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The instructions to authors about the article preparation for publication in the Military Technical Courier are based on the Regulations on categorization and ranking of scientific journals of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No 159/20). This Regulations aims at improving the quality of national journals and raising the level of their compliance with the international system of scientific information exchange. The editorial policy of the Military Technical Courier is based on the COPE Core Practices, common COPE, DOAJ, OASPA and WAME Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing as well as on the best accepted practices in scientific publishing. The Military Technical Courier has been a COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) member since 2nd May 2018 and a member of OASPA (Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association) since 27th November 2015. The editorial office applies Checklist for open access publishers on implementing the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science. This document is part of the UNESCO Open Science Toolkit, designed to support implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science. It has been produced in partnership with OASPA.

AbstractThis study seeks to profile the shoppers’ propensity to reuse shopping bags and the type of shopping bags they reuse on the basis of demographics. The study used an observation method to record the consumers’ shopping habits and a short questionnaire to record the participants’ demographics. A binary regression analysis and a multinomial regression analysis were used to analyse data. The results indicated that the mature aged, women, and low income shoppers were more likely to practice reuse of plastic shopping bags than their respective counterparts. There were no statistically significant differences in the likelihood of young aged shoppers compared to mature aged shoppers and low income shoppers compared to high income shoppers using cotton bags than plastic bags. There were also no statistically significant differences in the likelihood of young aged shoppers compared to mature aged shoppers and male shoppers compared to female shoppers using paper bags than plastic bags. However, the results indicated a statically significant result in how males compared to females differed in their using of cotton bags than plastic bags and a statistically significant result in how low income shoppers compared to high income shoppers differed in their use of paper bags than plastic bags.

The reliability and performance of technological equipment largely depends on timely and reliable diagnostics of less durable assembly units, which include rolling bearings. An effective tool for determining state of the mechanical rotational systems on rolling bearings is vibration diagnostics. The variety vibration diagnostic method which are used on practise is due to the complexity extracting an informative component for estimation and predicting the state of rolling bearings from the general vibration signal of the study unit. The article is dedicated information content study of narrow frequency ranges of the vibration signal operation bearing assemblies paper machines and their use as diagnostic parameters for vibration diagnostics of rolling bearings. The paper presents the analysis results of vibration diagnostics existing methods of bearing assemblies of the technological equipment and establishes the determination defects in rolling bearings by changing the vibration level on the characteristic frequencies components of the vibration spectrum and the bypass spectrum provides more specific information about the nature damage of the bearing and its operation. On the processing experimental data base i.e. the average vibration velocity spectra signal taken from the bearing assembly paper machine, we offer a relative indicator for current state bearing estimation and its state prediction progress, which helps to make a decision on the suitability or unsuitability bearing.

The instructions to authors about the article preparation for publication in the Military Technical Courier are based on the Regulations on categorization and ranking of scientific journals of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No 159/20). This Regulations aims at improving the quality of national journals and raising the level of their compliance with the international system of scientific information exchange. The editorial policy of the Military Technical Courier is based on the COPE Core Practices, common COPE, DOAJ, OASPA and WAME Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing as well as on the best accepted practices in scientific publishing. The Military Technical Courier has been a COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) member since 2nd May 2018 and a member of OASPA (Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association) since 27th November 2015. The editorial office applies Checklist for open access publishers on implementing the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science. This document is part of the UNESCO Open Science Toolkit, designed to support implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science. It has been produced in partnership with OASPA.

Multifunctional and flexible wearable devices play a crucial role in a wide range of applications, such as heath monitoring, intelligent skins, and human-machine interactions. Developing flexible and conductive materials for multifunctional wearable devices with low-cost and high efficiency methods are highly desirable. Here, a conductive graphene/microsphere/bamboo fiber (GMB) nanocomposite paper with hierarchical surface microstructures is successfully fabricated through a simple vacuum-assisted filtration followed by thermo-foaming process. The as-prepared microstructured GMB nanocomposite paper exhibits not only a high volume electrical conductivity of ∼45 ​S/m but also an excellent electrical stability (i.e., relative changes in resistance are less than 3% under stretching, folding, and compressing loadings) due to its unique structure features. With this microstructured nanocomposite paper as active sensing layer, microstructured pressure sensors with a high sensitivity (−4 ​kPa−1), a wide sensing range (0–5 ​kPa), and a rapid response time (about 140 ​ms) are realized. In addition, benefitting from the outstanding electrical stability and mechanical flexibility, the microstructured nanocomposite paper is further demonstrated as a low-voltage Joule heating device. The surface temperature of the microstructured nanocomposite paper rapidly reaches over 80 ​°C when applying a relatively low voltage of 7 ​V, indicating its potential in human thermotherapy and thermal management.

