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The identification of sustainable materials as an alternative to plastic is fundamental for the protection of the environment and for the safeguard of marine ecosystems. The replacement of plastic with organic materials for fish storage might affect its shelf-life due to the high concentration of oxidizable fatty acids in fish flesh. This study investigated the effectiveness of two organic packaging materials, namely coconut fiber (Coc) and paper (Pap), as alternatives to the conventionally used polystyrene (Pol), on the shelf-life, hygienic parameters, and quality traits of anchovies refrigerated for one (T0), three (T1), or seven (T2) days. The hygienic quality of anchovies packaged in the organic Pap and Coc boxes was better than the traditional Pol, probably due to the higher porosity of the packaging, which allows a higher bacterial proliferation. Results of the T-BARS test showed a lower (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde concentration in fillets from the Pap group, which increased (p < 0.05) from the first to the seventh day of storage. The polyunsaturated fatty acids concentration did not differ between groups, but it decreased (p < 0.05) from T0 to T2. Coconut fiber and paper are worthy of further investigation since these packaging materials did not affect the shelf-life and fatty acid profile of anchovies during storage.

The present study reports on the development by thermoforming of highly sustainable trays based on a bilayer structure composed of paper substrate and a film made of a blend of partially bio-based poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA). The incorporation of the renewable succinic acid derived biopolyester blend film slightly improved the thermal resistance and tensile strength of paper, whereas its flexural ductility and puncture resistance were notably enhanced. Furthermore, in terms of barrier properties, the incorporation of this biopolymer blend film reduced the water and aroma vapor permeances of paper by two orders of magnitude, while it endowed the paper structure with intermediate oxygen barrier properties. The resultant thermoformed bilayer trays were, thereafter, originally applied to preserve non-thermally treated Italian artisanal fresh pasta, “fusilli calabresi” type, which was stored under refrigeration conditions for 3 weeks. Shelf-life evaluation showed that the application of the PBS–PBSA film on the paper substrate delayed color changes and mold growth for 1 week, as well as reduced drying of fresh pasta, resulting in acceptable physicochemical quality parameters within 9 days of storage. Lastly, overall migration studies performed with two food simulants demonstrated that the newly developed paper/PBS–PBSA trays are safe since these successfully comply with current legislation on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.

