Does ABS ensure good performance in emergency braking for less skilled motorcyclists?

This study aims to investigate whether motorcyclists are able to use the full potential of anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in demanding braking situations that maintain the natural coupling of action and perception of emergency events, or whether instead the lack of braking skills in riders makes ABS almost ineffective and comparable to non-ABS brakes on dry pavement. Six experienced riders performed two experimental tests. First test included 12 emergency braking trials in a realistic scenario using a mock-up of an intersection conflict with a car initiating a left turn manoeuvre across the path (LTAP) of a motorcycle approaching from the opposite direction as an unpredicted moving hazard. Second test included three trials in a planned self-timed hard braking. The speed at the onset of braking was 35-45 km/h. The braking performance was measured from the initiation of brake pressure until the full stop of the vehicle. Front wheel ABS usage was determined by the pressure in the master cylinder and wheel callipers. The testing resulted in 85 data runs with full stop braking manoeuvres. Results revealed four categories of riders classified by their front wheel ABS usage during the emergency braking tests, which included two riders who underused front wheel ABS (9.6% and 27.4% of braking time on average). The worst case resulted in a significantly longer braking distance (braking deceleration of 5.2 m/s2). The highest skilled rider, who reached initial jerks close to 30 m/s3, used the ABS of the front wheel 93.7% of the braking time on average, resulting in a braking deceleration of 7.71 m/s2. Overall, the best braking performance was achieved in trials where the front ABS was activated for more than 80% of the braking. In planned self-timed hard braking test, where riders have more time to plan the braking manoeuvre, the experience rider with lowest performance during the emergency braking test improved braking efficiency and was able to increase ABS activation from 9.6% to 26.8% of the time, achieving a deceleration of 6.24 m/s2. ABS is demonstrated to reduce stopping distances and to improve stability under all braking conditions, but such features are not enough to guarantee a good braking performance in emergency events if the riders have not the skills to utilize the full braking power of the motorcycle. Less skilled riders, even with ABS, may not have the confidence to increase braking power further when reaching high decelerations that push them to the limit of their stabilisation control in emergency braking, thus increasing braking distance with potentially life-threatening consequences. Our results suggest that many experience riders still need knowledge and skill to make the ABS work to its optimum in emergency events to avoid crashes. Further research with larger sample sizes including the full diversity of the motorcyclist population is recommended to determine the actual proportion of motorcyclists underusing ABS.

Impact of the Recent Measurements of the Top-Quark and W-Boson Masses on Electroweak Precision Fits.

We assess the impact of the very recent measurement of the top-quark mass by the CMS Collaboration on the fit of electroweak data in the standard model and beyond, with particular emphasis on the prediction for the mass of the W boson. We then compare this prediction with the average of the corresponding experimental measurements including the new measurement by the CDF Collaboration, and discuss its compatibility in the standard model, in new physics models with oblique corrections, and in the dimension-six standard model effective field theory. Finally, we present the updated global fit to electroweak precision data in these models.

Analysis-Specific Fast Simulation at the LHC with Deep Learning.

We present a fast-simulation application based on a deep neural network, designed to create large analysis-specific datasets. Taking as an example the generation of W + jet events produced in s =  13 TeV proton-proton collisions, we train a neural network to model detector resolution effects as a transfer function acting on an analysis-specific set of relevant features, computed at generation level, i.e., in absence of detector effects. Based on this model, we propose a novel fast-simulation workflow that starts from a large amount of generator-level events to deliver large analysis-specific samples. The adoption of this approach would result in about an order-of-magnitude reduction in computing and storage requirements for the collision simulation workflow. This strategy could help the high energy physics community to face the computing challenges of the future High-Luminosity LHC.

Denosumab in advanced/unresectable giant-cell tumour of bone (GCTB): For how long?

BACKGROUND: Giant-cell tumours of bone (GCTB) are RANK/RANK-ligand (RANKL) positive, aggressive and progressive osteolytic tumours. Denosumab, a RANKL inhibitor, was FDA-approved for adults and skeletally mature adolescents with unresectable GCTB or when surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity. Data on long-term toxicity and activity of denosumab monthly 'GCTB-schedule' (120 mg per 12/year, 1440 mg total dose/year) are lacking. METHODS: Patients with GCTB receiving denosumab, 120 mg on days 1, 8, 15, 29 and every 4 weeks thereafter, from 2006 to 2015 treated in two centres were included. Long-term toxicity was evaluated. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were identified. 43 patients underwent resection of the tumour with a median time on denosumab treatment of 12 months (range 6-45 months). Fifty-four patients had unresectable GCTB's (male/female 23/31, median age 35 years [range: 13-76 years], 26% presented with lung metastases, 31% had primary tumor located to the spine, 63% were relapsed after previous surgery) with a median time on denosumab of 54 months (9-115 months). In the unresectable GCTB group, tumour control and clinical benefits were observed in all patients undergoing denosumab, whereas 40% of patients discontinuing denosumab had tumour progression after a median of 8 months (range 7-15 months). ADVERSE EVENTS: Overall, six (6%) patients developed osteonecrosis of jaw (ONJ): 1/43 (2%) in the resectable group, 5/54 (9%) in the unresectable group, with a 5-year ONJ-free survival of 92% (95% CI 84-100). Only patients with prolonged treatment experienced mild peripheral neuropathy (6/54, 11%), skin rash (5/54, 9%), hypophosphataemia (2/54, 4%) and atypical femoral fracture (2/54, 4%). CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged treatment with denosumab has sustained activity in GCTB, with a mild toxicity profile. The dose-dependent toxicity observed recommends a careful and strict monitoring of patients who need prolonged treatment. Decreased dose-intensity schedules should be further explored in unresectable GCTB.

