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Carbon paper is commonly used for catalytic electrode preparation because of its high conductivity, corrosion resistance, and stability. However, traditional electrode preparation methods are inappropriate for highly hydrophobic carbon paper. In this paper, a high‐activity carbon paper catalytic electrode was prepared using multistrategies cold plasma modification to create atomic structural defects, dope N and Cu elements, and introduce oxygen‐containing functional groups. Analyses show that the bombardment of high‐energy particles caused atomic structural defects. Nitrogen and copper entered the carbon paper through plasma‐induced chemical recombination and physical adsorption, reaching 5.26% and 3.83%, respectively. Ethanol‐based plasma introduced oxygen‐containing functional groups to improve hydrophilicity. Finally, the plasma‐prepared electrode exhibited a reduction efficiency of 87.69% in an electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial waste locks are used as raw materials to reduce harmful effects on the environment and improve environmental performance. Marble clay powder can be used as a filling aid and can fill voids in concrete structures. This article will show you how to use a maximum natural sand alternative in concrete with marble powder and quarry dust. The challenge of the 21st century is to change to a new form that can support the natural system. This necessitates a radical rethinking of how to give the community infrastructure and housing. Making a concerted effort to develop novel, innovative, and alternative construction materials may be necessary. Jungles of concrete around cause's impact on the Environment and it would result in climate change. Mankind must avoid the use of things that are detrimental to the environment. So in this paper, it is decided to address the issue by adopting the use of the green concrete concept which is environmentally friendly. Green concrete is concrete made up using industrial wastes such as marble powder, quarry dust, wood ash, paper pulp, etc. Green concrete, which is capable of sustainable development, helps to reduce the consumption of natural resources, energy use, and environmental pollution. Green concrete is more cost‐effective than ordinary concrete and reduces the cost of resultant concrete by 14%–20%. It is also observed that the alkali‐aggregate reaction and sulfate attack resistance of concrete are both significantly improved. Green concrete is a useful tool for lowering environmental pollution and enhancing concrete's resistance to harsh conditions. All stages of infrastructure construction and rehabilitation will follow this trend of using new cement and techniques. Green concrete's adaptability and its performance derivatives will meet a variety of future needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the accuracy of high‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA samples on filter paper in comparison to specimen transport medium (STM). Methods: This was a cross‐sectional diagnostic study of 42 consecutive women who were prospectively recruited. Each had self‐collected vaginal samples on filter paper, physician‐collected cervical samples on filter paper, and physician‐collected cervical samples in STM. HPV DNA testing was performed with a Hybrid Capture 2 system (Qiagen). Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), and agreement of filter paper methods with the standard procedure were calculated. Results: The overall prevalence of HPV in STM was 67.5%. Detection of HPV DNA in the physician‐collected cervical samples on filter paper had a sensitivity of 77.8%, a specificity of 100%, a PPV of 100%, and an NPV of 68.4%. The patient's self‐sampling on filter paper had a sensitivity of 66.7%, a specificity of 100%, a PPV of 100%, and an NPV of 59.1%. The agreement between STM method and physician‐collected sample on filter paper was substantial, (κ = 0.695, P < 0.001), while the agreement between STM and self‐collected samples on filter paper was moderate (κ = 0.565, P < 0.001). Most patients reported that self‐collection was acceptable (100%), painless (95%), and not embarrassing (95%). Conclusion: Filter paper, with dried self‐collected vaginal samples, can be used to detect high‐risk HPV with acceptable accuracy. Synopsis: Self‐collected vaginal samples on filter paper, to detect high‐risk human papillomavirus, is better for women, easier to transport to central laboratories, and has acceptable accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex polymers represent a challenge for remediating environmental pollution and an opportunity for microbial‐catalysed conversion to generate valorized chemicals. Members of the genus Streptomyces are of interest because of their potential use in biotechnological applications. Their versatility makes them excellent sources of biocatalysts for environmentally responsible bioconversion, as they have a broad substrate range and are active over a wide range of pH and temperature. Most Streptomyces studies have focused on the isolation of strains, recombinant work and enzyme characterization for evaluating their potential for biotechnological application. This review discusses reports of Streptomyces‐based technologies for use in the textile and pulp‐milling industry and describes the challenges and recent advances aimed at achieving better biodegradation methods featuring these microbial catalysts. The principal points to be discussed are (1) Streptomyces' enzymes for use in dye decolorization and lignocellulosic