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Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used as an additive in conventional point-of-sale thermal paper receipts. Due to BPA being an endocrine disruptor and a substance of very high concern, the European Union (EU) has proposed to ban its use in thermal paper from 2020. Potential similarities in toxicological profiles have raised concerns that the use of bisphenol S (BPS) as a substitute for BPA may result in yet another situation of a problematic chemical being distributed in consumer products. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the current knowledge of BPA and BPS use in thermal paper and, based on dynamic material and substance flow modeling, quantifies potential effects of the BPA ban on future BPA and BPS flows within the European paper cycle. Based on available data and the modeling of BPA and BPS flows, approximately 200 t of BPS are estimated to be present in the current European paper cycle. The modeling further demonstrated that by substituting 50% of BPA, BPS amounts in the European paper cycle would increase more than fivefold over a modeling period of 60 years. In the same time, more than 90 t of BPA would still be circulated in European paper products. BPA alternatives other than BPS should receive additional attention, as very limited quantitative data currently exist. The results of this study quantitatively demonstrate that chemical bans alone are not sufficient to ensure clean material cycles, and so the effective regulation of potential substitutes needs to be implemented in parallel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fontan-type surgery is the final step in the sequential palliative surgical treatment of infants born with a univentricular heart. The resulting long-term haemodynamic changes promote liver damage, leading to Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD), in virtually all patients with Fontan circulation. Owing to the lack of a uniform definition of FALD and the competitive risk of other complications developed by Fontan patients, the impact of FALD on the prognosis of these patients is currently debatable. However, based on the increasing number of adult Fontan patients and recent research interest, the European Association for The Study of the Liver and the European Reference Network on Rare Liver Diseases thought a position paper timely. The aims of the current paper are: (1) to provide a clear definition and description of FALD, including clinical, analytical, radiological, haemodynamic, and histological features; (2) to facilitate guidance for staging the liver disease; and (3) to provide evidence- and experience-based recommendations for the management of different clinical scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Three industrial yeast strains compared in high-solids paper sludge fermentation. • Highest ethanol titre of 101.8 g/L achieved using paper sludge from virgin pulping. • Xylose utilisation by engineered strain Cellusec® 1.0 improved ethanol titre by 10.3%. • Required enzyme dosage reduced by 50% using cellulase-secreting strain Cellusec® 2.0. Reported ethanol titres from hydrolysis-fermentation of the degraded fibres in paper sludge (PS) waste, generally obtained under fed-batch submerged conditions, can be improved through fermentation processes at high solids loadings, as demonstrated in the present study with two industrial PS wastes at enzyme dosages appropriate for solids loadings up to 40% (w/w). The industrial yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain Ethanol Red®, was compared to two genetically engineered S. cerevisiae strains, namely Cellusec® 1.0 and Cellusec® 2.0, capable of xylose utilisation, and xylose utilisation and cellulase production, respectively. High-solids batch fermentations were conducted in 3 L horizontal rotating reactors and ethanol titres of 100.8 and 73.3 g/L were obtained for virgin pulp and corrugated recycle PS, respectively, at 40% (w/w) solids loading using Ethanol Red®. Xylose utilisation by Cellusec® 1.0 improved ethanol titres by up to 10.3%, while exogenous cellulolytic enzyme requirements were reduced by up to 50% using cellulase-producing Cellusec® 2.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of fresh fruits are wasted in the supply chain due to spoilage, so it is crucial to develop fruit preservation materials. Herein, two novel Ag-MOFs/carboxymethyl filter paper (Ag-MOFs/CMFP) composites were successfully synthesized by in situ facile synthesis, which can be used as packaging materials to delay fruit spoilage. The synthesis process is simple and environmentally friendly, and the reaction conditions are mild. The mechanical property, water stability, and antibacterial activity of the as-synthesized Ag-MOFs/CMFP composites were investigated. Specifically, the composites exhibited high mechanical performance and the tensile strength was >10.00 MPa. Moreover, the composites displayed good water stability and can remain stable in water environment for >7 days, which can be attributed to the strong interaction between Ag-MOFs and CMFP. Significantly, Ag-MOF particles endow the composite papers with excellent antibacterial activity, which can inactivate 99.9 % of the bacteria. Attributed to these characteristics, these composite papers were used as fruit fresh-keeping materials and can prolong the shelf-life of cherry tomatoes and peaches for >10 days. This research not only provides a facile synthesis strategy for the flexible MOFs paper, but also provides instructive guidance for related research on fruit preservation materials. [Display omitted] • Two novel Ag-MOFs/CMFP composites are prepared by in facile situ synthesis. • Ag-MOFs can grow uniformly and tightly on the fibers surface of CMFP. • The composites exhibited good mechanical performance and water stability. • The composites showed excellent antibacterial activity and low toxicity. • The composite papers as preservation material can extend the shelf life of fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An active chitosan-based coating with an addition of a natural antioxidant and a natural crosslinker has been applied to improve the performance of Kraft paper. Coatings, including chitosan (CS), CS crosslinked with 1.5 % genipin (CS-1.5G), CS containing 1 % astaxanthin (CSA) and CSA crosslinked with 1 % genipin (CSA-1G) were coated on Kraft paper. Uncoated and coated papers were then evaluated for water content (WC), water vapor permeability (WVP), contact angle, oxygen permeability (OP), tensile strength (TS), bursting strength and elongation at break (EAB). Results indicated that the coating improved the properties of Kraft paper. When compared with CS-coated paper, WC and WVP of CSA-1G-coated paper decreased significantly by 40 % and 24 %, respectively. The lowest OP was also observed in CSA-1G-coated paper. CSA- and CSA-1G-coated paper had contact angle values >100°, indicating hydrophobic nature of coated paper surface. All coatings largely improved TS of the paper (by 182–224 %) whereas CS-1.5G and CSA-1G significantly improved the bursting strength of the paper. The developed genipin-crosslinked chitosan-based coating enriched with astaxanthin can improve the functional properties of Kraft paper and thus will facilitate the usage of the paper for food packaging applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We herein demonstrate polypyrrole decorated micro-porous laboratory filter paper (PFP) as photoanode (PA) for efficient and stable water splitting. The straddling band position with water redox and the measured band gap of ~1.98 eV, make these PFP-PAs effective for water splitting reactions. The results manifest excellent photo-anodic PEC activity of these PFP-PAs, yielding a photocurrent density of ~9.5 mA/cm2 (at 1.23 V vs. RHE) in a three-electrode configuration. The incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) and applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE) was measured to be 43.19% and ~1%, respectively. Moreover, the robustness of these flexible PFP-PAs was visualized by the provided stability for more than ~160 min in alkaline conditions. The current study provides a proof-of-concept for the realization of a cost-effective, flexible, and efficient paper-based artificial catalyst (like a natural leaf) for solar-driven water splitting. Image 1 • In-situ fabricated polypyrrole based flexible filter paper photo electrode (PFP-PEs). • Exhibit a bandgap of ~1.98 eV and reported as PEs for water splitting. • Photocurrent density of ~9.5 mA/cm2 (at 1.23 V vs. RHE) in 3-electrode system. • IPCE and ABPE was measured to be 43.19% and ~1%, respectively. • PFP-PEs stable for 160 min in alkaline conditions for PEC water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a novel, simple, rapid, and low-cost colloidal gold-based immunochromatography method, with filter paper replacing nitrocellulose membrane as the substrate. To obtain adequately immobilized protein, chitosan was used to functionalize the filter paper. After conditions and parameters were optimized, the novel immunochromatography method was applied for detection of sulfonamide residues in milk. Quantitative detection was accomplished using a smartphone and Photoshop software (Adobe Inc., San Jose, CA), allowing us to screen 13 sulfonamides with a limit of detection ranging from 0.42 to 8.64 μg/L and recovery ranging from 88.2 to 116.9% in milk. The proposed novel method performed similarly to the conventional method that uses a nitrocellulose membrane as the transport medium, and it had lower cost and better usability because of the inexpensive and easily available filter paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of paper as a smart support in the field of electrochemical sensors has been largely improved over the last 15 years, driven by its outstanding features such as foldability and porosity, which enable the design of reagent and equipment-free multi-analysis devices. Furthermore, the easy surface engineering of paper has been used to immobilize different bioreceptors, through physical adsorption, covalent bonding, and electrochemical polymerization, boosting the fine customization of the analytical performances of paper-based biosensors. In this review, we focused on the strategies to engineer the surface of the paper for the immobilization of (bio)recognition elements (eg., enzymes, antibodies, DNA, molecularly imprinted polymers) with the overriding goal to develop accurate and reliable paper-based electrochemical biosensors. Furthermore, we highlighted how to take advantage of paper for designing smart configurations by integrating different analytical processes in an eco-designed analytical tool, starting from the immobilization of the (bio)receptor and the reagents, through a designed sample flow along the device, until the analyte detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The influence of nanoparticles on the dielectric properties of neem oil was investigated. • Dielectric properties of the base liquid increases with nanoparticles loading. • Effect of temperature on the dielectric loss of the nanofluids was investigated. • The compatibility test of the nanofluid with kraft paper was investigated. • Nanofluid has no pronounce effects on the dielectric properties of kraft paper. Methyl ester from vegetable oil has been considered a potential replacement for mineral oil used for power transformer cooling and insulating applications. However, some pertinent properties in making this liquid a better transformer oil based on the laydown standards need to be enhanced to maximize the use of this insulating liquid. Technology involving nano-modification can enhance the properties of these ester liquids placing them in a better position as a good alternative. In this study, we aim to investigate the performance of methyl ester liquid from neem seed oil, a non-food grade oil, when modified with SiO 2 insulating nanoparticles at several concentrations. Furthermore, Kraft paper compatibility has also been analyzed to observe their compatibility after impregnation. The breakdown strength, temperature-dependent dissipation loss factor, dielectric constant, and viscosity of both pure and nanofluid samples of neem ester liquid have been measured per standard methods. The nanofluid's dielectric performance has been significantly enhanced by the presence of SiO 2 nanoparticles according to results obtained from the experiment. For instance, the dielectric dissipation factor at an operating frequency of 60 Hz has been improved by 96%, 89%, and 79% at 30 °C, 50 °C, and 70 °C respectively relative to the base neem liquid. This remarkable improvement has been attributed to the SiO 2 nanoparticle's ability to polarize, trap, and de-trap mobile electrons develop in nanofluid when an electric field is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper equipment maintenance can significantly reduce overall operating costs by boosting productivity. Management personnel often consider maintenance an expense; however, a more positive approach is to view maintenance as a profit center. Considering this new perspective, the requirements for maintenance management have changed drastically from the traditional concept of fix-it-when-broken to a more complex approach that entails adopting a maintenance strategy for a more integrated approach and alignment. This paper presents a Goal Programming (GP) approach to define the most cost-effective method for maintaining some critical pumps in the paper industry. The failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) criteria consider each machine failure's occurrence, severity, and detection. After determining the weights, the optimal strategy for each failure is calculated by solving the goal programming. Thus, FMEA can be used to design a network structure for each pump failure mode. For this purpose, the limitations and goals affecting the model are obtained from research literature and interviews with experts. Regarding resource utilization and failure reduction, the results demonstrate that predictive and preventive maintenance strategies are superior to corrective strategies. Therefore, these strategies can predict failures, provide helpful information to maintenance managers, and limit the negative aspects of a failure regarding safety and cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hygroscopicity affects the chemical and physical stabilities of paper-based historical relics. In this research, the moisture sorption behavior of naturally aged bamboo paper dating from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, and artificially aged and untreated modern bamboo paper was investigated using dynamic vapor sorption analysis (DVS). The results were fitted by sorption models to analyze the regularities of changes in the moisture absorption of aged bamboo paper. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the chemical and physical structures of aged bamboo paper. It was found that untreated and aged bamboo paper showed similar moisture sorption isotherms at 25 °C, indicating that aging did not alter the sorption mechanism of paper. Guggenheim Anderson de Boer (GAB) and Hailwood Horrobin (H–H) models provided good fits to the experimental data and meaningful physical parameters regarding the effective sorption surface area (S GAB), monolayer water content (W 0), and multilayer water content (W s), showing that the S GAB , W 0 , and W s of naturally and artificially aged bamboo paper were decreased. Results of FTIR demonstrated that the levels of hydrophilic groups decreased, causing a reduction in the effective adsorption sites of naturally and artificially aged bamboo paper, which was the principal reason for a decrease in their hygroscopicity. The fiber structure damage of naturally and artificially aged bamboo paper was observed through microscopic morphology, which has different influences on the capillary adsorption of paper depending on the extent of degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of degradation compounds of aged and deacidified papers requires an application of several analytical methods, including chromatographic and electrophoretic ones. Paper and paper extracts are very complex samples. Therefore, application