Economic sector identification in a set of stocks traded at the New York Stock Exchange: a comparative analysis

We review some methods recently used in the literature to detect the existence of a certain degree of common behavior of stock returns belonging to the same economic sector. Specifically, we discuss methods based on random matrix theory and hierarchical clustering techniques. We apply these methods to a set of stocks traded at the New York Stock Exchange. The investigated time series are recorded at a daily time horizon. All the considered methods are able to detect economic information and the presence of clusters characterized by the economic sector of stocks. However, different methodologies provide different information about the considered set. Our comparative analysis suggests that the application of just a single method could not be able to extract all the economic information present in the correlation coefficient matrix of a set of stocks.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 2 Table

Networks of equities in financial markets

We review the recent approach of correlation based networks of financial equities. We investigate portfolio of stocks at different time horizons, financial indices and volatility time series and we show that meaningful economic information can be extracted from noise dressed correlation matrices. We show that the method can be used to falsify widespread market models by directly comparing the topological properties of networks of real and artificial markets.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in EPJ

il volto della morte: le maschere funerarie della sepoltura dei preti morti di Gangi

riassunto — Le mummie moderne e il signifcato recondito della doppia sepoltura nelle culture mediterranee moderne sono da tempo ampiamente dibattuti. In questo lavoro si discute di una particolare “collezione” di corpi di ecclesiastici, mummifcati ed esposti in un comune montano madonita della Sicilia, Gangi. I corpi, principalmente risalenti al XIX secolo, mummifcati per colatura come nella tradizione del tempo e vestiti degli abiti talari, sono esposti nel piano sottostante della Chiesa Madre, in quella che nella tradizione è detta la “fossa dei parrini” (fossa dei preti). Le mummie, a differenza di altri siti siciliani e mediterranei, sono altresì corredate di sonetto commemorativo e di maschera mortuaria realizzata in cera fne. L’interesse precipuo del nostro studio si è rivolto proprio a questa particolare manifestazione complessa della doppia sepoltura, che risiede nella rappresentazione del volto. Il lavoro esprime una disamina del concetto di maschera mortuaria nell’antichità e porta alla conclusione che il luogo, per le sue valenze scenografche e per la sofsticatezza della ritualizzazione dovesse essere stato ideato per l’ostentazione e il consolidamento dell’immagine della Chiesa e del suo potere all’interno della piccola società rurale

Fatal cranial injury in an individual from Messina (Sicily) during the times of the Roman Empire

Forensic and archaeological examinations of human skeletons can provide us with evidence of violence. In this paper, we present the patterns of two cranial lesions found on an adult male (T173) buried in a grave in the necropolis ‘Isolato 96’, Messina, Sicily, dating back to the Roman Empire (1st century BC - 1st century AD). The skull reveals two perimortem traumatic lesions, one produced by a sharp object on the right parietal bone and the other one on the left parietal bone, presumably the result of a fall. The interpretation of fracture patterns found in this cranium are an illustration of how forensic approaches can be applied with great benefit to archaeological specimens. 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved

ComplexWorld Position Paper

The Complex ATM Position Paper is the common research vehicle that defines the high-level, strategic scientific vision for the ComplexWorld Network. The purpose of this document is to provide an orderly and consistent scientific framework for the WP-E complexity theme. The specific objectives of the position paper are to: - analyse the state of the art within the different research areas relevant to the network, identifying the major accomplishments and providing a comprehensive set of references, including the main publications and research projects; - include a complete list of , a list of application topics, and an analysis of which techniques are best suited to each one of those applications; - identify and perform an in-depth analysis of the most promising research avenues and the major research challenges lying at the junction of ATM and complex systems domains, with particular attention to their impact and potential benefits for the ATM community; - identify areas of common interest and synergies with other SESAR activities, with special attention to the research topics covered by other WP-E networks. An additional goal for future versions of this position paper is to develop an indicative roadmap on how these research challenges should be accomplished, providing a guide on how to leverage on different aspects of the complexity research in Air Transport

