There is increasing interest in enhancing the thermal insulation of rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) through a sustainable approach. This work presents the utilization of micro-sized biobased fillers, microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) waste, to improve the properties of RPUF composite as a potential insulation material. The inclusion of MFCEFB fillers at varied compositions (0.25–1 wt.%) in the RPUF composites demonstrated significant improvement of thermal insulation, as evidenced by their correlation with lower thermal conductivity, without compromising the mechanical properties compared to the control RPUF without MFCEFB. The results showed a decrease in the thermal conductivity of RPUF composite by 7.92% with the addition of 0.5 wt.% MFCEFB. The compressive strength also increased by 11.76% compared to the control RPUF. These enhancements were correlated to MFCEFB acting as a nucleating agent in the RPUF foaming process, where morphological analysis confirmed that the addition of MFCEFB resulted in smaller and more uniform cell sizes compared to the control RPUF. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) analysis revealed potential interactions between MFCEFB and polyurethane that could improve foam structural integrity. Moreover, the incorporation of MFCEFB at very low concentration had a negligible effect on the biodegradability compared to the RPUF control, demonstrating similar structural integrity to the control RPUF under natural environmental conditions, thereby ensuring the long-term durability of RPUF biocomposites.

In the present study, two types of polymer materials are utilized: PET and crumb rubber. The PET material is used in the production of water bottles and crumb rubber (produced from recycled tires) for manufacturing the Tread part for passenger cars. The study utilizes a master batch compound prepared by the Babylon Tires Factory in Iraq to prepare laboratory final compounds using various experimental techniques. Extensive tests were conducted on rubber samples, including vulcanization process time (T90 and Ts2), specific gravity, hardness test, viscosity test, tensile strength test, torque test, abrasion test, and fatigue test. According to the test results, two compounds that confirmed to the company's standards were selected. Twelve samples of compounds are prepared and divided into two groups (A and B), each containing six compounds. In group (A), the amount of PET is stabilized with the rest of the additives added and the amount of crumb rubber. The group (B) amount of crumb rubber is stabilized with the rest of the other additions and the amount of PET. The test results of the compounds are compared with the standard specifications of Dunlop technology used in the rubber and tire industry. The results show that sample no. (2) From group (B) is the best sample for the abrasion value while maintaining the result of properties within the limits specified. The PET and crumb rubber amount should not exceed (1.3/2.5) pphr, in which the maximum tensile strength and hardness can be obtained with minimum cure characterization time. By tailoring PET-rubber ratios, the research enhances mechanical strength, thermal stability, and durability while promoting the recycling of plastic and rubber waste.

The ready-to-eat snack products from traditional Thai’s rice flour (Khao bahn nah 432: KB432) and corn grits were developed using a single screw extruder. In this study, the ratio between rice flour and corn grits was measured at three different levels (50:50, 60:40 and 70:30). On the viscosity profile of mixed flour, one hundred percent of rice flour formed gel and showed the highest viscosity, while increasing the amount of corn grits resulted in decreased viscosity. In the heat-cool cycle, the final viscosity of 100% rice flour was the highest and that of 50% rice flour showed the lowest. For extrusion parameters, the die temperatures were varied at 150, 160 and 170 ℃. The results showed that an increasing amount of rice flour and die temperature caused a decrease in the texture’s puffiness, density and expansion rate, while the redness (a*) color of the product was increased. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the extrusion conditions of snack production. The result indicated that the optimum ratio between rice flour: corn grits was 50:50, the optimal temperature at the die section was 150 ℃ to produce the ready-to-eat extruded Thai rice snack, a new alternative snack product from rice flour.

This study investigates the crystallographic and electronic modifications induced by zinc doping in NiFe2O4 ferrites, ZnxNi(1-x)Fe2O4, which are synthesized through a sustainable thermal decomposition. Although NiFe₂O₄ is extensively studied for optoelectronic and catalytic applications, its performance is limited by defect-related charge recombination and conductivity. Here, the crystallographic and electronic properties are tailored through controlled Zn incorporation. By varying the zinc concentrations from x = 0 to 0.09, the samples were examined for their structural, optical, and charge transport behaviors using X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and impedance analysis. At x = 0.03, crystallinity is enhanced, defect density is minimized, and charge carrier mobility is significantly improved. The bandgap narrowed from 1.62 eV (undoped) to 1.43 eV (x = 0.07), and resistance dropped from 1.507 × 10⁵ Ω to 0.378 × 10⁵ Ω, indicating better charge transportation. The results suggest that moderate Zn doping modifies the cation distribution and promotes defect stabilization, enabling enhanced visible-light absorption and improved electrical behavior. This study confirms the benefits of defect engineering through thermal decomposition, further work is necessary to evaluate long-term stability, magnetic properties, and integration for specific applications. Challenges still exist in optimizing multi-dopant systems for device-scale deployment.

