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Publishing scientific articles is an expedition of tenacious efforts with patience and conscientious decision-making; however, even with such careful consideration, researchers may overlook the dubious activities of clandestine organizations or remain oblivious to the unethical aspects of publishing. Paper mills are the latest impediment to academic publishing's integrity. The increasing number of paper mill publications damages the credibility of genuine journals and jeopardizes academic integrity, adding to the vulnerability of research. This paper deals with the tactics, activity, detection, impact, and solving the menace of such fraudulent practices. This paper is a summary of existing literature and analysis that aims to increase awareness of fraudulent practices like paper mills among researchers and academicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical oxygen demand (COD) emissions from the pulp and paper industry in China have declined continuously since the tighter COD discharge standards were implemented in 2008. Using firm-level data from 2003 to 2013, we investigate how China's pulp and paper firms would respond to the tighter COD discharge standards with a difference-in-differences design. We find that the tighter COD discharge standards have significant causal effects to induce the pulp and paper firms to reduce their COD emissions primarily through adopting cleaner production. However, the effectiveness of the tighter COD discharge standards depends on monitoring and enforcement activities as well as other regulations accompanying with the tighter COD discharge standards, all of which have become strengthened since China's 11th Five-Year-Plan (FYP, 2006–2010). While strengthened environmental regulations since the 11th FYP are from the top leadership of the Chinese government in order to deal with the increasing environmental degradation, the underlying driving force of the strengthened environmental regulations is from the household demand for better environmental quality as income increases. This study enriches literature not only on firms' responses to environmental regulations in developing countries but also on environmental regulations and technology adoption as well as environmental enforcement and compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of subjects is often told analysing notions of knowledge in historical reforms, policies, curricula, and textbooks. In this article, we analyse student papers from 1968, focusing on their responses to the topic 'Social distinctions and prejudices in Denmark'. The students present a number of concepts and categories of social differences and prejudices, depict a contemporary problem, refer to theoretical or categorical frameworks, provide a historical account, state bold claims and/or present conceptual definitions. Then, by giving different examples from their everyday life and by establishing some form of line or structure in their writings, they form an argument or narrative. They do this by using—we assume—information from their textbooks, from what have been discussed in teaching, in the public debate, and in the students' homes. The student papers not only passively reflect but are part of the ongoing constitution of the subjects and subject matter, during a period of tremendous educational change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the phycoremediation efficacy of two freshwater green microalgae Chlorella ellipsoidea and Desmodesmus opoliensis for treatment of water of Ellenga beel, a wetland located in the vicinity of Nagaon paper mill and into which effluents of the paper mill are drained-off. After inoculation of water samples with the two freshwater green microalgae, the culture medium were analyzed for various physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, phosphate, nitrate, potassium, chloride, phenol, cyanide, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and heavy metals at every seven days interval for a period of 42 days. A reduction of phosphate (85%), sulfate (96%), nitrate (76%) and chloride (48%) was observed after 42 days of incubation in the tested beel water. The micro algal incubation also resulted in decrease of heavy metal such as Pb (54%), Zn (98%), Cr (59%), and Cu (61%). Comparison of Fourier transform infrared spectra of beel water samples (control) with those inoculated with the test micro algal species showed presence of binding sites for certain functional groups like phosphate, amide, carbohydrate and alkyl halides in inoculated samples. D. opoliensis exhibited higher phycoremediation efficiency than C. ellipsoidea in removal of pollutants from the beel water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming Pulp and Paper (P&P) mills into Integrated Forest Biorefineries (IFBR) is a prominent solution to save Canadian P&P industry that has been facing decline of conventional paper demand. We propose a comprehensive decision model for the design of IFBR value chains by taking the uncertain demand of bioproducts into consideration. In particular, we propose a multi-stage stochastic programming model to obtain the optimal investment plan over a long-term planning horizon in the presence of various market trends. We also develop a Monte-Carlo simulation platform to validate the proposed model and to compare its performance with alternative decision models. The model is applied to a realistic case study inspired from P&P companies in Canada, where the value of incorporating the dynamic nature of uncertain demand has been estimated. Further, we elaborate on the value of considering flexibility in terms of adjusting the investment plan in response to changes in the demand. Our results indicate that the demand for bioproducts has a substantial impact on the profitability of the IFBR. We also demonstrated the significant value of explicitly incorporating the uncertainty in IFBR network design as well as adapting the investment plan to the changes in the demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial introduces the special issue "The Interplay Between Artificial Intelligence, Production Systems, and Operations Management Resilience.' We selected twelve papers, encompassing many angles that illuminate the advances and challenges dealing with artificial intelligence tools and approaches in the production systems and operations management resilience domains. This editorial presents the papers with a smart view, highlighting the essentials of each article, such as full paper title, background, theory/literature scope, methodology design/analysis approach, and the main findings/contributions. Finally, the conclusions, future pathways, and research directions are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this work was to explore the prospects of producing pulp and paper from leftover lignocellulosic fibers. In this study discarded Cocos nucifera fibers