University of Milan

About: University of Milan is a education organization based out in Milan, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 58413 authors who have published 139784 publications receiving 4636354 citations. The organization is also known as: Università degli Studi di Milano & Statale.

Persistent Scatterer Interferometry: A review

Abstract: Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) is a powerful remote sensing technique able to measure and monitor displacements of the Earth’s surface over time. Specifically, PSI is a radar-based technique that belongs to the group of differential interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). This paper provides a review of such PSI technique. It firstly recalls the basic principles of SAR interferometry, differential SAR interferometry and PSI. Then, a review of the main PSI algorithms proposed in the literature is provided, describing the main approaches and the most important works devoted to single aspects of PSI. A central part of this paper is devoted to the discussion of different characteristics and technical aspects of PSI, e.g. SAR data availability, maximum deformation rates, deformation time series, thermal expansion component of PSI observations, etc. The paper then goes through the most important PSI validation activities, which have provided valuable inputs for the PSI development and its acceptability at scientific, technical and commercial level. This is followed by a description of the main PSI applications developed in the last fifteen years. The paper concludes with a discussion of the main open PSI problems and the associated future research lines.

Evidence for an excess of B̄→D( *)τ -ν ̄τ decays

Abstract: Based on the full BaBar data sample, we report improved measurements of the ratios R(D(*)) = B(B -> D(*) Tau Nu)/B(B -> D(*) l Nu), where l is either e or mu. These ratios are sensitive to new physics contributions in the form of a charged Higgs boson. We measure R(D) = 0.440 +- 0.058 +- 0.042 and R(D*) = 0.332 +- 0.024 +- 0.018, which exceed the Standard Model expectations by 2.0 sigma and 2.7 sigma, respectively. Taken together, our results disagree with these expectations at the 3.4 sigma level. This excess cannot be explained by a charged Higgs boson in the type II two-Higgs-doublet model. We also report the observation of the decay B -> D Tau Nu, with a significance of 6.8 sigma.

Quantum estimation for quantum technology

Abstract: Several quantities of interest in quantum information, including entanglement and purity, are nonlinear functions of the density matrix and cannot, even in principle, correspond to proper quantum o...

The microtubule-affecting drug paclitaxel has antiangiogenic activity.

Abstract: Endothelial cell migration is a critical event during angiogenesis, and inhibitors of cell motility can affect the angiogenic process. Paclitaxel (Taxol(R)), a microtubule-stabilizing antineoplastic cytotoxic drug, inhibits motility and invasiveness of several cell types. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of paclitaxel on endothelial cell functions and on angiogenesis. In vivo, paclitaxel (20-28 mg/kg i.v.) significantly inhibited the angiogenic response induced by tumor cell supernatant embedded in a pellet of reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) injected s.c. into C57BL/6N mice. In vitro, paclitaxel inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, motility, invasiveness, and cord formation on Matrigel in a dose-dependent manner. The antiangiogenic activity of paclitaxel was not linked to its cytotoxicity, since inhibition of endothelial cell chemotaxis and invasiveness occurred at drug concentrations which did not affect endothelial cell proliferation. Another cytotoxic drug, cisplatin, that inhibited endothelial cell proliferation in vitro, did not affect angiogenesis in vivo. These data indicate that paclitaxel has a strong antiangiogenic activity, a property that might contribute to its antineoplastic activity in vivo.