Evaluating screen exposure in very young children: insights from the Italian Surveillance System of children aged 0-2 years

Objective. To describe screen exposure and its association with socio-economic characteristicsin a large representative sample of children aged 0-2 years in Italy.Materials and methods. Data from the 2022 Italian Surveillance of children aged 0-2 years, collected on 35,550 mothers, were analysed to estimate the prevalence of screen exposure. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between exposure and potential predictors.Results. Overall, 39.2% of children aged 2-15 months were exposed to digital screens. The exposure prevalence increased with age, ranging from 13.9% at 2-3 months to 61.9% at 13-15 months. Screen exposure was significantly more frequent among children of mothers with non-Italian citizenship, having lower levels of education, reporting economic difficulties, non-participating in antenatal classes (ACs), and residing in the center-south.Conclusions. Most babies, particularly from low socio-economic status (SES) families, were exposed to screens in a period when this may interfere with responsive caregiving and thus with early child development. It is imperative to inform parents and caregivers about the risks of early exposure since the first months of life

Monitoring prevalence of breastfeeding and associated factors: results of the 2022 data collection of the Italian surveillance of children aged 0-2 years

Objective. To describe breastfeeding and associated factors in a large representative sample of children aged 0-2 years in Italy.Materials and methods. Data from the 2022 Italian surveillance of children aged 0-2 years, comprised of 35,550 mothers, were analysed to estimate rates of EBF (exclusive breastfeeding), any breastfeeding (BF) and never breastfed (NBF). Logistic regression was used to investigate the association of EBF, BF and NBF with potential predictors.Results. EBF among children aged 2-3 months varied from 36.4% in the South Italy to 54.0% in the North, decreasing respectively to 19.6% and 35.8% at 4-5 months. At 12-15 months BF ranged between 29.2% (South) and about 40% (Centre and North). Women with Italian citizenship, having a lower educational level, those who never attended antenatal classes (AC), and those residing in the South were significantly less likely to exclusively breastfeed or to breastfeed after the first year of life of the child.Conclusions. The data underscore the gap between recommendations and actual breastfeeding practices, offering the first national perspective that highlights territorial disparities. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions, particularly in light of identified regional and socio-economic differences

Fatigue assessment of a railway bridge detail using dynamic analysis and probabilistic fracture mechanics

This paper presents a generic methodology for the use of PFM within the context of bridge loading for the fatigue design and assessment of steel railway bridges and provides detailed guidance on how to use the proposed methodology in order to carry out a PFM-based fatigue assessment. The problem is set in a probabilistic context to take into account material, loading as well as modeling uncertainties. Guidance is given on how to calibrate a constant amplitude PFM analysis against an S-N curve. Finally, as a case study, a cracked welded bridge detail is considered and its time-dependent fatigue reliability is established © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group

Oxidants, antioxidants, and respiratory tract lining fluids.

Respiratory tract lining fluids (RTLFs) are a heterogeneous group of substances covering the respiratory tract epithelial cells (RTECs) from nasal mucosa to alveoli. Antioxidant contained in the RTLFs can be expected to provide an initial defense against inhaled environmental toxins. The major antioxidants in RTLF include mucin, uric acid, protein (largely albumin), ascorbic acid, and reduced glutathione (GSH). RTLF antioxidants can be augmented by such processes as transudation/exudation of plasma constituents; RTEC secretory processes, including glandular mucus secretion; and cellular antioxidants derived from lysis of RTECs and of inflammatory cells. The antioxidant composition of RTLFs and their role in modulating normal and pathophysiologic RTEC functions under conditions of oxidative stress are yet to be fully characterized