Spun Carbon Nanotube Fibres and Films as an Alternative to Printed Electronic Components

Current studies of carbon nanotubes have enabled both new electronic applications and improvements to the performance of existing ones. Manufacturing of macroscopic electronic components with this material generally involves the use of printed electronic methods, which must use carbon nanotube (CNT) powders. However, in recent years, it has been shown that the use of ready-made self-standing macroscopic CNT assemblies could have considerable potential in the future development of electronic components. Two examples of these are spun carbon nanotube fibers and CNT films. The following paper considers whether these spun materials may replace printed electronic CNT elements in all applications. To enable the investigation of this question some practical experiments were undertaken. They included the formation of smart textile elements, flexible and transparent components, and structural electronic devices. By taking this approach it has been possible to show that CNT fibres and films are highly versatile materials that may improve the electrical and mechanical performance of many currently produced printed electronic elements. Additionally, the use of these spun materials may enable many new applications and functionalities particularly in the area of e-textiles. However, as with every new technology, it has its limitations, and these are also considered

Effectiveness of Chêneau brace treatment for idiopathic scoliosis: prospective study in 79 patients followed to skeletal maturity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Progressive idiopathic scoliosis can negatively influence the development and functioning of 2-3% of adolescents, with health consequences and economic costs, placing the disease in the centre of interest of the developmental medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Chêneau brace in the management of idiopathic scoliosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective observational study according to SOSORT and SRS recommendations comprised 79 patients (58 girls and 21 boys) with progressive idiopathic scoliosis, treated with Chêneau brace and physiotherapy, with initial Cobb angle between 20 and 45 degrees, no previous brace treatment, Risser 4 or more at the final evaluation and minimum one year follow-up after weaning the brace. Achieving 50° of Cobb angle was considered surgical recommendation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At follow-up 20 patients (25.3%) improved, 18 patients (22.8%) were stable, 31 patients (39.2%) progressed below 50 degrees and 10 patients (12.7%) progressed beyond 50 degrees (2 of these 10 patients progressed beyond 60 degrees). Progression concerned the younger and less skeletally mature patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Conservative treatment with Chêneau orthosis and physiotherapy was effective in halting scoliosis progression in 48.1% of patients. The results of this study suggest that bracing is effective in reducing the incidence of surgery in comparison with natural history.</p

Restrictions on Trading in Agricultural Land and European Union law

30 April 2016 saw the entering into force of the Act of 14 April 2016 on the Suspension of Sale of Land of the Agricultural Property Stock of the State Treasury and on Amending Numerous Acts . The amendments pertained to, inter alia, the Act of 11 April 2003 on the Formation of the Agricultural System , and introduced a variety of alterations thereto, thus restricting significantly the freedom of trading in agricultural land. This article provides an analysis of conformity of Polish legislation with European Union legislation and also explains the liability of the State Treasury in case of violations of EU law

Microprocessor controller of the solar tracking system

Od kiedy w 1767 r. Szwajcar Horace-Bénédict de Saussure zbudował pierwszy kolektor słoneczny, nazwany „gorącą skrzynią”, rozpoczęła się era pozyskiwania energii promieniowania słonecznego na potrzeby ludzkości. Po wielu latach po raz pierwszy zjawisko fotoelektryczne zaobserwował francuski fizyk Aleksander Edmond Becquerel w 1839 r., przeprowadzając badanie baterii elektrochemicznej. Burzliwy rozwój technologii półprzewodników na przełomie XX i XXI w. i w efekcie spadek cen ogniw solarnych skutkuje intensywnym rozwojem energetyki solarnej, w tym również realizacją prac mających na celu optymalizację procesu konwersji energii solarnej na energię elektryczną. Artykuł poświęcony został opracowaniu systemu nadążnego umożliwiającego optymalne, ze względu na zysk energetyczny, ustawienie ogniwa solarnego w odniesieniu do kierunku padających promieni słonecznych. Przedstawiony został w nim system, algorytm jego pracy oraz wyniki wykonanych badań porównujących trzy tryby pracy modelu systemu śledzącego dzienny ruch Słońca.Since 1767 when the Swiss scientists Horace-Bénédict de Saussure built the first solar collector, called the “hot box”, mankind’s attempts to harness solar energy began. Many years later in 1839 for the first time the photoelectric phenomenon was observed by the French physicist Alexander Edmond Becquerel while conducting scientific research on electrochemical battery. Rapid development in semiconductor technology at the turn of the XXI century and the subsequent drop in solar cell prices resulted in intensive solar energy evolution and growth, including projects that strived at optimizing the conversion of solar energy into electric one. This work aims at developing a solar tracker system that enables the most energy-efficient solar cell positioning towards sunlight. It describes the system itself along with its work algorithm and presents the results under three operation modes of the solar tracker system

The Effect of Sound Reproduction Method on Performance in Sound Source Localization by Visually Impaired and Normally Sighted Subjects

The study was undertaken to check the effect of 3D sound recording and reproduction methods on performance in localization of sound source by the visually impaired and normally sighted subjects. The performance was evaluated on the basis of the ability to identify the direction from which the sound comes and the direction of its propagation. The experiment involved a test in which the subjects were exposed to sounds reproduced by two methods of spatial reproduction: binaural (headphones) and Ambisonics (loudspeaker). The binaural recordings were reproduced through two types of headphones, open and closed ones, and the recordings were made with the help of a dummy head. The recordings for loudspeaker reproduction were made with the use of two microphone matrices, Octava and Panasonic. The subjects were adults and children, including blind and VIC. They had otologically normal hearing. The test included realization of three tasks. The first concerned identification of the direction from which sound has come from an immovable source, a rattle or a drum. In the second and third task, the subjects were asked to indicate the direction of motion of the source of sound (vehicle). For the adults, the method of recording and reproduction of sound had little effect on the test results. For the VIC, a significant difference was noted between the results of headphone and loudspeaker exposure, to the advantage of the headphone exposure. The method of binaural recording and sound exposure through headphones seems much more effective for auditory training of VIC

TLSO with Graphene Sensors—An Application to Measurements of Corrective Forces in the Prototype of Intelligent Brace

This study presents a prototype of Intelligent Brace—the gold medal winner in the 68th edition of the International EUREKA 2019 Competition, in Valencia, Spain. It shows how to improve the effectiveness of a static orthopedic brace, with modern technology based on advanced electronic solutions. The research uses in-house-made thin-film graphene sensors, an electronic system with a microcontroller and derotating pads, a mobile application for Android system, and a remote database. The article presents a description of the real project, the system principle of operation, and the layout of the system elements in the orthosis. A prototype device was designed and built that was tested not only in laboratory conditions, but also during trials with the first patient. Approximately two months of data were collected and interpreted. The collected research results provided basic knowledge about the range of forces exerted by the brace on the patient’s body, as well as the regularity of wearing the orthosis by the patient and compliance with the doctor’s recommendations

RF-powered atmospheric pressure plasma jet for surface treatment

Atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) was developed for decontamination purposes. Features of the device are ability to work with various feed-gases at the atmospheric pressure in several gas-flow, frequency and current-voltage regimes. LabVIEW virtual measurement sub-system for monitoring and measurement process through subsequent setting of electrical and gas-flow parameters (digital control of flow-meters), conditioning and amplification of electrical signals and collection of the data from peripheral measuring devices was applied