IL RAPPORTO BANCA - IMPRESA NELL' ATTUALE CONTESTO DI CRISI FINANZIARIA

Il presente lavoro di tesi ripercorre le tappe salienti del rapporto banca-impresa, in Italia e nel mondo, dagli anni '70 a oggi. Lo scopo ultimo è quello di evidenziare il contributo del sistema bancario italiano, nell'attuale contesto di crisi finanziaria internazionale, alla ripresa e al sostegno delle imprese e dell'economia reale nazionali, anche alla luce delle linee teoriche fornite nel corso della trattazione

Star polymers rupture induced by constant forces

In this work, we study the breakage process of an unknotted three-arm star-shaped polymer when it is pulled from its free ends by a constant force. The star polymer configuration is described through an array of monomers coupled by anharmonic bonds, while the rupture process is tracked in three-dimensional space by means of Langevin Molecular Dynamics simulations. The interaction between monomers is described by a Morse potential, while a Weeks-Chandler-Anderson energetic contribution accounts for the excluded volume interaction. We explore the effect of the molecular architecture on the distributions of rupture times over a broad interval of pulling forces and star configurations. It was found that the rupture time distribution of the individual star arms is strongly affected by the star configuration imposed by the pulling forces and the length of the arms. We also observed that for large pulling forces the rupture time distributions resemble the dominant features observed for linear polymer chains. The model introduced here provides the basic ingredients to describe the effects of tensile forces on stress-induced degradation of branched macromolecules and polymer networks.Fil: García, Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Física del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Física del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Febbo, Mariano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Física del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Física del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Vega, Daniel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Física del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Física del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Milchev, A.. Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Bulgari

On the critical forcing amplitude of forced nonlinear oscillators

© Versita sp. z o.o. The steady-state response of forced single degree-of-freedom weakly nonlinear oscillators under primary resonance conditions can exhibit saddle-node bifurcations, jump and hysteresis phenomena, if the amplitude of the excitation exceeds a certain value. This critical value of excitation amplitude or critical forcing amplitude plays an important role in determining the occurrence of saddle-node bifurcations in the frequency-response curve. This work develops an alternative method to determine the critical forcing amplitude for single degree-of-freedom nonlinear oscillators. Based on Lagrange multipliers approach, the proposed method considers the calculation of the critical forcing amplitude as an optimization problem with constraints that are imposed by the existence of locations of vertical tangency. In comparison with the Gröbner basis method, the proposed approach is more straightforward and thus easy to apply for finding the critical forcing amplitude both analytically and numerically. Three examples are given to confirm the validity of the theoretical predictions. The first two present the analytical form for the critical forcing amplitude and the third one is an example of a numerically computed solution

Clinical and biochemical response to neridronate treatment in a patient with osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome (OPPG)

Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome (OPPG) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by juvenile-onset osteoporosis and ocular abnormalities due to a low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) gene mutation. Treatment with bisphosphonates, particularly with pamidronate and risedronate, has been reported to be of some efficacy in this condition. We report on a patient with OPPG due to an LRP5 gene mutation, who showed an encouraging response after a 36-month period of neridronate therapy. We report a case of a patient treated with bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates should be administered in OPPG patients as a first-line therapy during early childhood

Local attitudes toward Apennine brown bears: Insights for conservation issues

Human-carnivore coexistence is a multi-faceted issue that requires an understanding of the diverse attitudes and perspectives of the communities living with large carnivores. To inform initiatives that encourage behaviors in line with conservation goals, we focused on assessing the two components of attitudes (i.e., feelings and beliefs), as well as norms of local communities coexisting with Apennine brown bears (Ursus arctos marsicanus) for a long time. This bear population is under serious extinction risks due to its persistently small population size, which is currently confined to the long-established protected area of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park (PNALM) and its surrounding region in central Italy. We interviewed 1,611 residents in the PNALM to determine attitudes and values toward bears. We found that support for the bear's legal protection was widespread throughout the area, though beliefs about the benefits of conserving bears varied across geographic administrative districts. Our results showed that residents across our study areas liked bears. At the same time, areas that received more benefits from tourism were more strongly associated with positive feelings toward bears. Such findings provide useful information to improve communication efforts of conservation authorities with local communities

From constrained stochastic processes to the nonlinear sigma model. Two old problems revisited

In this work a method is presented to derive the generating functional in path integral form for a system with an arbitrary number of degrees of freedom and constrained by general conditions. The method is applied to the case of the dynamics of an inextensible chain subjected to external forces. Next, the generating functional of the inextensible chain is computed assuming that the interactions are switched off. Finally, the generating functional of a two dimensional nonlinear sigma model with O(3) symmetry is derived exploiting its similarities with the model describing the dynamics of the inextensible chain.Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX + RevTeX, 1 figur

Reinforcement learning control for functional electrical stimulation of the upper limb

