Regeneration Method Research Articles

Hydrophilic membranes for effective removal of PFAS from water: Anti-fouling, durability, and reusability

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging contaminants in natural water. The polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration membrane with an average pore size of 10.9 nm, grafted with tertiary amino groups, and subsequently quaternized, was developed to effectively adsorb PFAS in the presence of co-existing competitors. It achieved over 98 % removal of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) at neutral pH. Over 90 % removal efficiency was recovered within four cycles through eluent regeneration. The removal mechanism was determined, through advanced characterization and theoretical analysis, as a synergistic process of electrostatic, hydrophobic, and dipole-dipole interactions. To address potential competition in adsorption caused by natural organic matter (NOM), membrane pores were regulated to achieve selective interception of humic acid (HA, a representative NOM). Effective PFOS removal (98.4 %) maintained in the presence of abundant competitors. Furthermore, the mild regeneration method led to a flux recovery rate of 99.0 %, underscoring its resistance to contamination. The effects of versatile NOM and surfactants were also evaluated, that insignificant reduction in removal efficiency was observed. After 144th regeneration cycles (equivalent), <15 % changed in grafting moieties and <13.5 % decreased in HA removal were observed, suggesting the durability on chemical composition and interception ability. Overall, the adsorptive membranes, with reusability, anti-fouling, and durability, showed great potential for remediation of PFAS from natural water.

Methane dehydroaromatization over Mo/H-ZSM-5: A comparative study of the regeneration methods

The catalytic activity and deactivation characteristic of spherically shaped Mo/H-ZSM-5 particles in the non-oxidative dehydroaromatization of methane was evaluated in a fluidized bed reactor under different cyclic reaction-regeneration operation modes. The aim is to verify the superiority of the H2 regeneration approach over that oxidative approach in restoring the catalytic performance of coke-deactivated Mo/H-ZSM-5 catalyst. Compared with the fresh catalyst, the catalyst samples oxidatively regenerated at 973 and 1073 K exhibited at 1073 K a largely reduced initial activity and an obviously accelerated deactivation rate. By contrast, the catalyst sample regenerated in a H2 stream at 1073 K maintained basically the initial activity level and deactivation characteristic of the fresh catalyst over cycles. Oxidatively regenerated at a lower temperature of 773 K, the catalyst sample was allowed to maintain the initial high activity of the fresh catalyst but its deactivation rate estimated over a 20 min reaction period showed an obvious tendency to increase with increasing the number of regeneration cycles. Characterization of all spent catalyst samples using TG, XRD and NMR techniques revealed that a significant loss of active Mo sites via sublimation and/or formation of inactive Al2(MoO4)3 and local collapse of zeolite framework occurred to the two samples once oxidatively regenerated at 973 and 1073 K, while neither Mo loss nor framework breakdown was detected with the H2-regenerated sample. Additionally, the formation of disordered non-framework Al was found to occur to the two samples once oxidatively regenerated at 773 and 873 K. All these suggest that applying the H2 approach to regenerate coke-deactivated Mo/H-ZSM-5 enables the catalyst to avoid losing any of its active Mo sites in its cyclic regeneration process and therefore must be helpful for maintenance of its catalytic performance over the reaction-regeneration cycles.

Processes of methanol regeneration from water-methanol solutions in the oil and gas industry

In oil and gas production, treatment and transportation technologies, gas hydrates cause serious problems associated with disruption of these technological processes. The traditional and most common method of combating gas hydrates in the oil and gas industry is the use of methanol as a hydrate inhibitor. The specific consumption indicators of methanol consumption as an inhibitor of the formation of gas hydrates directly depend on the composition of the extracted products, as well as on the technology for preparing the extracted products for transportation.&#x0D; Gas hydrates represent one of the major economic and safety problems in the oil and gas industry in the exploration, production, processing and transportation of gas and hydrocarbons.&#x0D; This article analyzes modern methods for methanol regeneration at oil and gas industry enterprises, and describes in detail the methods and parameters of processing plants that are used for the regeneration of water-methanol solutions. The advantages and disadvantages of advanced methods of water-methanol solutions regeneration are described. As a result of the review of existing technologies, the distillation method was determined to be the most preferable, as the most proven and widely used method today.

