Accessible exercise for wheelchair users: comparing the usability of two adapted exercise machines.

INTRODUCTION: Exercise is an important occupation for wheelchair users. Limited access to adapted aerobic exercise equipment in the community and lack of knowledge on how to exercise are barriers to exercise participation among wheelchair users. To address these barriers, the adapted rower (aROW) and adapted skier (aSKI) exercise machines and educational materials were created. PURPOSE: 1) To compare wheelchair users' perspectives of the effectiveness and usability of the aROW and aSKI. 2) To explore perceptions of educational materials to support use of the machines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sequential, mixed-methods study design was used. Six wheelchair users trialled the machines, and completed an interview and two usability questionnaires. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic and conventional content analysis. Usability scores of both machines were compared using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. RESULTS: Data show high usability of the aROW and aSKI. More set up challenges were reported for the aROW than the aSKI. Participants perceived both machines provided effective cardiovascular workouts, and each met their exercise goals differently. Participants preferred the instructional videos over instructional sheets and provided suggestions for improving both. The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test showed no statistically significant difference in usability between the aROW and aSKI. CONCLUSION: Implementing the aROW and aSKI in the community may address some equity issues that wheelchair users face by providing more aerobic exercise options. Results will inform educational material revisions to support use of the machines.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe adapted rower (aROW) and adapted skier (aSKI) were perceived as highly usable, suggesting provision of more adapted aerobic exercise options, like the aROW and aSKI, may address some exercise-related equity issues wheelchair users experience.Wheelchair users may consider multiple factors when choosing adapted exercise equipment, highlighting the importance of providing multiple options for adapted aerobic exercise equipment to facilitate agency in choice of exercise.

Genes Encoding Recognition of the Cladosporium fulvum Effector Protein Ecp5 Are Encoded at Several Loci in the Tomato Genome.

The molecular interactions between tomato and Cladosporium fulvum have been an important model for molecular plant pathology. Complex genetic loci on tomato chromosomes 1 and 6 harbor genes for resistance to Cladosporium fulvum, encoding receptor like-proteins that perceive distinct Cladosporium fulvum effectors and trigger plant defenses. Here, we report classical mapping strategies for loci in tomato accessions that respond to Cladosporium fulvum effector Ecp5, which is very sequence-monomorphic. We screened 139 wild tomato accessions for an Ecp5-induced hypersensitive response, and in five accessions, the Ecp5-induced hypersensitive response segregated as a monogenic trait, mapping to distinct loci in the tomato genome. We identified at least three loci on chromosomes 1, 7 and 12 that harbor distinct Cf-Ecp5 genes in four different accessions. Our mapping showed that the Cf-Ecp5 in Solanum pimpinellifolium G1.1161 is located at the Milky Way locus. The Cf-Ecp5 in Solanum pimpinellifolium LA0722 was mapped to the bottom arm of chromosome 7, while the Cf-Ecp5 genes in Solanum lycopersicum Ontario 7522 and Solanum pimpinellifolium LA2852 were mapped to the same locus on the top arm of chromosome 12. Bi-parental crosses between accessions carrying distinct Cf-Ecp5 genes revealed putative genetically unlinked suppressors of the Ecp5-induced hypersensitive response. Our mapping also showed that Cf-11 is located on chromosome 11, close to the Cf-3 locus. The Ecp5-induced hypersensitive response is widely distributed within tomato species and is variable in strength. This novel example of convergent evolution could be used for choosing different functional Cf-Ecp5 genes according to individual plant breeding needs.

Management of mild fetal pyelectasis: a comparative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare 2 protocols for the antenatal management of isolated mild fetal pyelectasis and perform a cost analysis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of unilateral and bilateral mild fetal pyelectasis followed at our institution from 2003 to 2006 was conducted. Fetuses with additional congenital anomalies or aneuploidy were excluded. Chi(2) analysis was used, and P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-four cases were identified, of which the majority were male (75.4% versus 24.6%). Eighty-eight patients were reevaluated every 4 weeks (protocol 1). The remaining 156 patients were reevaluated once in the third trimester (protocol 2). The mean number of ultrasound examinations in protocol 1 was 3.24, at a cost of $1187, compared with protocol 2, at $798. Resolution occurred in 59%, stabilization in 29%, and progression in 12%. There were no cases of progression to severe pyelectasis or a need for in utero intervention in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Mild fetal pyelectasis can be managed with 1 additional third-trimester ultrasound examination without a compromise in patient care. Average cost savings were $389 per patient for protocol 2, suggesting a benefit from this protocol over protocol 1.