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Introduction The assessment of the risk of virus transmission through papers, such as postcards, is important. However, the stability of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza A virus (IAV) on different types of papers is currently unknown. Investigation of the survival time of these viruses on different types of papers will provide insights into their risk of long-distance transport by postal items. Methods We evaluated the stability of SARS-CoV-2 and IAV, mixed with a culture medium, on the surface of postcards with various coatings, including plain paper (PP), inkjet paper (IP), and inkjet photo paper (IPP). The surface structure of each paper was microscopically assessed. Results The surface structures of PP, IP, and IPP varied greatly depending on the presence or absence, and type, of coat layer, regardless of the base material. IP and IPP surfaces were less conducive to virus survival than PP surfaces, because of the difference in surface shapes. The survival times of SARS-CoV-2 on each paper were approximately 59.8 (PP), 6.5 (IP), and 9.8 h (IPP), and significantly longer than those of IAV (10.3, 1.8, and 3.3 h, respectively). Conclusions The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via paper, such as postcards, is significantly higher than that of IAV transmission. While PP, IP, and IPP have the same base material, their surface structures differ, which affects viral stability. The IP and IPP surfaces are less suitable for virus survival. This study provides novel insights into the risks of viral transmission via paper.

The world demand for paper has been increased due to the increasing population Therefore, to cop up the limited wood fiber resources introducing raw material in pulp and paper industries is necessary. The aims of this study to evaluate the pulp and paper-making properties of Caesalpinia decapetela based on proximate chemical composition, fiber morphology, pulping, bleaching, and physical test of the final product. The results proximate chemical analysis showed that C. decapetela has holocellulose content of 78.14±0.1 % and lignin content 18.0±0.04 %. Fiber morphology revealed that the fibers were 0.708 mm long, 18.63 μm width, and have 5.1 μm cell wall thicknesses. Kraft pulping of C. decapetale, was performed at different active alkali (5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 % and 25 %) and temperature (150, 160 and 170 °C), keeping the sulphidity 25 % constant. The pulp maximum yield 44.1 % was obtained at active alkali content of 15 %, temperature 160 °C, and cooking time 90 minutes. The effect of pulping on fiber morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy which showed the surface of fiber before pulping was tight, orderly arranged and the texture was relatively hard. After pulping, there was the removal of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. Due to this fiber become soft loosened and contain micro-pores. Pulp produced was bleached, sheet preparation and testing were performed. The prepared paper sheets have a tensile index of 28.19 Nm/gm, burst index of 1.359 kPa m 2 / gm 1.359\hspace{0.1667em}\text{kPa}\hspace{0.1667em}{\text{m}^{2}}/\text{gm} , and tear indices of 4.2 mN m 2 / gm 4.2\hspace{0.1667em}\text{mN}\hspace{0.1667em}{\text{m}^{2}}/\text{gm} . This study concluded C. decapetale can be the new raw material for pulp and paper making industries. However, pilot plant studies are required to check this raw material for the full recommendation of the pulp and paper industries.

The freshness indicator can detect the freshness of food through characteristic color changes, and has the advantages of high accuracy and visualization. However, existing freshness indicators cannot achieve low-cost mass production. Addressing this challenge, a printed colorimetric freshness indicator which can be used into the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of grass carp for freshness monitoring is developed. A printable ink based on natural purple cabbage pigment, carboxymethyl cellulose, and glycerin was prepared, then it was printed in the paper by screen printing and applied to MAP. Additionally, the indicator labels were used in an application trial, which was conducted to monitor the freshness of grass carp under refrigeration (4°C) and at room temperature (25°C). The color response of freshness label was consistent with the spoilage threshold of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and trimethylamine (TMA) content in fish sample. Therefore, the paper-sensor label can be used as a simple and practical indicator for freshness monitoring of grass carp.

Introduction. Maintaining good health and working capacity of the population is one of the main tasks of the healthcare system. Living under adverse climatic conditions of the North and being exposed to dangerous production factors of the pulp and paper industry, strongly represented in the Arkhangelsk Region, can significantly reduce the adaptive capacity of the body. Major role in providing an adequate response to the action of irritators and initiating the adaptation process is played by the neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and circulatory systems, which reflect qualitative and quantitative changes in the body while being reliable markers of homeostasis. The aim was to study the adaptive potential of workers showing the level of functioning of the circulatory system and to evaluate their endocrine profile depending on the revealed functional capabilities of the body. Materials and methods. The study involved 50 men aged 22–60 years working in the production departments of Solombala Pulp and Paper Mill (Arkhangelsk) with a body mass index of 19–25 and without earlier history of endocrine pathology. Serum levels of thyroxine-binding globulin and oestradiol were determined by means of radioimmunoassay, while serum concentrations of total cortisol, thyrotropin, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, progesterone, testosterone, insulin, C-peptide, and somatotropin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. The research demonstrated that in 2/3 of the examined employees of the pulp and paper mill the adaptation mechanisms were under strain, while the condition of two subjects corresponded to the physiological norm, which is characterized by good and satisfactory adaptation. Workers with decreased adaptive capabilities to the point of unsatisfactory adaptation showed increased levels of cortisol, thyroxine-binding globulin, oestradiol, C-peptide, and insulin against the background of a decrease in testosterone, progesterone, and the testosterone/oestradiol ratio. The authors recommend conducting periodic medical examinations of pulp and paper workers, including endocrine profile assessment, and monitoring changes that occur over time.

The pulp and paper industry discharges massive amount of wastewater containing hazardous organochlorine compounds released during different processing stages. Therefore, some cost-effective and nonpolluting practices such as enzymatic treatments are required for the potential mitigation of effluents released in the environment. Various xylanolytic enzymes such as xylanases, laccases, cellulases and hemicellulases are used to hydrolyse raw materials in the paper manufacturing industry. These enzymes are used either individually or in combination, which has the efficient potential to be considered for bio-deinking and bio-bleaching components. They are highly dynamic, renewable, and high in specificity for enhancing paper quality. The xylanase act on the xylan and cellulases act on the cellulose fibers, and thus increase the bleaching efficacy of paper. Similarly, hemicellulase enzyme like endo-xylanases, arabinofuranosidase and β-d-xylosidases have been described as functional properties towards the biodegradation of biomass. In contrast, laccase enzymes act as multi-copper oxidoreductases, bleaching the paper by the oxidation and reduction process. Laccases possess low redox potential compared to other enzymes, which need some redox mediators to catalyze. The enzymatic process can be affected by various factors such as pH, temperature, metal ions, incubation periods, etc. These factors can either increase or decrease the efficiency of the enzymes. This review draws attention to the xylanolytic enzyme-based advanced technologies for pulp bleaching in the paper industry.

