Bs Mixing, DeltaGamma_s and CP Violation

We discuss the results from the Tevatron experiments on mixing and {\sf CP} violation in the $B_s-\bar{B}_s^0$ system, with particular emphasis to the first measurements of the decay width-difference $\Delta\Gamma_s$ and the {\sf CP} violating phase $\beta_s$ using flavor tagging information. We also briefly review the charge asymmetry measurements in semileptonic $B_s$ decays and in $B^\pm \to J/\psi K^\pm$ decays.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, Pub. Proceedings of the XLIIIrd Rencontres de Moriond on Electroweak Interactions and Unified Theories, La Thuile, Italy, March 1-8, 200

A simple framework for investigating the properties of policy games

The paper extensively studies the static model of non-cooperative linear quadratic games in which a set of agents chooses their instruments strategically to minimize their linear quadratic criterion. We first derive the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a Nash equilibrium as well as for multiple equilibria to arise. Furthermore, we study the general condition for policy neutrality and Pareto efficiency of the equilibrium by introducing a new concept of decisiveness.Conflict of interest, Nash equilibrium existence, multiplicity, policy invariance, controllability, Pareto efficiency

Electronic viscosity in a quantum well: A test for the local density approximation

In the local density approximation (LDA) for electronic time-dependent current-density functional theory (TDCDFT) many-body effects are described in terms of the visco-elastic constants of the homogeneous three-dimensional electron gas. In this paper we critically examine the applicability of the three-dimensional LDA to the calculation of the viscous damping of 1-dimensional collective oscillations of angular frequency $\omega$ in a quasi 2-dimensional quantum well. We calculate the effective viscosity $\zeta(\omega)$ from perturbation theory in the screened Coulomb interaction and compare it with the commonly used three-dimensional LDA viscosity $Y(\omega)$. Significant differences are found. At low frequency $Y(\omega)$ is dominated by a shear term, which is absent in $\zeta(\omega)$. At high frequency $\zeta(\omega)$ and $Y(\omega)$ exhibit different power law behaviors ($\omega^{-3}$ and $\omega^{-5/2}$ respectively), reflecting different spectral densities of electron-hole excitations in two and three dimensions. These findings demonstrate the need for better approximations for the exchange-correlation stress tensor in specific systems where the use of the three-dimensional functionals may lead to unphysical results.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, RevTex

Genomic and structural investigation on dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) in Mediterranean fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus).

Dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) has been deemed as one of the most relevant threats for fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) being responsible for a mortality outbreak in the Mediterranean Sea in the last years. Knowledge of the complete viral genome is essential to understand any structural changes that could modify virus pathogenesis and viral tissue tropism. We report the complete DMV sequence of N, P/V/C, M, F and H genes identified from a fin whale and the comparison of primary to quaternary structure of proteins between this fin whale strain and some of those isolated during the 1990-'92 and the 2006-'08 epidemics. Some relevant substitutions were detected, particularly Asn52Ser located on F protein and Ile21Thr on N protein. Comparing mutations found in the fin whale DMV with those occurring in viral strains of other cetacean species, some of them were proven to be the result of diversifying selection, thus allowing to speculate on their role in host adaptation and on the way they could affect the interaction between the viral attachment and fusion with the target host cells

What Are the Success Factors of Multilingual Families? Relationships Between Linguistic Attitudes and Community Dynamics

The research focuses on the influence of emotional, cognitive, and social climate on the language choices of multilingual families, and the impact they can have on their general well-being, intergenerational relationships, and the community context. The methodological framework of reference is Grounded Theory. Collected data concern language practices, attitudes, emotions, and generational, trigenerational, and social interactive dynamics of multilingual families. The results include key insights into the variables underlying the linguistic attitudes of multicultural families. Two Network Views suggest that linguistic attitudes, such as the conscious management of specific and complex dynamics activated in a multilingual family, can stimulate well-being

Viscous corrections to the resistance of nano-junctions: a dispersion relation approach

It is well known that the viscosity of a homogeneous electron liquid diverges in the limits of zero frequency and zero temperature. A nanojunction breaks translational invariance and necessarily cuts off this divergence. However, the estimate of the ensuing viscosity is far from trivial. Here, we propose an approach based on a Kramers-Kr\"onig dispersion relation, which connects the zero-frequency viscosity, $\eta(0)$, to the high-frequency shear modulus, $\mu_{\infty}$, of the electron liquid via $\eta(0) =\mu_{\infty} \tau$, with $\tau$ the junction-specific momentum relaxation time. By making use of a simple formula derived from time-dependent current-density functional theory we then estimate the many-body contributions to the resistance for an integrable junction potential and find that these viscous effects may be much larger than previously suggested for junctions of low conductance.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Revised versio

Experimental Test of Two-way Quantum Key Distribution in Presence of Controlled Noise

We describe the experimental test of a quantum key distribution performed with a two-way protocol without using entanglement. An individual incoherent eavesdropping is simulated and induces a variable amount of noise on the communication channel. This allows a direct verification of the agreement between theory and practice.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Paediatric ambulatory care sensitive hospitalisation and Italian deprivation index. Retrospective multilevel analysis of administrative data from 2008 to 2018 in the Abruzzo Region (Southern Italy)

OBJECTIVES: to estimate and analyse the trend of paediatric hospitalisations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs) from 2008 to 2018 in a region of southern Italy and to assess the association with the socio-economic deprivation index (DI). DESIGN: retrospective observational study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: ACSC hospitalisations in children (<=18 years) were identified. Discharges for ACSC of the Abruzzo Region from 2008 to 2018 were selected and the deprivation index of the municipality of residence was assigned to the hospital discharge record where the patient's residence was reported. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: the rate of paediatric preventable admissions (PPHs) related to ACSC, standardized by age and gender with the direct method, was calculated for the years of observation. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) was calculated with a trend analysis. In addition, the odds ratios (ORs) of hospitalisation for ACSC were calculated using a hierarchical logistic regression model. RESULTS: 252,513 hospitalisations were examined, of which 16,264 (6.4%) attributable to ACSC. During the study period, the hospitalisation rate decreased from 8.59 per 1,000 to 6.12 per 1,000 residents, with an AAPC of -3.7, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Furthermore, an association was highlighted between hospitalisations related to ACSC and the deprivation of the municipality of residence. Using as a comparison people residing in the municipalities belonging to the first quintile, the least deprived, the strength of the association between PPHs and DI increased from the third quintile (OR 1.13; CI95% 1.02-1.24) up to the fifth quintile, most deprived (OR 1.14; CI95% 1.01-1.30). CONCLUSIONS: paediatric patients residing in Abruzzo have a risk of undergoing a preventable hospitalisation associated with an ACSC which depends on the deprivation index of the municipality of residence. Although it is difficult to evaluate the mechanisms involved in the relationship between economic deprivation and hospitalisation, DI can be useful to identify the areas which are most at risk on which to prioritize public health interventions