Search Results (565)

Background: Reducing dietary salt intake is a global public health priority. However, empirical evidence is needed to clarify whether higher levels of health literacy (HL) and eHealth literacy (eHL), together with the use of diversified information dissemination channels, are positively associated with better salt-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). This study examined the indirect associations via eHL and the number of sources of salt-reduction information (NSSI) in the relationship between HL and salt-related KAP. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 2022 to 2023 using multistage stratified random sampling among residents aged 15–69 in 22 counties/districts of Jiangxi Province, China. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, HL, eHL, NSSI, and salt-related KAP were collected through face-to-face household interviews using a standardized electronic questionnaire system. Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were applied to assess associations among HL, eHL, NSSI, and salt-related KAP. Path analysis was employed to evaluate the indirect associations between HL and salt-related KAP via eHL and NSSI. Results: A total of 5396 residents participated, of whom 51.50% were male. Participants aged 15–34, 35–54, and 55–69 years accounted for 13.10%, 42.96%, and 43.94% of the sample, respectively. After adjustment for covariates, individuals with adequate HL, adequate eHL, and a greater NSSI had significantly higher total salt-related KAP scores (p < 0.001). In the path analysis, the standardized direct association of HL with the total salt-related KAP was 0.229 (p < 0.001). The standardized indirect associations via NSSI and eHL were 0.089 (95% CI: 0.069 to 0.111, p < 0.001) and 0.057 (95% CI: 0.033 to 0.089, p < 0.001), respectively, accounting for 23.73% and 15.20% of the total association. Conclusions: High levels of HL and eHL, together with increased exposure to multiple salt-reduction information sources, are associated with improved salt-related KAP. Both eHL and NSSI partially explain the association between HL and salt-related KAP. Future salt-reduction interventions should integrate conventional health education with mobile health technologies to expand information dissemination channels and support sustained salt-reduction behaviors. Full article

Background: Radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) is defined by MRI findings that are suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the absence of prior clinical demyelinating events. We aimed to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between RIS and relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) after adjusting for fatigue, cognition, and psychological distress, and to contextualize generic HRQoL, relative to healthy controls. Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data, 30 RIS, 29 RRMS, and 30 healthy controls were analyzed. MS-specific HRQoL (patients only) was assessed with the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS), and generic HRQoL (all participants) was assessed with the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) visual analogue scale and utility index. Multi-variable linear regression models with robust (HC3) standard errors were used, adjusting for demographics, fatigue impact, cognitive performance, and psychological distress. Results: The FAMS totals were similar in RIS vs. RRMS (median 167.5 vs. 164.0; p = 0.694) and remained non-different after adjustment (β= −2.37, 95% CI −10.18 to 5.44; p = 0.544). EQ-5D outcomes showed an unadjusted gradient across groups, but adjusted differences relative to RIS were not statistically significant. Greater fatigue impact was associated with poorer HRQoL across all models (all p < 0.001). Psychological distress was associated with lower FAMS (β = −14.53; p < 0.001) but not with EQ-5D outcomes. Conclusions: HRQoL in RIS was comparable to RRMS, and fatigue impact was the most consistent correlate of poorer HRQoL. Full article

Background: Nutritional psychoeducation is a core component of multidisciplinary treatment for anorexia nervosa, yet evidence on its association with changes in eating behavior beyond weight outcomes remains limited. Methods: This pre–post observational study included 45 patients with anorexia nervosa attending a Day Hospital program who participated in a structured, group-based nutritional psychoeducational intervention as part of standard multidisciplinary care. Nutritional knowledge, dietary rules, eating behaviors, food group exposure assessed by a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated before and after the intervention. Pre–post changes were examined using paired statistical tests with Holm correction. Associations between changes in cognitive–nutritional variables and eating behavior were explored using correlations and multiple linear regression models. Results: Significant pre–post improvements were observed in nutritional knowledge and reductions in rigid dietary rules. Eating behavior showed specific changes, with increased exposure to carbohydrate- and fat-containing foods, as well as improved meal adequacy. BMI increased during the observation period, consistent with expected outcomes of Day Hospital treatment. Changes in nutrient-related knowledge were positively associated with changes in dietary fat exposure, independent of baseline BMI and changes in dietary rules, whereas no comparable association was observed for carbohydrate exposure. Conclusions: In this Day Hospital sample, participation in a group-based nutritional psychoeducational program within a multidisciplinary treatment context was associated with specific changes in eating behavior alongside cognitive–nutritional changes and weight gain. The observed association between nutrient-related knowledge and dietary fat exposure may suggest the relevance of assessing food-specific behaviors and cognitive–nutritional processes as complementary outcomes during treatment for anorexia nervosa. Full article

