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Women’s knowledge and perceptions of the effect of exercise during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study /
No full textBackground: Many women may not be aware of the effect of exercise during pregnancy. The objective of this study was to explore the knowledge and perceptions of the effect of exercise and compare whether there was a difference between women who were pregnant at the time of the study, who were not pregnant but had given birth in the past, and those who had never been pregnant and had never given birth. Methods: A cohort of 291 women, aged 18–55 years, participated in this cross-sectional study. Ninety-one (31.3%) women were pregnant at the time of the study; 97 (33.3%) were not pregnant but had given birth in the past, and 103 (35.4%) were not pregnant and had never given birth. This was a survey by an on-line questionnaire. Results: Only 24.4 % of respondents were aware of the effect of exercise in pregnancy, 44% were not aware of the effect of exercise in pregnancy, and 52.6% did not know if exercise interventions could be prescribed during pregnancy. The perceived aims of exercise, reported by the women, were to keep the body fit (58%), to reduce low back and pelvic pain (55%), and to facilitate childbirth (51%). Conclusions: Women who were not pregnant but had given birth were significantly less aware of the effect of exercise than women who were pregnant at the time of the study or not pregnant and had never given birth. The internet was the most common source of information about exercise among all respondents. Almost all women in the study felt the need for more knowledge about the effect of exercise during pregnancy. Therefore, exercise specialists must inform and educate women about the benefits of exercise during pregnancy
Effect of social media marketing of luxury brands on brand equity, customer equity and customer purchase intention /
No full textThe study conducted primarily examined the effect of Social Media Marketing Effect on Brand equity in creating Purchase Intention and Customer equity. For this purpose, we employed structural equation modeling using Smart-PLS 3.0, the data of 312 respondents were collected through structured questionnaire. The findings show a significant positive relationship between Social Media Marketing and Brand Equity. The role of social media marketing efforts through Brand equity directly affects customer equity: The role of social media marketing efforts through Brand equity has a direct significant effect on Purchase Intention. Brand equity relates positively to customer equity. Brand equity relates positively and significantly to purchase intention. Brand equity has a significant and positive mediating effect on the relationship between marketing efforts on social media (SMMEs) and consumer equity. The study unfolds an exciting dimension that social media marketing, a hype in the haute couture and Preto Porte have a significant impact on purchase intention and Customer Equity in the Pakistani market. A more comprehensive marketing strategy has to be adopted in the Pakistani market. The Pakistani customer is more influenced to purchase haute couture by testing and trial sessions besides purchasing online. There are few online Brand communities in the Pakistani market where customers can interact with other users who share common interests and can talk about luxury brands. Theoretically, this study ascertains the customer lifetime value of luxury brands. The intense competition in luxury fashion brands also leads to strong customer equity created by Social Media Marketing
A commentary of factors related to player availability and its influence on performance in elite team sports :
No full textThe evolution from active responsible citizenship to digital citizenship in the context of critical thinking: the EU experience.
No full textThe urgency of the research lies in the fact that the concept of active responsible citizenship promotes human awareness of one's role as an agent of change for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development. Active responsible citizenship should be manifested in public life at both local, national, and international levels. A citizen is a person who is a member of a particular country and who has the rights and responsibilities of a country according to its laws. An active citizen confronts problems and helps to implement the desired changes into reality, and strives for the proper functioning of public institutions. The individual has to be responsible as a citizen and act as an object and subject of civil society. Used methods of systems analysis and synthesis and Agile methodology allowed a deeper analysis of active citizenship as a factor in the development of creativity and its impact on the realization of human capital. The research is grounded in the patterns of informatization as a global trend of humanity that is emerging as a trend and contributing to the implementation of a digital society. The purpose of the research is the evolution from active responsible citizenship to digital citizenship in the context of critical thinking. The object of the study is active responsible citizenship as a complex social and cultural phenomenon. The subject of the study is the influence of critical thinking on the development of active responsible citizenship. Research result. 1. The essence of active responsible citizenship as a social, cultural, and global phenomenon is revealed. 2. A description of digital citizenship and its basic purpose in a civil society context is presented. 3. Critical thinking as a criterion for the democratic education of young people and the promotion of civic education and civic society is explored. 4. The direction of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool for critical thinking and creative personal expression is elucidated. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that the presented theme of active responsible and digital citizenship is emerging today as the most modern concept of democratic education for young people and the promotion of civic education and civil society in the context of achieving the Agenda 2030 and is cultivated by UNESCO in various programs and projects
Associations between perceived stress and emotional eating in working age.
