Search

Geopolymer (GP) has recently emerged as a new and environmentally friendly alternative to standard soil stabilization agents such as lime and Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) to reduce environmental concerns. The addition of fibers to treated soil limits crack propagation, enhancing its strength even further. This study used high calcium class C fly ash (CFA) reacted with 10 M NaOH as a geopolymer (GP) binder to treat weak sand soil. Polypropylene (PP) fibers with a length of 4.5 mm were used as reinforcement in amounts ranging from 0.3 to 1.5%. Microstructure and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) testing were performed on the generated specimens. The study proved the benefits of fiber inclusion in improving the mechanical behavior of the treated weak soil. Superior strength characteristics were observed in GP- treated soil mixes with a binder content of 20% and an Activator/Binder (A/B) ratio of 0.4 reinforced with 1.5% PP fibers by weight, indicating that they can be used as a sustainable alternative to traditional binders in deep soil mixing applications.

This study was conducted at the Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, focusing on Swedish high-speed broadband development. In 2015, the Swedish government introduced a new broadband strategy aimed at adapting the infrastructure to the digital era and achieving its vision of a fully connected Sweden. However, disparities exist between urban and rural areas regarding broadband coverage, speeds, and conditions for high-speed broadband infrastructure development. The Swedish national broadband plan terminates in 2025 and is about to be updated, presenting the opportunity to improve the strategy. Using grounded theory as a methodology, regional broadband coordinators were interviewed, aiming to identify weaknesses and strengths of the current national broadband strategy in Sweden from their point of view, to propose potential improvements to be incorporated into the subsequent plan.

Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) exhibits impressive tensile strength but has significant environmental drawbacks due to high cement consumption. Recently, engineered geopolymer composites (EGC) have gained attention as a potential ECC alternative. This comprehensive study reviews the latest EGC advancements, encompassing mix design, design theory, engineering properties, environmental benefits, and durability. It emphasizes how factors like activators, precursors, fibers, additives, and aggregates impact EGC properties, making it a cost-effective material for fire, chemical resistance, and dynamic loads. To address limitations in traditional literature reviews, innovative research methods, including scientometric analysis, were employed to provide a cohesive analysis. This review aims to facilitate knowledge dissemination and collaboration by summarizing EGC advances and highlighting remaining challenges in developing practical applications. It is revealed from the review that various manufacturing methods enhance geopolymers, especially in geopolymer concrete, where replacing 50% of ordinary Portland cement with fly ash boosts strength. Geopolymer concrete excels in pre-cast applications, offering durability and resistance to harsh conditions as an eco-friendly alternative to Portland cement. It suits highway pavement, walls, marine coatings, and tiles, reducing carbon emissions and promoting efficient waste management. EGCs find broad use in construction due to their strong, durable, and eco-friendly qualities, supporting sustainable infrastructure development., Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-11-07 (hanlid);Funder: Technology research and development projects of China Construction Sixth Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd. (CSCEC6B-2022-Z-16);License full text: CC BY

The wood has unique structure and excellent mechanical properties. Wood is important natural source for human civilization. Wood is anisotropy structure. Wood was the important material and natural resource in human civilization. Wood is widely used in many sectors such as building, fuel, tools and other. In the ancient, wood played an important role in human cultural, economic, act and building. As a natural and sustainable material, wood has excellent mechanical properties cause by unique structures relative to its cost. Wood due to its natural growth can define as renewable and sustainable material. Due to the hierarchical and anisotropy structure, wood have properties of high strength, good durability, high moisture content and high strength. Wood is porous and fibrous structural tissue of wood. Roots and stems of wood made by natural cellulose fibres growing upward all the way to the top of canopy. This paper will present a preliminary review about the future of transparent wood.

© Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., The effect of the Gaussian beam width on the focusing properties of the chainlike Gaussian beam formed upon diffraction of laser radiation on a binary amplitude mask is studied. It is found that a decrease in the Gaussian beam width increases the sizes of focal spots and the focus depth, decreases the intensity in the focuses, and does not affect the focus position., Depto. de Óptica, Fac. de Ciencias Físicas, TRUE, pub

The polynomial cluster value problem replaces the role of the continuous linear functionals in the original cluster value problem for the continuous polynomials to describe the corresponding cluster sets and fibers. We prove several polynomial cluster value theorems for uniform algebras H(B) between A(u)(B) and H-infinity (B), where B is the open unit ball of a complex Banach space X. We also obtain new results about the original cluster value problem, especially for A(infinity) (B). Examples of spaces X considered here are spaces of continuous functions, l(1) and locally uniformly convex spaces. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved., Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), Depto. de Análisis Matemático y Matemática Aplicada, Fac. de Ciencias Matemáticas, FALSE, pub

© 2012 SPIE. Conference on Ground-Based and Airborne Telescopes IV (2012. Amsterdam, Netherlands), MEGARA (Multi-Espectrografo en GTC de Alta Resolucion para Astronomia) is the future optical Integral-Field Unit (IFU) and Multi-Object Spectrograph (MOS) for GTC. The Fiber Units are placed at one Folded Cassegrain focus and feed the spectrograph located on a Nasmyth-type platform. This paper summarizes the status of the design of the MEGARA Folded Cassegrain Subsystems after the PDR (held on March 2012), as well as the prototyping that has been carried out during this phase. The MEGARA Fiber Unit has two IFUs: a Large Compact Bundle covering 12.5 arcsec x 11.3 arcsec on sky (100 microns fiber-core), and a Small Compact Bundle, of 8.5 arcsec x 6.7 arcsec (70 microns fiber-core), plus a Fiber MOS positioner, able to place up to 100 mini-bundles 7 fibers each (100 microns fiber-core) in MOS configuration within a 3.5arcmin x 3.5arcmin FOV. A field lens provides a telecentric focal plane where the fibers are located. Microlens arrays couple the telescope beam to the collimator focal ratio at the entrance of the fibers (providing the f/17 to f/3 focal ratio reduction to enter into the fibers). Finally, the fibers, organized in bundles, end in the pseudo-slit plate, which will be placed at the entrance focal plane of the MEGARA spectrographs., Depto. de Física de la Tierra y Astrofísica, Fac. de Ciencias Físicas, TRUE, pub

As the world continues to industrialize, there has been a decreased incidence of infectious diseases and an increased incidence in non-communicable chronic diseases, such as obesity and cancer. One potential causal factor is the human microbiome, which refers to the collection of commensal bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea, and other microorganisms that inhabit our bodies. The human microbiome has a collective genome which outnumbers human genes by 150-to-1, and it produces an expansive repertoire of metabolites which affect health. As such, the gut microbiome has major implications in digestion, educating the host immune system, preventing the colonization of pathogenic bacteria by occupying intestinal niches, and more.Several components of the industrialized lifestyle have been known to alter the gut microbiome, leading to negative health consequences. The result is a microbiome that promotes inflammation and is associated with non-communicable chronic diseases. As these diseases become more prevalent in industrialized countries, there is an urgency to understand the role of the microbiota in human health. To investigate this issue, my research seeks to answer the following three questions: (1) What is the role of the industrialized gut microbiome in the development of colorectal cancer? (2) How does diet affect the gut microbiome and inflammation in people with myeloproliferative neoplasms? (3) How is dietary fiber utilized by the gut microbiota of US and Moroccan individuals in vitro?To answer the first question, samples were collected at the UCI Medical Center from 140 subjects during and after colonoscopy to characterize the microbiome associated with colorectal polyps. I used a combination of amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing approaches to understand the effect of sampling method on microbial composition, and to describe the microbiome associated with healthy tissue and two types of colorectal polyps. I discovered that sampling method significantly

