Public debt and growth: heterogeneity and non-linearity

We study the long-run relationship between public debt and growth in a large panel of countries. Our analysis builds on theoretical arguments and data considerations in modelling the debt-growth relationship as heterogeneous across countries. We investigate the debt-growth nexus adopting linear and non-linear specifications, employing novel methods and diagnostics from the time-series literature adapted for use in the panel. We find some support for a negative relationship between public debt and long-run growth across countries, but no evidence for a similar, let alone common, debt threshold within countries

I processi cumulativi nella crisi del debito degli anni ottanta: una lettura dai casi di Argentina, Brasile e Messico

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale, P.le Aldo Moro, 7 , Rome / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

I processi cumulativi nella crisi del debito degli anni Ottanta: una lettura dai casi di Argentina, Brasile e Messico

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Effects of ultrasound impedance matching fluids on diffuse optical measurements

Diffuse optical imaging can be used to probe highly scattering media like biological tissue down to a depth of few centimeters, with spatial resolution limited by light scattering. Its combination with ultrasound imaging can potentially lead to medical imaging systems with, for instance, high specificity in the examination of tumors. However, the presence of the ultrasound coupling gel between probe and tissue can have detrimental effects on the accuracy of optical imaging techniques. Here we present an experimental study on the effect of ultrasound coupling fluids on diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). We demonstrate on tissue-mimicking phantoms that the use of standard water-clear gels, providing a direct path for the light from the source to the detection point, can distort optical measurements generating strong underestimation of both the absorption and the reduced scattering coefficients in DOS measurements, as well as underestimation of the Brownian diffusion coefficient in DCS measurements. On the contrary, various turbid fluids demonstrate excellent performance in preventing this issue

Acute Toxicity and Quality of Life in a Post-Prostatectomy Ablative Radiation Therapy (POPART) Multicentric Trial

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of ultrahypofractionated radiotherapy to the prostate bed in patients with biochemical and/or clinical relapse following radical prostatectomy who were enrolled in the prospective, observational, multicentric POPART trial (NCT04831970). Methods: Patients with post-radical prostatectomy PSA levels of ≥0.1–2.0 ng/mL and/or local relapse at PSMA PET/CT or multiparametric MRI were treated with Linac-based SBRT on the prostate bed up to a total dose of 32.5 Gy in five fractions every other day (EQD21.5 = 74.2 Gy). Maximum acute toxicity was assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5 scale. International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and Prostate Cancer Index Composite for Clinical Practice (EPIC-CP) scores were assessed at baseline and during the follow-up. Results: From April 2021 to June 2022, thirty men with a median age of 72 years (range 55–82) were enrolled in three centers. The median PSA level before RT was 0.30 ng/mL (range 0.18–1.89 ng/mL). At 3 months post-treatment, no GI or ≥2 GU side effects were reported; three patients (10%) experienced Grade 1 GU toxicity. No changes in ICIQ-SF or in the urinary domains of EPIC-CP were observed, while a transient worsening was registered in the bowel domain. At the same time point, all but two patients, who progressed distantly, were found to be biochemically controlled with a median post-treatment PSA level of 0.07 ng/mL (range 0–0.48 ng/mL). Conclusions: Our preliminary findings show that SBRT can be safely extended to the postoperative setting, without an increase in short-term toxicity or a significant decline in QoL. Long-term results are needed to confirm this strategy

Systematic study of the effect of ultrasound gel on the performances of time-domain diffuse optics and diffuse correlation spectroscopy

Recently, multimodal imaging has gained an increasing interest in medical applications thanks to the inherent combination of strengths of the different techniques. For example, diffuse optics is used to probe both the composition and the microstructure of highly diffusive media down to a depth of few centimeters, but its spatial resolution is intrinsically low. On the other hand, ultrasound imaging exhibits the higher spatial resolution of morphological imaging, but without providing solid constitutional information. Thus, the combination of diffuse optical imaging and ultrasound may improve the effectiveness of medical examinations, e.g. for screening or diagnosis of tumors. However, the presence of an ultrasound coupling gel between probe and tissue can impair diffuse optical measurements like diffuse optical spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy, since it may provide a direct path for photons between source and detector. A systematic study on the effect of different ultrasound coupling fluids was performed on tissue-mimicking phantoms, confirming that a water-clear gel can produce detrimental effects on optical measurements when recovering absorption/reduced scattering coefficients from time-domain spectroscopy acquisitions as well as particle Brownian diffusion coefficient from diffuse correlation spectroscopy ones. On the other hand, we show the suitability for optical measurements of other types of diffusive fluids, also compatible with ultrasound imaging