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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]

Disordered wrinkles inevitably appear in the fluid assembly process of graphene and heavily depress performances of assembled graphene papers. Achieving high plasticity enables the post modulation to rearrange wrinkles by stretching. Here, we obtain an over 100% improved plasticity by intercalating oligomer into graphene oxide (GO) laminates and fabricate strong, stiff and conductive graphene papers (GPs) via post stretching. The intercalated oligomer activates the mobilization of GO sheets and achieves high plasticity of solid GO papers. The improved plasticity allows high stretching ratio and the post-stretched GP features regular orientation (0.95) of graphene sheets and aligned fine wrinkles. The crystalline GPs have a high tensile strength up to 1.3 GPa, Young's modulus of 92.9 GPa and highly electrical conductivity (1.05 × 105 S m−1). The greatly improved plasticity by oligomer extends the processing capability of graphene materials and the strong and conductive GP can be assembled in high performance nanocomposites with excellent electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE). [Display omitted] • Intercalating oligomer greatly enhances plasticity of graphene oxide laminates for the improved interlayer friction. • The greatly enhanced plasticity enables to efficiently eliminate disordered wrinkles of assembled graphene sheets. • The crystalline graphene paper (GP) exhibits superior mechanical and electrical properties. • The (GP-based) laminated composite shows high tensile strength and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness. [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]

This study aimed to assess the current status of India's COVID-19 research from the top 100 most cited papers, using bibliometrics methods and indicators and suggest strengths and weaknesses. Publications on COVID-19 research from India between December 2019 and 22 August 2023 were retrieved from the Scopus database. From 37101 studies retrieved, the first top 100 Highly Cited Papers (HCPs) having received 270 to 2931 citations, were identified. The top 100 most cited Indian papers were published from 2020 to 2023, with the majority (75) in the year 2021, followed by 24 in 2022. They were cited a total of 56661 times (average - 566.61 times). The 242 authors of these HCPs were from 159 Indian organizations, and the articles were published in 60 journals. 29 % and 59 % of these HCPs received external funding support and were involved in international collaborations, respectively. There was poor collaboration among Indian research institutions and a dearth of funding from India. None of the Indian HCPs figured in the global 100 HCPs. Although citations of research papers published from India increased during COVID-19, limited collaboration, inadequate funding, and subpar publications hindered Indian scientists. To enhance India's research landscape, we propose dismantling barriers, nurturing collaboration, and encouraging knowledge exchange among domestic institutions. • A profile of the top 100 highly cited papers from Indian authors of COVID-19 research is presented. • There is limited global visibility and poor collaboration in Indian research. • Indian research and funding organizations need to increase funding and collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• By incorporating higher generations of citation information, the k-step h-index provides a comprehensive assessment of scholarly influence at multiple levels. • The k-step h-indices exhibit strong alignment with measures of novelty and disruption, validating their consistency and potential for capturing innovative contributions. • The k-step h-indices outperform certain benchmarks in accurately ranking expert-selected items, such as milestone papers, distinguished authors, and prestigious institutions. • Higher k-step h-indices demonstrate superior performance compared to lower ones and alternative metrics, showcasing their predictive power in identifying prominent scientific entities. The evaluation of scientific impact plays a crucial role in assessing research contributions. In this study, we introduce the concept of the k-step h-index and investigate its applicability in citation networks at different levels, including papers, authors, and institutions. By incorporating higher generations of citation information, the k-step h-index provides a comprehensive and nuanced measure of scientific influence. It demonstrates exponential growth in k-step citations, capturing valuable information from the Hirsch core and tail. Through power law distribution analysis, we uncover the presence of highly influential entities coexisting with less influential ones, revealing the heterogeneity of impact within citation networks. To validate the effectiveness of the k-step h-index , we utilize a vast dataset from APS, conducting a thorough examination of its consistency and convergent validity. Our findings demonstrate strong correlations between the k-step h-index and conventional metrics, as well as alignment with measures of innovation. This confirms the reliability of the k-step h-index and its ability to capture innovative contributions. Notably, when compared to benchmarks, the k-step h-index outperforms in accurately ranking expert-selected items, including milestone papers, distinguished authors, and prestigious institutions. Higher values of the k-step h-index consistently exhibit superior performance, showcasing their predictive power in identifying prominent scientific entities. These findings hold significant implications for research evaluation, policy-making, and strategic planning, as they pave the way for a more holistic understanding of scholarly contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study proposes an automated acknowledgement index and explores its relationship with researchers' performance. • We performed sensitivity analysis to understand the impact of acknowledgement types, automatically classified through NLP techniques, on paper citation counts. • The study presents a method for identifying research supporters amidst challenges posed by similar names and affiliations. The acknowledgments section of scientific papers is paramount in academic production, providing valuable insights into the individuals and organizations involved in the research process. Developing a standard index of acknowledgments would provide a significant metric for measuring institutional and researcher influence. However, the absence of standardized formats has impeded effective analysis of information in acknowledgement sections. This study develop an acknowledgement index utilizing automated text-mining techniques to address these limitations. In addition, we propose two methods to disambiguate research supporters in the acknowledgement section: entity scores based on specific keywords and research similarity scores calculated through co-references. Based on our investigation, we explore the characteristics of research supporters with high acknowledgement index scores and examine the correlation between each acknowledgement index and their performance. Notably, paper citation strongly correlates with research supporters' performance. Next, our analysis delves into the impact of acknowledgement and entity types on paper citations. Our findings reveal that acknowledgments with only person names exert the most significant impact on paper citation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces a nonparametric methodology combining the strengths of binary regression and latent variable formulations, while overcoming their disadvantages. The mathematical results are implemented through a novel Bayesian Hierarchical estimation methodology called Latent Adaptive Hierarchical Expectation Maximization Like algorithm. Requiring minimal assumptions, it extends extant methodologies, and in simulation studies gives better prediction and inference performances for asymmetric data generating processes. A new classification statistic, called Adjusted Receiver Operating Curve Statistic is also introduced. Utilizing it we demonstrate better overall model fit, inference and prediction performance of the proposed methodology over widely used existing methods in the sciences. In addition, the methodology can be used to perform model diagnostics for any model specification. This is a highly useful result, and it extends existing work for categorical model diagnostics broadly across the sciences. Furthermore, the mathematical results also highlight important new findings regarding the interplay of statistical significance and scientific significance. Finally, the methodology is applied to identifying highly-cited papers in the social sciences in a joint estimation framework. The results indicate that the methodology outperforms widely used existing artificial intelligence and machine learning models with very few Monte Carlo iterations. In Scientometric application, it finds Journal Impact Factor to be more important than Keyword Popularity parameters for explaining citation outcomes in select social science fields. It further finds that the percentage change in Published Popularity may also help to explain citation outcomes in the field. The findings appear to be new to the Scientometric field. • Introduces new statistical method for regressions requiring few assumptions. • Outperforms existing artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms. • Introduces ARS: A general statistic for predication/comparison of models. • Applies methodology to identify highly-cited papers in the social sciences. • JIF more important than keywords for getting cited in some social science fields. [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]

[Display omitted] • Scalable cellular oviposition of Antheraea mylitta on paper sheets is demonstrated. • Wing and leg cut (W–L–) induces high oviposition in first 4 h, in turn on first day. • A maximum oviposition of 83% on first day & 92% in two days obtained on paper sheet. Antheraea mylitta Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is a tropical semi-domesticated wild tasar silkworm reared by marginal tribal farmers of India. Due to improper egg laying frequency, oviposition is generally kept for three continuous days after amputating the gravid moth wings (W–) in earthen cups (C). In order to systematize the oviposition frequency, wing cut with leg cut (W–L–) was performed in ecorace Daba trivoltine (DTV) completing three life-cycles in a year. Oviposition of (C)W–L– was observed in all three grainages during the year 2020 and compared with (C)W– moths. Oviposition was also accomplished on plain paper sheets (S). It is observed that (C)W– obtained 63–67% and (C)W–L– obtained 72–80% egg laying on first day. Similarly, (S)W– and (S)W–L– obtained 68–71% and 74–83% on first day. Further, significant high oviposition was observed within first four hours in both earthen cups and on paper sheets by W–L– moths laying 49–69% and 55–65% eggs compared to W– laying 25–45% and 39–44% eggs, respectively. A total of 44–51, 47–54, 44–48 and 46–52 eggs/g moth weight was obtained in (C)W–, (C)W–L–, (S)W– and (S)W–L–, respectively in three consecutive grainage. Oviposition of W– moths in earthen cups and on paper sheets are not significantly different indicating earthen cups in contemporary tasar grainage could be replaced with paper sheets. Thus, the paper demonstrates for the first time a fast, efficient and scalable cellular oviposition of A. mylitta on paper sheets comparable to Bombyx mori. [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]

The environmental and efficiently extracted cellulose technology with a high α-cellulose content from agricultural waste hemp stalks were treated by prepared Pectin Lyase (PL) and trace chemical additives. This extraction technique can obtain different α-cellulose content to meet the conditions for preparing pulp (PPs), viscose fibers (VFs) and nanofibrillated cellulose (CNFs). Specifically, fermentation process of PL (temperature, time, rotation rate and centrifugation rate) was evaluated on the reductive sugar concentration, fungus concentration and activity of hydrolase and lyase. Additionally, the morphological structure, chemical structure, crystallization structure, intermolecular action, and technical indicators of PPs, VFs and CNFs were characterized. The optimal results of fermenting PL were 10.3 U/mL of lyase activity and 36.1 U/mL of hydrolase activity. The technical indicators of PPs were 14.30 N·m/g of the horizontal ring pressure and 64 of the horizontal fold resistance times; The technical indicators of VFs were 2.13 cN/dtex of the intensity and 19.36% of the elongation at break; The length and width of CNFs were 326 nm and 3 nm, respectively. [Display omitted] • Cellulose was efficiently extracted from hemp stalk by pectin lyase. • Optimized the comprehensive analysis of one-factor tests by the Box-Behnken. • According to the α-cellulose content prepared paper pulp, viscose fiber, and nanofibrillated cellulose. [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 (