were collected from an abandoned site and were washed thoroughly. FTIR analysis, chemical composition and fiber morphology studies were conducted. FTIR showed the presence of holocellulose and lignin in the fibers. Chemical analysis showed the holocellulose content as 37.8 wt%. Fiber length, fiber diameter, lumen diameter and cell wall thickness were observed using microscope and derived fiber indices that determine the possibility of producing paper were evaluated. The derived indices such as Runkel index, slenderness ratio, co-efficient of rigidity, flexibility coefficient, Luce’s shape factor and Solids factor of the fibers were evaluated as 67.9%, 44.11, 58.83%, 0.199, 0.49 and 278.53x10³ respectively. All these indices are in good agreement with fibers recommended and used for pulp and paper production. High lignin content present in the fibers is a limitation and it can be removed through appropriate delignification techniques. Thus the study showed that discarded fibers can be used for producing pulp, paper and allied products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The alarming global deforestation rate has great impacts on the output of the Pulp and paper Industry since wood is the principal papermaking fiber material. Although, generally, bamboo is an alternative cellulolytic fiber source, the species and culm age have great effects on its papermaking potential. Based on the methods by the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA), this work assessed the characteristics of fibers from the axial culm sections of six-month plantation-grown Oxythenantera abyssinica and Beema bamboo (which was cloned from Bambusa balcoaa) for paper production. The lengths of the fibers ranged from 1.89 to 2.39 mm while the diameters were 0.025–0.031 mm. The fiber lumen diameter and wall thickness were 0.014–0.018 mm and 0.004–0.006 mm, respectively. Fibers from the species had their runkle ratios below 1, slenderness ratios above 70 and flexibility ratios above 50. These characteristics compare well with the recommendations for fibers often used for the production of packaging, writing and printing papers. Establishment of plantations of Beema bamboo and O. abyssinica is encouraged as they will serve as good raw material base for the paper industry within six months of planting. Additionally, their planting will contribute to meeting Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 13. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article provides a comprehensive analysis of the aging phenomenon of transformer insulation and the corresponding changes in insulation performance that occur over time. The present manuscript outlines diverse insulating materials that are employed in transformers, the fundamental aging mechanism of the insulation, the function of space charges in the aging of the insulation, and various simulation methodologies utilized for diagnosing the insulation status of the transformer. The primary focus of this paper is to examine the various numerical techniques employed in modeling and analyzing the aging characteristics of transformer insulation. The mechanisms underlying the accumulation of charge and distortion of electric fields in insulation are explained through the utilization of numerical modeling techniques. This paper focuses on understanding the mechanism of insulation aging, thereby facilitating the optimization and maintenance of insulation performance throughout its operational lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation sought to assess the practicality of utilizing a combined pre-treatment approach comprising electrocoagulation, peroxide, and hypochlorite treatments for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and tannin/lignin from paper mill wastewater. The study aimed to optimize the operating parameters with a view to maximizing the removal efficiencies while minimizing energy consumption. A pair of iron electrodes were used as anode and cathode in the study, and the main operating parameters were determined as initial pH, applied current, treatment time and oxidant dosage/COD ratio. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the effect of these parameters on COD and tannin/lignin removals. The primary findings of the investigation indicated that the integration of electrocoagulation with peroxide and hypochlorite treatments exhibited efficacy in removing COD, tannin/lignin, colour, phenol, and turbidity from paper mill wastewater. The optimized conditions resulted in COD removal efficiencies of 48.13 ± 2.2% and 29.53 ± 1.4% for EC with H2O2 and Ca(OCl)2, respectively. Tannin/lignin removal efficiencies were 92.59 ± 3.6% and 94.09 ± 1.8% for EC-H2O2 and EC-Ca(OCl)2, respectively. The specific energy consumption (SEC) values showed that EC-Ca(OCl)2 required 7 times more energy than EC-H2O2 for removing 1 kg COD. The principal deduction drawn from the study was that EC-H2O2 pre-treatment demonstrated superior COD removal efficiency and lower energy consumption, while EC-Ca(OCl)2 pre-treatment exhibited greater efficiency in removing toxic and recalcitrant pollutants. In future studies, it would be useful to conduct research to increase COD removal efficiency in addition to tannin/lignin removal in EC-Ca(OCl)2 process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose filter paper (CFP) was modified with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and/or poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate (PEGMA), followed by Cu immobilization for 4-nitrophenol (4NP) reduction. Among these samples, Cu-immobilized CFP modified with PEGMA polymer (CFP@PEGMA-Cu) exhibited the highest Cu incorporation of 2.21%. Those having the copolymer (CFP@PAA-co-PEGMA-Cu) demonstrated the highest efficiency, completing 4NP reduction in 3 min with an impressive 99.45% conversion, a high-rate constant (k) of 27.5 × 10−3 s−1, and turnover frequency (TOF) of 18.36 h−1. Notably, the catalysts containing PAA maintained good reusability, preserving 97% conversion upon 9 cycles. These results suggest their promising applications in sustainable catalysis, offering the catalytic potential with simple preparation and low cost required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum) was cultivated for two 90-day sequences at two spacings, and with various soil amendments, to evaluate its potential to arrest the increase in soil salinity and sodicity associated with irrigation using paper- and pulp-mill effluent. Its phytodesalination capacity (PDC) with respect to Na ranged from 162 to 226 kg/ha in the first sequence and 167 to 250 kg/ha in the second sequence; the PDC is reliable even under drought stress. Addition of amendments, in particular pressmud compost, increased the average Na+ uptake by 38%, leading to the highest PDC of 250 kg/ha for a single crop sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to profile the shoppers' propensity to reuse shopping bags