Electromagnetic wave absorption and structural properties of wide-band absorber made of graphene-printed glass-fibre composite

Lightweight composites combining electromagnetic wave absorption and excellent mechanical properties are required in spacecraft and aircraft. A one- dimensional metamaterial absorber consisting of a stack of glass fibre/epoxy layers and graphene nanoplatelets/epoxy films was proposed and fabricated through a facile air-spraying based printing technology and a liquid resin infusion method. The production process allows an optimum dispersion of graphene nanoplatelets, promoting adhesion and mechanical integration of the glass fibre/epoxy layers with the graphene nanoplatelets/epoxy films. According to experimental results, the proposed wide-band absorber provides a reflection coefficient lower than −10 dB in the range 8.5–16.7 GHz and an improvement of flexural modulus of more than 15%, with a total thickness of ∼1 mm. Outstanding electromagnetic wave absorption and mechanical performance make the proposed absorber more competitive in aeronautical and aerospace applications

Flexible ecoflex®/graphene nanoplatelet foams for highly sensitive low-pressure sensors

The high demand for multifunctional devices for smart clothing applications, human motion detection, soft robotics, and artificial electronic skins has encouraged researchers to develop new high-performance flexible sensors. In this work, we fabricated and tested new 3D squeezable Ecoflex® open cell foams loaded with different concentrations of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in order to obtain lightweight, soft, and cost-effective piezoresistive sensors with high sensitivity in a low-pressure regime. We analyzed the morphology of the produced materials and characterized both the mechanical and piezoresistive response of samples through quasi-static cyclic compression tests. Results indicated that sensors infiltrated with 1 mg of ethanol/GNP solution with a GNP concentration of 3 mg/mL were more sensitive and stable compared to those infiltrated with the same amount of ethanol/GNP solution but with a lower GNP concentration. The electromechanical response of the sensors showed a negative piezoresistive behavior up to ~10 kPa and an opposite trend for the 10–40 kPa range. The sensors were particularly sensitive at very low deformations, thus obtaining a maximum sensitivity of 0.28 kPa−1 for pressures lower than 10 kPa

Manufacture and electromechanical characterization of highly conductive multilayer-graphene/polydimethylsiloxane flexible paper

Multilayer graphene (MLG) micro- and nanosheets have been investigated for use as nanofiller in polymer composite in order to obtain multifunctional materials with enhanced electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. In order to take advantage of the conductivity properties of MLG sheets, a large amount of nanofiller should be used. Although, increasing filler loading alters the mechanical properties of the composite because of serious filler agglomeration. It has been shown that a promising approach to realize electrically conductive light-weight composite is to incorporate an electrically conductive graphene paper (GP), obtained by vacuum filtration of a nanofillers suspension, into the polymer matrix. One advantage of infiltrating the GP with polymer is that the tensile modulus of the composite can be greatly improved as compared with either GP or neat polymer, without weakening the electrical properties of the highly continuous nanofillers network formed in the paper making process. In this work we present experimental results related to the fabrication process and the electromechanical behaviour of a free standing, highly-conductive MLG paper impregnated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)

Acoustic cavitation by means ultrasounds in the extra virgin olive oil extraction process

Abstract The virgin olive oil extraction process has changed very little over the past 20 years when the mechanical crushers, malaxers, horizontal and vertical centrifuges, took place in the olive mills. However, malaxation process remains the main critical step due to the discontinuity of this process. In previous activities, the same authors demonstrated how application of new emerging technologies could offer an interesting number of advantages to remove this bottleneck and, among the others, the ultrasound (US) technology is the most promising one, due to its mechanical and thermal effects due to the acoustic cavitation phenomenon. Acoustic cavitation, provided by means of low frequency high power ultrasounds, increases the quality, the work capacity and efficiency of the extraction plant, guaranteeing the sustainability. The paper shows how the authors have designed, realized and tested the first in the world continuous ultrasonic full-scale device for the extra virgin olive oil industry, with the aim to obtain the best product quality at the highest efficiency. Considering the heterogeneity of the olive paste, which is composed of different tissues, and considering the large number of parameters able to influence the process, a 3D multiphase CFD analysis was used as auxiliary tool in the design a so-called Sono-Heat-Exchanger (SHE). This innovative device, to be placed between the crusher and the decanter, is a combination of a heat-exchanger with plate-shape ultrasonic transducers. Finally, experimental results about yields and phenols contents demonstrated the relevance of this innovation

