42 research outputs found
A probabilistic proof of Cooper and Frieze's "First Visit Time Lemma"
In this short note we present an alternative proof of the so-called First
Visit Time Lemma (FVTL), originally presented by Cooper and Frieze in its first
formulation in [21], and then used and refined in a list of papers by Cooper,
Frieze and coauthors. We work in the original setting, considering a growing
sequence of irreducible Markov chains on states. We assume that the chain
is rapidly mixing and with a stationary measure having no entry which is too
small nor too large. Under these assumptions, the FVTL shows the exponential
decay of the distribution of the hitting time of a given state -- for the
chain started at stationarity -- up to a small multiplicative correction. While
the proof of the FVTL presented by Cooper and Frieze is based on tools from
complex analysis, and it requires an additional assumption on a generating
function, we present a completely probabilistic proof, relying on the theory of
quasi-stationary distributions and on strong-stationary times arguments. In
addition, under the same set of assumptions, we provide some quantitative
control on the Doob's transform of the chain on the complement of the state
Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 5.
In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records and confirmations to the Italian administrative regions for taxa in the genera Allium, Arabis, Campanula, Centaurea, Chaerophyllum, Crocus, Dactylis, Dianthus, Festuca, Galanthus, Helianthemum, Lysimachia, Milium, Pteris, and Quercus. Nomenclature and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as supplementary material
A pharmacoeconomic analysis from Italian guidelines for the management of prolactinomas
Background: Prolactinoma, the most common pituitary adenoma, is usually treated with dopamine agonist (DA) therapy like cabergoline. Surgery is second-line therapy, and radiotherapy is used if surgical treatment fails or in relapsing macroprolactinoma. Objective: This study aimed to provide economic evidence for the management of prolactinoma in Italy, using a cost-of-illness and cost-utility analysis that considered various treatment options, including cabergoline, bromocriptine, temozolomide, radiation therapy, and surgical strategies. Methods: The researchers conducted a systematic literature review for each research question on scientific data- bases and surveyed a panel of experts for each therapeutic procedure's specific drivers that contributed to its total cost. Results: The average cost of the first year of treatment was euro2,558.91 and euro3,287.40 for subjects with micro- prolactinoma and macroprolactinoma, respectively. Follow-up costs from the second to the fifth year after ini- tial treatment were euro798.13 and euro1,084.59 per year in both groups. Cabergoline had an adequate cost-utility profile, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of euro3,201.15 compared to bromocriptine, based on a willingness-to-pay of euro40,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) in the reference economy. Endoscopic sur- gery was more cost-effective than cabergoline, with an ICER of euro44,846.64. Considering a willingness-to-pay of euro40,000/QALY, the baseline findings show cabergoline to have high cost utility and endoscopic surgery just a tad above that. Conclusions: Due to the favorable cost-utility profile and safety of surgical treatment, pituitary surgery should be considered more frequently as the initial therapeutic approach. This management choice could lead to better outcomes and an appropriate allocation of healthcare resources
Contribution to the floristic knowledge of eastern Irpinia and Vulture-Melfese area (Campania and Basilicata, southern Italy)
In order to improve the floristic knowledge of the Italian territory, we report the inventory of the taxa
collected during the annual field trip of the working group for Floristics, Systematics and Evolution of
the Italian Botanical Society held in 2015 in eastern Irpinia and Vulture-Melfese area (South Italy). The
investigated territories are located in southern Apennines, along the border between the Campania and
Basilicata administrative regions. These areas are scarcely known in terms of vascular flora. The floristic
samplings were performed in 19 sites selected as representative of the local environmental diversity as
regards to climate, litho-morphology and land-use.
The research led to the identification of 4,137 specimens of vascular plants, belonging to 815 species
and subspecies, 399 genera, and 85 families. Among these taxa, 42 were endemic to Italy, 38 were included
in the IUCN Red List of the Italian Flora, 28 were alien and 5 were cryptogenic in Campania and/
or Basilicata administrative regions. Two taxa, Aquilegia coerulea (casual alien, native to North America)
and Lolium ×boucheanum (native), were found to be new for Italy. On the basis of the available floristic
literature the first one is also to be considered new for the European flora. At regional scale, we have found
18 taxa new for the Campania and 15 new for the Basilicata region. Finally, 10 taxa were confirmed for
Campania. Data obtained during this study, confirmed the important role of a collaborative approach
among botanists and the great relevance of these territories for plant diversity
Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 4
In this contribution new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, exclusion, extinction and confirmations to the Italian administrative regions for taxa in the genera Androsace, Artemisia, Fragaria, Melampyrum, Myosotis, Petrorhagia, Phillyrea, Rosa, Rumex, Spiranthes, Trifolium, and Vicia. Furthermore, a new combination in the genus Omalotheca is proposed
Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 9
In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions. Two new combinations are proposed. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material