of sample preparation methods is mostly involved in process of analysis. Sampling and sample preparation techniques provide transfer of analytes from a solid sample or from the gas phase (vapour) that exists above a solid sample into the extraction medium. Many extraction techniques were introduced, including conventional and advanced extractions utilizing water or organic extraction solvents, sampling tubes with adsorbents or fibre, often with the preconcentration of analytes. Passive sampling and solid-phase microextraction approaches were introduced as non-invasive techniques in the analysis of historical books and monitoring of indoor air in libraries and archives. This mini-review summarizes the sampling and sample preparation methods as well as new trends applicable in the analysis of degradation compounds of aged and deacidified papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mining seawater C a 2 + and M g 2 + for recovering F - was proposed. • This was achieved through the high affinity between carboxyl and C a 2 + / M g 2 + . • The C a F 2 / M g F 2 colloids were recovered and retained by the filter papers. • Additional flocculation was avoided. Resource reclamation with low carbon emissions is highly desirable from the perspective of the circular economy. We propose a green solution in this study, which involves mining calcium and magnesium from seawater as an effective reagent for the recovery of valuable fluoride. This was achieved by esterifying the cellulose filter papers with citric acid to associate carboxyl groups onto their surfaces. Consequently, the high affinity between the carboxyl group and alkaline earth elements enabled efficient and selective loading of C a 2 + (0.193 ± 0.001 mmol- C a 2 + /g) and M g 2 + (0.127 ± 0.001 mmol- M g 2 + /g) onto the filter papers, reaching up to 96% and 60% of the available active sites, respectively. When applied in natural seawater, the esterified filter papers successfully captured both C a 2 + (0.110 ± 0.007 mmol- C a 2 + /g) and M g 2 + (0.078 ± 0.005 mmol- M g 2 + /g) simultaneously. The presence of IR singlet symmetric (ν s COO, ≈ 1450 cm−1) stretching vibrations indicated that both C a 2 + and M g 2 + ions were complexed with carboxyl groups in a bridging unidentate mode. The adsorption capacity of C a 2 + and M g 2 + was likely influenced by the varying thickness of their hydration shells within the highly overlapped electric double layers presented in the micropores of the esterified filter papers. The papers loaded with C a 2 + and M g 2 + were subsequently utilized for fluoride recovery in simulated HF wastewater. The formation of C a F 2 / M g F 2 colloids effectively recovered the stoichiometric amount of fluoride (C a F 2.46 and M g F 1.72), which were retained on the surface of the filter papers. Additional flocculation for colloid separation is thus avoided, resulting in a significant increase in the content of reclaimed fluoride. Increasing the density of associated carboxyl groups is crucial for effectively complexing a greater amount of seawater C a 2 + / M g 2 + and, consequently, enhancing the capacity of fluoride reclamation by esterified filter papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storage of stools for the detection of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) remains challenging for the molecular diagnostic testing of STH infections. This study aimed to overcome this challenge by assessing the capacity of Whatman filter papers to store stools for the molecular detection of STHs. Stool samples were collected from school-aged children of soil-transmitted helminthiasis endemic areas of Cameroon and then, analysed using Kato Katz technique. For this study, 128 and 40 stool samples respectively with and without STH eggs were analysed. From each sample, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mg of stool were weighted and spread on 6 grades of Whatman filter papers that were stored at room temperature from one to ten weeks. DNA was extracted from spread stool using CTAB based-method. The amount of stool to spread on filter papers and the grade of filter paper offering good storage were determined by amplifying specific DNA fragments of Ascaris lumbricoides. The capacity of filter papers to store stool samples for several weeks before the molecular detection of STH species was assessed by amplifying specific DNA fragments of different STHs. The amplification rates of A. lumbricoides were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) for 10 and 20 mg of stored stools. Stools spread on Whatman paper grade 2 yielded the highest amplification rate of 100% for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworm. PCR revealed STH infections in all the 128 spread stools carrying STH eggs. It also revealed Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale respectively in 10 and 13 of 15 spread stools contained hookworm eggs. PCR confirmed the co-infections of these hookworm species as well as that of A. lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura in 7 spread stools. Out of 40 stools without STH eggs, PCR revealed that 5 (12.5%) and 9 (22.5%) had respectively A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infections. The amplification rate of each STH species was 100% from one to 8 weeks and decreased to 86.7% after 10 weeks of storage. This study highlighted the capacity of filter papers to store stools for the molecular detection of STHs. Storing stools on these papers will enable to monitor and evaluate control programs and ensure post-elimination surveillance. • Whatman filter paper is efficient for stool storage for the molecular diagnostic testing ofsoil-transmitted helminthiasis. • 10 mg of stool can be stored on Whatman paper for the molecular diagnostic testing of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. • Stool on Whatman paper can be stored at room temperature for 8 months before the molecular diagnostic testing of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. • Storage of stools on Whatman filter paper improved the sensitivity of the diagnostic of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. • Storing stools on Whatman filter paper will be useful during the post elimination monitoring period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords Decolorization; Lignin; Adsorbent; Membrane; Black liquor; Adsorption Highlights * A critical study made on color removal from paper mill effluent using various methods. * Examined color removal efficiencies using conventional and advanced techniques. * Study on Cost analysis in color removal from paper mill effluent. * Future research suggestions described for better implementation of the processes. Abstract The pulp and paper industry consumes a huge amount of water and releases more polluted and colored wastewater every year. Many conventional techniques are used in the treatment of paper industry wastewater. However, for color removal from paper mill effluent, there is no proven method so far, on an industrial scale. Due to high energy input and high cost, there is an urgent need to find out a new technique that must be sustainable, economical, and environment friendly. Various methods have been investigated on bench scale and pilot scale also but no proven method for color removal on an industrial scale. The paper provides an overview of the color removal techniques from different sources of pulp and paper mill wastewater discharged by various industries. The review described various components involved in various processes for color removal from paper mill waste water. The present works focus on processes like chemical, chemical/physical, biological, physicochemical, and electrochemical applied in color removal from paper mill wastewater. The present review gives key information on the effectiveness, use, betterment, and limitations of numerous methods of treatment targeted at color removal from paper mill wastewater using various techniques still under evolution. Author Affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, 144011, India * Corresponding author. Article History: Received 11 April 2021; Revised 8 August 2021; Accepted 8 August 2021 Byline: Amit Kumar [amit.marrar@gmail.com] (*), Nirmal Kumar Srivastava, Poonam Gera