The pursuit of cost-effective and robust Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) continues to expand, especially for applications in adaptive and smart structural systems, while Ni-Ti-based SMAs remain prevalent due to their superior pseudoelasticity and longevity. However, the limitations of NiTi alloys, including the high processing costs and fabrication difficulties, prompt the exploration of alternatives. This study investigates Cu-Al-based SMAs alloyed with Mn, Be, and Fe as cost-effective alternatives to NiTi systems. In the present work, Cu-Al-based alloy wires with Mn, Be, and Fe were betatized at 850 °C and water-quenched to achieve martensitic structures, followed by evaluation of tensile strength, yield behavior, ductility, and hardness. Mn addition significantly enhanced tensile strength (up to 425 MPa), while Be and Fe improved ductility through grain refinement. Hardness increased with Mn due to solid solution strengthening. Thus, the current work provides a comparative analysis of Cu-Al-Mn, Cu-Al-Be-Mn, and Cu-Al-Fe-Mn alloys, linking alloying strategies to microstructural evolution and mechanical performance, demonstrating their potential for advanced engineering applications.

Therefore, in today’s wireless communication systems and in particular, the Multi-User-Multiple Input Multiple Output-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (MU-MIMO-OFDM) systems, channel estimation, the detection, and mitigation of the attack are important to ensure the safe operation of a system. Current approaches use distinct procedures for completing these jobs, and this causes high computational expenses, longer response times, and decreased performance of the system. In this work, a multi-task learning (MTL) framework is introduced to develop a new end-to-end deep learning solution of an Amalgamated Convolutional Neural Network (ACNN) for spatial feature extraction and a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) for temporal attack detection. The proposed system is effective in handling these tasks together because that would mean maximum efficiency and accuracy. To enhance the model’s efficiency, a Green Anaconda Optimization (GAO) algorithm is used to solve the multi-task loss function and enhance convergence rate and solution quality. The presented GAO approach provides a good balance between channel estimation, attack detection, and mitigation since GAO adapts the model parameters in the training process. Most of the current methods give slow convergence rates, and high computational costs, and are not very suitable for scale-up, especially in dynamic systems. These limitations make them unadoptable for real-time operations and analysis. The challenges described above are addressed by the proposed hybrid model with GAO, which is therefore ideal for modern secure wireless communication systems due to the reduced computational overhead and faster response time. The model reaches a first-level accuracy of 99% and costs 70 GFLOPs and 35 ms latency.

Ensuring the fabrication reproducibility of pneumatic actuators for a flow control in microfluidics is essential for their practical application. The actuator consists of a two-layered structure, including a control layer and a thin membrane. This study introduces a novel fabrication method that achieves uniform Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane thickness and simplifies production using a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sacrificial layer and corona discharge bonding. Actuators with membrane diameters of 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 µm were successfully fabricated and analyzed. Experimental results indicate that membrane deflection increases with both applied pressure and membrane size. In this work, displacement variability was assessed to evaluate reproducibility. The investigation revealed consistent performance for actuators with membranes larger than 2,000 µm, while smaller membranes exhibited greater deviation, suggesting the need for further process optimization. Overall, the fabricated microactuators demonstrate strong potential for reliable flow control in microfluidic systems.

This study revisits mykoholz (myco-wood), a mid-20th-century East German innovation that bio-modified solid wood through controlled white-rot fungal decay, positioning it as a precursor to modern mycelium-based composites (MBCs). Based on patents, technical literature in German and English, a state-produced documentary, and a declassified U.S. CIA intelligence report, the fabrication methods and applications of mykoholz are reconstructed. The process reduced hardwood density by 75–90% while enhancing porosity, impregnation capacity, and moldability, all without synthetic additives or high energy input. During the 1950s, the CIA even monitored the technology, underscoring its perceived strategic value. Industrial production ceased by 1965 due to challenges of reproducibility and limited automation, yet the underlying principles anticipated current advances in selective delignification, AI-assisted bio-fabrication, and climate-controlled incubation. A comparison with modern MBCs reveals complementary paradigms: whereas mykoholz reconfigured solid hardwood at the cellular level, contemporary MBCs rely on moldable composites grown from lignocellulosic waste. This diachronic analysis highlights mykoholz as an early example of circular, low-energy bioengineering and suggests that historic fungal modification techniques could inform the development of hybrid, scalable, and eco-compatible material systems.

Recycling agricultural and food wastes provides a sustainable approach to paper production. This study investigated banana pulp papers with the addition of 10–20 wt.% of eggshell waste powder (ESWP) using fresh and dried banana stems. The addition of ESWP increased paper thickness and weight, reduced moisture content, and enabled rapid water absorption. However, tensile strength and tear index decreased with higher ESWP content due to increased brittleness and the presence of pores and voids. Papers from dried banana stems tended to exhibit higher strength, faster water absorption, and greater moisture retention than those from fresh stems, likely reflecting the effect of thin, continuous fibers in retaining pulp and ESWP. These results demonstrate the potential of using waste to produce environmentally friendly paper products.