Effects of Including a Penetration Test in Motorcyclist Helmet Standards: Influence on Helmet Stiffness and Impact Performance

Regulation ECE-22.05/06 does not require a helmet penetration test. Penetration testing is controversial since it has been shown that it may cause the helmet to behave in a non-desirable stiff way in real-world crashes. This study aimed to assess the effect of the penetration test in the impact performance of helmets. Twenty full-face motorcycle helmets were penetration tested at multiple locations of the helmet shell. Then, 10 helmets were selected and split into two groups (hard shell and soft shell) depending on the results of the penetration tests. These 10 helmets were then drop tested at front, lateral, and top areas at two different impact speeds (5 m/s and 8.2 m/s) to assess their impact performance against head injuries. The statistical analyses did not show any significant difference between the two groups (hard/soft shell) at 5 m/s. Similar results were observed at 8.2 m/s, except for the top area of the helmet in which the peak linear acceleration was significantly higher for the soft shell group than for the hard shell group (230 ± 12 g vs. 211 ± 11 g; p-value = 0.038). The results of this study suggest that a stiffer shell does not necessarily cause helmets to behave in a stiffer way when striking rigid flat surfaces. These experiments also showed that hard shell helmets can provide better protection at higher impact speeds without damaging helmet performance at lower impact speeds. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Large Deformation Effects in the N = Z 44Ti Compound Nucleus

The N = Z 44Ti* nucleus has been populated in Fusion Evaporation process at very high excitation energies and angular momenta using two entrance channels with different mass-asymmetry. The deformation effects in the rapidly rotating nuclei have been investigated through the energy distribution of the alpha-particle combined to statistical-model calculations. In the case of low-multiplicity events, the ratio between first particle emitted has been measured and shows significant disagreement with the predictions of the statistical-model. This may explain The large discrepancies observed in proton energy spectra measured in previous experiments performed in the same mass region.Comment: Proceeding of the 10th International Conference on Nuclear Reaction Mechanisms, Varenna Italy, June 9-13 2003. 10 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl

β-Ga₂O₃ nanowires for an ultraviolet light selective frequency photodetector

The behaviour of ß-Ga₂O₃ nanowires as photoconductive material in deep ultraviolet photodetectors to operate in the energy range 3.0-6.2 eV has been investigated. The nanowires were grown by a catalyst-free thermal evaporation method on gallium oxide substrates. Photocurrent measurements have been carried out on both undoped and Sn-doped Ga₂O₃ nanowires to evidence the influence of the dopant on the photodetector performances. The responsivity spectrum of single nanowires show maxima in the energy range 4.8-5.4 eV and a strong dependence on the pulse frequency of the excitation light has been observed for undoped nanowires. Our results show that the responsivity of beta- Ga₂O₃ nanowires can be controlled by tuning the chopper frequency of the excitation light and/ or by doping of the nanowires. Non-linear behavior in characteristic current-voltage curves has been observed for Ga₂O₃ : Sn nanowires. The mechanism leading to this behaviour has been discussed and related to space-charged-limited current effects. In addition, the responsivity achieved by doped nanowires at lower bias is higher than for undoped ones

The EL2 trap in highly doped GaAs:Te

We have investigated highly doped GaAs:Te at different doping concentrations (>10(17) cm(-3)) to assess the presence of the EL2 trap. We have utilized both capacitance and current transient spectroscopy techniques. The crucial parameter for the detection of EL2 is the relative position of the electron quasi-Fermi level in the depletion region. The observed shift of the EL2 apparent activation energy with increasing doping concentration is also discussed

Seguimiento de los flujos de calor sensible y calor latente en vid mediante la aplicación del balance de energía METRIC

