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With the widespread application of graphene paper in energy storage, an increasing amount of research is focused on how to enhance its mechanical properties and specific surface area. In this study, flexible porous graphene papers were prepared using a graphene oxide (GO) dispersion and polyurethane diol oligomer (PUO) via electrospray deposition. The improved mechanical properties of the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) papers were attributed to the cross-linking of PUO molecules with the neighbouring GO flakes through π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions during the mixing of the GO dispersion and PUO. In addition, owing to the bursting of the bubbles introduced by PUO during the reduction process, many porous structures appeared inside the rGO paper. The rGO paper performance was adjusted by varying the ratio of PUO content. The optimised rGO paper proved to be excellent for energy storage and oil/water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urine contains multiple water-soluble hormones, which are valuable non-invasive biomarkers for the monitoring of reproductive status and health. An effective method for drying urine on filter paper was previously developed to preserve wildlife urine samples where electrical equipment was not available for this; however, the stability of samples preserved in this way remains to be verified. Here, we developed and validated a method to elute multiple water-soluble reproductive hormones from filter paper that had been stored for an extended period of time. Aliquots of urine from chimpanzees were adsorbed on filter papers, air dried and stored for 1 year at room temperature. Estrone-3-conjugate (E1C), pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG), estriol-3-glucuronide (E3G), and chorionic gonadotropin (CG) were eluted into deionized water from the filter papers and measured using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). The mean recoveries of E1C, PdG, and creatinine from filter papers stored for 1 year were 69.5%, 128.7%, and 83.8%, respectively. The profiles of E1C and PdG from preserved filter papers significantly correlated with those derived from a direct analysis of the frozen urine of menstruating chimpanzees. We detected E3G and CG from 1-year-old filter papers for urine collected during early pregnancy, but the recovery of E3G was low and CG profiles did not correlate with those of the original frozen urine samples. The method proposed here for the elution and measurement of reproductive hormones in urine preserved for a long period of time on filter paper provides a practical and simple way to monitor the reproductive status of chimpanzees. We propose that this method can also be utilized in field studies of other wild nonhuman primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibre-based specialty paper has become a promising candidate for high-performance insulating materials due to the remarkable properties of PBO fibres. However, the porous structure and poor interfacial interaction of PBO paper seriously weaken its mechanical strength and greatly limit its practical application. Herein, proposed for the first time, a homogeneous reinforcement strategy is developed to regulate the microstructure of PBO paper and efficiently enhance its overall properties. For this reason, flexible ortho-hydroxy polyamic acid (HPAA) was first synthesized and used to impregnate PBO paper. Subsequently, HPAA was thermally converted into a benzoxazole-containing resin, manifesting excellent interfacial compatibility with PBO paper. As a result, the compact structure and solid interface endow the composite paper with impressive performance. The tensile strength, modulus, and electrical breakdown strength of the composite paper are 116.86 MPa, 5.47 GPa, and 63.7 kV mm−1, respectively, increasing by 33.1, 8.1, and 1.1 times compared with those parameters of the original paper (3.43 MPa, 0.60 GPa, and 30.5 kV mm−1). Moreover, the composite paper also exhibits an ultra-low dielectric constant and loss tangent (1.6 and 0.004 at 106 Hz, respectively), as well as superhigh thermal stability (maximum decomposition temperature, Tmax ≈ 600 °C) due to the elaborate design of the structure. Thus, the mechanical strength has been successfully integrated with the outstanding insulation and thermal properties, rendering the lightweight PBO composite paper promising in the field of high-temperature and high-voltage electrical insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper dusting, which occurs when a tissue web releases unbound and loosely bound fibers or filler particles during tissue-making or product manufacturing, has an overall negative impact, causing safety hazards, machine runnability difficulties, and product quality issues. To date, there are no well-established industry standards to quantify dusting/linting propensities in finished tissue products, thus evaluating the effectiveness of dust/lint control programs is challenging yet intriguing. This research aims to fill this gap by developing a methodology to characterize dusting in tissue papers. We have developed a device prototype (named the Tissue Dust Collector) and a methodology that together have been named the Tissue Dust Analysis System (TDAS), which aims at quantifying the propensity for tissue-grade paper products to generate dust/lint in a controlled and reproducible manner. Two samples, corresponding to commercial products with a low and high linting propensity, were tested using the proposed device and methodology, and the released particles were quantified and characterized. The device and methodology provided reproducible results for simulated consumer handling and product manufacturing scenarios. By changing the instrument's motor frequency, the force of agitation changes, mimicking/simulating consumer (60 strokes per min, spm) and producer/manufacturing (180 spm) handling scenarios (though manufacturing processes are much faster in practice). Particle counts at each level for each product showed reproducible values differentiable at different agitation levels. Adopting the proposed Tissue Dust Analysis System may help to characterize and understand the mechanisms behind dusting to create dust-control strategies that can alleviate this issue at its various sources or simply allow tissue paper manufacturers to compare and advertise their products based on dusting propensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is an effective approach for trace-level detection of molecular substance. Plasmonic metallic nanostructures with high distribution densities and small gap widths are always expected for constructing SERS substrates. We report here a paper-based SERS substrate, where the three-dimensional (3D) network of paper fibers was used as the platform for supporting the gold nanoparticle clusters. Such a 3D arrangement of plasmonic porous clusters supplies high-density hotspots with large total volume and large surface area for the interaction with molecules. Comparison between different papers found that the filter papers commonly available in labs are the best choice. An enhancement factor higher than 104 has been achieved in the detection of R6G molecules. The preparation of such SERS substrates is very simple and convenient, implying low-cost, disposable, and environment-friendly SERS techniques. Furthermore, the paper-based flexible SERS substrates can be easily tailored into different shapes and sizes for fitting different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Korean hand papermaking is a renowned cultural tradition in the Korean peninsula. It is still practiced while scientific analysis of paper itself from a large data set is rare. In this study, a set of more than three hundred Korean handmade papers, collected in a reference collection book Hanji: Korean handmade paper, were chemically investigated, and their property data such as colour, pH, grammage, thickness, tensile strength, folding endurance were statistically analysed in order to determine general features for Korean papers. The influence of different paper sheet formation methods (Heullimtteugi vs Gadumtteugi) were revealed by multivariate data analysis and the chemical profiles of raw materials were studied by pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The Korean handmade paper samples display