Search

This project was implemented as a Master thesis project in Industrial design engineering (IDE). In collaboration with Billerud Karlsborg, the project was initiated to develop proposal for a technological solution for eliminating a manual handling work task in the production line for coated paper products. The design process was implemented as a Participatory design approach, inviting the workers of the production unit to collaborate in design activites and workshops. The participatory approach was based on the Scandinavian perspective on Participatory design, with influences from the comtemporary views on collaborative design. The project included a holistic ergonomic analysis focused on the assessment of musculoskeletal disorder risk factors in the work task flagged by workers as a cause of work strain. The focused work task documented in detail and assessed through REBA and RULA assessment. The work task involves manual handling of a stack of residual paper that is rolled to a tube, by hand, and subsequently lifted and pushed to a grinder inlet for re-purposing. While the ergonomic analysis confirm that there are postural risk factors present, the pace of work suggests that adequate resting for preventing work stain related to the focused task is possible during work. However, the percieved work strained is suggested to originate from work task in close connection to the focused task. A proposal for a concept that sufficiently eliminates the risk factors found in the focused task is developed based on a human-centered design and anthropometric principles. The development concludes with the construction of a prototype, but time constraints denies evaluation of the prototype with end users. The concept is therefore presented as renders of a 3D-model., Det här projektet har utförts som ett examensarbete inom Civilingenjör Teknisk design, på uppdrag av Billerud Karlsborg. Syftet med projektet var att utveckla ett tekniskt lösningsförslag till ett av Billerud utvalt arbetsmiljöproblem vid en av arbetstationerna i pappersbruket i Karlsborg. I samarbete med arbetarna i den berörda produktionslinjen genomfördes en participativ designprocess, innefattade planering och genomförande av participativa designaktiviteter och workshops baserade på de skandinaviska teorierna kring participativ design, med influens från nyare perspektiv kring co-design. Som en del i arbetet utfördes en övergipande ergonomisk analys avseende belastningsergonomiska riskkällor vid en fokuserad arbetsstation, med en detaljerad kartläggning av den arbetsuppgift som arbetarna upplever som problematisk. Den fokuserade arbetsuppgiften innefattar manuell hantering av en restprodukt som behöver rullas ihop för hand och därefter lyftas samt skjutas till en kvarn för återvinning. Den ergonomiska analysen utfördes med hjälp av REBA- och RULA-bedömningar, vilka bekräftade att en potentiell risk för belastningsergonomiska skador i det arbetssätt som utövas, men där produktionstakten och systemets styrning tyder på att tillräcklig vila är möjlig under arbetet för att motverka skador från lågintensivt muskelarbete. Arbetsmiljöproblemet bedöms däremot inte vara obefintligt då arbetarnas totala arbete innefattar ytterligare moment av fysisk belastning, och där arbetsmiljöproblemet eventuellt kan vara ett resultat av närliggande moment till den fokuserade arbetsuppgiften. Som lösningsförslag på problemet utvecklas ett koncept som eliminerar de funna riskkällorna i den avgränsade arbetsuppgiften, med utgångspunkt i användarcentrerad design och utefter antropometriska riktlinjer. Utvecklingen av en fysisk prototyp för utvärdering med arbetarna påbörjades, men hann inte slutföras innan projektet avslutades. Istället presenteras konceptet genom rendingar av en 3D-model

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), such as infant regurgitation, infant colic, and functional constipation, are common and typically physiological phenomena during the early months of an infant's life and account for frequent consultations with pediatricians. Various infant formulas are marketed for their management and are frequently given by parents to infants before a medical consultation. However, the evidence supporting their effectiveness is limited and some have altered nutritional compositions when compared to standard formulas. Thus, these products should only be used under medical supervision and upon medical advice. Marketing and over-the-counter sales do not ensure proper medical guidance and supervision. The aim of this position paper is to review the current evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of formulas specifically formulated for addressing regurgitation, colic, and constipation, recognized as FGID. The objective is to provide guidance for clinical management based on the highest quality of available evidence. A wide search using Pubmed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was performed including the MESH terms infant formula, colic, constipation, regurgitation, reflux, palmitate, lactase, lactose, magnesium, hydrolyzed protein, prebiotics or probiotics. 752 papers were identified and screened. Finally, 72 papers were included in the paper. In the absence of evidence, recommendations reflect the authors' combined expert opinion. Final consensus was obtained by multiple e-mail exchange and meetings of the Nutrition Committee. (1) For breastfed infants experiencing FGID such as regurgitation, colic, or constipation, transitioning from breastfeeding to commercial formulas is not recommended. (2) In general, whether an infant is breastfed or formula-fed, it's crucial to reassure parents that FGIDs are normal and typically do not necessitate treatment or change to a special formula. (3) Thickened formulas, oft

Traditionellt har samhället förlitat sig på en linjär ekonomi som använder jungfruliga råvaror. Men nu är ett skifte i sikte. Intresset för att skapa nya varor från restprodukter har drivit fram utvecklingen av cirkulära bioekonomier genom industriell symbios. Dessa syftar till att minimera utarmningen av jordens resurser och främja hållbarhet. Ett framstående exempel på detta är potentialen för industriell symbios inom pappers- och massabruk. I denna studie har Stora Enso Skoghalls Bruk använts som utgångspunkt. Bruket har ett bioslamflöde från reningsverket som i dagsläget inte utnyttjas effektivt. Detta avfall förbränns endast för att generera värmeenergi. Samtidigt måste reningsverket köpa in stora mängder närsalter till det biologiska reningssteget. Produktionen av dessa närsalter, som kväve och fosfor, är energikrävande och miljöskadlig. Dessutom kan fosfor bara utvinnas i begränsad mängd. Genom industriell symbios kan detta avfallsflöde omvandlas till en värdefull resurs. Samtidigt kan närsalterna återanvändas i reningsverket. Detta bidrar till en mer hållbar och effektiv användning av resurser. I samarbete med Tebrito AB har ett experiment utförts på behandlat bioslam hämtat från Stora Enso Skoghalls Bruk. Hälften av detta bioslam användes för att producera biopolymeren polyhydroxialkanoater (PHA). Vanligt- och PHA-rikt bioslam användes för att undersöka om bioslam från pappers- och massabruk kan användas för att odla mjölmaskar på, samt om mjölmaskarna kan användas för att förenkla extraktion av bioplast från bioslam. Parallellt med detta experiment byggdes en simuleringsmodell i Microsoft Excel. I modellen utforskades flera scenarier på industriell symbios med ett pappers- och massabruk för att bedöma vilken kombination av olika industrier som resulterar i lägst utsläpp av växthusgaser. De industrier som undersöktes i modellen var: fiskodling, mjölmaskodling, biokol från pyrolys och bioplastproduktion. Det undersöktes även om det potentiellt finns ekonom, Traditionally, society has relied on a linear economy that uses virgin raw materials. But now a shift is in sight. The interest in creating new goods from waste products has driven the development of circular bioeconomies through industrial symbiosis. These aim to minimize the depletion of the earth’s resources and promote sustainability. A prominent example of this is the potential for industrial symbiosis within the pulp and paper industry. In this study, Stora Enso Skoghalls Bruk has been used as a starting point. The mill has a biosludge flow from the treatment plant that is currently not used effectively. This waste is only burned to generate heat energy. At the same time, the treatment plant must buy large amounts of nutrients for the biological treatment step. The production of these nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, is energy-intensive and environmentally harmful. In addition, phosphorus can only be extracted in limited quantities. Through industrial symbiosis, this waste flow can be transformed into a valuable resource. At the same time, the nutrients can be reused in the treatment plant. This contributes to a more sustainable and efficient use of resources. In collaboration with Tebrito AB, an experiment was carried out on treated biosludge obtained from Stora Enso Skoghalls Bruk. Half of this biosludge was used to produce the biopolymer polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Regular and PHA-rich biosludge was used to investigate whether biosludge from pulp and paper mills can be used to grow mealworms on, and whether the mealworms can be used to simplify the extraction of bioplastics from biosludge. Parallel to this experiment, a simulation model was built in Microsoft Excel. In the model, several scenarios of industrial symbiosis with a pulp and paper mill were explored to assess which combination of different industries results in the lowest greenhouse gas emissions. The industries examined in the model were: fish farming, mealworm farming, biochar

The purpose of this study was to investigate the atomic-level structural changes in cellulose-based materials for varying moisture content, crucial for understanding the durability and barrier properties of the material. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of cellulose microfibril bundles under wet and dry conditions were performed using the GROMACS simulation package. Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) data were computed for the equilibrated 3D structures from the simulations and compared to experimental data of Tetra Pak’s paper straw material at different humidity levels. The results indicated that increased moisture content led to fibril swelling, in accordance with previous research, observable as an intensity bump in the SAXS curves. It proved more difficult to draw any conclusion regarding the change in crystal structure as the WAXS data between the simulations and experiments were inconsistent. The methodology in this thesis provides valuable insights into moisture-induced structural changes in cellulose materials, laying the groundwork for future research on improving the barrier properties of paper-based packaging.