Revista oficial de la Asociación Española de Teledetección[EN] The monitoring of the energy fluxes over vineyard applying the one source energy balance model METRIC (Allen et al., 2007b) are shown in this work. This model is considered operaive because it uses an internalized calibration method derived from the selection of two extreme pixels in the scene, from the minimum ET values such as the bare soil to a maximum that corresponds to full cover active vegetation. The model provides the maps of net radiation (Rn), soil heat flux (G), sensible heat (H), latent heat (LE), evapotranspiration (ET) and crop coefficient (Kc). The flux values have been validated with a flux tower installed in the plot, providing a RMSE for instantaneous fluxes of 43 W m2, 33 W m2, 55 W m2 y 40 W m2 on Rn, G, H and LE. In relative terms are 8%, 29%, 21% and 20% respectively. The RMSE at daily scale for the ET is 0.58 mm day-1, with a value in the crop coefficient for the mid stage of 0.42±0.08. These results allow considering the model adequate for crop monitoring and irrigation purposes in vineyard. The values obtained have been compared to other studies over vineyard and with alternative energy balance models showing similar results. Guardar / Salir Siguiente >[ES] En este trabajo se presenta el seguimiento de los flujos de energía en un cultivo de vid bajo riego, obtenidos a partir del modelo de balance de energía METRIC (Allen et al., 2007b). Este modelo resulta operativo al utilizar un método de calibración interna definido a partir de la selección de píxeles con valores extremos dentro de la escena. De esta manera se obtuvieron mapas de radiación neta (Rn), flujo de calor en suelo (G), calor sensible (H), calor latente (LE), evapotranspiración (ET) y coeficiente de cultivo (Kc). Estos valores fueron validados con registros obtenidos en el sitio, utilizando una torre de flujos turbulentos (covarianza de torbellinos). El RMSE fue 43 W m-2, 33 W m-2, 55 W m-2 y 40 W m-2 en Rn, G, H y LE, los cuales en términos relativos representan un 8%, 29 %, 21% y 20% respectivamente. A escala diaria el RMSE para la ET fue de 0,58 mm día-1, con un valor de Kc máximo y estable de 0,42±0,08. Estos re-sultados permiten considerar que el método es adecuado y operativo para el seguimiento de la evapotranspiración y cálculo de las necesidades hídricas del viñedo evaluadoAl proyecto CERESS (Coupling land surface Energy and water balance from Remote sensing for mapping Evapotranspiration, water Stress and Soil moisture, ref: AGL2011-30498-C02-01) financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación español. El co-autor C. Balbontín N. agradece el financiamiento del Ministerio de Educación de Chile a través de su proyecto FONDECYT Iniciación Cod. 11140843.González-Piqueras, J.; Villodre, J.; Campos, I.; Calera, A.; Balbontín, C. (2015). Monitoring the latent and sensible heat fluxes in vineyard by applying the energy balance model METRIC. Revista de Teledetección. (43):43-54. https://doi.org/10.4995/raet.2015.2310SWORD435443Allen, R., Irmak, A., Trezza, R., Hendrickx, J. M. H., Bastiaanssen, W., & Kjaersgaard, J. (2011). Satellite-based ET estimation in agriculture using SEBAL and METRIC. Hydrological Processes, 25(26), 4011-4027. doi:10.1002/hyp.8408Allen, R. G., Pereira, L. S., Raes, D., Smith, M. 1998. Crop Evapotranspiration. Guidelines for computing crop water requirements. (Vol. 56), Food and Agriculture Organization.Balbontin-Nesvara, C., Calera-Belmonte, A., González-Piqueras, J., Campos-Rodríguez, I., López-González, M. L., Torres-Prieto, E. 2011. Vineyard Evapotranspiration Measurements in a Semiarid Environment: Eddy Covariance and Bowen Ratio Comparison. Agrociencia, 45, 87-103.González-Dugo, M. P., González-Piqueras, J., Campos, I., Balbontín, C., Calera, A. 2012b. Estimation of surface energy fluxes in vineyard using field measurements of canopy and soil temperature. In C. M. U. Neale & M. H. Cosh (Eds.), Remote Sensing and Hydrology (Vol. 352, pp. 59-62). Wallingford: Int Assoc Hydrological Sciences.INM. 2004. Guía resumida del clima de Espa-a 1971-2000. In I. N. d. Meteorología (Ed.). Madrid

High contrast optical imaging of companions: the case of the brown dwarf binary HD-130948BC

High contrast imaging at optical wavelengths is limited by the modest correction of conventional near-IR optimized AO systems.We take advantage of new fast and low-readout-noise detectors to explore the potential of fast imaging coupled to post-processing techniques to detect faint companions to stars at small separations. We have focused on I-band direct imaging of the previously detected brown dwarf binary HD130948BC,attempting to spatially resolve the L2+L2 benchmark system. We used the Lucky-Imaging instrument FastCam at the 2.5-m Nordic Telescope to obtain quasi diffraction-limited images of HD130948 with ~0.1" resolution.In order to improve the detectability of the faint binary in the vicinity of a bright (I=5.19 \pm 0.03) solar-type star,we implemented a post-processing technique based on wavelet transform filtering of the image which allows us to strongly enhance the presence of point-like sources in regions where the primary halo dominates. We detect for the first time the BD binary HD130948BC in the optical band I with a SNR~9 at 2.561"\pm 0.007" (46.5 AU) from HD130948A and confirm in two independent dataset that the object is real,as opposed to time-varying residual speckles.We do not resolve the binary, which can be explained by astrometric results posterior to our observations that predict a separation below the NOT resolution.We reach at this distance a contrast of dI = 11.30 \pm 0.11, and estimate a combined magnitude for this binary to I = 16.49 \pm 0.11 and a I-J colour 3.29 \pm 0.13. At 1", we reach a detectability 10.5 mag fainter than the primary after image post-processing. We obtain on-sky validation of a technique based on speckle imaging and wavelet-transform processing,which improves the high contrast capabilities of speckle imaging.The I-J colour measured for the BD companion is slightly bluer, but still consistent with what typically found for L2 dwarfs(~3.4-3.6).Comment: accepted in A\&

