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The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there are differences in handwritten Chinese signatures on different media including paper and electronic devices. Participants were asked to sign specified names on various types of media and the signatures were scanned or saved digitally for subsequent analysis. In this study, using convolutional neural networks and Siamese neural networks as classifiers and comparators, the performance plunge is revealed and thus considerable dissimilarity between the signatures on different media is implied. To further explore this, cubic Bézier curves are fitted to the signatures using the least square method for quantitative statistical analysis. By analyzing the visual changes in the morphology of strokes, several features of signatures are selected and computed, and the paired t‐test and the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test are implemented, which provides a deeper substantiation and explanation of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absolute dating of documents is still one of the most important challenges for forensic document examiners (FDE). The potential difference between the date on a questioned document and the actual year of production of the used paper can be only 1 to 5 years. Until now, there was no analytical method with this accuracy available. This study demonstrates a method for an absolute dating of paper by using the 14C bomb peak and dating the starch in the paper. Accelerator mass spectroscopy (AMS) radiocarbon measurements were performed on starch extracts and cellulose fibers from 50 paper samples with known production year from 1950 to 2018. For most of the paper samples, the measured 14C concentration values in the starch extracts were highly correlated with the data of the 14C bomb peak calibration curve. The differences between the calibrated ages and the actual harvest years of the starch‐containing plants were only up to 3 years. The 14C concentration in the paper fibers showed a lower but significant correlation with the production year of the papers and can be used to support the dating results of the starch extracts. In order to secure the accuracy of the dating, aside from the radiocarbon measurements of the extracted starch other analytical methods or data are used, like a detailed chemical analysis of the paper composition including fiber composition and the spectroscopic analysis of the purity of the starch extracts. In practice, only starch extracts without contaminations are used for the paper dating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon paper has been synthesized by paper making process followed by composite formation, and further chemically oxidized by immersing into a mixture of sulphuric acid and potassium dichromate to be used as an electrode for supercapacitor applications. XRD and Raman spectra were used to analyze the structure, and the defects in the samples respectively, in due course of oxidation. FESEM images revealed the morphology of oxidized samples to be rougher, which contributes towards increased active sites for reaction. The sample (COCP‐60) optimized via electrochemical studies, was further tested in various electrolytes to study the electrode/electrolyte interaction. It delivered a highest areal capacitance of 6.02 F/cm2 (231.5 F/g) in acidic electrolyte at a current density of 5 mA/cm2 (0.19 A/g). This findings were further corroborated by surface and diffusion contribution studies wherein it was found that diffusion is more profound with acidic electrolyte. The supercapacitor device fabricated with COCP‐60 electrode delivered an energy density of 0.41 Wh/cm2 at 2.83 W/cm2 power density with coulombic efficiency of 98 %, and cyclic stability of ∼90 % for over 5000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) films are widely used as separators for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, owing to the poor thermal stability of PP and PE films, current LIBs suffer from serious safety risks in their practical applications. As an effective path, the design of novel high‐safety composite separators can significantly overcome the safety issues of LIBs. Herein, a universal and cost‐effective strategy is developed to fabricate highly‐thermal‐stable separators via coating natural halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) on both sides of commercial papers or waste newspaper. The resulted separators show superior properties, including thermal stability, heat conduction, wettability, and electrolyte uptake. Compared with commercial PP separators, both HNTs coated A4 paper and waste newspaper composite separators enable better cycling and rate performance for Li/LiFePO4 cells. Even after burning in fire or treating under 180 °C, the composite separators still present a normal structure, and the assembled cell can perform as regular. Furthermore, the nail penetration test of pouch cells illustrates that such separator significantly prevents thermal runaway of LIBs. The inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials with a facile coating process provide a highly‐thermal‐stable separator for commercial LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic paper (e‐paper) is a reflective display technology with unique advantages, such as bistability, low‐power consumption, and high ambient contrast ratio. These features make e‐paper a promising candidate for future Internet of Things applications. Among different technologies of e‐paper, electrophoretic display (EPD) is the most successful one for commercialization. However, the edge ghosting (also known as the fringing effect) still limits the performance of EPD. Herein, we established a model of particle dynamics of electrophoresis, simulated