Search Results (75)

The aim of the study is to carry out a technical assessment of a Hungarian baths complex, which is a major tourist center with approximately 180,000 visitors per year. The bath complex had been partially closed. Following the partial closure of the spa, a comprehensive survey was carried out, identifying four main problem areas: operational difficulties with the thermal and cold-water wells, outdated water treatment technology, structural damage to the swimming pool and general mechanical deficiencies. Based on these investigations, recommendations were made for a safe and sustainable reopening of the spa, such as the reactivation of the geothermal system, the installation of modern filtration and dosing systems, and the application of energy-efficient and intelligent technologies. Based on the recommendations, the safe, economical, and sustainable reopening of the spa can be achieved, while also providing guidance for the modernization of other spa complexes. A separate section presents detailed development proposals, such as restarting the geothermal system, applying modern water treatment technologies and intelligent control systems, renovating the pool structure, and modernizing the mechanical and electrical systems. These proposals contribute to the modernization of the spa infrastructure and can also provide guidance for solving technical problems in other similar facilities. Full article

Background/Objectives: The workplace represents an ideal context for applying policies to foster a healthy lifestyle, guaranteeing advantages both to the individual and the company. Nevertheless, motivation to change one’s lifestyle remains an issue. This study aimed to determine subjects’ most valued intentions toward lifestyle changes and the target actions to improve lifestyles that they would be willing to invest in economically, information which might help design effective intervention programs. Methods: Classification trees were applied to 2762 employees/ex-employees (55.09 ± 13.80 years; 1107 females and 1655 males) of several Italian companies who voluntarily filled out an anonymous questionnaire on lifestyles (inquiring about, e.g., exercise, nutrition, smoking, and stress) to unveil specific subject typologies that are more likely associated with, e.g., manifesting a specific intention toward lifestyle changes and choosing the two most popular target actions resulting from the survey. Results: The main lifestyle aspect that respondents desired to improve was to become more physically active, and the most preferred tools chosen to improve their lifestyle were the possibility of having a medical specialist consultant to prescribe a tailored lifestyle program and buying a gym/swimming pool membership. Conclusions: This observational study might help tailor worksite health promotion and insurance services offered to employees, initiatives that may play an important role in fostering health/well-being and preventing chronic diseases in the more general population, especially in healthy or young subjects who are more prone to change their behavior if immediate benefits are seen instead of only advantages in the future. Full article

This review synthesizes current research on hydrofoil-propelled robots inspired by the swimming mechanisms of sea turtles and penguins. It begins by summarizing the swimming kinematics of these organisms, highlighting their superior aquatic performance as the primary motivation for biomimetic design. Next, established analytical methods for characterizing hydrofoil locomotion patterns are presented, along with a clear delineation of the decoupled motion components exhibited by sea turtle flippers and penguin wings. Such decoupling provides a systematic framework for guiding the design of driving mechanisms. Building on this biomechanical foundation, the review critically examines recent advances in biomimetic flexible hydrofoils that enhance propulsion efficiency through three synergistic mechanisms to enhance thrust generation, while identifying key challenges in material durability and non-linear fluid–structure interactions. The review then surveys existing hydrofoil actuation systems, which commonly reproduce coupled motions with multiple degrees of freedom (DOFs). Finally, representative biomimetic robots are examined: sea turtle-inspired forelimbs typically incorporate three DOFs, whereas penguin-inspired wings usually offer two DOFs. By aligning robotic designs with the decoupled motion patterns of the source organisms, this review offers critical insights to advance the development of hydrofoil propulsion systems for enhanced aquatic performance. Full article

