Search Results (835)

The contribution that the inclusion of CS in the curriculum can make to address SDG 4—Quality Education—which fosters convergence between Science Education and Education for Sustainable Development, essential for addressing the sustainability challenges currently facing humanity, has been widely recognized. This recognition is driving the inclusion of CS in formal education. However, to ensure that the use of CS in formal education contributes to this objective, a systematic and rigorous evaluation of its benefits in terms of participants’ learning outcomes (LO) is necessary. This study presents a systematic review of the published literature on CS projects implemented in compulsory education to examine whether students’ LO from participation in CS projects are evaluated, and if so, how this evaluation is performed. The results indicate a lack of systematic evaluation of LO from participating in CS projects. Moreover, although in 79% of cases, where some LO is evaluated, the evaluation reported positive results, in most of them, the results may have been influenced by the voluntary or mandatory nature of participation in the projects and the design of the evaluation itself. This may bias the results, leading to an over-optimistic view of the contribution of CS to SDG 4. In order to obtain solid evidence of the benefits, or lack thereof, for learners of participation in CS activities, which can guide the designers and educators in improving the CS projects to maximize their educational and sustainability impacts, some recommendations for future studies are presented. Full article

Background/Objectives: Blood donation is essential to health systems and represents a valuable epidemiological model for studying physiological adaptation to controlled blood loss. Regular blood donors constitute a distinct, health-screened population whose biological responses offer unique insight into mechanisms of resilience and key determinants of population health. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) is a key regulator of erythropoiesis and cellular response to hypoxia, and its modulation following blood donation may inform donor safety and the sustainability of blood donation programs. This study aimed to characterize the sociodemographic, lifestyle, and anthropometric profiles of blood donors in relation to hematopoietic biomarkers (vitamin B12 and folic acid) and to evaluate changes in serum HIF-1α concentration after donation, emphasizing the public health relevance of voluntary blood donation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 324 voluntary blood donors (159 regular and 165 occasional). Serum HIF-1α was measured before and 30 min after donation, together with vitamin B12 and folic acid levels. Sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics (physical activity, smoking, dietary habits) were collected through standardized questionnaires (EHIS-3, FFQ), and anthropometric parameters were assessed. Results: Regular donors were older and predominantly male, with comparable socioeconomic indicators between groups. Both regular and occasional donors showed favorable lifestyle profiles, including low smoking prevalence and moderate physical activity. Skinfold thickness was significantly greater in regular donors (p < 0.001). The main biological finding was a robust post-donation increase in HIF-1α concentrations (≈80%, p < 0.001), independent of donation frequency or lifestyle. No significant associations were found between lifestyle factors and vitamin B12 or folate levels. Conclusions: Blood donation induces a rapid elevation in HIF-1α, reflecting activation of hypoxia-responsive pathways and short-term hematopoietic adaptation. Beyond its biomedical relevance, voluntary blood donation represents a meaningful epidemiological and public health model for studying physiological resilience and the health benefits of altruistic behavior. These findings underscore the importance of donor surveillance and motivation as components of broader preventive health and health equity strategies. Full article

This study was aimed at analyzing physical fitness in 9–11-year-old children and verifying whether it is affected by body mass index (BMI), peak height velocity (PHV), quartile distribution (QD), and sport practice (SP), also considering any potential effects of sex. One thousand one hundred forty-three Italian primary school children (50.7% males) underwent anthropometric measurements (body mass, height, and BMI) and physical tests for measuring coordination (Plate Tapping, PT), handgrip strength (HandGrip, HG), lower-limb power (standing long jump, SLJ), low-back flexibility (sit-and-reach, SR), and sprint (20 m sprint, 20 m) skills. A series of analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted using age as a covariate to examine differences among subgroups for BMI, PHV, QD, and SP in relation to the different physical tests (i.e., PT, HG, SLJ, SL, 20 m). Sex was included in each model as fixed independent variable. Principally, participants with higher SP and BMI reported higher and lower performance (p < 0.001) in SLJ, SR, and 20 m tests, respectively. Differently, for higher BMI levels, higher HG performance was reported (p < 0.001). PHV and QD had isolated effects, whereas no effect emerged for PT. Sex interactions were found only for SP subcategories in SR (p ≤ 0.001, ES range = 0.74–1.30). Although physical performance in 9–11-year-old (non-competitive, pre-puberty) Italian students does not seem to be characterized by involuntary factors (such as PHV and QD), substantial opposite trends seem to exist for voluntary factors (such as BMI and SP), thus suggesting how an adequate lifestyle and physical activity could crucially lead to valuable fitness benefits. Full article

