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Found 6278 publications
Evaluation criteria for lifestyle applications - The role of MAUQ factors in satisfaction
Publication Name: Management and Marketing
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Page Range: 498-519
Description:
The most common health-related apps are lifestyle apps, i.e., fitness, nutrition, diet, and meditation apps, which account for half of all m-health apps on the market. Mobile app-based interventions have been shown to be effective in improving diet-related health outcomes. The aim of this study is to map the usage patterns of lifestyle apps (fitness, diet, and relaxation apps) and identify the role of each factor in the usability of MAUQ (m-Health App Usability Questionnaire) factor - ease of use, interface satisfaction, and usefulness - in overall satisfaction. Data were collected through an online survey in Hungary with 348 users of various lifestyle applications, i.e., fitness (30.2%), nutrition (31.3%), and mindfulness (38.5%) apps. Respondents showed a preference for free apps over paid ones and predominantly used iOS operating systems. The partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method was used to identify the role of usability dimensions in overall satisfaction. The satisfaction of lifestyle app users is positively influenced by 'Ease of Use' and 'Interface and Satisfaction'. However, effectiveness (positive physical and mental health outcomes) negatively influences satisfaction. Research can be particularly useful for app developers, as usability and design (features) play a particularly important role in satisfaction, so these are primary considerations in development.
Open Access: Yes
The Influence of Different Heel Heights on Squatting Stability: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Publication Name: Applied Sciences Switzerland
Publication Date: 2025-03-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 5
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The back squat (BS) is one of the most effective exercises for enhancing lower limb strength, but an unstable squat can increase shear forces in the lower back. Understanding how to assess the squat stability is useful for avoiding potential sports injury. During the BS, the trunk lean and center of pressure (COP) are relevant to squat safety, and these kinematics can be altered by elevating the heel. However, there is no relevant meta-analysis on the impact of different heel heights on squat stability. This study aims to bridge the gap in the literature by conducting a systematic review and network meta-analysis on how heel elevation affects squat stability. By quantifying the influence of different heel heights on key biomechanical parameters, such as the center of pressure deviation and ankle dorsiflexion, the study provides actionable insights for athletes, trainers, and clinicians. Fourteen articles were included, and the majority of these studies demonstrated that elevated heels (EHs) can reduce COP deviation and trunk lean. In addition, 25 mm heels may be the preferred option for squat stability in the AP direction when COP data and network meta-analysis are combined. However, in the ML direction, the capacity to maintain balance is rather questionable; when ankle peak dorsiflexion is combined, 8 mm heels have higher COP deviation values and 5 mm heels have lower COP deviation values. Regarding limitations, reliance on a single bias assessment tool (Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool) might not fully capture methodological variability across non-RCT studies. Future systematic reviews could consider using multiple bias assessment tools for robust assessment.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/app15052471
Association between hand grip strength and exercise addiction among high-level athletes: differences by sport category and sex in elite athletes
Publication Name: Frontiers in Psychology
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 16
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Introduction: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a key indicator of upper-body strength and overall physical fitness. While its links to health and sports performance have been widely studied, its relationship with the risk of exercise addiction (REA) remains unclear. Thus, the present study examines the relationship between HGS and REA across various sports disciplines, sexes, and national contexts, aiming to deepen our understanding of their intricate interplay. Methods: Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 1,211 high-level athletes from Türkiye (n = 656) and Hungary (n = 555), spanning a wide range of competitive sports. The measures involved demographic questions, the Exercise Addiction Inventory to assess REA, and HGS assessments. Results: We found significant negative correlations between HGS and REA among Turkish female athletes competing in racquet and water sports (p < 0.05). In contrast, significant positive correlations emerged in team sports played with hands and target-based sports (p < 0.05). Statistically significant HGS-REA correlations were also observed among Turkish male athletes participating in gymnastics and esthetic sports (p < 0.05). Among Hungarian athletes, a significant HGS-REA correlation was found in male racquet sports athletes and female athletes engaged in combat sports (p < 0.05). Regardless of sports discipline, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed exclusively among Turkish female athletes (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study reveals that the correlations between HGS and the risk of REA may vary depending on country, sex, and type of sport. The findings indicate that HGS may be either positively or negatively associated with REA in specific sports disciplines.
