Recent technological advances have changed how people interact, run businesses, learn, and use their free time. The advantages and facilities provided by electronic devices have played a major role. On the other hand, extensive use of such technology also has adverse effects on several aspects of human life (e.g., the development of societal sedentary lifestyles and new addictions). Smartphone dependency is new addiction that primarily affects the young population. The consequences may negatively impact mental and physical health (e.g., lack of attention or local pain). Health professionals rely on self-reported subjective information to assess the dependency level, requiring specialists' opinions to diagnose such a dependency. This study proposes a data-driven prediction model for smartphone dependency based on machine learning techniques using an analytical retrospective case–control approach. Different classification methods were applied, including classical and modern machine learning models. Students from a private university in Cali—Colombia (n = 1228) were tested for (i) smartphone dependency, (ii) musculoskeletal symptoms, and (iii) the Risk Factors Questionnaire. Random forest, logistic regression, and support vector machine-based classifiers exhibited the highest prediction accuracy, 76–77%, for smartphone dependency, estimated through the stratified-k-fold cross-validation technique. Results showed that self-reported information provides insight into predicting smartphone dependency correctly. Such an approach opens doors for future research aiming to include objective measures to increase accuracy and help to reduce the negative consequences of this new addiction form.

Introducción: el ejercicio físico es crucial para el envejecimiento saludable, ofreciendo múltiples beneficios en la aptitud física y el bienestar general de adultos mayores. Objetivo: evaluar los efectos de tres tipos de ejercicio físico (baile, ejercicios-coordinativos y programa-multimodal) sobre capacidad funcional y bienestar general en adultos mayores de una ciudad colombiana. Metodología: estudio cuasi experimental con 450 adultos mayores que asistieron a encuentros diarios en tres grupos de tercera edad, participaron voluntariamente y firmaron consentimiento informado; se aplicó Senior-Fitness-Test y escala T-WHO5. Resultados: el ejercicio multimodal tuvo mayor impacto en el mejoramiento de las capacidades físicas mientras que el baile en el bienestar psicológico; la intervención centrada en coordinación fue la menos efectiva. Discusión: En concordancia con otros autores se identificaron no solo los efectos principales de cada intervención, sino también cómo las variables de tiempo, edad y las interacciones entre estas influyen en los resultados obtenidos. Conclusiones: las intervenciones no producen el mismo impacto en todos los grupos de edad; en las personas mayores, es necesario adaptar los programas de actividad física a las características y habilidades particulares para optimizar su efectividad.

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar los efectos fijos y aleatorios durante el entrenamiento de la carga física con respecto a la posición de juego, según el tipo de microciclo en fútbol femenino con tecnología IMU. Este estudio observacional pretendía establecer la relación entre las variables de velocidad máxima y distancia cubierta durante diferentes microciclos de entrenamiento, según las diferentes posiciones de juego. La población de estudio consistió en 20 deportistas y la muestra incluyó 1701 observaciones recogidas de las jugadoras participantes. Los datos se analizaron mediante un Modelo Lineal Mixto para estimar los efectos fijos y aleatorios. Adicionalmente, se calculó la covarianza entre los efectos aleatorios para investigar la heterogeneidad de las relaciones entre las variables en las distintas posiciones de juego. La variable Top Speed tiene un efecto principal positivo y significativo en la Distance Covered, lo que indica que un aumento en la velocidad máxima se relaciona con el aumento en la distancia cubierta. Del mismo modo, el Tipo Micro mostró un efecto principal positivo y significativo, lo que sugiere que las jugadoras en ciclos largos tienden a cubrir más distancia que en ciclos cortos. Una comparación física con otras ligas es esencial para corroborar los resultados obtenidos en esta investigación. Palabras clave: microciclos, fútbol femenino, carga física, tecnología IMU.

Background/Objectives: The global population ageing has increased the prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities, thereby affecting the quality of life of elderly adults. Exercise interventions have been proven effective in enhancing the functional capacity of this population. The aim was to assess the effect of three exercise programs on physical fitness and the coping and adaptation process in elderly adults. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 450 adults aged 60 years or older, randomly assigned to three intervention groups. The Senior Fitness Test was used to assess physical fitness, and Roy’s Coping and Adaptation Processing Scale was used to measure coping and adaptation. The data were analyzed using linear mixed models. Results: Multimodal intervention was significantly more effective in improving muscle strength, specifically in the Sitting-Rising and Push-Up tests. However, no significant improvements in flexibility or aerobic fitness were observed. Age was a determining factor, with lower performance observed in physical tests as age increased. There were no significant improvements in the coping and adaptation process, although an overall improvement in adaptation was observed in the intermediate age ranges. Conclusions: Multimodal training emerges as the most effective intervention for improving muscle strength in elderly adults. However, a lack of improvement in flexibility and aerobic fitness may suggest the need for more specific interventions. Age negatively impacted physical performance, underscoring the importance of tailoring exercise programs to this population.

Nterpreting, understanding, and applying statistical knowledge, presents, in many cases, some difficulties for students in the training process. For this reason, and thanks to the rise of information and communication technologies; a virtual object was developed for learning the statistical methods of Kruskal Wallis, Mann Whitney U and Wilcoxon, which are included in non-parametric statistics. The objective of this quasi-experimental design study was to apply the virtual object as a teaching-learning strategy for these three statistical methods after its creation and validation in order to support the training of students in biostatistics. The virtual learning object was evaluated by experts through the LORI instrument (tool that allows to evaluate learning objects based on nine variables), granting a quality level in the medium-high range according to the final weighting. The evaluation instrument and the comparative statistical analysis used in this process showed that the learning object is adequate for the purpose and objective set, concluding that there is a significant difference in the academic results of the students to whom this digital tool was applied.

Rapid weight loss is a widespread practice in combat sports, intended to meet weight-class requirements while preserving an anatomical advantage. These strategies primarily reduce extracellular and intracellular fluid volumes by manipulating carbohydrate, sodium, and water intake, followed by rapid weight gain after the official weigh-in. This study analysed the association between raw bioelectrical impedance variables measured immediately after weigh-in and competitive outcome in amateur combat athletes. A cross-sectional analytical design was conducted with 54 athletes from boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, and Muay Thai. Measurements of resistance (R), reactance (Xc), and phase angle (PhA) were obtained under standardized conditions using a tetrapolar device. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample, and logistic regression evaluated predictors of winning or losing. Mean values for R/H (height), Xc/H, PhA/H, and Z/H reflected a dehydrated profile consistent with recent weight cutting. Only Xc/H met the regression model's entry criteria. Higher Xc/H values were associated with lower odds of winning (OR = 0.857), suggesting that athletes with lower post-weigh-in reactance/height — potentially reflecting more effective rehydration and extracellular volume restoration — were more likely to achieve victory. These findings highlight the physiological relevance of bioelectrical markers for assessing recovery and their promise as indicators of competitive readiness in combat sports.