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Bin packing problem (BPP) is one of the fastest-growing research issues within the field of combinatorial optimization. Over the last years, several studies carried out various BPP variants, mathematical models, and proposed methods to the BPPs. The classical BPP consists of packing a set of rectangular items in a minimum number of rectangular bins while respecting some constraints.Throughout the years, an improved typology was introduced by Wäscher et al. (2007), providing an excellent instrument for the organization and categorization criteria that defined the problem categories different from those of Dyckhoff (1990). Several early literature reviews have been conducted on various aspects of related packing problem variants.The contribution of this paper is to provide a comprehensive and refined taxonomy intended for BPPs. In addition to that, it is an up-to-date review based on a chronological taxonomy of the literature and depicts further research horizons.This systematic review allowed us to identify other characteristics and constraints, based on Wäscher's original ideas, mainly distinguished according to real cases studies. The detailed analysis provides a valuable framework for understanding the research gaps for future studies that should be acknowledged while proposing and solving new extensions. Note: The addresses of second and third authors have been corrected online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meeting the current needs for easier, more precise and faster analyses that also follow the principles of green analytical chemistry requires novel analytical chemistry strategies. Since the appearance in this century of the first device based on a paper platform, many studies have been presented in the literature, providing a wide range of designs and possibilities for the application of paper platforms to electroanalytical systems. This Review gives an overview of the field and can pave the way for the future development of electrochemical paper‐based analytical devices. We also present a critical point of view regarding what has been investigated and developed and what is still missing. This Review discusses the efforts made in the field related to important topics such as the choice of the paper substrate, the device construction process, the characterization of the device, and applications in different areas. In this way, we indicate some steps necessary for optimizing the design of the devices, with a focus on multidisciplinary collaborations that could move entire systems from the bench of the laboratory to the field. More than just a notepad: An overview of electrochemical paper‐based analytical devices, which could pave the way for future developments in the field. A critical point of view is presented regarding what has been investigated and developed as well as what is still missing. Some steps necessary for optimizing the design of the devices are indicated, with a focus on multidisciplinary collaborations that could move entire systems from the bench of the laboratory to the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Collagen extracted from leather waste was modified with maleic anhydride. Then, using ammonium persulfate as an initiator, by premodifying collagen reacted with styrene and ethyl acrylate monomers, a vinyl-grafted collagen sizing agent (VGCSA) for paper was prepared. Before the experiment, the performance of VGCSA was tested and VGCSA emulsion was applied to the surface sizing of the corrugated paper. Effects of the amount of VGCSA, the compound proportion of VGCSA, and starch and styrene-acrylic emulsion were studied relative to paper properties. The morphological changes of the paper before and after sizing were characterized by SEM. It was found that the collagen reacted with styrene and ethyl acrylate monomers. Through the grafting of vinyl and collagen, the crystallinity and thermal stability of VGCSA increased. The structure of VGCSA was spherical with a uniform size, and the average particle size was approximately 350 to 400 nm. After being sized, the surface fibers of paper became smooth and orderly. The optimal sizing of VGCSA was 8 g/m². The optimal proportion of VGCSA with starch was 4:6, and the optimal proportion of VGCSA with SAE was 2:8. The research indicates that collagen extracted from leather waste could be used as a biomaterial, and environmental and economic benefits could be created as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed at a systematic review of the role of FinTech in enhancing the digital transformation of Saudi Arabian banks. Google Scholar was searched with related search terms to finally select 28 papers using the PRISMA process of screening and selection. There were very few papers directly dealing with the use of FinTech as a tool for digital transformation in banks, not specifically in traditional banks. There were a few papers on digital tools used in FinTech. Overall, the digital transformation of any kind of bank using FinTech tools had been slow and a small percentage of the total. The situation was worse in the case of Saudi banks despite the large amounts of budgetary allocations for technologies in banking as a part of its Vision 2030. This was because of the late entry of Saudi Arabia into these concepts. The need for Islamic banks to follow Sharia rules was not found to be a great problem. All these points indicate to the need for greater acceleration of using FinTech tools for the digital transformation of Saudi traditional banks. Some limitations of this review are the low rigour of the available papers due to methodological limitations, discussion papers without empirical data dominating and a wide range of aims provided in the papers. The need for substantially more work on Saudi banks has been highlighted. The validity of the conclusions from this review needs to be verified using empirical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT To improve the paper properties of the poly(1,3,4-oxadiazoles) (POD), the POD pulps were prepared by prechemical and mechanical methods to increase their polarity, contact area, and interaction. The fibrillated degree of the staple fibers was evaluated by the Canadian Standard Freeness and the specific surface area, while the surface free energy was calculated by the Micro-wilhelmy method. Meanwhile, the functional groups and compositions on the surface of the POD fibers were confirmed by the FTIR-ATR and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the surface morphological structure and the crystalline structure of the POD fibers were observed by the fiber analyzer, scanning electron microscope, and Wide-angle X-ray diffraction, respectively. It was found that the pronounced abrasive and distinctive grooves were formed on the surface of the POD fibers after prechemical and mechanical treatment. The surface free energy of POD fibers increased 8.41%, and the polar part increased by 32.10% after treatment. It was confirmed that the polar functional groups and fibril were formed after chemical and mechanical treatment, so the interaction of the POD fibers was highly enhanced, and as a result the apparent density, tensile strength, fold endurance, and tear strength of the paper formed by those treated fibers were all improved apparently. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 39818. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Waterborne UV-curable polyurethane (UWPU) dispersions with different hydrophilicity and functionalities were prepared by varying the content of dimethylol butanoic acid (DMBA) and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA). And linear and cyclic chain extenders with different functionalities were also incorporated into the UWPU backbone, including isophorone diamine (IPDA), diethylene triamine (DETA), and ethylene diamine (EDA). Effects of DMBA content, PETA content, photoinitiator content, UV curing time, chain extender on the properties of UWPU dispersions and films, as well as the properties of the unsized and sized paper were investigated. The water resistance and mechanical properties of sized paper were greatly relied on the particle size, the molecular weight, the croslinking density, and penetrability of UWPU. UWPU dispersion chain extended with IPDA (IPDA-UWPU) displayed smaller particle size than that of UWPU. The paper sized with IPDA-UWPU was endowed with best water resistance, tensile strength, folding strength and surface strength. XPS depth analysis revealed that IPDA-UWPU exhibited better penetrability into the paper substrate than UWPU. SEM and AFM demonstrated that the smoothness of sized paper was improved, and the bond strength between fibers was enhanced. The obtained UWPU could be directly used as an effective and fast drying surface sizing agent for cellulose fiber paper. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42354. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]