PSZ2LenS. Weak lensing analysis of the Planck clusters in the CFHTLenS and in the RCSLenS

The possibly unbiased selection process in surveys of the Sunyaev Zel'dovich effect can unveil new populations of galaxy clusters. We performed a weak lensing analysis of the PSZ2LenS sample, i.e. the PSZ2 galaxy clusters detected by the Planck mission in the sky portion covered by the lensing surveys CFHTLenS and RCSLenS. PSZ2LenS consists of 35 clusters and it is a statistically complete and homogeneous subsample of the PSZ2 catalogue. The Planck selected clusters appear to be unbiased tracers of the massive end of the cosmological haloes. The mass concentration relation of the sample is in excellent agreement with predictions from the Lambda cold dark matter model. The stacked lensing signal is detected at 14 sigma significance over the radial range 0.1<R<3.2 Mpc/h, and is well described by the cuspy dark halo models predicted by numerical simulations. We confirmed that Planck estimated masses are biased low by b_SZ= 27+-11(stat)+-8(sys) per cent with respect to weak lensing masses. The bias is higher for the cosmological subsample, b_SZ= 40+-14+-(stat)+-8(sys) per cent.Comment: v1: 23 pages. Comments are welcome. v2: 27 pages, in press on MNRAS. Expanded discussion on systematics and lensing average

Source plane reconstruction of the giant gravitational arc in Abell 2667: a candidate Wolf-Rayet galaxy at z~1

We present a new analysis of HST, Spitzer telescope imaging and VLT imaging and spectroscopic data of a bright lensed galaxy at $z$=1.0334 in the lensing cluster Abell~2667. Using this high-resolution imaging we present an updated lens model that allows us to fully understand the lensing geometry and reconstruct the lensed galaxy in the source plane. This giant arc gives a unique opportunity to peer into the structure of a high-redshift disk galaxy. We find that the lensed galaxy of Abell 2667 is a typical spiral galaxy with morphology similar to the structure of its counterparts at higher redshift $z\sim 2$. The surface brightness of the reconstructed source galaxy in the z$_{850}$ band reveals the central surface brightness $I(0)=20.28\pm0.22$ mag arcsec$^{-2}$ and the characteristic radius $r_s=2.01\pm0.16$ kpc at redshift $z \sim 1$. The morphological reconstruction in different bands shows obvious negative radial color gradients for this galaxy. Moreover, the redder central bulge tends to contain a metal-rich stellar population, rather than being heavily reddened by dust due to high and patchy obscuration. We analyze the VIMOS/IFU spectroscopic data and find that, in the given wavelength range ($\sim 1800-3200$ \AA), the combined arc spectrum of the source galaxy is characterized by a strong continuum emission with strong UV absorption lines (FeII and MgII) and shows the features of a typical starburst Wolf-Rayet galaxy NGC5253. More specifically, we have measured the EWs of FeII and MgII lines in the Abell 2667 spectrum, and obtained similar values for the same wavelength interval of the NGC5253 spectrum. Marginal evidence for CIII] 1909 emission at the edge of the grism range further confirms our expectation.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, accepted by the Astronomical Journa

Deep Dynamic Factor Models

We propose a novel deep neural net framework - that we refer to as Deep Dynamic Factor Model (D2FM) -, to encode the information available, from hundreds of macroeconomic and financial time-series into a handful of unobserved latent states. While similar in spirit to traditional dynamic factor models (DFMs), differently from those, this new class of models allows for nonlinearities between factors and observables due to the deep neural net structure. However, by design, the latent states of the model can still be interpreted as in a standard factor model. In an empirical application to the forecast and nowcast of economic conditions in the US, we show the potential of this framework in dealing with high dimensional, mixed frequencies and asynchronously published time series data. In a fully real-time out-of-sample exercise with US data, the D2FM improves over the performances of a state-of-the-art DFM

Corporate Social Responsibility and Firms Performance: an Analysis on Italian Listed Companies

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is getting an increasingly important issue for economic agents all over the world, due to a new attention to all the aspects of firms activities and their relationships with stakeholders. Also in Italy, the number of firms that prepare voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports (e.g. sustainability reports, environmental reports, environmental and social reports or corporate social responsibility reports) is increasing. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the voluntary disclosure about Corporate Social Responsibility on firms stock prices of Italian listed companies in order to analyze if it can somehow contribute to increase the stock market prices. Our empirical analysis will test the relation, during a period of three years, between corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports and firms stock prices, considering a sample of Italian listed companies.Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is getting an increasingly important issue for economic agents all over the world, due to a new attention to all the aspects of firms activities and their relationships with stakeholders. Also in Italy, the number of firms that prepare voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports (e.g. sustainability reports, environmental reports, environmental and social reports or corporate social responsibility reports) is increasing. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the voluntary disclosure about Corporate Social Responsibility on firms stock prices of Italian listed companies in order to analyze if it can somehow contribute to increase the stock market prices. Our empirical analysis will test the relation, during a period of three years, between corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports and firms stock prices, considering a sample of Italian listed companies.Uninvited Submission