Open Access: Yes
“Tourist attitudes towards SDGS and sustainable development: Evidence from Armenia”
Publication Name: Innovative Marketing
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
Page Range: 155-170
Description:
The paper aims to explore tourists’ perceptions and behaviors regarding sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Armenia. An online survey method was employed to collect data from 385 domestic tourists in Armenia from July to October 2024, enabling effcient and cost-effective access to a diverse respondent group. The sample size was determined based on a 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error, ensuring statistical reliability. The online format allowed for a broader reach and ano-nymity, making it suitable for exploring tourists’ knowledge of the SDGs, comprehen-sion of sustainable tourism, and willingness to embrace sustainable behaviors. Interestingly, despite only 46% of respondents being explicitly familiar with the SDGs, a significant proportion (64%) demonstrated knowledge of sustainable development, 62% understood sustainable tourism, and 64% believed tourism could positively impact sustainable development. Statistical analysis, specifically the Pearson Chi-Square test, revealed a strong correlation between knowledge of sustainable development and awareness of sustainable tourism, and tourists’ willingness to modify their travel habits and invest in eco-friendly options. Additionally, a sense of environmental responsibility was found to significantly influence the adoption of sustainable practices. Moreover, prioritizing sustainable tourism when selecting destinations strongly correlated with support for sustainable tourism initiatives. While many tourists acknowledged the importance of sustainable tourism, challenges such as limited information and higher costs hindered the adoption of eco-friendly behaviors. To promote sustainable tourism and contribute to achieving the SDGs, the study emphasizes the need for intensified awareness campaigns, accessible sustainable options, and collaborative efforts between the tourism industry, government, and tourists.
Open Access: Yes
Mycoplasma hyopharyngis isolated from the joint of a weaner: A case report
Publication Name: Acta Veterinaria Hungarica
Publication Date: 2024-09-12
Volume: 72
Issue: 3
Page Range: 155-160
Description:
Background: Mycoplasma hyopharyngis is a commensal bacterium in the upper respiratory tract of swine. As it is recognized to be apathogenic, examinations regarding this species are scarce, compared to other swine mycoplasmas. However, in a few cases, M. hyopharyngis was detected in lesions of different organs. This report presents a case study in which M. hyopharyngis (along with other bacteria) was isolated from the joint of a pig showing lameness. Case presentation: A Hungarian farm was repopulated with 250 gilts and 1,700 finishers after undergoing a complete depopulation and disinfection. Two days later, cases of diarrhoea and septicaemia caused by Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium were seen in the finishers. At the same time, following the first farrowing, swollen joints were observed in 21-25 days old piglets. Joint samples were collected, and isolation of Mycoplasma sp. and other bacteria was attempted. Analysis of the joint samples revealed the presence of Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus hyicus, Aerococcus viridans, Trueperella pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae and M. hyopharyngis. Conclusions: This is the second isolation of M. hyopharyngis from joints, which highlights the necessity of a better understanding the biology of this often-overlooked species, and its role in the progress of arthritis or other lesions.
Open Access: Yes
Industry 5.0 research: an approach using co-word analysis and BERTopic modeling
Publication Name: Discover Sustainability
Publication Date: 2025-12-01
Volume: 6
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This study addresses a substantial knowledge gap by conducting a complete evaluation of the present landscape and future directions of Industry 5.0. It recognizes the need of synthesizing a wide body of relevant research in order to get a better understanding of the complex nature of Industry 5.0. Using a comprehensive and systematic approach, the current study performed a co-word analysis and BERTopic modeling on a carefully selected dataset of 933 journal articles, sourced from Scopus and originally published between 2016 and 2024. These techniques facilitated the identification and analysis of significant patterns and uncovered integration of technology progress with human-centered strategies in Industry 5.0 frameworks. The study reveals the significant impact of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), cyber-physical systems, and blockchain processes, on improving operational efficiency, security, and sustainability. The study highlights the significance of incorporating these technologies into industrial processes to promote settings that are creative, productive, and attentive to human requirements. The trend analysis uncovers dynamism within Industry 5.0 research, which is featured by a blend of technological innovation, sustainability, and ethical considerations. Combined, these shape a future where these components are deeply interconnected. The research has significant implications, as it provides theoretical advancements and practical recommendations that might impact future industrial policy and firm operations. This study addresses a significant need by offering valuable information on how to combine technical advancements with ethical and sustainable approaches. The goal is to improve productivity and promote the well-being of society. This work is groundbreaking inasmuch as it is one of the first extensive studies in this field. It establishes an important guide for future academic research and practical use in the changing landscape of Industry 5.0.