• A Goal Programming model to optimize a waste paper recycling network was elaborated. • The model considers objectives related to sustainability, multiple products and periods. • Vehicle routing, different-capacity vehicles and multiple trips are highlights. • The possibility of storing material at the collection points is considered. • The formulation provides relevant solutions to assist decision-makers. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study compared the absorbency capacity of paper points (PPs) with positively charged and noncharged polyvinylidene fluoride membranes (PVDFMs) and investigated the ability of PPs and PVDFMs to bind and remove endotoxin. Three commercially available PPs were compared with PVDFM (Millipore Sigma, Burlington, MA) prototype points. We recorded the initial dry weight for each PP and PVDFM using a digital balance to ±0.0001 precision for absorbency. PPs and PVDFMs were then immersed in deionized water and weighed to obtain the wet weight. The absorbency was calculated with the following formula: percent increase = ([wet weight − dry weight]/dry weight) × 100. For endotoxin removal, we first quantified endotoxin remaining in wells after immersing PPs and PVDFMs in a 24-well plate containing 10 endotoxin units/mL Escherichia coli O55:B5 (Lonza, Walkersville, MD). We then extracted and quantified endotoxin from PPs and PVDFMs. Endotoxin was quantified using the Kinetic-QCL test (Lonza). The absorbencies for the positively charged and noncharged PVDFMs were higher than the PPs (P <.05), with no difference between them (P >.05). The positively charged PVDFMs removed more endotoxin than the noncharged PVDFMs and the PPs (P <.05). Moreover, the noncharged PVDFMs bound and removed more endotoxin than any PPs (P <.05). PVDFM prototype points are more absorbent than PPs. Moreover, the positively charged PVDFM points are more effective in binding and removing endotoxin than noncharged PVDFMs and PPs. This study suggests that positively charged PVDFMs with a 0.22-μm pore size could potentially replace PPs used in endodontics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standardization makes its contributions to many aspects of our lives, although often that contribution is unnoticed. For example, management standards, such as the ISO 9000 family, establish a common ground perspective that enlarges companies' markets and boosts its international reaching, technological development, and innovation while supporting continuous quality improvement in products and services both at a national and international level. Notwithstanding the recognized relevance of some management standards, especially the ones that have an associated certification system to support its knowledge (e.g., ISO 9000 family), little is known about the impact of the standards (e.g., ISO 21500 family) adoption in increasing organizations' performance regarding, for instance, quality, safety, efficiency, or interoperability. This hinders the standards' dissemination and potential use and unnecessarily delays its revision and further development. To help fill this gap, this position paper proposes a research project that includes the development of a model and an observatory focusing on the adoption of management standards. The expected contributions are: 1) at a theoretical level, a new conceptual model for the explanation and assessment of the adoption of management standards and related impacts; 2) at a practical level, a new information system (observatory) which is expected to be a tool for understanding the adoption of standards, as well as for monitoring and publicizing the results obtained from standardization practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Indian pulp and paper industry is one of the fastest emerging business sector of the country which has shown tremendous growth in last few years. Governments policies are creating sustain pressure on paper industries to preserve the clean and pollution free environment at any price. As a result industries are pondering to replace the chemical bleaching processes with facile bio-based cost effective technologies. Eco-friendly bleaching enzymes like xylanases and laccases have the potential for biobleaching of wood and agro-based pulps at industrial scale. In India, enzymatic prebleaching of pulp is widely being investigated and has achieved favorable outcomes but at laboratory scales only and commercial application of enzymes for the delignification of pulp is still at budding stage. This article tends to draw the attention on significant efforts which have been continually attributed by indigenous research laboratories and industries to replace the chemical bleaching with enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Standard procedures and appropriate assessment of exercise are proposed for the commonly used animal models related to chronic exercise (e.g., treadmill running, voluntary wheel running, swimming exercise, and resistance exercise) in cardiovascular research. • Optimal design of animal exercise studies in cardiovascular research should consider the choice of exercise models, control of exercise protocols, exercise at different stages of disease, and other factors, such as age, sex, and genetic background. • An optimal design for studying exercise-induced physiological cardiac growth and its related beneficial effects against cardiovascular diseases is presented. Growing evidence has demonstrated exercise as an effective way to promote cardiovascular health and protect against cardiovascular diseases However, the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effects of exercise have yet to be elucidated. Animal exercise studies are widely used to investigate the key mechanisms of exercise-induced cardiovascular protection. However, standardized procedures and well-established evaluation indicators for animal exercise models are needed to guide researchers in carrying out effective, high-quality animal studies using exercise to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. In our review, we present the commonly used animal exercise models in cardiovascular research and propose a set of standard procedures for exercise training, emphasizing the appropriate measurements and analysis in these chronic exercise models. We also provide recommendations for optimal design of animal exercise studies in cardiovascular research, including the choice of exercise models, control of exercise protocols, exercise at different stages of disease, and other considerations, such as age, sex, and genetic background. We hope that this position paper will promote basic research on exercise-induced cardiovascular protection and pave the way for successful translation of exercise studies from bench to bedside in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bio-based additives received significant attention in pulp and paper properties improvement. For this, the most cited biochemical Cellulose Nano Fibrils (CNFs) and Cationic Starch (CS) were experimentally compared with the most declared synthetic chemical, Cationic Polyacrylamide (CPAM). SEM images showed better paper surface filling by the utilization of the chemicals. The three studied polymers, in solely or combination mechanism, improved mainly bagasse pulp and paper properties compared to the blank sample, except for pulp drainage, which decreased by CNFs to lower volumes presumably due to its intrinsic characteristics. Cationic polymers (CP) compared to CP/CNFs approaches increased pulp retention and drainage but decreased paper density and strengths. The best pulp retention and drainage achieved by CS followed by CPAM, while paper air persistency, density, and strength properties evaluated highest by CP/CNFs followed by CNFs. Generally, CS revealed a more significant improvement in pulp and paper properties than CPAM either with or without CNFs. • Cellulose Nano Fibers (CNFs) decreased pulp drainage, paper tear and opacity. • Cationic starch improved pulp retention and drainage more