Developing routes to produce cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from high-lignin wood residues is essential for expanding sustainable nanocellulose feedstocks. In this work, Meranti (Shorea sp.) sawdust was valorized into CNCs by integrating ammonium persulfate (APS) pretreatment with subsequent sulfuric acid hydrolysis. To establish a severity map and define an operating window, APS pretreatment severity was systematically varied by adjusting APS concentration and the sawdust-to-APS (solid-to-liquid) ratio, and its influence on CNC structural properties was evaluated. APS pretreatment partially disrupted and oxidized the lignocellulosic matrix, enabling acid hydrolysis to liberate crystalline cellulose domains. XRD analysis confirmed the preservation of the cellulose I crystalline structure, with a maximum crystallinity index of 72% at 2 M APS and a sawdust-to-APS ratio of 1:30 (w/v), and an average crystallite size of approximately 10 nm estimated using the Scherrer equation. SEM and TEM analyses revealed rod-like CNCs with smooth surfaces and relatively homogeneous dimensions. The optimized samples exhibited CNC lengths of 188.71 ± 5.01 nm and widths of 26.79 ± 1.72 nm. These results demonstrate that Meranti sawdust, a high-lignin wood residue, can be converted into structurally well-defined CNCs using a two-step APS/acid process without prior alkaline pulping or bleaching. This study clarifies the role of APS oxidation in enabling CNC production from feedstocks with lignin contents above 20% and provides a basis for valorizing Meranti sawdust as a renewable precursor for CNCs in advanced material applications.
Background/Objectives: Cancer pain affects 55–95% of patients with advanced malignancy, representing a complex syndrome involving nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic mechanisms. Despite therapeutic advances, two-thirds of patients with metastatic cancer experience inadequate pain control. This scoping review synthesizes recent advances in cancer pain pathophysiology and management, focusing on molecular and cellular mechanisms, emerging pharmacological, interventional and technological therapies and key evidence gaps to inform future precision-based pain management strategies. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR methodology, we searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between January 2022 and Septem
... Show MoreAirway-centric orthodontics has been proposed as a conceptual framework that extends the traditional understanding of craniofacial development, functional disturbances, and orthodontic treatment outcomes beyond a purely dental perspective. This approach focuses on the potential interplay among upper airway characteristics, breathing patterns, and orofacial muscle function in influencing facial growth and occlusal relationships. This narrative review aims to outline the theoretical foundations of airway-centric orthodontics and to synthesize current evidence regarding the associations among upper airway characteristics, craniofacial morphology, and orthodontic interventions. A compr
The present systematic review aimed to combine the evidence on rodent models on molecular regulators of root dentinogenesis across the temporal phases and spatial zones, and evaluate the translation of this map for human dental development and regenerative therapies. A PRISMA 2020‑guided systematic review of experimental studies through the major electronic databases was performed. Data on models, molecules, techniques, spatiotemporal expression and the functional outcomes were extracted. The ARRIVE guidelines and SYRCLE's risk of bias tool were used to assess the risk of bias in animal studies. The evidence form rodent studies supports an organized network that begins with initiation at the cervical loop that requires the downregulation
... Show MoreIn recent years, the evolution of the community structure in social networks has gained significant attention. Due to the rapid and continuous evolution of real-world networks over time. This makes the process of identifying communities and tracking their topology changes challenging. To tackle these challenges, it is necessary to find efficient methodologies for analyzing the behavior patterns of dynamic communities. Several previous reviews have introduced algorithms and models for community detection. However, these methods have not been very accurate in identifying communities. Moreover, none of the reviewed papers made an apparent effort to link algorithms that can accurately detect dynamic communities. This review aims to present a ta
... Show MoreThe calibration of a low-speed wind tunnel (LSWT) test section had been made in the present work. The tunnel was designed and constructed at the Aerodynamics Lab. in the Mechanical Engineering Department/University of Baghdad. The test section design speed is 70 m/s. Frictional loses and uniformity of the flow inside the test section had been tested and calibrated based on the British standards for flow inside ducts and conduits. Pitot-static tube, boundary layer Pitot tube were the main instruments which were used in the present work to measure the flow characteristics with emphasize on the velocity uniformity and boundary layer growth along the walls of the test section. It is found that the maximum calibrated velocity for empty test s
... Show MoreAim: This article aims to review the studies on the bond strength between dental ceramics and metal restoration in crowns and bridges using various techniques. Methodology: Electronic databases for scientific research, including PubMed, Cochrane, and Medline, were searched. The following keywords were used: dental ceramic, cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy, shear bond strengths, Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technique, sandblasting technique, three-point bending test, hardness test, mode of failure, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and roughness test. Initial retrieval of 86 original papers from the worldwide databases was done after careful screening, including reviews of the literature on the different techniques used to enhance the shear b
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