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The three-satellite SWARM constellation is a mission by the ESA Earth Observation directorate to provide very high-quality measurements of theEarth's magnetic field. Also the plasma environment in the topside ionosphere is monitored with Langmuir Probes which together with thermal ion imagers, TIIs, comprise the EFI (electric field instrument). Over ten years the LPs have delivered with near 100 % coverage estimates of ion and electron densities, and electron temperature in the global ionosphere. We present summaries of selected results and scientific achievements, point out some caveats of the data and give an outline of planned enhancements of the LP data products.

Nowadays, generalized anxiety disorders (GAD) appear to be highly prevalent and belong to the most common psychiatric conditions. It is defined as a great excess of worry and less control to manage the worries. Moreover, from the neuroscience perspective, increased anxiety is mainly correlated with dysfunction in several brain networks. This includes the frontoparietal network, which showed a reduction of top-down (endogenous) executive functions (EF) processing in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and increased bottom-up (exogenous) attention in the parietal cortex. The PFC contributes to a great variety of EF, which are responsible for fundamental skills to manage daily life activities, such as decision-making, controlling attention, and planning. Noteworthy, those functions which are essential cognitive resources, decrease disproportional during the aging process. According to the attentional control theory, anxiety absorbs the resources which would be needed for attentional control, limiting the overall cognitive resources. This results in performance deficits, especially in executive demanded tasks, such as dual-task exercises Hence, few studies have suggested dual-task training as a new approach to stimulate EFs, and further, normalize the activity in the PFC. Dual tasks are highly demanding assignments where individuals must perform two integrated tasks simultaneously, such as a physical combined with a cognitive task. However, the role of physical-cognitive dual-task training to improve cognitive performance is still not well researched yet, especially in people with anxiety and depression. Additionally, considering the psychological perspective, “response-related feedback” (RRF) is one of the various proven mental techniques to enhance performance. With respect to the so-called “constrained action hypothesis”, RRF allows external focus during task execution and supports individuals to better performance, as it directs the person to the effect of the movement instead of the movement itself. Moreover, the external focus leads to an automatic control process avoiding interferences with the natural movement and improving performance stimulated learning. However, at present, there is no evidence about the positive effects of dual-task exercise for older people with anxiety disorder, as well as about the possible effect of RRF on GADs.

In aging societies, physical activity may benefit functional fitness influencing the health of older people. The aim of this study was to explore the interrelation between age and perception of health and quality of life, and the mediating effects of functional fitness in older individuals. One hundred and sixty-six late middle-aged (55–64 years, young-old (65–74 years), and old (75–84 years) adults, divided into senior athletes (n = 44), physically active (n = 59), and sedentary individuals (n = 63) were evaluated for functional fitness (flexibility, strength, interlimb coordination, endurance) and physical (Physical Component Summary-PCS) and mental (Mental Component Summary-MCS) health and quality of life perception. Multiple mediation analyses were applied to assess the relationship between age and PCS and MCS indices and the role of functional fitness-related mediators. For MCS only, the mediation analysis showed a positive total and direct effect of age and a negative total indirect effect through mediators. No effects emerged for PCS. Despite a decline in their functional fitness, older individuals were able to maintain a mental health perception, also demonstrating how beneficial effects of physically active lifestyle on functional fitness can positively impact the cognitive-emotional dimension of mental health with advancing age.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 4-month judo training (1 hr session, biweekly) on physical and mental health of older adults (69.7 ± 4.2 years). Participants (N = 30) were assigned to a judo novice practitioners group (n = 16) or a control group (n = 14), which did not receive any training. Before and after the program, they underwent anthropometric (body mass index and waist and hip circumferences); functional fitness (upper and lower body flexibility and strength, coordination); and psychological assessments (perceived physical and mental health, body image, and fear of falling). The judo group showed reductions of waist circumference (Δ = −1%, d = 0.2) and improvements for lower and upper body flexibility (Δ = +69%, d = 0.4 and Δ = +126%, d = 0.5, respectively) and strength (Δ = +12%, d = 0.6 and Δ = +31%, d = 1.6, respectively). The control group showed a decline in lower body strength (Δ = −12%, d = 0.8). Psychological variables did not reveal statistically significant effects. Judo seems beneficial for improving anthropometric and functional fitness variables, relevant aspects of successful aging.

Neuromotor exercise, which stimulates motor fitness components (balance, agility, coordination), has been less investigated than other forms of exercise such as resistance or aerobic training to counteract the age-related impairment in mobility. The aim of the study was to verify whether neuromotor exercise was as effective as resistance training in improving mobility and related fitness components in healthy older women. Thirty-five women (mean age 69.6 ± 3.2 years) were assigned to a neuromotor (NMT) or a progressive resistance training (PRT) group, both exercising 1 h, twice weekly for 12 weeks. The NMT group exercised static and dynamic balance, agility, speed, reaction time and coordination, while the PRT performed prevalently machine based, strengthening exercises. All participants were tested before and after the intervention for walking speed under different conditions, chair rise time, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and power. A 2 × 2 MANOVA and subsequent ANOVAs were performed to ascertain the effects of the two trainings. Similar improvements were observed for mobility (P = 0.000, $$\eta_{p}^{2}=0.73$$ ) and for fitness (P = 0.000, $$\eta_{p}^{2}=0.96$$ ) in both groups. The present results suggest that in healthy older women improvements in mobility may be obtained through both strength and neuromotor exercise. The present results contribute to further our knowledge on the effects of neuromotor exercise for older people and add relevant information on exercise interventions targeting mobility in the elderly.