colour gamut in the colour space L* (69.9–95.9), a* [(−3)-3], b* (0–20), most have neutral/alkaline pH values. Paper density, fiber orientation and physical properties are influenced by the sheet formation techniques. For instance, Gadumtteugi tends to produce papers with strong fiber orientation while Heullimtteugi produces papers with more evenly distribution of fibers. In addition, Py-GC/MS analysis results show that paper mulberry fibers contain less intensity lignin monomers and more terpenic compounds in comparison with gampi and mitsumata fibers. This study provides paper analysis from large sample set, statistics reveal that the material preparing and making craft determined the paper structure which reflected in their physical properties. These properties influenced paper performance and applications in art creations as well as relics conservation and restoration. The characterized paper sample database could be used for handmade paper studies in East Asian region. Consequently, this study contributes to a better understanding of contemporary Hanji properties as well as improves knowledge on handmade papers from the Korean peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of environmentally friendly natural fiber composite materials is desirable. In this study, Urushi (oriental lacquer), which is a natural paint, and Sumi ink (black ink), which is a natural ink, were applied to Washi (Japanese paper), and their effect on the functional properties (appearance, mechanical properties, and water repellency) of the coated Washi were evaluated. Coating the Washi specimens with Urushi significantly improved their water repellency and tensile strength compared to those of untreated Washi. This was because Urushi filled the gaps between the fibers; however, it also caused brittle fracture. In addition, the elongation at break and water repellency were improved when Washi was coated with Sumi ink compared with those of untreated Washi. Furthermore, Washi specimens coated with Sumi ink followed by Urushi exhibited filled gaps between the fibers, a smoother surface, and lower water repellency compared to Washi directly coated with Urushi. The brittle fracture occurred from the Sumi–Washi fiber interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toilet paper has been reported as one of the major insoluble pollutant components in the influent of wastewater treatment plants. Toilet paper fibers contribute to a large production of sewage sludge, resulting in a high treatment cost and high energy consumption. To find energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environment-friendly technologies for fiber removal and resource recovery from wastewater, a life-cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to analyze the wastewater treatment processes, including a sieving process for removing and recovering suspended solids before the biodegradation units. Based on the LCA results, it was estimated that the sieve screening process saved 8.57% of energy consumption. The construction phase of sieving consumed 1.31% energy cost compared with the operation phase. Environmental impact analysis showed that sieving reduced the impacts of climate change, human toxicity, fossil depletion, and particulate matter formation, which reduced the total normalized environmental impacts by 9.46%. The life-cycle analysis of the removal of toilet paper fibers from wastewater revealed the need to use more efficient methods to enhance the recovery of cellulose fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper coating plays an important role in the paper properties, printability and application. The nanocoating is a multifunction layer that provides the paper with unique features. In this work, nanocoating formulas were prepared using a green method and component. The nanocoating formulas were based on biopolymers nanostarch NSt and nanochitosan NCh (NCS) decorated with Egyptian kaolinite Ka doped with zinc nanoparticles NCS@xka/ZnONPs (x represents different ratios) support for multifunctional uses. The nanocoating formulas were characterized using a physiochemical analysis as well as a topographical study. FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM techniques were used. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of the tested samples was assessed against six microorganisms including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The prepared nanocoating formulas affirmed excellent antimicrobial activity as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial active agent with excellent activity against all representative microbial communities. The nanocoating with the highest ratio of Ka/ZnONPs (NCS@40 ka/ZnONPs) showed excellent antimicrobial activity with an inhibition percentage of more than 70% versus all microorganisms presented. The paper was coated with the prepared suspensions and characterized concerning optical, mechanical and physical properties. When Ka/ZnONPs were loaded into NCS in a variety of ratios, the characteristics of coated paper were enhanced compared to blank paper. The sample NCS@40 ka/ZnONPs increased tensile strength by 11%, reduced light scattering by 12%, and improved brightness and whiteness by 1%. Paper coated with NCh suspension had 35.32% less roughness and 188.6% less porosity. When coated with the sample NCS@10 ka/ZnONPs, the coated paper's porosity was reduced by 94% and its roughness was reduced by 10.85%. The greatest reduction in water absorptivity was attained by coating with the same sample, with a reduction percentage of 132%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the fire risk of air filter paper, a reactive ammonium phosphite flame retardant was synthesized and applied to the flame-retarding treatment of air filter paper. It was found that ammonium phosphite reacted with cellulose existing in filter paper fibers to form P–O–C bonds and remarkably improved the flame-retarding properties and thermal stability of the air filter paper. After modification of the air filter paper with 30 wt% of ammonium phosphite, its limiting oxygen index value reached 39.5%, which remained at 29.6% after 4 h of the dipping test. The heat release rate and total heat release rate of the treated air filter paper decreased significantly, and the carbon residual amounts at 700 °C in the nitrogen atmosphere and in air reached 43.96% and 16.35%, respectively. During thermal decomposition, ammonium phosphite played a flame-retarding role in both condensed and gas phases. Moreover, ammonium phosphite, as a flame retardant, had no obvious influence on the physical properties and filtration performance of the air filter paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between digital urine color and paper urine color with other urine indices to assess hydration status. Methods: Twelve male subjects (mean ± standard deviation; age, 26 ± 8 years; body mass, 57.8 ± 5.3 kg; height, 177.5 ± 8.9 cm; VO2max, 57.8 ± 5.8 ml·kg−1·min−1) performed four exercise trials in the heat. Before and following exercise trials, subjects provide urine samples. Urine samples were measured using a digital urine color chart on a portable device screen. Urine samples were also assessed with urine specific gravity (USG), urine osmolality (UOsmo), and a validated paper urine color chart. Results: There were extremely large associations found between digital urine color and paper urine color (r = 0.926, p < 0.001). Correlation coefficients showing associations with USG and UOsmo were similar between digital urine color (USG, r = 0.695, p < 0.001; UOsmo, r = 0.555, p < 0.001) and paper urine color (USG, r = 0.713, p < 0.001; UOsmo, r = 0.570, p < 0.001). Bland–Altman analysis indicated that no proportional bias was observed between digital and paper urine colors (bias, − 0.148; SD of bias, 0.492; 95% LOA, − 1.11, 0.817; p = 0.094). Conclusions: Strong associations were found between digital and paper urine colors with no proportional bias. Furthermore, the degree of associations with USG and UOsmo was similar between digital and paper urine color. These results indicate that digital urine color is a useful tool to assess hydration status and this method could be used as an alternative method to using paper urine color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A PVA matrix was used to suppress infiltration and coffee-ring effects during colorimetric analysis on a paper substrate and improve