Background: Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is traditionally regarded as a metabolic by-product; however, growing evidence indicates that it plays an active regulatory role across multiple physiological systems. Acute hypercapnia elicits respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, and neurocognitive responses, some of which may transiently influence exercise performance. This narrative review summarizes current evidence on CO₂ inhalation in healthy individuals and critically evaluates whether controlled hypercapnia may serve as a targeted stimulus in sport and exercise contexts. Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed English-language articles indexed in PubMed and Web of Science was conducted. A narrative approach was chosen due to the marked heterogeneity of study designs, hypercapnia-induction methods (e.g., CO₂ inhalation, voluntary hypoventilation, increased respiratory dead space), participant characteristics, and outcome measures, which precluded systematic synthesis. The review focused on studies involving healthy or physically active individuals and examined acute or short-term hypercapnic exposure. No strict publication date limits were applied. Studies conducted exclusively in clinical populations were excluded. Results: Short-term, controlled hypercapnia reliably increases ventilation, sympathetic activation, cerebral and muscular blood flow, and metabolic stress. Certain hypercapnia-based interventions—such as voluntary hypoventilation or added respiratory dead space—may enhance buffering capacity, reduce lactate accumulation and improve maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) during submaximal efforts and repeated-sprint performance during high-intensity, short-duration exercise. However, CO₂ inhalation frequently induces dyspnea, anxiety, and cognitive disruption, and higher concentrations pose clear safety risks. Current evidence does not support long-term improvements in VO₂max or long-duration endurance performance following hypercapnia-based interventions. Conclusions: Controlled, intermittent hypercapnia may provide a targeted metabolic and ventilatory stimulus that enhances tolerance to high-intensity exercise, yet its application remains experimental and context-dependent. The risks associated with CO₂ inhalation in healthy individuals currently outweigh its potential benefits, and safe, effective training protocols have not been fully established. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms, long-term adaptations, and practical utility of hypercapnia-based training strategies. Full article

Objectives: Shoulder joint strength and muscle activation during overhead reaching are critical for ergonomic task design, rehabilitation, and exoskeleton support. The objective of this study was to characterize maximum shoulder torque and flexor muscle activation profiles across functional elevation angles in healthy adult males. Methods: A total of 14 healthy male participants performed maximum voluntary isometric contractions at eight arm elevation angles (90–160°, sagittal plane, and standing). Shoulder torque was measured using a calibrated force sensor and normalized to each participant’s overall maximum. Electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the anterior deltoid, medial deltoid, biceps brachii, and clavicular pectoralis major; EMG for the medial deltoid, biceps brachii, and pectoralis major was normalized to muscle-specific isometric MVCs, whereas the anterior deltoid was normalized to the peak value at 90° during the main task. All EMG signals were smoothed using a 0.5 s RMS-based moving average window. Linear regression was used to analyze the torque–angle relationship, and linear mixed-effects models were used to test EMG differences across angles. Summary statistics included mean ± SD, coefficient of variation, R², p-values (significance threshold: p < 0.05), Cohen’s d, and 95% confidence intervals where appropriate. Results: Maximum torque declined with elevation angle (y = −0.6317x + 157.21; R² = 0.99), from 77.2 Nm at 90° to 43.2 Nm at 160°, with normalized values from 99.6% to 55.3%. Medial deltoid activation increased significantly with elevation (p < 0.001, from 87.5 ± 19.9% at 90° to 109.4 ± 25.6% at 150°), while pectoralis major declined sharply (p < 0.001, from 68.9 ± 24.2% at 90° to 19.8 ± 5.6% at 160°). Anterior deltoid and biceps brachii activations were high and showed no systematic change with angle (p = 0.37 and 0.81, respectively), remaining within approximately 95–102% and 70–85% of their reference levels across 90–160°. Normalization reduced inter-participant variability, clarifying muscle-specific trends. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary biomechanical reference values for shoulder torque and muscle activation across elevation angles in healthy males under isometric standing conditions, confirming an inverse torque–angle relationship and distinct muscle activation strategies at higher positions. These findings may inform ergonomic assessment and exoskeleton design, while recognizing that generalization to dynamic tasks and other populations requires caution. Full article

