RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden
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Maximizing yields of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in side streams from steam explosion of lignocellulosic residues
No full textThe demand for renewable energy and chemicals from biomass resources has led to the development of methods for biorefining lignocellulosic materials into pellets and value-added chemicals. This has, in turn, driven a search for alternative raw materials to use as feedstock in such biorefineries. This study proposes the inclusion of low-grade lignocellulosic residues from agriculture and forestry, such as straw and woody biomass with a high bark content, in the feedstock mix for steam explosion (STEX) based biorefineries. It focuses on exploring how the use of low-grade residues affects the yield of value-added chemicals that arise as side streams during the steam explosion of lignocellulosic biomass and if acetic acid impregnation of the biomass prior to STEX pretreatment will further improve yields of valuable side stream chemicals. The raw materials were impregnated with water/acetic acid before being subjected to STEX pretreatment, using high temperatures (190 °C–223 °C), and a reaction time of 8 min before pressure release. Value-added chemicals were identified in two separate aqueous side streams. In the condensed process effluents, the most abundant compounds were acetic acid (1.2 g*kg−1 dry input biomass) and furfural (1.4 g*kg−1 dry input biomass), and the highest yields were found in the samples from mixed spruce and branches and tops (BRAT) at high temperatures. Filtrate samples produced from washing the steam-exploded biomass contained acetic acid (53.6 g*kg−1 dry input biomass), furfural (4.1–7.9 g*kg−1 dry input biomass) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) (9.0 g*kg−1 dry input biomass) as the most abundant compounds and highest yields of target compounds were found in samples of spruce alone and of spruce mixed with BRAT. All compounds in the side streams were identified and quantified using quantitative 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qNMR). This study demonstrates that high yields of valuable chemicals are present in the aqueous side streams of pellet production using alternative feedstocks such as forestry and agricultural residues.This work also received funding from Arbaflame AS through the Research Council of Norway under grant agreement nos 309970, 309674, and PhD project no. 321268.</p
Optical Fiber-Based Module for Selection and Picking of Cells and Cell Clusters
No full textWe have developed an optical fiber-based module that can select, retrieve, and transfer single cells, and cell clusters. Cell picking and isolation has several applications such as separating circulating tumor cells, isolating single fetal cells for prenatal testing, and others. Our Lab-in-a-Fiber (LiF) module can detect fluorescent cancer cells (MCF-7) from a mixture of labeled and unlabeled cells and pick them up for further analysis. The cells picked up by the fiber show a 90% survival rate on viability tests, making this cell-picking technique an attractive alternative to existing methods. We thank the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) for funding this collaborative research work with research grant number 2021-03413. </p
BMI: Bounded Mutual Information for Efficient Privacy-Preserving Feature Selection
No full textWe introduce low complexity bounds on mutual informationfor efficient privacy-preserving feature selection with secure multi-partycomputation (MPC). Considering a discrete feature with N possible values and a discrete label with M possible values, our approach requiresO(N) multiplications as opposed to O(NM) in a direct MPC implementation of mutual information. Our experimental results show thatfor regression tasks, we achieve a computation speed up of over 1,000×compared to a straightforward MPC implementation of mutual information, while achieving similar accuracy for the downstream machinelearning model.