Adipose tissue reconstruction facilitated with low immunogenicity decellularized adipose tissue scaffolds.

There is currently an urgent need to develop engineered scaffolds to support new adipose tissue formation and facilitate long-term maintenance of function and defect repair to further generate prospective bioactive filler materials capable of fulfilling surgical needs. Herein, adipose regeneration methods were optimized and decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) scaffolds with good biocompatibility were fabricated. Adipose-like tissues were reconstructed using the DAT and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, which have certain differentiation potential, and the regenerative effects of the engineered adipose tissuesin vitroandin vivowere explored. The method improved the efficiency of adipose removal from tissues, and significantly shortened the time for degreasing. Thus, the DAT not only provided a suitable space for cell growth but also promoted the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of preadipocytes within it. Following implantation of the constructed adipose tissuesin vivo, the DAT showed gradual degradation and integration with surrounding tissues, accompanied by the generation of new adipose tissue analogs. Overall, the combination of adipose-derived extracellular matrix and preadipocytes for adipose tissue reconstruction will be of benefit in the artificial construction of biomimetic implant structures for adipose tissue reconstruction, providing a practical guideline for the initial integration of adipose tissue engineering into clinical medicine.

Effects of surface nanomorphology on the senescence of periodontal ligament stem cells.

The effect of TiO2 nanotube morphology on the differentiation potency of senescent periodontal ligament stem cells was investigated. Two types of titanium sheets with TiO2 nanotube morphology (20V-NT and 70V-NT) were prepared via anodic oxidation at 20 and 70 V separately, and their surface morphology was observed. Young periodontal ligament stem cells were cultivated in an osteogenic induction medium, and the most effective surface morphology in promoting osteogenic differentiation was selected. RO3306 and Nutlin-3a were used to induce the aging of young periodontal ligament stem cells, and senescent periodontal ligament stem cells were obtained. The osteogenic differentiation of senescent periodontal ligament stem cells was induced, and the effect of surface morphology on osteogenic differentiation was observed. Nanotube morphology was achieved on the surfaces of titanium sheets through anodic oxidation, and the diameters of the nanotubes increased with voltage. A significant difference in the effect of nanotube morphology was found among nanotubes with different diameters in the young periodontal ligament stem cells. The surface nanotube morphology of 20V-NT had a more significant effect that promoted osteogenic differentiation. Compared with a smooth titanium sheet, the surface nanotube morphology of 20V-NT increased the number of alkaline phosphatase-positive senescent periodontal ligament stem cells and promoted calcium deposition and the expression of osteogenic marker genes Runt-related transcription factor 2, osteopontin, and osteocalcin. A special nanotube morphology enhances the differentiation ability of senescent periodontal ligament stem cells, provides an effective method for periodontal regeneration, and further improves the performance of implants.

Moderate-severity silvicultural methods generate better forest reorganization than other silvicultural methods in temperate rainforests four decades after implementation