Background/Objectives: The ability to maintain movement quality despite muscle fatigue is essential for daily activities and preserving independence after motor impairments. Many real-life situations involve asymmetrical muscle activation, leading to unilateral muscle fatigue. Repeated unilateral handgrip contractions at submaximal force have been linked to neural changes in both contralateral and ipsilateral motor areas, as well as improved contralateral response times in a button-press task. However, it remains unclear whether these improvements in response latency extend to higher-level benefits in overall arm movement quality. Methods: Thirty healthy participants performed unilateral handgrip fatiguing tasks at 5%, 50%, and 75% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) force. Subsequently, bilateral upper-limb movement quality was assessed in an object-hit task using a Kinarm robot. Results: The 50% and 75% MVC protocols elicited muscle fatigue as evidenced by declines in force output, post-exercise MVC, electromyography magnitude changes, and increased perceived exertion compared to the 5% MVC control condition. However, no significant changes in kinematic measures of the object-hit task were observed for either the fatigued (ipsilateral) or non-fatigued (contralateral) arm, indicating that unilateral handgrip fatigue did not affect higher-level movement quality. Conclusions: Previously reported improvements on contralateral response latency in a button-press task were not found to translate into advanced arm movement quality benefits. Full article

Objective quantification of tremor remains a challenge in Parkinson’s disease (PD) assessment, with current clinical assessments relying largely on subjective scale ratings. This study evaluates the feasibility and signal behaviour of integrating surface electromyography (sEMG) with MDS-UPDRS-aligned tasks in a healthy adult cohort, with the aim of establishing normative low-frequency muscle activation profiles. Thirty-two healthy participants (mean age 27.6 ± 5.3 years) completed seven upper-limb tasks derived from the MDS-UPDRS while sEMG data were recorded from antagonistic forearm muscles. Signals were normalised using maximum voluntary contraction, filtered at 14 Hz, and analysed using frequency-domain (FFT) and time-frequency (STFT) methods. Significant task-dependent differences were observed in both frequency occurrence and magnitude (p < 0.05), particularly within the 3.5–9 Hz range. Finger tapping elicited increased low-frequency activity compared to baseline, while pronation–supination produced the most stable and consistent muscle activation across participants. Frequencies above 12 Hz showed minimal task discrimination. These findings demonstrate that low-frequency tremor-like activity can occur during specific MDS-UPDRS tasks in healthy individuals and may require further validation before being considered suitable for PD staging. This work establishes normative sEMG benchmarks to support future clinical validation and PD cohort comparisons. Full article

The present study examined the prophylactic effects of far-infrared-emitting fabric (FIR) on exercise-induced muscle damage and investigated its influence on neuromuscular parameters during eccentric exercise. FIR and placebo garments were worn for 1 h prior to and throughout a knee extension eccentric exercise protocol consisting of 10 sets of 15 maximal contractions performed at 210°·s⁻¹, using a randomized, counterbalanced, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. Twenty-one physically active individuals (age: 24 ± 1 years; body mass: 69.7 ± 2.3 kg; height: 1.73 ± 0.02 m) participated in this two-phase study. In the first phase (FIR effects on muscle damage; n = 9), eccentric peak torque (EPT) and total work (TW) were assessed during exercise, while maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and creatine kinase (CK) were measured before and 24, 48, and 96 h after the protocol. No fabric × time interaction was observed for MVIC or CK. However, FIR use suggested an increased EPT and TW during exercise. To further investigate this effect and explore potential neuromuscular mechanisms, a second phase was conducted (FIR effects on eccentric exercise; n = 12) using the same exercise protocol. EPT, TW, and electromyographic root mean square (EMG-RMS) activity of the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) were assessed. Combined results from both phases (n = 21) demonstrated significant increases of 11% in mean EPT and 18.6% in mean TW, along with greater VL and VM EMG-RMS activity (n = 12), under FIR compared with placebo conditions. These findings indicate that FIR use enhances neuromuscular performance during eccentric exercise. Full article

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes cortical dysfunction by increasing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysregulation, and impairing neurotrophic signaling and neurogenesis. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise training on cortical molecular dysregulation and motor function in post-TBI. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched up to August 2025. Of 1173 records, 35 studies involving exercise training in post-TBI animal models were included. Exercise training protocols included voluntary wheel running, treadmill running, and swimming, with durations ranging from 7 to 63 days. Study quality was assessed using the CAMARADES checklist. Exercise training increased cortical glutathione and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity and reduced oxidative stress in post-TBI. It reduced microglial, astrocytic reactivity, and pro-inflammatory markers, including IL-1β and TNF-α expression in post-TBI. It also reduced caspase activity while increasing heat shock protein 20 (HSP20), thereby downregulating cortical apoptosis in post-TBI. It enhanced motor function, cortical neurogenesis, and neurotrophic factors signaling, including BDNF, in post-TBI. Exercise training improved motor function and cortical neuroprotection by reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis, while enhancing neurotrophic signaling and neurogenesis in post-TBI rodents, but the regulation of let-7c, IL-6, and mitochondrial function remained unclear. (PROSPERO: CRD420251073725) Full article

