scholarly journals Analysis of Cellulose Pulp Characteristics and Processing Parameters for Efficient Paper Production

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 7219
Author(s):  
Edyta Małachowska ◽  
Marcin Dubowik ◽  
Aneta Lipkiewicz ◽  
Kamila Przybysz ◽  
Piotr Przybysz
Keyword(s):  
Lignin Content ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
Strength Properties ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Thermomechanical Pulp ◽  
Paper Mills ◽  
Cellulose Pulp ◽  
Refining Time ◽  
Semichemical Pulp ◽  
The Cost

For economic reasons, increasing the use of various fibrous pulps with high lignin contents—i.e., chemothermomechanical pulp (BCTMP and CTMP), thermomechanical pulp (TMP), and semichemical pulp—is desirable. The relatively good quality and increased efficiency of these pulps make them attractive paper semi-products. In particular, they could alleviate the severe shortage of paper semi-products. Although mechanical pulp and semichemical pulp are achieving increasing quality with substantially increased wood efficiency, their production is often characterised by high consumption of electricity to defibre chips or refine high-lignin-content fibrous pulps. Technological, environmental, and economic evaluations of the manufacture and application of increased efficiency cellulose pulps that take into account potential profits from increased cellulose pulp efficiency and losses due to energy costs and degradation in the properties of the resulting paper are relevant and essential to paper mills. This article reports such an analysis. The authors have analysed the usable properties of ten cellulose pulps with various degrees of digestion and identified the optimum pulp that yields the optimum product properties, considering the yield; pulp refining time, which determines the cost of paper manufacture; and strength properties of the obtained paper.

Pilot trials of hemicelluloses extraction prior to thermomechanical pulp production: Part 1

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
CARL HOUTMAN ◽  
ERIC HORN
Keyword(s):  
Oxalic Acid ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Wood Chip ◽  
Strength Properties ◽  
Thermomechanical Pulp ◽  
Sugar Solution ◽  
Bisulfite Treatment ◽  
Pilot Trials ◽  
Pulp Production ◽  
Production Part

Pilot data indicate that wood chip pretreatment with oxalic acid reduced the specific energy required to make thermomechanical pulp. A combined oxalic acid/bisulfite treatment resulted in 21% refiner energy savings and 13% increase in brightness for aspen. A low level of oxalic acid treatment was effective for spruce. Energy savings of 30% was observed with no significant change in strength properties. Adding bisulfite did not significantly increase the brightness of the spruce pulp. For pine, the optimum treatment was a moderate level of oxalic acid, which resulted in 34% energy savings and an increase in strength properties. For all of these treatments 1–3 w/w % carbohydrates were recovered, which can be fermented to produce ethanol. The extract sugar solution contained significant quantities of arabinose.

Economic impact of the use of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvine Fansi ◽  
Angela Ly ◽  
Julie Mayrand ◽  
Maggy Wassef ◽  
Aldanie Rho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Quality Improvement Program ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Surgical Quality ◽  
Acs Nsqip ◽  
The Cost

Objectives The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) is a validated, risk-adjusted database for improving the quality and security of surgical care. ACS NSQIP can help participating hospitals target areas that need improvement. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature analyzing the economic impact of using NSQIP. This paper also provides an estimation of annual cost savings following the implementation of NSQIP and quality improvement (QI) activities in two hospitals in Quebec. Methods In June 2018, we searched in seven databases, including PubMed, Embase, and NHSEED for economic evaluations based on NSQIP data. Contextual NSQIP databases from two hospitals were collected and analyzed. A cost analysis was conducted from the hospital care perspective, comparing complication costs before and after 1 year of the implementation of NSQIP and QI activities. The number and the cost of complications are measured. Costs are presented in 2018 Canadian dollars. Results Out of 1,612 studies, 11 were selected. The level of overall evidence was judged to be of moderate to high quality. In general, data showed that, following the implementation of NSQIP and QI activities, a significant decrease in complications and associated costs was observed, which improved with time. In the cost analysis of contextual data, the reduction in complication costs outweighed the cost of implementing NSQIP. However, this cost analysis did not take into account the costs of QI activities. Conclusions NSQIP improves complication rates and associated costs when QI activities are implemented.

A Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness Analyses Alongside Randomised Controlled Trials of Acupuncture

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song-Yi Kim ◽  
Hyangsook Lee ◽  
Younbyoung Chae ◽  
Hi-Joon Park ◽  
Hyejung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
German Studies ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
The Cost

Objective To summarise the evidence on the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture. Methods We identified full economic evaluations such as cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), cost-utility analysis (CUA) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) alongside randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the consequences and costs of acupuncture for any medical condition. Eleven electronic databases were searched up to March 2011 without language restrictions. Eligible RCTs were assessed using the Cochrane criteria for risk of bias and a modified version of the checklist for economic evaluation. The general characteristics and the results of each economic analysis such as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were extracted. Results Of 17 included studies, nine were CUAs that measured quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and eight were CEAs that assessed effectiveness of acupuncture based on improvements in clinical symptoms. All CUAs showed that acupuncture with or without usual care was cost-effective compared with waiting list control or usual care alone, with ICERs ranging from ¢3011/QALY (dysmenorrhoea) to ¢22 298/QALY (allergic rhinitis) in German studies, and from £3855/QALY (osteoarthritis) to £9951/QALY (headache) in UK studies. In the CEAs, acupuncture was beneficial at a relatively low cost in six European and Asian studies. All CUAs were well-designed with a low risk of bias, but this was not the case for CEAs. Conclusions Overall, this review demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture. Despite such promising results, any generalisation of these results needs to be made with caution given the diversity of diseases and the different status of acupuncture in the various countries.

Economic analysis of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) as a tool in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer in Singapore

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Yuh Ang ◽  
Rachel Woo Yin Tan ◽  
Mariko Siyue Koh ◽  
Jeremy Lim
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Lung Biopsy ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
The Other ◽  
Transbronchial Lung Biopsy ◽  
Endobronchial Ultrasound ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Diagnosis Of Lung Cancer ◽  
The Cost

Objectives: Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), encompassing endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial lung biopsy (EBUS-TBLB) has been proven to be a useful modality in the staging and diagnosis of lung cancer. However, there are limited publications on the cost-effectiveness of EBUS and no economic evaluations relevant to the Singapore setting. An economic evaluation using our hospital's data was used to assess the cost implications of EBUS substituting where clinically appropriate: transthoracic needle aspiration; (TTNA), fluoroscopy-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), and mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer.Methods: Relationship between the clinical and economic implications of alternative modalities was modeled using data inputs that were relevant to the Singapore setting. Two decision analytic models were constructed to evaluate the cost of EBUS compared with TTNA, TBLB, and staging mediastinoscopy. Only direct costs were imputed.Results: In the base–case analysis, TTNA was the most economical strategy (SGD3,335 = US$2,403) where clinically suitable for the diagnosis of lung cancer as compared to the other options: TBLB (SGD4,499) and EBUS-TBLB (SGD4,857). On the other hand, EBUS-TBNA resulted in expected cost savings of SGD1,214 per positive staging of lung cancer as compared to mediastinoscopy.Conclusions: The use of EBUS-TBNA could result in cost savings of SGD1,214 per positive staging of lung cancer as compared to mediastinoscopy. Whereas TTNA was the most economical intervention for the diagnosis of lung cancer as compared to the other options, its main limitation lies in its suitability only for peripheral lung lesions and high complication rate.