than CNFs and CPAM. • Cationic starch provided denser and stronger paper than CNFs and CPAM. • Better paper formation was produced by cationic starch compared to CNFs and CPAM. • Cationic polymer/CNFs revealed stronger paper than lonely CNFs or cationic polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste from the global paper life cycle can be a lost economic opportunity and a risk to the natural environment and human health. This study assesses the recovery potential of major waste flows in the global paper life cycle to support improvements in material use. The “recovery potential” indicator shows the technical possibility for extracting value from waste through recycling and other forms of recovery. The potential is identified through a review of recovery technologies that are currently applied or likely to be commercially available by the year 2050. The analysis compares current material use in the global paper life cycle with an ideal scenario in which the recovery potential of all major waste flows is fulfilled. In the ideal scenario, the Recycled Input Ratio (RIR) is increased from 38% to 67%–73% and the landfill intensity is reduced from 331–473 kg/t paper to 0–2.6 kg/t paper. The reduction in required landfill space is achieved mainly through increased consumer waste recycling. Better management of industrial waste from the paper sector has a rather limited impact on the RIR and landfill intensity. The conditions for successful recovery of waste are discussed separately. The analysis shows that the recovery potential indicator can be usefully applied to estimate potential improvements in complex material systems and the findings may inform policies for resource efficiency and the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Observing the revision process of scientific writing based on preprint versions. • Quantitatively analyzing the characteristics of the time and location of paper revisions. • Quantitatively investigating the correlation between the extent of revisions and the paper's citation impact. Scientific papers are the essential carrier for disseminating knowledge in the scientific communication system. It is believed that in addition to deepening the scientific attainments in one's research field, the writing and revision of the manuscripts are also very important. This paper tries to quantitatively describe the revision process and the relationship between revision and academic impact. We acquire the different manuscript versions of the published scientific papers from bioRxiv platform, analyze the characteristics of the time (away from publication) and location (sections) of paper revisions, and explore the correlation between revision and impact using multiple linear regression. We find that 75 % or more of revisions occur within one year before publication, and 40 % or more of revisions take place in the last 3 months, which illustrates to a certain extent the importance of expert review in revising (and improving) research papers. Further, we find that the revision degree of papers has a significant correlation with academic impact, and elaborate revision of introduction plays a major role in acquiring academic impact for a research paper. We believe our results can provide a basis for guiding authors to enhance the academic impact of papers through scientific writing, and provide clues for the development of journal publishers and preprint platforms from the perspective of paper quality control and influence improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creating a sensitive, accuracy and portable fluorescent probe to monitor Hg2+ with rapid visual convenient process is highly desirable but remains challenging. Herein, orange emissive carbon dots (O-CDs) were synthesized and optimized by solvothermal method using p-phenylenediamine (p-PDA) as precursor. The O-CDs emitted an orange emission at 594 nm excited at 480 nm, with QY of 23.25% and a long lifetime of 14.43 μs. The O-CDs exhibited sensitive quenching response towards Hg2+ based on dynamic quenching effect, which facilitated O-CDs utilizing as the fluorescent probe with the limit of detection at 37.6 nM. The O-CDs fulfilled sensing Hg2+ in environmental water with satisfactory recoveries (90.3%−107.8%) and relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 3.81%, manifested their excellent environmental tolerance. Notably, the O-CDs based test paper was fabricated and served as a portable sensor with a smartphone assistant for detection of Hg2+, which greatly elevated the sensing performance of test paper. This work contributed an innovative approach for the synthesis of O-CDs, as well as a reliable sensitive sensor based on portable test paper for an intelligent readable recognizing system, which could be regarded as promising candidate for real detection of Hg2+. • Orange emissive O-CDs were fabricated with QY of 23.25% and lifetime of 14.43 μs. • High selectivity and sensitivity detection for Hg2+ was achieved with LOD of 37.6 nM. • O-CDs based portable test paper supported by smart phone achieved LOD of 58.5 nM. • Real sample analysis for Hg2+ detection with satisfied results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper sludge (PS), a by-product of paper mill wastewater treatment, has attracted increasing attention due to the dual nature of resources and pollution. This study focused on investigating the effect of temperature on the product properties and synergies of the co-pyrolysis process involving PS and corn stover (CS) using a fixed bed reactor. The results showed that co-pyrolysis led to an increase in the production of bio-oil, while reducing the formation of char and gases. Notably, the most significant synergistic effect was observed at 600 °C, where the experimental bio-oil yield surpassed the calculated value by 8.9%. At temperatures below 500 °C, ketones, aldehydes, and acids were the predominant products in the co-pyrolysis, which shifted towards phenols and aromatics as the temperature increased. Moreover, a promotion of CO content and an inhibition of CO 2 content with temperature were also observed during co-pyrolysis, suggesting that higher temperatures facilitated synergistic decarbonylation. The co-pyrolysis biochar exhibited a higher abundance of carbonyl and alkyl groups compared to the biochar derived from PS pyrolysis, and the synergistic effect at higher temperatures promoted the development of micropores within the co-pyrolysis biochar. These findings emphasize the temperature-dependent nature of the co-pyrolysis process, offering valuable insights into the potential resource utilization of PS and CS wastes. • Effect of temperature on paper sludge and corn stover co-pyrolysis were studied. • The most significant synergy for enhancing bio-oil production was observed at 600 °C. • Increasing temperature shifted low molecular compounds towards phenols and aromatics. • The synergy at higher temperatures promoted the development of micropores in biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal cations are important in our daily life and may cause serious disorders and diseases. Colorimetric portable cellulosic sensors with high selectivity and sensitivity toward metal cations are preferred relative to those based on small molecules which operate mostly in organic media and difficult test methods. Here, dual-chromic stimuli-responsive cellulose paper (TPL@T-Cell) was produced by modification of the paper with the designed and prepared epoxy-functionalized polyacrylic nanocapsules via dip-coating and subsequent heat treatment processes. The capsules contained thermochromic leuco-dye derivative and photochromic hydroxyl-functionalized spiropyran and were prepared through semi-continuous miniemulsion polymerization. Chemical structure of the synthesized dyes, nanocapsules and modified cellulose fibers were identified by FTIR and UV-Vis analyses. Spherical morphology of the prepared nanocapsules with average particles size of 121 nm were observed by SEM and DLS analyses. The effective wetting of the cellulose fibers by nanocapsules with proper diffusion and deposition through the establishment of physical and