In the present society, the recycling and reuse of valuable substances are of utmost importance for economic and environmental purposes. At the same time, there is a pressing need to develop new methods to protect the ecosystem from many human activities, including those that have contributed to an ever-increasing presence of pharmaceutical pollutants. In this study, a straightforward approach that applies a magnetic carbon composite for the effective removal of NSAIDs from biological fluids is reported. The composite was produced by recycling wasted handkerchiefs, to provide cellulose to the reactive system and then transformed into carbon via calcination at high temperature. The morphological and structural features of the prepared "Fe3O4@-activated carbon" samples were investigated via thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Magnetic solid-state extraction was carried out to reveal the adsorption capabilities of the magnetic carbon composite and then combined with UHPLC–PDA for the determination and quantification of five NSAIDs (furprofen, indoprofen, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen, and indomethacin). The method developed herein proved to be fast and accurate. The adsorbent could be reused for up to 10 cycles, without any decrease in performance; thus, it contributes to an intelligent and sustainable economic strategy projected toward minimal waste generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence and death rate arising from malaria infection, and emergence of other diseases showing similar symptoms to malaria require the development of malaria-specific and sensitive devices for its diagnosis. To address this, the design and fabrication of low-cost, rapid, paper-based analytical devices (µPAD) using surface-immobilized aptamers to detect the presence of a recombinant malarial biomarker—Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (rPfLDH)—is reported in this study. Methods: Test zones on paper surfaces were created by covalently immobilizing streptavidin to the paper, subsequently attaching biotinylated aptamers to streptavidin. Aptamers selectively bound rPfLDH. The measurement of captured rPfLDH enzyme activity served as the means of detecting this biomarker. Enzyme activity across three replicate sensors was digitally quantified using the colorimetric Malstat assay. Results: Screening of several different aptamers reported in the literature showed that aptamers rLDH7 and 2008s immobilized in this manner specifically recognised and captured PfLDH. Using rLDH7, the sensitivity of the µPAD sensor was evaluated and the µPAD sensor was applied for preferential detection of rPfLDH, both in buffered solutions of the protein and in spiked serum and red blood cell lysate samples. In buffered solutions, the test zone of the µPAD sensor exhibited a KD of 24 ± 11 nM and an empirical limit of detection of 17 nM, respectively, a limit similar to commercial antibody-based sensors exposed to rPfLDH. The specific recognition of 133 nM rPfLDH in undiluted serum and blood samples was demonstrated by the µPAD. Conclusion: The reported µPAD demonstrates the potential of integrating aptamers into paper-based malarial rapid diagnostic tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is current interest in replacing petroleum-based additives in consumer paper products with abundantly available, renewable and sustainable biopolymers such as lignin-containing cellulose nanofibers (LCNFs) and cottonseed protein. This research characterized the performance of cottonseed protein isolate with/without LCNFs to increase the dry strength of filter paper. The application of 10% protein solution with 2% LCNFs as an additive improved the elongation at break, tensile strength and modulus of treated paper products compared to the improved performance of cottonseed protein alone. Improvements in tensile modulus and tensile strength were greatest for samples containing larger amounts of lignin and a greater degree of polymerization than for those with less lignin from the same biomass sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A paper-based microfluidic detection device for the detection of ethanol is demonstrated in this work. The method is based on a fluorophore consisting of short-chain conjugated molecular unit susceptible to the protonation of its terminal pyridine groups, along with a carboxyl-functionalized sidechain that acts as a binder and renders it water-soluble. The resulting fluorescent paper device yields large fluorescence changes when exposed to reactions that yield H2O2 in aqueous solutions. Using an enzyme-catalyzed rection that produces H2O2 from ethanol, we developed a two-zone, cut-out paper device containing a reaction zone in which the ethanol-containing analyte is placed, and an adjacent sensor zone where we observe a fluorescence color shift proportional to the ethanol concentration. The limit of detection of the fluidic ethanol biosensor was 0.05 v/v% and the dynamic range was 0.05-2 v/v%. This method was employed to detect the alcohol concentration of consumer vodkas using only a paper sensor and a smartphone camera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the outcome of using the human acellular dermal allograft patch compared with the conventional paper patch in traumatic tympanic membrane perforation. METHODS: This was a retrospective study including 41 patients (42 ears) treated with 22 human acellular dermal allografts and 20 paper patches for acute traumatic tympanic membrane perforation from April 2013 to June 2020. The procedure was performed by applying human acellular dermal allograft or paper patches after trimming of perforation margins under local anesthesia. Patient's age, sex, cause, duration, side, location, size of perforation, and the result of healing was analyzed. The audiologic or computed tomography data were also investigated when available. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in sex, age, affected side ratio, size and duration of perforation, recovery confirmation time, and audiogram results between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the size or duration of perforation between the success and failure groups. The human acellular dermal allograft and paper-patch groups showed no significant difference in the recovery confirmation time (70.7 ± 42.3 vs. 89.9 ± 119.4 days, P = .486) and recovery rate (95.5% vs. 85.0%, P = .333). However, the patch maintenance time of the human acellular dermal allograft group was statistically longer than the paper-patch group (32.9 ± 14.9 vs. 15.6 ± 19.9 days, P = .001). On multivariable regression analysis, patch material was the only parameter associated with patch maintenance time (P = .002). CONCLUSION: Treatment outcomes of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation using human acellular dermal allograft showed better or similar therapeutic efficacy compared to paper patch. The important advantage of this material is to stay in situ for a sufficient time without being detached until successful healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobic coatings are of utmost importance for many applications of paper-based materials. However, to date, most coating methods demand vast amounts of chemicals and solvents. Frequently, fossil-based coating materials are being used and multiple derivatization reactions are often required to obtain desired performances. In this work, we present a solvent-free paper-coating process, where olive oil as the main biogenic component is being used to obtain a hydrophobic barrier on paper. UV-induced thiol-ene photocrosslinking of olive oil was pursued in a solvent-free state at a wavelength of 254 nm without addition of photoinitiator. Optimum reaction conditions were determined in advance using oleic acid as a model compound. Paper coatings based on olive oil crosslinked by thiol-ene reaction reach water contact angles of up to 120°. By means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, a successful reaction and the formation of a polymer network within the coating can be proven. These results show that click-chemistry strategies can be used to achieve hydrophobic polymeric paper coatings while keeping the amount of non-biobased chemicals and reaction steps at a minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A current challenge regarding microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPAD) for blood plasma separation (BPS) and electrochemical immunodetection of protein biomarkers is how to achieve a µPAD that yields enough plasma to retain the biomarker for affinity biosensing in a functionalized electrode system. This paper describes the development of a BPS µPAD to detect and quantify the S100B biomarker from peripheral whole blood. The device uses NaCl functionalized VF2 filter paper as a sample collection pad, an MF1 filter paper for plasma retention, and an optimized microfluidic channel geometry. An inverted light microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and image processing software were used for visualizing BPS efficiency. A design of experiments (DOE) assessed the device's efficacy using an S100B ELISA Kit to measure clinically relevant S100B concentrations in plasma. The BPS device obtained 50 μL of plasma from 300 μL of whole blood after 3.5 min. The statistical correlation of S100B concentrations obtained using plasma from standard centrifugation and the BPS device was 0.98. The BPS device provides a simple manufacturing protocol, short fabrication time, and is capable of S100B detection using ELISA, making one step towards the integration of technologies aimed at low-cost POC testing of clinically relevant biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the moment of production, paper as a printing substrate is exposed to the process of natural ageing regardless of the type of cellulose fibres in its composition. Accordingly, the prints produced by the various printing techniques are also exposed to several factors that impair the quality of the print i.e. its colour over time. Therefore, it is very important to properly select the printing substrate for achieving a high quality of graphic products. For that purpose, three types of papers with hemp fibres were used as printing substrates which were printed with laboratory hand-operated instrument Esiproof using flexographic cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (K) water-based inks. Prints were artificially aged in SunTEST XLS+ test chamber according to standard ASTM D 6789-02 for 48 and 96 hours. Based on changes in the reflectance spectra of each printed ink after exposure to electromagnetic radiation it was noticed how composition of printing substrate strongly influence on colour stability of prints due time. An increase of exposure time to electromagnetic radiation leads to a decrease in the value of the reflectance of the printing substrate and cyan, magenta and yellow prints. It was confirmed how electromagnetic radiation have the greatest impact on the reflectance of yellow print, while the black one is the most stabile regardless of the substrate it was printed on.

