Search

Shoulder complex stability can be estimated in vivo through the analysis of helical axes (HAs) dispersion during upper limb movements. The study aimed at investigating test–retest reliability of shoulder HAs dispersion parameters during upper limb tasks. Twenty healthy volunteers performed 2 intransitive (shoulder flexion and rotation) and one transitive (combing) tasks with the dominant and nondominant upper limbs during 2 recording sessions at 1-week distance. Kinematics was detected through an optoelectronic system. Mean distance and mean angle (MA) were adopted as HAs dispersion indexes. Reliability was excellent for mean distance (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]:.91) and MA (ICC:.92) during dominant flexion, and good for MA (ICC:.90) during nondominant flexion. Moderate reliability was found for HAs parameters during rotation (ICCs from.70 to.59), except for MA during dominant rotation where reliability was poor. Reliability was good for mean distance (ICC:.83) and moderate for MA (ICC:.67) during the dominant combing task, whereas no reliability was found during the nondominant combing task. HAs dispersion parameters revealed high reliability during simple intransitive tasks with the dominant limb. Reliability decreased with the increase in task complexity due to the increase in movement variability. HAs dispersion technique could be used to assess shoulder complex stability in patients after rehabilitation or surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Berufsbildung: Zeitschrift für Theorie-Praxis-Dialog is the property of wbv Media GmbH & Co. KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Global mapping of forest height is an extremely important task for estimating habitat quality and modeling biodiversity. Recently, three global canopy height maps have been released, the global forest canopy height map (GFCH), the high‐resolution canopy height model of the Earth (HRCH), and the global map of tree canopy height (GMTCH). Here, we assessed their accuracy and usability for biodiversity modeling. We examined their accuracy by comparing them with the reference canopy height models derived from airborne laser scanning (ALS). Our results show considerable differences between the evaluated maps. The root mean square error ranged between 10 and 18 m for GFCH, 9–11 m for HRCH, and 10–17 m for GMTCH, respectively. GFCH and GMTCH consistently underestimated the height of all canopies regardless of their height, while HRCH tended to overestimate the height of low canopies and underestimate tall canopies. Biodiversity models using predicted global canopy height maps as input data are sufficient for estimating simple relationships between species occurrence and canopy height, but their use leads to a considerable decrease in the discrimination ability of the models and to mischaracterization of species niches where derived indices (e.g., canopy height heterogeneity) are concerned. We showed that canopy height heterogeneity is considerably underestimated in the evaluated global canopy height maps. We urge that for temperate areas rich in ALS data, activities should concentrate on harmonizing ALS canopy height maps rather than relying on modeled global products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hip osteoarthritis and total hip arthroplasty imply damaged articular and periarticular structures responsible for proprioception, and this damage may impair the accurate perception of body-weight distribution. In this study, we investigated proprioceptive abilities and accuracy perceiving body-weight distribution in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, and we assessed the associations between these abilities and body perception accuracy with functional mobility testing in 20 patients scheduled for total hip arthroplasty and 20 age-matched healthy participants. We assessed (a) absolute error in hip joint position sense (AE-JPS), (b) absolute error in body-weight distribution (AE-BWD) during standing and sit-to-stand tasks with open and closed eyes, and (c) functional mobility with the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). We assessed patients undergoing hip arthroplasty before (T0) and five days after their surgery (T1), while control participants underwent a single evaluation. Relative to controls, participants undergoing surgery showed higher AE-JPS at 15° of hip flexion at T0 (p =.003) and at T1 (p =.007), greater AE-BWD during sit-to-stand with open eyes at T1 (p =.014) and with closed eyes at both T0 (p =.014) and at T1 (p <.001), and worse TUG at both T0 (p =.009) and T1 (p <.001). AE-BWD during sit-to-stand with closed eyes positively correlated with TUG at T0 (r = 0.55, p =.011) and at T1 (r = 0.51, p =.027). These findings suggested that impairments in body-weight distribution perception were evident both before and immediately after total hip arthroplasty, suggesting that these impairments may regularly mark these patients' functional mobility problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music has been reported to facilitate motor performance. However, there is no data on the effects of different acoustic environmental stimuli on manual dexterity. The present observational study aimed at investigating the effects of background music and noise on a manual dexterity task in young, middle-aged and elderly subjects. Sixty healthy, right-handed subjects aged between 18 and 80 years were enrolled. Twenty young (mean age: 22±2 years), 20 middle-aged (mean age: 55±8 years) and 20 elderly (mean age: 72±5 years) subjects performed the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) in four different acoustic environments: silence (noise < 20dBA), classical music at 60dBA, rock music at 70 dBA, and a noise stimulus at 80dBA. Performance was recorded using an optical motion capture system and retro-reflective markers (SMART DX, 400, BTS). Outcome measures included the total test time and peg-grasp, peg-transfer, peg-in-hole, hand-return, and removing phases times. Normalized jerk, mean and peak of velocity during transfer and return phases were also computed. No differences were found for NHPT phases and total times, normalized jerk, peak of velocity and mean velocity between four acoustic conditions (p>0.05). Between-group differences were found for NHPT total time, where young subjects revealed better performance than elderly (p˂0.001) and middle-aged (p˂0.001) groups. Music and noise stimuli in the considered range of intensity had no influence on the execution of a manual dexterity task in young, middle-aged and elderly subjects. These findings may have implications for working, sportive and rehabilitative activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The disturbance of infrastructures may affect biological communities that are exposed to them. This study assesses the impact of high-speed (highway and railway) infrastructures in a protected study site, the Natural Reserve Fontanili di Corte Valle Re (Emilia–Romagna, Italy). We compared bird diversity with sound intensity and frequency in three sampling areas, increasingly distant from the infrastructures at the border with the reserve, during the last 4 years (2019–2022), monitoring sedentary, nesting, and migratory bird species. We hypothesize a decreasing diversity closer to the source of disturbance, which is mostly attributable to noise pollution. Our findings confirmed this trend, and we show that, in particular, disturbance seems to influence species richness more than the total abundance of birds. We also discovered that highway disturbance was much higher than railway in terms of frequency and duration. In light of these results, we suggest that some species, which have a behavioral ecology strongly based on singing to communicate with each other for their reproductive and defensive strategies, may suffer more from constant acoustic disturbance. The installation of effective noise barriers to shield