Alien Ponto-Caspian mysids Paramysis lacustris, Limnomysis benedeni and Hemimysis anomala were introduced into Lithuanian waters from Ukraine’s water reservoirs in the early 1960s. Their expansion from the primary introduction site in the Kaunas Reservoir, located on the Nemunas River, proceeded through secondary introductions and natural dispersal. The two species, P. lacustris and L. benedeni, are currently quite widespread in Lithuanian waters, whereas H. anomala has been observed exclusively in the Kaunas Reservoir until recently. Here, we present data from the most recent comprehensive survey of Ponto Caspian mysids and analyze the impact of sampling method on the likelihood of species detection. The results clearly indicate that the detection of larger-sized, more mobile species with good swimming abilities, such as P. lacustris, requires, in addition to conventional macroinvertebrate sampling, the use of devices designed to capture active nektobenthic animals. For this purpose, an epibenthic dredge or sledge is recommended. In contrast, the detection probability of the smaller-sized L. benedeni was not affected by the sampling method. The recent detection of the bloody-red mysid H. anomala near the Nemunas Delta suggests it may now be well-established in the area. However, due to its nocturnal lifestyle, the effective detection of this mysid requires dusk or nighttime sampling using equipment appropriate for capturing nektobenthic fauna. Full article

This study fills a crucial gap by offering fresh insights into healthcare entrepreneurs’ characteristics and decision-making, enriching the understanding of entrepreneurial behavior. Employing a mixed-methods approach, by combining qualitative and quantitative data, the researchers examined how factors such as age, gender, education, number of children, marital status, and house ownership influence business orientation. Utilizing both quantitative data, collected through surveys, and statistical analyses, conducted in EViews 12, data drawn from 113 Romanian medical start-ups revealed that marital status was a significant determinant, with single individuals exhibiting a profit-centric approach, while couples or married entrepreneurs prioritize patient well-being. Also, the lower the sense of ownership, the lower the number of co-founders there was in the start-up. The motivation of entrepreneurs involved in start-ups with more than two co-founders, is based on the motivation behind a problem that directly affected the entrepreneurs themselves. An unexpected result was found regarding the healthcare entrepreneurs that perceive failure more due to lack of funding than competition, especially in profit-focused ventures, shaping their decision-making. To shape managerial implications, the authors depicted the swim lane decision-making process diagram based on these insights. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic may have had long-lasting detrimental effects on children’s physical health. Previous studies have shown that children’s participation in physical activity (PA) declined during the pandemic. This study examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA type selection and the influence of gender, number of siblings, residence type, and caregiver education level on PA. Methods: Parents of Saudi children (ages 6–9 years) were recruited through convenience sampling and completed an online survey between July and August 2020. The parent-reported survey included demographics and PA types across three time periods (pre-, during, and post-lockdown). Chi-squared tests and logistic regression with pairwise comparisons were used to analyze the differences. Results: Parents reported that children (n = 361, mean age 7.7 ± 1.1 years) selected different PA types pre-COVID-19 pandemic more often than during the COVID-19 lockdown, such as swimming (16.9% vs. 12.8%), high-intensity jumping (9.8% vs. 6.6%), cycling (12.8% vs. 9.6%), football (14.3% vs. 6.1%), running (9.3% vs. 5.5%), virtual gaming exercise (5% vs. 3.2%), and playground activity (11.3% vs. 5.8%) (p < 0.05). Additionally, PA type was shown to be influenced by gender and residence type, with girls being 55% more likely to be physically active during COVID-19 compared to boys, and participants living in houses without private yards being less physically active compared to those who lived in houses with private yards. Conclusions: Children’s gender (boy vs. girl) and residence type (with private yards vs. without private yards) affected their PA level during the COVID-19 lockdown. These findings suggest that more effort should be directed toward understanding the influence of gender and house types in the selection of PA types. Full article

