Eco-friendly alkali lignin-assisted water-based graphene oxide ink and its application as a resistive temperature sensor.

Inkjet-printable ink formulated with graphene oxide (GO) offers several advantages, including aqueous dispersion, low cost, and environmentally friendly production. However, water-based GO ink encounters challenges such as high surface tension, low wetting properties, and reduced ink stability over prolonged storage time. Alkali lignin, a natural surfactant, is promising in improving GO ink's stability, wettability, and printing characteristics. The concentration of surfactant additives is a key factor in fine-tuning GO ink's stability and printing properties. The current study aims to explore the detailed effects of alkali lignin concentration and optimize the overall properties of graphene oxide (GO) ink for drop-on-demand thermal inkjet printing. A meander-shaped temperature sensor electrode was printed using the optimized GO ink to demonstrate its practical applicability for commercial purposes. The sensing properties are evaluated using a simple experimental setup across a range of temperatures. The findings demonstrate a significant increase in zeta potential by 25% and maximum absorption by 84.3%, indicating enhanced stability during prolonged storage with an optimized alkali lignin concentration compared to the pure GO dispersions. The temperature sensor exhibits a remarkable thermal coefficient of resistance of 1.21 within the temperature range of 25 °C-52 °C, indicative of excellent sensitivity, response, and recovery time. These results highlight the potential of alkali lignin as a natural surfactant for improving the performance and applicability of inkjet-printable GO inks in various technological applications.

A comprehensive review on facemask manufacturing, testing, and its environmental impacts.

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is currently the biggest threat to human lives due to its rapid transmission rate causing severe damage to human health and economy. The transmission of viral diseases can be minimized at its early stages with proper planning and preventive practices. The use of facemask has proved to be most effective measure to curb the spread of virus along with social distancing and good hygiene practices. This necessitates more research on facemask technology to increase its filtration efficiencies and proper disposal, which can be accelerated with knowledge of the current manufacturing process and recent research in this field. This review article provides an overview of the importance of facemask, fundamentals of nonwoven fabrics, and its manufacturing process. It also covers topics related to recent research reported for improved facemask efficiencies and testing methods to evaluate the performance of facemask. The plastic waste associated with the facemask and measures to minimize its effect are also briefly described. A systematic understanding is given in order to trigger future research in this field to ensure that we are well equipped for any future pandemic.

The technology of tongue and hard palate contact detection: a review.

The tongue and hard palate play an essential role in the production of sound during continuous speech. Appropriate tongue and hard palate contacts will ensure proper sound production. Electropalatography, also known as EPG, is a device that can be used to identify the location of the tongue and hard palate contact. It can also be used by a speech therapist to help patients who have a speech disorder. Among the group with the disease are cleft palate, Down syndrome, glossectomy, and autism patients. Besides identifying the contact location, EPG is a useful medical device that has been continuously developed based on the patient's needs and treatment advancement. This article reviews the technology of electropalatography since the early introduction of the device. It also discusses the development process and the drawbacks of the previous EPG systems, resulting in the EPG's upgraded system and technology. This review suggests additional features that can be useful for the future development of the EPG. The latest technology can be incorporated into the EPG system to provide a more convenient method. There are some elements to be considered in the development of EPG's new technology that were discussed in this study. The elements are essential to provide more convenience for the patient during speech therapy. New technology can accelerate the growth of medical devices, particularly on the development of speech therapy equipment that should be based on the latest technological advancements available. Thus, the advanced EPG system suggested in this article may expand the usage of the EPG and serve as a tool to provide speech therapy treatment services and not limited to monitoring only.

Collagenous spherulosis of the breast. Case report.

We report a case of collagenous spherulosis of the breast, a very rare underinvestigated lesion which must not be misinterpreted as a malignant epithelial tumour, such as adenoid cystic or signet-ring cell intraductal carcinoma, on histologic slides. The lesion is typically found in association with benign proliferative breast diseases. Prognosis is excellent.

[Neurofibromatosis and pregnancy. Considerations on a clinical case and review of the literature]. / Neurofibromatosi e gravidanza. Considerazioni su un caso clinico e revisione della letteratura.

In this paper, starting from a case of neurofibromatosis adversely affecting pregnancy, the authors consider several interactions between pregnancy and Von Recklinhausen's diseases. The review of the literature emphasizes either an exacerbation of the maternal disease because of pregnancy, or the onset appearance of serious complications such as sarcomatous degeneration of neurofibromas, activation of a silent pheochromocytoma, rupture of an aneurysm. Moreover, the effects of neurofibromatosis on the pregnancy cause an elevated risk of IUGR, pregnancy hypertension, abortion and stillbirth and oligohydramnios. The pregnancy of a patient affected with neurofibromatosis needs careful evaluation of the maternal clinical conditions and of the foetus-placenta unity.

Effects of an antiprostaglandin drug on human fallopian tubes in vivo.

The Authors studied 17 patients with patent tubes, normal ovulation and Rubin's test results. In the following cycle, this test was repeated divided into two phases. The first followed the normal procedure; the second started 10' after the e.v. administration of 50 mg of an antiprostaglandin drug (Ketoprophen). The results highlighted the capability of this drug to alter the activity of human tubes. A general increase was observed in the amplitude and frequency of tubal contractions. The Authors finally analyse the possible clinical use of this drug in the treatment of the tubal pathology.