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The Vacuum Vessel Pressure Suppression System (VVPSS) is designed to protect the ITER reactor (Vacuum Vessel, VV) from an overpressurization accident. The VVPSS is mainly composed of four Vapour Suppression Tanks (VSTs) partially filled with water inside which venting pipes (spargers) are immersed to direct the steam in the subcooled pool to condense it. Since the maximum pressure allowed inside the VV is only 0.15 MPa, a sub-atmospheric pressure must be maintained inside the VSTs. During a series of experimental campaigns funded by ITER Organization to study and validate the correct operability of the VVPSS and conducted in a large-scale plant built at the B. Guerrini laboratory of the University of Pisa, pressure instability and reverse flow through the sparger holes have been observed. The analysis of acceleration signals recorded during this pressure inversion, showed large amplitude oscillations at low frequency due to the Condensation Induced Water Hammer (CIWH).

The paper presents the comparison between two VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) architectures designed in 65 nm CMOS for aerospace applications. In particular, the two VCOs have been designed targeting the 6.25 GHz frequency required in the SpaceFibre standard. The ring oscillator has been designed using three current mode logic stages connected in a loop. Although its performance in terms of low area occupation are attractive, the process variations simulations have demonstrated its inability to generate the target frequency in harsh operating conditions. Instead, the LC-Tank based oscillator, fixing the central frequency with the resonance of the L-C tank, has highlighted a lower influence through Process-Voltage-Temperature simulations on the oscillation frequency. Thanks to varactor-based voltage tuning control, it is able to cover the range from 5.18 to 6.41 GHz. Both architectures are biased with a supply voltage of 1.2 V. The complete layout of the last solution has been designed and its parasitic has been extracted for post-layout simulations. Achieved results are attractive to address the requirements of the new SpaceFibre aerospace standard.

To know the vision of the truck drivers on the use of amphetamines during the working day. This is a descriptive, exploratory study of a qualitative nature. Data collection was performed with six truck drivers, based on a semi-structured road map, which were then in traffic on the BR 163 highway, in the urban perimeter north of Mato Grosso. To analyze the data, we used the Bardin Content Analysis, emerging two analytical categories that evidenced the studied phenomenon. The study followed the precepts of resolution nº466 / 2012, with the ethical opinion nº154, favorable to the beginning of the research. Truck drivers have shown that they know about the harm caused by the use of amphetamines; however, knowing about this drug does not prevent them from continuing to use, due to the need to meet deadlines and guarantee the family's livelihood. It was noticed that the use of amphetamines during the working day became recurrent in the discourse of the interviewees, however, this one transfer the use always to another. It is suggested that health policies be expanded to assist truck drivers in order to promote health promotion and prevention, as well as the risks inherent in the indiscriminate use of amphetamines.

A Coulomb-excitation experiment to study electromagnetic properties of Ca42 was performed using a 170-MeV calcium beam from the TANDEM XPU facility at INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. γ rays from excited states in Ca42 were measured with the AGATA spectrometer. The magnitudes and relative signs of ten E2 matrix elements coupling six low-lying states in Ca42, including the diagonal E2 matrix elements of 21+ and 22+ states, were determined using the least-squares code gosia. The obtained set of reduced E2 matrix elements was analyzed using the quadrupole sum rule method and yielded overall quadrupole deformation for 01,2+ and 21,2+ states, as well as triaxiality for 01,2+ states, establishing the coexistence of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in Ca42. The experimental results were compared with the state-of-the-art large-scale shell-model and beyond-mean-field calculations, which reproduce well the general picture of shape coexistence in Ca42.

Background Severe ankle arthritis is a life-limiting condition which often requires surgery. Ankle arthroplasty via artificial or “biological” reconstruction is a viable option in those patients who are not comfortable with arthrodesis. More functional studies are needed to compare the performance and outcomes of the two function-preserving arthroplasties. Methods In this study two groups of 10 patients affected by severe ankle arthritis were treated either with a 3-component ankle prosthesis or with bipolar fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation. Patients were evaluated pre-operatively and at 5-year follow-up. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score was used for clinical evaluation, and gait analysis for functional assessment. Activation pattern of lower limb muscles was obtained by surface electromyography (EMG). In each group, kinematic, kinetic, and EMG data were compared between pre-op and follow-up assessments, and also versus corresponding data from a 20 healthy subject control group. The median clinical score significantly increased between pre-op and follow-up from 53 to 74.5 in the transplantation and from 28.5 to 80 in the prosthesis group. Spatio-temporal parameters showed a statistically significant improvement in cadence and cycle time. Improvement of gait speed was also observed only in the prosthesis group. EMG patterns at follow-up were strongly correlated with the corresponding control data for both groups. Although no significant amelioration in the joints' range of motion was detected in either surgical procedure, preservation of the functional conditions at medium-term, along with significant improvement of the clinical score, may be considered a positive outcome for both techniques.