To explore the application of cold-formed thin-walled steel-paper straw board(CTSPSB) composite wall in practical engineering and further meet people’s living requirements, it was proposed to open holes in the composite wall to simulate the doors and windows in practical applications. Two composite wall specimens were tested to study the shear performance of the CTSPSB composite wall. Through the analysis of specimens’ damage forms and experimental data, the characteristic values of bearing capacity and lateral stiffness were obtained. And then, the model of the composite wall was built by ANSYS, and finite element analysis (FEA) results were consistent with the experimental results, which could verify the feasibility of the finite element model. Moreover, the model needed to open holes and extensive parameter analysis was carried out. The FEA results indicate the most reasonable distance between screws around the opening is 150 mm; the most suitable spacing between the small studs is 400 mm; the position of the opening has the least influence on the shear performance, and the difference between the results of the five groups of models is within 5%; while the width of the opening has the greatest impact on the shear performance. Compared with the wall without opening, the bearing capacity of the wall with an opening width of 600 mm, 1200 mm and 1800 mm decreases by 38%, 46% and 52% respectively. Besides, the calculation formula of shear capacity of CTSPSB composite wall with openings was improved, which could be used as experience for practical engineering.

The instructions to authors about the article preparation for publication in the Military Technical Courier are based on the Regulations on categorization and ranking of scientific journals of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No 159/20). This Regulations aims at improving the quality of national journals and raising the level of their compliance with the international system of scientific information exchange. The editorial policy of the Military Technical Courier is based on the COPE Core Practices, common COPE, DOAJ, OASPA and WAME Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing as well as on the best accepted practices in scientific publishing. The Military Technical Courier has been a COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) member since 2nd May 2018 and a member of OASPA (Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association) since 27th November 2015.

Introduction: This study investigated the influence of indoor lighting environments on paper reading efficiency and brain fatigue to explore lighting parameters that benefit users during various reading durations.Methods: The study was conducted in the Smart Lighting Lab, where 12 participants were tested under different illuminance levels and correlated color temperatures (CCT) for three distinct reading durations. Reading efficiency during the task tests and objective measures of brain activity by monitoring participants’ electroencephalograms (EEGs) were used as key factors to assess participants’ fatigue levels.Results: By analyzing the subjective and objective results, we found that paper reading efficiency was significantly affected by changes in the lighting environment. Also, based on the results of this study, we propose lighting recommendations for paper reading tasks of different durations. For a 15 min reading task, the lighting condition of 500 lux-6,500 K were the most efficient for reading; for a 30 min reading task, 500 lux-4,000 K lighting environments were found to be the most effective; and 750 lux-6,500 K was the best lighting environment for a 60 min reading duration.Discussion: These suggestions can serve as a reference for designing indoor lighting environment. In addition, they provide guidance to researchers and reviewers conducting similar studies.

AbstractThe deterioration of fiber properties during recycling processes, especially the loss of tensile strength, raises concerns that paper products made from recycled fibers might not satisfy quality requirements. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the deterioration of tensile strength and the damage in paper sheets made of recycled fibers using the theory of damage mechanics and machine learning methods. Experiments were carried out to recycle wood fibers and non-wood fibers four times, and the physicochemical properties of the handsheets made from these fibers were measured after each recycling. Water retention value and relative bonded area were selected as the features to estimate and predict tensile strength during recycling because they had strong correlations with tensile strength. This paper proposed a damage index to quantitatively express the severity of the damage in paper sheets based on the experimental investigation and the theory of damage mechanics. Thus, the deterioration of tensile strength could be estimated and predicted. To determine the damage index, a curve fitting model based on the hyperbolic theory of pulp properties was developed. The proposed quantitative expression of the damage index is: [Formula: see text], where the coefficients were determined through the curve fitting model. This paper also developed a long short-term memory recurrent neural network model to determine the damage index according to the sequence of recycling. Both models were trained with the experimental data of water retention value and relative bonded area. The estimation and prediction by the curve fitting model were more accurate than those of the neural network model. The root mean square errors by the curve fitting model were 0.0278 for estimation, 0.1667 for prediction; and by the neural network model were 0.2445 for estimation, 0.2206 for prediction, respectively. After the damage index was determined, the deterioration of tensile strength then could be calculated as T = T0 (1–D).

