Efficacy of Overground Robotic Gait Training on Balance in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Strokes often lead to a deficit in motor control that contributes to a reduced balance function. Impairments in the balance function severely limit the activities of daily living (ADL) in stroke survivors. The present systematic review and meta-analysis primarily aims to explore the efficacy of overground robot-assisted gait training (o-RAGT) on balance recovery in individuals with stroke. In addition, the efficacy on ADL is also investigated. This systematic review identified nine articles investigating the effects of o-RAGT on balance, four of which also assessed ADL. The results of the meta-analysis suggest that o-RAGT does not increase balance and ADL outcomes more than conventional therapy in individuals after stroke. The data should not be overestimated due to the low number of studies included in the meta-analysis and the wide confidence intervals. Subgroup analyses to investigate the influence of participant’s characteristics and training dosage were not performed due to lack of data availability. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the efficacy of o-RAGT on balance in individuals with stroke

Stratigrafia ed assetto geometrico dell’Unità del Sannio nel settore settentrionale dei monti del Matese

New stratigraphic and biostratigraphic data arising from the realization of the Sheet No. 405 "Campobasso" of the new Geological map of Italy (1:50.000 scale - CARG Project) allowed, for the first time in this area, to stratigraphically and cartographically define all the ranges composing the basinal Sannio Unit Auct.. Structural analysis and the chronostratigraphic redefinition of siliciclastic deposits covering the Sannio Unit and the carbonate platform successions of the Matese- Frosolone Units, indicate two main evolutionary stages in the Miocene- Pliocene structuring of this portion of the Southern Apennines. In the first stage, starting before Serravallian times, E-verging contraction affected exclusively the basinal units together with their siliciclastic cover. During the second stage, beginning after early Messinian times, NE-verging compression involved both the basinal Sannio Unit and the Matese-Frosolone Units.UnpublishedISPRA - Roma, Italy2.2. Laboratorio di paleomagnetismorestricte

Modeling the flexural evolution of the Amiran and Mesopotamian foreland basins of NW Zagros (Iran-Iraq)

©2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. The evolution of the Amiran and Mesopotamian flexural basins of the Zagros belt is approached by coupled 2-D forward modeling of orogenic wedge formation, lithospheric flexural isostasy, and stream power erosion/transport/sedimentation. Thrust geometries and sequence of emplacement derived from geometric and kinematic models presented here are the inputs to our evolutionary model, constrained by basin geometry, sediment volume, and topography. Modeling results confirm that the Zagros flexural basins evolution is consistent with two stages of deformation: (1) the obduction stage involving the Kermanshah accretionary complex and a basement unit and (2) the collision stage, emplacing the Gaveh Rud and Sanandaj-Sirjan domains in the hinterland and forming a basement duplex in the outer part. Results provide quantitative insights into processes involved in mountain and basin building. The lithospheric equivalent elastic thickness (Te) changed from 20 km during the Amiran stage (~90-50 Ma) to 55 km during the Mesopotamian subsidence stage (last 20 Myr). The Amiran basin results from flexure of the Arabian plate below the load of the Kermanshah cover and basement thrust sheets. During this stage, material eroded in the inner parts was enough to fill the flexural trough. The Mesopotamian basin formed in front of the outermost basement units flexing the Arabian plate. During this latter stage, material eroded from the orogenic wedge was not enough to fill the Mesopotamian basin. An additional longitudinal sediment supply of up to 200 m/Myr is required to fill the flexural basin.This research was carried out with the aid of grants by CSIC-FSE 2007–2013 JAE-Doc postdoctoral research contract (E.S.) and with funding from the Spanish Research Agency through project Tecla (CGL2011-26670).Peer Reviewe

Integrated stratigraphy of Middle-Late Miocene synorogenic deposits of the Eastern Southern Apennine Chain: The San Bartolomeo Flysch