the edge ghosting of microcapsule EPD, analyzed the edge ghosting effect, and revealed the relationship between thicknesses, dielectric constants of the back binder layer, and the edge ghosting. Two EPD panels with different thicknesses of back binder layer were demonstrated, which verifies the accuracy of this simulation model. With the proposed model, many device mechanisms and product issues can be analyzed and illustrated, which is supposed to guide the researchers in optimizing the device structure design of EPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta‐aramid paper has been widely used in transformers because of its excellent insulation properties and thermal stability. However, with the rapid development of high‐voltage transformers, higher requirements are placed on the breakdown strength of meta‐aramid paper. In this study, meta‐aramid chopped fibers/polyphenylene sulfide (MACFs/PPS) composite paper was prepared by a combination of wet‐copying and hot‐rolling technology. Then the microscopic morphology, mechanical properties, crystallization behavior, insulation properties, and thermal stability of the MACFs/PPS composite paper were studied and evaluated. The experimental results showed that the breakdown strength of the MACFs/PPS composite paper was as high as 46.46 kV/mm, which was 2.7 times higher than the famous Nomex T410 insulating paper. Meanwhile, the MACFs/PPS composite paper presented good mechanical properties and thermal stability. This paper provides a simple and versatile method for the preparation of meta‐aramid composite paper with high breakdown strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The XY model of oil‐paper insulation connects the dielectric properties of oil, paper and oil‐paper system. Its equivalent circuit is the basis of the application of dielectric response technology in the state diagnosis of transformer oil‐paper insulation. To better apply the XY model to the study of the dielectric properties of oil‐paper insulation, the dielectric properties of the coaxial oil‐paper insulation system built in the laboratory, XY model and its equivalent circuits are compared. Then an improved circuit of XY model which can reflect the properties of the oil‐paper insulation more truly is proposed. The results show that there is no difference between the XY model and the coaxial model, and both can well characterize the oil‐paper insulation system. The two equivalent circuits of XY model, "Series to Parallel" circuit and "Parallel to Series" circuit, ignore the current tangential component and the electric field distortion in oil‐paper insulation, respectively, resulting in deviations from the XY model. By introducing a new branch C*XY, the improved circuit can reflect the tangential current and electric field distortion in oil‐paper insulation, which can be completely equivalent to XY model. In addition, there is a characteristic frequency point in the oil‐paper insulation system, where the dielectric loss factor tan δ of oil, paper and oil‐paper system are the same. There is no difference between the XY model and its two equivalent circuits at this point. The characteristic frequency is determined by the dielectric properties of oil and paper, and not affected by the insulation structure. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Deinking is an important part of paper recycling that involves the removal of ink particles from the paper fibres. This industrial process is important so that the fibres can be recirculated back into paper production, which enables better sustainability as fewer fresh fibres are needed. In this study, we examined five different alternative fibre materials from different agricultural residues and industrial processes for the pilot production of papers. Papers containing fibres from invasive plants (Japanese knotweed), dedicated crops (miscanthus, acacia), agricultural residues (tomato stems), and industrial waste (jute - fibres from coffee bags) were printed with water-based flexo inks and deinked with two separate processes (chemical and enzymes). Mechanical (break and tensile index, breaking length) and optical properties (ISO whiteness, brightness and CIE L*a*b* values) were measured and ink elimination IR700 and deinking efficiency was calculated for the two deinking processes. RESULTS: Enzymatic treatment improved the mechanical properties of deinked pulp in comparison with the classic chemical treatment. Mechanical strength for almost all papers increased slightly (breaking length up to 20% in tomato and jute), and the optical result (brightness) increased similarly for both processes due to the bleaching action of the colour-shaded samples, whereas the deinking efficiency showed mixed results between chemical- and enzyme-type deinking (with chemical achieving better elimination measured at 700 nm) in the typical range of ink elimination values (15-35%) for flexographic inks. This indicates further optimization of the deinking with enzymes is needed due to different alternative fibre compositions and variations of residues in the delignification processes. CONCLUSION: Using a combination of adjusted enzymatic treatment as a precursor for deinking of paper-based packaging materials sourced from alternative fibres showed promising results regarding mechanical properties, whereas the optical properties need to be improved with cellulase optimization or by using mixes of different enzymes. These kinds of paper materials printed with flexo inks were found to be successfully deinkable with the chemical ISO-based deinking protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regulatory aspects of transfusion medicine add complexity in blinded transfusion trials when considering various electronic record keeping software and blood administration