BACKGROUND Loss of balance control is commonly experienced by older individuals. Despite the large amount of research on the effects of exercise on balance the optimal exercise regime is yet to be identified. Most studies have concentrated on strength training due to associations between muscle weakness, balance disfunction and fall risk. The effects of gross-motor skill exercise for balance and postural control have been less investigated. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of strength training (STT) and gross-motor skill exercise (GMT) on static postural control, dynamic functional balance and strength in healthy older individuals. METHODS Thirty-eight individuals (65-85 years) participated to GMT or STT for 12 weeks, twice weekly. They were tested pre- and post-training for postural control (Romberg and Tandem positions on a force platform), dynamic functional balance (maximal walking speed in balance-challenging conditions), maximal isometric handgrip strength, maximal knee flexor and extensor strength. RESULTS Improvements were observed in static postural balance (tandem position, P

Background Falls prevention is a critical goal of training program for older individuals. This study explored the effects of a judo program on gait performance in older adults. Methods Pre- and post-intervention (15 weeks, 1-hr session, twice a week) step length (cm), gait cycle time (s), speed (m·s-1) and cadence (step·min-1) mean values (AVG) and coefficients of variation (CV) were assessed in a judo (JG: N.=16 novice judoka; age=69.3±3.9 years) and a control (CG: N.=14 healthy older adults; age=70.1±4.5 years) group. Two 3 (motor complexity: flat, corridor, hurdling) ×2 (group: JG, CG) ×2 (time: pre, post) MANOVAs with repeated measures were applied to ascertain differences in gait parameters. Results A significant Time×Motor Complexity×Group interaction was found for AVG and CV. For AVG, JG showed improvements for flat and hurdling conditions in step length (flat: ∆=+2.6%, d=0.4; hurdling: ∆=+3.2%, d=0.4), gait cycle (flat: ∆=-4.3%, d=0.4; hurdling: ∆=-4.0%, d=0.5), speed (flat: ∆=+6.6%, d=0.7; hurdling: ∆=+6.7%, d=0.6) and cadence (flat: ∆=4.3%, d=0.4; hurdling: ∆=3.9%, d=0.5). For CV, JG improved step length for flat (∆=-20.9%, d=0.6) and hurdling (∆=-16.3%, d=0.8) conditions, whereas CG showed a deterioration in the step length for the corridor condition (∆=+22.3%, d=0.7). Conclusions The findings demonstrated the effectiveness of an adapted judo program for improving gait performance in older individuals, suggesting a potential protective effect for fall risk.

The Space WEeatherR TOr vergata university (SWERTO) service is an operational Space Weather service based on multi-instrument data from space-based (PAMELA, ALTEA) and ground-based (IBIS, MOTHII) instruments. The service (spaceweather.roma2.infn.it) is located at the Physics Department of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy (UTOV) and will allow registered users to access scientific data from instrumentation available to UTOV researchers through national and international collaborations. It will provide intuitive software for the selection and visualization of such data and results from prototype forecasting codes for flare probability and Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) fluxes. The service is designed to promote access to technical and scientific information by the regional industries which employ technologies vulnerable to Space Weather effects. Basically, SWERTO aims to: i) design and construct a data-base with particle fluxes recorded by space missions and spectro-polarimetric measurements of the solar photosphere; ii) allow an Open Access to the data-base and to prototype forecasts to regional industries involved and exposed to Space Weather effects; iii) implement a tutorial and a FAQ section to help decision makers to became aware of and evaluate the risks from Space Weather events; iv) outreach and customer products. SWERTO has been financed by the Regione Lazio FILAS-RU-2014-1028 grant.

There is a paucity of reliability data for walking speed tests in complex conditions to assess functioning in healthy older individuals. To evaluate the absolute intra- and intertest reliability of walking speed performed in basic and complex conditions in healthy older individuals. Fifty-two men and women of mean age 69.7 ± 3.2 years were tested for habitual and maximal walking speed. Maximal speed was also assessed under different conditions, including walking on a path of reduced width; picking up objects; stepping over hurdles; stepping over hurdles wearing sunglasses and finally, carrying a box. Two testing sessions (separated by 4 weeks) of two trials each were administered. Reliability was analysed by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), minimal detectable change (MDC) and Bland–Altman plots with limits of agreement (LOA). Intrasession ICCs ranged from good to excellent (0.89–0.95) except for picking up objects (0.44). Intersession ICCs were moderate to good (0.60–0.78) and %MDCs were acceptable (14–24%). Bland–Altman plots suggested a good agreement between the two testing sessions at group level (mean differences from – 0.02 to − 0.11 m/s), and limited agreement between testing sessions at individual level (upper LOA from 0.13 to 0.37 m/s and lower LOA from − 0.29 to − 0.49 m/s). Complex walking speed tests are generally reliable measures displaying good and moderate intra- and inter-session reliability. Such tests seem a more suitable functional assessment tool for heathy older subjects compared with simple walking. Some learning effect may be present and further reliability studies are needed.

