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This review essay registers sincere appreciation for John Witte’s singular contribution to defending the importance of the history and interpretation of rights in the Western tradition, especially as related to Christian thought and practice. It also proposes to amend and refine his approach by highlighting the difference between natural and religious justifications of rights, and by suggesting reasons for favoring the former.

English The last decade has witnessed the emergence of new psychoactive substances that are analogues of classical drugs of abuse in order to escape the regulations surrounding the latter drugs. These drugs were of both herbal and synthetic origin and were advertised initially as ‘legal highs’; thus, they were perceived as safe by users. Hence, upon their emergence, they were not controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which contributed to their popularity and increased sales online and within street markets. In 2016, the Psychoactive Substance Act introduced a blanket ban on all new psychoactive substances except for caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. This in turn, contributed to the change in the sale of new psychoactive substances products that have been sold as concealed in different matrices, including herbal products, papers, fabrics, and textiles. Concealing drugs in paper has been very popular, especially since the drug product is of lightweight and can be sent via postal services. However, new psychoactive concealed in papers are toxic not only to the users; but also, to the person handling them (i.e. mail employees). One of the classes of new psychoactive substances that have been commonly concealed in papers and that have been linked to toxicity and hospitalization cases is synthetic cannabinoids. Therefore, there is a need to identify new psychoactive substances concealed in papers non-destructively and rapidly to prevent toxicity linked to them. Handheld Raman spectroscopy offers this advantage as it is of lightweight and carries the sample to the matrix. Therefore, this work used handheld Raman spectroscopy for identifying synthetic cannabinoids concealed in papers using Raman spectroscopy combined with machine learning analytics. Synthetic cannabinoid and paper samples were measured non-destructively using a handheld Raman spectrometer equipped with a 1064 nm laser wavelength. Spectral data was exported into Matlab 2020b where machine learning analytics including identification and prediction was. The results showed that Raman spectroscopy could identify specific synthetic cannabinoids in papers that were either deposited on the surface of the paper or diffused inside the paper substrate. When machine learning analytics were applied to the Raman spectra of the papers, quantitative information was obtained regarding the amount of synthetic cannabinoid deposited on the paper surface. In summary, handheld Raman spectroscopy could identify and quantify synthetic cannabinoids on paper rapidly and non-destructively. Future work involves testing other classes of new psychoactive substance and applying deep learning analytics

John Witte, Jr.’s book The Blessings of Liberty contains an important message about the origins and continuing relevance of religious liberty. Based on careful historical analysis of the development of religious liberty in England and the US, Witte demonstrates the importance of Protestant thinking both to the right and to human rights more generally. In the process he refutes both Christian and post-Enlightenment sceptics. His discussion of contemporary US and European law shows how much the right is still needed today, despite the claims of contemporary scholars that freedom of religion and belief is a redundant right.

A “4-{[1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethylidene]amino}-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-one” chemosensor (C1) synthesized by Condensation reaction using “4-amino-1,2-dihydro-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenylpyrazol-3-one” and “2,5-dihydroxy Actophenone”. It shows absorption peak at 326 nm due to the C=C bond (π-π* transition), while the absorption peak at 364 nm is caused by the C=O bond (n-π* transition). In the presence of copper C1 only demonstrated a change in absorption peak to higher wavelength (redshift) from 364 to 425 nm. The hue of both the C1+Cu(II) complex changed from bright yellow to dark brown colour with hypochromic shift appearance of a new peak at 425 nm. Even in the presence of other competing metal ions, the hypsochromic shift of the absorption band and the quenching of the fluorescence emission intensity were different for detecting Cu2+, in CH3OH-H2O (v/v = 6:4). Job's plot was used to compute the binding stoichiometry between C1 and Cu2+, and MASS and FTIR spectrophotometry were used to investigate the complexation process. The capacity of the C1 to bind Cu2+ was further proven using DFT simulations. The complex S1+Cu2+ has a HOMO-LUMO energy gap of 2.8002 eV, which is lesser than S1 (2.9991 eV). From these results, it can be seen that the specific binding of S1 to Cu2+ improves the stability of the S1+Cu2+ complex and effectively reduces the HOMO-LUMO energy gap. The C1 was successfully used in a real-world water sample analysis. Using the Benesi-Hildebrand and Scatchard plots, the Kb was calculated and found to be 47340M-1 and 48369M-1 respectively, showing the creation of stable complexation between Cu2+ and S1 with 1:1 Stoichiometry. The LOD of S1 for Cu2+ ion analysis was determined to be 649 nM. Strip sheets were also built and tested to detect varying amounts of Cu2+ aqueous solution, and their color change suggested that they might be used for on-site Cu2+ detection in polluted water.