and the type of shopping bags they reuse on the basis of demographics. The study used an observation method to record the consumers' shopping habits and a short questionnaire to record the participants' demographics. A binary regression analysis and a multinomial regression analysis were used to analyse data. The results indicated that the mature aged, women, and low income shoppers were more likely to practice reuse of plastic shopping bags than their respective counterparts. There were no statistically significant differences in the likelihood of young aged shoppers compared to mature aged shoppers and low income shoppers compared to high income shoppers using cotton bags than plastic bags. There were also no statistically significant differences in the likelihood of young aged shoppers compared to mature aged shoppers and male shoppers compared to female shoppers using paper bags than plastic bags. However, the results indicated a statically significant result in how males compared to females differed in their using of cotton bags than plastic bags and a statistically significant result in how low income shoppers compared to high income shoppers differed in their use of paper bags than plastic bags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Last Paper Standing: A Century of Competition Between the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News" by Ken J. Ward explores the rivalry between the two newspapers and the decline of multiple newspaper cities. The book highlights the intense competition between the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News, which lasted for over a century. It also delves into the personalities involved and the innovative ways the newspapers differentiated themselves to benefit readers. The author suggests that both newspapers could have coexisted, preserving the high standard of journalism, but ultimately only one newspaper survived. The book emphasizes the importance of preserving good newspapers and the loss that occurs when they fold. [Extracted from the article]

Research by the paper industry into new materials to expand the raw material base for pulp is on the ascendancy due to growing demand for pulp and paper products. This study assessed the anatomical, chemical, and pulping characteristics of four varieties of Cocos nucifera husk to ascertain their suitability as raw material for pulp and paper production. The measured and calculated chemical (Klason Lignin, 1% NaOH solubility and Holocellulose contents) and anatomical (Fiber dimensions, Runkel Ratio, Slenderness Ratio, Flexibility Coefficient, Coefficient of Rigidity, Luce's Shape Factor and Solids Factor) properties of the Cocos nucifera husks mostly did not meet the standard requirements for a good pulp and paper material. However, the Local Tall Yellow variety of the Cocos nucifera husk was favorable in terms of Runkel Ratio, Slenderness Ratio, Flexibility Coefficient, and Coefficient of Rigidity and can be considered for the production of pulp for writing and printing papers. In spite of the limitations of the other three varieties for making quality paper, they could be used for fiber plate, rigid cardboard, and cardboard production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenced by the academic work of Stephen A. Resnick and Richard D. Wolff, the author and his close collaborator Richard McIntyre have spent four decades closely reading and contributing research to adjacent radical literatures on the empirical history of workers and capitalism. In this response to Richard McIntyre's review of Shredding Paper, the author reveals how his own research into the story of Maine's paper mills has developed since the 1980s, drawing out the class implications of the details embedded in a history that stretches back to the origins of Maine's paper industry. Hillard highlights the efficacy of reading capitalist histories of focusing on subsumed classes, i.e., a "volumes 2 and 3 [of Capital] approach," alongside the much more common "volume 1" methodology common to most radical political economy and labor history. For better and worse, this story has culminated in two generations of rural Mainers rejecting the sensibilities of neoliberal capitalism. This local class formation and particular consciousness of class contains many lessons for those who see capitalism problematically, but in the absence of an established U.S. Left, and given the cultural forces and propaganda acting upon them, this critical culture appears to have moved on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high production of paper, followed by a more significant concern with environmental and economic issues, has led to greater relevance to paper recycling and its raw uses as composite filler. Composites of polypropylene with 10, 20, and 30 wt.% of recycled office waste paper were produced by injection molding and characterized by mechanical and thermal properties. All composites presented a slight reduction of 15°C in thermal stability compared to the polymeric matrix. Moreover, as the filler amount increased, the degree of crystallinity was reduced proportionally. The mechanical test showed similar tensile strength values among neat polymer andcomposites but also showed an increase in the composite's tensile modulus, related to the stiffness of the natural filler. The composite with a higher percentage of waste paper (30 wt.%) maintained equivalent properties as neatpolypropylene and other composites (10 and 20 wt.%). Thus, 30 wt.% composites proved to be an excellent material with less synthetic polymer percentage, keeping thermal and mechanical properties comparable to the neat PP. Furthermore, this composite does not need chemical treatment or additives harmful to the environment. It is suitable for future applications in various plastic products such as packaging and domestic utensils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the large volume, the generated wastewater in paper and cardboard recycling industry contains various organic compounds and dyes. Treatment of these wastewaters is difficult due to the diversity of contaminants and the complexity of their chemical structure. