MoodyMarine is a weakly nonlinear potential flow model for wave-body and mooring  simulations with a graphical user interface. In this work we present the extension of the model to deal with constrained multi-body dynamics. By combining different translation and rotation constraints most joints can be modelled. As the constraints are imposed through springs and dampers in the explicit time-stepping algorithm, a slight manual tuning is required to make sure the bodies are constrained properly. Nevertheless, this tuning is shown not to influence the final results. In the paper we compare to existing test cases in literature as well as against experimental data. In all test cases there is a good agreement between the target solutions and MoodyMarine .

Rapporten redovisar data från projektet Energieffektiviserings- och klimatomställningsåtgärder med bevarade kulturvärden för medeltida kyrkors takkonstruktioner av trä. Projektet är finansierat av Energimyndigheten och leds av RISE, med Norsk institutt for Kulturminneforskning (NIKU) som partner. Projektets syfte är att stödja en förvaltning av delar av vårt äldsta bevarade träbyggande där energibesparingsåtgärder, energiomställningsåtgärder och klimatanpassningsåtgärder balanseras mot kulturvärden på ett sådant sätt att ett antal identifierade potentiella hot mot kulturvärdenas bevarande kan undvikas. Data som publiceras här ska kompletteras, bearbetas vidare och spridas på former som passar målgruppen - yrkesverksamma som på olika sätt kommer i kontakt med takkonstruktionerna och deras bevarande.

Energy saving potential in medieval churches: A preliminary study with dynamic energy calculation for a fictitious object In the project, Energy efficiency and climate change measures with preserved cultural-historical values for wooden roof structures in medieval churches, the following question has been raised: How much is saved by insulating the attic of a medieval church, in relation to other measures such as lowering the indoor temperature? As a first step in answering the question, a preliminary study has been carried out. A dynamic energy calculation has been made for a fictitious church. The effect of insulating was compared to the effect of lowering the temperature. The result shows that the most effective measure of those investigated is to reduce the indoor temperature. To get a clearer picture of which measures are effective for different geometric and geographical conditions, it is recommended that case studies be carried out.

Understanding of wildfire risk requires an understanding of the natural species' fire dynamics. This study investigates fire characteristics of common wildland species in Norwegian forests – stair-step moss, lingonberry shrub, juniper, bilberry, and heather. Cone calorimetry experiments were conducted after conditioning samples to similar moisture content. Stair-step moss and bilberry stems exhibited longer burning times and lower peak heat release rates, suggesting a slower, more sustained combustion. Heather, despite age differences, showed similar fire behaviours, indicating moisture content's role in wildfire risk. Evergreens displayed the most intense fire development, with juniper potentially acting as a ladder species for vertical fire spread.

The Scandinavian countries have in later years seen several severe wildfires and is expected to exhibit more severe fire danger. While direct flame spread has been an important topic in wildfire research, there is a need for development and to ensure that experimental methods are relevant for Scandinavian wildfire characteristics. To ensure relevant lab conditions for fire-resilient material development work, large lab-scale (2×4 meters) experiments were conducted on various fuels. Its fire behaviour (such as rate of spread, fireline intensity and flame length) was compared with ongoing wildfire field studies from ongoing field studies in boreal and hemiboreal Sweden. The lab fire experiments show good potential to mimic relevant natural wildfire conditions in the laboratory once a standard design fire exposure for fire resilient materials is developed.

The present research explores the influence of Bjørnis the Fire Bear on residential fire safety in Norway. Our survey, comprising 1275 participants, reveals that Bjørnis spurred the adoption of 5181 fire safety measures among the respondents, averaging 4.1 measures per household. The data suggests a positive association between exposure to Bjørnis and an increased number of safety measures implemented. These results highlight Bjørnis' efficiency in fostering awareness about fire safety, potentially serving as a model for introducing or sustaining similar mascots and initiatives on a global scale

Photovoltaic modules have been shown to influence how a fire propagates across a flat roof, but the circumstances for which building attached photovoltaic (BAPV) modules promote fire propagation on a sloped roof is not studied in detail. Therefore, a series of small-medium- and large-scale experiments on a sloped roof with a BROOF(t2)-rated bituminous roof membrane on a wood chipboard substrate has been performed. Steel plates mimicking non-combustible photovoltaic (PV) modules were placed at different distances above the roof. Different sized wood cribs placed in the gap between the roof and the PV module were used as the ignition source. Similarly to findings for flat roofs, the experiments showed that the gap distance and the size of the ignition source are key factors for how far the fire propagates from the starting point. This supports that BAPV installations affect the fire dynamics on roofs. As such, the complete system of roof composition and PV installation needs to be considered as a whole to ensure adequate fire safety levels.

The growing trend of using lithium-ion batteries as intermediate energy storage for renewable sources like solar panels is expected to increase in this decade, especially in buildings. Photovoltaic and Li-ion battery systems introduce certain fire risks which need to be considered before their implementation in new or existing buildings. Knowledge about the fire behaviour of both these systems, and how this may affect the building is crucial to reduce the consequences from a fire. The purpose of the work is to categorize the main fire safety challenges of PV and Li-ion battery installations for preventing fire and explosion hazardous scenarios in buildings. These are related to the increased risk of ignition, changed fire dynamics and increased fire spread risk, and to installations representing obstructions and hazards for firefighters. The research methodology consists of a combination of mixed methods: previous lessons learned in literature and experimental work and analysis of case studies. PV installations can cause ignition, promote fire spread and obstruct firefighting. A Li-ion battery installation can potentially increase the ignition risk, contribute to a rapid growth and spread of fire, and interfere firefighting and increase explosion hazards. The development of knowledge is important for the inclusion of new regulations and the modification of existing regulations in building codes nationally and internationally.

Projektet gör uppföljning för att se hur det ser ut idag och bekräfta funktionen av träbaserade balkongplattor efter cirka 8–12 år. Informationen ger underlag för en bättre material- och produktkännedom som kan vara underlag för till exempel Garantiåtaganden samt underhållsplanering. Projektet bekräftar och verifierar att produkterna uppför sig som förväntat utan större avvikelse. Test med ett antal plattor som skadats genom åverkan har utförts i RISE Skellefteås labb. Gamla plattor på RISE med mätvärden 8 år bakåt i tiden visar fortfarande stabila värden och mätmässigt är de också identiska med nytillverkade plattor. Genom att använda denna kännedom blir förvaltarens tillståndsbedömning med en fuktindikator enkel. Ett par nya idéer till nya projekt för en fortsatt utveckling av balkongplattan har framkommit. I projektet har RISE bistått med olika frågor kring nytt typgodkännande. Även idéer för att använda plattan direkt på mark som grund har lyfts inom projektet och kommer att undersökas i annat projekt inom och sannolikt även utanför TCN. En platta som monterats med en del direkt på mark och en del hängande i luften har upptäckts med en kraftig skada. Omfattningen på skadan har undersökts och rapporteras i denna rapport. Ingen orsak till skadan kunde med säkerhet fastställas. Nya kontakter med nordiska teknikföretag har etablerats för att lättare hitta prisvärd och funktionell mätteknik i träsammanhang.

