Spread-ing Uncertainty, Shrinking Birth Rates: A Natural Experiment for Italy

Many previous studies have documented the procyclicality of fertility to business cycles or labour market indicators in Western countries. However, part of the recent fertility decline witnessed since the Great Recession has been left unexplained by traditional measures. The present study advances the notion that birth postponement might have accelerated in response to rising uncertainty, which fuelled negative expectations and declining levels of confidence about the future. To provide empirical support for the causal effect of perceived uncertainty on birth rates, we focus on Italy’s sovereign debt crisis of 2011–2012 as a natural experiment. Perceived uncertainty is measured using Google trends for the term ‘spread’—which acted as somewhat of a barometer for the crisis both in the media and everyday conversations—to capture the general public’s degree of concern about the stability of Italian public finances. A regression discontinuity in time identifies the effect of perceived uncertainty on birth rates in Italy as a drop between 1.5% and 5%, depending on model specification

Magnetic resonance features of sinonasal melanotic mucosal melanoma

A 67-year-old man presented to ear, nose and throat department complaining of nasal congestion and recurrent epistaxis for 5 months. Nasal endoscopy revealed a pigmented polyp obstructing the right nasal cavity. MRI with contrast agent showed a right nasal cavity polypoid mass with hyper signal intensity (SI) both in non-enhanced T1-w and diffusion imaging, marked hypo SI in T2-w sequences and avidly contrast enhancement characterised by rapid wash-in without significant wash-out on dynamic perfusion imaging. Histological specimen showed epithelioid and spindle cells with focal intense pigmentations and immunohistochemical features compatible with primary melanotic sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNM). As melanotic SNM shows MRI pathognomonic high non-enhanced T1-w SI, this case underlines the crucial role of MRI not only in assessing the local tumour extension/recurrence but also in increasing the diagnostic confidence of detecting melanotic SNM. Thus, MRI should be always performed in case of clinical–endoscopic suspicion of SNM

Fibre tip sensor with embedded FBG-LPG for temperature and refractive index determination by means of the simple measurement of the FBG characteristics

A novel optical fibre sensing system based on a hybrid long period grating (LPG) and Bragg grating (FBG) configuration is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. The hybrid configuration, which uses the difference in temperature and refractive index (RI) different response of a Bragg grating and a long period grating, makes it possible to discriminate simultaneously the temperature and the refractive index of different aqueous solutions. RI (1.33 RIU-1.40 RIU) and temperature (21°C-28°C) working ranges have been experimentally determined. Experimental results show that the maximum accuracy in the refractive index measurement (0.004 RIU) with temperature compensation has been achieved within the working ranges

Narratives of the Future Affect Fertility: Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment

none5In recent years, fertility rates have declined in most wealthy countries. This phenomenon has largely been explained by focusing on the rise of economic uncertainty. We contribute to this debate by arguing that, under uncertain conditions, narratives of the future—i.e., socially conveyed imagined futures—impact individuals’ decision-making about childbearing. To assess this impact, we conducted (for the first time in fertility intention research) a controlled laboratory experiment in two contrasting settings: Florence (Italy, N = 800) and Oslo (Norway, N = 874). Individuals were randomly exposed to a specific positive or negative future economic scenario (treatments) and were compared with individuals who were not exposed to any scenario (control group). Participants were then asked whether they intended to have a child in the next three years. The results showed a clear causal impact of narratives of the future on fertility intentions among the participants. Moreover, when the actual economic condition at the macro- (country context) or micro-level (labor-market status and characteristics) was more favorable, negative narratives of the future played a more crucial role. Conversely, when the actual economic conditions were less favorable, positive narratives of the future proved especially important. We conclude that, in the era of global uncertainty, individuals respond to more than their actual situation and constraints; narratives of the future create a distance experience from the daily routine that plays a potent role by inhibiting or facilitating fertility decision-making.openVignoli, Daniele; Minello, Alessandra; Bazzani, Giacomo; Matera, Camilla; Rapallini, ChiaraVignoli, Daniele; Minello, Alessandra; Bazzani, Giacomo; Matera, Camilla; Rapallini, Chiar

Semi-quantitative and qualitative evaluation of pial leptomeningeal collateral circulation in acute ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation: the Careggi Collateral Score

Introduction: The imaging of ischemic penumbra in acute stroke is a debated issue and establishing commonly accepted criteria is difficult. Computerized tomography-perfusion studies conducted in animals have showed that the modifications occurring in the brain parenchima are part of a dynamic and progressive process involving the microcirculation. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new angiographic classification of collateral circulation in patients with acute ischemic stroke, with a possible correlation with the clinical outcome. Materials and methods: The basal angiograms of 57 patients with acute ischemic stroke is the territory of anterior circulation secondary to a major occlusion, who underwent endovascular treatment, were retrospectively reviewed and collaterals were classified according to our novel Careggi Collateral Score in 6 grades (0-6). The clinical outcome after 3 months was evaluated with modified Rankin Scale. A ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve analysis identified a cut-off value of 1. Results: Patients with favorable collateral circulation (grades 2-5) showed a significant correlation with good clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale ≤2). Conclusions: The Careggi Collateral Score resulted a useful tool to evaluate the chance of obtaining a favorable result with endovascular treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation secondary to the occlusion of a major artery

Psychopathological Impact in Patients with History of Rheumatic Fever with or without Sydenham's Chorea: A Multicenter Prospective Study

Sydenham's chorea (SC) is a post-streptococcal autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, and it is a major criterium for the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF). SC typically improves in 12-15 weeks, but patients can be affected for years by persistence and recurrencies of both neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms. We enrolled 48 patients with a previous diagnosis of ARF, with or without SC, in a national multicenter prospective study, to evaluate the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms several years after SC's onset. Our population was divided in a SC group (n = 21), consisting of patients who had SC, and a nSC group (n = 27), consisting of patients who had ARF without SC. Both groups were evaluated by the administration of 8 different neuropsychiatric tests. The Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) showed significantly (p = 0.021) higher alterations in the SC group than in the nSC group. Furthermore, 60.4% (n = 29) of the overall population experienced neuropsychiatric symptoms other than choreic movements at diagnosis and this finding was significantly more common (p = 0.00) in SC patients (95.2%) than in nSC patients (33.3%). The other neuropsychiatric tests also produced significant results, indicating that SC can exert a strong psychopathological impact on patients even years after its onset

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure