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Sensitizers are used to prepare photosensitive materials for ink-printing and thermal-recording media. Typical sensitizers contain an aromatic ring and exhibit aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity. They can accumulate in aquatic biota, leading to the disruption of ecosystems. Effluent from paper recycling plants has been identified as a source of contamination, and the presence of sensitizers in toilet paper may represent a new source of contamination in aquatic environments. To examine possible sources of contamination by sensitizers, this study investigated the levels of sensitizers in recycled toilet paper. We also studied the prevalence of sensitizers in rivers receiving effluents from sewage treatment plants in Japan, from 2020 to 2022. We detected eight sensitizers and related compounds in both toilet paper and river water samples; their total concentrations ranged from 0.78 to 34 µg/g (mean: 12 µg/g) in toilet paper and 58–1167 µg/L (median: 77 µg/L) in water. In the water samples, sensitizers were partitioned between liquid and suspended solid phases, and in suspended solids, sensitizers accounted for an average of 42% of the total. Correlation analysis showed a high correlation between sensitizer composition in the water from a river receiving sewage treatment plant effluents and toilet paper. Since these compounds were also detected in the river water analyzed in this study, toilet paper should be considered a novel source of sensitizers contamination in sewage treatment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mobile device diffusion has increasingly highlighted the opportunity to collect patient-reported outcomes (PROs) through electronic patient-reported outcomes measurements (ePROMs) during the clinical routine. Despite the ePROMs promises and advantages, the equivalence when a PRO measure is moved from the original paper-and-pencil to the electronic version is still little investigated. This study aims at evaluating equivalence between PROMs and ePROMs self-administration in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS); in addition, preference of self-administration type was evaluated. Methods: The Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were selected for the equivalence test. The app ABOUTCOME was developed through a user-centered design approach to administer the questionnaires on tablet. Both paper-and-pencil and electronic versions were randomly self-administered. Intrarater reliability between both versions was evaluated through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC, excellent for values ≥ 0.75). Results: Fifty PwMS (35 females) participated to the study (mean age: 54.7±11.0 years, disease course: 27 relapsing-remitting and 23 progressive; mean EDSS: 4.7±1.9; mean disease duration: 13.3±9.5 years). No statistically significant differences were found for the means total scores of MAM-36 (p = 0.61) and FSS (p = 0.78). The ICC value for MAM-36 and FSS was excellent (0.98 and 0.94, respectively). Most of participants preferred the tablet version (84%). Conclusion: The results of the study provide evidence about the equivalence between the paper-and-pencil and electronic versions of PROs administration. In addition, PwMS prefer electronic methods rather than paper because the information can be provided more efficiently and accurately. The results could be easily extended to other MS PROs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, solid-surface fluorescence spectra of Rhodamine B (RhB) and fluorescein (FLU), two extensively used fluorophores, were studied and their concentrations were semi-quantitatively determined using the three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix (3D-EEM) data. In order to measure the solid fluorescence spectra, a trace amount of fluorophores was physically adsorbed on a piece of filter paper as a fluorescent paper, and the fluorescence spectra were recorded from the surface of the fluorescent paper instead of the inner parts of the solution. The spectral measurement was performed utilizing a routine spectrofluorimeter designed to measure the fluorescence of solution only by placing the fluorescent paper in a simple handmade holder at an adjusted incident angle of radiation. The results revealed a significant increase in the fluorescence intensity of the fluorescent paper strip compared to the solution phase. Moreover, in the RhB–FLU paper strip the forster resonance energy transfer was observed between FLU and RhB, similar to the observed phenomenon in the solution phase. For quantifying fluorophores, the EEM data were successfully resolved by applying multivariate partial least squares and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) modeling, and the results were compared with the univariate method. This study may provide a general guideline in further developing the solid fluorescence measurement of concentrated solutions or solid samples that have fluorescence measurement limitations such as high self-absorption and highly scattered spectra by using a conventional spectrofluorimeter, and also of biological samples where a trace amount of the analyte is available and high sensitivity is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulp and paper industry is critical to global industrial and economic development. Recently, India's pulp and paper industries have been facing severe competitive challenges. The challenges have impaired the environmental performance and resulted in the closure of several operations. Assessment and prediction of the performance of the Indian pulp and paper industry using various parameters is a critical task for researchers. This study proposes a framework for performance assessment and prediction based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Artificial Neural Networks, and Deep Learning (DL) to assist industry administration and decision-making. We presented a case study based on eight industries to demonstrate the methodology's applicability. This study analyses and predicts industry performance based on sample data observations over 30 years. The result suggests the DEA-DL-based efficiency prediction has an overall MSE of 0.08 compared with the actual efficiency. Furthermore, the efficiency rankings are compared between the three techniques. The results suggest that the integrated DEA-DL method is primarily accurate in most scenarios with the actual values. The findings of this study provide a comprehensive analysis of environmental performance for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study of the supramolecular structure, physicochemical properties, and morphology of the powder celluloses (PCs) obtained from the waste paper of newsprint and cardboard, plant celluloses, and nonconventional raw materials was conducted using the methods of FT-IR spectroscopy, high-resolution solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). According to the FT-IR and 13C NMR spectroscopy results, the functional composition of the PCs is similar to that of the wood PCs and matches highly purified cellulose samples. The crystallographic structure of the powder samples corresponds to the structure of cellulose I. The crystallinity and the transverse dimensions of the crystallites are 39.4 and 40.2%, and 45 Å [110] and 54 Å [110], for the PCs from newsprint paper and cardboard, respectively. These values considerably exceed those for the initial waste paper samples. A comparative analysis of the SEM results showed a significant similarity among the PC fibers of different origin. The results of the study of the physicochemical properties of the PCs isolated from the waste paper allow predicting their competitive application in comparison with plant PCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flame spread behavior over a filter paper in opposed flow was investigated on the ISS/Kibo, and the results were compared with the flammability map predicted in advance by scale analysis for a two-dimensional flame. The on-orbit experiments were conducted in the solid combustion experimental module (SCEM) as the first combustion test of the FLARE project by JAXA. A filter paper with a length of 130 mm, a width of 40 mm or 20 mm, and a thickness of 0.12 mm was used as the specimen. The opposed flow velocity and the oxygen concentration were varied from 0 cm/s to 25 cm/s, and from 13.5% to 34%, respectively. The ambient pressure is 101.3 kPa. The predicted limiting curve reasonably agreed with the minimum limiting oxygen concentration observed. On the other hand, in extremely slow flows, very robust flames were observed beyond the limiting curve. When the condition reached the limit of two-dimensional flame, the flame front changed from a linear shape to a spherical