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Abstract: An unexpected product was detected during simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) of paper sludge using added commercial cellulase (Spezyme CP) by Saccharomyces cerevisiae RWB222, S. cerevisiae D5A, and Zymomonas mobilis 8b. Based on glycosyl composition analysis, linkage analysis and NMR analysis, the compound was identified as ethyl β-xylopyranoside (EXP). The carbon mass balance analysis showed up to 25% of xylan originally present in paper sludge was converted to EXP. EXP formation was found in simultaneous saccharification of beech wood xylan as well, and later proved to be produced by the Trichoderma reesei derived cellulase and hemicellulase mixture (Spezyme CP) during the course of xylan hydrolysis in the presence of ethanol, and its production increased with an increased concentration of ethanol, xylan, and T. reesei enzyme. Similar condensation reactions were also observed with other alcohols. These alcoholysis reactions were found to be reversible. Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum was found to be able to degrade EXP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nanolime dispersions for the deacidification of ancient paper constitute a valid alternative to the lime traditional ones. Their efficacy depends on particles size, polydispersity and agglomeration that can be controlled depending on the preparation method. In this work, nanolime preparation by insolubilisation-precipitation method is reported. Nanoparticles dispersed in a water-isopropanol mixture were obtained without any manipulation of the dispersion. The stability of the dispersion together with particle size and morphology were found to be dependent on water to isopropanol molar ratio and on the synthesis temperature. One of the dispersion was applied on a manuscript to assess its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This report describes the development of foldable paper-based analytical devices (PADs) to perform redox titrations. Paper devices were designed to contain three spot tests, which were wax printed and folded to create a three-layer structured platform and to promote the sample transport based on vertical flow. The proposed devices were explored for the visual determination of the alcoholic content in whiskey samples. For this purpose, a classical permanganometry reaction was employed to allow the indirect determination of ethanol based on the required amount of oxalic acid to react with the excess of permanganate in acidic medium. The endpoint of the redox titrations performed in different alcoholic concentrations was measured and revealed a good linear behavior for the ethanol concentration range between 0% and 50% (R2 = 0.992), achieving a limit of detection equal to 2.1%. The alcoholic content was determined in a total of 44 whiskey samples seized by the Brazilian Federal Police. When compared to genuine samples and using an established cut-off limit, 73% of the seized samples were correctly classified as whiskeys containing adulterated alcoholic content. The proposed method was compared to a reference protocol and no difference was observed at the confidence level of 95%. The instrumental simplicity, the low cost, the sample volume requirement, the short analysis time and mainly the inherent portability make these devices quite attractive for on-site forensic applications. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • Foldable paper-based devices were developed to perform redox titrations. • The alcoholic content was determined in whiskey samples by permanganometry. • The back-titration provided inversely linear response to the alcohol concentration increase. • The proposed method requires only 1 μL of sample and provides response within 60 s. • Foldable platforms allowed to screen the authenticity of seized whiskey samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess tosyl chloride used in the tosylation of alcohols is quickly and easily removed by reacting it with cellulosic materials, e.g., filter paper, and filtering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Detection of cocaine on the level of a few ng/ml by the use of lab-on-a-paper test co-working with OLED light source as exciatation light source and CCD-based detection unit is described in this paper. The new method enables not only yes or now answer of drug presence in a tested sample but also concentration of the drug in the sample. Presented here results opens a new way toward portable instrumentation for point-of-care detection of cocaine (and in the future other drugs) in sweat of for example professional drivers. This device will be a drug-tester similar to widely now used alcohol testers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Shrub-like pt-rh catalysts with different metallic ratios on carbon paper were prepared by laser ablation. • The catalysts displayed higher tolerance to CO and higher catalytic activity towards ethanol oxidation. • Pt-Rh catalysts demonstrated long-term poisoning rates eight times lower than pt. Plasmas techniques are novel routes for the preparation of complex nanostructured materials for catalysis and clean hydrogen energy such as fuel cells. CBPLD technique allows enhanced interaction between the catalyst and the support and improved catalytic properties. Herein, a highly active and durable vertically aligned nanostructured shrub-like bimetallic Pt x Rh 100-x alloys with atomic ratios close to nominal values are grown on carbon paper substrate. The tolerance to CO poisoning and ethanol electrooxidation reactions are studied over these new types of shrub-like bimetallic Pt x Rh 100-x /CP catalysts, demonstrating that such structures effectively facilitate both processes and very low long-term poisoning rates. Such high catalytic activity accounts for two mechanisms: Rh a highly oxophilic transition metal activates water dissociation at lower potentials than Pt (bifunctional mechanism), and the ligand effect where Rh alters the electronic structure of the neighboring Pt suggesting a faster supply in OH ads. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are promising fluorescent nanomaterials that have been employed in a wide range of areas. However, their applications in some specific fields, such as chem-/biosensing remain hampered due to their inherent instability to different external stimuli. Herein, we discover a novel mechanism that ethanol, a chemical that is generally thought to be detrimental to PNCs, could specifically initiate the in-situ crystallization of the precursor salts absorbed by paper fiber to yield standard CsPbBr 3 fluorescent PNCs. Based on systematical experimental verification, it is revealed that ethanol could mediate the interfacial interaction of the PNC precursor salts on the paper fiber to allow for this exceptional in-situ PNC crystallization process. Accordingly, a fluorescence turn-on mode paper sensor for rapid and high-sensitive expiratory alcohol detection is designed, which could fulfill the on-site visualized drink-driving screening requirement. Furthermore, the application of this new mechanism in multidimensional information encryption is also demonstrated. This work not only discovers a new mechanism for PNC crystallization but also expands the sensing application toolbox of PNCs. [Display omitted] • Ethanol can induce the crystallization of perovskite nanocrystals on paper fiber. • This is due to the on-paper interaction of the precursor salts induced by ethanol. • A paper sensor is developed for fluorescence turn-on expiratory alcohol sensing. • The sensor can reach the standard of drinking-driving screening. • This technique can also be used in information encryption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To determine the overall efficiency of processes designed to convert lignocellulosic polysaccharides to ethanol, it is first necessary to determine the composition of the lignocellulosic substrates. Three standard methods routinely referenced in the literature for this purpose are monoethanolamine, trifluoroacetic acid and concentrated sulphuric acid-based methods. However, in the course of our studies, the suitability of these standard methods for analysis of wastepaper and wheat straw came into question. This paper details our investigations in this area, together with recommendations for appropriate modifications to one of the standard methods for reproducible and representative lignocellulosic compositional analysis of waste paper and cereal straw. