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

A novel paper-based analytical device (PAD) was prepared and applied to determine the xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitory activity of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts. First, polycaprolactone was 3D printed on filter paper and heated to form hydrophobic barriers. Then the modified paper was cut according to the specific design. Necessary reagents including XOD for the colorimetric assay were immobilized on two separate pieces of paper. By simply adding phosphate buffer, the reaction was performed on the double-layer PADs. Quantitative results were obtained by analyzing the color intensity with the specialized device system (including a smartphone, a detection box and sandwich plates). The 3D-printed detection box was small, with a size of 9.0 cm × 7.0 cm × 11.5 cm. Color component G performs well in terms of linearity and detection limits and thus was identified as the index. The reaction conditions were optimized using a definitive screening design. Moreover, a 10 % glycerol solution was found to be a suitable stabilizer. When the stabilizer was added, the activity of XOD could be maintained for at least 15 days under 4 °C or -20 °C storage conditions. The inhibitory activity of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts was investigated and compared to that of allopurinol. The results obtained with the PADs showed agreement with those obtained with the microplate method. In conclusion, the proposed PAD method is simple, accurate and has potential for point-of-care testing. It also holds promise for use in rapid quality testing of medicinal herbs, intermediate products, and preparations of traditional Chinese medicines.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:31:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-10-01 Organization and planning of reverse logistics networks make sustainable processes more efficient. Thus, an important sector for connecting the collection and waste paper recycling echelons is the intermediate center. In this study, a Mixed Integer Linear Programming model, which is multi-objective, multi-product, multi-level and multi-period, was developed to optimize the waste paper logistics processes of intermediate centers. The formulation includes the following echelons: collection, considering vehicle routing with different capacities; inventory of non-baling materials; baling sorted waste and inventory of bales; selling bales; disposal of non-recyclable waste. The aims of the model include: maximizing the collected waste; minimizing distances; maximizing both the production and sale of bales, and minimizing costs. According to research carried out in the literature, the developed model is a new proposal and to implement it, the Weighted Goal Programming and Revised Multi-Choice Goal Programming approaches were used to deal with multiple objectives and incorporate uncertainty into the quantity of waste available for collection. To analyze the proposed model, computational tests were executed with instances based on real data from a Brazilian company in the sector. For all performed tests, General Algebraic Modeling System 23.6.5 modeling language and CPLEX 12.2.0.2 solver were used for modeling and optimization. The results show that this study presents formulation and technological approaches that represent real situations and provide competitive solutions to the problem. Sáo Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” [Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho] School of Engineering of Guaratinguetá [Faculdade de Engenharia de Guaratinguetá] Production Department, Av. Ariberto Pereira da Cunha, 333, Portal das Colinas Agulhas Negras Military Academy [Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras] Rodovia Presidente Dutra, km 306, s/n Escola Preparatória de Cadetes do Exército Avenida Papa Pio XII 350 Jardim Chapadão Campinas - SP Brazil, Avenida Papa Pio XII, 350, Jardim Chapadão, Campinas - SP Sáo Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” [Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho] School of Engineering of Guaratinguetá [Faculdade de Engenharia de Guaratinguetá] Production Department, Av. Ariberto Pereira da Cunha, 333, Portal das Colinas

The International Conference on Cognitive Modeling brings together researchers from around the world whose main goal is to build computational systems that reflect the internal processes of the mind. In this issue, we present the five best representative papers on this work from our 19th meeting, ICCM 2021, which was held virtually from July 3 to July 9, 2021. Three of these papers provide new techniques for refining computational models, giving better methods for taking empirical data and producing accurate computational models of the cognitive systems that produce them. The other two papers focus on explanation: using models to elucidate the underlying processes affecting cognition in such diverse domains as logical reasoning and the effects of caffeine.

In this study, paper ash generated during the incineration process of paper sludge was applied to measure the bulk, strength, and drying energy reduction of paperboard to assess the possibility of using it as an inorganic additive in paperboard mills. Three types of paper ash were fabricated by incineration, crushed, and fractionated with three different screen sizes, and their physical properties were measured. The fabricated paper ashes were added to Korean old corrugated containers (KOCC) stock to make handsheets, and their physical properties and drying energy reduction were determined. In addition, paper ash particles classified into 200 mesh screens were surface-modified with cationic polyacrylamide (C-PAM), and the handsheets were manufactured to analyze the strength improvement effect of paperboard. The bulk and the drying energy reduction improved as the paper ashes were added into the KOCC stock, but the tensile index, compression index, and burst strength decreased. In particular, the higher the average particle size of the paper ash, the higher the bulk and the drying energy reduction, but the lower the strength. The surface modification of the paper ash with C-PAM was effective in improving the strength. Therefore, paper ash made of paper sludge collected from specialty paper mills is effective in improving the bulk and drying energy reduction of paperboard, and surface modification with C-PAM is required to prevent the deterioration of paper strength.