BioMedical Engineering

In recent decades, technological advances and increased urbanization have instigated remarkable growth in the construction industry, and consequently an increase in environmental impacts both in obtaining raw materials and in the disposal of construction waste. Some studies are being carried out in Brazil for the application of natural fibers as a reinforcing element to produce concrete. According to these facts, the focus of this work is to comparatively evaluate the mechanical strength of commercial concrete with concrete produced with piaçava fiber sludge. Attalea funifera Martius, commonly known as piaçavas, is a solitary, thornless, erect, caulescent palm from the Aracaceae family. It reaches an average height of 8 to 15 meters with a stem diameter of 20 to 25 cm, having 8 to 10 leaves, each 9 meters long. Ten specimens were produced to carry out compression tests. Water, common Portland cement (CP I), sand, gravel and piassava obtained in the municipality of Barcelos-AM were used in the preparation. After curing the specimens, compression tests were carried out until the specimens ruptured. We also observed that the most resistant specimens were those produced with the addition of crushed stone, since the resistance of the specimen with crushed stone was approximately 22 MPa against 19 MPa of piaçava concrete. The main conclusions verified is that with the use of piaçava in the concrete mixture there is a drop in mechanical resistance, despite being a material that presents resistance to cracks, it does not have the same capacity as concrete with gravel as a coarse aggregate.

In recent decades, technological advances and increased urbanization have instigated remarkable growth in the construction industry, and consequently an increase in environmental impacts both in obtaining raw materials and in the disposal of construction waste. Some studies are being carried out in Brazil for the application of natural fibers as a reinforcing element to produce concrete. According to these facts, the focus of this work is to comparatively evaluate the mechanical strength of commercial concrete with concrete produced with piaçava fiber sludge. Attalea funifera Martius, commonly known as piaçavas, is a solitary, thornless, erect, caulescent palm from the Aracaceae family. It reaches an average height of 8 to 15 meters with a stem diameter of 20 to 25 cm, having 8 to 10 leaves, each 9 meters long. Ten specimens were produced to carry out compression tests. Water, common Portland cement (CP I), sand, gravel and piassava obtained in the municipality of Barcelos-AM were used in the preparation. After curing the specimens, compression tests were carried out until the specimens ruptured. We also observed that the most resistant specimens were those produced with the addition of crushed stone, since the resistance of the specimen with crushed stone was approximately 22 MPa against 19 MPa of piaçava concrete. The main conclusions verified is that with the use of piaçava in the concrete mixture there is a drop in mechanical resistance, despite being a material that presents resistance to cracks, it does not have the same capacity as concrete with gravel as a coarse aggregate.

Predicting changes in the human gut microbiome is a primary goal of human nutrition researcher because those changes might be controlled to produce health-promoting metabolites and prevent or reverse dysbiosis. Carbohydrate metabolic networks are a central aspect of gut microbial ecosystems, and so deconvoluting those networks may uncover a causal link between dietary carbohydrates and microbiome function. However, the individual carbohydrate structures that compose those networks are difficult to isolate and purify, limiting mechanistic research to the most easily purifiable carbohydrates. For example, impure, branched arabinan from sugar beet is sold for research, and of pure arabinooligosaccharides, only linear ones are commercially available. In this work, the previously described “Fenton’s initiation toward defined oligosaccharide groups” (FITDOG) reaction was used to transform sugar beet pulp pellets into branched and linear oligosaccharide constituents of sugar beet polysaccharides. Because FITDOG is a non-enzymatic, relatively non-biased reaction, it may simulate the natural production of oligosaccharides from dietary polysaccharides by gut bacteria. Branched and linear sugar beet oligosaccharides derived from FITDOG were used to investigate the mechanism of sugar beet oligosaccharide consumption by human gut bacteria. It was demonstrated that in vitro fecal communities enriched by sugar beet oligosaccharides could not be distinguished from those enriched by sugar beet pulp, which implies that FITDOG products are functionally similar to FITDOG reactants. It was also shown that not all adult human Bifidobacterium species can grow on these sugar beet oligosaccharides. These findings demonstrate the potential of FITDOG as a prebiotic oligosaccharide synthesis method. However, only when it is paired with high throughput glycoanalytical tools can it be used to dissect the glycolytic capabilities of human gut bacteria. Mechanistic investigations of oligosaccharide

Navajo-Churro sheep are sacred to the Navajo people and have a double-coated fleece that weavers shear, card, and spin into yarns to create exquisite, woven Navajo textiles. The only previous Navajo-Churro wool research from 1942 focused on fiber types within a fleece and their effect on textile qualities. Physical characteristics of guard and undercoat fibers were documented, but there is no complete fiber data set for Navajo-Churro wool. A Navajo-Churro fiber survey was created by measuring physical characteristics, including dimensions, colorimetric parameters, tensile properties, morphological features, and surface scale structure of guard hairs and undercoats fibers. In addition, UC Davis Dorset and Hampshire/Suffolk crossbred sheep fibers were measured to compare Navajo-Churro fiber quality to common northern California breeds. Navajo-Churro fleeces display long staples protruding from a bundle of short fibers. Meat breed UC Davis fleeces are a bundle of short fibers crimped together. Guard hairs are thicker and longer (majority 50 – 60 µm, 185 – 274 mm) than undercoat (28.3 – 32.8 µm, 99.2 – 185 mm) and UC Davis fibers (25.9 – 40.1 µm, 41.3 – 123 mm). CIE L*ab color parameters range within all individual fleeces. Variations in modulus, strength, and strain measurements among undercoat (1515 – 1955 MPa, 147 – 188 MPa, 63.8 – 73.5%) and UC Davis fibers (1202 – 2224 MPa, 136 – 202 MPa, 55.8 – 74.7%) are statistically analyzed. Guard hairs have no crimp and polygonal/elongated scale patterns. Undercoat and UC Davis fibers exhibit crimp and patterns of wrap-around and angled scales. This study’s data may be useful to breeders as a standard for Navajo-Churro wool quality parameters. Undercoat and UC Davis fibers are both medium type in fineness, so sheared UC Davis meat breed wool has potential for textile applications, as undercoat fibers are ideal for Navajo weavers’ use.