biodegradation, (2) biotechnological processes for textile and pulp and paper waste treatment and (3) challenges and advances for textile and pulp and paper effluent treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Information on breastfeeding and safety of biologics in infants is lacking due to difficulties in case collection. We evaluated methods for determining the concentration of biologics in breast milk using a dry filter method that can simplify the collection, storage and transport of breast milk. Methods: To generate dried filter paper (DFP) samples, approximately 30 μL of breast milk was placed onto a Whatman 903 card and punched out. After extraction, the supernatant was measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Three concentrations of each drug were prepared in liquid breast milk (LBM) and DFP samples to determine their stability up to 28 days after storage at 2–8°C or −20°C for LBM and 25 ± 5°C for DFP. LBM and DFP samples were also provided by nursing mothers using biologics during lactation, and drug concentrations in both samples were compared. The agreement between the two measurement methods was confirmed by Bland–Altman analysis. Results: Breast milk was provided by 12 mothers who used biologics (tocilizumab, abatacept, etanercept, golimumab, sarilumab and belimumab). The coefficients of variation for within‐run and between‐run precision for the six drugs were within 15% for both LBM and DFP, and accuracy was within 90%–110% of the quality controls. After 28 days, concentrations remained at more than 90%. The difference between the values obtained by each method was within the acceptable range of error (−12.1 to +16.6 ng/mL). Conclusions: A method for determining the concentration of biologics using DFP is expected to help improve pharmacotherapy for lactating women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic paper (E‐paper) has the advantages of low power consumption, flexibility, small form factor, and eye‐friendliness. However, most E‐paper substrates are made by indium tin oxide (ITO) glasses or plastic substrates, which are hard to degrade in the natural environment. Our previous work introduced a self‐powered E‐paper (SPEP) integrated with triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Here, a paper‐based SPEP was further demonstrated, driven by a TENG module without any other power module. By combining the self‐powered driving mode and paper substrates, this work showed novel possibilities for E‐paper devices, which provided great potential in future Internet of things (IoT) displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computerised neuropsychological assessments (CNAs) are proposed as more accessible and culturally appropriate alternatives to traditional pencil‐and‐paper neuropsychological assessments (PnPAs) for diagnosing dementia in diverse populations. Whilst some PnPAs have demonstrated cultural and linguistic bias, research investigating the suitability of CNAs for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) individuals is limited, especially outside of the United States. Method: This study compared cognitive performance in a heterogenous sample of older Australian CALD English‐speakers and an L1 English‐speaking background (ESB) sample. Cross‐sectional data were drawn from the ongoing CogSCAN Study. Participants were 212 community‐dwelling individuals aged 60‐95 years without a dementia diagnosis (159 ESB/53 CALD). Participants completed a PnPA and/or CNAs, sessions were counterbalanced accordingly. CNA sessions involved two of four commercially‐available CNAs in a randomised order. Differences in the level and pattern of cognitive performance between groups on two CNAs (CANTAB/Cogstate) and a comprehensive PnPA in English, controlling for sociodemographic and health factors, are reported here. Selection of key variables for examination were based on previous findings (PnPA) and test developer recommendations (CNAs). Result: Sample characteristics are summarised in Table 1. CALD participants' cognitive performance on individual tests (Figure 1) was largely comparable to ESB participants on PnPA and each CNA. Significant differences between groups, after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, were observed for the Boston Naming Test (PnPA; a language test widely criticised for use with CALD populations due to culturally biased stimuli) and Rapid Visual Information Processing (CANTAB; a test of attention/processing speed). Among participants who completed PnPA and Cogstate, a significant interaction between group and assessment type on global cognitive performance was observed; ESB participants outperformed CALD participants on PnPA, but not on Cogstate (Figure 2). No significant main effects or interaction were observed in PnPA versus CANTAB. Conclusion: These results showed fewer and smaller discrepancies across groups and assessment types than has been found in previous literature with other CALD samples, perhaps reflecting higher levels of English proficiency, acculturation, and education in English than previous cohorts. Work in progress is investigating the influence of linguistic and acculturation factors on cognitive performance in a larger and more diverse sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to detect papers originating from the Russia‐based paper mill 'International Publisher' LLC. A total of 1,063 offers to purchase co‐authorship on a fraudulent papers published from 2019 to mid‐2022 on the 123mi.ru website were analysed. This study identifies at least 451 papers that are potentially linked