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Purpose: The goal of this review is to provide sleep physicians, dentists, and researchers with an evidence-based overview of the literature on smart mandibular advancement devices (MADs) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted by two blinded reviewers and an information specialist. A smart MAD was defined as any MAD with additional functionality besides mandibular protrusion. The bibliographic databases Medline, Embase, and Scopus were used to identify relevant publications. Studies were included if they described any stage of development of smart MADs. A total of 3162 titles and abstracts were screened for their relevance. In total, 58 articles were selected for full-text screening, 26 of which were included in this review. Results: The overall quality of the available literature was low. Most of the studies were observational, clinical or applied-research articles. The authors classified MADs into two main groups: passive and active. Passive MADs measured patient data, most commonly patient compliance. Active MADs adjusted protrusion of the mandible in response to patient data and were found in various phases of technological readiness (in development, demonstration, or deployment). Conclusion: Innovations in smart mandibular advancement devices most frequently track patient compliance. Devices measuring other health parameters and active, feedback-controlled, devices are increasingly reported on. However, studies demonstrating their added benefit over traditional methods remain sparse. With further study, smart mandibular advancement devices have the potential to improve the efficiency of obstructive sleep apnea treatment and provide new treatment possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study investigates the influence of social capital, market orientation, and technological readiness levels (TRLs) on the intensity of collaboration between researchers from a public research institution in Brazil and companies, and how TRLs moderate this relationship. Using a quantitative approach, we applied structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze responses from researchers at this institution. The analysis highlights the critical roles of social capital and market orientation in fostering effective R&D interactions. Social capital enhances collaboration through trust and network strength, while market orientation aligns R&D efforts with market needs, ensuring that innovations are both relevant and timely. Importantly, this study explores how technological readiness levels (TRLs) moderate these relationships, offering insights into the varying impact of social capital and market orientation across different stages of technological development. Findings reveal that participation in projects with TRLs 4 to 6, known as the Valley of Death, significantly moderates the impact of market orientation on researchers' interaction intensity with companies, underscoring the importance of considering technological maturity in R&D collaborations. The study is framed within the open innovation approach, emphasizing the importance of leveraging external knowledge and collaborative networks to enhance innovation outcomes. Theoretically, this research extends the existing models of R&D collaboration by illustrating how TRLs modify the effects of social capital and market orientation. Practically, it offers actionable insights for R&D managers and policymakers on structuring environments that foster robust academic–industry partnerships, facilitating the successful transition of innovations from conceptualization to market readiness.

This study investigates the influence of social capital, market orientation, and technological readiness levels (TRLs) on the intensity of collaboration between researchers from a public research institution in Brazil and companies, and how TRLs moderate this relationship. Using a quantitative approach, we applied structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze responses from researchers at this institution. The analysis highlights the critical roles of social capital and market orientation in fostering effective R&D interactions. Social capital enhances collaboration through trust and network strength, while market orientation aligns R&D efforts with market needs, ensuring that innovations are both relevant and timely. Importantly, this study explores how technological readiness levels (TRLs) moderate these relationships, offering insights into the varying impact of social capital and market orientation across different stages of technological development. Findings reveal that participation in projects with TRLs 4 to 6, known as the Valley of Death, significantly moderates the impact of market orientation on researchers' interaction intensity with companies, underscoring the importance of considering technological maturity in R&D collaborations. The study is framed within the open innovation approach, emphasizing the importance of leveraging external knowledge and collaborative networks to enhance innovation outcomes. Theoretically, this research extends the existing models of R&D collaboration by illustrating how TRLs modify the effects of social capital and market orientation. Practically, it offers actionable insights for R&D managers and policymakers on structuring environments that foster robust academic–industry partnerships, facilitating the successful transition of innovations from conceptualization to market readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy and industrial sectors' most recent extraordinarily quick expansion has resulted in a substantial rise in stationary CO2 sources. As a result, many questions have been raised concerning how to stop global warming and implement methods to mitigate its effects by 2050 to create a low-carbon and sustainable future. Over the last three decades, India's CO2 emissions have increased at a growth rate of 3.1 % mainly consumption of fossil fuels. In this global and Indian situation, the best method, besides renewable energy sources, is Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), which will make it possible to achieve net-zero emissions targets within this century. Given this, a brief review and discussion that aims to study India's development in CCUS deployment and its importance for sustainable development were conducted. The review highlights the current energy scenario of India and the world, the CO2 increase trend, and its consequences globally. Furthermore, a brief discussion on the present status of several areas of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies have been done. To clearly define the maturity of each important component of the CCUS system with a commercialization direction route, we focused on determining the technological readiness level (TRL) from India's perspective. Further, we identified important data of different sizes from the biggest R&D schemes, policies, regulations and initiatives taken by the government across the country. Lastly, our study seeks to provide a guide for the successful implementation of CCUS in India.