the sound produced by the highways should be considered a mandatory request not only in proximity to houses but also in the vicinity of protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different factors, not limited to the lung, influence the progression of ILDs. A "treatable trait" strategy was recently proposed for ILD patients as a precision model of care to improve outcomes. However, no data have been published so far on the prevalence of TTs in ILD. A prospective, observational, cohort study was conducted within the ILD Program at the IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital (Milan, Italy) between November 2021 and November 2023. TTs were selected according to recent literature and assigned during multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) to one of the following categories: pulmonary, etiological, comorbidities, and lifestyle. Patients were further divided into four groups according to their post-MDD diagnosis: idiopathic ILD, sarcoidosis, connective tissue disease–ILD, and other ILD. The primary study outcome was the prevalence of each TT in the study population. A total of 116 patients with ILD [63.9% male; median (IQR) age: 69 (54–78) years] were included in the study. All the TTs identified in the literature were found in our cohort, except for intractable chronic cough. We also recognized differences in TTs across the ILD groups, with less TTs in patients with sarcoidosis. This analysis provides the first ancillary characterization of TTs in ILD patients in a real setting to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simulation approaches are widely used in biomechanics. One of their main applications is to compute inverse dynamics to estimate joint torques and muscle activations, especially in conditions hard to reproduce experimentally. In this work, we used the OpenSim software to investigate the effects on joint and muscular biomechanics of the lower limb during gait when gait velocity changes and different loads are carried by the subject, starting from a dataset of gait data. We found that biomechanics were influenced by both speed and load. Our results expand the previous literature by providing comprehensive data in multiple conditions that cannot be easily tested in experimental trials. This study could be useful for applications in many areas, such as rehabilitation, orthopedics, medical care, and sports. Walking is one of the main activities of daily life and gait analysis can provide crucial data for the computation of biomechanics in many fields. In multiple applications, having reference data that include a variety of gait conditions could be useful for assessing walking performance. However, limited extensive reference data are available as many conditions cannot be easily tested experimentally. For this reason, a musculoskeletal model in OpenSim coupled with gait data (at seven different velocities) was used to simulate seven carried loads and all the combinations between the two parameters. The effects on lower limb biomechanics were measured with torque, power, and mechanical work. The results demonstrated that biomechanics was influenced by both speed and load. Our results expand the previous literature: in the majority of previous work, only a subset of the presented conditions was investigated. Moreover, our simulation approach provides comprehensive data that could be useful for applications in many areas, such as rehabilitation, orthopedics, medical care, and sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Action observation and motor imagery (AOMI) are commonly delivered through a laptop screen. Immersive virtual reality (VR) may enhance the observer's embodiment, a factor that may boost AOMI effects. The study aimed to investigate the effects on manual dexterity of AOMI delivered through immersive VR compared to AOMI administered through a laptop. To evaluate whether VR can enhance the effects of AOMI, forty-five young volunteers were enrolled and randomly assigned to the VR-AOMI group, who underwent AOMI through immersive VR, the AOMI group, who underwent AOMI through a laptop screen, or the control group, who observed landscape video clips. All participants underwent a 5-day treatment, consisting of 12 min per day. We investigated between and within-group differences after treatments relative to functional manual dexterity tasks using the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT). This test included right hand (R), left hand (L), both hands (B), R + L + B, and assembly tasks. Additionally, we analyzed kinematics parameters including total and sub-phase duration, peak and mean velocity, and normalized jerk, during the Nine-Hole Peg Test to examine whether changes in functional scores may also occur through specific kinematic patterns. Participants were assessed at baseline (T0), after the first training session (T1), and at the end of training (T2). A significant time by group interaction and time effects were found for PPT, where both VR-AOMI and AOMI groups improved at the end of training. Larger PPT-L task improvements were found in the VR-AOMI group (d: 0.84, CI95: 0.09–1.58) compared to the AOMI group from T0 to T1. Immersive VR used for the delivery of AOMI speeded up hand dexterity improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia with millions of affected patients worldwide. Currently, there is still no cure and AD is often diagnosed long time after onset because there is no clear diagnosis. Thus, it is essential to study the physiology and pathogenesis of AD, investigating the risk factors that could be strongly connected to the disease onset. Despite AD, like other complex diseases, is the result of the combination of several factors, there is emerging agreement that environmental pollution should play a pivotal role in the causes of disease. In this work, we implemented an Artificial Intelligence model to predict AD mortality, expressed as Standardized Mortality Ratio, at Italian provincial level over 5 years. We employed a set of publicly available variables concerning pollution, health, society and economy to feed a Random Forest algorithm. Using methods based on eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) we found that air pollution (mainly O 3 and N O 2 ) contribute the most to AD mortality prediction. These results could help to shed light on the etiology of Alzheimer's disease and to confirm the urgent need to further investigate the relationship between the environment and the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Action observation plus motor imagery (AOMI) is a rehabilitative approach to improve gait and balance performance. However, limited benefits have been reported in older adults. Early sleep after motor practice represents a strategy to enhance the consolidation of trained skills. Here, we investigated the effects of AOMI followed by early sleep on gait and balance performance in older adults. Forty-five older adults (mean age: 70.4 ± 5.2 years) were randomized into three groups performing a 3-week training. Specifically, AOMI-sleep and AOMI-control groups underwent observation and motor imagery of gait and balance tasks between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m. or between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. respectively, whereas Control group observed landscape video-clips. Participants were assessed for gait performance, static and dynamic balance and fear of falling before and after training and at 1-month follow-up. The results revealed that early sleep after AOMI training sessions improved gait and balance abilities in older adults compared to AOMI-control and Control groups. Furthermore, these benefits were retained at 1-month after the training end. These findings suggested that early sleep after AOMI may represent a safe and easy-applicable intervention to minimize the functional decay in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the relationships