Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4

With the Aventador LP 700-4, Lamborghini is redefining the very pinnacle of the world super sports car market - brutal power, outstanding lightweight engineering and phenomenal handling precision are combined with peerless design and the very finest equipment to deliver an unparalleled driving experience. With the Aventador, Lamborghini is taking a big step into the future - and building on the history of the brand with the next automotive legend. The first customers will take delivery of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 in late summer 2011.

The technology package of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is utterly unique. It is based on an innovative monocoque made from carbon-fiber that combines exceptional lightweight engineering with the highest levels of stiffness and safety. The new twelve-cylinder with 6.5 liters' displacement and 700 hp brings together the ultimate in high-revving pleasure with astonishing low-end torque. Thanks to a dry weight of only 3,472 lbs (1,575 kilograms), which is extremely low for this class of vehicle, the weight-to-power ratio stands at only 4.96 lbs/hp (2.25 kilograms per hp). Even the fantastic 0-60 mph acceleration figure of just 2.8 seconds and the top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h) do not fully describe the Aventador's extreme performance. And yet, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are down by around 20 percent compared with its predecessor, despite the considerable increase in power (+8%).

The ISR transmission is unique among road-going vehicles, guaranteeing the fastest shifting time (only 50 milliseconds) and a highly emotional shift feel, while the lightweight chassis with pushrod suspension delivers absolute handling precision and competition-level performance. The expressively-designed interior offers hi-tech features ranging from the TFT cockpit display with Drive Select Mode system. The Aventador will be built to the very highest quality standards in an all-new production facility in Sant'Agata Bolognese.

"With the Aventador LP 700-4, the future of the super sports car is now part of the present. Its exceptional package of innovative technologies is unique, its performance simply overwhelming," says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. "The Aventador is a jump of two generations in terms of design and technology, it's the result of an entirely new project, but at the same time it's a direct and consistent continuation of Lamborghini's brand values. It is extreme in its design and its performance, uncompromising in its standards and technology, and unmistakably Italian in its style and perfection. Overall, the dynamics and technical excellence of the Aventador LP 700-4 makes it unrivalled in the worldwide super sports car arena."

Aventador: The Name of One of the Most Courageous of All Bulls
According to its tradition, Lamborghini's new flagship bears the name of a bull - naturally, a particularly courageous specimen from the world of the Spanish Corrida. Aventador was the name of a bull that entered into battle in October 1993 at the Saragossa Arena, earning the "Trofeo de la Pena La Madronera" for its outstanding courage.

Exterior Design
For Lamborghini, design is always the beauty of aggressive power, the elegance of breathtaking dynamics. From the very first glance, the new Aventador is unmistakably a Lamborghini, clothed in the brand's characteristic and distinctive design language - with its extremely powerful proportions, its exact lines and precise surfaces, and with taut muscularity in every one of its details. The designers in the Centro Stile Lamborghini have carefully developed this design language to give the Aventador a significant new edge. It is an avantgarde work of art, an incredibly dynamic sculpture, from the sharply honed front end through the extremely low roofline to the distinctive rear diffuser. Every line has a clear function, every form is dictated by its need for speed, yet the overall look is nothing less than spectacular and breathtaking.

Upward-Opening Doors
Truly impressive proportions come from an overall length of 188.19 inches (4.78 meters) matched with an impressive width of 88.98 inches (2.26 meters) including the exterior mirrors, and further accentuated by an extremely low height of just 44.72 inches (1.17 meters). It goes without saying that both doors of the carbon-fiber monocoque open upward - a feature that was first introduced in the now legendary Countach and then used for subsequent V12 models such as Diablo and Murciélago. However, the Aventador also evokes its immediate predecessor the Murciélago - electronically managed air intakes open depending on the outdoor temperature and the need for cooling air, ensuring maximum aerodynamic efficiency. And for those whishing to flaunt the heart of their Lamborghini, the optional transparent engine bonnet exhibits the twelve-cylinder engine like a technical work of art in a display case.

Exclusive and High-Tech Interior
The Aventador's spacious interior combines the fine exclusivity of premium materials and perfect Italian craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology and generous equipment. The red switch cover on the broad center tunnel encloses the start button used to awaken the twelve-cylinder. The interior is dominated by a next-generation dashboard - as in a modern airplane, the instruments are presented on a TFT-LCD screen using innovative display concepts. A second screen is dedicated to the standard-fit multimedia and navigation system.

