The survival of start-ups in time of crisis. A machine learning approach to measure innovation

This paper shows how data science can contribute to improving empirical research in economics by leveraging on large datasets and extracting information otherwise unsuitable for a traditional econometric approach. As a test-bed for our framework, machine learning algorithms allow us to create a new holistic measure of innovation built on a 2012 Italian Law aimed at boosting new high-tech firms. We adopt this measure to analyse the impact of innovativeness on a large population of Italian firms which entered the market at the beginning of the 2008 global crisis. The methodological contribution is organised in different steps. First, we train seven supervised learning algorithms to recognise innovative firms on 2013 firmographics data and select a combination of those with best predicting power. Second, we apply the former on the 2008 dataset and predict which firms would have been labelled as innovative according to the definition of the law. Finally, we adopt this new indicator as regressor in a survival model to explain firms' ability to remain in the market after 2008. Results suggest that the group of innovative firms are more likely to survive than the rest of the sample, but the survival premium is likely to depend on location

OnabotulinumtoxinA: Still the Present for Chronic Migraine

OnabotulinumtoxinA (BT-A) is one of the few drugs approved for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine (CM). Despite this, some aspects of its mechanism of action are still a matter of debate, and the precise magnitude of BT-A effects needs to be completely elucidated. BT-A acts primarily upon trigeminal and cervical nerve endings, by inhibiting the release of inflammatory mediators such as calcitonin gene-related peptide, as well as reducing the insertion of ionotropic and metabotropic receptors into the neuronal membrane. These actions increase the depolarization threshold of trigeminal and cervical nerve fibers, thus reducing their activation. The central actions of BT-A are still a matter of debate: a retrograde axonal transport has been postulated, but not clearly assessed in humans. Clinically, the efficacy of BT-A in CM has been assessed by large, randomized placebo-controlled trials, such as the Phase 3 REsearch Evaluating Migraine Prophylaxis Therapy (PREEMPT) trials. Those results were also confirmed in a wide range of open-label studies, even for long-term periods. Recently, novel findings have led to a better understanding of its pharmacological actions and clinical usefulness in migraine prevention. This narrative review summarizes, updates and critically revises the available data on BT-A and its possible implementation in chronic migraine. Moreover, the current role of BT-A in CM treatment has been discussed

Saharan dust inputs to the W Mediterranean Sea: depositional patterns, geochemistry and sedimentological implications.

Data are presented for a number of parameters for aerosols and rainwaters collected at a station on Sardinia. The findings are interpreted with special reference to Saharan dusts, and are compared to other data on these dusts obtained from a variety of sites around the Mediterranean Sea. At the Sardinia site the particle size distribution of the Saharan outbreaks exhibits a bimodal structure, the two modes being between 1 and 2 µm and 20-25 µm. The presence of giant particles strongly affects the deposition velocities of the Saharan aerosols. Source markers for the Saharan dusts are palygorskite, kaolinite, calcite, dolomite and rounded quartz grains. The input of Saharan dust has important effects on the chemistry of the Mediterranean aerosols. These include: (i) increases in the atmospheric concentrations and sea surface fluxes of crust-controlled trace metals (e.g.; Al, Fe); (ii) decreases in the EFcrust values of non-crust-controlled trace metals (e.g.; Cu, Zn and Pb) in the aerosols, and (iii) changes in the solid state speciation of Cu, Zn, and Pb, which decrease their solubilities in sea water. The Saharan dusts also affect the composition of rainwater by raising the pH, following the dissolution of calcium, and by decreasing the solubility of trace metals such as Cu, Zn and Pb. Wet deposition controls the flux of Saharan dust to the Mediterranean Sea, but dry deposition can also be important. The dust transport occurs in the form of "pulses", and the annual dust flux can be controlled by few episodes of Saharan outbreaks; e.g. sometimes a single outbreak can account for 40-80 % of the flux. Saharan dust deposition fluxes range from 2 to 25 g m-2 (average; ~ 10) in the W Mediterranean between 39° and 42° N, between 6 and 46 g m-2 (avg. ~ 20) in the E Mediterranean, and 0.4 to1.0 g m-2 over the Alps on continental Europe. The present day Saharan dust fluxes (~ 1 mg cm-2 yr-1) account for about 10-20% of the recent deep-sea sedimentation in the Western Mediterranean (3-15 mg cm-2 yr-1)

Lower All-Cause Mortality Risk in Females and Males with Peripheral Artery Disease following Pain-Free Home-Based Exercise: A 7-Year Observational Study