Background: Vitamin D has been associated with blood pressure across the life course in observational studies, although effect sizes are generally modest and findings are not fully consistent. We examined the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and multiple blood pressure indices in a community-based cohort of young adults. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis within the Young Taiwanese Adults (YOTA) cohort, restricting the sample to adults aged 18–45 years with complete serum 25(OH)D and blood pressure data. Serum 25(OH)D was modeled as a continuous variable and additionally examined using predefined concentration categories. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were assessed using standardized protocols. Multivariable linear regression models evaluated associations, with sequential adjustment for demographic, anthropometric, cardiometabolic, and lifestyle covariates. Restricted cubic spline models assessed potential nonlinearity. Results: Among 923 participants, higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations were modestly and linearly associated with lower SBP, DBP, and MAP after multivariable adjustment. Each 10 ng/mL increase in serum 25(OH)D was associated with a 1.07 mmHg lower SBP, a 1.19 mmHg lower DBP, and a 1.22 mmHg lower MAP. Associations remained consistent in sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Conclusions: In young adults, higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations were modestly associated with lower blood pressure indices. These findings confirm prior observational evidence of modest inverse associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and blood pressure and extend these observations to a relatively healthy young adult population. Prospective studies are required to clarify temporality and clinical relevance. Full article

The growing need for sustainable and lightweight building materials has accelerated research on alternatives to conventional concretes, out of which Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA) concrete has emerged as a promising solution. However, the high porosity and nonlinear mechanical behavior of LECA concrete complicate the accurate prediction of compressive strength through conventional empirical models. The main focus of the paper is on identifying a comprehensive machine learning-based framework for modeling and predicting the 28-day compressive strength of LECA-based lightweight concrete. The dataset was created and preprocessed by using statistical normalization and correlation analysis. In this study, five supervised machine learning models—Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Random Forest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Categorical Boosting (CatBoost)—were developed and fine-tuned using a grid-search strategy combined with ten-fold cross-validation. The quality of the prediction made by each model was evaluated by means of standard performance indicators, such as the coefficient of determination (R²), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). After the evaluation, the models were subsequently compared and ranked according to the Gray Relational Analysis (GRA) method. The comparative assessment shows that CatBoost demonstrated the most reliable performance, achieving an R² of 0.907, RMSE of 3.41 MPa, MAE of 2.47 MPa, and MAPE of 10.05%, outperforming the remaining algorithms. To interpret the significance of features, SHAP (Shapley Additive exPlanations) analysis was applied, which identified water and LECA content as the dominant factors influencing compressive strength, followed by the cement and fine aggregate proportions. The findings reveal that the ensemble-based gradient boosting model is capable of capturing intricate nonlinear interactions, as observed in the heterogeneous matrix of LECA concrete. Full article

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents the most widespread chronic liver disorder globally, impacting roughly 30% of the general population. Numerous factors have been linked to NAFLD, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, diet, physical inactivity, age, sex, genetic factors, and metabolic syndrome. Previous research predominantly treated NAFLD as a categorical outcome, providing less granular data compared to the continuous fatty liver index (FLI). This investigation enrolled healthy young Taiwanese men and applied multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS) modeling to develop a predictive equation. Our aims were twofold: 1. To assess the predictive accuracy of traditional multiple linear regression (MLR) versus MARS. 2. To construct a MARS-derived equation for estimating FLI in this demographic. Methods: Data originated from the Taiwan MJ Cohort, comprising 5496 men aged 20–50 years not using medications for metabolic syndrome. MARS was used to formulate the FLI estimation equation. Model performance was compared using symmetric mean absolute percentage error (SMAPE), relative absolute error (RAE), root relative squared error (RRSE), and root mean squared error (RMSE). Results: Evaluation indicated that MARS yielded lower estimation errors than MLR, demonstrating its superior performance. The derived equation is: FLI = 65.224 − 0.436 × B1 − 0.490 × B2 + 0.252 × B3 − 2.962 × B4 + 2.231 × B5 − 0.292 × B6 + 0.189 × B7 − 0.361 × B8 − 0.699 × B9 + 0.160 × B10 − 2.715 × B11 + 0.799 × B12 − 0.153 × B13 + 0.084 × B14 − 35.274 × B15 − 4.424 × B16. Conclusions: Using MLR as a benchmark, our analysis revealed that MARS delivered better predictive performance. The presented equation explains 62.7% of the variance in FLI (r² = 0.627). Based on standardized variable importance scores (nsubsets metric), CRP emerged as the most influential predictor, followed by WBC, UA, HDL-C, AST, age, ALT, FPG, SBP, and LDL in this cohort of healthy young Taiwanese men. Full article