There are strong scientific cases and practical reasons for building ground-based solar synoptic telescopes. Some issues, like the study of solar dynamics and the forecasting of solar flares, benefit from the 3D reconstruction of the Sun’s atmosphere and magnetic field. Others, like the monitoring and prediction of space weather, require full disk observations, at the proper sampling rate, combining H-alpha images and Doppler velocity and magnetic field. The synoptic telescopes based on Magneto Optical Filters (MOF) using different lines are capable of measuring the line-of-sight Doppler velocity and magnetic field over the full solar disk at different ranges of height in the Sun’s photosphere and low chromosphere. Instruments like the MOTH (Magneto-Optical filters at Two Heights), using a dual-channel based on MOFs operating at 589.0 nm (Na D2line) and 769.9 nm (K D1line), the VAMOS instrument (Velocity And Magnetic Observations of the Sun), operating at 769.9 nm (K D1 line), and the future TSST (Tor Vergata Synoptic Solar Telescope), using a dual-channel telescope operating at 656.28 nm (H-alpha line) and at 769.9 nm (K D1 line), allow to face both aspects, the scientific and the operative related to Space Weather applications. The MOTH, VAMOS and TSST data enable a wide variety of studies of the Sun, from seismic probing of the solar interior (sound speed, rotation, details of the tachocline, sub-surface structure of active regions), to the dynamics and magnetic evolution of the lower part of the solar atmosphere (heating of the solar atmosphere, identification of the signatures of solar eruptive events, atmospheric gravity waves, etc.), to the 3D reconstruction of the solar atmosphere and flare locations. However, the use of MOF filters requires special care in calibrating the data for scientific or operational use. This work presents a systematic pipeline that derives from the decennial use of MOF’s technology. More in detail, the pipeline is based on data reduction procedures tested and validated on MOTH data acquired at Mees Solar Observatory of the University of Hawaii Haleakala Observatories and at South Pole Solar Observatory (SPSO), at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, during Antarctica Summer Campaign 2016/17.

The relationship between aging and perception of health and quality of life is complex and its mediation mechanisms need to be further explored. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effects of total energy expenditure and intake, body mass, and body image dissatisfaction on the relationship between age and perception of health and quality of life. Forty-two senior athletes, 55 physically active, and 61 sedentary individuals (aged 55&ndash, 84 years) were evaluated for total energy expenditure (EE), energy intake (EI), body mass index (BMI), absolute Body Dissatisfaction Index (BDIabx), and physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health and quality of life perception. Multiple mediation analyses were applied to assess the relationship between age and PCS and MCS indices, through the mediators EE, EI, BMI, and BDIabx. For MCS, but not for PSC, the mediation analysis showed: (a) a direct effect of age, (b) a mediation path through EE, EI, BMI, and BDIabx, and (c) a positive total effect. The combination of positive and negative mediating effects influencing the mental health perception underlined that with advancing age, the maintenance of high levels of energy expenditure through physical activity could positively impact body image satisfaction and, in turn, mental health.

This cross-sectional study investigated the interactive dual-task (DT) effects of executive function demands and environmental constraints on older adults&rsquo, walking and the moderating role of habitual physical activity (PA). Locomotor performance under different environmental constraints (flat versus obstructed walking) and cognitive performance with different executive function involvement (backward counting versus random number generation) were assessed under single-task (ST) and DT conditions in 135 participants (mean age 68.1 &plusmn, 8.4). The weekly number of daily steps was measured. Reciprocal DT effects of walking on cognitive performance and of the cognitive task on gait performance were computed and submitted to analyses of covariance with age, PA level, and cognitive functioning as covariates, followed by linear regressions with PA level as predictor. Cognitive task demands and environmental constraints individually and jointly affected gait variability (p = 0.033, &eta, p2 = 0.08) and executive function performance (p = 0.009, &eta, p2 = 0.09). Physical activity level predicted a low but significant percentage of variance of DT effects on gait only in flat walking (R2 = 0.04, p = 0.027). Results suggest that older individuals may adopt variable task prioritization in dual tasking depending on the type of executive function involvement and the environmental constraints on walking. Their DT ability was slightly affected by habitual PA.