Background: Low carbohydrate high fat (LCHF) diet has been a popular low carbohydrate diet in Sweden for 15 years. Many people choose LCHF to lose weight or control diabetes, but there are concerns about the effect on long-term cardiovascular risks. There is little data on how a LCHF diet is composed in real-life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary intake in a population with self-reported adherence to a LCHF diet. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 volunteers that considered themselves eating LCHF was conducted. Diet history interviews (DHIs) and physical activity monitoring for validation of the DHIs were performed. Results: The validation shows acceptable agreement of measured energy expenditure and reported energy intake. Median carbohydrate intake was 8.7 E% and 63% reported carbohydrate intake at potentially ketogenic levels. Median protein intake was 16.9 E%. The main source of energy was dietary fats (72.0 E%). Intake of saturated fat was 32 E% and cholesterol was 700 mg per day, both of which exceeded the recommended upper limits according to nutritional guidelines. Intake of dietary fiber was very low in our population. The use of dietary supplements was high, and it was more common to exceed the recommended upper limits of micronutrients than to have an intake below the lower limits. Conclusions: Our study indicates that in a well-motivated population, a diet with very low carbohydrate intake can be sustained over time and without apparent risk of deficiencies. High intake of saturated fats and cholesterol as well as low intake of dietary fiber remains a concern.

Background: Low carbohydrate high fat (LCHF) diet has been a popular low carbohydrate diet in Sweden for 15 years. Many people choose LCHF to lose weight or control diabetes, but there are concerns about the effect on long-term cardiovascular risks. There is little data on how a LCHF diet is composed in real-life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary intake in a population with self-reported adherence to a LCHF diet. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 volunteers that considered themselves eating LCHF was conducted. Diet history interviews (DHIs) and physical activity monitoring for validation of the DHIs were performed. Results: The validation shows acceptable agreement of measured energy expenditure and reported energy intake. Median carbohydrate intake was 8.7 E% and 63% reported carbohydrate intake at potentially ketogenic levels. Median protein intake was 16.9 E%. The main source of energy was dietary fats (72.0 E%). Intake of saturated fat was 32 E% and cholesterol was 700 mg per day, both of which exceeded the recommended upper limits according to nutritional guidelines. Intake of dietary fiber was very low in our population. The use of dietary supplements was high, and it was more common to exceed the recommended upper limits of micronutrients than to have an intake below the lower limits. Conclusions: Our study indicates that in a well-motivated population, a diet with very low carbohydrate intake can be sustained over time and without apparent risk of deficiencies. High intake of saturated fats and cholesterol as well as low intake of dietary fiber remains a concern.

Fabric-based supercapacitor electrodes were fabricated by embedding spread tow carbon fiber fabrics, in monolithic, bicontinuous carbon aerogels (CAG). The incorporation of CAG, at less than 30 wt%, increased the specific surface area of the CAG-CF fabric to above 230 m2 g−1 and the pore volume to about 0.35 cm3 g−1, orders of magnitude higher than that for the as-received carbon fibres. The presence of the CAG not only improves the electrochemical performance of the composite electrodes but may enhance the mechanical response due to the high stiffness of the aerogel structure. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance measurements were performed on symmetric supercapacitor cells consisting of two CAG-reinforced fabrics in an ionic liquid electrolyte. The specific capacitance of the symmetric supercapacitor was determined to be in the range 3–5 F g−1, considerably higher than that for the plain carbon fibers. Since optimum structural electrolytes are not yet available, this value was normalized to the total mass of both electrodes to place an upper bound on future structural supercapacitors using this spread tow CAG-CF system. The maximum specific energy and specific power, normalized to the total mass of the electrodes, were around 2.64 W h kg−1 and 0.44 kW kg−1, respectively. These performance metrics demonstrate that the thin CAG-modified spread tow fabrics are promising electrodes for future use in structural supercapacitors. In principle, in future devices, the reduced ply thickness offers both improved mechanical properties and shorter ion diffusion distance, as well as opportunities to fabricate higher voltage multicell assemblies within a given component geometry.

Bygg- och fastighetssektorn står för ca 21% av utsläppen av växthusgaser.Växthusgasutsläppen är huvudorsaken till den globala uppvärmningen. Miljön och klimatfrågorblir allt vanligare, och detta medför att nya metoder inom byggbranschen som är mermiljövänliga utvecklas. En ny metod, där man tillsätter fiber i betongen, har utvecklats vilketger en högre hållfasthet, och kommer att göra det möjligt att skapa en tunnare konstruktion.Pålning blir allt mer vanligt och det vanligaste materialet för att tillverka pålar i Sverige ärbetong. I denna rapport kommer undersökningar vad gäller skillnaderna i hållfasthet, bådeböjmotstånd och förmåga att klara hård slagning utan att betongen spjälkar och pålen går sönderatt redovisas. Detta provas på två olika pålar när concrix macrofiber har tillsatts i betongen. Enpåle med standardbetong PP1 och en påle med ECO-Betong. Syftet med arbetet är att försökaminska klimatavtryck för grundläggningar med avseende på grundläggningar på byggnader. Islutet av arbetet ska svar på följande frågeställningar ges. • Hur kommer hållfastheten att skilja sig mellan en standardbetongpåle, fiberbetongpåleoch ECO-fiberbetongpåle? • Vad blir klimatbesparingen? Den vanligaste dimensionen hos betongpålar idag är 275x275mm. När fiber tillsätts i den nyapålen, är förhoppningen att kunna minska dimensionen till 235x235 utan att påverkabärförmågan. Dessutom kommer även antal transporter kommer att minska, då en leveranskommer att kunna frakta fler pålar och på så sätt kommer transportutsläpp att minskas.Vid provbelastning av balkarna, placerades en punktlast i mitten av varje balk. Deformationensom skede i samband med den gradvisa punktlast ökningen, kunde registreras idatorprogrammet Catmaneasy. Programmet visade att grafen för balkarna stabiliserade sig viddeformationen 30 mm, vilket blev gränsen för att avbryta punktlasten.Slutsatsen som kunde dras är att, genom att tillsätta fiber i standardbetong kan man ökabetongens draghållfasthet med ungefär 7% och ge, The construction and real estate sector stand for approximately 21% of the greenhouse gasemissions. Because of that more environmentally friendly methods are being developed. Amethod where fiber is added to the concrete has been developed, which leads to increasedstrength, and in turn will also make it possible to create smaller construction.Results from investigations of the differences in strength, when it comes to piling, will beinvestigated both in terms of bending resistance and the ability to withstand hard impact withoutthe concrete splitting and the pile breaking will be presented. Tests has been done with twodifferent piles when macrofiber Concrix is added, both to standard concrete (as a reference) andto eco-concrete.The purpose of this report is to reduce the climate footprint of foundations when it comes tobuilding foundations by examining a couple of predefined piles. At the end of the report thefollowing questions will be answered: • How will the strength differ between a standard concrete pile, fiber concrete pile andECO-concrete pile? • What will the climate savings be? The conclusion that could be drawn is that by adding fiber to standard concrete, the tensilestrength of the concrete can be increased by approximately 7% and by adding fiber in ECOconcrete, the tensile strength of the concrete increases by approximately 10%, which will makeit possible to use a smaller dimension and a reduced amount of manufactured concrete. Thiswill help to reduce climate impact and resource consumption. This will also contribute toreducing transport as the piles are manufactured in smaller dimensions.