Study of fire characteristics of vegetation in a forest in the Atlantic coastal region of Norway (TREEADS)
No full textOver the last years there have been several large wildfires in Norwegian coastal heathlands and nearby forests, some occurring in dry winters with strong winds and others due to high temperatures combined with low precipitation [1]. Wildfire risk depends on many factors, such as temperature, wind conditions, humidity, and characteristics of the vegetation, including chemical composition and geometry. In this study, the fire characteristics of stair-step moss (Hylocomium splendens), lingonberry shrub (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), juniper (Juniperus communis), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) leaves and stem, and heather (Calluna vulgaris) were studied.TREEADS has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036926.</p
Steering the Future: An Overview of Current and Upcoming Regulations in Automated Driving : Version 0.5
No full textThis report provides an overview of current and upcoming legal frameworks and instruments relevant for automated vehicles (AV) and automated driving (AD). It is the first version of this overview, which will be updated every six months as long as the project ‘Network AD regulation’ runs. Next version of the overview can be expected around June 2024. In this version, legislation as of December 2023 has been considered. Laws and regulations play a vital role in the safe and efficient integration of AVs into our transportation system. They can ensure that we maximise the benefits of the new technology while minimising the downside risks and help to build public trust in the technology. Vehicles are sold on an international market and much of the traffic goes across national borders. Therefore, harmonised rules are needed, at least to some extent. A regulatory development around AD is ongoing at international level and regional level within Europe, and this has already resulted in some new regulations. More will come within the next few years. Knowledge of international and EU regulations as well as ongoing and planned regulatory initiatives that affect the development and use of AVs is important for actors in the AV space to follow. The shift towards AD is disruptive and complex, not least from a regulatory perspective. AVs need partly different requirements than previous vehicles, necessitating the development of new vehicle regulations and traffic rules. AVs must be able to interact safely with other road users (not least unprotected road users) in various traffic situations and driving conditions; anticipate and detect risks and drive with a margin of safety to prevent accidents and injuries; and follow traffic rules. (It is even likely that some traffic rules will have to be written differently than today.) ‘Vehicle regulations’ set requirements for how the vehicles should be designed and function, while ‘traffic rules’ set requirements for how road users should behave in traffic. In AD, it is the vehicle and not the driver that must follow traffic rules. This means that the AV must be designed to comply with traffic rules. This needs to be considered from a regulatory perspective. At the same time, users of AVs may need to have different traffic rules for how they should behave in relation to these vehicles. The legislator also needs to consider this.Sweden has 17 strategic innovation programmes funded by the Swedish innovation agency Vinnova, Formas (a research council for sustainable development) and the Swedish Energy Agency.</p
Assessment of Direct Tensile Strength Tests in Rock Through a Multi-laboratory Benchmark Experiment
No full textThis study aims to experimentally assess repeatability and reproducibility of direct tensile strength (DTS) tests with deformability measurements on two types of rocks: Blanco Mera granite (Spain) and Cotta sandstone (Germany). The tests were conducted in four rock mechanics laboratories located in different countries (Canada, Germany, Spain and Sweden). A total of 51 tests were performed on cylindrical specimens of the two rocks, using different test equipment and measuring devices. Mean and standard deviation DTS values were determined in the four laboratories for the granite (5.70 ± 0.32, 6.06 ± 0.11, 3.84 ± 0.50 and 6.76 ± 0.10 MPa) and for the sandstone (1.88 ± 0.07, 1.96 ± 0.06, 1.15 ± 0.32 and 1.74 ± 0.19 MPa), together with Young’s moduli and Poisson’s ratios in tension, being statistically analysed to evaluate the variability and compare the main results obtained from the participating laboratories. The findings indicate that the DTS test with deformability measurements on cylindrical rock specimens is operationally feasible. However, certain shortcomings have been identified during the course of the experiments with the existing methodologies, such as the one suggested by the ISRM for DTS tests. The results have also shown to be sensitive to appropriate test and strain measurement configurations. The objective of this study was to shed light on these issues and provide new insights for potential future improvements of the existing testing methods
An added aroma changes the behaviour of domestic pigs in a novel situation aimed for stunning
