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This review explores circular economy principles in regard to ethanol production from paper-mill sludge. Environmental sustainability and renewability over fossil fuels make second generation ethanol an attractive energy source in a rapidly growing population and consumption world. Paper sludge (PS), a by-product of the pulp and paper (P&P) industry, can no longer be recycled for paper production and is mainly disposed of in landfills. Therefore, it poses a major environmental challenge. However, it has shown potential as a valuable raw material for ethanol production, along with other pulp and paper products, due to its abundant availability and high cellulosic content. This waste-to-energy (WtE) technology for ethanol production is proposed as an alternative, aligning with circular economy concepts to maximize resource efficiency and minimize waste. This review underlines the circular economy aspects of bioethanol production within paper mill sludge management systems. Circular economy principles applied to ethanol production from PS offer a promising avenue for sustainable biofuel development that not only addresses waste management challenges but also enhances the overall environmental performance of biofuel production. Furthermore, economic benefits are described, highlighting the potential for job creation and community development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, due to environmental awareness regarding the harmfulness of polymeric materials, there has been a growing interest in using papers, especially those from alternative raw materials. The importance of using all available raw materials is imperative today. Raw materials that were once viewed as waste are now of great importance because they have the ability to replace raw materials that are used irrationally or are lacking. Cereal straw is a lignocellulosic material that could be used in the paper industry and in the production of increasingly prevalent paper packaging. The aim of this research was to analyze the relationships between the qualitative parameters of straw-based printed papers containing 30% agricultural residues (wheat, barley, or triticale). The influence of two qualitative parameters (ink penetration depth and optical ink density) on the print-through was observed using multiple regression analysis on straw-based papers produced at the laboratory level. Throughout the research, 100% recycled wood paper was used as a reference sample. The results of the regression analysis showed that none of the variables individually make a statistically significant contribution to the prediction of the dependent variable in a linear context, that is, they indicate a non-linear interaction between the variables and the specific conditions under which the dependent variable reaches local extremes and changes in the gradient. Considering the results of the regression analysis and the visualization of the relationship, the model was additionally tested with other independent variables (paper type). From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the alternative straw-based paper with 30% barley pulp has the best interaction between ink and paper, which is the most similar to the reference sample in terms of printability, while the alternative straw-based paper with 30% wheat generally differs significantly from the reference paper when all three prints are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Papermaking and printing industry, usability, i.e., legibility of printed text. Invasive alien plant species (IAPS) may cause threats to native biodiversity in ecosystems. Researchers have been investigating all the possible ways that they can be used effectively for other purposes. Since IAPS are capable of forming cellulose fibre nets, in this research, papers were made from three different types of IAPS (Japanese knotweed, giant goldenrod, and black locust). This research examined these IAPS papers and their effectiveness when used as printing substrates. In comparison to commercial office paper, the differences in basic, surface, optical, and microscopic properties were measured. As a widely used technology, inkjet printing was applied. We tested a commonly used sans-serif typeface (which has been established as being more legible than other typefaces in previous research) in three different type sizes (i.e., 8, 10, and 12 pt). According to the results, paper made from IAPS could offer some usable properties and acceptable legibility, especially when printing typefaces with specific attributes, such as moderate counter size, higher x-height, and minimal differences in the letter stroke width, are used. An appropriate typographic tonal density should be achieved in combination with an adequate letter size, e.g., 10 pt type size when a sans-serif typeface is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansive soil exhibits significant swellings and shrinkages, which may result in severe damage or the collapse of structures built upon it. Calcium-based admixtures, such as lime, are commonly used to improve this problematic soil. However, traditional chemical additions can increase significant environmental stress. This paper proposes a sustainable solution, namely, the use of lignin fiber (LF) from the paper industry to partially replace lime as an amendment for expansive soils. Both the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the lignin fiber-treated expansive soil are extensively studied. The results show that the mechanical properties of expansive soil are improved by using lignin fiber alone. Under the condition of an optimal dosage of 8%, the compressive strength of lignin fiber-modified soil can reach 193 kPa, the shear strength is increased by 40% compared with the untreated soil, and the water conductivity is also improved with the increase in dosage. In addition, compared with 2% lime-modified soil, the compressive strength of 8% lignin fiber- and 2% lime composite-treated expansive soil increased by 50%, the cohesion increased by 12%, and the water conductivity decreased significantly. The microstructure analysis shows that at an 8% lignin fiber content, lignin fibers interweave into a network in the soil, which effectively enhances the strength and stability of the improved soil. Simultaneously, the fibers can form bridges across the adjacent micropores, leading to the merging of pores and transforming fine, dispersed micropores into larger, connected macropores. Lime promotes the flocculation of soil particles, forming larger aggregates and thus resulting in larger pores. The addition of fibers exerts an inhibitory effect on the flocculation reaction in the composite-improved soil. In conclusion, lignin fibers are an effective addition used to partially replace calcium admixture for the treatment of expansive soil, which provides a sustainable and environmentally friendly treatment scheme for reducing industrial waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing research interest currently exists in the use of paper as a building material. This work aims to present the results of a measurement campaign developed on innovative waste paper-based building components. The research was carried out in Southern Italy and used some local by-product aggregates. Three different mixture designs were developed in the laboratory by adding three kinds of biomass to a pulp paper blend: fava bean residues (FB), sawdust powder (SP) and coffee grains (CG) extracted from exhausted chaffs. A physical characterization was carried out measuring the bulk density and bulk porosity. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of the single aggregates was followed by a microstructure analysis of the final components. Bulk density evaluation showed a range between 200 and 348 kg·m−3. Furthermore, thermal performances were measured; the thermal conductivity of the experimented samples ranged from 0.071 to 0.093 W·m−1·K−1, thus it is possible to classify the tested materials as thermal insulators. Moreover, the acoustic properties were evaluated and tested. The normal incidence sound absorption coefficient was measured by the impedance tube on cylindrical specimens. In general, a different behavior was observed between the upper and lower base of each specimen due to the manufacturing process and the shrinkage caused by the different interactions occurring between the aggregates and the pulp paper waste; for example, the presence of sawdust reduced shrinkage in the final specimens, with consequent smaller physical variations among the two faces. The correlation existing between the manufacturing process and the microstructural properties was also investigated by the estimation of the non-acoustical parameters using the inverse method and taking into account the JCA (Johnson, Champoux and Allard) model as a reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the impact of soil modifiers on seed germination and soil quality. Mixtures of paper mill sludge (PMS) with camellia oilseed cake (CO) and peat moss (P), as well as with oilseed cake of toothache tree (TO) and peat moss (P), showed promising results as biostimulants for seed germination. The addition of PMS increased the germination