The purpose of this study is to establish the psychometric five-dimension model proposed by Berrone, Cruz, & Gomez-Mejia (2012) with the objective of investigating the effect of SEW (Socioemotional Welath) in strategic choices made by family firms towards M&A decisions, specifically selling decisions. Studying SEW among different family firms and its implications on their M&A decisions will contribute to literature on SEW and M&A's involving family firms.

Syftet med examensarbetet är att utveckla designlösningar som resulterar i en eller flera prototyper som visar att tallmjöl är ett alternativ inom livsmedelsindustrin. Råvaran som används är skadad furu, som blånadsträ eller tallved, som blir över i sågverk. För att tallmjöl ska kunna konsumeras som föda måste den genomgå en jäsningsprocess som ändrar den kemiska strukturen hos cellulosa, som är den huvudsakliga aktiva ingrediensen i trä, till fibrer som kan smältas av människor. En bromatologisk analys utfördes, vilket är en grundläggande analys utförd på livsmedel för att fastställa dess näringsegenskaper, vilket gav ett resultat som tyder på att mänsklig konsumtion av tallmjöl är möjlig. Laboratoriet är certifierat enligt den internationella standarden ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Projektet har genomförts genom en materialdrivna designmetod och faser i en klassisk cirkulär designprocess, från forskning, idégenerering till en slutlig prototyp. Examensarbetet resulterade i Pine Flour, vilket är ett mångsidigt mjöl som kan användas som ett nytt mjöl i livsmedelsindustrin. För att demonstrera tallmjölets kapacitet skapades också Crunchy Blue flingor, en biprodukt, som är flingor gjord av blånadsträ, det vill säga tall som är angripits av blånadssvamp. Tallmjöl har många näringsmässiga fördelar eftersom dess huvudkomponent är fiber, och blånadträ innehåller protein vilket skapar ett livsmedel av hög näringskvalitet. Sverige skulle kunna bli en hälsosam mjölproducent där varje region kunde producera sitt eget mjöl med sina egna kvaliteter beroende på olika tallars egenskaper. Utan att angripa ekosystemet så skulle Sverige kunna bli ett självförsörjande gällande tallmjöl, något som gynnar lokal produktion i en hållbar sammanhang., The aim of the thesis is design solutions that result in one or more prototypes that show that pine flour is an alternative in the food industry. The raw material used is damaged pine such as bluewood or pinewood that is left over from sawmills. For pine to be consumed as food, it must undergo a fermentation process that changes the chemical structure of cellulose, which is the main active ingredient in wood, into fiber digestible by humans. A bromatological analysis was carried out, which is a basic analysis carried out on food to determine its nutritional properties, giving results indicating that human consumption of pine flour is possible. The laboratory is certified according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017. The project follows the material driven design method and the steps in a classic circular design development process, from research, idea generation to a final prototype. The thesis resulted in Pine Flour. A versatile flour that can be used as a new flour in the food industry. To demonstrate the capabilities of pine flour, a by-product Crunchy Blue flakes was also created, which is flakes of pine flour with bluewood. Pine flour has many nutritional benefits because its main component is fiber, and blued wood contains protein, creating a food of high nutritional quality. Sweden would become a healthy flour producer where each region could produce its own flour with its own qualities depending on the characteristics of different pine trees. Without attacking the ecosystem and thus Sweden becomes a self-sufficient country that benefits from local production in a sustainable context

Bygg- och fastighetssektorn står för ca 21% av utsläppen av växthusgaser.Växthusgasutsläppen är huvudorsaken till den globala uppvärmningen. Miljön och klimatfrågorblir allt vanligare, och detta medför att nya metoder inom byggbranschen som är mermiljövänliga utvecklas. En ny metod, där man tillsätter fiber i betongen, har utvecklats vilketger en högre hållfasthet, och kommer att göra det möjligt att skapa en tunnare konstruktion.Pålning blir allt mer vanligt och det vanligaste materialet för att tillverka pålar i Sverige ärbetong. I denna rapport kommer undersökningar vad gäller skillnaderna i hållfasthet, bådeböjmotstånd och förmåga att klara hård slagning utan att betongen spjälkar och pålen går sönderatt redovisas. Detta provas på två olika pålar när concrix macrofiber har tillsatts i betongen. Enpåle med standardbetong PP1 och en påle med ECO-Betong. Syftet med arbetet är att försökaminska klimatavtryck för grundläggningar med avseende på grundläggningar på byggnader. Islutet av arbetet ska svar på följande frågeställningar ges. • Hur kommer hållfastheten att skilja sig mellan en standardbetongpåle, fiberbetongpåleoch ECO-fiberbetongpåle? • Vad blir klimatbesparingen? Den vanligaste dimensionen hos betongpålar idag är 275x275mm. När fiber tillsätts i den nyapålen, är förhoppningen att kunna minska dimensionen till 235x235 utan att påverkabärförmågan. Dessutom kommer även antal transporter kommer att minska, då en leveranskommer att kunna frakta fler pålar och på så sätt kommer transportutsläpp att minskas.Vid provbelastning av balkarna, placerades en punktlast i mitten av varje balk. Deformationensom skede i samband med den gradvisa punktlast ökningen, kunde registreras idatorprogrammet Catmaneasy. Programmet visade att grafen för balkarna stabiliserade sig viddeformationen 30 mm, vilket blev gränsen för att avbryta punktlasten.Slutsatsen som kunde dras är att, genom att tillsätta fiber i standardbetong kan man ökabetongens draghållfasthet med ungefär 7% och ge, The construction and real estate sector stand for approximately 21% of the greenhouse gasemissions. Because of that more environmentally friendly methods are being developed. Amethod where fiber is added to the concrete has been developed, which leads to increasedstrength, and in turn will also make it possible to create smaller construction.Results from investigations of the differences in strength, when it comes to piling, will beinvestigated both in terms of bending resistance and the ability to withstand hard impact withoutthe concrete splitting and the pile breaking will be presented. Tests has been done with twodifferent piles when macrofiber Concrix is added, both to standard concrete (as a reference) andto eco-concrete.The purpose of this report is to reduce the climate footprint of foundations when it comes tobuilding foundations by examining a couple of predefined piles. At the end of the report thefollowing questions will be answered: • How will the strength differ between a standard concrete pile, fiber concrete pile andECO-concrete pile? • What will the climate savings be? The conclusion that could be drawn is that by adding fiber to standard concrete, the tensilestrength of the concrete can be increased by approximately 7% and by adding fiber in ECOconcrete, the tensile strength of the concrete increases by approximately 10%, which will makeit possible to use a smaller dimension and a reduced amount of manufactured concrete. Thiswill help to reduce climate impact and resource consumption. This will also contribute toreducing transport as the piles are manufactured in smaller dimensions.