The aim of the Ionosphere Prediction Service (IPS) project is to design and develop a prototype platform to translate the prediction and forecast of the ionosphere effects into a service customized for specific GNSS user communities. The project team is composed by Telespazio (coordinator), Nottingham Scientific Ltd, Telespazio Vega Deutschland, the University of Nottingham, the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and the Italian Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). The IPS development is conceived of two concurrent activities: prototype service design and development & research activity that will run along the whole project. Service design and development is conceived into four phases: user requirements collection, architecture specification, implementation and validation of the prototype. A sub-activity analyses also the integration feasibility in the Galileo Service center, located in Madrid. The research activity is the scientific backbone of IPS that will provide the models and algorithms for the forecasting products.

Cognitive and mobility functions are involved in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The present cross-sectional study aimed at investigating what facets of efficient cognition and functional mobility interactively contribute to mental and physical HRQoL. Fifty-six healthy older individuals (aged 65-75 years) were evaluated for mental and physical HRQoL, core cognitive executive functions (inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility), and functional mobility (walking) under single and dual task conditions. Multiple regression analyses were run to verify which core executive functions predicted mental and physical HRQoL and whether the ability to perform complex (dual) walking tasks moderated such association. Inhibitory efficiency and the ability to perform physical-mental dual tasks interactively predicted mental HRQoL, whereas cognitive flexibility and the ability to perform physical dual tasks interactively predicted physical HRQoL. Different core executive functions seem relevant for mental and physical HRQoL. Executive function efficiency seems to translate into HRQoL perception when coupled with tangible experience of the ability to walk under dual task conditions that mirror everyday life demands. Implications of these results for supporting the perception of mental and physical quality of life at advanced age are discussed, suggesting the usefulness of multicomponent interventions and environments conducive to walking that jointly aid successful cognitive aging and functional mobility.

The forecast of the time of arrival of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) to Earth is of critical importance for our high−technology society and for the Earth’s upper atmosphere status and LEO satellites. We realized a procedure based on the Drag−Based Model which uses probability distributions, rather than exact values, as input parameters, and allows the evaluation of the uncertainty on the forecast. We tested this approach using a set of CMEs whose transit times are known, obtaining extremely promising results. We realized a real−time implementation of this algorithm which ingests the outputs of automated CME tracking algorithms as inputs to provide early warning for those CME approaching Earth. We present the results of this real−time fast warning procedure for the case of the 2018 February 12 th CME.

The forecast of the time of arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) to Earth is of critical importance for our high-technology society and for any future manned exploration of the Solar System. As critical as the forecast accuracy is the knowledge of its precision, i.e. the error associated to the estimate. We propose a statistical approach for the computation of the time of arrival using the drag-based model by introducing the probability distributions, rather than exact values, as input parameters, thus allowing the evaluation of the uncertainty on the forecast. We test this approach using a set of CMEs whose transit times are known, and obtain extremely promising results: the average value of the absolute differences between measure and forecast is 9.1h, and half of these residuals are within the estimated errors. These results suggest that this approach deserves further investigation. We are working to realize a real-time implementation which ingests the outputs of automated CME tracking algorithms as inputs to create a database of events useful for a further validation of the approach., 18 pages, 4 figures

Recent evidence suggests that fitness and sport expertise jointly benefit cognition and that expertise in cognitively demanding strategic sports enhances both domain-specific cognition and domain-general cognitive function, the executive. However, research focusing on whether physical and motor fitness and sport skill are independent determinants of executive function efficiency, or interact with each other is still lacking. The present study investigated this issue in adolescents. Four hundred and eleven boys and girls aged 12 to 15 years were recruited from Italian schools. They were tested for 1) physical fitness (cardiovascular fitness and muscle power); 2) motor control and perceptual-motor adaptation ability (kinaesthetic discrimination and response orientation ability); 3) core executive functions (inhibition and working memory updating); 4) game skills in team sport (decision making and support). While working memory updating was predicted only by physical fitness, inhibition was predicted by game skill, physical fitness and response orientation ability, and by the interaction of these latter ones. Fitness level significantly moderated the prediction accrued by response orientation ability, with inhibition predicted only in the presence of higher physical fitness. The present findings support the view that there are other pathways through which sport practice influences executive function beside the well-known physical fitness/executive function relationship. Alternatives include those linking executive function to the ability to perform coordinated movements in response to environmental cues and to the ability to perform cognitively challenging, strategic actions as needed in sport game situations. Also, the findings highlight that different executive functions are differently linked to physical fitness, motor fitness and sport proficiency.