Kvalitetsklassning av sågtimmer vid stockmätning görs idag manuellt eller semi-automatiskt med hjälp av mätramar och röntgensystem. Automatisering av detta steg kan leda till en effektivare process och en jämnare kvalitet. En del nedklassningsorsaker som idag bedöms manuellt bör kunna detekteras med hjälp av bildigenkänning, vilket kan fungera som ett komplement till de system som används idag för att ta ett steg närmare till en helautomatisk kvalitetsbedömning av sågtimmer. Vi har monterat kameror vid mätstationen på Holmens sågverk i Bygdsiljum och samlat in högupplöst video på stockar. Stillbilder från det insamlade videomaterialet har plockats ut och stockar, trädslag och defekter har markerats i bilderna. De annoterade bilderna har använts för att träna objektdetektionsmodeller som har bistått i arbetet att annotera fler bilder i flera iterationer.

Att Svenska kyrkan äger och förvaltar ett fantastiskt kulturarv i form av byggnader och inventarier är väl något som de flesta av oss är medvetna om. Att det ovanför själva kyrkorummen ofta döljer sig en minst lika imponerande kulturskatt är inte lika känt för gemene man. För de första generationerna kyrkobesökare utgjorde kanske kyrkvindarna till och med en viktig del av den religiösa helhetsupplevelsen i gudstjänsten. De unika medeltida takstolarna, som länge varit helt bortglömda, lyfts i denna handbok fram som hantverksmässigt unika träkonstruktioner. Skara stift och hela Svenska kyrkan ansvarar för att dessa skatter ska bevaras till kommande generationer. I en tid av minskande medlemsantal och ökande krav på energibesparingar mm är det en stor och krävande uppgift. Det är vår förhoppning att handboken ska vara en hjälp i detta arbete, för de kyrkliga förvaltarna på alla nivåer, men också för konsulter och hantverkare som får förtroendet att arbeta i kyrkorna.

What was studied? This report studies the possibilities and challenges of establishing a high-power charging system for battery-electric aircraft (EA) within an operational airport environment, with a particular focus on enabling short turnaround times (TAT). The study integrates perspectives from a diverse group of stakeholders, including an airport owner, a charging equipment solution provider, an aircraft developer, a research institute, an innovation arena, and a testbed operator. The aim is to significantly enhance the common understanding and identify viable pathways for the efficient and safe implementation of EA charging systems. The report addresses the three key subsystems (airport, charging equipment, and aircraft) detailing their specific requirements, including e.g. technical, operational, regulatory, and safety considerations, followed by identification and evaluation of possible power system topologies and conceptual charging solutions. Smart control of EA charging systems is explored and modeled to support adequate system design and optimal utilization of available power capacity. Additionally, the report presents measurement results from an operational airport to better understand the current electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) environment. It also includes a review of aviation cybersecurity and offers initial recommendations for future risk assessments to ensure an efficient and safe deployment of EA charging systems. 

In this study, life cycle assessment has been applied to analyse the environmental impacts from a novel technology to recycle textile waste developed within the project RE:Spin. This technology allows for the dissolution of textile fibres and re-spinning them into new fibres within the same process setting, reducing the amount of process steps and increasing efficiency. The goal of this life cycle assessment is to analyse and quantify the potential environmental impacts of the RE:Spin process, to validate the hypothesis that the technology can potentially reduce the environmental impacts of chemical recycling. A secondary goal of the study is to identify hotspots as knowledge support for further developments. The study has a cradle-to-gate scope; and includes the processes of shredding, dissolution, filtration, coagulation, washing and drying. The study also includes support processes for recovery and recirculation of solvents and chemicals. The inventory data has been provided by the project partners, consisting only of lab-scale data from the tests and experiments carried out within the project. This data has been complemented by industrial scale simulations using a specialized software called WinGEMS, which provided mass balances and material flows for the system while energy use was calculated separately. The study analysed all the environmental impact categories required in the environmental footprint 3.1 framework. The results indicate that the RE:Spin technology has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of chemical recycling of cellulosic fibres. The potential environmental impacts from the RE:Spin fibres seem to achieve reductions in most impact categories in reference to conventional fibres, as well as in reference to the results obtained in other studies for chemical recycling of cotton. However, this outcome depends on certain key assumptions, such as the foreground system for ethanol production and heat generation. The most important aspect to focus on for future developments is to ensure a high recovery and recirculation rate of ethanol, sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid; which can potentially reduce the environmental impact from the RE:Spin process even further, while avoiding emissions of losses to air and water.

The self-explanatory interchange point Interchange points such as train stations and bus stops are full of visual information and other sensory impressions. In these environments, it can be difficult to navigate and too many impressions can cause visual stress, especially for groups with reduced orientation ability. What is a pleasant and simple visual search and movement for someone can be challenging for someone else. It can add another level to the design of a bus stop if you start from functionality based on what happens in the human brain and emotional life – which can differ greatly between different individuals. Since people's perception of their surroundings differs so much, there is a challenge in creating a common environment that suits everyone as well as possible and that can also be individualized so that each person's needs are met. The purpose of this project has been to investigate how interchange points can be made easier and more obvious to navigate, and at the same time reduce or limit visual stress. Another task for the project was to specifically consider travelers with intellectual and cognitive disabilities. The project consisted of making a literature review of relevant research in the field, as well as conducting a design analysis and developing concept proposals that could be tested and evaluated in a follow-up project. The project group consisted of researchers from RISE, research designers from Boid Design Agency, City of Borås, as well as technology suppliers Viscando, Tobii and Fagerhult. The selected interchange points that were investigated in the project were the Central Station and Södra Torget in Borås. The literature review (See Chapter 3 and Appendix 1) showed that there is a lack of research in the area of interchange points, navigation, design and intellectual and cognitive disabilities. General principles for facilitating navigation could be identified, and some publications suggest various interventions in the environment that can facilitate wayfinding, for example in lighting, landmarks and signs. However, there is a lack of robust follow-ups of which measures have the desired effect. There is also a lack of follow-up on what is specifically helpful or problematic for the project's target groups. This could possibly be explained by the fact that it is difficult to investigate an environment where so many different things are happening at the same time, which makes it challenging to determine what effect a specific part of the environment has on people's navigation skills. However, the literature pointed out important aspects to consider, design principles, as well as suggestions for possible improvement measures. In the design analysis (chapter 4), interviews were conducted with experts on disability from the municipality. The process also involved site visits, development of user journeys and a co-creation idea workshop. The process then resulted in eight different concept proposals based on what emerged in the literature study and the design analysis. The concepts concern individual aids, digital aids, awareness-raising measures for inclusion, lighting and signs. As a next step, we propose to proceed with two of the concepts for testing and evaluation in particular, 1. The empathy campaign and 8. Light harmony. A discussion of the project's results and next steps can be found in chap. 6.