Paper fillers innovations: From design of particles to preparing filler composites

BioResources ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 2117-2118
Author(s):  
Shunxi Song ◽  
Zeshi Wu ◽  
Jingyi Nie
Keyword(s):  
Filler Content ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Critical Properties ◽  
Single Particles ◽  
Paper Mills ◽  
Market Competitiveness ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Natural Fillers

The increase of filler content in paper is an effective way to reduce production costs and to promote the market competitiveness of paper mills. A shift from natural fillers to synthetic fillers has enabled improvements in the critical properties of paper. Meanwhile, innovations from single particles of filler to filler composites has made it possible to increase the filler content of paper. Among various filler innovations, the design of fiber/filler composites has aroused general attention from industry and academic researchers. However, concerns related to the cost and recyclability of composite fillers remain to be addressed.

scholarly journals The ALARP Principle in the Cost-Benefit Analysis for the Acceptability of Investment Risk

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Nesticò ◽  
Shuquan He ◽  
Gianluigi De Mare ◽  
Renato Benintendi ◽  
Gabriella Maselli
Keyword(s):  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Investment Risk ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Mitigation Design ◽  
The Cost

The process of allocating financial resources is extremely complex—both because the selection of investments depends on multiple, and interrelated, variables, and constraints that limit the eligibility domain of the solutions, and because the feasibility of projects is influenced by risk factors. In this sense, it is essential to develop economic evaluations on a probabilistic basis. Nevertheless, for the civil engineering sector, the literature emphasizes the centrality of risk management, in order to establish interventions for risk mitigation. On the other hand, few methodologies are available to systematically compare ante and post mitigation design risk, along with the verification of the economic convenience of these actions. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate how these limits can be at least partially overcome by integrating, in the traditional Cost-Benefit Analysis schemes, the As Low as Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) logic. According to it, the risk is tolerable only if it is impossible to reduce it further or if the costs to mitigate it are disproportionate to the benefits obtainable. The research outlines the phases of an innovative protocol for managing investment risks. On the basis of a case study dealing with a project for the recovery and transformation of an ancient medieval village into a widespread-hotel, the novelty of the model consists of the characterization of acceptability and tolerability thresholds of the investment risk, as well as its ability to guarantee the triangular balance between risks, costs and benefits deriving from mitigation options.

EXPLORING TWO COST-ADJUSTMENT METHODS FOR SELECTION BIAS IN A SMALL SAMPLE: USING A FETAL CARDIOLOGY DATASET

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hema Mistry
Keyword(s):  
Selection Bias ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Scoring Methods ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Cost Estimates ◽  
Propensity Scoring ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cost Differences ◽  
Direct Referral

Objectives: In economic evaluations of healthcare technologies, situations arise where data are not randomized and numbers are small. For this reason, obtaining reliable cost estimates of such interventions may be difficult. This study explores two approaches in obtaining cost estimates for pregnant women screened for a fetal cardiac anomaly.Methods: Two methods to reduce selection bias in health care: regression analyses and propensity scoring methods were applied to the total mean costs of pregnancy for women who received specialist cardiac advice by means of two referral modes: telemedicine and direct referral.Results: The observed total mean costs of pregnancy were higher for the telemedicine group than the direct referral group (4,918 versus 4,311 GBP). The regression model found that referral mode was not a significant predictor of costs and the cost difference between the two groups was reduced from 607 to 94 GBP. After applying the various propensity score methods, the groups were balanced in terms of sizes and compositions; and again the cost differences between the two groups were smaller ranging from -62 (matching “by hand”) to 333 GBP (kernel matching).Conclusions: Regression analyses and propensity scoring methods applied to the dataset may have increased the homogeneity and reduced the variance in the adjusted costs; that is, these methods have allowed the observed selection bias to be reduced. I believe that propensity scoring methods worked better for this dataset, because after matching the two groups were similar in terms of background characteristics and the adjusted cost differences were smaller.

scholarly journals Chemical characteristics and Kraft pulping of tension wood from Eucalyptus globulus labill