The present paper deals with the stratigraphic and biostratigraphic study of the middle-late Miocene thrust-top basin deposits of the San Bartolomeo Flysch, exposed north of Matese mountains and analysed during the geological survey of the sheet N° 405 Campobasso of the new Geological Map of Italy, 1:50.000 scale. The integrated study of calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifera, based on the semi-quantitative distribution range of index species, revealed the presence of age-diagnostic assemblages which are comparable with those of different middle-late Miocene deep-marine sedimentary settings of the Mediterranean Basin. The biostratigraphic dataset suggests an early Serravallian – early middle Tortonian age. In terms of calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, the studied succession falls between the Last Occurrences of Sphenolithus heteromorphus and the First Occurrence of Discoaster bellus gr., corresponding to the MNN6 – MNN8 zone interval. In terms of planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy the studied sediments fall between the Last Occurrence of Globorotalia peripheroronda and the First Regular Occurrence of Neogloboquadrina acostaensis, corresponding to the MM6 p.p. - MMi10 p.p. zone interval. This study documents the applicability of the recent Mediterranean middle –late Miocene biozonations for the biostratigraphic study of siliciclastic synorogenic sediments, and challenges the most recent studies that dated the San Bartolomeo Flysch to the late Tortonian- early Messinian

INTEGRATED STRATIGRAPHY OF MIDDLE-LATE MIOCENE SYNOROGENIC DEPOSITS OF THE EASTERN SOUTHERN APENNINE CHAIN: THE SAN BARTOLOMEO FLYSCH

The present paper deals with the stratigraphic and biostratigraphic study of the middle-late Miocene thrust-top basin deposits of the San Bartolomeo Flysch, exposed north of Matese mountains and analysed during the geological survey of the sheet No 405 Campobasso of the new Geological Map of Italy, 1:50.000 scale. The integrated study of calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifera, based on the semi-quantitative distribution range of index species, revealed the presence of age-diagnostic assemblages which are comparable with those of different middle-late Miocene deep-marine sedimentary settings of the Mediterranean Basin. The biostratigraphic dataset suggests an early Serravallian - early middle Tortonian age. In terms of calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, the studied succession falls between the Last Occurrences of Sphenolithus heteromorphus and the First Occurrence of Discoaster bellus gr., corresponding to the MNN6 - MNN8 zone interval. In terms of planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy the studied sediments fall between the Last Occurrence of Globorotalia peripheroronda and the First Regular Occurrence of Neogloboquadrina acostaensis, corresponding to the MM6 p.p -. MMi10 p.p. zone interval. This study documents the applicability of the recent Mediterranean middle late Miocene biozonations for the biostratigraphic study of siliciclastic synorogenic sediments, and challenges the most recent studies that dated the San Bartolomeo Flysch to the late Tortonian-early Messinian.Peer Reviewe

Micropaleontological study on the Miocene calcareous turbidite deposits of Faeto and Tufillo formations (eastern sector of the Southern Apennine chain)

A biostratigraphic study was carried out on four sections of the Miocene Tufillo and Faeto formations (Southern Apennines). The sediments analysed were referred to the late Burdigalian - early Tortonian on the basis of planktonic foraminifers (MMi2b Sub-zone through the MMi8 Zone) and calcareous nannofossils (MNN3b Zone through the MNN7 Zone). Almost the majority of the bioevents of the recently published Miocene biozonal schemes of Mediterranean area were identified. Particularly, the marked changes in the abundance pattern of Paragloborotalia siakensis resulted very useful to correlate the sediments. A new acme abundance of the letter species has been recorded in the uppermost part of the Burdigalian planktonic foraminiferal EMMi2b Subzone. Moreover, the integrated calcareous plankton biostratigraphy revealed that the First Common Occurrence (FCO) of Sphenolithus heteromorphus occurs before the Last Occurrence (LO) of Catapsidrax dissimilis, in the upper part of Burdigalian record. This study indicates that the lower Langhian portion of the Tufillo Formation is characterized by arkose sandstones which pass upwards into calcarenites and/or calcirudites and marly deposits. Field data suggest that these sandstones directly overly the "Numidian Sandstones". The Faeto Formation starts with calcarenites and calcareous marls, in the calcareous nannofossil MNN3b Zone (Burdigalian), and lies on the "Numidian Standstones" as well. High-resolution sampling and biostratigraphy reveal that the deposition of the "Numidian Sandstones" ends in the late Burdigalian stage, just below the FCO of S.heteromorphus (MNN3b Zone) and the LO of C.dissimilis (MMi2b Subzone).Published269-2862.2. Laboratorio di paleomagnetismoJCR Journalreserve