chemical interactions were evaluated by SEM and ATR-FTIR analyses, respectively. The prepared TPL@T-Cell sensor revealed distinct color changes toward Fe2+, Pb2+ and Sn2+ ions. Opto-chemical results indicated that detection limit of TPL@T-Cell for Sn2+ (0.0028 µM, 0.326 ppb), Fe2+ (0.0013 µM, 0.15 ppb), and Pb2+ (0.0023 µM, 0.268 ppb) are lower than their critical permitted levels announced by WHO. These exhibited applicability of TPL@T-Cell sensor for determining trace amount of some heavy metal ions with instant responsivity, wide linear detection range, high sensitivity, and low detection limit via colorimetric and spectroscopic responses. [Display omitted] • Modification of stimuli-responsive cellulose paper via dip-coating technique. • Preparation of dual-chromic nanocapsules containing leuco dye and spiropyan. • Opto-chemical and spectroscopic features of the fabricated chemosensor. • Application of the cellulose-based sensor for colorimetric detection of heavy metal cations. • Responsivity, sensitivity and LOD assessment of the prepared cellulosic sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) is a group of heart defects present at birth. Some imaging methods can support the diagnosis of these pathologies, such as echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. This study aimed to perform a bibliometric analysis of the top 100 articles cited on CCHD. Articles from 2013 to 2023 found in Scopus were scanned using 15 CCHD topics titles crossed with echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Duplicated manuscripts were eliminated using Microsoft Excel software, and the publications were ranked according to their citation count. This study selected and analyzed the top 100 most cited English-language papers. The top 100 most cited publications accumulated 16,563 citations. The manuscript with the most citations obtained 1086, representing 6.55% of the total citations. The year 2014 had the highest number of publications, with 27 papers. The first authors had affiliations from 44 countries; the United States was the country that contributed the most, with 54 manuscripts. Boston Children's Hospital was the institution that provided more articles to the top 100. Finally, the Ebstein anomaly was the topic with the highest number of citations. This study identified the 100 most cited on CCHD, and the results obtained can provide practical guidance to clinicians and researchers to familiarize themselves with the most influential publications in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I have recently received a comment paper on my previous published paper in July 2023 of the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (IJDRR). The paper is titled Critique of the paper, "Investigating the Attitudes and Perspectives of Indian Citizens toward COVID-19 Vaccines: A Text Analytics Study". In that paper, few comments were asked by the authors. Therefore, I have attempted to make suitable reply to their comments on various aspects such as data selection and the methodologies employed. Also, the current study provides justifications for the comments raised by the authors in that paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This keynote paper is the first installment in the six-part Nursing Outlook special edition based on the 2022 Emory University Business Case for Nursing Summit. The summit, which took place in March 2022, was led by Emory School of Nursing in partnership with Emory School of Business. It convened national nursing, health care, and business leaders to explore possible solutions to nursing workforce crises. Each of the summit's panels authored a paper in this special edition on their respective topic(s). Those topics included the growth, distribution, resilience, and value of the nursing workforce. As on the day of the event, the keynote frames the panelists' discussions by sharing nursing workforce trends, expert workforce insights, and data-informed questions to help promote dialogue in this series and beyond. • Written by the keynote speaker of the 2022 Emory Business Case for Nursing Summit. • Provides context for the Business Case for Nursing special edition. • Discusses important strengths of the nursing workforce. • Highlights continued nursing workforce needs. • Recommends ways to invest in nursing & leverage nursing strengths moving forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study optimizes a novel surfactant-assisted green liquor dregs (GLD) pretreatment of paper mill sludge (PMS), both of which are wastes from the kraft pulping industry, using a combined Response Surface Methodology (RSM) design. Optimized conditions give a maximal reducing sugar release of 16.38 g/L. A substantial reduction in heavy metals aluminum, chromium, cobalt, arsenic, lead, and copper after pretreatment illustrates the enhancement of substrate digestibility by reducing toxic elements. Separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) for hydrogen production are assessed. SSF produced a hydrogen yield of 3.72 mL/g, displaying a 36.26% increase from pretreated PMS compared to SHF. These findings provide insights into possible methods of reducing process duration, energy input, and costs incurred with waste disposal within the paper industry. Furthermore, improved hydrogen yield using an SSF process demonstrates the potential beneficiation of pulp and paper GLD and PMS wastes. • A novel surfactant-assisted GLD pretreatment of PMS developed. • An optimal reducing sugar release of 16.38 g/L was obtained. • Novel pretreatment protocol achieved significant heavy metal reduction. • SSF hydrogen production from pretreated PMS increased hydrogen yield by 36.26%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate shelf-life estimation of food products has the potential to improve the safety, reliability, and sustainability of food supply chains. Here, a scalable system for accurately indicating the freshness-related information of salmon for consumers was developed and characterized. The system comprises two parts, an optically changeable colorimetric sensor by dye incorporated with sol-gel functionalized paper sensor and a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN)-based freshness estimation system based on images. The paper sensor was produced based on paper and immersed, coated, or printed with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTMS) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) sol-gel particles and indicators (e.g., pH indicator, ammonia gas indicator, oxidation indicator, and other volatile organic compounds indicators). After being augmented by machine learning, the limit of detection reaches as low as 17.1 ppm for ammonia detection and the accuracy achieved up to 99.2% for salmon freshness estimation, which satisfied the application in food supply chains. The system balanced the trade-off between detection sensitivity, stability, and cost with the ability for scalable batch production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from biomass through a "bottom-up" method has attracted a great deal of interest because of its outstanding environmental and economic advantages. However, the yield of biomass-based CQDs is still low due to the high polymerization of biochar. In this study, we propose a new approach for harvesting high-yield biomass-based CQDs by integrating mechanochemistry and strong chemical oxidation. Ball milling can reduce the particle size and resistance of biochar and increase the contents of C C, while the powerful oxidant HOO- produced by alkaline hydrogen peroxide can break C C to generate biomass-based CQDs. Using this two-step process, the yields of biomass-based CQDs reached 57.75% for blue-green algae, 65.8% for straw, 47.9% for corn protein meal, and 45.35% for Typha angustifolia. Based on the excellent sensitivity and selectivity for Fe3+ of biomass-based CQDs, CQDs paper-based sensors were prepared for expedient and precise detection of Fe3+ in surface water, wastewater treatment plant effluent, and tap water. When the Fe3+ content is between 0 and 60 μM, the R2 of Fe3+ detection by blue-green algae CQDs can reach 0.9956. This