shape (flamelet) to shorten the preheat zone length, reducing the radiative heat loss to survive. In these cases, the flamelet was sustained for a long time (> 100 s), and a large amount of decomposed gas was released at the periphery of the pyrolysis zone generating a combustible vapor cloud around the spherical flame font. The presence of a long-life robust flamelet and the accumulation of such combustible mist can be fire hazards in microgravity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by a simple hydrothermal method vertically aligned ZnO nanorod arrays were grown on the carbon fiber paper (CFP) and then through a facile chemical bath deposition method CuO nanosheets were loaded on ZnO nanorod arrays, following by thermal spraying method, carboxylated carbon nanotubes (CCNTs) were successfully integrated with CuO/ZnO@CFP to form a binder-free CuO/ZnO-CCNT@CFP sensor. The sensor shows enhanced sensing activity for baicalein and luteolin determination due to the improved structural integration and synergism of different electrode material components. Remarkably, the CuO/ZnO-CCNT@CFP sensor showed good linear relationships over wide concentration ranges of 0.03–0.70 µM and 0.70–20 µM for baicalein and 0.03–0.45 µM and 0.45–8.5 µM for luteolin detection, with the detection limits of 1.7 nM for baicalein and 0.5 nM for luteolin, respectively. More importantly, the CuO/ZnO-CCNT@CFP sensor was utilized in the simultaneous determination of baicalein and luteolin, delivering linear ranges of 0.4–14 µM (baicalein) and 0.2–6 µM (luteolin) with the limit of detection of 0.05 µM and 0.03 µM, respectively. In addition, the developed CuO/ZnO-CCNT@CFP electrode was further investigated to detect baicalein and luteolin in traditional herbal medicine samples, showing satisfied results in comparison with analytic results from high performance liquid chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for sustainable materials in industrial applications has led to the exploration of biobased monomers for photocurable resins. This study investigates the photopolymerization kinetics and application of eugenol and vanillyl alcohol-based resins for developing hydrophobic coatings on paper. Employing photo-DSC and FT-IR spectroscopy, we analyzed the reactivity and conversion of eugenyl methacrylate (EM) and vanillyl alcohol methacrylate (VAM), alongside their formulations with a hydrophobic additive (PDMS-ECEMS), under various temperatures. Our results reveal that vanillyl alcohol-based resins exhibit faster polymerization and higher conversion rates compared to eugenol-based resins, attributed to their structural differences. The incorporation of PDMS-ECEMS significantly improved the hydrophobicity of the coatings, achieving contact angles (106°) comparable to those of conventional hydrophobic paper coatings. Optimal polymerization occurred at ambient temperatures, with elevated temperatures leading to a faster initial curing rate, but lower overall conversion. This study highlights the potential of using eugenol and vanillyl alcohol-based resins as sustainable alternatives for hydrophobic paper coatings, offering insights into the optimization of photocurable resin formulations for coatings with promising barrier and release performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A paper-based analytical device (PAD) with an integrated composite electrode has been designed and fabricated for non-enzymatic creatinine sensing. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was employed to modify the PAD so that it could function as a solid-contact transducer. A new macrocyclic pyrido-hexapeptide derivative was made and used as a special ionophore in the creatinine membrane sensor. The synthesized PAD showed a detection limit of 1.0 µM (S/N = 3) and a potentiometric response towards creatinine throughout a log-linear range of 2.0 µM–10 mM (R2 = 0.9998). The sensor shows significant selectivity for a few related substances, including ephedrine, codeine, ketamine, caffeine, urea, urate, carbinoxamine, and dextromethorphan. It has been established that the testing method is appropriate for the direct potentiometric detection of creatinine in a variety of human urine sample types. When an indicating electrode and a reference electrode are put on the same flexible disposable, this lets applications with a small sample volume be done. For point-of-care creatinine measurement, the developed paper-based analytical equipment is a good choice because it is affordable, easily accessible, and self-pumping (especially when combined with potentiometric detection). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyl radical (•OH) detection is pivotal in medicine, biochemistry and environmental chemistry. Yet, electrochemical method–specific detection is challenging because of hydroxyl radicals' high reactivity and short half-life. In this study, we aimed to modify the electrode surface with a specific recognition probe for •OH. To achieve this, we conducted a one-step hydrothermal process to fabricate a CoZnMOF bimetallic organic framework directly onto conductive graphite paper (Gp). Subsequently, we introduced salicylic acid (SA) and methylene blue (MB), which easily penetrated the pores of CoZnMOF. By selectively capturing •OH by SA and leveraging the electrochemical signal generated by the reaction product, we successfully developed an electrochemical sensor Gp/CoZnMOF/SA + MB. The prepared sensor exhibited a good linear relationship with •OH concentrations ranging from 1.25 to 1200 nM, with a detection limit of 0.2 nM. Additionally, the sensor demonstrated excellent reproducibility and accuracy due to the incorporation of an internal reference. It exhibited remarkable selectivity for •OH detection, unaffected by other electrochemically active substances. The establishment of this sensor provides a way to construct MOF-modified sensors for the selective detection of other reactive oxygen species (ROS), offering a valuable experimental basis for ROS-related disease research and environmental safety investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) production has primarily relied on virgin cellulose sources. Yet, the shift to using paper mill sludge (PMS) as a source for CNF underscores the significance of reusing and recycling industrial byproducts. PMS contains significant amounts of cellulose that can be extracted as a raw material. The purpose of present study is to provide a sustainable approach to PMS utilization as a paper coating additive in the cellulose nanofibrils (CNFPMS) form via simply scalable wire-wound rod coating method. The effect of CNFPMS additive amounts at two coating layers on microstructure and surface properties of coatings such as porosity, air permeability surface roughness and optical properties such as brightness, gloss and CIE L*a*b* is studied, which they can also provide insight for the eventual print performance. Results indicated that the obtained CNFPMS in paper coating shows 52% decrease in porosity, presenting significant improvement in the coating microstructure. The marginal increase in permeability coefficient and surface roughness, 54% and 10%, respectively, suggests improving color reproduction and preventing color density losses. Optical analysis showed slight decrease in brightness and gloss, as was expected. Notably, the lightness was improved, which also indicates increasing color gamut volume in printing applications. As a result, the current work offers a sustainable approach to manage PMS for use in paper coatings as a high-value-added material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-friendly acid base indicators (anthocyanins) are always a center of attention in quantitative volumetric analysis as substitute for synthetic dye indicators. The purpose of the study is to promote utilization of Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel biomass by developing a novel eco-friendly acid–base indicator for titrimetric analysis. Pomegranate peel extract (PPEx) was prepared by ultrasonic probe sonication, a green method for extraction. The obtained extracts were evaluated for total phenol, anthocyanin content and the color change ability analysis (CIEL*a*b* analysis). The pKa of PPEx was determined, the effectiveness of PPEx as indicator was established in different acid–base titrations and compared with conventional synthetic indicators phenolphthalein and methyl orange. The aspirin powder and tablet (Ecosprin) were analyzed by using PPEx as indicator. An attempt was also made to develop PPEx pH indicator paper. The aqueous and ethanolic PPEx prepared by ultrasonic probe sonication contains 657.1 ± 21 and 718.1 ± 21 mg/LGAE of total phenols and 38.49 ± 0.83 and 42.91 ± 2.10 mgC3G/100gm of anthocyanins, respectively.The PPEx and pH indicator