In this study, the effects of the lacquer applied to the printing materials which were printed by electrophotographic printing method on printing quality were investigated. In practice, printing materials with the same weight and different optical properties were used and the study was carried out in three stages. The optical and physical properties of the printing materials used in the first part were determined, in the second part, the printing of these materials by electrophotographic printing method and printability tests were performed. In the third chapter, matte and glossy lacquers were applied to these printed materials and printability tests were repeated. As a result of the study, it was observed that the application of gloss and matte lacquer caused a decrease in the printing density values and also the application of matte lacquer caused a decrease in the gloss values.

Abstract The low‐frequency polarisation information of oil‐paper insulation could be easily obscured by the conductance effect, and the contained polarisation information thus can not be readily extracted from the frequency domain spectroscopy (FDS). Given this issue, an alternative idea is reported to extract the low‐frequency polarisation information by using logarithmic‐derivative spectroscopy (LDS). The present findings proved that the parameters extracted by using the LDS can be applied for studying the low‐frequency polarisation behaviour under the moisture effect. In that respect, the novelty of this work is in the exploration of the LDS as a potential tool to extract feature parameters for analyzing the low‐frequency polarisation information of transformer oil‐paper insulation.

Abstract In recent years, there have been many cases of transformer failures caused by corrosive sulfides. At present, research mainly focuses on the single sulfide dibenzyl disulphide, but few research on multiple sulphur or the oil‐paper hybrid insulation. In this study, three typical sulfides dibenzyl disulfide, hexadecyl mercaptan and benzothiophene were selected to form seven sulfide‐oil‐paper models. Then relaxation calculations were carried out, and through molecular dynamics simulation, the synergistic effect of different sulfides on the properties of insulating paper and insulating oil was discussed. Results show that the coexistence of the three sulfides has the most severe weakening on the mechanical properties of cellulose, and it also causes great damage to hydrogen bonds. Hexadecyl mercaptan has a weaker effect on hydrogen bond destruction, but it will greatly aggravate the cellulose chain movement. The viscosity of insulating oil is generally increased by the influence of sulfide. Hexadecyl mercaptan is the main factor affecting the viscosity. Thiophene has little effect on the viscosity, ctive protection technology on sulphur corrosion.