Abstract Plastics are persistent in the environment and may be ingested by organisms where they may cause physical harm or release plastic additives. Monitoring is a crucial mechanism to assess the risk of plastics to the marine and terrestrial ecosystem. Unfortunately, due to unharmonised procedures, it remains difficult to compare the results of different studies. This publication, as part of the Horizon project EUROqCHARM, aims to identify the properties of the available analytical processes and methods for the determination of plastics in biota. Based on a systematic review, reproducible analytical pipelines were examined and the technological readiness levels were assessed so that these methods may eventually (if not already) be incorporated into (harmonised) monitoring programs where biota are identified as indicators of plastic pollution.

Plastics are persistent in the environment and may be ingested by organisms where they may cause physical harm or release plastic additives. Monitoring is a crucial mechanism to assess the risk of plastics to the marine and terrestrial ecosystem. Unfortunately, due to unharmonised procedures, it remains difficult to compare the results of different studies. This publication, as part of the Horizon project EUROqCHARM, aims to identify the properties of the available analytical processes and methods for the determination of plastics in biota. Based on a systematic review, reproducible analytical pipelines were examined and the technological readiness levels were assessed so that these methods may eventually (if not already) be incorporated into (harmonised) monitoring programs where biota are identified as indicators of plastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thermochemical options for MPW management are analysed from a life cycle perspective. • A specific LCA approach quantifies the related environmental performances. • An additional way to present LCIA results was utilised and compared to the standard one. • MPW-to-Hydrogen by gasification appears to have the best overall sustainability. • MPW dilemma should be solved in favour of thermochemical recycling processes. The study focuses on mixed plastics waste (MPW), whose complex and unpredictable composition (due to high polymer heterogeneity, additives, and contaminants) makes its valorisation a true technical, environmental, economic, and regulatory challenge. Chemical recycling by means of advanced thermochemical treatments (ATT) could be a successful strategy, able to support the transition from a carbon intensive to a carbon negative sector, and alternative to the current treatments of energy recovery or mechanical downcycling. Some of these ATTs provide an efficient recovery of valuable resources, such as fuels and chemicals, but their role is mainly limited by time necessary to complete the process optimization and implement the required infrastructures. A reliable identification of the best alternatives is thus crucial. A specific LCA approach quantifies the environmental performances of a selected set of ATT technologies for resource recovery from MPW. It includes plastics-to-energy, by combustion or gasification; plastics-to-methane and plastics-to-hydrogen, by gasification; and plastics-to-oil, by thermal pyrolysis. The results highlight the crucial role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) units, which partially reduces that of the specific thermochemical treatment. The best performances, particularly for Climate Change category, are those of the MPW-to-hydrogen by gasification, followed by those of MPW-to-energy by combustion or gasification, all equipped with CCS. The sensitivity analysis considers the evolution of the European energy mix, characterised by a larger utilisation of renewable energy sources, and highlights the corresponding increased sustainability of chemical recycling by ATTs. This suggests that the MPW dilemma should be definitively solved in a close future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complexity of full-scale object modeling and the need to use advanced computing technologies, the digital twin development process may require significant time, financial and human resources. Therefore, it is important for lean management of digital twin development to classify them by functionality, determine the current technology readiness level (TRL), and monitor its dynamics over short periods of time. A description of the life cycle stages of digital twins virtual models and adapted conditions to achieve technology readiness level are proposed. The use of the formalized TRL metric for detailed project planning by specific results reduces the development time, costs, and improves the quality of the results.

