Volume 21 Issue 2

The adhesion of two coating systems – hard wax oil (oil-based) and PAM lak (water-based) – were evaluated on laser-engraved wood surfaces of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). Laser engraving was performed at two laser powers (8% = 11 W; 16% = 22 W) and three raster densities (10, 20, and 30 lines·mm⁻¹) for each power level. Adhesion was assessed using the pull-off test. The oil-based coating generally showed lower adhesion to the wood surface compared to the water-based coating. In contrast, several combinations of engraving parameters on spruce (8 × 20) and oak wood (8 × 10, 16 × 10) increased oil-based adhesion but tended to reduce water-based adhesion. On the other hand, the adhesion of the water-based coating was significantly reduced on beech wood (16 × 30) and oak wood (8 × 30, 16 × 20 and 16 × 30). In some cases, adhesion of the water-based coating exceeded the cohesive strength of the modified wood surface layers, leading to cohesive failure within the wood.

This study investigated initiatives to increase the utilization of urban and reclaimed wood across the United States. As society moves towards a circular economy, finding higher value uses for wood from urban trees and decommissioned buildings will contribute to reducing the environmental impacts of landfilling. It will also create jobs and business opportunities. The key findings of this study show policy and program implementation as critical tools for urban and reclaimed wood utilization, including various features in terms of organization, motivation, and funding. Different stakeholders have developed and implemented a wide variety of efforts to make the urban and reclaimed wood industry a fast-growing sector. Results showed that initiatives produce many positive environmental, social, and economic impacts, but that they require community engagement, extensive collaboration and partnerships, as well as unique operational approaches.

The transition towards sustainable packaging requires reliable forming processes for paperboard, but its anisotropic and hygroscopic nature strongly limits dimensional accuracy in processes such as deep drawing. This study addresses the aforementioned challenge by systematically investigating two complementary strategies: optimizing blank geometry and introducing pretension. A combination of numerical simulations with anisotropic, moisture-dependent plasticity, and experimental validation using a pneumatic press with additively manufactured tools was applied. The base-point method for blank optimization allowed for efficient reduction of flange length deviations and geometric errors by more than 55% in a first iteration and stable convergence within three optimization steps. Pretension strategies, applied either by mechanical pre-stretching or by exploiting hygroexpansion, also reduced anisotropic springback. Hygroexpansion-based pretension proved particularly effective by achieving more homogeneous stress distributions without additional equipment. The results demonstrated that these strategies can reduce springback and increase drawing depth while providing a reproducible approach. Optimized blank geometry ensures a more uniform distribution of blank-holder force, while pretension counteracts anisotropy-induced recovery. Together, these findings provide a pathway toward more accurate and scalable paperboard deep drawing, with relevance for industrial implementation of sustainable three-dimensional packaging.

This study proposes a 3D reconstruction method based on 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) for cultural relics, such as root carvings and paper-based relics, which are characterized by fine fiber structures and complex surface details. A consumer-grade smartphone was used to capture multi-view images of the root carvings and paper-based relics. Subsequently, the FFmpeg tool was employed to extract image frames, which serve as input images. COLMAP software was utilized to perform feature matching, Structure from Motion (SfM) computation, and camera pose estimation. This process generated a sparse point cloud, which was used as the initialization data for the 3D Gaussian distribution. This workflow produced high-quality reconstruction of the micro-details of paper materials (such as fiber textures and carved indentations). Comparative evaluations were conducted against Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) and Instant Neural Graphics Primitives (Instant-NGP). The proposed 3DGS framework achieved superior performance. Compared with NeRF, the average PSNR increased by 39.60%, SSIM by 65.84%, and LPIPS by 90.57%, while the reconstruction time was shortened by 68.89%. Compared with Instant-NGP, the framework achieved an increase of 31.56% in average PSNR, 42.58% in SSIM, a decrease of 89.21% in LPIPS, and a reduction of 48.15% in reconstruction time.

To meet the needs of mothers and babies for using baby cribs, this study established a product design process integrating SAPAD theory and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) from the perspective of maternal-infant lifestyles. Information on mother-baby lifestyles obtained from user studies was analyzed through the SAPAD framework to examine the deep meanings of parenting behaviors and key crib-usage behaviors across different contexts. Cluster analysis and AHP were combined to first generate symmetric clustering matrices identifying meaning clusters, then conduct weight analysis with consistency testing to extract users’ core design needs. A core meaning model was constructed to identify corresponding key behaviors and correlates, ultimately yielding five major design modules that translate user requirements into crib design concepts. Design analysis and practice implemented these guidelines, with fuzzy AHP verification confirming the method’s effectiveness in guiding crib design. This approach provides an efficient user-centered model for functional modularization in baby cribs and other multi-user products, effectively resolving demand transformation and functional division challenges in multi-user product design.

