Cohomological invariants of root stacks and admissible double coverings

We give a formula for the cohomological invariants of a root stack, which we apply to compute the cohomological invariants and the Brauer group of the stack of admissible double coverings.Comment: 16 pages, comments welcome

Brauer groups of moduli of hyperelliptic curves via cohomological invariants

We compute the Brauer group of the moduli stack of hyperelliptic curves $\mathcal{H}_g$ over any field of characteristic zero. In positive characteristic, we compute the part of the Brauer group whose order is prime to the characteristic of the base field.Comment: 28 pages, comments are very welcome

A complete description of the cohomological invariants of even genus hyperelliptic curves

When the genus $g$ is even, we extend the computation of mod 2 cohomological invariants of $\mathcal{H}_g$ to non algebraically closed fields, we give an explicit functorial description of the invariants and we completely describe their multiplicative structure. In the Appendix, we show that the cohomological invariants of the compactification $\overline{\mathcal{H}}_g$ are trivial, and use our methods to give a very short proof of a result by Cornalba on the Picard group of the compactification $\overline{\mathcal{H}}_g$ and extend it to positive characteristicComment: 25 pages, comments are welcome! To appear on Documenta Mathematic

Brauer groups of moduli of hyperelliptic curves via cohomological invariants

Using the theory of cohomological invariants for algebraic stacks, we compute the Brauer group of the moduli stack of hyperelliptic curves Hg over any field of characteristic 0. In positive characteristic, we compute the part of the Brauer group whose order is prime to the characteristic of the base field.Peer Reviewe

Integral Picard group of moduli of polarized K3 surfaces

We compute the integral Picard group of the moduli stack of polarized K3 surfaces of fixed degree whose singularities are at most rational double points, and of its coarse moduli space. We also compute the integral Picard group of the stack of quasi‐polarized K3 surfaces, and of the stacky period domain.Peer Reviewe

Integral Picard group of moduli of polarized K3 surfaces

We compute the integral Picard group of the moduli stack of polarized K3 surfaces of fixed degree whose singularities are at most rational double points, and of its coarse moduli space. We also compute the integral Picard group of the stack of quasi-polarized K3 surfaces, and of the stacky period domain

Black Hole entropy for two higher derivative theories of gravity

The dark energy issue is focusing the attention of an incresing number of physicists all over the world. Among the possible alternatives in order to explain what as been named the "Mystery of the Millennium" are the so-called Modified Theories of Gravity. A crucial test for such models is represented by the existence and (if this is the case) the properties of their black hole solutions. Nowadays, to our knowledge, only two non-trivial, spherically symmetric, solutions with vanishing cosmological constant are known by Barrow & Clifton (2005) and Deser, Sarioglu & Tekin (2008). Aim of the paper is to discuss some features of such solutions, with emphasis on their thermodynamic properties such as entropy and temperature, little progress being possible along the way which leads to a consistent definition of mass.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

Combination of pharmacotherapy and lidocaine analgesic block of the peripheral trigeminal branches for trigeminal neuralgia: a pilot study

Classical trigeminal neuralgia (CTN) is treated predominantly by pharmacotherapy but side effects and unsuccessful occurs. The current study was carried out to evaluate the therapeutic effect of combination of pharmacotherapy and lidocaine block. Thirteen patients with CTN managed with pharmacotherapy were recruited and assigned either to no additional treatment (Group I) or to additional analgesic block (Group II). The primary endpoint was the reduction in the frequency of pain episodes in a month assessed at 30 and 90 days. Comparisons of measurements of pain, general health and depression scales were secondary endpoints. The results from the follow-up visits at 30 and 90 days showed the Group II to have larger reduction in the frequency of pain and exhibited a bigger improvement in the scores of the pain, general health and depression scales. The results from this preliminary study suggest a clinical benefit of the combination of pharmacotherapy and lidocaine block