Age-related reductions in strength and power are considered to negatively impact balance control, but the existence of a direct association is still an issue of debate. This is possibly due to the fact that balance assessment is complex, reflects different underlying physiologic mechanisms and involves quantitative measurements of postural sway or timing of performance during balance tasks. The present study evaluated the moderator effect of static postural control on the association of power and strength with dynamic balance tasks. Fifty-seven healthy 65–75 year old individuals performed tests of dynamic functional balance (walking speed under different conditions) and of strength, power and static postural control. Dynamic balance performance (walking speed) was associated with lower limb strength and power, as well as postural control under conditions requiring postural adjustments (narrow surface walking r 2 = 0.31, p

Statement of problem Growing evidence testifies that different types of physical activity (PA) interventions promote cognitive development, but the specific impact of the cognitive demands inherent in PA still remains underconsidered. This study investigated whether (1) increasing the cognitive demands of PA positively impacts children's executive function and (2) this ‘enrichment’ also matches the ability/skill level of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Methods Two hundred and fifty children aged 5–10 years participated in different physical education interventions, lasting six months, with or without special focus on cognitively demanding PA. Before and after the intervention, children's executive function was tested with the attention and planning subscales of the Cognitive Assessment System and their motor developmental level classified as typical, borderline, or DCD according to their performance evaluated by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Results Among indices of executive function, those of Attention showed a differential effect of PA type as a function of children's motor developmental level: typically developing children gained greatest attentional benefit from PA with additional cognitive demands, while children with coordinative problems/impairment from the PA program without cognitive enrichment. Changes from DCD to borderline or normal developmental status did not differ in frequency as a function of intervention type. Conclusions Results showed that cognitively more or less challenging PA programs are differently efficacious for promoting attention development and highlight the need to find and continuously reset the degree of task complexity in PA to match the optimal challenge point of normal and special children populations.

This study tested the association between aerobic fitness and executive function and the impact of enhanced, cognitively challenging physical activity on executive function in overweight and lean children. Seventy children aged 9-10 years were assigned to either a 6-month enhanced physical education programme including cognitively demanding (open skill) activities or curricular physical education only. Pre- and post-intervention tests assessed aerobic capacity (Leger test) and two components of executive function: inhibition and working memory updating (random number generation task). Indices of inhibition and memory updating were compared in higher- and lower-fit children and intervention effects were evaluated as a function of physical activity programme (enhanced vs. curricular) and weight status (lean vs. overweight). Results showed better inhibition in higher- than lower-fit children, extending the existing evidence of the association between aerobic fitness and executive function to new aspects of children's inhibitory ability. Overweight children had more pronounced pre- to post-intervention improvements in inhibition than lean children only if involved in enhanced physical education. Such intervention effects were not mediated by aerobic fitness gains. Therefore, the cognitive and social interaction challenges inherent in open skill tasks, even though embedded in a low-dose physical activity programme, may represent an effective means to promote cognitive efficiency, especially in overweight children.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether physical activity (PA) habits may positively impact performance of the orienting and executive control networks in community-dwelling aging individuals and diabetics, who are at risk of cognitive dysfunction. To this aim, we tested cross-sectionally whether age, ranging from late middle-age to old adulthood, and PA level independently or interactively predict different facets of the attentional performance. Hundred and thirty female and male individuals and 22 adults with type 2 diabetes aged 55–84 years were recruited and their daily PA (steps) was objectively measured by means of armband monitors. Participants performed a multifunctional attentional go/no-go reaction time (RT) task in which spatial attention was cued by means of informative direct cues of different sizes followed by compound stimuli with local and global target features. The performance efficiency of the orienting networks was estimated by computing RT differences between validly and invalidly cued trials, that of the executive control networks by computing local switch costs that are RT differences between switch and non-switch trials in mixed blocks of global and local target trials. In regression analyses performed on the data of non-diabetic elderlies, overall RTs and orienting effects resulted jointly predicted by age and steps. Age predicted overall RTs in low-active individuals, but orienting effects and response errors in high-active individuals. Switch costs were predicted by age only, with larger costs at older age. In the analysis conducted with the 22 diabetics and 22 matched non-diabetic elderlies, diabetic status and daily steps predicted longer and shorter RTs, respectively. Results suggest that high PA levels exert beneficial, but differentiated effects on processing speed and attentional networks performance in aging individuals that partially counteract the detrimental effects of advancing age and diabetic status. In conclusion, adequate levels of overall PA may positively impinge on brain efficiency and attentional control and should be therefore promoted by actions that support lifelong PA participation and impact the built environment to render it more conducive to PA.

To examine the relationship between regional and whole body fat accumulation and core cognitive executive functions. Cross-sectional study. 78 healthy men and women aged between 65 and 75 years recruited through consumer’s database. DXA measured percentage total body fat, android, gynoid distribution and android/gynoid ratio; inhibition and working memory updating through Random Number Generation test and cognitive flexibility by Trail Making test. First-order partial correlations between regional body fat and cognitive executive function were computed partialling out the effects of whole body fat. Moderation analysis was performed to verify the effect of gender on the body fat-cognition relationship. Results showed a differentiated pattern of fat-cognition relationship depending on fat localization and type of cognitive function. Statistically significant relationships were observed between working memory updating and: android fat (r = -0.232; p = 0.042), gynoid fat (r = 0.333; p = 0.003) and android/gynoid ratio (r = -0.272; p = 0.017). Separating genders, the only significant relationship was observed in females between working memory updating and gynoid fat (r = 0.280; p = 0.045). In spite of gender differences in both working memory updating and gynoid body fat levels, moderation analysis did not show an effect of gender on the relationship between gynoid fat and working memory updating. Results suggest a protective effect of gynoid body fat and a deleterious effect of android body fat. Although excessive body fat increases the risk of developing CDV, metabolic and cognitive problems, maintaining a certain proportion of gynoid fat may help prevent cognitive decline, particularly in older women. Guidelines for optimal body composition maintenance for the elderly should not target indiscriminate weight loss, but weight maintenance through body fat/lean mass control based on non-pharmacological tools such as physical exercise, known to have protective effects against CVD risk factors and age-related cognitive deterioration.