Open Access: Yes
Role of the Transcription Factor CREB in Ethanol-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Apoptosis in PC12 Cells
Publication Name: Biology
Publication Date: 2025-09-01
Volume: 14
Issue: 9
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Ethanol is a known neurotoxic agent that induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in nerve cells. The transcription factor CREB is crucial for cell survival under stress; however, its involvement in ethanol-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress remains poorly understood. We examined the effects of ethanol on wild-type PC12 cells and CREB-overexpressing PC12-CREB cells. Cell viability was evaluated by ATP assays, apoptosis was detected by Hoechst staining, and key proteins involved in ER stress and apoptotic signaling were analyzed by Western blot analysis. Ethanol treatment decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis in wild-type PC12 cells in a time-dependent manner. In contrast, PC12-CREB cells-maintained viability and showed significantly lower apoptotic cell numbers. Ethanol activated markers of ER stress (BiP, CHOP, ATF6) and pro-apoptotic pathways (phosphorylation of JNK and p38 MAPK) in wild-type cells. In CREB-overexpressing cells, CHOP induction and JNK activation were decreased, while the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 was increased. CREB overexpression protects against ethanol-induced ER stress and apoptosis. This protective effect is mediated through modulation of unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling and regulation of pro-and anti-apoptotic gene expression. These findings underscore a potential role for CREB in attenuating ethanol-induced neurotoxicity.
Open Access: Yes
A MILP approach combined with clustering to solve a special petrol station replenishment problem
Publication Name: Central European Journal of Operations Research
Publication Date: 2024-03-01
Volume: 32
Issue: 1
Page Range: 95-107
Description:
Vehicle routing problem is a well-known optimization problem in the logistics area. A special case of the vehicle routing problem is the station replenishment problem in which different types of fuel types have to be transported from the depots to the customers. In this paper we study the replenishment problem of a European petrol company. The problem contains several additional constraints such as time windows, different sized compartment vehicles, and restrictions on the vehicles that can serve a customer. We introduce a mixed integer linear programming model of the problem. To reduce the size complexity of the MILP model the customers are clustered and, based on the clusters, additional constraints are added to the MILP model. The resulting MILP model is tested on real problems of the company. The results show that combining the MILP model with clustering improves the effectiveness of the model.
Open Access: Yes
Oil Sorption Properties of Centrifugally Spun Polyisobutylene-Based Thermoplastic Elastomer Microfibers
Publication Name: Polymers
Publication Date: 2024-09-01
Volume: 16
Issue: 18
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Fiber-based sorbent materials are an essential part of containing oil spills, thus preventing ecological damage. Poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) thermoplastic elastomer fibers were successfully produced by centrifugal spinning. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the fibers were bead free and smooth-surfaced, with an average fiber diameter of 5.9 ± 2.3 μm. Contact angle measurements proved the highly hydrophobic (water contact angle of 126.8 ± 6.4°) and highly oleophilic nature of the fiber mat. The sorption and retention capacities of the fiber mat were tested for various oils and benchmarked against polypropylene as the industry standard and polystyrene, which is widely used in the literature. The oil uptake of the fiber mat showed a strong correlation with the viscosity of the oil, resulting in sorption capacities of 10.1 ± 0.8 g/g for sunflower oil, 19.9 ± 2.1 g/g for motor oil, and 23.8 ± 1.8 g/g for gear oil. Oil–water separation tests were also conducted, resulting in ~100% oil removal. The thermoplastic elastomer fiber mat outperformed the industry standard; however, the polystyrene fiber mat demonstrated the best oil sorption performance.
Open Access: Yes