Agro-Cities as a Way to Counteract Urban Poverty

Monterusciello represents a case of urban poverty induced by a natural disaster: the bradyseism of 1983 which shocked and drastically changed the lives of citizens residing in the historic center of Pozzuoli. The political and technical response to the natural disaster emerged through the realization of a new town providing housing for displaced persons. Monterusciello was designed as a new town alternative to the construction models of the late 70s and early 80s: in here, there are no high-density buildings or a lack of public spaces. This new town had high ambitions in terms of planning the new housing settlement, inspired by a classical forma urbis and a human scale architecture. Despite the intellectual and political effort to find an effective solution to a collective drama, which affected most of Pozzuoli's population, many things did not work. The current public administration is making an ambitious attempt to face and solve the many open issue linked to this serious context of urban poverty. The city of Pozzuoli (Metropolitan area of Napoli) is the only city on South-Europe that succeeded to get, in the first round of the extremely competitive call for proposal, the EU financing named UIA (Urban Innovative Action). The project has the courage to propose ground-breaking solutions for very serious and persisting problems linked to urban poverty in the Monterusciello neighborhood. Innovation is embedded in applying the methodology of the permaculture to regenerate the public land available in between buildings of Monterusciello. Thirty hectares of Municipal open areas will be transformed into farmland, developed the innovative techniques of permaculture in order to spearhead an economic process and urban growth as a means to combat poverty. This Urban Agriculture led regeneration is based on a solid participatory planning process that aims to solve the many existing problems on the ground through learning and training actions (schools and youngster as priority target groups), experimentation of production chains at km zero, use of innovative and ecologic techniques in producing goods, design of cooperativistic a business model for the financial sustainability, relevant investment in advanced design of available public land and space, with a special focus on urban landscape related questions. This paper is presenting the urban regeneration adopted strategy in terms of ongoing and experimental planning practices, built up governance relations and creation of a sustainable (economic, socio-cultural; and environmental) development narrative for present and future development in Monterusciello

Cost‑effectiveness analysis of apixaban versus other NOACs for the prevention of stroke in Italian atrial fibrillation patients

OBJECTIVES: The study evaluated the cost‑effectiveness of apixaban in preventing thromboembolic events in non‑valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients, as compared to other three available novel oral anticoagulant agents (NOACs), from the Italian Health System (SSN) perspective.METHODS: A previously published lifetime Markov model was adapted for the Italian context. Baseline clinical risks were assigned based on the demographic and clinical features of the patients; effectiveness and safety parameters derived from adjusted indirect comparison using warfarin as link. The main clinical events considered in the model are ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, systemic thromboembolism, bleeds (both major and clinically relevant minor) and cardiovascular hospitalizations, besides treatment discontinuations. Expected survival was projected beyond trial duration using national mortality data adjusted for clinical risks and weighted by published utilities. Unit costs were collected from published Italian sources and actualized to 2013. Costs and health gains occurring after the first year were discounted at an annual 3.5% rate. The primary outcome measure of the economic evaluation was the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER), where effectiveness is measured in terms of life‑years and quality adjusted life‑years gained. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (DSA&PSA) were carried out.RESULTS: In the short to medium term, apixaban was associated with marginal LYs and QALYs gains and slight savings, as compared to other NOACs. However, as apixaban extended expected survival versus dabigatran (110mg), dabigatran (150mg) and rivaroxaban (0.13, 0.08, and 0.06 LYs or 0.11, 0.07, and 0.05 QALYs), expected total lifetime costs exceeded those of these comparators (€ 319, € 282, and € 16). Corresponding ICERs were estimated in € 2,911, € 3,882 and € 327 per QALY gained. The most influential parameter according to DSA was daily costs of NOACs, but the corresponding ICERs remained well below commonly accepted WTP values. In PSA, the probabilities of apixaban being cost effective with a WTP threshold of 20,000 €/QALY gained were 99%, 92% and 93% for the same comparisons.CONCLUSIONS: Apixaban is expected to be more effective than dabigatran and rivaroxaban in Italian NVAF population, and marginally more costly due to consume healthcare resources for a longer period of time. The ICERs have a high likelihood of being below conventional thresholds of WTP for health benefits of the SSN and suggest that apixaban is cost‑effective compared with other three available NOACs