Businesses, which provide the production and mediation of goods and services needed by the society, are organizations that have goals such as growth, development, making profit, establishing a sustainable structure, and realizing social responsibility projects. It is important for businesses to have a financially strong structure in order to achieve their goals. In order to establish a sustainable financial structure, analyzes are carried out with various methods using the historical data of the enterprises and future decisions are taken with these analysis outputs. One of the financial sustainability measures for businesses is performance measurement. In many academic studies in the literature, it is observed that Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods are used for financial performance measurement. With MCDM methods, companies are compared financially within themselves, by years and with the sector. This study was carried out to measure the financial performance of businesses operating in the BIST Paper and Paper Products Printing Sector. As a sample, the data of 9 companies operating in the BIST Paper and Paper Products Printing Sector were used. The financial ratios of the enterprises for the years 2016-2021 were obtained and the analysis was carried out with COPRAS and MOORA, which are MCDM methods. Using two analysis methods provides the opportunity to evaluate financial performance rankings from different perspectives. As a result of the study, the financial performance rankings of 9 companies in the sector were evaluated according to both methods.

Paper is one of the most common wastes produced by humans, this paper waste is often found in household activities as well as offices and schools. Processing recycling of paper can add many advantages including being able to reduce waste in the environment, save energy, reduce the impact of global warming and can also generate income. This recycled paper can also be used to make various handicraft products that can be made by people who have creative values and an artistic spirit. The works of this recycled paper can be used as home decoration knick-knacks, stationery and office equipment, You can also make unique and creative multi-purpose containers that housewives can be interested in. Apart from that, they can be used for materials for student craft assignments as well as school students. Paper waste management certainly requires more attention, this can be overcome by efforts to reduce it by converting paper waste into recycled paper which has a selling value and is useful.

Paper mill effluent has been characterized as recalcitrant because of containing lignin and its derivatives. Since biofilm system exhibits a notable potential for the removal of recalcitrant contaminants, a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) was employed to treat coagulated recycled paper mill effluent in this study. The results indicated that the SBBR removed 91.3 % of chemical oxygen demand (COD), whilst total suspended solid (TSS) and color removal reached 83.1 % and 71.0 %, respectively. The microbial analysis suggested that three typical heterotrophic phyla, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Acidobacteria are dominant bacteria and reflected the removal of recalcitrant contaminants. The COD removal rate of SBBR is evidently superior to conventional activated sludge process due to high sludge concentration as well as long sludge retention time (SRT). Whilst the problem of sludge bulking can be successfully avoided, the blockage of reactor caused by TSS accumulation and microbial growth deserve further investigation.

The membraneless-gas separation microfluidic paper-based analytical device (ML-GS μPAD), consisting of donor, spacer, and acceptor layers, was developed to monitor total ammonia in fish pond water. The principle of the analysis involved the addition of sodium hydroxide solution to the sample zone in the donor layer containing ammonia/ammonium, and the produced ammonia gas diffuses through the spacer to the detection zone in the acceptor layer containing red rose extract to produce a color change from pink to blue corresponding to the ammonia/ammonium concentration. Under optimum conditions, the proposed method provided good linearity of ammonia in the range concentration of 0-100 mg L

Acidification and metal mobility may present challenges in soil receiving paper mill biosolids (PB). Co-applying biochar and PB could help prevent these issues, but its effect must be assessed. The objective of this 224 d incubation study was to evaluate the effect of amending two acidic soils, a clay and sandy loam, with two PB types varying in pH (PB1, pH = 7.80; and PB2, pH = 4.51) co-applied with three rates (0%, 2.5%, and 5% w/w) of pine (Pinus strobus L.) biochar on soil pH and macro- (P, K, Ca, and Mg) and micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn). In both soils, co-applying biochar and PB significantly increased soil pH and extractable K concentration compared with PB-only application, whereas amending with PB significantly increased soil extractable P concentration compared with the unamended soil. In comparison with PB only, co-applying 5% biochar and PB decreased extractable Cu concentration in both soils and extractable Fe concentration in the sandy loam soil. This study showed that co-applying biochar and PB can be more beneficial to agricultural soils than application of PB alone by supplying nutrients and helping prevent metal toxicity by raising pH, especially in acidic sandy soils.

Amending croplands with forest residues may help in restoring soil properties in fields subject to intensive land management. Despite their known benefits when applied separately, co-application of wood biochar with paper mill biosolids (PB) has seen little investigation under field conditions. A study was initiated in Québec, QC, Canada, to determine the effect of a single application of wood biochar with and without PB on the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability of two pH-neutral to alkaline loamy soils. Biochar at 0, 10, and 20 Mg dry weight·ha−1 and PB at 30 Mg wet weight·ha−1 were applied before planting of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in 2018. Residual effect of this co-application was determined under soybean and corn in the subsequent year. In both years, corn received supplemental N and P from mineral fertilizers according to local agronomic recommendations. Co-applying biochar and PB reduced soil NO3-N availability in the year of application and decreased corn yield by 1.0 Mg·ha−1 compared with biochar or PB applied alone, but these amendments did not affect soybean yields. In the following year, the previous biochar addition increased soybean yield by 0.6 Mg·ha−1 but had little effect on corn. For both years, biochar addition induced a large increase in soil Mehlich-3 P. This study revealed that wood biochar positively impacted P status of these soils but was not a source of N to crops even when co-applied with PB.

The Nordic, particularly Swedish and Finnish, pulp and paper (P&P) companies are represented in earlier research as using specialized maritime transport systems – based on roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels – in long-term collaborations with shipping companies after the Second World War. However, the strategic choices of the P&P companies that led to this development have not been researched. Based on studies of the Swedish P&P companies that developed specialized maritime transport systems during the period 1960–2015, this article sheds light on the reasons for these maritime transport systems. As well as the growth of exports, the expansion of P&P companies through mergers and acquisitions and the increased value of the exported goods, the study shows that the Swedish ro-ro trend, diversified and sensitive products, pressure from customers for frequent and speedy deliveries, and a fairly short distance to stable main markets, were additional factors.