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of the coagulation and flocculation process by the new mixture of coagulants for wastewater treatment in one of the paper and cardboard recycling industries. To determine the efficiency of the coagulation and flocculation process in removing the parameters, including turbidity, colour, TSS, and COD, the Jar Test was used in laboratory conditions. By changing the variables, such as pH, coagulant type (PAC/MgCl2, PAC/Polymer, MgCl2/Polymer, MgCl2/PAC, PAC/MgCl2/Polymer), coagulant dose, and polymer dose, the optimal conditions were determined. Based on the results, the highest turbidity removal efficiency was achieved for the combination of coagulant and coagulant aid (PAC/MgCl2/Polymer) at pH 11. According to the experiments, the highest removal efficiency of turbidity, colour, COD and TSS were95.43%, 25.16%, 16.16%, and 83.33%, respectively. According to the obtained results, the coagulation and flocculation is a suitable method to remove turbidity and suspended solids in the paper and cardboard recycling industry wastewater. However, in order to remove more colour and COD, additional treatment is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Depoliticization has emerged as a key concept in analyzing the changing political dynamics of capitalist democracies. Yet, the concept of public interest has been relatively absent in depoliticization literature. This article argues for a more systematic inclusion of public interest politics in scrutinizing de- and repoliticization. The argument is advanced through strategic-relational theory by interpreting public interest as (1) a terrain of political struggles, (2) a mode of doing politics and (3) a method of enquiry. These dynamics are examined in the empirical context of Finnish forest industry's political strategy in the Kaipola paper mill closure in August 2020. The forest conglomerate UPM-Kymmene politicized its paper mill shutdown by shifting the responsibility to the centre-left governmental coalition's purportedly business-hostile policies. However, analyzing the case through UPM strategies and the paper production crisis, the closure falls in line with the forest industry's long-term business strategy. The forest industry's and UPM's strategy is recognized as a forceful defense of a corporate polity where public interest is equated with the success of key economic actors. The article concludes with an argument for the politics of public interest as a vital research perspective for analyzing contradictions surrounding 'the economy'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to provide insight into the history and acceptance of paper money within British North America by examining the state money issued by Lower Canada's civil government and the British Army during the War of 1812. Prior to the war, British North America was suffering from a specie shortage that was further exacerbated by the need for significant expenditure increases to provision the state with the resources it needed for its war effort. In response, colonial authorities issued the Army Bills, a paper money that was backed by acceptance in paying public debts and duties while also possessing qualities that adhered to metalist principles. To many observers surprise, the money successfully circulated and was accepted by Lower Canada's colonists, who beforehand had largely been perceived by colonial officials as distrusting of paper money. This research argues that the state's acceptance of Army Bills for discharging public debts, particularly merchant duties, ensured that the money would provide the colonial government with the fiscal flexibility it needed to conduct its war effort. This provision, in addition to measures like legal tender laws protecting its use in private transactions, also supported its successful circulation within the colonial economy during the war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific papers and patents are reliable sources of knowledge carriers for measuring science and technology advances, predicting technological trends, and formulating technology strategies. Although the idea of entirely using the two knowledge carriers is rapidly emerging in academic discussion, a theoretical framing of the comparisons is still not present in literature. This study conducts bibliometrics on 2986 patent families and 4755 scientific papers related to silicon carbide metal–oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (SiC-MOSFET) to identify its technological trends and compare the similarities and differences in knowledge generation and diffusion in science and technology. Our methodological framework consists of a combination of geographic distribution (identifying the research developments and distribution), cooperation networks (analyzing organisation collaboration and individual research cooperation), noun phrase co-occurrence clusters (discovering hot research topics), and the global main path analyses of citation networks (tracking the trajectory of knowledge flows). Ultimately, our results contribute to recent bibliometric paradigms beyond discovering the role of scientific papers and patents in promoting science and technology integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This discussion of two related papers on political activism by Bettina von Lieres and Afarin Kohan focuses on the mechanism of transformation from psychic experience into political action. In both papers, the move to political action is seen as a consequence of collectivization, politics being understood as a function of groups, but a distinction is made between brute politics and the elaboration of the political as a psychoanalytic process. The original papers are seen as furthering the aims of social psychoanalysis and community psychoanalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the relevance of using physical situations to introduce the concept of angles at elementary school. We compare the effectiveness of two geometry teaching sequences. In the first one (physical sequence), the pupils learned the angle concept by experimenting on the playground (i.e. mesospace) and then modelling the situation. In the second one (paper-and-pencil sequence), the pupils worked solely in the space of a sheet of paper (i.e. microspace). In both sequences, pupils compared areas of space delineated by an angle between two directions. Pupils in two Grade 3 classes were exposed to one of the two teaching sequences. The unfolding of these sequences was videotaped and analyzed, and the pupils were tested individually, before and after teaching, to measure each sequence's effectiveness. Results showed that both sequences are effective to grasp the angle concept: Most pupils overcame the common erroneous conception of comparing angles' sides' lengths instead of angle openness. The comparison of areas of space delineated by an angle between two infinite directions, which is the two sequences' common core, seems to be the key factor underlying angle conceptualization. This paper ends with a discussion of these results' teaching implications and the merits of each sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article serves as an introduction to a collection of papers that respond to Jonathan Palmer's paper on the role of creativity in psychoanalytic work. The contributors, who are known for their creative approach to psychoanalysis and art, offer their unique perspectives on the theme of creativity in psychoanalysis. They emphasize the significance of creativity, aliveness, and play in the therapeutic process, drawing on personal experiences and artistic references. The papers encourage readers to reflect on their own sources of creative expression and consider the role of creativity in their own analytic encounters. [Extracted from the article]

