Analysis of opo cis-regulatory landscape uncovers Vsx2 requirement in early eye morphogenesis

The self-organized morphogenesis of the vertebrate optic cup entails coupling the activation of the retinal gene regulatory network to the constriction-driven infolding of the retinal epithelium. Yet the genetic mechanisms underlying this coordination remain largely unexplored. Through phylogenetic footprinting and transgenesis in zebrafish, here we examine the cis-regulatory landscape of opo, an endocytosis regulator essential for eye morphogenesis. Among the different conserved enhancers identified, we isolate a single retina-specific element (H6_10137) and show that its activity depends on binding sites for the retinal determinant Vsx2. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments and ChIP analyses reveal that Vsx2 regulates opo expression through direct binding to this retinal enhancer. Furthermore, we show that vsx2 knockdown impairs the primary optic cup folding. These data support a model by which vsx2, operating through the effector gene opo, acts as a central transcriptional node that coordinates neural retina patterning and optic cup invagination in zebrafish.

Estrategias de logística inversa que permitan la reutilización de llantas usadas

Esta investigación busca desde la logística inversa, mostrar como un producto tan implementado y desechado por la sociedad, puede generar un nuevo uso, e incluso la reintegración total de sus materias primas a la cadena de suministro, mostrando la estrecha relación que existe entre la logística inversa y la reutilización de productos fuera de uso. Para esto se analizara el manejo actual que tienen las llantas en Bogotá, planteando su flujo y dando a conocer el principal punto de falencia, que es la recolección y los diferentes sitios de acopio de estas. Los neumáticos o llantas son desechados anualmente en Bogotá sin medir las consecuencias ambientales que esto trae consigo, pues las quemas a cielo abierto de estos materiales y su almacenamiento inadecuado generan altos riesgos para su entorno y el medio ambiente. Además, el manejo inapropiado de llantas es una de las principales razones por la cual pasan a ser obsoletas al poco tiempo de uso. El proceso de fabricación de llantas es muy similar al proceso de cualquier producto, pues en resumen este cuenta con la implementación de sus materias primas, proceso de manufactura, una inspección final y como resultado un producto terminado, que al ser vendido muchas compañías se libran de la disposición final de las llantas. Pero ahí radica un punto a favor para la logística inversa, donde esta buscara la manera de darle un nuevo ciclo de vida a este producto, a través del reciclaje y la reutilización. Mediante esta investigación, se busca captar los principales lugares de acopio de llantas usadas en Bogotá, de manera que estos serán nuestros principales puntos de información para el proyecto, que permita plantear y definir de manera clara estrategias y conclusiones cualitativas.

Caracterización de patologías del hombro relacionadas con el origen y prestaciones asistenciales y económicas en una EPS, Bogotá, 2012 a 2014

Introducción: Las patologías del hombro suelen ser una de las causas de mayor solicitud de consulta en el ámbito laboral, con generación de incapacidad y pérdidas económicas, tanto para el afectado como para la empresa e incluso, la Entidad Promotora de Salud responsable de la atención y tratamiento. Entre las patologías de hombro más frecuentes se hallan el síndrome del manguito rotador, bursitis del hombro, síndrome de abducción dolorosa del hombro, tendinitis del bíceps, traumatismos del tendón del manguito rotador y tendinitis calcificante del hombro. Objetivo: Determinar y caracterizar las patologías del hombro de origen común y laboral, las prestaciones asistenciales y económicas que de estas se deriva en una EPS durante el periodo 2012 a 2014 en la ciudad de Bogotá. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal con datos secundarios procedentes de 657 afiliados del Régimen Contributivo en una EPS de la ciudad de Bogotá, con información de las patologías del hombro registradas de origen común y laboral, durante el periodo de 2012 a 2014. Las variables incluidas fueron las sociodemográficas, ocupacionales y clínicas. Se describieron las variables cualitativas en términos de proporción y las variables cuantitativas a través de medidas de tendencia central (medias/ medianas) y dispersión (rangos, desviación estándar, cuartiles). Para evaluar la asociación entre variables se utilizó la prueba de Chi cuadrado de Pearson usando nivel de significación α de 0,05. Resultados: Del total de afiliados se encontró que el 27,3% de las patologías fueron de origen laboral y el resto de origen común, predominando el género femenino (76.9%); el estado civil casado (34,4%), la escolaridad secundaria (60,4%). Un alto porcentaje de los pacientes se han desempeñado en la industria manufacturera (51%) y el diagnóstico más frecuente fue el síndrome de manguito rotatorio (89,2%). Al revisar los factores asociados con el origen de la patología en la calificación de estas, se encontró asociación con la edad (p = 0,000), la escolaridad (p = 0,013), la actividad económica (p = 0,0000), el factor ocupacional ergonómico (p = 0,0000) y con los diagnósticos de patologías del hombro (p = 0,025). Los días de incapacidad por las patologías del hombro reportaron una mediana de 111 días con rango de 0 a 1925 días. El tiempo de exposición al factor de riesgo ocupacional presento un rango de 6 a 470 meses, los costos por las patologías del hombro generadas correspondieron a un rango de $4000 a $68894438, con una mediana de $2287304. Es transcendental diagnosticar a tiempo e instaurar medidas terapéuticas, que permitan mejorar la sintomatología que ocasionan las patologías del hombro y la alteración en la funcionalidad del mismo, minimizando así los costos y días de incapacidad que a esto conlleva.