In the tourism industry, the sales of local specialties is an important part, and the package design and integrity of the specialties are very important. This paper first introduced the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm that was used for detecting defects on the surface of paper packages. Then, the design of red wind packages was briefly described, and the simulation experiment was carried out on SVM algorithm using red wine packages with different degrees of surface defects. Proper parameters were tested using the k-fold cross-validation method. The results demonstrated that the properties of paper improved the value of packages and the SVM algorithm had better accuracy than artificial recognition in recognizing different degrees of defects on the surface of packages. In conclusion, this paper describes the application of paper in packages and provides an effective method for the defection of defects on the surface of packages. This study provides an effective references to the improvement of package values and the enhancement of package integrity.

A paper-based microfluidic detection device for the detection of ethanol is demonstrated in this work. The method is based on a fluorophore consisting of short-chain conjugated molecular unit susceptible to the protonation of its terminal pyridine groups, along with a carboxyl-functionalized sidechain that acts as a binder and renders it water-soluble. The resulting fluorescent paper device yields large fluorescence changes when exposed to reactions that yield H2O2 in aqueous solutions. Using an enzyme-catalyzed rection that produces H2O2 from ethanol, we developed a two-zone, cut-out paper device containing a reaction zone in which the ethanol-containing analyte is placed, and an adjacent sensor zone where we observe a fluorescence color shift proportional to the ethanol concentration. The limit of detection of the fluidic ethanol biosensor was 0.05 v/v% and the dynamic range was 0.05–2 v/v%. This method was employed to detect the alcohol concentration of consumer vodkas using only a paper sensor and a smartphone camera.

Abstract This study extensively investigated the ageing characteristics and lifetime model of oil–paper insulation for oil‐immersed paper condenser bushing. The accelerated thermal and electrothermal ageing experiments of oil‐immersed paper condenser bushing were conducted respectively. The properties of oil–paper insulation during the ageing process were investigated. Results showed that descending speed of degree of polymerization of the innermost and the outermost layer paper was higher than that of middle layer paper, the difference in water content on different paper layers caused varying deterioration speeds. The aluminium foil contributed to a surge in aluminium dissolution in oil, further accelerating the ageing of insulation. Based on the obtained degree of polymerization data under thermal ageing at 90°C, 100°C and 130°C, the lifetime model of oil–paper insulation for condenser bushing model was established. In addition, the surface breakdown of the scale model of bushing occurred after 133 days ageing, the properties of bushing decreased gradually during the ageing process and sharply after the breakdown. Degree of polymerization deviation of different paper layers in bushing between calculated value according to the above lifetime model and actual value of bushing after the breakdown was less than 6%, further verifying the validity of lifetime model.

Indonesian municipal solid waste (MSW) is dominated by biodegradable MSW (organic and paper). Due to the degradation process, the physical and hydraulic characteristics of these components can change. It is important to study the physical and hydraulic characteristics of MSW, because landslides occurred in several landfills in Indonesia after heavy rains. Field observations showed that landslides occur due to reduced paper components in the landfill (due to high recycling activities), and cause high percolation of water into the landfill. In the research, 38 samples consisting of two variants of MSW samples (organic and 80% organic + 20% paper), were prepared under the conditions of optimum moisture content. The organic sample of MSW is leaf, while the paper sample of MSW is newspaper, which were shredded to a diameter of about 1 cm. The tests of moisture content, bulk density (in the mould of permeameter), particle size distribution, and permeability were carried out on both sample variants for 90 days, with a test frequency of once in 5 days. The results showed that there was an increase in the moisture content and density, and a decrease in particle size and permeability in both variants of MSW sample. Organic MSW + paper has lower permeability and higher density than organic MSW. This requires further study, because a high paper recycling ratio can lead to a change in the landfill characteristics.