Purpose This study aimed to determine whether continual electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) measurements at home can capture the fluctuations in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores between visits. Methods We performed a randomized controlled trial to compare the scores obtained by standard practice (paper-based measurements in the hospital) to scores by continuous measurement of ePRO at home. Metastatic cancer patients were randomly assigned to either the paper-based ( n = 50) or the ePRO group ( n = 52). EQ-5D-5L and EORTC QLQ C-30 scores were obtained on 3 different chemotherapy days in the paper-based group. Meanwhile, scores were obtained on the chemotherapy day and on days 3, 7, 10, and 14 in the ePRO group during 2 cycles. The first hypothesis of our study was that both scores at the same time points would be equivalent despite different measurement frequency, place, or mode of measurement. The second hypothesis was that PRO score–adjusted time would be different between the groups. For equivalence, the endpoint was the mean EQ-5D-5L index value on the chemotherapy day before the outpatient treatment. Only if equivalence was shown, quality-adjusted life-days (QALDs) were considered using all the data. Results The adjusted mean difference in the EQ-5D-5L index was determined to be −0.013 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.049 to 0.022); the 95% CI did not exceed the equivalence margin. Similarly, the mean difference in global health status (2.28 [95% CI: −2.55 to 7.11]) also showed equivalence. However, the QALD by EQ-5D-5L was significantly lower in the ePRO group by 1.36 per 30 d (95% CI: −2.22 to −0.51; P = 0.0021). Conclusions Continual measurements of the HRQOL at home by ePRO may yield more detailed profiles of the HRQOL.

This manuscript aimed to enhance the mechanical, thermal, and ignition properties of bagasse paper when coated with different coatings synthesized from hydroxyethyl cellulose, 1,3-di-p-toluidine-2,2,2,4,4,4-hexachlorocyclodiphosph(V)azane, Talc powder, NaHCO3, cellulose nanocrystal. The effect of these coatings on the mechanical properties was studied by measuring elongation, tensile strength, and burst strength. The stages of degradation and ash residue of the measuring specimens were determined using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), behind that, the ignition properties as the flame chamber (UL/94), and limiting oxygen index (LOI) was measured according to standards. These tests proved that 1,3-di-p-toluidine-2,2,2,4,4,4-hexachlorocyclodiphosph(V)azane has a direct effect on improving the mechanical characteristics and enhancing the ignition properties of the coated specimens compared to uncoated. In this study the physical, mechanical, thermal, and ignition properties of the bagasse paper sheets were enhanced by easy and low-cost method via synthesis of new coatings based on commercially available chemicals in a reasonable cost.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) technology featuring low-cost, high-efficiency and scalability has presented great advantages in micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) fabrication. However, the limited capacitance of LIG based MSCs is still hindering their further development. Herein, we introduce joule heating as a critical in-situ treatment merged with the assembly of laser-induced graphene paper based MSCs (LIGP-MSCs) toward capacitive enhancement. By increasing heating-treatment temperature from ∼20 to 500 °C, the number of nanopores in LIGP continuously increases, attributed to the gradual decomposition of amorphous carbon components. The resulting joule-heated LIGP (J-LIGP) with improved specific surface area (160.97–533.49 m2/g) and pore volume (0.179–0.553 cm3/g) as well as superhydrophilic surface is highly suitable to be employed as J-LIGP-MSCs microelectrodes. By investigating process dependent performance, the J-LIGP-MSCs heated at 500 °C for 60 min delivers a significantly improved specific areal capacitance (CA) of 13.71 mF/cm2 at 10 mV/s, which is approximately six-fold higher than that of unheated LIGP-MSCs. By further exploring and optimizing the process efficiency, J-LIGP-MSCs with a CA of 12.61 mF/cm2 has been achieved by 550 °C heating for only 5 min. Along with superior mechanical flexibility, cyclability and structural modularity, the proposed in-situ joule heating treatment is finally proved to be a universal approach for consistently enhancing the CA of LIG based MSCs processed under various chemical modifications.