This paper discusses the results of the micro-Raman analysis performed on paper-like graphene oxide (GO) samples consisting of many functionalised graphene layers and annealed at moderate temperatures (≤500 °C) under vacuum conditions (p ≃ 10−4 mbar). The analysis of the standalone samples revealed that the obtained material is characterised by a noticeable disorder level but still stays below the commonly accepted threshold of high or total disorder. GO formed in a simple way showed two spectral bands above 1650 cm−1 recorded very rarely or not at all and their origin has been discussed in detail. The results also confirmed the metastable character of multilayer GO after the annealing process at moderate temperatures as the C/O ratio was kept between 2 and 3 and the spectral features were stable within the annealing temperature range.

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.

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.

The growing concern for environmental sustainability has created an urgent need for the development of innovative and environmentally friendly packaging materials. Among the various options available, clay-starch nanocomposites have emerged as a promising avenue for improving the barrier properties and mechanical strength of paper substrates. In this scientific paper the importance of clay-starch nanocomposite coatings on paper substrate and highlight the role of computer simulations, especially molecular dynamics, in elucidating their structural and functional properties. It has been shown that phyllosilicates with a layer charge < 0.4 electrons per stoichiometric unit can intercalate starch in the interlayer space, forming a barrier for water vapor in the covering layer. Phyllosilicates with a shell charge of > 0.4 electrons per stoichiometric unit were not able to intercalate starch. Thus, clay-starchnanocomposites can provide limited water vapor transfer rates and can be recommended asa promising material for dry food packaging.

This study investigates the potential use of calcined lime mud as an activator in the development of a sustainable, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS)-based cementless UHPC. The effects of the calcination temperature (550 °C to 850 °C) of lime mud and its weight percentage in the UHPC mixture were evaluated with various tests, such as compressive strength, isothermal calorimeter, and thermogravimetric analysis. Microstructural changes and pore size distribution were also analyzed using XRD, FTIR, and MIP. The results showed that calcined lime mud can be an effective activator in the UHPC mix, and its mechanical properties are influenced by the calcination temperature and weight percentage. The addition of 10% calcined lime mud enhanced the compressive strength of the UHPC up to 150 MPa without negatively affecting its microstructural and hydration characteristics, suggesting that calcined lime mud has the potential to be used as a sustainable alternative to CaO in GGBFS-based cementless UHPC.

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.

Electrophotography is affected by several parameters, including printing machines and paper type, which determine the final quality of reproduction. For the investigation of those effects, tests were done on the three types of electrophotography printing machines and eight types of uncoated paper with different properties of weight, surface roughness, whiteness, brightness and opacity. Samples were printed with cyan, magenta, yellow and black toner under the standard, identical conditions. The assessment of standard print quality parameter (optical density) was done using spectrodensitometer Techkon Spectro Dens. At the same time, the paper substrates were characterized using the atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well as by spectrophotometric measurements (X Rite Eye-One, i1). Obtained results showed that the reproducibility significantly depends on the type of printing machine rather than optical and mechanical properties of paper.

Electrophotography is affected by several parameters, including printing machines and paper type, which determine the final quality of reproduction. For the investigation of those effects, tests were done on the three types of electrophotography printing machines and eight types of uncoated paper with different properties of weight, surface roughness, whiteness, brightness and opacity. Samples were printed with cyan, magenta, yellow and black toner under the standard, identical conditions. The assessment of standard print quality parameter (optical density) was done using spectrodensitometer Techkon Spectro Dens. At the same time, the paper substrates were characterized using the atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well as by spectrophotometric measurements (X Rite Eye-One, i1). Obtained results showed that the reproducibility significantly depends on the type of printing machine rather than optical and mechanical properties of paper.