index, indicating its beneficial effects on seed performance. The pH levels remained optimal, and the electrical conductivity values stayed within acceptable ranges, suggesting minimal hindrance to plant growth. The cation exchange capacity increased with PMS, enhancing nutrient availability. Composted mixtures exhibited increased phosphorus levels, contributing to soil fertility. While the organic matter content decreased after composting, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio remained balanced. The bulk density increased after composting, potentially improving soil drainage. Overall, the TO-containing mixture demonstrated superior growth rates compared to the P. These findings support the use of PMS-based soil modifiers for enhancing seed germination and improving soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue in the journal Applied Sciences titled "Feature of Review Papers in Nanotechnology and Applied Nanosciences." The special issue aims to gather review papers that highlight recent developments and applications in the field of nanosciences. The seven contributions in this special issue cover a range of topics, including the use of nanocellulose for cultural heritage preservation, protective coatings for metal-based bipolar plates in water electrolysis, carbon dioxide electrocatalytic reduction reactions using transition metal sulfide nanomaterials, plasmonic techniques for detecting micro- and nano-plastics, graphene-based perfect absorbers, nano titanium dioxide for hydrogen production and storage, and X-ray spectroscopy studies of metal-salen complexes. The special issue provides a sample of the diverse applications of nanotechnology and addresses important issues in our polluted and climate-degraded world. [Extracted from the article]

Carbon fiber paper (CFP) is one of the most important units of gas diffusion layer (GDL) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The binder used in the wet-laid technique has a significant effect on the properties of CFP. In this work, the polyvinyl butyral/phenol-formaldehyde resin (PVB/PF) composite fibers firstly prepared by a dry spinning method were applied for CFP fabrication to replace traditional binders during the papermaking process and remove the PF impregnation process. In the composite fibers with a mass ratio of 5:5, PF phase with a size of about 2~3 μm evenly distributed in PVB matrix. PVB and PF were miscible to some degree, which was beneficial for their binding effect during hot-press. These composite fibers can successfully bind carbon fibers (CFs) during the papermaking process, and their residual carbon efficiently welded the CFs after heat treatment. The content and length of composite fibers in the mat affected the binding structure among CFs, which influenced the properties of CFP, increased the composite fibers' content and reduced their length, significantly improving the strength of CFP. Therefore, the application of this solid fiber binder could enhance the comprehensive properties of CFP by adjusting the fibers' parameters in the mat and also make the fabrication of CFP more environmentally friendly and low-cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increased pressure on the availability of wood biomass in the EU and the regulatory attempts to lower CO2 values, where wood-based biomass plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration, the use of cellulose derived from alternative sources is gaining increased interest in the pulp and paper industry as well as in other industries. The processing properties of alternative fiber-based packaging need to be checked in current processing operations with other types of materials and recycling workflows. For example, in the production of folding boxes, after printing other converting properties such as glueability are also of great importance. The adhesive absorption and bonding strength of materials are important as adhesive joints of packaging can interfere with the protective function. In the presented research, three different paperboards produced on a pilot scale from alternative raw material sources were tested. Two paperboards were produced from the alien invasive plants Japanese knotweed and black locust, and one from residual sawdust. The basic paperboard properties were tested regarding paperboard porosity, roughness, z-directional tensile strength, and dynamical behavior regarding liquid interaction (contact angle and liquid penetration dynamic), as water-based adhesives were used in the research. For adhesive joint strength testing, Y- and T-peel adhesion testing was performed on the joint paperboard samples, as still there is no fully standardized method for the evaluation of such fiber-based material properties. The results indicate differences in the penetration dynamics of liquids. This parameter had the highest influence on the peel adhesion strength, while porosity, roughness, and dynamic contact angle were not so significant. Regarding the two adhesive joint tests, the differences in separate materials regarding peel adhesion curves show similar results. However, the Y-peel maximum force values are higher due to the testing setup (in comparison to the T-peel test). The paperboards made from invasive plants showed adhesive joint failures which are more suitable for tamper-proof packaging due to their low surface strength and crack propagation into the fiber structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For this, various technologies have been studied, such as thin-film coating, which mixes nanocellulose with a coating color to create a gas barrier, or imparts water and moisture resistance by coating the paper in a biodegradable polymer [[4]]. To replace plastics in paper, the produced paper must not only have gas barrier properties, water and moisture resistance, and preservation properties like plastics [[3]], but also have the property to be decomposed quickly when thrown away. It is of great honor to present this Editorial for the Special Issue "Advances in Pulp and Paper Technologies". [Extracted from the article]

Many researchers in the construction field have explored the utilization of augmented reality (AR) and its impact on the industry. Previous studies have shown potential uses for AR in the construction industry. However, a comprehensive critical review exploring the ways in which AR supports synchronized communication is still missing. This paper aims to fill this gap by examining trends identified in the literature and by analyzing both beneficial and challenging attributes. This work was performed by collecting numerous journal and conference papers, using keywords including "augmented reality", "construction", and "synchronous communication". The papers were then categorized based on the reported attributes that were indicated to be challenges or benefits. Throughout the analysis, several benefits were consistently reported, including training, visualization, instantly sharing information, decision making, and intuitive interaction. Similarly, several challenges were consistently reported, such as difficulty in manipulation, unfriendly interface, device discomfort, and sun brightness. Regarding other attributes, such as field of view, cost, safety hazards, and hands-free mode, researchers provided divergent reports regarding whether they were beneficial or detrimental to AR communication. These findings provide valuable guidance for future researchers and practitioners, enabling them to leverage AR for synchronized communication in ways that consistently offer value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Papermaking industry and technology. Innovative applications of vegetal residues. This study examines the potential of four invasive plant species, both arboreal and herbaceous, within the riparian forest of the Umia River in Galicia, a common ecosystem in northern Spain. These invasive species (Arundo donax, Phytolacca americana, Eucalyptus globulus, and Tradescantia fluminensis) were collected and assessed for their suitability as an alternative source of pulp and paper materials for the paper industry to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with conventional cellulose fiber production from harmful monocultures. Cellulosic material from leaves, bark, and/or stems of each of the selected species was isolated from lignin and hemicelluloses through kraft pulping processes. Resulted fibers and pulps were analyzed visually, morphologically, chemically, and mechanically to evaluate their papermaking properties. To compare these properties with those of commercially available pulp, test sheets were concurrently produced using commercial bleached Eucalyptus cellulose. The findings reveal that the employed fibers exhibit promising characteristics for artistic paper production. Regarding the pulp, two refining times were tested in a PFI machine, and the Schopper–Riegler degree was measured. Paper sheets underwent various tests to determine thickness, basis weight, apparent volume, apparent density, permeability, and chemical composition, as well as microscopic optical and morphological properties. The fibers obtained from the waste derived from the removal of invasive exotic species and biodiversity control present