Background/Objectives: Distal femur tumor resection with limb salvage is a demanding procedure that offers hope for patients by preserving the limb rather than opting for amputation. While limb salvage can improve both physical function and psychological well-being, there’s limited knowledge on how active patients remain afterward and how their Quality of Life (QoL) is affected, especially regarding physical activities and sports. This study investigates the quality of life of the patients through the development of motor activity, focusing on both physical and sporting activity of the above-mentioned individuals and their physical abilities to participate in activities of daily and sporting life after surgery. Methods: This study involved 16 patients aged 19–47 years who had undergone surgical resection and replacement of the distal femur for the treatment of sarcoma and were selected by random sampling from a total of 72 patients who had undergone a similar procedure. To explore the topic in depth, the researchers followed the triangulation method. From July 2023 to February 2024, we used surveys and interviews to explore their physical activity (PA) levels, sports participation, and QoL. This study included the International Physical Activity (PA) Questionnaire (IPAQ), the University of California and Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Score, and semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using the statistical software packages SPSS 25 and Excel. Results: Most participants reported moderate to high levels of PA, according to IPAQ, and continued engaging in sports, with swimming, walking, and stair climbing being the most common activities. No significant relationship was found between their PA levels and factors such as age, BMI, or the side of the affected limb. Interviews showed that patients’ motivation and their surgeon’s guidance played key roles in their return to regular activities, though many exercised less frequently or intensely than recommended. Conclusions: Patients who undergo limb salvage surgery following distal femur tumor removal generally maintain a good level of physical activity, which supports their QoL. Encouraging these patients to stay active and even engage in sports appears feasible, especially when guided by medical professionals. These findings highlight the potential benefits of tailored rehab programs to improve long-term health and QoL in sarcoma survivors, although larger studies are needed for more comprehensive insights. Full article

In addressing complex water management issues, participatory modeling (PM) and scenario analysis (SA) have emerged as pivotal tools for fostering stakeholder engagement, social learning, and collaborative decision-making. This study explores the efficacy of integrating PM and SA within a series of online workshops focused on the Middle Rio Grande River Basin. Data were collected using a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, workshop transcripts, and participant outputs from workshop activities. Through these workshops, participants from diverse backgrounds engaged in collaborative scenario-building exercises, interactive discussions, and hands-on simulations using the SWIM 2.0 model, fostering shared learning and deeper insights into regional water challenges. Our findings highlight the importance of group-level activities in enhancing participants’ understanding, engagement, and trust in modeling tools, which can lead to more informed decision-making processes. The workshops demonstrated significant improvements in SA completion and a deeper connection between participants and policy discussions. However, challenges remain in bridging the gap between SA and active decision-making, particularly in contexts where participants do not perceive themselves as decision-makers. This study underscores the potential of participatory approaches to address complex environmental issues, while also identifying areas for further refinement to enhance stakeholder empowerment and tool usability in collaborative settings. Full article

Drowning is among the most common reasons for children’s death aged one to fourteen around the globe, ranking as the third leading cause of unintentional injury death. With rising populations and the growing popularity of swimming pools in hotels and villas, the incidence of drowning has accelerated. Accordingly, the development of systems for detecting and preventing drowning has become increasingly critical to provide safe swimming settings. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive review of recent existing advancements in automated drowning detection and prevention systems. The existing approaches can be broadly categorized according to their objectives into two main groups: detection-based systems, which alert lifeguards or parents to perform manual rescues, and detection and rescue-based systems, which integrate detection with automatic rescue mechanisms. Automatic drowning detection approaches could be further categorized into computer vision-based approaches, where camera-captured images are analyzed by machine learning algorithms to detect instances of drowning, and sensing-based approaches, where sensing instruments are attached to swimmers to monitor their physical parameters. We explore the advantages and limitations of each approach. Additionally, we highlight technical challenges and unresolved issues related to this domain, such as data imbalance, accuracy, privacy concerns, and integration with rescue systems. We also identify future research opportunities, emphasizing the need for more advanced AI models, uniform datasets, and better integration of detection with autonomous rescue mechanisms. This study aims to provide a critical resource for researchers and practitioners, facilitating the development of more effective systems to enhance water safety and minimize drowning incidents. Full article