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To distil the main findings from published papers on mortality in three cohorts involving over 27,000 adults, recruited in Scotland between 1965 and 1976 and followed up ever since. Method: We read and summarized 48 peer-reviewed papers about all-cause and cause-specific mortality in these cohorts, published between 1978 and 2013. Results: Mortality rates were substantially higher among cigarette smokers in all social classes and both genders. Exposure to second-hand smoke was also damaging. Exposure to higher levels of black smoke pollution was associated with higher mortality. After smoking, diminished lung function was the risk factor most strongly related to higher mortality, even among never-smokers. On average, female mortality rates were much lower than male but the same risk factors were predictors of mortality. Mortality rates were highest among men whose paternal, own first and most recent jobs were manual. Specific causes of death were associated with different life stages. Upward and downward social mobility conferred intermediate mortality rates. Low childhood cognitive ability was strongly associated with low social class in adulthood and higher mortality before age 65 years. There was no evidence that daily stress contributed to higher mortality among people in lower social positions. Men in manual occupations with fathers in manual occupations, who smoked and drank >14 units of alcohol a week had cardiovascular disease mortality rates 4.5 times higher than non-manual men with non-manual fathers, who neither smoked nor drank >14 units. Men who were obese and drank >14 units of alcohol per day had a mortality rate due to liver disease 19 times that of normal or underweight non-drinkers. Among women who never smoked, mortality rates were highest in severely obese women in the lowest occupational classes. Conclusion: These studies highlight the cumulative effect of adverse exposures throughout life, the complex interplay between social circumstances, culture and individual capabilities, and the damaging effects of smoking, air pollution, alcohol and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Use of napkin paper for production of low-cost analytical devices is reported. • New stamping method for creation of paraffin hydrophobic barriers is described. • Novel method for colorimetric quantification of ethanol in beverages is presented. • Analytical application for analysis of real samples is successfully demonstrated. • Results showed great concordance when compared to UV–vis spectrophotometry. In this work we report for the first time the use of napkin paper as substrate for production of paper analytical devices (PADs). Napkin paper is a more accessible and cheaper option compared to the most commonly used chromatographic and filter papers. The PADs were easily fabricated by depositing hydrophobic paraffin barriers using a simple stamping contact method. The stamps used here were fabricated by 3D printing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this stamping approach aiming production of paraffin barriers in PADs. The PADs proposed here were utilized for colorimetric determination of alcohol content in beverages. This method was based on the redox reaction between ethanol and dichromate in acidic medium. As far as we know, this is the first PAD-based method exploring this principle. The image-based method showed a linear range between 0 and 50 % (v/v) ethanol, with a limit of detection of 1.5 %. This concentration range allows the analysis of various alcoholic beverages. The results obtained during the analysis of real samples presented great concordance with the values found by UV–vis spectrophotometry, used for validation (relative error < 5 %). Thus, the new PAD-based colorimetric method reported here shows great potential for applications in areas such as food control and forensics. Moreover, the use of napkin paper for fabrication of PADs appears to be a promising, easier and less expensive option, being specially interesting for places with limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The hydrolytic kinetics of mixtures of cotton gin waste (CGW) and recycled paper sludge (RPS) at various initial enzyme concentrations of Spezyme™ AO3117 was investigated. The experiments showed that the concentrations of reducing sugars and the conversions of the mixtures increased with increasing initial enzyme concentration. The reducing sugar concentration and conversion of the mixture of 75% CGW and 25% RPS were higher than those of the mixture of 80% CGW and 20% RPS. The conversion of the former can reach 73.8% after a 72-h hydrolysis at the initial enzyme loading of 17.4 Filter Paper Unit (FPU)/g substrate. A three-parameter kinetic model based on enzyme deactivation and its analytical expression were derived. Using nonlinear regression, the parameters of the model were determined for the experimental data of hydrolytic kinetics of the mixtures. Based on this kinetic model of hydrolysis, two profit rate models, representing two kinds of operating modes with and without feedstock recycling, were developed. Using the profit rate models, the optimal enzyme loading and hydrolytic time can be predicted for the maximum profit rate in ethanol production according to the costs of enzyme and operation, enzyme loading, and ethanol market price. Simulated results from the models based on the experimental data of hydrolysis of the mixture of 75% CGW and 25% RPS showed that use of a high substrate concentration and an operating mode with feedstock recycle can greatly increase the profit rate in ethanol production. The results also demonstrated that the hydrolysis at a low enzyme loading is economically required for systematic optimization of ethanol production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Paper-structured catalysts were prepared using ceramic fibers by a wet papermaking technique, followed by the deposition of ruthenium hydroxide on the fiber-network microstructures. As-prepared flexible paper catalysts possessed large geometric surface areas with micrometer-size pores. The paper-structured catalysts exhibited high catalytic efficiency for selective aerobic oxidation of aromatic and aliphatic alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones, in a fixed bed multiphase reactor. Hydrodynamic behavior in the reactor filled with either paper or bead catalysts was evaluated by measuring the residence time distribution in a cold flow model. It was revealed that the paper composites exhibited good wettability and internal diffusion of liquid substances compared with ceramic beads, showing heterogeneous liquid flow. Efficient catalytic oxidation of various alcohols was achieved using the paper-structured catalysts because uniform fluid dynamic behavior formed a thin liquid layer on the catalyst surfaces, possibly resulting in favorable gas–liquid–solid interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental design was performed to study the influence of process variables (135–175 °C for temperature, 60–120 min for pulping time and 15–25% for active alkali) on the properties of pulps (yield, Kappa index, viscosity, 1% NaOH solubles, alcohol–benzene extractives holocellulose, lignin and α-cellulose contents and brightness) and paper sheets (stretch index, burst index, and tear index) obtained from olive trimming residues. Obtaining pulps with acceptably high physical and chemical properties entails operating at a temperature of 175 °C for 90 min and 25% of active alkali. The paper sheets obtained from olive trimming residues pulps that were produced in different degrees of refining are characterised for their stretch index, burst index, and tear index. An increase in the different parameters for the paper sheet upon increasing the degree of refining is found. All pulps reached between 33 and 39 kN m/kg in the stretch index, between 1.5 and 2 kN/g for the burst index and 0.7–2.5 N m2/g for the tear index and not in excess of the refining degree (<45 °SR). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A normalized design was used to examine the influence of independent variables (alcohol concentration, cooking time and temperature) in the catalytic soda–ethanol pulping of rice straw on various mechanical properties (breaking length, burst, tear index and folding endurance) of paper sheets obtained from each pulping process. An equation of each dependent variable as a function of cooking variables (independent variables) was obtained by multiple non-linear regression using the least square method by MATLAB software for developing of empirical models. The ranges of alcohol concentration, cooking time and temperature were 40–65% (w/w), 150–180 min and 195–210 °C, respectively. Three-dimensional graphs of dependent variables were also plotted versus independent variables. The optimum values of breaking length, burst and tear index and folding endurance were 4683.7 (m), 30.99 (kN/g), 376.93 (mN m2/g) and 27.31, respectively. However, short cooking time (150 min), high ethanol concentration (65%) and high temperature (210 °C) could be used to produce papers with suitable burst and tear index. However, for papers with best breaking length and folding endurance low temperature (195 °C) was desirable. Differences between optimum values of dependent variables obtained by normalized design and experimental data were less than 20%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: High-solid paper sludge was investigated for its potential to produce renewable biofuel. As a pretreatment method without consuming a large amount of energy, mechanical grinding for a comparatively short time followed by chemical swelling was used for optimal enzyme saccharification and ethanol production from paper sludge. Chemical swelling by phosphoric acid was more favorable than ball mill grinding. However, sequential pretreatment system using ball milling for 2min and then phosphoric acid swelling for 1h enhanced the enzyme saccharification rate and the reducing sugar productivity, 84.1% and 28.1mg/g/h, respectively. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) from the sequential pretreatment system resulted to 81.5% ethanol conversion rate, the productivity being 1.27g/L/h compared to untreated raw paper sludge which gave 54.3% ethanol conversion rate and 0.424g/L/h productivity. Our work shows that consecutive mechanical grinding and chemical swelling are effective pretreatment methods for the enhancement of enzyme saccharification and efficient ethanol production from paper sludge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: During past decades, the considerable efforts have been made to utilize lignocellulose as biomass feedstock for the optimal production of bio-ethanol as an alternative source of fuel. In this work, the effective bioconversion of paper sludge to ethanol was investigated by using Zymomonas mobilis NBRC 13756. Major components of the raw paper sludge were carbohydrates and ash. Fermentation utilizing strains of Z. mobilis instead of traditional yeasts and the use of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process have been proposed due to their high ethanol yields with cost-effectiveness. Free cells of Z. mobilis resulted in no ethanol production even after 24h of incubation because cells’ growth was inhibited by metal ions contained in the paper sludge. The application of SSF with Ca-alginate-immobilized cells of Z. mobilis was performed and 18g/L of ethanol was obtained after 48h of incubation at an initial paper sludge concentration of 200g/L. In addition, the repeated batch fermentation of Ca-alginate-immobilized Z. mobilis cells was attempted for producing ethanol up to run 4. Our work suggests that Ca-alginate-immobilized cells of Z. mobilis could effectively produce ethanol from paper sludge not only under the batch fermentation but also under the repeated batch fermentation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Copper–zinc oxide (Cu/ZnO) catalyst powders were impregnated into paper-structured composites (catalyst paper) using a papermaking process. The paper-structured catalyst was subjected to the methanol steam reforming (MSR) process and exhibited excellent performance compared with those achieved by pellet-type or powdered catalyst. The catalyst paper demonstrated a relatively stable gas flow as compared to catalyst pellets. Furthermore, the MSR process was simulated by computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis, and the heat conductivity influence of the catalyst layer was investigated. Higher heat conductivity contributed to both higher methanol conversion and lower carbon monoxide concentration; localization of heat and chemical species such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide were improved, resulting in suppression of reverse water–gas shift reaction. The CFD analysis was applied to the design of a catalyst layer in which a suitable shape was suggested, where carbon monoxide formation was further suppressed without a decrease in the methanol conversion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cellulose can be regenerated by dissolving cellulose fibers using LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solvent system, and by curing the cellulose solution with deionized (DI) water. This regenerated cellulose has been discovered as a new smart material, termed as electro-active paper (EAPap). However, Li+ ions and DMAc solvent were partially entrapped in the cellulose matrix upon curing, resulting in negative effects on the surface morphology, mechanical properties and the bending actuator performance of EAPap. In the present study, we made an attempt to remove the ions and solvents by curing the regenerated cellulose films with DI water and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solvent mixture. Characteristics of cellulose films with different solvent mixture ratios were investigated by SEM, TGA, AFM, ICP-MS and tensile test, and the durability of cellulose EAPap actuator was studied by measuring the bending displacement of the actuator. An optimum solvent mixture ratio was suggested, which showed an improvement in terms of the surface roughness, Young''s modulus as well as the durability of cellulose EAPap actuator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• PVA based chemical hydrogels are characterized and proposed for cleaning paper. • Characterization of modern and ancient paper before and after the cleaning was performed. • The cleaning abilities of the gels have been tested on ancient and modern paper. • Hydrogels cleaning ability depends more than their structure than on paper type. Wet cleaning of paper artworks by using hydrogels is a recently proposed process in the cultural heritage field. In this contest, on one side, research has focused on more effective and tuned cleaning hydrogels; on the other, the cleaning performances of the proposed hydrogels have been studied on ancient paper and very little on modern paper. This lack of information is not negligible, since the two kinds of paper differ strongly in composition. The difference, in turn could affect the performance of cleaning gels. In this article, new chemical hydrogels were synthetized using an oxidized polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) bearing an aldehyde group at each chain end, as cross-linking agent, i.e. telechelic PVA. PVA hydrogels have been characterized as candidates for paper cleaning applications. The possibility of tuning the mechanical and retentive properties, simply by changing the ratio of two polymer concentrations, their stability and transparency, indeed, render them, potentially suitable in cultural heritage field. The cleaning capability of two hydrogels, with different PVA/telechelic PVA ratios, has been assessed both on ancient paper, than a modern one and the results have been compared. The efficacy of these hydrogels has been demonstrated characterizing the samples before and after the cleaning process by means of a multidisciplinary approach involving spectroscopic and chromatographic tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bleached kenaf handsheets sized with different polymers such as chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol and cationic starch, were used for the determination of surface topography. A non-contact profilometer, the AltiSur®500, was used to characterize the topography of structural details in the paper surface. Numerical and visual characterization of surface roughness indicated that the surface of chitosan-sized paper was less rough than other surfaces, and all the sized papers were commonly smoother than the unsized paper. One property of bio-polymer of chitosan is its ability to form films that improve the surface properties of paper when it is applied to the surface of the sheet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: The present study examined the feasibility and possible mode effects of using a Web-form versus a paper-form survey to collect alcohol and tobacco data from 3rd and 4th grade students. Methods: A survey regarding alcohol and tobacco use and attitudes was administered to 280 3rd and 4th grade students attending a racially and economically diverse Midwestern urban school district in the spring of 2003. The sample was randomly assigned to complete a Web-form survey (n=137) or a hardcopy paper-form survey (n=143). Results: The overall response rate was 87% and did not differ by survey mode. There were minimal differences between survey modes in data quality including substantive responses to alcohol and tobacco use. Conclusions: The findings of the present study offer preliminary evidence that Web-form surveys can be