Syftet med examensarbetet är att utveckla designlösningar som resulterar i en eller flera prototyper som visar att tallmjöl är ett alternativ inom livsmedelsindustrin. Råvaran som används är skadad furu, som blånadsträ eller tallved, som blir över i sågverk. För att tallmjöl ska kunna konsumeras som föda måste den genomgå en jäsningsprocess som ändrar den kemiska strukturen hos cellulosa, som är den huvudsakliga aktiva ingrediensen i trä, till fibrer som kan smältas av människor. En bromatologisk analys utfördes, vilket är en grundläggande analys utförd på livsmedel för att fastställa dess näringsegenskaper, vilket gav ett resultat som tyder på att mänsklig konsumtion av tallmjöl är möjlig. Laboratoriet är certifierat enligt den internationella standarden ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Projektet har genomförts genom en materialdrivna designmetod och faser i en klassisk cirkulär designprocess, från forskning, idégenerering till en slutlig prototyp. Examensarbetet resulterade i Pine Flour, vilket är ett mångsidigt mjöl som kan användas som ett nytt mjöl i livsmedelsindustrin. För att demonstrera tallmjölets kapacitet skapades också Crunchy Blue flingor, en biprodukt, som är flingor gjord av blånadsträ, det vill säga tall som är angripits av blånadssvamp. Tallmjöl har många näringsmässiga fördelar eftersom dess huvudkomponent är fiber, och blånadträ innehåller protein vilket skapar ett livsmedel av hög näringskvalitet. Sverige skulle kunna bli en hälsosam mjölproducent där varje region kunde producera sitt eget mjöl med sina egna kvaliteter beroende på olika tallars egenskaper. Utan att angripa ekosystemet så skulle Sverige kunna bli ett självförsörjande gällande tallmjöl, något som gynnar lokal produktion i en hållbar sammanhang., The aim of the thesis is design solutions that result in one or more prototypes that show that pine flour is an alternative in the food industry. The raw material used is damaged pine such as bluewood or pinewood that is left over from sawmills. For pine to be consumed as food, it must undergo a fermentation process that changes the chemical structure of cellulose, which is the main active ingredient in wood, into fiber digestible by humans. A bromatological analysis was carried out, which is a basic analysis carried out on food to determine its nutritional properties, giving results indicating that human consumption of pine flour is possible. The laboratory is certified according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017. The project follows the material driven design method and the steps in a classic circular design development process, from research, idea generation to a final prototype. The thesis resulted in Pine Flour. A versatile flour that can be used as a new flour in the food industry. To demonstrate the capabilities of pine flour, a by-product Crunchy Blue flakes was also created, which is flakes of pine flour with bluewood. Pine flour has many nutritional benefits because its main component is fiber, and blued wood contains protein, creating a food of high nutritional quality. Sweden would become a healthy flour producer where each region could produce its own flour with its own qualities depending on the characteristics of different pine trees. Without attacking the ecosystem and thus Sweden becomes a self-sufficient country that benefits from local production in a sustainable context

Fabric-based supercapacitor electrodes were fabricated by embedding spread tow carbon fiber fabrics, in monolithic, bicontinuous carbon aerogels (CAG). The incorporation of CAG, at less than 30 wt%, increased the specific surface area of the CAG-CF fabric to above 230 m2 g−1 and the pore volume to about 0.35 cm3 g−1, orders of magnitude higher than that for the as-received carbon fibres. The presence of the CAG not only improves the electrochemical performance of the composite electrodes but may enhance the mechanical response due to the high stiffness of the aerogel structure. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance measurements were performed on symmetric supercapacitor cells consisting of two CAG-reinforced fabrics in an ionic liquid electrolyte. The specific capacitance of the symmetric supercapacitor was determined to be in the range 3–5 F g−1, considerably higher than that for the plain carbon fibers. Since optimum structural electrolytes are not yet available, this value was normalized to the total mass of both electrodes to place an upper bound on future structural supercapacitors using this spread tow CAG-CF system. The maximum specific energy and specific power, normalized to the total mass of the electrodes, were around 2.64 W h kg−1 and 0.44 kW kg−1, respectively. These performance metrics demonstrate that the thin CAG-modified spread tow fabrics are promising electrodes for future use in structural supercapacitors. In principle, in future devices, the reduced ply thickness offers both improved mechanical properties and shorter ion diffusion distance, as well as opportunities to fabricate higher voltage multicell assemblies within a given component geometry.

Fabric-based supercapacitor electrodes were fabricated by embedding spread tow carbon fiber fabrics, in monolithic, bicontinuous carbon aerogels (CAG). The incorporation of CAG, at less than 30 wt%, increased the specific surface area of the CAG-CF fabric to above 230 m2 g−1 and the pore volume to about 0.35 cm3 g−1, orders of magnitude higher than that for the as-received carbon fibres. The presence of the CAG not only improves the electrochemical performance of the composite electrodes but may enhance the mechanical response due to the high stiffness of the aerogel structure. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance measurements were performed on symmetric supercapacitor cells consisting of two CAG-reinforced fabrics in an ionic liquid electrolyte. The specific capacitance of the symmetric supercapacitor was determined to be in the range 3–5 F g−1, considerably higher than that for the plain carbon fibers. Since optimum structural electrolytes are not yet available, this value was normalized to the total mass of both electrodes to place an upper bound on future structural supercapacitors using this spread tow CAG-CF system. The maximum specific energy and specific power, normalized to the total mass of the electrodes, were around 2.64 W h kg−1 and 0.44 kW kg−1, respectively. These performance metrics demonstrate that the thin CAG-modified spread tow fabrics are promising electrodes for future use in structural supercapacitors. In principle, in future devices, the reduced ply thickness offers both improved mechanical properties and shorter ion diffusion distance, as well as opportunities to fabricate higher voltage multicell assemblies within a given component geometry.

Background: Low carbohydrate high fat (LCHF) diet has been a popular low carbohydrate diet in Sweden for 15 years. Many people choose LCHF to lose weight or control diabetes, but there are concerns about the effect on long-term cardiovascular risks. There is little data on how a LCHF diet is composed in real-life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary intake in a population with self-reported adherence to a LCHF diet. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 volunteers that considered themselves eating LCHF was conducted. Diet history interviews (DHIs) and physical activity monitoring for validation of the DHIs were performed. Results: The validation shows acceptable agreement of measured energy expenditure and reported energy intake. Median carbohydrate intake was 8.7 E% and 63% reported carbohydrate intake at potentially ketogenic levels. Median protein intake was 16.9 E%. The main source of energy was dietary fats (72.0 E%). Intake of saturated fat was 32 E% and cholesterol was 700 mg per day, both of which exceeded the recommended upper limits according to nutritional guidelines. Intake of dietary fiber was very low in our population. The use of dietary supplements was high, and it was more common to exceed the recommended upper limits of micronutrients than to have an intake below the lower limits. Conclusions: Our study indicates that in a well-motivated population, a diet with very low carbohydrate intake can be sustained over time and without apparent risk of deficiencies. High intake of saturated fats and cholesterol as well as low intake of dietary fiber remains a concern.