Engine: Maximum Revs, Amazing Sound
For the Aventador LP 700-4, the engineers in Lamborghini's R&D Department have developed a completely new high-performance power unit - an extremely powerful and high-revving, but very compact power unit. At 518 lbs (235 kilograms), it is also extremely lightweight. A V12 with 700 hp at 8,250 rpm sets a whole new benchmark, even in the world of super sports cars. The maximum torque output is 509 lb-ft (690 Newton meters) at 5,500 rpm. The extremely well-rounded torque curve, the bull-like pulling power in every situation, the spontaneous responsiveness and, last but not least, the finely modulated but always highly emotional acoustics are what make this engine a stunning power plant of the very highest order.

Innovative Single-Clutch Transmission
Engineers at Lamborghini have created the perfect mate for the new twelve-cylinder engine with the highly innovative ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) transmission. The development objective was clearly formulated - to build not only the fastest robotized gearbox, but also to create the world's most emotional gear shift. Compared with a dual-clutch transmission, not only is the ISR gearbox much lighter, it also has smaller dimensions than a conventional manual unit - both key elements in the field of lightweight engineering for super sports cars.

Carbon-Fiber Monocoque
The new Lamborghini flagship has a full monocoque. The entire occupant cell, with tub and roof, is one single physical component. This ensures extreme rigidity and thus outstanding driving precision, as well as an extremely high level of passive safety for the driver and his passenger. The entire monocoque weighs only 325.18 lbs (147.5 kilograms).

The monocoque, together with the front and rear aluminum frames, features an impressive combination of extreme torsional stiffness of 35,000 Newton meters per degree and weighs only 505.9 lbs (229.5 kilograms).

Haldex All-Wheel-Drive
This kind of extreme power must be delivered reliably to the road. The driver of the Aventador LP 700-4 can depend fully on its permanent all-wheel drive - indicated by the 4 in the model designation. In the driveline, an electronically controlled Haldex coupling distributes the forces between front and rear. In a matter of milliseconds, this coupling adapts the force distribution to match the dynamic situation. A self-blocking rear differential together with a front differential electronically controlled by ESP make for even more dynamic handling. The Drive Select Mode System enables the driver to choose vehicle characteristics (engine, transmission, differential, steering and dynamic control) from three settings - Strada (road), Sport and Corsa (track) - to suit his individual preferences.

Pushrod Suspension
Lamborghini has equipped its new V12 super sports car with an innovative and highly sophisticated suspension concept. The pushrod spring and damper concept was inspired by Formula 1 and tuned perfectly to meet the needs of a high-performance road-going vehicle. Together with aluminum double wishbone suspension and a carbon-fiber ceramic brake system, this lightweight chassis represents a further aspect of the new flagship's unique technology concept.

Assistance and Safety Systems
In the hands of its driver, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is a high-precision machine - spontaneous, direct and always reliable. The driver is also assisted by the latest electronic systems such as the incredibly sporty, adjustable ESP system. When it comes to passive safety, front, head-thorax and knee airbags play their part alongside the extremely stiff carbon-fiber cell.

Individualization Program
A Lamborghini should always fit perfectly with the style and preferences of its owner. To this end, the range of individualization options is virtually inexhaustible. There is a selection of 13 production paint colors to choose from, three of which are highly sophisticated matt tones. A choice of two-tone interiors are offered with the "Sportivo" and "Elegante" versions, while a premium audio system and reversing camera are among the many technology options. And of course, the "Ad Personam" individualization program knows no limits when it comes to colors and materials.

AAP Issues Recommended Childhood and Teen Immunization Schedules

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued 2011 immunization schedules recommended for childhood and adolescents and published a policy statement describing the new schedules online February 1 in Pediatrics. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Family Physicians have also approved the new recommendations, which were written by the Committee on Infectious Diseases, chaired by Michael T. Brady, MD.

Highlights of the new schedules include guidance on hepatitis B vaccine administration to children who did not receive the recommended birth dose, and new recommendations on the use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), which replaced the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7).