considered for collecting alcohol and tobacco use data among young children. Although there were few survey mode differences, our findings suggest more research is needed to examine possible measurement errors induced by computer-based approaches of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Flexible sensors for the detection of ethanol at room temperature have been developed by depositing sensitive layers consisting of ITO nanopowder dispersed into poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDAC), on the top of interdigitated electrodes based on conductive carbon nanotubes, previously printed onto flexible glossy paper substrates. The morphology and the microstructure of the interdigitated electrodes together with organic–inorganic sensing layer have been investigated by means of SEM, XRD and FT-IR. The electrical behaviour of the developed sensors at room temperature in response to low ethanol concentrations has been discussed as object of our research. The good ethanol sensing properties exhibited at room temperature by the composite film was supposed to originate from the electrostatic interaction occurring between the positively charged PDDAC polyelectrolyte and negatively charged ITO particles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the possibility of converting recycled paper sludge (RPS), an industrial residue stream with strong environmental impact, into valuable products. The approach used was based on the enzymatic conversion of major sludge components (cellulose and xylan) and the simultaneous (simultaneous saccharification and fermentation—SSF) or sequential (separate hydrolysis and fermentation—SHF) fermentation of the resulting sugars to ethanol. In the enzymatic hydrolysis step using Celluclast® 1.5L supplemented with Novozym® 188, a degree of saccharification of 100% was achieved. In relation to ethanol production using the yeast Pichia stipitis CBS 5773, SHF and SSF process efficiencies were compared. A slightly higher conversion yield was attained on SHF, corresponding to an ethanol concentration of 19.6gL−1, but 179h were needed. The SSF process was completed after 48h of incubation allowing the production of 18.6gL−1 of ethanol from 178.6gL−1 of dried RPS, corresponding to an overall conversion yield of 51% of the available carbohydrates on the initial substrate. These results demonstrate that the biological conversion of sludge to ethanol is efficient even with no pre-treatment or substrate supplementation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The cultivation conditions for Rhizopus oryzae grown in synthetic medium and paper pulp spent sulfite liquor (SSL) were investigated to achieve high biomass and ethanol yields using shake flasks and bioreactors. The fungus assimilated the hexoses glucose, mannose and galactose, and the pentoses xylose and arabinose as well as acetic acid which are present in SSL. The assimilation of hexoses was faster than pentoses during cultivation in a synthetic medium. However, all sugars were assimilated concomitantly during growth in SSL supplemented with ammonium, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, sulfate and trace amounts of some other metal ions (SSL-S). The medium composition had an important influence on biomass yield. The highest biomass yields, viz. 0.18 and 0.43 g biomass/g sugar were obtained, when the cells were cultivated in shake flasks with a synthetic medium containing glucose as carbon and energy source and SSL-S, respectively. The corresponding yields in a bioreactor with more efficient aeration were 0.22 and 0.55 g/g. In addition to the biomass, ethanol, lactic acid, and glycerol were important extracellular metabolites of the cultivation with maximum yields of 0.37, 0.30 and 0.09 g/g, respectively. When the source of sugars in the medium was exhausted, the fungus consumed the metabolites produced, such that the liquid medium was depleted of potential oxidizable nutrients. In general, there was a direct competition between lactic acid and ethanol among the metabolites. Poor medium compositions and cultivation conditions resulted in higher yields of lactic acid, whereas the ethanol and biomass yields were higher in rich media. SSL-S supported good growth of mycelium and a high ethanol yield. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Cu(II) and Bi(III)-based MOFs are synthesized and used for CO 2 electroconversion. • The MOF-based GDEs give mainly alcohols (methanol and ethanol) and formic acid. • Reaction selectivity can be controlled by Cu/Bi loading and current density applied. • The synergy of Cu/Bi in CO 2 conversion is related with enhanced binding energies. • The materials remain pseudo-stable after five hours of operation. This work assesses the performance of Cu(II) and Bi(III)-based metal-organic framework (HKUST-1 and CAU-17, respectively) blends into the electroreduction of CO 2 to alcohols in a filter-press electrochemical cell. The bimetallic materials are supported onto porous carbon paper to form gas diffusion electrodes with a favorable continuous electrochemical conversion of CO 2 to methanol and ethanol, together with formic acid and gas-phase products (i.e. hydrogen, carbon monoxide and ethylene) in a 0.5 M KHCO 3 aqueous solution. The maximum reaction rates and faradaic efficiencies for CO 2 conversion to methanol and ethanol are r CH3OH =29.7 μmol·m−2·s-1 (FE = 8.6%) and r C2H5OH =48.8 μmol·m−2·s-1 (FE = 28.3%), respectively, at j = 20 mA·cm−2 which enhanced the values obtained at homometallic Cu and Bi-based materials independently. This denotes a synergic effect of Cu and Bi-based MOFs, associated with a favored interplay between the actives sites and reaction intermediates, prompting methanol formation and C C coupling reaction to ethanol. The results also show that reaction selectivity to produce alcohols can be controlled by Cu/Bi loading in the electrode surface and current density applied to the system. A 12% bismuth content seems to be the optimum for the production of alcohols (FE alcohols = 36.9%, S alcohols = 0.32). Regarding the current density, CO 2 reduction is more selective to methanol with a j =10 mA·cm−2 (FE CH3OH = 18.2%), while at j = 20 mA·cm−2, ethanol becomes the dominant CO 2 reduction alcohol (FE C2H5OH = 28.3%). The performance of the Cu/Bi-MOFs remains also pseudo-stable after 5 h of operation denoting the potential of the mixed metal-organic systems for the utilization of CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presented introduces an innovative accident prevention system that employs deep learning models and sensors to identify and alert drivers who lose concentration while driving for a variety of reasons. The system targets drowsiness, cell phone use, and alcohol consumption, which are among the leading causes of automobile accidents. The proposed solution employs neural networks to identify specific patterns associated with driver inattention and generates an audible alert to refocus the driver's attention on the road. In addition, the system utilizes alcohol-detection sensors, as alcohol consumption is another significant cause of accidents. This system seeks to reduce the number of casualties by enhancing road safety considering the high number of daily collisions, which are primarily caused by speeding. The paper describes the design, architecture, and implementation of the system on a modest scale to provide a lifesaving, cost-effective solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Small doses of alcohol may or may not benefit cardiovascular disease (CVD). • Alcohol industry actors have been involved in review-level evidence, generating concerns. • Industry funding is not a major determinant of co-authorship in alcohol and CVD. • Conflicting findings on alcohol and CVD may be due to industry funding bias. • Progress in this area has implications for alcohol public health science and policy. Alcohol's effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) are controversial. Alcohol industry actors have shown particular interest in this subject, and been extensively involved through research funding, and in other ways, generating concerns about bias, particularly in reviews. We conducted a co-authorship network analysis of the primary studies included within a previous co-authorship study of 60 systematic reviews on the impact of alcohol on CVD. Additionally, we examined the relationships between declared alcohol industry funding and network structure. There were 713 unique primary studies with 2832 authors published between 1969 and 2019 located within 229 co-authorship subnetworks. There was industry funding across subnetworks and approximately 8% of all papers declared industry funding. The largest subnetwork dominated, comprising 43% of all