Abstract Temperature and humidity are the main factors that cause the decomposition of Nomex paper widely used as turn‐to‐turn insulation material of mining dry‐type transformers. In this study, for understanding the effect of ambient humidity and thermal aging on the properties of Nomex paper, specimens with the initial moisture content of 7% were aged in the oven for 168, 504, 672 h at 180°C, respectively. After thermal aging, corona discharge experiments of unaged and aged specimens with different aging degrees were carried out at different relative humidity (RH) levels from 10 to 70%. The characteristic parameters of corona discharge, such as the average discharge amplitude and the number of discharges, were measured. Then, the surface conductivity and the surface potential decay rate were measured. The morphology and attenuated total internal reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were also analysed for explaining the difference of properties between unaged and aged specimens. The experiment results indicate that the average discharge amplitude decreases with the increase of RH or the deepening of the aging degree of specimens, but the number of discharges shows the reversal tendency. The changes in the physical structure and chemical composition, which is induced by the hydrolysis reaction of Nomex paper, accelerate the surface potential decay and increase the surface conductivity.

[Display omitted] • Multi-layer forming technology can integrate triboelectric material with electrode. • The all CPTENGs can exhibit excellent humidity, acid and alkali resistance. • The CPTENGs can yield a V OC , I SC and power density of 227.1 V, 6.9 μA and 520 mW/m2. • Matching CPTENGs with P-ZISC can obtain a self-charging power system (PSCPS). • The PSCPS can drive some miniaturized electronics for a long time. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are regarded as a promising technology to drive the development of flexible/wearable electronics and self-powering sensor. Application of cellulose paper as the triboelectric positive materials makes TENGs more environmentally friendly. However, the limited output performance and stability in harsh environments and oxidation and corrosion of the metal electrodes have limited the practical application of cellulose paper based triboelectric nanogenerators (CPTENGs). Here, we have integrated cellulose paper-based triboelectric material and electrode in one sheet by using multi-layer forming technology in paper industry; the upper triboelectric layer shows excellent triboelectric positive performance, hydrophobicity and acid and alkali resistance, while the bottom electrode exhibits promise conductivity. The all CPTENGs can yield a maximum open-circuit voltage (V OC) of 227.1 V, a short-circuit current (I SC) of 6.9 μA. Furthermore, the V OC values of the all CPTENGs increase from 0.02 V to 225.1 V at the load resistance of 100 Ω∼10 GΩ; and a power density of 520 mW·m−2 is also obtained at a load resistance of 30 MΩ. Moreover, the V OC of CPTENGs not only retains up to 78 % of its initial value at a high relative humidity of 90 %, but also almost maintains unchanged in a wide range of the pH environment (pH = 1∼13). More importantly, the CPTENGs can be readily matched with paper-based zinc supercapacitor (P-ZISC) to act as an all paper based self-charging power system (PSCPS). The PSCPS is capable of driving various miniaturized electronics, such as electronic watch, temperature/humidity indicator, demonstrating its potential application in a sustainable power source for portable and green electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for pulp and paper has risen significantly due to exponential population growth, industrialization, and urbanization. Most paper manufacturing industries use wood fibers to meet pulp and paper requirements. The shortage of fibrous wood resources and increased deforestation are linked to the excessive dependence on wood for pulp and paper production. Therefore, non-wood substitutes, including corn stalks, sugarcane bagasse, wheat, and rice straw, cotton stalks, and others, may greatly alleviate the shortage of raw materials used to make pulp and paper. Non-woody raw materials can be pulped easily using soda/soda-AQ (anthraquinone), organosolv, and bio-pulping. The use of agricultural residues can also play a pivotal role in the development of polymeric membranes separating different molecular weight cut-off molecules from a variety of feedstocks in industries. These membranes range in applications from water purification to medicinal uses. Considering that some farmers still burn agricultural residues on the fields, resulting in significant air pollution and health issues, the use of agricultural residues in paper manufacturing can eventually help these producers to get better financial outcomes from the grown crop. This paper reviews the current trends in the technological pitch of pulp and paper production from agricultural residues using different pulping methods, with an insight into the application of membranes developed from lignocellulosic materials.