between the functional trait composition of forest communities and environmental gradients across scales and biomes and the role of species relative abundances in these relationships. Location: Global. Time period: Recent. Major taxa studied: Trees. Methods: We integrated species abundance records from worldwide forest inventories and associated functional traits (wood density, specific leaf area and seed mass) to obtain a data set of 99,953 to 149,285 plots (depending on the trait) spanning all forested continents. We computed community‐weighted and unweighted means of trait values for each plot and related them to three broad environmental gradients and their interactions (energy availability, precipitation and soil properties) at two scales (global and biomes). Results: Our models explained up to 60% of the variance in trait distribution. At global scale, the energy gradient had the strongest influence on traits. However, within‐biome models revealed different relationships among biomes. Notably, the functional composition of tropical forests was more influenced by precipitation and soil properties than energy availability, whereas temperate forests showed the opposite pattern. Depending on the trait studied, response to gradients was more variable and proportionally weaker in boreal forests. Community unweighted means were better predicted than weighted means for almost all models. Main conclusions: Worldwide, trees require a large amount of energy (following latitude) to produce dense wood and seeds, while leaves with large surface to weight ratios are concentrated in temperate forests. However, patterns of functional composition within‐biome differ from global patterns due to biome specificities such as the presence of conifers or unique combinations of climatic and soil properties. We recommend assessing the sensitivity of tree functional traits to environmental changes in their geographic context. Furthermore, at a given site, the distribution of tree functional traits appears to be driven more by species presence than species abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four to five muscle synergies account for children's locomotion and appear to be consistent across alterations in speed and slopes. Backpack carriage induces alterations in gait kinematics in healthy children, raising questions regarding the clinical consequences related to orthopedic and neurological diseases and ergonomics. However, to support clinical decisions and characterize backpack carriage, muscle synergies can help with understanding the alterations induced in this condition at the motor control level. In this study, we investigated how children adjust the recruitment of motor patterns during locomotion, when greater muscular demands are required (backpack carriage). Twenty healthy male children underwent an instrumental gait analysis and muscle synergies extraction during three walking conditions: self-selected, fast and load conditions. In the fast condition, a reduction in the number of synergies (three to four) was needed for reconstructing the EMG signal with the same accuracy as in the other conditions (three to five). Synergies were grouped in only four clusters in the fast condition, while five clusters were needed for the self-selected condition. The right number of clusters was not clearly identified in the load condition. Speed and backpack carriage altered nearly every spatial–temporal parameter of gait, whereas kinematic alterations reflected mainly hip and pelvis adaptations. Although the synergistic patterns were consistent across conditions, indicating a similar motor pattern in different conditions, the fast condition required fewer synergies for reconstructing the EMG signal with the same level of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecosystem services offered by pollinators are vital for supporting agriculture and ecosystem functioning, with bees standing out as especially valuable contributors among these insects. Threats such as habitat fragmentation, intensive agriculture, and climate change are contributing to the decline of natural bee populations. Remote sensing could be a useful tool to identify sites of high diversity before investing into more expensive field survey. In this study, the ability of Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles (UAV) images to estimate biodiversity at a local scale has been assessed while testing the concept of the Height Variation Hypothesis (HVH). This hypothesis states that the higher the vegetation height heterogeneity (HH) measured by remote sensing information, the higher the vegetation vertical complexity and the associated species diversity. In this study, the concept has been further developed to understand if vegetation HH can also be considered a proxy for bee diversity and abundance. We tested this approach in 30 grasslands in the South of the Netherlands, where an intensive field data campaign (collection of flower and bee diversity and abundance) was carried out in 2021, along with a UAV campaign (collection of true color-RGB-images at high spatial resolution). Canopy Height Models (CHM) of the grasslands were derived using the photogrammetry technique "Structure from Motion" (SfM) with horizontal resolution (spatial) of 10 cm, 25 cm, and 50 cm. The accuracy of the CHM derived from UAV photogrammetry was assessed by comparing them through linear regression against local CHM LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data derived from an Airborne Laser Scanner campaign completed in 2020/2021, yielding an R 2 of 0.71. Subsequently, the HH assessed on the CHMs at the three spatial resolutions, using four different heterogeneity indices (Rao's Q, Coefficient of Variation, Berger–Parker index, and Simpson's D index), was correlated with the ground-based flower and bee diversity and bee abundance data. The Rao's Q index was the most effective heterogeneity index, reaching high correlations with the ground-based data (0.44 for flower diversity, 0.47 for bee diversity, and 0.34 for bee abundance). Interestingly, the correlations were not significantly influenced by the spatial resolution of the CHM derived from UAV photogrammetry. Our results suggest that vegetation height heterogeneity can be used as a proxy for large-scale, standardized, and cost-effective inference of flower diversity and habitat quality for bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke, a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, manifests as motor, speech language, and cognitive impairments, necessitating customized rehabilitation strategies. In this context, telerehabilitation (TR) strategies have emerged as promising solutions. In a multi-center longitudinal pilot study, we explored the effects of a multi-domain TR program, comprising physiotherapy, speech therapy, and neuropsychological treatments. In total, 84 stroke survivors (74 analyzed) received 20 tailored sessions per domain, addressing individual impairments and customized to their specific needs. Positive correlations were found between initial motor function, cognitive status, independence in activities of daily living (ADLs), and motor function improvement after TR. A lower initial health-related quality of life (HRQoL) perception hindered progress, but improved ADL independence and overall health status, and reduced depression correlated with a better QoL. Furthermore, post-treatment improvements were observed in the entire sample in terms of fine motor skills, upper-limb functionality, balance, independence, and cognitive impairment. This multi-modal approach shows promise in enhancing stroke rehabilitation and highlights the potential of TR in addressing the complex needs of stroke survivors through a comprehensive support and interdisciplinary collaboration, personalized for each individual's needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia is on the rise in the world population and has been defined by the