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The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel face mask prototype having a superabsorbent nanofibrous coating with a homogenous distribution.

Superabsorbent nanofibers were manufactured via electrospinning method using Poly(vinyl alcohol)/superabsorbent polymer (PVA/SAP) aqueous polymer solutions and they were simultaneously coated onto face masks in order to develop their virus protection and comfort properties. Absorbency, air permeability, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and SEM investigations were carried out for characterization.

SEM investigations revealed that face masks were homogenously coated with nanofibers. Picks obtained from FT-IR spectra proved that all mask samples have PVA/SAP content indicating their absorbent feature. Liquid absorption capacity and air permeability tests have shown that nanofiber coating increased the hydrophilicity of face masks while air permeability decreased in reverse. Final prototype has been found to be promising for industrial, scientific and medical applications with its improved protection and comfort characteristics.

The implication of the research is to investigate the morphological, physical and transfer difference of face masks that are coated with nanofibers and uncoated face masks. This is useful in selection of the right face mask with optimum surface, absorbency and transfer properties.

Compared to commercial product in the market, the face mask developed within the study has a more regularly distributed nanofiber coating.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the human factors/ergonomics (HFE) studies for respirator.

This review paper describes and discusses the various factors and methodologies of HFE, for the purpose of better considering human factors, used in respirator studies and further human-centered product development.

Many attempts have been made to study human factors for respirators mainly including fit, human performance, comfort, and mood. Physical, psychological, and physiological indices of people are extremely valuable to HFE studies for respirator. Objective and subjective measures were methodologies widely used. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were adopted to illustrate the human performance and well-being influenced by respirators. A summary table presented with major methods used for indices of respirators in the field of HFE. According to the current researches, this review indicated three particular challenges facing HFE studies of respirators now.

With the ever increasing role of protection from air pollution in society, respirator has become an increasingly important part of our daily lives. HFE intervene in optimizing the relationships between respirators and the human using them. Plenty of efforts have been dedicated for the development of protection capability, but HFE studies for respirators are lacking. In recent years, there has been a tremendous interest in introducing HFE research methods that can evaluate respirators from the perspective of human and translate them into constraints for designing human-centered respirators.

This is a first paper in the field of HFE studies for respirator, which will remain helpful to the scientific community to start further human-centered research work and product development.

Cleanrooms are highly controlled enclosed rooms where air quality is monitored and ensured to have less contamination according to standard cleanliness level. Air filters are used to optimize indoor air quality and remove air pollutants. Filter media and filtering system are decided as per requirement. Depth filter media are mostly used in cleanroom filtrations. This paper aims to present a comprehensive review of the evolution of cleanroom filter media. It evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of air filter media. It is also studied which air filters have additional properties such as anti-microbial properties, anti-odour properties and chemical absorbent. Development and innovation of air filters and filtration techniques are necessary to improve the performance via the synergistic effect and it can be a possible avenue of future research.

This paper aims to drive the future of air filter research and development in achieving high-performance filtration with high filtration efficiency, low operational cost and high durability. Air pollutants are classified into three types: suspended particles, volatile organic pollutants and microorganisms. Technologies involved in purification are filtration, water washing purification, electrostatic precipitation and anion technology. They purify the air by running it through a filter medium that traps dust, hair, pet fur and debris. As air passes through the filter media, they function as a sieve, capturing particles. The fibres in the filter medium provide a winding path for airflow. There are different types of air filters such as the high-efficiency particulate air filter, fibreglass air filter and ultra-low particulate air filter.

Emerging filtration technologies and filters such as nanofibres, filters with polytetrafluoroethylene membrane are likely to become prevalent over the coming years globally. The introduction of indoor air filtration with thermal comfort can be a possible avenue of future research along with expanding indoor environment monitoring and improving air quality predictions. New air filters and filtration technologies having better performance with low cost and high durability must be developed which can restrict multiple types of pollutants at the same time.

The systematic literature review approach used in this paper highlights the emerging trends and issues in cleanroom filtration in a structured and thematic manner, enabling future work to progress as it will continue to develop and evolve.

Fabrication of customized products in low volume through conventional manufacturing incurs a high cost, longer processing time and huge material waste. Hence, the concept of additive manufacturing (AM) comes into existence and fused deposition modelling (FDM), is at the forefront of researches related to polymer-based additive manufacturing. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the research works carried on the applications of FDM.