a viable and intriguing alternative for decentralized paper production, yielding noteworthy results for the creative sector. This research highlights the potential of harnessing invasive species for sustainable and innovative paper manufacturing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The academic community has witnessed a notable increase in paper publications, whereby the rapid pace at which modern society seeks information underscores the critical need for literature mapping. This study introduces an innovative automatic model for categorizing articles by subject matter using Machine Learning (ML) algorithms for classification and category labeling, alongside a proposed ranking method called SSS (Scientific Significance Score) and using Z-score to select the finest papers. This paper's use case concerns industry productivity. The key findings include the following: (1) The Decision Tree model demonstrated superior performance with an accuracy rate of 75% in classifying articles within the productivity and industry theme. (2) Through a ranking methodology based on citation count and publication date, it identified the finest papers. (3) Recent publications with higher citation counts achieved better scores. (4) The model's sensitivity to outliers underscores the importance of addressing database imbalances, necessitating caution during training by excluding biased categories. These findings not only advance the utilization of ML models for paper classification but also lay a foundation for further research into productivity within the industry, exploring themes such as artificial intelligence, efficiency, industry 4.0, innovation, and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of electric and hybrid vehicles has made it possible for people to read and work in a stationary vehicle for extended periods. However, the current commonly used in–vehicle lighting design is still centered around driving and driving safety. Following recommendations from the literature, a neutral white color band (4000 K–5000 K) with 50–100 lx at the vehicle table area is favored. Whether this lighting environment can meet the needs to enhance the reading performance in a modern vehicle was investigated in this presented study. Therefore, in total, 12 lighting settings were designed based on combinations of four illuminance levels (50 lx, 100 lx, 150 lx and 200 lx) and three correlated color temperatures (3000 K, 4000 K and 5000 K); we recruited 19 subjects (12 females, 7 males) and let study participants evaluate each condition based on electronic and paper reading. Next, subjective preferences, positive and negative emotions, feeling of fatigue and sustained attention were tested. We found that higher illuminance and higher CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) can significantly improve the performance of in–vehicle readers in most aspects following Kruithof's law (p < 0.05). Among them, we recommend the combination of 150 lx and 4000 K as the light parameters for in–vehicle reading as a new development guideline. In addition, we also discovered the inconsistency of people's lighting preferences between in–vehicle spaces and conventional spaces. For indoor lighting, illuminance values up to 1000 lx are still favored. For an in–vehicle function, starting with 200 lx, the preference level and reading performance already declined. In comparison between electronic and paper reading, both were similarly evaluated. These results show that a neutral white light color should be chosen with a horizontal illuminance of maximal 150 lx for a reading light function independent of the reading device. Interdisciplinarily speaking, our findings can be applied in similar small spaces or transportation modes with gentle acceleration and deceleration such as small space hotel rooms, trains, airplanes or ships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic is a metalloid frequently found in contaminated sites, especially in the soil. In this regard, soil contamination has attracted researchers' attention because it affects soil suction, which is essential in unsaturated soil mechanics. Due to its reliability and low cost, the filter paper method is frequently used to evaluate soil suction. However, it is laborious and time consuming. As an alternative, different mathematical models have been developed to estimate natural soil's suction. The objective of this study was to elucidate if Fuentes' model (using fractal, Mualem, and Burdine restrictions) can be used to estimate the soil-water retention curve of an arsenic-contaminated soil by comparing it with the filter paper method data already reported. The results showed that under natural conditions, Fuentes' model provided similar results to those obtained by the filter paper method. The model also suggested modification of the soil's structure, observed by the increase in the soil's particle diameter after contamination. However, Fuentes' model was observed to overestimate the suction values for contaminated soils. This observation highlights the necessity to use a soil stabilization method to control the soil's volume variations. The data also showed that Fuentes' model overestimated the hydraulic conductivity function of the contaminated soil. Hence, the retention potential does not reflect the behavior of the contaminated soils and can induce misinterpretation of contaminant transport evaluation in soil. Nevertheless, further analyses should be performed to investigate the direct applicability of this model to soils contaminated with other substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil-impregnated paper condenser transformer bushings are an important part of transformer equipment, and partial discharge (PD) occurred when defects exist on the condenser aluminum foil layers. Firstly, to study the PD process of the oil-paper insulated capacitance graded bushing with the defect of broken aluminum foil, a defective oil-paper bushing discharge sample is constructed to study the PD parameters and capacitance, and to discharge carbonization traces at different voltage levels. Then, in order to verify the process of condenser aluminum foil layer discharge and the space charge variation in the oil-paper insulation system of a sample model, the surface flashovers of a needle-plane discharge model based on the bipolar charge transport model and the hydrodynamic model was built. The simulation, by Transport of Diluted Species physics of COMSOL Multiphysics software, points out the discharge process of aluminum foil electrode caused by space charge action and electric field distortion under an electric field at different voltages. The results of simulation and sample bushing experiments showed that the PD process of the defective condenser foil layer is mainly divided into three stages: tip corona discharge, streamer in oil, and surface flashovers. The voltage amplitude is larger the more electrical branches are discharged and the shorter the discharge time is. The findings of the article have important implications for the discharge of the foil layer inside the oil-paper bushing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic is a metalloid frequently found in contaminated sites due to its easy mobilization in the environment. This has attracted the researchers who have studied this phenomenon from an environmental engineering perspective. Although there is evidence indicating that soil contamination impacts its geotechnical behavior, there is no available information about the changes in the soil's suction after its contamination. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the soil–water retention curve of arsenic-contaminated soil. An unsaturated soil sample was contaminated with arsenic at two different concentrations and a filter paper calibration curve was developed for each contaminant concentration. Soil contamination decreased the BET area and increased its pore sizes. At a saturation rate of 0.8, the matric suction of the contaminated soils decreased (from 1681 kPa to 260 kPa), while the osmotic suction increased (from 23 kPa to 530 kPa), compared with the natural soil's condition. Furthermore, the soil's suction values obtained with the ASTM D5298 calibration curve were higher than those obtained using the calibration curve developed for the contaminated state. Thus, to avoid misunderstanding the mechanical behavior of the unsaturated soils under contaminated conditions, the osmotic suction should be considered and evaluated with the corresponding calibration curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This work suggests a practical solution for recycled paper sludge (RPS) by its conversion into a natural and sustainable resource, which can further be used for water treatment applications, such as dye adsorption, as an alternative for the current non-environmentally friendly waste management practices. Paper production and recycling result in large amounts of recycled paper sludge (RPS) that is currently being disposed of in very costly and unsustainable practices, raising the importance of developing green solutions for waste management. The use of nanocellulose (NC) as the next generation of materials has gained much attention due to its economic