Upper Limit on the Diffuse νμ\nu_\mu Flux with the ANTARES Telescope

A search for very-high energy cosmic muon neutrinos from unresolved sources is presented using data collected by the ANTARES neutrino telescope. Data corresponding to 334 days of equivalent live time show that the observed number of events is compatible with the expected number of background events. A 90% c.l. upper limit on the diffuse $\nu_\mu$ flux is set at E^2\Phi_{90%} = 5.3 \times 10^{-8} \ \mathrm{GeV\ cm^{-2}\ s^{-1}\ sr^{-1}} in the energy range 20 TeV -- 2.5 PeV.Comment: Poster presented at Neutrino 2010, Athens, Greec

Search for a neutrino emission from the Fermi Bubbles with the ANTARES telescope

ANTARES is the largest neutrino telescope in the Northern hemisphere. The main scientific goal is the search for cosmic neutrinos coming from galactic and extragalactic sources. Neutrinos are detected through the Cherenkov light emitted along the path of charged particles produced in neutrino interactions inside or in the vicinity of the detector. ANTARES is sensitive to all flavors though it is optimized for muon neutrinos. The detector has been taking data in its complete configuration since May 2008. Using data collected in the period 2007-2010, the first analysis devoted to the search for neutrinos from the Fermi Bubbles is presented. The Fermi Bubbles are characterized by gamma emission with a E^{-2} spectrum and a relatively constant intensity all over the space. According to a proposed hadronic mechanism for this gamma-ray emission, the Fermi Bubbles can be a source of high-energy neutrinos. No evidence of a neutrino signal is found in the ANTARES data. Therefore upper limits are calculated for neutrino fluxes with different energy cutoffs.Comment: 2012 Fermi Symposium proceedings - eConf C12102

Measuring Regional Multipliers: A Comparison between Two Different Methodologies for the Case Of The Italian Regions

This paper focuses on theory and methodology in estimating Keynesian regional multipliers. After introducing the concept of Keynesian multipliers at both national and regional level and describe the database used, two methodologies are compared and applied to the case of the Italian regions: the "Marginal propensities method" (MPM) and the "Aggregate leakages method" (ALM). The higher multipliers values in Southern Italy, resulting from the application of both methodologies, are consistent with similar previous findings and appear to be related to the degree of openness of the local economy, the availability of resources and their marginal productivity, the level of wealth, income distribution and the consequent different consumption patterns. Keywords: Keynesian multipliers, Italian regions, regional disparities JEL-classification: R10, E12, R15

DO INNOVATION INCENTIVES WORK? EVIDENCE FROM THE ITALIAN MANUFACTURING SECTOR

The main purpose of this study is to investigate upon the impact of fiscal incentives on firm’s innovative performance. We use data from the 7th, 8th and 9th waves of the “Indagine sulle Imprese Manifatturiere Italiane†by Unicredit (previously managed by Capitalia-Mediocredito Centrale), which contains information on both product and process innovation by manufacturing firms, on the amount of resources invested in R&D (if such amount is positive) and it is also informative of the existence of forms of fiscal incentive for R&D and investment in innovative activities. In our study we use different techniques. First we look at Average Treatment Effects, under the assumption of “selection on observablesâ€, implying that the econometrician has access to all the variables affecting the likelihood of being treated. In this part of the paper we verify whether -everything else constant (i.e. for a given value of the propensity score)- there is evidence that firms that have access to fiscal incentives tend to innovate more. In the second part of our study we cast some doubts on the plausibility of the “selection on observables†assumption and we look more in depth at one specific case of fiscal incentive: the one provided by Law 140/1999 to firms located in “depressed areas†(as defined by the law itself). We focus on this law because it is particularly important from a policy perspective within the Italian dual economy, but also because it allows us a more precise estimate of the treatment effect in a situation where treatment status (i.e. access to the incentive) is likely to depend to the same (unobserved) factors that affect the innovation outcome. In such a situation OLS estimated are biased and inconsistent and we have to use instrumental variable estimation. We choose to instrument treatment using the eligibility rules for treatment and we find the confirmation that indeed an endogeneity issue exists and that its effects are stronger the weaker is the impact of treatment on the outcome variable.

A symmetry result for cooperative elliptic systems with singularities

We obtain symmetry results for solutions of an elliptic system of equation possessing a cooperative structure. The domain in which the problem is set may possess "holes" or "small vacancies" (measured in terms of capacity) along which the solution may diverge. The method of proof relies on the moving plane technique, which needs to be suitably adapted here to take care of the complications arising from the vacancies in the domain and the analytic structure of the elliptic system

Gene Therapy for Pediatric Cancer: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

While modern treatments have led to a dramatic improvement in survival for pediatric malignancy, toxicities are high and a significant proportion of patients remain resistant. Gene transfer offers the prospect of highly specific therapies for childhood cancer. “Corrective” genes may be transferred to overcome the genetic abnormalities present in the precancerous cell. Alternatively, genes can be introduced to render the malignant cell sensitive to therapeutic drugs. The tumor can also be attacked by decreasing its blood supply with genes that inhibit vascular growth. Another possible approach is to modify normal tissues with genes that make them more resistant to conventional drugs and/or radiation, thereby increasing the therapeutic index. Finally, it may be possible to attack the tumor indirectly by using genes that modify the behavior of the immune system, either by making the tumor more immunogenic, or by rendering host effector cells more efficient. Several gene therapy applications have already been reported for pediatric cancer patients in preliminary Phase 1 studies. Although no major clinical success has yet been achieved, improvements in gene delivery technologies and a better understanding of mechanisms of tumor progression and immune escape have opened new perspectives for the cure of pediatric cancer by combining gene therapy with standard therapeutic available treatments

A multi-layer parametric approach to maximize the access probability of mobile networks

Next-generation mobile networks (5G) are defined to provide access in the framework of heterogeneous systems where it is crucial to have “always on” and “everywhere connectivity” capabilities. This is of fundamental importance even in 4G mobile systems, down to 3G and also Wi-Fi and WiMAX. In order to guarantee access to users with handheld devices equipped with multiple radio interfaces, an automated and reconfigurable tool for selecting the best network to be connected with is needed. This should be achieved by avoiding service outages. Current vertical handovers, i.e., switching from a network to another, are essentially based on power received levels and often do not avoid temporary service outages. We propose in this paper a procedure to access mobile networks by sensing multiple performance parameters related to networks available in the considered area. We target at maximizing the probability of accessing the wireless medium despite the technology used. We develop an algorithm, based on dynamic programming, able to select the most suitable network. We present the performance of the proposed algorithm both on the basis of computer simulations and on tests performed in an Arduino-based hardware platform