paper shows color change with the pH of solution. The pKa of PPEx was 7.14. PPEx was served as eco-friendly substitute for phenolphthalein and methyl orange indicators. PPEx was effective to analyze aspirin. The statistical analysis ensures the reliability and effectiveness of PPEx as an eco-friendly indicator in acid base titrations as substitute for the synthetic dye indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creatinine is one of the most important biomarkers to detect renal failures. The electrochemical detection of creatinine has been performed using complex enzymatic and non-enzymatic electrode arrays hindering their commercialization. In this work, a new and practical non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor was fabricated depositing copper on carbon paper electrodes by physical vapor deposition (namely Cu/CP). Surface and cross-sectional SEM images demonstrated the deposition of copper over the 3D structure of carbon paper. A thin film was found on the surface, while Cu nanowires with diameters of 180 ± 30 nm were found inside the 3D structure of CP. The thickness of the Cu film on the tubular structures of CP was of 390 ± 40 nm. High-resolution TEM images indicated that the Cu film was integrated by hierarchical structures containing terminal Cu hemispheres of 17.6 ± 2.2 nm. Additionally, interplanar distances from the selected-area electron diffraction pattern demonstrated the presence of Cu0, while Cu2O was also found. Creatinine concentrations in saliva between 16 and 400 µM indicate kidney failure. The Cu/CP electrochemical sensor detected creatinine with linear concentration ranges from 0 to 1000 µM with a r2 = 0.9936. Outstandingly, this sensor presented good reproducibility (RSD = 7.3%), and selectivity to detect creatinine in artificial saliva using interferents like urea, glucose, glycine, ascorbic and uric acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global advocacy of resource conservation and waste management emphasizes the significance of sustainable practices, particularly in sectors such as paper manufacturing and recycling. Currently, conventional chemical methods are predominant for paper production, necessitating the use of substantial amount of toxic chemicals. This chemical-intensive approach compromises the recycled fiber quality, generates hazardous effluent causing serious ecological threats which triggers regulatory complexities for the mills. To address these challenges modern research suggests adopting sustainable eco-friendly practices such as employing enzymes. This review aims to explore the applicability of ‘laccase’ enzyme for paper recycling, investigating its properties and contribution to improved recycling practices. By delving into the potential application of laccase integration into the papermaking process, this article sheds light on the limitations inherent in traditional methods surmounted within both research and translational landscapes. Culture and process optimization studies, supporting the technological improvements and the future prospects have been documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel electrochemical sensor for paraquat determination was facilely developed using nanocomposites of cellulose incorporated with manganese oxide (MnO2@cellulose) modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). In this study, SPCE was fabricated on a low-cost poster paper, and nanocellulose from sugarcane bagasse was employed to enhance the electrode's surface area and improve the dispersion of MnO2. The MnO2@cellulose modified poster-SPCE exhibited a high electrochemical response toward paraquat. Various influencing factors, including differential pulse voltammetric parameters and accumulation time, were systematically explored. Under the optimal conditions, the cathodic peak current was linearly proportional to paraquat concentration in a range of 2 to 200 µM, featuring a low detection limit of 1 µM. The proposed sensor offers cost-effectiveness and can be readily prepared via a simple procedure. Moreover, this method exhibits excellent reproducibility, high selectivity, and a short analysis time. The portable electrochemical sensor was able to determine paraquat in water samples with acceptable recoveries from 95.45 to 109.20%, indicating that the sensor based on MnO2@cellulose/SPCE is reliable for paraquat quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soot stain from diverse sources is the most common stain that stains historical paper documents found in libraries, museums, and storage facilities. It is believed to be one of the types of deterioration that arises from the contact between stains and paper sheets. Therefore, in the present work, the effectiveness of the synthesized hybrid nanogel consisting of carbopol and nanoparticles (NPs) of ZnO, TiO2, or Fe3O4, in low and high-viscosity forms, for eliminating soot stains from historical paper manuscripts was conducted. The prepared hybrid nanogels were characterized utilizing the TEM, AFM, XRD, DLS, and Zeta Potential techniques. Following preparation, the soot-stained paper samples were heated to 105 °C for 6 days, a process known as accelerated thermal aging. Surface morphology, mechanical properties and the color change of the paper samples were investigated. The prepared hybrid nanogel had a spherical shape with well-defined edges and uniform size, with an average particle diameter ranging from 30 to 35 nm. There was no significant NPs agglomeration seen, suggesting uniform dispersion in the carbopol matrix. Additionally, the prepared gels' crystal structure and phase purity were revealed by the XRD analysis results. Paper fibers were visible in some parts of the treated sample with TiO2/carbopol hybrid nanogel at high-viscosity before aging. Cleaning soot-stained paper samples using high-viscosity Fe3O4/carbopol hybrid nanogel is more successful than using low-viscosity nanogel. the sample treated with high-viscosity ZnONPs/carbopol hybrid nanogel produced the highest total color differences (ΔE) (26.17). The paper sample treated with high-viscosity ZnO/carbopol hybrid nanogel exhibited the maximum tensile strength (61.8 N/mm2) and elongation at break (1.174%). The evaluation of the paper samples both before and after the cleaning process revealed that, the treatment with high-viscosity ZnO/carbopol hybrid nanogel gave the best results in removing soot stains from stained paper samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research article discusses composite panel manufacturers' challenges in finding an optimum pressing time to achieve a trade-off between the panel's performance and the production cost. Real-time cure monitoring techniques, such as dielectric analysis (DEA), have been developed to overcome the limitations of trial-and-error methods, which have been in use for a long time for the same purpose. DEA measures changes in the dielectric properties of the material during the cross-linking reactions in resin and provides necessary information for the cure state of the material. In this study, paper sensors based on interdigitated electrodes were employed to measure the curing behavior of phenol formaldehyde resin-impregnated paper. The paper sensors were found to be better than commercially available sensors in terms of compatibility, thinness, biodegradability, low cost, flexibility, and non-heterogeneity. The study compared the results obtained from DEA with those from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and found that DEA can be a good candidate for predicting curing behavior. The average enthalpy of the curing measured using DSC for the B-stage resin-impregnated PF resin was 35.28 J g−1. Moreover, it was observed from the rate of cure that at a higher temperature of 180 °C, the reaction follows an autocatalytic kinetic type as the reaction rate passes through a maximum. However, at lower temperatures, the autocatalytic reaction regime seems to be followed by a decelerating type. Further research on the effect of pressure and other parameters on the curing behavior of PF resin-impregnated paper can be done in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When replacing equipment at its end of life, industries often have the option to select higher efficiency technologies. The choice to invest in an improved piece of equipment rather than a simple in-kind replacement is driven by many factors, including costs, performance, and familiarity with new technology options. Engineering models that account for equipment stock turnover, such as ENERGY 2020, typically assume that this decision is primarily driven by the difference in marginal costs: higher up front capital costs must be, at minimum, balanced by lower lifetime energy costs for an upgrade to be pursued. Stock turnover analysis