Protective effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharides in the grapevine- Agrobacterium vitis interaction

Cell-associated lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were extracted by the phenol-chloroform-petroleum ether extraction method (PCP) from a nopaline strain of Agrobacterium vitis, purified by treatment with DNase/RNase, proteinase K and dialysis, characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and bioassayed on grapevine shoot nodal segments. LPS preparation used for the experiments in planta was a mixture of rough-type LPS, obtained from precipitation with water after PCP-extraction, and some smooth- and rough-type LPS from the remaining phenol phase. Infiltration of an aqueous dispersion of the mixture in concentrations of 25-1000 µ g.ml-1 did not cause grapevine tissue necrosis, and callus formed within one month. When the LPS dispersions were infiltrated in the grapevine nodal segments, 24 h before challenge inoculation with A. vitis (5x102 cells per 5 µ l droplet), they prevented tumorgenesis and tissue necrosis; but, when the pathogen was inoculated at a higher concentration (5x105 cells per 5 CII droplet), these LS applications were active in protecting plant tissue from necrosis and did not prevent tumor induction. The potential role of LPS as candidate molecules in the protection of grapevine from A. vitis infection is discussed

Performance Analysis of Sidelink 5G-V2X Mode 2 through an Open-Source Simulator

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has recently published a new set of specifications to enable advanced driving applications in fifth generation (5G) vehicle-to-everything (V2X) scenarios, with particular effort dedicated to the sidelink resource allocation in the autonomous mode, named Mode 2. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of Mode 2 performance via an open-source system-level simulator, which implements the 5G New Radio (NR) flexible numerology and physical layer aspects together with the newly specified sidelink resource allocation modes for V2X communications and different data traffic patterns. Results collected through extensive simulation campaigns, under a wide variety of vehicle density, data transmission settings and traffic patterns, showcase the effects of the new 5G-V2X features on the sidelink resource allocation performance and provide some insights into possible ways to further improve Mode 2 performance

On the Design of Sidelink for Cellular V2X: A Literature Review and Outlook for Future

Connected and fully automated vehicles are expected to revolutionize our mobility in the near future on a global scale, by significantly improving road safety, traffic efficiency, and traveling experience. Enhanced vehicular applications, such as cooperative sensing and maneuvering or vehicle platooning, heavily rely on direct connectivity among vehicles, which is enabled by sidelink communications. In order to set the ground for the core contribution of this paper, we first analyze the main streams of the cellular-vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology evolution within the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), with focus on the sidelink air interface. Then, we provide a comprehensive survey of the related literature, which is classified and critically dissected, considering both the Long-Term Evolution-based solutions and the 5G New Radio-based latest advancements that promise substantial improvements in terms of latency and reliability. The wide literature review is used as a basis to finally identify further challenges and perspectives, which may shape the C-V2X sidelink developments in the next-generation vehicles beyond 5G

How Equalization Techniques Affect the TCP Performance of MC-CDMA Systems in Correlated Fading Channels

This paper investigates the impact of several equalization techniques for multicarrier code division multiple access systems on the performance at both lower and upper layers (i.e., physical and TCP layers). Classical techniques such as maximal ratio combining, equal gain combining, orthogonality restoring combining, minimum mean square error, as well as a partial equalization (PE) are investigated in time- and frequency-correlated fading channels with various numbers of interferers. Their impact on the performance at upper level is then studied. The results are obtained through an integrated simulation platform carefully reproducing all main aspects affecting the quality of service perceived by the final user, allowing an investigation of the real gain produced by signal processing techniques at TCP level

A New Measurement of Kaonic Hydrogen X rays

The $\bar{K}N$ system at threshold is a sensitive testing ground for low energy QCD, especially for the explicit chiral symmetry breaking. Therefore, we have measured the $K$-series x rays of kaonic hydrogen atoms at the DA$\Phi$NE electron-positron collider of Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, and have determined the most precise values of the strong-interaction energy-level shift and width of the $1s$ atomic state. As x-ray detectors, we used large-area silicon drift detectors having excellent energy and timing resolution, which were developed especially for the SIDDHARTA experiment. The shift and width were determined to be $\epsilon_{1s} = -283 \pm 36 \pm 6 {(syst)}$ eV and $\Gamma_{1s} = 541 \pm 89 {(stat)} \pm 22 {(syst)}$ eV, respectively. The new values will provide vital constraints on the theoretical description of the low-energy $\bar{K}N$ interaction.Comment: 5 figures, submitted to Physics Letters

Toward 6G Vehicle-to-Everything Sidelink: Nonorthogonal Multiple Access in the Autonomous Mode

The cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) sidelink technology, specified in the long-term evolution (LTE) and further improved in the 5G new radio (NR) standards to facilitate direct data exchange between vehicles, will play a crucial role in revolutionizing transportation systems. However, the demand for very high reliability and ultralow latency services especially challenges the sidelink resource allocation mechanism when performed by distributed vehicles, in the so-called autonomous mode. One of the major causes of ­performance degradation is the resource allocation mechanism, which was designed for orthogonal multiple access (OMA) and can generate interference and collisions under high load conditions. In this context, here we argue in favor of the use of non-OMA (NOMA) as a game changer for the sidelink in the upcoming 6G V2X, and the purpose of this article is to provide a reference for further intriguing studies in the field. Additionally, the gain achievable over conventional allocation schemes by enabling NOMA through the use of successive interference cancelation (SIC) at the receiver is measured through realistic simulations conducted when considering the latest C-V2X specifications

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Does Not Impact Career Earnings After Return to Play in National Basketball Association Athletes

PURPOSE: To quantify the financial impact of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on the remaining career earnings of National Basketball Association (NBA) players. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all NBA players who had an ACL rupture between 2000 and 2019. Players were matched to healthy controls by age, position, body mass index, and player efficiency rating at the time of injury (index year). Player information collected included demographic information, position, team role, draft pick, date of injury, contract length, and earnings during the 3 years before and 7 years after the index year, as well as new contract length and earnings after injury. RESULTS: A total of 12 players (22%) did not return to play (RTP). No statistically significant difference in annual earnings was present at any time point between cohorts. When we examined the mean difference in earnings between the first 3 post-index seasons and the 3 pre-index seasons, both the ACL and control cohorts showed increased salaries as players\u27 careers progressed, without a significant difference in earnings. When comparing cohorts, we found no significant difference in the length and earnings of contracts during the index year. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the length or earnings of the first new contract signed after the index year between cohorts. Additionally, NBA players who were able to RTP after ACL reconstruction were more likely to experience increased earnings if they had greater experience and performance prior to their injury (P \u3c .01). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that NBA players did not experience diminished earnings after RTP from an ACL reconstruction when compared with matched controls. Furthermore, no differences were seen in lengths of new contracts or in contract earnings between cohorts. Players with greater experience and performance prior to injury were more likely to have increased earnings after ACL reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective case-control study