187,270 research outputs found
Correction to: Incidental lowering of otitis-media complaints in otitis-prone children during COVID-19 pandemic: not all evil comes to hurt (European Journal of Pediatrics, (2020), 10.1007/s00431-020-03747-9)
No full textThe family name of the co-author of the article mentioned above was incorrectly spelled
Habitual use of push and pull plastic bottle caps is more prevalent among children with recurrent acute otitis media
No full textObjective: The use of a pacifier has been reported to be a causative factor of recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) because the negative pressure which is generated during sucking may cause a negative intra-tympanic pressure and favour the reflux of nasopharyngeal secretions into the Eustachian tube. Push and pull (P&P) plastic bottle caps, recently marketed in Italy, might also induce negative nasopharyngeal pressure.This study was aimed to investigate if there is a difference in the prevalence of habitual use of P&P plastic bottle caps among children with a positive history of RAOM and healthy controls. Methods: A telephonic interview was performed in order to retrospectively evaluate the prevalence of habitual use of P&P plastic bottle cap among children with a history of RAOM and healthy controls, comparable to the former for environmental risk factors for RAOM. Results: Data were obtained from 57 Caucasian patients (males=36/57; 63.2%) with a median age of 59 (range=21-90) months, including 28 children with a history of RAOM and 29 healthy controls. Habitual use of P&P plastic bottle cap was significantly (p=0.047) more frequent in children with a history of RAOM (14/28; 50.0%) than in control group (7/29; 24.2%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age confirmed a significant association (p<0.01; Pseudo R2=0.2) between the use of P&P plastic bottle cap and a positive history of RAOM (adjusted OR=4.0; range=1.1-15.0). Conclusions: Our preliminary data show a significantly increased prevalence of P&P plastic cap bottle habitual users among children with a history or RAOM and support the need for larger studies to confirm the role of using P&P bottles as risk factor of RAOM and to identify the age groups at higher risk
Semitransparent Design of Planar n-i-p Perovskite Solar Cells using a Cost-Effective, Perovskite-Compatible DMD Structure as the Top Electrode
No full textIn recent years, a significant emphasis has been placed on developing multi-functional solar cells that integrate new features such as color and transparency, thereby opening up the possibility of unconventional photovoltaic (PV) applications, including building-integrated PV (BIPV) systems, tandem solar cells, and wearable electronics. In particular, the integration of semitransparent (ST) solar cells into buildings as power-generating windows, facades or other aesthetic architectural elements constitutes one of the most intriguing perspectives [1]. Since silicon-based panels are generally opaque and unaesthetic, there has been a growing research interest in emerging thin-film solar cells that can be made truly semitransparent, display different colors, and be easily adapted to any type and surface of buildings. Among third-generation PVs, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are particularly attractive for these applications owing to their superior performances. Over the past few years, tremendous efforts have been applied to develop esthetic semitransparent perovskite solar cells (ST-PSCs) by exploring various kinds of transparent electrodes, controlling the morphology, and engineering the bandgap of the perovskite absorber [2].
Here, a novel multilayer dielectric/metal/dielectric (DMD) transparent electrode based on non-precious copper (Cu) and molybdenum suboxide (MoOx) is manufactured via thermal evaporation and successfully incorporated as top anode in semitransparent planar n-i-p PSCs. Continuous and percolative Cu films as thin as 9.5 nm are grown onto the oxide surface by means of a pre-deposited ultra-thin Au seed layer, which also acts as an effective Cu diffusion barrier. The final MoOx/Au-seed/Cu/MoOx DMD structure shows a very good trade-off between optical transparency and electrical conductivity as well as a great thermal and mechanical stability. Whilst silver and gold are typically used in such DMD structures [3], their replacement with copper allows for a substantial cost reduction without sacrificing the device performance and stability. Through this strategy, PCEs as high as 12.5%, along with acceptable transparency levels, are successfully achieved. It is also demonstrated that the performance of the fabricated devices can be further improved by introducing specific interfacial layers as well as by incorporating appropriate solvent additives into the perovskite precursor solution.
References
[1] C. J. Traverse, R. Pandey, M. C. Barr, R. R. Lunt, Nat. Energy 2017, 2, 849.
[2] Q. Xue, R. Xia, C. J. Brabec, H.-L. Yip, Energy Environ. Sci. 2018, 11 (7), 1688.
[3] E. Della Gaspera, Y. Peng, Q. Hou, L. Spiccia, U. Bach, J. J. Jasieniak, Y.-B. Cheng, Nano Energy 2015, 13, 249.
[4] G. Giuliano, S. Cataldo, M. Scopelliti, F. Principato, D. Chillura Martino, T. Fiore, B. Pignataro, Adv. Mater. Technol. 2019, 4 (5), 1800688
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in children with recurrent tonsillitis living in Milan
No full textInvolvement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the etiopathogenesis of tonsillar disease in children is still debated; this study assesses possible differences in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between 309 Caucasian children (58.1% males; mean age 55.7 ± 31.0 months) living in Milan with a history of recurrent tonsillitis (RT) and healthy controls. Mean serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly reduced in the children with a history of RT (22.0 ± 8.7 ng/mL vs 24.6 ± 7.8 ng/mL; p=0.03), and the proportion of children with insufficient or deficient serum 25(OH)D levels was higher in the RT group (81.5% and 6.5% respectively) than in the control group (75.1% and 3.5%) (not significant). The multivariable model created to test the independent association between serum 25(OH)D levels and a history of RT after adjusting for age and season showed that the association was not significant. Our study failed to find any significant reduction in serum 25(OH)D levels after adjustment for age and season in a case series of children with RT in comparison with healthy controls, which suggests that vitamin D does not play a relevant role in the etiology of pediatric tonsillar infections
Nasal nitric oxide in children with recurrent acute otitis media
No full textRecently, reduced Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) nNO levels have been reported in children with adenoidal hypertrophy predisposing to chronic nasosinusal inflammation. Given the strict anatomic and physiopathologic link between the nasopharyngeal and middle ear compartments, and considering the high prevalence of otitis prone children among those affected with chronic adenoiditis, we designed a study aimed to test any possible difference in nNO levels between non-allergic children with and without recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) associated with chronic adenoiditis. The study involved 54 children with RAOM (44.4% males; mean age= 7.5±3.5 years) and 51 children without RAOM (47.4% males; mean age= 7.0±3.8 years). nNO levels were significantly reduced in children with RAOM compared to children without RAOM (676.9±250.7 ppb vs 831.8±320.4 ppb, respectively; p= 0.02). Our results could be related to reduced NO production by the ciliated paranasal, nasopharyngeal and middle ear epithelium and the impaired sinusal ostial and Eustachian tube patency due to chronic inflammation, and seem to confirm the involvement of NO pathway in recurrent upper airway infections related to impaired ciliated respiratory mucosa
Il credito al consumo
No full textL’analisi disciplinare della tipologia contrattuale, di matrice comunitaria, evidenzia limiti di armonizzazione nonché una tutela debole nell’informazione pubblicitaria e nella rilevanza del collegamento negoziale tra finanziamento e fornitura del bene, a dispetto della progressione esponenziale della sua diffusione tra i consumatori. Il problema è verificare quanto il concorso di una pubblicità eventuale ma a contenuto uniformato e la selezione di informazioni precontrattuali mirate, oggetto della più recente direttiva comunitaria, realizzi l’obiettivo di maggiore trasparenz
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