We evaluated the sex-specific difference in response upon participation in an exercise program with respect to the risk of adverse clinical outcomes among patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and claudication. The records of 400 PAD patients were assessed between 2012 and 2015. Two hundred of them were addressed to a walking program prescribed at the hospital and executed at home at symptom-free walking speed (Ex), while the remaining 200 acted as a control group (Co). The number and date of deaths, all-cause hospitalizations, and amputations for a 7-year period were collected from the regional registry. At baseline, no differences were observed (MEX n = 138; FEX n = 62; MCO n = 149; FCO n = 51). The 7-year survival rate was significantly higher in FEX (90%) than in MEX (82% hazard ratio, HR: 0.542 95% CI 0.331–0.885), FCO (45%, HR: 0.164 95% CI 0.088–0.305), and MCO (44%; HR: 0.157 95% CI 0.096–0.256). A significantly lower rate of hospitalization (p < 0.001) and amputations (p = 0.016) was observed for the Ex group compared to the Co group, without differences by sex. In conclusion, in PAD patients, active participation in a home-based pain-free exercise program was associated with a lower rate of death and better long-term clinical outcomes, particularly among women

Survival and clinical outcomes of diabetic peripheral artery disease patients following a pain-free homebased walking program

Aim: We retrospectively examined the impact on the rate of survival of pain-free home-based exercise in diabetic peripheral artery disease patients compared to patients receiving usual care. Methods: In total, 202 patients at Fontaine's Stage II with diabetes were studied. Half were enrolled in a structured home-based exercise program (E), whereas the other half received walking advice as the active control group (C). Long-term clinical outcomes at five years were gathered from the Emilia-Romagna Health Service Registry, with survival probability selected as the primary outcome. Results: At baseline, the two groups did not differ for any demographic or clinical characteristics. High adherence to the program was recorded in Group E (88% of home-walking sessions executed, with an average distance walked during the program of 174 km). After five years, a survival rate of 90% for Group E and 60% for Group C was observed, with a significantly (P < 0.001) higher mortality risk for Group C [Hazard ratio (HR) = 3.92]. Additionally, among secondary outcomes, Group E showed a significantly (P = 0.048) lower rate of peripheral revascularizations than Group C (15% vs. 24%, respectively; HR = 1.91), all-cause hospitalizations (P = 0.007; 61% vs. 80%, HR = 1.58), and amputations (P = 0.049; 6% vs. 13%, HR = 2.47). In a Cox multivariate-proportional regression model of the entire population, the predictors of survival probability were age (HR = 1.05), Charlson index (HR = 1.24), lower ankle-brachial index (HR = 6.66), and control group (HR = 4.99). Conclusion: A simple sustainable program aimed at improving mobility of diabetic patients with claudication at high cardiovascular risk was associated with better survival and long-term clinical outcomes

Generation of aroma compounds in sourdough: Effects of stress exposure and lactobacilli-yeasts interactions

Abstract The effects of the interaction between Saccharomyces cerevisiae LBS and Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis LSCE1 and of their responses to acid, oxidative or osmotic stress on alcohol and aroma production were assessed. The exposure of S. cerevisiae LBS and L. sanfranciscensis LSCE1 cells to oxidative, acid or osmotic sub-lethal stress gave rise to a common or specific responses. g-decalactone, 2(5H)-furanones and aldehydes were overproduced by LAB following oxidative stress. The acid stress induced both in yeasts and LAB, as well as in their co-cultures, a relevant accumulation of isovaleric and acetic acids and higher alcohols. A cross-exposure of yeasts and LAB to their preconditioned media, generated in S. cerevisiae a release of esters including esters of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids coming from membrane phospholipids. These esters were excreted also by yeasts following a pressure stress.