Target-responsive nanomaterials attract growing interest in the application of drug delivery, bioimaging, and sensing due to the responsive releasing of guest molecules by the smart molecule gate. However, it remains a challenge to develop smart nanomaterials with simple assembly and low nonspecific leakage starting from encapsulation strategies, especially in the sensing field. Herein, Au nanoclusters (Au NCs) were first grown on porous carbon derived from ZIF-8 (PCZIF) to be employed as nanocarriers. By employing the Au NCs as linkers and aptamer (Apta) double-strand hybrids (target Apta and SH-complementary DNA) as capping units, we reported the novel target-responsive nanomaterials of Apta/Au NCs-PCZIF/hemin through Au-S binding encapsulation for sensing assays. The Au-S binding encapsulation strategy simplified the packaging procedure and reduced non-target responsive leakage. As a proof, ochratoxin A (OTA) as a model target participates in the double-strand hybrid competitive displacement reaction and triggered Apta conformation switches from a coil to a G-quadruplex structure accompanied by the dissociation of the gatekeeper. Simultaneously, the released hemin can initiate a self-assembly to form G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme. Interestingly, owing to DNAzyme providing electron transfer mediators and peroxidase-like activity, we proposed an electrochemical/colorimetric dual-mode paper-based analytical device (PAD) that provided self-verification to enhance reliability and accuracy, benefiting from independent signal conversion and transmission mechanism. As a consequence, the proposed dual-mode PAD could achieve sensitive electrochemical detection and visual prediction of OTA in the range of 1 pg/mL to 500 ng/mL and 50 pg/mL to 500 ng/mL, respectively. The electrochemical detection limit for OTA was as low as 0.347 pg/mL (

Point-of-care testing (POCT), as a portable and user-friendly technology, can obtain accurate test results immediately at the sampling point. Nowadays, microfluidic paper-based analysis devices (μPads) have attracted the eye of the public and accelerated the development of POCT. A variety of detection methods are combined with μPads to realize precise, rapid and sensitive POCT. This article mainly introduced the development of electrochemistry and optical detection methods on μPads for POCT and their applications on disease analysis, environmental monitoring and food control in the past 5 years. Finally, the challenges and future development prospects of μPads for POCT were discussed.

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

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) have made immense strides in optimizing antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral use in clinical settings. However, although ASPs are required institutionally by regulatory agencies in the United States and Canada, they are not mandated for transplant centers or programs specifically. Despite the fact that solid organ transplant recipients in particular are at increased risk of infections from multidrug-resistant organisms, due to host and donor factors and immunosuppressive therapy, there currently are little rigorous data regarding stewardship practices in solid organ transplant populations, and thus, no transplant-specific requirements currently exist. Further complicating matters, transplant patients have a wide range of variability regarding their susceptibility to infection, as factors such as surgery of transplant, intensity of immunosuppression, and presence of drains or catheters in situ may modify the risk of infection. As such, it is not feasible to have a “one-size-fits-all” style of stewardship for this patient population. The objective of this white paper is to identify opportunities, risk factors, and ASP strategies that should be assessed with solid organ transplant recipients to optimize antimicrobial use, while producing an overall improvement in patient outcomes. We hope it may serve as a springboard for development of future guidance and identification of research opportunities.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) have attracted great attention as potential candidates for point-of-care testing (POCT). Nevertheless, only a limited number of μPADs expected to satisfy the standard of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived tests as issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been reported. This work introduces a "traffic light type μPAD", enabling highly intuitive semi-quantitative equipment-free naked-eye readout with no need for calibration, subjective interpretation or calculation. Assay results are displayed as traffic light colours reporting 5 analyte concentration levels (green/greenyellow/yellow/yellowred/red). The device has been designed to never display all three colours simultaneously, eliminating any risk for misinterpretation. The mechanism relies on the modulation of sample flow through a network of paperfluidic channels modified with a hydrophobic to hydrophilic phase-switching substance responsive to H

Mitigation of global warming, energy security and industrial competitiveness urge the energy-intensive pulp and paper industry (PPI) to transform energy use practices. This study investigates how the PPI has responded to the need for the energy transition in the 2000s. Finland and Sweden as forerunners of energy-efficient operation and decarbonization of the PPI are used as target countries. Understanding of changes in energy consumption is complemented using decomposition analysis (Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index Method) and the energy efficiency index approach. Analysis of companies’ investments in energy technologies is used for explaining changes in energy production. Evidence of significant development towards the more sustainable operation of the PPI was found. Energy consumption per produced unit has decreased, i.e., energy efficiency has improved. Fossil fuels have been partially replaced with bio-based alternatives. Thus, the CO2 intensity has decreased substantially. The generation of renewable electricity has increased in both countries. Examples of Finland and Sweden indicate that the PPI has great potential to contribute to CO2 emission reduction worldwide in the future as energy efficiency can be further improved, and the share of fossil fuels can be decreased increasing the use of biofuels and self-generated green electricity at least in kraft pulp mills.