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1163-1172 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Graciela Aguayo ◽  
Regis Teixeira Mendonça ◽  
Paulina Martínez ◽  
Jaime Rodríguez ◽  
Miguel Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Eucalyptus Globulus ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Strength Properties ◽  
Kraft Pulping ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Chemical Characteristics ◽  
Kraft Pulps ◽  
Opposite Wood ◽  
Alkali Consumption ◽  
Pulp Strength

Tension (TW) and opposite wood (OW) of Eucalyptus globulus trees were analyzed for its chemical characteristics and Kraft pulp production. Lignin content was 16% lower and contained 32% more syringyl units in TW than in OW. The increase in syringyl units favoured the formation of β-O-4 bonds that was also higher in TW than in OW (84% vs. 64%, respectively). The effect of these wood features was evaluated in the production of Kraft pulps from both types of wood. At kappa number 16, Kraft pulps obtained from TW demanded less active alkali in delignification and presented slightly higher or similar pulp yield than pulps made with OW. Fiber length, coarseness and intrinsic viscosity were also higher in tension than in opposite pulps. When pulps where refined to 30°SR, TW pulps needed 18% more revolutions in the PFI mill to achieve the same beating degree than OW pulps. Strength properties (tensile, tear and burst indexes) were slightly higher or similar in tension as compared with opposite wood pulps. After an OD0(EO)D1 bleaching sequence, both pulps achieved up to 89% ISO brightness. Bleached pulps from TW presented higher viscosity and low amount of hexenuronic acids than pulps from OW. Results showed that TW presented high xylans and low lignin content that caused a decrease in alkali consumption, increase pulp strength properties and similar bleaching performance as compared with pulps from OW.

scholarly journals Research of the properties of rubber-cord composites in the presence of new adhesion promoters

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-226
Author(s):  
O. V. Karmanova ◽  
S. G. Tikhomirov ◽  
E. V. Lintsova ◽  
L. V. Popova
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Tensile Elongation ◽  
Physical And Mechanical Properties ◽  
Cobalt Content ◽  
Strength Properties ◽  
Adhesion Promoters ◽  
Serial Sample ◽  
Rubber Compounds ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Processing Properties

Studies of experimental adhesion modifiers based on a mixture of fatty acids from the production of light vegetable oils. The properties of rubber compounds and their vulcanizates obtained using experimental adhesion promoters KK with cobalt content from 7.5 to 16.5% are investigated. The plastic-elastic and vulcanization properties of the properties of breaker rubber compounds based on polyisoprene, the physical and mechanical properties of breaker rubbers and the bond strength in the “rubber-brass-plated steel cord system” were studied. When testing belt rubbers containing experienced adhesion promoters or an imported analog of Manobond 680C, the following features were revealed. The plasticity of the prototypes was in the range of 0.2-0.4. This indicates satisfactory processing properties. The Mooney viscosity of the prototypes was lower than that of the production sample. The use of experienced adhesion promoters instead of the analogue (Manobond 680C) increases the resistance to scorching. On the basis of the analysis of elastic-strength properties, it was found that in terms of the conditional tensile strength, the prototypes were inferior to the serial ones. However, rubbers containing the KK-12, KK-13.5, KK-15 promoters met the control standards. The tensile elongation at break of the experimental rubbers is higher than that of the serial sample. This may indicate the formation of a more uniform cure network in the presence of the test products. When testing rubber-metal-hard composites, it was noted that, under normal conditions, the experienced adhesion promoters have advantages over Manobond 680C. However, at elevated temperatures, under conditions of salt and steam-air aging, they are slightly inferior to Manobond 680C. It has been established that the experimental adhesion promoters provide the required set of technical properties of belt rubbers with a CO2 + content of 12–16.5% wt. Thus, it is possible to recommend the adhesion promoters KK 12, KK-13.5, KK 15 for practical use in the composition of belt rubber compounds. This will allow replacing a foreign-made product and reducing the cost of production.

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