Because of recent outbreaks of pertussis nationwide, the new recommendations offer guidance for a dose of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) in 7- to 10-year-old children who have not been adequately immunized against pertussis. The updated schedules now recommend a booster dose of the conjugated meningococcal vaccine to improve protection of adolescents throughout the greatest period of risk for meningococcal disease. Instructions on dosing of influenza vaccine are now based on a history of receiving monovalent 2009 H1N1 vaccine. The policy statement also offers guidance on administering human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to boys 9 to 18 years old to lower their risk of acquiring genital warts.

Spesific Updated Changes

Specific changes in the 2011 schedules from last year include the following:

• For children who did not receive the recommended birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine, the new recommendations offer guidance for administering the hepatitis B vaccine series. The catch-up schedule now includes a minimal age for dose 3 of hepatitis B vaccine, so that the final (third or fourth) dose in the series should be given no sooner than age 24 weeks.
• New recommendations are included on the use of PCV13, so that a PCV series started with PCV7 should be completed with PCV13. All children 14 through 59 months old who received an age-appropriate series of PCV7 should receive a single supplemental dose of PCV13. All children 60 through 71 months old with underlying medical conditions who have received an age-appropriate series of PCV7 should receive a single supplemental dose of PCV13. The supplemental PCV13 dose should be given at least 8 weeks after the previous dose of PCV7. Children 6 through 18 years old with functional or anatomic asplenia, HIV infection or other immunocompromising conditions, cochlear implant, or cerebrospinal fluid leak may be given a single dose of PCV13. Children at least 2 years old who have certain underlying medical conditions should be given the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) no sooner than 8 weeks after the last dose of PCV. Children with functional or anatomic asplenia or an immunocompromising condition should receive a single revaccination with PPSV after 5 years.
• On the basis of the child's history of receiving monovalent 2009 H1N1 vaccine, the new recommendations offer guidance for administering 1 or 2 doses of influenza vaccine. Children 6 months through 8 years old who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time or who were vaccinated for the first time during the previous influenza season but only received 1 dose at that time should receive 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart. Two doses of 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine should be given to children 6 months through 8 years old who received no doses of monovalent 2009 H1N1 vaccine or in whom the dosing schedule is unknown.
• Adolescents should be routinely immunized with quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), preferably at ages 11 through 12 years, and the new recommendations call for a booster dose at age 16 years. Adolescents given their first dose at ages 13 through 15 years should receive a booster dose at ages 16 through 18 years. A 2-dose primary series should be given 2 months apart to people at ages 2 through 54 years who are at higher risk for meningococcal disease.
• A single dose of Tdap should be given to children 7 through 10 years old who are not fully immunized against pertussis, including those who were never vaccinated or those with unknown pertussis vaccination status. Children 7 through 10 years old should be vaccinated according to the catch-up schedule if further doses are needed for complete immunization against tetanus and diphtheria. If adolescents 13 through 18 years old have not received the Tdap vaccine, they should receive a dose followed by a tetanus and diphtheria toxoids vaccine (Td) booster dose every 10 years thereafter. For children 7 through 18 years old, there is no longer a specified interval between the Td and Tdap vaccines.
• The policy statement contains guidance for use of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine in persons at least 5 years old who are at greater risk. Clinicians should consider giving 1 dose of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine to persons who are at least 5 years old who have sickle cell disease, leukemia, or HIV infection or in children who have undergone splenectomy.
• To prevent cervical precancerous lesions and cancers in girls, the new guidelines recommend the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (HPV4) and the bivalent vaccine (HPV2). To help prevent genital warts, HPV4 is also recommended for girls, and boys 9 through 18 years old may be given a 3-dose series of HPV4.

 "Clinically significant adverse events that follow immunization should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)," the statement authors conclude. "Guidance about how to obtain and complete a VAERS form can be obtained on the Internet at http://vaers.hhs.gov/index 

Clinical Context

The AAP, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians have approved the 2011 recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedules. The annual revisions include recommendations for vaccines licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration and updates from the previous year.

This policy statement from the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases describes the 2011 immunization updates, the recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0 through 6 years and aged 7 through 18 years, and the catch-up immunization schedule for persons aged 4 months through 18 years who start late or are more than 1 month behind in immunizations.

