Transforming Sovereign Debts into Perpetuities through a European Debt Agency

This paper outlines the main operating framework of a Debt Agency (DA) for the management of the Eurozone sovereign debts. The framework leverages on the potential irredeemable nature of sovereign debts in order to build a common bond. Structurally filtering liquidity risk, the DA can price the Member States' installments by referring only to their fundamental risk. The common bond issued by the DA then avoids mutualisation by design, hence it can be directly bought by the ECB. Thanks to its structural intertemporal sustainability, the DA framework sketched here can serve as a benchmark for institutional and political decisions

Whole-Body Cryostimulation in Fibromyalgia: A Scoping Review

Currently, all available therapies for the control and management of fibromyalgia (FM) are mostly focused on relieving patients’ symptoms and improving their quality of life. The purpose of this review is to provide an up-to-date overview of the evidence supporting the beneficial effects of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) in patients with FM and evidence-based guidance on the possible adjuvant use of WBC in the treatment of FM. We searched the most recent literature by retrieving 10 eligible studies, 4 of which were abstracts only, from a total of 263 records. Thermal stress caused by cryostimulation induces an analgesic effect, improving pain, redox balance, and inflammatory symptoms in an exercise-mimicking fashion. In addition, it reduces the feeling of fatigue, improves mood, and reduces mental health deterioration with positive consequences on depressive states and improved sleep quality. Although the studies included in this review are not of sufficient quality and quantity to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of WBC in FM, initial evidence indicates WBC as a promising add-on option in the multidisciplinary treatment of FM, due to its rapid action and high patients’ compliance. The application of WBC protocols has the potential to expand therapeutic options for the treatment of FM and related disorders; however, larger, high-quality primary studies are still needed

Whole-Body Cryostimulation: A Rehabilitation Booster in Post-COVID Patients? A Case Series

Given the severity and prevalence of post-COVID-19 symptoms in the general population, the identification of boosters for rehabilitation programs appears to be of paramount importance. The purpose of this case series is to provide some preliminary evidence about the role of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) as an effective adjuvant for the recovery of patients with the post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). We recruited seven patients with previously confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptoms of PCC of different severities for a comprehensive rehabilitation program, including WBC. The main symptoms were dyspnea, chronic and muscular fatigue, chronic pain, and poor sleep quality. Moreover, some patients presented high levels of hematological markers of inflammation. Because we provided a range of interventions, including nutritional and psychological support along with physical exercise and physiotherapy, we could not determine to what extent WBC may per se have accounted for the clinical and functional improvements. However, for all reported cases, it was observed that the introduction of WBC sessions represented a turning point in the patient’s subjective and objective improvements related to health and functioning

Aerosol climatology using a tunable spectral variability cloud screening of AERONET data

Can cloud screening of an aerosol data set, affect the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) climatology? Aerosols, humidity and clouds are correlated. Therefore, rigorous cloud screening can systematically bias towards less cloudy conditions, underestimating the average AOT. Here, using AERONET data we show that systematic rejection of variable atmospheric optical conditions can generate such bias in the average AOT. Therefore we recommend (1) to introduce more powerful spectral variability cloud screening and (2) to change the philosophy behind present aerosol climatologies: Instead of systematically rejecting all cloud contaminations, we suggest to intentionally allow the presence of cloud contamination, estimate the statistical impact of the contamination and correct for it. The analysis, applied to 10 AERONET stations with approx. 4 years of data, shows almost no change for Rome (Italy), but up to a change in AOT of 0.12 in Beijing (PRC). Similar technique may be explored for satellite analysis, e.g. MODIS

Accounting for friction in the mechanical testing of athletics tracks

This investigation deals with the problem of identifying the mechanical behaviour of rubbers from compression tests, performed on specimens having unfavorable geometry. A typical situation is that of flat specimens obtained from high-friction sports surfaces. To this purpose, experimental tests were conducted, aimed at measuring friction under various conditions and evaluating its effect on the compressive behavior of different rubber samples. The experimental results have been interpreted in view of an existing analytical model proposed by Gent and coworkers. The method was shown to be valid within a relatively broad range of conditions (in terms of materials, lubrication and aspect ratio). Its application allowed the creation of virtual “frictionless” curves, by rescaling experimental data for the stiffening factor predicted by Gent model. These curves represent more closely the intrinsic material behaviour, removing the large frictional contribution present in the experimental tests, and can be used as a more reliable input for numerical simulations

Awake Da Vinci robotic partial nephrectomy: First case report ever in a situation of need

We report a unique case of a robotic partial nephrectomy performed under continuous spinal anesthesia (CSA). A 63-year-old woman, active smoker with mild obesity and previous right pneumonectomy, was diagnosed with a growing 5.5-cm renal right cystic tumor. Being at high risk for general anesthesia, a loco-regional approach was indicated. Therefore, after multidisciplinary discussion, a robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy under CSA was considered mandatory. After T4-T5 sensory and motor block, retroperitoneoscopic robot-assisted surgery was successfully performed. Postoperative period was uneventful, with optimal pain control. This unique case demonstrates the feasibility of robotic surgery under CSA, for imperative indications

Brivaracetam in treating epileptic encephalopathy and refractory focal epilepsies in patients under 14 years of age.

Objectives: To analyze the efficacy and safety of Brivaracetam in pediatric patients with epileptic encephalopathy or unresponsive focal epilepsy. Materials & Methods: This retrospective study was performed on 8 pediatric patients with EE or unresponsive focal epilepsy. Inclusion criteria: (1) 14 years or younger, (2) history of refractory epilepsy, (3) at least 1 month of continuous therapy with BRV, and (4) at least 6 months of follow-up. Exclusion criteria: (1) variation of concomitant antiepileptic drugs during the previous and/or subsequent 4 weeks of the introduction of BRV, (2) levetiracetam in therapy, (3) an epilepsy secondary to a progressive cerebral disease, tumor, or any other progressive neurodegenerative diseases, and (4) a status epilepticus in the month before screening or during the baseline period. The efficacy of BRV was defined as ≥50% of seizure frequency reduction at the end of the follow-up compared to baseline. Results: All patients showed ≥50% seizure frequency reduction, of which 37.5% were seizure-free, 25% had a frequency reduction of ≥75% and 37.5% ≥ 50%. All patients with an epilepsy onset >12 months and duration of the epilepsy ≤6 years were seizure-free. The maximum effect was achieved at 2 mg/kg/day. Focal seizures showed a better response than epileptic encephalopathy. A remarkably positive effect of the Brivaracetam in patients with encephalopathy related to status epilepticus during sleep was noted. No relevant adverse events were noted. Conclusion: Brivaracetam was an effective and well-tolerated treatment in pediatric patients with epileptic encephalopathy or unresponsive focal epilepsy, especially when the epilepsy onset was >12 months and the epilepsy duration ≤6 years. The overall effect was not dose dependent. Brivaracetam could have an indication in encephalopathy related to status epilepticus during sleep

Effects of a Randomized Home-Based Quality of Movement Protocol on Function, Posture and Strength in Outpatients with Obesity

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of two different home-based training interventions on functional parameters and body composition in obese patients. Significant interactions and main effects of time (p < 0.0001) were found in MQ compared to CT in the functional parameters, while muscular strength and body composition variables improved similarly in both groups with a main effect of time (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that a home-based movement quality training is effective in ameliorating postural control and movement efficiency with similar improvements in muscular strength and body composition compared with a mere traditional resistance training