Small-scale hydropower generation represents one of the most appropriate option to spread access to electricity in rural Tanzania. In this context, CEFA, an Italian non-government organization, has been recently awarded with a grant by the Tanzanian Rural Energy Agency for the realization of a feasibility study for a 6MW grid-connected Small Hydro Power Plant, situated in Ninga-Njombe. In this context, the feasibility study needs an accurate load demand evaluation of the villages in the area, to maximize the energy output of the plant and the surplus that could be sold to the national electric supply utility TANESCO.

Introduction: Practicing sport is a good habit to control body weight and to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. However, the importance of wearing the correct sport shoes is underestimated and the choice of footwear is often merely dictated by fashion. However, only few studies have thus far reported the baropodometric effects of different foot types in sport shoes [1], and the influence of different insoles and shoes in running [2]. In this study, an ad-hoc “sport trial” was designed in order to reproduce in laboratory motor tasks common to different sports. Native insoles, i.e. provided with the shoes, were compared to an off-the-shelf sport insole and to a featureless flat insole. Methods: 20 young physically active subjects (10 M, 10 F; age 32±9 years; BMI 22.3±2.8 kg/m2) were asked to perform a series of tasks in an ad-hoc “sport-trial”, in the following sequence: normal walking; fast walking; running; sprints with change of direction; stair ascending; jump off a 0.5mhigh platform; jump on the spot, and side-to-side shuttle run. Three insoles were tested: the prefabricated insoles within the sport shoes (NATIVE); a flat insole in latex (FLAT), and off-the-shelf sport insole (OTS-sport) in EVA featuring a latex heel insert and a metatarsal pad. The testing order of the insoles was randomized for each subject and the test was blind. A capacitive 99-sensor insole system (Pedar, Novel) was used to measure plantar pressure in a number of foot regions. Analysis of the pedobarographic parameters, e.g. peak pressure (PP, kPa) and pressure-time integral (PTI, kPa*s), and statistical analysis were performed using a proprietary software written in Matlab (MathWorks, Inc.). A VAS questionnaire was filled after each test to score the comfort of each insole [3]. Non-parametric paired Friedman test with Bonferroni correction was used to assess statistical differences in pedobarographic parameters and comfort between the three insoles (˛= 0.05). Results: Statistically significant differences in comfort were found between OTS-sport and the other two insoles (NATIVE = 7.0±2.3; FLAT = 7.5±2.3; OTS = 4.2±2.6; p < 0.05). Significant differences in pedobarographic parameters at the same plantar region were observed between tasks, and between the three insoles for the same task. Side-to-side run showed plantar loading mainly at the forefoot (Fig. 1). In fast walking, the OTS-sport showed larger PP and PTI at the rearfoot than NATIVE (PP (kPa): NATIVE = 280±90; FLAT = 302±81, OTS = 328±78; p < 0.05) but no significant differences at forefoot. In running, the OTS-sport showed the largest PTI and PP at forefoot (PTI (kPa*s): NATIVE = 50±19; FLAT = 47±13; OTS = 53±11; p < 0.05). Discussion: In this study, an ad-hoc sport-trial was designed and proposed to allow the acquisition of in-shoe plantar pressure during motor tasks common to several sports. The presence of a metatarsal pad in the OTS-sport insole appeared to affect negatively the insole performance. This study has allowed to get an insight into the effects of foot orthotics on plantar pressure magnitude and distribution in sport shoes, and to measure the forces acting on the foot in different motor tasks in order to help with the selection of the most appropriate combination of footwear and orthotics for each sport.