Grease-proof paper is an energy-demanding paper product to manufacture, especially during refining and dewatering. Increases in energy efficiency in either stage could result in major savings. This article investigates the potential gains with addition of a stepwise progression vacuum suction box to the forming section during production. For both a lighter, 50 g/m2, and a heavier paper grade, 100 g/m2, with a pulp-drainability of 86 °SR, a stepwise progression vacuum suction box in four steps would result in increased dryness, simultaneously with decreased energy expenditure. The observed effects were higher for the lower basis weight paper (50 g/m2). Both basis weights experienced clogging of the forming fabric due to the high degree of refining. This adversely affected the dewatering rate, decreasing the amount of air pulled through the paper even when increasing the vacuum pressure. When a stepwise progression suction box in four steps was compared to a single vacuum suction box, there was a 14% increase in dryness for lighter paper, over an equal energy consumption, measured as amount of air pulled through the paper. For the 100 g/m2 paper, the increase in dryness was 3% compared to the 50 g/m2 paper run over a single vacuum suction box. The results show great promise for energy savings when utilizing stepwise progression suction box dewatering for grease-proof paper production.

In the Värmland region, Sweden, an innovative sandwich structural element has been designed by the cooperation of pulp and paper companies for possible use in indoor products, such as tables, shelves, doors, and furniture in general [1]. The element, lightweight and strong, has facesheets of laminated paperboards made of recycled and/or virgin wood fibres. The core, made of paper pulp, has a unique shape like a cup box with staggered positions between the cups, see [1]). At the Department of Engineering and Chemical Science at Karlstad University, the mechanical performance and properties of the elements have been investigated via experimental tests and finite element (FE) models for different applications. Recently, four-point bending tests have been conducted in sandwich beams from the element, see Fig. 1(a). The facesheets of the beams were made of virgin and/or hybrid (virgin + recycled fibres) paper materials. Results from quasistatic experimental tests were evaluated by means of digital image correlation technique for accurate measurements of the beam deflection. In this presentation, we will address aspects of flexural and shear rigidities of the tested samples [2, 3], as well as main observations of failures, which occurred at the top facesheets (c.f. Fig 1(b)). A parametric FE model will also be presented along with its calibration, capability of predicting the failure (c.f. Fig 1(c)), and possibilities for structural optimization. References [1] Ecopals AB, Hållbar möblekonstruktion till en bråkdel av vikten/Durable furniture construction at a fraction of the weight. Retrieved March 03, 2024, https://ecopals.se/ [2] Howard, G.A., Analysis and design of structural sandwich panels, Pergamon, (1969) [3] Lorna, J.G., Michael, F.A., The design of sandwich panels with foam cores. In: Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties. Cambridge University Press, 345-386, (1997)

Grease-proof paper is an energy-demanding paper product to manufacture, especially during refining and dewatering. Increases in energy efficiency in either stage could result in major savings. This article investigates the potential gains with addition of a stepwise progression vacuum suction box to the forming section during production. For both a lighter, 50 g/m2, and a heavier paper grade, 100 g/m2, with a pulp-drainability of 86 °SR, a stepwise progression vacuum suction box in four steps would result in increased dryness, simultaneously with decreased energy expenditure. The observed effects were higher for the lower basis weight paper (50 g/m2). Both basis weights experienced clogging of the forming fabric due to the high degree of refining. This adversely affected the dewatering rate, decreasing the amount of air pulled through the paper even when increasing the vacuum pressure. When a stepwise progression suction box in four steps was compared to a single vacuum suction box, there was a 14% increase in dryness for lighter paper, over an equal energy consumption, measured as amount of air pulled through the paper. For the 100 g/m2 paper, the increase in dryness was 3% compared to the 50 g/m2 paper run over a single vacuum suction box. The results show great promise for energy savings when utilizing stepwise progression suction box dewatering for grease-proof paper production.

This article aims to compare the pattern of responses obtained by a web-based and a paper-based survey used to investigate the transit safety of travellers in railway stations in Sweden. This aim is achieved by evaluating whether the response and the completion rates change as the surveys progress, assessing the effect of the survey mode on respondents' answers (after controlling for the surveys' internal consistency and differences in the samples), and the potential impact of the order of alternatives in multiple-choice questions on the responses. To carry out the study, a sample of 500 responses was taken from each population and later compared using a series of statistical tests. Findings indicate that despite the surveys' high internal consistency, the prevalence of victimisation, fear of crime, and precautions detected in the web survey was higher than those found in the paper survey. The web survey shows a major drop just after the initial questions, while the paper survey shows a more stable pattern of responses, but was also affected by a single compulsory question that pushed the completion rate down. Finally, the order of alternatives in multiple-choice questions (fixed or random) did not affect the answers given by the respondents, providing a solid base for safety interventions in transit environments, regardless of survey mode. The article concludes by making suggestions for both research and practice., Correction: Ceccato, V., Gliori, G., Näsman, P. et al. Publisher Correction to: Comparing responses from a paper‑based survey with a web‑based survey in environmental criminology. Crime Prevention & Community Safety 26, 244 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41300-024-00210-x

Grease-proof paper is an energy-demanding paper product to manufacture, especially during refining and dewatering. Increases in energy efficiency in either stage could result in major savings. This article investigates the potential gains with addition of a stepwise progression vacuum suction box to the forming section during production. For both a lighter, 50 g/m2, and a heavier paper grade, 100 g/m2, with a pulp-drainability of 86 °SR, a stepwise progression vacuum suction box in four steps would result in increased dryness, simultaneously with decreased energy expenditure. The observed effects were higher for the lower basis weight paper (50 g/m2). Both basis weights experienced clogging of the forming fabric due to the high degree of refining. This adversely affected the dewatering rate, decreasing the amount of air pulled through the paper even when increasing the vacuum pressure. When a stepwise progression suction box in four steps was compared to a single vacuum suction box, there was a 14% increase in dryness for lighter paper, over an equal energy consumption, measured as amount of air pulled through the paper. For the 100 g/m2 paper, the increase in dryness was 3% compared to the 50 g/m2 paper run over a single vacuum suction box. The results show great promise for energy savings when utilizing stepwise progression suction box dewatering for grease-proof paper production.

Climate change mitigation by increased paper recycling can alleviate the two-sided pressure on the Swedish forest sector: supplying growing demands for wood-based products and increasing the forest carbon sink. This study assesses two scenarios for making use of a reduced demand for primary pulp resulting from an increased paper recycling rate in Sweden, from the present 72% to 78%. A Conservation scenario uses the saved primary pulp to reduce pulplog harvests so as to increase the forest carbon sink concomitant with constant overall wood product supply. In contrast, a Substitution scenario uses the saved primary pulp to produce man-made cellulosic fibers (MMCF) from dissolving pulp replacing cotton fiber, implying increased overall wood product supply. Our results suggest that utilizing efficiency gains in paper recycling to reduce pulplog harvests is better from a climate change mitigation perspective than producing additional MMCF to substitute cotton fiber. This conclusion holds even when assuming the use of by-products from dissolving pulp making and an indirect increase in MMCF availability. Hence, unless joint improvements across the value chain materialize, the best climate change mitigation option from increased paper recycling in Sweden would seemingly be to reduce fellings rather than producing additional MMCF.

The Current study aimed at valorizing carrot pomace (CP), an abundant waste from the juice industry. A water-soluble fraction of CP was separated from solid fraction of CP (SFCP) and employed as feedstock for producing fungal biomass (FB) in bench-scale bioreactors. FB combined with SFCP were used to develop mycelium-based papers (MBP) using the wet-laid method. The potential and capacity of FB, SFCP and MBP to remove dye (methylene blue) from wastewater was then investigated. The maximum achieved dye removal was 92% when using a mixture of SFCP and FB in their suspended forms. The MBP with the lowest density (549 kg/m3) reached 83% dye elimination. The findings of this study support the valorization of carrot pomace, through environmentally benign processes, to mycelium-based papers with potential application in wastewater treatment.