work provides a new and reliable method for the large-scale preparation of biomass-based CQDs and expands their environmental applications. [Display omitted] • A method was proposed to improve the yield of biomass-based carbon quantum dot (CQD). • Ball milling can reduce the resistance of biochar and increase the contents of C C. • This scalable method is applicable to other biomass wastes. • The CQDs has excellent sensitivity and selectivity for Fe3+. • The paper-based CQD sensors are applicable in different water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhanced paper grip test (EPGT) offers an easy-to-use measure of hallux plantar-flexion strength that does not need expensive specialised equipment. Literature suggests that it could be a useful screening tool to assess the risk of falling in older people. However, research on a specific mechanistic link to the risk of falling is lacking. It is hypothesised here that muscle weakening (assessed by the EPGT) is indicative of impaired ability to recover balance after a slip or a trip. To get an initial assessment of validity of the above hypothesis, the EPGT is compared against an established lab-based measure of lower-limb strength that is capable of assessing a person's ability to recover balance after a slip or a trip: maximum isometric leg press push-off force (leg press force). A gender-balanced sample of twenty people (median age=34 y) was recruited. Two different but equaly valid techniques of administering the EPGT were included regarding whether the participants' ankle was supported by the examiner or not. Results for the two EPGT techniques differed susbtantialy but they were both significantly associated with leg press force and therefore linked to better ability to maintain balance after a slip or a trip. The "ankle not held" EPGT technique was more strongly correlated to leg press force (r(18) = 0.652, p = 0.002) than the "ankle held" (r(18) = 0.623, p = 0.003) and appears to be the more favourable technique to administer the EPGT. These findings offer new insight on a potential mechanistic link between the EPGT and the risk of falling and support its optimal use in future research involving older people. • The enhanced paper grip test (EPGT) measures lower limb strength. • It can be a valuable screening tool, but its link to falling is not fully understood. • Lower EPGT force is indirectly linked here to reduced ability to recover balance. • This study offers a first assessment on the optimum technique to administer the EPGT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two sub-period division strategies with MPCA are evaluated in SBR process. • Correlations between the different stages of SBR process are considered. • Four SBR parameters of field data from paper mill are utilized for fault diagnosis. • Sub-period division strategy based on similarity principle demonstrates best. Fault diagnosis of sequential batch reactor (SBR), a widely applied wastewater treatment technology in papermaking industry with huge discharge, has been a significant challenge due to the inherent multi-period characteristics of the process. In this paper, based on the conventional multi-way principal component analysis (MPCA) method (Scenario 0), two sub-period division strategies based on the processing phases of SBR process (Scenario 1) and the similarities of the loading matrices between the adjacent time slices (Scenario 2) are proposed for the detection of faults. Combined with Scenario 0, using the field data of blower current, level of SBR reactor, dissolved oxygen of wastewater and the blower valve opening in the SBR process of paper mill, two different fault diagnosis models with Scenarios 1 and 2 are developed and evaluated, respectively. The study results revealed that, both the calculated statistics of T2 and sum of prediction errors (SPE) of the fault diagnosis models with Scenarios 1 and 2 could detect the faults and identify the fault locations and sources. Compared to Scenario 0 which neglects the correlations between the different stages of SBR process, the fault diagnosis model by Scenario 2 demonstrated a superiority ability in fault identification in terms of the fault's time onset and fault's sources with adequate accuracy. The results enable the feasible and reliable implementation of the developed sub-MPCA diagnosis model with Scenario 2 in the actual SBR plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase of energy valorization of paper sludge waste and biomass due to their high calorific value by incineration leads to an increase of waste paper fly ash (WPFA) quantities, which are in most cases considered as hazardous, and must be dealt with accordingly. The Alternative options for the management of WPFA, such as stabilization/solidification, vitrification or sintering, are not fully developed or either costly. In the present study, accelerated carbonation technology was used to reduce the hazardous nature of WPFA by improving the stabilization of metallic and metalloids trace elements (MMTE), especially Barium (Ba) and Lead (Pb) leaching. The accelerated carbonation of WPFA was found to be optimal at a water/solid ratio of 0.3 L/kg under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. The use of water saturated with 25% sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3) improved the carbonation of WPFA and the stabilization of Ba and Pb. Batch leaching tests based on thermodynamic equilibrium was used to evaluate the solubility of the MMTE as a function of pH and at the natural pH of non‑carbonated and carbonated WPFA. Thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopes and energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses were performed to investigate the evolution of carbonation over time and its effect on the chemical and mineralogical properties of WPFA. After 30 days of accelerated carbonation, the leaching concentration of Ba and Pb was below the French legal limit. The leaching concentration of Ba and Pb from carbonated samples decreased 99% and 99.5% respectively. The leaching and release potential behavior of carbonated WPFA were further evaluated using the four-step sequential extraction procedure proposed by the Commission of the European Communities Bureau of Reference (BCR). The speciation of MMTE underwent significant transformation, shifting predominantly from the soluble fraction to the carbonated fraction as a result of the carbonation reaction. [Display omitted] • Accelerated carbonation with NaHCO 3 of WPFA has been performed. • Ba, Pb and Cl leaching concentration decreased effectively after carbonation. • After 15 days of accelerated carbonation, the WPFA becomes inert. • Parameters L/S = 0.3 l/kg, 20 °C/65 °C with NaHCO 3 improves carbonation. • Ba and Pb was precipitated as carbonate BaCO 3 and PbCO 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Calcium peroxide mediated disperser disintegration is a novel approach. • Acidic-calcium peroxide mediated disperser method solubilizes organics efficiently. • Bacillus aryabhattai amasses 85% polyhydroxybutyrate using pretreated sample. • Pretreated settled sludge yields 167 mL/g chemical oxygen demand of biogas. The proposed research envisioned to improve the accessibility of organics and hydrolysis of paper mill waste activated sludge for polyhydroxybutyrate production and anaerobic digestion. In order to fill this research gap an exploration has been made by adding lower dosage of calcium peroxide at acidic pH for the removal of exopolymeric substances thereby improving the disintegration efficacy. The results indicate that the calcium peroxide dosage of 0.06 g/g SS at pH 5 was optimum for floc fragmentation. The influence of floc fragmented sludge on disintegration by disperser shows the solubilization and solid decrement of 18.8% and 12.4% at the specific energy input of 4729.24 kJ/kg total solid. The impact of pretreated supernatant on polyhydroxybutyrate accumulation shows the maximum polyhydroxybutyrate content of 85.03 % while utilizing 60% (v/v) of pretreated sludge supernatant as a carbon source at 42 h. Subsequently, the settled sludge was directed towards an