Study Highlights

• Hepatitis B vaccine schedule now includes a minimum age of 24 weeks for the final (third or fourth) dose (or third dose on the catch-up schedule).
• The PCV13 recommendations for children who have previously received PCV7 include the following:
  • 1 dose of PCV13 for children aged 14 through 59 months who received age-appropriate PCV7 series
  • 1 dose of PCV13 for children aged 60 through 71 months with underlying medical conditions who received age-appropriate PCV7 series
  • At least an 8-week interval between PCV13 and PCV7
  • 1 dose of PCV13 for children aged 6 to 18 years with functional or anatomic asplenia, HIV infection or other immunocompromised conditions, cochlear implant, or cerebrospinal fluid leak
• The PPSV is recommended for children 2 years or older with certain medical conditions at least 8 weeks after the last PCV dose; revaccination is recommended after 5 years to children with functional or anatomic asplenia or immunocompromised conditions.
• Influenza vaccine schedule of 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart is recommended for children ages 6 months through 8 years if they fulfill the following criteria:
  • Are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time
  • Were vaccinated for the first time in the previous influenza season with only 1 dose
  • Received no doses of monovalent 2009 H1N1 vaccine
  • Have unknown vaccination record
• The MCV4 schedule now includes a booster dose:
  • 1 routine MCV4 dose at ages 11 through 12 years, with booster dose at age 16 years
  • If the first MCV4 dose is given at ages 13 through 15 years, a booster dose recommended at ages 16 through 18 years
  • In patients aged 2 through 54 years at increased risk for meningococcal disease, a 2-dose primary series 2 months apart
• Tdap and Td recommendations include the following:
  • 1 dose of Tdap for children aged 7 through 10 years who are not fully immunized against pertussis or have unknown vaccine status, with Td catch-up doses if needed
  • Tdap substitutes for 1 dose of Td in the catch-up series for children aged 7 through 10 years or a booster for children aged 11 through 18 years
  • 1 dose of Tdap for adolescents aged 11 through 18 years who have not received Tdap followed by a Td booster every 10 years
  • No longer a specified interval between Td and Tdap vaccines for children aged 7 through 18 years
• Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine in 1 dose should be considered for persons 5 years of older with sickle cell disease, leukemia, HIV infection, or splenectomy.
• Recommendations for HPV vaccine include the following:
  • HPV4 and HPV2 vaccines are recommended for prevention of cervical precancers and cancers in girls.
  • HPV4 is recommended for prevention of genital warts in girls.
  • A 3-dose series of HPV4 may be given to boys aged 9 through 18 years to decrease the risk for genital warts.
• Clinically significant adverse events after immunizations should be reported to VAERS.

Clinical Implications

• The 2011 recommendations for the meningococcal conjugate vaccine in children and adolescents include routine immunization at ages 11 through 12 years with booster dose at age 16 years or a booster dose at ages 16 through 18 years if the first dose was received at ages 13 through 15 years. Persons aged 2 through 54 years at increased risk for meningococcal disease should receive a 2-dose primary series 2 months apart.
• The 2011 recommendations for the Tdap vaccine in children and adolescents include (1) a Tdap dose at ages 7 through 10 years if not fully immunized and Td if further catch-up doses are needed, and (2) a Tdap dose at ages 11 through 18 years if not already received followed by a Td booster every 10 years. No specific interval between Td and Tdap vaccines is recommended.

  

Pediatrics. Published online January 24, 2011 

Shorter, More Variable Sleep Duration Linked to Greater Metabolic Risk in Children

Shorter sleep duration and more variable sleep patterns, particularly on weekends, are linked to greater metabolic risk in children, according to the results of a cross-sectional study reported online January 24 in Pediatrics.

"Associations between short sleep duration, obesity and metabolic dysfunction have been proposed for children but have not been explored appropriately", write Karen Spruyt, PhD, from Comer Children's Hospital and Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Illinois, and colleagues. "...The goal was to explore the effects of duration and regularity of sleep schedules on [Body Mass Index (BMI)] and the impact on metabolic regulation in children."

