Volume 21 Issue 3

The hierarchical structure of an extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates cell behaviors, including adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Inspired by this principle, tunable all-cellulose cryogels were engineered that partially mimic the architecture of native tissue microenvironments. Building upon the authors’ recent advances in hairy cellulose nanocrystals (HCNC) with finely tuned chemical functionalities and nanoarchitectures, this work leverages amine- and aldehyde-functionalized HCNC together with polymeric cellulose derivatives as building blocks to develop cryogels with organ-specific, ECM-like architectures. Schiff base reactions in conjunction with electrostatic attraction mediate the formation of dynamic covalent networks that self-assemble into hydrogels, which are subsequently lyophilized to yield porous cryogels. Variations in the composition and functionality of cellulosic building blocks govern scaffold architecture by modulating network connectivity, enabling the regulation of pore features. This work establishes a sustainable, non-animal-derived material platform that may bridge biomass nanotechnology and regenerative medicine, demonstrating how renewable, functionally engineered cellulose across micro- and nanoscale can be translated into next-generation biomimetic scaffolds.

The study highlights the promising use of renewable materials in 3D printing such as flax, wood, and bamboo. These materials have demonstrated potential for lightweight construction components, architectural elements, customized panels, and sustainable composite structures produced through additive manufacturing techniques such as FDM, FFF, SLA, and ILF. These solutions enable the integration of additive manufacturing with advanced architectural geometries, replacing traditional materials with lower-impact bio-based alternatives and creating optimized, adaptable components. Key challenges include the need for consensus on large-scale production of 3D-printed elements in construction through standardized parameters and codes, as well as further studies on durability and performance under adverse conditions and in both structural and non-structural applications.

Lignin, a prospective bioresource from plants, has been undervalued for several dozen years because of the unpredictable structures and their changeability during extraction. Recently, lignin has become a star for certain researchers who are aiming to develop sunscreen products offering production against UV radiation. The preparation of lignin into sunscreens as a natural alternative to chemical products may offer new perspectives. This review discusses how lignin isolation methods and the resulting structural characteristics affect UV absorption, thereby determining the potential of lignin as a UV-absorbing and blocking agent in sunscreen formulations. The application of lignin in cosmetics may present great benefit to humans and their skin care needs.

Kerf width variations in native wood species were evaluated with respect to CO₂ laser cutting, focusing on the impact of different laser parameters. By systematically varying power output and cutting speed on beech, oak, and spruce wood, the resulting kerf widths were quantified at the top and bottom of the cuts. Measurements were conducted using a Keyence VHX 7000 digital microscope. The results indicated that increased power output generally led to wider kerf widths, while higher cutting speeds resulted in narrower kerfs. Beech exhibited the narrowest kerfs, followed by oak, with spruce wood showing the widest for TOP surface equal to 415.60±103.05, 462.24±114.04, and 497.63±149.05 mm, respectively. Statistical analysis using ANOVA highlighted the significant effects of power output, cutting speed, and wood structures on kerf width. This research offers insights into optimizing laser cutting parameters to achieve precise and efficient cuts in wood processing applications within interval of energy densities between 11.2 and 90 J·mm⁻².

Forest management practices affect stored carbon stocks differently. Therefore, understanding the mismatch between stakeholder groups’ preferences for forest management practices and the likelihood of their adoption can highlight areas where socioeconomic externalities should be addressed. In addition to preference–feasibility gaps at the individual level, low participation in forest carbon programs can also reflect broader structural and economic constraints (e.g., monitoring/verification and transaction costs, aggregation/minimum-acreage requirements, contract duration/permanence requirements, and carbon price uncertainty). This study used the Analytical Hierarchy Process to explore stakeholder preferences for six forest management practices to increase carbon stocks in Georgia, USA, and compared them with their perceived feasibility. The results showed that increasing the capacity for sustainable forest management, using biochar and afforestation, can enhance the potential to increase carbon stocks, as their preference was higher than their perceived feasibility. Increasing awareness of the potential of conservation and longer rotation ages, which are more feasible but less preferred, will help improve stakeholder preferences and further increase their adoption. Priorities differed between men and women; however, gender-based comparisons are interpreted as exploratory, given the limited number of women respondents. These findings can benefit forest carbon program managers, landowners, and policymakers. Given the small, workshop-based sample, the findings should be interpreted as a pilot assessment intended to inform larger follow-on studies.

This study modeled and optimized energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) for watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) production in Adana, Turkey. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithms (MOGA) were employed for the analysis. The findings revealed that chemical fertilizers accounted for the largest share of energy use (77.0%), followed by diesel fuel (8.4%), with a total energy consumption of 50,100 MJ ha⁻¹. The ANN 10-8-2 architecture provided the most accurate performance (R²). Using the MOGA method, optimum values ​​were determined for minimum total GHGE and maximum watermelon production. The highest amount of production with minimum energy usage was approximately 10,900 MJ ha^-1. The GHGE of the best production were calculated as approximately 282 kg CO₂_eq ha^-1. The GHGE reduction potential using MOGA was calculated as 903 kg CO₂_eq ha^-1. Furthermore, the highest reduction in GHGE occurred in nitrogen fertilizer by 52.0%. The results also indicated that the highest amount of production with minimum energy usage is approximately 10,900 MJ ha^-1. The GHGE of the best production were calculated as approximately 282 kg CO₂_eq ha^-1. The GHGE reduction potential using MOGA was calculated as 903 kg CO₂_eq ha^-1. Furthermore, the highest reduction in GHGE occurred in nitrogen fertilizer by 52.0%.