No full textResearch problem: Stress in daily life can be a cause of emotional eating or food addiction. However, the ability to cope with stress can protect against this addiction. Thus, people with strong internal coherence focus on a healthier lifestyle, which includes a healthier diet. Psychosocial factors at work can be an additional source of stress and negatively influence food addiction. Obese individuals are more likely to be prone to emotional eating Aim of the study: to determine the relationship between work-related stress and emotional eating in the context of internal coherence, obesity, and the psychosocial work environment. Objectives of the study: 1. To determine the prevalence of emotional eating, stress, psychosocial factors at work, internal coherence, and obesity in the study sample. 2. To assess the links between emotional eating, stress, psychosocial factors at work, internal coherence, and obesity; 3. To evaluate the interaction between stress and emotional eating in the working age group, taking into account the influence of internal cohesion, obesity, and the psychosocial work environment. Hypotheses: 1. Emotional eating is related to stress and psychosocial factors at work. 2. Internal coherence and obesity may strengthen the link between stress and emotional eating. Research methods: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted. A convenience sample (N=354) was selected. The survey consisted of four questionnaires: "Emotional Eating Scale", "Perceived Stress Scale", "Psychosocial Work Environment Questionnaire", and "Internal Coherence Questionnaire". The correlations between the traits showed a statistically significant difference at p<0.05. Results: Stressed individuals were 3.3 times more likely to have emotional eating problems compared to non-stressed individuals, taking into account the influence of internal harmony, obesity, and psychosocial factors at work. Obesity was significantly associated with emotional eating (p=0.001). The highest proportion of obese respondents was addicted to food (49.4%). Social support at work was statistically significantly associated with emotional eating. Conclusions: 1. The sample consisted mainly of working-age people with a moderate and healthy relationship with food. The majority experienced moderate stress and had moderate internal coherence. In terms of work environment, most had low control over work, poor social support at work, and low demands. The sample was composed mostly of normal-weight people, with the lowest number of obese people. 2. Emotional eating had associations with stress, internal coherence, psychosocial work environment, and obesity. Stress was correlated with internal coherence, high demands at work, and the higher the stress, the higher the stress. The higher the stress, the greater the emotional eating. As emotional eating increases, obesity increases. There are statistically significant differences between BMI groups and emotional eating. 3. Statistically significant associations between stress and emotional eating. Stressed people were 3.3 times more likely to have emotional eating problems. Obesity and internal coherence were found to increase the strength of the relationship between stress and emotional eating. Obese subjects were 3.45 times more likely to have emotional eating problems. Social support at work was statistically significantly associated with emotional eating
Effects of life-long supplementation of potassium nitrate on male mice longevity and organs pathology /
No full textMany short-term studies with dietary nitrate supplementation in humans and animal models reported positive effects on the cardiovascular system, exercise efficiency, and immune function. However, there has been long-standing concern related to cancer and adverse hormonal effects. We studied the long-term effects of different potassium nitrate (KNO3) concentrations on laboratory mice longevity and structural changes in their organs. Four groups of male mice were treated with 0 mg (0%), 45 mg (1%), 90 mg (2%), and 140 mg (3%) KNO3 in the drinking water. The groups were monitored for agility and health status daily. The lifespan of mice and organ pathological changes were analyzed. We found no detrimental effects of life-long supplementation of KNO3 on the survival of mice in treatment groups. Nitrate supplementation was associated with a lower level of pathological changes (p = 0.002). We conclude that KNO3 supplementation had no carcinogenic effect on mice and possibly prevented the organs from aging
Adding high-intensity interval training to classical resistance training does not impede the recovery from inactivity-induced leg muscle weakness /
No full textInactivity is known to induce muscle weakness, and chronically increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are proposed to have a central causative role in this process. Intriguingly, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which involves bursts of high ROS production, can have positive effects in pathological conditions with chronically increased ROS. Here, young male volunteers were exposed to 3 weeks of unloading of the dominant leg followed by 3 weeks of resistance training without (Ctrl group) or with the addition of all-out cycling HIIT. Changes in muscle thickness were assessed by ultrasonography, and contractile function was studied by measuring the torque during maximal voluntary contractions (MVC). The results show an ~6% decrease in vastus lateralis thickness after the unloading period, which was fully restored after the subsequent training period in both the Ctrl and HIIT groups. MVC torque was decreased by ~11% after the unloading period and recovered fully during the subsequent training period in both groups. All-out cycling performance was improved by the 3 weeks of HIIT. In conclusion, the decline in muscle size and function after 3 weeks of unloading was restored by 3 weeks of resistance training regardless of whether it was combined with HIIT