Hami melon is a widely consumed fruit worldwide, and its sweetness, characterized by soluble solids content (SSC), is a key indicator of fruit quality and commercial value. In this study, hyperspectral imaging combined with machine learning was systematically applied to develop non-destructive models for SSC prediction in multiple Hami melon varieties. Four varieties, namely ‘Xizhoumi’, ‘Jiashigua’, ‘Jinfenghuang’, and ‘Heimeimao’, with a total of 160 samples, were used as the test materials. Hyperspectral images were collected, and SSC was measured at two pulp positions for each sample (denoted as BRIX1 and BRIX2). After applying preprocessing methods including Standard Normal Variate (SNV) transformation and Savitzky–Golay smoothing, five machine learning models were compared: XGBoost, LightGBM, Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). Furthermore, an ensemble modeling strategy based on residual predictive deviation (RPD) weighting from the validation set was proposed. The results show that all models could effectively predict SSC, with the ensemble model achieving the best performance: the coefficients of determination (R²) for BRIX1 and BRIX2 were 0.848 and 0.833, the root mean square errors (RMSEs) were 0.992 and 0.899, the Mean Absolute Percentage Errors (MAPEs) were 6.90% and 6.76%, and the RPD values were 2.57 and 2.45, respectively, demonstrating its strong quantitative analysis capability. This performance benefited from three core optimized designs adopted in this study: (1) a multi-cultivar experimental design that verified the stable correlation between sugar-related spectral features and internal SSC across different Hami melon varieties; (2) an RPD-weighted ensemble modeling strategy that balanced the fitting ability and generalization performance of linear and nonlinear models; and (3) a dual-position SSC measurement design that validated the robustness of the model for SSC prediction at different spatial positions in the pulp. This study confirms the feasibility of hyperspectral imaging technology for non-destructive SSC detection in the four tested Hami melon varieties under laboratory-controlled conditions. The proposed ensemble model achieved a marginal but stable improvement in overall prediction accuracy across the tested varieties compared with the optimal single model, providing a preliminary methodological reference and data support for the development of cross-cultivar non-destructive SSC detection models for Hami melon. Full article

(1) Background: This study investigated developmental differences in gaze behaviors and performance during basketball free throws among youth athletes. (2) Methods: Forty-six male youth basketball players (U14, U16, U18) each performed 30 standardized free throws while wearing Tobii Pro Glasses 3 to record gaze data (Quiet Eye duration and Total Fixation duration). Shooting accuracy and cognitive workload (NASA-TLX) were also collected. One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were conducted to examine age-related differences and the relationships between gaze behavior and performance. (3) Results: Shooting accuracy was moderately correlated with chronological age (r = 0.386, p = 0.010) and training experience (r = 0.367, p = 0.010), and total fixation duration was positively associated with training experience (r = 0.338, p = 0.025). Regression analyses showed that training experience predicted total fixation duration, and both age and experience predicted shooting accuracy when considered separately (p < 0.05), but neither predicted cognitive workload (p > 0.05). Age and training experience were positively associated with shot success. (4) Conclusions: In the youth free-throw task, Quiet Eye duration and total fixation duration were highly correlated but did not independently predict shooting success, while shooting performance was more strongly associated with age and training experience, and perceived cognitive workload remained stable across age groups. Full article