potential. However, there are substantial challenges in NC extraction, detection, and quantification methods. In this study, NC was produced from RPS as a means of converting waste into a resource. The process included a short, 30 min ozonation (21 mg O3/g RPS), which allowed a sufficient delignification and facilitated the following hydrolysis step. Among all tested durations, a 4-h hydrolysis with 64% w/w sulfuric acid resulted in the highest NC production. Fluorescent staining by calcofluor white was used for simple and low-cost detection of NC in-situ. Crude NC showed a significant 63% dye uptake of 0.1 ppm acid red 131 within 30 min. Compared to the standard disposal methods of RPS, its utilization for NC production supports the circular economy concept and significantly contributes to the development of cellulose bio-based nanomaterials for water treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paperboard boxes represent a sought-after class of packaging products, where the use of recycled fibers offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to virgin fibers. The presence of a significant proportion of recycled fibers in the paperboard leads to a number of limitations associated with the deterioration of its characteristics. In this study, the properties of coated and uncoated paperboards containing recycled fibers, wood pulp, and virgin cellulose fibers were investigated using a laboratory sample of paperboard produced from 100% recycled fibers without any chemical additives for comparison. Properties such as smoothness, bulk density, absorbency, and tensile strength, as well as colorimetric characteristics, were determined for the recycled paperboards; for the latter test, charts were printed using inkjet printing and UV-curable inks. Whiteness was calculated by three formulae (CIE, Berger, and Stensby), and all the paperboards had a relatively low whiteness (not exceeding 90 CIE), with a yellowish tint due to recycled fibers and mechanical pulp in the composition. The absence of optical brightening agents in the paperboards was experimentally confirmed. The color gamuts of the paperboards were in direct ratio to their whiteness, with the highest ones demonstrated by the coated paperboards. Color reproduction, according to the tone value increase curves, also depended on the whiteness. Uncoated paperboards demonstrated smaller color shifts than the coated ones, with the greatest increase in tone for yellow color. Coated recycled paperboards are suitable for packaging printing under the same conditions as virgin fiber boards, while uncoated boards are the recommended choice for digital printing with UV inks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of wearing AR devices on users' performance and comfort ratings while performing order-picking (OP) tasks. In addition to a picking-by-paper list, two AR devices combined with three order information display designs were examined. Thirty adult participants joined. They searched for and found the boxes in the order list, picked them up, and returned to the origin. The time to complete the task and the number of incorrect boxes picked up were analyzed to assess the performance of the tasks. The subjective ratings of the participants on the comfort rating scale (CRS) and the simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ) were collected to assess the designs of both the AR devices and the order information displays. It was found that the participants could complete the OP tasks faster when adopting the order map (4.97 ± 1.57 min) or the 3D graph display (4.87 ± 1.50 min) using either one of the AR devices than when using a paper list (6.03 ± 1.28 min). However, they needed more time to complete the OP tasks when wearing both types of AR glasses when the Quick Response (QR) code option was adopted (10.16 ± 4.30 min) than when using a paper list. The QR code scanning and display design using either one of the AR devices guaranteed 100% accuracy but sacrificed efficiency in task completion. The AR device with a binocular display and hand gesture recognition functions had a significantly lower CRS score in the dimensions of attachment and movement (5.6 and 6.3, respectively) than the corresponding dimensions (8.0 and 8.3, respectively) of the other device with a monocular and hand touch input design. There were complaints of eye strain after using both AR devices examined in this study. This implies that these AR devices may not be suitable to wear for extended periods of time. Users should take off the AR device whenever they do not need to view the virtual image to avoid eye strain and other discomfort symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of mobile devices such as smartphones provides new opportunities to enhance the teaching–learning process of a foreign language. However, its use can affect not only the students' type and form of writing but also their ability to achieve the academic competencies targeted. Thus, aspects such as the development of linguistic and communicative competencies could be affected. In this paper, a comparative analysis of two different versions (a paper and a digital version) of the same learning task is carried out in order to analyze the impact of each on the development of students' linguistic and communicative competencies. The study is conducted with undergraduate students enrolled in a course called German II. Modern Language I (level A1.2, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). The results obtained illustrate, on the one hand, the advantages of the paper version for developing students' linguistic competence and, on the other hand, that the digital version, despite facilitating students' interaction amongst each other, does not seem to be more suitable for developing students' communicative competence. Future studies will, therefore, focus on identifying those features that might increase the potential of the digital version for fostering the targeted competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: One of the main technological challenges within Circular Economy strategies is to minimize the environmental impact of plastic packaging. In this regard, the use of PHBV films to coat paper sheets represents a highly sustainable strategy to produce food packaging multilayer structures with improved mechanical and barrier properties. This work reports on the development and performance evaluation of newly developed paper sheets coated, on both sides, with thin films of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) for applications of food packaging. For this, PHBV/paper/PHBV multilayers were first prepared by the thermo-sealing technique, optimizing the process variables of temperature and time. Thereafter, the multilayer sheets were characterized in terms of their morphological, optical, thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties and compared with equivalent paper structures double coated with high-barrier multilayer films of petrochemical polymers. The results indicated that the double coatings of PHBV successfully improved the mechanical resistance and ductility, protected from moisture, and also reduced the aroma and oxygen permeances of paper, having a minimal effect on its optical and thermal properties. Finally, the compostability of the resultant multilayer sheets was analyzed, confirming that the presence of the PHBV coatings slightly delayed the aerobic biodegradation and disintegration of paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Inoculation strategies for microalgae and bacteria consortium for the treatment of paper pulp industry effluents with an increase in biomass sedimentation and algae biomass recovery. The microalgae–bacteria consortium is a promising and sustainable alternative for industrial wastewater treatment, since it may allow good removal of organic matter and nutrients, as well as the possibility of producing products with added value from the algae biomass. This research investigated the best bacterial and microalgae inoculation ratio for system start-up and evaluation of removing organic matter (as chemical oxygen demand (COD)), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4+–N), nitrite nitrogen (NO2−–N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3−–N), phosphate phosphorus (PO43−–P) and biomass formation parameters in six photobioreactors with a total volume of 1000 mL. Reactors were operated for 14 days with the following ratios of pulp mill biomass aerobic (BA) and Scenedesmus sp. microalgae (MA): 0:1 (PBR1), 1:0 (PBR2), 1:1 (PBR3), 3:1 (PBR4), 5:1 (PBR5), and 1:3 (PBR6). Results show that COD removal was observed in just two days of operation in PBR4, PBR5, and PBR6, whereas for the other reactors (with a lower rate of initial inoculation) it took five days. The PBR5 and PBR6 performed better in terms of NH4+–N removal, with 86.81% and 77.11%, respectively, which can be attributed to assimilation by microalgae and nitrification by bacteria. PBR6, with the highest concentration of microalgae, had the higher PO43−–P removal (86%), showing the advantage of algae in consortium with bacteria for phosphorus uptake. PBR4 and PBR5, with the highest BA, led to a better biomass production and sedimentability on the second day of operation, with flocculation efficiencies values over 90%. Regarding the formation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), protein production was substantially higher in PBR4 and PBR5, with more BA, with average concentrations of 49.90 mg/L and 49.05 mg/L, respectively. The presence of cyanobacteria and Chlorophyceae was identified in all reactors except PBR1 (only MA), which may indicate a good formation and structuring of the microalgae–bacteria consortium. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that filamentous microalgae were employed as a foundation for the fixation of bacteria and other algae colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Description of the printing substrate properties required for the production of high-quality thermochromic (TC) offset print. In this study, the influence of physio-chemical properties of four printing substrates, fibrous papers (filter, bulky, recycled), and polymer film (synthetic paper) on the size of the thermochromic (TC) prints microcapsules was investigated. Results indicate that interaction between thermochromic ink and printing substrate determine the print morphology, i.e., porosity and roughness of printing substrate affect dimensions of TC microcapsules of resulting prints, while ink adhesion affects dimensional changes during heating–cooling cycle. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis showed that microcapsules of the prints, on the surface of the smoothest synthetic paper, possess the smallest diameter and height, while, on the most porous and the most roughened surface of F paper, the microcapsules of the prints possess the highest diameter and height. By increasing the temperature to 40 °C, the biggest changes in the shape of the microcapsules (increase in height and decrease in diameter) were obtained using the surface of the hydrophilic filter paper. While using the recycled paper surface, the situation is opposite; the height and diameter of the microcapsules are reduced, and the microcapsules penetrate deeper into the paper structure (due to optimum adhesion). On the bulky paper surfaces, which are more hydrophobic than recycled paper (higher interfacial tension), the increase of temperature does not cause any significant changes in the shape and position of the microcapsules. The same behavior is observed using hydrophobic non-porous synthetic paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformers play a crucial role in power systems. In this respect, fault diagnosis and aging state assessment have garnered significant attention from researchers. Herein, accelerated thermal aging and Raman scattering experiments are conducted on oil–paper insulation samples to accurately detect aging states. The samples are categorized into different aging stages based on the polymerization degree of the insulating paper. Principal component analysis (PCA), multi-dimensional scale change method (MDS), and isometric mapping algorithm (Isomap) are employed to extract features from the Raman spectra. Subsequently, the XGBoost strong classifier, optimized through Bayesian hyperparameter optimization (BO-XGBoost), is utilized to distinguish between four and ten states among 175 groups of samples after feature extraction. The subsequent classification results of the three feature-extraction methods are compared. The results indicate that Isoamp, which pertains to the manifold dimension transformation, achieves the highest average discriminative accuracy after feature extraction. The discriminative accuracies for aging states four and ten are 97.0% and 95.1% respectively, demonstrating that Raman spectroscopy manifold dimension transformation enhances the distinctiveness between samples of different aging states in the feature-extraction process. The diagnostic model constructed with Isomap and BO-XGBoost enables accurate discrimination of the aging states of oil–paper insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review analyzes the most influential artificial intelligence (AI) studies in health and life sciences from the past three years, delineating the evolving role of AI in these fields. We identified and analyzed the top 50 cited articles on AI in biomedicine, revealing significant trends and thematic categorizations, including Drug Development, Real-World Clinical Implementation, and Ethical and Regulatory Aspects, among others. Our findings highlight a predominant focus on AIs application in clinical settings, particularly in diagnostics, telemedicine, and medical education, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergence of AlphaFold marked a pivotal moment in protein structure prediction, catalyzing a cascade of related research and signifying a broader shift towards AI-driven approaches in biological research. The review underscores AIs pivotal role in disease subtyping and patient stratification, facilitating a transition towards more personalized medicine strategies. Furthermore, it illustrates AIs impact on biology, particularly in parsing complex genomic and proteomic data, enhancing our capabilities to disentangle complex, interconnected molecular processes. As AI continues to permeate the health and life sciences, balancing its rapid technological advancements with ethical stewardship and regulatory vigilance will be crucial for its sustainable and effective integration into healthcare and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kirigami is the art of cutting paper to create three-dimensional figures for primarily aesthetic purposes. However, it can also modify the mechanical behavior of the resulting structure. In the literature, kirigami has been applied to modify the material's structural behavior, such as by changing its elasticity, rigidity, volume, or any other characteristic. This article examines the behavior of a pattern of rectangular kirigami cuts on a thermoplastic polyurethane soft material structure and its influence on the mechanical parameters of the macrostructure. The results demonstrate that rectangular kirigami patterns significantly affect the stiffness of the test specimens, changing from 1635 N/m to 4020 N/m. In elongation, there is a variation from 176.6% to 218% by simply altering the height of the rectangular cut. This enables the adjustment of the soft material structure's stiffness based on the geometry of the propagating kirigami cuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational safety and health is among the most challenging issues in many industrial workplaces, in that various factors can cause occupational illness and injury. Robotics, automation, and other state-of-the-art technologies represent risks that can cause further injuries and accidents. However, the tools currently used to assess risks in workplaces require manual work and are highly subjective. These tools include checklists and work assessments conducted by experts. Modern Industry 4.0 technologies such as a digital twin, a computerized representation in the digital world of a physical asset in the real world, can be used to provide a safe and healthy work environment to human workers and can reduce occupational injuries and accidents. These digital twins should be designed to collect, process, and analyze data about human workers. The problem is that building a human-focused digital twin is quite challenging and requires the integration of various modern hardware and software components. This paper aims to provide a brief survey of recent research papers on digital twins, focusing on occupational safety and health applications, which is considered an emerging research area. The authors focus on enabling technologies for human data acquisition and human representation in a virtual environment, on data processing procedures, and on the objectives of such applications. Additionally, this paper discusses the limitations of existing studies and proposes future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Document classification is an important area in Natural Language Processing (NLP). Because a huge amount of scientific papers have been published at an accelerating rate, it is beneficial to carry out intelligent paper classifications, especially fine-grained classification for researchers. However, a public scientific paper dataset for fine-grained classification is still lacking, so the existing document classification methods have not been put to the test. To fill this vacancy, we designed and collected the PaperNet-Dataset that consists of multi-modal data (texts and figures). PaperNet 1.0 version contains hierarchical categories of papers in the fields of computer vision (CV) and NLP, 2 coarse-grained and 20 fine-grained (7 in CV and 13 in NLP). We ran current mainstream models on the PaperNet-Dataset, along with a multi-modal method that we propose. Interestingly, none of these methods reaches an accuracy of 80% in fine-grained classification, showing plenty of room for improvement. We hope that PaperNet-Dataset will inspire more work in this challenging area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a new technique for analyzing phenomena occurring during the measurement of the strength properties of paper in the conditions of compression of the tested samples with forces acting