authors, with sparse evidence of substantial industry funding. The second largest subnetwork contained approximately 4% of all authors, with largely different industry funders involved. Harvard affiliated authors who at the review level formed co-authorship subnetworks with industry funded authors were seen at the primary study level to belong to the largest epidemiological subnetwork. A small number of key authors make extensive alcohol industry funding declarations. There was no straightforward relationship between co-authorship network formation and alcohol industry funding of epidemiological studies on alcohol and CVD. More fine-grained attention to patterns of alcohol industry funding and to key nodes may shed further light on how far industry funding may be responsible for conflicting findings on alcohol and CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The separation of methanol–acetone azeotrope has been a challenging issue. Methanol in the azeotrope was selectively transformed and removed in this paper. Under mild conditions, 95.5% of methanol was transformed into methyl phenylcarbonate (MPC), phenol and dimethyl carbonate (DMC), while acetone was not converted. The separation process of reaction products was simulated, and 99% of acetone with purity of 99.3 wt% was recovered. The byproducts phenol and DMC were also recovered with purity of 93 and 76 wt%, respectively. Compared to the typical pressure-swing and extractive-distillation schemes, the total number of theoretical stages and heat duty could be reduced by 27.7–38.3% and 48.6–58.4%, approximately. The results of thermodynamic experiments showed that the apparent equilibrium constant (124.4 at 23.1 °C) in the first step was much larger than that (12.9) in the second step, indicating that the intermediate MPC was very stable, and thermodynamic factors originating from the specific coplanar structure of substrate contributed to the high methanol conversion. The transesterification reactions were endothermic and spontaneous due to the positive Δ H and negative Δ G values. The spontaneity of reactions was attributed to the increase of entropy, for which the reason was the more possible spatial distributions of atoms in the products. This paper is beneficial for the separation of alcohols from various aprotic solvents. [Display omitted] • 95.5% of methanol was removed from the methanol–acetone azeotrope. • The purity and recovery of acetone reached 99.3 wt% and 99%. • The purity and recovery of byproduct phenol reached 93 wt% and 75%. • Compared to conventional processes, the number of theoretical stages and heat duty were decreased by ca. 33% and 53%. • The transesterification reactions were endothermic, and increase of entropy led to the spontaneity of reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Alcohol policies that protect public health do not necessarily harm bars. • 'Sweetspot' policies are those which can improve public health without affecting hospitality businesses. • There is good evidence that increasing the price of shop-bought alcohol is a sweetspot policy. • Restricting remote/online alcohol sales is also a likely sweetspot policy. • Measures to shape or manage the night-time economy are less well supported by evidence. During COVID-19, hospitality businesses (e.g. bars, restaurants) were closed/restricted whilst off-sales of alcohol increased, with health consequences. Post-covid, governments face lobbying to support such businesses, but many health services remain under pressure. We appraised 'sweetspot' policy options: those with potential to benefit public services and health, whilst avoiding or minimising negative impact on the hospitality sector. We conducted rapid non-systematic evidence reviews using index papers, citation searches and team knowledge to summarise the literature relating to four possible 'sweetspot' policy areas: pricing interventions (9 systematic reviews (SR); 14 papers/reports); regulation of online sales (1 SR; 1 paper); place-shaping (2 SRs; 18 papers/reports); and violence reduction initiatives (9 SRs; 24 papers/reports); and led two expert workshops (n = 11). Interventions that raise the price of cheaper shop-bought alcohol appear promising as 'sweetspot' policies; any impact on hospitality is likely small and potentially positive. Restrictions on online sales such as speed or timing of delivery may reduce harm and diversion of consumption from on-trade to home settings. Place-shaping is not well-supported by evidence and experts were sceptical. Reduced late-night trading hours likely reduce violence; evidence of impact on hospitality is scant. Other violence reduction initiatives may modestly reduce harms whilst supporting hospitality, but require resources to deliver multiple measures simultaneously in partnership. Available evidence and expert views point to regulation of pricing and online sales as having greatest potential as 'sweetspot' alcohol policies, reducing alcohol harm whilst minimising negative impact on hospitality businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The influence of temperature in the hydrothermal treatment of sunflower stalks on the composition of the liquid fraction obtained was examined. The remaining solid fraction was subjected to ethanol pulping in order to obtain pulp that was used to produce paper sheets. The pulp was characterized in terms of yield, kappa index, viscosity, and cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents; and the paper sheets in terms of breaking length, stretch, burst index and tear index. Hydrothermal treatment of the raw material at 190°C provided a liquid phase with maximal hemicellulose-derived oligomers and monosaccharide (glucose, xylose and arabinose) contents (26.9 and 4.2g/L, respectively). Pulping the solid fraction obtained by hydrothermal treatment at 180°C, with 70% ethanol at a liquid/solid ratio of 8:1 at 170°C for 120min provided pulp with properties on a par with those of soda pulp from the sunflower stalks, namely: 36.3% yield, 69.1% cellulose, 12.6% hemicellulose, 18.2% lignin and 551ml/g viscosity. Also, paper sheets obtained from the ethanol pulp were similar in breaking length (3.8km), stretch (1.23%), burst index (1.15kN/g) and tear index (2.04mNm2/g) to those provided by soda pulp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

New-generation transdermal monitors such as the ION Research Alpha Prototypes (ION RAP) hold promise for real-time alcohol measurement, with improvements in design features such as sampling frequency, size, and comfort. This paper aims to provide the first comparisons of the wrist-worn enzyme-based ION RAP and the fuel cell-based SCRAM-CAM against breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) readings. Participants (N = 23) completed a total of 69 laboratory alcohol administration sessions while wearing both a prototype of the ION RAP wristband and a SCRAM-CAM ankle monitor; they also gave breath samples each 10 min. Analyses focused on latencies of transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) after alcohol ingestion, correlations, and cross-correlations between BrAC and TAC measurements. A high failure rate of the ION RAP was observed (61.5% of the sessions were excluded due to the sessions not containing enough valid data). On average, the SCRAM-CAM and ION RAP detected alcohol 43 (SD = 21) and 50 (SD = 27) minutes after the first drink, with peak values reached after 138 (SD = 47) and 154 (SD = 56) minutes, respectively. SCRAM-CAM TAC peak (r = 0.185, p = 0.375) and area under the curve (AUC; r = 0.320, p = 0.118) showed small- and medium-sized correlations to BrAC. ION RAP TAC peak (r = −0.082, p = 0.698) and AUC (r = 0.040, p = 0.852) correlations to BrAC were close to zero. In this study, the new-generation ION RAP and the traditionally used SCRAM-CAM show similar delays in detection and similar TAC curves over time, despite using either enzyme- or fuel cell-based technologies, respectively. Due to high failure rates of the ION RAP prototypes and close to zero correlations to BrAC, further developments and improvements of these TAC wristbands are required for reliable and valid use in real-time alcohol measurement. • The transdermal alcohol monitors ION RAP and SCRAM-CAM were evaluated against breath alcohol concentration. • The failure rate for the ION RAP wristband was 62% and 0% for the SCRAM-CAM. • The enzyme-based ION RAP and fuel-cell SCRAM-CAM had similar alcohol detection delays. • BrAC correlations were higher for SCRAM-CAM (r = 0.19–0.32) than for ION RAP (r = −0.09–0.04). • Maximal cross-correlation coefficients ranged from 0.63 to 0.67. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PTSD and alcohol use are highly comorbid, yet integrated treatment is underutilized. • Offering treatment in primary care may increase use of integrated interventions. • Case illustrations of a brief integrated intervention in primary care are presented. • Both cases presented reduced their PTSD symptoms and alcohol use. • Clinicians provide strategies to help facilitate use of integrated interventions. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hazardous alcohol use are highly comorbid. Research on integrated interventions to address PTSD symptoms and hazardous alcohol use concurrently has demonstrated efficacy, yet integrated treatments are underutilized. Both patient (e.g., stigma, scheduling/logistics) and clinician (e.g., concern about symptom exacerbation and/or treatment dropout) barriers may impede utilization of integrated interventions among those with comorbid PTSD symptoms and hazardous alcohol use. Primary care behavioral health models (PCBH), in which embedded behavioral health providers deliver treatment to individuals with mild or moderate behavioral health symptoms in primary care, may help address treatment barriers by offering accessible behavioral health interventions in a destigmatizing setting. This paper presents two case examples from a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of an integrated intervention for PTSD symptoms and hazardous alcohol use developed for and delivered in primary care. Outcome data and session-by-session content for two participants are included, along with discussion of barriers encountered during the course of treatment. Clinician-suggested strategies for navigating barriers to facilitate utilization of integrated interventions for PTSD symptoms and hazardous alcohol use are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last four decades, methodological innovations have continuously changed transcriptome profiling. It is now feasible to sequence and quantify the transcriptional outputs of individual cells or thousands of samples using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). These transcriptomes serve as a connection between cellular behaviors and their underlying molecular mechanisms, such as mutations. This relationship, in the context of cancer, provides a chance to unravel tumor complexity and heterogeneity and uncover novel biomarkers or treatment options. Since colon cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies, its prognosis and diagnosis seem to be critical. The transcriptome technology is developing for an earlier and more accurate diagnosis of cancer which can provide better protectivity and prognostic utility to medical teams and patients. A transcriptome is a whole set of expressed coding and non-coding RNAs in an individual or cell population. The cancer transcriptome includes RNA-based changes. The combined genome and transcriptome of a patient may provide a comprehensive picture of their cancer, and this information is beginning to affect treatment decision-making in real-time. A full assessment of the transcriptome of colon (colorectal) cancer has been assessed in this review paper based on risk factors such as age, obesity, gender, alcohol use, race, and also different stages of cancer, as well as non-coding RNAs like circRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and siRNAs. Similarly, they have been examined independently in the transcriptome study of colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disease theory of alcoholism, and by extension, of addiction, forms the theoretical basis of an expansive scientific industry, one which musters tremendous resources in the service of research, rehab clinics, and government programs. Revisiting the early work on the disease theory of alcoholism, this paper analyzes the apperance of the disease theory of alcoholism in the eighteenth/nineteenth century works of Rush, Trotter, and Brühl-Cramer as emergent of a theoretical tension within the Brunonian system of medicine, that of stimulus dependence. Establishing both the shared Brunonianism of these figures and the concept of stimulus dependence, I argue it is here that one finds the nascent formulation of the modern dependence model of addiction, pushing out alternative models, such as Hufeland's toxin theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facile preparation of organohydrogel electrolyte integrated with good anti-freezing property, toughness, transparency, conductivity and thermoplasticity is important and still remains challenging. Novel conductive and tough poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate/glycerol (PVA/SA/Gly) composite organohydrogel electrolytes were obtained by a simple method in this paper. PVA and SA was firstly dissolved in a mixed solution of distilled water and glycerol and the PVA/SA/Gly organohydrogel was obtained by the freezing-thawing process, then PVA/SA/Gly organohydrogel was immersed into the saturated NaCl aqueous solution. During the soaking process NaCl would enter into the PVA/SA/Gly organohydrogel to increase the gel strength and conductivity. The PVA/SA/Gly organohydrogel electrolytes performed the high toughness with the tensile strength and elongation at break of 1.43 MPa and 558%, respectively. Moreover, the PVA/SA/Gly organohydrogel electrolytes behaved high transparency, anti-freezing property, conductivity and thermoplasticity due to the incorporation of glycerol. This paper provides a new preparation method for the high-performance organohydrogel electrolyte. • A facile preparation method for transparent, tough and conductive PVA/SA organohydrogels was presented. • PVA/SA organohydrogels showed high tolerance for extreme temperature, thermoplasticity and self healing properties. • PVA/SA organohydrogels showed the high ionic conductivity and fast re-gelling properties due to the presence of NaCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crash risk of drivers increases significantly while driving under the influence of alcohol. However, the drivers' intention to drink and drive has not been explored yet in the context of a developing country like India. The present study applied an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to investigate the psychosocial predictors of drunk driving intentions of Indian drivers. 252 drivers participated in a self-reported survey designed for the study. Apart from the standard TPB components (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control), the survey also captured the extension measures such as risk perceptions, moral norms, traffic fatalism, sensation-seeking, conformity tendency, past engagement in drunk driving, crash history and driver demographics. The standard TPB model was successful in explaining 68.6% of the variance in the intention to drink and drive. The attitudes displayed the strongest influence on the intention (β = 0.696, p < 0.001), followed by perceived behavioural control (β = 0.180, p < 0.001); whereas subjective norms showed a moderate significance in influencing the intention (β = 0.062, p < 0.1). Among the extension variables, past behaviour showed the strongest influence on the intention to drink and drive (β = 0.123, p < 0.05), followed by sensation-seeking (β = 0.080, p < 0.05) and traffic fatalism (β = 0.072, p < 0.1). The extended TPB model explained 72% of the variance in the intention to drink and drive. The study findings can assist in the development of strategies/interventions to reduce drunk driving incidences. An earlier version of the paper was presented at the TRB 101st Annual Meeting, Washington, D. C., 2022. • Intention to drink and drive among Indian drivers was investigated. • An extended version of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) was implemented. • Two hundred and fifty-two drivers participated in the study. • The standard TPB model explained 68.6% of the variance in the intention to drink and drive. • The extended TPB model explained 72% of the variance in the intention to drink and drive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Investigates relational enactments of gendered alcohol consumption during the pandemic, contrasted with special attention on women as a 'priority population' for alcohol-related harm reduction. • Adopts a gendered approach to understanding the alcohol-harm paradox, the breast cancer paradox, and the risk-pleasure paradox in women's health policies. • Synthesises evidence to construct a burden of proof that problematising women's consumption at an individual level alone has potential to worsen inequities in gendered alcohol-related harms and broader health outcomes. • Showcases how gender-responsive alcohol policy needs to be cross-sectoral and address upstream factors to protect women from alcohol harm. Drinking alcohol facilitates pleasure for women while also elevating disease risk. Symbolic