requires detailed data inputs regarding the costs and performance of new equipment. For simplicity, a common approach is to develop assumed correlations that reflect the trade-off between marginal capital cost and efficiency and compare these to energy prices to select an efficiency level for new equipment. In this study, we present a novel method to develop such trade-off curves based on a technology-explicit approach rather than a qualitative correlation assumption. We generate trade-off curves for two common types of industrial devices: electric machine drive and natural gas steam generation for the case study of the Canadian pulp and paper sector. The curves demonstrate that the efficiency of new devices can be expected to vary significantly based on energy prices. At current energy prices, we find that newly purchased machine drive and steam generation devices would have an optimal efficiency level of 91% and 75%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine issues of increasing the stability of the operation of submersible vortex frequency transducers in contact-conductometric vortex flowmeters for wastewater from pulp and paper production. Due to their design, converters of this type are subject to periodic breakdowns because of the oscillations of the sensitive element at a certain critical flow rate. The stability of the operation of these converters is analyzed using the theory of nonlinear impulse systems. It has been established that the flow measurement error increases due to the loss of the output signal flow meter at critical flow. It is shown that the critical flow rate is due to the added mass of the liquid, oscillating together with the sensitive element of the vortex frequency transducer of the flowmeters. The added liquid mass is determined from the frequency characteristics of the sensitive elements of the vortex frequency transducer by using numerical simulation and experimental studies on a special test stand. By using these results the amplitude–frequency characteristics of the sensitive elements are obtained. From comparative analysis of simulation and experimental characteristics we established the additional energy losses during oscillations of the sensitive element. Based on the results of this investigation, requirements for the design of vortex frequency transducers have been formulated regarding choice of mechanical parameters of the flexible electrode, eliminating measurement errors and providing stable operation of the device in the entire range of flow measurements. The results are relevant for organizations involved in the development and the introduction of flow measuring equipment and wastewater monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anger suppression is important in our daily life, as its failure can sometimes lead to the breaking down of relationships in families. Thus, effective strategies to suppress or neutralise anger have been examined. This study shows that physical disposal of a piece of paper containing one's written thoughts on the cause of a provocative event neutralises anger, while holding the paper did not. In this study, participants wrote brief opinions about social problems and received a handwritten, insulting comment consisting of low evaluations about their composition from a confederate. Then, the participants wrote the cause and their thoughts about the provocative event. Half of the participants (disposal group) disposed of the paper in the trash can (Experiment 1) or in the shredder (Experiment 2), while the other half (retention group) kept it in a file on the desk. All the participants showed an increased subjective rating of anger after receiving the insulting feedback. However, the subjective anger for the disposal group decreased as low as the baseline period, while that of the retention group was still higher than that in the baseline period in both experiments. We propose this method as a powerful and simple way to eliminate anger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the views of contemporary Muslim jurists about withdrawing treatment of the terminally ill. Its aim is threefold. Firstly, it analyses jurists' views concerning core themes within the process of withdrawing treatment. Secondly, it provides insight into fatwas about withdrawing treatment. Thirdly, it compares these views with current medical standards in Europe and the Atlantic world on withdrawing treatment. The data consisted of six papers by Muslim jurists presented at the conference of the Islamic Fiqh Council in 2015. We conducted a directed content analysis (DCA) through a predetermined framework and compiled an overview of all previous fatwas referred to in the papers, which are also analysed. The results show that the general consensus is that if health cannot be restored, treatment may be withdrawn at the request of the patient and/or his family or on the initiative of the doctor. The accompanying fatwa emphasizes the importance of life-prolonging treatment if this does not harm the patient. It becomes apparent in the fatwa that the doctor has the monopoly in decision-making, which is inconsistent with current medical standards in Europe. Managing disclosure in view of the importance of maintaining the hope of Muslim patients may challenge the doctor's obligation to share a diagnosis with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uric acid (UA) is an important biomarker, as a high concentration in blood can lead to gout and further renal syndrome. Although several point-of-care testing (POCT) devices have been reported to detect UA, there are some limitations such as the requirement for uricase and the complicated pretreatment of serum/plasma samples, which restricts their use at home or in undeveloped areas. In this work, we developed an approach by applying Zn2+ to precipitate proteins and cells in whole blood to avoid interference with the chromogenic reaction. We used carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to immobilize tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) on a nitrocellulose membrane for colorimetric detection. Using the oxidization properties of H2O2, which turns TMB into oxidized tetramethylbenzidine (TMBox) in the presence of catalyst gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), we successfully constructed an enzyme-free paper-based POCT device using the reduction reaction of UA and TMBox for simple, speedy, and cheap colorimetric detection of UA, achieving a detection time of 8 min, a linear range of 0–150 μg/mL, and an LOD of 25.79 μg/mL. The UA concentration in whole blood samples was further measured and correlated well with the clinical value (R2 = 0.8212). Thus, the proposed assay has the potential for POCT diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis of diseases related to UA. By applying Zn2+ reagent to precipitate proteins and cells in whole blood and the reduction reaction of UA, an enzyme-free paper-based POCT assay was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite progress in the prevention and diagnosis of cancer, current technologies for tumor detection present several limitations including invasiveness, toxicity, inaccuracy, lengthy testing duration and high cost. Therefore, innovative diagnostic techniques that integrate knowledge from biology, oncology, medicinal and analytical chemistry are now quickly emerging in the attempt to address these issues. Following this approach, here we developed a paper-based electrochemical device for detecting cancer-derived Small Extracellular Vesicles (S-EVs) in fluids. S-EVs were obtained from cancer cell lines known to express, at a different level, the αvβ6 integrin receptor, a well-established hallmark of numerous epithelial cancer types. The resulting biosensor turned out to recognize αvβ6-containing S-EVs down to a limit of 0.7*103 S-EVs/mL with a linear range up to 105 S-EVs /mL, and a relative standard deviation of 11%, thus it may represent a novel opportunity for αvβ6 expressing cancers detection. The detection of cancer in its early stages can greatly prevent disease development, however, current technologies for tumor detection present several limitations. Here, the authors develop a paper-based electrochemical device for detecting cancer-derived small extracellular vesicles (S-EVs) in fluids, recognizing αvβ6-containing S-EVs down to a limit of 0.7*103 S-EVs/mL with a linear range up to 105 S-EVs/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holocellulose fibers provide great potential to make paper with high performance. However, inappropriate reaction conditions may limit its improvement in paper performance due to the lack of sufficient research data. In this work, paper is prepared from the birch holocellulose fibers based on peracetic acid treatment and the papermaking