Fabric-based supercapacitor electrodes were fabricated by embedding spread tow carbon fiber fabrics, in monolithic, bicontinuous carbon aerogels (CAG). The incorporation of CAG, at less than 30 wt%, increased the specific surface area of the CAG-CF fabric to above 230 m2 g−1 and the pore volume to about 0.35 cm3 g−1, orders of magnitude higher than that for the as-received carbon fibres. The presence of the CAG not only improves the electrochemical performance of the composite electrodes but may enhance the mechanical response due to the high stiffness of the aerogel structure. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance measurements were performed on symmetric supercapacitor cells consisting of two CAG-reinforced fabrics in an ionic liquid electrolyte. The specific capacitance of the symmetric supercapacitor was determined to be in the range 3–5 F g−1, considerably higher than that for the plain carbon fibers. Since optimum structural electrolytes are not yet available, this value was normalized to the total mass of both electrodes to place an upper bound on future structural supercapacitors using this spread tow CAG-CF system. The maximum specific energy and specific power, normalized to the total mass of the electrodes, were around 2.64 W h kg−1 and 0.44 kW kg−1, respectively. These performance metrics demonstrate that the thin CAG-modified spread tow fabrics are promising electrodes for future use in structural supercapacitors. In principle, in future devices, the reduced ply thickness offers both improved mechanical properties and shorter ion diffusion distance, as well as opportunities to fabricate higher voltage multicell assemblies within a given component geometry.

The article reviews the 2022 art exhibition "Ur Djupet," which features crochet and installation art works of artist Leif Holmstrand, presented at Marabouparken konsthall art space in Sweden.

The properties of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between microfiber and cement-based matrix are of primary significance for the overall behavior of strain hardening cementitious composites (SHCCs). However, due to the relatively small diameter of polymeric microfibers (e.g., PVA fiber), it is technically difficult to obtain quantitative and representative information of the properties of the ITZ. In the current study, a new method that is able to quantitatively characterize the microstructural features of the ITZ surrounding a well-aligned microfiber was reported. With the method, the porosity gradients within the ITZs between PVA fiber and cement paste matrices with different water to cement (w/c) ratios were determined. The results show that the matrix surrounding a microfiber were more porous than the bulk matrix. The thickness of this porous region can extend up to 100 microns away from the fiber surface even at a relatively low water to cement ratio (w/c = 0.3). It is thus believed that the method could facilitate the investigation and modification of fiber/matrix bond properties and also contribute to the development of SHCC with superior properties., Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public., Materials and Environment

Fabric-based supercapacitor electrodes were fabricated by embedding spread tow carbon fiber fabrics, in monolithic, bicontinuous carbon aerogels (CAG). The incorporation of CAG, at less than 30 wt%, increased the specific surface area of the CAG-CF fabric to above 230 m2 g−1 and the pore volume to about 0.35 cm3 g−1, orders of magnitude higher than that for the as-received carbon fibres. The presence of the CAG not only improves the electrochemical performance of the composite electrodes but may enhance the mechanical response due to the high stiffness of the aerogel structure. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance measurements were performed on symmetric supercapacitor cells consisting of two CAG-reinforced fabrics in an ionic liquid electrolyte. The specific capacitance of the symmetric supercapacitor was determined to be in the range 3–5 F g−1, considerably higher than that for the plain carbon fibers. Since optimum structural electrolytes are not yet available, this value was normalized to the total mass of both electrodes to place an upper bound on future structural supercapacitors using this spread tow CAG-CF system. The maximum specific energy and specific power, normalized to the total mass of the electrodes, were around 2.64 W h kg−1 and 0.44 kW kg−1, respectively. These performance metrics demonstrate that the thin CAG-modified spread tow fabrics are promising electrodes for future use in structural supercapacitors. In principle, in future devices, the reduced ply thickness offers both improved mechanical properties and shorter ion diffusion distance, as well as opportunities to fabricate higher voltage multicell assemblies within a given component geometry.

The article reviews the 2022 art exhibition "Ur Djupet," which features crochet and installation art works of artist Leif Holmstrand, presented at Marabouparken konsthall art space in Sweden.

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is free floating perennial plant native to tropical and sub- tropical South America. The water hyacinth plant is easily spread over the water. It has both negative and also positive aspects. The water hyacinth plant is easily available in ponds, lakes and reservoirs. Initially we have to collect the water hyacinth plant from the water bodies. I have collected about 200 to 250 plants from the Bhavani River. After extracting the plant, the stem should be separated out from the plant and it is washed thoroughly. After completing the washing process, the stems are slit opened. The slit opened stems are dried with the help of the sunlight. This process is called is retting of fibers. This retting process makes the fibers to shrink. This retting process takes place about 15-18 days. Fiber to yarn by spinning process. Yarn to fabric by using sample loom process.

Absorbent hygiene products like napkins, wipes, feminine hygiene products are life necessities. Since these products have direct contact with the skin, it concerns skin health. Nursing pads are one of the feminine hygiene products which are generally used by nursing mothers to prevent staining of clothing and decreases skin irritation caused by leaking of milk. The aim of this study is to design and develop a prototype of a durable multi-layered reusable nursing pad which also serves as a panty liner in a different shape. Natural fibers like kenaf, jute, hemp is blended with cotton in various proportions and are used as raw material for the production of absorbent layers. Water absorbency, air permeability, and handle properties of the developed convertible pad are tested and determined.

The global production of coconut, mainly for food and oil production, exceeds 62 million tonnes per annum. Large quantities of coconut husk remain unutilized after industrial processing, giving rise to environmental problems. This fails to exploit the potential presented by the extraction of coir, which could have numerous applications. Traditional products such as textiles, mats, and brushes made from coir are increasingly being joined by new, high-value, non-traditional uses. This review article summarizes new fields of application for coir as reinforcing fibers in binderless fiberboards, natural fiber composites, construction materials, solid biofuels, and an absorbent for heavy metals and toxic materials. The use of coir in these new fields will reduce waste and increase sustainability.

The purpose of this study is to establish the psychometric five-dimension model proposed by Berrone, Cruz, & Gomez-Mejia (2012) with the objective of investigating the effect of SEW (Socioemotional Welath) in strategic choices made by family firms towards M&A decisions, specifically selling decisions. Studying SEW among different family firms and its implications on their M&A decisions will contribute to literature on SEW and M&A's involving family firms.

Background: Low carbohydrate high fat (LCHF) diet has been a popular low carbohydrate diet in Sweden for 15 years. Many people choose LCHF to lose weight or control diabetes, but there are concerns about the effect on long-term cardiovascular risks. There is little data on how a LCHF diet is composed in real-life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary intake in a population with self-reported adherence to a LCHF diet. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 volunteers that considered themselves eating LCHF was conducted. Diet history interviews (DHIs) and physical activity monitoring for validation of the DHIs were performed. Results: The validation shows acceptable agreement of measured energy expenditure and reported energy intake. Median carbohydrate intake was 8.7 E% and 63% reported carbohydrate intake at potentially ketogenic levels. Median protein intake was 16.9 E%. The main source of energy was dietary fats (72.0 E%). Intake of saturated fat was 32 E% and cholesterol was 700 mg per day, both of which exceeded the recommended upper limits according to nutritional guidelines. Intake of dietary fiber was very low in our population. The use of dietary supplements was high, and it was more common to exceed the recommended upper limits of micronutrients than to have an intake below the lower limits. Conclusions: Our study indicates that in a well-motivated population, a diet with very low carbohydrate intake can be sustained over time and without apparent risk of deficiencies. High intake of saturated fats and cholesterol as well as low intake of dietary fiber remains a concern.

