The role of radiation therapy in bone metastases management

Bone metastases represent an important complication of malignant tumours. Despite improvement in surgical techniques and advances in systemic therapies, management of patients with bone metastatic disease remains a powerful cornerstone for the radiation oncologist. The primary goal of radiation therapy is to provide pain relief, preserving patient's quality of life

Diasporic diffusion and public policies: A Portuguese case study

With the re-orientation of the debate on migration and development, drifting many times away from the pre-conceived idea that the migrant chooses to exit over voice, the diaspora has been increasingly recognized as a potential actor on the governance of the homeland. Still, it has been systematically left out of the list of non-state actors involved in it – and characteristics as its in-betweenness and capacity to ask a producer of change, that make it a potential channel for policy diffusion remain largely unexplored in the literature. For many centuries, Portugal has been a country of emigration. This has resulted in the creation of a sizeable diaspora, with several Portuguese communities spread around the globe – so it becomes key to understand what the influence (if existing) of that diaspora is in the public policies of the homeland. Using the analytical framework proposed by Jörgens & Neves (2017) as a starting point, this thesis aims to analyze that influence, while filling the gap in the literature that connects diaspora and cross-national diffusion processes, especially in the Portuguese case. Standing as a more theoretical approach, the thesis paves the way for future empirical work, that allows to study the cross-national diffusion of public policies through the diaspora.Com a reorientação do debate sobre a relação entre migração e desenvolvimento, fugindo muitas vezes à ideia pré-concebida de que o emigrante escolhe a saída em vez de voz, a diáspora tem sido cada vez mais reconhecida como um potencial ator na governança do seu país de origem, mas ainda assim constantemente mantida fora da lista de atores não-estatais envolvidos na governança. Características como a sua ligação a dois países diferentes e sua capacidade para atuar como agentes de mudança fazem da diáspora uma forte candidata a possível canal de difusão de políticas públicas, mas esta possibilidade mantém-se largamente inexplorada na literatura. Durante vários séculos, Portugal foi considerado um país de emigração. Isto resultou na criação de uma diáspora significativa, tornando-se interessante perceber qual a influência (se existente) dessa diáspora nas políticas públicas do país de origem. Partindo do modelo analítico proposto por Jörgens e Neves (2017), o presente trabalho propõe-se a analisar essa influência, colmatando ao mesmo tempo a ausência de literatura que conecte a diáspora aos processos de difusão, especialmente no caso português. A partir de uma abordagem mais teórica, abre-se caminho para futuras análises empíricas, que permitam analisar políticas públicas em concreto

Exotic see-saw mechanism for neutrinos and leptogenesis in a Pati-Salam model

We discuss non-perturbative corrections to the neutrino sector, in the context of a D-brane Pati-Salam-like model, that can be obtained as a simple alternative to $SO(10)$ GUT's in theories with open and unoriented strings. In such D-brane models, exotic stringy instantons can correct the right-handed neutrino mass matrix in a calculable way, thus affecting mass hierarchies and modifying the see-saw mechanism to what we name exotic see-saw. For a wide range of parameters, a compact spectrum of right-handed neutrino masses can occur that gives rise to a predictive scenario for low energy observables. This model also provides a viable mechanism for Baryon Asymmetry in the Universe (BAU) through leptogenesis. Finally, a Majorana mass for the neutron is naturally predicted in the model, leading to potentially testable neutron-antineutron oscillations. Combined measurements in neutrino and neutron-antineutron sectors could provide precious informations on physics at the quantum gravity scale.Comment: 35 pages, 2 figures, matches the journal versio

Near-infrared photometry of the young open clusters NGC 1893 and Berkeley 86

We present photometry in the J and K near-infrared bands for two regions centered on the young open clusters NGC 1893 and Berkeley 86. We study 700 stars down to K = 17 in the field of NGC 1893, and about 2000 stars in the field of Berkeley 86 down to K$\sim$ 16.5, for which near-infrared photometry was insofar not available. Coupling J-K data with UBV photometry taken from literature, we produce reddening corrected colour-magnitude diagrams. We find that our data are consistent with previous determinations: the clusters are roughly coeval with an age between 4 and 6 million years. The mean reddening (measured as E(J-K)) values turn out to be 0.35 and 0.50 for NGC 1893 and Berkeley 86, respectively.Using colour-colour plots we discuss the presence of candidate pre-main sequence stars showing infrared excess. Candidates are found in both cluster regions, confirming the young age of these clusters.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures, Astronomy & Astrophysics Main Journal Accepte

La figura del super-antieroe nella letteratura per l’infanzia. Proposta di adattamento di Superpaco y los niños poseídos di Juana Cortés Amunarriz

La tesi propone la traduzione/adattamento del libro per bambini “Superpaco y los niños poseídos” di Juana Cortés Amunarriz, pubblicato nel 2018 dalla casa editrice spagnola NubeOcho. Il lavoro è composto da quattro capitoli. Il primo si concentra sull’analisi del testo di partenza (genere di appartenenza, casa editrice, illustratrice, autrice, elementi paratestuali, trama, i personaggi, elementi spazio-temporali, stile e lingua utilizzata per affrontare i temi trattati direttamente e indirettamente dall’autrice). Il secondo capitolo verte sulla figura del supereroe e dell’antieroe, che Superpaco/Paco Montes, protagonista del racconto incarna pienamente. Il terzo capitolo è dedicato alla proposta di traduzione nella versione italiana Superpino e i bambini posseduti. La traduzione viene commentata nel quarto e ultimo capitolo, in tutti quegli aspetti meritevoli di attenzione: paratesto, antroponimi e toponimi, lessico, fraseologia, giochi di parole, sintassi, elementi culturali e illustrazioni

CCD drift-scan imaging lunar occultations: a feasible approach for submeter class telescopes

A CCD drift-scanning technique for lunar occultation (LO) observations is presented. While this approach has been addressed before by Sturmann (\cite{laszlo94}) for the case of large telescopes, the technical validity has never been discussed for sub-meter class telescopes. In contrast to Sturmann's scheme, the proposed technique places the CCD in the image plane of the telescope. This does not represent a problem in the case of small telescopes, where the practical angular resolution attainable by LO is not limited by aperture smoothing. Photon-generated charge is read out at millisecond rates on a column by column basis, as the diffraction pattern of the occulted star is being tracked. Two LO events (SAO 79031 and SAO 77911) were observed to demonstrate the feasibility of the method. Data analysis was carried out, yielding unresolved angular diameters for both objects. We show, however, that the technique could be useful for close binary detections with small telescopes. A discussion of the limiting resolution and magnitude imposed by our instrumentation is carried out, showing that the drift-scanning technique could be extended to 1-2 m telescopes for stellar diameter determination purposes. Finally, we point out that the technical demands required by this technique can be easily met by most small professional observatories and advanced amateurs

Operations Management of Satellite Launch Centers

Driven by the business potentialities of the satellite industry, the last years witnessed a massive increase of attention in the space industry. This sector has been always considered critical by national entities and international organizations worldwide due to economic, cultural, scientific, military and civil implications. The need of cutting down satellite launch costs has become even more impellent due to the competition generated by the entrance in the sector of new players, including commercial organizations. Indeed, the high demand of satellite services requires affordable and flexible launch. In this context, a fundamental aspect is represented by the optimization of launch centers' logistics. The aim of this paper is to investigate and review the benefits and potential impact that consolidated operations research and management strategies, coupled with emerging paradigms in machine learning and control can have in the satellite industry, surveying techniques which could be adopted in advanced operations management of satellite launch centers