White matter abnormalities : Insights into the pathophysiology of major affective disorders

Abstract The presence of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) has been commonly associated with poor outcome in subjects with major affective disorders. Unfortunately, WMHs may be frequently confounded by the use of psychoactive medications and duration of illness. Although findings from the current literature are quite conflicting, we proposed that subjects with WMHs may be at higher suicidal risk when compared to other subgroups without. Based on the Fazekas modified scale, the severity of WMHs may serve as a trait marker of disease. Interestingly, the presence of WMHs may represent a neurobiological marker between the underlying vulnerability and clinical presentation of major affective disorders

Partial Androgen Deficiency, Depression, and Testosterone Supplementation in Aging Men

The aim of this review was to summarize current knowledge on the correlation between depressive symptoms with a syndrome called partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM) and on the potential benefits of testosterone (T) treatment on mood. Despite, the causative nature of the relationship between low T levels and depression is uncertain, many hypogonadal men suffer from depression and vice versa several depressed patients are affected by hypogonadism. Supplementation with testosterone failed to show sound evidence of effectiveness in the treatment of depression. Nevertheless, testosterone supplementation has proved to be effective on some domains significant for the quality of life of aged patients with PADAM (sexual function and cognitive functions, muscular strengths)

Ambient vibrations of age-old masonry towers: results of long-term dynamic monitoring in the historic centre of Lucca

The paper presents the results of an ambient vibration monitoring campaign conducted on so-called Clock Tower (Torre delle Ore), one the best known and most visited monuments in the historic centre of Lucca. The vibrations of the tower were continuously monitored from November 2017 to March 2018 using high-sensitivity instrumentation. In particular, four seismic stations provided by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia and two three-axial accelerometers developed by AGI S.r.l., spin-off of the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, were installed on the tower. The measured vibration level was generally very low, since the structure lies in the middle of a limited traffic area. Nevertheless, the availability of two different types of highly sensitive and accurate instruments allowed the authors to follow the dynamic behaviour of the tower during the entire monitoring period and has moreover provided cross-validation of the results

Ambient vibration recording on the Maddalena Bridge in Borgo a Mozzano (Italy): data analysis.

This paper reports on a vibration measurements campaign performed on the medieval Maddalena Bridge, also known as the "Devil's Bridge", in Borgo a Mozzano (Italy), one of the most fascinating in Italy. This 11 th century masonry bridge, supported by four circular arcades, crosses the Serchio River for about one hundred meters. Information on the dynamic response of the structure have been obtained through a wholly nondestructive technique, by measuring the environmental vibrations affecting the structures. A monitoring system has been fitted on the external surface of the bridge in order to evaluate its dynamic response to vibrations originating in the adjacent railway and two nearby roads. The natural frequencies and mode shapes of the structure and the corresponding damping ratios have been obtained by analyzing the recorded data using different techniques of Operational Modal Analysis. Lastly, a finite-element model of the bridge has been calibrated to fit the experimental data

Characteristics of cardiothoracic surgeons practicing at the top-ranked US institutions

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine which factors distinguish cardiothoracic (CT) surgeons practicing at the top-ranked US institutions from their peers. METHODS: Using online resources, we collected demographics, training information and academic metrics of 694 cardiac (n=489; 70%) and thoracic (n=205; 30%) surgeons practicing at 57 preeminent US institutions, including those with the highest US News & World Report ranking ("top CT centers"). RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-nine (43.1%) CT surgeons were practicing at the 18 "top CT centers" and had higher academic productivity (publications, citations) than their peers. While there was no difference in the proportion of international medical graduates (IMGs) (21.4% overall) or of surgeons with a PhD degree (9.4% overall) across institutions, the "top CT centers" had a higher proportion of faculty who received their entire CT training abroad (10.4% vs. 5.8%; P=0.038) or at highly-ranked US institutions. Those who published more during their early career years (residency, fellowship and first 5 years as faculty) were more likely to attain academic (professorship) and institutional leadership (division/department chair) positions and to practice at the "top CT centers". Women represented a minority (7.3% overall; 5.1% of cardiac vs. 12.7% of thoracic surgeons, P<0.001), but with growing prevalence among younger faculty and without differences across institutions. CONCLUSIONS: CT surgeons of the best US centers have a more international background and received their training at highly-ranked institutions. Early academic productivity is associated with life-long career achievements, with special importance of the first 5 years as faculty. Women represent a growing proportion of the CT surgical workforce