Morphological variability of upper paleolithic and mesolithic skulls from Sicily

Scenarios for the dispersal of Homo sapiens in Southern Europe and in the Mediterranean basin have been uncertain, given the scarceness of osteological samples and the simplicity of the proposed archaeologically-based settlement hypotheses. According to available data, the first anatomically modern humans entered Sicily during the Late Pleistocene, coming from the Italian peninsula. A presumably small Late Epigravettian population colonised coastal sites. Later, North-Western archaeological horizons gave hospitality to a significant Mesolithic expansion. In order to verify a hypothesis of continuity in the peopling of the island, we analyzed Sicilian skulls from the Late Epigravettian site of San Teodoro, Eastern Sicily (AMS14C dated at 14,500 BP) and from the Mesolithic period (14C dated from 9,500 to 8,500 BP) coming from various sites (Uzzo, Molara, Grotta d’Oriente) located on the North Western coast of the island. The aims were to test the biological variability through time within the island as well as to evaluate the relationships of Sicilian Pleistocene hunter-gatherers with Old World populations. We also evaluated the Sicilian Mesolithic uniformity especially between the Uzzo and Grotta d’Oriente sites, given their vicinity and accessibility during the Early Holocene. We applied 3D geometric morphometric methods to assess shape variation as well as geographic and diachronic morphological patterns. All analyzed specimens, plus a comparative sample from the Old World dated from the Upper Paleolithic to recent periods, were transformed in digital images and standard craniofacial landmarks were extracted from the 3D models. Our results underline a high variability among the Mesolithic specimens, as well as a large craniometric distance from the presumed founder Paleolithic settler representatives (San Teodoro specimens) that have closer morphological affinities with other European Upper Paleolithic specimens

Osteoradionecrosis of the jaws due to teeth extractions during and after radiotherapy: A systematic review

Teeth extractions before or after radiotherapy (RT) could be procedures at high risk for osteoradionecrosis (ORN) onset. This systematic review was performed to investigate the ORN incidence following teeth extractions during and after RT for head and neck (H&N) cancer and to evaluate any other possible risk factor. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA protocol, and the PROSPERO registration number was CRD42018079986. An electronic search was performed on the following search engines: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. A cumulative meta‐analysis was performed. Results: Two thousand two hundred and eighty‐one records were screened, and nine were finally included. This systematic review revealed an ORN incidence of 5.8% (41 patients out of 462, 95% CI = 2.3–9.4); 3 ORN developed in the maxilla. No other clinical risk factors were detected. Conclusion: Post‐RT teeth extractions represent a major risk factor for ORN development, especially in the mandible, with a diminishing trend in the last years. Further research on other possible risk factors might improve this evidence

The Harvesting Memories Project: Historical ecology and landscape changes of the Sicani Mountains in Sicily

The Harvesting Memories project aims to investigate the historical landscape dynamics in an inner area of the Sicani Mountains district in Western Sicily (Contrada Castro, Corleone-Palermo). The interdisciplinary approach of the project allowed us to combine and integrate methods from different disciplines such as historical ecology, landscape archaeology, archaeobotany and GIS-based spatial analysis. In this paper some results have been summarized. The comparison between land mosaic change during the last 60 years, the relationship between site catchment area and land suitability and the correlation between archaeobotanical and phytosociological data. This approach underlined the relevance of the historical ecology for understanding landscape trajectories and planning strategy of suitable development of rural areas

The extensions of gravitational soliton solutions with real poles

We analyse vacuum gravitational "soliton" solutions with real poles in the cosmological context. It is well known that these solutions contain singularities on certain null hypersurfaces. Using a Kasner seed solution, we demonstrate that these may contain thin sheets of null matter or may be simple coordinate singularities, and we describe a number of possible extensions through them.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, 6 figures included using graphicx; to appear in Gen. Rel. Gra

Listeria Occurrence and Potential Control Strategies in Alternative and Conventional Poultry Processing and Retail

Listeria monocytogenes is a psychrotrophic Gram positive organism that is considered one of the more critical foodborne pathogens of public health concern. To prevent illness the USDA and FDA enforce a zero-tolerance policy for Listeria on ready-to-eat foods such as delicatessen meats and poultry. Regardless, L. monocytogenes can still be isolated from food production facilities and retail products, indicating that current sanitation methods are not always sufficient. Both conventional and alternative poultry production and processing systems have also been identified as potential sources of Listeria spp. Concerns associated with alternative poultry production and processing can be further exacerbated by limitations on sanitation and available antimicrobials for usage in organic and natural poultry products. Furthermore, mobile poultry processing units often process organic and small-scale poultry farms that are not able to be processed by conventional standing facilities. These alternative production facilities and their products are often exempt from federal inspection, due to processing a relatively low number of carcasses. Due to these exemptions, it is unknown if sufficient sanitation is applied in these alternative processing facilities to prevent L. monocytogenes contamination. Organic processing restrictions may also impact which sanitizers and antimicrobials can be utilized. This review describes variations between conventional and mobile poultry processing units in conjunction with how L. monocytogenes may persist in the processing environment and on retail products. This review will also examine alternative antimicrobials proven to be effective against Listeria spp. and potentially be acceptable for use in alternative poultry production systems