rp-Process weak-interaction mediated rates of waiting-point nuclei

Electron capture and positron decay rates are calculated for neutron-deficient Kr and Sr waiting point nuclei in stellar matter. The calculation is performed within the framework of pn-QRPA model for rp-process conditions. Fine tuning of particle-particle, particle-hole interaction parameters and a proper choice of the deformation parameter resulted in an accurate reproduction of the measured half-lives. The same model parameters were used to calculate stellar rates. Inclusion of measured Gamow-Teller strength distributions finally led to a reliable calculation of weak rates that reproduced the measured half-lives well under limiting conditions. For the rp-process conditions, electron capture and positron decay rates on $^{72}$Kr and $^{76}$Sr are of comparable magnitude whereas electron capture rates on $^{78}$Sr and $^{74}$Kr are 1--2 orders of magnitude bigger than the corresponding positron decay rates. The pn-QRPA calculated electron capture rates on $^{74}$Kr are bigger than previously calculated. The present calculation strongly suggests that, under rp-process conditions, electron capture rates form an integral part of weak-interaction mediated rates and should not be neglected in nuclear reaction network calculations as done previously.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables; Astrophysics and Space Science (2012

Medium-spin states in neutron-rich 83As and 81As

The 83,81 As nuclei have been produced as fission fragments in the fusion reaction 18O + 208Pb at 85 MeV bombarding energy and studied with the Euroball array. Medium-spin states of 83,81 As have been established up to ∼3.5 MeV excitation energy. From angular correlation analysis, spin values have been assigned to most of the 81 As excited states. The behaviors of the yrast structures identified in this work are discussed in comparison with the general features known in the mass region. Then they are compared to the results of two theoretical approaches: the "rotor + quasiparticle" for 81 As and the shell model using the effective interactions JUN45 for 83,81 As

Sociodemographic changes and trends in the rates of new perinatal HIV diagnoses and transmission in Spain from 1997 to 2015

Background There are not enough nationwide studies on perinatal HIV transmission in connection with a combination of antiretroviral treatments in Spain. Our objectives were to study sociodemographic changes and trends in the rates of HIV diagnoses and perinatal transmission in Spain from 1997 to 2015. Methods A retrospective study using data from Spanish Paediatric HIV Network (CoRISpe) and Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set (MDBS) was performed. HIV- diagnosed children between 1997 and 2015 were selected. Sociodemographic, clinical and immunovirological data of HIV-infected children and their mothers were studied in four calendar periods (P1: 1997-2000; P2: 2001-2005; P3: 2006-2010; P4: 2011-2015). Rates of perinatal HIV diagnoses and transmission from 1997 to 2015 were calculated. Results A total of 532 HIV-infected children were included in this study. Of these children, 406 were Spanish (76.3%) and 126 immigrants (23.7%). A decrease in the number of HIV diagnoses, 203 (38.2%) children in the first (P1), 149 (28%) in the second (P2), 130 (24.4%) in the third (P3) and 50 (9.4%) in the fourth (P4) calendar periods was studied. The same decrease in the Spanish HIV-infected children (P1, 174 (46.6%), P2, 115 (30.8%), P3, 65 (17.4%) and P4, 19 (5.1%)) was monitored. However, an increase in the number of HIV diagnoses by sexual contact (P1: 0%; P2: 1.3%; P3: 4.6%; P4: 16%) was observed. The rates of new perinatal HIV diagnoses and perinatal transmission in Spanish children decreased from 0.167 to 0.005 per 100,000 inhabitants and 11.4% to 0.4% between 1997 and 2015, respectively. Conclusions A decline of perinatal HIV diagnoses and transmission was observed. However, an increase of teen-agers HIV diagnoses with sexual infection was studied. Public awareness campaigns directed to teen-agers are advisable to prevent HIV infection by sexual contact

Beta-decay in odd-A and even-even proton-rich Kr isotopes

Beta-decay properties of proton-rich odd-A and even-even Krypton isotopes are studied in the framework of a deformed selfconsistent Hartree-Fock calculation with density-dependent Skyrme forces, including pairing correlations between like nucleons in BCS approximation. Residual spin-isospin interactions are consistently included in the particle-hole and particle-particle channels and treated in Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation. The similarities and differences in the treatment of even-even and odd-A nuclei are stressed. Comparison to available experimental information is done for Gamow-Teller strength distributions, summed strengths, and half-lives. The dependence of these observables on deformation is particularly emphasized in a search for signatures of the shape of the parent nucleus.Comment: 29 pages, 16 figure