in the paper plane. The technique is based on collecting data on the current distance of the clamps holding the tested sample and the force exerted on the sample using a universal testing machine and on the simultaneous recording of image sequence of the sample during the measurement. Next, the resulting images are subjected to processing and analysis, the purpose of which is to extract information about the shape of the sample edge in all phases of the measurement. Its advantage is the ability to determine the deflection arrow of the sample and describe its shape using the selected function given by the analytical parametric formula. It will be helpful in further research on the development of an analytical model describing the phenomena occurring during paper compression, and a method to determine the mechanism of paper destruction and the corresponding maximum force that destroys a paper sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the premise of resource constraint, it is crucial to identify the product innovation opportunities contained in failed patents through external search in order to compensate for the shortcomings of enterprises' own technology. Due to the cost of patent research and development and the risk of infringement, this paper constructs a product innovation identification path that integrates the FOS and BERTopic model from the perspective of invalid patents. The path consists of three stages, including the identification of the problem to be solved by the product based on functional analysis, the extraction of the subject matter elements based on the core failed patent technology, and the generation and evaluation of innovative solutions based on TRIZ theory and the best- worst method (BWM). Finally, the feasibility of the path constructed in this paper is verified by taking a slurry pump as an example. The application results show that the product innovation identification path constructed in this paper can provide theoretical support for enterprises to carry out technological innovation activities efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Sialic acid is a critical membrane constituent required to maintain mucosal integrity. This investigation describes the biochemical quantitation of salivary sialic acid as a rapid measure of oral health that corresponds with the clinical status of the patient. The test can be utilized widely including in remote facilities with limited resources. A rapid, low-cost, visual test for sialic acid using commonly available reagents complements the biochemical assessment. The test can be applied for screening large populations, monitoring oral health status, amenable to digital health and can advance patient engagement to manage their oral health. Objective: Sialic acid [SA] represents a critical mucosal membrane component maintaining mucosal integrity. This investigation stratified adult subjects based on clinical parameters of periodontal health to examine salivary sialic acid [SA] as a health measure and develop a corresponding rapid visual chair-side assay. Methods: Adults [n = 90] were enrolled and clinically stratified into healthy [n = 30], gingivitis [n = 29] or periodontitis [n = 31] groups. Saliva from subjects was evaluated for SA using the Ninhydrin method. A novel rapid SA spot test was developed utilizing filter paper discs soaked in a sialidase substrate. Substrate-laden disks were incubated at room temperature with saliva produced a blue color with increasing color intensities due to higher sialidase activity. Subjects were recalled weekly for clinical and salivary assessments. Results: Average baseline salivary SA in healthy, gingivitis and periodontal disease groups were 64, 95 and 102 µg/mL, respectively with significant differences (<0.05). Differences in SA concentrations among control and test groups were maintained throughout the study. Similarly, the differences in the color intensities in the rapid visual chair side spot test were also observed during the entire study period. Conclusions: Increasing levels of salivary SA were observed from healthy to periodontal disease with these differences remaining consistent over the study. These results corresponded with the chair-side visual assay, which is suitable for patient education or monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main issues in a paper mill is the minimization of trim loss when cutting master reels and stocked reels into reels of smaller required widths. The losses produced in trimming at a paper mill are reprocessed by using different chemicals which contributes to significant discharge of effluent to surface water and causes environmental damage. This paper presents a real-world industrial problem of production planning and cutting optimization of reels at a paper mill and differs from other cutting stock problems by considering production and cutting of master reels of flexible widths and cutting already stocked over-produced and useable leftover reels of smaller widths. The cutting process of reels is performed with a limited number of cutting knives at the winder. The problem is formulated as a linear programming model where the generation of all feasible cutting patterns determines the columns of the constraint matrix. The model is solved optimally using simplex algorithm with the objective of trim loss minimization while satisfying a set of constraints. The solution obtained is rounded in a post-optimization procedure in order to satisfy integer constraints. When tested on data from the paper mill, the results of the proposed model showed a significant reduction in trim loss and outperformed traditional exact approaches. The cutting optimization resulted in minimum losses in paper trimming and a lesser amount of paper is reprocessed to make new reels which reduced the discharge of effluent to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface hydrophobicity and grease resistance of paper may be achieved by the application of coatings usually derived from fossil-oil resources. However, poor recyclability and environmental concerns on generated waste has increased interest in the study of alternative paper coatings. This work focuses on the study of the performances offered by two different biopolymers, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and polycaprolactone (PCL), also assessing the effect of a plasticizer (PEG) when used as paper coatings. The coated samples were characterized for the structural (by scanning electron microscopy, SEM), diffusive (water vapor and grease barrier properties), and surface properties (affinity for water and oil, by contact angle measurements). Samples of polyethylene-coated and fluorinated paper were used as commercial reference. WVTR of coated samples generally decreased and PHBV and PCL coatings with PEG at 20% showed interesting low wettability, as inferred from the water contact angles. Samples coated with PCL also showed increased grease resistance in comparison with plain paper. This work, within the limits of its lab-scale, offers interesting insights for future research lines toward the development of cellulose-based food contact materials that are fully recyclable and compostable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global drive to eliminate mercury is stimulating the development of LED lamps for UV curing of coatings. Despite its many advantages, the transition to this system in the furniture industry presents technological issues. This paper aimed to determine the impact of the paint line's individual technological and process parameters on the coating's optical properties, such as colour and gloss of furniture components made of white-coloured light-weight boards. Samples were prepared under the conditions of an industrial paint line using LED and traditional mercury lamps at the rate of 50 m/min. The colour was tested using the CIELAB system on a BYK GARDNER spectrophotometer, while the gloss was measured using the PICO GLOSS meter. Based on the data obtained, the optical parameters were found to be highly stable irrespective of the power drop in the LED lamps. The coordinates L*, b* and gloss G were affected by the amount of topcoat and basecoat, the number of coats, the mercury lamps' power and the panel grinding programs used. The results of the tests showed that high L* and b* values could be achieved by increasing the number of overlays. This solution also ensures less basecoat and topcoat consumption, contributing to large material savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of intensely fissured soils is often found to relate to high geotechnical risks, such as landslide risk. This is especially the case of the Southern Apennines, Italy, where slopes formed of intensely fissured clays are frequently affected by landslides. The latter are generally triggered by rainfall infiltration, which takes place through the outcropping, unsaturated clayey soil cover. With the final aim of reducing landslide risk in areas covered by fissured clays, a detailed hydro-mechanical characterisation of these materials is required. While the behaviour of fully saturated fissured clays has been investigated in the last decade, only a few studies dealing with unsaturated, natural fissured clays are