The construction industry had approached a critical limit which led to the increase of cement production. The production of cement would cause a broader environmental implication. Cement production is a major source of carbon dioxide emission. Carbon dioxide gas contributes about 63.33% of global warming since the production of one ton of cement would emit about one ton of carbon dioxide to the environment. To mitigate this issue, the research community has investigated the use of waste materials that possess similar chemical properties with cement content as a material for partial cement replacement. The use of rice husk ash has shown to be a contending candidate in the literature. Therefore, this paper attempts at reviewing the performance of rice husk ash as partial cement replacement. It could be observed from the literature that concrete with 5% up to 15% of rice husk ash showed an equivalent performance to ordinary concrete in compressive, flexural, and tensile strength. Thus, rice husk ash can be used as a material replacement in concrete and reduces pollution that originates from cement production and open burning of rice husk.

Background: Intelligent food packaging that can monitor food quality and safety is essential in modern commercial trade. Research on the fabrication of environmentally friendly colorimetric labels that can indicate the freshness of food through color changes are needed. Methods: In this study, paper-based colorimetric labels were prepared using filter paper dipped into a solution of Roselle flower extract, and their performance in monitoring shrimp spoilage was investigated. Results: The labels’ response to ammonia vapor shows a distinct color variation from red to greenish-grey, corresponding to a sharp increase in the total color difference (ΔE = 32). The labels are relatively stable during storage at 4°C for up to 20 days. In shrimp freshness monitoring, the color changes from red to purple, which corresponds to increasing levels of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), and can be observed easily with the naked eye. Conclusion: This suggests that our paper-based colorimetric labels impregnated with Roselle extract show superior performance in detecting shrimp spoilage.

The INDDEX24 Dietary Assessment Platform (INDDEX24) was developed to facilitate the collection of 24-h dietary recall (24HR) data. Alongside validation studies in Viet Nam and Burkina Faso in 2019–2020, we conducted activity-based costing studies to estimate the cost of conducting a 24HR among women of reproductive age using INDDEX24 compared with the pen-and-paper interview (PAPI) approach. We also modelled alternative scenarios in which: (1) 25–75 % of dietary reference data were borrowed from the INDDEX24 Global Food Matters Database (FMDB); (2) all study personnel were locally based and (3) national-scale surveys. In the primary analysis, in Viet Nam, the 24HR cost US $111 004 ($755/respondent, n 147) using INDDEX24 and $120 483 ($820/respondent, n 147) using PAPI. In Burkina Faso, the 24HR cost $78 105 ($539/respondent, n 145) using INDDEX24 and $79 465 ($544/respondent, n 146) using PAPI. In modelled scenarios, borrowing dietary reference data from the FMDB decreased the cost of INDDEX24 by 17–34 % (Viet Nam) and 5–15 % (Burkina Faso). With all locally based personnel, INDDEX24 cost more than PAPI ($498 v. $448 per respondent in Viet Nam and $456 v. $410 in Burkina Faso). However, at national scales (n 4376, Viet Nam; n 6500, Burkina Faso) using all locally based personnel, INDDEX24 was more cost-efficient ($109 v. $137 per respondent in Viet Nam and $123 v. $148 in Burkina Faso). In two countries and under most circumstances, INDDEX24 was less expensive than PAPI. Higher INDDEX24 survey preparation costs (including purchasing equipment) were more than offset by higher PAPI data entry, cleaning and processing costs. INDDEX24 may facilitate cost-efficient dietary data collection.

Cultural heritage objects are precious witnesses of the past, so our mission is not only to preserve them for future generations, but also make them available or open to the public. Among most fragile historic materials are paper-based materials. They are susceptible to various forms of damage and deterioration, and their preservation presents a challenging task for conservators. In recent years, the use of advanced materials with unique properties has been growing at an increasing rate, even in the traditionally slow-changing cultural heritage sector. This study models how historic paper would be affected by application of multiple coating layers containing different quantities of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). In our study, a 4 % CNCs aqueous suspension was used to treat the samples. In order to form a uniform layer, bar-coating method was used, and in addition, a specific layer thickness was formed in both single and multiple passes. The prepared samples were analysed for their optical properties (colour coordinates, yellowness, opacity, gloss), physical properties (Taber stiffness, weight, thickness) and surface properties (roughness). An increase of wet film deposit thickness (single layer applications) resulted in an increase of paper thickness, grammage, gloss, opacity, yellowness, the ΔE value and Taber stiffness, while its average surface roughness decreased. Multi-layer applications have gradually decreased paper thickness, while Taber stiffness remained unchanged.

Research on text comprehension in relation to the reading medium (paper or screen) has mainly involved undergraduate or high school students. To advance current knowledge on the effects of reading medium, this longitudinal study focused on beginner readers, specifically, the role of precursors in first graders’ comprehension of narrative and expository linear texts from reading on paper and computer screen. Working memory and inference skills as cognitive precursors and basic digital skills were measured at the end of preschool (T1); reading text comprehension and word reading, as a control variable, were measured at the end of the first grade (T2). Sixty-three children participated in total. The first graders read four texts, one narrative and one expository, on both paper and computer screen, in a counterbalanced order. Results showed no main effects of the reading medium or text genre, but the interactive effect of these variables was significant. At T2, the children had higher comprehension scores after reading narrative than descriptive texts from paper. In addition, reading from the screen was preferred at post-test, after all texts were presented. As precursors, working memory and inference skills predicted both printed and digital text comprehension. In contrast, basic digital skills predicted only digital text comprehension after controlling for medium, text genre, and word reading.