A recently developed bifacial platelet-rich fibrin matrix.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is used clinically in liquid or gel form to promote tissue repair. Because of the poor mechanical properties, conventional PRP is often difficult to handle when used in clinical settings and requires secure implantation in a specific site, otherwise when released growth factors could be washed out during an operation. In this study, we analyzed the end product of a recently developed commercially available system (FIBRINET), which is a dense pliable, platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM). We characterized the mechanical properties of PRFM and tested whether PRFM releases growth factors and whether released factors induce the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Mechanical properties as well as platelet distribution were evaluated in PRFM. PRFM demonstrated robust mechanical properties, with a tear elastic modulus of 937.3 +/- 314.6 kPa, stress at a break of 1476.0 +/- 526.3 kPa, and an elongation at break of 146.3 +/- 33.8 %. PRFM maintained its mechanical properties throughout the testing process. Microscopic observations showed that the platelets were localized on one side of the matrix. Elevated levels of PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB, EGF, VEGF, bFGF and TGF-beta1 were measured in the day 1-conditioned media (CM) of PRFM and growth factor levels decreased thereafter. BMP2 and BMP7 were not detectable. MSC culture media supplemented with 20% PRFM-CM stimulated MSC cell proliferation; at 24 and 48 hours the induction of the proliferation was significantly greater than the induction obtained with media supplemented with 20% foetal bovine serum. The present study shows that the production of a dense, physically robust PRFM made through high-speed centrifugation of intact platelets and fibrin in the absence of exogenous thrombin yields a potential tool for accelerating tissue repair.

Bs-->K(*)0 K(*)0 CP asymmetries: golden channels for new physics searches.

We point out that time-dependent CP asymmetries in B_(s)-->K(*0) K[over](*0) decays probe the presence of new physics in b-->s transitions with an unprecedented theoretical accuracy. We show that, contrary to the case of B_(d)-->phiK_(S), it is possible to obtain a model-independent prediction for the coefficient S(B_(s)-->K(*0) K[over](*0)) in the standard model. We give an estimate of the experimental precision achievable with the next generation of B physics experiments. We also discuss how this approach can be extended to the case of B_(s)-->K[over](*0) K(0), B_(s)-->K(*0) K[over](0), and B_(s)-->K(0) K[over](0) decays and the different experimental challenges for these channels.

Selection and characterization of aerobic bacteria capable of degrading commercial mixtures of low-ethoxylated nonylphenols.

AIMS: Isolation and characterization of new bacterial strains capable of degrading nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPnEO) with a low ethoxylation degree, which are particularly recalcitrant to biodegradation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seven aerobic bacterial strains were isolated from activated sludges derived from an Italian plant receiving NPnEO-contaminated wastewaters after enrichment with a low-ethoxylated NPnEO mixture. On the basis of 16S rDNA sequence, the strains were positioned into five genera: Ochrobactrum, Castellaniella, Variovorax, Pseudomonas and Psychrobacter. Their degradation capabilities have been evaluated on two commercial mixtures, i.e. Igepal CO-210 and Igepal CO-520, the former rich in low ethoxylated congeners and the latter containing a broader spectrum of NPnEO, and on 4-n-nonylphenol (NP). The strains degraded Igepal CO-210, Igepal CO-520 and 4-n-NP all applied at the initial concentration of 100 mg l(-1), by 35-75%, 35-90% and 15-25%, respectively, after 25 days of incubation. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the isolated strains, in particular the Pseudomonas strains BCb12/1 and BCb12/3, showed interesting degradation capabilities towards low ethoxylated NPnEO congeners maintaining high cell vitality. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Increased knowledge of bacteria involved in NPnEO degradation and the possibility of using the isolated strains in tailored process for a tertiary biological treatment of effluents of wastewater treatment plants.