reported in the literature. The present paper aims to give a contribution toward filling this gap by extending an investigation campaign started a few years ago on the Paola Doce fissured clay outcropping on the Pisciolo slope (Southern Apennines, Italy). The physical properties of the material and some of its key micro- to meso-structural features are first analysed, the latter also based on Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrographs of an undisturbed sample taken at 1.4 m depth on the Pisciolo slope, which is mainly formed of Paola Doce clay. Subsequently, water retention data of the soil are presented, which were obtained using both high-capacity tensiometers and the filter paper technique. These data were collected not only on undisturbed samples but also while subjecting the same material to drying paths. The results herein reported aim to make a link between the water retention behaviour of the Paola Doce clay sampled at Pisciolo and its fissured structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the valorization of waste paper fly ash (WPFA) as a binder for soil stabilization. The mineralogical characterization shows the presence of free lime, as well as some non-reactive and cementitious phases. The hydration of lime is an expansive reaction and can be problematic in soil stabilization. Therefore, to study its effect on stabilized soil, an in-house experimental set-up is proposed to measure the possible expansion. Furthermore, to study the effect of water reduction and delay time on strength, unconfined compressive strength with different mixes is conducted. The obtained results showed that using WPFA causes expansion in stabilized soil, but a delay time of 30 min, after mixing the material with water and then compacting it, can decrease the expansion. Additionally, decreasing the water content by a point of Proctor can be essential for improving the strength in soil samples, even reaching the same strength values as control samples cured at 7 days. Finally, all the results obtained in this study have shown that WPFA is a suitable material for use as a binder for soil stabilization while reducing its optimum water content, adding a proper delay time, and taking into consideration WPFA's expansive behavior at the moment of its use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper and pulp industries produce effluents with high phosphorus concentrations, which need to be treated before their discharge in watercourses. The use of microalgae for this purpose has attracted the attention of researchers because: (i) microalgae can assimilate phosphorus (one of the main nutrients for their growth); and (ii) growing on effluents can significantly reduce the costs and environmental impact of microalgal biomass production. This study evaluated the growth and ability of Chlorella vulgaris to remove the phosphorus from a secondary-treated effluent of a Portuguese paper company. Batch experiments were performed for 11 days using different dilutions of the effluent to evaluate its inhibitory effect on microalgae. Results showed that the non-diluted effluent inhibited microalgal growth, indicating that this bioremediation process is possible after a previous dilution of the effluent. Regarding phosphorus removal, promising results were achieved, especially in the experiments conducted with the most diluted effluent: removal efficiencies obtained in these conditions were (54 ± 1)%. Another interesting finding of this study was microalgal growth in flakes' form (mainly due to the compounds present in the effluent and to the pH values achieved), which can be an important economic advantage for biomass recovery after the remediation step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind and photovoltaic (PV) power forecasting are crucial for improving the operational efficiency of power systems and building smart power systems. However, the uncertainty and instability of factors affecting renewable power generation pose challenges to power system operations. To address this, this paper proposes a digital twin-based method for predicting wind and PV power. By utilizing digital twin technology, this approach provides a highly realistic simulation environment that enables accurate monitoring, optimal control, and decision support for power system operations. Furthermore, a digital twin platform for the AI (Artificial Intelligence) Grid is established, allowing real-time monitoring, and ensuring the safe, reliable, and stable operation of the grid. Additionally, a deep learning-based model WPNet is developed to predict wind and PV power at specific future time points. Four datasets are constructed based on weather conditions and historical wind and PV power data from the Flanders and Wallonia regions. The prediction models presented in this paper demonstrate excellent performance on these datasets, achieving mean square error (MSE) values of 0.001399, 0.001833, 0.000704, and 0.002708; mean absolute error (MAE) values of 0.025164, 0.027854, 0.018592, and 0.033501; and root mean square error (RMSE) values of 0.037409, 0.042808, 0.026541, and 0.052042, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents the results of the correlation and regression of the deposition of liquid and the degree of coverage of sprayed objects. Preliminary experiments were conducted in terms of droplet size depending on liquid pressure and nozzle type. Studies on the degree of coverage and deposition of spray liquid were then carried out. The test stand consisted of a carrier of nozzles and artificial plants. Samplers were attached to the artificial plants to obtain vertical and horizontal surfaces. Water-sensitive paper and filter papers were sampled (for measurements of the degree of coverage and deposition of liquid, respectively). The results of these studies showed strong and very strong Pearson's correlation coefficients between the analyzed indicators (degree of coverage and deposition of liquid), from 0.9143 to 0.9815. Furthermore, high values of the coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.85) were obtained for linear regression. The high R2 values indicate a good match of the regression model to empirical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for effective asphalt additives is growing as road infrastructure ages and more sustainable pavement solutions are needed. Tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) is an example material that has been gaining attention as a potential asphalt additive. While physical performance grade (PG) temperatures are the predominant performance requirements for asphalt binders, chemical properties are also significant in the evaluation of asphalt performance. There is a need to chemically characterize the aging of asphalt binders modified with TPO and link chemical changes in binder components to binder performance. This study compares 2%, 4%, and 8% TPO and asphalt binder blends via dynamic shear rheometry (DSR), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry. The variability in the modified blends was seen by both physical and chemical testing during four different blending times (1, 60, 120, and 240 min). After blending, high and intermediate PGs were determined by physical testing. The 8% TPO blend reduced the high PG of the binder from 64 °C to 58 °C. This effect was confirmed by chemical testing through changes in carbonyl indices and NMR relaxation times. With more oil present in the binder matrix, the binder's resistance to rutting was reduced. While the high PG was hindered, the intermediate PG remained unchanged for all TPO blends. This physical similarity was mirrored in chemical testing. The chemical and physical variability along with the hindrance of the high PG temperature indicate that more treatment may be needed before TPO can be effectively applied to asphalt binders. This study suggests a correlation between physical performance and key chemical indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Applications of papercrete as new eco-friendly mortars for masonry panels. The manufacturing of Portland cement is responsible for a big amount of energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. Therefore, to date, it is imperative to find alternative materials to replace a major part of cement for sustainable concrete constructions. The present study forms a part of an on-going research project on the application of new cementitious matrices produced using different types of recycled materials. In particular, it focuses on the use of pulp and waste paper to partially replace Portland cement at varying percentages for producing a new lightweight mortar, frequently named papercrete. The development of this economical and eco-friendly material may permit of recycling a big amount of waste paper leading to lower housing costs with also ecological benefits. To this scope, an experimental campaign in the laboratory is carried out to characterize this new innovative material from a physical and mechanical point of view. The preliminary results of this on-going experimental campaign are illustrated and commented on in this paper. The obtained results confirm the possibility of applying this partially-recycled material as a possible alternative for