Background The screening of biological hazards, chemical contaminants and allergens in food products is a major concern of food industry since they can cause serious illnesses and even lead to death. Therefore, there is a significant interest in developing low-cost, robust, and rapid detection methods for food safety and quality analysis. Conventional methods provide accurate analytical characteristics, but require well-equipped laboratories, trained personnel, costly reagents, and complicated sample preparation procedures prior to the detection in order to obtain reliable results. Hence, they are not always ideal for on-site food surveillance. Scope and approach This paper discusses the fundamentals of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) and reviews the recent progress in their usage for screening biological hazards, harmful chemical residues, and allergens in food products to systematically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this technology. It then covers future trends and useful strategies that could be employed in μPADs design and fabrication procedures to address the critical challenges in equipment-free food analysis. Key findings and conclusions μPADs offer promising avenues to revolutionize food safety and quality analysis with merits of equipment-free sample preparation and detection at low-cost. Despite the advancement in the microfluidic technology, the manufacturing of user-friendly sample-to-answer μPADs still requires intensive research studies to be employed for robust and sensitive food safety and quality analysis.

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

The utilization of waste resulting from the pulp and paper industry as soil for technical and biological recultivation of disturbed lands, industrial waste discharges and other applications in line with their intended purpose use have been explored. Analysis of soil resulting from the frozen sediments of lignin settled sludge of JSC "BPPM" with the WAS resulting from the sewage treatment facilities have been carried out, chemical and agrochemical composition as well as toxicological properties have been studied. It is established that the resulting soil can intensify the recultivation succession of disturbed lands and contribute to plants growth and biomass increase, and their reproduction ability.

Managing Liquidity has seldom been being as vital as it has during the Covid-19 era. The financial impact of Covid-19 has left many firms on the brink of liquidation. This paper explores the effect cash holdings has had on Profitability of the firm and how it compares with commercial paper between the pre-Covid-19 era and the Covid-19 era. This paper employs and compares the ordinary least square regression between these eras. I find that firms are less liquid during the Covid-19 period compared to the pre-covid period. More importantly, I find that Liquidity has been more critical to a firm's Profitability during Covid-19 era compared to pre-covid 19 periods. Furthermore, Cash holdings represent a significant chunk of Liquidity. However, these Cash holdings dropped by a little in the covid-19 era. Finally, I find that both commercial paper and cash holdings are used as complements. However, this result is weakly supported during the pre-covid period.

Cement production is one of the sources that emit carbon dioxide, in addition to deforestation and combustion of fossil fuels also leads to ill effects on environment. The global cement industry accounts for 7% of earth’s greenhouse gas emission. To enhance the environmental effects associated with cement manufacturing and to constantly deplore natural resources, we need to develop other binders to make the concrete industry sustainable. This work offers the option to use waste paper sludge ash as a partial replacement of cement for new concrete. In this study cement in partially replaced as 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by waste paper sludge ash in concrete for M25 mix and tested for compressive strength, tensile strength, water absorption and dry density up to the age of 28days and compared it with conventional concrete, based on the results obtained, it is found that waste paper ash may be used as a cement replacement up to 5% by weight and the particle size is less the 90µm to prevent reduction in workability. Keywords: slump test, Compressive strength, split tensile strength, water absorption test, Waste Paper Sludge Ash Concrete, Workability.

Million tons of cellulosic paper have been used for insulating coils in oil-filled electrical power transformers, thereby assuring the electricity supply for our societies. The high working temperatures in transformers constantly degrade paper insulators throughout their service life of up to 40 years. We approached the structural changes in oil-immersed cellulosic paper samples upon thermal stress in a study that compared unbleached softwood Kraft paper used as insulator paper with pure cotton cellulose paper. The model experiments used a thermal treatment in transformer oil at 170 °C for up to 14 days. The samples were characterized by means of 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy, mainly based on deconvolution of the C4 resonance. An automated, fast, and reproducible C4 resonance deconvolution employing the “Peak Analyzer” tool of OriginPro 2020 (OriginLab Corporation, USA) was developed and used to exploit 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy for the characterization of thermally stressed paper samples. Our results show that thermally induced structural changes depend heavily on the composition of paper, that hornification and coalescence of fibrils take place, and that the allomorph composition of cellulose crystallites is altered under the given conditions. Graphical abstract

Poly ( p-phenylene benzoisoxazole; PBO) paper is a potential raw material for use in honeycomb sandwich composites in the aerospace industry, which are able to sustain high temperatures exceeding 300°C. This work presents a wet-forming method of making PBO paper, consisting of PBO chopped fibers. The paper was impregnated with phenolic resin to simulate honeycomb wall material. The structure and mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the raw and impregnated paper were characterized. The performance of PBO paper was tested against p-aramid paper. The comparative results showed the tensile strength of PBO raw paper was 2.17 kN/m, which was slightly worse than p-aramid raw paper: 2.66 kN/m. After impregnation, the tensile strength of the PBO paper was 13.93 kN/m due to the increase in the number of bonding points—better than p-aramid paper: 7.99 kN/m. The tearing resistance value for PBO raw paper versus p-aramid raw paper was 3252 mN against 845 mN. The morphology of the torn samples in the impregnated paper revealed higher levels of PBO fiber pullout than p-aramid fiber, therefore the tearing resistance value was 6000 mN for PBO impregnated paper, which was again superior to p-aramid impregnated paper: 675 mN. The PBO paper also showed higher storage modulus than p-aramid paper after impregnation. Experimental studies showed that PBO paper could be used in load-bearing structures and in honeycomb components where high resistance to deformation and thermal stability is necessary.