Effects of acid and enzymatic hydrolysis, as well as starch content, were compared relative to the amounts of reducing sugars obtained from rice polish. The growth of yeast on various sugar profiles obtained from both hydrolysis was evaluated. The effect of pretreatments of different H₂SO₄ concentrations (1 to 5%) was examined at different incubation periods (1 to 3 h). The impacts of 1% H₂SO₄ and H₃PO₄ on rice polish were also studied, and the reducing sugar release was measured using the DNS assay. For enzymatic hydrolysis, a fungus with high starch-degrading ability was isolated from soil and tentatively identified as Aspergillus niger. The efficiency of amylase produced by A. niger via submerged fermentation was determined at various residence times (48 to 120 h), with reducing sugar release measured by a substrate-based assay and enzyme activity by a product-based assay. Finally, the yeast growth was assessed on hydrolysates from both methods. Proximate analysis revealed 79.5% starch, 35.2% sugar, and 8.5% nitrogen in rice polish. Maximum reducing sugar (19.2 mg/mL) was obtained after pretreatment with 2% H₂SO₄ after 1.0 h, and H₂SO₄ yield (1.08 g/L) outperformed H₃PO₄ (0.59 g/L). Moreover, the substrate-based assay showed optimal starch conversion at 72 h (10.6 µmol/min), and the product-based assay showed maximum enzyme activity after 72 h (409 µmol/min). The evaluation of yeast growth revealed that enzymatic hydrolysis produced more reducing sugars (8.68 mg/mL) compared to acid hydrolysis (6.61 mg/mL), highlighting its potential for ethanol production.

This study adopted a semi‑analytical CFD‑DEM coupling method to simulate the movement and deposition of lignin particles in ceramic membrane pores, with the aim of elucidating the microscopic mechanisms of membrane fouling. The movement of lignin particles is predicted to be primarily governed by local hydrodynamic forces and, for sub‑micron particles, by Brownian motion, whereas van der Waals forces determine the strength of particle–particle and particle–surface adhesion during deposition. Because the magnitude of this adhesive interaction was modeled as being controlled by the ‘surface energy’ parameter in the JKR model, calibration of this parameter was essential for reliable simulation results. Accordingly, this study concentrated on systematically analyzing how ‘surface energy’ could influence coordination number, filter‑cake porosity, and deposition morphology during particle sedimentation. The analysis identified a reasonable and physically consistent range for the ‘surface energy’ parameter. The results indicated that setting the particle ‘surface energy’ between 0.2 and 1.0 J/m² yielded deposition behavior that could closely resemble experimental trends reported for lignin filtration, thereby providing a theoretical basis for more accurate prediction and regulation of membrane‑fouling behavior.

This study evaluates keratin as a formaldehyde-free adhesive for three-layer particleboards for EN 312 (2010) P1-type by developing a sustainable alternative to urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins while decreasing reliance on food-derived protein adhesives. Keratin was extracted from duck feathers using ultrasound-assisted alkaline hydrolysis. Particleboards were made with keratin-based adhesives and compared to panels bonded with UF resin and food protein isolates (casein, pea, and soybean). Resination was set at 10% for the core layer and 12% for the face layers. Protein adhesives were activated with NaOH. Mechanical performance was assessed by measuring modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bond strength (IB), and screw withdrawal resistance (SWR), along with thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA). The protein-bonded panels exhibited higher face-layer densities than UF, leading to improved stiffness and strength. Keratin-bonded boards achieved an MOR of 12 N·mm^-2, an MOE above 3000 N·mm^-2, and an SWR of 139 N·mm^-2, surpassing UF performance and meeting EN 312 P1 (2010) requirements. Results demonstrate the potential of feather keratin as a scalable, green, and cost-effective adhesive for dry-use particleboards. This approach promotes renewable adhesive systems, aligning with current regulatory trends toward formaldehyde-free materials and circular bioeconomy strategies.

As the average age of people continues to increase in many countries, compact urban apartments present significant challenges to the functional adaptability of living environments. This creates new difficulties with the design of elderly-friendly furniture. This study explores the modularization and configuration of furniture in limited spaces to satisfy the requirements of aging-in-place, particularly regarding comfort, convenience, and safety. First, the Affinity Diagram (AD) method was employed to systematically categorize user needs and construct an evaluation system. Second, an integrated weighting method combining Order Relation Analysis (ORA) and the Coefficient of Variation (CV) was applied to obtain a comprehensive weighted ranking of these needs, guiding the development of three design schemes for Modular Table-Chair-Storage Nesting Sets. Finally, the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method was used to select the optimal scheme, Subsequently, verification was conducted through simulation experiments This study proposes a systematic framework to meet user needs, providing reliable support for modular table-chair-storage nesting sets design in space-constrained elderly care scenarios, thereby improving both space utilization and product safety.