The combination of electrochemistry and mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical tool for studying redox reaction mechanisms and identifying products or intermediates. However, the previously reported devices all require bespoke fabrication and are too complicated to be assembled and used by others. Crucially, the long ion transport distance and small spray volumes make it difficult to capture the short-lived intermediates. We present a practical mass spectrometric method in which surface-modified carbon fiber paper is innovatively applied to detect electrogenerated intermediates. Treating carbon fiber paper with dilute nitric acid removes its surface impurities, enhancing the capability of electro-redox. Electrospray ionization and redox reaction occur simultaneously on the tip of the paper. Transient electro-redox species generate and transfer into gas phase as soon as the appearance of spray. Rapid transport of quantities of electrogenerated ions to the mass spectrometer inlet makes it possible for mass spectrometric identification on the millisecond scale. The short-lived radical cations and iminium ions were successfully captured, reflecting the starting step of the cross-dehydrogenation coupling reaction. The real-time oxidation and online functionalization reactions of tertiary amines were achieved using this device without additional oxidants and electrolytes. In this way we could achieve in-depth mechanistic understanding and rapid screening of serial reactions. [Display omitted] • Treating carbon fiber paper with dilute nitric acid enhances the capability of detecting electrogenerated intermediates. • A-CFPSI permits the real-time monitoring of electrochemical reaction intermediates on the millisecond scale. • No additional electrolytes and oxidants are required, avoiding interference with the mass spectrum. • A-CFPRSI can be used for rapid screening of electrochemical reactions and mechanism researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient and stable non-noble metal oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts for sustainable overall water-splitting is extremely desirable but still a great challenge. Herein, we developed a facile strategy to fabricate Co 3 O 4 –CoOOH heterostructure nanosheet arrays with oxygen vacancies grown on carbon paper (Co 3 O 4 –CoOOH/CP). Benefiting from the unique 3D architecture, large surface area, synergistic effects between Co 3 O 4 , CoOOH and oxygen vacancies, the obtained self-supporting Co 3 O 4 –CoOOH/CP presents excellent electrocatalytic OER activity (low overpotentials of 245 and 390 mV at 10 and 100 mA cm−2) and robust long-term stability in alkaline condition. The present strategy provides the opportunities for the future rational design and discovery of high-performance non-noble metal based electrocatalysts for advanced water oxidation and beyond. [Display omitted] • Co 3 O 4 –CoOOH heterostructure with oxygen vacancies grown on carbon paper was synthesized. • Synergic effect between oxygen vacancies and Co 3 O 4 –CoOOH facilitates the activity. • The Co 3 O 4 –CoOOH/CP exhibited excellent activity and stability for OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Dewatering and handling of pulp and paper mill sludge is challenging and often comprises more than half of the overall wastewater treatment costs at a mill. Primary sludge is usually more dewaterable than biosludge (waste activated sludge), and the ratio between both types of sludge largely determines the dewaterability of the sludge mix. This study has quantified the benefits of adding primary sludge to biosludge to enhance the dewaterability in terms of cake solids and filtrate/pressate solids content. Furthermore, the effects of the particle size distribution and the monovalent to divalent cation ratio of the various types of sludge were investigated. Biosludge and three types of primary sludge from a Canadian pulp and paper mill were mixed at various ratios and tested for dewaterability using a Crown Press®, a bench-scale device which simulates industrial belt press dewatering. Results show that after addition of primary sludge at up to 40% mass proportion (dry solids basis) the dewatered cake solids content increased substantially, from 10.4% to 18.7–19.9%, depending on the type of primary sludge added. Further addition of primary sludge led to comparably only small improvements. Primary sludge addition also resulted in decreased total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations in the combined gravity filtrate / Crown Press pressate. Primary sludge content of only 10% in the sludge mix was sufficient to decrease the TSS concentration from 1.8 g /L to 0.2 – 0.4 g /L. The study shows that only less than half of the sludge mix needs to consist of primary sludge, in order to achieve adequate dewaterability. This opens up the possibility of retaining more primary fiber within the pulping process, without compromising downstream sludge dewatering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the fabrication of paper-based microfluidic devices using a novel, inexpensive ink composed of bovine serum albumin (BSA), utilizing BSA's thermal denaturation and aggregation to create a hydrophobic barrier on Whatman® Grade 4 filter paper. A 20% aqueous solution of BSA was inked onto the paper using a pen plotter at moderate speed (5 cm/s) with desired shape and size followed by heating at 80 °C to denature the BSA leading to hydrophobic barriers formation, whereas below 80 °C the barrier layer is prone to collapse. The minimum line gap and line width of ~1 mm and ~1.3 mm were achieved. Finally, a proof-of-concept glucose sensing was shown while addressing the issue of the coffee ring effect using the biopolymer NanoCheck-ATH® from ChitoLytic Inc. The glucose concentration limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.2 mg/mL was estimated. The developed technique offers ease of fabrication, high reproducibility, cost-effectiveness, and is environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nutrition care should be individualized using clinical data and goals of PwCF. • Consider potential CV complications associated with the legacy, high fat/high calorie CF diet. • FI is a concern in PwCF from all socioeconomic sectors and screening should be part of standard. • There is a lack of data to make specific suggestions about salt intake in those PwCF and hypertension. • Inline enzyme cartridges are effective for digesting nutrients and promoting weight gain in PwCF. To provide interim advice and considerations to the CF Community around CF nutrition in the current era. The Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation organized a multidisciplinary committee to develop a Nutrition Position Paper based on the rapidly changing nutrition landscape in CF, due in part to widespread use of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator highly effective modulator therapy (HEMT). Four workgroups were formed: Weight Management, Eating Behavior/Food Insecurity, Salt Homeostasis and Pancreatic Enzyme use. Each workgroup conducted their own focused review of the literature. The committee summarized current understanding of issues pertaining to the four workgroup topics and provided 6 key take-aways around CF Nutrition in the new era. People with CF (pwCF) are living longer, particularly with the advent of HEMT. The traditional high fat, high calorie CF diet may have negative nutritional and cardiovascular consequences as pwCF age. Individuals with CF may have poor diet quality, food insecurity, distorted body image, and an higher incidence of eating disorders. An increase in overweight and obesity may lead to new considerations for nutritional management, given potential effects of overnutrition on pulmonary and cardiometabolic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The support for controversial policies in the area of transport often increases after real-world implementation. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of the literature surrounding the implementation of controversial policies in transport, particularly in the context of road pricing. We then discuss various theories and mechanisms that contribute to an increase in support for such policies after real-world implementation. One significant factor is a change in attitude towards a policy. However, there are also other important factors, for example the utility experienced by people is not necessarily the same as the expected utility. In addition, people may be loss-averse relative to their reference point (often: their current situation). The disadvantages of a policy considered for implementation may be clearer than the advantages. Other factors discussed are the effect of the expected distribution of gains and losses, their magnitude, and perceptions of the processes being fair and competent. We then examine the implications of increased support after implementation, important lessons being that policymakers can anticipate growing support after implementation and that communication is key in the process of deciding on a controversial policy. In this regard, we propose that having a champion, or visionary, can be particularly effective in getting controversial policies accepted. Finally, we suggest avenues for future research. • Controversial transport policies: support often increases after implementation. • Attitude changes are an important explanation. • Champions can be helpful for the implementation of controversial policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The optical pure l -lactic acid (99.5%) can be produced by non-engineered Bacillus. • Paper mill sludge with low ash content benefits cellulase enzyme production. • The use of paper mill sludge as feedstock is cost-effective. • On-site enzyme production ensures economic viability. Paper mill sludge (PMS) raises critical environmental issues due to its disposal problem, but its high sugar content and well-dispersed structure make it a great feedstock for biochemical production. The technical feasibility of integrating cellulase enzyme production into lactic acid (LA) fermentation from PMS was investigated in this study. The low ash content of PMS suggests a great potential for cellulase production. The enzyme produced using PMS without any treatment gave an activity of 7.8 FPU/ml, a performance comparable to the commercial enzyme, Cellic CTec 2. The LA yield from PMS with in-house enzyme was 64.7% and 73.7% at the enzyme loading of 10 and 15 FPU/g-glucan, respectively. The LA obtained was optically pure L- isomer with over 99% purity. The optimal condition of LA production by Bacillus coagulans was found to be 50 °C and pH 5.3 (with 50 g/L CaCO 3). The nutrient effect of yeast extract (YE) and corn steep liquor (CSL) was substrate dependent, and CSL could substitute YE as an inexpensive nutrient when using PMS as a substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords Bibliometrics; Citations; Machine learning; Big data; SHAP Highlights * This study examines 14 factors that can influence the citation of papers. * CatBoost model and SCOPUS dataset are used to examine the influences. * SHAP interprets the model and suggests how the factors contribute to the citation. * The results show that selecting the right journal/conference is the most important. Abstract The number of citations is often used to estimate the impact of a study. Previous studies have investigated what factors of publications affect citations and how they affect citations. However, the findings of the studies were unable to reach a consensus because of the limited sample size, domain, and measurement. This study reviewed previous studies that addressed factors influencing citations and then identified 14 measurable factors. Approximately 33 million publications from the Scopus database were used to train and validate a CatBoost model. A SHAP framework was used to interpret the trained model by focusing on how salient factors affect the number of citations. The results showed that the year is a significant factor affecting the citation but not the priority factor. A publication source was presented as the most important factor contributing to the citation. Several implications and strategic approaches to maximizing the impact of a study were discussed. Author Affiliation: Future Technology Analysis Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, 66 Hoegiro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02456, South Korea Article History: Received 17 February 2022; Revised 30 June 2022; Accepted 18 August 2022 Byline: Taehyun Ha [taehyunha@kisti.re.kr]

• Machine Learning to classify watermarked Italian paper. • XRF and FTIR spectroscopies to study late middle-aged Italian watermarked paper. • A new spatial-temporal approach to trace the local recipes and the geographical paper mills' production. • Bergamo and Bologna stand out as marked watermarked Italian paper mills. Manuscripts, illuminated codex, books, documents and letters are composite materials, traces of the past starting from the invention of the writing. In this context, dating is one of the most important information for document attribution, and watermarked papeItaly'smarkers for studying their time-spatial distribution. In the Late Middle Ages, Italy's most important centre of paper mill was located in the town of Fabriano (Marche region, Italy). Here, a selection of ten Italian Late Middle Ages watermarked papers belonging to the Corpus Chartarum Italicarum (Corpus of Italian papers) is characterised by elemental and molecular spectroscopies and collected data are analysed by Machine Learning (ML) to trace the local fabrication recipes and the geographical paper mills production. Data from portable X-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were analysed through Singular Vector Machine, Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy and Moving Blocks methods. This innovative ML spatial-temporal approach based on keeping the temporal variable fixed is used to find elemental benchmarks for classifying the watermarked Italian notarial catalogue of the Late Middle Ages finding differences in the local recipes and studying the homogeneity in the paper mills' production. Results show that watermarked paper from Northern Italy, from the town of Strozza, Piacenza and Bergamo , as well as Bologna, present a high elemental and molecular homogeneity, which indicates that the hand-made processing