Anticipated Memories and Adaptation from Past Flood Events in Gregório Creek Basin, Brazil

In this research we used walking interviews to investigate the measures used by shopkeepers as protection against floods. The concept of anticipated memory has been used to identify the relationship between their learning from previous events and the adaptive measures they have taken to reduce risk of future flooding in Gregório Creek basin. The area is affected by major flooding issues in the city of São Carlos, southeastern Brazil. Twenty-three (23) downtown merchants shared their experience of the extreme rainfall that occurred on 12 January 2020, characterized by a return period of 103 years. Comparing our findings with November 2015 and March 2018 floods (Interviews 37 and 52 respectively), we noted that due to the enhanced level of threat, people had changed their adaptation strategy by increasing the sum of floodgate height more than 4-fold (870 cm to 3830 cm) between 2015 to 2020. Our results showed that despite frequent flooding, the shopkeepers downtown were reluctant to move away from the area; rather, they preferred to improve their individual protection. The substantial increase in the height of the floodgates represents the population’s feedback in the face of a new level of threat

Early Proterozoic calc-alkaline and Middle Proterozoic tholeiitic dyke swarms from Central-Eastern Argentina: Petrology, geochemistry, Sr-Nd isotopes and tectonic implications

The Rio de La Plata craton in Argentina (Azul and Tandil regions) is characterized by Early Proterozoic (2·0 Ga) calc-alkaline and Middle Proterozoic (1·6 Ga) tholeiitic dyke swarms intruding the crystalline basement involved in the Transamazonian Orogeny (2·2-1·9 Ga). The calc-alkaline dykes have andesitic and rhyolitic compositions and trend east-west, whereas the tholeiitic dykes mainly trend N30°W and are represented by basalts with low (0·9-1·7 wt %) and high TiO2 (up to 3·7 wt %). The calc-alkaline dykes have primitive mantle (PM)-normalized trace element patterns enriched in Rb, Ba, K, La, Ce and Nd, and significant negative Nb and Ti anomalies. These dykes are characterized by εt(Nd) values of - 3 to - 4, similar to those of the EMI mantle component. Low-TiO2 tholeiitic dykes have low incompatible-element (IE) contents and PM-IE patterns with slightly positive or negative Nb spikes. They have variable εt(Nd) values (-0·5 to 12·1), which mainly reflect derivation from a depleted source mantle. High-TiO2 tholeiitic dykes have more enriched IE-PM patterns and are characterized by εt(Nd) values (-1·4 to -7·5) typical of an enriched source mantle. Chemical and isotopic data and melting modelling indicate that both calc-alkaline and tholeiitic dykes originated by different melting degrees of a heterogeneous source mantle, the variable IE enrichment of which may have occured in Late Archaean to Early Proterozoic times. The emplacement of the calc-alkaline dykes is associated with the transtensional stage of the Transamazonian Orogeny, whereas the tholeiitic dykes reflect extensional tectonics succeeding the Transamazonian event. The calc-alkaline and tholeiitic dykes are similar in emplacement age and characteristics to metamorphosed granites and volcanic rocks outcropping within the Namaqua fold belts of southwestern Africa (Richtersveld and Witberg-Aggeneys-Gamsberg provinces); this may indicate that the Rio de La Plata craton and southwestern Africa were contiguous in Early-Middle Proterozoic times.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoLaboratorio de Entrenamiento Multidisciplinario para la Investigación Tecnológic

Novel insights by 4D Flow imaging on aortic flow physiology after valve-sparing root replacement with or without neosinuses

This study was undertaken to evaluate the flow dynamics in the aortic root after valve-sparing root replacement with and without neosinuses of Valsalva reconstruction, by exploiting the capability of 4D Flow imaging to measure in vivo blood velocity fields and 3D geometric flow patterns