Role of the growth step on the structural, optical and surface features of TiO2/SnO2 composites

TiO2/SnO2 composites have attracted considerable attention for their application in photocatalysis, fuel cells and sensors. Structural, morphological, optical and surface features play a pivotal role in photoelectrochemical applications and are critically related to the synthetic route. Most of the reported synthetic procedures require high-temperature treatments in order to tailor the sample crystallinity, usually at the expense of surface hydroxylation and morphology. In this work, we investigate the role of a treatment in an autoclave at a low temperature (1008C) on the sample properties and photocatalytic performance. With respect to samples calcined at 4008C, the milder crystallization treatment promotes anatase phase, mesoporosity and water chemi/physisorption, while reducing the incorporation of heteroatoms within the TiO2 lattice. The role of Sn content was also investigated, showing a marked influence, especially on the structural properties. Notably, at a high content, Sn favours the formation of rutile TiO2 at very low reaction temperatures (1008C), thanks to the structural compatibility with cassiterite SnO2. Selected samples were tested towards the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in water under UV light. Overall, the low-temperature treatment enables to tune the TiO2 phase composition while maintaining its surface hydrophilicity and gives rise to well-dispersed SnO2 at the TiO2 surfac

Monsignor Luigi Biraghi e i falsi di Cernusco

We present here some reflections on an inscription from Cernusco sul Naviglio (Milan) discovered by Monsignor Luigi Biraghi in 1849 and published by Mommsen among the falsae in CIL V 664*. This paper stems from the discovery of some private and unpublished letters by Biraghi that we consulted at the Archive of the Quadronno Institute of the Sisters of St. Marcellina in Milan. This correspondence informs us of Biraghi\u2019s personal and professional relationships with other mid-19th century classical scholars. The analysis of these documents will shed some light on the harsh judgment that Mommsen (along with others) expressed on Biraghi regarding some inscriptions that he had discovered in the Ager Mediolanensis

Prevalence, Outcome, and Prevention of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates Born to Women with Preconception Immunity (CHILd Study)

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading infectious cause of congenital disabilities. We designed a prospective study to investigate the rate, outcome, and risk factors of congenital CMV (cCMV) infection in neonates born to immune women, and the potential need and effectiveness of hygiene recommendations in this population. Methods: The study was composed of 2 sequential parts: an epidemiology (part 1) and a prevention (part 2) study. Performance of part 2 depended upon a cCMV rate >0.4%. Women enrolled in part 1 did not receive hygiene recommendations. Newborns were screened by HCMV DNA testing in saliva and cCMV was confirmed by urine testing. Results: Saliva swabs were positive for HCMV DNA in 45/9661 newborns and cCMV was confirmed in 18 cases. The rate of cCMV was. 19% (95% confidence interval [CI]:. 11-.29%), and 3 out of 18 infants with cCMV had symptoms of CMV at birth. Age, nationality, occupation, and contact with children were similar between mothers of infected and noninfected newborns. Twin pregnancy (odds ratio [OR]: 7.2; 95% CI: 1.7-32.2; P =. 037) and maternal medical conditions (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-10.1; P =. 003) appeared associated with cCMV. Given the rate of cCMV was lower than expected, the prevention part of the study was cancelled. Conclusions: Newborns from women with preconception immunity have a low rate of cCMV, which appears to be mostly due to reactivation of the latent virus. Therefore, serological screening in childbearing age would be pivotal to identify HCMV-seropositive women, whose newborns have a low risk of cCMV. Clinical trials registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03973359)

Urban Porosity. A morphological Key Category for the optimization of the CAS’s environmental and energy performance.

This paper illustrates Porosity seen in IMM as fundamental morphological characteristic of urban systems, integration of two basic components of urban space: Volumes and Voids. It aims to highlight the role of Porosity in the relationship between urban morphology and environmental-energy performances with objective considerations and evaluations of its characteristics based on values and indicators. Hence IMM as systemic methodology presents some key findings in this process to describe it objectively. This paper aims to presents an innovative way to estimate Porosity as a Key Category and anticipates its role in finding a correct balance between level of Compactness, Complexity, and Connectivity in the urban system (CAS). Actually in IMM balancing these determinants (resulting from the interaction of the Key categories) is considered the foundation of a best performing CAS (sustainable urban form) and any of them would not be sufficient on its own to achieve the result

SiMBA: Systematic Clustering-Based Methodology to Support Built Environment Analysis

The general interest in sustainable development models has grown enormously over the last 50 years, and architecture and urban planning are certainly two areas in which research on the topic is most advanced. At the same time, the contribution of computer science for a systematic analysis of the territory, both from a morphological point of view and as regards performance, seems to have been underestimated in today's research. In this context, our research aims to joining the two - until now separate - worlds of computer science, and architecture and urban planning. In particular, in this work we present SIMBA: Systematic clusterIng-based Methodology to support Built environment Analysis. SIMBA aims to enhance a consolidated analysis methodology, the Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM), through the integration of advanced analysis methods for the extraction of relevant patterns from built environment data. Using the city of Milan as a case study, we will demonstrate the possibility for SIMBA to be generalised to the analysis of any built environment