Geographical Heterogeneities and Externalities in an Epidemiological-Macroeconomic Framework

We analyze the implications of geographical heterogeneities and externalities on health and macroeconomic outcomes by extending a basic epidemiological-macroeconomic model to a spatial dimension. Because of people's migration and commuting across different regions, a disease may spread also in areas far from those in which the outbreak originally occurs and thus the health status (i.e., disease prevalence) in specific regions may depend on the health status in other regions as well. We show that neglecting the existence of cross-regional effects may lead to misleading conclusions about the long run outcome not only in single regions but also in the entire economy, suggesting that single regions need to coordinate their efforts to achieve disease eradication. We analyze such a coordination by focusing on a control problem in which the social planner determines globally the level of intervention showing that to achieve eradication it is essential to accompany traditional disease control policies (i.e., prevention and treatment) with regulations limiting people's movements. Focusing on COVID-19 we present a calibration based on Italian data showing that, because of the infections generated by cross-regional commuting, even vaccination may not be enough to achieve disease eradication, and limitations on people's movements need to accompany vaccination to preclude COVID-19 from reaching an endemic state

SPACE, UNCERTAINTY AND INTERGENERATIONAL ISSUES: ESSAYS IN ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS

DANILO LIUZZI Abstract, Phd Thesis in Economics This abstract presents the research questions that will be addressed in the four chapters of this thesis. The red line connecting the chapters is the attempt to introduce some aspects of complexity in the traditional literature of environmental and resource economics. A manifesto on the vision of social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems can be found in Levin et al (2012): nonlinear feedbacks, non convexities, strategic interactions, individual and spatial heterogeneity, varying time scales and stochasticity are key factors that cannot be ignored in the analysis of the complex coupling between the economic and environmental side of our ecosystem. Some of the these key factors will be considered in the models presented in the remainder of this work. The first chapter, , proposes a very simple model of the joint dynamics of capital and pollution, where capital stands for an homogeneous good that can be produced and consumed, while pollution accounts for the environmental degradation. Pollution is a by-product of production and in the meantime negatively affects production via a multiplicative damage function, as in framework of the Integrated Assessment Models proposed by Nordhaus ( 1992) and Nordhaus and Boyer (2000). In these models a functional form for the damage function is assumed and the parameters are estimated ( a literature review about the different functional forms proposed for the damage function is presented in Ortiz and Markandya, 2010). The stronger the effect of damage function, the less satisfactory the outcome of the economic activity. In principle, the damage function can drive the economic outcome to zero only if its denominator assumes an infinite value. This is due to the choice of a Cobb-Douglas production function. In this chapter is shown that assuming an S-shaped function a la' Skiba (1978), multiple equilibria arise and depending on the initial conditions of capital and pollution an economy can be condemned to a poverty trap. The second chapter, Pollution Diffusion and Abatement Activities across Space and over Time, builds on the first , introducing space into the picture. This paper belongs to a relatively young stream of literature that bridges the gap between new economic geography (see, for example, Krugman ) and growth theory ( see Boucekkine et al, 2010). The key assumption is the continuity of space and the possibility of capital and pollution to flow across space thanks to a diffusion-like mechanism. In particular this chapter focuses on the role that capital and pollution diffusion has in shaping the basins of the attraction of the equilibria when a convex-concave production function enters the stage. Diffusion of capital can be either beneficial or detrimental, depending on its intensity and on the initial allocation of capital across space. The results are based on numerical simulation and the complexity of the problem requested an ad hoc numerical algorithm for the solutions to be displayed. The third chapter, Sustainability and Intertemporal equity: a Multicriteria approach, deals with sustainability and intertemporal equity issues through the lenses of a multicriteria approach. In most situations a decision maker have different conflicting criteria to meet: this heterogeneity of the goals is particularly striking when sustainability and long run economic growth have to be taken into account simultaneously. The Discounted Utilitarianism and Green Golden Rule are two social welfare functions, id est two conflicting welfare criteria, that rely on two different normative approaches to the most debated question about what should be considered the appropriate form for a long run social welfare function ( see Heal ). The chapter tries to provide an answer to this question, by evaluating which welfare criteria yields the best outcome: the Chichilnisky criterion ( see Chichilnisky, ) proves to be a valuable unifying framework to interpret the problem. In the fourth and last chapter, Pollution Control under Uncertainty and Sustainability Concern, there is an analysis about the implications of environmental policy on pollution in a stochastic framework with finite horizon and sustainability concern. The idea of minimizing the negative externalities of pollution, taking into account both the damages pollution brings in the short run and the heritage pollution leaves at the end of the time span, echoes the Chichilnisky criterion cited before. The approach has been made more adherent to reality thanks to the stochastic differential equation that describes the evolution of pollution along time