Sponsored and organized by the International Open Benchmark Council (BenchCouncil), the IC conference is to provide a pioneering technology map through searching and advancing state-of-the-art and state-of-the-practice in processors, systems, algorithms, and applications for machine learning, deep learning, spiking neural network and other AI techniques across multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary areas. IC 2023 invites manuscripts describing original work in the above areas and topics. All accepted papers will be presented at the IC 2023 conference and published by Springer CCIS (Indexed by EI). The IC conferences have been successfully held for two series from 2019 to 2022 and attracted plenty of paper submissions and participants. IC 2023 will be held on December 4-6, 2023 in Sanya and invites manuscripts describing original work in processors, systems, algorithms, and applications for AI techniques across multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary areas. The conference website is https://www.benchcouncil.org/ic2023/.Important Dates: Paper Submission: July 31, 2023, at 11:59 PM AoE Notification: September 30, 2023, at 11:59 PM AoE Final Papers Due: October 31, 2023, at 11:59 PM AoE Conference Date: December 4-6, 2023 Submission Site: https://ic2023.hotcrp.com/

Soil suction is one of the most important parameters describing the moisture condition of unsaturated soils. The measurement of soil suction is crucial for applying the theories of the engineering behavior of unsaturated soils. The filter paper method is one of the soil suction measurement techniques In this paper, five soil samples were collected from five sites within Baghdad city – al-Rasafa region. These soils have different properties and they were prepared at different degrees of saturation. For each sample, the total and matric suction were measured by the filter paper method at different degrees of saturation. Then correlations were made between the soil properties and the total and matric suction. It was concluded that the suction increases with decrease of the degree of saturation. The relationships between the total and matric suction and the filter paper water content are approximately linear and indicate decrease of suction with increase of the filter paper water content. The total and matric suction increase with the decrease of the soil shear strength.

The dynamic mechanical behavior and cushioning performance of honeycomb sandwich panels, which are extensively employed in product cushioning packaging due to their exceptional energy absorption capabilities, were examined using a combination of experimental and numerical methods. Several factors, such as maximum acceleration–static stress, cushioning coefficient–static stress, and other curves, were analyzed under various impact conditions. The simulated stress–strain, deformation modes, cushioning coefficients, and other parameters demonstrate consistency with the experimental results. The acceleration, maximum compression, and cushioning coefficient obtained from the experiment and simulation calculation were 30.68 g, 15.44 mm, and 2.65, and 31.96 g, 14.91 mm, and 2.79, respectively. The results indicate that all error values were less than 5%, confirming the precision and reliability of the model. Furthermore, the model was utilized to simulate and predict the cushioning performance of honeycomb sandwich panels with different cell structures and paper thicknesses. These results provide a solid basis for enhancing the design of subsequent honeycomb element structures.

In addition to printing techniques, there are various characteristics that affect the quality of printed products. Most frequently questioned features are line, dot, and text reproduction. In this paper it is investigated how different substrates, printed by the same printing technique, affect the quality parameters of printed samples. Print quality includes the process of obtaining the desired reproductions of color and image elements, important parameters of print quality are the quality of lines and dots, and the feature of the substrate that is significant for this work is the roughness of the substrate. This paper presents the testing of three different materials on to which the test form was printed by electrophotography, as a digital printing technique. The tests are based on analysis of line, dot and text reproduction, as well as analysis of the roughness of the substrate on samples printed in black. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that the substrate affects the quality of printed products

The instructions to authors about the article preparation for publication in the Military Technical Courier are based on the Regulations on categorization and ranking of scientific journals of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No 159/20). This Regulations aims at improving the quality of national journals and raising the level of their compliance with the international system of scientific information exchange. The editorial policy of the Military Technical Courier is based on the COPE Core Practices, common COPE, DOAJ, OASPA and WAME Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing as well as on the best accepted practices in scientific publishing. The Military Technical Courier has been a COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) member since 2nd May 2018 and a member of OASPA (Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association) since 27th November 2015. The editorial office applies Checklist for open access publishers on implementing the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science. This document is part of the UNESCO Open Science Toolkit, designed to support implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science. It has been produced in partnership with OASPA.

BenchCouncil Transactions on Benchmarks, Standards and Evaluations (TBench) is an open-access journal dedicated to advancing the field of benchmarks, data sets, standards, evaluations and optimizations. This journal is a peer-reviewed, subsidized open-access journal where The International Open Benchmark Council (BenchCouncil) pays the open-access fee. Authors do not have to pay any open-access publication fee. However, at least one of the authors must register BenchCouncil International Symposium on Benchmarking, Measuring and Optimizing (Bench) (https://www.benchcouncil.org/bench/) and present their work. It seeks a fast-track publication with an average turnaround time of one month.We invite submissions covering a wide range of topics from various disciplines, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary research. Whether it pertains to computers, AI, medicine, education, finance, business, psychology, or other social disciplines, all relevant contributions are welcome.At TBench, we prioritize the reproducibility of research. We strongly encourage authors to ensure that their articles are prepared for open-source or artifact evaluation before submission. The journal website is https://www.benchcouncil.org/tbench.

