The effects of physical activity on balance and postural control in people with down syndrome

People with Down Syndrome (DS) often have impaired balance and postural control and result as less active than their peers, that can lead to reduced quality of life and movement skills. Effects of physical activity may be important in preventing falling risk and health consequences in people with DS. In this context, we conducted a literature search of original articles, published between January 2010 and January 2020, on the effects of physical activity on balance and postural control in people with DS. We found 16 articles from almost all continents, investigating the effects of different types of physical activity on static and dynamic balance and postural control. The included studies reported improvements in both static and dynamic balance with exercise programmes lasting at least 6 weeks and containing strength, aerobic and sensorimotor training. However, the most suitable type of physical activity for people with DS is not clear. In conclusion, physical activity is highly recommendable in people with DS, to improve their balance and prevent falling risk

Embodied Cognition. Body, movement and sport for didactics

Embodied Cognition (EC) is an interdisciplinary and multiperspective scientific theory whose characteristic, from a cultural and professional perspective, opens up interesting scenarios in the field of psychopedagogy. In particular, a prolific and extremely interesting area of study is now provided by the contribution of EC to the world of didactics (Caruana & Borghi, 2013). This work is part of this research horizon, investigating how the key principles of Embodied Cognition offer new opportunities to enhance differences in learning processes (Gomez Paloma & Ianes, a cura di, 2014). Starting from the analysis of the body as a scientific mediator of the learning process on a neurobiological (Rizzolatti & Sinigaglia, 2006) and neurophenomenological (Gallese, 2006) level, the study focuses on the scientific evidence (Margiotta, 2014) that EC can provide to teachers in the field of didactics. It represents a concrete springboard for delineating and validating an “EC-Based” model (Gomez Paloma & Damiani, 2015) to enhance corporeality as a cognitive system and a learning/ contextualization setting for the building of professional skills in the field of education

Review on the effects of physical activity on body composition and shape in people with down syndrome

People with Down Syndrome (DS) are often characterized by overweight or obesity and result to be less active than their peers. Both overweight/obesity and physical inactivity are considered important risk factors for health, thus augmenting mortality risk. World Health Organization recommends different training programmes for health benefits in different age ranges of general population. Effects of physical activity may be even more important in preventing health consequences in people with DS. In this context, we conducted a literature search of original articles, published between May 2010 and May 2020, on the effects of physical activity on body shape, body composition and bone quality in people with DS. We found twelve articles from all the continents, investigating the effects of different types of physical activity on body fat and lean masses, bone composition and anthropometry. In sum, the included studies reported improvements in body composition (with augmented lean mass and reduced fat mass), body size (with lower weight, waist circumference and BMI) and bone quality (in terms of bone mineral content and/or bone mineral density). In particular, body composition improves after conditioning and plyometric jumps training program, 2-wheel bicycle training, whole body vibration and swimming. Body shape is significantly improved by bicycle training, interval training and swimming. Finally, bone quality shows positive results after conditioning and plyometric jumps training program, whole body vibration and weight bearing exercise. Although different types of physical activity are investigated in people with DS, however the best training programme for this population is not clear. So future studies may focus on the comparison or combination of different types of physical activity to assess which one could maximize benefits

Superconductivity in Sr2RuO4-Sr3Ru2O7 eutectic crystals

Superconducting behavior has been observed in the Sr2RuO4-Sr3Ru2O7 eutectic system as grown by the flux-feeding floating zone technique. A supercurrent flows across a single interface between Sr2RuO4 and Sr3Ru2O7 areas at distances that are far beyond those expected in a conventional proximity scenario. The current-voltage characteristics within the Sr3Ru2O7 macrodomain, as extracted from the eutectic, exhibit signatures of superconductivity in the bilayered ruthenate. Detailed microstructural, morphological and compositional analyses address issues on the concentration and the size of Sr2RuO4 inclusions within the Sr3Ru2O7 matrix. We speculate on the possibility of inhomogeneous superconductivity in the eutectic Sr3Ru2O7 and exotic pairing induced by the Sr2RuO4 inclusions.Comment: Pages 4, figures 3, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Suspended InAs nanowire Josephson junctions assembled via dielectrophoresis

We present a novel technique for the realization of suspended Josephson junctions based on InAs semiconductor nanowires. The devices are assembled using a technique of drop-casting guided by dielectrophoresis, which allows one to finely align the nanostructures on top of the electrodes. The proposed architecture removes the interaction between the nanowire and the substrate which is known to influence disorder and the orientation of the Rashba vector. The relevance of this approach in view of the implementation of hybrid Josephson junctions based on semiconducting nanowires coupled with high-temperature superconductors is discussed