to the paper mill, including one preprint, a duplication paper and 16 republications of papers erroneously published in hijacked journals. Evidence of suspicious provenance from the paper mill is provided: matches in title, number of co‐authorship slots, year of publication, country of the journal, country of a co‐authors and similarities of abstracts. These problematic papers are co‐authored by scholars from at least 39 countries and are submitted to both predatory and reputable journals. This study also demonstrates collaboration anomalies in questionable papers and examines indicators of the Russia‐based paper mill. The value of co‐authorship slots offered by 'International Publisher' LLC from 2019 to 2021 is estimated at $6.5 million. Since this study only analysed a single paper mill, it is likely that the number of papers with forged authorship is much higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Printed electronic paper identifies its interest in flexible organic electronics and sustainable and clean energy applications because of its straightforward production method, cost‐effectiveness, and positive environmental impact. However, current limitations include restricted material thickness and the use of supporting substrate for printing. Here, 2D and 3D electronic patterned paper are fabricated from direct ink writing (DIW) nanocellulose and PEDOT:PSS‐based materials using syringe deposition and 3D printing. The conductor patterns are integrated in the bulk of the paper, while non‐conductive sections are used as support to form free‐standing paper. The strong interface between the patterns of electronic patterned paper gives mechanical stability for practical handling. The conductive paper‐based electrode has 202 S cm−1 and is capable of handling electric current up to 0.7 A, which can be used for high‐power devices. Printed supercapacitor papers show high specific energy of 4.05 Wh kg−1, specific power of 4615 W kg−1 at 0.06 A g−1, and capacitance retention above 95% after 2000 cycles. The new design structure of electronic patterned papers presents a solution for additive manufacturing of paper‐based composites for supercapacitors, wearable electronics, or sensors for smart packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the conference papers published by double first‐class universities from mainland China between 2006 and 2019. The main findings are as follows: first, the number of conference papers from different double first‐class universities varied greatly, with the annual numbers of papers in the China Proceedings of Conferences Full‐text Database (CPCD) and in the Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI) fluctuating during this period. Second, most of the top 10 disciplines of the papers in the CPCD and CPCI were in the natural sciences, with only two in the social sciences. The CPCD papers and CPCI papers had some overlap in their disciplinary distributions. Third, the CPCD and CPCI papers differed little in total number, with the number of CPCI papers being slightly higher than the number of CPCD papers. With the introduction of new regulations from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), there will likely be an increase in the number of Chinese‐language conference papers in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional paper‐based microdevices have been receiving wide attention in the research areas of microfluidic chips, soft actuators, etc. This work introduces the design and fabrication of a Janus‐type paper in which one side of the paper remains hydrophilic and the other side is hydrophobic. Such Janus‐type paper is prepared by directly spraying hydrophobic Glaco solutions and following air plasma treatment. The former treatment can cover the paper fibers with numerous hydrophobic SiO2 nanoparticles. Through optimizing the fabrication parameters of the air plasma, it can penetrate the filter paper in a controllable depth, resulting in effectively regulating the hydrophobic particles into hydrophilic ones. Thereafter, the antirotation and interfacial stability of the Janus paper are investigated. Finally, a liquid storage and contamination‐free analysis devices are demonstrated on the Janus‐type paper platform. Noting that the commercially nonfluoride coating (Glaco) and mature plasma instrument together make the fabrication method simple, rapid, users/environmental‐friendly, and mass‐produced. The method provides a new route to fabricate Janus‐type paper for potential multifunctional applications in microfluidic chips and smart actuators, and may open up new avenue to prepare Janus films in a simple/rapid way. [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]

A special‐purpose Committee on DNA Sequences as Types was established at the XIX International Botanical Congress (IBC) in Shenzhen, China, in 2017, with a mandate to report to the XX IBC in Madrid in 2024 with recommendations on a preferred course of action with respect to potential amendments of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants to allow DNA sequences as types. This is the first in an expected series of papers from the Special‐purpose Committee on this issue. We set out the background to the establishment of the Committee, explore key issues around typification that are pertinent to the question of DNA sequences as types, enumerate pros and cons of allowing DNA sequences as types, and foreshadow options for future discussion and potential recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper‐based materials are widely used in various fields due to