and unfamiliar faces. Methods: We tested 52 patients with lacunar stroke (mean age = 65.97 ± 9.96) and 28 age-matched healthy controls (HC) (mean age = 66.24 ± 10.15). The participants received three face perception tasks: Name that Celebrity, Identity Sorting Task, and Face & Object Solitaire, and were also given the MMSE and mRS clinical assessments. Results: For the Name that Celebrity task, the stroke group had a lower efficiency score than the control group (i.e., they needed 2–3 extra slides of cues to recognize famous persons). For the Face Identity Sorting task, both groups were more accurate when sorting familiar faces; however, the stroke group performed significantly worse than the healthy group when sorting unfamiliar faces. For the Face/Object Solitaire task, the control group performed better than the stroke group on the face solitaire, but there were no differences in the object solitaire condition. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that despite having a normal mean MMSE score (HC: 28.22, Stroke: 27.96), patients with lacunar stroke had difficulties recognizing famous faces and discriminating among unfamiliar faces. This may reveal an overlooked deficit in face perception, highlighting the importance of future interventions that specifically focus on face recognition skills to enhance patients’ daily social interactions and the overall effectiveness of post-stroke rehabilitation programs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity rates in Jordan have reached alarming levels, with 28% of school-age children classified as overweight or obese. School-based gardening interventions show promise for promoting healthy eating behaviors, yet limited research exists in Middle Eastern contexts. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a five-month school-based vegetable gardening and nutrition education intervention on anthropometric measures, dietary intake, and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding vegetable consumption among Jordanian primary school children. Methods: A quasi-experimental controlled trial was conducted with 216 students (ages 10–12 years) from two demographically matched schools in Amman, Jordan. The intervention group (n = 121) participated in weekly one-hour gardening sessions combined with nutrition education and vegetable tasting activities over five months, while the control group (n = 95) continued the standard curriculum. Outcomes measured at baseline and post-intervention included anthropometric assessments, dietary intake via 24 h recalls, and vegetable-related KAP using a validated questionnaire. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and repeated measures ANCOVA. Results: The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in body composition, including reductions in BMI (−1.57 kg/m²), weight (−1.88 kg), and BMI z-score (−0.37), while controls showed minimal increases. Vegetable intake showed significant time × group interaction (p-value = 0.003), with a non-significant increase in the intervention group (2.7 to 2.9 times/day) and a non-significant decrease in the controls (2.5 to 2.4 times/day). Dietary quality improved, including increased fiber intake (+2.36 g/day) and reduced saturated fat consumption (−9.24 g/day). Nutrition knowledge scores increased substantially in the intervention group (+22.31 points) compared to controls (+1.75 points; p-value ≤ 0.001). However, attitudes and practices toward vegetable consumption showed no significant changes. Conclusions: This intervention effectively improved body composition, dietary quality, and nutrition knowledge among Jordanian primary school children. These findings provide evidence for implementing culturally adapted school gardening programs as childhood obesity prevention interventions in Middle Eastern settings, though future programs should incorporate family engagement strategies to enhance behavioral sustainability. Full article

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) BIG, primarily developed for outpatient use, is a prominent intervention for patients with Parkinson’s disease thanks to its high-intensity, repetitive exercises involving large movements. This study first evaluated the feasibility of an in-hospital LSVT BIG training program by assessing recruitment capability, compliance, and adherence. The secondary objective was to evaluate the effects of LSVT BIG training on gait, balance, and functional outcomes, as well as respiratory function and quality of life, in comparison with a progressive structured rehabilitation program (SC) of similar intensity and frequency. In-hospital LSVT BIG training for people with Parkinson’s disease was feasible, with 95% recruitment rates and 100% safety and adherence. SC (n = 19) and LSVT BIG (n = 19) significantly improved (for all, p < 0.05) pre-to-post balance (MiniBESTest) and lower limb effort tolerance (6MWT). Delta changes between groups favored LSVT for upper limb effort tolerance (UULEX level, time, p < 0.001), gait speed, and UULEX SatO₂ mean, PCEF, MiniBESTest and 6MWT (for all, p < 0.05). Evaluation of the probability associated with the LSVT BIG showed MiniBESTest as being 8.5 times more likely to exceed the MCID compared to SC. Quality of life was unchanged across both groups. This study successfully demonstrates the feasibility of in-hospital LSVT-BIG^® training, and comparison of outcomes, although exploratory and underpowered, showed better improvements in mobility, balance, and effort tolerance, suggesting a complementary role within traditional rehabilitation protocols. Full article

Background: Obesity is a well-established risk factor for numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and its impact is particularly acute among Black/African American men. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 70.9% of Black men aged 20 and older are overweight or obese. Despite this alarming prevalence, there remains a limited number of studies that specifically investigate the root causes of obesity in this population. Addressing this gap is critical to developing culturally relevant interventions that promote health equity. The purpose of this study was to assess dietary patterns, that are associated with overweight/obesity, in Black men aged 18–65 across the United States of America, to gain an in-depth understanding of variables influencing BMI in Black men. Methods: This study utilized a quantitative approach to collect information from participants. A survey questionnaire was developed and administered via Qualtrics to participants using a web link. The survey collected information across 18 dietary variables. Data was exported to Microsoft Excel for statistical analysis. A simple linear regression was used to determine dietary variables correlation strength and significance with BMI. A significance level of p < 0.05 was used to determine if a variable was statistically significant. Variables were then organized based on significance vs. non significance and correlation strength. Result: The study sample consisted of 466 Black men aged 18 to 65 years. The mean BMI was 30.21. Approximately 19% (n = 87) had a BMI within the healthy range (18.5–24.9), 41% (n = 190) were categorized as overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9), and another 41% (n = 189) were classified as obese (BMI ≥ 30.0). The findings revealed that fruit and vegetable consumption and whole grain cereal consumption were significantly and positively correlated with BMI. Other variables, such as fried foods, processed foods, and sugary drinks, though historically associated with obesity, did not show statistical significance in this population. Conclusions: Results suggest that while multiple dietary factors influence BMI, fruit, vegetable, and whole grain consumption are significantly correlated with BMI in Black men living in America. The findings from this study serve as a foundational step for designing targeted, culturally sensitive interventions aimed at reducing obesity-related health disparities. Future research should further explore how tailored public health messaging and community-based programming can address the specific needs of this population. Full article