To establish a rapid traceability method for tea varieties and address the limitations of traditional identification techniques, this study focused on four types of tea—Longjing, Maofeng, Zhuyeqing, and Biluochun—using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. A total of 84 sets of NIR spectra were collected and preprocessed using Savitzky–Golay smoothing (S-G), multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), standard normal variate transformation (SNV), and first derivative (1stDer) methods. Dimensionality reduction and feature selection were then performed using principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), their combination (PCA-LDA), and the successive projections algorithm (SPA). Classification models based on multiple linear regression (MLR) and support vector machine (SVM) were constructed and evaluated via five-fold cross-validation to assess generalization ability and stability. The results indicated that the SVM model significantly outperformed the MLR model in overall classification and generalization. The PCA-LDA combined approach proved to be the most effective feature selection method. The optimal classification model for tea variety traceability was achieved using MSC or SNV preprocessing combined with PCA-LDA-SVM, yielding a mean five-fold cross-validation accuracy of 96.67%. The confusion matrix revealed that misclassifications mainly occurred between Longjing and Biluochun and between Maofeng and Zhuyeqing, which can be attributed to similarities in processing techniques and chemical composition among these tea varieties. This study provides a rapid, non-destructive, and accurate spectroscopic detection method for tea quality control and traceability, offering a valuable reference for the rapid identification of agricultural products. Full article

Background: Persistent inflammation and endothelial dysfunction have been proposed as key mechanisms of post-COVID cardiovascular sequelae and may contribute to atrial fibrillation (AF). We examined whether inflammatory/prothrombotic biomarkers and endothelial function differ between post-COVID patients and controls, and whether baseline inflammation/endothelial dysfunction relates to AF burden at 12 months. Methods: In this single-center, retrospective observational study, 198 outpatients were enrolled: 99 post-COVID patients evaluated 3–6 months after documented SARS-CoV-2 infection (Group 1) and 99 age- and sex-matched controls without prior COVID-19 (Group 2). At baseline (t0), clinical characteristics, inflammatory/prothrombotic biomarkers, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and 24 h Holter ECG were assessed in both groups. Univariable linear regression tested associations between baseline variables and FMD in Group 1. At 12 months (t1), 24 h Holter ECG was repeated in both groups. Quartile analyses were performed according to baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to explore AF distribution across inflammatory strata. Results: At baseline, post-COVID patients had higher inflammatory and prothrombotic markers than controls (ESR, CRP, fibrinogen, and D-dimer; all p < 0.0001) and markedly lower FMD (7.72 vs. 13.72; p < 0.0001). In Group 1, FMD was inversely associated with multiple inflammatory/prothrombotic markers (all p < 0.0001), with the strongest association for ESR (R² = 0.6297). Holter-detected AF prevalence at baseline did not differ significantly between groups (25/99 [25.3%] vs. 18/99 [18.2%]). At 12 months, AF prevalence was numerically higher in the post-COVID group (32/99 [32.3%] vs. 21/99 [21.2%]); on two-sided testing, this difference was borderline (p = 0.047) and should be interpreted cautiously. Across increasing baseline NLR quartiles, AF prevalence increased stepwise in both groups (post-COVID: 2/25, 5/25, 10/24, 15/25; controls: 1/25, 3/25, 7/24, 10/25), consistent with the enrichment of AF in higher-inflammatory strata. Conclusions: Post-COVID patients exhibited a persistent inflammatory–prothrombotic profile and pronounced endothelial dysfunction at baseline. At 12 months, AF burden was numerically higher post-COVID, and AF clustered in strata characterized by higher baseline NLR and lower FMD, consistent with an inflammation–endothelial dysfunction axis associated with subsequent AF burden. Prospective studies with standardized rhythm monitoring and comprehensive multivariable adjustment are warranted. Full article