As society is rapidly converting from fossil-based materials to greener alternatives, the valorization of lignin through chemical modification has been given considerable attention. Characterizing this highly heterogeneous biopolymer is a constant challenge, and an emerging strategy for dealing with variations in material characteristics is combining traditional analytical techniques with chemometrics, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with partial least squares regression (PLSR). Here, a calibration data set was built based on FTIR spectra and the total carbon-hydrogen bond (CHB) content of mixtures of technical lignins and alkanes, meant to emulate esterified samples. From this data, a PLSR model was built which predicted the CHB content of esterified lignin reaction products with an RMSECV=5.685 mmol/g and RMSEPred=5.827 mmol/g, and from which the weight percentage of ester-to-lignin was determined. When compared to wet-chemical analysis, good agreement between the techniques was found with an obtained RMSEPred=8.3 % and a R2Train=0.9752 for the degree of esterification. This indicates high model predictability and goodness of fit, and that the calibration data set successfully emulated esterified lignin samples. 

This study conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of manure management, identifying transportation as a major contributor to global warming and freshwater eutrophication impacts. Transporting substrates to the biogas plant was the main hotspot, highlighting a critical area for improvement. The findings emphasize the importance of method selection in geographically dependent assessments, especially in the Baltic Sea region. Characterization factors specific to Sweden revealed higher environmental impact values than those produced by the ReCiPe method, underscoring the need for regional differentiation in LCA. By optimizing manure management practices and enhancing nutrient distribution, impacts on both climate change and eutrophication can be significantly reduced, thereby lowering nutrient flow to the Baltic Sea. Combining these optimizations with transportation impact reductions further amplifies these environmental benefits, demonstrating that geographically tailored approaches in LCA offer essential insights for managing regional-scale effects. 

The article summarizes the results of analyses of Swedish energy efficient apartment buildings in relation to the energy performance gap. To reduce the energy performance gap, better working methods are needed throughout the construction process, from the early stages when the architect needs support in analysing heat losses from distribution systems, when there is still an opportunity to optimize the building layout by placing shafts and pipe paths, etc. for less heat loss, and to create good conditions for measuring and adjusting air flows. In the design phase, check that the installation systems in the energy calculation match the design of the installation systems. Then carry out more detailed calculations of heat losses, etc., and provide opportunities to measure and verify heat losses up to final inspection. During operation, verify that the installed systems are working as intended, and track the energy use of different systems and experience feedback. 

Free space optical (FSO) communication is considered a critical part of future ICT infrastructure, particularly in non-terrestrial communication segments. In this context, the ability to achieve fast and reliable FSO propagation through long-distance atmospheric channels is the most important factor in choosing technological solutions. One property of optics directly related to this factor is the choice of wavelength. It has been identified that the mid-infrared (mid-IR) regime, which includes two atmospheric transmission windows - the mid-wave IR (MWIR, 3-5 μm) and the long-wave IR (LWIR, 8-12 μm) - can potentially offer a promising solution for achieving such performance. Additionally, viable semiconductor sources and detectors that support high-speed and efficient signal transmission are also considered critical to generating sufficient critical mass to advance the application of mid-IR FSO. Unipolar quantum optoelectronics, including quantum cascade lasers (QCL), Stark modulators, quantum cascade detectors (QCD), and quantum-well IR photodetectors (QWIP), among other components, emerge as potential candidates to build such FSO subsystems and systems. We present our recent efforts in conducting subsystem and system-level studies with different variants of these unipolar quantum optoelectronics and demonstrate the potential for feasible transmitter and receiver performance in a laboratory environment. We also discuss the key challenges and considerations of such technologies towards practical development. Finally, we summarize recent research and development efforts worldwide in advancing this highly promising direction.

Wood of broad-leaf tree species is a valued source of renewable biomass for biorefinery and a target for genetic improvement efforts to reduce its recalcitrance. Glucuronoxylan (GX) plays a key role in recalcitrance through its interactions with cellulose and lignin. To reduce recalcitrance, we modified wood GX by expressing GH10 and GH11 endoxylanases from Aspergillus nidulans in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × tremuloides Michx.) and targeting the enzymes to cell wall. The xylanases reduced tree height, modified cambial activity by increasing phloem and reducing xylem production, and reduced secondary wall deposition. Xylan molecular weight was decreased, and the spacing between acetyl and MeGlcA side chains was reduced in transgenic lines. The transgenic trees produced hypolignified xylem having thin secondary walls and deformed vessels. Glucose yields of enzymatic saccharification without pretreatment almost doubled indicating decreased recalcitrance. The transcriptomics, hormonomics and metabolomics data provided evidence for activation of cytokinin and ethylene signalling pathways, decrease in ABA levels, transcriptional suppression of lignification and a subset of secondary wall biosynthetic program, including xylan glucuronidation and acetylation machinery. Several candidate genes for perception of impairment in xylan integrity were detected. These candidates could provide a new target for uncoupling negative growth effects from reduced recalcitrance. In conclusion, our study supports the hypothesis that xylan modification generates intrinsic signals and evokes novel pathways regulating tree growth and secondary wall biosynthesis. 

Chunkwood fuels have a particle size larger than normal chips which enables good drying and storage properties and are therefore appreciated by small-scale users. However, small-scale boilers optimized for chunkwood are not commercially available and the research question is if modern wood chip stokers, selected for having a robust fuel feeding system could feed and combust the fuel. Chunkwood fuel feeding, and combustion tests are performed in a 27-kW and a 240-kW wood chip stoker. Both boilers fulfill Ecodesign emission requirements for carbon monoxide (CO) at nominal load, but further optimization is required to fulfil requirements for dust. Partial load combustion needs to be further studied. There were problems with high stress on the fuel feeding system in both stokers, traced to when excessively large fuel pieces passed the outlet of the fuel bin and when fuel discs became trapped between the auger screw and the lid of the conveyor. Suggestions to solve the fuel feeding problems includes redesign of the fuel bin auger screw to cut oversized pieces, alternatively use of previously developed prototype conveyors that worked. Further studies are required to optimize the fuel feeding system and the combustion performance including a solution for partial load operation. 