technique could be the same helped by the proximity of the three cities, starting point for technologies exchange or influence. No heavy metals are found in the watermarked paper and K, Ca, Fe and Zn are identified as elemental benchmarks. Finally, Ca, Ti, Mn, Cr and Fe are particularly present on the edges of the watermarked papers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1960's, Portugal has been affected by profound land use/land cover changes, which have boosted fuel continuity and fire-proneness nationwide. Within this context, the assets of pulp paper companies are exposed to large wildfires, which may cause severe economic losses. Wildfire simulations can help to scenarize and anticipate fire spread, contributing to efficiently allocate resources to protect values at risk. To test this framework, we assessed wildfire hazard in a 115,000 ha landscape, including 3,720 ha owned by two companies, with the aim of identifying the management units most exposed to large wildfires and the ones most at risk. We used Minimum Travel Time algorithm to estimate Burn Probability (BP), Fire Size (FS) and Conditional Flame Length (CFL). Wildfire hazard and exposure were assessed at the landscape-level; risk was estimated in production eucalypt plantations, by combining the annual BP with potential economic losses, based on management costs, loss of revenue and salvage wood. Our results showed that eucalypt plantations not managed by the companies represent a major threat to their patrimony. Industrial plantations with ages between 6 and 9 years have proven the most exposed. Very large wildfires (≥5,000 ha) can potentially spread in 53 % of the landscape, affecting 75 % of young eucalypt (<5 years) area. The 90th percentile of the risk ranges from 213 to 429 €ha−1 year−1 (9.6 % of production eucalypt area). This work resulted in a flexible methodology, replicable in Mediterranean regions with similar landcover. The information produced can provide additional guidance for wildfire prevention and risk management. [Display omitted] • We used MTT algorithm to simulate large wildfires under extreme weather conditions. • We assessed the exposure of pulp companies' management units to large wildfires. • We estimated risk as annual economic losses in production eucalypt plantations. • The 9.6 % of production eucalypt is associated with the 90th percentile risk. • We provided additional guidance for wildfire prevention and risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study demonstrates the potential of an integrated vertical flow-constructed wetland (IVFCW) for simultaneously treating black liquor and domestic wastewater. IVFCW was operated and monitored for 12 samples with the frequency of one sample per week with the following specifications viz,4 L of wastewater, a blend of 1:1 of pulp and paper industry effluent (black liquor BL), and domestic wastewater, was fed daily in a continuous mode with organic loading rate (OLR) of 1230 mg COD/L-Day, at a temperature range of 40-45℃ (natural temperature of the workstation). Valves controlled each chamber's hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 days and flow rate of 10 mL/minute. The IVFCW showed remarkable efficiency in removing various pollutants, including total suspended solids (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS), by 100 % and 83 %, respectively, and organic contaminants such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) by 80 % and 81 %, respectively. Moreover, the IVFCW efficiently reduced nutrients such as sulfates (SO₄-2), phosphates (PO₄-3), and total nitrogen by about 81 %, 63 %, and 61 %, respectively. The treatment also led to the reduction of lignin content by 83 %. Microbiological analysis revealed a significant reduction in fecal coliforms, and microbial profiling of Typha latifolia roots confirmed the presence of bacteria involved in lignin degradation. Seed germination and seedling survival were found to be negativelyaffected by untreated wastewater in a phytotoxicity study, suggesting that the wastewater's toxic chemicals could be harmful to plant life.This study highlights the effectiveness of IVFCW as a sustainable, economically viable, and resilient wastewater treatment system for mitigating environmental concerns related to the release of untreated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrinos are the Standard Model (SM) particles which we understand the least, often due to how weakly they interact with the other SM particles. Beyond this, very little is known about interactions among the neutrinos, i.e., their self-interactions. The SM predicts neutrino self-interactions at a level beyond any current experimental capabilities, leaving open the possibility for beyond-the-SM interactions across many energy scales. In this white paper, we review the current knowledge of neutrino self-interactions from a vast array of probes, from cosmology, to astrophysics, to the laboratory. We also discuss theoretical motivations for such self-interactions, including neutrino masses and possible connections to dark matter. Looking forward, we discuss the capabilities of searches in the next generation and beyond, highlighting the possibility of future discovery of this beyond-the-SM physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the order Saprolegniales (Oomycota) has been an ongoing quest for more than a century. The best studied genera are Saprolegnia and Aphanomyces , known for their pathogenicity on freshwater animals. In this study, we reviewed 1073 papers and 2803 ITS sequences of Saprolegniales to investigate their taxonomy, diversity and potential roles in mainly freshwater ecosytems. We found that, in general, our knowledge on diversity and ecology of Saprolegniales is limited. Neither classic taxonomy nor available molecular techniques have been sufficient to delineate genera and species and show their relative distribution in freshwater-associated habitats. Also, we currently lack a comprehensive understanding of their involvement in carbon turnover and food web dynamics. Finally, due to lack of using high-throughput sequencing techniques, it is not clear how and to what extent communities of Saprolegniales might differ in freshwater econiches. Therefore, we provide a historical perspective on the establishment of Saprolegniales , explain improvements, highlight deficiencies, and finally propose new research avenues for more systematic studies. We conclude that challenges in studying Saprolegniales can be removed by increasing the practicality of classic taxonomy and applying available molecular toolboxes (multi-gene phylogeny and high-throughput sequencing). Additionally, inclusion of Saprolegniales in freshwater carbon cycling should be addressed for their better ecological resolution. • The real diversity and ecology of freshwater Saprolegniales is greatly unknown. • Multi-gene phylogeny should be able to resolve