Olive tree (Olea europaea L.) leaf is known to have a number of bioactive properties being antioxidant, antihypertensive, antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial. In this study, the immunomodulatory roles of Olive tree (Olea europaea L.) leaf against oxidative damage caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were investigated. In the study, four groups were formed; namely, (i) Control Group: Yeast only planted group; (ii) CCl4 Group: Group given CCl4 (15 mM); (iii) Olive Tree Leaf Group: The group given olive tree leaf (10%); and (iv) Olive Tree Leaf + CCl4 Group: Olive tree leaf (10%) + CCl4 (15 mM) given group. Cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were grown at 30 °C for 1, 3, 5, and 24 hours. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione levels (GSH), cell growth and catalase (CAT) activity measurements were determined by spectrophotometer. Total protein concentrations were determined by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and the Bradford protein method. According to the results obtained; compared to the CCl4 group, cell growth (1, 3, 5 and 24 hours), total protein synthesis, and GSH and CAT activities (24 hours) increased in olive tree leaf groups, while MDA level (24 hours) decreased. Thanks to its strong bioactive properties, olive tree leaf has been found to increase cell growth and total protein synthesis by decreasing CCl4 induced oxidative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture. It has been concluded that if the olive tree leaf is used regularly, it will be beneficial in eliminating many health problems.

Infections caused by resistant microorganisms are a complex global public health challenge, and the way to combat the increase of resistance is the development of more modern and faster techniques for resistance detection. This study aimed to evaluate the transport of inactivated bacteria impregnated in a filter paper disk to detect carbapenem resistance genes by multiplex real-time PCR (qPCR) using high-resolution melting (HRM). A total of 88 isolates of 10 different species of Enterobacterales harboring well-characterized carbapenem resistance genes were evaluated. A full 10-µL loop of fresh growth of bacteria were impregnated in a filter paper disk, which was left at room temperature for 2 days in order to simulate the time spent in transportation. Bacterial inactivation was performed with 70% ethanol at 15 min. Afterwards, the DNA was extracted from the paper disks for further analysis by qPCR HRM. The time of 15 min in 70% ethanol was enough to inactivate all the isolates tested. It was possible to correctly identify the presence of the carbapenem resistance gene by HRM qPCR in 87 isolates (98.87%) that were transported in the filter paper disks. Our results indicated that it is possible to use filter paper to transport inactivated bacteria and to identify carbapenem resistance genes by qPCR HRM. This alternative tends to facilitate the access to this technology by many laboratories which do not have the qPCR equipment.

The fibre characteristics of five Spondia mombin stands were studied to determine their suitability for pulp and paper production. Wood slivers obtained parallel to grain at three (3) different positions along the bole were macerated in combined identical amounts of glacial acetic acid plus hydrogen peroxide under heat at between 80-100o C. Macerated fibres were washed clean of mixture and mounted on slide for microscopic examination of fibre characteristics. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was employed for the experiment. Data were analysed using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) while, the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to separate means of significant differences among the treatments. Results show that significant differences existed in fibre characteristic of sampled trees, however the fibre length ranged from 0.98-1.0 mm, fibre diameter (18.22-21.47 um), lumen width (10.90-12.98 um) and cell wall thickness (3.86-4.60 um). Significant differences were also observed among the derived fibre characteristics, the Runkel ratio ranged from 0.66-8.89, elasticity coefficient (57.22-60.50 %), coefficient of rigidity (19.78-22.24 %), slenderness ratio (43.27-46.5). This implied that, the fibres of S. mombin were short and elastic which make the wood species an appropriate raw material for pulp and paper making especially when blended with other long fibre species.

The potential of alkaline cellulo-xylanolytic enzymes from non-pathogenic Bacillus subtilis strain was tested for deinking of photocopier waste paper. Cellulase and xylanase play a crucial role in deinking of different types of waste paper. Partial purification of cellulo-xylanolytic enzymes was carried out using ultrafiltration followed by ammonium sulfate precipitation. The ultrafiltered enzyme was used for deinking the photocopier waste paper along with chemical deinking. An enzyme dose of 0.6 IU/g and reaction time of 60 min for ultrafiltered cellulo-xylanolytic enzyme significantly increased deinking efficiency, tear index (9.52%) and folding endurance (5±2%) as compared to chemical deinking. There was improvement in strength properties such as tear index and double-fold along with freeness of pulp (18%). There was slight decrease in tensile index (0.6%) and burst index (16%) while ISO brightness remained unaffected. Enzymatic deinking (74.3%) by ultrafiltered cellulo-xylanolytic from Bacillus subtilis was found significant over conventional chemical deinking.

Aristotle is often named as the first zoologist or biologist because of his writings on animals. Although Aristotle’s major intention in these books was to illustrate his ideas of how knowledge and understanding might advance, at least one modern biologist (C. Darwin) has recognized Aristotle's depth and breadth as being of surviving merit. Of greater surprise is the ongoing attention that his works continue to receive, including publications in contemporary scientific journals. This review identifies 38 peer-reviewed papers on various topics from Aristotle’s biological writings that have been published during the last 50 years. These papers are described according to content (genetics, population biology, anatomy, brain, movement), specific creatures (fish, scorpions, elephants, insects, birds), publication outlet, distribution over the fifty year period surveyed, and visible trends in the topics studied. It is concluded that, in the highly-competitive field of peer-reviewed scientific publication and citation, Aristotle's biology continues to excite the interest of scientists and remains salient to modern science itself.

The suitabilities of major agricultural residues were assessed as papermaking feedstocks. All the examined agricultural residues were assumed as potential candidates for substituting hardwood fibers in mixed pulp blends from a fiber morphological perspective. Wheat, barley, rice, rapeseed, maize, sunflower, sugarcane bagasse, coconut husk, and two genotypes of miscanthus grass underwent identical maceration. The fiber length, fiber width, cell wall thickness, and lumen diameter were measured to calculate the slenderness ratio, flexibility coefficient, and Runkel ratio. The average fiber length ranged from 0.50 mm ± 0.32 mm (MG-S-02-V) to 1.15 mm mm ± 0.58 mm (sugarcane bagasse). The fiber width ranged from 10.77 μm ± 3.28 μm (rice straw) to 22.99 mm ± 5.20 mm (sunflower stalk). The lumen diameter ranged from 4.52 μm ± 2.52 μm (rice straw) to 13.23 μm ± 4.87 μm (sunflower stalk). The cell wall thickness ranged from 3.02 μm ± 0.95 μm (rice straw) to 4.80 μm ± 1.48 μm (sunflower stalk). The slenderness ratio, flexibility coefficient, and Runkel ratio values ranged between 28.08 to 58.11, 37.97 to 60.8, and 0.62 to 1.68, respectively. Wheat, maize, rapeseed, sugarcane bagasse, and coconut husk were found to be appropriate residue sources for papermaking feedstocks.