Flexible resources aids in enhancing the resilience of a renewable dominated power system. Space heating systems equipped with heat pumps is one such flexible resource. With this background, the current study deals with the quantification of flexibility potential of space heating systems in houses equipped with various heat pump types. A heat pump model is represented using a vapour compression heat pump cycle. This model is integrated with a thermal model of a house to estimate electricity consumption, for maintaining the indoor temperature at a set value, as flexibility quantification depends on electricity consumption. In addition to this, flexibility potential is quantified by, analysing and incorporating the results on minimum acceptable indoor temperature from twelve interviews with households owning heat pumps, into the integrated model. The results from interviews reveal that, there is an uncertainty in minimum acceptable indoor temperature, as it is dependant on a number of factors such as frequency and duration of interruption, access to additional heating and motivation to be flexible. Hence, to quantify flexibility using thermal simulations, the indoor temperature is reduced from 20 °C to values between 18 °C and 15 °C, based on minimum acceptable temperatures stated in the interviews. The flexibility potential is quantified in terms of an instantaneous reduction in electric power and reduction in electric energy. By reducing the indoor temperature from 20 °C to the aforementioned values at an outdoor ambient temperature of -5 °C, in about a million single family houses in southern half of Sweden, an instantaneous reduction in electric power is estimated to be 1.6 GW, for the power system with 23 GW plannable power. Additionally, considering the recovery of the indoor temperature to 20 °C in 24 h, electric energy reduction is found to be between 4.06 GWh and 7.4 GWh, when the reference indoor temperature is reduced to values between 18 °C and 15 °C respectively, over 17.25 h. Furthermore, with time the amount of flexibility offered reduces, becomes negative during the recovery period and finally reaches zero, when the indoor temperature is restored. The results reveal that space heating systems in houses equipped with heat pumps have the potential to enhance the resilience of the power grid during severe grid disturbances. 

This study examines the adaptation of the Uppsala Model to enhance the management of European Union (EU)-funded projects, particularly focusing on the macro- and micro-foundational elements of the model. The Uppsala Model, originally developed for firm-level internationalization, provides a valuable framework for addressing the complex challenges of EU project implementation, which include bureaucratic hurdles, diverse stakeholder management, and the intricacies of European integration. This paper highlights the persistent issues faced by project managers despite improved application processes and skilled beneficiaries. By applying the Uppsala Model, which emphasizes incremental knowledge development and resource commitment, this study aims to bridge the gap between fund acquisition and project delivery. The integration of both macro- (broad external factors) and micro- (individual and organizational behaviors) perspectives of the Uppsala Model offers a comprehensive approach to managing international, multi-stakeholder EU initiatives. This approach is exemplified through the SuMaNu project, which addresses nutrient recycling and sustainable manure management in the Baltic Sea Region. The findings suggest that the Uppsala Model’s principles can be effectively applied to enhance the execution of complex EU projects by fostering better stakeholder relationships, incremental learning, and adaptive strategies. This study underscores the relevance of experiential learning and network perspectives in achieving successful project outcomes in the EU context

Naming common odors is a surprisingly difficult task: Odors are frequently misnamed. Little is known about the linguistic properties of odor misnamings. We test whether odor misnamings of old adults carry information about olfactory perception and its connection to lexical-semantic processing. We analyze the olfactory–semantic content of odor source naming failures in a large sample of older adults in Sweden (n = 2479; age 58–100 years). We investigate whether linguistic factors and semantic proximity to the target odor name predict how odors are misnamed, and how these factors relate to overall odor identification performance. We also explore the primary semantic dimensions along which misnamings are distributed. We find that odor misnamings consist of surprisingly many vague and unspecific terms, such as category names (e.g., fruit) or abstract or evaluative terms (e.g., sweet). Odor misnamings are often strongly associated with the correct name, capturing properties such as its category or other abstract features. People are also biased toward misnaming odors with high-frequency terms that are associated with olfaction or gustation. Linguistic properties of odor misnamings and their semantic proximity to the target odor name predict odor identification performance, suggesting that linguistic processing facilitates odor identification. Further, odor misnamings constitute an olfactory–semantic space that is similar to the olfactory vocabulary of English. This space is primarily differentiated along pleasantness, edibility, and concreteness dimensions. Odor naming failures thus contain plenty of information about semantic odor knowledge. 

In Sweden, phosphorus is commonly removed from municipal wastewater treatment by chemical precipitation (CP). Recently, such alternatives as enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) have garnered interest due to the increased risk of chemical shortage. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to compare EBPR and CP in three scenarios: 1) baseline – precipitation chemicals available, 2) stricter effluent requirements – precipitation chemicals available, and 3) chemical shortage – no precipitation chemicals available. Data acquisition that was based on dynamic process simulation was useful, yielding more site-specific results, in contrast to standard literature values. The results indicated substantial differences in greenhouse gas emissions between configurations (around three times higher methane emissions for EBPR compared to CP configurations – although this finding requires further validation). These differences suggest that different emission factors for EBPR and CP should be considered. Furthermore, it is suggested to include waterline methane emissions, at least when the configuration incorporates anaerobic reactors in the water line. Further validation of emissions is necessary, especially for EBPR plants with side-stream hydrolysis and digester reject water treatment. The LCA results showed a similar overall environmental impact for both configurations, but the results of individual impact categories differed. EBPR caused greater climate impact due to the larger direct emissions of methane. Toxicity was more important for CP, based on the inherent heavy metal content in precipitation chemicals. Freshwater eutrophication was similar for both configurations, assuming that precipitation chemicals were available. However, if the recipient is sensitive, implementing EBPR reduces the freshwater eutrophication potential by 75% during a chemical shortage, and should be considered. 

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) typically experience reduced powertrain energy efficiency under low-torque operating conditions. This issue can be mitigated by torque modulation, i.e., alternating driver torque demand between zero and an appropriate value. This paper aims to maximize the efficiency improvement of torque modulation and investigate its potential in two powertrain topologies: single and dual motor powertrains. To this end, optimal modulation strategies are proposed for both powertrains, considering overall powertrain energy losses and specific powertrain characteristics. Additionally, the adverse impact on driver comfort and powertrain durability due to the pulsating torque is examined. The results suggest that the proposed optimal modulation strategies can enhance powertrain efficiency while maintaining acceptable levels of driver comfort and powertrain durability. In addition, complementary modulation and torque distribution can be applied in the dual motor powertrain to provide further energy-saving potential and reduced impact on driver comfort. 