Silvicultural regeneration methods promote regeneration of new tree cohorts following the harvest of mature trees and include a gradient of options from cutting all (clearcuts) or some (selection cuts) trees resulting in even- or uneven-aged forests. For forest managers and landowners, it is essential to have the best possible information on how forests reorganize following these different methods. Forest development, composition and growth are dependent on site quality and harvest type. In this study we evaluated two even-aged (clearcut (CC), seed-tree cut (STC)), one two-aged cut (extended irregular shelterwood (ISC)), one uneven-aged (single-tree selection cut (SC)), and an unmanaged control (CON), four decades after harvest implementation in old-growth Evergreen temperate rainforests above 500 m a.s.l. in the Coastal Range of south-central Chile. These forests grow on poor-quality sites due to old and shallow soil conditions and were dominated by late-successional species and a thick understory with the bamboo Chusquea machrostachya at the time of harvest implementation. Compositional and structural conditions reflected the type of harvests, with even- and two-aged methods largely similar to one another and the SC and the OG having very similar characteristics, which is likely a consequence of the very light severity of the SC. Tree species composition in even-aged harvests was dominated by shade midtolerant species of high timber value, although short-lived pioneer species of the Proteaceae family were also abundant, especially in ISC. The ISC had the greatest homogeneity in all stand variables (tree density, basal area, volume, and quadratic stand diameter), and since it was a two-layered forest, had basal areas and volumes close to the SC and OG, and a rotated-sigmoid diameter distribution (different to all other treatments). Height of the new cohort in the ISC was significantly taller than in the CC and the STC for most species’ groups, suggesting that the cut plus the residual canopy of ISC diminished the initial cover of the bamboo C. macrostachya and competition for regeneration. Only diameter growth of trees of all shade tolerances was lower in ISC, but diameter growth patterns were similar to CC and STC, with increasing growth during the first two-three decades followed by a decline. Based on these findings, we conclude that silvicultural methods of intermediate harvesting severity, especially ISC, provide the best ecological and economic option in these poor-quality sites given rapid reorganization following their implementation, while maintaining a relatively complex vertical structure, high tree species diversity, and a growing stock dominated by tree species of high timber value.

Highly efficient bioregeneration of high temperature-pyrolyzed biochar after trichloroethylene adsorption through biodegradation of Dehalococcoides

Biochars was widely employed to immobilize chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) in groundwater. Biodegradation of adsorbed CAHs may be able to regenerate biochars, but was scarcely explored. In this study, therefore, biodegradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) adsorbed on a biochar prepared at 700 °C (WBC700) by Dehalococcoides mccartyi 195 (Dhc 195) was investigated. Aqueous TCE was completely degraded to ethene by Dhc 195 within 28 days, while 87.5 % of WBC700-adsorbed TCE was degraded to ethene within 63 days. The slower biodegradation of WBC700-adsorbed TCE could be attributed to its lower accessibility to Dhc 195 caused by the steric effects of WBC700. The adsorption capacity of WBC700 for TCE remained 80.4 % after five adsorption-bioregeneration cycles, indicating that the microbial degradation could be a highly efficient method to regenerate biochars. The microbial degradation was mainly through the electron transfer from Dhc 195 to TCE mediated by biochars as electron conductor or shuttle, but was not assisted by desorption or extracellular redox active species. Compared with biodegradation of aqueous TCE, the biodegradation of WBC700-adsorbed TCE by Dhc 195 had a wider pH tolerance and required more VB12, due to the buffer effect and adsorption of WBC700, respectively. The obtained results could provide a cost-effective method of biochar regeneration for CAHs removal in groundwater.

Recovery and regeneration of water-hardened magnetic composite biochar sphere for the removal of multiple heavy metals in contaminated soils

Biochar has exceeded expectations for immobilizing heavy metals (HMs), but the potential ecological risks of its long-term burial in soil limit its practical application on a large scale. To address this challenge, a novel separable water-hardened magnetic composite biochar sphere (WMBCS) was prepared and applied to remediate agricultural soils contaminated with Cd, Pb, and As. The first application of WMBCS is simultaneously effective in removing Cd (3.2–12.7%), Pb (3.3–13.1%), and As (5.0–25.6%) from soil, and the removal rates are enhanced with increasing soil moisture, application dose and incubation time. WMBCS is more efficient for removing Cd and Pb in mildly contaminated alkaline soils than in heavily contaminated acidic soils. Compared with other regeneration methods, shaking and ultrasound-assisted EDTA-2Na efficiently elutes HMs with a dissolution efficiency of over 75% within 4 h, accompanied by the lowest rate of mass loss (7.6%) and Fe leaching (475.1 mg kg−1). After 5 rounds of successive cyclic remediation, WMBCS exhibits high adsorption efficiency (26.5–30.6% for Cd, 25.4–30.2% for Pb, and 30.2–41.0% for As), magnetic separation efficiency (98.8–99.8%) and regeneration efficiency (92.3–95.4%). The main mechanisms involved in the adsorption and regeneration of WMBCS include ion exchange and chelation. WMBCS is an economical and eco-friendly material with vast unexplored potential for use in agriculture.