In his paper "The Psychogenesis of a Case of Homosexuality in a Woman" (1920), Freud tried to outline a general psychoanalytic approach to homosexuality by recounting the case of an 18-year-old girl sent to him by her father. The case, as told by Freud, makes for awkward reading today. Loewald's theory of developmental narrative, differentiation, linking, and his notion of parricide as the individual giving voice to one's self, offers a different lens through which to view it. Although Loewald did not write directly about the issue of homosexuality, in boys or girls, in "The Waning of the Oedipus Complex" he gives voice to the inner processes of separation and linking from parents, leading to mourning, through which the adolescent has to go. In this paper, I offer a reading of the Freud case using Loewald's theory, which enables us to highlight homosexuality as a variation in the expression of human sexuality, rather than a pathological deviation as Freud implies, and presents the "unknown woman" as struggling with difficulties in mourning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractEdible polymers are safe for consumption by humans and use in society. Shellac is a derivative of Lac, which has been used for a long time in many different industries due to its remarkable properties, which include film-forming, water resistance, thermoplastic, adhering, bonding, and simple solubility in spirit and aqueous alkali solvents. A paradigm shift has been observed in the variety of applications and uses of shellac due to the growing desire for natural products, particularly in the food, pharmaceutical, 3D printing, stealth technology, green electronics, and intelligent sensor industries. It is commonly used as an enteric coating in the pharmaceutical sector and as a preservative coating or confectioners glaze in the food industry. Being a natural and eco-friendly substance, shellac has a great deal of potential for more sustainable technologies. Due to the film’s strength and polymerization, shellac, however, has limitations. The low stability and mechanical brittleness of shellac, which result from self-polymerization reactions, limit its application even though it has great potential as an environmentally benign protective covering. This review offers a comprehensive understanding of lac, encompassing its characteristics, its uses, and its prospects for the future. This study aims to investigate a new method that may mitigate some of the disadvantages of shellac coating whilst improving the material’s stability and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a product of qualitative, ethnographic fieldwork which looked at interactions between Emirati people and camels. Both in traditional Bedu contexts and among contemporary breeders/riders/racers in the Arabian Gulf, camels have been useful to people as an economic resource or symbolic tool, but they have also been agents creating paths for human cultural activity. They are the lens through which people observe their society, yet they are also perceived as beings with lifeworlds of their own. In a humanizing effort they can represent what is inherently cultural, but they can also be seen as separate beings that inform people's worldviews. Recognizing animals' agency, observing the obliteration of subject–object boundaries in animal-centric cultures requires fundamental ontological revisions. This paper aims to propose a paradigm useful for multispecies ethnography studies, rooted in exploring entanglements between anthropological phenomenology and object-oriented ontology. Appreciating the central roles of experience, embodiment, and senses in human connections with animals make phenomenology a potent analytical framework for such studies. Ontologically speaking, the essence of interactions between camels and their Emirati aficionados can represent the nature of people's being-in-the-world, shaping their mental universe and cognitive processes. The main contributions of the research include using empirical evidence to address some of the recurring criticisms of object-oriented ontology and positioning these analyses within the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council countries) context, which has rarely been done before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first years of history, microbial fermentation products such as bread, wine, yogurt and vinegar have always been noteworthy regarding their nutritional and health effects. Similarly, mushrooms have been a valuable food product in point of both nutrition and medicine due to their rich chemical components. Alternatively, filamentous fungi, which can be easier to produce, play an active role in the synthesis of some bioactive compounds, which are also important for health, as well as being rich in protein content. Therefore, this review presents some important bioactive compounds (bioactive peptides, chitin/chitosan, β-glucan, gamma-aminobutyric acid, L-carnitine, ergosterol and fructooligosaccharides) synthesized by fungal strains and their health benefits. In addition, potential probiotic- and prebiotic fungi were researched to determine their effects on gut microbiota. The current uses of fungal based bioactive compounds for cancer treatment were also discussed. The use of fungal strains in the food industry, especially to develop innovative food production, has been seen as promising microorganisms in obtaining healthy and nutritious food. Fungal-based bioactive compounds have various health benefits. Prebiotic fungi play an active role in the regulation of gut microbiota. Anti-tumor effective fungal components will contribute to alternative medicine. Beta-glucan and chitin are the most promising fungal metabolites for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging behavior occurs in the storage process of paper archives, which accelerates the aging process of the paper. Therefore, it is important for paper archives management to explore the aging behavior of acidified paper (AP) and to delay or prevent its further aging. The aging behavior of the commonly used university archives paper with artificial acidification were studied by measuring pH value, electrical conductivity, mechanical properties and whiteness. The results show that the pH value, conductivity, mechanical properties and whiteness of AP change significantly compared with the non-acidified raw paper (P). After dry-heat aging treatment, the pH value of AP decreased more obviously than P, which shows more obvious aging degradation and further acidification of AP. During the aging process of AP, the molecular and structural degradation are promoted by the presence of acidic substances, which increase the electrical conductivity of the system. The microstructures of the paper are changed by acidification and aging treatment, and more fiber