The performance of repair coating solutions at damaged areas on prepainted galvanised steel was assessed in a cyclic corrosion test and after outdoor exposures in marine atmosphere. Different surface preparations at corroded defects before the application of the repair coatings were tested, for example, water-jetting, the use of commercial cleaning solutions either acidic or alkaline, a chrome-free conversion coating and the application of Zn-Al primer coating. A poorer performance of the repair coatings was observed on damaged and corroded systems compared to damaged-only panels. This was connected to the presence of remaining chlorides and corrosion products at scribes on corroded panels before repair coating application, which indicated the need for careful surface preparation to minimise the concentration of soluble salts. This was achieved by water-jetting and the use of alkaline or acidic cleaning which provided satisfying corrosion performance of the repair coatings particularly with a two-layer system as expected from the thicker layer of the reparation and presence of a primer. The weakest protection was observed when the one-layer repair coating was applied on a chemically treated surface, which may be related to the weakness of the coating. © 2024 The Author(s). Materials and Corrosion published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Chemosensory sensations are often hard to describe and quantify. Language models may facilitate a systematic understanding of sensory descriptions. We accessed consumer and expert reviews of wine, perfume, and food products (English language; about 68 million words in total) and analyzed their sensory descriptions. Using a novel data-driven method based on natural language data, we compared the three chemosensory vocabularies (wine, perfume, food) with respect to their vocabulary overlap and semantic properties, and explored their semantic spaces. The three vocabularies primarily differ with respect to domain specificity, concreteness, descriptor type preference and degree of gustatory vs. olfactory association. Wine vocabulary primarily distinguishes between white wine and red wine flavors and qualities. Food vocabulary separates drinkable and edible food products and ingredients, on the one hand, and savory and non-savory products, on the other. A salient distinction in all three vocabularies is between concrete and abstract/evaluative terms. Valence also plays a role in the semantic spaces of all three vocabularies, but valence is less prominent here than in general olfactory vocabulary. Our method allows a systematic comparison of sensory descriptors in the three product domains and provides a data-driven approach to derive sensory lexicons that can be applied by sensory scientists. 

Aim: This paper aims to report on two modifications made to improve the measurement precision of the Ms. Olsen test. Specifically, three items were added to the Ms. Olsen test and an extended scoring was applied to some items. Design: The competence assessment had a quantitative cross-sectional design comprising of test results from 111 Registered Nurses in four municipalities in South-Eastern Norway. Methods: The Rasch model was applied to evaluate the measurement properties in four versions: the Ms. Olsen test with 19 items and the same with three added items, and the Ms. Olsen test with 19 items with an expanded scoring for the original and expanded version, respectively. Results: The person separation indexes were improved from 0.50 to 0.62. Other measurement properties were not alternating between the four versions; all had shortcomings in terms of targeting (person measure means 3.02–3.87) and unidimensionality (% t-test >5% 9.01%–13.51%). Conclusion: The clinical relevance and relatively short time spent on testing makes the Ms. Olsen test a reasonable choice and a step in the right direction for assessing competence as a means of targeting continuous professional development of nurses throughout their career. Nevertheless, depending on what kind of decisions are to be made, reliability might still be too low and further development is suggested. Public Contribution: The initiative for the competence assessment came from nursing leaders in the four municipalities involved. The municipalities were represented in all stages of the research process through co-author LS, that is, design, data collection, data analysis, writing of the manuscript as well as dissemination of the results to the four municipalities. Implications for Practice: The Ms. Olsen test exemplifies a move towards objective assessments in nursing. Precise and reliable measurements are essential to support the ongoing professional development of nurses.

This guideline serves as a tool for road authorities and cities to support investment decisions regarding C-ITS on signalized intersections. It provides a step-by-step process for the assess¬ment of the (potential) effectiveness of C-ITS applications in its own specific setting. Next to obtaining realistic expectations on the benefits from implementing C-ITS on various types of signallized intersections, this document guides in the process on how to investigate the impact of C-ITS on signallized intersections.

Multi-purpose ports’ efficient and sustainable operation relies on seamless coordination and decision-making among multiple organizations. This paper underscores the critical importance of forecasting resource and infrastructure utilization for informed operational, tactical, and strategic decision-making. The proposed approach draws on digital twin technology to enable collaborative decision-making by modeling complex port environments to enable shared situational awareness among stakeholders. Illustrated through a collaborative project involving the RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, National University of Singapore, Grieg Connect, Umeå University, Kvarken Ports Umeå, and INAB, we propose a digital twin design to empower the port as a decision- maker in multi-organizational settings to proactively plan and optimize its utilization of present and future resources. 

The energy sector is essential in the transition to a more sustainable future, and renewable energies will play a key role in achieving this. It is also a sector in which the circular economy presents an opportunity for the utilisation of other resources and residual energy flows. This study examines the environmental and social performance of innovative energy technologies (which contribute to the circularity of resources) implemented in a demonstrator site in Luleå (Sweden). The demo-site collected excess heat from a data centre to cogenerate energy, combining the waste heat with fuel cells that use biogas derived from waste, meeting part of its electrical demand and supplying thermal energy to an existing district heating network. Following a cradle-to-gate approach, an environmental and a social life cycle assessment were developed to compare two scenarios: a baseline scenario reflecting current energy supply methods and the WEDISTRICT scenario, which considers the application of different renewable and circular technologies. The findings indicate that transitioning to renewable energy sources significantly reduces environmental impacts in seven of the eight assessed impact categories. Specifically, the study showed a 48% reduction in climate change impact per kWh generated. Additionally, the WEDISTRICT scenario, accounting for avoided burdens, prevented 0.21 kg CO2 eq per kWh auto-consumed. From the social perspective, the WEDISTRICT scenario demonstrated improvement in employment conditions within the worker and local community categories, product satisfaction within the society category, and fair competition within the value chain category. Projects like WEDISTRICT demonstrate the circularity options of the energy sector, the utilisation of resources and residual energy flows, and that these lead to environmental and social improvements throughout the entire life cycle, not just during the operation phase. 