RG-GAN: Dynamic Regenerative Pruning for Data-Efficient Generative Adversarial Networks

Training Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) to generate high-quality images typically requires large datasets. Network pruning during training has recently emerged as a significant advancement for data-efficient GAN. However, simple and straightforward pruning can lead to the risk of losing key information, resulting in suboptimal results due to GAN’s competitive dynamics between generator (G) and discriminator (D). Addressing this, we present RG-GAN, a novel approach that marks the first incorporation of dynamic weight regeneration and pruning in GAN training to improve the quality of the generated samples, even with limited data. Specifically, RG-GAN initiates layer-wise dynamic pruning by removing less important weights to the quality of the generated images. While pruning enhances efficiency, excessive sparsity within layers can pose a risk of model collapse. To mitigate this issue, RG-GAN applies a dynamic regeneration method to reintroduce specific weights when they become important, ensuring a balance between sparsity and image quality. Though effective, the sparse network achieved through this process might eliminate some weights important to the combined G and D performance, a crucial aspect for achieving stable and effective GAN training. RG-GAN addresses this loss of weights by integrating learned sparse network weights back into the dense network at the previous stage during a follow-up regeneration step. Our results consistently demonstrate RG-GAN’s robust performance across a variety of scenarios, including different GAN architectures, datasets, and degrees of data scarcity, reinforcing its value as a generic training methodology. Results also show that data augmentation exhibits improved performance in conjunction with RG-GAN. Furthermore, RG-GAN can achieve fewer parameters without compromising, and even enhancing, the quality of the generated samples. Code can be found at this link: https://github.com/IntellicentAI-Lab/RG-GAN

Efficient removal of tetracycline and Cu2+ by honeycomb derived magnetic carbon: Adsorption mechanism and advanced oxidation regeneration mechanism

The honeycomb magnetic carbons (xFe@HCNs) were prepared by sacrificial template method novelty using polyacrylamide resin (PAAS) as template and ammonium pyrrolidine dithioate/Fe3+ complex (APDC-Fe) as carbon skeleton and metal source. Tetracycline (TC) and copper (Cu2+) as target pollutants were used to investigate the adsorption properties of xFe@HCNs in single or binary TC and Cu2+ systems. The adsorption capacity sequence for TC among the adsorbents was (mmol·g−1): 2Fe@HCNs (0.088) > 8Fe@HCNs (0.061) > HCNs (0.054) > RC (0.036), and for Cu2+ was (mmol·g−1): 2Fe@HCNs (1.120) > 8Fe@HCNs (1.026) > RC (0.792) > HCNs (0.681). 2Fe@HCNs demonstrated notable affinity for adsorbing both TC and Cu2+. Additionally, the influence of hydrochemical factors (i.e., cation species, anion species, and pH) on the adsorption properties of 2Fe@HCNs. Combined with advanced oxidation technology, the regeneration methods of magnetic adsorbent were explored using oxidizing agents (e.g., H2O2 and peroxymonosulfate) as eluents which could increase the adsorption sites of magnetic carbon adsorbents during the regenerating process, which was the novelty of the study. Furthermore, the regeneration mechanisms of H2O2 as eluent were investigated. This study discussed the application and regeneration methods of magnetic adsorbents in water treatment, offering new insights into environmental remediation using magnetic materials.

Comparison of Minced Cartilage Implantation with Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation in an In Vitro Inflammation Model.