Multi-step exploitation of raw arundo donax L. For the selective synthesis of second-generation sugars by chemical and biological route

Lignocellulosic biomass represents one of the most important feedstocks for future biorefineries, being a precursor of valuable bio-products, obtainable through both chemical and biological conversion routes. Lignocellulosic biomass has a complex matrix, which requires the careful development of multi-step approaches for its complete exploitation to value-added compounds. Based on this perspective, the present work focuses on the valorization of hemicellulose and cellulose fractionsof giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to give second-generation sugars, minimizing the formation of reaction by-products. The conversion of hemicellulose to xylose was undertaken in the presence of the heterogeneous acid catalyst Amberlyst-70 under microwave irradiation. The effect of the main reaction parameters, such as temperature, reaction time, catalyst, and biomass loadings on sugars yield was studied, developing a high gravity approach. Under the optimised reaction conditions (17 wt% Arundo donax L. loading, 160 °C, Amberlyst-70/Arundo donax L. weight ratio 0.2 wt/wt), the xylose yield was 96.3 mol%. In the second step, the cellulose-rich solid residue was exploited through the chemical or enzymatic route, obtaining glucose yields of32.5 and56.2 mol%, respectively. This work proves the efficiency of this innovative combination of chemical and biological catalytic approaches, for the selective conversion of hemicellulose and cellulose fractions of Arundo donax L. to versatile platform products

Status of the Cylindical-GEM project for the KLOE-2 Inner Tracker

The status of the R&D on the Cylindrical-GEM (CGEM) detector foreseen as Inner Tracker for KLOE-2, the upgrade of the KLOE experiment at the DAFNE phi-factory, will be presented. The R&D includes several activities: i) the construction and complete characterization of the full-size CGEM prototype, equipped with 650 microns pitch 1-D longitudinal strips; ii) the study of the 2-D readout with XV patterned strips and operation in magnetic field (up to 1.5T), performed with small planar prototypes in a dedicated test at the H4-SPS beam facility; iii) the characterization of the single-mask GEM technology for the realization of large-area GEM foils.Comment: 4 pages, 10 figures, Presented at Vienna Conference on Instrumentation (Feb 15-20, 2010, Vienna, Austria). Submitted to the Proceeding

Grid-Based Atmospheric Retrievals for Reflected-Light Spectra of Exoplanets using PSGnest

Techniques to retrieve the atmospheric properties of exoplanets via direct observation of their reflected light have often been limited in scope due to computational constraints imposed by the forward-model calculations. We have developed a new set of techniques which significantly decreases the time required to perform a retrieval while maintaining accurate results. We constructed a grid of 1.4 million pre-computed geometric albedo spectra valued at discrete sets of parameter points. Spectra from this grid are used to produce models for a fast and efficient nested sampling routine called PSGnest. Beyond the upfront time to construct a spectral grid, the amount of time to complete a full retrieval using PSGnest is on the order of seconds to minutes using a personal computer. An extensive evaluation of the error induced from interpolating intermediate spectra from the grid indicates that this bias is insignificant compared to other retrieval error sources, with an average coefficient of determination between interpolated and true spectra of 0.998. We apply these new retrieval techniques to help constrain the optimal bandpass centers for retrieving various atmospheric and bulk parameters from a LuvEx-type mission observing several planetary archetypes. We show that spectral observations made using a 20\% bandpass centered at 0.73 microns can be used alongside our new techniques to make detections of $H_2O$ and $O_2$ without the need to increase observing time beyond what is necessary for a signal-to-noise ratio of 10. The methods introduced here will enable robust studies of the capabilities of future observatories to characterize exoplanets.Comment: 32 pages, 17 figures. Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journa