Influence of Topological Edge States on the Properties of Al/Bi2Se3/Al Hybrid Josephson Devices

In superconductor-topological insulator-superconductor hybrid junctions, the barrier edge states are expected to be protected against backscattering, to generate unconventional proximity effects, and, possibly, to signal the presence of Majorana fermions. The standards of proximity modes for these types of structures have to be settled for a neat identification of possible new entities. Through a systematic and complete set of measurements of the Josephson properties we find evidence of ballistic transport in coplanar Al-Bi2Se3-Al junctions that we attribute to a coherent transport through the topological edge state. The shunting effect of the bulk only influences the normal transport. This behavior, which can be considered to some extent universal, is fairly independent of the specific features of superconducting electrodes. A comparative study of Shubnikov - de Haas oscillations and Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy gave an experimental signature compatible with a two dimensional electron transport channel with a Dirac dispersion relation. A reduction of the size of the Bi2Se3 flakes to the nanoscale is an unavoidable step to drive Josephson junctions in the proper regime to detect possible distinctive features of Majorana fermions.Comment: 11 pages, 14 figure

Macroscopic quantum tunnelling in spin filter ferromagnetic Josephson junctions.

The interfacial coupling of two materials with different ordered phases, such as a superconductor (S) and a ferromagnet (F), is driving new fundamental physics and innovative applications. For example, the creation of spin-filter Josephson junctions and the demonstration of triplet supercurrents have suggested the potential of a dissipationless version of spintronics based on unconventional superconductivity. Here we demonstrate evidence for active quantum applications of S-F-S junctions, through the observation of macroscopic quantum tunnelling in Josephson junctions with GdN ferromagnetic insulator barriers. We show a clear transition from thermal to quantum regime at a crossover temperature of about 100 mK at zero magnetic field in junctions, which present clear signatures of unconventional superconductivity. Following previous demonstration of passive S-F-S phase shifters in a phase qubit, our result paves the way to the active use of spin filter Josephson systems in quantum hybrid circuits.We acknowledge financial support from COST Action MP1201 [NanoSC COST], by Progetto FIRB HybridNanoDev RBFR1236VV001 and by Regione Campania through POR Campania FSE 2007/2013, progetto MASTRI CUP B25B09000010007.This is the final version. It was first published by NPG at http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/150609/ncomms8376/full/ncomms8376.html#abstract

Dissipation in ultra-thin current-carrying superconducting bridges; evidence for quantum tunneling of Pearl vortices

We have made current-voltage (IV) measurements of artificially layered high-$T_c$ thin-film bridges. Scanning SQUID microscopy of these films provides values for the Pearl lengths $\Lambda$ that exceed the bridge width, and shows that the current distributions are uniform across the bridges. At high temperatures and high currents the voltages follow the power law $V \propto I^n$, with $n=\Phi_0^2/8\pi^2\Lambda k_B T+1$, and at high temperatures and low-currents the resistance is exponential in temperature, in good agreement with the predictions for thermally activated vortex motion. At low temperatures, the IV's are better fit by $\ln V$ linear in $I^{-2}$. This is expected if the low temperature dissipation is dominated by quantum tunneling of Pearl vortices.Comment: 5 pages, 7 fig

Maca (Lepidium meyenii): In Vitro Evaluation of Rumen Fermentation and Oxidative Stress

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of three maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) ecotypes (yellow, black, and red) and their in vitro fermentation characteristics and antioxidant effects on cow rumen liquor. The three ecotypes were added to a total mixed ratio (TMR) in different doses (0, 150, and 300 mg/g) and incubated in vitro under anaerobic conditions for 120 h. Methane production was recorded after 24 h of incubation. Antioxidant status and degree of lipid peroxidation were also evaluated after 24 and 120 h of incubation with the fermentation liquor. An analysis of the chemical composition showed high concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates in all maca ecotypes, particularly in the yellow ecotypes. Moreover, despite an increase in gas production, it seems that the TMR supplemented with each maca ecotype, particularly at the highest dose, increases the amount of volatile fatty acids and reduces methane production. Finally, the addition of maca can induce an antioxidant effect. Our findings suggest that the three ecotypes of maca are rich in non-structural carbohydrates which affect the in vitro fermentation kinetics and reduce methane production