the trace-level detection of nickel ions (Ni2+) in environmental samples. To improve the color response, a cross-linked PVA matrix was used to anchor the indicator reagent of Ni2+ on the surface of the porous paper substrate as well as reduce evaporation flow by increasing hydrogen bonding in the sample droplet. These phenomena mitigated the loss of color signal by suppressing infiltration and coffee-ring effects. Under optimized conditions, including crosslinker concentration and addition order, type of commercial filter paper, and loading volume of the PVA/indicator mixture, the sensor obtained a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.92 ppm and a notable linear behavior of R2 > 0.97 at a linear range of 0.5–50 ppm, which is sufficient for the detection of legal maximum residue limit (MRL) of Ni2+ in wastewaters in China. The PVA-assisted sensor showed good selectivity to most metal ions and could work at different pH levels ranging from 3 to 9. The sensor also exhibited highly sensitive and stable performance in repetitive measurements and had a shelf-life of more than 3 months. These results suggest that our work provides a facile approach to improving the sensitivity and reliability of paper-based sensors for monitoring trace-level Ni2+ concentration in aqueous samples with good selectivity and prolonged shelf-life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While gamified technology integration in vocabulary instruction within a flipped classroom has yielded beneficial teaching outcomes, specific studies have raised concerns about potential adverse effects linked to this approach. As a result, conducting a comparative analysis between gamified technology and conventional paper-based methods within the flipped classroom framework has become essential. This analysis aims to foster the development of a targeted teaching approach that adeptly addresses the unique needs of students. This study employed a sequential explanatory research design to examine the effectiveness of flipped classroom with gamified technology and paper-based method in teaching vocabulary to students with different proficiency levels. Quantitative data was gathered from a pretest and a posttest, whilst qualitative data was collected through teachers' guided reflection. Using Academic Word List (300 target words), control groups employed a paper-based, while experimental groups applied gamified technology (Quizlet, Kahoot!, Quizizz, Socrative, and Google Form), which lasted 10 weeks. The participants were 144 non-English major students who took a general English course in the 2nd semester of 2023. Quantitative data analysis ran in SPSS 25 using Paired Sample t-Test and One-way ANOVA. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic progression. The results showed that gamified technology did not affect students' learning outcomes, while the paper-based method resulted conversely. It revealed that the paper-based method is more effective than gamified technology for students in general, with low proficiency and high-proficiency level. Further, teachers' beliefs admitted distinctive issues that gamified technology was more effective for high-proficiency learners, whereas paper-based was more effective for low-proficiency learners. The difference analysis of quantitative and qualitative data sheds light on discussing threats while implementing gamified technology and possible solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorption properties of paper products are important when applying paper as the packaging material. Hydrophobicity, i.e. reduced affinity of paper surface to liquid water, is of particular importance from the point of view of the direct impact on packed goods. However, hygroscopicity of the material is significant during storage of goods. The analysis of changes in the hygroscopic properties of paper products induced by the treatment with silane modified starch was presented. The results on the hygroscopicity of treated paper were related to the previously published results on the hydrophobicity. The discrete values of equilibrium moisture content allowed constructing adsorption and desorption isotherms. The three-parameter Guggenheim, Anderson, and De Boer (GAB) model, the four-parameter Generalized D'Arcy and Watt (GDW), and Yanniotis and Blahovec (Y-B) sorption isotherm models were used to quantify the hygroscopic properties for all options of untreated and modified paper samples. The effectiveness of silanes for improving hygroscopic properties was determined and compared to their impact on hydrophobicity of the studied materials. It was found that 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane was the only silane improving hydrophobic and hygroscopic properties. The analysis of the applied models of sorption isotherms depicted that the GAB model was not valid for describing water sorption isotherms in the case of the tested materials, while the GDW and Y-B models provided a much more realistic description of water sorption mechanisms. The evaluation of the results of fitting the GDW model indicated that water molecules bonding to the primary sites was the dominating mechanism of sorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical strength and water resistance are typical issues with cellulose paper due to the nature of cellulose. Specialty papers that are highly foldable, such as banknotes and securities, must be able to withstand multiple folding actions while also providing exceptional durability. In this paper, a multi-approach strategy involving direct addition, in-situ growth, and coating is proposed for introducing aramid nanofibers (ANFs) as 1D nanofillers and 2D membranes to improve the overall properties of cellulose specialty paper. The flexible and fatigue-resistant ANFs with a large aspect ratio play the roles of filling and bridging between cellulose fibers and ANF via massive hydrogen bonds. The resulting 1.5 wt% ANF reinforced paper has a tensile index of 79.1 N m/g, an impressive folding endurance of over 3500 times, and strong water resistance (a water contact angle of 85.2°). Furthermore, SEM observation of paper during various folding periods reveals that the filling and bridging effects of ANFs, as well as their highly entangled nanofibrous network, contribute to paper's excellent foldability. This work facilitates promising candidates for simultaneously achieving robust, highly foldable, durable and water-resistant cellulose specialty paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic and strong cellulosic paper was fabricated in a two-step process consisting of heavy refining and dip coating with PDMS (trimethylsiloxy-terminated poly (dimethylsiloxane)) and Hf-SiO2 (hydrophobic fumed silica) solution. Results showed that the heavy refining produced extensive fibrillated fibers, which significantly increased the tensile strength. Meanwhile, the density of the paper sheet increased, and the porosity decreased. Benefiting from these changes, the subsequent dip coating operation was improved, producing paper with a very high water contact angle (WCA), yet with a low up-take of the hydrophobic solution. Finally, superhydrophobic paper sheets were fabricated with 155o WCA and 1o sliding angle (SA). At the same time, its tensile strength increased by 12.7 fold (from 0.85 MPa of the original paper to 10.8 MPa), with additional benefits, such as high transparency (75% at 550 nm). The superhydrophobic and strong paper is highly desirable for high value-added utilization of fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy storage devices (ESD) which are intended to power electronic devices, used in close contact of human skin, are desirable to be safe and non-toxic. In light of this requirement, Zn based energy storage devices seem to provide a viable pathway as they mostly employ aqueous based electrolytes which are safe and non-toxic in their functioning. Additionally, having a flexible ESD will play a crucial role as it will enable the ESD to conform to the varying shapes and sizes of wearable electronics which they energize. In this work, we have developed an inkjet-printed Zinc ion battery (IPZIB) with planar electrode configuration over bond paper substrate. Zn has been used as the negative electrode, MnO2 is used as the positive electrode with Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) as the active binder. Conducting tracks