Yoga enhances acceptance, compassion, physicality, mental and emotional awareness, and spiritual benefits through breath techniques, postures, and body locks, while swimming improves flexibility, strength, and body awareness. The fusion of yoga and swimming, particularly the aqua yoga asana method, offers a balanced lifestyle for athletes and non-performers, enhancing their performance. Our study examined the feasibility of incorporating yoga and swimming practice into Romanian subjects’ lifestyles, designing a factor analysis in SmartPLS software, based on an online survey. This study assessed participants’ knowledge of yoga’s theory and philosophy, as well as their perceptions of the benefits of swimming practice for social and health issues. Our 250 young swimming athletes train in Bucharest’s sports clubs. According to our study, Romanian participants practice yoga and swimming as often as possible to reduce stress, improve concentration for work-related tasks, and improve joint elasticity, balance, and muscular tone. The high coefficient of path analysis (0.667) proved that those who practice yoga asanas have a high level of awareness and understand the fundamentals of the practice. The second coefficient of path analysis (0.857) shows that those who understand yoga better are convinced of its positive effects on society and their health. Thus, yoga and swimming are substitutes for other approaches in prevention and therapy, making it a beneficial tool for pre-performance swimming. Full article

We assessed the training, work and Life Stress demands of a mixed gender group of 48 top amateur short-distance triathletes using an online retrospective epidemiological survey and the Life Events Survey for Collegiate Athletes. On superficial inspection, these mainly masters athletes appeared to undergo all the types of training that are recommended for the aging athlete. However, there were significant scheduling differences between their weekday vs. their weekend training, suggesting that age-groupers’ outside sports commitments may affect their training efficacy. The triathletes claimed to periodize, to obtain feedback on and to modify their training plans when appropriate—and some evidence of this was obtained. Over the year preceding the ITU World Age-Group Championships, they averaged 53%, 33% and 14% of their combined swim, cycle and run training time, respectively, within intensity zones 1, 2 and 3. Although the triathletes specifically stated that their training was focused on preparation for the ITU World Age-Group Championships, the way that they modified their training in the month before the event suggested that this aim was not necessarily achieved. Sports-related stress accounted for most—42.0 ± 26.7%—of their total Life Stress over the preceding year (vs. 12.7 ± 18.6% for Relationship-, 31.3 ± 25.9% for Personal- and 14.0 ± 21.1% for Career-related Stress). It affected most athletes, and was overwhelmingly negative, when it related to failure to attain athletic goal(s), to injury and/or to illness. Full article

Quinquelaophonte is a genus of laophontid harpacticoid, including 13 valid species around the world. Many of them are known to possess inter- and/or intra-individual variations in their swimming legs. During a survey of the meiofaunal biodiversity of Jeju Island in Korea, specimens of Quinquelaophonte were collected from an intertidal zone off the west coast of Jeju Island. This study examined the morphological characteristics and amplified partial sequence of four genes (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, COX1, and CYTB). As with other Quinquelaophonte species, specimens of this new species showed variability in the chaetotaxy of their swimming legs in both sexes. There was a setal arrangement pattern in females that could be considered a standard, whereas male individuals showed two sets of the chaetotaxy on the fourth swimming legs. The molecular data confirmed that individuals belonged to a single species, regardless of morphological variations. The result of the morphological comparison showed that the new Quinquelaohponte species shared some characteristics with congeneric species but included some specific morphological characters different from its congeners. The new species was named Quinquelaophonte sominer sp. nov. and was presented with detailed descriptions, illustrations, and confocal micrographs. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses were conducted using newly obtained data plus the sequences of other copepods and two Quinquelaophonte species. The result suggested that Q. sominer sp. nov. and two congeners were classified as branched lineages. This discovery brings the total number of species to three in the Northwest Pacific region. Full article

The long-term effect of physical activity on body composition in Master athletes is rarely presented in the literature. The aim of this study was to identify possible changes in body composition of Master swimmers over a period of 4 years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we wanted to discover if sarcopenia symptoms would occur in Master athletes during the analyzed period. The body compositions of one hundred and sixty-seven Master swimmers were assessed with the InBody 270 analyzer in 2018. In 2022, the measurements were repeated in forty-six men and fourteen women. The Muscle Mass Index and the Skeletal Muscle Index were calculated to identify sarcopenia-related changes in body composition. We surveyed participants to gather data on their training patterns and SARS-CoV-2 infection history. No significant changes in body composition parameters were noted in Master swimmers during the analysis period (p > 0.05). Sarcopenia risk was not identified in examined athletes, and sarcopenia indicators did not change markedly over the 4-year period (p > 0.05). Participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection did not differ from non-infected subjects in terms of body composition. Training cessation during the COVID-19 pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 infection did not induce long-term changes in body composition of Master swimmers. Life-long participation in swimming activities appears to delay negative changes in body composition, including sarcopenia symptoms. Full article