The feasibility of utilising soy-lignin bonded Rhizophora spp. wood was investigated as a sustainable, bio-based phantom material for radiation dosimetry applications. Various samples with differing thicknesses and adhesive compositions were prepared to evaluate the consistency and reliability of the material’s attenuation properties. The experimental assessment was conducted using two standard gamma-emitting radioisotopes, Cobalt-60 and Cesium-137, to encompass a range of photon energies relevant to medical radiation applications. Monte Carlo simulations were performed using the GATE platform to compute the linear and mass attenuation coefficients. The study evaluates the impact of adhesives on attenuation behaviour. The lowest overall attenuation variation of 0.06 to 1.40% was observed in the soy–lignin bonded Rhizophora spp. at a particle size of 104 to 210 µm with the addition of 6 and 12% adhesives, suggesting that changes in adhesive content do not appreciably affect the attenuation behaviour, demonstrating its potential as a bio-based phantom material in radiation study.

In this paper, the pathway from peat resources to their various forms of utilization, to their environmental impacts, and to their mitigation is discussed. Overall, research gaps related to various fields of peat studies are identified and recommendations for future research are presented. Global peat reserves are large, but they remain mostly unused. Peat can also be valorized in various less GHG–intensive applications beyond combustion. Heterogenocity of peat may constraint many of these uses, warranting new innovations to support their feasibility. The theme of GHG emissions from peatlands is complex. The future of northern peatlands as carbon sinks remains uncertain. Paludiculture, an emerging research field, and its GHG mitigation potential is also discussed. When discussing peat production, one of its main adverse effects typically disclosed is its impact on the water quality of natural aquatic systems. Thus, different traditional and novel peat bog drainage water treatment methods are extensively compared with each other — a topic not previously presented in the literature.  Peatland restoration and its novel applications, as well as economic aspects, are also addressed. Socioeconomic aspects of peat use, closely linked to climate, food, and rural livelihoods, are currently under vigorous research, and are also examined.

Designing study desks that align with children’s developmental characteristics and learning needs requires a comprehensive and objective evaluation framework. This study proposes a hybrid evaluation framework that integrates the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) with online review analysis, aiming to bridge expert judgment and real-world user perception. The evaluation system was constructed through literature review, user interviews, and expert consultation, covering five primary criteria—Functionality, Structure, Material, Appearance, and Personalization—and seventeen subcriteria. Using AHP, indicator weights were derived, and representative study desk products were assessed through the AHP–TOPSIS model. To validate the model, online user reviews were collected and analyzed through sentiment analysis, enabling a comparison between calculated rankings and market acceptance. Results showed that Functionality and Structure were the dominant determinants, with adjustable height, operational safety, and environmental safety as the most influential factors. Consistency between AHP–TOPSIS rankings and online sentiment confirmed the framework’s reliability. Review analysis also highlighted latent dimensions, such as ease of installation and service experience, providing insights for refining product evaluation. This study offers a scientific and market-responsive approach to children’s furniture design assessment.

In the post-COVID-19 era, home office has become a global norm. This study investigates the functional needs, work habits, and aesthetic preferences of young designers (21 to 35 years old) concerning home office furniture, with the goal of developing user-centered solutions. The study systematically integrated data from observations and interviews with 6 designers, 142 questionnaires, and 89 KANO surveys. Building on this foundation, the KANO-TRIZ method was applied to achieve requirement prioritization and innovative design. A functional requirement card was created, containing 42 needs (e.g., desks, chairs, storage, etc.). Then, 23 key requirements were retained after filtering out low-priority items. Using TRIZ’s 40 inventive principles, design contradictions were addressed to generate solutions. Findings reveal a preference for practical, non-overly functional products. A customizable smart workspace design, integrating modular accessories and intelligent controls, was developed, achieving an average satisfaction rating of 4.3/5. After secondary optimization (storage space: 3.7/5), the solution fully met user needs, demonstrating substantial practical value.

Bamboo carbon (BC) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composites play a significant role in optimizing the utilization of bamboo resources and advancing green, low-carbon, and circular development. To minimize production costs, a relatively high content of bamboo carbon (40 wt.%) was incorporated into the PLA matrix. However, for the high content of BC filler, the optimal process of balancing filler amount and interfacial properties is still unknown. In this study, a three-factor, four-level orthogonal experimental design was employed to investigate the effects of various processing parameters, initiated with twin-screw extrusion, on the crystalline structure, thermal properties, and mechanical performance of the composites. The optimal processing conditions for BC/PLA composites were determined to be a processing temperature of 195 °C, a screw speed of 120 rpm, and a feed rate of 15 g/min. Under these conditions, the tensile strength of the resulting composite reached 40.9 MPa. This study provides valuable insights for enhancing the performance of BC/PLA composites while promoting their large-scale application in sustainable materials engineering.