Comportamento alimentar e excesso de peso em profissionais do sector da saúde

A prevalência da obesidade está a aumentar nos países desenvolvidos e Portugal não é excepção. O presente trabalho teve como principal objectivo caracterizar a situação relativamente aos parâmetros antropométricos e hábitos alimentares de várias categorias profissionais do sector da saúde de uma instituição hospitalar do distrito de Lisboa. Com efeito, verificou-se que existem diferenças ao nível do Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), da massa gorda e muscular e do perímetro de cintura entre as profissões estudadas (assistentes operacionais, enfermeiros, médicos e técnicos de diagnóstico e terapêutica). De acordo com a classificação do IMC, o grupo estudado situou-se no cut-off superior do ‘peso normal’ (IMC de 24,9 kg/m2). A obesidade esteve presente em 29% dos assistentes operacionais, 9% nos médicos e 5% nos enfermeiros e técnicos de diagnóstico e terapêutica. Também se observaram diferenças entre os géneros feminino e masculino, já que neste último o IMC foi de 26,5 kg/m2 e no primeiro foi de 24,6 kg/m2. Quanto aos hábitos alimentares, através do questionário de frequência alimentar (QFA) e após comparar com as recomendações da pirâmide dos alimentos mediterrânica e com a roda dos alimentos, foi notório o desvio do padrão alimentar face ao que é preconizado por estas representações. Assim, a maioria dos indivíduos não ingere produtos lácteos, pão, cereais e derivados com a frequência que seria adequada. Também se observaram diferenças no reporte de ingestão dos mesmos alimentos entre as categorias profissionais, salientando que todas estas apresentam padrões de ingestão desviantes das recomendações defendidas pela pirâmide dos alimentos mediterrânica e pela roda dos alimentos. Na sociedade actual, o local de trabalho é cada vez mais obesogénico devido quer à mudança na natureza do trabalho, quer às condições em que este decorre. Face aos resultados obtidos foi elaborado um plano de intervenção sócio- organizacional que visa promover hábitos alimentares e estilos de vida saudáveis. /ABSTRACT: Obesity prevalence is increasing all over developed countries, and Portugal is no exception. The present study had as major objective to describe the situation relative to anthropometric measures and dietary habits of several job strains operating in the health sector of a Lisbon district’s central hospital. Indeed, it has been verified that there are differences as concern to Body Mass Index (BMI), fat and muscle mass and waist circumference among the job strains studied (operational assistants, nurses, physicians and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians). According to BMI classification, the sample showed to be lined up with the superior BMI cut-off value for “normal weight” (BMI of 24,9 kg/m2). Obesity was present in 29% of operational assistants, 9% in physicians, 5% in nurses and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians. There were differences in both feminine and masculine genders, as in the latter the BMI was 26,5 kg/m2 and in the first, 24,6 kg/m2. As concern to dietary habits, through the application of the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), after comparing with mediterranean food pyramid and wheel of foods it was notorious the deviation of dietary habits from these representations. Thus, most individuals do not consume dairy products, bread, cereals and derivates with an appropriate eating frequency. There were also differences in eating reporting of the same foods between job strains, focusing that all of these show eating patterns that deviates from the recommendations argued by mediterranean food pyramid and wheel of foods. In the present societies, workplace appears to be obesogenic due to the changes in labour’s nature and to the conditions that this one takes place. Towards the results obtained, it was developed a social and organizational intervention which entails to promote healthy eating habits and lifestyles.