Objectives: Meningitis is a medical emergency, and it is crucial to diagnose it accurately and promptly in order to manage patients effectively. It would, therefore, be essential to introduce and have fast, accurate, and user-friendly methods to determine the cause of these infections. This study aimed to demonstrate a potentially cost-effective new approach for detecting meningitis using a paper-based vertical flow microarray, which could be useful in settings with limited resources. Methods: We describe a multiplex paper microarray for detecting Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Salmonella spp. by the passive vertical flow of PCR-amplified clinical samples. A multibiotinylated amplicon was obtained as a product of PCR in the presence of both a biotinylated primer and biotin-11-dUTP. An enhancement step based on an enzyme-free gold enhancement protocol was also used to facilitate visual detection. Results: This study showed that the vertical flow microarray (previously evaluated for one pathogen) can discriminately detect the amplification results down to the 102 copies of DNA limit for four meningitis pathogens in a multiplexed set-up. The study further demonstrated the ability of this device and setup to detect three of the four pathogens from clinical biosamples. Discussion: This study demonstrated the capacity of a vertical flow microarray device to detect amplification products for four prevalent meningitis pathogens in a multiplex format. The vertical flow microarray demonstrated consistent visualization of the expected gene amplification results; however, indicating limitations in the pre- and amplification steps. This study highlights the potential of this multiplexing method for diagnosing meningitis and other syndromic diseases caused by various pathogens, especially in resource-limited areas., QC 20240926

Behavioural types provide a promising way to achieve lightweight, language-integrated verification for communication-centric software. However, a large barrier to the adoption of behavioural types is that the current state of the art expects software to be written using the same tools and typing discipline throughout a system, and has little support for components over which a developer has no control. This position paper describes the outcomes of a working group discussion at Dagstuhl Seminar 24051 (Next-Generation Protocols for Heterogeneous Systems). We propose a methodology for integrating multiple behaviourally-typed components, written in different languages. Our proposed approach involves an extensible protocol description language, a session IR that can describe data transformations and boundary monitoring and which can be compiled into program-specific session proxies, and finally a session middleware to aid session establishment. We hope that this position paper will stimulate discussion on one of the most pressing challenges facing the widespread adoption of behavioural typing., QC 20240718

Climate change mitigation by increased paper recycling can alleviate the two-sided pressure on the Swedish forest sector: supplying growing demands for wood-based products and increasing the forest carbon sink. This study assesses two scenarios for making use of a reduced demand for primary pulp resulting from an increased paper recycling rate in Sweden, from the present 72% to 78%. A Conservation scenario uses the saved primary pulp to reduce pulplog harvests so as to increase the forest carbon sink concomitant with constant overall wood product supply. In contrast, a Substitution scenario uses the saved primary pulp to produce man-made cellulosic fibers (MMCF) from dissolving pulp replacing cotton fiber, implying increased overall wood product supply. Our results suggest that utilizing efficiency gains in paper recycling to reduce pulplog harvests is better from a climate change mitigation perspective than producing additional MMCF to substitute cotton fiber. This conclusion holds even when assuming the use of by-products from dissolving pulp making and an indirect increase in MMCF availability. Hence, unless joint improvements across the value chain materialize, the best climate change mitigation option from increased paper recycling in Sweden would seemingly be to reduce fellings rather than producing additional MMCF.

Grease-proof paper is an energy-demanding paper product to manufacture, especially during refining and dewatering. Increases in energy efficiency in either stage could result in major savings. This article investigates the potential gains with addition of a stepwise progression vacuum suction box to the forming section during production. For both a lighter, 50 g/m2, and a heavier paper grade, 100 g/m2, with a pulp-drainability of 86 °SR, a stepwise progression vacuum suction box in four steps would result in increased dryness, simultaneously with decreased energy expenditure. The observed effects were higher for the lower basis weight paper (50 g/m2). Both basis weights experienced clogging of the forming fabric due to the high degree of refining. This adversely affected the dewatering rate, decreasing the amount of air pulled through the paper even when increasing the vacuum pressure. When a stepwise progression suction box in four steps was compared to a single vacuum suction box, there was a 14% increase in dryness for lighter paper, over an equal energy consumption, measured as amount of air pulled through the paper. For the 100 g/m2 paper, the increase in dryness was 3% compared to the 50 g/m2 paper run over a single vacuum suction box. The results show great promise for energy savings when utilizing stepwise progression suction box dewatering for grease-proof paper production.

The Current study aimed at valorizing carrot pomace (CP), an abundant waste from the juice industry. A water-soluble fraction of CP was separated from solid fraction of CP (SFCP) and employed as feedstock for producing fungal biomass (FB) in bench-scale bioreactors. FB combined with SFCP were used to develop mycelium-based papers (MBP) using the wet-laid method. The potential and capacity of FB, SFCP and MBP to remove dye (methylene blue) from wastewater was then investigated. The maximum achieved dye removal was 92% when using a mixture of SFCP and FB in their suspended forms. The MBP with the lowest density (549 kg/m3) reached 83% dye elimination. The findings of this study support the valorization of carrot pomace, through environmentally benign processes, to mycelium-based papers with potential application in wastewater treatment.

Grease-proof paper is an energy-demanding paper product to manufacture, especially during refining and dewatering. Increases in energy efficiency in either stage could result in major savings. This article investigates the potential gains with addition of a stepwise progression vacuum suction box to the forming section during production. For both a lighter, 50 g/m2, and a heavier paper grade, 100 g/m2, with a pulp-drainability of 86 °SR, a stepwise progression vacuum suction box in four steps would result in increased dryness, simultaneously with decreased energy expenditure. The observed effects were higher for the lower basis weight paper (50 g/m2). Both basis weights experienced clogging of the forming fabric due to the high degree of refining. This adversely affected the dewatering rate, decreasing the amount of air pulled through the paper even when increasing the vacuum pressure. When a stepwise progression suction box in four steps was compared to a single vacuum suction box, there was a 14% increase in dryness for lighter paper, over an equal energy consumption, measured as amount of air pulled through the paper. For the 100 g/m2 paper, the increase in dryness was 3% compared to the 50 g/m2 paper run over a single vacuum suction box. The results show great promise for energy savings when utilizing stepwise progression suction box dewatering for grease-proof paper production.

This Bachelor of Science thesis was completed as part of the course: Batchelor thesis for university engineer’s degree in innovation technology and design, MSGC36, at Karlstad University. The work included a preliminary investigation project carried out during the spring term of 2024. The client for this project was Nordic Paper (NP). NP wanted to investigate whether carbon dioxide reduction could be achieved with the help of algae cultivation at Nordic Paper's mill in Bäckhammar. Due to the company's continuous work with improvements in sustainability, where the pursuit of reducing greenhouse gases is one of them, the work was done to contribute to a wider scope of application methods that support one of the focus areas that the company follows: reduced climate impact. The goal of the project was to investigate the possibilities of industrial algae cultivation. The study involved a comprehensive investigation into the abilities and product potentials of algae. During the process, products and the different areas of application regarding algae, have been investigated. In addition to that investigation has been made of their ability to fixate carbon dioxide. The project's layout was inspired by the Double Diamond design process model. Various interviews and the latest research in the field provided the foundation for the conclusions reached during the process. In addition to that, various types of idea generation methods as well as decision-making methods have also been carried out in order to reach a final result. Algae has the ability to fixate carbon dioxide through their photosynthesis without requiring high purity from the flue gases in order to grow. In addition to algae's air-purifying capabilities, algae can also cleanse water from toxic substances and contribute to various end products. Industrial algae cultivation is in continued need of further research. On NP's behalf, deeper research was required in the area of application for algae that includes wat, Examensarbetet utfördes under kursen Examensarbete för högskoleingenjörsexamen i innovationsteknik och design, MSGC36, vid Karlstads universitet. Arbetet innefattade ett förundersökningsprojekt genomfört under vårterminen 2024.Uppdragsgivaren för projektet var Nordic Paper (NP). Företaget ville undersöka om koldioxidreducering kunde uppnås med hjälp utav algodling på Nordic Papers bruk i Bäckhammar. På grund av företagets ständiga arbete med förbättringar inom hållbarhet, där strävan efter reducering av växthusgaser är en utav dem, gjordes arbetet för att bidra till en bredare omfattning av tillämpningsmetoder som stödjer ett av de fokusområden som företaget följer: minskad klimatpåverkan. Målet med projektet var att undersöka möjligheterna kring industriell algodling. Arbetet omfattade en bred undersökning av algers förmåga och produktmöjligheter. I arbetet undersöktes slutprodukter och tillämpningsområden alger har utöver förmågan att binda till sig koldioxid. Projektets upplägg inspirerades av designprocessmodellen Double Diamond. Olika intervjuer och omfattande undersökning av senaste forskningen inom området låg till grunden för de slutsatser som togs under processens gång. Utöver det har även olika typer av idégenereringsmetoder samt metoder för beslutsfattning utförts för att leda till ett slutgiltigt resultat. Alger har en förmåga att binda till sig koldioxid genom sin fotosyntes och kräver dessutom inte hög renhet från rökgaserna för att kunna växa. Utöver algers luftrenande förmåga kan de dessutom rena vatten från giftiga ämnen samt bidra till olika typer av slutprodukter. Industriell algodling är i fortsatt behov av vidare forskning. För NP:s räkning krävdes djupare undersökning i det tillämpningsområdet för alger som innefattar vattenrening, vilket resulterade i att nyttjandet av alger som vattenrenare fick kvarstå till framtiden. De alger som ansågs mest fördelaktiga i s

