On Fano schemes of complete intersections

We provide enumerative formulas for the degrees of varieties parameterizing hypersurfaces and complete intersections which contain pro-jective subspaces and conics. Besides, we find all cases where the Fano scheme of the general complete intersection is irregular of dimension at least 2, and for the Fano surfaces we deduce formulas for their holomorphic Euler characteristic.Comment: Added lacking references, corrected acknowledgments, minor editorial change

Complex Analysis

A. Andreotti: Nine lectures on complex analysis.- J.J. Kohn: Propagations of singularities for the Cauchy-Riemann equations.- Yum-Tong Siu: The mixed case of the direct image theorem and its applications

Theory of Group Representations and Fourier Analysis

A. Figa Talamanca: Random Fourier series on compact groups.- S. Helgason: Representations of semisimple Lie groups.- H. Jacquet: Representations des groupes lineaires p-adiques.- G.W. Mackey: Infinite-dimensional group representations and their applications

Network service description model for VNF orchestration leveraging intent-based SDN interfaces

Network Function Virtualization and Software Defined Networking promise to radically innovate the way network services are provisioned, especially in terms of dynamic and flexible service delivery. Although the problem of NFV/SDN orchestration is recently gaining increasing interest, the problem of how effectively realizing the as-a-service exposure of network functions and services remains essentially uninvestigated. Leveraging service-oriented principles and best practices, in this paper we propose a two-layer service-oriented description model and a logical architecture for network service provisioning distinguishing business and orchestration scopes. Our proposal takes into account ETSI specifications for NFV orchestration and intent-based abstractions for the SDN controller northbound interface. We present a preliminary validation of the proposed approach focusing on the orchestration layer, based on a Proof of Concept development and testing. Finally, we discuss future work

Evidence-based medical equipment management: a convenient implementation

Maintenance is a crucial subject in medical equipment life cycle management. Evidence-based maintenance consists of the continuous performance monitoring of equipment, starting from the evidence-the current state in terms of failure history-and improvement of its effectiveness by making the required changes. This process is very important for optimizing the use and allocation of the available resources by clinical engineering departments. Medical equipment maintenance is composed of two basic activities: scheduled maintenance and corrective maintenance. Both are needed for the management of the entire set of medical equipment in a hospital. Because the classification of maintenance service work orders reveals specific issues related to frequent problems and failures, specific codes have been applied to classify the corrective and scheduled maintenance work orders at Careggi University Hospital (Florence, Italy). In this study, a novel set of key performance indicators is also proposed for evaluating medical equipment maintenance performance. The purpose of this research is to combine these two evidence-based methods to assess every aspect of the maintenance process and provide an objective and standardized approach that will support and enhance clinical engineering activities. Starting from the evidence (i.e. failures), the results show that the combination of these two methods can provide a periodical cross-analysis of maintenance performance that indicates the most appropriate procedures. Graphical abstract The left side shows a block diagram of the process needed to calculate the proposed set of KPIs, starting from technological, organizational and financial data. On the upper right it is shown an example of scheduled maintenance analysis for a specific class of equipment (legend in the article body). The bottom right part shows how the KPIs can be implemented in a business intelligence dashboard

Modeling of Pupillometric Signals for Studying Children’s Rare Diseases

The use of chromatic pupil responses may be a novel way to diagnose and monitor diseases affecting either the outer or inner retina. Here we developed a model-based approximation of the dynamics of pupillary diameter after an optical stimulation; we assume the response of the pupil is approximated as the output of a 2nd-order linear model. Model parameters are identified by using a least-squares fitting procedure, thus obtaining an optimal estimate of the activation time and of the shape of the pupil response to the stimulation. Results indicate the model adequately represents the curve shape; despite the presence of artifacts, that hinder the fitting procedure, a significant difference in the time constants of the model of controls and of patients is present

Improving rainfall measurement accuracy in spaceborne rain radar over sea

In this paper the problem of improving techniques for rainfall intensity estimation over the sea surface through spaceborne rain radars is analysed. In such case, the backscattered signal is composed of a rainfall volumetric contribution and of the sea surface contribution, which gives rise to the problem of extracting the information of interest from the composite echo. In particular, we focus on the problem of deriving a better estimation of the rain perturbed backscattering coefficient of the sea surface from polarimetric measurements, as a means for achieving such improvements. The effects of the additional roughness of the sea surface due to the rainfall have been taken into account and analysed by resorting to an electromagnetic model able to provide a full polarimetric description of the rainfall perturbed sea surface