Peculiarities of emotional intelligence of pedagogues and parents of children in private and public sector pre-school education institutions /
No full textBackground. A child’s personality is formed at an early age. This is the most favorable time to develop a child's emotional intelligence (EI), which is an important factor for further social, emotional, and cognitive development. Parents and teachers are important actors in a child’s social environment and can have a significant impact on a child's emotional development and behavior. Adults with high emotional intelligence can teach a child empathy, emotional perception, problem-solving, and other skills, as well as help the child learn to manage their emotions, understand and express feelings, and find appropriate ways to control inappropriate behavior or resolve conflicts. High emotional intelligence also correlates with the ability to understand a child's behavior better and choose appropriate educational strategies. In Lithuania, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the expression of EI among pre-school children’s parents and teachers, and differences identified between the public and private pre-school education sectors can be useful in further analyzing factors related to education quality. In this context, we aim to analyze the characteristics of EI among parents and teachers of pre-school children, as well as the differences that occur between representatives of private and public education sectors. Methods. Emotional intelligence was assessed using the Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, which consists of 33 statements (Schutte et al., 1998). Results. It was determined that the overall EI score of the participants was higher than average. After comparing EI indicators of different education sectors, it was determined that private sector educators have statistically significantly higher EI scores than their public sector counterparts. Parents with children in private sector education institutions had the highest EI level, while educators of the public sector education institutions had the lowest. No emotional intelligence differences based on gender were identified. Conclusions. Educators in the private education sector have higher EI compared to their public sector counterparts. Parents choosing private education sector for their children have the highest EI levels in the entire study population. Keywords: emotional intelligence; teachers; parents; early education; different types of educational institutions
Age-related difference in cognitive performance under severe whole-body hyperthermia parallels cortisol and physical strain responses /
No full textBackground and Objectives: To date, understanding age-related changes in cognitive processes during heat exposure still needs to be better-understood. Thus, the main aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of whole-body hyperthermia (WBH), i.e., a ≈ 2.5 °C increase in rectal temperature (Tre) from overnight-fast baseline value, on cognitive functioning in old and young men and to explore factors, such as stress and thermophysiological strain, that could influence such changes. Materials and Methods: Ten young (19–21 years of age) and nine old (61–80 years of age) healthy men underwent an experimental trial with passive lower-body heating in hot water immersion (HWI) at 43 °C (HWI–43 °C) until Tre reached 39 °C in old adults and 39.5 °C in young adults. Cognitive performance and cortisol concentration were assessed before and after HWI, and the physiological strain index (PSI) was assessed during HWI–43 °C. Results: PSI was lower and cortisol concentration was greater after HWI–43 °C in the old group compared with the young group (p < 0.05). Surprisingly, hyperthermia improved cognitive flexibility only in old adults, whereas short-term and visual recognition memories were maintained in both age groups. Conclusions: A ≈ 2.5 °C increase in rectal temperature can improve executive function in old adults, and this increase parallels the increased cortisol concentration and the lower thermophysiological strain under severe WBH conditions
Decrements of mobility and power in recreationally active septuagenarians is related to loss of force, but not slowing of the muscle: a 5-year longitudinal study /
No full textA lesser 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and timed up-and-go (TUG) in old compared with young adults was previously linked to slowing of muscle contractile properties. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether any further reductions in 6MWD and TUG over a 5-year period in septuagenarians are associated with further slowing of muscle contractile properties. We measured muscle function by a countermovement jump, isometric maximal knee extensor strength (MVC) on a dynamometer and quadriceps muscle size by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 17 older women (71.1 ± 2.8 y) and 17 older men (71.3 ± 4.1y). Performance in TUG and 6MWD were reduced over the 5-year period, irrespective of sex ( P < 0.001), and both were correlated with power at both baseline and follow-up ( R ≥ 0.53; P ≤ 0.001). Jump take-off velocity (V CMJ ) was slower at follow-up ( P < 0.01) and correlated with 6MWD and TUG at both baseline and follow-up in both sexes ( R ≥ 0.54; P ≤ 0.001). However, the relationship between ‘body mass: maximal muscle force ratio’ with V CMJ was not significantly changed, indicating that the lower V CMJ was attributable to muscles working at a higher relative load, hence a lower part of the force–velocity relationship, due to a reduction in MVC (body mass had not changed significantly), rather than slowing of the muscle. The lower V CMJ in women than men ( P < 0.001) was likewise attributable to a lower MVC rather than slower contractile properties in women. In conclusion, the decrement in 6MWD and TUG in septuagenarians is due to a loss of muscle mass, rather than further loss of muscle quality