LAUREA MAGISTRALEI sistemi di controllo per la stimolazione elettrica funzionale (FES) per l'arto superiore non sono ancora capaci di condurre movimenti naturali e fluidi con gli arti paralizzati. Attualmente, i controllori in anello aperto rappresentano la soluzione più diffusa in contesto clinico, ma essi difficilmente ottengono performance accurate. Nel progettare soluzioni di controllo adeguate per i sistemi FES, le principali difficoltà includono la complessità del sistema biologico rappresentato dal braccio umano e le sue significative variazioni dinamiche. Il Reinforcement Learning (RL) è una tecnica di controllo che permette la creazione di controllori adattativi attraverso il paradigma trial-and-error. In questo lavoro di tesi, l'RL è utilizzato per impostare un framework di apprendimento che permette di ottenere controllori per sistemi FES applicati all'arto superiore. La dinamica del braccio umano è modellizzata attraverso l'utilizzo delle reti neurali artificiali (ANN), al fine di simulare l'elevato numero di dati necessari all'apprendimento. Come soluzioni di controllo sono implementati un controllore in anello aperto e due diverse varianti in anello chiuso. I controllori sono poi testati su soggetti sani nell'eseguire esercizi di reaching planari supportati da un esoscheletro passivo. Le performance ottenute sono infine confrontate attraverso un'analisi statistica. I risultati hanno dimostrato l'applicabilità del controllo RL, per la prima volta, in ambiente reale.Currently available controllers for functional electrical stimulation (FES) are not yet able to restore natural movement in paralyzed upper limbs. Today, open-loop controllers represent the most common solution in clinical practice, but they barely drive accurate movements. In finding adequate control solutions, difficulties involve complexity of modelling the human arm under electrical stimulation and its significant variations of dynamics. Reinforcement learning (RL) is a novel paradigm in control of FES application which allows the formulation of adaptive regulators by experiencing, even without a complete knowledge of the system. In this work, RL is embedded in a machine learning framework for developing FES controllers for upper extremity supported by a passive exoskeleton. A state-transition model of the human arm is obtained using artificial neural networks (ANN) and used to simulate training data. An open loop controller and two different closed loop controllers are designed and tested on healthy subjects performing planar reaching tasks supported by a passive robotic system for gravitational support. The performance of the closed loop controllers are then compared by means of statistical analysis. The results showed the feasibility of RL control for a real-world FES application

Novel eHealth methodologies to support the detection of age related decline

DOTTORATOOggi, e ancor più nel prossimo futuro, l'invecchiamento della popolazione sta determinando un grande impatto sui sistemi sanitari pubblici di tutto il mondo. Per far fronte alla crescente domanda di cure a lungo termine, l'attuale modello sanitario deve spostare l'attenzione sulla prevenzione e l'identificazione precoce delle malattie croniche, la cui incidenza è elevata nelle persone di età superiore ai 65 anni. Interventi tempestivi sono fondamentali per rallentare il declino e mitigare i sintomi negli individui più anziani, oltre a limitare l'uso delle risorse ospedaliere. Le tecnologie di monitoraggio domiciliare possono consentire l'esame a distanza dei pazienti e il monitoraggio continuo dello stato di salute degli anziani nel loro ambiente di vita. Pertanto, i primi segni di declino potrebbero essere riconosciuti più rapidamente. Tuttavia, alcune problematiche legate all'accettazione dei sistemi di monitoraggio quotidiano da parte degli utenti e all'affidabilità dei dati in ambienti non controllati potrebbero rappresentare una barriera per la loro effettiva applicazione. L'obiettivo principale del mio dottorato è progettare e sviluppare nuove soluzioni di eHealth come sensori IoT, applicazioni di intelligenza artificiale interpretabile e sistemi di supporto alle decisioni per consentire la diagnosi precoce e la valutazione remota del declino negli anziani. In particolare vengono qui proposte due soluzioni: lo sfruttamento della valutazione ecologica della scrittura a mano come monitoraggio dell'attività quotidiana e un sistema di supporto alle decisioni per l'interpretazione a posteriori e la valutazione di un test neuropsicologico complesso. Queste tecnologie sono state testate e convalidate con successo utilizzando protocolli e dati specifici che simulavano lo scenario dell'applicazione reale. I notevoli risultati hanno suggerito che queste potrebbero essere soluzioni promettenti per rilevare il declino fisico e cognitivo nell'ambiente domestico.Nowadays, and more in the next future, the ageing population is determining a large impact on the public healthcare systems worldwide. To face the growing demand for long term services, the current healthcare model needs to shift its focus on the prevention and the early identification of chronic diseases, whose incidence is high in people aged 65+. Timely interventions are key to slow down decline and mitigate the symptoms in older individuals, besides limiting the use of hospital resources. Home monitoring technologies can allow the remote examination of the patients and the continuous tracking of the seniors’ health status in their living environment. Therefore, early signs of decline could be recognised more quickly. However, some issues related to the acceptance of the daily monitoring systems by the users and to the data reliability in uncontrolled setting could represent a barrier for their effective application. The main objective of my PhD is to design and develop novel eHealth solutions such as IoT sensors, explainable artificial intelligence applications and decision support systems to enable the early detection and remote assessment of decline in older adults. In particular two solutions are here proposed: the exploitation of the ecological assessment of handwriting as daily life activity monitoring and a decision support system for the posterior interpretation and the evaluation of a complex neuropsychological test. These technologies were successfully tested and validated using specific protocols and data which simulated the real-application scenario. The remarkable results suggested that these may be promising solutions for detecting physical and cognitive decline in the home setting.DIPARTIMENTO DI ELETTRONICA, INFORMAZIONE E BIOINGEGNERIA33DELLACA', RAFFAELEALIVERTI, ANDRE

A multi-gene signature predicts outcome in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

© 2014 Haider et al.; licensee BioMed Central. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.Improved usage of the repertoires of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) profiles is crucially needed to guide the development of predictive and prognostic tools that could inform the selection of treatment options