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EFFECTS OF 1- VS 2-WEEKLY PARTICIPATION IN A WORKPLACE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAM ON PHYSICAL FITNESS COMPONENTS OF AN ADULT ACADEMIC COMMUNITY: DIFFERENCES IN SESSION TYPE AND FREQUENCY
No full textPurpose: Workplace physical activity programs (WPAPs) are
increasingly acknowledged for their potential to enhance employee
health. The university setting presents a favorable environment for
implementing such programs. This study compared the effects of 1
vs 2- weekly participation of a 12-week combined circuit training and mobility program on physical fitness (PF) among university
employees.
Methods: Fifty-four university employees (14 males and 40 females)
aged 48.20 ± 16.65 years (body height: 165.51 ± 8.92 cm; body
mass: 68.2 ± 12.5 kg) followed a 12-week training program with one
group (N = 28) participating in two-weekly sessions, one circuit
training and one mobility (CTM) the other group (N = 26) doing one
weekly mobility session (MS). The CTM included eight stations with
a work-rest ratio of 1:1 (30 s) repeated for 3 rounds, alternating
aerobic and resistance exercises. The MS involved stretching and
posture exercises, each lasting 12–20 repetitions, with 2–4 sets.
Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), upper limb grip strength, upper
mobility, core endurance, lower limb strength and balance were
assessed before (T0) and after 12 weeks (T1) Results: ANOVA analysis showed a significant effect of time (T0 vs T1, p = 0.003). Specifically, significant improvements were observed for handgrip (37.50 ± 12.09 vs 41.02 ± 12.00 kg, p = 0.002), two minute step test (90.80 ± 20.10 vs 98.65 ± 19.17 reps, p = 0.004) and sit and reach (7.52 ± 8.17 vs 8.94 ± 7.60 cm, p = 0.05).
Moreover, our data showed significant differences between groups for arm curl (CTM vs MS: 22.32 ± 0.66 vs 19.56 ± 0.69 reps, p = 0.006) and time up and go (CTM vs MS: 4.65 ± 0.10 vs 5.04 ± 0.10 s, p = 0.001). No significant time per group interaction was found.
Conclusions: Our program showed significant improvements over
time in upper limbs strength, CRF and agility/dynamic balance.
Moreover, the twice-weekly CTM showed better improvements for
upper limp strength compared to the MS. Although overall
improvements were observed in both groups, our findings suggest that although intervention was effective for both groups, session fre
quency and type may influence and enhance specific components of
physical fitness
Risk factors for perioperative stroke, myocardial infarction, and death in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy under local anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textBackground: Patients with vascular disease undergoing surgery face increased
perioperative risks, and those scheduled for carotid endarterectomy (CEA)
represent a particularly vulnerable subgroup. This study aimed to (1) estimate
the prevalence and identify predictors of adverse postoperative outcomes in
patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) under local/regional
anesthesia (LA), and (2) compare these outcomes with those of general
anesthesia (GA) where comparative data were available.
Methods: Following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, and Web
of Science were systematically searched for English-language studies published
up to January 2025. Pooled prevalence estimates were obtained using randomeffects
models. Meta-regression explored associations of demographic and
clinical variables with postoperative outcomes. In addition, pairwise randomeffects
meta-analyses were performed for studies reporting separate
outcomes for LA and GA. Effect sizes were expressed as odds ratios (OR) with
95% confidence intervals (CIs), and heterogeneity was quantified using the
I2 statistic.
Results: Of 267 records identified, 14 studies met eligibility criteria, including
22,302 patients undergoing CEA under LA. The pooled prevalence was 1% for
stroke (95% CI: 0.01–0.02) and 0.01% for both myocardial infarction and
death (95% CI: 0.00–0.01). Meta-regressions showed that male sex was
significantly associated with postoperative stroke (β = 0.010, p = 0.0002),
whereas older age predicted myocardial infarction (β = 0.006, p = 0.03). No
significant predictors of mortality were identified. In the comparative analysis,
LA was associated with a 52% lower risk of myocardial infarction and a 30%
lower risk of death compared with GA, while no significant difference
emerged for postoperative stroke. Conclusion: CEA performed under regional anesthesia is associated with low
rates of adverse postoperative events, with male sex and older age emerging as
relevant predictors for stroke and myocardial infarction, respectively.