Traditionellt har samhället förlitat sig på en linjär ekonomi som använder jungfruliga råvaror. Men nu är ett skifte i sikte. Intresset för att skapa nya varor från restprodukter har drivit fram utvecklingen av cirkulära bioekonomier genom industriell symbios. Dessa syftar till att minimera utarmningen av jordens resurser och främja hållbarhet. Ett framstående exempel på detta är potentialen för industriell symbios inom pappers- och massabruk. I denna studie har Stora Enso Skoghalls Bruk använts som utgångspunkt. Bruket har ett bioslamflöde från reningsverket som i dagsläget inte utnyttjas effektivt. Detta avfall förbränns endast för att generera värmeenergi. Samtidigt måste reningsverket köpa in stora mängder närsalter till det biologiska reningssteget. Produktionen av dessa närsalter, som kväve och fosfor, är energikrävande och miljöskadlig. Dessutom kan fosfor bara utvinnas i begränsad mängd. Genom industriell symbios kan detta avfallsflöde omvandlas till en värdefull resurs. Samtidigt kan närsalterna återanvändas i reningsverket. Detta bidrar till en mer hållbar och effektiv användning av resurser. I samarbete med Tebrito AB har ett experiment utförts på behandlat bioslam hämtat från Stora Enso Skoghalls Bruk. Hälften av detta bioslam användes för att producera biopolymeren polyhydroxialkanoater (PHA). Vanligt- och PHA-rikt bioslam användes för att undersöka om bioslam från pappers- och massabruk kan användas för att odla mjölmaskar på, samt om mjölmaskarna kan användas för att förenkla extraktion av bioplast från bioslam. Parallellt med detta experiment byggdes en simuleringsmodell i Microsoft Excel. I modellen utforskades flera scenarier på industriell symbios med ett pappers- och massabruk för att bedöma vilken kombination av olika industrier som resulterar i lägst utsläpp av växthusgaser. De industrier som undersöktes i modellen var: fiskodling, mjölmaskodling, biokol från pyrolys och bioplastproduktion. Det undersöktes även om det potentiellt finns ekonom, Traditionally, society has relied on a linear economy that uses virgin raw materials. But now a shift is in sight. The interest in creating new goods from waste products has driven the development of circular bioeconomies through industrial symbiosis. These aim to minimize the depletion of the earth’s resources and promote sustainability. A prominent example of this is the potential for industrial symbiosis within the pulp and paper industry. In this study, Stora Enso Skoghalls Bruk has been used as a starting point. The mill has a biosludge flow from the treatment plant that is currently not used effectively. This waste is only burned to generate heat energy. At the same time, the treatment plant must buy large amounts of nutrients for the biological treatment step. The production of these nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, is energy-intensive and environmentally harmful. In addition, phosphorus can only be extracted in limited quantities. Through industrial symbiosis, this waste flow can be transformed into a valuable resource. At the same time, the nutrients can be reused in the treatment plant. This contributes to a more sustainable and efficient use of resources. In collaboration with Tebrito AB, an experiment was carried out on treated biosludge obtained from Stora Enso Skoghalls Bruk. Half of this biosludge was used to produce the biopolymer polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Regular and PHA-rich biosludge was used to investigate whether biosludge from pulp and paper mills can be used to grow mealworms on, and whether the mealworms can be used to simplify the extraction of bioplastics from biosludge. Parallel to this experiment, a simulation model was built in Microsoft Excel. In the model, several scenarios of industrial symbiosis with a pulp and paper mill were explored to assess which combination of different industries results in the lowest greenhouse gas emissions. The industries examined in the model were: fish farming, mealworm farming, biochar

The purpose of this study was to investigate the atomic-level structural changes in cellulose-based materials for varying moisture content, crucial for understanding the durability and barrier properties of the material. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of cellulose microfibril bundles under wet and dry conditions were performed using the GROMACS simulation package. Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) data were computed for the equilibrated 3D structures from the simulations and compared to experimental data of Tetra Pak’s paper straw material at different humidity levels. The results indicated that increased moisture content led to fibril swelling, in accordance with previous research, observable as an intensity bump in the SAXS curves. It proved more difficult to draw any conclusion regarding the change in crystal structure as the WAXS data between the simulations and experiments were inconsistent. The methodology in this thesis provides valuable insights into moisture-induced structural changes in cellulose materials, laying the groundwork for future research on improving the barrier properties of paper-based packaging.

The construction of the question paper is the key phase in examination system that leads towards the attainment of the goal of assessment which ultimately directs us to make better decision making. Thus, evaluation of the question paper plays an indispensable and prominent role in this regard. To find out the extent of content coverage of the question paper and to perform item analysis to estimate the quality of the questions, 10 question papers, and 489 answer scripts were selected through the Multistage Sampling technique. Question paper review format and focus group discussion were used as a tool. Quantitative analysis disclosed that question paper did not include 52% of the entire syllabus while approximately all items were in “good” or “acceptable” range regarding item analysis. The minimal strata of the question showed very weak discrimination. Variation was also found in attempting different questions ranging from 16% to 93%. Focus Group Discussion disclosed that a specific portion of the syllabus was not taught or ignored by the concerned teacher.

Introduction: Paper folding and punched hole tests are used to measure spatial abilities in humans. These abilities are relevant since they are associated with success in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). This study addresses the challenge of teaching spatial reasoning skills using an educational videogame, the Paper Folding Reasoning Game. Methods: The Paper Folding Reasoning Game is an interactive game which presents activities intended to help users train and understand how to fold a paper to get a specific shape (Part I) and the consequence of punching a hole on a folded paper (Part II). This educational videogame can automatically generate paper-folding-and-punched-hole questions with varying degrees of difficulty depending on the number of folds and holes made, thus producing additional levels for training due to its embedded reasoning mechanisms (Part III). Results: This manuscript presents the results of analyzing the gameplay data gathered by the Paper Folding Reasoning Game in its three parts. For Parts I and II, the data provided by 225 anonymous unique players are analyzed. For Part III (Mastermode), the data obtained from 894 gameplays by 311 anonymous unique players are analyzed. In our analysis, we found out a significant difference in performance regarding the players who trained (i.e., played Parts I and II) before playing the Mastermode (Part III) vs. the group of players who did not train. We also found a significant difference in players' performance who used the visual help (i.e., re-watch the animated sequence of paper folds) vs. the group of players who did not use it, confirming the effectiveness of the Paper Folding Reasoning Game to train paper-folding-and-punched-hole reasoning skills. Statistically significant gender differences in performance were also found.

The fourth industrial revolution, colloquially referred to as “industry 4.0”, has garnered substantial global attention in recent years. There, Artificial intelligence (AI) driven industrial intelligence has been increasingly deployed in predictive maintenance (PdM), emerging as a vital enabler of smart manufacturing and industry 4.0. Since in recent years the number of articles focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in PdM is high a review on the available literature reviews in this domain would be useful for the future researchers who would like to advance the research in this area and also for the persons who would like to apply PdM in their application domains. Therefore, this study identifies the AI revolution in PdM and focuses on the next stages available in the literature reviews in this area by quality assessment of secondary study. A well-known structured review approach (Systematic Literature Review, or SLR) was employed to perform this tertiary study. In addition, the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) approach for evaluating the quality of review papers has been employed to support a few of the research questions. Here, This tertiary study scrutinizes four crucial aspects of secondary articles: (1) their specific research domains, (2) the annual trends in the quantity, variety, and quality (3) a footsteps of top researchers, and (4) the research constraints that review articles face during the time frame of 2015 to 2022. The results show that the majority of the application areas are applied to the manufacturing industry. It also leads to the identification of the revolution of AI in PdM as well. Our final findings indicate that Dr. Cheng et al.’s (2022) review has emerged as the predominant source of information in this field. As newcomers or industrial practitioners, we can benefit greatly from following his insights. The final outcome is that there is a lack of progress in SLR formulation and in adding explainable or inte

