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Abstract: Nanomaterials with unique electronic, optical and catalytic properties have recently been at the forefront of research due to their tremendous range of applications. Taking gold, silver and titania nanoparticles as examples, we have reviewed the current research works on paper functionalized by these nanoparticles. The functionalization of paper with only a very small concentration of nanoparticles is able to produce devices with excellent photocatalytic, antibacterial, anti-counterfeiting, Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) performances. This review presents a brief overview of the properties of gold, silver and titania nanoparticles which contribute to the major applications of nanoparticles-functionalized paper. Different preparation methods of the nanoparticles-functionalized paper are reviewed, focusing on their ability to control the morphology and structure of paper as well as the spatial location and adsorption state of nanoparticles which are critical in achieving their optimum applications. In addition, main applications of the nanoparticles-functionalized papers are highlighted and their critical challenges are discussed, followed by perspectives on the future direction in this research field. Whilst a few studies to date have characterized the distribution of nanoparticles on paper substrates, none have yet optimized paper as a nanoparticles'' substrate. There remains a strong need to improve understanding on the optimum adsorption state of nanoparticles on paper and the heterogeneity effects of paper on the properties of these nanoparticles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper investigates the technical efficiency of labor market matching from a stochastic frontier approach. The true fixed-effects model (Greene J Prod Anal 23:7–32, ; J Econom 126:269–303, ) is utilised in order to separate cross-sectional heterogeneity from inefficiency, and inefficiency terms are modelled following Battese and Coelli (Empir Econ 20:325–332, ). The data set consists of almost 17,000 observations from Local Labor Offices (LLOs) in Finland. According to the results, there are notable differences in matching efficiency between regions, and these differences contribute significantly to the number of filled vacancies. If all regions were as efficient as the most efficient one, the number of total matches per month would increase by over 23%. The heterogeneity of the job-seeker stock is an important determinant of matching efficiency: the weight of the composition of the job-seeker stock in the inefficiency terms is on average 85%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]