Comparative evidence suggests potential advantages of LA over GA in reducing
myocardial infarction and mortality, while stroke risk appears similar between
anesthetic modalities
Effective number of nails in withdrawal for timber angle brackets: a closed-form model for reliability-based design
No full textOn the hard loss of stability of the Beck’s beam
Full text linkThis paper investigates the complex nonlinear dynamics of non-conservative mechanical systems under different sources of nonlinear damping, including internal damping from material behavior and external damping due to fluid–structure interactions. A Beck’s beam, namely, a viscoelastic cantilever beam subjected to a follower force at its free end, is taken as a paradigmatic example. The governing equations of motion are derived using a variational principle, then reformulated into an integro-differential form and discretized through the Galerkin method. Starting from the Hopf bifurcation, identified via the linear stability analysis, the nonlinear post-critical behavior of the discretized system close to it is analyzed using the Multiple Scales Method. This perturbation technique yields bifurcation equations whose analysis reveals new aspects of damping-induced destabilization, including the dual nature of nonlinear damping, which can either promote stability or induce instability in the bifurcated response of the system, as well as the emergence of the so-called Hard Loss of Stability phenomenon, analytically predicted by a second-order amplitude modulation equation. Numerical analyses are finally performed and corroborate the analytical findings of the study
From Creation to the Flood: Man and Nature in the Metrum in Genesin
No full textThe Metrum in Genesin, a brief yet sophisticated Late Antique poem, reworks the opening chapters of Genesis by blending the biblical account, mediated through patristic exegesis, with resonances of classical culture. Cosmogenesis and anthropogenesis are not presented as mere narrative episodes, but as structural pivots through which the relationship between humanity, nature, and God is articulated. The ontological excellence of the human being - endowed with speech, reason, and a spiritual dimension - underpins cultural and moral progress, while at the same time situating human agency within a horizon of responsibility and subordination to God, the one Lord. The episode of original sin highlights the pedagogical and providential function of divine punishment, portraying nature not as an autonomous force but as an instrument of God’s will. Human centrality thus assumes both an ontological and a theological dimension, inseparable from moral responsibility and from participation in the cosmic order established by the Creator. In this perspective, and in contrast to Lynn White’s well-known critique of biblical anthropocentrism, the Metrum presents human authority as ethically and theologically regulated, in full continuity with patristic exegesis. It also resones with contemporary reflections expressed in the encyclical letter Laudato si’, thereby bearing witness to the Church’s enduring vision of Christian anthropology
Reliability of Human-genAI Integrated Process for the Virtual Reconstruction of a Lost Architecture
No full textThe contribution examines the case study of the Church of S. Pietro a Coppito in L’Aquila, which underwent significant stylistic restoration in the 1960s, to explore the potential applications and reliability of generative AI in cultural heritage communication. In particular, according to the virtual reconstruction of the ancient configuration, the study investigates the impact of integrating graphical inputs alongside textual prompts for image generation, assessing their effectiveness as a means of guiding AI and improving the quality of the results achieved. Based on graphic, photographic, and historiographical sources, sketches of the interior views of the church were produced. Subsequently, various gen-AI platforms were tested to process these images, evaluating the algorithms’ ability not only to generate coherent and effective visuals but, above all, to understand and interpret the initial graphic inputs. The results show both potential and critical limitations: while AI can produce photorealistic and stylistically coherent renderings, it often introduces arbitrary elements and struggles with strict historical accuracy, especially in architectural and decorative details. The paper highlights the need for deeper human-AI interaction and emphasizes the importance of informed graphical input and critical evaluation in the application of genAI to cultural heritage representation
Dinuclear Rhodium(I)–N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes as Alkyne Hydropyridonation Catalysts
No full textA series of new RhI–N-Heterocyclic carbene dinuclear complexes of type [Rh(μ-Cl)(η2-coe)(NHC)]2, containing IPrBIAN, IPrCl, and IPr* ligands, has been prepared. The crystal structure of the IPrCl functionalized rhodium–dinuclear complex reveals an intermolecular Cl···Cl halogen bond. The chlorido-bridges can be cleaved by pyridine to afford the corresponding mononuclear derivatives RhCl(η2-coe)(NHC)(py). These complexes are efficient alkyne hydropyridonation catalysts, with the IMes complex exhibiting the highest reactivity within the series
PROMOTING ACTIVE LIFESTYLES AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: THE ME.MO PROGRAM PROPOSAL
No full textPurpose: University students are prone to psychological distress and
mental health issues, yet university counselling centers lack a comprehensive approach that integrates exercise and psychotherapy. Although regular exercise is known to mitigate mental-health risk factors, integrated university-based interventions are limited. The proposal outlines the national project ‘‘Me.Mo—Mente in Movimento’’ funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), currently being carried out at the University of L’Aquila. The project aims to promote the overall psychophysical well-being of university students through three types of interventions: two focused on individual and group psychological support, and one centered on physical activity. The aim of the present study is to assess the effects of a 4-week supervised exercise intervention on the Physical Fitness and active lifestyles of university students.