Background/Objectives: Laparoscopic surgery has become the pre-eminent surgical approach for performing general surgical and gynecological operations, but it can lead to musculoskeletal disorder in surgeons. This study aimed to investigate the musculoskeletal demands of completing four core laparoscopic skills tasks amongst Obstetrics and Gynecology (O&G) and General Surgery (GS) trainees, recognizing that differences between specialties may create different ergonomic and muscular demands. Methods: Ten O&G and ten GS trainees both performed the same four tasks to evaluate their core laparoscopic skills whilst using electromyography (EMG) to assess the physical demand of each task in the trainee groups as a percent of maximum voluntary contraction. Results: O&G trainees had significantly higher muscle activity when completing a hand–eye coordination (HEC) task (167.9 ± 63.8 vs. 92.5 ± 31.3%, p = 0.019), bimanual coordination (BMC) task (205.6 ± 80.7 vs. 106.9 ± 47.0%, p = 0.017), and suturing (267.7 ± 121.6 vs. 122.2 ± 33.0%, p = 0.016) task in the right trapezius and deltoid muscle groups compared to GS trainees. No difference was observed between trainee groups in the laparoscopic camera navigation (LCN) task (p = 0.438). Conclusions: There appears to be increased muscular activity in O&G compared to GS trainees during the same simulated laparoscopic tasks. The findings should inform training policy around the optimization of ergonomics to minimize the risk of musculoskeletal disorder. Full article

This study presents an integrated evaluation framework for textile-based electrical muscle stimulation smartwear electrodes, combining physiological and user-centered assessments to ensure comprehensive performance analysis. Four electrode types—lock stitch, knit, hot stamping, and moss stitch—were examined using a systematic five-step process with nine participants. Quantitative measurements were obtained using electromyography to determine maximum voluntary contraction and tensiomyography to assess muscle contraction velocity. The knit electrode demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in maximum voluntary contraction following stimulation (W = 2.0, p = 0.012, Cohen’s d = 0.58), indicating effective neuromuscular activation and fatigue induction. The moss stitch electrode also showed a notable trend toward reduced muscle activation (W = 6.0, p = 0.055, d = 0.37). In contrast, the lock stitch and hot stamping electrodes exhibited negligible changes. User experience surveys revealed overall high acceptance across all electrode types (4.0–4.5 of mean scores on a 5-point scale), with the moss stitch electrode receiving the highest ratings for perceived safety and minimal skin discomfort, while the hot stamping electrode scored lowest in breathability. The proposed framework enables balanced evaluation of both functional performance and user experience, offering practical design guidance for optimizing textile electrodes across applications ranging from high-intensity athletic training to low-intensity rehabilitation. Full article

Purpose: This study aimed to compare QoL outcomes among patients undergoing active breathing control (ABC), voluntary deep inspiration breath hold (vDIBH), and surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT). Methods: This was a non-randomized, three-arm clinical trial in which 55 patients were sequentially allocated to ABC (n = 19), SGRT (n = 20), or vDIBH (n = 16). QoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) at baseline, treatment completion, and 6–8 weeks post-treatment. Linear regression was used to compare changed scales in QoL domains across groups. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Baseline QoL scores were high across all groups, with physical functioning being the highest-rated domain and global health status the lowest. Fatigue, pain, and insomnia were the most highly reported symptoms at all time points. At 6–8 weeks, social functioning improved significantly in SGRT compared to vDIBH (16.67 vs. −12.50, p = 0.0053). Patients in the vDIBH group reported significantly increased pain compared to ABC at 6–8 weeks (p = 0.0240). No other significant differences were observed in QoL changes between the groups. Conclusions: The three breath-hold techniques maintained overall QoL with no differences between the groups, except for pain between vDIBH and ABC and social functioning for vDIBH and SGRT both at 6–8 weeks of follow-up. Despite the limitations of this study, each breath-hold technique has demonstrated comparable impact on QoL in patients with left-sided breast cancer and each could be used as a viable option with respect to QoL. Full article