Purpose: The study aims to manufacture paper mulberry-added formulations to improve hair quality, apply it to damaged hair, and examine the effect of the formulations in improving hair quality. Methods: Formulations were manufactured by varying the contents of paper mulberry extract at 0, 2, 4, and 6 g. Then, the formulations were applied to discolored sample hairs, which were treated with heat and left in nature. Then, the conditions of the sample hairs before and after application of the formulations were compared. To examine the effect of the formulations on hair quality, the study measured tensile strength, optical absorption using methylene blue, and luster. Results: For all samples, the average values for tensile strength increased after application of the formulations, especially for samples 7L(1), 7L(2), 7L(3), and 9L(3). The analysis of optical absorption using methylene blue demonstrated that the average values for optical absorption decreased for all samples except in the case of healthy hair. Such decreases were noted for samples 7L(1), 7L(2), 7L(3), and 9L(3). Finally, the average values for luster increased samples 7L(3) and 9L(3). Conclusion: The study found that paper mulberry extract is effective for improving tensile strength, optical absorption, and luster of damaged hair. However, the study only verified the results on a limited number of hair characteristics and used one ingredient. Thus, further research using various measurement methods and other ingredients is necessary.

The impact of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odor on indoor environment and people has attracted much attention. To reduce this problem of odorous compounds contained in wood panel, this study focused on identifying odorant compounds and exploring the influence of moisture content factors on VOCs and odor emissions. Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera (L.)Vent.) was investigated using the technology of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactory (GC–MS/O). Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and characteristic odor-active compounds were studied, and the emission of heartwood and sapwood of paper mulberry was compared at the same time. It was found that the main components from heartwood and sapwood were aromatics, alkanes, alkenes, aldehydes ketones, alcohols and esters. Totally, 23 kinds of odor-active compounds were identified from heartwood and sapwood of paper mulberry, among which, aromatics and aldehydes ketones were the main odorant compounds. Seven kinds of key odorant compounds were identified in this process. With the decrease in moisture content, the TVOC and total odor intensity of heartwood and sapwood generally decreased. The moisture content had a great effect on VOC release when the moisture content decreased from 70 to 50% and reduced from fiber saturation point (30%) to air saturation point (10%). The main odor impressions of paper mulberry were aromatic, fresh fruit fragrance, sweet scent and special pungent. In the whole process of moisture content decrease, the TVOC, concentration of odorant and odor intensity of sapwood were higher than that of heartwood.

The fiber of paper mulberry, which is mostly grown in the East Asian region, varies in both length and width—even if from the same species—depending on the country, soil, and climate where it is grown. This accounts for differences in the quality of handmade paper between domestic and imported products. Once handmade paper is manufactured as sheets, its origin cannot be determined from a morphological perspective, regardless of macroscopic and microscopic observations. Therefore, this study attempted to determine the origin of Korean and imported products using mulberry bast fiber and handmade paper from a chemometrics perspective. The inorganic components of wood are absorbed from the soil and exist in the bark of trees; thus, metal and rare-earth elements in the bast fibers and handmade papers were quantitatively analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy/mass spectrometry (ICP-AES/MS). Following this, a prediction model of their origin was constructed by applying multivariate statistical analysis, i.e., a partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) loading plot was constructed, which helped in identifying the discrimination factors resulting from their origin. According to the ICP-AES results, Pb was only detected in the Gyeongbuk Mungyeong dak sample of the Korean bast fibers. The Chinese bast fiber sample had high contents of Ca, and B and Zn were detected only in the Chinese bast fiber samples. Bast fiber samples from China, Japan, and Thailand showed relatively high contents of Al, Ca, and Na. Meanwhile, Cu and Zn were detected in the handmade paper manufactured from the imported materials. According to the ICP-MS results, among the Korean handmade papers, the products from Gyeongbuk Mungyeong, Andong, and Chungbuk Goesan exhibited a high U content and that from Gapyeong had high Sc, Rb, Sr, and Ba contents. Thus, the elemental analysis employed in this study effectively identified the origin of the papers. The origin prediction by PLS-DA for the domestic and imported products revealed an accuracy of 86.4% and 72.7% for ICP-AES and ICP-MS methods, respectively, which is deemed acceptable to assess the origin. We believe this method significantly contributes to determining the origin of paper mulberry bast fiber and handmade paper manufactured in East Asia.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are a class of varied compounds that mimic the effects of natural cannabinoids found in cannabis. Because they have a wide range of diverse structures, they vary widely in their potency. The abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in prisons was reported in many European countries and in the USA. In the present study, we have described the identification of SCRAs in 56 infused paper sheet samples, seized mainly in Brazilian prisons between 2016 and 2020. The materials were seized by local or federal law enforcement and analyzed by Sao Paulo State Police or Brazilian Federal Police using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Most of these samples (87.5%) were seized in 2019–2020; seven different SCRAs were identified in samples, and the most frequently identified substances were MDMB-4en-PINACA (23.6%) and 5F-MDMB-PICA (36.4%), the newest SCRAs emerging recently. As observed in Europe and the USA, Brazil also shows the prevalence of indazole-3-carboxamides and indole-3-carboxamides among SCRAs seizures in the prison system. This phenomenon is spreading all over the world at this moment. These data on the prevalence could help to alert judicial authorities to shutting down the introduction of NPS, including SCRAs, into prisons to ensure safety and security for avoiding health risks of prisoners and staff, leading to positive effects in this population. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of SCRAs smuggling into prisons in Latin America.

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is one of the coinhibitory checkpoints upon T cell activation, the abnormal expression of which severely threatens host immune modulatation for chronic infection. Thus, fast and sensitive monitoring of PD-1 is of vital importance for early diagnosis and cancer treatment. The current detection methods largely based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) require time-consuming incubation and complicated washing steps. Herein, we designed a simple and portable nanofiber paper (NFP)-based fluorescence "off-on" immunosensor for PD-1 rapid determination. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets modified NFP (MoS2-NFP) was employed for adsorbing and immobilizing CdSe/ZnS quantum dots-antibody (QDs-Ab) complex to construct a ready-to-use fluorescent immunosensor. The fluorescent signal of QDs-Ab was initially quenched by MoS2 under the Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) effect. When the PD-1 target was specifically captured onto NFP by immunization, the QDs-Ab-PD-1 complex was promptly desorbed from the MoS2-NFP surface, resulting in FRET impediment and fluorescence recovery. As an alternative quenching agent, graphene oxide (GO) served as a contrast to investigate NFP-based sensing performance. Owing to superior quenching and desorption efficiency, the MoS2-NFP-based fluorescence immunosensor exhibited nearly 2-fold lower detection limit (85.5 pg/mL) than GO-NFP-based sensor (151 pg/mL) for PD-1 monitoring. Excellent selectivity and satisfactory recovery in PD-1 mouse cell culture supernatant samples were confirmed as well. In addition, the comparable detectability of the MoS2-NFP-based immunosensor was accurately evaluated by a standard PD-1 mouse ELISA kit. This study displayed a simple, rapid, low-cost, and portable point-of-care PD-1 assay, indicating its broad application prospect toward clinical diagnoses.