Improving nursing staff attitudes toward vaccinations through academic detailing. The hproimmune questionnaire as a tool for medical management

Vaccinations remain the most effective way of preventing infection, disease, and mortality. Public health institutions consequently recommend vaccines to target groups, including healthcare workers, who are considered to be more at risk of exposure and transmission. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to assess, through the administration of a questionnaire, the nursing staff’s knowledge and attitude towards recommended vaccinations, and to explore the effects of a training course (carried out according to the academic detailing methodology) aimed at increasing operators’ knowledge and outreach on recommended vaccinations among healthcare workers. A total of 85 HCWs (30 nursing coordinators and 55 nurses) completed the questionnaire. Results demonstrate a higher rate of agreement towards vaccinations in nursing staff answers (75%), if compared with results of other studies (62–63%). Statistically significant differences between nursing coordinators and nurses can be found. Regarding vaccination attitudes, nursing coordinators agreed in 86% of the answers on healthcare workers’ vaccination vs 70% of nurses (p < 0.001). Considering immunization for influenza, 57% of nursing coordinators vs 18% of nurses reported for vaccination (p < 0.001). Educational programs, carried out according to academic detailing methods, could impact on vaccination attitudes and raise awareness about recommended vaccinations among healthcare workers. The questionnaire is a useful tool for investigating nursing staff knowledge and attitudes towards vaccinations, and to implement strategies to promoting vaccinations among healthcare workers

Effects of Ultrasound and Green Synthesis ZnO Nanoparticles on Biogas Production from Olive Pomace

Abstract Agro-biomass residues can play a crucial role in promoting the fossil-fuel replacement in agro-food farms. Apulia, a region in Southern Italy, concentrates 22% of farms and 57% of total national olive and olive oil production, resulting the leader producer of the Country. So that, a high quantity of biomass (olive pomace) can be recovered from the milling process. This study investigates the biogas production that occurs during the anaerobic digestion of olive pomace by means of an ultrasound pre-treatment or by means of green synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles mixed with olive pomace, in order to facilitate its digestion or co-digestion. Measurement of dry matter and biogas produced volume during the anaerobic process were investigated starting from 3-phase and 2-phase olive pomace by means of high specific energy and low frequency ultrasound values. The results highlight a promising influence of ultrasound pre-treatment useful at increasing the biogas yield of olive pomace

Real-World Data and Clinical Implications of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-Based Analysis in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