World Health Organization as a global public health priority. In Italy, according to demographic projections, in 2051 there will be 280 elderly people for every 100 young people, with an increase in all age-related chronic diseases, including dementia. Currently the total number of patients with dementia is estimated to be over 1 million (mainly with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD)). In-depth studies of the etiology and physiology of dementia are complicated due to the complexity of these diseases and their long duration. In this work we present a dataset on mortality rates (in the form of Standardized Mortality Ratios, SMR) for AD e PD in Italy at provincial level over a period of 8 years (2012–2019). Access to long-term, spatially detailed and ready-to-use data could favor both health monitoring and the research of new treatments and new drugs as well as innovative methodologies for early diagnosis of dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protecting global biodiversity is one of the most urgent tasks for the coming decades. Area-based conservation is a pillar for preserving ecosystems and species. Strictly protected areas specifically preserve biodiversity and ecosystem processes. The "EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030" targets strict protection for 10% of land area. Here we performed the first analysis of strictly protected areas (as IUCN type Ia, Ib, and II) across Europe, by investigating their area coverage at the level of biogeographical regions, countries and elevation gradients. We show that, with few exceptions, the amount of strictly protected area is very limited and the spatial distribution of such protected areas is biased towards higher elevation sites, as in the case of other protected areas. Then, we suggest that potential areas should be identified to expand strictly protected areas with low economic and social costs including, for instance, areas with high biodiversity value, low population, and low productive land use. Finally, we propose that a coordinated effort and a strategic plan to achieve continental-scale conservation are fundamental, and at least half of this land under strict conservation (i.e. 5%) should be under the protection categories Ia and Ib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activation of the Mirror Neuron System (MNS) has been described to reflect visible movements, but not postural, non‐visible, adaptations that accompany the observed movements. Since any motor act is the result of a well‐tailored dialogue between these two components, we decided to investigate whether a motor resonance to nonvisible postural adaptations could be detected. Possible changes in soleus corticospinal excitability were investigated by eliciting the H‐reflex during the observation of three videos, corresponding to three distinct experimental conditions: 'Chest pass', 'Standing' and 'Sitting', and comparing its size with that measured during observation of a control videoclip (a landscape). In the observed experimental conditions, the Soleus muscle has different postural roles: a dynamic role in postural adaptations during the Chest pass; a static role while Standing still; no role while Sitting. The H‐reflex amplitude was significantly enhanced in the 'Chest pass' condition compared to the 'Sitting' and 'Standing' conditions. No significant difference was found between 'Sitting' and 'Standing' conditions. The increased corticospinal excitability of the Soleus during the 'Chest pass' condition suggests that the mirror mechanisms produce a resonance to postural components of an observed action, although they may not be visible. This observation highlights the fact that mirror mechanisms echo non intentional movements as well and points to a novel possible role of mirror neurons in motor recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The BHOHB system (Bhohb S.r.l., Italy) is a portable non-invasive photographic marker-based device for postural examination. OBJECTIVE: To assess the test-retest reliability of the BHOHB system and compare its reliability with an optoelectronic system (SMART-DX 700, BTS, Italy). METHODS: Thirty volunteers were instructed to stand upright with five markers on the spinous processes of C7, T6, T12, L3 and S1 vertebrae to define the dorsal kyphosis and lumbar lordosis (sagittal plane) angles. Three markers were placed on the great trochanter, apex of iliac crest and lateral condyle of the femur to detect pelvic tilt. Finally, to define angles between the acromion and the spinous processes (frontal plane), two markers were placed on the right and left acromion. Postural angles were recoded simultaneously with BHOHB and optoelectronic systems during two consecutive recording sessions. RESULTS: The BHOHB system revealed excellent reliability for all the angles (ICCs: 0.92–0.99, SEM: 0.78 ∘ –3.33 ∘) as well as a shorter processing time compared to the optoelectronic system. Excellent reliability was also found for all the angles detected through the optoelectronic system (ICCs: 0.91–0.99, SEM: 0.84 ∘ –2.80 ∘). CONCLUSION: The BHOHB system resulted as a reliable non-invasive and user-friendly device to monitor spinal posture, especially in subjects requiring repeat examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-profile single-ridge waveguide magic-T is proposed as a combination of two T-junctions at an X band. A slot coupling technique is used to reduce the component dimensions in the E-plane, thus leading to a low profile. The device can assume two configurations by arranging the sum and difference ports in the same or opposite direction, an attractive feature in the design of beamforming networks with complex routing. A magic-T prototype is fabricated using laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing techniques. Good agreement between simulations and measurements is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure into Italian, examine its internal reliability, and construct validity in a rehabilitation setting. The translation process consisted of two forward translations, a pre-final version, a back-translation, and a final version, in accordance with available guidelines. We administered the Italian version of the CARE measure to 101 patients hospitalised for rehabilitation after total hip or total knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA). We assessed face validity, internal reliability, and construct validity. Face validity was high. Patients answered all questions and the "does not apply" option was never selected. Internal reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.962) resulted in line with the original version. The exploratory factor analysis confirmed the unidimensional structure of the CARE measure with 74.82% of variance explained by the first factor. The Italian version of the CARE measure showed high face validity. Internal reliability and construct validity were in line with the original version in patients undergoing rehabilitation after THA and TKA. Internal reliability and construct validity of the Italian version of the CARE measure are in line with those of the original version of the CARE measure. The Italian CARE measure can be used to assess patient's perceived therapist's empathy in patients undergoing physical therapy after THA and TKA. Physiotherapists should use the CARE measure with more caution in other rehabilitative contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematic observation and imagination of actions promotes acquisition of motor skills. Furthermore, studies demonstrated that early sleep after practice enhances motor learning through an offline stabilization process. Here, we investigated behavioral effects and neurodynamical correlates of early sleep after action observation and motor imagery training (AO + MI-training) on motor learning in terms of manual dexterity. Forty-five healthy participants were randomized into three groups receiving