their advantages, such as environmental friendliness and sustainability. However, the highly hydrophilic nature of the cellulose that makes up paper‐based materials limits their use. In this paper, micron/nano‐graphite/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coatings with excellent superhydrophobic and conductive properties were prepared on the surface of filter paper by a simple spraying method. A mixture of micro‐graphite and nano‐graphite was used to form a multistage rough structure on the surface of the filter paper by spraying, and the low surface energy PDMS enhanced the adhesion of the micro‐graphite and nano‐graphite on the surface of the filter paper. The results showed that the samples possessed the best superhydrophobic properties when the ratio of micro‐graphite to nano‐graphite was 1:1, at which time the contact and rolling angles of the samples were 165.4° and 3.2°, respectively. The prepared superhydrophobic samples have good bounce and self‐cleaning properties, while the samples have good mechanical stability and chemical resistance. Additionally, due to the conductivity of micro–nano‐graphite, both particle sizes closely contact the sample surface, creating a conductive network. With a 1:1 ratio of micro‐ and nano‐graphite, the coating exhibits minimal resistance at 1.89 KΩ, and the sample maintains stable conductivity even underwater. The above properties greatly extend the application range of paper‐based superhydrophobic materials. [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]

Highlights This study investigated converting abundant paper mill waste, de‐inked paper sludge (DPS), into value‐added medium‐density fiberboard (MDF) panels. The objective was to repurpose this solid waste into a valuable material that aligns with the principles of a circular economy. Previous research has examined the addition of paper sludge to wood composites, but there is limited information on the specific incorporation of DPS into MDF production. This investigation offers new insights into this application. MDF panels were manufactured using hardwood fibers, with varying levels of urea‐formaldehyde resin (10% and 12% by weight) and different loadings of DPS (ranging from 0% to 50% by weight). X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of defective DPS fiber crystals. Contact angle measurements confirmed that DPS had poor wettability, corresponding to increased water absorption. As more DPS was incorporated, the mechanical properties of the panels progressively weakened due to defective fibers and poor adhesion between the fibers and the matrix. This was evident in scanning electron microscopy micrographs, which showed an escalation in interfacial flaws. Increasing the resin dosage noticeably improved the internal bond strength and reduced moisture uptake across all levels of DPS. However, at a DPS loading of 50%, the properties of the panels deteriorated by 36%–57% compared to the control MDF. Additionally, thickness swelling and water absorption increased significantly with higher DPS content, primarily due to the hydrophilic nature of the fibers. Based on optimization, it was determined that a DPS loading of 20% with a resin content of 12% provided the best balance between performance, waste utilization, cost, and moisture resistance. The reuse of abundant paper sludge supports the goals of a circular economy. However, strategies are required to tailor the processing methods and enable higher levels of recycled material without excessively compromising the key attributes of the product. Further research should focus on enhancing the quality of DPS and its compatibility with wood fibers and resin to enhance the performance of the composite material. DPS from recycled paper mill assessed for MDF production with wood fibers and resin Increasing DPS loading caused reductions in strength and adhesion of panels Water absorption and thickness swelling markedly rose with more DPS addition It was attributed to hydrophilic fibers and disrupted fiber‐matrix bonding Optimal formulation was 20% DPS loading and 12% resin content, balancing performance, waste utilization, and cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct air capture (DAC) is a sustainable technology to alleviate the greenhouse effect and a reliable pathway to acquire inexhaustible CO2 for the production of costly chemicals and energy products. Current DAC technologies with amine‐related sorbents rely on chemisorption, while they consume intensive energy for CO2 release and sorbent regeneration by heating. Developing new DAC processes with weak, reversible adsorption can substantially reduce the regeneration energies. Herein, the design of CO2 breathing paper (CBP) is demonstrated toward spontaneous CO2 extraction from ambient air and solar‐driven regeneration. The CBP is fabricated by coupling 2‐ethyl‐4‐methylimidazole to carbon nanotube paper on the basis of density functional theory calculations. At ambient conditions, CBP spontaneously captures atmospheric CO2 with a capacity of 0.14–1.75 mmol g–1 at 0–35 °C through non‐covalent electrostatic interaction. Upon exposure to sunlight, all adsorbed CO2 can be released and converted to concentrated gas for storage. Attractively, the efficiency of solar‐driven CO2 release is much higher than the traditional temperature‐swing method owing to the IR sensitivity of CO2. Besides the reversibility, the mild conditions also ensure the durability of CBP. These findings suggest that the CBP is a promising candidate for cost‐effective DAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]