CAN PROPRIOCEPTION BE IMPROVED BY EXERCISE?

The study examined if regular exercise with high demand in postural control and cyclic exercise could improve proprioception of the foot and ankle complex. A total of 38 young health people with different exercise habits for more than five years formed three groups: the ice hockey, running, and sedentary groups. Kinesthesia of the foot and ankle complex was measured in plantarflexion (PF), dorsiflexion (DF), inversion (IV) and eversion (EV) at 0.4°/s passive rotation velocity using a custom-made device. The results showed that the hockey group had significantly better kinesthesia in PF/DF, IV/EV than did the running and sedentary groups. The running group did not show better kinesthesia compared with the sedentary group. It is concluded that propiorception of foot and ankle complex can be improved by longterm exercise that has high demand for postural stability, such as ice hocke

Maximal violation of Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality for two qutrits

Bell-Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality (in terms of correlation functions) of two qutrits is studied in detail by employing tritter measurements. A uniform formula for the maximum value of this inequality for tritter measurements is obtained. Based on this formula, we show that non-maximally entangled states violate the Bell-CHSH inequality more strongly than the maximally entangled one. This result is consistent with what was obtained by Ac{\'{i}}n {\it et al} [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 65}, 052325 (2002)] using the Bell-Clauser-Horne inequality (in terms of probabilities).Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Visualizing topological edge states of single and double bilayer Bi supported on multibilayer Bi(111) films

Freestanding single-bilayer Bi(111) is a two-dimensional topological insulator with edge states propagating along its perimeter. Given the interlayer coupling experimentally, the topological nature of Bi(111) thin films and the impact of the supporting substrate on the topmost Bi bilayer are still under debate. Here, combined with scanning tunneling microscopy and first-principles calculations, we systematically study the electronic properties of Bi(111) thin films grown on a NbSe2 substrate. Two types of non-magnetic edge structures, i.e., a conventional zigzag edge and a 2x1 reconstructed edge, coexist alternately at the boundaries of single bilayer islands, the topological edge states of which exhibit remarkably different energy and spatial distributions. Prominent edge states are persistently visualized at the edges of both single and double bilayer Bi islands, regardless of the underlying thickness of Bi(111) thin films. We provide an explanation for the topological origin of the observed edge states that is verified with first-principles calculations. Our paper clarifies the long-standing controversy regarding the topology of Bi(111) thin films and reveals the tunability of topological edge states via edge modifications.Comment: 36 pages, 10 figure

THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF HEEL HEIGHT AND LOAD CARRIAGE ON POSTURE DURING GAIT: A PILOT STUDY

INTRODUCTION: It is very common for women to walk in high-heeled shoes and carry a bag at the same time. These disturbances are combined and reduce stability during gait. Studies on gait pattern with high-heeled shoes report decrease in trunk flexion angle and increase in plantarflexion angle. High-heeled shoes shift the center of gravity of the subject anteriorly resulting in an unstable gait pattern (Gefen, 2002). Because feet provide a balance foundation for the body, unstable elevation of heel with high-heeled shoes will cause difficulty in balance. Previous studies with side load carriage done by Crosbie et al. (1994) also supported the unstable gait pattern and changes in posture due to the added load on one side. The effect of either heel height or load carriage would cause a compensatory postural adjustment differently, however, the combined effect on posture is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the combined effect of heel height and load carriage on posture during gait