The calibration pipeline of the level zero images obtained from the Magneto-Optical filters at Two Heights (MOTH II) instrument is presented. MOTH II consists of two 20 cm aperture instruments, each using a Magneto-Optical Filter (MOF): one at 5896 Å (Na D2-line), the other one at 7700 Å (K I-line). MOTH II instruments thus provide full disk line-of-sight Doppler velocity and magnetic field measurements at two heights in the solar atmosphere. The developed MOTH II pipeline employs a set of standard calibration corrections, a correction for signal leakage, due to the non-ideal behavior of the polarizers, and the geometrical registration between the eight images acquired by four CMOS cameras, relative to two components of the signal in two circular polarization states, in each of the two channels. MOTH II data are used to investigate atmospheric dynamics (e.g., internal gravity waves and magneto-acoustic portals) and Space Weather phenomena. Particularly, flare forecasting algorithms, based on the detection of magnetic active regions (ARs) and associated flare probability estimation, are currently under development. The possible matching of MOTH II data with SDO/HMI and SDO/AIA images into a flux rope model, developed in collaboration between Harvard-Smithsonian CfA and MIT Laboratory for Nuclear Science, is being tested.

This study investigated the effects of gender, age, and dominance on upper and lower limb muscle function. One hundred and fifty-two males and females aged 20-30 and 40-80 years were recruited. Maximal voluntary isometric strength (MVC) and rate of force development (RFD) of the knee extensor muscles, and handgrip MVC were measured bilaterally as indicators of lower and upper limb muscle function, respectively. In both sexes, significant main effects were found for age (knee extension MVC, RFD, and handgrip MVC) and limb dominance (handgrip MVC). Men exhibited a steeper age-related decline in muscle function than women, particularly in the lower limb [dominant limb: knee extension MVC -56% (men) vs. -35% (women); handgrip MVC -30% (men) vs. -26% (women); RFD -67% (men) vs. -47% (women); non-dominant limb: knee extension MVC -49% (men) vs. -36% (women); handgrip MVC -26% (men) vs. -24% (women); RFD -62% (men) vs. -44% (women)]. Although men showed a higher rate of decline in muscle function, in absolute terms they demonstrated better muscle function than women in all age groups, which has important implications for independence and quality of life. A clear asymmetry in muscle function was evident in both sexes only for handgrip MVC.

Physical and cognitive training seem to counteract age-related decline in physical and mental function. Recently, the possibility of integrating cognitive demands into physical training has attracted attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of twelve weeks of designed physical-cognitive training on executive cognitive function and gait performance in older adults. Thirty-six healthy, active individuals aged 72.30 ± 5.84 years were assigned to two types of physical training with major focus on physical single task (ST) training (n=16) and physical-cognitive dual task (DT) training (n=20), respectively. They were tested before and after the intervention for executive function (inhibition, working memory) through Random Number Generation and for gait (walking with/without negotiating hurdles) under both single and dual task (ST, DT) conditions. Gait performance improved in both groups, while inhibitory performance decreased after exercise training with ST focus but tended to increase after training with physical-cognitive DT focus. Changes in inhibition performance were correlated with changes in DT walking performance with group differences as a function of motor task complexity (with/without hurdling). The study supports the effectiveness of group exercise classes for older individuals to improve gait performance, with physical-cognitive DT training selectively counteracting the age-related decline in a core executive function essential for daily living.

Although ageing people could benefit from healthy diet and physical activity to maintain health and quality of life, further understandings of the diet- and physical activity-related mechanisms that may cause changes in health and quality of life perception are necessary. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of eating attitudes, body mass and image satisfaction, and exercise dependence in the relationship between physical activity and health and quality of life perception in older individuals. Hundred and seventy-nine late middle-aged, (55–64 yrs), young-old (65–74 yrs), and old (75–84 yrs) senior athletes (n = 56), physically active (n = 58) or sedentary adults (n = 65) were submitted to anthropometric evaluations (body mass, height) and self-reported questionnaires: Body Image Dimensional Assessment, Exercise Dependence Scale, Eating Attitude Test, and Short Form Health Survey (Physical Component Summary [PCS] and Mental Component Summary [MCS] of and health and quality of life perception). Senior athletes, physically active, and sedentary participants subgroups differed (P