Water absorption is a key property in several tissue paper materials and can be a differentiating factor in terms of consumer choice. The converting modifications applied in the tissue industry can improved absorbency properties. For this purpose, the main goal of the present work is to study the influence of “deco” and “micro” embossing on water absorption capacity, Klemm capillary rise, and liquid spreading kinetics in tissue papers. An industrial never-dried bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp, a creped industrial base tissue paper, and a disintegrated fibrous suspension obtained from the same industrial paper were used to produce structures with and without “deco” and “micro” embossing patterns. The results indicate that the “micro” embossing process promoted bulky and porous structures, enhancing water absorption capacity and Klemm capillary rise properties, while the “dec” embossing pattern decreased water absorption capacity properties. The creping process also increased the water absorption capacity but decreased Klemm capillary rise properties along with the fiber mixtures. Regarding the liquid spreading kinetics, both embossing patterns decreased this property in uncreped isotropic structures, contrary to creped anisotropic structures. The eucalyptus and softwood fibers mixture improved the spreading kinetics compared to the creping process. The performance of structures with and without embossing allowed to quantify the liquid retention properties, combining ISO experimental methods and an optical system that records the liquid interaction with fibrous structures. In conclusion, this laboratory embossing method can be used as an alternative method to optimize converting operations and the final tissue paper characterization, on a laboratory scale.

Nanozymes are nanomaterials that possess intrinsic enzyme mimicking activity. In this study, the application of silver nanoparticles coated filter paper (AgNPs/FP) that exhibits a peroxidase-like catalytic activity as a potential sensor is reported. A simple chemical reduction method was used to produce AgNPs/FP. The formation of the particles on filter paper were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, AgNPs/FP oxidized the colorless o-phenylenediamine (OPD) and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) solutions to a yellow colored 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) and deep blue colored oxidized TMB (oxTMB), respectively. In the presence of thiocyanate, however, the peroxidase-like activity was inhibited in a concentration dependent manner. This makes the AgNPs/FP a promising catalyst and employed for colorimetric detection of thiocyanate via inhibition of the peroxidase-like activity. The application can be further extended to other environmentally and biologically important analytes.

The blend (wax M) of crude by-product polyolefin wax (wax K) and a fractionated commercial paraffin wax (wax J) was suggested to replace the wax J as a coating agent for wax-coated papers. The rheological properties of waxes J, K, and M were examined and compared. The correlation between viscosity and shear rate applied on these waxes maintained at 90 oC and 130 oC was identified. In particular, this paper, for the first time, presented non-Newtonian shear thinning behavior of not only wax K but also its blend of wax M in terms of their viscosity affected by shear rate at an operating temperature below their melting temperature of higher-melting-temperature DSC endothermic peaks (HMTEPs). They showed non-Newtonian behavior, so-called shear thinning behavior, at 90 oC in the light of characteristics of both suspension systems and polymer systems. In addition, the profiles of viscosity at 130 oC of all the waxes versus the shear rate exhibited Newtonian fluid behavior. Wax J also showed the behavior of a dilatant fluid. Then, the physical properties including water vapor transmission rates (WVTR), surface roughness, and coated weights, of thin papers coated with waxes J (WJP), K (WKP), and M (WMP) were evaluated, characterized, and compared. As a result, WMP had an equivalent value to that of WJP or the lowest value among wax-coated papers in terms of WVTR. The surface roughness and the barrier property of WVTR were minimized and enhanced, respectively, by blending waxes J and K. The additional physical properties, including dynamic contact angles, surface tension, wet and dry tensile strength, optical examination of the wax-coated fiber structure, and antimicrobial properties of the wax-coated papers, were evaluated. The excellent antimicrobial properties of clinoptilolite added to wax J or wax M appeared.

The pursuit for sustainability in the papermaking industry calls for the elimination or reduction of synthetic additives and the exploration of renewable and biodegradable alternatives. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), due to their inherent morphological and biochemical properties, are an excellent alternative to synthetic additives. These properties enable CNFs to improve the mechanical, functional, and barrier properties of different types of paper. The nanosize diameter, micrometre length, semicrystalline structure, high strength, and modulus of CNFs have a direct influence on the mechanical properties of paper, such as tensile index, burst index, Scott index, breaking length, tear index, Z-strength, E-modulus, strain at break, and tensile stiffness. This review details the role played by CNFs as an additive to improve strength properties of paper and the factors affecting the improvement in paper quality when CNFs are added as additives. The paper also includes techno-economic aspects of the process and identifies areas that need further research.