Abstract Simple, portable, and low-cost paper-based sensors are alternative devices that have the potential to replace high-cost sensing technologies. The compatibility of the paper base biosensors for both chemical and biochemical accentuates its feasibility for application in clinical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and food quality monitoring. High concentration of copper in blood serum and urine is associated with diseases like liver diseases, carcinomas, acute and chronic infections, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Detection of copper concentration can give an early sign of Alzheimer disease. Apart from that genetic Wilson's disease can be detected by evaluating the concentration of copper in the urine. In view of the above advantages, a novel and the highly sensitive paper-based sensor has been designed for the selective detection of Cu2+ ions. The fast and highly sensitive chemiresistive multi-dye system sensor can detect Cu2+ ions selectively in as low as 2.23 ppm concentration. Least interference has been observed for counter ion in the detection of Cu2+. Copper chloride, nitrate, and acetate were used to validate the detection process. This assay provides a very high selectivity of Cu2+ ion over other metal cations such as Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, etc. The easy preparation and high stability of dye solutions, easy functionalization of the paper-based sensors, high selectivity over other cations, low interference of counter anion, and significantly low detection limit of 2.23 ppm make it an effective Cu2+ ion sensor for real-time application in near future. Graphical Abstract

Over the first two decades of the twenty-first century, John Witte, Jr. has not only carefully documented but also creatively promoted in many ways three very important developments: (1) the almost revolutionary worldwide reawakening of cooperation in the fields of law and religion after the termination of their long, fruitful history of cooperation in the mid-1800s; (2) the efforts to strengthen a justice-oriented legal culture in democratic societies and the legal, academic, and political appreciation of human rights (also in disputes with human rights skeptics); and (3) the reconciliation of traditional values and new needs for freedom in the ethos and law of marriage and family.

The total/partial oil change treatment can affect the furfural partitioning in oil-paper-pressboard insulation, resulting in poor accuracy of furfural analysis. Moreover, due to the high cost of total oil change, partial oil change is more practical during transformer operation. This paper investigates the furfural partitioning in the oil-paper-pressboard insulation under partial oil change conditions. First, the initial furfural partitioning equation with non-oil change is proposed based on the obtained furfural content in oil, paper, and pressboard. Then, the modified furfural partitioning model under partial oil change condition is established by introducing a correction factor. Moreover, a preliminary correction scheme for the furfural partitioning model considering the influence of moisture and acid is provided. Finally, furfural content in oil-Kraft paper and oil-thermally upgraded Kraft (TUK) paper insulation are discussed, and results indicate that the proposed modified furfural partitioning model is not suitable for the oil-TUK paper insulation. This work can provide theoretical support for furfural analysis of oil-immersed transformers.