Physical activity interventions such as resistance training (RT) and multicomponent (MCT) exercise training are known to improve functional mobility and reduce the risk of disability among the elderly. Less evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of such exercises to improve metabolic risk factors for age related conditions. This study aimed to compare the effects of MCT and RT programs on metabolic health parameters in healthy elderly. Methods Twenty one and 18 subjects completed a 12-week MCT and RT program respectively. Before and after intervention, body composition, functional ability, aerobic fitness and metabolic health parameters including lipid profile, inflammatory markers, glucose metabolism, hormones and growth markers were examined. Circulating concentrations of epidermal growth factor increased significantly in the MCT group from 35.8 ± 29.4 to 56.1 ± 35 pg/ml. High molecular weight adiponectin decreased significantly in the RT group from 4.7 ± 2.9 to 4.2 ± 2.3 μg/ml (p = 0.03). No other biochemical parameter was significantly altered within either group. A significant between group difference was found for both ferritin (p = 0.02) and EGF (p = 0.01), with concentrations of ferritin decreasing in the MCT group and increasing in the RT group and concentration of EGF increasing in the MCT group yet decreasing in the RT group. The MCT program improved results of functional tests including chair stand and habitual walking speed. Present findings suggest that although both the MCT and RT interventions were enough to produce functional and physical benefits, different training programs and/or exercise dose are required to improve metabolic health in healthy older adults.

This study examined the cardiovascular response to low-impact step-aerobic dance in older subjects and the appropriateness of low-intensity step-aerobic exercise for cardiorespiratory fitness improvement in this age group. For this purpose, 6 women and 4 men, aged 57.3±5.8 and 60.7±3.1 (mean±SD) years, respectively, were recruited. Oxygen consumption ([Vdot]O2), pulmonary ventilation ([Vdot]E), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate were measured directly on each subject during a submaximal treadmill test (85% of age predicted maximal HR) and step-aerobic classes. [Vdot]O2max was predicted by extrapolation using the HR and [Vdot]O2 values measured in the submaximal treadmill test. Results showed no significant differences between women and men on any of the variables with the exception of body fat and stature (p

Both physical and cognitive factors are known to independently predict functional mobility in older people. However, the combined predictive value of both physical fitness and cognitive factors on functional mobility has been less investigated. The aim of the present study was to assess if cognitive executive functions moderate the role of physical fitness in determining functional mobility of older individuals. Fifty-seven 65- to 75-year-old healthy participants performed tests of functional mobility (habitual and maximal walking speed, maximal walking speed while picking up objects/stepping over obstacles), physical fitness (peak power, knee extensors torque, back/lower limb flexibility, aerobic fitness), and executive function (inhibition and cognitive flexibility). Maximal walking speeds were predicted by physical fitness parameters and their interaction with cognitive factors. Knee extensor torque emerged as the main predictor of all tested locomotor performances at maximal speed. The effect of peak power and back/lower limb flexibility was moderated by executive functions. In particular, inhibition and cognitive flexibility differed in the way in which they moderate the role of fitness. High levels of cognitive flexibility seem necessary to take advantage of leg power for walking at maximal speed. In contrast, high levels of inhibitory capacity seem to compensate for low levels of back/lower limb flexibility when picking up movements are added to a locomotor task. These findings may have important practical implications for the design and implementation of multi-component training programs aimed at optimizing functional abilities in older adults.

Despite its widespread use in performance assessment, the reliability of vertical jump in an ageing population has not been addressed properly. The aim of the present study was to assess intra- and inter-day reliability of countermovement jump in healthy middle-aged (55-65 years) and older (66-75 years) men and women. Eighty-two participants were recruited and asked to perform countermovement jumps on two different occasions interspersed by 4 weeks. The middle-aged groups exhibited excellent absolute reliability for flight height, jump height, peak force, peak power, peak force/body mass, and peak power/body mass, with coefficients of variation ranging from 2.9% to 7.2% in men and from 3.6% to 6.9% in women and moderate-to-high intraclass correlations (0.75 to 0.97 in men; 0.77 to 0.95 in women). The older groups displayed good coefficients of variation (4.2% to 10.8% in men and 3.4% to 9.5% in women), but the intraclass correlations were low-to-high (0.43 to 0.84 in men; 0.42 to 0.93 in women). Overall, intra-session reliability was higher than inter-session reliability. Peak power was by far the most consistent variable, whereas flight and jump height had the most marked variability. The minimum detectable change varied from 10.5% to 33%, depending on the variable examined, suggesting important implications for intervention studies.