Introduction: Foot morphology and biomechanics are affected by age and gender. As far as the age is concerned, this is consequence of biological alterations of joints and soft tissues which can also be detected by modifications in plantar pressure measurements. While the relationship between some pedobarographic-based parameters and different foot types has been reported in a study involving a large population [1], our current understanding of how ageing affects plantar pressure during walking is still limited. Aim of the study was to characterize plantar pressure data during walking according to gender and age in a population of healthy subjects. The pedobarographic-based foot parameters are expected to provide useful information for genderand age-specific populations. Methods: From January to July 2016 more than three hundred subjects were visited by an experienced podiatrist at the Movement Analysis Laboratory of Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, and also in other locations: a primary school; a gymnastic training center; a volleyball training center, and aswimmingpool. 133 subjects (70 M, 63 F) with BMI < 29 presenting asymptomatic feet with normal heel alignment (heel varus < 5 deg) and medial longitudinal arch, and with no previous history of lower limb trauma or surgery, were acquired using a 2304-sensor pressure plate (P-walk, BTS, Italy). Five left and five right steps were recorded for each subject while walking at comfortable speed. A custom software was developed and used to determine pedobarographic-based parameters from plantar pressure data [2]: arch-index (AI, %); centre of pressure excursion index (CPEI, %); peak pressure (PP, kPa); pressure-time integral (PTI, kPa*s); foot progression angle (FPA, deg); foot length and foot width (mm). Subjects’ data were pooled according to gender, and in four age groups: 6–12; 13–20; 21–40; and 41–60 years. For each gender, differences in pedobarographic parameters between age groups were determined via Kruskall–Wallis test with significance at 0.05. Mann–Whitney test was used to determine differences in each parameter between age-matched gender groups. Results: Differences were found in all parameters across age groups, with the exception of AI and CPEI. The 5–12 years group showed the smallest PP, PTI and foot dimensions for both genders. In general, FPA increased with age: the oldest group showed larger FPA than the youngest group (Fig. 1). With exception of the youngest group, foot dimensions were always larger in males. Differences between males and females in several parameters were found in the 13–20 years group. For example, median PTI in the left foot was 111 kPa*s [94–132] in the female group and 142 kPa*s [119–171] in the male group (p = 0.009). Discussion: Pressure plates are useful and reasonably priced instrumentation for the analysis of plantar pressure. While this instrumentation is increasingly used by podiatrists, plantar pressure data are often assessed on a qualitative basis only. According to this study, several pedobarographic-based parameters characterizing foot biomechanics during walking are age- and gender-dependent. Gender- and age-specific normative data are thus recommended when assessing foot biomechanics and in the diagnosis of foot ailments. This data may help assist with the diagnosis of foot pathologies and morphological alterations, and with the interpretation of foot biomechanics in healthy subjects. References [1] Menz HB, et al. Rheumatology 2013;52:2275–82. [2] Caravaggi P, et al. Bone Joint J. Orthop. Proc. Suppl 2017;2:19.

K. Hadyńska-Kl¸ek et al. ; 7 pags., 3 figs., 2 tabs., Shape parameters of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in Ca42 were determined from E2 matrix elements measured in the first low-energy Coulomb excitation experiment performed with AGATA. The picture of two coexisting structures is well reproduced by new state-of-the-art large-scale shell model and beyond-mean-field calculations. Experimental evidence for superdeformation of the band built on 02+ has been obtained and the role of triaxiality in the A∼40 mass region is discussed. Furthermore, the potential of Coulomb excitation as a tool to study superdeformation has been demonstrated for the first time. © 2016 American Physical Society, Special gratitude goes to the INFN LNL and HIL Warsaw technical staff for their support and help, in particular, the accelerator crews for providing intense and good-quality 42Ca and 32S beams. K. H.-K. acknowledges support from the Research Council of Norway under the project Grant No. 213442. T. R. R. acknowledges computing time at GSI-Darmstadt and support from Spanish MINECO under Programa Ramon y Cajal 11420 and FIS-2014-53434-P, H. N. acknowledges support from Helmholtz Association through the Nuclear Astrophysics Virtual Institute NAVI (No. VH-VI-417). We also acknowledge the support by Generalitat Valenciana, Spain, under the grant PROMETEOII/2014/019 and by the FEDER funds of the European Commission (A. Gadea), Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under Contract No. FPA2014-57196-C5 (A. J., A. Gadea), German Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) under Contract No. 05P12PKFNE TP4 (B. Birkenbach), the Polish National Science Centre under Projects No. DEC-2013/10/M/ST2/00427, No. DPN/N190/ AGATA/2009, No. 2011/03/B/ST2/01894, No. UMO- 2014/14/M/ST2/00738 (COPIN-INFN Collaboration), and No. 2015/17/B/ST2/01534.