The global reality of the COVID-19/Corona pandemic paradoxically boosted national politics, broadcasting and citizenship. Media coverage, especially initially, praised citizen solidarity and the creative solutions that were pioneered to care for each other. A year later, a lasting social learning curve throughout and after this crisis seems illusory. The pandemic, this paper argues, needs to be understood in a longer timeframe as the working through and coming to terms with neo-liberal governmentality. The (often hilarious) early responses on social media provide a strong entry to do so. Our focus will be on the Netherlands which had a so-called ‘intelligent’ lockdown during the first wave of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020. Using the authors’ own sharing back and forth of toilet paper memes as a starting point, we aim to explore the notion of collective self-reflection and citizen co-education underlying both heated and simply ridiculous posts. Using previous discussion of cultural citizenship, this paper inquires into how pandemic citizenship played out as a vast exercise in disciplining and distinction through jokes and anger. The material suggests a nostalgic turn that might point to an implicitly voiced critique of neoliberal governmentality.

In this paper, the mechanical properties of nano-silica modified insulating paper under the combined action of mechanical vibration and temperature conditions are studied. Unmodified and nano-silica modified cellulose insulating paper with 2 wt% and 4 wt% were prepared, respectively, and a series of mechanical-thermal synergy experiments were carried out. With the same mechanical stress and temperature, and with the same aging duration of 144 h (6d), the tensile strength of modified insulating paper with 4 wt% nano-silica, increased 0.99 kN/m and 0.55 kN/m, respectively, compared with those of the unmodified and the 2 wt% nano-silica modified insulating paper. The experiments indicate that the nano-silica modification can effectively improve the mechanical properties of insulating paper. In this work, the modified mechanism of nano-silica is analyzed from the interface effect of modified polymer and the quantum effect of the modified polymer interface two aspects. It is shown that the interface formed in the modified insulating paper can transfer the mechanical stress acted on the insulating paper and prevent the cracks formed in the aging process of the test sample from further expansion, while the quantum effect discretizes the electron energy level, which can restrict the motion of the molecular chain segment to some extent. The conclusion can be used for reference to improve the performance of insulating paper.

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.

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

Purpose In flexible electronics applications, organic inks are mostly used for inkjet printing. Three-dimensional (3 D) printing technology has the advantages of low cost, high speed and good precision in modern electronic printing. The purpose of this study is to solve the high cost of traditional printing and the pollution emissions of organic ink. It is necessary to develop a water-based conductive ink that is easily degradable and can be 3 D printed. A nano-silver ink printed circuit pattern with high precision, high conductivity and good mechanical properties is a promising strategy. Design/methodology/approach The researched nano-silver conductive ink is mainly composed of silver nanoparticles and resin. The effect of adding methyl cellulose on the ink was also explored. A simple 3 D circuit pattern was printed on photographic paper. The line width, line length, line thickness and conductivity of the printed circuit were tested. The influence of sintering temperature and sintering time on pattern resistivity was studied. The relationship between circuit pattern bending performance and electrical conductivity is analyzed. Findings The experimental results show that the ink has the characteristics of low silver content and good environmental protection effect. The printing feasibility of 3 D printing circuit patterns on paper substrates was confirmed. The best printing temperature is 160°C–180°C, and the best sintering time is 30 min. The circuit pattern can be folded 120°, and the cycle is folded more than 60 times. The minimum resistivity of the circuit pattern is 6.07 µΩ·cm. Methyl cellulose can control the viscosity of the ink. The mechanical properties of the pattern have been improved. The printing method of 3 D printing can significantly reduce the sintering time and temperature of the conductive ink. These findings may provide innovation for the flexible electronics industry and pave the way for alternatives to cost-effective solutions. Originality/value In this study, direct ink writing technology was used to print circuit patterns on paper substrates. This process is simple and convenient and can control the thickness of the ink layer. The ink material is nonpolluting to the environment. Nano-silver ink has suitable viscosity and pH value. It can meet the requirements of pneumatic 3 D printers. The method has the characteristics of simple process, fast forming, low cost and high environmental friendliness.

The pulp and paper industry is highly energy-intensive. In mills that use chemical pulping, roughly half of the higher heating value of the cellulosic material used to manufacture the product typically is incinerated to generate steam and electricity that is needed to run the processes. Additional energy, much of it non-renewable, needs to be purchased. This review considers publications describing steps that pulp and paper facilities can take to operate more efficiently. Savings can be achieved, for instance, by minimizing unnecessary losses in exergy, which can be defined as the energy content relative to a standard ambient condition. Throughout the long series of unit operations comprising the conversion of wood material to sheets of paper, there are large opportunities to more closely approach a hypothetical ideal performance by following established best-practices.

To explore the reinforcement effects of different reinforcement methods, kraft paper was used as reinforcement material, and shear tests were carried out in sand to study the reinforcement effects of kraft paper perpendicular and parallel to the shear plane. The test results show that the two reinforcement methods can effectively improve the strength of sand and the orthogonal reinforcement form is more superior. The existence of reinforced materials greatly improves the cohesion of sand, but does not significantly improve the internal friction angle. The width of reinforcement material has little effect on the reinforcement effect and shows different variation laws under different reinforcement forms.