processes. The aim of this study is to explore strategies when blinding transfusion components and products in paper and electronic medical records. Methods: Surveys were collected and interviews were conducted for 18 sites across various jurisdictions in North America to determine solutions applied in previous transfusion randomized control trials. Results: Sixteen responses were collected of which 11 had previously participated in a transfusion randomized control trial. Various solutions were reported which were specific to the laboratory information system (LIS) and electronic medical record (EMR) combinations although solutions could be grouped into four categories which included the creation of a study product code in the LIS, preventing the transmission of data from the LIS to the EMR, utilizing specialized stickers and labels to conceal product containers and documents in the paper records, and modified bedside procedures and documentation. Discussion: LIS and EMR combinations varied across sites, so it was not possible to determine combination‐specific solutions. The study was able to highlight solutions that may be emphasized in future iterations of LIS and EMR software as well as procedural changes that may minimize the risk of unblinding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: Academia is already witnessing the abuse of authorship in papers with text generated by large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT.LLM‐generated text is testing the limits of publishing ethics as we traditionally know it.We alert the community to imminent risks of LLM technologies, like ChatGPT, for amplifying the predatory publishing 'industry'.The abuse of ChatGPT for the paper mill industry cannot be over‐emphasized.Detection of LLM‐generated text is the responsibility of editors and journals/publishers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficacious, effective and efficient communication between healthcare professionals (HCP) and patients is essential to achieve a successful therapeutic alliance. Telemedicine (TM) has been used for decades but during the COVID-19 pandemic its use has become widespread. This position paper aims to describe the terminology and most important forms of TM among HCP and patients and review the existing studies on the uses of TM for asthma and allergy. Besides, the advantages and risks of TM are discussed, concluding that TM application reduces costs and time for both, HCP and patients, but cannot completely replace face-to-face visits for physical examinations and certain tests that are critical in asthma and allergy. From an ethical point of view, it is important to identify those involved in the TM process, ensure confidentiality and use communication channels that fully guarantee the security of the information. Unmet needs and directions for the future regarding implementation, data protection, privacy regulations, methodology and efficacy are described., (© 2023 European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In drug hypersensitivity, drug provocation testing (DPT), also called drug challenge, is the gold standard for investigation. In recent years, risk stratification has become an important tool for adjusting the diagnostic strategy to the perceived risk, whilst still maintaining a high level of safety for the patient. Skin tests are recommended before DPT but may be omitted in low-risk patients. The task force suggests a strict definition of such low-risk patients in children and adults. Based on experience and evidence from studies of allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics, an algorithm on how to adjust DPT to the risk, and when to omit skin tests before DPT, is presented. For other antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs, skin tests are poorly validated and DPT is frequently necessary. We recommend performing DPT with chemotherapeutics and biologicals to avoid unnecessary desensitization procedures and DPT with skin tests negative contrast media. We suggest DPT with anesthetics only in highly specialized centers. Specifics of DPT to proton pump inhibitors, anticonvulsants and corticosteroids are discussed. This position paper provides general recommendations and guidance on optimizing use of DPT, whilst balancing benefits with patient safety and optimizing the use of the limited available resources., (© 2023 The Authors. Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Diagnosing immediate drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) can pose a significant challenge and there is an urgent need for safe and reliable tests. Evidence has emerged that the basophil activation test (BAT), an in vitro assay that mirrors the in vivo response, can be a complementary test for many drugs. In this position paper, members of Task Force (TF) "Basophil activation test in the evaluation of Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions" from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) present the data from a survey about the use and utility of BAT in IDHRs in Europe. The survey results indicate that there is a great interest for using BAT especially for diagnosing IDHRs. However, there are still main needs, mainly in the standardization of the protocols. Subsequently consensus-based recommendations were formulated for: (i) Technical aspects of BAT in IDHRs including type of sample, management of drugs, flow cytometry protocols, interpretation of the results; and (ii) Drug-specific aspects that should be taken into account when performing BAT in relation to betalactams, neuromuscular blocking agents, fluoroquinolones, chlorhexidine, opioids, radio contrast media, chemotherapeutics, biological agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, COVID vaccine, and excipients. Moreover, aspects in the evaluation of pediatric population have also been considered. All this indicates that BAT offers the clinician and laboratory a complementary tool for a safe diagnostic for IDHRs, although its place in the diagnostic algorithm depends on the drug class and patient population (phenotype, geography, and age). The standardization of BAT is important for generalizing this method beyond the individual laboratory., (© 2023 The Authors. Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Paper was one of the greatest inventions in ancient China, and it greatly promoted the rapid development of human civilization. Even in today's electronic information age, paper and paper‐derived products are still indispensable to people's daily work and life. However, the traditional paper based on cellulose fibers from plants has some problems. For instance: (1) papermaking consumes a large amount of precious natural resources such as trees; (2) the papermaking industry causes environmental pollution; (3) the traditional paper consisting of organic cellulose fibers is highly flammable and easy to burn; (4) the traditional paper based on cellulose fibers turns to yellow color with time; (5) the lifetime of the traditional paper is relatively short because of the degradation of cellulose fibers. More efforts are needed to investigate and solve these problems facing the traditional paper. In recent years, a new kind of multifunctional fire‐resistant paper based on ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires has been developed and investigated for various applications, and many research findings have been documented in the literature. This review article provides a comprehensive summary and discussion on recent research advances for this new kind of multifunctional fire‐resistant paper based on ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires, including the synthesis, properties, applications, and future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial and significant to boost the utilization of renewable resources and exploitation of biodegradable materials alternative to petrochemical plastics. Waste paper, mainly composed of cellulose (82–95 wt%) and derived from the lignocellulose, is a type of abundant, renewable, and biodegradable resource, whose recycling use and conversion to high value‐added products can reduce the pressure on the environment and exert immense economic benefits. Herein, four kinds of common waste paper (e.g., printing paper, newspaper, straw paper and roll paper) were converted into cellulose‐based bioplastic membranes by using ionic liquid 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium chloride as solvent. The cellulose‐based membranes are smooth and compact, and their mechanical strength is prominently improved about 3–100 times comparison with the original paper. The maximum tensile strength of the film (F4) is over 127 Mpa and its optical transmittance reaches 80% at 450–800 nm wavelength. Besides, this kind of cellulose‐based films have excellent biodegradability. Thus, the results demonstrated that the cellulose‐based bioplastic membranes stemmed from waste paper possess a magnificent application prospect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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BACKGROUND: This work proposes the use of a simple, inexpensive method for the hydrothermal synthesis of fluorescent carbon dot nanoparticles (CDs) from rice starch aimed at the determination of Hg2+ in water. The proposed method involved using a paper‐based analytical device coupled to a 3D plate, with a UV‐LED chamber and a smartphone for the acquisition and analysis of the fluorescence digital images of the CDs. RESULTS: The size of the carbon dots ranged from 0.5 to 3 nm, with an average particle size of ~1 nm. The functionalization of carbon dots with methimazole allowed a high selective for Hg2+ determination. The results obtained showed a linear response R2 of 0.997 and Hg2+ concentration in the range of 0.5–45.0 μmol L−1 with a limit of detection and limit of quantitation of 0.23 and 0.62 μmol L−1, respectively. The results of the study show that there were no significant differences, at 95% confidence level, between the data obtained from the application of the proposed method and the reference method. CONCLUSION: The proposed method is in line with the principles of green chemistry, as it involves the use of renewable sources for starch extraction and a hydrothermal synthesis process that does not employ toxic reagents. In addition, the method employs only 15 μL reagent/sample. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman microscopic measurements were used to analyse the detailed chemical composition and structure of three old papers dating from the 15th and 19th centuries. Raman mapping measurements were performed on the surface and along the cross‐section of the papers with a lateral resolution of 1 μm. The resulting Raman images visualise the detailed chemical structure of the papers including all components such as the different types of cellulose fibre, filler pigments, sizing agents, colour pigments and also inadvertently added trace particles, such as minerals or products of biological activity. The results of the paper analysis are discussed in connection with their use for the detailed characterisation and dating of paper. This study demonstrates the great potential and the possibilities offered by Raman microscopy or Raman imaging for chemical paper analysis. Raman microscopy allows new insights into the chemical composition and structure of old papers and could considerably enhance the understanding of former papermaking practices and also combat forgery and the fraud of documents and artworks on paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]