This study applied various scientific analyses to one fragment of paper and three pigments excavated from earthenware found in the Hoeamsa Temple site at Yangju, Korea, which is believed to have been built in the early twelfth century. Radiocarbon dating of the paper fragment suggests a manufacture date between 1460 and 1646 (at a 95% confidence interval). It was estimated to have been used during the early and middle period of the Joseon dynasty (1391–1776), when the Hoeamsa Temple site was rebuilt. In addition, by staining the fiber of the paper fragment with Graff "C" stain, the paper's raw material was identified as paper mulberry through dislocation, cross-marking, and transparent membrane, which are characteristics of the bast fiber. Efforts were made to identify their material properties and manufacturing techniques of the three types of pigments. Color difference analysis was performed by distributing the pigments in large areas to reveal characteristic differences according to the color difference of the pigment. We found that green-type pigments are malachite and atacamite, red-type pigments are hematite based on the element Fe, and white-type pigments are quartz and muscovite based on the elements Si and Al. In addition, as the size distribution of the three types of pigments is wide and has a multi-peak distribution curve, it was concluded that the pigments were used without purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper, nanocellulose, and other polysaccharide-based materials can be excellent candidates for food packaging barrier layers, except that they tend to be vulnerable to moisture. This article reviews published research describing various chemical treatments having the potential to render hydrophobic character to such layers. Emphasis is placed on systems in which hydrophobic monomers are used to treat either particles or sheets comprised largely of polysaccharides. A goal of this review is to identify combinations of materials and procedures having promise for scale-up to industrial production, while providing effective resistance to moisture. The idea is to protect the underlying polysaccharide-based barrier layers such that they can continue to impede the transfer of such permeants as oxygen, greases, flavor compounds, and water vapor. A further goal is to minimize any adverse environmental impacts associated with the treatments. Based on the research articles considered in this review, promising hydrophobic treatments can be achieved involving silanes, ester formation, other covalent interactions, plasma treatments, and to some extent by various treatments that do not require formation of covalent bonds. The article is designed such that readers can skip ahead to items of particular interest to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: An improvement in adhesion (gluing) in the printing production process. In this study, the effect of air plasma on the surface properties of printed and coated cardboard was investigated. The material was activated by low-pressure cold plasma for 1, 10, 20, and 30 s. Wettability changes on the surface were examined by contact angle measurements using the sessile droplet technique. The differences in the surface free energy were calculated using the Lifshitz–van der Waals/acid–base and Contact Angle Hysteresis approaches. Optical profilometry was used for the surface roughness evaluation and an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was performed to find changes in surface chemistry. Adhesive strength tests were carried out to estimate the adhesion changes after the material's modification. It was found that the water and formamide contact angles increased after the plasma treatment while the diiodomethane contact angle did not change. As a result of the modification, the surface free energy also increased significantly and the surface roughness increased. The pull-off tests confirmed the improvement in the material's surface properties. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the optimal effect can be obtained after just 10 s of the plasma process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled paper fiber rejects have shown potential as a source of waste-to-resource carbohydrates for renewable chemicals production. This study examined three classes of recycled paper fines (old corrugated containers, old newspaper, and mixed office waste) and two industrial papermaking rejects streams from different recycling mills (one mill processes linerboard and the other old corrugated cardboard). The effect of chemical pretreatment using dilute sodium hydroxide, hot water and dilute sulfuric acid on enzymatic glucose and xylose yields was evaluated. Enzymatic hydrolysis results indicated that recycled fiber streams with more old corrugated cardboard have higher potential to produce carbohydrates. The recycled cardboard rejects produced more glucose and xylose per kilogram of rejects than the linerboard rejects under all untreated and pretreated conditions. The highest producing rejects sample was sodium hydroxide pretreated cardboard rejects with 373 g glucose and 61 g xylose produced per kilogram of rejects. However, a simple hot water pretreatment showed similar results, with 335 g glucose and 58 g xylose produced per kilogram of rejects. The hot water pretreatment is recommended due to its comparable yield and lower chemical addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main insulation structure of the valve‐side winding of converter transformer bears the effect of AC and DC superimposed voltage during operation. The electric field intensity in the pressboard is much higher than that in the pressboard in the AC transformer. This condition increases the probability of failure of insulation structure. Therefore, the design and optimization of the main insulation structure of the valve‐side winding are keys to ensure the stable operation of converter transformer. This study establishes a model of the main insulation structure of the valve‐side winding of the ±1100 kV converter transformer. The influence of the insulating oil–paper configuration on the electric field distribution of the main insulation structure of the valve‐side winding is analysed, and then, an optimization idea is proposed. The oil–paper configuration includes two aspects: oil–paper insulation structural design and combination selection, that is, the influence of typical oil–paper structural design parameters and the aging state of different oil–paper combinations on the electric field distribution. Finally, the optimization idea of the oil–paper configuration for valve‐side winding of converter transformer is obtained, and the established model is optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entire world seems to have responded to COVID-19 pandemic in a knee-jerk manner with a short mindset without building on the existing strengths of public health infrastructure. National governments cannot be blamed for this as we are dealing with a crisis that comes once in a lifetime. Realising this, the Organized Medicine Academic Guild (OMAG) an association of major health associations in this country has suggested measures for long-term solutions to COVID-19-like pandemics in the form of a policy paper by OMAG.