a 3 week intervention consisting of AO + MI-training immediately before sleeping or AO + MI-training at least 12 h before sleeping or a control stimulation. AO + MI-training implied the observation and motor imagery of transitive manual dexterity tasks, whereas the control stimulation consisted of landscape video-clips observation. Manual dexterity was assessed using functional tests, kinematic and neurophysiological outcomes before and after the training and at 1-month follow-up. AO + MI-training improved manual dexterity, but subjects performing AO + MI-training followed by early sleep had significantly larger improvements than those undergoing the same training at least 12 h before sleeping. Behavioral findings were supported by neurodynamical correlates during motor performance and additional sleep-dependent benefits were also detected at 1 month follow-up. These findings introduce a new approach to enhance the acquisition of new motor skills or facilitate recovery in patients with motor impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cumulative area under protection (%) for each country is shown for all strictly protected areas in the upper panel and for the 3 different IUCN categories (Ia, Ib, and II) in the lower panels The original article has been corrected. Cumulative area under protection (%) for each biogeographical region is shown for all strictly protected areas in the upper panel and for the 3 different IUCN categories (Ia, Ib, and II) in the lower panels Graph: Fig. [Extracted from the article]

An X-band H-plane groove gap waveguide magic-T is presented as a combination of an H-plane and an E-plane T-junction. Two architectures can be derived by orientating the sum and difference ports to the same or opposite directions, respectively. Slot coupling allows the reduction of the device dimensions along the E-plane, and such a low profile can be attractive in all groove gap waveguide applications where compactness is required. A proof-of-concept prototype is fabricated with standard low-cost CNC milling machine manufacturing techniques. Good agreement between simulations and measurements is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Robot-based treatments are developing in neurorehabilitation settings. Recently, the Italian National Health Systems recognized robot-based rehabilitation as a refundable service. Thus, the Italian neurorehabilitation community promoted a national consensus on this topic. OBJECTIVE: To conceptualize undisclosed perspectives for research and applications of robotics for neurorehabilitation, based on a qualitative synthesis of reference theoretical models. METHODS: A scoping review was carried out based on a specific question from the consensus Jury. A foreground search strategy was developed on theoretical models (context) of robot-based rehabilitation (exposure), in neurological patients (population). PubMed and EMBASE® databases were searched and studies on theoretical models of motor control, neurobiology of recovery, human-robot interaction and economic sustainability were included, while experimental studies not aimed to investigate theoretical frameworks, or considering prosthetics, were excluded. RESULTS: Overall, 3699 records were screened and finally 9 papers included according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. According to the population investigated, structured information on theoretical models and indications for future research was summarized in a synoptic table. CONCLUSION: The main indication from the Italian consensus on robotics in neurorehabilitation is the priority to design research studies aimed to investigate the role of robotic and electromechanical devices in promoting neuroplasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of Action Observation and Motor Imagery administered the day before surgery on functional recovery in patients after total hip arthroplasty. Design: Randomised controlled trial. Setting: Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan, Italy Participants: Eighty inpatients with end-stage hip osteoarthritis undergoing total hip arthroplasty. Interventions: All patients followed a standardized postoperative rehabilitation program. Experimental group (AO + MI) performed two 12-minute Action Observation and Motor Imagery sessions on the preoperative day, whereas control group underwent usual care consisting of education without any additional preoperative activity. Outcome measures: A blinded physiotherapist assessed participants for functional mobility (Timed Up and Go – TUG) (primary outcome), maximum walking speed (10-Meter Walk Test – 10MWT), pain (Numeric Pain Rating Scale – NPRS) and fear of movement (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia – TSK) the day before and at four days after surgery. Results: No between-group differences were found at baseline. Although TUG and 10MWT worsened in both groups (p < 0.001), better TUG was found for AO + MI group at four days (mean difference −5.8 s, 95% confidence interval from −11.3 to −0.3 s, p = 0.039). NPRS (p < 0.001) and TSK (p = 0.036 for AO + MI group, p = 0.003 for control group) improved after surgery without between-group differences. Conclusions: Patients undergoing Action Observation and Motor Imagery on the day before surgery showed less functional decline than control group in the first days after total hip arthroplasty. This intervention may contribute to a safer discharge with higher functional abilities in patients hospitalized for total hip arthroplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Italy, approximately 400.000 new cases of malignant tumors are recorded every year. The average of annual deaths caused by tumors, according to the Italian Cancer Registers, is about 3.5 deaths and about 2.5 per 1,000 men and women respectively, for a total of about 3 deaths every 1,000 people. Long-term (at least a decade) and spatially detailed data (up to the municipality scale) are neither easily accessible nor fully available for public consultation by the citizens, scientists, research groups, and associations. Therefore, here we present a ten-year (2009–2018) database on cancer mortality rates (in the form of Standardized Mortality Ratios, SMR) for 23 cancer macro-types in Italy on municipal, provincial, and regional scales. We aim to make easily accessible a comprehensive, ready-to-use, and openly accessible source of data on the most updated status of cancer mortality in Italy for local and national stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers and to provide researchers with ready-to-use data to perform specific studies. Measurement(s) Standardized Mortality Ratio Technology Type(s) Public database [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) might be a sustainable practice to increase nutrients use efficiency of crops. In order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the beneficial interaction, an RNA-Seq transcriptional profiling of tomato leaves was performed after roots' inoculation with Azospirillum baldaniorum (AB) or Paraburkholderia graminis (PG). Overall, 427 and 512 differentially expressed tomato genes were retrieved for AB and PB inoculation, respectively, and in both cases, the number of up-regulated genes exceeded the number of those down-regulated. Expression profiles suggest that the interactions between tomato seedlings and microorganisms are species-specific. The common activated pathways involved genes coding for proteins related to water and nutrients uptake, defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses and hormonal regulation of fruit-set and ripening. While AB induced genes coding for MYB transcription factors known to be involved in response to biotic and abiotic stresses, PG upregulated 5 genes coding for putative late blight resistance protein homolog. Auxin responsive molecules and gibberellins involved in the fruit-set and early fruit growth in tomato were mainly induced by AB