Background: Low carbohydrate high fat (LCHF) diet has been a popular low carbohydrate diet in Sweden for 15 years. Many people choose LCHF to lose weight or control diabetes, but there are concerns about the effect on long-term cardiovascular risks. There is little data on how a LCHF diet is composed in real-life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary intake in a population with self-reported adherence to a LCHF diet. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 volunteers that considered themselves eating LCHF was conducted. Diet history interviews (DHIs) and physical activity monitoring for validation of the DHIs were performed. Results: The validation shows acceptable agreement of measured energy expenditure and reported energy intake. Median carbohydrate intake was 8.7 E% and 63% reported carbohydrate intake at potentially ketogenic levels. Median protein intake was 16.9 E%. The main source of energy was dietary fats (72.0 E%). Intake of saturated fat was 32 E% and cholesterol was 700 mg per day, both of which exceeded the recommended upper limits according to nutritional guidelines. Intake of dietary fiber was very low in our population. The use of dietary supplements was high, and it was more common to exceed the recommended upper limits of micronutrients than to have an intake below the lower limits. Conclusions: Our study indicates that in a well-motivated population, a diet with very low carbohydrate intake can be sustained over time and without apparent risk of deficiencies. High intake of saturated fats and cholesterol as well as low intake of dietary fiber remains a concern.

Absorbent hygiene products like napkins, wipes, feminine hygiene products are life necessities. Since these products have direct contact with the skin, it concerns skin health. Nursing pads are one of the feminine hygiene products which are generally used by nursing mothers to prevent staining of clothing and decreases skin irritation caused by leaking of milk. The aim of this study is to design and develop a prototype of a durable multi-layered reusable nursing pad which also serves as a panty liner in a different shape. Natural fibers like kenaf, jute, hemp is blended with cotton in various proportions and are used as raw material for the production of absorbent layers. Water absorbency, air permeability, and handle properties of the developed convertible pad are tested and determined.

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is free floating perennial plant native to tropical and sub- tropical South America. The water hyacinth plant is easily spread over the water. It has both negative and also positive aspects. The water hyacinth plant is easily available in ponds, lakes and reservoirs. Initially we have to collect the water hyacinth plant from the water bodies. I have collected about 200 to 250 plants from the Bhavani River. After extracting the plant, the stem should be separated out from the plant and it is washed thoroughly. After completing the washing process, the stems are slit opened. The slit opened stems are dried with the help of the sunlight. This process is called is retting of fibers. This retting process makes the fibers to shrink. This retting process takes place about 15-18 days. Fiber to yarn by spinning process. Yarn to fabric by using sample loom process.

Absorbent hygiene products like napkins, wipes, feminine hygiene products are life necessities. Since these products have direct contact with the skin, it concerns skin health. Nursing pads are one of the feminine hygiene products which are generally used by nursing mothers to prevent staining of clothing and decreases skin irritation caused by leaking of milk. The aim of this study is to design and develop a prototype of a durable multi-layered reusable nursing pad which also serves as a panty liner in a different shape. Natural fibers like kenaf, jute, hemp is blended with cotton in various proportions and are used as raw material for the production of absorbent layers. Water absorbency, air permeability, and handle properties of the developed convertible pad are tested and determined.

The global production of coconut, mainly for food and oil production, exceeds 62 million tonnes per annum. Large quantities of coconut husk remain unutilized after industrial processing, giving rise to environmental problems. This fails to exploit the potential presented by the extraction of coir, which could have numerous applications. Traditional products such as textiles, mats, and brushes made from coir are increasingly being joined by new, high-value, non-traditional uses. This review article summarizes new fields of application for coir as reinforcing fibers in binderless fiberboards, natural fiber composites, construction materials, solid biofuels, and an absorbent for heavy metals and toxic materials. The use of coir in these new fields will reduce waste and increase sustainability.

INTRODUCTION: Higher intake of fiber has been associated with lower risk of incident symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA). We examined whether levels of alkylresorcinol (AR), a marker of whole grain intake, were associated with OA in subjects in The Multicenter Osteoarthritis (MOST) Study. METHOD: Knee x-rays and knee pain were assessed at baseline and through 60-months. Stored baseline fasting plasma samples were analyzed for AR homologues (C17:0, C19:0, C21:0, C23:0, C25:0) and total AR levels (AR sum). Two nested case-control studies, one for incident radiographic OA and one for incident symptomatic OA were performed with participants re-assessed at 15, 30 and 60 months. Multivariable conditional logistic regression with baseline covariates including age, sex, BMI, physical activity, quadriceps strength, race, smoking, depressive symptoms, diabetes and knee injury tested the association of log transformed AR levels with OA outcomes. RESULTS: Seven hundred seventy-seven subjects were, on average, in their 60s, and most were women. For 60-month cumulative incidence, there was no significant association between quartiles of AR concentration and incident radiographic (e.g., for incident radiographic OA, highest vs lowest quartile of AR sum showed RR = 0.93 (95% CI 0.59, 1.47), and for symptomatic OA RR was 1.22 (95% CI 0.76, 1.94). In secondary analyses examining 30-month incidence, high AR levels were associated with a reduced risk of X-ray OA (RR = 0.31 (95% CI 0.15, 0.64). CONCLUSION: In primary analyses, AR levels were not associated with risk of OA, but secondary analyses left open the possibility that high AR levels may protect against OA.

The low friction coefficient of HMPE fibers may be a disadvantage for some applications such as winches but it can also be used to develop new technology. Recently this specific property was used in the design of innovative pulleys for sailboats. The contact is then between a low friction metallic ring and a HMPE fiber rope loop. During service, a specific phenomenon appears at the contact area on the HMPE fibers called lustering due to its visual aspect. It is also observed in eye splice contact zones during tensile testing. In the present work, an investigation was made to understand and explain the appearance of the lustering of the fibers. Based on examination of different hypotheses, mechanical tests and a range of microstructural observations, the conclusion is that the appearance of the lustering phenomenon is the result of compaction of the filaments of the HMPE rope loop.