process. The features of resulting holocellulose fibers are evaluated for different peracetic acid treatment conditions such as temperature and time. It reveals that high temperature and long treatment time lead to the degradation of hemicellulose/cellulose and the destruction of fibers, which further results in the poor mechanical performance of paper. By optimization for the treatment condition of holocellulose fibers, the corresponding paper exhibits the highest tensile strength (93 MPa), good bursting strength (601 kPa), and tearing strength (647 mN). The determination of optimum conditions will provide guidelines for the industrial production of holocellulose fibers and paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Maternity Protection Act is intended to protect the mother and the child from hazards, excessive demands and damage to health in the workplace, and from financial disadvantages and loss of employment. However, the objectives defined by the Maternity Protection Act—the safety and health of the pregnant employee on the one hand and the prevention of disadvantages in working life on the other—are not yet adequately achieved in the intensive care unit (ICU). Implementation of the Maternity Protection Act to the benefit of all involved parties should also be promoted in the specialist areas represented by the DIVI, in particular the work of pregnant physicians and nursing staff and other working specialists (respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychotherapists, and social workers) in the ICU. The aim of this paper is to raise awareness of the need to consider each pregnant and breastfeeding staff member individually and to work together to find a personal solution for continuing to work in the ICU. Possible ways and solutions to achieve this goal are outlined and practical examples are given for implementation in everyday clinical routine. These are also based on comprehensive presentation of activities according to a traffic light color-code system for all occupational groups. Arguments against pregnant employees working in the ICU are discussed and possible solutions are presented [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem change is an everyday reality, and assessment of its ability to provide men with products and services of the ecosystem (fresh water, climate, soil fertility, etc.), which are necessary for human welfare, is an urgent applied issue. The question as to "whether changes in the loss of biological diversity will affect the functioning of local ecosystems" is attracting increasing attention. In this first paper, we consider modern approaches to ecosystem monitoring. The concept of historical and novel ecosystems, ecosystem resilience, threshold effects, theory-driven restoration, and social–ecological considerations are reviewed. The principles of indication, requirements for indicators, possibilities, and prospects for the use of small mammals as indicators of the dynamics of local ecosystems are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yarn ball-like NiCo-LDH was electrodeposited on carbon paper (CP) through adjusting and controlling the synthetic parameters such as cobalt ion concentration, synthetic potential and time by potentiostatic deposition, and was constructed an enzyme-free glucose sensor; the electrocatalytic behavior of the as-prepared NiCo-LDH/CP electrode towards the glucose was investigated through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometric current–time response (I-t). The results showed that the sensor constructed on the basis of as-prepared NiCo-LDH/CP had not only a wide range of 0.84–11.04 mM, high sensitivity (5810 μA·mM−1·cm−2) and a low detection limit of 0.0546 μM, but also remarkable selectivity, striking repeatability and stability. Besides, the sensor based on NiCo-LDH/CP electrode had an excellent actual measurement with the recoveries of 98.86–101.05%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smartphone-assisted, paper-based ratio fluorescence probe is presented for the rapid, low-cost and on-site quantification of total flavonol glycosides in Ginkgo biloba extracts (GBE). The Al3+/Eu-MOF/paper-based probe utilizes lanthanide metal-organic framework (Ln-MOF) nanoparticles immobilized on Whatman filter paper along with Al3+ for detecting flavonols, which are the hydrolyzed products of flavonol glycosides. The color change of the paper-based fluorescence image from red to orange depends on the concentration of the target analyte in the sample solution. The smartphone equipped with a red, green, blue (RGB) color detector measured the fluorescence signal intensity on the paper substrate after adding flavonol. The analytical variables affecting the performance of the probe, including the addition sequence of the aluminum nitrate solution, its concentration, that of the Ln-MOF solution, the drying time of the paper probe, the reaction time and the sensitivity parameters of the mobile phone camera (ISO), were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the Al3+/Eu-MOF/paper-based probe has good linear response in the concentration range 7 ~ 80 µg mL− 1 and a lower detection limit of 2.07 µg mL− 1. The results obtained with the paper-based ratio fluorescence probe and smartphone combination were validated by comparing them with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurements. This study provides a potential strategy for fabricating Al3+/Eu-MOF/paper-based probe used for total flavonol glycosides determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of fluorometric paper-based analytical devices (fPADs) integrated with smartphone for fluorometric quantification of ethanol in an instrument-free and portable setup is described. The NAD+-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase immobilized within chitosan modified paper substate was utilized as a bio-recognition element and enzymatically generated NADH was used as a fluorescent probe. 3D-printed imaging setup which houses a paper chip holder and UV-light emitting device (LED) was developed for rapid, accurate capture of the fluorescent images. The biocompatible chitosan layer covering the paper provides a feasible environment for enzyme immobilization and enhances the fluorescence signal. The developed fPADs exhibited high sensitivity for ethanol detection and has a linear range for ethanol detection from 17 µM to 8.75 mM (R2 =0.99). Additionally, the fPADs were applied to quantify ethanol in four different wine samples including red, white, rose, and sparkling wines successfully. Moreover, the fPADs produce reproducible signals without loss of enzyme activity for at least 14 days and ~80% activity remained till 28 days. Thus, the proposed approach can provide a facile, affordable, portable, and instrument-free tool for the onsite quantification of ethanol in real samples and is applicable for food quality controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a convenient, low-cost, and environmentally friendly sorbent based on biopolymer was fabricated and applied for thin-film microextraction (TFME) of cadmium ions from various matrices. The biodegradable cellulose-based filter paper was coated with polyaniline emeraldine salt. The sorbent surface properties were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The positively charged modified filter paper was utilized as the sorbent in TFME for separation and preconcentration of the anionic complex of cadmium ion (CdI42−). The analyte was then eluted from the sorbent by 0.5 mL of sodium hydroxide (0.5 mol L−1) and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The extraction conditions including pH, sorption and desorption time, sample volume, and desorption parameters were considered and optimized. At optimum conditions, the method has a linear range of 0.25–25 µg L−1, a limit of detection of 0.06 µg L−1, and an enhancement factor of 198. The method precision values which were calculated as relative standard deviation (RSD%), at 3 µg L−1 cadmium solution were 3.4 (intra-day) and 4.7% (inter-day). The proposed method was successfully applied to the enrichment and trace levels determination of cadmium ions in various environmental water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunitinib malate (SM) is a chemical compound belonging to the class of kinase inhibitors and is mainly used in cancer treatment. However, despite its effectiveness, SM can cause multiple side effects, including fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can affect the patient's quality of life. Therefore, rapid and accurate diagnosis of SM is very important in many fields, especially for human health. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), an improved method for identifying biological and chemical substances with very low concentrations, is fast, reliable, and accurate. In order to identify the SM drug, filter paper substrates covered with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used as SERS biosensors. First, AgNPs were prepared using a chemical reduction method. Then, the characteristics of the produced AgNPs were examined using FE-SEM, TEM, XRD, AFM, and UV–Vis analyses. The AgNPs were then coated on the substrates to create plasmonic active sites for identifying molecular vibrations of the SM drug. By coating the SM drug onto these substrates, the AgNPs reacted with the SM drug, successfully identifying trace amounts of the drug. The detection limit of the SERS plasmonic substrates for identifying the SM drug was 10−10 M. The average RSD for six repeated measurements was calculated at 5.39%. The enhancement factor for identifying molecular vibrations of the SM drug was experimentally calculated at 2.741 × 105 and numerically as 2.504 × 105. Therefore, the results indicate that these substrates are suitable for identifying low concentrations of this drug and can be used for drug monitoring purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising technology, interfacial solar steam technology has been widely recognized as an effective way to solve the shortage of energy and water, especially in remote areas. Whole roll of toilet paper (TP) is composed of well orderly layer-by-layer paper, which consisted by cellulose fiber. Here, a 3D solar steam generator, which is prepared by carbonized TP with the help of high-temperature carbonization, and NaOH activated under inert atmosphere is firstly demonstrated with excellent freshwater production capacity. Thanks to the good ordered layered structure, which consisted by porous carbon fiber, the evaporation speed of obtained evaporator is up to 3.37 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun (1000 W m−2) in laboratory, and the average value of 20.4 ± 2.98 kg m−2 day−1 in a 20 consecutive days outdoor experiment for treatment of stimulate seawater, respectively. The demonstrated 3D evaporator for per square meter can meet the drinking water demand of more than 10 people. This work not only provides an environmentally friendly, low-cost, easy-to-industrialize preparation for solar assistance interfacial evaporator, but also opens a promising approach for utilizing unique structure of commercialized available artificial materials and technologies to produce fresh water from seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous natural dyes were used to dye mediaeval Islamic paper from the tenth to the nineteenth century, using a variety of techniques. The objective of this research is to develop an analytical method using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC–DAD) to identify natural dyes in forty historical Islamic paper manuscripts from two collections. In addition, novel information was obtained from original treatises containing recipes for dyeing paper and the chronological use of dyes in dyeing mediaeval Islamic paper between the tenth and seventeenth centuries. The results show that thirty-four of the forty manuscripts examined contained dyes. Six natural dyes were detected, including henna, madder, lac, safflower, turmeric, and weld. This is the first study aimed at developing a method for determining various natural dyes in Islamic paper from a wide historical and geographical range in the mediaeval time and to fill significant gaps in the technical and historical knowledge of papermaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast growth of building constructions industry and of the universal population is the main cause of increase in global energy consumption. Therefore, the improvement of the building envelope encourages the scientific community to investigate the use of alternative materials that assure indoor comfort conditions and at the same time promote the reduction of energy consumption by adopting energy saving strategies in the manufacturing process. The present research contribution aims to focus on the potential use of innovative building materials developed with waste paper, classified as urban non-hazardous discard component. The use of paper pulp originated from recycled paper and cardboard with the addition of textile fibers from industrial by-products was explored. Here, an effort has been made to realize sustainable insulating panel for internal use, considering different mix design and recycled components in various percentages. The research focuses on hygric, thermal, and physical performances of recycled waste based panels, measuring physical aspects as bulk porosity and bulk density and testing hygrothermal performances as the dry-state thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, volumetric heat capacity, and water vapour permeability. Furthermore, in order to assess the hygrothermal behaviour of the building envelope, a numerical simulation, carried out by WUFI® Plus in a Mediterranean context, was developed using as inputs the results collected from the measurement campaign in laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the morphology of the "athlete's heart", left ventricular (LV) wall thickness (WT) and end-diastolic internal diameter (LVIDd) at rest were addressed in publications on skiers, rowers, swimmers, cyclists, runners, weightlifters (n = 927), and untrained controls (n = 173) and related to the acute and maximal cardiovascular response to their respective disciplines. Dimensions of the heart at rest and functional variables established during the various sport disciplines were scaled to body weight for comparison among athletes independent of body mass. The two measures of LV were related (r = 0.8; P = 0.04) across athletic disciplines. With allometric scaling to body weight, LVIDd was similar between weightlifters and controls but 7%-15% larger in the other athletic groups, while WT was 9%-24% enlarged in all athletes. The LVIDd was related to stroke volume, oxygen pulse, maximal oxygen uptake, cardiac output, and blood volume (r = ~ 0.9, P < 0.05), while there was no relationship between WT and these variables (P > 0.05). In conclusion, while cardiac enlargement is, in part, essential for the generation of the cardiac output and thus stroke volume needed for competitive endurance exercise, an enlarged WT seems important for the development of the wall tension required for establishing normal arterial pressure in the enlarged LVIDd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autistic individuals often experience a wide range of barriers and challenges with employment across their lifetime. Despite their strengths and abilities to contribute to the workforce, many individuals experience unemployment, underemployment and malemployment. However, current supports and services are often inadequate to meet their needs. To allow autistic people to achieve vocational success, we explore four contributors to employment and expand upon the issues and potential solutions to each. These positions include the importance of family support and its consideration in the application of vocational support interventions, addressing transitional needs for autistic youth, building employer capacity, and conducting research that advises the development of meaningful programs and policies. By advocating for these positions, we aim to foster greater inclusivity and support for individuals with ASD in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of analyzing the general and functional diversity of the ecosystem is considered, as is unambiguous interpretation of the results obtained based on our work experience and previously obtained data. The prospects for studying small mammals without removal from the wild are discussed. We discuss distinguishing in a sample the resident component, which makes it possible to characterize local resource flows, and the nonresident component, dependent on the state of the territory as a whole. A description of the capture–mark–recapture protocol, methods for assessing spatial activity, calculating the density of the resident population per unit area, and the completeness of species richness estimate is provided. The estimates of animal numbers per unit of trapping effort in pooled sample, the population density of residents, and the index of the nonresident flow are compared. The possibility of analyzing the resource flows in "historical," "novel," and "hybrid" ecosystems, as well as using data to analyze the resilience of the ecosystem and detect the threshold point, is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the key roles of the cerebellum in motor, cognitive, and affective operations and given the decline of brain functions with aging, cerebellar circuitry is attracting the attention of the scientific community. The