Objectives: The main aims of the study were the evaluation of stress-related effects (strenuous vs. non-strenuous sport vs. nonathletes) in stimulating or reducing influences on cartilage volume in the ankle joint and the evaluation of the image quality of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device with a field strength of 3.0 Tesla compared to one of 1.5 Tesla. Methods: A total of 15 subjects (6 male, 9 female) aged 19–33 years participated voluntarily in this prospective study. The subjects were divided into three groups: high-performance athletes of the German Football Association (DFB) (football/soccer = strenuous sport), high-performance athletes of the German Swimming Association (DSV) (swimming = non-strenuous sport), and nonathletes. MRI was performed on both ankle joints of all subjects in the 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI scanners using survey sequences, proton density sequences in the coronal and sagittal planes, and VIBE sequences. Using the images of both feet produced by VIBE sequences, the cartilages of the talus and tibia were manually circumscribed using a computer mouse in every third layer, and the volume was calculated. For qualitative assessment, blinded images were submitted to three radiologists with defined standards. The images were scored using a scale from 1 to 5. Results: Cartilage volume: The investigation and examination of the individual cartilage volumes by analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant differences among the three groups. The effect intensities, as calculated by Cohen’s d, were right tibia (Ti_ri) = 2.5, left tibia (Ti_le) = 2.2, right talus (Ta_ri) = 1.9, and left talus (Ta_le) = 1.6 in the strenuous sport versus nonstrenuous sport groups; Ti_ri = 0.8, Ti_le = 1.2, Ta_ri = 0.4, and Ta_le = 0.5 in the strenuous sport versus nonathlete groups; and Ti_ri = 0.3, Ti_le = 0.2, Ta_ri = 0.7, and Ta_le = 0.5 in the nonstrenuous sport versus nonathlete groups. Device comparison: In the investigation of each evaluated area on the 1.5 T and 3.0 T MR images by the Wilcoxon matched-pair test, significant differences were found for the cartilage–bone border (KKG = 0.002), cancellous bone (Sp = 0.001), medial ligamentous apparatus (mBa = 0.001), lateral ligamentous apparatus (lBa = 0.001), and adipose tissue (Fg = 0.002). Thus, there were significant differences in the assessment of the 1.5 T MRI and the 3.0 T MRI in all five evaluated areas. Conclusion: The study showed no significant difference in the volume of hyaline articular cartilage in the upper ankle joint among the high-performance strenuous DFB athlete, high-performance non-strenuous DSV athlete, and nonathlete groups. The 3.0 Tesla device offers significant advantages in image quality compared to the 1.5 Tesla device. Full article

Remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS, or ‘drones’ hereafter) have potential for surveying waterbird species and habitats, but there is a risk that the disturbance from drones could compromise count accuracy and bird welfare. We examined the response of 16 waterbird species to repeated up-and-back overhead drone flights (n = 50 flights) at multiple flight heights (80, 60, 40 and 20 m) using three common drone platforms (DJI Matrice 300, DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced and DJI Phantom 4). A ground observer scored the species’ responses to overhead drone flights, which ranged from no response (no change to initial behavior), vigilance (head turning and tracking), movement within the site (swimming, diving, flight into or on the water) and substantial flight resulting in departure from the pond (fleeing). A total of 280 waterbird encounters with overhead drones were observed. The most common response across all flights was no response (70.7%), followed by vigilance (27.5%), whereas more intense responses were comparatively rare (1.8%). The responses were of higher intensity during earlier overhead drone flights, before moderating substantially during later flights. Thus, our case study provides the first unambiguous evidence of the attenuation of responses of bird species to drones. Full article