A Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of the ACTLIFE Exercise Program for Women with Post-menopausal Osteoporosis: Study Protocol

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic disease of the skeleton characterized by increased risk of fracture. There is a general consensus on the efficacy of physical activity in the prevention of bone loss, falls and fractures, but there is no agreement on the best setting to exercise. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of a 12-months exercise protocol for women with post-menopausal OP when administered as individual home training (IHT) versus gym group training (GGT). The study is a randomized trial with two parallel groups. Sedentary patients with primary post-menopausal osteoporosis are recruited at the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli of Bologna. In the first group, the 12-month ACTLIFE program is performed as IHT, while in the second as GGT. The program is aimed at improving joint mobility, muscle force, balance, motor coordination and endurance. The study is single blinded. Patients are assessed at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome is the modification of quality of life measured with the Short Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (ECOS-16). The findings of this study will highlight advantages and disadvantages of exercising in the two different settings and provide evidence on how to increase physical activity in osteoporotic women

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of an Exercise Program for Persons with Total Hip or Total Knee Replacement:Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) are among the most common elective surgical procedures. There is a large consensus on the importance of physical activity promotion for an active lifestyle in persons who underwent THR or TKR to prevent or mitigate disability and improve the quality of life (QoL) in the long term. However, there is no best practice in exercise and physical activity specifically designed for these persons. The present protocol aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an exercise program (6 month duration) designed for improving quality of life in people who had undergone THR or TKR. This paper describes a randomized controlled trial protocol that involves persons with THR or TKR. The participant will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will perform post-rehabilitation supervised training; the control group will be requested to follow the usual care. The primary outcome is QoL, measured with the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36); Secondary outcomes are clinical, functional and lifestyle measures that may influence QoL. The results of this study could provide evidence for clinicians, exercise trainers, and policymakers toward a strategy that ensures safe and effective exercise physical activity after surgery

Effects of a clove oil extract on eggs and second-stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949

Trials were carried out in vitro to evaluate the action against Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White) Chitwood of the clove oil extract ABT-EU04® (Xeda International S. A.), whose active principle is derived from buds of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merrill et Perry. Three aqueous concentrations of the product (0.125%, 0.25% and 0.50%) were tested on M. incognita unsegmented and embryonated eggs and on second-stage juveniles, both free and included in the egg masses. The experiment, run twice, was carried out in small glass containers in the dark at a constant temperature of 25°C. The data from the two tests were statistically analysed. The clove oil extract stopped the embryogenesis of eggs and showed a complete nematicidal action against second-stage juveniles both free and of the egg masses. These properties make this product an interesting tool for a novel control strategy in nematode pest management

Design guidelines for self-assessment support for adult academic distance learning

Menendez Blanco, M., Van der Veer, G., Benvenuti, L., & Kirschner, P. A. (2011). Design guidelines for self-assessment support for adult academic distance learning. In H-J Shalin (Ed.), Constructing self-discovery learning spaces online: scaffolding and decision making technologies (pp. 169-198). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.This contribution focuses on adult distance learning. Based on experiences at the Open University of the Netherlands we investigate specific problems that our students have with self-assessment and metacognition while studying. Starting from a literature review and complementing this with available student data from our teaching research center, we developed a conceptual framework that was iteratively adjusted and assessed by a questionnaire study and interviews. This allowed us to develop design guidelines for self-assessment support in distance learning environments. These guidelines were reviewed by experts. The input from the experts was used to modify the guidelines and iterate until they were considered complete. Tangible designs (i.e., mock-ups) for each of the self-assessment methods were proposed. These tangible designs were prototyped for later evaluation. Finally, we provide our conclusions and propose recommendations for actual application and systematic design

Mercury Dispersion through Streams Draining The Mt. Amiata District, Southern Tuscany, Italy

Abstract The Mt. Amiata area hosts the 3 rd largest Hg district in the world, overlapping with a present-day geothermal system that is exploited for energy production. Mining activity ceased in 1980; remediation of mining areas was only partial, and is still under way. A significant transport of mercury is documented in the streams draining the district. By far the largest output occurs to the southeast in the Paglia River catchment; this river is tributary of Tiber River, the largest river of central Italy. A much smaller transport occurs to the north, in the Orcia-Ombrone catchment. Most transport is in particulate form; mercury is temporarily stored in stream and overbank sediments, and can be significantly mobilized and redistributed by extreme events such as flash floods. Transfer to the biosphere and food chain is not negligible, as some fish in Paglia and Tiber Rivers show Hg contents that may be harmful for human consumption. The overall output from the Monte Amiata district represents a significant contribution to the Mediterranean Sea budget of this metal