Background/Objectives: The concurrent use of smartphones and backpacks presents notable ergonomic challenges for students and young adults. However, the influence of walking speed on this dual-task biomechanical strain remains unclear. This study investigated how walking speed, backpack load, and gender affect postural alignment and neck–shoulder muscle activity during smartphone use. Methods: Thirty healthy university students (15 males and 15 females) were assessed using a motion capture system and surface electromyography to quantify postural alignment and muscle activity. Each participant completed twelve randomized conditions comprising three backpack loads (0%, 5%, and 10% of body weight) combined with four locomotor states (standing and walking at slow, normal, and fast speeds). Outcome measures included neck flexion, upper-trunk angle, lumbosacral angle, and normalized surface electromyography of the cervical erector spinae (CES) and upper trapezius (UTZ). A three-way ANOVA was used to evaluate main and interaction effects. Results: Increasing backpack load significantly increased neck flexion and upper-trunk angle while reducing the lumbosacral angle (all p < 0.001). Muscle activity rose proportionally with load, with UTZ activation nearly doubling from 10.7% to 21.1% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at 10% body weight. Faster walking increased lumbar flexion and elevated CES and UTZ activation (p < 0.05), while neck and upper-trunk postures remained stable across speeds. Females maintained more upright postures but exhibited higher muscle activity than males (p < 0.01). UTZ activation frequently exceeded the 15% MVC fatigue threshold during walking with backpacks. Conclusions: Walking speed critically modulates musculoskeletal strain during concurrent smartphone use and load carriage. The combined effects of backpack load and smartphone use can elevate neck–shoulder muscle demands, with UTZ activity occasionally approaching fatigue thresholds under moderate load and faster walking. Based on the current findings, backpack loads above 5% of body weight may increase the risk of neck–shoulder strain. Additionally, reducing smartphone use during fast walking may help prevent neck–shoulder fatigue and related musculoskeletal discomfort. Full article

With global warming intensifying, urban public spaces in cold-climate regions are increasingly exposed to heat beyond residents’ adaptive capacity. This study investigates whether smartphone use enhances thermal adaptation in Jingyue Central Park, Northeast China. A seven-day field campaign integrating microclimate monitoring and Passive Activity Observation (PAO) collected synchronized environmental and behavioral data. Results show that smartphone users had higher attendance and longer stays under high temperatures. Their Thermal Neutrality Threshold (NTT) and Critical Thermal Threshold (CTT) increased by about 2 °C and 3 °C, respectively, and up to 4.5 °C during optional activities, suggesting that voluntary media engagement improves heat tolerance and adaptive behavior. The study proposes mediated thermal adaptation to describe how digital media co-regulate environmental perception and adaptation. It extends thermal comfort research to cognitive-behavioral dimensions, links UTCI, NTT/CTT, and PAO data within one framework, and provides practical insights for optimizing thermal environments in cold-climate public spaces. Overall, the findings reveal the growing role of media-mediated behavior in enhancing human resilience to thermal stress. Full article

Introduction: Manual therapists routinely evaluate changes in pain, movement, and function through clinical tests that support clinical reasoning. The Prone Hip Extension Test (PHET) is commonly used as a self-perturbation task to assess lumbopelvic control and hip motion patterns related to gait. Performing the PHET actively and passively may reveal how voluntary activation and passive structures influence joint kinematics and contribute to force production. This study aimed to compare active and passive PHET execution and investigate how initial (IP) and final hip positions (FP) correlate with lower-limb neuromuscular function. Methods: Seven healthy volunteers (24.3 ± 3.4 years; 173.1 ± 7.5 cm; 72.1 ± 9.5 kg) without musculoskeletal conditions participated. Hip kinematics were recorded using a 12-camera Qualisys Oqus system (200 Hz) with 22 reflective markers, processed in Qualisys Track Manager 2.13 and exported to Visual3D. Participants performed three PHET trials in both IP and FP, with mean an-gles considered for analysis. Knee isokinetic performance was assessed on a Biodex System 4 at 180°/s and 300°/s for flexion and extension. Results: Significant differences between active and passive PHET emerged in the FP for rotational movements bilaterally (p = 0.02) and in IP adduction/abduction for both hips (right p = 0.03; left p = 0.02). No side-to-side differences were observed. Passive FP of the right hip showed multiple significant correlations with isokinetic flexion and extension parameters at 180°/s and 300°/s, particularly with torque/body weight, acceleration and deceleration times, and agonist/antagonist ratios (ρ ranging from −0.86 to 0.90). Conclusions: Meaningful differences exist between active and passive PHET performance, especially in frontal-plane IP and rotational FP measures. Additionally, passive FP strongly correlates with several neuromuscular variables, suggesting that PHET kinematics may reflect lower-limb isokinetic function. Full article