En primer término, se aborda la relación asimétrica de humanidades y ciencias en las instituciones contemporáneas de conocimiento sugiriendo la inconveniencia de acentuar la diferencia entre unas y otras, en la medida en que ambos órdenes epistémicos están sometidos hoy a los mismos condicionamientos estructurales. El efecto que estos tienen sobre las humanidades es analizado a través de dos aspectos críticos. En segundo término, se discute la significación epistémica de la ocurrencia como principio común de ciencias y humanidades apelando a la obra de Georg Christoph Lichtenberg a manera de caso ejemplar. En esta, experimentalismo y ensayo, singularidades, ficción y variación dan cuenta de un mismo brote epistémico en humanidades (y literatura) y ciencias.

El desarrollo y la investigación de nuevos productos que puedan sustituir parcial o completamente materias primas empleadas para la producción de energía, productos químicos de alto valor añadido e incluso la fabricación de papel, ha permitido que el cáñamo industrial (Cannabis sativa L.) se vuelva atractivo como principal materia prima en la reactivación de una economía de base biológica con altas condiciones y capacidades de producción. A partir de lo anterior, el objetivo de este trabajo investigativo es profundizar sobre el potencial del uso de fibra de cáñamo en la industria del papel, soportado por estudios realizados por el Estado Colombiano en lo referente a las disponibilidad de cultivos forestales con fines comercialesque inicialmente se destinan para la siembra y producción de recursos madereros como el pino y eucalipto. Se ha considerado de importancia demostrar que el cáñamo, como fuente de producción primaria, brinda ventajas competitivas económicas, ambientales y sociales frente a los cultivos tradicionales, incluso para las nuevas fuentes de investigación de base biológica.

We normally hardly notice the mass-produced paper products that pass through our hands on a daily basis, which we then recycle. In fact it has recently been predicted that books printed on paper will be replaced by digital formats. However, paper endures and specialist craft papers are now being produced in increasing quantities, especially valued by artists and conservators, but also by tourists visiting paper-producing areas around the world. Paper is therefore flourishing even in our computer and mobile-phone focused world. One of the areas benefiting from this revival is the Himalayas. As well as serving the tourist trade these products are now exported world-wide, as they were when paper first arrived in Europe in the eleventh century. There are even organisations that run Tibetan-style paper making workshops in Amer­ica. This paper focuses on the papermaking revival in Tibet (China), Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim (India). Using information gained from visits to producers, middle men, as well as retail and export operations, it seeks to compare the economic and social factors influencing the revival, including conservation issues. The conclusion highlights the fact that, even in the twenty first century, hand-crafted items still play an important rôle in our lives.