The current gold standard to treat large cartilage defects is autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT). As a new surgical method of cartilage regeneration, minced cartilage implantation (MCI) is increasingly coming into focus. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of chondrogenesis between isolated and cultured chondrocytes compared to cartilage chips in a standardized inflammation model with the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα. Articular chondrocytes from bovine cartilage were cultured according to the ACT method to passage 3 and transferred to spheroid culture. At the same time, cartilage was fragmented (<1 mm3) to produce cartilage chips. TNFα (20 ng/mL) was supplemented to simulate an inflammatory process. TNFα had a stronger influence on the passaged chondrocytes compared to the non-passaged ones, affecting gene expression profiles differently between isolated chondrocytes and cartilage chips. MCI showed less susceptibility to TNFα, with reduced IL-6 release and less impact on inflammation markers. Biochemical and histological analyses supported these findings, showing a greater negative influence of TNFα on the passaged pellet cultures compared to the unpassaged cells and MCI constructs. This study demonstrated the negative influence of TNFα on chondrogenesis in a chondrocyte spheroid culture and cartilage fragment model. Passaged chondrocytes are more sensitive to cytokine influences compared to non-passaged cells and chondrons. This suggests that MCI may have superior regeneration potential in osteoarthritic conditions compared to ACT. Further investigations are necessary for the translation of these findings into clinical practice.

Application Levels Of Urban Transformation Methods In Zoning Planning Studies

Urban transformation strategies should be included in zoning plan revisions in order to take precautions against disasters caused by natural events such as earthquake-resistant building stock, floods and landslides, and to meet sustainable urban requirements. Carrying out these studies by public institutions, which are in the position of preparing and implementing the law, will ensure that the correct zoning plans are prepared and will also result in the cities reaching the necessary transformation targets. In this study, it is aimed to select the appropriate urban regeneration methods that will enable the solutions of the problems of the cities and the necessary revisions to be made and to determine the level of reflectivity of urban regeneration studies to the zoning plans in terms of their current applications. In this context, questions were asked to public personnel who urban transformation law implementers and researchers through expert opinion form are. The answers received from the experts were analysed according to the frequency and percentage values given in tables and the answers to the questions about the degree of importance were analysed according to the 5-point Likert scale and the degree of importance was determined.

Regeneration of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Batteries: State-of-the-Art Review, Current Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Batteries have been integral components in modern vehicles, initially powering starter motors and ensuring stable electrical conditions in various vehicle systems and later in energy sources of drive electric motors. Over time, their significance has grown exponentially with the advent of features such as “Start &amp; Stop” systems, micro hybridization, and kinetic energy regeneration. This trend culminated in the emergence of hybrid and electric vehicles, where batteries are the energy source of the electric traction motors. The evolution of storage for vehicles has been driven by the need for larger autonomy, a higher number of cycles, lower self-discharge rates, enhanced performance in extreme temperatures, and greater electrical power extraction capacity. As these technologies have advanced, so have they the methods for their disposal, recovery, and recycling. However, one critical aspect often overlooked is the potential for battery reuse once they reach the end of their useful life. For each battery technology, specific regeneration methods have been developed, aiming to restore the battery to its initial performance state or something very close to it. This focus on regeneration holds significant economic implications, particularly for vehicles where batteries represent a substantial share of the overall cost, such as hybrid and electric vehicles. This paper conducts a comprehensive review of battery technologies employed in vehicles from their inception to the present day. Special attention is given to identifying common failures within these technologies. Additionally, the scientific literature and existing patents addressing regeneration methods are explored, shedding light on the promising avenues for extending the life and performance of automotive batteries.