expectations of what alcohol 'does in' life per lay insight (relax, identity-work, connect) sit in tension with scientific realities about what alcohol 'does to' women's bodies (elevate chronic disease risks such as breast cancer). Policy must work amidst – and despite – these paradoxes to reduce harm(s) to women by attending to the gendered and emergent configurations of both realities. This paper applies a logic of candidacy to explore women's alcohol consumption and pleasure through candidacies of wellness in addition to risk through candidacies of disease (e.g. breast cancer). Using qualitative data collected via 56 interviews with Australian women (n = 48) during early pandemic countermeasures, we explore how risk perceptions attached to alcohol (like breast cancer) co-exist with use-values of alcohol in daily life and elucidate alcohol's paradoxical role in women's heuristics of good/poor health behaviours. Women were aged 25–64 years, experienced varying life circumstances (per a multidimensional measure of social class including economic, social and cultural capital) and living conditions (i.e. partnered/single, un/employed, children/no children). We collated coding structures from data within both projects; used deductive inferences to understand alcohol's paradoxical role in candidacies of wellness and disease; abductively explored women's prioritisation of co-existing candidacies during the pandemic; and retroductively theorised prioritisations per evolving pandemic-inflected constructions of alcohol-related gendered risk/s and pleasure/s. Our analysis illuminates the ways alcohol was configured as a pleasure and form of wellness in relation to stress, productivity and respectability. It also demonstrates how gender was relationally enacted amidst the priorities, discourses and materialities enfolding women's lives during the pandemic. We consider the impact of policy regulation of aggressive alcohol marketing and banal availability of alcohol in pandemic environments and outline gender-responsive, multi-level policy options to reduce alcohol harms to women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017 the Northern Territory (NT) government re-introduced the Banned Drinker Register (BDR) to address the high rates of alcohol related harm. This paper aims to evaluate whether trends in assault, maltreatment and sentinel injuries in children and adolescents were associated with the re-introduction of the BDR, in the context of other local interventions such as police officers stationed in bottle shops being partially removed, Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors, and the introduction of a minimum unit price of alcohol. Interrupted time series analysis was used to assess monthly trends in emergency department presentations and inpatient hospital admissions for assault, maltreatment and sentinel injuries between January 2014 and December 2019 in the regions of Greater Darwin, Alice Springs, and Katherine. A significant step increase after the introduction of the BDR in emergency department presentations for assault and maltreatment was present when examining the three regions combined (β = 7.65, 95 % CI = 2.15, 13.16). However, this was not present at the individual community level. Results across a range of other models pointed towards null effects of the BDR introduction. The current study found that the re-introduction of the BDR had minimal impact on rates of assault, maltreatment, or sentinel injuries in children and adolescents. To ensure long-term harm mitigation from alcohol use, a combination of evidence informed alcohol policies that address the price and availability of alcohol in a comprehensive framework, along with measures which address the underlying social determinants of unregulated drinking and health more broadly will assist in reducing alcohol related harm in both children and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern culture, the rise in consumption of alcohol has caused many issues and its potentially adverse effects on human health are a well-known reality. The image of Iris helps to diagnose the alcohol drinkers efficiently. The prevailing methodology can take up plenty of time to execute the process, and may also produce less accuracy. This paper has proposed an effective method for the classification of alcohol drinkers as well as the identification of iris damaged levels utilizing MDLNN. Initially, the Log Gabor (LG), HOG feature, GLAC feature, LGXP, alongside canny edge detection (CED), features are extracted as of the alcohol drinker's image. Next, the extracted features are selected utilizing BFO. Next, the image is classified as a more, medium, or less drunk with the help of MDLNN. Later on, the AHE is used to enhance the contrast of the drunken person's iris image. Then, the image's foreground is enhanced by utilizing HGBFDWT. Thereafter, segmentation is performed based upon the mask value utilizing OTMO. Finally, find what proportion (percentage) the iris is damaged based upon the Euclidean distance betwixt the original iris image of the drunk person and the segmented damaged level of the iris image. In an experimental assessment, the proposed work attains better accuracy than the prevailing methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using ethnographic data, this paper investigates the techniques used inside pubs, bars and nightclubs to solicit and sustain alcohol consumption among patrons. Focus is on venues with the majority of patrons belonging to the age group of approximately 15-35 years. The paper identifies a number of techniques, both overt and covert, including: alcohol advertising; special offers (e.g. 'Happy Hours' and 'all you can drink' specials); bartenders' use of strategic intimacy, flirtation, and encouragements to buy more; speed drinking devices (e.g. shot glasses, 'beer bongs' and large pitchers); and architectural features that hamper moderate drinking while accelerating the purchase and intake of alcohol. These techniques were used most extensively in low-priced venues with the youngest patrons (e.g. themed chain pubs) and less so in more expensive venues with more adult patrons (e.g. craft beer bars). The paper argues that youth-oriented drinking venues may be conceived as staged atmospheres of consumption where individuals are seduced and compelled into purchasing alcohol. A team of 12 researchers collected the data through interviews and observations in pubs, bars and nightclubs in four cities across Denmark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Drinking alcohol is legal in most countries of the world. Given the social acceptance of this behavior despite potential negative impact on health, help-seeking behavior could differ when compared to other drugs. This paper aimed to assess intentions to reduce drinking and the preferred sources of support among a large international sample of people who drink alcohol.Materials and Methods: The Global Drug Survey (GDS) is the world's largest annual survey of drug use. This paper included data from 82,190 respondents from 12 countries on four continents who reported the use of alcohol in the last 12 months, collected during November 2016-January 2017 (GDS2017).Results: Overall, 34.8% said they would like to drink less in the following 12 months and 7.6% said they would like help to drink less. Online tools were the preferred source of support to reduce drinking by respondents from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, those with low AUDIT scores and without a mental health condition. Specialist counselling was most preferred by those from Germany, Switzerland, and Denmark and those with high AUDIT scores, not educated to degree level and with a mental health condition.Conclusion: Interest in online interventions for harmful drinking is significant and highest among people who drink at low risk. Online tools should offer brief screening and feedback, ensuring that people with high risk drinking patterns are referred to more specialist services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines attempts by members of a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia, to control alcohol use, and the impact of policy decisions taken by national, territory and local governments on those attempts between 2007 and 2017. The Australian Government's main policy instrument for reducing alcohol-related harms from 2010 was the Alcohol Management Plan (AMP), officially defined as a plan, negotiated at a local community level with a high level of community input, for the effective management of alcohol use by the local community. The paper shows that the policy as implemented had the unintended consequence of undermining rather than enhancing the capacity of the community to act