Evaluation of value-added by-products from steam explosion lignocellulosic biomass (Triticum aestivum, Zea mays, and Phragmites australis)

Significant biorefinery potential is held in by-products generated during the production of bio-based insulation material through steam explosion pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials. However, the composition and potential uses of these by-products have not been fully explored. The objective of this study is to characterize the major decomposition components generated during steam explosion pretreatment of wheat (Triticum aestivum) straw, corn (Zea mays) stalks, and reed (Phragmites australis) as second-generation lignocellulosic biomass, in the separated liquid fraction consisting of volatiles and water-dissolved compounds. Decomposition occurred via steam explosion characterized by two key parameters: (1) severity factor (logR0), which combines reaction time and temperature, ranging from 3.25 to 3.75, and (2) pressure, set at 16 and 30 bar. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography were used to analyze sugars, as well as phenolics, furan derivatives, and acids. The highest simple sugar yield (59.2 g/kg biomass) was detected in reed liquid fraction, significantly exceeding corn stalks and wheat straw (21.3 g/kg biomass each). Subsequent acid hydrolysis enhanced the simple sugar content of reed liquid fraction up to 150.4 g/kg biomass, up to 64.5 g/kg biomass for corn stalks and up to 88.3 g/kg biomass wheat straw. These findings show the promising potential of bio-based insulation by-products generated by steam explosion. The sugar-rich liquid fraction can be beneficial for circular bio-based economy especially in the biofuel or biopolymer industry, particularly from reed, enhancing the overall utilization of lignocellulosic materials in a biorefinery context.Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; TBU in Zlín, (RP/CPS/2024-28/002, IGA/CPS/2023/002); Horizon 2020, (101007733); Horizon 2020; European Regional Development Fund, ERDF, (1.1.1.2/VIAA/3/19/388); European Regional Development Fund, ERDFLATVIAN COUNCIL OF SCIENCE, project "Investigation of eco-friendly thermal insulation materials from sustainable and renewable industrial crop residuals" [lzp-2021/1-0599]; Internal Grant Agency of TBU in Zlin [IGA/CPS/2023/002]; DKRVO [RP/CPS/2024-28/002]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic; European Union [101007733]; ERDF Project [1.1.1.2/VIAA/3/19/388

The impact of the movement of labor between FDI and domestic firms on the labor productivity of domestic firms

The presence of foreign direct investment (FDI) firms generates a two-way labor movement, but most studies have only focused on one-way movement by examining either the movement from FDI firms to domestic firms or the movement from domestic firms to FDI firms. Therefore, this paper examines the impact of the two-way labor movement between FDI and domestic firms on the productivity of domestic firms in the case of Czechia from 2005 to 2019. By using system Generalized Moment Method (SGMM), we identify the positive impact of labor movement from FDI to domestic firms (labor horizontal) and vertical spillovers (labor backward and competition backward). However, we find that the movement from domestic firms to FDI firms does not have an impact on domestic firms. Nevertheless, the labor movement from domestic firms to FDI firms can enhance the positive impact of labor backward and competition backward on the productivity of domestic firms.Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TACR, (TL03000319); Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TACR; Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UTB, (RO/2022/04); Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UTBTechnology Agency of the Czech Republic [TL03000319]; Tomas Bata University in Zln [RO/2022/04

The ICP-MS study on the release of toxic trace elements from the non-cereal flour matrixes after in vitro digestion and metal pollution index evaluation

Detailed research analysis of the contents of eight toxic trace elements in non-cereal flours was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the release of elements from the flour matrixes after in vitro digestion was investigated. It also examines dietary intake and evaluates the metal pollution index. The highest digestibility value was measured with banana flour (92.6%), while grape seed flour was the least digestible, only 44%. The most abundant element was Al, followed by Ni, which was present (except banana flour) at concentrations of more than twice that found in food generally. The flax and milk thistle seed flours showed two orders of magnitude higher amounts of Cd than those measured in other flours. When consuming a 100 g portion of non-cereal flours, a consumer weighing 60 kg is exposed to the highest dietary exposures to Al and Ni (in the order of µg/kg bw); the exposures for the intake of Cd, Sn, Hg, As, Ag, and Pb are of the order of ng/kg bw. Grape seed flour was assessed as a significant contributor to the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) value of Al (16%); in addition, significant contributions of banana, pumpkin, grape, and milk thistle flours to the PTWI value of Hg, ranging from 15 to 22%, were determined. Furthermore, the contributions of milk thistle and flax seed flours to the provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) value of Cd were also recognized as significant (specifically, 26 and 49%, respectively). The contributions of milk thistle, flax seed, and pumpkin seed flour to tolerable daily intake for Ni were estimated between 19 and 57%. The margin of exposure values for developmental neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and cardiovascular effects obtained for the intake of Pb were considered safe. During the digestion process, the toxic elements that were the most retained in the matrices of grape and pumpkin seed flour were easily released from the banana flour. The retention factor, which was above 50% for Hg in the grape seed flour, was examined as the highest. All toxic trace elements, which were found to still be part of the undigested portion of the flours, could theoretically pass into the large intestine. In the future, more research is needed to clarify the possible carcinogenesis effect of toxic trace elements in the colon. © 2025 by the authors.Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UTB, (IGA/FT/2025/003); Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UT

