MISTRAL: An Information System for Local Public Transport Services in Lombardy

The local public transport system in the Lombardy Region is to be restructured in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public transportation. In line with EU and national legislation, public authorities are to be directly responsible for the planning and financial support of public transport, stipulating contracts with train and bus companies setting out specific requirements on both sides for the supply of transportation services (regional authorities for rail transport and local authorities for bus transport). Monitoring of the transport system is therefore a key activity for the Region in planning local railway services and promoting – in agreement with Provinces – a regional, trans-modal transport network which makes better use of transport facilities. MISTRAL is a project which aims to define an information system to support regional and local authority planning of transport activities by: · monitoring the contracts for transportation services that public authorities are to stipulate with train and bus companies; · evaluating the transport system through indicators related to mobility and transport demand, bus and train supply (involving both transportation and economic aspects) and all issues affecting public transport (e.g.: distribution of public facilities such as schools, possibility of park-and-ride etc.); · providing support to decision and negotiation processes with methodologies based on multicriteria analysis, sensitivity analysis and analytical techniques for solving conflict; · providing standard information and procedures regarding the regional transport system to public authorities, transport companies and users.Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne

Stochastic simulation and dynamic properties of the new version of the Italian model

This paper describes the results of some stochastic simulation experiments performed on the most updated version of the Italian model. Due to a change in the income accounts system, the model has been completely reestimated using the new quarterly data. It consists of 128 equations, 50 of which are stochastic. As regards to the structure of the model, the main differences with respect to the previous version lie in the income sector: now the different components of income distribution are determined endogenously and disaggregated by sector, and affect directly private disposable income. Stochastic simulation has been performed using the program described in [1]. The generation of pseudo randorn numbers with multivariate normal distribution has been performed using the Box-Muller technique [3] and McCarthy algorithm [9]

Stochastic simulation and dynamic properties of the new version of the Italian model

This paper describes the results of some stochastic simulation experiments performed on the most updated version of the Italian model. Due to a change in the income accounts system, the model has been completely reestimated using the new quarterly data. It consists of 128 equations, 50 of which are stochastic. As regards to the structure of the model, the main differences with respect to the previous version lie in the income sector: now the different components of income distribution are determined endogenously and disaggregated by sector, and affect directly private disposable income. Stochastic simulation has been performed using the program described in [1]. The generation of pseudo randorn numbers with multivariate normal distribution has been performed using the Box-Muller technique [3] and McCarthy algorithm [9]

Stochastic simulation and dynamic properties of the new version of the Italian model

This paper describes the results of some stochastic simulation experiments performed on the most updated version of the Italian model. Due to a change in the income accounts system, the model has been completely reestimated using the new quarterly data. It consists of 128 equations, 50 of which are stochastic. As regards to the structure of the model, the main differences with respect to the previous version lie in the income sector: now the different components of income distribution are determined endogenously and disaggregated by sector, and affect directly private disposable income. Stochastic simulation has been performed using the program described in [1]. The generation of pseudo randorn numbers with multivariate normal distribution has been performed using the Box-Muller technique [3] and McCarthy algorithm [9].Stochastic simulation; econometric model; Italian economy; project Link

Neuroanatomical alterations and synaptic plasticity impairment in the perirhinal cortex of the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome

Down syndrome (DS), a genetic condition due to triplication of Chromosome 21, is characterized by numerous neurodevelopmental alterations and intellectual disability. Individuals with DS and DS mouse models are impaired in several memory domains, including hippocampus-dependent declarative (spatial, in rodents) memory and visual recognition memory, a form of memory in which the perirhinal cortex (PRC) plays a fundamental role. The anatomo-functional substrates of hippocampus-dependent memory impairment have been largely elucidated in the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS. In contrast, there is a lack of corresponding information regarding visual recognition memory. Therefore, we deemed it of interest to examine at both an anatomical and functional level the PRC of Ts65Dn mice. We found that the PRC of adult (1.5-3.5 month-old) Ts65Dn mice exhibited diffused hypocellularity and neurons with a reduced spine density. No difference between Ts65Dn and euploid mice was detected in the abundance of glutamatergic and GABAergic terminals. We examined brain slices for long-term potentiation (LTP), a form of synaptic plasticity involved in long-term memory. Theta burst stimulation of intracortical fibers was used in order to elicit LTP in the superficial layers of the PRC. We found that in trisomic slices LTP had a similar time-course but a reduced magnitude in comparison with euploid slices. While exposure to the GABAAreceptor antagonist picrotoxin had no effect on LTP magnitude, exposure to the GABABreceptor antagonist CGP55845 caused an increase in LTP magnitude that became even larger than in euploid slices. Western blot analysis showed increased levels of the G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+channel 2 (GIRK2) in the PRC of Ts65Dn mice, consistent with triplication of the gene coding for GIRK2. This suggests that the reduced magnitude of LTP may be caused by GIRK2-dependent exaggerated GABABreceptor-mediated inhibition. Results provide novel evidence for anatomo-functional alterations in the PRC of Ts65Dn mice. These alterations may underlie trisomy-due impairment in visual recognition memory