Heat and mass transfer simulation of the microwave-assisted toluene desorption for activated carbons regeneration

The low cost and high efficiency of microwave-assisted regeneration render it a viable alternative to conventional regeneration methods. To enhance the regeneration performance, we developed a coupled electromagnetic, heat, and mass transfer model to investigate the heat and mass transfer mechanisms of activated carbon during microwave-assisted regeneration. Simulation results demonstrated that the toluene desorption process is governed by temperature distribution. Changing the input power and flow rate can promote the intensity of hot spots and adjust their distribution, respectively, thereby accelerating toluene desorption, inhibiting readsorption, and promoting regeneration efficiency. Ultimately, controlling the input power and flow rate can flexibly adjust toluene emissions to satisfy the processing demands of desorbed toluene. Taken together, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the heat and mass transfer mechanisms of microwave-assisted regeneration and insights into adsorbent regeneration.

Study on regeneration characteristics of granular activated carbon using ultrasonic and thermal methods.

Dye wastewater is a type of high-concentration, high chromaticity, and high salinity organic wastewater, which is generally treated with activated carbon adsorbent. The effective regeneration of granular activated carbon (GAC) is the key to reducing the operating cost of GAC in the wastewater treatment process. The regeneration characteristics of saturated GAC adsorbed on 288 orange dye wastewater were studied by using the ultrasonic coupled thermal regeneration method. The results showed that the regeneration efficiency of GAC adsorbed on 288 orange dye wastewater increased with the increase of ultrasound power. The optimal ultrasound frequency and regeneration temperature were determined to be 45kHz and 60 ℃, and the relationship between regeneration times and carbon loss rate was explored. The combination of ultrasound and high-temperature heating methods has successfully improved the regeneration efficiency of GAC and significantly reduced the high-temperature thermal regeneration time of GAC, thereby reducing the mass loss rate of GAC. The performance changes of fresh activated carbon (FAC), saturated activated carbon (SAC), ultrasonic regeneration of activated carbon (UAC), and thermal regeneration of activated carbon (TAC) during the combined regeneration process were explored by characterizing the regenerated GAC. Infrared characterization showed that the C-O group of GAC was significantly weakened after coupling treatment, indicating that ultrasonic treatment can significantly enhance the desorption effect of thermal regeneration. The microjet, shock wave, and cavitation effects generated by ultrasonic treatment restore the specific surface area of GAC, mainly increasing the micropore volume and pore size of GAC, and enhancing the treatment effect of thermal regeneration.

Multiple biomaterials for immediate implant placement tissue repair: Current status and future perspectives

AbstractImmediate oral implant placement is a widely accepted technique, known for its efficacy in reducing treatment duration, surgical visits, and overall healing time. One of the primary challenges associated with immediate implant placement is the attainment of initial stability. The inevitable loss of bone and soft tissue after extraction poses a risk to implant osseointegration in both vertical and horizontal dimensions. Guided tissue regeneration/guided bone regeneration (GTR/GBR) is a well‐established method for periodontal regeneration. However, current GTR/GBR membranes lack tissue inherent regeneration properties and necessitate combination with grafts to enhance tissue recovery. In this context, biomaterials have emerged as a promising option due to their good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactive properties. They present a potential alternative to standard autologous/allograft procedures. The field of biomaterials for bone regeneration has rapidly evolved, developing new guiding materials and engineering techniques. These advances have become integral in addressing tissue defects at the immediate implant site. Various materials such as bioceramics, natural polymers, and synthetic polymers have been used for tissue repair. This article undertakes an etiological examination of tissue deficiency associated with immediate implant placement. Additionally, it reviews the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of biomaterials, aiming to provide references for clinical treatment and areas for further investigation.

Methods of Regeneration of Damaged Historical Buildings

The article is devoted to the classification of regeneration methods of buildings damaged by factors of aging, emergency situations and military events. Regeneration is becoming more urgent due to the destruction of a large number of historical quarters by military aggression. Different methods inherent in the regeneration of destroyed neighborhoods are classified, namely restoration, reconstruction and various options for new construction. The methods are illustrated with examples of their use mainly based on the experience of regeneration of Kyiv Podol district and other historical areas of Ukraine, as well as foreign ones. In the complex regeneration of neighborhoods, the preservation of architectural monuments, the restoration of the most valuable and preserved objects of the historical background building, the reconstruction of a certain part of the built objects that have value due to their facade solutions, new construction with the reproduction of the traditional character of the environment in various forms. At the moment, the new construction takes on the solution of modern urban planning and functional requirements for city centers as much as possible, and also serves as a hub of ideas for engineering reconstruction of the entire quarter, is the basis of sustainable development. Defined methods of ensuring the diversity of facade sweeps, which corresponds to the nature of background buildings and forms effective scenarios for pedestrian spaces.