Photovoltaic systems (PV) have been extensively used worldwide as a reliable and effective renewable energy resource due to their environmental and economic merits. However, PV systems are prone to several environmental and weather conditions that impact their performance. Amongst these conditions is dust accumulation, which has a significant adversative impact on the solar cells’ performance, especially in hot and arid regions. This study provides a comprehensive review of 278 articles focused on the impact of dust on PV panels’ performance along with other associated environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed. The review highlights the importance of modelling dust accumulation along with other ecological factors due to their interactive nature, and the differences between cleaning techniques and schedules effectiveness. Moreover, the study provides a review of statistical and artificial intelligence models used to predict PV performance and its prediction accuracies in terms of data size and complexity. Finally, the study draws attention to several research gaps that warrant further investigation. Among these gaps is the need for proper dynamic optimisation models for cleaning schedules and a more advanced machine and deep learning models to predict dust accumulation while considering environmental and ageing factors.

Spatially resolved fluid-flow modulation and its corresponding integration becomes a crucial aspect to consider when designing high-performing paper-based analytical devices. As such, high demand exists for cost-effective techniques able to selectively control flow in patternable regions of the device. In this regard, a solution composed of potassium alum and animal glue; sizing materials used in the fabrication of calligraphy Xuan paper, is successfully adapted for the first time in a revolutionary approach to efficiently modulate the capillary flow in paper microfluidic channels. Flow delays are achieved by coating the substrate systematically through the variation of parameters such as the ratio of alum to glue, the concentration of alum-glue in the solution, and the number of subsequent coating layers of alum-glue. Moreover, digitized patterning with alum-glue is developed to achieve programmable wicking profiles of accelerating, decelerating, and quasi-linear flow displacement by alternating coated and uncoated zones in the channel. Additionally, the influence of alum-glue when performing biometric assays is investigated by performing a horseradish peroxidase activity colorimetric assay and found to have negligible effects on reading, where a negligible difference of 5.2% was observed in an assay performed in a coated paper substrate, compared to an uncoated one.

This work presents the results of paper laser processing. It begins with the selection and examination of the processing parameters, then an examination of the properties of the modified papers and examples of applications of the developed modification method. The properties of laser-modified paper were studied using reflectance spectrophotometry to examine the colour aspects of the modified papers, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy for a morphological analysis, and Raman spectroscopy to analyse the papers under the influence of laser light. The influence of laser processing on the wettability of paper and the evenness of unprinted and printed paper was also investigated. The knowledge gained on paper surface modification with laser light was used to propose several applications, such as methods of marking, tactile detection, the controlled removal of optical brightener, ink, and metallised coatings from paper packaging, highlighting the design and aesthetics of paper. The developed laser-assisted method shows a promising, ecological approach to the design of many value-added paper products.

Abstract In this research, we design and implement a small, convenient, and noninvasive paper-based microfluidic sweat sensor that can simultaneously detect multiple key biomarkers in human sweat. The origami structure of the chip includes colorimetric and electrochemical sensing regions. Different colorimetric sensing regions are modified with specific chromogenic reagents to selectively identify glucose, lactate, uric acid, and magnesium ions in sweat, as well as the pH value. The regions of electrochemical sensing detect cortisol in sweat by molecular imprinting. The entire chip is composed of hydrophilically and hydrophobically treated filter paper, and 3D microfluidic channels are constructed by using folding paper. The thread-based channels formed after the hydrophilic and hydrophobic modifications are used to control the rate of sweat flow, which in turn can be used to control the sequence of reactions in the differently developing colored regions to ensure that signals of the best color can be captured simultaneously by the colorimetric sensing regions. Finally, the results of on-body experiments verify the reliability of the proposed sweat sensor and its potential for the noninvasive identification of a variety of sweat biomarkers.

