Dark matter produced in association with top quark pair

A search for dark matter produced in association with a top quark pair is presented. The search is performed using 19.7 $\mathrm{fb^{-1}}$ of proton-proton collisions recorded at a center of mass energy of 8 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. The signature investigated is top quark pairs in the semi-leptonic final state plus missing transverse energy. This work focuses in particular on dark matter production through scalar interaction where a proportionality to the quark mass is expected.Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of the Moriond 2015 EW sessio

A blockchain-based Decentralized System for proper handling of temporary Employment contracts

Temporary work is an employment situation useful and suitable in all occasions in which business needs to adjust more easily and quickly to workload fluctuations or maintain staffing flexibility. Temporary workers play therefore an important role in many companies, but this kind of activity is subject to a special form of legal protections and many aspects and risks must be taken into account both employers and employees. In this work we propose a blockchain-based system that aims to ensure respect for the rights for all actors involved in a temporary employment, in order to provide employees with the fair and legal remuneration (including taxes) of work performances and a protection in the case employer becomes insolvent. At the same time, our system wants to assist the employer in processing contracts with a fully automated and fast procedure. To resolve these problems we propose the D-ES (Decentralized Employment System). We first model the employment relationship as a state system. Then we describe the enabling technology that makes us able to realize the D-ES. In facts, we propose the implementation of a DLT (Decentralized Ledger Technology) based system, consisting in a blockchain system and of a web-based environment. Thanks the decentralized application platforms that makes us able to develop smart contracts, we define a discrete event control system that works inside the blockchain. In addition, we discuss the temporary work in agriculture as a interesting case of study.Comment: Accepted for publication in the proceedings of the "Computing Conference 2018" - 10-12 July 2018 - London, United Kingdo

Pedestrian behaviour in urban area

The pedestrian behavior is influenced by several factors, including: characteristics of the user, numerousness of group, road infrastructures and environmental factors. These factors were studied by means the collection of data carried out in the city of Oristano (Sardinia-Italy) on eleven sidewalks and five crosswalks. The objective was to study the pedestrians behavior, researching the link between independent variables and the dependent variables that, for sidewalks was only the pedestrian speed while for crosswalks were the speed of crossing, the crossing time, the waiting time and the total time. The regression models were constructed by using ten sidewalks and four crosswalks so ignoring one for each. In the construction, were considered more variables that gradually were excluded on the basis of the p-value. The models thus detected were deemed significant according to their coefficient of determination and were validated with data from the sidewalk or crosswalk excluded from the construction of the same. Both for sidewalks that crosswalks were found some reliable models. The models construction is useful to improve the understanding of the pedestrians behavior and then obtain useful indications to design pedestrian infrastructures with characteristics closer to the real pedestrians behavior. The present study aims to give greater importance to pedestrians, analyzing how they relate with the urban context in which they live and how it conditions their behavior, so as to design infrastructure in which they feel an integral part and main actors of the urban scene, giving them the respect they deserve and a new sense of belonging to the city in which they live

The Declining Use of Unskilled Labour in Italian Manufacturing: Is Trade to Blame? CEPS Working Document No. 178, December 2001

As in other industrialised countries, the manufacturing sector in Italy has recently experienced a substantial increase in the use of skilled relative to unskilled workers - skill upgrading. In this paper we estimate a model, based upon the notion of outsourcing, of the relative demand for skilled labour which allows identification of the roles of technological change and trade, the two main culprits, in skill upgrading. Compared to previous studies of Italy the model is applied to highly disaggregated industrial data and in addition the impact of trade is more precisely measured through the separate identification of import flows from low-wage labour abundant countries and those from OECD partners. Furthermore we also introduce a measure of trade variability. Our results show firstly that economic variables played little or no role in determining the relative demand for unskilled workers in the 1970s in Italy, reflecting the nature of Italian labour market institutions in the period. Subsequently, in the 1980s and 1990s, following some labour market reforms, we find that international competition, in terms of import penetration and the variability of trade prices, had a significant effect on the relative demand for blue-collar workers in Italy in skilled intensive sectors. In unskilled intensive sectors, such as textiles and clothing, where the impact of imports from low-wage countries might be expected to be more pronounced, we do not find a significant effect from imports but rather that the most important role has been played by technological change. The result is consistent with previous studies that indicate that Italian textile and clothing firms have remained internationally competitive by increasingly switching to high quality segments of the industry