BackgroundA more sustainable dairy cow diet was designed that minimizes use of feed components digestible by monogastric animals by increasing the quantity of forages.ObjectivesThis study determined if feeding lactating cows the more sustainable, low-starch and high-fiber (LSHF) diet was associated with changes in raw milk microbiota composition and somatic cell count (SCC).MethodsIn a crossover design, 76 lactating Holstein cows were assigned to an LSHF diet or a high-starch and low-fiber (HSLF) diet, similar to common dairy cow diets in the United States, for 10 wk then placed on the opposite diet for 10 wk. The LSHF diet contained greater quantities of forages, beet pulp, and corn distillers' grain, but contained less canola meal and no high-moisture corn compared with the HSLF diet. Raw milk samples were collected from each cow 4-5 d before intervention and 5 wk into each diet treatment. Within 4 d, additional milk samples were collected for measurement of SCC using Fossmatic 7. The microbial community was determined by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene V4-V5 region and analyzing sequences with QIIME2. After quality filtering, 53 cows remained.ResultsRaw milk microbial communities differed by diet and time. Taxa associated with fiber consumption, such as Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Methanobrevibacter, were enriched with the LSHF diet. Meanwhile, taxa associated with mastitis, such as Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Enterobacteriaceae, were enriched with the HSLF diet. Relatedly, an interaction of diet and time was found to impact SCC.ConclusionsIn raw milk, consumption of an LSHF diet compared with an HSLF diet was associated with changes in abundance of microbes previously associated with fiber consumption, udder health, and milk spoilage. Further research is needed to determine if an LSHF diet indeed leads to lower rates of mastitis and milk spoilage, which could benefit the dairy industry.

This study was aimed to improve nutritional, functional and consumer safety aspects of cabbage powder (CP). White cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba) was dehydrated to CP following microwave heating, blanching, alkali or acid washing treatments. The results for nutrients and mineral composition of raw and processed CP elucidated raw CP to exhibit significantly (p < 0.05) higher amounts of protein (12.2%), dietary fiber (25.2%), Na (52 mg/100 g), Ca (355 mg/100 g), K (286 mg/100 g), Fe (14 mg/100 g) and Zn (32 mg/100 g). Among different processing techniques, microwave treatment resulted in a higher rate of reduction for alkaloids, oxalates, tannins and phytates contents, i.e., 77%, 85%, 85%, and 86%, respectively. Likewise, microwave treatment was found more effective in reducing residual levels of neonicotinoids, pyrethroids, organophosphates including imidacloprid, cypermethrin, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos and deltamethrin in cabbage in the range of 0.98–0.12 ppm, 1.22–0.23 ppm, 1.03–0.15 ppm, 1.97–0.43 ppm, and 2.12–0.36 ppm, respectively. CP supplementation at the rate of 5% in unleavened flatbreads was observed to maintain textural and sensory attributes of the product. The results suggest microwave heating as a cost-effective technique to reduce toxicants load in cabbage powder. Further, ~5% supplementation of CP in wheat flour may also improve nutritional and functional properties of the baked goods.

Heart failure (HF) represents a cardiovascular disease with high mortality and morbidity. The latest evidence shows that changes in the composition of the gut microbiota might play a pivotal role in the prevention and management of HF. This systematic review aims at assessing the potential associations between the diet, gut microbiota, and derived metabolites with the outcomes of HF. A systematic literature search was performed up to July 2022 on the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The PRISMA guidelines were followed when possible. The risk of bias was assessed with the SYRCLE and ARRIVE tools. A total of nine pre-clinical studies on animal models, with considerable heterogeneity in dietary interventions, were included. High-fiber/prebiotic diets (n = 4) and a diet rich in polyphenols (n = 1) modified the gut microbiota composition and increased microbial metabolites' activities, linked with an improvement in HF outcomes, such as a reduction in systolic blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, and left ventricular thickness. A high-fat diet (n = 2) or a diet rich in choline (n = 2) induced an increase in TMAO and indole derivative production associated with a decrease in cardiac function, systemic endotoxemia, and inflammation and an increase in cardiac fibrosis and cardiac remodeling. Although results are retrieved from animal studies, this systematic review shows the key role of the diet-especially a high-fiber and prebiotic diet-on gut microbial metabolites in improving HF outcomes. Further studies on human cohorts are needed to identify personalized therapeutic dietary interventions to improve cardiometabolic health.

The low friction coefficient of HMPE fibers may be a disadvantage for some applications such as winches but it can also be used to develop new technology. Recently this specific property was used in the design of innovative pulleys for sailboats. The contact is then between a low friction metallic ring and a HMPE fiber rope loop. During service, a specific phenomenon appears at the contact area on the HMPE fibers called lustering due to its visual aspect. It is also observed in eye splice contact zones during tensile testing. In the present work, an investigation was made to understand and explain the appearance of the lustering of the fibers. Based on examination of different hypotheses, mechanical tests and a range of microstructural observations, the conclusion is that the appearance of the lustering phenomenon is the result of compaction of the filaments of the HMPE rope loop.

Currently seeking to improve the characteristics of concrete, the use of drawn steel fibers in a self-compacting concrete can increase resistance and reduce cracks, with a high level of fluidity for installation. The objective of this research is to evaluate the properties of self-compacting concrete by adding drawn steel fibers. Concrete samples were made by adding 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% fiber CHO 80/60 and65/35 NB, with concrete specimens to be tested at 7, 14 and 28 days of curing, to Analyze the physical and mechanical properties. The results showed that they increased the compressive strength by 4.94%, traction by 8.15% and bending by 6.64% with the addition of 1.5% of the two fibers. It is concluded that adding drawn steel fiber contributes to the mechanical properties andcan be a great alternative for high-strength concrete., Actualmente se busca mejorar las características del concreto, el uso de fibras de acero trefilado en un concreto autocompactante puede incrementar la resistencia y disminuir fisuras, con un alto nivel de fluidez para la puesta en obra. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo evaluar las propiedades del concreto autocompactante adicionando fibras de acero trefilado. Se realizaron muestras de concreto adicionando el 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% de fibra CHO 80/60 y 65/35 NB, con especímenes de concreto para ser ensayados a los 7, 14 y 28 días de curado, para analizar las propiedades físicas y mecánicas. Los resultados mostraron que incrementaron la resistencia a la compresión en un 4.94%, tracción en un 8.15% y flexión en un 6.64% con la adición del 1.5% de las dos fibras. Se concluye que adicionar fibra de acero trefilado contribuye en las propiedades mecánicas, pudiendo ser una gran alternativa para concretos de alta resistencia.

Background: Family firms represent the majority of firms worldwide, and are regarded as a crucial part of the global economy. Despite that, there is little known about their objectives of financial reporting i.e how they use, produce and value their financial reports. In accounting literature two objectives of financial reporting are presented, a stewardship objective and a decision usefulness objective. Previous research within family business have found that family firms differ from non-family firms and that family firms utilize socioemotional wealth protection as a main reference point when making decisions. Purpose: This study aims to provide an understanding of how family firms perceive the objective of their financial reporting and how this is shaped by SEW. Method: The study was conducted using a qualitative method and implemented through semi-structured interviews. Nine family firms participated in the study, where eight family members were interviewed and two non-family members. Conclusion: The result suggest that four out of the five FIBER dimensions (of SEW), family influence and control, identification of family members with the firm, binding social ties and emotional attachment influence the family firm's objective of their financial reports. Meanwhile, for the fifth dimension, renewal of family bonds to the firm through dynastic succession, our study suggests that future successions do not have an influence on the family firm's perceived objective of financial reporting.