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complicates a significant number of pregnancies and is associated with both short- and long-term risks for the mother and child. Twin pregnancies are inherently high risk, and the coexistence of GDM may amplify these risks. While the effects of GDM in singleton pregnancies have been widely studied, data on its impact in twin gestations remain limited. The aim of this study was to determine differences regarding metabolic characteristics, treatment requirements, and maternal as well as fetal outcomes between twin and singleton pregnancies with GDM to contribute to improved perinatal care. Methods: This retrospective study included obstetric data from 73 twin pregnancies (146 neonates) and 1664 singleton pregnancies with a GDM diagnosis at a tertiary perinatal center in Berlin, Germany, between 2015 and 2022. Baseline characteristics and perinatal outcomes were assessed. Adjusted multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used for group comparisons. Results: Women with GDM in twin and singleton pregnancies exhibited comparable glucose values in the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (median fasting: 95 vs. 96 mg/dL; 1 h: 183 vs. 183 mg/dL; 2 h: 144 vs. 139 mg/dL). Despite this, insulin therapy was required significantly less often in twin (5.5%) compared to singleton pregnancies (22.3%) (OR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.78–0.96). Among insulin-treated women, combined insulin therapy was most common in twins (75%), while singleton mothers most frequently received long-acting insulin alone (61.7%), followed by combined therapy (31.3%) and short-acting insulin alone (7%). Birthweight was significantly lower in twins (β = –0.83 kg; 95% CI: –0.98 to –0.69), and when evaluated using twin-based growth standards, twins were more likely to be classified as having intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR, <3rd percentile) (OR = 3.37; 95% CI: 0.96–9.11), being small for gestational age (SGA, <10th percentile) (OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.23–4.76), or having a birthweight below the 30th percentile (OR = 6.11; 95% CI: 3.49–11.12). No large-for-gestational-age (LGA, >90th percentile) neonates were observed in the twin group. Conclusions: GDM manifests differently in twin and singleton pregnancies. Despite similar OGTT values, twin mothers require insulin less frequently. Growth-related complications such as IUGR and SGA are significantly more frequent in twins, likely reflecting the physiological constraints of multiple gestations rather than GDM itself. Conversely, LGA is predominantly a concern in singleton pregnancies. These findings underscore the need for individualized diagnostic criteria and management strategies for GDM in twin pregnancies. Full article

This study investigates the impact of occupational noise on the physical and mental health of 50 water pumping station operators in Lebanon. The research aimed to quantify noise exposure, assess its effects on hearing and psychological well-being, and identify contributing factors. To achieve this, this study employed several evaluation methods. Noise exposure was measured using a calibrated sound level meter to determine the average A-weighted sound pressure levels (dBA) at 52 stations, which were then compared to the 85 dBA recommended limit from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Physical health, specifically hearing ability, was assessed using a validated smartphone-based pure-tone audiometry application to measure hearing thresholds across multiple frequencies. The resulting data were used to calculate the pure-tone average (PTA) and classify hearing impairment according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Psychological health was evaluated through a structured 14-item questionnaire developed for this study, covering self-reported impacts on stress, anxiety, sleep quality, concentration, communication, and emotional state. The results indicated a hazardous work environment, with the mean noise level across stations (86.67 dBA) significantly exceeding the NIOSH safety threshold. A high prevalence of hearing impairment was observed among operators, with 88% exhibiting impairment in the worse ear. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that noise level, age, and duration of exposure were all statistically significant predictors, collectively explaining 62.3% of the variance in hearing impairment (F(3, 46) = 25.32, p < 0.001). The analysis further identified age as a key effect modifier; the duration of exposure was the dominant risk factor for younger workers, while the intensity of the noise level was more critical for older workers. Psychologically, workers reported a high prevalence of adverse effects, with sleep disturbances being the most common issue (reported by 75%), followed by emotional distress (67%) and anxiety (60%). This study also found a complete lack of hearing protection use and no formal training on noise hazards, highlighting significant gaps in occupational safety practices. Full article