The materials to produce concrete blocks (sand, gravel, and cement) are limited resources that are becoming scarce over time due to their increasing demand in construction. On the other hand, the waste of glass and paper is progressively increasing without being fully utilized through recycling. Therefore, the objective of this scientific research is to evaluate the influence on the mechanical properties of masonry concrete blocks made with recycled glass and paper particles. Likewise, the sample was non-probabilistically selected for convenience, consisting of 192 concrete blocks manufactured with additions of 3% (2% glass particles and 1% recycled paper), 6% (4% glass particles and 2% recycled paper), and 9% (6% glass particles and 3% recycled paper), as well as concrete blocks manufactured without additions. According to the results obtained, at 3%, 6%, and 9% addition of glass and paper particles, the absorption decreased by 4.94%, 3.398%, and 3.52% respectively. However, the warping increased between 1.7mm and 1.8mm, while the compressive strength (f'c) increased to 75kg/cm2, 82kg/cm2, and 77kg/cm2, respectively. Similarly, the axial compressive strength (f'm) increased to 91.22kg/cm2, 94.45kg/cm2, and 92.80kg/cm2, and the diagonal compressive strength (V'm) increased by 8.90kg/cm2, 9.70kg/cm2, and 9.70kg/cm2. Nevertheless, the manufacturing cost of masonry units showed a progressive reduction with the amount of glass + paper addition, amounting to 0.57 USD, 0.55 USD, and 0.53 USD. It was also determined that the optimal addition of these materials in the concrete mix in terms of cost and strength is 9% (glass + paper), resulting in compressive strengths of 77kg/cm2, 92.8kg/cm2, and 9.70kg/cm2, with a cost of 0.53 USD per unit. In conclusion, it can be affirmed that adding glass and recycled paper particles in the production of concrete blocks for use in load-bearing masonry walls positively influences the physical and mechanical properties of the blocks. Addit

The electrification and digitalization of our society has propelled the demand for energy storage solutions. High-end technologies have been developed to satisfy the requirements of demanding applications, such as electromobility and portable consumer electronics, which also increasingly find markets for less demanding applications. These markets include grid and domestic energy storage, as well as Internet of Things (IoT). However, using high-end technologies for low-end applications is a waste of resources that puts unnecessary stress on the supply lines. Thus, more low-cost cost and environmentally friendly alternative technologies are sought, among which renewable biobased materials derived from agriculture and forestry play a prominent role. The dominant chemical constituents in plants, cellulose and lignin, exhibit some intriguing electrochemical and colloidal properties. Cellulose has been found to efficiently stabilize various electronic materials, whereas lignin can be used as an electronic material itself. Lignocellulosic materials also open for papermaking as an alternative manufacturing approach. Taking the step to using papermaking methods is, however, a bit far from the technology readiness level, as the vast majority of the research on paper electrodes is based on nanocellulose. The material properties of such nanopapers are indeed extraordinary, but the lack of large-scale production methods for nanopapers is a serious challenge. To circumvent this obstacle and find a shortcut to the realization of paper electrodes, this thesis has turned to conventional papermaking techniques. Fibres are essentially different to nanofibrils by their difference in size, and the papermaking process requires careful composition of the formulations. Thus, as the research on nanopaper electrodes cannot be directly translated into conventional papermaking techniques, this calls for separate studies on fibre-based systems. This thesis is based on four separate works carrie

Due to its unique material properties, paper offers many practical advantages as a viable platform for sensing devices. In view of paper-based microfluidic biosensing applications, the covalent immobilization of enzymes with preserved functional activity is highly desirable and ultimately challenging. In the present manuscript, we report an efficient approach to achieving the covalent attachment of certain enzymes on paper fibers via a surface-bound network of hydrophilic polymers bearing protein-modifiable sites. This tailor-made macromolecular system consisting of polar, highly swellable copolymers is anchored to the paper exterior upon light-induced crosslinking of engineered benzophenone motifs. On the other hand, this framework contains active esters that can be efficiently modified by the nucleophiles of biomolecules. This strategy allowed the covalent immobilization of glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase onto cotton linters without sacrificing their bioactivities and performance upon surface binding. As a proof-of-concept application, a microfluidic chromatic paper-based glucose sensor was developed and achieved successful glucose detection in a simple yet efficient cascade reaction.

The materials to produce concrete blocks (sand, gravel, and cement) are limited resources that are becoming scarce over time due to their increasing demand in construction. On the other hand, the waste of glass and paper is progressively increasing without being fully utilized through recycling. Therefore, the objective of this scientific research is to evaluate the influence on the mechanical properties of masonry concrete blocks made with recycled glass and paper particles. Likewise, the sample was non-probabilistically selected for convenience, consisting of 192 concrete blocks manufactured with additions of 3% (2% glass particles and 1% recycled paper), 6% (4% glass particles and 2% recycled paper), and 9% (6% glass particles and 3% recycled paper), as well as concrete blocks manufactured without additions. According to the results obtained, at 3%, 6%, and 9% addition of glass and paper particles, the absorption decreased by 4.94%, 3.398%, and 3.52% respectively. However, the warping increased between 1.7mm and 1.8mm, while the compressive strength (f'c) increased to 75kg/cm2, 82kg/cm2, and 77kg/cm2, respectively. Similarly, the axial compressive strength (f'm) increased to 91.22kg/cm2, 94.45kg/cm2, and 92.80kg/cm2, and the diagonal compressive strength (V'm) increased by 8.90kg/cm2, 9.70kg/cm2, and 9.70kg/cm2. Nevertheless, the manufacturing cost of masonry units showed a progressive reduction with the amount of glass + paper addition, amounting to 0.57 USD, 0.55 USD, and 0.53 USD. It was also determined that the optimal addition of these materials in the concrete mix in terms of cost and strength is 9% (glass + paper), resulting in compressive strengths of 77kg/cm2, 92.8kg/cm2, and 9.70kg/cm2, with a cost of 0.53 USD per unit. In conclusion, it can be affirmed that adding glass and recycled paper particles in the production of concrete blocks for use in load-bearing masonry walls positively influences the physical and mechanical properties of the blocks. Addit

The sharing and documentation of cardiovascular research data are essential for efficient use and reuse of data, thereby aiding scientific transparency, accelerating the progress of cardiovascular research and healthcare, and contributing to the reproducibility of research results. However, challenges remain. This position paper, written on behalf of and approved by the German Cardiac Society and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, summarizes our current understanding of the challenges in cardiovascular research data management (RDM). These challenges include lack of time, awareness, incentives, and funding for implementing effective RDM; lack of standardization in RDM processes; a need to better identify meaningful and actionable data among the increasing volume and complexity of data being acquired; and a lack of understanding of the legal aspects of data sharing. While several tools exist to increase the degree to which data are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR), more work is needed to lower the threshold for effective RDM not just in cardiovascular research but in all biomedical research, with data sharing and reuse being factored in at every stage of the scientific process. A culture of open science with FAIR research data should be fostered through education and training of early-career and established research professionals. Ultimately, FAIR RDM requires permanent, long-term effort at all levels. If outcomes can be shown to be superior and to promote better (and better value) science, modern RDM will make a positive difference to cardiovascular science and practice. The full position paper is available in the supplementary materials.

Paper documents, where digital signatures are not directly applicable, are still widely utilized due to usability and legal reasons. We propose a novel approach to authenticating paper documents by taking short videos of them with smartphones. Our solution combines cryptographic and image comparison techniques to detect and highlight semantic-changing attacks on rich documents, containing text and graphics. We provide geometrical arguments for the security of our novel comparison algorithm, and prove that its combination with a cryptographic protocol is secure against strong adversaries capable of compromising different system components. We also measure its accuracy on a set of 128 videos of paper documents and a set of 960 synthetically generated warped documents, half containing subtle forgeries. Our algorithm finds all forgeries accurately with no false positives. The highlighted regions are large enough to be visible to users, but small enough to precisely locate forgeries.

Assessments of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in managed areas are facing various challenges. A non-flow-through, non-steady-state (NFT-NSS) chamber coupled to a frame permanently inserted into the landfilled substrates is a standard method for quantifying GHG emissions in managed areas, such as pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS) landfill sites. Frequent measurements are needed to minimize uncertainties on GHG emission factors at the landfill site scale. However, maintaining a frame inserted into the substrates for a long time period is often impossible due to landfilling management operations. Therefore, GHG measurements using NFT-NSS chambers placed directly on substrates’ surface could be an interesting option. Our objectives were to determine the relationships between CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes measured with (F + ) and without (F-) a frame inserted in the substrates’ surface and to develop correction factors for fluxes measured without a frame. Measurements were made at different PPMS landfill sites in the province of Québec, Canada. Stronger GHG flux relationships were observed at the provincial (across sites) than the specific site scale: the variance in GHG fluxes from F- chambers explained up to 80 % of variance in fluxes from F + chambers. The measured CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes in F- chambers were on average 53, 78, and 63 % lower, respectively, than those estimated by the models at provincial scale. The correction factors developed with this approach could greatly extend the number of sites where in situ GHG measurements can be done and would help refining GHG inventories at the provincial and national levels.

Evaluating errors represents an important shortcoming of the teaching-learning evaluation process in every educational system. The purpose of this research was to investigate the causes, consequences, and approaches of solutions to eradicate the evaluating errors in Benin secondary schools. To that purpose, ten (10) teachers and 100 learners were chosen based on their willingness exclusively from GUEMA secondary school in the municipality of Parakou. The data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, group discussions, and past exam papers analysis. The findings revealed that exam paper errors are often due to the evaluating system that consists of machines. The mistakes concern miswritten words, special notes such as “NB,” “Note,” etc., ambiguity about items and questions, and unreadability of the paper. Consequently, evaluating errors impacts the learners’ present and future language careers. They make learners feel demotivated and stressed, damaging their eagerness to learn the language. To solve this issue, it was shown that English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers need in-service training and significant reforms in evaluating the system should be done.