cerebellum plays a key role in timing aspects of both motor and cognitive operations, including for complex tasks such as spatial navigation. Anatomically, the cerebellum is connected with the basal ganglia via disynaptic loops, and it receives inputs from nearly every region in the cerebral cortex. The current leading hypothesis is that the cerebellum builds internal models and facilitates automatic behaviors through multiple interactions with the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and spinal cord. The cerebellum undergoes structural and functional changes with aging, being involved in mobility frailty and related cognitive impairment as observed in the physio-cognitive decline syndrome (PCDS) affecting older, functionally-preserved adults who show slowness and/or weakness. Reductions in cerebellar volume accompany aging and are at least correlated with cognitive decline. There is a strongly negative correlation between cerebellar volume and age in cross-sectional studies, often mirrored by a reduced performance in motor tasks. Still, predictive motor timing scores remain stable over various age groups despite marked cerebellar atrophy. The cerebello-frontal network could play a significant role in processing speed and impaired cerebellar function due to aging might be compensated by increasing frontal activity to optimize processing speed in the elderly. For cognitive operations, decreased functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) is correlated with lower performances. Neuroimaging studies highlight that the cerebellum might be involved in the cognitive decline occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD), independently of contributions of the cerebral cortex. Grey matter volume loss in AD is distinct from that seen in normal aging, occurring initially in cerebellar posterior lobe regions, and is associated with neuronal, synaptic and beta-amyloid neuropathology. Regarding depression, structural imaging studies have identified a relationship between depressive symptoms and cerebellar gray matter volume. In particular, major depressive disorder (MDD) and higher depressive symptom burden are associated with smaller gray matter volumes in the total cerebellum as well as the posterior cerebellum, vermis, and posterior Crus I. From the genetic/epigenetic standpoint, prominent DNA methylation changes in the cerebellum with aging are both in the form of hypo- and hyper-methylation, and the presumably increased/decreased expression of certain genes might impact on motor coordination. Training influences motor skills and lifelong practice might contribute to structural maintenance of the cerebellum in old age, reducing loss of grey matter volume and therefore contributing to the maintenance of cerebellar reserve. Non-invasive cerebellar stimulation techniques are increasingly being applied to enhance cerebellar functions related to motor, cognitive, and affective operations. They might enhance cerebellar reserve in the elderly. In conclusion, macroscopic and microscopic changes occur in the cerebellum during the lifespan, with changes in structural and functional connectivity with both the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. With the aging of the population and the impact of aging on quality of life, the panel of experts considers that there is a huge need to clarify how the effects of aging on the cerebellar circuitry modify specific motor, cognitive, and affective operations both in normal subjects and in brain disorders such as AD or MDD, with the goal of preventing symptoms or improving the motor, cognitive, and affective symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias (IMCAs) have diverse etiologies. Patients with IMCAs develop cerebellar symptoms, characterized mainly by gait ataxia, showing an acute or subacute clinical course. We present a novel concept of latent autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (LACA), analogous to latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). LADA is a slowly progressive form of autoimmune diabetes where patients are often initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The sole biomarker (serum anti-GAD antibody) is not always present or can fluctuate. However, the disease progresses to pancreatic beta-cell failure and insulin dependency within about 5 years. Due to the unclear autoimmune profile, clinicians often struggle to reach an early diagnosis during the period when insulin production is not severely compromised. LACA is also characterized by a slowly progressive course, lack of obvious autoimmune background, and difficulties in reaching a diagnosis in the absence of clear markers for IMCAs. The authors discuss two aspects of LACA: (1) the not manifestly evident autoimmunity and (2) the prodromal stage of IMCA's characterized by a period of partial neuronal dysfunction where non-specific symptoms may occur. In order to achieve an early intervention and prevent cell death in the cerebellum, identification of the time-window before irreversible neuronal loss is critical. LACA occurs during this time-window when possible preservation of neural plasticity exists. Efforts should be devoted to the early identification of biological, neurophysiological, neuropsychological, morphological (brain morphometry), and multimodal biomarkers allowing early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention and to avoid irreversible neuronal loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) is a valuable technology to support people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and is recommended for COVID-19 patients. This study aims to fabricate polymer-based composite membranes coated with ethylcellulose nanoparticles from waste paper and identify the performance of the composite as ECMO candidates. Composite membranes were made from four types of polymers, namely, nylon, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), Pebax® MH-1657, and SBS (poly-(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene)). PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) 1 wt.% and ethylcellulose nanoparticles (3% and 10 wt.%) were used as membrane coatings to increase their hydrophobic properties. The success of cellulose isolation and ethylcellulose synthesis from waste paper was confirmed by the FTIR and XRD analysis. The size of the synthesized ethylcellulose nanoparticles was 32.68 nm. The coating effect on composite membranes was studied by measuring the contact angle, membrane porosity, protein quantification tests, and single gas permeation of O2 and CO2. Based on the protein quantification test, the protein could not pass through the Pebax/PDMS and SBS/PDMS composites coated with 10 wt.% ethylcellulose; this indicated less risk of plasma leakage. The gas permeation test on nylon/PDMS, PTFE/PDMS, and SBS/PDMS composites coated with 10% ethylcellulose resulted high CO2/O2 selectivity, respectively, 2.17, 3.48, and 3.22 as good indication for extracorporeal oxygenation membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to discuss and complete the avalanche representations of the failure process of quasi-brittle materials. Paper was used as a model material. We proposed an original method to determine avalanches extracted directly from the force drops in the post-peak regime of experimental force–displacement curves. We studied the avalanche distributions on notched and unnotched samples, taking into account the measurement noise. From these experimental tests, two regimes in the avalanche distribution were observed during the propagation of a macrocrack, in particular with a well-defined power law at small scale, that was consistent with other avalanche distributions based on other methods and other materials in literature. A single regime power-law distributed was found for a diffuse damage (without a significant macrocrack propagation) using the Mazars' damage model. Our results showed that the post-peak regime of tensile curves contained the statistical signature of the propagation of a macrocrack during the rupture of paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Geographical Systems (JGS) has announced two initiatives to recognize outstanding research published in the journal. The first initiative is the JGS Best Paper Award, which aims to encourage and acknowledge excellent scholarship in the field of GIScience and spatial planning. The second initiative is the Editors' Choice, where the editors select their favorite paper from each issue. The winners of these awards are listed on the journal's website and their papers are made freely accessible for a certain period of time. The 2023 JGS Best Paper Award was given to Luyu Liu, Adam Porr, and Harvey J. Miller for their research on evaluating the reliability of public transit accessibility using real-time data. The paper demonstrates how even small levels of unreliability in transit services can significantly impact accessibility levels, particularly for lower income populations. The paper also promotes open and reproducible research practices. The Editors' Choice for Volume 26(1) is a paper by Chris Jacobs-Crisioni, Ana I. Moreno-Monroy, Mert Kompil, and Lewis Dijkstra, which proposes a sequential approach to estimate school provision, cost, and access using open databases of student counts. The paper provides valuable insights into the balance between cost, access, and residential values in school provision. Both papers are recognized for their significant contributions to the field. [Extracted from the article]