This study focused on the applying endo-xylanases to reduce the use of bleaching agent, coupled with the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOs), in mulberry paper making. Paper mulberry pulp (PMP) was consecutively prepared from paper mulberry bark by traditional NaOH-treatment, and two types of thermostable endo-xylanase from Streptomyces thermovulgaris TISTR1948 (wild-type and recombinant endo-xylanases) were employed in the biobleaching of PMP. This process was optimized to achieve maximum XOs yields and the highest PMP quality. The optimal condition was an enzyme dosage of 125 U/g PMP at 12 h of reaction time, both in a 500 mL laboratory bottle and a 150 L reactor. The mixture obtained from the reactor was separated as liquid of XOs derived from PMP (PMP-XOs) and solid biobleached PMP. The PMP-XOs from wild-type endo-xylanase were composed of 31.6% xylopentaose (X5), 30.9% xylohexaose and higher-degree XOs (X ≥ 6), and 11.7% xylobiose (X2), whereas 76.6% of X5 and 8.6% of X2 were the main products from recombinant endo-xylanase. The PMP-XOs derived from both endo-xylanase types exhibited high antioxidant activities, reducing power, phenolic contents, and prebiotic efficacy. In addition, the application of both endo-xylanases enhanced the brightness of PMP by 5.1% and 3.5%, and reduced the kappa number by 9.1% and 3.6%, respectively. Biobleached PMP was subsequently subjected to the NaOCl bleaching step to produce the mulberry paper. This approach could reduce NaOCl consumption by 20–25%, making it an environmentally friendly alternative. The production of valuable prebiotics, such as PMP-XOs, further enhances the economic viability of this approach.

COVID-19 first appeared in December of 2019 in Wuhan, China. Since then it has become a global pandemic. A robust and scalable diagnostics strategy is crucial for containing and monitoring the pandemic. RT-PCR is a known, reliable method for COVID-19 diagnostics which can differentiate between SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. However, PCR is location dependent, time consuming and relatively expensive. Thus, there is a need for a more flexible method which may be produced in an off-the-shelf format and distributed more widely. Paper-based immunoassays can fulfill this function. Here we present the first steps towards a paper-based test which can differentiate between different between the Spike protein of various coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2 and CoV-HKU1 with negligible cross reactivity for HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E in a single assay which takes less than 30 minutes. Furthermore, our test can distinguish between fractions of the same Spike protein. This is done by an altered assay design with four test line locations where each antigen builds a unique, identifiable binding pattern. The effect of several factors, such as running media, immunoprobe concentration and antigen interference is considered. We find that running media has a significant effect on the final binding pattern where human saliva provides results while human serum leads to the lowest signal quality.

The salivary glands are closely associated with stress conditions and the neuroendocrine system. The concentrations of these salivary biomarkers fluctuate with a person’s disease status. Until now, salivary diagnostics have been promising; however, the analytical tools for detecting salivary biomarkers have remained burdensome due to the lack of user-friendly and cost-effective equipment. In this study, we used a microfluidic starch-coated paper-based chip to isolate ɑ-amylase from human saliva. The concentration of ɑ-amylase on the head and tail sections of the paper-based chip was compared in the presence or absence of starch. We found that ɑ-amylase was highly concentrated only in the head section of the starch-coated paper-based chip through Western blotting (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We expect our designed paper-based chip will aid in α-amylase detection technologies using saliva and small amounts of other biofluids including blood, tears, pancreatic juice, and urine.

Recent studies have evaluated alternatives to the use of live animals in colony health monitoring. Currently, an alternative method that is suitable for all rack types and that has been verified to detect the infectious agents most commonly excluded from mouse colonies is unavailable. We compared the use of filter paper placed on the inside floor of mouse cages to the traditional use of sentinel mice in the detection of several prevalent murine pathogens including mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), murine norovirus (MNV), minute virus of mice (MVM), mouse parvovirus (MPV), Theiler murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), Helicobacter spp., Syphacia obvelata, and Aspiculuris tetraptera. Experimental groups comprised 7 cages containing either 2 pieces of filter paper on the cage floor or 2 ICR sentinel mice. Soiled bedding from pet-store mice was transferred to the experimental cages weekly for 8 wk. At 1 and 2 mo after bedding transfer, the filter papers were evaluated by PCR and sentinel mice were tested by serology and fecal PCR. Filter papers detected all pathogens as effectively (MHV, MNV, MPV, MVM, TMEV S. obvelata, and A. tetraptera) or more effectively (Helicobacter spp.) than sentinel mice at both time points. Filter papers more readily detected pathogens with a high copy number per RT-PCR analysis than a low copy number. Helicobacter spp. were not detected by sentinel mice at either time point. These results indicate that the use of filter paper placed on the interior floor of empty mouse cages and exposed to soiled bedding is efficient in detecting bacteria, endoparasites, and most of the common mouse viruses included in an animal health monitoring program.

The growth of pulp and paper industries has encouraged the expansion of the industrial plantation forests for pulp wood. The exotic species planted for pulp wood initially maintained a relatively high productivity, however it decreases in the following rotation cycles. The peat land wood species of Sumatera could be an alternative for exotic species. However, the insufficient information on the wood properties has brought about they are less considered. This paper examined the fiber quality of Sumatran local peat-wood and its possibility as a raw material of pulp and paper. For specific gravity, samples were selected based on three different diameter groups in each plot. Fiber properties (dimension and fiber derivative values) used to asses the suitability of the wood for pulp and paper raw material were determined in accordance with the method of the Forest Product Laboratory (FPL). The resulted data and information were compared to those of krasikarpa (Acacia crassicarpa Benth.). The results showed that the fiber quality of sekubung wood was classified into grade II, while gerunggang and mahang putih were classified into grade III. The specific gravity of gerunggang wood was higher than these of other woods and comparable to that of krasikarpa. Although the growth of Sumatran local peat-wood is still low, however, conformity with government regulations (Government Regulation Number 57-2016 and Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation Number 17-2017) and fiber quality, the local peat-wood could potentially substitute the exotic wood species.