Due to the high wastepaper recyclability and water-loop system closure, packaging paper mills struggle with increased fines, causing runnability issues. Cellulase enzymes are a preferred treatment choice for the improvement of the pulp refining in stock preparation area but are not widely used or easy to introduce in the production process. Different cellulase enzymes were tested, and those with the highest activity were introduced to the white-water (WW) samples with the aim to reduce fines content as potentially new enzyme applications on the paper machine. The first portion of the study involved the development of an experiment model to find and confirm the optimal enzyme process parameters (40 °C, pH 5.7, reaction time 3 h, and 0.18% v/v enzyme addition) for laboratory made white-water. The second portion of the study included turbidity, colloidal charge, flow cytometry (FCM), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) analysis on industrial and laboratory made white-water samples at optimized process parameters. Obtained results corresponded to reduced fines content in white-water samples, which justified commercial usage of cellulase enzymes on recycled paper machine short loop and potentially increased machine runnability without negative influence on wastewater treatment plant.

The electrification and digitalization of our society has propelled the demand for energy storage solutions. High-end technologies have been developed to satisfy the requirements of demanding applications, such as electromobility and portable consumer electronics, which also increasingly find markets for less demanding applications. These markets include grid and domestic energy storage, as well as Internet of Things (IoT). However, using high-end technologies for low-end applications is a waste of resources that puts unnecessary stress on the supply lines. Thus, more low-cost cost and environmentally friendly alternative technologies are sought, among which renewable biobased materials derived from agriculture and forestry play a prominent role. The dominant chemical constituents in plants, cellulose and lignin, exhibit some intriguing electrochemical and colloidal properties. Cellulose has been found to efficiently stabilize various electronic materials, whereas lignin can be used as an electronic material itself. Lignocellulosic materials also open for papermaking as an alternative manufacturing approach. Taking the step to using papermaking methods is, however, a bit far from the technology readiness level, as the vast majority of the research on paper electrodes is based on nanocellulose. The material properties of such nanopapers are indeed extraordinary, but the lack of large-scale production methods for nanopapers is a serious challenge. To circumvent this obstacle and find a shortcut to the realization of paper electrodes, this thesis has turned to conventional papermaking techniques. Fibres are essentially different to nanofibrils by their difference in size, and the papermaking process requires careful composition of the formulations. Thus, as the research on nanopaper electrodes cannot be directly translated into conventional papermaking techniques, this calls for separate studies on fibre-based systems. This thesis is based on four separate works carrie

The electrification and digitalization of our society has propelled the demand for energy storage solutions. High-end technologies have been developed to satisfy the requirements of demanding applications, such as electromobility and portable consumer electronics, which also increasingly find markets for less demanding applications. These markets include grid and domestic energy storage, as well as Internet of Things (IoT). However, using high-end technologies for low-end applications is a waste of resources that puts unnecessary stress on the supply lines. Thus, more low-cost cost and environmentally friendly alternative technologies are sought, among which renewable biobased materials derived from agriculture and forestry play a prominent role. The dominant chemical constituents in plants, cellulose and lignin, exhibit some intriguing electrochemical and colloidal properties. Cellulose has been found to efficiently stabilize various electronic materials, whereas lignin can be used as an electronic material itself. Lignocellulosic materials also open for papermaking as an alternative manufacturing approach. Taking the step to using papermaking methods is, however, a bit far from the technology readiness level, as the vast majority of the research on paper electrodes is based on nanocellulose. The material properties of such nanopapers are indeed extraordinary, but the lack of large-scale production methods for nanopapers is a serious challenge. To circumvent this obstacle and find a shortcut to the realization of paper electrodes, this thesis has turned to conventional papermaking techniques. Fibres are essentially different to nanofibrils by their difference in size, and the papermaking process requires careful composition of the formulations. Thus, as the research on nanopaper electrodes cannot be directly translated into conventional papermaking techniques, this calls for separate studies on fibre-based systems. This thesis is based on four separate works carrie

We present a method to fabricate handcrafted thermoelectric devices on standard office paper substrates. The devices are based on thin films of WS2, Te, and BP (P-type semiconductors) and TiS3 and TiS2 (N-type semiconductors), deposited by simply rubbing powder of these materials against paper. The thermoelectric properties of these semiconducting films revealed maximum Seebeck coefficients of (+1.32 ± 0.27) mV K−1 and (−0.82 ± 0.15) mV K−1 for WS2 and TiS3, respectively. Additionally, Peltier elements were fabricated by interconnecting the P- and N-type films with graphite electrodes. A thermopower value up to 6.11 mV K−1 was obtained when the Peltier element were constructed with three junctions. The findings of this work show proof-of-concept devices to illustrate the potential application of semiconducting van der Waals materials in future thermoelectric power generation as well as temperature sensing for low-cost disposable electronic devices. © 2022 The Authors. Energy & Environmental Materials published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Zhengzhou University.

Developing environmentally friendly barrier coatings as an alternative to petroleum-based polymer packaging is a challenge. Cellulose nanofibres (CNF) films have exhibited great potential as water and gas barrier layers. Recycled paper was multi-layer coated with three commercial CNF (mechanical (M-CNF), TEMPO (T-CNF) and carboxymethylated (C-CNF)) using two metering systems (wound rod and blade micrometer) and two drying methods (tension-free contact drying and air drying). The coatability and rheological behaviour of the CNF suspensions were analysed. The gas, water and grease barrier properties of the CNF coated papers were determined and compared with the results of paper coated with cationic starch. The three CNF suspensions and the starch suspension were successfully coated using both metering systems. In the multi-layer coating, air drying yielded higher coat weights than contact drying, and the difference was more noticeable in M-CNF and T-CNF coated samples. A lack of uniformity observed in CNF coatings increased with the number of coating layers. M-CNF coated samples had a whitish surface with a uniform appearance, but coating was insufficiently compact to provide barrier properties. T-CNF coating exhibited a cracked surface and consequently provided no barrier properties. Drying stresses caused breakage of T-CNF coating, which could be explained by the drop in apparent viscosity at much lower rheological shear stresses in the T-CNF suspension. C-CNF showed successful coatability and provided barrier properties to paper with both metering systems and drying methods. Air permeance decreased considerably and the water wettability of the paper decreased by 60% compared to the reference paper, even with a single coating layer (about 1 g·m−2). In addition, a greaseproof paper (grease resistance >1800 s and kit no >10) was obtained with multi-layer C-CNF coating. Although water vapour permeability at 90 % RH and 20 °C decreased slightly with a single layer of CN

Diagnosing immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) can pose a significant challenge and there is an urgent need for safe and reliable tests. Evidence has emerged that the basophil activation test (BAT), an in vitro assay that mirrors the in vivo response, can be a complementary test for many drugs. In this position paper, members of Task Force (TF) “Basophil activation test in the evaluation of Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions” from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) present the data from a survey about the use and utility of BAT in IDHRs in Europe. The survey results indicate that there is a great interest for using BAT especially for diagnosing IDHRs. However, there are still main needs, mainly in the standardization of the protocols. Subsequently consensus-based recommendations were formulated for: (i) Technical aspects of BAT in IDHRs including type of sample, management of drugs, flow cytometry protocols, interpretation of the results; and (ii) Drug-specific aspects that should be taken into account when performing BAT in relation to betalactams, neuromuscular blocking agents, fluoroquinolones, chlorhexidine, opioids, radio contrast media, chemotherapeutics, biological agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, COVID vaccine, and excipients. Moreover, aspects in the evaluation of pediatric population have also been considered. All this indicates that BAT offers the clinician and laboratory a complementary tool for a safe diagnostic for IDHRs, although its place in the diagnostic algorithm depends on the drug class and patient population (phenotype, geography, and age). The standardization of BAT is important for generalizing this method beyond the individual laboratory., Diagnosing immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) can pose a significant challenge and there is an urgent need for safe and reliable tests. Evidence has emerged that the basophil activation test (BAT), an in vitro assay that mirrors the in vivo response, can be a complementary test for many drugs. In this position paper, members of Task Force (TF) “Basophil activation test in the evaluation of Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions” from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) present the data from a survey about the use and utility of BAT in IDHRs in Europe. The survey results indicate that there is a great interest for using BAT especially for diagnosing IDHRs. However, there are still main needs, mainly in the standardization of the protocols. Subsequently consensus-based recommendations were formulated for: (i) Technical aspects of BAT in IDHRs including type of sample, management of drugs, flow cytometry protocols, interpretation of the results; and (ii) Drug-specific aspects that should be taken into account when performing BAT in relation to betalactams, neuromuscular blocking agents, fluoroquinolones, chlorhexidine, opioids, radio contrast media, chemotherapeutics, biological agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, COVID vaccine, and excipients. Moreover, aspects in the evaluation of pediatric population have also been considered. All this indicates that BAT offers the clinician and laboratory a complementary tool for a safe diagnostic for IDHRs, although its place in the diagnostic algorithm depends on the drug class and patient population (phenotype, geography, and age). The standardization of BAT is important for generalizing this method beyond the individual laboratory.