Gas Analysis and Monitoring Systems for the RPC Detector of CMS at LHC

The Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC) detector of the CMS experiment at the LHC proton collider (CERN, Switzerland) will employ an online gas analysis and monitoring system of the freon-based gas mixture used. We give an overview of the CMS RPC gas system, describe the project parameters and first results on gas-chromatograph analysis. Finally, we report on preliminary results for a set of monitor RPC.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures. Presented by Stefano Bianco (Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati dell'INFN) at the IEEE NSS, San Diego (USA), October 200

Pregnancy Loss in Women with HIV is not Associated with HIV Markers: Data from a National Study in Italy, 2001-2018.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information on pregnancy loss in women with HIV, and it is still debated whether HIV-related markers may play a role.Objectives: To explore potential risk factors for pregnancy loss in women with HIV, with particular reference to modifiable risk factors and markers of HIV disease. METHODS: Multicenter observational study of HIV-positive pregnant women. The main outcome measure was pregnancy loss, including both miscarriage (<22 weeks) and stillbirth ( 6522 weeks). Possible associations of pregnancy loss were evaluated in univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Among 2696 eligible pregnancies reported between 2001 and 2018, 226 (8.4%) ended in pregnancy loss (miscarriage 198, 7.3%; stillbirth 28, 1.0%). In multivariate analyses, only older age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] per additional year of age: 1.079, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.046-1.113), HIV diagnosis before pregnancy (AOR: 2.533, 95%CI 1.407-4.561) and history of pregnancy loss (AOR: 1.625, 95%CI 1.178-2.243) were significantly associated with pregnancy loss. No significant association with pregnancy loss was found for parity, coinfections, sexually transmitted diseases, hypertension, smoking, alcohol and substance use, CD4 cell count, HIV-RNA viral load, and CDC HIV stage. CONCLUSIONS: Older women and those with a previous history of pregnancy loss should be considered at higher risk of pregnancy loss. The severity of HIV disease and potentially modifiable risk factors did not increase the risk of pregnancy loss

Neuroanatomy and cadaver dissection in Italy: History, medicolegal issues, and neurosurgical perspectives.

Despite the significant Italian tradition of important anatomical studies, an outdated law historically influenced by the Catholic church restricts the use of cadavers for teaching and scientific purposes. The object of the present paper was to trace the historical evolution of the Italian anatomical tradition, particularly neuroanatomical studies, in relation to the juridical regulations on the use of cadavers today. Special attention was paid to the opportunities offered to neurosurgery by using cadavers and to the scientific and social issues in neurosurgical training in the twenty-first century. Considering the new Common European Constitution, the authors advocate a political solution from the European community to improve the quality of training in the disciplines with a social impact such as neurosurgery

Persistence of somatostatinergic tone in acromegaly

It is a matter of debate whether hypothalamic somatostatin (SRIH) secretion in acromegaly is preserved and still regulated by the physiological feedback mechanisms of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I. To gather further information on this, the reproducibility of plasma GH changes induced by growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) administration was evaluated in 15 acromegalic patients. There was a highly significant correlation between the peak/basal ratio (P/B) GH response in the 15 patients administered GHRH on two separate occasions (r = 0.99, p < 0.001). The test was performed also before and after the administration of drugs able to inhibit or stimulate hypothalamic SRIH release, by activating (pyridostigmine) or inhibiting (pirenzepine) cholinergic pathways, respectively. The GHRH-induced GH response (P/B = 2, range 1.1-26.1) was increased significantly by pyridostigmine pretreatment in 30 patients (P/B = 2.6, range 1.3-34.8; p = 0.0045). In nine out of 30 patients an increase of greater than 2 SD of within-subject GHRH variability was observed in response to GHRH plus pyridostigmine when compared to GHRH alone. An inverse correlation (r = -0.37, p < 0.05) was observed between GH response to GHRH alone and after pyridostigmine pretreatment. On the contrary, no change of GHRH-induced GH response was observed in 12 patients after pirenzepine pretreatment (P/B = 1.9, range 1.1-5 and P/B = 2, range 1.3-6 without and after pirenzepine pretreatment, respectively). These data suggest that in acromegaly the somatostatinergic tone does not seem to fluctuate, and that it can be inhibited often by cholinergic pathway activation but not increased further by cholinergic suppression