Deciphering the role of LiClO4 salt on electrochemical properties of plasticized biopolymer electrolytes for superior EDLC efficiency at elevated temperatures

The advancement of electric double-layer capacitors capable of operating beyond standard conditions is vital for meeting the demands of modern electronic applications. To realize this, huge efforts have been devoted to the development of biopolymer-based electrolytes. This study explores the potential application of a plasticized biopolymer-based electrolyte in electric double-layer capacitor systems at ambient and elevated temperatures. A plasticized Na CMC/PEO/LiClO4 electrolyte is successfully synthesized via a solution-casting approach. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction verify the material's chemical and amorphous structure, respectively. The sample was designated as R20, with a salt concentration of 20 wt. % exhibits good electrochemical properties, including a high ionic conductivity of 3.73 × 10−4 S cm−1 and a wide electrochemical stability window of 3.2 V. The sample is placed into an electric double-layer capacitor cell and subjected to cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge analyses at both room and high temperatures. The cyclic voltammetry test demonstrates that the electric double-layer capacitor achieves a specific capacitance (Cp) of 38 F g−1 at ambient temperature, which increases to 60 F g−1 at 60 °C. Additionally, the electric double-layer capacitor cell maintains consistent performance, demonstrating stable power and energy densities of 25 W kg−1 and 6 Wh kg−1, respectively, under both ambient and elevated temperatures.European Just Transition Fund; Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; TBU in Zlin, (IGA/CPS/2025/002); DKRVO, (RP/CPS/2024‐28/002); Ministerstvo Životního Prostředí, MŽP, (CZ.10.03.01/00/22_003/0000045, CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0009004); Ministerstvo Životního Prostředí, MŽPMinistry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, project CirkArena [IGA/CPS/2025/002]; Internal Grant Agency of TBU in Zlin [RP/CPS/2024-28/002]; Ministry of Education Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic [CZ.10.03.01/00/22_003/0000045]; European Just Transition Fund within the Operational Programme Just Transition under the aegis of the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic [CZ.02.01.01/00/23_021/0009004]; Operational Programme Johannes Amos Comenius OP JA

(Re)envisioning the role of technology transfer intermediaries in socio-technical transition

Recent year has seen a rise scholarly interest in examining the functions and value of technology transfer intermediaries (TTIs) in spurring and commercializing sustainable innovations. In this paper, we embark on a conceptual endeavor that explores existing research on TTIs to identify their various roles, structure, networks and practices that define their organizing patterns and schemas. We adopt an envisioning approach to reconceptualize the role of TTIs in sustainable transition and go on to reconceive the core insights from the extant literature to inform ways to facilitating a global socio-technical transition agenda. This attempt thus set forth a system that captures a global TTI market for the exchange of technological capabilities across regions. Our study contributes to discourses at the intersection of international technology transfer intermediaries and sustainability transition

Cellulose-based air-cathode loaded by in-situ hydrothermally synthesized NiFe2O4 for Al-air battery: Influence of surface chemistry on the electrochemical performance