High per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS) concentrations have been detected in agricultural soils in Southwest Germany. Discharges of PFAS-contaminated paper sludge and compost are suspected to be the cause of the contamination. Perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) have been detected also in groundwater, drinking water, and plants in this area. Recently, previously unknown compounds have been identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Major contaminants were polyfluorinated dialkylated phosphate esters (diPAPs) and N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanol–based phosphate diester (diSAmPAP). In this study, HRMS screening for PFAS was applied to 14 soil samples from the contaminated area and 14 impregnated paper samples which were from a similar period than the contamination. The paper samples were characterized by diPAPs (from 4:2/6:2 to 12:2/12:2), fluorotelomer mercapto alkyl phosphates (FTMAPs; 6:2/6:2 to 10:2/10:2), and diSAmPAP. In soil samples, diPAPs and their transformation products (TPs) were the major contaminants, but also FTMAPs, diSAmPAP, and their TPs occurred. The distribution patterns of the carbon chain lengths of the precursor PFAS in soil samples were shown to resemble those in paper samples. This supports the hypothesis that paper sludge is a major source of contamination. The presence of major degradation products like PFCAs, FTSAs, or PFOS and their distribution of carbon chain lengths indicate the activity of biotic or abiotic degradation processes and selective leaching processes from the upper soil horizons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) make up a significant proportion of the global burden of disease in vulnerable groups and tend to substantially impair the quality of life of those affected, making timely detection of UTIs a priority for public health. However, economic and societal barriers drastically reduce accessibility of traditional lab-based testing methods for critical patient groups in low-resource areas, negatively affecting their overall healthcare outcomes. As a result, cellulose-based materials such as paper and thread have garnered significant interest among researchers as substrates for so-called frugal analytical devices which leverage the material's portability and adaptability for facile and reproducible diagnoses of UTIs. Although the field may be only in its infancy, strategies aimed at commercial penetration can appreciably increase access to more healthcare options for at-risk people. In this review, we catalogue recent advances in devices that use cellulose-based materials as the primary housing or medium for UTI detection and chart out trends in the field. We also explore different modalities employed for detection, with particular emphasis on their ability to be ported onto discreet casings such as sanitary products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An eco-friendly time indicator (TI) was developed using cellulose-based materials. The TI comprises a dye, copy paper, nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) film, and filter papers coated with NFC slurry and/or paraffin-free biowax. A suitable dye and its conditions were determined by observing the dye solutions and the migration pattern at the different concentrations. Commercial filter papers were prepared, and the dye migration rate, depending on physical properties, was evaluated. NFC was coated to control the dye migration rate of filter paper. In addition, biowax was used to impart hydrophobicity to filter papers used for supporting NFC films, storing the dye, and allowing the migration of dye. Finally, a TI was fabricated using those components. Methylene blue was selected as a dye for the TI due to its deep color and high solubility. The results showed that the key property of filter paper affecting the dye migration rate was the pore size. The migration rate could be reduced when NFC was coated on both sides of the filter paper. Since biowax modified the hydrophobicity of filter paper surface, it was used to make the NFC film-supporting paper, location for dye storage, and bottom-layer. In conclusion, a multilayered TI could be assembled using cellulose-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactions of textiles with moisture have been thoroughly studied in textile research, while fluid mechanists and soft matter physicists have partially investigated the underlying physics phenomena. A description of liquid morphologies in fibrous assemblies allows one to characterize the associated capillary forces and their impact on textiles, and to organize their complex moisture transport dynamics. This review gathers some of the common features and fundamental mechanisms at play in textile–liquid interactions, with selected examples ranging from knitted fabrics to nonwoven paper sheets, associated with experiments on model systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many centuries paper has been the mainstay material for recording cultural achievements around the world. Paper is produced mainly from cellulose with small amounts of organic and inorganic additives, which allow its identification and characterization and can contribute to the decomposition of the paper. Spectroscopic technique is a powerful tool for examining the constituent elements of paper documents to establish their identification and their state of degradation. This review describes the application of selected spectroscopic technique used to characterize paper and inks. Spectroscopic technique that has been reviewed include: Infrared spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence analysis, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, SEM-EDX, energy dispersion X-ray fluorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we use a variety of microscopic imaging techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, 3D visible light microscopy, and portable microscopy to capture the topography of rough paper. Paper coated with a model soot was cleaned with either a firm vinyl eraser or softer, putty-like kneaded eraser and reimaged to characterize the disposition of remaining soot. Although both methods remove soot from the upper-most surface of the paper, only the kneaded eraser can conform to the complex topography to remove soot from the interstices between paper fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three commercially-available conductive filaments were evaluated for 3D printing flexible circuits on paper. While all three filaments were printed successfully, the resulting conductive traces were found to have significantly different impedances when characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Using a graphite-doped polylactic acid filament, the flexibility of paper-based conductive traces was evaluated, methods of integrating common electrical and electronic components with the conductive traces were demonstrated, and the resistive heating of the traces was characterized. The ability to 3D print conductive traces on paper using commercially available materials opens many opportunities for rapid prototyping of flexible electronics and for integrating electronic circuits with paper-based microfluidic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]