correlating to higher fruit number obtained in a previous field study. On the other hand, ERF transcription factors involved in ripening were induced mainly by PG treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submaximal levels of effort are required for the performance of the most common daily tasks. Inaccuracy in modulating motor outputs during submaximal tasks has been reported as indicator of safety during daily activities in subjects with lower limb musculoskeletal disorders. The study is aimed at investigating performance modulation ability during motor and functional tasks in patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Sixteen patients with end-stage osteoarthritis undergoing TKA and twenty age-matched healthy participants performed isokinetic knee extension, sit-to-stand, and walking tasks at three levels of self-estimated effort (100%, 50%, and 25%) the day before (T0) and 4 days after surgery (T1). Maximum performance in terms of peak torque (PT—knee extension), overshoot (OS—sit-to-stand), and walking speed was evaluated. Subsequently, relative error (RE) between target and observed performance was computed for the submaximal tasks (RE50% and RE25%). Our results showed a decline of maximum performance after surgery, which resulted lower in patients compared to healthy subjects. RE50% and RE25% for knee extension (involved limb) (p < 0.001) and RE25% for sit-to-stand (p < 0.001) increased from pre- to postsurgery. At T0, knee extension RE25% and walking RE50% and RE25% were higher in patients. At T1, RE50% and RE25% were higher in patients for knee extension (involved limb), sit-to-stand, and walking. In conclusion, the ability to modulate motor and functional performance decreased after TKA and resulted impaired when compared to healthy age-matched subjects. Based on relationship between ability to modulate motor outputs and risk of falling, the role of modulation ability as indicator of readiness for discharge and safe return to daily activities deserves further investigations in patients in early phase after TKA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown different patterns of structural and functional reorganization in high‐level athletes compared with controls, but little is known about their relationship with interlimb coordination mechanisms. To this aim, we investigated brain structural and functional differences in high‐level fencers compared with nonathlete controls and the MRI substrates of interlimb coordination in elite athletes. Fourteen right‐handed male fencers (median age = 22.3 years) and 15 right‐handed age‐ and sex‐matched healthy subjects (median age = 22.4 years) underwent structural and functional MRI acquisition during the execution of cyclic bimanual‐movements as well as during in‐phase and antiphase hand/foot‐movements of the dominant‐right limbs. No between‐group differences were found in gray matter volumes and white matter architecture. Active‐fMRI showed that controls versus fencers had higher activations in parietal and temporal areas during bimanual‐task; whereas fencers versus controls had higher activations in the basal ganglia. During in‐phase task, controls versus fencers showed higher activation of right cerebellum, whereas fencers had higher activity mainly in frontal areas. The functional‐connectivity (FC) analysis showed that fencers versus controls had an increased FC between left motor cortex and fronto‐temporal areas as well as bilateral thalami during the different tasks. Intensive and prolonged fencing activity is associated with brain functional changes mainly involving frontal regions related to high‐level motor control and planning of complex tasks. These modifications are likely to reflect an optimization of brain networks involved in motor activities, including interlimb coordination tasks, occurring after intensive training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coaxial-to-groove gap waveguide transition is proposed for the first time, addressing the lack of similar designs in the state-of-the-art literature. An in-line configuration is adopted in case of stringent space requirements in groove gap waveguide systems. This device has no dielectric and makes use of a waveguide multi-step ridged section connected to the inner conductor of a coaxial line. Three versions are presented, covering progressively wider bandwidths depending on the number of employed steps. The three configurations achieve 20-dB return loss fractional bandwidths of 2.63%, 16.79%, and 38.08%, and 30-dB return loss fractional bandwidths of 0.84%, 10.63%, and 33.49%, with a simulated insertion loss always better than 0.05 dB when a realistic metal conductivity of 2 × 10 7 S/m is assumed. A tolerance analysis on the most critical geometrical parameters is provided to assess the mechanical feasibility, preserving a remarkable performance at X band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knee joint stability can be estimated during functional tasks through the analysis of the helical axes (HAs) dispersion. The study aimed at investigating (1) the test–retest reliability of knee HAs dispersion during walking and (2) the effects of maximal versus resistant strength training on knee HAs dispersion during walking. Thirty healthy subjects (age: 22.6 ± 2.1 years) randomized into a maximal training (MT) group and a resistance training (RT) group underwent a 2-week quadricep–hamstring strength training at 90% or 30% of the maximum voluntary contraction, respectively. Participants walked on a treadmill with clusters of retro-reflective markers placed on thighs and shanks to detect knee kinematics with an optoelectronic system. Knee HAs dispersion was assessed using mean distance (MD) and mean angle (MA) at 1 week before training start, before and after the first training session, and before and after the last training session. Moderate to excellent reliability was found for MD and MA on the sagittal plane (ICCs ≥ 0.70). No differences over time were found for MD and MA between MT and RT. HAs dispersion indexes resulted in reliable parameters for the quantification of knee stability on the sagittal plane during walking. Maximal and resistance strength training induced no knee HAs dispersion changes during walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of physiotherapy approaches used in the treatment of LSS and compare their delivery characteristics. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, PEDro, CINAHL and Web of Science databases, from inception until March 2021. Inclusion criteria were clinical diagnosis of LSS confirmed through imaging techniques, RCTs written in English comparing physiotherapy interventions among them or versus placebo or usual care without restrictions on treatment and follow-up duration, outcomes related to pain, physical function, disability and quality of life. Two independent reviewers assessed records for eligibility and methodological quality (PEDro scale) and extracted participants' characteristics, interventions details and outcome measures at each timepoint. Pooled or un-pooled findings were reported as mean difference with 95% confidence interval, depending on heterogeneity. Evidence quality was rated using the GRADE approach. Results: Twelve studies (944 patients, mean PEDro score 7.6, range 5–9) were included. Three weeks of weight-supported walking improved pain and disability, while 8 weeks of aquatic exercises improved pain and walking tolerance (very low evidence). Six weeks of cycling reduced disability compared to weight-supported walking (low evidence). Six weeks of manual therapy plus exercise was not superior to supervised exercises (low evidence), but improved pain, walking tolerance, disability and quality of life compared to home/group exercises (moderate to very low evidence). Very low evidence supported 2 weeks of electromagnetic fields, whereas TENS (low evidence) and ultrasounds (very low evidence) revealed no effects. Conclusions: These findings may assist clinicians in delivering effective physiotherapy interventions in LSS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid couplers are important devices that combine or divide signals in various microwave applications. Wideband performance, low losses and small size are key features in most modern radar and communication systems. This paper presents a new geometry for single-ridge, air-filled waveguide quadrature hybrid couplers at the X/Ku band on a single layer using multiple pairs of slots cut on a common ridge coupling section. Bandwidth can be progressively extended by increasing the number of slot pairs. Two designs characterized by compact size and state-of-the-art performance are proposed, leading to a fractional bandwidth up to 46.88% and a maximum dimension of 1.18 wavelengths. A tolerance analysis is presented to highlight the design robustness and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optoelectronic systems and force platforms represent the gold standard for postural sway assessment, but pose disadvantages in terms of equipment, cost and preparation time.Objective: Wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) have been proposed to overcome these issues, but have never been compared to an optoelectronic system. The study aim was therefore to investigate agreement between inertial measurement unit and optoelectronic system in postural sway assessment.Methods: Thirty healthy volunteers performed four balance tasks. IMU was placed on the sacrum (S2) with a retroreflective marker over the sensor and subjects' performance was simultaneously recorded by both systems. Total (TOT), anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) length of trace, range, speed, root mean squared (RMS), and confidence ellipse were computed.Results: ICCs revealed excellent correlations for Length-TOT, Length-AP and Speed-AP, good correlation for Length-ML, Speed-ML, Confidence Ellipse, Range-AP and RMS-AP, and moderate correlation for range-ML and RMS-ML. Bland-Altman plot showed greater estimation for Length-TOT, Length-AP, Speed-AP, confidence ellipse and RMS-AP using optoelectronic system, and for Length-ML, Range-AP, Range-ML, Speed-ML, RMS-ML using IMU. Both systems revealed the same differences among tasks.Conclusion: The excellent to good agreement of IMU for length of trace and speed parameters and its user-friendly application suggest its potential implementations in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early studies, northern vegetation response to global warming recognised both increases in biomass/cover and shrinking of species' distributional ranges. Subsequent field measurements focussed on vegetation cover and biomass increases ("greening"), and more recently decreases ("browning"). However, satellite observations show that more than 50% of arctic vegetation has not changed significantly despite rapid warming. While absence of change in remote sensing data does not necessarily mean no ecological change on the ground, the significant proportion of the Arctic that appears to be stable in the face of considerable climate change points to a greater need to understand Arctic ecosystem stability. In this paper, we performed an extensive review of the available literature to seek balances or imbalances between research focussing on "greening", "browning" and "stability/no change". We find that greening studies dominate the literature though two relatively small areas of the Arctic are disproportionately represented for this main change process. Critically, there are too few studies anywhere investigating stability. We highlight the need to understand the mechanisms driving Arctic ecosystem stability, and the potential longer-term consequences of remaining stable in a rapidly changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However, due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition, the global numbers of species, including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees, still remain largely unknown. Here, based on global ground-sourced data, we estimate the total tree species richness at global, continental, and biome levels. Our results indicate that there are ~73,000 tree species globally, among which ~9,000 tree species are yet to be discovered. Roughly 40% of undiscovered tree species are in South America. Moreover, almost one-third of all tree species to be discovered may be rare, with very low populations and limited spatial distribution (likely in remote tropical lowlands and mountains). These findings highlight the vulnerability of global forest biodiversity to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate, which disproportionately threaten rare species and thus, global tree richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The pelvis rotates simultaneously around both hips along sagittal, frontal and transversal planes and its kinematics change in patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Consequently, it is reasonable to expect different pelvic kinematic profiles in bilateral or unilateral THA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare pelvic kinematics in patients with bilateral or unilateral THA. Methods: 40 patients undergoing bilateral (n = 20) or unilateral (n = 20) THA were evaluated for pelvic kinematics during standing and walking tasks using an optoelectronic system. Mean pelvic orientation was assessed during standing, whereas the Gait Variable Score (GVS), maximum and minimum peaks, range and values of pelvic tilt, obliquity and rotation during Heel-Strike and Toe-Off phases of gait cycle were calculated during walking. Data were collected the day before and at seven days after surgery. Results: At baseline, no between-group differences were found. At 7 days, GVS for pelvic tilt (p = 0.029) and rotation (p = 0.046) were closer to normative data in bilateral patients, who also revealed lower maximum peak of anterior tilt (p = 0.013) and lower range of pelvic tilt during gait (p = 0.031) with respect to unilateral cases. No between-group differences were found for pelvic orientation during standing at any time-point. Conclusions: Bilateral patients revealed more physiological pelvic kinematics than unilateral cases. These findings underline the advantage of patients undergoing 1-stage bilateral THA and may be helpful in selecting personalised rehabilitative approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although they have received little attention, interspecific feeding associations are a particular predation behavior in which two or more different species temporary feed simultaneously on the same food sources to obtain greater success in predation. These collaborations can be either mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic. One of the best-known examples is the seabird–cetacean associations. Prey herding is the foraging tactic most used in these associations and consists of swimming around and under prey balls to trap them in the water column. Here we reported some new evidence of a fish–bird interspecific feeding association between the European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) and the European shag, Gulosus aristotelis (Linnaeus, 1761). We analyzed this association through the photograph and video documentation provided by "citizen scientists" in the Mediterranean Sea. We collected reliable proofs of this behavior, at least, in three instances from observations made by recreational fishermen in the Kvarner bay (Croatia, North Adriatic Sea). From the photographs and videos made available, we attempted to reconstruct a predation strategy adopted by these associated species to better understand the advantage this provides during hunting. Although it is not yet clear whether this association is an opportunistic behavior of the European seabass or a mutualistic strategy used by both species to improve their catching success, this feeding association seems to increase