Background: Research on visual attention control of older road cyclists, who represent a subgroup of traffic participants, is still scarce and studies on their attentional performance while cycling are completely lacking. Objective: The present study assessed whether attention control performance of older individuals with a history of participation in road cycling is affected by concomitant cycling exercise. Acute exercise effects were also analyzed in co-aged aerobically trained and sedentary noncyclists to assess whether the acute exercise-cognition relationship is moderated by individual differences induced by chronic sport practice versus sedentary lifestyle. Methods: Sixteen 60- to 80-year-old cyclists and 32 age-matched noncyclists (16 endurance athletes and 16 sedentary individuals) performed a go/no-go reaction time task in which visual attention was cued by means of spatial cues of different sizes followed by compound stimuli with local and global target features. Results: Older cyclists showed commonalities with and differences from other aerobically trained athletes. Both trained groups, when compared to sedentary individuals, showed shorter reaction time (RT) during physical exercise and a smaller RT disadvantage for unexpected local targets at short stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA). This expectancy-driven RT effect was stable across SOAs only in the case of cyclists. Conclusions: Results suggest that chronic long-term aerobic training may lead to favorable conditions for the occurrence of a facilitation effect during acute exercise and for a more efficient use of available resources on attentional tasks involving executive control. These results highlight the importance of considering the effects of aerobic exercise for supporting safe on-road behavior.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between performance-based and laboratory tests for muscular strength and power assessment in older women. Thirty-two women aged 68.8 +/- 2.8 years were recruited. All participants were asessed for: (a) two performance-based tests--the box-stepping test (mean 296 +/- 51 J) and two-revolution maximum test (mean 7.1 +/- 2 kg) performed while pedalling on a cycle ergometer; and (b) muscular function tests--maximal instantaneous peak power jumping on a force platform (mean 1528 +/- 279 W); maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) during knee extension (mean 601 +/- 571 N) and leg press (mean 626 +/- 126 N), and leg press power (mean 483 +/- 98 W) on a dynamometer. Using univariate analysis, performance-based tests were compared with laboratory muscle strength and power measurements. Muscle power correlated most strongly with the performance-based tests for both jumping and leg press power (r-values between 0.67 and 0.75; P0.01). The correlation with muscle strength measures ranged between 0.48 and 0.61 (P0.01). The proposed tests may have particular relevance in geriatric and rehabilitation environments as they represent an easy, practical, and inexpensive alternative for the assessment of muscular strength and power.

The main purpose of this study was to measure the post-competition blood lactate concentration ([La](b)) in master swimmers of both sexes aged between 40 and 79 years in order to relate it to age and swimming performance. One hundred and eight swimmers participating in the World Master Championships were assessed for [La](b) and the average rate of lactate accumulation (La'; mmol l(-1) s(-1)) was calculated. In addition, 77 of them were also tested for anthropometric measures. When the subjects were divided into 10-year age groups, males exhibited higher [La](b) than women (factorial ANOVA, P0.01) and a steeper decline with ageing than female subjects. Overall, mean values (SD) of [La](b) were 10.8 (2.8), 10.3 (2.0), 10.3 (1.9), 8.9 (3.2) mmol l(-1) in women, and 14.2 (2.5), 12.4 (2.5), 11.0 (1.6), 8.2 (2.0) mmol l(-1) in men for, respectively, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 years' age groups. When, however, [La](b) values were normalised for a "speed index", which takes into account swimming speed as a percentage of world record, these sex-related differences, although still present, were considerably attenuated. Furthermore, the differences in La' between males and females were larger in the 40-49 age group (0.34 vs 0.20 mmol l(-1) s(-1) for 50-m distance) than in the 70-79 age group (0.12 vs 0.14 mmol l(-1) s(-1) for 50-m distance). Different physiological factors, supported by the considered anthropometric measurements, are suggested to explain the results.

Twenty healthy women aged between 65 and 74 years, trained three times a week, for 16 weeks, on a cycle ergometer, to determine the effects of dynamic resistance training on heart rate variability (HRV). Subjects were allocated to two training groups, high (HI, n=10) and low (LO, n=10) intensity. The HI group performed eight sets of 8 revolutions at 80% of the maximum resistance to complete 2 pedal revolutions (2RM); the LO group performed eight sets of 16 pedal revolutions at 40% of 2RM. Subjects were tested twice before, as control period (−4 weeks and 0 weeks) and once after training (16 weeks) for HRV, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of knee extensors and peak power (P p) of lower limbs by jumping on a force platform. HRV was measured using time and frequency domain parameters. Two-way ANOVA for repeated measures was performed on all variables (P

The effects of 12 weeks of a low-intensity general conditioning programme on maximal instantaneous peak power (Wpeak) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were examined in 20 elderly women. After medical, familiarisation, and ethical procedures, the subjects were randomly divided into either a training and or a control group. The training group [n = 11; mean (SD) age 63.0 (3.1) years] agreed to take part in a 12-week training programme at an exercise intensity kept under 60% of the heart rate reserve for about 60 min, 3 times a week. The control group [n = 9; mean (SD) age 63.5 (3.3) years] did not perform any particular physical training. Before and after the training period, all participants underwent anthropometric measures and a maximal cycling test to exhaustion to measure their VO2max. In addition, Wpeak was determined 1 week later by the subjects performing a vertical jump from a squatting position on a force platform. Following training, neither the anthropometric characteristics nor the VO2max changed in either of the groups. In contrast, Wpeak increased significantly (P < 0.001) in the training group, but did not change in the control group. This result could be interpreted as the result of an improved level of neuromuscular activation. Furthermore, it shows that although muscle power declines with age at a faster rate than does aerobic power, its sensitivity to training seems to be higher than that of the aerobic system.