Pedagogía intercultural: ¿un eufemismo para tranquilizar conciencias o una alternativa para la transformación?

The present article it entails the revision of some aspects of the Costa Rican pedagogy, especially in the epistemology area, ethics and the policies as fundamental dimensions of education. From there, it also proposes the revision of its intercultural practices in order to determine whether what it is called in the CIDE (UNA) Intercultural Pedagogy it is just another euphemism than comes from outside and above. If we receive it without major analysis in order not to disturb our comfortable being in the world, reality, or as an alternative of transformation of the Costa Rican society.

Derechos humanos y migración: el caso de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos

ResumenLa Corte Interamericana con las dos opiniones consultivas sobre la situación de la clase trabajadora migrante en los Estados Unidos, está enfatizando el hecho que los Estados tienen la obligación general de respetar y garantizar los derechos fundamentales. Con este propósito deben adoptar medidas positivas, evitar tomar iniciativas que limiten o conculquen un derecho fundamental, y suprimir las medidas y prácticas que restrinjan o vulneren un derecho fundamental. El incumplimiento mediante cualquier tratamiento discriminatorio, de la obligación general de respetar y garantizar los derechos humanos, le genera responsabilidad internacional.El principio de igualdad y no discriminación posee un carácter fundamental para la salvaguardia de los derechos humanos, tanto en el derecho internacional como en el interno.El principio fundamental de igualdad y no discriminación forma parte del derecho internacional general, en cuanto es aplicable a todo Estado, independientemente de que sea parte o no en determinado tratado internacional. En la actual etapa de la evolución del derecho internacional,este principio ha ingresado en el dominio del jus cogens, es decir de principios universalmente aceptados que no admiten posición en contra. El principio fundamental de igualdad y no discriminación, revestido de carácter imperativo, acarrea obligaciones de protección que vinculan a todos los Estados y generan efectos con respecto a terceros, inclusive particulares.Palabras clave: migración, derechos humanos, corte interamericana, opinión consultiva. AbstractThe Inter-American Court with the two advisory opinions on the situation of migrant workers in the United States is emphasizing the fact that the United States has the obligation to respect and guaranteefundamental rights. With this purpose, it should take positive actions, avoiding taking initiatives to limit or infringe a fundamental right, and eliminate measures and practices that restrict or violate afundamental rights. Failure by any discriminatory treatment of the general obligation to respect and guarantee human rights, gives rise to international responsibility. The principle of equality and nondiscrimination is fundamental for the protection of human rights both in international law and the domestic. The fundamental principle of equality and non discriminationforms part of the general international law as applicable to all States, regardless of party or a specific international treaty. At the current stage of evolution of international law, the fundamentalprinciple of equality and non-discrimination has entered the domain of jus cogens, ie of universally accepted principles that do not support position against it. The fundamental principle of equality andnondiscrimination, a peremptory nature, entails obligations to protect that bind all States and generate effects on third parties, including individuals.Keywords: migration, human rights, Inter-American Court, advisory opinion.

The Essays in International Trade and Finance

The first chapter provides the first evidence on the gross capital flows reactions to the financial sector reform. I establish four new stylized facts. First, the reform is associated with an average increase of 0.03pp in both gross capital flows. Second, immediately after the reform both flows decrease, in the long term they stabilize at a higher than the pre-liberalization levels. Third, the short term dynamics is governed by debt flows, while the long term dynamics are driven by all of the components. Finally, only a complex reform leads to a positive effect. The results are robust to a wide range of robustness checks. In the second chapter we develop a novel theory to explain the recent phenomenon of reshoring, i.e. firms moving back their previously offshored business activities. We firstly provide the evidence for the importance of the quality behind the reshoring decision and then, building on Antoniades (2015) we develop a dynamic heterogeneous firms model with quality choice and offshoring. In the dynamic setting the location decision entails a tradeoff between payroll and quality-related costs. In equilibrium reshoring arises as some firms initially offshore, exploit the increase in profits due to lower wages and finally return to the domestic country in order to further increase the quality. The third chapter provides the new evidence suggesting that selling through global production networks might lead to export upgrade. I relate the sector-level GVCs participation indicators derived from the international Input-Output Tables to the data on the unit values of exports at the product-exporter level. We find a strong association between the export prices and forward participation, in particular for the developing countries. We document also a less robust negative relationship between the GVCs backward participation and unit values of exports.