of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are used to construct the current collector on the paper substrate. The fabricated IPZIB delivered a high discharge capacity of 300.14 mAh g−1 at a current density of 200 mA g−1. The energy density of the IPZIB is observed as 330.15 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 220 W kg−1 and retains an energy density of 94.36 Wh kg−1 at a high power density of 1650 W kg−1. Finally, we have demonstrated the capability of the IPZIB to power a LED at various bending and folding conditions which indicates its potential to be used in the next generation flexible and wearable electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flame spread behavior over a filter paper in opposed flow was investigated on the ISS/Kibo, and the results were compared with the flammability map predicted in advance by scale analysis for a two-dimensional flame. The on-orbit experiments were conducted in the solid combustion experimental module (SCEM) as the first combustion test of the FLARE project by JAXA. A filter paper with a length of 130 mm, a width of 40 mm or 20 mm, and a thickness of 0.12 mm was used as the specimen. The opposed flow velocity and the oxygen concentration were varied from 0 cm/s to 25 cm/s, and from 13.5% to 34%, respectively. The ambient pressure is 101.3 kPa. The predicted limiting curve reasonably agreed with the minimum limiting oxygen concentration observed. On the other hand, in extremely slow flows, very robust flames were observed beyond the limiting curve. When the condition reached the limit of two-dimensional flame, the flame front changed from a linear shape to a spherical shape (flamelet) to shorten the preheat zone length, reducing the radiative heat loss to survive. In these cases, the flamelet was sustained for a long time (> 100 s), and a large amount of decomposed gas was released at the periphery of the pyrolysis zone generating a combustible vapor cloud around the spherical flame font. The presence of a long-life robust flamelet and the accumulation of such combustible mist can be fire hazards in microgravity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen and Karl von Frisch in 1973 for their pioneering work during the 1930s and 1940s, in the study of animal behaviour. Lorenz established the foundations of ethology in 1935 in what has become known as his "Kumpan paper". The paper focussed on the social relationships between conspecifics (i.e. 'kumpans', companions) and provided a much-needed conceptual framework for the study of animal behaviour. We describe the origins and immediate reception of Lorenz's paper using his correspondence with colleagues, mainly Erwin Stresemann who was then the influential editor of Journal für Ornithologie. The Kumpan paper was notable for its extraordinary originality, but also for its length and—in parts—its incomprehensible language. Most of Lorenz's concepts were rapidly superseded as the field of Ethology/Animal Behaviour developed over the following decades. The paper (translated in full into English only in 1970) is rarely read today, but as we show, many of Lorenz's observations of birds are both timeless and highly original and have the potential to inspire further research today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for recording the spatial distribution of radiation scattered from laser plasma in a wide angular range, up to 4π, using preexposed and developed photographic paper is proposed. This method makes it possible to obtain a radiation pattern of scattered radiation with a sufficiently high spatial and angular resolution. By calibrating the sensitivity of photographic paper, one can quantify the energy of scattered radiation in various directions and determine the integral value of the energy loss due to scattering in a wide spectral range from UV to IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Journal of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging has published a position paper on the use of theranostics in brain tumors. Theranostics, which involves using diagnostic imaging to identify specific molecular targets and then delivering targeted therapy, has shown promise in thyroid diseases, neuroendocrine tumors, and prostate cancer. The paper discusses the potential of theranostics in treating brain tumors, including meningiomas, gliomas, brain metastases, and pediatric brain tumors. It highlights the challenges in delivering therapeutics to the brain due to the blood-brain barrier and calls for further research and clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of theranostic approaches in neuro-oncology. [Extracted from the article]

Simple, portable, and low-cost paper-based sensors are alternative devices that have the potential to replace high-cost sensing technologies. The compatibility of the paper base biosensors for both chemical and biochemical accentuates its feasibility for application in clinical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and food quality monitoring. High concentration of copper in blood serum and urine is associated with diseases like liver diseases, carcinomas, acute and chronic infections, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Detection of copper concentration can give an early sign of Alzheimer disease. Apart from that genetic Wilson's disease can be detected by evaluating the concentration of copper in the urine. In view of the above advantages, a novel and the highly sensitive paper-based sensor has been designed for the selective detection of Cu2+ ions. The fast and highly sensitive chemiresistive multi-dye system sensor can detect Cu2+ ions selectively in as low as 2.23 ppm concentration. Least interference has been observed for counter ion in the detection of Cu2+. Copper chloride, nitrate, and acetate were used to validate the detection process. This assay provides a very high selectivity of Cu2+ ion over other metal cations such as Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, etc. The easy preparation and high stability of dye solutions, easy functionalization of the paper-based sensors, high selectivity over other cations, low interference of counter anion, and significantly low detection limit of 2.23 ppm make it an effective Cu2+ ion sensor for real-time application in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common among populations globally, and in Asia and Malaysia. The purpose of this Position Paper is to propose recommendations for both clinicians and non-clinicians to promote vitamin D sufficiency in Malaysian adults. Formation of a national multisector, multidisciplinary alliance is also proposed to progress initiatives relating to safe sun exposure, adequate vitamin D intake through food fortification, and vitamin D supplementation for high-risk groups. Methods: Literature reviews were undertaken to inform summaries of the following: vitamin D status globally and in Asian and Malaysian populations, vitamin D status among individuals with common medical conditions, and current recommendations to achieve vitamin D sufficiency through sun exposure, food intake and supplementation. Recommendations were based on the findings of the literature reviews, recent European guidance on vitamin D supplementation, the 2018 road map for action on vitamin D in low- and middle-income countries, and research recommendations proposed by the Malaysian Ministry of Health in 2017. Results: Recommendations on assessment of vitamin D in the adult Malaysian population include using serum or plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration as a biomarker, widespread participation by Malaysian laboratories in the Vitamin D Standardization Program, adoption of the US Endocrine Society definitions of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, and development of a comprehensive nationwide vitamin D status study. Specific high-risk groups are identified for vitamin D assessment and recommendations relating to loading doses and ongoing management are also made. Conclusion: This Position Paper provides individual clinicians and national stakeholder organisations with clear recommendations to achieve vitamin D sufficiency in the adult population of Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten white-rot fungal isolates were evaluated for the decolorization potential of pulp and paper mill effluent. Trametes elegans PP17-06, Pseudolagarobasidium sp. PP17-33, and Microporus sp.2 