Some ancient Chinese paper artifacts dyed with amur cork tree bark extracts are currently preserved to different extents in museums and libraries worldwide. As traditional natural plant dyes, the long-term performance of the amur cork tree bark extract-dyed handmade paper has been questioned under a preserved environment. The photodegradation process of the extract-dyed papers was examined under accelerating artificial UVA irradiation conditions according to China national standard-paper and board- accelerated aging (exposure to light). Changes during aging were analyzed by optical observation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), pH, and tensile strength and folding endurance tests. The results showed that the main components from extracted dyes played an important role in affecting the photodegradation properties of dyed paper. The changes in surface color, pH, morphology and mechanical properties after the artificial UVA accelerated degradation tests revealed that a suitable concentration of the extract dyes for maintaining the long-term irradiation stability of the paper is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Historic Behavior in Nonautonomous Rock-Paper-Scissors Dynamics," explores the concept of historic behavior in dynamical systems. The author challenges the widely held belief that replicator equations in evolutionary game theory satisfy the "Folk Theorem of Evolutionary Game Theory." The paper proposes a class of replicator equations that exhibit historic behavior, where the time averages of the orbit do not converge. The article also presents some auxiliary results and provides a proof for the main theorem. The research was supported by ongoing institutional funding, and the author declares no conflicts of interest. [Extracted from the article]

Laccases (EC 1.10.3.2) are considered one of the most prominent multicopper enzymes that exhibit the inherent properties of oxidizing a range of phenolic substrates. Mostly, reported laccases have been isolated from the plants and fungi species, whereas bacterial laccases are yet to be explored. Bacterial laccases have numerous distinctive properties over fungal laccases, including stability at high temperatures and high pH. This study includes the isolation of bacteria through the soil sample collected from the paper and pulp industry; the highest laccase-producing bacteria was identified as Bhargavaea bejingensis, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The extracellular and intracellular activities after 24 h incubation were 1.41 U/mL and 4.95 U/mL, respectively. The laccase-encoding gene of the bacteria was sequenced; moreover, the in vitro translated protein was bioinformatically characterized and asserted that the laccase produced by the bacteria Bhargavaea bejingensis was structurally and sequentially homologous to the CotA protein of Bacillus subtilis. The enzyme laccase produced from B. bejingensis was classified as three-domain laccase with several copper-binding residues, where a few crucial copper-binding residues of the laccase enzyme were also predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scaling up of the intensity of beams of atomic clusters (nanoparticle beams) creates a new route to the fabrication of functional nanostructured materials. A challenge is to present, to the directed beam, high surface areas of the desired support material, for decoration by the clusters at local sub-monolayer densities. Then, the clusters and their properties can be preserved. Here we employ the Matrix Assembly Cluster Source (MACS) to demonstrate and characterise the deposition of lead clusters, with size of order 2 nm, into planar sheets of porous carbon paper, a material employed in electrode fabrication. We find that clusters are deposited to a depth comparable with the pore size of the carbon, ~ 50 μm, giving rise to a metal loading of ~ 0.05 mg cm−2 of carbon paper. The functionality of the nanocomposite film so created is demonstrated by its use as an electrode for the electrochemical generation of oxidising species suitable for water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A user-friendly, cost-effectively, portable, and environmentally friendly colorimetric sensor for the quantitative determination of formaldehyde was developed based on the combining of microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD), headspace microextraction (HSME), and digital image colorimetry. Coupling HSME and μPAD led to enhancements in selectivity and sensitivity of the sensor through sample cleanup and analyte enrichment. To construct the μPAD-HSME device, two pieces of paper as the sample and detection zone were placed facing each other so that a small common and sealed space was created between them. The color change occurred when the analyte in the gaseous form crossed this gap and reached the detection zone. Colorimetric sensing in the detection zone was performed based on the Hantzsch reaction. The color change in the detection zone was recorded by a smartphone and digital images were processed using image analysis software based on the RGB model. The influence of some key variables on the sensitivity of the method including derivatization reagent composition, sample volume, extraction temperature, and extraction time was studied and optimized. The linear dynamic range of the method was obtained in two ranges of 0.10–0.75 and 0.75–5.0 mg L−1 with a limit of detection of 0.03 mg L−1. The recoveries were in the range 80–126% for the quantification of formaldehyde in textile, milk, and wastewater samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been recognized as one of the most sensitive analytical methods by adsorbing the target of interest onto a plasmonic surface. Growing attention has been directed towards the fabrication of various substrates to broaden SERS applications. Among these, flexible SERS substrates, particularly paper-based ones, have gained popularity due to their easy-to-use features by full contact with the sample surface. Herein, we reviewed the latest advancements in flexible SERS substrates, with a focus on paper-based substrates. Firstly, it begins by introducing various methods for preparing paper-based substrates and highlights their advantages through several illustrative examples. Subsequently, we demonstrated the booming applications of these paper-based SERS substrates in abiotic and biological matrix detection, with particular emphasis on their potential application in clinical diagnosis. Finally, the prospects and challenges of paper-based SERS substrates in broader applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a low-cost and eco-friendly paper-based analytical device (PAD) method is described for the determination of phyto-cannabinoids in cannabis and oral fluids based on a simple colorimetric reaction. The PAD was able to distinguish tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)- and cannabidiol (CBD)-rich plant samples by using 4-aminophenol (4-AP) and later on to quantify total phyto-cannabinoid content (THC + CBD + CBN) in plant and oral fluids by using the Fast Corinth V reagent. The chemical and physical properties regarding paper type and reagent concentration in the PAD were optimized to achieve the best analytical performance. After that, analytical features were obtained, including a linear range of 0.01–0.1 mg mL−1, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.003 mg mL−1, and a suitable precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) lower than 10%. Furthermore, no significant interferences were observed in colorimetric reactions when tea, herbs, and drug samples were analyzed. Additionally, the PAD proved color stability up to 1 month after the sampling at 25 °C. The developed PAD was suitable for determining total phyto-cannabinoid content in plants and oral fluids, obtaining good results compared to GC–MS. Overall, this method showed good reliability resulting in an operational on-site device for drug monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]