and delineate ambiguous taxa. • High-throughput sequencing will show any habitat-specificity in Saprolegniales. • Saprolegniales are involved in freshwater carbon cycling and food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring and regulating photothermal materials–driven pyroelectric effects may aroused remarkable possibilities for the next generation of in–vitro point–of–care diagnosis. In the pursuit of this goals, the powerful impact of near–infrared light (NIR) has been largely neglected. Herein, a concise yet energetic NIR–excited photothermal–pyroelectric sensing platform had been successfully developed for sensitive let–7a detection. To realize it, the energy harvest was firstly achieved from flexibility polyimide–paper–based electrode on photothermal–pyroelectric. Under NIR irradiation, the photothermal–active matrix of ZnO/AgBiS 2 with the electronic configuration and allosteric triple–helix effector with pyroelectric SrTiO 3 were switched by fluctuation of thermal–field and pyroelectric–field, facilitating the separation of NIR–responsive carriers. During the process, the effector could regulate the activity of the CRISPR–Cas12a system according to the dose of the let–7a, reasonably leading to the precise quantification of targets with the detection limits of 1.68 fM. Besides, the effect of temperature variation on the sensing platform was investigated, revealing the NIR–excited synergy between photothermal effect and pyroelectric field. This work broadens new horizons towards upgrading the overall performance of photoelectrochemical sensing platform by more efficiently. [Display omitted] • A hollow nanorod photonic structure with constant absorption over near-infrared has been designed. • The dipole oscillation state of built-in electric field is investigated for photothermal-pyroelectric current generation. • The synergy of photothermal-pyroelectric assisted PEC activity to achieve efficient collection of thermal and electric energy. • The sensing platform integrates low cost, high portability, strong heat-stability, and limited invasiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel combination of aptasensing platform and speckle pattern analysis was introduced. • PDA@CNTs mussel chemistry was used to immobilize aptamer on cellulose paper matrix. • A label free aptasensor was designed for detection of breast cancer biomarker mucin 1. • Aptasensor was characterized with very good analytical figure of merits. Herein, we have developed a cellulose paper-based aptasensing protocol by employing dynamic laser speckle (DLS) analysis for direct and label-free probing of the binding interface. Cellulose filter paper surface was modified by using the mussel adhesion chemistry of polydopamine modified carbon nanotubes (PDA@CNTS). The mussel chemistry resulted in strong adhesion and binding of PDA@CNTs on cellulose paper surface. The modified surface was subsequently employed in the construction of label free aptasensor for detection of cancer biomarker mucin 1 (MUC1). Taking advantage of DLS technique, it provided us with sensitive and accurate analysis of target biomarker MUC1 by the intrinsic randomness of patterns generated from cellulose based paper surface. The developed aptasensor was evaluated using DLS at various fabrication steps, where the scattered laser beams from these samples were collected and analyzed based on the obtained speckle patterns. Under the optimal experimental conditions, paper-based aptasensor achieved sensitive and selective detection of MUC1, exhibiting excellent linear range (15–100) µM with a limit of detection of 1 µM. This work presents a novel study of promising laser speckle paper-based aptasensor, providing new insights for the development of low-cost, sensitive, and portable paper-based analytical tools for biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Industrial paper wastes are an underestimated source of lignocellulosic materials. In this work cellulose nanostructures (CNS) were produced from this residue by acid hydrolysis and two chemical pretreatments consisting of an alkaline (CNS-I) or an acid (CNS-II) treatment. These pretreatments and the obtained CNSs were characterized using compositional analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results reveal a reduction in the non-cellulosic compounds in pre-treated samples, with different levels of components removal and lower lignin values for alkali treatment. TGA reveals that CNSs present lower thermal stability than the residue. The SEM images revealed that pretreatment led to fiber breakage. The XDR diffractions show the co-existence of cellulose I and cellulose II, with different crystallinity index for CNSs. The DLS and AFM revealed that the production of spherical nanoparticles was following the dimensions of ˜195 for CNS-I and ˜350 nm for CNS-II. All the analysis allowed a more comprehensive understanding of the CNS properties and their possible applications. Finally, it is possible to conclude that the conversion of paper wastes into CNS is an excellent opportunity to recovery this residue and aggregate value to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Italian consensus about optimization in Nuclear Medicine Therapy. • Optimization must deal with feasibility, limited resources and cost/benefit. • Non-standardized therapies are defined, according to the variability of outcome. • Supremacy of the radiation therapy legislation over the pharmacological laws. • Appeal to EMA to obtain the official acknowledgment of this principle. This recommendation by the Italian Associations of Nuclear Medicine (AIMN) and Medical Physics (AIFM) focuses on the dosimetric optimization of Nuclear Medicine Therapy (NMT) as clearly requested by the article 56 of the EURATOM Directive 2013/59 and its consequent implementation in article 158 in the Italian Law n. 101/2020. However, this statement must deal with scientific and methodological limits that still exist and, above all, with the currently available limited resources. This paper addresses these specific issues. It distinguishes among many possible kinds of NMT. For each type, dosimetric optimization is recommended or considered optional, according to the general criteria adopted in any human choice, i.e. a check of technical feasibility first, followed by a cost/benefit argument. The classification of therapies as standardized or non-standardized is presented. This is based on the complexity of the type of pathology, on the variability of the treatment outcome, and on the risks involved. According to the present document, which was officially delivered to Italian Health Ministry as necessary interpretation of the law, a therapeutic team can, in science and consciousness, overcome the indications of posology, to optimize and tailoring a treatment with dosimetry, on the basis of published national or international data or guidelines, without need of an Ethics