In the present paper, an extensive review has been performed related to major application areas (such as a sensor, shielding, scaffolding, drug delivery devices, microfluidic devices, rapid tooling, four-dimensional printing, automotive and aerospace, prosthetics and orthosis, fashion and architecture) where FDM has been tested. Finally, a roadmap for future research work in the FDM application has been discussed. As an example for future research scope, a case study on the usage of FDM printed ABS-carbon black composite for solvent sensing is demonstrated.

The printability of composite filament through FDM enhanced its application range. Sensors developed using FDM incurs a low cost and produces a result comparable to those conventional techniques. EMI shielding manufactured by FDM is light and non-oxidative. Biodegradable and biocompatible scaffolds of complex shapes are possible to manufacture by FDM. Further, FDM enables the fabrication of on-demand and customized prosthetics and orthosis. Tooling time and cost involved in the manufacturing of low volume customized products are reduced by FDM based rapid tooling technique. Results of the solvent sensing case study indicate that three-dimensional printed conductive polymer composites can sense different solvents. The sensors with a lower thickness (0.6 mm) exhibit better sensitivity.

This paper outlines the capabilities of FDM and provides information to the user about the different applications possible with FDM.

New performance standards in dry classification below 10 microns at high feed rates are claimed for the new Majac Acu‐Cut classifier system, now being introduced on the European market. A patented high energy air concept is used to disperse thoroughly and then classify fine powders into coarse and fine fractions with cut size selectivity covering the entire sub‐sieve range from 0·5 to 50 microns. The manufacturers state that it is now possible to produce grit‐free powders below 5 microns in a dry process at production throughput rates or to pull out a specific size range anywhere within the particle size distribution range.

The growth of plastics as corrosion‐resistant coatings is a relatively recent one. Until the second World War their application in this field had hardly been initiated, but once the demand was created the manufacturers responded wholeheartedly and a large number of coatings, with different characteristics and applications, were developed. This article is concerned with some of these developments.

High‐temperature Masking. A paper/polyester silicone masking laminate tape has so far proved completely satisfactory for use in the most modern high‐temperature applications, such as those involving the use of high‐bake enamels, epoxy resin‐based paints and super high‐temperature processes covered by such specifications as DEF 1059 and others.

Reducing Level of Alcohol in Inks ‐ A medium‐sized US ink manufacturer recently needed to reduce the level of alcohol in its bases for water‐based inks. Ciba Geigy Pigments Division's Inks Technical Centre developed an improved formulation, containing half the alcohol of the previous one and 40 per cent more pigment to allow the ink producer to meet VOC limits and increase production efficiency, at no additional cost.

The use of physical 3D models has been used in the industry for a while, fulfilling the function of prototypes in the majority of cases where the designers, engineers and manufacturers optimize their designs before taking them into production. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of reports on the use of 3D models in medicine for preoperative planning. In some highly complex surgeries, the possibility of using printed models to previously perform operations can be determining in the success of the surgery. With the aim of providing new functionalities to an anatomical 3D-printed models, in this paper, a cost-effective manufacturing process has been developed. A set of tradition of traditional techniques have been combined with 3D printing to provide a maximum geometrical freedom to the process. By the use of an electroluminescent set of functional paints, the tumours and vessels of the anatomical printed model have been highlighted, providing to this models the possibility to increase its interaction with the surgeon. These set of techniques has been used to increase the value added to the reproduced element and reducing the costs of the printed model, thus making it more accessible.

Successfully case in where the use of a low-cost 3D-printed anatomical model was used as a tool for preoperative planning for a complex oncological surgery. The said model of a 70-year-old female patient with hepatic metastases was functionalized with the aim of increasing the interaction with the surgeons. The analysis of the construction process of the anatomical model based on the 3D printing as a tool for their use in the medical field has been made, as well as its cost.

The use of 3D printing in the construction of anatomical models as preoperative tools is relatively new; however, the functionalization of these tools by using conductive and electroluminescent materials with the aim of increasing the interaction with it by the surgeons is a novelty. And, based on the DIY principles, it offers a geographical limitlessness, reducing its cost without losing the added value.

The process based on 3D printing presented in this paper allows to reproduce low-cost anatomical models by following a simple sequence of steps. It can be done by people with low qualification anywhere with only access to the internet and with the local costs. The interaction of these models with the surgeon based on touch and sight is much higher, adding a very significant value it, without increasing its cost.

Wonders whether companies actually have employees best interests at heart across physical, mental and spiritual spheres. Posits that most organizations ignore their workforce – not even, in many cases, describing workers as assets! Describes many studies to back up this claim in theis work based on the 2002 Employment Research Unit Annual Conference, in Cardiff, Wales.