Paper-based fluorescence devices, with smartphone aids, bring considerable operation convenience for tetracycline (TC) sensing. Nevertheless, they must meet the challenge in real determination against complicated backgrounds. Considering that, we present a programmable-printing paper-based device and then apply it to TC determination for various natural samples. MoS2 NPs and Gmp/Eu-Cit are synthetized as composite probes. A static quenching process is found with MoS2 NP fluorescence at 430 nm, while significant magnification of Gmp/Eu-Cit emission is obtained at 617 nm, establishing a valuable ratiometric indicator. Remarkably, two-stage programmable printing maximizes the proposed sensing capability. A transitive device, containing a gradually changing amount of a certain probe, is prepared to sense TC. With a homemade smartphone application and 3D-printed measurement chamber, the corresponding signals are examined to explore optimal setups. These setups are automatically processed to prepare the final-version device, not requiring manual operations. Benefitting from this interesting feature, the proposed device gains many rewards in performances. It effectively senses TC in a wide range from 12.7 nM to 80 μM and simultaneously provides naked eye-legible signals and smartphone-based readouts with confident selectivity and stability. This device is consequently applied for various samples of soil, river water, milk, and serum and meets well with HPLC-MS and recovery tests.

Parenteral and enteral nutrition support are key components of care for various medical and physiological conditions in infants, children, and adults. Nutrition support practices have advanced over time, driven by the goals of safe and sufficient delivery of needed nutrients and improved patient outcomes. These advances have been, and continue to be, dependent on research and development studies. Such studies address aspects of enteral and parenteral nutrition support: formulations, delivery devices, health outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and related metabolism. The studies are supported by public funding from the government and by private funding from foundations and from the nutrition support industry. To build public trust in nutrition support research findings, it is important to underscore ethical research conduct and reporting of results for all studies, including those with industry sponsors. In 2019, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition's (ASPEN's) Board of Directors established a task force to ensure integrity in nutrition support research that is done as collaborative partnerships between the public (government and individuals) and private groups (foundations, academia, and industry). In this ASPEN Position Paper, the Task Force presents principles of ethical research to guide administrators, researchers, and funders. The Task Force identifies ways to curtail bias and to minimize actual or perceived conflict of interests, as related to funding sources and research conduct. Notably, this paper includes a Position Statement to describe the Task Force's guidance on Public-Private Partnerships for research and funding. This paper has been approved by the ASPEN Board of Directors.

Mechanical properties are crucial in assessing the paper quality. Deformation and strength properties of paper are determined by the strength and stiffness of the interfiber and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The contribution ratio of interfiber and intermolecular hydrogen bonds to the strength of paper can be changed by adjusting the degree of its anisotropy. The article presents the results on a study of the deformation properties of laboratory anisotropic paper samples from kraft bleached softwood pulp with a beating degree of 30 °SR. The samples had basic weight of 90 g/m2 and the degree of stiffness anisotropy TSIMD/CD of 1.75–4.08. They were made by using Techpap SAS automatic dynamic handsheet former (Grenoble, France), with varying forming parameters – diameter of the nozzle, motion speed of the forming wire, and injecting speed of pulp. Deformation properties were determined by tensile test and processing of the stress-strain dependence (σ−ε). The outcomes have shown that, an increase of the fiber orientation degree in paper structure by changing the forming parameters caused a change in the nature of the paper deformation under tension. Increasing the fiber orientation degree in the structure of paper made it possible to increase the strength by 55 %, tensile stiffness by 63 % in the machine direction, while reducing the extensibility by 10 %. In the cross direction, it was possible to decrease tensile stiffness by 33 %, strength by 55 %, and increase the extensibility by 5 %. Anisotropy of tensile strength was 1.73–6.00. The greatest effect was obtained for the elasticity modulus in the pre-failure zone E2 (2.8–38.6). It means that, fiber orientation had a key importance when large deformations in the samples took place. The established quantitative regularities allowed optimizing the values of the deformation and strength properties of paper, and their ratio in the machine direction and cross direction due to the variation of the forming parameters. For citation: Rech D., Potasheva A.N., Kazakov Ya.V. Regulating the Deformation Properties of Paper by Varying the Degree of Its Anisotropy. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 5, pp. 174–184. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-5-174-184

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

This study was to determined the effectiveness of using printing equipment to made paper bags suitable for sale for students with intellectual disabilities. This researched was a classroom action researched using the demonstration method. The subject of research was class X which consists of 4 students at special needs school-C Sukapura Bandung. The results showed an increase in the ability of students with intellectual disabilities in making paper bags worth selling, where each student could exceed the specified minimum completeness criteria of 80. This was because the tool could ease the difficulties experienced by students with intellectual disabilities, in terms of neat folding, standard measurements, gluing, and speed, when the paper bags manufacturing processed, is worth selling. With this tool, students with intellectual disabilities would have the skills, so they could live independently after graduation.

The Government of Ireland has published its plan to reorder the infrastructure it uses to accommodate and support migrants seeking International Protection (IP) in Ireland. This policy document - entitled The White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Support Service - was published on 26th February, 2021. The White Paper proposes to replace Ireland's current but discredited system with a new IP accommodation and support process – to be entitled Ireland's International Protection Support Service. This new system is intended to “treat all applicants to the process with dignity and respect” (Government of Ireland, 2021: 7). Dissonances exist, however. The discursive framing of the IPSS and the spatialities inherent in the proposals suggest a potential rearticulation of state control rather that a diminution of same. I turn to the work of scholars inspired by Giorgio Agamben to help situate the spatialities of this shift, and suggest that the current ‘white paper’ should simply be seen as a mechanism deployed the Government of Ireland to ensure that its bio-political command and control processes can migrate from the spatially-defined set of control environments currently in effect to a diffuse construction of a spatially networked series of deterritorialised indistinctions.