fracture, etching and microscopic holes are found in the surface SEM images. The reductions of the tensile index and whiteness of AP are also more significant because of the degradation acceleration of the acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retraction is a mechanism for eliminating and correcting serious problems in the scientific literature and increasing awareness among members of the scientific community about unreliable literature. The objectives of this study were to identify the characteristics and reasons for retraction, analyze citations, and describe the scientific, altmetrics, and technological impacts of hematology retracted papers. Retracted papers were searched using the hematology category of the Web of Science database. The search yielded 101 retracted papers in WoS. Statistics methods such as frequency, mean, interquartile range (IQR), and Pearson's Correlation were used for data analysis. The findings showed the retracted papers were published in 28 different hematology journals. The majority of retracted documents were in Article type (n = 81). The mean time interval of the retracted papers from the first publication to retraction was 50.83 months. The largest number of retracted papers belonged to the United States (n = 46). The most frequently reported reason for retraction was misconduct (n = 55). The findings of this study provide a landscape into the characteristics and citations of retracted papers before and after retraction in addition to the scientific, technological, and altmetrics impacts of hematology retracted papers in the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predatory publishing is the unethical and dishonest behavior of publishers who take advantage of researchers by charging them too much money and not providing good editing and peer-review services. Scholars, publishers and policymakers are seeking solutions to combat predatory publishing, which has become a major academic problem. This research paper provides a bibliometric analysis of the citation patterns and trends in the predatory publishing literature. The study analyzed the 100 top-cited papers on predatory publishing and provided insight into the types of documents, journals, authors, and countries that contributed to this field. The average citation per paper in the top 100 selected publications was 53.67. Open-access publications received a significantly higher average citation per paper than subscription-based papers. "Article" was the major type of document published, followed by "Notes," "Reviews" and "Editorials." Nature and Learned Publishing were the journals that contained the highest number of top-cited articles. J. Beall and D. Moher authored the highest number of papers, while A. Grudniewicz had the highest average citation per paper. USA and Canada were the top countries in these top-cited publications. This study will be beneficial to the all the stakeholders who may be interested in this area of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of the Australian Library & Information Association has published a special issue featuring papers from the 2023 Research Application in Information and Library Studies (RAILS) conference. RAILS serves as an important platform for library and information research in Australasia and the Pacific region, aiming to raise the visibility of research from this area and promote a more balanced and representative research environment. The papers in this issue cover a range of topics, highlighting the diversity of research activities and expertise in the region. The upcoming RAILS 2024 conference, with the theme "Making a Difference: Research with Real-world Impact," is scheduled for November and aims to explore how research can lead to improved outcomes for library and information services. [Extracted from the article]

As a kind of synthetic aromatic polyamide, aramid fiber has many outstanding properties, such as high strength, high modulus, etc. The composited paper reinforced by aramid fiber is widely used in honeycombs and its strength is of great concerns. In this paper, a three-dimensional progressive failure phase field model is employed to investigate the failure mechanism of aramid honeycomb paper under microscopic length scale. A mesh mapping technique is used to handle the complex geometry of the material, and an explicit solving scheme is used to improve the solving efficiency. The theory is implemented into ABAQUS through the users' subroutine VUEL. The interfacial debounding and matrix cracking in the short fiber reinforced composite are captured successfully, and the complicated failure mechanism is explored from the modeling results. The present phase field modeling technique has provided a useful numerical tool for the strength prediction of aramid short fiber reinforced composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between environmental regulation and firm productivity has been widely debated but inconsistencies in findings across different studies. Using detailed firm-level micro-data from 2000 to 2007, this paper employs difference-in-difference combined with matching based on entropy balancing method to explore the effect of environmental regulation on firm total factor productivity (TFP) in pulp and paper industry in China. Our main findings are as following: Firstly, stricter environmental regulation, as represented by the Wastewater Discharge Standards for Pulp and Paper Industry in Shandong province, increases firm TFP significantly. Moreover, the coefficients of interest are robust to multiple robustness checks. Secondly, dynamic effects estimates reveal that when faced with this phase-in environmental regulation, firms take the foreseeably increasing strictness into account from the very beginning and prefer to take one-step adjustment to reach full compliance. Thirdly, potential mechanism analysis finds that the positive effect mainly comes from the improvement of resource allocation efficiency within firms. Fourthly, the heterogeneity test indicates that the effect of environmental regulation on firm TFP is heterogeneous across firms with different sizes, ages, ownerships, capital intensity, and export status. Finally, this paper provides convincing and insightful evidence that environmental regulation has the potential to achieve the dual goals of environmental sustainability and economic growth and is thus of broader significance for understanding the enforcement of environmental regulation in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three grades of pectin xanthates (PX1, PX2, and PX3) have been prepared by the reaction of pectin with carbon disulfide (CS2) in an alkaline medium using NaOH, via the xanthation process. The percentage yield of prepared pectin xanthates has been found to be 87.06%, 90.38%, and 93.80% for PX1, PX2, and PX3, respectively. Prepared pectin xanthates and raw pectin were utilized for heavy metals (Cu(II) and