In this study, 308 children aged 4 to 10 years were recruited from the community and underwent measurement of BMI. Wrist actigraphs allowed determination of sleep patterns for 1 week. A subsample of participants also underwent measurement of fasting morning plasma level of glucose, insulin, lipids and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Regardless of whether their weight was in the normal, overweight or obese category, participants had average sleep duration of 8 hours per night, which was markedly below the current recommendations. There was a nonlinear trend between sleep duration and weight. Obese children had shorter and more variable sleep duration on weekend than on school days, whereas overweight children had a mixed sleep pattern.

High variance in sleep duration and short sleep duration tended to be associated with changes in insulin, low-density lipoprotein and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein plasma levels. The greatest health risk was in children with sleep patterns at the lower end of sleep duration, especially when sleep schedules were irregular.

"The main findings included a nonlinear trend between sleep duration and body weight ad the finding that the children's sleep averaged 8 hours per night regardless of body weight", the study authors write. "Lower sleep duration values were strongly associated with increased metabolic risk."

Limitations of this study include short duration of actigraphy; lack of data on visceral and subcutaneous fat amounts; blood samples only obtained in only 36,6% of children and use of a predominantly white, non-Hispanic sample, which could have limited generalizability to other racial or ethnic groups.

"Obese children were less likely to experience 'catch-up' sleep on weekends, and the combination of shorter sleep duration and more variable sleep patterns was associated with adverse metabolic outcomes", the study authors conclude. "Educational campaigns, aimed at families, regarding longer and more regular sleep may promote decreases in obesity rates and may improve metabolic dysfunction trends in school-aged children."

Clinical Context
Inadequate sleep might affect neuropeptide regulation of appetite, leading to greater food intake and obesity, as reported by Zheng and Berthoud in the April 2008 issue of Physiology. However, in children, the effects of sleep pattern on BMI and metabolic dysfunction are not known. This community-based cohort study assesses sleep duration and the association between sleep pattern and BMI and metabolic dysfunction in children.

Study Highlights 

• 308 children aged 4 to 10 years were recruited from a public school system in Kentucky.
• Exclusion criteria were chronic medical conditions, generic craniofacial syndromes and neurobehavioral disorders.
• Mean age of the children was 7.2 years.
• 51% were girls.
• 71.4% were white, 18.8% were black and 9.7% were of other race or ethnicity.
• Weight and height were measured to determine BMI.
• Overweight was defined as a BMI z score of more than 1.04, and obesity was defined as a BMI z score of 1.65 or higher.
• Each child wore an actigraphs device for 1 week to determine sleep-and-awake intervals based on activity counts.
• Mean total sleep time was calculated for 7 consecutive days, school days (Sunday through Thursday) and weekends (Friday and Saturday).
• 132 children underwent fasting morning plasma tests for levels of glucose, insulin, triglycerides, lipids and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
• The median respiratory disturbance index was higher for obese children vs normal weight and overweight children (2.4 vs 0.9 vs 0.8; P = 0.003).
• The average duration of sleep was 8 hours, regardless of weight category.
• Sleep and weight had a nonlinear association.
• Sleep variability was greater on weekends vs weekdays for obese children vs normal-weight and overweight children.
• Total sleep time on weekends was shorter for obese children vs normal-weight and overweight children.
• Normal-weight children had regular sleep duration during the week and tended to have longer sleep duration during weekends.
• Overweight children had a mixed sleep patterns of prolonged sleep as the weekdays progressed to the weekend.
• BMI z scores were linked with overweight children but not with normal-weight or obese children.
• In obese children, there was a positive correlation between sleep variability and triglyceride levels during school days (r = 0.31; P < 0.05).
• Abnormal insulin, low-density lipoprotein and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were more likely to be linked in groups with variable sleep duration or short sleep duration: short sleep on weekdays and normal duration on weekends, long sleep on weekdays and normal duration on weekends and short sleep duration on weekdays and weekends.
• Optimal sleep was represented by the group with long sleep duration on weekdays and weekends.
• Study limitations were actigraphy for only 1 typical school week, lack of visceral and subcutaneous fat measurements, predominantly white subject population and blood measurements in only 36,6% of the participants.

Clinical Implications 

• The average sleep duration for children is 8 hours, regardless of weight.
• Obese children are more likely to have variable and shorter sleep duration on weekends. Altered insulin, low-density lipoprotein  and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels are more likely to be linked with variable sleep duration or shorter sleep duration.

Pediatrics. Published online January 24, 2011