GRB 110709B in the Induced Gravitational Collapse paradigm

Context: GRB110709B is the first source for which Swift BAT triggered twice, with a time separation of ~10 min. The first emission (Ep. 1) goes from 40s before the 1{\deg} trigger up to 60s after it. The second (Ep. 2) goes from 35s before the 2{\deg} trigger to 100s after it.[...] Within the Induced Gravitational Collapse (IGC) model, we assume the progenitor to be a close binary system composed of a core of an evolved star and a Neutron Star (NS). The evolved star explodes as a Supernova (SN) and ejects material that is partially accreted by the NS. We identify this process with Ep. 1. The accretion process brings the NS over its critical mass, thus gravitationally collapsing to a BH. This process leads to the GRB emission, Ep. 2.[...] Aims: We analyze the spectra and time variability of Ep. 1 and 2 and compute the relevant parameters of the binary progenitor[...] in the IGC paradigm. Methods: We perform a time-resolved spectral analysis of Ep. 1 with a blackbody (BB) plus a power-law (PL) spectral model. We analyze Ep. 2 within the Fireshell model, identifying the Proper-GRB (P-GRB) and simulating the light curve and spectrum. We establish the redshift to be z=0.75 [...]. Results: We find for Ep. 1 a BB temperature following a broken PL with time, with the PL slopes at early and late times \alpha=0 and \beta=-4+/-2, respectively, and a break at t=41.21s. The total energy of Ep. 1 and 2 are E_{iso}^1=1.42x10^{53}erg and E_{iso}^2=2.43x10^{52}erg, respectively. We find at transparency a Lorentz factor \Gamma~173, laboratory radius of 6.04x10^{13}cm, P-GRB observed temperature kT_{P-GRB}=12.36keV, baryon load B=0.0057 and P-GRB energy E_{P-GRB}=3.44x10^{50}erg. [...] Conclusions: We interpret GRB110709B as a member of the IGC sources, together with GRB970828, GRB090618 and GRB101023. The XRT data during Ep. 2 offers an unprecedented tool for improving the diagnostic of GRBs emission.Comment: 12 pages, 17 figures, to appear on A&

Fully Bio-Based Nanocomposite: Formulations For Packaging Application

The effect of a small amount of organoclay (OMMT) on mechanical, dynamic-mechanical, barrier and thermal properties of blown films based on blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polyamide 11 (PA11) was investigated. The addition of PA11 results in a decrease of elastic modulus (E) and tensile strength (σR) compared to neat PLA, which suggests poor interfacial adhesion between the polymer phases. Besides an enhancement of E and σR, the addition of 1 wt% of OMMT brings about a significant increase of the elongation at break. Neither blending with PA11 nor adding OMMT cause appreciable alterations of the barrier properties of the films, which remain essentially the same as those of pure PLA. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that the onset of thermal degradation of the OMMT-filed blend is 15°C higher than of neat PLA. This improvement is probably due to the labyrinth effect of the PA11 phase. Finally, the OMMT brings about a slight enhancement of the glassy modulus compared to the unfilled blend, which suggests that the clay may exert some compatibilizing action. Such a beneficial effect of the OMMT endures up to the glass transition of PLA. he testing methods such as CCT, RCT, FCT, COBB, bursting etc. are supported by statistical technique and do not provide accurate results. The reason is the deviation of testing results. The same problem can be defined at the classification of different paper materials and qualities. This paper describes a new possible testing method to analyze the chemical and thermo-analytical nature of papers. This method can be used to specify effectively the limits of a given paper quality using in packaging industry and can help to ensure the exact traceability of paper identification. The results show that the this method on the one hand can be helpful to testing the paper during packaging producing process on the other hand after using as a packaging. To the testing a DSC measurement device was used as a thermo-analytical method to observe new specifics of paper based packaging