In drug hypersensitivity, drug provocation testing (DPT), also called drug challenge, is the gold standard for investigation. In recent years, risk stratification has become an important tool for adjusting the diagnostic strategy to the perceived risk, whilst still maintaining a high level of safety for the patient. Skin tests are recommended before DPT but may be omitted in low-risk patients. The task force suggests a strict definition of such low-risk patients in children and adults. Based on experience and evidence from studies of allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics, an algorithm on how to adjust DPT to the risk, and when to omit skin tests before DPT, is presented. For other antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs, skin tests are poorly validated and DPT is frequently necessary. We recommend performing DPT with chemotherapeutics and biologicals to avoid unnecessary desensitization procedures and DPT with skin tests negative contrast media. We suggest DPT with anesthetics only in highly specialized centers. Specifics of DPT to proton pump inhibitors, anticonvulsants and corticosteroids are discussed. This position paper provides general recommendations and guidance on optimizing use of DPT, whilst balancing benefits with patient safety and optimizing the use of the limited available resources., In drug hypersensitivity, drug provocation testing (DPT), also called drug challenge, is the gold standard for investigation. In recent years, risk stratification has become an important tool for adjusting the diagnostic strategy to the perceived risk, whilst still maintaining a high level of safety for the patient. Skin tests are recommended before DPT but may be omitted in low-risk patients. The task force suggests a strict definition of such low-risk patients in children and adults. Based on experience and evidence from studies of allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics, an algorithm on how to adjust DPT to the risk, and when to omit skin tests before DPT, is presented. For other antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs, skin tests are poorly validated and DPT is frequently necessary. We recommend performing DPT with chemotherapeutics and biologicals to avoid unnecessary desensitization procedures and DPT with skin tests negative contrast media. We suggest DPT with anesthetics only in highly specialized centers. Specifics of DPT to proton pump inhibitors, anticonvulsants and corticosteroids are discussed. This position paper provides general recommendations and guidance on optimizing use of DPT, whilst balancing benefits with patient safety and optimizing the use of the limited available resources.

Introduction. Social and administrative pharmacy is a niche area of health services research, using both numerical measurements and qualitative approaches. However, pharmacy practice researchers often deal with epistemological issues of a quantitatively oriented education. To help establish rigor in their qualitative work, a group of pharmaceutical scholars published, in 2020, the open-access paper "Establishing trustworthiness and authenticity in qualitative pharmacy research." This paper focused on methods/strategies to assure trustworthiness and authenticity with a discussion on applications to pharmacy research and examples of when and how to use them. Goals and Methods. To assess the bibliometric performance of a pharmacy-based qualitative paper using analytical indicators proposed by the Elsevier database, Scopus. Data comprised citation frequencies and type of documents, including country/region and subject area, amongst others, such as the Scopus Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI), registered until mid-September 2023. Results. The paper's total number of citations is 73 (59 excluding self-citations), placing it presently in the 99th citation percentile. Many citations were from sources originating in Australia, the USA, and the UK but still were representative of 33 countries. The healthcare arena leads (~80%), followed by social sciences, environmental, agricultural, business and management, arts and humanities, and computer science papers. The FWCI scored 31.19, meaning the paper is 31 times more cited than expected compared to similar documents. Conclusions. The paper's bibliometric performance has been momentous considering the publishing journal scope, potential target audience, and competition from dedicated journals and other sources. The noticeable leap in citation benchmarking, as well as the wide array of sources and scientific fields, from technology to tourism, indicate that the topics covered are transdisciplinary and relevant for

The sharing and documentation of cardiovascular research data are essential for efficient use and reuse of data, thereby aiding scientific transparency, accelerating the progress of cardiovascular research and healthcare, and contributing to the reproducibility of research results. However, challenges remain. This position paper, written on behalf of and approved by the German Cardiac Society and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, summarizes our current understanding of the challenges in cardiovascular research data management (RDM). These challenges include lack of time, awareness, incentives, and funding for implementing effective RDM; lack of standardization in RDM processes; a need to better identify meaningful and actionable data among the increasing volume and complexity of data being acquired; and a lack of understanding of the legal aspects of data sharing. While several tools exist to increase the degree to which data are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR), more work is needed to lower the threshold for effective RDM not just in cardiovascular research but in all biomedical research, with data sharing and reuse being factored in at every stage of the scientific process. A culture of open science with FAIR research data should be fostered through education and training of early-career and established research professionals. Ultimately, FAIR RDM requires permanent, long-term effort at all levels. If outcomes can be shown to be superior and to promote better (and better value) science, modern RDM will make a positive difference to cardiovascular science and practice. The full position paper is available in the supplementary materials.

The materials to produce concrete blocks (sand, gravel, and cement) are limited resources that are becoming scarce over time due to their increasing demand in construction. On the other hand, the waste of glass and paper is progressively increasing without being fully utilized through recycling. Therefore, the objective of this scientific research is to evaluate the influence on the mechanical properties of masonry concrete blocks made with recycled glass and paper particles. Likewise, the sample was non-probabilistically selected for convenience, consisting of 192 concrete blocks manufactured with additions of 3% (2% glass particles and 1% recycled paper), 6% (4% glass particles and 2% recycled paper), and 9% (6% glass particles and 3% recycled paper), as well as concrete blocks manufactured without additions. According to the results obtained, at 3%, 6%, and 9% addition of glass and paper particles, the absorption decreased by 4.94%, 3.398%, and 3.52% respectively. However, the warping increased between 1.7mm and 1.8mm, while the compressive strength (f'c) increased to 75kg/cm2, 82kg/cm2, and 77kg/cm2, respectively. Similarly, the axial compressive strength (f'm) increased to 91.22kg/cm2, 94.45kg/cm2, and 92.80kg/cm2, and the diagonal compressive strength (V'm) increased by 8.90kg/cm2, 9.70kg/cm2, and 9.70kg/cm2. Nevertheless, the manufacturing cost of masonry units showed a progressive reduction with the amount of glass + paper addition, amounting to 0.57 USD, 0.55 USD, and 0.53 USD. It was also determined that the optimal addition of these materials in the concrete mix in terms of cost and strength is 9% (glass + paper), resulting in compressive strengths of 77kg/cm2, 92.8kg/cm2, and 9.70kg/cm2, with a cost of 0.53 USD per unit. In conclusion, it can be affirmed that adding glass and recycled paper particles in the production of concrete blocks for use in load-bearing masonry walls positively influences the physical and mechanical properties of the blocks. Addit

The ability to publish research papers is a must for scientists nowadays. Ideally, at the very beginning of their career, young researchers, PhD students, should be instructed in writing research papers and should get feedback on their texts. In this study, the first manuscripts from 22 doctoral students, non-native English speakers, 223 pages were analysed for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style. For each type of error and each student, the average per page was calculated. The most frequent errors were identified in using articles, formal features, missing information, and the use of inappropriate words. Individual students showed significantly different levels, which reflected their previous language training and the approach (responsibility) to completing the task. The results will be used to modify the course in Academic Writing (more attention paid to the most frequent errors) and individual work with students.

In drug hypersensitivity, drug provocation testing (DPT), also called drug challenge, is the gold standard for investigation. In recent years, risk stratification has become an important tool for adjusting the diagnostic strategy to the perceived risk, whilst still maintaining a high level of safety for the patient. Skin tests are recommended before DPT but may be omitted in low-risk patients. The task force suggests a strict definition of such low-risk patients in children and adults. Based on experience and evidence from studies of allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics, an algorithm on how to adjust DPT to the risk, and when to omit skin tests before DPT, is presented. For other antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs, skin tests are poorly validated and DPT is frequently necessary. We recommend performing DPT with chemotherapeutics and biologicals to avoid unnecessary desensitization procedures and DPT with skin tests negative contrast media. We suggest DPT with anesthetics only in highly specialized centers. Specifics of DPT to proton pump inhibitors, anticonvulsants and corticosteroids are discussed. This position paper provides general recommendations and guidance on optimizing use of DPT, whilst balancing benefits with patient safety and optimizing the use of the limited available resources., In drug hypersensitivity, drug provocation testing (DPT), also called drug challenge, is the gold standard for investigation. In recent years, risk stratification has become an important tool for adjusting the diagnostic strategy to the perceived risk, whilst still maintaining a high level of safety for the patient. Skin tests are recommended before DPT but may be omitted in low-risk patients. The task force suggests a strict definition of such low-risk patients in children and adults. Based on experience and evidence from studies of allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics, an algorithm on how to adjust DPT to the risk, and when to omit skin tests before DPT, is presented. For other antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs, skin tests are poorly validated and DPT is frequently necessary. We recommend performing DPT with chemotherapeutics and biologicals to avoid unnecessary desensitization procedures and DPT with skin tests negative contrast media. We suggest DPT with anesthetics only in highly specialized centers. Specifics of DPT to proton pump inhibitors, anticonvulsants and corticosteroids are discussed. This position paper provides general recommendations and guidance on optimizing use of DPT, whilst balancing benefits with patient safety and optimizing the use of the limited available resources.