The uses of natural dyes are getting popularized due to the increased awareness regarding the toxicity of many chemical colorants. The chemical colorants are being replaced by the natural colorants for the various industrial applications. The plant-based natural colorants are considered eco-friendly and toxic free. In the present study, we report a natural dye from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan suitable for paper based packing materials. This forms the first report on the study of natural dye obtained from the heartwood of C. sappan on paper material. The extracted dye had a good photostability and able to make imprints on recycled paper bags. Moreover, a significant inhibition of bacterial growth was observed at a higher dye concentration of 100 μg mL−1 against P. aeruginosa which was higher than the standard antibiotics. Growth inhibition was also observed in case of B. subtilis (22 ± 0.17 mm) and K. pneumonia (21 ± 0.53 mm) at 100 μg mL−1. The dye could be used in making medicated packing materials and have many other bio-potential which was validated through in silico toxicity analysis. The application of such natural dyes in paper material value addition will help in a cleaner and sustainable process during paper recycling.

Social aggression is a pervasive feature of insect societies. In eusocial Hymenoptera, aggression among females can affect task performance and competition over direct reproduction (egg laying); in most species males participate in social interactions relatively rarely. Males of the independent-founding paper wasp Mischocyttarus mastigophorus are exceptional: they are aggressive toward female nestmates, leading us to explore the function of this unusual behavior. We applied social network analyses to data on M. mastigophorus social aggression to quantify sex differences in giving and receiving social aggression. The network analyses supported the pattern of biased male aggression toward female nestmates; females are relatively rarely aggressive to males. We then asked whether male aggression toward females was biased by females’ relative ovary development. Males were more aggressive toward females with better-developed ovaries, opposite to patterns of aggression among females. Because food brought to the colonies is often monopolized by dominant females, we suggest that males direct aggression toward socially dominant females with better-developed ovaries to obtain food. The implications of biased male aggression for female task performance and physiology are unknown.

The aim of this study was to investigate a potential biorefinery process to realize the high utilization of Camellia oleifera shell (COS), which is an agricultural by-product mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Before treatment by steam explosion, the COS was impregnated with water, 3.0 wt% NaOH solution, or 3.0 wt% H2SO4 solution. The morphological structure and chemical composition of the steam-exploded COS pulp were investigated. The results indicated that the impregnation treatments increased the cellulose content of the steam-exploded COS pulp and decreased the hemicellulose and lignin content. The morphology of steam-exploded COS fiber was short, coarse and stiff. Hydrophobic and colorful handsheets were fabricated by mixing proportional bleached softwood fiber. This study demonstrated that COS was a potential material for the papermaking industry, and the combination of water impregnation and steam explosion treatment for COS was a good pulp process.

The applicability of bleached bamboo kraft pulp (Ba-BKP) was explored as a raw material for the manufacture of nanofibrillated cellulose (EN-NFC) made of enzyme-pretreated pulps and the effects of the EN-NFC on enhancing paper strength. The Ba-BKP was pretreated using an endo-glucanase enzyme at 50 °C and pH 6, after which the EN-NFC was made by micro-grinding. Bleached hardwood kraft pulp (Hw-BKP) was used as a control, and the non-enzymatic refining pretreatment of BKPs was compared with the enzyme pretreatment. The EN-NFC was incorporated into handsheets, and the sheet strengths were measured. The physical properties of the NFC made from the Ba-BKP were similar to those made from the Hw-BKP. The NFC prepared following enzyme pretreatment were smaller and more uniform than those pretreated with refining. The EN-NFC made from the Ba-BKP was effective at enhancing tensile index by 52.7%, and burst index by 210.2% when 2% of EN-NFC was added in the furnish, and those of handsheets containing the EN-NFC made from Hw-BKP showed the similar improvement. Therefore, Ba-BKP can be used as a raw material for the manufacture of EN-NFC that confers similar physical properties and strength enhancement to paper as those made from Hw-BKP.

In this study, extractives from Pinus rigida heartwood (PRW), Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. obtusa aerial parts (ECL), and Eucalyptus flower buds (ECF) were used as additives in paper sheets produced from the pulp of linen fibers, and their effects on the mechanical and antifungal properties of the paper sheets were studied. The highest tensile and tear indices were 31.5 Nm/g, and 17.3 mNm2/g as pulp treated with PRW (4%), and ECL (1%), respectively. All the pulp additives yielded lower burst index values compared to the control (2.24 KPa.m2/g); the nearest value was 2.23 KPa.m2/g (ECL 4% pulp additive). The brightness percentages (ISO%) ranged from 65.7% to 70.2%, which were lower than the control treatment (70.3%). The paper sheets produced from pulp treated with 2% or 4% PRW, and with 4% ECL suppressed Aspergillus niger growth on the paper disc; pulp treated with 2% or 4% PRW, 4% ECL, and with 2% or 4% ECF completely suppressed A. terreus growth. However, all pulp extract additives did not inhibit the growth of Fusarium culmorum.

Purpose This paper aims to identify the most common fungal species that grow on paper manuscripts and cause bio-deterioration. It also detects the impact of additive materials on fungal degrading and builds a wide database. Thus, it helps conservators understand this phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach In total, 15 samples were collected from different paper manuscripts suffering from fungi. The achievement of the study objectives depends on using a variety of analyzes, such as a microbiological study, which indicated that three main fungi grew on the paper samples. Then, a digital microscope and an environmental scanning electron microscope were used to detect the effect of fungi on paper fibers. Fourier transform infrared microscopy was used to identify the binding medium and the X-ray diffraction method was used to measure the crystallinity index of cellulose of the paper samples. Findings Arabic gum was used as a binder medium with the samples. Aspergillus Niger, Aspergillus Fumigatus and Aspergillus Clavatus were the most common fungal species that grew on the Qur’an papers under investigation. They also caused much common damage to the paper samples. The results of the analyzes also showed that the highest crystallinity index of cellulose was in the samples that contained the lowest rate of fungal growth. Originality/value This paper highlights the relationship between fungal degradation and the multi-component nature of paper manuscripts. It builds a wide database that correlates the composition and the degradation of the Qur’an papers.

Paper-based electrochemical biosensors are a promising alternative to conventional biosensors. Herein, a screen-printed paper-based electrochemical flow biosensor was developed. The sensor comprise...