Postmodernist collage as a method for regeneration of public spaces

Today's times are characterized by an unprecedented emancipation of creative searches, liberation from canons and stereotypes, a fundamental rejection of the traditions of creativity according to one model, a transition to creativity by «intuition» based on the conditions of a specific order, location, capabilities and desires. The modern architect is preoccupied with the creative search for his «element A» (according to K. Malevich), his creative method, which could indicate the path to creating a new form, a new artistic image. The individualistic principle, together with the desire to achieve unique originality in each new work, and at the same time the desire to accommodate cultural and artistic archetypes of various other eras in one volume-spatial architectural object or in a fragment of the urban architectural environment, adding new reinvented meanings to them and through this achieving architectural and artistic integrity directs us to search for new methods of creating diversity and uniqueness. The new method of «Postmodern Collage» now provides such creative possibilities.

A Holonic Construction Management System for the Efficient Implementation of Building Energy Renovation Actions

In the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, many efforts have provided remarkable contributions to construction planning and control processes during work execution. Nevertheless, frequent coordination issues among stakeholders and difficulties in dealing with unexpected events can be explained by the complexity featuring the construction sector. Several approaches to deal with this issue were investigated in the manufacturing area, among which this paper looks at the holonic approach as one of the most promising strategies. This study first analyzes the more fragmented and dynamic nature of the construction industry as compared with the manufacturing one. Secondly, it suggests developing a process-based holonic construction management system based on building information modeling (BIM) and a conceptual architecture for manufacturing control called Product Resource Order Staff Architecture (PROSA). The process-based paradigm ensures exploiting the benefits of BIM towards the development of sustainable and efficient regeneration methods of the built environment. Subsequently, a first management system prototype was developed and tested for the purpose of renovation works management. For the first time, results from an actual implementation of PROSA were applied to a real construction site, and its feasibility was assessed using the data on the field. Key performance indicators (KPIs) evaluated during the onsite demonstration confirmed a good performance of PROSA and the presented holonic approach, which contributed to the overall success of the energy efficient refurbishment project.

Development of Novel Cornstarch Hydrogel-Based Food Coolant and its Characterization.

The food, pharmaceutical, and supply transport storage chain is seeking coolants that come with plastic-free packaging, are nontoxic, environmentally friendly, robust, reusable, and reduce water waste. To meet this demand, a new food coolant based on cornstarch hydrogel was developed and tested using the regeneration method. This study investigated the reusability, water retention, rehydration, and surface cleanliness of the hydrogel, along with its application in freshness retention for fruits. The results of the gel strength and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that the ideal concentration of cornstarch hydrogel was 8%. Freezing and thawing experiments demonstrated that the hydrogel had the potential to be used as a cooling medium for refrigerated fresh foods. Moreover, the gel strength, scanning electron microscopy images (SEM), DSC, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) revealed that the freeze-thaw reuse only slightly affected its freezable water content and that its gel strength gradually increased during reuse. Water retention and rehydration tests showed that the hydrogels could be better preserved at -20 °C compared to 4 °C, and the water lost during reuse could be replenished through rehydration. The flexibility in terms of shape and size also allows the hydrogel ice to be used as a customized coolant for various food shapes, as demonstrated by preservation experiments. Additionally, washing the hydrogel after each use can result in a significant reduction in Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus concentrations by 3.03, 3.47, and 2.77 log CFU/hydrogel, respectively. Overall, the new cornstarch hydrogel coolant is a promising alternative to conventional ice, with the potential to serve as a food coolant.