The history and influence of the School of Salamanca is attracting the attention of researchers from very different branches of knowledge and from a very wide variety of countries around the world. Broaching this subject invites one to reflect on both the unity of knowledge and the important role that theology plays in a secularized world. In this short essay, I discuss four recently published works that show the global scope of interest in Spanish Scholasticism in general and the School of Salamanca in particular. The first, The School of Salamanca: A Case of Global Knowledge, was edited by Thomas Duve, Jose Luis Egío, and Christiane Birr in coordination of the Max Planck Institute (2021). The second work, ¿Qué es la Escuela de Salamanca?, was edited by Simona Langella and Rafael Ramis-Barceló (2021). The third work is a recent thematic compendium on Spanish Scholasticism edited by Harald E. Braun, Erik De Bom, and Paolo Astorri (2022). Finally, I discuss David Lantigua’s monograph, Infidels and Empires in a New World Order: Early Modern Spanish Contributions to International Legal Thought (2020).

Graphene paper with good mechanical strength, flexibility, and high conductivity is an emerging functional material for wide applications, but its feasible and scalable preparation remains a challenge. Herein, a high strength, flexible, and conductive graphene/polypropylene (PP) fiber paper was prepared by a traditional papermaking process. In the composite paper, graphene nanosheets were well stabilized on the PP fibers forming a stable three-dimensional conductive interleaved network. Chitosan was found able to build a polar active interface on PP fibers and graphene nanosheets, which can not only promote PP fiber dispersion in water yielding a uniform pulp, but also favor the retention of graphene in the composite paper. As a result, the composite paper presents high strength (15.32 MPa), good conductivity (11,995 S/m), shielding effectiveness (31.1 dB), water resistance, fungi-proof, and thermal conductivity (10.17 W m−1 k−1) properties. This work demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale preparation of graphene composite paper with commercial synthetic fibers through a traditional papermaking process, and expands the potential industrial application of graphene materials. Graphene/chitosan co-aggregates were absorbed on the surface of graphene/chitosan/PP fiber under the electrostatic interaction of CPAM to form graphene/PP fiber.

Iron is an important micronutrient involved in several mechanisms in the human body and can be an important biomarker. In this work, a simple and disposable microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) was developed for the quantification of iron in urine samples. The detection was based on the colorimetric reaction between iron(II) and bathophenanthroline and the reduction of iron(III) to iron(II) with hydroxylamine. The developed µPAD enabled iron determination in the range 0.07–1.2 mg/L, with a limit of detection of 20 µg/L and a limit of quantification of 65 µg/L, thus suitable for the expected values in human urine. Additionally, targeting urine samples, the potential interference of the samples color was overcome by incorporating a sample blank assessment for absorbance subtraction. Stability studies revealed that the device was stable for 15 days prior to usage and that the formed colored product was stable for scanning up to 3 h. The accuracy of the developed device was established by analyzing urine samples (#26) with the developed µPAD and with the atomic absorption spectrometry method; the relative deviation between the two sets of results was below 9.5%. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Free-standing reduced graphene oxide (rGO) papers were prepared by chemical reduction, thermal reduction and combined chemical-thermal reduction, respectively. Four-point probe and nanoindentation experiments were conducted to investigate the electrical and mechanical properties of rGO papers. The rGO paper prepared by soaking in L-ascorbic acid and thermal annealing in argon at 1000 °C (labeled rGO-AsA-T) showed superior electrical and mechanical properties when compared with rGO papers prepared merely by chemical reduction or thermal reduction. The as-prepared rGO-AsA-T paper exhibited an electrical conductivity of 5.7 × 104 S/m, showing an increase of 90% compared to that in the thermally annealed rGO paper and nearly 40 times that of rGO paper reduced by L-ascorbic acid. It was also found that the rGO-AsA-T paper had the lowest elastic modulus of 288 MPa, showing enhanced flexibility. The nearly free voids in rGO-AsA-T paper proved by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were due to the capillary action in chemical reduction and were significant in improving the electrical conductivity and flexibility of the paper. The rGO-AsA-T paper with high conductivity and flexibility has a promising application in flexible electronics.