The influence of the cellulosic fabrics (CF) surface chemistry on hosting nickel ferrite (NF) and its application in Al-air battery was studied. CFs were modified with acrylate monomer bearing positively (COOCH2CH2N+(CH3)3Cl−) or negatively (-COO(CH2)3SO3K) charged functional groups at different degrees of graft-polymerization. NF was in-situ hydrothermally synthesized into the un/grafted-CF followed by in-situ polymerization of polyaniline (PANi) to enhance the electric conductivity nine orders of magnitude. This via altering the electron transport mechanism from the tunnelling to the variable-range hopping mechanism for CF-NF and PANied-CF-NF, respectively. XRD confirmed a single phase of Trevorite (NiFe2O4). SEM images showed a dense deposition of NF on the anionic fabrics and TEM images demonstrated the change of NF shape (nanorice – nanoctahedrons) and size (9–75 nm) as a function of the surface chemistry. Anionic ACs showed higher Ni+2 and Fe+3 uptake compared to the cationic ones as confirmed by ICP-OES and XPS. Cyclic voltammetry showed that NF reduced oxygen to water through 2 × 2 electron pathway. Electrochemical performance of ACs showed a good correlation with the NF content to an extent. Highest current density (4 mA/cm2) and discharge time (13.8 h) were obtained from anionic AC compared to 1.7–2.5 h for blank and cationized ACs, respectively.The authors thank SRDA grant agency for support through project APVV-23-0534 and APVV-22-0062 . Grant Agency VEGA through project VEGA 2/0137/23 and VEGA 2/0038/22 . This work was performed during the implementation of the project Building-up Centre for advanced materials application of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, ITMS project code 313021T081 supported by the Integrated Infrastructure Operational Program funded by the ERDF . The authors M.M and J.O. gratefully acknowledge the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic - DKRVO ( RP/CPS/2024-28/003 ). Also, acknowledge Czech Science Foundation project no. 23-07244S for financial support. This study was carried out in the framework of the project FunGlass that has received funding from the European Union 's 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 739566 . Author \u0160.N. would like to acknowledge the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Slovakia under project No. 09I03-03-V04-00715

Comparative analysis of legal texts for German as a second and foreign language learners: Comparing official documents, guides, and textbooks

Plain language is often used to enhance accessibility and ease of understanding for a broader audience, including individuals with various language proficiency levels. The aim of this chapter is to conduct a comparative analysis of legal texts from different sources, all focusing on the topic of food allergens: a textbook of German as a foreign or second language, an online legal guide aimed at the general public, and an official legal text. This comparison observes the differences in presentation, means of simplification, and content among these sources. We focus on understanding how texts simplify complex legal information, what elements remain consistent, and what changes are introduced

Tailoring end-use properties of polypropylene through a combination of specific nucleation and long-chain branching

The present study presents an assessment of the interrelations between long-chain branching, specific nucleation, and end-use properties of polypropylene blends: blends of linear polypropylene (L-PP) and long-chain branched polypropylene (LCB-PP) modified by a specific β-nucleating agent (NA). Specimens with various LCB-PP compositions with and without NA were prepared under complex flow fields by injection molding. Wide-angle X-ray scattering was employed to capture the X-ray patterns of both the skin and core of the specimens, determining the overall crystallinity and amounts of individual polymorphs. The increasing content of LCB-PP and γ-phase, at the same time, in the blends is reflected in both increasing crystallinity and improved mechanical properties, namely, yield stress and Young’s modulus. On the other hand, the composition of the blends had no significant effect on the impact strength, except for nucleated L-PP. It has been demonstrated that adding a relatively small amount of LCB-PP is sufficient to modify the mechanical properties of linear polypropylene. Even a very small amount of LCB-PP in the L-PP suppressed the effectiveness of NA

Biogenic amines in white brined cheeses

In the current study, a comprehensive analysis of biogenic amines in white brined cheeses was conducted. BAs may accumulate in food in high concentrations via the activities of microorganisms that produce decarboxylation enzymes. Neither tryptamine, phenylethylamine, nor spermidine was detected in the monitored cheese samples. Biogenic amines were detected in 20 samples, with tyramine and spermine being the most abundant, particularly in Feta cheeses, where tyramine concentrations exceeded 100 mg/kg in three samples. In 25% of the tested cheeses, total concentration of all the monitored biogenic amines and polyamines exceeded the level of 100 mg/kg, which may be considered of toxicological significance to sensitive persons. Decarboxylase activity was identified in 94 isolates, including significant producers such as Levilactobacillus brevis and Enterococcus durans. The correlation between high total microbial counts and lactic acid bacteria suggests that these microorganisms play a critical role in biogenic amine production. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring specific microbial populations to mitigate biogenic amine risks in cheese production.Internal Grant Agency of Tomas Bata University in Zlin; [IGA/FT/2024/004