This study examined various source-separating sanitation systems to evaluate their environmental performance, providing decision-makers with insights for selecting an appropriate system for a newly developed neighborhood in Sweden. A full consequential LCA was conducted to account for resource recovery and substitution. The local wastewater treatment plant WWTP was modeled as a reference. Secondly, a urine recycling system was introduced to treat 75 % of the collected urine, with the remainder piped to the WWTP. Thirdly, a black and greywater (BW&GW) treatment system handling all generated wastewater was examined. Finally, a hybrid source-separating system combining urine, black, and greywater was investigated. The results indicated that the four scenarios exhibited global warming potentials (GWP) of 78, 62, 32, and 24 kg CO2-eq per PE/ y. Recycling urine as fertilizer led to a 20 % reduction in the GWP of the reference. It also reduced other impact categories, with a 55 %, 65 %, and 45 % reduction in eutrophication, ozone depletion, and acidification, respectively. The BW&GW system achieved a 60 % reduction over the reference GWP, mainly due to fertilizer, biogas, and cleanwater recovery. Integrating urine, black, and greywater recycling in the final scenario achieved a 25 % reduction compared to the BW&GW scenario, primarily due to lowering of the ammonia stripping GWP and the additional fertilizer recovery. Based on sensitivity analyses, switching citric acid for sulfuric acid reduced the GWP of the urine stabilization unit process by 101 %, from 15.47 to -0.14 kg CO2-eq per PE/ y. Ultimately, the findings suggest that the fully decentralized source-separating sanitation system incorporating urine, blackwater, and greywater recycling, particularly when combined with 70 % energy recovery at the urine concentrator, is most favorable. © 

This article compares and explores vacuum foam-drying as an alternative drying technology to freeze-drying and spray drying for a recombinant human lipase as the model protein. Materials characteristics such as structure, surface composition and the solid-state properties of the dry materials were compared and investigated. Moreover, the technical functionality in terms of reconstitution characteristics and the lipase stability were also investigated. The stability of the lipase was evaluated through activity measurements. Sucrose and dextran D40 (40 kDa) were used as matrix former and the surfactant α-dodecyl maltoside was used as surface active additive. The study demonstrated that the drying technique greatly influenced the material structure and composition which in turn affected the reconstitution characteristics. The lipase was overrepresented at the material surface in declining order spray-dried > vacuum foam-dried > freeze-dried. The lipase activity was retained up to 10 % lipase content in solids, but at 20 % lipase a loss of activity was observed for all drying techniques. Phase separation in the solid material may be an explanation. Vacuum foam-drying shows promise as an alternative drying technique for the lipase, and potentially other proteins. 

Oxy-fuel biomass combustion can facilitate carbon capture in heat and power plants and enable negative carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. We demonstrate oxy-fuel combustion (OFC) of softwood powder in a 100-kW atmospheric down-fired pulverized combustor run at a global oxidizer-fuel equivalence ratio of around 1.25. The simulated oxidizer was varied between oxygen (O2)/CO2 mixtures of 23/77, 30/70, 40/60 and 54/46, and artificial air. The concentrations of the main gaseous potassium (K) species: atomic K, potassium hydroxide (KOH) and potassium chloride (KCl), were measured at two positions in the reactor core using photofragmentation tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (PF-TDLAS). Major species were quantified by TDLAS in the reactor core and with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry at the exhaust. Flue gas particles were collected at the exhaust employing a low-pressure impactor and analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The measured individual K species concentrations in the reactor core agreed with predictions by thermodynamic equilibrium calculations (TEC) within one order of magnitude and the sum of K in the gas phase agreed within a factor of three for all cases. Atomic K was underpredicted, while the dominating KOH and KCl were slightly overpredicted. The ratios of measured to predicted total K were similar in artificial air and OFC, but the distributions of the individual species differed at the upper reactor position. The gaseous K species and fine particle concentrations in the flue gas were directly proportional to the O2 content in the oxidizer. The crystalline phase compositions of the coarse mode particles were rich in K- and calcium-containing species. The fine mode particles, which contained most of the K, consisted mainly of K2SO4 (94%) and K3Na(SO4)2, which is in excellent agreement with TECs of gas phase condensation. As supported by the solid phase analysis, complete sulfation of K species was achieved for all studied cases. A CO2 purity (dry) of up to 94% was achieved for OFC. 

This investigation shows how different parameters affect liquid water absorption in Norway spruce, which in its turn affects product life length and need of maintenance.

Logs from 20 trees, half of them suppressed and half of them dominant, were taken from two sites. One site had a good supply of free water (wet) and the other site was without free ground water (dry). The logs were of approximately the same breast–height diameter. The logs were sawn into boards and dried to 12% moisture content (MC). In order to evaluate water absorption, wood density and moisture content were measured by computed tomography (CT) scanning and image processing. The measurements were performed in room climate by CT scanning after 1, 3, 7 and 14–15 days of liquid water absorption in end grain and during desorption for 6 days.

The most important findings in this investigation were: - Large differences in water absorption were observed between heartwood and sapwood. The absorbed capillary water height (CWH) is higher in sapwood than in heartwood. The average CWH is about 4 times higher in the sapwood than in the heartwood after 24 hours of water absorption (MC ≥ 40%). After 14 days of water absorption the average CWH for sapwood was on the order of 3 times higher than for heartwood. There was a significant difference in heartwood/sapwood ratio between specimens from the “wet dominant” group and the other groups. Specimens from the “wet dominant” group showed the smallest difference in CWH between heartwood and sapwood. - Specimens from the “wet dominant” and the “wet suppressed” group showed the lowest CWH in sapwood. There was a significant difference in CWH in sapwood between specimens from the “wet dominant” group and the “dry suppressed” group and the “dry dominant” group for 7 and 14-15 days absorption. - Specimens from the “wet suppressed” group and the “dry suppressed” group had the lowest CWH in heartwood. There was a significant difference in CWH in heartwood between trees from the “wet suppressed” group and the other groups for 7 and 14–15 days’ absorption - There was no significant difference found in CWH between wood specimens standing with butt end or top end in water. - Trees grown with poor access to water had a larger share of heartwood and grew more slowly than trees that grew with a good supply of water.

A secondary measurement standard filling the gap between the available static and dynamic standards was developed. The standard utilizes a quick-opening valve and bursting diaphragms to generate step-like pressures with amplitude of few kilopascals to 10 MPa and with frequency content from 10-2 Hz to 800 Hz. An important design feature of the developed standard lies in the usage of aluminium diaphragms, allowing short rise times and high frequency content. The standard is based on two reference sensors, calibrated statically and dynamically. The reference sensors showed a linear dynamic response in the intermediate frequency range and was in good agreement with the static calibration results. Therefore, extrapolation of shock tube results was implemented. To demonstrate the capabilities of the developed standard, three pressure measurement systems were characterized, and their respective dynamic response was calculated. The results show that the developed standard can provide calibration information that are not currently available.