Diagnosing immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) can pose a significant challenge and there is an urgent need for safe and reliable tests. Evidence has emerged that the basophil activation test (BAT), an in vitro assay that mirrors the in vivo response, can be a complementary test for many drugs. In this position paper, members of Task Force (TF) “Basophil activation test in the evaluation of Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions” from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) present the data from a survey about the use and utility of BAT in IDHRs in Europe. The survey results indicate that there is a great interest for using BAT especially for diagnosing IDHRs. However, there are still main needs, mainly in the standardization of the protocols. Subsequently consensus-based recommendations were formulated for: (i) Technical aspects of BAT in IDHRs including type of sample, management of drugs, flow cytometry protocols, interpretation of the results; and (ii) Drug-specific aspects that should be taken into account when performing BAT in relation to betalactams, neuromuscular blocking agents, fluoroquinolones, chlorhexidine, opioids, radio contrast media, chemotherapeutics, biological agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, COVID vaccine, and excipients. Moreover, aspects in the evaluation of pediatric population have also been considered. All this indicates that BAT offers the clinician and laboratory a complementary tool for a safe diagnostic for IDHRs, although its place in the diagnostic algorithm depends on the drug class and patient population (phenotype, geography, and age). The standardization of BAT is important for generalizing this method beyond the individual laboratory., Diagnosing immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) can pose a significant challenge and there is an urgent need for safe and reliable tests. Evidence has emerged that the basophil activation test (BAT), an in vitro assay that mirrors the in vivo response, can be a complementary test for many drugs. In this position paper, members of Task Force (TF) “Basophil activation test in the evaluation of Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions” from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) present the data from a survey about the use and utility of BAT in IDHRs in Europe. The survey results indicate that there is a great interest for using BAT especially for diagnosing IDHRs. However, there are still main needs, mainly in the standardization of the protocols. Subsequently consensus-based recommendations were formulated for: (i) Technical aspects of BAT in IDHRs including type of sample, management of drugs, flow cytometry protocols, interpretation of the results; and (ii) Drug-specific aspects that should be taken into account when performing BAT in relation to betalactams, neuromuscular blocking agents, fluoroquinolones, chlorhexidine, opioids, radio contrast media, chemotherapeutics, biological agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, COVID vaccine, and excipients. Moreover, aspects in the evaluation of pediatric population have also been considered. All this indicates that BAT offers the clinician and laboratory a complementary tool for a safe diagnostic for IDHRs, although its place in the diagnostic algorithm depends on the drug class and patient population (phenotype, geography, and age). The standardization of BAT is important for generalizing this method beyond the individual laboratory.

Introduction: Paper folding and punched hole tests are used to measure spatial abilities in humans. These abilities are relevant since they are associated with success in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). This study addresses the challenge of teaching spatial reasoning skills using an educational videogame, the Paper Folding Reasoning Game. Methods: The Paper Folding Reasoning Game is an interactive game which presents activities intended to help users train and understand how to fold a paper to get a specific shape (Part I) and the consequence of punching a hole on a folded paper (Part II). This educational videogame can automatically generate paper-folding-and-punched-hole questions with varying degrees of difficulty depending on the number of folds and holes made, thus producing additional levels for training due to its embedded reasoning mechanisms (Part III). Results: This manuscript presents the results of analyzing the gameplay data gathered by the Paper Folding Reasoning Game in its three parts. For Parts I and II, the data provided by 225 anonymous unique players are analyzed. For Part III (Mastermode), the data obtained from 894 gameplays by 311 anonymous unique players are analyzed. In our analysis, we found out a significant difference in performance regarding the players who trained (i.e., played Parts I and II) before playing the Mastermode (Part III) vs. the group of players who did not train. We also found a significant difference in players' performance who used the visual help (i.e., re-watch the animated sequence of paper folds) vs. the group of players who did not use it, confirming the effectiveness of the Paper Folding Reasoning Game to train paper-folding-and-punched-hole reasoning skills. Statistically significant gender differences in performance were also found.

The sharing and documentation of cardiovascular research data are essential for efficient use and reuse of data, thereby aiding scientific transparency, accelerating the progress of cardiovascular research and healthcare, and contributing to the reproducibility of research results. However, challenges remain. This position paper, written on behalf of and approved by the German Cardiac Society and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, summarizes our current understanding of the challenges in cardiovascular research data management (RDM). These challenges include lack of time, awareness, incentives, and funding for implementing effective RDM; lack of standardization in RDM processes; a need to better identify meaningful and actionable data among the increasing volume and complexity of data being acquired; and a lack of understanding of the legal aspects of data sharing. While several tools exist to increase the degree to which data are findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR), more work is needed to lower the threshold for effective RDM not just in cardiovascular research but in all biomedical research, with data sharing and reuse being factored in at every stage of the scientific process. A culture of open science with FAIR research data should be fostered through education and training of early-career and established research professionals. Ultimately, FAIR RDM requires permanent, long-term effort at all levels. If outcomes can be shown to be superior and to promote better (and better value) science, modern RDM will make a positive difference to cardiovascular science and practice. The full position paper is available in the supplementary materials.

Evaluating errors represents an important shortcoming of the teaching-learning evaluation process in every educational system. The purpose of this research was to investigate the causes, consequences, and approaches of solutions to eradicate the evaluating errors in Benin secondary schools. To that purpose, ten (10) teachers and 100 learners were chosen based on their willingness exclusively from GUEMA secondary school in the municipality of Parakou. The data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, group discussions, and past exam papers analysis. The findings revealed that exam paper errors are often due to the evaluating system that consists of machines. The mistakes concern miswritten words, special notes such as “NB,” “Note,” etc., ambiguity about items and questions, and unreadability of the paper. Consequently, evaluating errors impacts the learners’ present and future language careers. They make learners feel demotivated and stressed, damaging their eagerness to learn the language. To solve this issue, it was shown that English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers need in-service training and significant reforms in evaluating the system should be done.

With the rapid growth of scholarly archives, researchers subscribe to "paper alert" systems that periodically provide them with recommendations of recently published papers that are similar to previously collected papers. However, researchers sometimes struggle to make sense of nuanced connections between recommended papers and their own research context, as existing systems only present paper titles and abstracts. To help researchers spot these connections, we present PaperWeaver, an enriched paper alerts system that provides contextualized text descriptions of recommended papers based on user-collected papers. PaperWeaver employs a computational method based on Large Language Models (LLMs) to infer users' research interests from their collected papers, extract context-specific aspects of papers, and compare recommended and collected papers on these aspects. Our user study (N=15) showed that participants using PaperWeaver were able to better understand the relevance of recommended papers and triage them more confidently when compared to a baseline that presented the related work sections from recommended papers., Comment: Accepted to CHI 2024

Paper-based analytical devices (PADs) enable the affordable, easy, rapid, and reliable detection of a range of analytes at the point-of-care. Cellulose is a versatile substrate for antibody attachment. However, how immunoreagents are immobilized onto cellulose plays an important role in assay performance. To provide an overview of the different antibody immobilization strategies used for developing PADs, we here critically review the existing literature from the last decade (2013-2023). First, we introduce cellulose as a substrate and summarize the different fabrication techniques for developing PADs. Thereafter, we delve into how antibodies are immobilized onto cellulose passively, covalently, or by affinity linkage. Affinity-based immobilization is further explored in a case study focused on using recombinant bifunctional proteins with cellulose-binding modules to anchor immunoreagents to cellulose. The final section discusses the validation and sustainable development of PADs addressing the existing and future challenges associated with developing such devices.

The ten peer-reviewed papers in this special issue cover a wide range of topics, demonstrating a broad spectrum of road safety issues from motorized to non-motorized road users, as well as vehicle, road, and methodological issues. The aim of this editorial is to chart out progress in road safety research presented at the RS5C Conference in Grapevine, Texas, USA October 10 – 12 2022. The papers selected for this editorial show great diversity and broad scope, contributing to an international dialogue that connects countries within different levels of road safety.