No full textThe currently most widespread stunning method for pigs is high concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), but this method is under scrutiny due to animal welfare deficits. One alternative method currently under development with potential to replace CO2 is nitrogen (N2) filled high expansion foam. While N2 does not elicit the same aversive behaviour as CO2, it is currently not known if the high expansion foam itself may be frightening to the pigs. Means to alleviate fear reactions to foam could consist of diverting pigs’ attention using aromas (an odour in combination with taste) of interest to them. The current study aimed to investigate if an added aroma (vanilla aroma) affected pigs’ avoidance and exploratory behaviour when exposed to air-filled high expansion foam in a foam box. The study included 50 pigs (30 females, 20 males) of 14–16 weeks of age, of different crosses between Yorkshire, Hampshire and Duroc. The pigs were randomly assigned to either the treatment with air-filled foam with added aroma or the control treatment with no added aroma, which they were exposed to in a foam box. The results showed that pigs with the aromatised foam expressed significantly more exploration behaviour directed towards the foam and box walls, but not towards the floor or the lid. The aromatised foam also resulted in a higher activity level of the pigs. In contrast to the hypotheses, pigs with aromatised foam expressed more avoidance behaviour, and escape attempts were exclusively observed when pigs were exposed to aromatised foam. Slipping events and frequency of vocalisations did not differ between pigs with and without aroma added to the foam. This study shows that an added aroma (taste and odour in combination) increased pigs’ exploration behaviour towards the foam, and thus could serve as a distraction for the pigs when inside a confined foam box. The results emphasise the importance of taking foam aroma into consideration in the further development of the N2-filled high expansion as a stunning method. The potential anxiety- or stress-reducing effect of any added aroma needs further investigation, and future studies should focus on assessing various types of aromas, and/or odours, as well as different concentrations of the compounds to determine which solution is most efficient in alleviating pig stress and anxiety. The authors thank the staff at the Swedish Pig Research Centre, SLU Lövsta, Sweden, for participation and support during the experiments, and Amanda Laufors, Sweden, for her great assistance during the practical parts of the experiments.</p
Precisionssådd av höstoljeväxter
No full textPrecision seeding of winter oilseed rape The project aimed at increasing knowledge of precision establishment of oil seed rape. The hypothesis was that precision sowing in rows with low seed rates and close placing of N will optimize crop autumn development, overwintering, and seed pay-off. In total 12 field trials were conducted in southern and middle Sweden during the harvest years 2019–2022. Treatments included seeding with Väderstad Tempo, 45 cm row spacing, and seeding rates of 20, 35, 50 and 65 plants per m2. As a reference seeding was also done traditionally with a Väderstad Rapid, 12,5 cm row spacing and 50 plants per m2. In average there were no effect of neither seed rate nor row spacing on yield. In individual field experiments where low seed rates yielded better than high seed rates, this followed on a well-developed oil seed rape plant with a high shoot- and root biomass and a large root neck diameter in late autumn. Physiological plant development was affected by seed rate. Number of leaves, root neck diameter and above and below ground biomass was negatively correlated to the seed rate while there was a tendency for the growing point being positively correlated to the seed rate. The number of leaves per plant, shoot and rot biomass and to some extent also root neck diameter and the height of growing point was positively correlated to accumulated day degrees during autumn
Digitalt förarstöd vid dispenstransporter
No full textDigital driver support for abnormal transports This report describes how the management of permits for abnormal transports could be improved through the development of a mobile digital support system. Insights have been gathered from several existing solutions in other countries as well as technology providers active in Sweden. Together with interviews and workshops with local and national government officials and industry representatives they form the basis of an analysis of digitalization and policy requirements for consideration in an ongoing mission to make abnormal transport permits more efficient led by the Swedish Transport Administration. The project was funded by the Swedish Transport Administration
Chemical composition and solubility properties of Bambusa bambos at different ages and height positions
No full textSustainable materials are becoming increasingly important due to environmental concerns and the energy crisis. Non-wood resources such as bamboo are being explored as alternatives to wood-based materials to reduce deforestation. However, the chemical properties of these resources determine their usability. This study analyzed the chemical composition and solubility of Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss, a type of bamboo. The effects of age and height position (top, middle, and bottom) on the chemical composition and solubility were also considered. The study followed the standards of TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) to analyze holocellulose, lignin, and extractive content, and water (hot and cold) and caustic soda (1% NaOH) solubility. The results showed that the chemical composition, i.e., holocellulose, lignin, and extractive, increased while solubility, i.e., cold water, hot water, and NaOH, decreased with the ageing of B. bambos. The average holocellulose, lignin, and extractive contents of three-year-old B. bambos were 70.49%, 27.55%, and 4.54%, respectively. These values were within the range of previous studies, indicating that B. bambos has potential applications in various purposes. © 2024 The Author