Analysis of GeV-band gamma-ray emission from SNR RX J1713.7-3946

RX J1713.7-3946 is the brightest shell-type Supernova remnant (SNR) of the TeV gamma-ray sky. Earlier Fermi-LAT results on low-energy gamma-ray emission suggested that, despite large uncertainties in the background determination, the spectrum is inconsistent with a hadronic origin. We update the GeV-band spectra using improved estimates for the diffuse galactic gamma-ray emission and more than doubled data volume. We further investigate the viability of hadronic emission models for RX J1713.7-3946. We produced a high-resolution map of the diffuse Galactic gamma-ray background corrected for HI self-absorption and used it in the analysis of more than 5~years worth of Fermi-LAT data. We used hydrodynamic scaling relations and a kinetic transport equation to calculate the acceleration and propagation of cosmic-rays in SNR. We then determined spectra of hadronic gamma-ray emission from RX J1713.7-3946, separately for the SNR interior and the cosmic-ray precursor region of the forward shock, and computed flux variations that would allow to test the model with observations. We find that RX J1713.7-3946 is now detected by Fermi-LAT with very high statistical significance, and the source morphology is best described by that seen in the TeV band. The measured spectrum of RX J1713.7-3946 is hard with index gamma=1.53 +/- 0.07, and the integral flux above 500 MeV is F = (5.5 +/- 1.1)e-9 photons/cm^2/s. We demonstrate that scenarios based on hadronic emission from the cosmic-ray precursor region are acceptable for RX J1713.7-3946, and we predict a secular flux increase at a few hundred GeV at the level of around 15% over 10 years, which may be detectable with the upcoming CTA observatory.Comment: 9 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

The extended structure of the remote cluster B514 in M31. Detection of extra-tidal stars

We present a study of the density profile of the remote M31 globular cluster B514, obtained from HST/ACS observations. Coupling the analysis of the distribution of the integrated light with star counts we can reliably follow the profile of the cluster out to r~35", corresponding to ~130pc. The profile is well fitted, out to ~15 core radii, by a King Model having C=1.65. With an estimated core radius r_c=0.38", this corresponds to a tidal radius of r_t~17" (~65pc). We find that both the light and the star counts profiles show a departure from the best fit King model for r>~8" - as a surface brightness excess at large radii, and the star counts profile shows a clear break in correspondence of the estimated tidal radius. Both features are interpreted as the signature of the presence of extratidal stars around the cluster. We also show that B514 has a half-light radius significantly larger than ordinary globular clusters of the same luminosity. In the M_V vs. log r_h plane, B514 lies in a region inhabited by peculiar clusters, like Omega Cen, G1, NGC2419 and others, as well as by the nuclei of dwarf elliptical galaxies.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Design of Wireless Sensor Nodes for Structural Health Monitoring applications

Enabling low-cost distributed monitoring, wireless sensor networks represents an interesting solution for the implementation of structural health monitoring systems. This work deals with the design of wireless sensor networks for health monitoring of civil structures, specifically focusing on node design in relation to the requirements of different structural monitoring application classes. Design problems are analysed with specific reference to a large-scale experimental setup (the long-term structural monitoring of the Basilica S. Maria di Collemaggio, L’Aquila, Italy). Main limitations emerged are highlighted, and adopted solution strategies are outlined, both in the case of commercial sensing platform and of full custom solutions

The Crossover beteween Aslamazov-Larkin and Short Wavelength Fluctuations Regimes in HTS Conductivity Experiments

We present paraconductivity (AL) measurements in three different high temperature superconductors: a melt textured $YBa_2Cu_3O_7$ sample, a $Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_8$ epitaxial thin film and a highly textured $Bi_2Sr_2Ca_2Cu_3O_{10}$ tape. The crossovers between different temperature regimes in excess conductivity have been analysed. The Lawrence-Doniach (LD) crossover, which separates the 2D and 3D regimes, shifts from lower to higher temperatures as the compound anisotropy decreases. Once the LD crossover is overcome, the fluctuation conductivity of the three compounds shows the same universal behaviour: for $\epsilon =\ln T/T_c > 0.23$ all the curves bend down according to the $1/\epsilon^3$ law. This asymptotic behaviour was theoretically predicted previously for the high temperature region where the short wavelength fluctuations (SWF) become important.Comment: 4 pages, Revtex, 1 PostScript figure available upon request ([email protected]); submitted to Physical Review B rapid communication

Disinvestment in healthcare: An overview of HTA agencies and organizations activities at European level

Background: In an era of a growing economic pressure for all health systems, the interest for "disinvestment" in healthcare increased. In this context, evidence based approaches such as Health Technology Assessment (HTA) are needed both to invest and to disinvest in health technologies. In order to investigate the extent of application of HTA in this field, methodological projects/frameworks, case studies, dissemination initiatives on disinvestment released by HTA agencies and organizations located in Europe were searched. Methods: In July 2015, the websites of HTA agencies and organizations belonging to the European network for HTA (EUnetHTA) and the International Network of Agencies for HTA (INAHTA) were accessed and searched through the use of the term "disinvestment". Retrieved deliverables were considered eligible if they reported methodological projects/frameworks, case studies and dissemination initiatives focused on disinvestment in healthcare. Results: 62 HTA agencies/organizations were accessed and eight methodological projects/frameworks, one case study and one dissemination initiative were found starting from 2007. With respect to methodological projects/frameworks, two were delivered in Austria, one in Italy, two in Spain and three in U.K. As for the case study and the dissemination initiative, both came from U.K. The majority of deliverables were aimed at making an overview of existing disinvestment approaches and at identifying challenges in their introduction. Conclusions: Today, in a healthcare context characterized by resource scarcity and increasing service demand, "disinvestment" from low-value services and reinvestment in high-value ones is a key strategy that may be supported by HTA. The lack of evaluation of technologies in use, in particular at the end of their lifecycle, may be due to the scant availability of frameworks and guidelines for identification and assessment of obsolete technologies that was shown by our work. Although several projects were carried out in different countries, most remain constrained to the field of research. Disinvestment is a relatively new concept in HTA that could pose challenges also from a methodological point of view. To tackle these challenges, it is necessary to construct experiences at international level with the aim to develop new methodological approaches to produce and grow evidence on disinvestment policies and practices