Characterization of the chestnut germoplasm of Emilia-Romagna region and ancient fruit tree varieties valorization

Molecular characterization represents a valid support for the recovery of germoplasm, also motivated by the interest for the valorization of local productions in order to make their traceability possible. Molecular characterization is also fundamental for the individuation of misnomers in collection fields in which the different varieties are preserved. In particular, microsatellites have been used in this research to investigate the genetic diversity, inside a population and at an individual level, and the correct varietal correspondence. The research is mainly based on the study of European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) cultivars to evaluate the genetic diversity and relationships in Emilia-Romagna region (Italy). A STRUCTURE analysis was carried out at European level with the allelic frequencies of the samples collected in Emilia-Romagna. Variation found at group and subgroup level may reflect a combination of historical migration/selection processes and adaptive factors to different environments between Italian and Spanish regions. In addition, a case study for the valorization of an old local variety and its re-introduction in the cultivation areas was proposed. This research was carried out by a morphological and molecular characterization of the local apple variety 'Rosa Romana'. The conservation of this variety entails the discrimination of different accessions with very similar phenotype that are present in the original cultivation area. The identification of historical trees and most adequate reference plants are fundamental steps for the correct propagation of this old variety and for the development of nursery activities. This will also promote and re-evaluate the exploitation and protection of such ancient Italian apple cultivars. This model could be in future also carried out for chestnut varieties. In conclusion, analysis with molecular markers is of fundamental importance for the protection and the maintenance of local and ancient varieties which allow to increase the allelic variability available for breeding programs.

Life Cycle Thinking for sustainability assessment and decision-making in selected food supply chains in Costa Rica

The Agenda 2030 contains 17 integrated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 12 for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) promotes the efficient use of resources through a systemic change that decouples economic growth from environmental degradation. The Food Systems (FS) pillar in SDG 12 entails paramount relevance due to its interconnection to many other SDGs, and even when being a crucial world food supplier, the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Region struggles with environmental and social externalities, low investment in agriculture, inequity, food insecurity, poverty, and migration. Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) was regarded as a pertinent approach to identify hotspots and trade-offs, and support decision-making process to aid LAC Region countries as Costa Rica to diagnose sustainability and overcome certain challenges. This thesis aimed to ‘evaluate the sustainability of selected products from food supply chains in Costa Rica, to provide inputs for further sustainable decision-making, through the application of Life Cycle Thinking’. To do this, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) evaluated the sustainability of food-waste-to-energy alternatives, and the production of green coffee, raw milk and leafy vegetables, and identified environmental, social and cost hotspots. This approach also proved to be a useful component of decision-making and policy-making processes together with other methods. LCT scientific literature led by LAC or Costa Rican researchers is still scarce; therefore, this research contributed to improve capacities in the use of LCT in this context, while offering potential replicability of the developed frameworks in similar cases. Main limitations related to the representativeness and availability of primary data; however, future research and extension activities are foreseen to increase local data availability, capacity building, and the discussion of potential integration through Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA).

Determinazione gascromatografica di composti organici volatili e semi-volatili (VOCs e SVOCs) in poliolefine ed effetti delle condizioni di lavorazione

A relevant problem of polyolefins processing is the presence of volatile and semi-volatile compounds (VOCs and SVOCs) such as linear chains alkanes found out in final products. These VOCs can be detected by customers from the unpleasant smelt and can be an environmental issue, at the same time they can cause negative side effects during process. Since no previously standardized analytical techniques for polymeric matrix are available in bibliography, we have implemented different VOCs extraction methods and gaschromatographic analysis for quali-quantitative studies of such compounds. In literature different procedures can be found including microwave extraction (MAE) and thermo desorption (TDS) used with different purposes. TDS coupled with GC-MS are necessary for the identification of different compounds in the polymer matrix. Although the quantitative determination is complex, the results obtained from TDS/GC-MS show that by-products are mainly linear chains oligomers with even number of carbon in a C8-C22 range (for HDPE). In order to quantify these linear alkanes by-products, a more accurate GC-FID determination with internal standard has been run on MAE extracts. Regardless the type of extruder used, it is difficult to distinguish the effect of the various processes, which in any case entails having a lower-boiling substance content, lower than the corresponding virgin polymer. The two HDPEs studied can be distinguished on the basis of the quantity of analytes found, therefore the production process is mainly responsible for the amount of VOCs and SVOCs observed. The extruder technology used by Sacmi SC allows to obtain a significant reduction in VOCs compared to the conventional screw system. Thus, the result is significantly important as a lower quantity of volatile substances certainly leads to a lower migration of such materials, especially when used for food packaging.