Over the last two decades, the use of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in medical oncology has increased the likelihood of identifying druggable mutations that may be potentially susceptible to targeted treatments. The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) currently does not recommend the use of the NGS test to determine the therapeutic course of patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) in daily clinical practice. However, the aim of this work is to evaluate the potential contribution of the NGS test in selecting targeted therapies for patients with mBC. Data were retrospectively collected from 101 patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and treated at the Modena Cancer Center between January 2015 and April 2022. A NGS test was performed on the tumor tissue of each patient at the Laboratory of Molecular Pathology of the University Hospital of Modena. This study analyzed the clinical-pathological characteristics and mutational profile of the population using NGS tests, with a focus on actionable mutations that could be targeted in advanced stages of clinical development. The indicator of this study was to quantify the actionable mutations that resulted in a change of cancer treatment. In total, 101 patients with metastatic breast cancer were analyzed, including 86 with luminal phenotype, 10 who were HER2-positive and 5 who were triple-negative. Median age was 52 years. NGS analysis was conducted on 47 samples of primary breast cancer, 52 on metastatic sites of disease and 2 on liquid biopsies. A total of 85 gene mutations were found. The most common mutations were identified in the PIK3CA (47%), FGFR (19%) and ERBB2 genes (12%), and to a lesser extent in other genes. Of the 61 patients with pathogenic mutations, 46 (75%) had at least one actionable mutation. Of these, nine received treatment with a molecular target drug: eight patients with a mutation of the PIK3CA gene were treated with alpelisib and fulvestrant; one patient with FGFR1/2 amplifications received TAS120. Median PFS for these patients was 3.8 months. The study results show that using the NGS test on cancer tissue of metastatic breast cancer could influence the therapeutic choices, considering the small sample size and limited follow-up. About 9% of the study population had their therapy modified based on the results of NGS. The growing number of detectable mutations and increased accessibility of the test may lead to a greater number of potential therapeutic implications for the NGS assay. Perspectives suggest that NGS analysis can be implemented in daily clinical practice, particularly in contexts where a Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) is active.Over the last two decades, the use of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in medical oncology has increased the likelihood of identifying druggable mutations that may be potentially susceptible to targeted treatments. The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) currently does not recommend the use of the NGS test to determine the therapeutic course of patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) in daily clinical practice. However, the aim of this work is to evaluate the potential contribution of the NGS test in selecting targeted therapies for patients with mBC. Data were retrospectively collected from 101 patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and treated at the Modena Cancer Center between January 2015 and April 2022. A NGS test was performed on the tumor tissue of each patient at the Laboratory of Molecular Pathology of the University Hospital of Modena. This study analyzed the clinical–pathological characteristics and mutational profile of the population using NGS tests, with a focus on actionable mutations that could be targeted in advanced stages of clinical development. The indicator of this study was to quantify the actionable mutations that resulted in a change of cancer treatment. In total, 101 patients with metastatic breast cancer were analyzed, including 86 with luminal phenotype, 10 who were HER2-positive and 5 who were triple-negative. Median age was 52 years. NGS analysis was conducted on 47 samples of primary breast cancer, 52 on metastatic sites of disease and 2 on liquid biopsies. A total of 85 gene mutations were found. The most common mutations were identified in the PIK3CA (47%), FGFR (19%) and ERBB2 genes (12%), and to a lesser extent in other genes. Of the 61 patients with pathogenic mutations, 46 (75%) had at least one actionable mutation. Of these, nine received treatment with a molecular target drug: eight patients with a mutation of the PIK3CA gene were treated with alpelisib and fulvestrant; one patient with FGFR1/2 amplifications received TAS120. Median PFS for these patients was 3.8 months. The study results show that using the NGS test on cancer tissue of metastatic breast cancer could influence the therapeutic choices, considering the small sample size and limited follow-up. About 9% of the study population had their therapy modified based on the results of NGS. The growing number of detectable mutations and increased accessibility of the test may lead to a greater number of potential therapeutic implications for the NGS assay. Perspectives suggest that NGS analysis can be implemented in daily clinical practice, particularly in contexts where a Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) is active

Adrenomedullin, a new peptide, in patients with insulinoma

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that adrenomedullin, a newly discovered peptide, affects the release of insulin from pancreatic islets cells, suggesting a role in the insulin-regulating system. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether adrenomedullin secretion is modified in patients with insulin-secreting islet cell tumours. DESIGN: The study was performed in nine patients with surgically treated insulinoma. Circulating adrenomedullin was assayed using a specific radioimmunoassay and its localization and distribution in the tumour were determined by means of immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Adrenomedullin concentrations were significantly greater in patients with insulinoma (6.6 +/- 3.2 fmol/ml) than in controls (2.1 +/- 1.1 fmol/ml). In six patients monitored before and after surgery, plasma adrenomedullin decreased from 6.3 +/- 2.9 fmol/ml to 3.0 +/- 1.6 fmol/ml. Immunoreactive adrenomedullin was localized exclusively in the tumours cells, whereas stroma, surrounding pancreas parenchyma and major ducts were negative for the peptide. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that circulating adrenomedullin is increased in insulinoma and that this increase is related to the neoplastic phenotype