collectively in managing alcohol, largely as a result of the interactions of four sets of factors: (1) the policies as formulated; (2) actions taken to implement the policies, (3) the responses of those affected by the policies, and (4) the socio-ecological context in which these events occurred. The paper seeks to identify the processes through which these consequences were generated, and the implications for future policy-making, policy implementation and community-level initiatives for managing alcohol in Aboriginal communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol-related harm in night-time entertainment precincts (NEPs) is disproportionately high for the amount of alcohol consumed within these areas. Previous evaluations of alcohol restrictions targeting NEPs have often looked at restrictions in isolation and not attempted to create a comprehensive theoretical explanation that takes multiple restrictions into account. The aim of this review is to establish which restrictions have been adequately evaluated in previous literature, and to identify any research which may provide the basis for a theoretical model that explains the interactions between different alcohol restrictions in NEPs and their combined impact on alcohol-related-harm.Methods: A mapping review was conducted to plot evaluations of the effectiveness of different alcohol restrictions in NEPs at reducing assault and injury rates (protocol PROSPERO 2017: CRD42017069773). Six databases and 145 websites were searched, results were categorised based on the type of restrictions evaluated: Outlet density, trading hours, lockouts, price, patron bans, and drinks restrictions.Results: Forty-eight articles were identified out of 20,743 returned by the systematic search. Thirty-five of these papers were original works, and 13 reviews. Outlet density was examined in 15 of the papers, trading hours in 30, lockouts in 21, price in 2, patron bans in 7 and drinks restrictions in 15.Conclusion: No pre-existing theoretical models were identified. Outlet density, trading hours, and price restrictions all had evidence that suggested high levels of effectiveness in NEPs and would be suitable for inclusion in a theoretical model. More research is required before attempting to include lockouts, patron bans and drinks restrictions in a theoretical model. Future research should focus on establishing a theoretical model based on evidence of effective alcohol restrictions and gathering an evidence base for under-researched restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Substance use disorders are under-detected and not systematically diagnosed or screened for by primary care. In this study, we present the acceptability and validity of an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA) designed to screen tobacco and alcohol use disorder, in individuals who did not seek medical help for these disorders.Methods: Individuals were included from June 2016 to May 2017 in the Outpatient Sleep Clinic of the University Hospital of Bordeaux. DSM-5 diagnoses of tobacco and alcohol use disorders were assessed by human interviewers. The ECA interview integrated items from the Cigarette Dependence Scale-5 (CDS-5) for tobacco use disorder screening, and the "Cut Down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener" (CAGE) questionnaire for alcohol use disorder screening. Paper version of CDS-5 and CAGE questionnaires and acceptability questionnaire was also self-administered.Results: Of the 139 participants in the study (mean age 43.0 [SD = 13.7] years), 71 were women, and 68 were men. The ECA was well accepted by the patients. Paper self-administered CDS-5 and CAGE scores had a strong agreement with the ECA (p < 0.0001). The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis of the ECA interview showed AUC of 0.97 (95% CI, 0.93-1.0) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.69-0.98) for CDS-5 and CAGE respectively with p-value <0.0001.Conclusions: This ECA was acceptable and valid to screen tobacco or alcohol use disorder among patients not requesting treatment for addiction. The ECA could be used in hospitals and potentially in primary care settings to help clinicians to better screen their patients for alcohol and tobacco use disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • High alcohol surfactant has a significant effect on spray cooling. • Each surfactant has optimal concentration value to have the best performance. • Effect of surfactant on physical properties is mainly on surface tension. • Effect of surfactant on spray characteristics is mainly on droplet number. • Correlations to predict droplet diameter and droplet velocity are proposed. Abstract The addition of surfactant is considered as an important method for heat transfer enhancement in spray cooling based on numerous advantages such as less demand, significant effect and stable performance. Recent studies have found that high alcohol surfactant has a significant effect on the heat transfer in spray cooling. In this study, the effect of four kinds of high alcohol surfactants, 1-heptanol, 1-octanol, isooctanol and n-decanol, on spray cooling heat transfer using water as the working medium was studied experimentally. It was found that there exists an optimal concentration for each surfactant to achieve the best heat transfer performance. Under the experimental conditions, the optimal value of 1-heptanol was 0.3‰, heat dissipation flux reached 180.9 W/cm2, and the heat transfer increased by 20.9%; the best value of 1-octanol was 0.3‰, heat dissipation flux reached 200.8 W/cm2, and the heat transfer increased by 34.2%; the best value of isooctanol was 0.5‰, heat dissipation flux reached 185 W/cm2, and the heat transfer increased by 23.7%; the best value of n-decanol was 0.1‰, heat dissipation flux reached 180.7 W/cm2, and the heat transfer increased by 20.8%. To further analyze the enhancement mechanism, this paper also studied the influence of surfactant concentration on physical properties of working fluid and the spray characteristics. The experimental results showed that the effect of surfactant on saturated vapor pressure was small, and the change became obvious at higher temperature. The tension changed obviously with the surfactant concentration, and the surface tension decreased rapidly at lower concentration. The dynamic viscosity did not vary much with the type and concentration of the surfactant. The relationship between physical properties and concentration was also obtained in experiments. After adding surfactant, droplet number was lower than that of water, the distribution of droplets at different heights was more even. Droplet diameter reduced in certain area, however it increased in the edge of the area due to local impact and fusion. The change of droplet velocity was not obvious. This paper also put forward relations between the physical properties of different working fluids and their concentration and correlations which can predict diameter and velocity of spray droplet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen an expanding 'no and low alcohol' (NoLo) drinks market in the United Kingdom and other high-income countries. With the UK government pledging to increase the availability of NoLos and encourage their consumption, further research is required to underpin policy and explore the potential for NoLos to ease – or exacerbate – alcohol-related harm. This paper draws on original primary research on NoLo marketing and consumption in the UK; analysis of two NoLo marketing campaigns and semi-structured interviews with both drinkers and non-drinkers who consume NoLos. Addition marketing was identified in the promotion of NoLo products, encouraging consumers to incorporate NoLo consumption into new spatial and temporal contexts on top of their typical weekly drinking patterns. However, there was resistance towards these practices from consumers, who stressed they were more likely to drink NoLos in place of alcohol and incorporate them into their existing drinking routines. This paper expands a currently very limited evidence base and contributes directly to ongoing debates around 'addition' versus 'substitution' (i.e. whether NoLo products are being used on top of or in place of alcohol). Findings highlight both some of the challenges and opportunities of the expanding market, pointing towards the problematic presence of 'addition marketing' but also highlighting the ways consumers might challenge this and use NoLos flexibly to reduce consumption. As a result, NoLo promotion could function as one tool amongst many to help at least some consumers drink in moderation, alongside a broader package of measures such as education and wider social change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]