PP17-20 showed the highest decolorization efficiencies between 42 and 54% in 5 d. To reveal the mechanisms involved in decolorization and assess the long-term performance, PP17-06, which showed the highest decolorization efficiency, was further investigated. It could reduce the ADMI color scale by 63.6% in 10 d. However, extending the treatment period for more than 10 d did not significantly enhance the decolorization efficiencies. The maximum MnP activity of 3.27 U L−1 was observed on the 6 d during the biodegradation. In comparison, laccase activities were low with the maximum activity of 0.38 U L−1 (24 d). No significant LiP activities were monitored during the experiment. Dead fungal biomass showed an optimum decolorization efficiency of 44.18% in 8 d employing the biosorption mechanism. No significant changes in the decolorization efficiency were observed after that, suggesting the equilibrium status was reached. These results revealed that PP17-06 has the potential to decolorize pulp and paper mill effluent by employing both biodegradation and biosorption processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive, flexible, cheap, and biodegradable biosensor has been fabricated to detect paraoxon-ethyl (PE) more effectively. In this work, copper oxide (CuO) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-modified Whatman paper (WP)-based electrode are fabricated and then characterized by using different techniques. For the fabrication of CuO@PEDOT:PSS/WP electrode, firstly, the PEDOT:PSS/WP was optimized by various solvents such as ethylene glycol (EG), 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethyl acetamide (NMA), and glycerol to enhance the conductivity. The EG-treated PEDOT:PSS/WP electrode shows maximum conductivity (1.4 × 10− 2 S cm− 1) among all solvents. Further, the incorporation of CuO enhances the electrochemical performance of proposed biosensor. All electrochemical results validate that the proposed biosensor (AChE/CuO@PEDOT:PSS/WP) shows high sensitivity and low detection limit of 9.1279 µA/nM and 0.42 nM, respectively. The proposed paper electrode can be a highly promising alternative to conventional electrodes that are known to have limited applications due to their high cost and limited flexibility. The accuracy of the proposed biosensor was successfully checked in two real samples, which makes it more applicable for PE detection in real-world scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide variety of biomass is available all around the world. Most of the biomass exists as a by-product from manufacturing industries. Pulp and paper mills contribute to a higher amount of these biomasses mostly discarded in the landfills creating an environmental burden. Biomasses from other sources have been used to produce different kinds and grades of biomaterials such as those used in industrial and medical applications. The present review aims to investigate the availability of biomass from pulp and paper mills and show sustainable routes for the production of high value-added biomaterials. The study reveals that using conventional and integrated biorefinery technology the ample variety and quantity of waste generated from pulp and paper mills can be converted into wealth. As per the findings of the current review, it is shown that high-performance carbon fiber and bioplastic can be manufactured from black liquor of pulping waste; the cellulosic waste from sawdust and sludge can be utilized for the synthesis of CNC and regenerated fibers such as viscose rayon and acetate; the mineral-based pulping wastes and fly ash can be used for manufacturing of different kinds of biocomposites. The different biomaterials obtained from the pulp and paper mill biomass can be used for versatile applications including conventional, high performance, and smart materials. Through customization and optimization of the conversion techniques and product manufacturing schemes, a variety of engineering materials can be obtained from pulp and paper mill wastes realizing the current global waste to wealth developmental approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper, as a foldable, pollution-free, and low-cost material, has become a suitable support substrate for producing flexible thermoelectric (TE) generators to realize waste heat recycling and the application of human-powered electronic devices. We propose a facile fabrication method to modify cellulose paper with inorganic TE powders via vacuum filtration, making a modified paper that possesses good thermoelectric properties. By connecting the modified paper to copper foils, flexible paper-based TE generators (PTGs) are fabricated. The obtained PTG with three units of P–N modules can generate an output voltage of ∼41.2 mV at a temperature difference of 50 K. Based on this modified paper, a thermal sensor that responds to heat sources, such as fingers, is proposed with a rapid response time of 0.25 s. This work offers a promising strategy for the simple fabrication of PTGs, paving the way for achieving the commercial application of self-powered wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In offset printing process, poor mechanical properties and printability of paper substrate usually result in printing problems, low quality of print and waste of paper materials. Therefore, many researches focus on the quality improvement of paper substrates using suitable additives. In this work, N-methylated chitosan, including N, N-dimethyl chitosan (DMC) and N, N, N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC), were prepared and employed as coating agents to ameliorate the mechanical properties and printability of paper sheets. Analysis results showed that the mechanical strength of coated papers with DMC and TMC were largely improved, because the fibers with negative charges were prone to form electrostatic bonding with the positively charged N-methylated chitosan, thus enhancing paper strength. Particularly, compared with chitosan and DMC, the TMC-coated paper exhibited better mechanical properties, printability and surface properties due to the high cationic charge density of TMC. Therefore, surface coating with TMC is of great benefit to decrease the printing problem of paper sheets and enhance the operation speed in offset printing. This work provides a valuable reference for the amelioration of the printability and physical properties of high-quality paper products for many promising applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autistic individuals often experience a wide range of barriers and challenges with employment across their lifetime. Despite their strengths and abilities to contribute to the workforce, many individuals experience unemployment, underemployment and malemployment. However, current supports and services are often inadequate to meet their needs. To allow autistic people to achieve vocational success, we explore four contributors to employment and expand upon the issues and potential solutions to each. These positions include the importance of family support and its consideration in the application of vocational support interventions, addressing transitional needs for autistic youth, building employer capacity, and conducting research that advises the development of meaningful programs and policies. By advocating for these positions, we aim to foster greater inclusivity and support for individuals with ASD in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of analyzing the general and functional diversity of the ecosystem is considered, as is unambiguous interpretation of the results obtained based on our work experience and previously obtained data. The prospects for studying small mammals without removal from the wild are discussed. We discuss distinguishing in a sample the resident component, which makes it possible to characterize local resource flows, and the nonresident component, dependent on the state of the territory as a whole. A description of the capture–mark–recapture protocol, methods for assessing spatial activity, calculating the density of the resident population per unit area, and the completeness of species richness estimate is provided. The estimates of animal numbers per unit of trapping effort in pooled sample, the population density of residents, and the index of the nonresident flow are compared. The possibility of analyzing the resource flows in "historical," "novel," and "hybrid" ecosystems, as well as using data to analyze the resilience of the ecosystem and detect the threshold point, is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the key roles of the cerebellum in motor, cognitive, and affective operations and given the decline of brain functions with aging, cerebellar circuitry is attracting the attention of the scientific community. The cerebellum plays a key role in timing aspects of both motor and cognitive operations, including for complex tasks such as spatial navigation. Anatomically, the cerebellum is connected with the basal ganglia via disynaptic loops, and it receives inputs from nearly every region in the cerebral cortex. The current leading hypothesis is that the cerebellum builds internal models and facilitates automatic behaviors through multiple interactions with the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and spinal cord. The cerebellum undergoes structural and functional changes with aging, being involved in mobility frailty and related cognitive impairment as observed in the physio-cognitive decline syndrome (PCDS) affecting older, functionally-preserved adults who show slowness and/or weakness. Reductions in cerebellar volume accompany aging and are at least correlated with cognitive decline. There is a strongly negative correlation between cerebellar volume and age in cross-sectional studies, often mirrored by a reduced performance in motor tasks. Still, predictive motor timing scores remain stable over various age groups despite marked cerebellar atrophy. The cerebello-frontal network could play a significant role in processing speed and impaired cerebellar function due to aging might be compensated by increasing frontal activity to optimize processing speed in the elderly. For cognitive operations, decreased functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) is correlated with lower performances. Neuroimaging studies highlight that the cerebellum might be involved in the cognitive decline occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD), independently of contributions of the cerebral cortex. Grey matter volume loss in AD is distinct from that seen in normal aging, occurring initially in cerebellar posterior lobe regions, and is associated with neuronal, synaptic and beta-amyloid neuropathology. Regarding depression, structural imaging studies have identified a relationship between depressive symptoms and cerebellar gray matter volume. In particular, major depressive disorder (MDD) and higher depressive symptom burden are associated with smaller gray matter volumes in the total cerebellum as well as the posterior cerebellum, vermis, and posterior Crus I. From the genetic/epigenetic standpoint, prominent DNA methylation changes in the cerebellum with aging are both in the form of hypo- and hyper-methylation, and the presumably increased/decreased expression of certain genes might impact on motor coordination. Training influences motor skills and lifelong practice might contribute to structural maintenance of the cerebellum in old age, reducing loss of grey matter volume and therefore contributing to the maintenance of cerebellar reserve. Non-invasive cerebellar stimulation techniques are increasingly being applied to enhance cerebellar functions related to motor, cognitive, and affective operations. They might enhance cerebellar reserve in the elderly. In conclusion, macroscopic and microscopic changes occur in the cerebellum during the lifespan, with changes in structural and functional connectivity with both the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. With the aging of the population and the impact of aging on quality of life, the panel of experts considers that there is a huge need to clarify how the effects of aging on the cerebellar circuitry modify specific motor, cognitive, and affective operations both in normal subjects and in brain disorders such as AD or MDD, with the goal of preventing symptoms or improving the motor, cognitive, and affective symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias (IMCAs) have diverse etiologies. Patients with IMCAs develop cerebellar symptoms, characterized mainly by gait ataxia, showing an acute or subacute clinical course. We present a novel concept of latent autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (LACA), analogous to latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). LADA is a slowly progressive form of autoimmune diabetes where patients are often initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The sole biomarker (serum anti-GAD antibody) is not always present or can fluctuate. However, the disease progresses to pancreatic beta-cell failure and insulin dependency within about 5 years. Due to the unclear autoimmune profile, clinicians often struggle to reach an early diagnosis during the period when insulin production is not severely compromised. LACA is also characterized by a slowly progressive course, lack of obvious autoimmune background, and difficulties in reaching a diagnosis in the absence of clear markers for IMCAs. The authors discuss two aspects of LACA: (1) the not manifestly evident autoimmunity and (2) the prodromal stage of IMCA's characterized by a period of partial neuronal dysfunction where non-specific symptoms may occur. In order to achieve an early intervention and prevent cell death in the cerebellum, identification of the time-window before irreversible neuronal loss is critical. LACA occurs during this time-window when possible preservation of neural plasticity exists. Efforts should be devoted to the early identification of biological, neurophysiological, neuropsychological, morphological (brain morphometry), and multimodal biomarkers allowing early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention and to avoid irreversible neuronal loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, thousands of papers are published in journals and conferences by researchers in many different fields. These papers are an important guide for other researchers. However, the increasing amount of digital data with the development of information technologies makes it difficult to reach the desired information. Recommendation systems play an important role in facilitating researchers' access to studies on their subjects. It provides faster and easier access to papers on the desired subject. Recommendation systems are developed according to the user profile or subject. In this paper, a novel hybrid paper recommendation system based on deep learning is proposed. The method uses a combination of document similarity, hierarchical clustering, and keyword extraction. Our aim is to group papers in different fields such as computer science, economics, medicine, or in a specific field, according to their subjects, and to present papers with high semantic similarity to the user according to the query entered. The study has been applied on real dataset containing papers from different categories such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, human–computer interaction in computer science. The success of each stage of the study has been evaluated separately. However, looking at the system as a whole, the overall performance of the proposed approach is 80%. Papers having high similarity with their queries have been recommended to users. Thus, access to the studies on the desired subject in the huge amount of papers has been made faster and easier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher tensile and bursting strength are paramount concerns in paper-based packaging materials. Herein, the aminated cellulose nanocrystal (A-CNC) was synthesized by the amination reactions firstly, and the base paper was reinforced via coating hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and A-CNC. The surface morphology and tensile strength of the coated composite paper were characterized and the rheological performance of A-CNC was also investigated. The results clearly demonstrated that coating of HPMC/A-CNC significantly increased the dry tensile strength of composite paper by 1.035 times (32.88 MPa) as compared with base paper (16.16 MPa). In addition, the paper strength as coated with A-CNC was also higher than that of unmodified CNC, which was attributed to the improvement of viscosity of A-CNC. The composite papers coated HPMC/A-CNC showed a great potential in packaging applications with higher mechanical strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Visual analogue scales (VASs) are used in a variety of patient-, observer- and clinician-reported outcome measures. While typically included in measures originally developed for pen-and-paper completion, a greater number of clinical trials currently use electronic approaches to their collection. This leads researchers to question whether the measurement properties of the scale have been conserved during the migration to an electronic format, particularly because electronic formats often use a different scale length than the 100 mm paper standard. Methods: We performed a review of published studies investigating the measurement comparability of paper and electronic formats of the VAS. Results: Our literature search yielded 26 studies published between 1997 and 2018 that reported comparison of paper and electronic formats using the VAS. After excluding 2 publications, 23 of the remaining 24 studies included in this review reported electronic formats of the VAS (eVAS) and paper formats (pVAS) to be equivalent. A further study concluded that eVAS and pVAS were both acceptable but should not be interchanged. eVAS length varied from 21 to 200 mm, indicating that 100 mm length is not a requirement. Conclusions: The literature supports the hypothesis that eVAS and pVAS provide comparable results regardless of the VAS length. When implementing a VAS on a screen-based electronic mode, we recommend following industry best practices for faithful migration to minimise the likelihood of non-comparability with pVAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oily water contamination has been sighted as one of the most global environmental pollution. Herein, copper hydroxide nanorods layer was constructed onto cellulosic filter paper surface cured with polydopamine, Ag nanoparticles, and Cu NPs through immersion method. This work has been aimed to produce a superhydrophobic and superoleophilic cellulosic filter paper. The structure, crystalline, and morphological properties of these modified cellulosic filter paper were investigated. Scanning electron microscope images confirmed that the modified surface was rougher compared with the pristine surface. The contact angle measurement confirmed the hydrophobic nature of these modified surfaces with a water contact angle of 169.7°. The absorption capacity was 8.2 g/g for diesel oil and the separation efficiency was higher than 99%. It was noted that the flux in the case of low viscosity solvent as n-hexane was 9663.5 Lm−2 h−1, while for the viscous oil as diesel was 1452.7 Lm−2 h−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research uses WP to investigate the effect of two types of Shredded Waste Paper (SWP) comprising Shredded Copier Waste Paper (SCPWP) and Shredded Cardboard Waste Paper (SCBWP) as additives on the properties of concrete and the structural behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Beam (RCB). The slump, compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strengths increase by 4–13% for 5–10% addition of SCPWP and decrease by 16–23% for 15% addition of SCPWP compared to 0% addition. For SCBWP, the slump, compressive, flexural and splitting tensile strengths increase by 10–23% for 5–10% addition and decrease by 15–21% for 15% addition compared to 0% addition. 15% of SCPWP and SCBWP addition records the highest effect in water absorption and efflorescence, showing 11% and 10.28% increases with 15% addition of SCBWP and SCPWP. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis reveals that the crack is repaired, and the presence of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and calcium–silicate–hydrate (C–S–H) links enhances the concrete strength. The addition of 10% SCPWP and 10% SCBWP in the concrete mixtures improves the structural behaviour of RCB with stirrup spacing (SS) = 100 mm (full), 150 mm and 200 mm (reduced) by increasing the load and reducing the deflection. Apart from that, the concrete bending and shear strains also increase by 44.17% and 34.9%. The failure mode of the RCB changes from shear to bending. This study indicates that SCPWP and SCBWP can be used as additives in concrete at 5% and 10%, and 10% for RCB with significant strength and structural improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With oil pollution in water posing a serious threat to the ecosystem, it's of great importance to explore superhydrophobic materials that are environment-friendly and easy to obtain for oil–water separation. Herein, we report a novel one-step silanization strategy to fabricate superhydrophobic cellulose paper based on the air-induced vertical polymerization of a long-chain alkyltrichlorosilane. The as-prepared paper exhibited remarkable superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of ~ 165° and a water sliding angle of ~ 1.9° owing to the formation of micro/nanostructured, honeycomb-like polyorganosiloxane agglomerates anchored on the surface. Moreover, when subjected to strong acid/alkali solutions and mechanical forces (sonication and sandpaper abrasion), the superhydrophobic paper showed excellent durability. Due to the extreme wetting properties, namely superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity, such paper could be used for selectively separating oil from various oil/water mixtures. The proposed method for fabricating superhydrophobic paper has many advantages in terms of cost, simplicity and scalability, making it very promising for real-world application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of paper-based flexible electronic devices can reduce the use of traditional petroleum-based polymer substrates, thereby reducing environmental pollution. However, paper substrates tend to absorb moisture, which would degrade the performance of electronic devices. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) films were proposed as coatings for the paper substrate to improve the hydrophobic performance of the paper, thereby enhancing the stability of paper-based device. Hydrophobic PTFE films were deposited on both sides of the paper substrate using electron beam evaporation, which block the paper substrate from absorbing moisture. The zinc oxide (ZnO) film was sputtered onto the paper substrate and fabricated into ultraviolet photodetectors (UVPD). Numerical simulations show that the introduction of PTFE films can greatly reduce the stress from 3.21 × 109 N m−2 to 3.50 × 107 N m−2 in the ZnO epitaxial layer on the paper substrate. The stability and detectivity of the UVPD with PTFE coatings are greatly improved compared to that without PTFE coatings, providing a promising avenue for fabricating stable, superior, and sustainable paper-based electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we demonstrate an effective anion capturing in an aqueous medium using a highly porous carbon paper decorated with ZnO nanorods. A sol–gel technique was first employed to form a thin and compact seed layer of ZnO nanoparticles on the dense network of carbon fibers in the carbon paper. Subsequently, ZnO nanorods were successfully grown on the pre-seeded carbon papers using inexpensive chemical bath deposition. The prepared porous electrodes were electrochemically investigated for improved charge storage and stability under long-term operational conditions. The results show effective capacitive deionization with a maximum areal capacitance of 2 mF/cm2, an energy consumption of 50 kJ per mole of chlorine ions, and an excellent long-term stability of the fabricated C-ZnO electrodes. The experimental results are supported by COMSOL simulations. Besides the demonstrated capacitive desalination application, our results can directly be used to realize suitable electrodes for energy storage in supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