Background. In modern realities, the issue of import substitution and modernization of existing domestic equipment and control systems in all branches of production and industry of the Russian Federation is becoming more acute. The purpose of this work is to find ways to modernize and improve the automated control system of paper production on the example of the current paper-making machine of the Penza paper mill of JSC "MAYAK". Materials and methods. The paper uses methods of modern theory of automatic control and automation of technological processes, methods of digital image processing, computer modeling. Results. A computer model of an automated process control system has been created that regulates the weight of a paper web on a paper machine. Conclusions. The considered ways of improving the automated process control system of paper production have proved their viability. The use of an automated process control system with a speed ratio regulator allowed to improve the quality of process control, reducing the effect of time lag on the system.

In this study, Al paper and cellulose acetate (CA) filters derived from heated tobacco waste were successfully converted into current collectors and active materials for a supercapacitor device. Typically, heated tobacco contains electrically discontinuous Al paper. First, Al was extracted from the tobacco waste using HCl to produce Lewis acid (AlCl3). This acid was then used in an Al electrodeposition process utilizing the chloroaluminate ionic liquid reaction between the acid and the base (RCl) at room temperature. To enhance the conductivity, a supplementary coating of Al metal was applied to the Al paper through electrodeposition, thus re-establishing the electrical continuity of the discontinuous parts and forming an Al-coated current collector. Moreover, the CA filters were carbonized under a nitrogen atmosphere, yielding carbon precursors (C-CA) for the supercapacitor electrodes. To further enhance the electrochemical performance, nickel oxide (NiO) was incorporated into C-CA, resulting in C-CA@NiO with pseudocapacitance. The specific surface area of CA increased with carbonization and the subsequent incorporation of NiO. The as-synthesized C-CA and C-CA@NiO materials were applied to an Al-coated current collector to obtain C-CA- and C-CA@NiO-based electrodes, exhibiting stable electrochemical behavior in the voltage range of −1.0 to 0 V and 0 to 1.0 V, respectively. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device was assembled with C-CA@NiO and C-CA as the positive and negative electrodes, respectively. This ASC device demonstrated a high specific capacitance of 40.8 F g−1, while widening the operating voltage window to 2.0 V. The high electrochemical performance of the device is attributed to the successful Al electrodeposition, which facilitates the electrical conductivity and increased porosity of the C-CA@NiO and C-CA materials. To the best of our knowledge, this is a pioneering study in regards to the conversion of biomass waste into current collectors and active materials to fabricate a practical ASC device. Our findings highlight the potential of reusing Al paper and CA filters from heated tobacco waste as essential components of energy storage devices.

The instructions to authors about the article preparation for publication in the Military Technical Courier are based on the Regulations on categorization and ranking of scientific journals of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No 159/20). This Regulations aims at improving the quality of national journals and raising the level of their compliance with the international system of scientific information exchange. The editorial policy of the Military Technical Courier is based on the COPE Core Practices, common COPE, DOAJ, OASPA and WAME Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing as well as on the best accepted practices in scientific publishing. The Military Technical Courier has been a COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) member since 2nd May 2018 and a member of OASPA (Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association) since 27th November 2015.

The crucial gap is an important aspect of traffic characteristics that is used to assess the delay and capacity of individual car movements at priority junctions. Because traffic operations at priority junctions are complicated, many methods have been studied to find a more accurate critical gap. This research examines the standards established for these procedures throughout the previous seven decades, from Raff’s method in 1950 to the current day. These methods can be used anywhere in the world to determine the value of the critical gap for a mix of traffic, such as cars, vans, trucks, and motorcycles. The accuracy of these methods is assessed using factual data at two priority intersections, namely three-legged junctions (two-way stop-controlled (TWSC) with multilanes on main and minor streets). A total of 120 h of video camera recording was completed over the course of 5 working days in a week. This research identified Troutbeck’s, Wu’s, and Raff’s techniques as the most popular, offering consistent and robust critical gap values for both sides of the minor road at priority junctions.

Flexible inkjet-printed antenna is presented. The proposed antenna is designed on a synthetic paper substrate with an area of 35 × 40 mm2 to provide frequency bands for many popular wireless applications. Simulation and measurement are used to study the performances, including the frequency bands, radiation patterns, peak gains and efficiency, of the antenna in two severely bending conditions with a curvature radius of 20 mm in the forward and backward directions. The antenna printed in photo papers material could not be fully flexible due to cracks introduced to the coating material on the surface of the photo paper. Hence, the resin coated material was only suitable for curved devices. The synthetic paper material used in this paper does not have a resin coating, therefore, the antenna does not lose its flexibility and can be bent in both the forward and backward directions without any cracks. Results show that bending in these two conditions has insignificant effects on the performances of the antenna. With a curvature radius of 20 mm in the forward direction, the measured peak gain and efficiency of the antenna are in the ranges from −3 to +2 dBi and 40% to 60%, respectively. The results together with the low cost make the antenna most suitable for many flexible 5G communications devices.