High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of enantiomers and diastereomers of 2-methylcyclohexanone thiosemicarbazone, and determination of absolute configuration and configurational stability.

Simultaneous HPLC diastereo- and enantioseparations of 2-methylcyclohexanone thiosemicarbazone (2-MCET) were accomplished on coated- and immobilized type polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs). The identification of all stereoisomeric forms and their stereochemistry were achieved by combining theoretical, HPLC and chiroptical data. The stereochemical stability of the target compound was studied by classical off-column and dynamic HPLC kinetic procedures and the influence of different parameters such solvent, TFA concentration and temperature on stereoisomerization process was evaluated. The findings obtained by chromatographic and kinetic experiments were used to develop a simple method to convert the racemic form of 2-MCET into a single enantiomer.

"Quasi flexible" automatic docking processing for studying stereoselective recognition mechanisms, part 2: Prediction of DeltaDeltaG of complexation and 1H-NMR NOE correlation.

The purpose of this work is to apply the global molecular interaction evaluation ("Glob-MolInE") computational protocol to the study of two molecular complexes characterized by a chiral selector and a couple of enantiomeric selectands experimentally known to give large difference in the free energy of complexation much higher than the experimental error normally associated to the molecular mechanic calculations. We have considered the well known diastereomeric complexes between the selector (S)-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-leucine-n-propylamide (S)-1 and the selectands (R) or (S)-N-(2-naphthyl)-alanine methyl ester 2, widely studied by enantioselective HPLC, NMR and X-ray. The experimental difference of free energy of complexation between [(S)-1*(R)-2] and [(S)-1*(S)-2] (-1.34 kcal/mol) was reproduced by the new computational protocol with an excellent confidence error. Detailed results about the conformational search, the "quasi-flexible" docking and the thermodynamic estimation are presented in this work. A remarkable correlation between the theoretical results and experimental data (NOE measurements, X-ray crystallographic structure of the [(S)-1*(S)-2] complex and the free energy of complexation) supports the validity of the computational approach and underline the importance of the conformational multiplicity in the definition of the macroscopic properties of the complex in solution.

Constraints on new physics from the quark mixing unitarity triangle.

The status of the unitary triangle beyond the standard model including the most recent results on Deltam[s] on dilepton asymmetries and on width differences is presented. Even allowing for general new physics loop contributions the unitarity triangle must be very close to the standard model result. With the new measurements from the Fermilab Tevatron, we obtain for the first time a significant constraint on new physics in the Bs sector. We present the allowed ranges of new physics contributions to DeltaF=2 processes and of the time-dependent CP asymmetry in Bs-->J/psivarphi decays.

Effect of penguin operators in the B0 --> J/psiK0 CP asymmetry.

Performing a fit to the available experimental data, we quantify the effect of long-distance contributions from penguin contractions in B0 --> J/psiK0 decays. We estimate the deviation of the measured S(CP) term of the time-dependent CP asymmetry from sin2beta induced by these contributions and by the penguin operators. We find deltaS is identically equal to S(CP)(J/psiK) - sin2beta = 0.000 +/- 0.012 ([-0.025, 0.024]@95% probability), an uncertainty much larger than previous estimates and comparable to the present systematic error quoted by the experiments at the B factories.

Purification and Characterization of Leu-Proteinase, the Leucine Specific Serine Proteinase from Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Leaves.

The leucine specific serine proteinase present in the soluble fraction of leaves from Spinacia oleracea L. (called Leu-proteinase) has been purified by acetone precipitation and a combination of gel-filtration, ion exchange, and adsorption chromatography. This enzyme shows a molecular weight of 60,000 +/- 3,000 daltons, an isoelectric point of 4.8 +/- 0.1, and a relative electrophoretic mobility of 0.58 +/- 0.03. The Leu-proteinase catalyzed hydrolysis of p-nitroanilides of N-alpha-substituted(-l-)amino acids as well as of chromogenic macromolecular substrates has been investigated between pH 5 and 10 at 23 +/- 0.5 degrees C and I = 0.1 molar. The enzyme activity is characterized by a bell-shaped profile with an optimum pH value around 7.5, reflecting the acid-base equilibrium of groups with pK(a) values of 6.8 +/- 0.1 and 8.2 +/- 0.1 (possibly the histidyl residue present at the active site of the enzyme and the N-terminus group). Among the substrates considered, N-alpha-benzoyl-l-leucine p-nitroanilide shows the most favorable catalytic parameters and allows to determine an enzyme concentration as low as 1 x 10(-9) molar. In agreement with the enzyme specificity, only N-alpha-tosyl-l-leucine chloromethyl ketone, di-isopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, among compounds considered specific for serine enzymes, strongly inhibit the Leu-proteinase. Accordingly, the enzyme activity is insensitive to cations, chelating agents, sulfydryl group reagents, and activators.