Background: dementia is one of the main causes of disability and dependency among the older population worldwide, producing physical, psychological, social and economic impact in those affected, caregivers, families and societies. However, little is known about dementia protective factors and their potential benefits against disease decline in the diagnosed population. Cognitive stimulating activities seem to be protective factors against dementia, though there is paucity in the scientific evidence confirming this, with most publications focusing on prevention in non-diagnosed people. A scoping review was conducted to explore whether chess practice could mitigate signs, deliver benefits, or improve cognitive capacities of individuals diagnosed with dementia through the available literature, and therefore act as a protective factor. Methods: twenty-one articles were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: the overall findings stress that chess could lead to prevention in non-diagnosed populations, while little has been shown with respect to individuals already diagnosed. However, some authors suggest its capacity as a protective factor due to its benefits, and the evidence related to the cognitive functions associated with the game. Conclusion: although chess is indirectly assumed to be a protective factor due to its cognitive benefits, more studies are required to demonstrate, with strong evidence, whether chess could be a protective factor against dementia within the diagnosed population.

Noise pollution negatively impacts people’s mental and physiological health. Unfortunately, not only is noise present in hospital environments, but its level frequently exceeds recommended thresholds. The efficacy of passive acoustic absorbers in reducing indoor noise in these scenarios has been well-documented. Conversely, given their inorganic composition and their origin in the petrochemical industry, most of these materials present a risk to human health. Over the last few years, there has been a notable increase in research on eco-friendly, low-toxicity, and biocompatible materials. This work outlines a methodology for fabricating recycled acoustic panels from plastic bottles and PET felt composites. This study encompasses three key objectives: (i) a comprehensive biocompatibility assessment of the panels, (ii) an evaluation of their thermal and acoustic properties, and (iii) their applicability in several case studies to evaluate potential acoustic enhancements. Specifically, antifungal resistance tests, Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emission assessment, and cell viability experiments were conducted successfully. Additionally, experimental procedures were performed to determine the thermal conductivity and thermal resistance of the proposed material, along with its sound absorption coefficients in diffuse field conditions. Finally, the potential benefits of using this biomaterial in healthcare environments to reduce noise and improve acoustic comfort were demonstrated.

The literature has yielded promising data over the past decade regarding the use of inertial sensors for the analysis of occupational ergonomics. However, despite their significant advantages (e.g., portability, lightness, low cost, etc.), their widespread implementation in the actual workplace has not yet been realized, possibly due to their discomfort or potential alteration of the worker’s behaviour. This systematic review has two main objectives: (i) to synthesize and evaluate studies that have employed inertial sensors in ergonomic analysis based on the RULA method; and (ii) to propose an evaluation system for the transparency of this technology to the user as a potential factor that could influence the behaviour and/or movements of the worker. A search was conducted on the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The studies were summarized and categorized based on the type of industry, objective, type and number of sensors used, body parts analysed, combination (or not) with other technologies, real or controlled environment, and transparency. A total of 17 studies were included in this review. The Xsens MVN system was the most widely used in this review, and the majority of studies were classified with a moderate level of transparency. It is noteworthy, however, that there is a limited and worrisome number of studies conducted in uncontrolled real environments.

Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) is increasingly used in health sciences education to simulate high-risk, low-frequency scenarios such as mass casualty incidents. While prior research has focused on student outcomes, the perceptions of instructors about available IVR tools remains underexplored. To evaluate instructors' perceptions regarding ease of use, educational value, and technical quality of the "VR-Triage" immersive simulation tool in a disaster and mass casualty incident course. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted during the 2021-2022 academic year. Twenty instructors with experience in clinical emergency care and academic teaching participated. A validated structured questionnaire assessed technical quality, pedagogical value, ease of use, integration potential, and areas for improvement. Instructors reported high satisfaction with the IVR tool. Both technical and pedagogical quality received a mean score of 9.65 out of 10. The tool was considered easy to use and was rated highly for facilitating engagement, knowledge application, and conceptual understanding. Statistically significant differences were found across age groups and academic rank (p < 0.00001), with senior instructors reporting more favorable perceptions. Instructors perceive "VR-triage" as a technically robust, educationally valuable, and user-friendly simulation tool. Their feedback reinforces the importance of including instructors' perspectives to ensure educational alignment and support evidence-based integration of immersive simulations reality into health education curricula.

Emotional communication is a multi-modal phenomenon involving posture, gestures, facial expressions, and the human voice. Affective states systematically modulate the acoustic signals produced during speech production through the laryngeal muscles via the central nervous system, transforming the acoustic signal into a means of affective transmission. Additionally, a substantial body of research in sonobiology has shown that audible acoustic waves (AAW) can affect cellular dynamics. This pilot study explores whether the physical–acoustic changes induced by gratitude states in human speech could influence cell proliferation and Ki67 expression in non-auditory cells (661W cell line). We conduct a series of assays, including affective electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements, an affective text quantification algorithm, and a passive vibro-acoustic treatment (PVT), to control the CO₂ incubator environment acoustically, and a proliferation assay with immunolabeling to quantify cell dynamics. Although a larger sample size is needed, the hypothesis that emotions can act as biophysical agents remains a plausible possibility, and feasible physical and biological pathways are discussed. In summary, studying the impact of gratitude AAW on cell biology represents an unexplored research area with the potential to enhance our understanding of the interaction between human cognition and biology through physics principles.