In this article, we report the development and optimization of a cost-effective, biodegradable, disposable, and lightweight conductive polymer deposited on exfoliated graphite paper battery. The anode is made of aluminum foil and the cathode using electrochemically deposited anthraquinone conductive polymers on exfoliated graphite paper. Concentrated sodium chloride salt is used as the electrolyte. The battery shows a maximum capacity of 235 mA h g−1 and a superior cyclability of up to 500 cycles at 50.0 mA cm−2 current density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many paper manuscripts at museums, stores, and libraries that have different stains. The dust stains and soil remains played an important role in the degradation of these manuscripts. Therefore, the cleaning process for these stains is important to process. Unfortunately, the removal of stains by some traditional techniques can be hazardous to the paper's fibers. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate innovative nanoparticle gels in the cleaning process of dust stains from paper manuscripts. The synthesized nanomaterials [Fe3O4, TiO2, and ZnO]/Carbopol hybrid nanogel were examined in order to investigate the surface morphology, determine the physio-chemical properties, for phase structure, using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), AFM, DLS, XRD, and Zeta potential. Some stained paper samples were prepared and exposed to accelerated thermal aging at 100 °C for 72 h. The evaluation of the cleaning by nanogel was performed by different analytical procedures containing investigation with a USB digital microscope, SEM, color change, mechanical properties, and ATR-FTIR analysis. The results of this study showed that ZnO/Carbopol hybrid nanogel at high viscosity gave the best results in the cleaning process of mud stains through the ability to dismantle mud particles and increase surface contact with the solvent. The aged treated sample with high viscosity form of ZnO NPs/carbopol hybrid nanogel gave the highest tensile strength value of (56.0 N). The treated samples with the high viscosity form of ZnO NPs/carbopol hybrid nanogel gave the highest value of elongation (1.398%) before aging. It also does not affect the chemical composition of the paper after cleaning it, but rather on the whole, it bites the hydration of the paper, which positively affects the properties of the treated paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a well-established fact that legally sound evidences are required to prove or disprove any criminal activity. When a particular activity occurs, it leaves a trace out of mutual contact and failure to detect that trace proves the activity did not occur. To enhance the capabilities of the justice system in evaluating evidence, researchers are continuously engaged in the development of novel analytical techniques which provide scientific methodologies for effectively assessing and interpreting the evidence associated with criminal activities. Among the several devices available, paper-based microanalytical devices (μPADs) have attracted the interest of forensic scientists/experts in recent years. These devices are designed with microchannels to which dedicated reagents are added for promoting selective reactions. As a result, they offer a practical and convenient solution for on-site detection of physical evidence, providing ready-to-use capabilities for forensic investigations. This does not only help the investigators in collection of legally sound evidences but also open avenues in apprehending the potential offender who might be present in the scene by detecting the traces. μPADs are inexpensive, simpler to operate, require less chemical consumption, portable, and provides results visible to naked eye. Furthermore, with the aid of digital scoring of color intensity, semi-quantitative results can be generated. This review explains current state of applications and operating chemistry of µPADs involved in analysis of evidences of forensic interest such as explosives, gunshot residue, drugs of abuse, pesticides, body fluids, and estimation of time since death. Furthermore, the research gaps in the domain and viability of future trends for the application of µPADs in forensic science are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine a series of papers from top ranked orthopaedic journals with respect to the number of citations over a 10-year observation period to identify factors that lead to high citation rates. Methods: The Web of Science database was consulted to identify all published papers from the first-year term of 2010 (January-May) from four top orthopaedic journals: AJSM, Arthroscopy, JBJS Am and KSSTA. The database was used to analyze and compare the papers with respect to their characteristics and citations up to 2019. Basic information for each paper was collected including the author, country, study type and average citations per year (ACY). The most (Top20%) and least (Bottom20%) frequently cited papers were identified and differences were extracted. Results: Five hundred sixteen papers were included with a total of 19,261 citations. Most of the published papers were from the United States (n = 245). On average, a paper received 37.3 citations over the 10-year observation period. The most cited paper was cited 322 times. The most cited study type was randomized controlled trial (RCT) (Ø80.8). The Top20% papers were cited 37 times more often than the Bottom20%. Among the Top20%, the largest group was cohort study (n = 20) followed by case series (n = 19). Among others, the number of authors, the number of keywords and the number of references significantly correlated with the number of citations (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Factors influencing citation frequency were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The printability properties of the paper can be increased by some processes applied to the surface. The use of non-recyclable materials derived from petroleum is decreasing day by day, and the demand for recyclable materials obtained from renewable sources is increasing. These materials include cellulose derivatives, starch types and polyvinyl alcohol. The materials ratios, sizes, physical and chemical properties of these materials used in the processes applied to the paper and the content of the paper will affect the strength of the paper as well as change the surface properties and significantly affect the printability. The aim of this study is to obtain better printability properties by improving the paper surface with CNF/CNF-OX coating. In this study, fluting and core board papers coated with different amounts of cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/cellulose nanofiber-oxidized (CNF-OX) were produced. Surface properties, contact angle, surface energy, color and gloss of the produced papers were measured by optical microscope, goniometer, spectrophotometer and glossmeter. The papers were printed with the IGT C1 offset printability tester. As a result, in terms of printability, it was determined that CNF/CNF-OX coated papers have smoother surfaces and give better results in terms of both gloss properties and printability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-cellulose paper-based composites with underwater superoleophobicity and high-wet-strength were developed by casting a barrier layer of bacterial cellulose (BC) on a filter paper substrate. To optimize the pore structure of barrier layer, slow gel process of BC dispersion was conducted via acidification and solvent exchange. 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid was used to improve the wet strength and surface hydrophilicity through the crosslinking reaction between fibers. The underwater oil contact angles are higher than 150° in neutral environment, and slightly decrease under acid and alkali conditions. Combined with the micron-sized pore structure of BC barrier layer, the composite papers show good separation performance of oil-in-water emulsion. A denser BC layer can significantly improve the separation efficiency, but also lead to the reduction of flux. During the gelation of BC barrier layer, the increase in the ethanol/water ratio of the dispersion medium is able to increase the flux without obvious negative impact on the separation efficiency. When the ethanol/water ratio is 80%, the separation efficiency and water flux reach 99.2% and 1320 L m−2 h−1·bar−1 for the emulsified soybean oil with the average size of 13 μm, respectively. This type of all-cellulose composite papers provides a new idea for the fabrication of membrane materials for oil–water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on industrial paper obtained from special purpose heat-resistant and fire-resistant fibers by the method of fiber swelling is presented. Results of a study of the effect of fiber cutting length on the mechanical properties the paper are presented. Corresponding dependencies are established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]