Whether the caste fate of social insects is determined before or after emergence is a key question for understanding the evolution of eusociality. Paper wasps are a suitable model for answering this question because there are no critical morphological differences between queens and workers in paper wasps, and these animals appear to represent an early stage of eusociality. We explored the above question by determining the effects of photoperiod during the adult stage on caste-fate determination in the paper wasp Polistes jokahamae. We collected colonies at different stages in the field and exposed emerging adults individually to long or short days. Under these isolated conditions, gyne-destined (diapausing) females were expected to exhibit large lipid stores without mature eggs, while the reverse was expected to be true for worker-destined (nondiapausing) females. The proportion of wasps with mature eggs was higher under long days in the second and subsequent broods, but not in the first brood. Lipid stores were larger among large females and under short days, and smaller for the first brood. These findings together suggest that the first brood emerges with a strong preimaginal bias toward workers (nondiapausing form), whereas the other broods emerge with no bias or an easily reversible bias. However, it is difficult to conclude whether the bias came from body size or the season of emergence. We discuss the possibility that the ancestor of paper wasps had workers with and without preimaginal bias toward becoming workers at emergence.

Introduction We developed low-cost, portable paper-based diagnostic devices for detection of human immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in serum without any sample preparation. These devices can be used to help identify presence of diseases, used to provide rapid results ( Materials and Methods We successfully accomplished colorimetric detection of human IgG and human IgM using a sandwich-style assay within the microfluidic paper device via vertical flow immunoassay configuration. The reaction zone in the wax printed paper layer is a small circular pattern. Gold nanoparticles conjugated with anti-human IgG and IgM antibodies have been used for colorimetric detection of IgG or IgM by naked eye. Colorimetric signal can be precisely quantified through implementation of image analysis software which can be developed as an app for a smartphone. The size of the device is 2 cm × 2 cm × 1 mm. Results Colorimetric detection of human IgG was accomplished at 100 fg/mL concentration using a gold nanoparticle–conjugated anti-human IgG antibody. The developed platform has a dynamic range of IgM and IgG concentrations between 0.1 pg/mL and 100 μg/mL. These devices provided a color readout in Conclusions Because of the inherent simplicity of the device operation and their ease of use, there is no variation between samples and users of the device. This low-cost approach enables multiplexing with >1 measurement performed in parallel at the same time. We anticipate that because of the sensitivity, specificity, ease of use, and overall reliability, this approach will become a standard for diagnosis of diseases and health conditions.

To deeply investigate the pivotal roles of Auxin (mainly indole-3-acetic acid, IAA), it is essential to obtain the contents of IAA in different locations of plants. It is still a challenge to quantify the levels of IAA in different sites of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves because of the small sizes. In this study, a simple paper-based electroanalytical device coupled with microsampling was used to differentiate the IAA amounts in different locations of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. For the micro real sampling, the different areas of the thaliana leaves were retrieved by the Harris Uni-Core TM Miltex® with diameters: 1.0, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.0 mm. The results showed that the contents of IAA can be detected from circle samples with the diameter from 1.0 to 4.0 mm. With 1.5 mm diameter sampling, the levels of IAA could be obtained in different sites of cotyledon and the first true leaf of Arabidopsis thaliana at the seedling stage. Our results suggested that the highest IAA levels were in the near petiole and lowest IAA levels in the leaf tip, which roughly agreed with those in tobacco leaves based on HPLC-MS reported before. In addition, the microsampling has a minor impact on the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana in the following especially for circle samples with the diameter 1.5 mm. This study revealed the potential application of microsampling coupled with a simple paper-based electroanalytical device for the mapping study of IAA in small plants or small tissue samples.

Ruminants would suffer from gastric distension (bloat) when feeding on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.; Alf), while tannins can relieve this problem. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of Alf mixed with paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) leaves (PML) or condensed tannins (CT) extracted from PML on in vitro fermentation performance. Seven experimental treatments based on the mass ratios of Alf and PML were set up: Alf, PML, 3A1P (Alf:PML = 3:1), 1A1P (Alf:PML = 1:1), 1A3P (Alf:PML = 1:3), A1P (Alf with 1% CT extracted from PML), A2P (Alf with 2% CT extracted from PML), and a blank. The results after fermentation were as follows. (1) The degradable dry matter (DDM) and degradable organic matter (DOM) contents increased simultaneously with the increase in the proportion of PML (p .05), propionic, and butyric acids compared to Alf alone. Adding CT improved the concentrations of propionic and butyric acids over the Alf treatment (p

Cyanide ( CN - ) is a deleterious chemical and can cause serious health effects upon exposure even at low concentrations. Different sensors have been developed to monitor cyanide in water, which, however, suffers from complex mechanisms and high-cost. Curcuma longa or turmeric is a commercially available natural dye (usually in powder form) used as medicine. The phenolic substance curcumin is responsible for its yellow color and is capable of sensing environmentally significant analytes such as CN - . In this study, a colorimetric sensor for cyanide in aqueous solution was fabricated by the immobilization of crude curcumin on ordinary filter paper. The curcumin was extracted from locally available turmeric powder using a simple extraction method. Its successful integration in the filter paper was validated by FT-IR spectroscopy. UV–Vis analysis showed that the curcumin-based paper sensor was sensitive to CN - (down to 5.0 ppm), producing a visual change from yellow to dark red. The fabricated sensor also demonstrated high selectivity towards CN - in the presence of N a + , K + , and F - . Its response time was found to be inversely proportional to the concentration of the CN - in the solution. Assessment of reusability revealed that the sensor was reusable for up 8 cycles before significant changes in colorimetric response were observed. Importantly, the fabricated sensor exhibited applicability for actual cyanide monitoring in real water samples.

This position paper provides a comprehensive guide for optimal follow-up of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), covering multiple relevant aspects of patient counselling. It serves as a practical guide to treating patients with acute PE complementary to the formal 2019 European Society of Cardiology guidelines developed with the European Respiratory Society. We propose a holistic approach considering the whole spectrum of serious adverse events that patients with acute PE may encounter on the short and long run. We underline the relevance of assessment of modifiable risk factors for bleeding, of acquired thrombophilia and limited cancer screening (unprovoked PE) as well as a dedicated surveillance for the potential development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension as part of routine practice; routine testing for genetic thrombophilia should be avoided. We advocate the use of outcome measures for functional outcome and quality of life to quantify the impact of the PE diagnosis and identify patients with the post-PE syndrome early. Counselling patients on maintaining a healthy lifestyle mitigates the risk of the post-PE syndrome and improves cardiovascular prognosis. Therefore, we consider it important to discuss when and how to resume sporting activities soon after diagnosing PE. Additional patient-relevant topics that require Focused counselling are travel and birth control., Graphical Abstract Graphical AbstractOverview of main conclusions of the position paper. APS, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; aPTT, activated partial thromboplastin time; CTEPH, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension; PE, pulmonary embolism.