Methods: The 4-week supervised exercise module includes two
sessions per week of activities such as Pilates, urban trekking, func
tional strength training and combined aerobic-resistance circuits.
Each 60-minute session is preceded by a short educational introduc
tion. Physical fitness will be assessed through standardized tests:
6-Minute Walk Test (Cardiorespiratory fitness), Handgrip Strength
Test (upper limb grip strength), 5-Repetition Sit-to-Stand (lower limb
strength), and Sit-and-Reach Test (flexibility). Physical activity levels
will be self-reported using the International Physical Activity Ques
tionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Moreover, movement-related
behavior (step count, minutes spent walking, running, or exercising,
average heart rate and nocturnal heart rate) will be assessed using
wearable devices (Garmin vivoactive 5). All of these variables will be
assessed before (t0) and after (t1) the intervention.
Expected Results: Improvements in Cardiorespiratory fitness,
strength and flexibility, higher IPAQ-SF scores and reduced sedentary time are expected. Wearable data should confirm this trend by showing more frequent and more intense activities.These outcomes would confirm more active habits among students, showing that such programs can well integrate the help already offered by university counselling services
A nonlinear micropolar continuum model with diffusion–reaction equation for remodeling of bone with trabecular lattice microarchitecture
No full textWe present a nonlinear micropolar continuum model that includes a diffusion-reaction equation for the remodeling of bone with a trabecular lattice microstructure. This micropolar formulation enables the modeling of bone's adaptive response to mechanical stimuli. The remodeling process is described as a time evolution regulated by a feedback mechanism that adjusts both the orientation of the trabecular lattice microarchitecture, thanks to the micropolar formulation, and the mechanical properties, related to key morphological features such us bone density. The junctions between trabeculae are modeled as nodal points within the micropolar framework, incorporating the following energy densities: mechanical deformation, mechano-biologic contributions, and Rayleigh-type dissipation terms that control the time evolution of remodeling. We present the weak form of the energetic formulation, which includes the diffusion-reaction equation. The cases of isotropic and orthotropic material symmetries class are deduced from the general formulation. This weak formulation is adapted to the development of a computational model based on the use of the finite element method. At the end of this paper, we discuss aspects related to validation, model complexity, and possible clinical applicability
On the well-posedness of (nonlinear) rough continuity equations
Full text linkMotivated by applications to fluid dynamics, we study rough differential equations (RDEs) and rough partial differential equations (RPDEs) with non-Lipschitz drifts. We prove well-posedness and existence of a flow for RDEs with Osgood drifts, as well as well-posedness of weak -valued solutions to linear rough continuity and transport equations on under DiPerna–Lions regularity conditions; a combination of the two then yields flow representation formulas for linear RPDEs. We apply these results to obtain existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence for -valued solutions to a general class of nonlinear continuity equations. In particular, our framework covers the 2D Euler equations in vorticity form with rough transport noise, providing a rough analogue of Yudovich's theorem. As a consequence, we construct an associated continuous random dynamical system, when the driving noise is a fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter . We further prove weak existence of solutions for initial vorticities in , for any