A diverse field of predictive microbiology models has emerged in the past 30 years and has advanced our understanding of microbial behavior in foods. As most of published models have for objective to provide operationally relevant information to decision makers, predictive microbiology models have now found their place within both the academic, and the food industrial communities. Given the importance of these models to food safety, the decision makers are in need of evidence-based advices in order to assess confidence in the predictions provided by models they use. The objectives of this work were (i) to review current approaches in predictive microbiology used to build, verify and validate models, and (ii) to propose a categorization scheme that would tend to define a model's viability for use in an operational setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery of resources from streams of mixed plastics waste is a technological and economic challenge since they contain various (and generally non-compatible) polymers, different (and often hazardous) additives, as well as multilayer structures and fiber-reinforced composites. Only a too limited part of these plastics - such as those coming from waste of electric and electronic equipment (WEEE), end-of-life vehicles (ELV) and construction and demolition waste (C&DW) - can be treated by mechanical techniques in the conventional recycling facilities, and a still smaller part is reintroduced into the market. Some innovative treatments have been recently proposed and appear suitable for these challenging waste streams. The paper describes technical characteristics of some of them, and compares their environmental performances with those of currently adopted management options. An environmental life cycle assessment was developed by taking into account the substitutability factor of obtained products and technological readiness level of the analyzed resource recovery processes. The focus is on new treatments of dissolution/precipitation, supercritical fluid extraction, catalytic pyrolysis, and waste-to-energy (WtE) equipped with carbon capture and storage unit (CCS). The results highlight the promising performances of some of these new options, quantify their potential environmental advantages, and suggest to take them into account in the definition of sustainable management schemes for the examined challenging plastics wastes. In particular, physical recycling by dissolution/precipitation process applied to one tonne of WEEE plastics, not treatable by mechanical recycling, can save up to about 2 t CO2,eq. with respect to landfill disposal and WtE with CCS, and more than 3 t CO2,eq. with respect to WtE without CCS. The performances of WtE with CCS appear of interest, particularly for WEEE and ELV mixed plastics, allowing to save up to 0.5 t CO2,eq. and 1.7 t CO2,eq. , with respect to pyrolysis and WtE without CCS, respectively. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A strategy to find preliminary sustainable biomass conversion routes is described. • TRL is a determining factor for biomass upgrading selection. • A sustainable compendium of bioprocesses is presented for first time as indicators. • Indicators based on technical, economic, and environmental are presented. Process sustainability has been one of the most challenging issues faced by process designers. Conceptual designed processes do not overcome this stage because aspects such as context and technological readiness level are left aside. This paper proposes a strategy to consider different processing routes for biomass (compendium of existing routes) towards sustainable development. The strategy comprises five stages where a supported bioprocesses selection is made by considering the chemical composition of the raw material and the context where biomass is produced and processed. This strategy aims to give decision tools to designers to filter and reduce the number of options to be considered when proposing an alternative biomass use. The proposed strategy was applied to upgrade orange peel waste and sugarcane bagasse to demonstrate how it can be applied. In conclusion, selecting of bioprocesses and considering the proposed strategycould improve the biorefineries design. Even so, more bioprocesses must be included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper develops a methodology for a balanced readiness level assessment of new agricultural technologies. • Technology readiness level (TRL) are supplemented with market readiness level (MRL), regulatory readiness level (RRL), acceptance level readiness (ARL), and organizational level assessment (ORL) to build the balanced readiness level assessment (BRLa). • The authors explore the applicability of the new methodology on 36 new agricultural technologies and one in-depth case study. • The new methodology includes a tool for illustrating results in the shape of a pentagon. In this paper a methodology for a balanced readiness assessment of novel agricultural technologies is developed and presented. The methodology expand on the well-known Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessments, with a method for assessing TRL as well as Market Readiness Level (MRL), Regulatory Readiness Level (RRL), Acceptance Readiness Level (ARL), and Organizational Readiness Level (ORL) in concert. In the article the Balanced Readiness Level assessment (BRLa) methodology is employed and illustrated on 1) a set of 36 novel agricultural technologies, and 2) on the development of a technology for virtual agricultural fences. The empirical applications in this article indicates that the BRLa- methodology may serve as a fruitful approach for a compound assessment of emerging technologies. The methdodology is relevant for actors involved in advisory services, funding, investment and technology development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows a new methodological proposal for wine farm management, as a result of the progressive development of the technological innovations and their adoption. The study was carried out in Italy involving farmers, workers, or owners of wine farms who are progressively introducing or using precision agriculture technologies on their farm. The methodology proposed was divided in four stages (1. understanding the changes in action; 2. identifying the added value of Smart Farming processes; 3. verifying the reliability of new technologies; 4. adjusting production processes) that can be applied at different levels in vine farms to make the adoption of precision agriculture techniques and technologies harmonious and profitable. Data collection was carried out using a participant-observer method in brainstorming sessions, where the authors reflected on the significance of technology adoption means and how to put them in practice, and interviews, questionnaire surveys, diaries, and observations. Moreover, project activities and reports provided auxiliary data. The findings highlighted the issues of a sector which, although with broad investment and finance options, lacks a structure of human, territorial, and organizational resources for the successful adoption of technological innovations. The work represents a basis for the future development of models for strategic scenario planning and risk assessments for farmers, policymakers, and scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]