Insufficient control of blood pressure and incident diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Incidence of type 2 diabetes might be associated with preexisting hypertension. There is no information on whether incident diabetes is predicted by blood pressure control. We evaluated the hazard of diabetes in relation to blood pressure control in treated hypertensive patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Nondiabetic, otherwise healthy, hypertensive patients (N = 1,754, mean +/- SD age 52 +/- 11 years, 43% women) participated in a network over 3.4 +/- 1 years of follow-up. Blood pressure was considered uncontrolled if systolic was >or=140 mmHg and/or diastolic was >or=90 mmHg at the last outpatient visit. Diabetes was defined according to American Diabetes Association guidelines. RESULTS: Uncontrolled blood pressure despite antihypertensive treatment was found in 712 patients (41%). At baseline, patients with uncontrolledblood pressure were slightly younger than patients with controlled blood pressure (51 +/- 11 vs. 53 +/- 12 years, P < 0.001), with no differences in sex distribution, BMI, duration of hypertension, baseline blood pressure, fasting glucose, serum creatinine and potassium, lipid profile, or prevalence of metabolic syndrome. During follow-up, 109 subjects developed diabetes. Incidence of diabetes was significantly higher in patients with uncontrolled (8%) than in those with controlled blood pressure (4%, odds ratio 2.08, P < 0.0001). In Cox regression analysis controlling for baseline systolic blood pressure and BMI, family history of diabetes, and physical activity, uncontrolled blood pressure doubled the risk of incident diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 2.10, P < 0.001), independently of significant effects of age (HR 1.02 per year, P = 0.03) and baseline fasting glucose (HR 1.10 per mg/dl, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a large sample of treated nondiabetic hypertensive subjects, uncontrolled blood pressure is associated with twofold increased risk of incident diabetes independently of age, BMI, baseline blood pressure, or fasting glucose

Insufficient control of blood pressure and incident diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Incidence of type 2 diabetes might be associated with preexisting hypertension. There is no information on whether incident diabetes is predicted by blood pressure control. We evaluated the hazard of diabetes in relation to blood pressure control in treated hypertensive patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Nondiabetic, otherwise healthy, hypertensive patients (N = 1,754, mean +/- SD age 52 +/- 11 years, 43% women) participated in a network over 3.4 +/- 1 years of follow-up. Blood pressure was considered uncontrolled if systolic was >or=140 mmHg and/or diastolic was >or=90 mmHg at the last outpatient visit. Diabetes was defined according to American Diabetes Association guidelines. RESULTS: Uncontrolled blood pressure despite antihypertensive treatment was found in 712 patients (41%). At baseline, patients with uncontrolledblood pressure were slightly younger than patients with controlled blood pressure (51 +/- 11 vs. 53 +/- 12 years, P < 0.001), with no differences in sex distribution, BMI, duration of hypertension, baseline blood pressure, fasting glucose, serum creatinine and potassium, lipid profile, or prevalence of metabolic syndrome. During follow-up, 109 subjects developed diabetes. Incidence of diabetes was significantly higher in patients with uncontrolled (8%) than in those with controlled blood pressure (4%, odds ratio 2.08, P < 0.0001). In Cox regression analysis controlling for baseline systolic blood pressure and BMI, family history of diabetes, and physical activity, uncontrolled blood pressure doubled the risk of incident diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 2.10, P < 0.001), independently of significant effects of age (HR 1.02 per year, P = 0.03) and baseline fasting glucose (HR 1.10 per mg/dl, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a large sample of treated nondiabetic hypertensive subjects, uncontrolled blood pressure is associated with twofold increased risk of incident diabetes independently of age, BMI, baseline blood pressure, or fasting glucose

Propulsive strength training in wheelchair tennis to improve service response

In wheelchair tennis, the biomechanical-bioenergetic quantitative aspects involved are the fast force and maximum isometric propulsion force of the race medium. The problem encountered is to improve the propulsion force of the race medium, therefore the thrust force, to increase the strength of the upper limbs in the response to the service. The aim of the study is to verify the effects of a training with upper limb overloads on sports performance, in particular the response to the service. A sample of 30 paraplegic athletes, of an average age of 25 years, with a D8-D12 back injury, of the Open category, has been recruited. Athletes have been training with upper body overloads for 2 months with a frequency of 2 times a week. The 20m sprint test was executed after and before the two months. The T-test for dependent samples was used to detect the difference between the two groups (p < .05). Training with upper limb overloads showed a significant improvement (p < .05) of 42% in service response. According to the results, athletes from an average initial performance level of 5.2 have moved to an average level of 4.82, which corresponds to an almost excellent level. Overload training has proven effective in increasing fast strength in response to the technical gesture of the opponent's service