BackgroundAntimicrobial surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) are essential pillars in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), but practical guidance on how surveillance data should be linked to AMS activities is lacking. This issue is particularly complex in the hospital setting due to structural heterogeneity of hospital facilities and services. The JPIAMR ARCH and COMBACTE-MAGNET EPI-Net networks have joined efforts to formulate a set of target actions for linking surveillance data with AMS activities.MethodsA scoping review of the literature was carried out addressing research questions on three areas: (i) AMS leadership and accountability; (ii) antimicrobial usage and AMS; (iii) AMR and AMS. Consensus on the target actions was reached through a RAND-modified Delphi process involving over 40 experts in different fields from 18 countries.ResultsEvidence was retrieved from 51 documents. Initially 38 targets were proposed, differentiated as essential or desirable according to clinical relevance, feasibility and applicability to settings and resources. In the first consultation round, preliminary agreement was reached for 32 targets. Following a second consultation, 27 targets were approved, 11 were deleted and 4 were suggested for rephrasing, leading to a final approved list of 34 target actions in the form of a practical checklist.ConclusionsThis White Paper provides a pragmatic and flexible tool to guide the development of calibrated hospital-surveillance-based AMS interventions. The strength of this tool is that it is a comprehensive perspective that takes into account the hospital patient case-mix and the related epidemiology, which ultimately drives antimicrobial usage, and the feasibility in low-resource settings.

Starch stain is a common stain on paper artifacts. This stain leads to deformation of the surface of the paper and promotes the growth of microbiological deterioration. This study aims to use nanoparticles with an α-amylase enzyme to improve its quality for removing this type of stain from the surface of paper artifacts. Accelerated heat aging was used on starch stain applied on the new paper samples. The α-amylase enzyme was prepared. Silver and gold nanoparticles were biosynthesized by local fungal isolation. The produced silver and gold nanoparticles were characterized by using different techniques of analysis (UV- Visible spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis). Different concentrations of Ag-NPs and Au-NPs were added to the α-amylase reaction mixture to enhance its activity for removing starch stains. Some analytical techniques were also used for the evaluation of the efficiency of α-amylase and nanoparticles for removing starch stains (Color measurement, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and pH measurement). The results proved that Ag-NPs at 20 microliters increased the activity to about 160%, whereas Au-NPs enhanced the activity to about 140% at a concentration of 5μL. The results showed that α-amylase enzyme incorporated with Ag-NPs exhibited better results more than its use alone. The addition of Ag-NPs to α-amylase enzyme for the removal of starch stain reduced the total color differences, improved the surface morphology.

Maturity of vermicomposted end products obtained from citronella bagasse (CB) and a mixture of citronella bagasse and paper mill sludge (CB + PMS) was determined employing the epigeic earthworm species Eisenia fetida. Two of the primary biological indicators—enzyme assay and germination index—were used for evaluation of vermicompost maturity. The enzyme assay includes the changes in dehydrogenase and urease activities in the final products. The test for germination index was performed on two economically important plant species Abelmoschus esculentus and Solanum melongena. The results revealed a significant increase in dehydrogenase and urease activities in the vermicompost samples over the raw materials and traditional compost. The enhancement was recorded 215.63–225.63% in dehydrogenase and 149.89–249.31% for urease in the end products obtained after 45 days of experimental trials. Further, the higher values of germination index in the vermicompost treatments as against the control confirm the suitability and stability of the vermicomposted final products.

The major obstacle to developing nanozymes which are considered as promising alternatives to natural enzymes is their moderate performance, including poor affinity for substrates, low catalytic activity, and severe pH-dependence. To address these issues, herein, we synthesize ultrathin layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets with a thickness of 1.4 nm and an average lateral size of 23 nm using a fast-precipitation method. Through the rational design of their compositions, it is found that NiMn LDHs exhibit the optimum peroxidase mimicking performance with excellent substrate affinity, high catalytic activity (a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.04 μM H2O2) and robustness in a wide pH range (from 2.6 to 9.0), which is superior to that of natural horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The main active centers are identified as Mn sites because of their strong Lewis acidity and low redox potential. Furthermore, a series of disposable paper bioassays based on NiMn LDH nanozymes are designed and used for the highly sensitive detection of H2O2 and ascorbic acid (AA).

The alarming global deforestation rate has great impacts on the output of the Pulp and paper Industry since wood is the principal papermaking fiber material. Although, generally, bamboo is an alter...

Paper mulberry, a fast-growing and vigorous plant, is a potential substrate for producing lignocellulosic bioethanol and an important renewable alternative to fossil fuels. In order to improve the economic feasibility of ethanol production from paper mulberry, H3PO4/H2O2 pretreatment was selected as the most suitable pretreatment method that could produce the highest glucose concentration (131 g/L) compared with other pretreatments (73.2–89.3 g/L) at high solid loading. Whereafter, the final solid loading of H3PO4/H2O2 pretreatment was significantly increased to 40% (w/v) without any decrease in the final glucose concentration. Finally, a novel Fed-nonisothermal-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation was constructed using H3PO4/H2O2 pretreated paper mulberry, which bypassed the inhibition caused by paper mulberry solid and high temperature on the traditional simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, improving ethanol concentration (63.9 g/L), ethanol productivity (1.33 g/L/h) and ethanol yield (0.160 g/g-biomass) by 30.4%, 30.4% and 30.1%, respectively, compared to those obtained from SSF (simultaneous saccharification and fermentation) process. Thus, we have opened up a novel way to produce ethanol or other biofuels using the paper mulberry as an outstanding alternative substrate.

The paper industry wastewater even after bio-treatment at industrial scale is a major source of aquatic and soil pollution due to various unknown compounds. Hence, the study has focused on the detection of residual organic pollutants from the bleached and unbleached paper mill wastewater and both sources showed endocrine-disrupting compounds. The toxicity test with Phaseolus aureus seed germination showed inhibition of seed germination and alpha-amylase activity >25% in bleached and unbleached paper mill wastewater. The LC50 of Tubifex tubifex was noted of >50% after 48 hours incubation test. This revealed that the wastewater discharged from bleached paper mill is more toxic than unbleached paper mill waste this might be due to the use of more chemicals during bleaching and pulping process. This study has revealed that there is need to treat both paper mill wastewaters adequately prior to discharge.