The instructions to authors about the article preparation for publication in the Military Technical Courier are based on the Regulations on categorization and ranking of scientific journals of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No 159/20). This Regulations aims at improving the quality of national journals and raising the level of their compliance with the international system of scientific information exchange. The editorial policy of the Military Technical Courier is based on the COPE Core Practices and the journal articles are consistent with accepted best practices in their subject areas. As of 2 May 2018, the Military Technical Courier is a member of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).

Nanoparticles have been in use for centuries [...]

The integration of solarcellsinto construction materials, such roof tiles, isgaining traction. Nevertheless, solarcells' conversion efficiencyistemperature-dependent, and a high temperaturewouldlowerit. This study examines the functionality of mortar roof tilesthat have builtinsolarcells and safety glass. To control the temperature of the solar cells, phase modifying materials (P CM) are added to the first roof tiles at a concentration of 3% by weight.For solar roof tiles, the impact ofPhase change materials on the generation of solar-to-electrical power isassessed, and life cycle costanalysisiscarried out to determine the viabilityfrom an economicstandpoint.During six summerdays, the electricalenergy production of the solartileswith PCM appliedwas 4.1% higherthanthat of the tileswithout the component modification material. In contrast, during six winterdays, the improvementisbetween 2.2 and 4.3%. With the cost of the inverterincluded, the solar roof tileswith Phase change materials have an economicalpaybackperiod of 5.7 years. The application of Phase change materialsraises the initial cost of roof tiles by 1.2% ;nevertheless, the paybackperiodispredicted to bethreemonths shorter thanthat of the equivalentwithout PCM, given an overallimprovement in energy production of 4.1%.Whilemany countries are takingsteps to reducetheiremissions, the IEA’slatest report on global and carbonemissionsshowed an increase of 1.7 percent in emissionsyear-onyear2018 to 33.1 billion tons (IEA, 2019). Australia's 2018 increase in carbondioxideequivalentemissions of 0.7% raisesseriousconcerns about the countrysability to meetitsemissionreductioncommitmentunder the Paris Agreement (Cox, 2019).

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 The development of fully solution-processed, biodegradable piezoelectrics is a critical step in the development of green electronics towards the worldwide reduction of harmful electronic waste. However, recent printing processes for piezoelectrics are hindered by the high sintering temperatures required for conventional perovskite fabrication techniques. Thus, a process was developed to manufacture lead-free printed piezoelectric devices at low temperatures to enable integration with eco-friendly substrates and electrodes. A printable ink was developed for screen printing potassium niobate (KNbO3) piezoelectric layers in microns of thickness at a maximum processing temperature of 120 °C with high reproducibility. Characteristic parallel plate capacitor and cantilever devices were designed and manufactured to assess the quality of this ink and evaluate its physical, dielectric, and piezoelectric characteristics; including a comparison of behaviour between conventional silicon and biodegradable paper substrates. The printed layers were 10.7–11.2 μm thick, with acceptable surface roughness values in the range of 0.4–1.1 μm. The relative permittivity of the piezoelectric layer was 29.3. The poling parameters were optimised for the piezoelectric response, with an average longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient for samples printed on paper substrates measured as d 33, eff, paper = 13.57 ± 2.84 pC/N; the largest measured value was 18.37 pC/N on paper substrates. This approach to printable biodegradable piezoelectrics opens the way forward for fully solution-processed green piezoelectric devices.

As a reflection of the scholar's mastery of basic theories and professional knowledge, the dissertation is an important yardstick for measuring the level of scientific research. At present, the problem of academic misconduct is becoming increasingly prominent, which is not only related to personal academic ethics, but also related to the overall development of the national academic and scientific research field. In the traditional method of evaluating the quality of papers, it is mainly based on the evaluation experts' comments and scores. However, there are cases that the evaluation experts' comments and scores are inconsistent in practice. To address this problem, we proposed a paper quality consistency detection model based on the nearest neighbor analysis dimensionality reduction algorithm. Compared with other traditional models, the experimental results show that the detection accuracy of XGBoost model after dimensionality reduction using nearest neighbor analysis algorithm reaches 85.81%.