Ni(II)) and lignin enriched paper industry wastewater (LEPIW) treatment. The removal percentage of pectin, PX1, P X2, and PX3 for Cu removal at optimum condition (adsorbent dose: 5.14 g/L, pH: 5 for Cu and 7 for Ni, optimum temperature: 50°C and time: 80 min for Cu(II) and 100 min for Ni(II)) has been found as 85%, 92.33%, 93.5%, and 94.66% and 76.66%, 89.44%, 91.66%, and 93.33%, respectively, for Ni removal. The LEPIW treatment efficacy for pectin, PX1, PX2, and PX3 has been found to be 54%, 77%, 83%, and 86% for the initial COD: 2000 mg/L, pH: 7, optimum temperature: 40°C in 105 min operation time. Adsorption isotherm studies suggest that Langmuir isotherm is most appropriate which indicates adsorption follows chemisorption. The adsorption capacities of PX1, PX2, and PX3 are found as 309.59, 352.11, and 380.22 mg/g for Cu(II) and 299.40, 315.45, and 328.94 mg/g and for Ni(II), respectively, which is very high in comparison with many other recent literature studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Japanese painting paper is sized with an aqueous solution of alum and animal glue followed by brushing with a mixture of pigments of various colours and aqueous animal glue solution. Subsequently, to mount the Japanese painting to a hanging scroll, the backside of the painting is lined with a first lining paper using wheat starch paste for mechanical support. To evaluate the permanence of the painting paper as a composite material in the hanging scroll, the deterioration behaviour of the unlined painting paper and the lined painting paper was compared considering the material dynamics. After moist heat accelerated ageing (80°C, 65% RH), in the sample immersed in a CuSO4・5H2O solution, cellulose was oxidised by Cu2+ to generate organic acids in the painting paper, and Cu2+ and organic acids migrated to the lining paper. Consequently, the discolouration and oxidation of the painting paper in the lined complex were relatively low compared with those of the unlined painting paper. The pH decrease in the painting paper was also small in the lined complex. Moreover, if the animal glue solution was coated on the painting paper, a buffer effect was shown to operate against the organic acids derived from the oxidation of Cu2+, thereby inhibiting the migration of Cu2+ into the lining paper. In conclusion, the presence of the lining paper inhibited the decrease in the physical strength and degree of polymerisation of the cellulose in the painting paper, thus contributing to its permanence in the lined hanging scroll. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This white paper consists of evidence-based recommendations for conducting forensic interviews with children. The recommendations are jointly drafted by researchers in child interviewing active within the European Association of Psychology and Law and are focused on cases in which children are interviewed in forensic settings, in particular within investigations of child sexual and/or physical abuse. One particular purpose of the white paper is to assist the growing Barnahus movement in Europe to develop investigative practise that is science-based. The key recommendations entail the expertise required by interviewers, how interviews should be conducted and how interviewers should be trained. Interviewers are advised to use evidence-based interview protocols, engage in hypothesis-testing and record their interviews. The need to prepare the interview well and making efforts to familiarise the child with the interview situation and create rapport as well as acknowledging cultural factors and the possible need for interpretation is underscored, and a recommendation is made not to rely on dolls, body diagrams and the interpretation of drawings in the interviews. Online child interviewing is noted as showing promising results, but more research is warranted before conclusive recommendations can be made. Interviewers should receive specialised training and continuous feedback on their interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optimised method was established for the determination of four chloropropanols in paper straws, namely 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol(1,3-DCP), 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol (2,3-DCP), 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) and 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol (2-MCPD). After extraction with a food simulant, purification with matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD), and derivatisation using heptafluorobutyrylimidazole (HFBI), the chloropropanols were analysed by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), and quantified with a deuterated internal standard. Under the optimised conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.200 µg/L for the four target compounds. The recoveries were in the range of 71.4% – 119.4% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.4% – 9.9%. The method fulfilled the requirements of the European regulations for the quantification of 3-MCPD and 1,3-DCP. Fifteen paperboard straws were tested using the proposed method. The results showed that 1,3-DCP and 3-MCPD exhibited the highest detection rate among the four chloropropanols tested (93.3%). the method can be used to detect chloropropanol contamination in paperboard products, and further to guide food manufacturers to reduce the levels of chloropropanols in paperboard food contact materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay, I argue that Raphael's double portrait of Agostino Beazzano and Andrea Navagero formed the painter's fullest response—made in purely pictorial terms—to Renaissance prosody as it was then being developed by his friends, especially the portraits' sitters and Pietro Bembo. The drafts of Raphael's own sonnets on drawings made while he was painting the Stanza della Segnatura are visualizations of the intellectual labor his poetic compositions entailed. A close looking at their placement across the paper on these "ekphrastic sheets" (to use Francesco Di Teodoro's term) as well as changes in the sonnets' texts offer tools for understanding the double portrait of Raphael's poet-friends. Raphael's often dismissed efforts at poetry made on these study drawings thus blossomed half a decade later in the contribution to Renaissance literary theory he made as a painter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schiff bases are produced through condensation reactions between aldehydes or ketones and molecules containing an amine group. Given their multifaceted uses across diverse domains, they have gained prominence. Numerous studies have been conducted in this field due to the uncomplicated methods of manufacturing and the abundant range of applications. Investigations into DNA binding are essential for understanding the many interactions between drugs and DNA. DNA binding can be investigated via UV-binding, fluorescence quenching, and