Mechanisms of electric-field-induced alignment of block copolymer lamellae

We demonstrate that two mechanisms of lamellae reorientation observed experimentally under applied electric field [A. Böker H. Elbs, H. Hänsel, A. Knoll, S. Ludwigs, H. Zettl, V. Urban, V. Abetz, A. H. E. Müller and G. Krausch, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2002, 89, 135502] which have been previously described within dynamic self consistent field theory [A. V. Zvelindovsky and G. J. A. Sevink, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2003, 90, 049601] can be fully explained within a much more simple model using the Ginzburg–Landau Hamiltonian. A third alignment mechanism has been identified which was not previously reported. A more complete picture of reorientation under electric field emerges that clarifies the crucial role of structural defects

Measurement and prediction of deformation in plane strain compression tests of AA5182

The present paper concerns the numerical prediction and experimental measurement of the distribution of strain in a plane strain compression test by means of a gridded insert. The insert was engraved with a 1 x 1 mm grid pitch and was embedded in an AA5182 sample. The tests were performed at 400°C with a reduction ratio of -20% and at a strain rate of 0·7 s-1. A thermocouple was used to record the temperature during the test. After the test, no detachment was observed between insert and sample, suggesting a close contact between them. The shape of the grid after deformation was analysed, and the in-plane component of the plastic strain calculated and compared with the numerical results obtained through finite element modelling of the test. In a comparison between experimental data and the results of a finite element (FE) model of the test that assumed perfect tool alignment, the fields of temperature agreed very well, while that for the in-plane component of strain was reasonable but inaccurate. However, significant misalignment of the tools was found in the experiments (a common occurrence in plane strain compression testing). When comparison was made with an FE model that included the geometry of the tool misalignment, the agreement was excellent. The paper discusses these effects and others such as the influence of 3D effects in the modelling

Use of Kriging Technique to Study Roundabout Performance

Road intersections are dangerous places because of the many conflicting points between motorized and nonmotorized vehicles. In the case of defined traffic volume, several research groups have proved that roundabouts reduced the number of injuries and fatal accident cases. In recent years, many countries have adopted roundabouts as a standard design solution for both urban and rural roads. Several recent studies have investigated the performance of roundabouts, including some with models that calculated the entering flow (Q sub e) as a function of the circulating flow (Q sub c). Most existing models have been constructed with the use of linear or exponential statistical regression. The interpolative techniques in classical statistics are based on the use of canonical forms (linear or polynomial) that completely ignore the correlation law between collected data. As such, the determined interpolation stems from the assumption that the data represent a random sample. In the research reported in this paper, a geostatistical approach was considered: the relationship Q sub e versus Q sub c is supposed to be a regionalized phenomenon. According to that supposition, collected data do not represent a random sample of values but are supposed to be related to each other with a defined law. This recognition allows the realization of interpolation on the basis of the real law of the phenomenon. This paper discusses the fundamental theories, the applied operating procedures, and the first results obtained in modeling the Q sub e versus Q sub c relationship with the application of geostatistics

A note on two notions of compliance

We establish a relation between two models of contracts: binary session types, and a model based on event structures and game-theoretic notions. In particular, we show that compliance in session types corresponds to the existence of certain winning strategies in game-based contracts.Comment: In Proceedings ICE 2014, arXiv:1410.701

The drug logistics process: an innovation experience

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present the latest innovations in the drug distribution processes of hospital companies, which are currently dealing with high inventory and storage costs and fragmented organizational responsibilities. Design/methodology/approach - The literature review and the in-depth analysis of a case study support the understanding of the unit dose drug distribution system and the subsequent definition of the practical implications for hospital companies. Findings - Starting from the insights offered by the case study, the analysis shows that the unit dose system allows hospitals to improve the patient care quality and reduce costs. Research limitations/implications - The limitations of the research are those related to the theoretical and exploratory nature of the study, but from a practical point of view, the work provides important indications to the management of healthcare companies, which have to innovate their drug distribution systems. Originality/value - This paper analyzes a new and highly topical issue and provides several insights for the competitive development of a fundamental sector