Evaluation of trace metal fluxes to soils in hinterland of Porto Marghera, industrial zone: comparisons with direct measurements in the Lagoon of Venice

Trace metal (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Hg, Pb) concentrations in soil samples collected around the Porto Marghera (Italy) industrial district (2-40 km) near the city of Venice were compared with direct measurements of atmospheric deposition measured at comparable distances from the same source. Concentrations of Cd and Pb in soils decreased exponentially with increasing distance from the source; less clear signals were detected for As, Cr and Ni. Significant differences were found among the soils, which were partially resolved when applying normalisation to their clay contents. Preliminary comparisons of fluxes of Cd and Pb derived from soil with direct deposition measurements show increasing values with longer integration times. Annual Cd and Pb flux values of one year of direct deposition were 5 to 10 times lower than mean annual fluxes derived from soils, integrating 50 to 100 years. Values range from ~ 0.1-0.4 to 1-2 mg m -2 yr -1 for Cd, and from 3-18 to 50-100 mg m -2 yr -1 for Pb. These results fit information on “historical” emission trends as recorded in sediments of the lagoon

Environmental Factors in Northern Italy and Sickle Cell Disease Acute Complications: A Multicentric Study

Background: Environmental factors seem to influence clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD), but few studies have shown consistent findings. We conducted a retrospective multicentric observational study to investigate the influence of environmental parameters on hospitalization for vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) or acute chest syndrome (ACS) in children with SCD. Methods: Hospital admissions were correlated with daily meteorological and air-quality data obtained from Environmental Regional Agencies in the period 2011–2015. The effect of different parameters was assessed on the day preceding the crisis up to ten days before. Statistical analysis was performed using a quasi-likelihood Poisson regression in a generalized linear model. Results: The risk of hospitalization was increased for low maximum temperature, low minimum relative humidity, and low atmospheric pressure and weakly for mean wind speed. The diurnal temperature range and temperature difference between two consecutive days were determined to be important causes of hospitalization. For air quality parameters, we found a correlation only for high levels of ozone and for low values at the tail corresponding to the lowest concentration of this pollutant. Conclusions: Temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity and ozone levels influence acute complications of SCD. Patients’ education and the knowledge of the modes of actions of these factors could reduce hospitalizations

Relative contribution of atmospheric and riverine inputs of metals, nutrients and POPs into the Lagoon of Venice.

Atmospheric deposition in the lagoon of Venice and river inputs from the watershed were collected and analysed over more than one year (1999-2000) using the same analytical methods. The input from riverine sources largely prevails (>70%) over that from the atmosphere for As, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, nitrogen and phosphorus. Equivalent amounts of Hg, Pb, PCB, HCB are discharged into the lagoon from the two sources, whilst atmospheric inputs prevail for Cd, ammonia and dioxins. A comparison with figures of maximum allowable discharges (MAD) for various compounds, recently set by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, showed that total inputs (riverine + atmospheric) of trace metals were lower than the MAD only for Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn. The total inputs of Cu and Ni, and Cr and Zn were approximately 20% and 40% of the MAD limit, respectively. The total phosphorus input of 284 t was close to the imposed limit, whilst the total inorganic nitrogen load (>4000 t) was much higher than the MAD. For those metals and POPs (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, PCDD/Fs) where the MAD states that the load should tend to “0” (no discharge), the measured inputs of 4.8 (As) and 5.1 t (Pb), 151 (Cd) and 39 kg (Hg), 18 g (PCDD/F) and 440 mg (TEQPCDD/F) are by definition “above” the MAD. Using principal component analysis (PCA) data have been compared with available input profiles (markers) related to production typologies, both in the watershed and in the industrial zone located on the lagoon border (Porto Marghera). PCA showed that river and atmosphere contributions can be easily separated and recognised due to their different fingerprints. In particular, riverine inputs were more similar to chemical and glass work production markers, whereas atmospheric ones appeared to be mainly influenced by industry (PVC and VCM production), metallurgy and paper-mill. These results highlight the need to implement improved technologies in order to arrive at a “good ecological status” for all surface and ground water bodies by 2015, as stated by the EU Water Framework Directive

Analysis of end-to-end multi-domain management and orchestration frameworks for software defined infrastructures: An architectural survey

Over the last couple of years, industry operators' associations issued requirements towards an end-to-end management and orchestration plane for 5G networks. Consequently, standard organisations started their activities in this domain. This article provides an analysis and an architectural survey of these initiatives and of the main requirements, proposes descriptions for the key concepts of domain, resource and service slicing, end-to-end orchestration and a reference architecture for the end-to-end orchestration plane. Then, a set of currently available or under development domain orchestration frameworks are mapped to this reference architecture. These frameworks, meant to provide coordination and automated management of cloud and networking resources, network functions and services, fulfil multi-domain (i.e. multi-technology and multi-operator) orchestration requirements, thus enabling the realisation of an end-to-end orchestration plane. Finally, based on the analysis of existing single-domain and multi-domain orchestration components and requirements, this paper presents a functional architecture for the end-to-end management and orchestration plane, paving the way to its full realisatio