Committee approval. Data collected in this way will provide additional evidence about optimal dosimetric reference values. As conclusion, a formal appeal is made to the European and National regulatory agencies for pharmaceuticals to obtain the official acknowledgment of this principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) is common, there are no published outcome domains or validated measurement instruments for CPPD studies. In this paper, we describe the framework for development of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) CPPD Core Domain Sets. The OMERACT CPPD working group performed a scoping literature review and qualitative interview study. Generated outcomes were presented at the 2020 OMERACT CPPD virtual Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting with discussion focused on whether different core domain sets should be developed for different calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) clinical presentations and how the future CPPD Core Domain Set may overlap with already established osteoarthritis (OA) domains. These discussions informed development of a future work plan for development of the OMERACT CPPD Core Domain Sets. Domains identified from a scoping review of 112 studies and a qualitative interview study of 36 people (28 patients with CPPD, 7 health care professionals, one stakeholder) were mapped to core areas of OMERACT Filter 2.1. The majority of SIG participants agreed there was need to develop separate core domain sets for "short term" and "long term" studies of CPPD. Although CPPD + OA is common and core domain sets for OA have been established, participants agreed that existing OA core domain sets should not influence the development of OMERACT core domain sets for CPPD. Prioritization exercises (using Delphi methodology) will consider 40 potential domains for short term studies of CPPD and 47 potential domains for long term studies of CPPD. Separate OMERACT CPPD Core Domain Sets will be developed for "short term" studies for an individual flare of acute CPP crystal arthritis and for "long term" studies that may include participants with any clinical presentation of CPPD (acute CPP crystal arthritis, chronic CPP crystal inflammatory arthritis, and/or CPPD + OA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A novel material poly(dopamine)-functionalized waste paper derived carbon (WPC@PDA) was synthesized successfully by the activation of KOH and carbonization of waste A4 paper, followed by in situ polymerization of dopamine. • WPC@PDA was synthesized successfully by carbonization of A4 paper and polymerization of DA. The Q max is 384.6 mg/g at pH 7. • The adsorption experiment in simulated seawater (concentration of uranium ∼3 ppb) proved that WPC@PDA still kept good adsorption and selectivity properties. Abstract Waste paper derived carbon coated with poly(dopamine) (WPC@PDA) as a novel adsorbent was synthesized successfully by activation of KOH and carbonization of waste A4 paper, followed by in situ polymerization of dopamine. WPC@PDA composites possessed a 3D hierarchically interconnected porous structure and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area is calculated to be 364.6 m2/g. The enrichment of uranium for WPC@PDA composites from not only aqueous solution (mg/L) but also simulated seawater (μg/L) was fully evaluated under different scenarios. The experimental results indicated the maximum absorption capacity to uranium (VI) of WPC@PDA composites was 384.6 mg/g at pH 7. In addition, the distribution coefficient (K d) of U (VI) ion with other competing ions for WPC@PDA composites is 1.97 × 104 mg/L and demonstrated excellent selectivity to uranium (VI) in simulated seawater, which augurs well for the application of the adsorbent in seawater. Graphical abstract Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of efficient catalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is still an urgent task. In this paper, Ni/Mo/Cu/C and Ni/Mo/C electrode were obtained by conventional pulse voltammetry, which acted as cathode in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). The prepared samples are analyzed using SEM, XRD, XPS and electrochemical analysis techniques. Results indicated that the Ni/Mo/Cu coating has a rough and globular structure and presents high current density, a lower Tafel slope of 23.9 mV/dec than 30 mV/dec of Pt, which exceeds the electrochemical activity of Pt electrode. Its remarkably enhanced electrocatalytic activity is attributed to the high surface area, high conductivity as well as synergistic interaction among Ni, Mo and Cu. [Display omitted] • The introduction of Cu to Ni/Mo enhanced synergism among three metals and conductivity of the cathode material. • Results show Ni/Mo/Cu/C electrode has a low Tafel slope of 23.9 mV/dec and excellent kinetics of hydrogen evolution, which exceed Pt electrode. • Ni/Mo/Cu/C exhibit efficient electrocatalysis to hydrogen evolution reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural heritage conservation extends beyond individual interests, therefore preserving patrimony artworks is a timeless endeavor. This study proposes cold atmospheric plasma as a suitable method for the treatment of paper, deteriorated by cellulolytic bacteria. Three distinct methods of treating Bacillus velezensis isolated herein from an artificially deteriorated book were applied using cold atmospheric plasma. Bacteria were cultivated on membranes, in liquid media, and directly on paper. When used for five minutes at a power of 50 W and a current density of 12 mA/cm2, the designed cold atmospheric plasma device proved successful in preventing bacterial growth and spore formation. B. velezensis spore generation is a rare mechanism that has never been observed within these circumstances before. Moreover, the cold atmospheric plasma device can suppress the development of cellulolytic bacteria without damaging the paper substrate, which is a significant step in the preservation of patrimony artworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil impregnated paper capacitance graded transformer bushings serves as the external connection device of the transformer to support and connect the insulation, and its insulation state is related to the safe and stable operation of substation equipment.In this paper, a simulation model of 110kV oil impregnated paper capacitance graded transformer bushings is constructed on the commercial finite element software platform based on the actual size of the bushing and the principle of equal capacitance and steps. The paper calculate the potential and radial electric field distribution of the bushing under the normal working voltage, and analyze the influence of the aluminum plate on the radial electric field distribution of the bushing, verifying the rationality of the design principle based on equal capacitance and steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of