Background/Objectives: To examine the association between metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and bone mineral density in school-aged children. To investigate the association between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and bone mineral density among school-aged children using a propensity score-matched study design. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed using baseline data from the Beijing Children and Adolescents Health Cohort, with samples collected between September 2022 and May 2023. The study included 5170 children aged 7–18 years. Standardized questionnaires collected behavioral, lifestyle, and dietary data. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference) were obtained to calculate body mass index (BMI). Fasting venous blood samples were analyzed for glucose and lipid profiles. Clinical assessments included pubertal development evaluation, abdominal ultrasound for hepatic steatosis, oscillometric blood pressure measurement, quantitative ultrasound for calcaneal bone mineral density (BMD), and bioelectrical impedance analysis for body fat percentage. MAFLD was diagnosed as hepatic steatosis combined with metabolic abnormalities (assessed via BMI, blood glucose, lipid levels, and blood pressure). Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted at a 1:3 ratio between the MAFLD and non-MAFLD groups, matching on age, sex, and pubertal stage. Multiple linear regression, conditional logistic regression, and quantile regression (10th–90th percentiles) were used to analyze the association between MAFLD and BMD. Results: Of 5170 participants, 579 had MAFLD and were matched to 1737 non-MAFLD controls (standardized mean differences < 0.001). Children with MAFLD had higher BMI, body fat percentage, and waist circumference, and lower BMD versus controls. Multiple linear regression confirmed a significant negative association between MAFLD and BMD, which was stronger in boys and mid-pubertal children. Conditional logistic regression analyses further showed that boys with MAFLD had a higher risk of reduced BMD. The odds ratios were 1.77 (95% CI: 1.14–2.75) overall, 2.74 (95% CI: 1.56–4.81) among those aged 12–14 years, 1.81 (95% CI: 1.04–3.17) in mid-puberty, and 2.27 (95% CI: 1.17–4.40) in late puberty. Quantile regression revealed the strongest associations between MAFLD and BMD at the 40th–75th percentiles (regression coefficients: −9.5 to −6.7). Conclusions: MAFLD was associated with lower bone mineral density in children, with the strongest associations observed in the lower-to-middle range. Boys, children in mid-puberty, and those with obesity may represent particularly vulnerable groups with respect to bone health in the presence of MAFLD. This highlights the importance of early MAFLD identification and targeted interventions to mitigate long-term skeletal risks. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the causal pathways between MAFLD and pediatric bone health, and future research should integrate multiple factors to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Full article

The protection and promotion of the human rights of individuals with mental disorders is a critical global priority, and initiatives such as the WHO QualityRights program aim to strengthen rights-based mental health care. We aimed to investigate the impact of the QualityRights core training on promoting knowledge and practices among healthcare professionals regarding the human rights of individuals with mental disorders, and to assess whether this training can reduce the stigma associated with mental disorders among these professionals. A quasiexperimental pre–post study was conducted with 26 primary healthcare professionals. Of these, 14 provided complete paired data, enabling direct comparison before and after the intervention. Participants completed standardized questionnaires assessing attitudes toward people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities. Data were analyzed using paired statistical tests for pre–post comparisons, followed by multiple linear regression to examine factors associated with changes in scores. The training produced meaningful improvements in several items related to autonomy, legal capacity, coercion, and rights-based practices. Higher educational level was associated with greater attitudinal change. The WHO QualityRights training positively influenced healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward human rights in mental health. Future research should include larger samples and long-term follow-up to strengthen the evidence base and evaluate the sustainability of these changes across diverse care settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) continue to be a significant challenge in military populations. Load carriage is cited as a key contributor to postural stability (PS) impairments and therefore may contribute to injury risk. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of load per kilogram of body mass (LpBM) on dynamic postural stability index (DPSI) percentage difference between unloaded and loaded conditions, while moderating for biological sex. Methods: Thirty-three recreationally active adults (16 males, 17 females) participated in a cross-sectional study. Each participant performed single-leg landing (SLL) tasks under unloaded and loaded conditions, and DPSI was calculated using ground reaction force data collected over the first three seconds post-landing. The loaded condition (22–23 kg, varies based on helmet and vest size) required individuals to wear a full combat load. A moderated multiple regression with robust standard errors was run to determine whether the relationship between percentage difference in DPSI between unloaded and loaded conditions and LpBM carried is different for female and male participants. Results: There was not a statistically significant moderator effect of the DPSI percentage difference, as evidenced by the addition of the interaction term explaining an additional 0.94% of the total variance, p < 0.643. Follow-up standard multiple regressions revealed that there was a statistically significant positive linear relationship (0.887 ± 0.320) between DPSI percentage difference and LpBM (p = 0.010). It was also observed that females did not have statistically significantly higher DPSI percentage difference than males (1.210 ± 4.392, p = 0.785). Conclusions: The results suggest that as LpBM increases, stability becomes more difficult to maintain. These findings highlight the importance of considering relative load when assessing injury risk and designing load carriage training protocols in tactical populations. Full article