The pulp and paper industry is a power-intensive technology so great attention to reducing its own energy consumption and declining the waste of available energy should be devoted. In the current investigation, the energy-exergy approach of a pulp and paper company integrated with a chemical recovery of black liquor (BL) and soda is studied actually for one year. The chemical BL recovery system that has the primary benefits to avoid environmental pollution by burning organic waste and recycling the soda is also comprehensively investigated. Natural gas (NG) and BL are utilized in power boiler (PB) and recovery boiler (RB), respectively. Moreover, in the present implementation, the chemical reactions of NG and BL are presented. The obtained results show that the percentages of energy losses in the condenser, RB, evaporators, and PB are 49.16, 19.28, 14.22, and 3.96%, respectively. The average values of exergy destruction percentages in RB and PB around the year are 41.63 and 33.5%, respectively. The maximum system overall exergy efficiency is 32.09% at an environment temperature of 290 K, whereas the energy efficiency of the system is 53.7%.

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.

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.

The main objective of the presented research was to find a model that describes the maximum compressive force of paper in its plane. The research began with crushing tests of a number of packaging paper samples of various lengths. It was shown that due to the specific structure of the paper and the high heterogeneity of its structure, packaging paper is material where it is difficult to determine the maximum compressive stress. Next, three analytical models describing the load capacity of a flat paper web were investigated and an alternative empirical model was proposed. The results of the performed tests are directly applicable in the calculation of the mechanical properties of corrugated cardboard and the determination of the load capacity of cardboard packaging.

The demand for particleboard has been increasing over the years. Currently, most particleboards are produced from wood which may not be sustainable in the long term. Therefore, there is need of exploring alternative materials such as making particleboards from waste materials. This study investigated the mechanical properties of particleboard consisting of waste leather shavings and waste papers blended together by unsaturated polyester. A single-layered particleboards were manufactured using compression method. Different resin contents (60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%) and leather/paper ratios (100:0, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25) were used to determine the effects on the mechanical properties (internal bond, bending strength, compression, and impact strength) of fabricated boards. From the results of this study, it was found that leather shavings and waste papers can be used as alternative raw materials for particleboard production and that mechanical properties were depended on the resin content and the blend ratio. Also, mechanical properties were reduced with resin content increment, except for impact strength, and improved by high paper blend ratio. It could be concluded that the produced particle panels could be used for indoor application or interior equipping. Additionally, it is recommended that further studies can be done on morphological analysis to establish the bonding between the particles and matrix.

The instructions to authors about the article preparation for publication in the Military Technical Courier are based on the Regulations on categorization and ranking of scientific journals of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No 159/20). This Regulations aims at improving the quality of national journals and raising the level of their compliance with the international system of scientific information exchange. The editorial policy of the Military Technical Courier is based on the COPE Core Practices and the journal articles are consistent with accepted best practices in their subject areas. As of 2 May 2018, the Military Technical Courier is a member of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).

The mineralogy of fine soils such as clays has always posed problems and remains an uncontrollable phenomenon in the presence of water and causes destructible damage throughout the world. In order to minimize the cost of implementation, it is necessary to find practical and less expensive solutions to ensure the stabilization of these soils by the valorisation of local waste available in nature. This article concerns an experimental study on the treatment of reconstituted soil by the addition of paper ash of different proportions on a set of standardized tests, the preliminary results show that the paper ash to the clay soil improves its swelling potential, its plasticity, its compaction characteristics, and its shear strength parameters.

The coefficient of friction for different contacting materials against skin is mainly influenced by the nature of the materials (synthetic and natural fabrics), mechanical contact parameters (interfacial pressure and sliding velocities), and physiological skin conditions (ambient humidity and skin moisture content). In the present research work, seven different types of papers used in everyday life were analyzed. The physical properties of these materials were determined through tensile tests and friction tests. By comparing mechanical properties with coefficient of friction, it was possible to conclude that the coefficient of friction is strongly correlated with the mechanical properties.

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.

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.

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.

The instructions to authors about the article preparation for publication in the Military Technical Courier are based on the Regulations on categorization and ranking of scientific journals of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No 159/20). This Regulations aims at improving the quality of national journals and raising the level of their compliance with the international system of scientific information exchange. The editorial policy of the Military Technical Courier is based on the COPE Core Practices and the journal articles are consistent with accepted best practices in their subject areas. As of 2 May 2018, the Military Technical Courier is a member of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).