Transcreation: teoria e pratica dell’adattamento di campagne pubblicitarie globali

This dissertation explores the practice of transcreation as a consulting service aimed at companies wishing to enter the global market. Since a universally accepted definition of such term does not exist, different players use it to refer to different activities. In an attempt to investigate the meaning and scope of transcreation, as well as the skillset it requires, this dissertation consists of a theoretical part (Chapters 1 and 2) and a practical part (Chapter 3). The first chapter presents the opinions of academics, language services providers (LSPs) and transcreation experts. The different positions collected in this section are compared and discussed in order to better define transcreation and avoid any further misunderstanding about the practice. Lastly, the first chapter analyses the role of the transcreation expert by explaining in detail the four main skills it requires and the reasons for its increasing importance in the global market. The second chapter examines advertising and promotional materials, i.e. the kinds of texts to which transcreation applies. Not only does it illustrate the difference between above-the-line and below-the-line communications, but it also covers the different media used in advertising. In addition, the analysis of a billboard and two web pages in their Italian transcreation will help to further clarify the difference between translation and transcreation, both in the approach to a text and in the actual workflow followed. The third and final chapter of the dissertation, which entails the English to Italian transcreation of five different print ads performed by this author, aims to show how transcreation works in practice. By highlighting the main strategies used and difficulties encountered, it will also contribute to the notion of transcreation as a hybrid practice – something halfway between translation and copywriting, performed by professionals who possess the skills of both translators and copywriters.

Le nozioni autonome di diritto europeo nel sistema dell'imposta sul valore aggiunto

Il presente lavoro intende indagare la formulazione di nozioni autonome di diritto europeo nell’ambito dell’imposta sul valore aggiunto elaborate dalla Corte di giustizia. Più specificamente si intende proporre una tassonomia convenzionale delle nozioni autonome, utile alla loro sistematizzazione e miglior comprensione, fondata sulla distinzione fondamentale tra nozioni autonome e nozioni proprie. A questo scopo il lavoro propone un’ampia analisi delle nozioni nella giurisprudenza europea che vengono distinte a seconda che l’obiettivo finale dell’autonomia sia quello di limitare la discrezionalità applicativa degli Stati relativamente a ipotesi derogatorie, nel caso delle nozioni autonome in senso stretto; oppure che l’obiettivo ultimo sia quello di meglio definire l’ambito di applicazione di nozioni fondamentali nella struttura dell’imposta, nel caso delle nozioni proprie. Lo scopo del lavoro è dimostrare che la definizione funzionalistica risponde a obiettivi diversi, accomunati dal fatto di far valere comunque il primato dell'ordinamento europeo. L’analisi e la sistematizzazione proposte possono essere uno strumento utile nell’attuazione, interpretazione e applicazione delle nozioni. In questo senso, il lavoro esamina anche esempi tratti dalle esperienze nazionali che dimostrino, da un lato, che gli interventi della Corte relativi alle nozioni influenzano gli ordinamenti nazionali; dall’altro, che permangono ancora disallineamenti. L’analisi della giurisprudenza europea e dei regimi nazionali, infine, vuole dimostrare che l’elaborazione di nozioni autonome si inserisce nel processo verso un’armonizzazione sempre più incisiva in ambito IVA, di cui è protagonista la Corte di giustizia. Questo processo, cui l’elaborazione di un “tessuto concettuale europeo” contribuisce, comporta una limitazione della discrezionalità degli Stati, e quindi del principio di attribuzione, in nome dell’efficacia e della primazia del diritto europeo.