the chances to defeat prey defense strategies. Notably, some behavioral imitation of hunting strategies may be put in place by seabasses, which often feed in association with dolphins and other birds using similar prey herding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrestrial forest carbon pool is poorly quantified, in particular in regions with low forest inventory capacity. By combining multiple satellite observations of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter around the year 2010, we generated a global, spatially explicit dataset of above-ground live biomass (AGB; dry mass) stored in forests with a spatial resolution of 1 ha. Using an extensive database of 110 897 AGB measurements from field inventory plots, we show that the spatial patterns and magnitude of AGB are well captured in our map with the exception of regional uncertainties in high-carbon-stock forests with AGB >250 Mgha-1 , where the retrieval was effectively based on a single radar observation. With a total global AGB of 522 Pg , our estimate of the terrestrial biomass pool in forests is lower than most estimates published in the literature (426–571 Pg). Nonetheless, our dataset increases knowledge on the spatial distribution of AGB compared to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and highlights the impact of a country's national inventory capacity on the accuracy of the biomass statistics reported to the FRA. We also reassessed previous remote sensing AGB maps and identified major biases compared to inventory data, up to 120 % of the inventory value in dry tropical forests, in the subtropics and temperate zone. Because of the high level of detail and the overall reliability of the AGB spatial patterns, our global dataset of AGB is likely to have significant impacts on climate, carbon, and socio-economic modelling schemes and provides a crucial baseline in future carbon stock change estimates. The dataset is available at 10.1594/PANGAEA.894711 (Santoro, 2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there are recent claims of a lack of evidence of self-consciousness in many tested species, the ability to recognize oneself in a mirror, which seems an exceedingly rare capacity in the animal kingdom, may not be the only way to check for animal self-awareness (i.e. the capacity to become the object of your own attention). A new testing approach, based on a different sensory modality (such as the sniff-test for self-recognition, STSR), recently proved to be effective with dogs. We applied this sniff test to a group of four captive grey wolves, living in male-female couples in two different enclosures at the Wolf Park in Indiana, USA. In this preliminary study, wolves showed some signs of the ability to recognize themselves through the "olfactory mirror" and exhibited some clues of mark-directed responses, particularly scent-rolling, which may shed more light on this still unclear behavior and represent a sort of olfactory equivalent to passing the original mirror test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pandemic situation requests a correct understanding of our impacts on wildlife conservation, which would also provide benefits for our species. In this commentary we revised and discussed some of the repercussions that SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may have to wildlife. We propose four actions that should be taken into account to protect and conserve wildlife in this pandemic era: wildlife "wet" markets must close; human interference with wildlife must be reduced; bats and pangolins must be conserved and not blamed; and Chinese traditional medicine must be more controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The discovery of the Mirror Neuron System has promoted the development of Action Observation Therapy (AOT) to improve motor and functional abilities in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This innovative approach involves observing video-clips showing motor contents, which may vary across the studies influencing AOT efficacy. To date, no studies have systematically summarized the effects of AOT in patients with PD on motor and functional outcomes, underlining the characteristics of visual stimuli in relation to their efficacy. Objectives: To describe the potential benefits of AOT in patients with PD and discuss the characteristics of visual stimuli used in clinical studies in relation to their efficacy. Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out using MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and PEDro, from inception until March 2020. Randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of AOT on motor and functional recovery in patients with PD were included. Two independent reviewers appraised the records for inclusion, assessed the methodological quality, and extracted the following data: number and characteristics of participants, features and posology of the treatments, outcome measures at each follow-up, and main results. Findings were aggregated into a quantitative synthesis (mean difference and 95% confidence interval) for each time point. Results: Overall, 7 studies (189 participants) with a mean PEDro score of 6.1 (range: 4–8) points were selected. Included studies revealed AOT as effective in improving walking ability and typical motor signs (i.e., freezing of gait and bradykinesia) in patients with PD. Moreover, when this approach incorporated ecological auditory stimuli, changes to functional abilities and quality of life were also induced, which persisted up to 3 months after treatment. However, included studies adopted AOT stimuli with heterogeneous posology (from a single session to 8 weeks) and characteristics of motor contents might be responsible for different motor and functional recovery (person-related and viewing perspectives, transitive or intransitive actions, healthy subjects or patients, and association or not with imitation). Conclusions: AOT leads to improvements in motor and functional abilities in patients with PD and the characteristics of visual stimuli may play a role in determining AOT effects, deserving further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrestrial forest carbon pool is poorly quantified, in particular in regions with low forest inventory capacity. By combining multiple satellite observations of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter around the year 2010, we generated a global, spatially explicit dataset of above-ground forest biomass (dry mass, AGB) with a spatial resolution of 1 ha. Using an extensive database of 110,897 AGB measurements from field inventory plots, we show that the spatial patterns and magnitude of AGB are well captured in our map with the exception of regional uncertainties in high carbon stock forests with AGB > 250 Mg ha−1 where the retrieval was effectively based on a single radar observation. With a total global AGB of 522 Pg, our estimate of the terrestrial biomass pool in forests is lower than most estimates published in literature (426-571 Pg). Nonetheless, our dataset increases knowledge on the spatial distribution of AGB compared to the global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and highlights the impact of a country's national inventory capacity on the accuracy of the biomass statistics reported to the FRA. We also reassessed previous remote sensing AGB maps, and identify major biases compared to inventory data, up to 120 % of the inventory value in dry tropical forests, in the sub-tropics and temperate zone. Because of the high level of detail and the overall reliability of the AGB spatial patterns, our global dataset of AGB is likely to have significant impacts on climate, carbon and socio-economic modelling schemes, and provides a crucial baseline in future carbon stock changes estimates. The dataset is available at: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.894711 (Santoro, 2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]