online learning and subsequent online testing has expanded rapidly in pharmacy programs across the United States. Numerous published studies have compared online learning with traditional methods in pharmacy. However, no such studies have been published in pharmacy. This study's objective is to compare first-professional year student preferences for computer-based vs. traditional paper-and-pencil testing for a required social and administrative pharmacy class. All students enrolled in the class were invited to complete one brief survey at the end of the semester to determine their testing preference. Of the 138 first-professional year students completing the survey, 79% (109 of 138) preferred computer-based testing, 9% had no preference, 6% (8 of 138) preferred paper-and-pencil testing, and the remainder (8 of 138) stated it depended on what was being tested. Ninety-one percent of students did not perceive the testing method to impact their grades. Students preferred computer-based testing over traditional paper-and-pencil as a convenient testing method (mean 4.73 vs. 3.4, P <.001), providing immediate feedback (mean 4.87 vs. 1.91, P <.001), and as a more effective testing method (mean 4.57 vs. 3.96, P <.001). First-professional year students preferred computer-based over traditional paper-and-pencil testing for a social and administrative science class, with the method of testing not perceived to impact grade. This finding is timely, given the recent required transitioning of all pharmacy classes and subsequent testing to an online format due to the coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital models are considered the new standard in the clinical practice of orthodontics. However, they are difficult to use in the absence of a true scale for chairside use during clinical appointments. Therefore, an easy standardized method with true-scale paper print images would be of great utility. The aim of this study was to correlate and compare measurements obtained manually in true-scale paper printed images of digital models with those obtained digitally in the computer. Sixty desktop scanned digital models (30 upper and 30 lower) were analyzed. Ortho Insight 3D software was used for generating the printed images on paper and for measuring the digital models. Intercanine width, interpremolar width (first and second), intermolar width (first), and arch length measures were performed with both methods and were correlated and compared. There was a high correlation between measurements performed with both methods. Values obtained from paper print images were lower and showed statistically significant differences (<0.4 mm; P < 0.001), which did not have any clinical implications. There is a high correlation between orthodontic measurements obtained manually in true-scale paper printed images of digital models and those obtained digitally in computer models, with no clinical differences between the two measurements. True-scale printed images of digital models can be used chairside in clinical appointments for the verification of measurements, or even as a guide for archwire individualization and shape bending without the need for long and complex processes or scale sizing adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A CP based CoFe electrocatalyst with a simple and quick technique has been invested in our study. This amorphous CoFe/CP hybrid exhibits commendable electrocatalytic performance in the OER process, requiring only overpotential of 278 mV to achieve 10 mAm−2 in 1.0 M KOH solution and a lower Tafel slope of 54.58 mV dec-1. Because it enjoys peculiar multistage graded nano structure and Fe, Co co-incorporation, which can modify the surface structure, creating fertile ground for the specific surface area of CP and efficiency of electronic transmission. [Display omitted] • CoFe/CP has successfully grown on 3D nanoarray carbon paper (CP) containing non-precious metals. • The multistage graded nano structure can create fertile ground for the specific surface area of CP and efficiency of electronic transmission. • CoFe/CP with a nanosheet-like structure exhibits amorphous phase. • CoFe/CP-9 shows the corresponding overpotential at 10 mA•cm−2 is 278 mV and remarkable stability. Tremendous attention has been paid on high efficiency, readily available and stability of electrocatalysts. Herein, we ingenious report a one-step reaction strategy synthesis of CoFe/CP grown on three-dimensional (3D) nanoarray carbon paper (CP) containing non-precious metals for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with low-cost and unique hierarchical porous structure. This amorphous CoFe/CP hybrid exhibits commendable electrocatalytic performance in the OER process, requiring only overpotential of 278 mV to achieve 10 mAcm−2 in 1.0 M KOH solution and a lower Tafel slope of 49.12 mVdec-1. In addition, this sample shows a long-term durability even at 200 mAcm−2 without obvious decay, which attributes to peculiar multistage graded nano structure and the change of composition at the interface of CP. Therefore, the remarkable OER activity can provide a new strategy to construct potential candidates, which will replace the state-of-the-art precious metals for OER in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of incorporating lime mud (LM) as a filler material to develop sustainable, cementless ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) by replacing silica powder (SP) and silica sand (SS) at varying percentages. Flowability analysis reveals that LM, with its distinctive particle size, influences flow characteristics differently at different replacement levels. Compressive strength was improved by 5.4% with 30% SP replacement, showcasing the role of LM in nucleation, as well as its particle size advantage. The heat of hydration analysis indicates that LM likely influences the early curing stages, enhancing reactivity and nucleation. TGA analysis also confirms that LM plays a role in hydration reaction, influencing weight loss and hydration peaks. The mercury intrusion porosimeter results show the impact of LM on pore distribution, with 30% for SP and 50% for SS replacements, favoring denser matrices. Life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrates reduced CO 2 emissions and favorable environmental performance, highlighting the sustainability potential of LM replacements. Overall, the incorporation of LM in UHPC shows promise in terms of enhancing its mechanical properties and environmental sustainability. [Display omitted] • Lime mud (LM) in UHPC boosts material strength, leading to denser, more effective concrete. • LM enhances hydration, flowability, and refines pore structure. • High LM ratios in UHPC increase sustainability and reduce CO 2 emissions. • LM's use in UHPC significantly advances its mechanical properties and eco-friendliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]