viscosity investigations. This study aims to offer several research papers on the DNA binding activity of Schiff base metal complexes and compare them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic had an exceptionally long and consequential rally effect in China. Drawing on an eight-wave nationwide survey, this article shows that the Wuhan lockdown boosted public confidence in the central government. The persistence of the pandemic and the initial success of the zero-COVID policy sustained the enhanced trust in the central government for over two years. However, the rally effect did not dissipate as quietly as usual. As trust in the central government returned to the pre-pandemic level following the Shanghai lockdown, defiant protests collectively known as the White Paper Movement broke out. Angry protesters demanded the termination of the zero-COVID policy and called for accountability from the ruling party and its top leader. This article argues that while the rally effect lasted exceptionally long in the authoritarian country, it could not be prolonged indefinitely. Ultimately, the dissonance between the declining trust in the central government and the persisting restrictive measures provoked the protests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis work engages with Karen Barad’s philosophy and theory of agential realism through research practices of critical autoethnography and arts-based methods. The work explores how knowledge, memory, language, and experience remain alive within practitioners and inform who we become and how we inherit the stories involved in being educators and therapists. This paper presents two entangled research processes involving engagement with material artefacts related to the author’s professional identity development and practice as an arts therapist in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Through Barad’s theory of diffraction, engagement with and reassembling research artefacts supports a consideration of what can happen when we map and remember stories from different times and spaces in our lives. Elucidating and exploring the contours of memories and experiences can be helpful practices to engage in as narrative is the most potent mechanism for memory and teaching, and as therapists and educators, we are living through and practicing from the tangle of these narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things (IoT) has witnessed remarkable growth, leading to the emergence of numerous applications and services. However, energy efficiency remains a critical concern in IoT networks due to the resource-constrained nature of many IoT devices. Energy-efficient routing protocols play a pivotal role in mitigating this challenge, optimizing energy consumption, and extending the operational lifetime of IoT deployments. This survey paper aims to provide a holistic understanding of the state-of-the-art approaches, their characteristics, strengths, limitations, and performance metrics. The survey encompasses a wide range of energy-efficient routing protocols proposed in the literature, including traditional routing protocols adapted for IoT scenarios and protocols specifically tailored for energy optimization. We discuss the impact of different network characteristics on the performance of energy-efficient routing protocols, such as network size, node density, mobility, and heterogeneity. Through this systematic survey, we aim to provide researchers, engineers, and practitioners with a comprehensive overview of energy-efficient routing protocols for IoT networks. The survey findings can serve as a valuable reference for protocol selection, performance evaluation, and the development of novel energy-efficient routing strategies in future IoT deployments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Afterward to a suite of papers studying and interpreting the work of Hans Loewald (Atsmon, Goldstein, Milch-Reich, Ofer, and Young, all this issue) takes the opportunity to reflect on why Loewald is currently in the air. It considers not only why Loewald, but why Loewald now, and, specifically, why Loewald especially in times of trouble? The meaning of an international Loewald Reading Group cohering during the time of Covid lockdown is emphasized, and the poignancy of the group originating as a way of continuing Lew Aron's teaching of Loewald, which was tragically cut short, is acknowledged and honored. Finally, the way that Loewald's writing challenges the reader to unpack a concentration of ideas (on the one hand) while relaxing and inviting them to dream freely and without judgment (on the other) is seen as a living out of the very theoretical precepts he evolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their papers, Sally Bjorklund and Hillary Grill investigate the negative impact of the reversal of Roe v.Wade on women's ability to choose when and how to manage their bodies and minds. Bjorklund offers an historical perspective, while Grill presents personal and clinical material to illustrate how misogyny and male dominance are reinforced through the intersection of externally imposed laws, socially transmitted beliefs, and the perpetuation of such beliefs through models of mind that implicitly devalue women—models such as psychoanalysis. Iinvite psychoanalysts to continue to interrogate misogyny while also asking how our clinical work might challenge and change psychoanalytic theorizing about female development, theorizing that continues to pathologize women and valorize male dominance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Some attorneys claim that to adequately cross examine neuropsychological experts, they require direct access to protected test information, rather than having test data analyzed by retained neuropsychological experts. The objective of this paper is to critically examine whether direct access to protected test materials by attorneys is indeed necessary, appropriate, and useful to the trier-of-fact. Method: Examples are provided of the types of nonscientific misinformation that occur when attorneys, who lack adequate training in testing, attempt to independently interpret neurocognitive/psychological test data. Results: Release of protected test information to attorneys introduces inaccurate information to the trier of fact, and jeopardizes future use of tests because non-psychologists are not ethically bound to protect test content. Conclusion: The public policy underlying the right of attorneys to seek possibly relevant documents should not outweigh the damage to tests and resultant misinformation that arise when protected test information is released directly to attorneys. The solution recommended by neuropsychological/psychological organizations and test publishers is to have protected psychological test information exchanged directly and only between clinical psychologist/neuropsychologist experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]