anaerobic biodegradability assay and found about 167 mL/g of chemical oxygen demand of biogas generation, which is higher than the crude sample (52 mL/g of chemical oxygen demand). The higher solubilization in pretreated sample reveals the easier accessibility of substrate by the microorganisms, thereby enhances bioenergy and valued product generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sequential combination of torrefaction and alkaline treatment is one possible design strategy for a circular economy in which torrefied cellulosic paper with enhanced wet strength is repeatedly used as a packaging material, then hydrolyzed downstream for bioethanol production after alkaline treatment. The wet-tensile strength of cellulose filter paper increased by 1533%, 2233%, 1567%, and 557% after torrefaction for 40 mins at 200 °C, 220 °C, 240 °C and 260 °C, respectively. Glucose yield decreased with increase in torrefaction severity but after treating torrefied filter samples with alkaline (NaOH) solution, glucose yield increased. For instance, the glucose yield of raw filter paper was 955 mg/g of substrate whereas it was 690 mg/g of substrate for the same filter paper sample torrefied at 200 °C. The glucose yield increased to 808 and 933 mg/g of substrate with 1% and 10% alkaline treatment, respectively. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel paper-based analytical device (PAD) was prepared and applied to determine the xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitory activity of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts (SME). 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 PAD. Quantitative results were obtained by analyzing the color intensity with the specialized device system (consisting of 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 performed 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 SME was investigated and compared to that of allopurinol. The results obtained with the PAD showed agreement with those obtained with the microplate method. In conclusion, the proposed PAD method is simple, accurate and has a 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. [Display omitted] • The inhibitory activity of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts on xanthine oxidase was determined with PADs. • A double-layer structure of PAD was designed to avoid enzyme-substrate reactions during storage. • A reaction device and a detection system were suitable for point-of-care test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activating flux is made up of inorganic material mixed with a volatile medium. The objective of this study is to identify and review the literature in activating flux, and different type of welding techniques. For that purpose, a structured review method is adopted and the Scopus database is used as a primary source for the selection of papers. The papers were identified using the string term of "Activating flux" OR "Activated flux" in the title of papers. And a total of 238 papers were identified for the study. Besides the above few other papers were also reviewed and the materials used, the type of flux used, and the findings of different combinations were highlighted in the form of tables. The findings of the study provide a comprehensive understanding of the different type of welding techniques focusing on TIG welding, and the different combination of flux used and their impact was summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Developing electrowetting-on-dielectric device using office inkjet printer. • Mixing thirty-milliliter droplets using surface capillary wave at coalescence spot. • Characterizing enhanced salute diffusivity accelerated by mixing. • Improving chemiluminescence signal intensity reproducibility with mixing device. We use inkjet printing and film adhesion methods to economically develop paper-based electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) mixing device. Because the periodic shrinking and stretching of droplet contact line induces surface capillary wave, the coalesced droplet on EWOD device vibrates to accelerate solute mixing on the merged spot. An office inkjet printer fabricates pads of conducting silver nanoparticles to compose EWOD activation electrodes on a piece of glossy label paper, covered with one oil-coated dielectric film. Using the triggering relays of each pad, two droplets of thirty microliter individually loaded on the electrode ends are driven to coalesce. Alloy nanorod-catalyzed chemiluminescence assay can be performed on this mixing device. When ac voltage of 100 Hz is applied on the electrode flakes, compared with solute transport efficiency in static condition, solute diffusivity is enhanced by 4 times using this mixing device. Linear relation (R2 = 0.99) between luminescence intensity acquired with smartphone camera and luminol concentration of aforementioned chemiluminescence assay is obtained, demonstrating reproducibility improvement for accurate determination. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this note is to show that many papers on various kinds of filters (and related concepts) in (subreducts of) residuated structures are in fact easy consequences of more general results that have been known for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • FeCu@BC catalysts were synthesized using a simple one-step pyrolysis method. • FeCu@BC 600-2 exhibited good magnetic separation ability and excellent reusability. • The synergistic effect of Fe 3 O 4 , Cu0 and Biochar maintains high RhB removal. • Key ROS involves •OH at pH 3, and •OH and 1O 2 at pH 7, respectively. • sp2 C = C in biochar and Cu(I) from Cu0 facilitated the reduction of Fe(III) Treating the wastes generated from pulp and paper mills, such as black liquor and Fenton sludge is challenging. In this study, the biochar-supported Fe-Cu bimetallic catalysts were synthesized by a one-step pyrolysis method using Fenton sludge as iron source, acid-precipitated black liquor (APBL) as carbon source and copper nitrate as copper source. The catalysts were used to remove rhodamine B (RhB) dye from aqueous solution by Fenton-like reaction. The optimal catalyst (FeCu@BC 600-2) was pyrolyzed at 600 °C with an Fe/Cu mixing ratio of 2 and consisted of mesoporous biochar supported nanoscale Fe 3 O 4 and Cu0. It had a specific surface area of 104.6 m2·g−1 and a saturation magnetization of 33.3 emu·g−1. In the FeCu@BC 600-2 /H 2 O 2 system, RhB dye (10 mg·L-1) was completely removed within 60 min at acidic pH (initial pH 3, 0.2 g·L-1 catalyst, 1 mM H 2 O 2) or 6 h at neutral pH (initial pH 7, 0.25 g·L-1 catalyst, 25 mM H 2 O 2) at 30 °C. Moreover, the FeCu@BC 600-2 exhibited good magnetic separation ability, low metal leaching, excellent reusability and broad applicability to other synthetic dyes. The dye removal mechanism involved the synergistic effect of adsorption and catalytic oxidation (especially heterogeneous catalytic oxidation). At acidic pH, RhB degradation was due to •OH radical, which was generated from the activation of H 2 O 2 by ≡Cu(I) or Cu(I) oxidized from Cu0 and ≡Fe(II) in Fe 3 O 4. At neutral pH, RhB degradation was mainly due to •OH and 1O 2 with the former being produced by ≡Cu(I) and ≡Fe(II). Furthermore, Cu(I) oxidized from Cu0 and the active functional groups (such as sp2 C = C) in the biochar facilitated the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II), resulting in a high catalytic oxidation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 28 out of 57 target PFAS were detected in paper products from China. • 9 groups of PFAS with 1–3 confidence levels were identified by non-target analysis. • Ethanol in food simulants can increase the migration of PFAS. • Long-chain PFAS in popcorn bags can be degraded by microwave heating. • PFAS in some paper products exceeded the recommended daily intake values. The contamination characteristics, migration patterns and health risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were investigated in 66 Chinese paper products by using target and non-target screening methods. Among 57 target PFASs, 5 and 6 PFASs were found in the hygiene paper products (