A wave energy converter (WEC) comprises many components with distinct functions. The whole WEC system is complicated, as each component is also a complex subsystem. It is challenging to properly model and couple these subsystems to achieve a global simulation of the whole system. This study proposes an FMI-based co-simulation framework to tackle this challenge. Through the use of a co-simulation technique requiring minimal programming effort, a suite of numerical solvers serving for modelling various WEC components is coupled to create a comprehensive system model for a single WEC unit. The modules of the Ansys software, Aqwa and Rigid Dynamics, are employed to model hydrodynamic loads and motion responses. Simulink is utilized to model the power take-off (PTO) system and then integrate all models into a global simulation. The capability and accuracy of the FMI-based co-simulation framework are validated against an experimental heave decay test and verified by cross-comparing a numerical model built in SESAM. Furthermore, the framework is expanded to encompass the modelling of a large-scale wave park that includes multiple WEC units. Based on a novel WEC concept called NoviOcean, two study cases of a single unit and an 18-unit wave park are investigated. Buoy motions and power performance under several regular and irregular sea states are analysed. The hydrodynamic interactions between the units are evaluated quantitatively regarding the power performance. It is found that the interactions improve the power performance, with a maximum increase of up to 36%. 

To enable the chemical industries in Stenungsund achieve climate neutrality, large amounts of fossil-free hydrogen will be required. Producing all hydrogen through electrolysis will demand large amounts of electric power, but the current grid capacity in Stenungsund is limited, making less electricity-intensive hydrogen production solutions essential. This study investigates the technical and commercial prerequisites for a Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) pilot plant in Stenungsund. It also analyzes various scenarios to understand how SOEC and ammonia cracking can complement each other from a techno-economic perspective and enhance security of supply. The interviews that were conducted to gather insights from relevant stakeholders showed that they anticipate a significant increase in future hydrogen demand, highlighting the need for scalable and cost-effective production methods. There is strong interest within the industry cluster to learn more about SOEC technology and gain practical experience through the establishment of a pilot plant. A concept for a SOEC pilot plant has been outlined in the current study including a description of the possible integration with existing infrastructure in Stenungsund. The intention with such a pilot plant is to test and gain experience from commercially available equipment of a size that is relevant for large scale hydrogen production projects. Two different plant sizes were considered, corresponding to approximately 5 MW (case 1) and 10 MW (case 2) electric power demand. There is a clear scale benefit for the larger plant which makes it the preferred choice, but the investigation showed that the CAPEX for the SOEC pilot plant is higher than initially expected. To proceed with a project, a viable business case needs to be presented. This study also examines the technical and economic synergies between SOEC and ammonia cracking, focusing on cost optimization and operational flexibility to meet the hydrogen demand of existing Borealis steam cracker plant at the site. The analysis points to that the integration of both technologies enhances security of supply and reduces costs assuming favorable long-term low-carbon ammonia supply contracts and favourable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Comparing the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), the study finds that SOEC offers a lower LCOH than ammonia cracking under the assumed input costs (400 €/tNH3), provided competitive PPAs are secured (45 €/MWh). The integrated system’s LCOH ranges from 3.7 to 6.5 €/kg, depending on ammonia and electricity prices, with flexible operation potentially reducing costs to 3.7–4.5 €/kg by leveraging spot market prices. Current EU regulations mandate temporal and geographical correlation for PPAs used in renewable fuel production, which complicates flexible operation aligned with the electricity market. Full-load, year-round operation achieves the lowest LCOH, though it limits peak demand response. The sensitivity analysis suggests that exporting excess hydrogen to the industrial cluster could offset costs in low full-load scenarios. In the near term, ammonia cracking can mitigate grid constraints, while future expansion of SOEC capacity, as grid capacity grows, promises further cost reductions and enhanced operational flexibility.

Background: Optimising maintenance drug treatment selection for people with bipolar disorder is challenging. There is some evidence that clinical and demographic features may predict response to lithium. However, attempts to personalise treatment choice have been limited. Method: We aimed to determine if machine learning methods applied to electronic health records could predict differential response to lithium or olanzapine. From electronic United Kingdom primary care records, we extracted a cohort of individuals prescribed either lithium (19,106 individuals) or olanzapine (12,412) monotherapy. Machine learning models were used to predict successful monotherapy maintenance treatment, using 113 clinical and demographic variables, 8,017 (41.96%) lithium responders and 3,831 (30.87%) olanzapine responders. Results: We found a quantitative structural difference in that lithium maintenance responders were weakly predictable in our holdout sample, consisting of the 5% of patients with the most recent exposure. Age at first diagnosis, age at first treatment and the time between these were the most important variables in all models. Discussion: Even if we failed to predict successful monotherapy olanzapine treatment, and so to definitively separate lithium vs. olanzapine responders, the characterization of the two groups may be used for classification by proxy. This can, in turn, be useful for establishing maintenance therapy. The further exploration of machine learning methods on EHR data for drug treatment selection could in the future play a role for clinical decision support. Signals in the data encourage further experiments with larger datasets to definitively separate lithium vs. olanzapine responders. 

In this work, MeV alpha particles generated from an accelerator are used to study single event breakdown (SEB) in 4H-SiC MOSFET samples, rated at 3.3 kV. The samples are exposed to bursts of alpha particles under reverse bias conditions to investigate the SEB sensitivity to ion energy and reverse bias. The energies of alpha particles are chosen to reach different depths in the drift region of the MOSFET devices, and also to penetrate the whole drift region. Forward and reverse characteristics are measured after each exposure, as long as no failures occur, to ensure that the device performance is maintained. The measurements show that no significant effects are observed on the drain-source leakage current, while minor effects on gate behavior can be seen as a function of accumulated fluence. Furthermore, SEB can only be triggered with a reverse bias larger than, or equal to 3 kV. A standard MOSFET cell with a similar rated voltage is also simulated in Sentaurus TCAD to study these effects, using two different models for the incident ion-induced ionization: the Alpha Particle and the Heavy Ion model. Simulations show that the Alpha Particle model cannot induce any device failures even with a 3.5 kV reverse bias, while it is possible to trigger a failure by the Heavy Ion model, where the ionization can be selected. Carrier plasma and internal electric field distributions of the two models are plotted and compared, showing that device failures triggered by a heavy ion are related to the hole injection at epi-substrate interface, in which linear energy transfer (LET) of the particle plays an important role.