In this study, Rhododendron luteum and Rhododendron ponticum were evaluated as raw material for pulp and paper production. 12 different sodium borohydride (NaBH4) added cooking trials were performed for each sample and kraft method was used for pulp production. Pulp properties, such as yield, kappa number and viscosity, and physical properties, such as breaking length and burst index, were determined for each trial. Besides, the effects of active alkali and NaBH4 on the pulp and paper properties were also examined. Optimum cooking conditions were obtained by using 18 % active alkali for NaBH4-free cooking experiments and 0.5 % NaBH4 and 18 % active alkali for NaBH4-added cooking experiments. In NaBH4-added pulping condition, the screened yield, kappa number and viscosity of R. luteum were found to be 43.4 %, 40.1 and 949 cm3/g1, respectively. The respective values for R. ponticum were 41.9 %, 44.5 and 885 cm3/g1. The screened yields of R. luteum and R. ponticum increased by about 2.8 % and 5.3 %, respectively, with 5 % addition of NaBH4 compared to NaBH4-free cooking experiments. Furthermore, with the addition of NaBH4, the kappa numbers decreased while the viscosity increased. The physical properties of the produced papers were also improved by using NaBH4 in cooking liquor. According to the obtained results, it was found that R. luteum and R. ponticum species can be evaluated for pulp and paper production., U ovom je radu istražena mogućnost uporabe biljaka Rhododendron luteum i Rhododendron ponticum kao sirovine za proizvodnju celuloze i papira. Za svaki uzorak provedeno je 12 različitih ispitivanja kuhanja s natrijevim borhidridom (NaBH4), a celuloza je proizvedena kraft postupkom. Za svako ispitivanje određena su svojstva celuloze poput prinosa, kappa broja i viskoznosti, te fizička svojstva kao što su duljina lomljenja i indeks pucanja papira. Osim toga, ispitani su učinci aktivne lužine i NaBH4 na svojstva celuloze i papira. Optimalni uvjeti kuhanja postignuti su upotrebom 18 % aktivne lužine za eksperimentalno kuhanje bez NaBH4 i upotrebom 0,5 % NaBH4 i 18 % aktivne lužine za eksperimentalno kuhanje s dodatkom NaBH4. U proizvodnji celuloze iz biljke R. luteum s dodatkom NaBH4 utvrđeno je da prinos prosijavanja iznosi 43,4 %, da je kappa broj 40,1, a viskoznost 949 cm3/g, dok su vrijednosti za celulozu dobivenu iz biljke R. ponticum redom 41,9 %, 44,5 i 885 cm3/g. Prinos prosijavanja biljaka R. luteum i R. ponticum uz dodatak 5 % NaBH4 povećao se oko 2,8 % i 5,3 % u usporedbi s eksperimentalnim kuhanjem bez dodatka NaBH4. Nadalje, uz dodatak NaBH4 smanjuju se kappa brojevi, a viskoznosti se povećavaju. Fizička svojstva proizvedenih papira također se poboljšavaju dodavanjem NaBH4 tekućini za kuhanje. Iz dobivenih je rezultata utvrđeno da se biljke R. luteum i R. ponticum mogu upotrebljavati u proizvodnji celuloze i papira.

The search for non-wood fibers as alternative to the limited wood fiber resources is highly imperative in the pulp and paper-based industries. This is due to growing environmental concern as a result of excessive deforestation. This study aimed at investigating the pulp and paper potentials of pineapple crown (Ananas comosus), sandbox (Hura crepitans), pino macho (Pinus caribaea), elephant grass (Pennissetum purpureum) and teak (Tectona grandis) leaves. Chemical properties (holocellulose, cellulose, hemicellulose, ash contents, hot water and 1% NaOH solubilities) were determined using the relevant TAPPI test and chlorite methods, while the physical properties were determined after the pulping processes. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR) analyses of intrinsic functional groups of the paper sheets produced from the pulps of the waste plant leaves were determined. In addition, scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX) analyses of the morphological characteristic and elemental compositions of the resulting hand sheet surfaces were also examined. P. caribaea has the highest lignin (80.22 ± 0.012%) and cellulose (72.30 ± 0.012%) contents with lowest 1% NaOH solubility (15.20 ± 0.05%) values. A .comosus has the highest hemicellulose (21.73 ± 0.1%) and moisture (75.00 ± 0.12%) contents with lowest ash values (5.01 ± 0.15%). The fibre lengths and the Runkel ratio of the resulting pulps were of the order, A. comosus > P. purpureum > P. caribaea > H. crepitans > T. grandis and A. comosus

The efficiency of xylano-pectinolytic enzymes, co-produced by a single microbial strain Bacillus pumilus, was analysed for the recycling of mixed office waste paper through deinking and compared with the alkaline chemical deinking method. Enzymes showed maximum deinking at pH 8.5, pulp consistency of 10%, xylanase-pectinase dose of 12 and 4 IU per gram pulp, respectively, after 120 min of deinking period, and temperature at 50 °C. A chemi-enzymatic approach was employed with xylano-pectinolytic enzymes and various concentrations of deinking chemicals, which showed that enzyme-treated mixed office waste pulp requires only 40% chemicals for deinking, in order to get the almost same level of various handsheets properties, as obtained by the chemical method with 100% chemicals. Similarly, the effluent load of BOD and COD contents was also decreased by 17.90 and 19.75%. This combinational approach of deinking significantly improved the various properties of the handsheets and resulted in gain of 7.5, 9.38, 6.33 and 11.65% in tear factor, burst factor, breaking length and viscosity of the handsheets, while the effective residual ink concentration analysis of deinked handsheets of mixed office waste paper showed deinking efficiency of 22.45%, which revealed the removal of ink particles during enzymatic deinking steps.

Reproductive conflicts are expected in societies where nonbreeding helpers retain the ability to produce offspring. Despite potential competition from reproductively capable nestmates in social wasps, egg laying tends to be monopolised by a single or relatively few queens. Genetic studies on reproductive partitioning in Polistes paper wasps suggest high reproductive skew in the genus. Conflict is thought to be minimal due to nestmate relatedness or the possibility of inheriting a reproductive monopoly on a nest; consequently, there are inclusive fitness opportunities for nonreproductive helpers. However, most studies are limited to temperate wasp species. Given the cosmopolitan distribution of Polistes, genetic data on group conflicts are required for a broader range of tropical species to determine whether these trends apply across climatic zones. We examined female reproductive skew in the Neotropical paper wasp Polistes lanio, genotyping a selection of adults and pupae from established post-emergence nests using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). SNP-based pedigree analyses indicate a reproductive monopoly held by a single queen, with queen replacement from natal nestmates and evidence of possible multiple mating. Relatedness between pupal offspring was high (r = 0.71). It is likely that high reproductive skew among females is a founding trait of Polistes societies, conserved among species that have spread into new environments from Indomalayan origins.