strengthening existing panels of masonry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to several of their characteristics, such as their renewability, sustainability, and eco-friendliness, nanocellulose-based materials are arousing growing interest from researchers in various fields of study and applications. The purpose of this review article is to provide an overall view of the most recent applications of these innovative bio-nanomaterials in the field of cultural heritage. First, an introduction of the different classes of cellulose nanomaterials and their synthesis and characterization methods is presented. After that, many consolidation treatments based on nanocellulose structures for the recovery of degraded and archeological wood, the stabilization of damaged painting canvases, and the deacidification of historical papers are shown in order to underline the advanced potential of nanocellulose for the conservation of artistic heritage and the respect for the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is an innovative technology in civil engineering. However, the high cost of components and the fragility of the treated soil limit its wide use. One of the possible solutions is organic waste incorporation at different stages of the technology. In the present study, we consider the use of spent brewer's yeast (BSY) to produce bacterial inoculates and wastepaper, flax shives and sawdust as reinforcing additives into the soil. We showed that the replacement of expensive components of LB medium by BSY extract increased biomass growth characteristics of Bacillus subtilis K51, B. cereus 4b and Micrococcus luteus 6 strains by 1.4, 1.5 and 1.8 times, respectively, while for B. subtilis 168, they were comparable to LB medium. The urease activities of all strains were not reduced compared to the control. Among the three kinds of cellulose-containing waste, wastepaper incorporation into MICP-treated soil samples led to an increase in compressive strength by 2.1 times and precipitated calcite percentage by almost 1.5 times compared to a sample without additives. Thus, we showed the potential for soil stabilization through MICP using organic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preliminary sorting of plastic products is a necessary step to improve the utilization of waste resources. To improve the quality and efficiency of sorting, a plastic detection scheme based on deep learning is proposed in this paper for a waste plastics sorting system based on vision detection. In this scheme, the YOLOX (You Only Look Once) object detection model and the DeepSORT (Deep Simple Online and Realtime Tracking) multiple object tracking algorithm are improved and combined to make them more suitable for plastic sorting. For plastic detection, multiple data augmentations are combined to improve the detection effect, while BN (Batch Normalization) layer fusion and mixed precision inference are adopted to accelerate the model. For plastic tracking, the improved YOLOX is used as a detector, and the tracking effect is further improved by optimizing the deep cosine metric learning and the metric in the matching stage. Based on this, virtual detection lines are set up to filter and extract information to determine the sorted objects. The experimental results show that the scheme proposed in this paper makes full use of vision information to achieve dynamic and real-time detection of plastics. The system is effective and versatile for sorting complex objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrugated compensators are important components in the piping system, absorbing mechanical deformation flexibly. To reduce the risk of the piping system with corrugated compensators and improve the safety and stability of industrial equipment, condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of bellows is necessary. However, the stress monitoring method of corrugated compensators with limited localized sensors lack real-time and full-domain sensing. Therefore, this paper proposes a digital twin construction method for global mechanical response sensing of corrugated compensators, combining Gaussian process regression in machine learning and finite element analysis. The sensing data of three types of displacements are used as the associated information of a finite element model with 19,800 elements and its digital twin. The results show that the values of performance metrics correlation of determination R2 and standardized average leave-one-out cross-validation CVavg of the digital twin satisfy the recommended threshold, which indicates that the digital twin has excellent predictive performance. The single prediction time of the digital twin is 0.76% of the time spent on finite element analysis, and the prediction result has good consistency with the true response under dynamic input, indicating that the digital twin can achieve fast and accurate stress field prediction. The important state information hidden in the multi-source data obtained by limited sensors is effectively mined to achieve the real-time prediction of the stress field. This paper provides a new approach for intelligent sensing and feedback of corrugated compensators in the piping system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present in this paper the state of the art and an analysis of recent research work and achievements performed in the domain of AI-based and vision-based systems for helping blind and visually impaired people (BVIP). We start by highlighting the recent and tremendous importance that AI has acquired following the use of convolutional neural networks (CNN) and their ability to solve image classification tasks efficiently. After that, we also note that VIP have high expectations about AI-based systems as a possible way to ease the perception of their environment and to improve their everyday life. Then, we set the scope of our survey: we concentrate our investigations on the use of CNN or related methods in a vision-based system for helping BVIP. We analyze the existing surveys, and we study the current work (a selection of 30 case studies) using several dimensions such as acquired data, learned models, and human–computer interfaces. We compare the different approaches, and conclude by analyzing future trends in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional construction safety assessment, it is difficult to describe the safety status of different construction stages. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a digital twin modeling theory for construction safety assessment. Firstly, this paper analyzes the requirements of a digital twin model. Secondly, the required information is collected by IoT. Finally, the DT model is established based on the collected information. This DT model analyzes the collected information by ML, which aims to conducting the assessments of construction safety. To verify this method, this paper analyzes the vault settlement during tunnel construction. The analysis results show that the DT model can predict the settlement value with high accuracy. Moreover, the safety state is assessed dynamically based on the settlement value by DT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi are the main contaminants of books and archival documents. In addition to their degrading power, offered by various types of lignolytic and cellulolytic enzymes, they can also hue the surface of the paper through the production of pigments. The fungi on paper release various types of pigments belonging mostly to two chemical groups (polyketides and carotenoids), which cause unpleasant anaesthetic stains. The paper surface can also be hued with several synthetic colors, which are part, for example, of stamps and inks. These synthetic colors could be degraded by lignin-modifying enzymes (LMEs) and also by dye-decolorizing peroxidases (DyPs). Therefore, the mechanism of action of LEMs and DyPs is illustrated. Moreover, we have examined the potentiality of LEMs and DyPs to remove the synthetic stains and also their hypothetical application in order to clean the fungal hues from the paper surface. Our review article, using the enzymatic removal parallelism between fungal and synthetic pigments, would like to show prospective solutions to this arduous problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiocontaminated soil in a paddy field in the Iitate village in Fukushima was treated with an industrial paper sludge carbon (PSC) prior to growing rice in May 2011. The results showed that the sum of the activity concentrations of 134Cs and 137Cs in the polished rice harvested in October 2011 was 30 Bq·kg−1, a level much lower than the Japanese governmental safeguard value of 100 Bq·kg−1. Upon contacting with the contaminated soil, the contents of calcium, magnesium, copper, potassium, and barium in the PSC were decreased. Among the PSCs impregnated with various chlorides and sulfates of the previously mentioned minerals, potassium chloride, copper sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and potassium sulfate yielded higher decontamination degrees compared to the original PSC. The results imply that radioactive cesium in the soil exchanges cations with these minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]