AI and legal personhood: a theoretical survey

I set out the pros and cons of conferring legal personhood on artificial intelligence systems (AIs), mainly under civil law. I provide functionalist arguments to justify this policy choice and identify the content that such a legal status might have. Although personhood entails holding one or more legal positions, I will focus on the distribution of liabilities arising from unpredictably illegal and harmful conduct. Conferring personhood on AIs might efficiently allocate risks and social costs, ensuring protection for victims, incentives for production, and technological innovation. I also consider other legal positions, e.g., the capacity to act, the ability to hold property, make contracts, and sue (and be sued). However, I contend that even assuming that conferring personhood on AIs finds widespread consensus, its implementation requires solving a coordination problem, determined by three asymmetries: technological, intra-legal systems, and inter-legal systems. I address the coordination problem through conceptual analysis and metaphysical explanation. I first frame legal personhood as a node of inferential links between factual preconditions and legal effects. Yet, this inferentialist reading does not account for the ‘background reasons’, i.e., it does not explain why we group divergent situations under legal personality and how extra-legal information is integrated into it. One way to account for this background is to adopt a neo-institutional perspective and update its ontology of legal concepts with further layers: the meta-institutional and the intermediate. Under this reading, the semantic referent of legal concepts is institutional reality. So, I use notions of analytical metaphysics, such as grounding and anchoring, to explain the origins and constituent elements of legal personality as an institutional kind. Finally, I show that the integration of conceptual and metaphysical analysis can provide the toolkit for finding an equilibrium around the legal-policy choices that are involved in including (or not including) AIs among legal persons.

Evaluation of seismic losses of RC buildings: the case of the industrial areas after the 2012 Emilia Earthquake

The topic of seismic loss assessment not only incorporates many aspects of the earthquake engineering, but also entails social factors, public policies and business interests. Because of its multidisciplinary character, this process may be complex to challenge, and sound discouraging to neophytes. In this context, there is an increasing need of deriving simplified methodologies to streamline the process and provide tools for decision-makers and practitioners. This dissertation investigates different possible applications both in the area of modelling of seismic losses, both in the analysis of observational seismic data. Regarding the first topic, the PRESSAFE-disp method is proposed for the fast evaluation of the fragility curves of precast reinforced-concrete (RC) structures. Hence, a direct application of the method to the productive area of San Felice is studied to assess the number of collapses under a specific seismic scenario. In particular, with reference to the 2012 events, two large-scale stochastic models are outlined. The outcomes of the framework are promising, in good agreement with the observed damage scenario. Furthermore, a simplified displacement-based methodology is outlined to estimate different loss performance metrics for the decision-making phase of the seismic retrofit of a single RC building. The aim is to evaluate the seismic performance of different retrofit options, for a comparative analysis of their effectiveness and the convenience. Finally, a contribution to the analysis of the observational data is presented in the last part of the dissertation. A specific database of losses of precast RC buildings damaged by the 2012 Earthquake is created. A statistical analysis is performed, allowing deriving several consequence functions. The outcomes presented may be implemented in probabilistic seismic risk assessments to forecast the losses at the large scale. Furthermore, these may be adopted to establish retrofit policies to prevent and reduce the consequences of future earthquakes in industrial areas.

Physical activity and osseointegration: "step forward" to improve the quality of life of a trans-femoral amputee person

Lower limb amputation is an event that inevitably changes the lifestyle of the person with a significant impact on quality of life. The socket-type prosthesis entails that the residual limb is in direct contact with the socket which often implies numerous disadvantages. Osseointegrated prosthesis is a solution that avoids skin problems because not include the presence of the socket. In this type of prosthesis, a stem is surgically inserted inside the medullary canal and connected with the external prosthetic limb. Therefore, this thesis aims to highlight and explore the main strengths and problems of osseointegrated prostheses and to examine the role of physical activity, with attention to functional capacity and bone quality. The objectives of the thesis will be developed through 5 studies: (I) A gait analysis of a 44 years-old male patient who underwent surgery for the implantation of an osseointegrated prosthesis; (II) A systematic review to investigate the state of stump bone quality in patients with limb amputations; (III) A systematic review of the technologies involved in such devices has been carried out to identify the most fruitful ones in improving bone quality; (IV) A systematic review investigating the topic of physical activity and bone turnover biomarkers; (V) A systematic review to investigate the effects of physical activity interventions combined with drug treatments on bone biomarkers in people with osteopenia and osteoporosis. The integrated prosthesis is a good solution for people with lower limb amputation who cannot use their traditional socket-type prosthesis. Although many objectives have already been achieved, there are still many aspects that we can improve. These include the creation of a multidisciplinary path that support patients along their path, with particular attention to the pre-surgery and the post-rehabilitation phase that is still lacking even if of fundamental impact in determining the quality of life.