The 3.3 kV SiC MOSFETs are essential for traction applications, so it is important to investigate the reliability of the recently developed high voltage MOSFETs and power modules as they are believed to be more susceptible to the effects of basal plane dislocations (BPDs). This paper presents measurement results and analysis of bipolar degradation and threshold voltage instability in 3.3 kV SiC MOSFETs having two distinct kinds of integrated diode, conventional body diode and embedded Schottky Barrier Diode (SBD). No bipolar degradation was observed both in MOSFET with conventional body diode and with embedded SBD after accumulated test with 100 hours each of 200%, 400% and 600% rated current stress in the 3rd quadrant of operation. However, the output characteristics show 1% ( 0.2 mΩ) and 2% ( 0.4 mΩ) increase in on resistance (RDS(on)) and 11% (0.23 V) and 5% (0.1 V) increase in threshold voltage (VTH), respectively, after total bipolar degradation test in the case of the MOSFET with conventional body diode and up to 74 hrs of 600% rated current stress in the case of the MOSFET with embedded SBD at 70°C. A rapid large negative VTH shift was obse rved in the MOSFETs with embedded SBD after 74 hrs of 600% rated current stress. After accumulated Bias Temperature Instability (BTI) test at 150°C, the VTH value at 25°C has increased by 9.7% (0.14 V) and 14.5% (0.2 V) for the MOSFET with conventional body diode and with embedded SBD, respectively, while RDS(on) increased by 1mΩ at 25°C and by 5mΩ at 150°C, for both types of MOSFETs.

In the field of tissue engineering, synthetic and degradable polyesters like poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(ε-caprolactone-co-p-dioxanone) (PCLDX) are widely used as scaffolds. Our previous research revealed that thermal storage conditions could alter the surface texture of PCL and PCLDX scaffolds, which might influence cell-scaffold interactions in tissue engineering applications. These findings highlighted the importance of multi-scale characterization techniques to identify the scales most sensitive to external changes and the need for personalized surface texture analysis. Sterilization techniques, such as ethylene oxide and gamma radiation, are essential for ensuring the sterility of polymeric medical devices. However, these processes can significantly impact the bulk polymer properties and/or surface texture of the scaffolds, potentially affecting their biocompatibility, safety, and overall performance. Therefore, the influence of sterilization processes on the surface texture of PCLDX films and electrospun nanofibers and to correlate these findings with the thermal and physical properties of the polymer are essential and have been assessed. Our results demonstrated that ethylene oxide maintained the structural integrity and surface texture of PCLDX scaffolds, while gamma irradiation caused a significant reduction in molar mass and increased the number of hills (Shn) and dales (Sdn) on PCLDX samples. Despite these changes, both sterilization methods showed minimal effects on the thermal properties, such as melting temperature and degree of crystallinity, and surface wettability of the scaffolds. This comprehensive surface texture analysis highlights the importance of evaluating feature parameters such as Shn and Sdn for optimizing the performance and biocompatibility of polymeric scaffolds in tissue engineering. 

Materials that provide dynamically tunable infrared (IR) response are important for many applications, including active camouflage and thermal management. However, current IR-tunable systems often exhibit limitations in mechanical properties or practicality of their tuning modalities, or require complex and costly fabrication methods. An additional challenge relates to providing compatibility between different spectral channels, such as allowing an object to be reversibly concealed in the IR without making it appear in the visible range. Here, we demonstrate that conducting polymer-cellulose papers, fabricated through a simple and cheap approach, can overcome such challenges. The papers exhibit IR properties that can be electrochemically tuned with large modulation (absolute emissivity modulation of 0.4) while maintaining largely constant response in the visible range. Owing to high ionic and electrical conductivity, the tuning of the top surface can be performed electrochemically from the other side of the paper even at tens of micrometer thicknesses, removing the need for overlaying electrode and electrolyte in the optical beam path. These features enabled a series of electrically tunable IR devices, where we focus on demonstrating dynamic radiative coolers, thermal camouflage, anti-counterfeiting tags, and grayscale IR displays. The conducting polymer-cellulose papers are sustainable, cheap, flexible and mechanically robust, providing a versatile materials platform for active and adaptive IR optoelectronic devices. (Figure presented.). 

The hypothesis was that low residual alkali after cooking would cause lignin re-precipitation during washing and in turn affect the subsequent oxygen delignification stage negatively. To test the hypothesis, kraft cooks were performed in lab-scale to different residual alkali levels, ranging from 5 to 15 g/L and the pulps were subjected to washing with either water or 0.1 M NaOH and then oxygen delignified. The results show that even at low residual alkali and washing with water, the pH in the liquor after washing was above 11 which is sufficiently high to keep lignin in solution. No effect of residual alkali level was observed on the performance of the oxygen delignification stage. 

The popularity of plant-based alternatives to meat has increased due to advancements in important attributes such as taste. Using adequate processing at elevated temperatures combined with aseptic packaging, especially in combination with storage below the freezing point, microbial hazards in these products are negligible. However, for plant-based alternatives to ham, sausages, spreads, or cheese, for example, on sandwiches, the product must withstand microbial growth in the fridge after breaking the seal of the food packaging, as everything is not typically consumed directly. Currently, there are few preservations methods, but one solution is adding weak acid preservatives, with less inherent health concerns compared to sulfites and nitrite, e.g. carcinogenicity and hypersensitivity. To be fully effective an acidic pH is required. In this study, an approach where sausage-resembling meat analogues with different pHs (4.14–5.56) were prepared without preservatives, with potassium sorbate (2000 mg/kg), or sodium disulfite (200 mg/kg), and thereafter subjected to standardised challenge tests to elucidate the efficacy. Sorbate was the only preservative effective to prevent growth of all tested organisms, Penicillium roqueforti, Pichia fermentans and Listeria monocytogenes. The identified superiority of sorbate compared to other tested preservatives is relevant knowledge when developing preservation strategies for other types of meat analogues.

To address the essential problem in surface metrology of establishing functional correlations spatial, frequencies in topographic measurements are progressively decomposed into a large number of narrow bands. Bandpass filters and commercially available software are used. These bands can be analyzed with conventional surface texture parameters, like average roughness, Sa, or other parameters, for detailed, multiscale topographic characterizations. Earlier kinds of multiscale characterization, like relative area, required specialized software performing multiple triangular tiling exercises. Multiscale regression analyses can test strengths of functional correlations over a range of scales. Here, friction coefficients are regressed against standard surface texture parameters over the range of scales available in a measurement. Correlation strengths trend with the scales of the bandpass filters. Using bandpass frequency, i.e., wavelength or scale, decompositions, the R2 at 25 μm, exceeds 0.9 for Sa compared with an R2 of only 0.2 using the broader band of conventional roughness filtering. These improved, scale-specific functional correlations can facilitate scientific understandings and specifications of topographies in product and process design and in designs of quality assurance systems.