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2. Paper-Based Robotics with Stackable Pneumatic Actuators
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Salman Hoque, Meriem Akin, Emily Gruber, Smit Shukla, Xiyue Zou, Brian T. Weil, Cora LoPresti, Aaron D. Mazzeo, Michael Yang, and Tongfen Liang
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Artificial Intelligence ,Biophysics ,Control and Systems Engineering ,Paper based ,Robotic systems ,Control engineering ,Soft robotics ,Actuator ,Artificial intelligence ,business.industry ,business ,Pneumatic actuator ,Computer science ,Robotics ,Hardware_GENERAL - Abstract
This work presents a unique approach to the design, fabrication, and characterization of paper-based origami robotic systems consisting of stackable pneumatic actuators. These paper-based actuators...
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- 2022
3. Soil phosphorus fractionation after co-applying biochar and paper mill biosolids
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Eric Manirakiza, Xiangru Zhang, Noura Ziadi, and Bernard Gagnon
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Soil Science ,Fractionation ,Biosolids ,Pulp and paper industry ,Biochar ,Environmental science ,Soil phosphorus ,Soil conditioner ,Paper mill ,business.industry ,business - Abstract
In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the recycling of organic materials such as paper mill biosolids (PB) and biochar for use as soil amendments. However, the benefits of co-application of PB and biochar and its effects on soil phosphorus (P) availability remain unknown. An incubation study was conducted on two acidic soils to assess the effect of two PB types (2.5% w/w) co-applied with three rates (0%, 2.5%, and 5% w/w) of pine (Pinus strobus L.) biochar on soil P fractions. An unfertilized control and a mineral NP fertilizer were used as a reference. Soil P fractions were determined by Hedley procedure after 2 and 16 wk of incubation. Material fractionation indicated that the PB containing the highest total P and the lowest Al content had the highest proportion of labile P, whereas most P in the biochar was in a stable form. The incubation study revealed that the P-rich PB increased P availability in both soils to a level comparable to mineral fertilizer at the end of the incubation. The addition of biochar to PB, however, did not affect soil P availability, but the highest rate induced a conversion of P fixed to Al and Fe oxides towards recalcitrant forms, particularly in the sandy loam soil. We conclude that co-applying biochar and PB could be more beneficial than application biochar alone and soils amended with such a mixture would be expected to release part of their P slowly over a longer period of time.
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- 2022
4. Management of Incidental Thyroid Nodules on Chest CT: Using Natural Language Processing to Assess White Paper Adherence and Track Patient Outcomes
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Ryan G. Short, Benjamin Wildman-Tobriner, and Steven Dondlinger
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Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Nodule (medicine) ,medicine.symptom ,medicine ,business.industry ,business ,Thyroid nodules ,medicine.disease ,Ultrasound ,Artificial intelligence ,Chest ct ,Chart review ,White paper ,Thyroid ultrasound ,Natural language processing ,computer.software_genre ,computer - Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to develop a natural language processing (NLP) pipeline to identify incidental thyroid nodules (ITNs) meeting criteria for sonographic follow-up and to assess both adherence rates to white paper recommendations and downstream outcomes related to these incidental findings. Methods 21583 non-contrast chest CT reports from 2017 and 2018 were retrospectively evaluated to identify reports which included either an explicit recommendation for thyroid ultrasound, a description of a nodule ≥ 1.5 cm, or description of a nodule with suspicious features. Reports from 2018 were used to train an NLP algorithm called fastText for automated identification of such reports. Algorithm performance was then evaluated on the 2017 reports. Next, any patient from 2017 with a report meeting criteria for ultrasound follow-up was further evaluated with manual chart review to determine follow-up adherence rates and nodule-related outcomes. Results NLP identified reports with ITNs meeting criteria for sonographic follow-up with an accuracy of 96.5% (95% CI 96.2-96.7) and sensitivity of 92.1% (95% CI 89.8-94.3). In 10006 chest CTs from 2017, ITN follow-up ultrasound was indicated according to white paper criteria in 81 patients (0.8%), explicitly recommended in 46.9% (38/81) of patients, and obtained in less than half of patients in which it was appropriately recommended (17/35, 48.6%). Discussion NLP accurately identified chest CT reports meeting criteria for ITN ultrasound follow-up. Radiologist adherence to white paper guidelines and subsequent referrer adherence to radiologist recommendations showed room for improvement.
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- 2022
5. Web-based and paper-based examinations: Lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown
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Majed Mohammed Wadi, Tarek A. Salem, Mohamed Nor-El-Din Saleh, and Ahmed Saleh Alamro
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General Medicine ,Positive correlation ,Progress testing ,Web application ,business.industry ,business ,Formative assessment ,Continuous assessment ,Medical education ,Paper based ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Psychology ,2019-20 coronavirus outbreak ,education ,Assessment ,COVID-19 ,Paper-based exam ,Scores ,Web-based exam ,Medicine (General) ,R5-920 ,Original Article ,التقييم ,كوفيد-١٩ ,التعلم عن بعد ,التعلم الإلكتروني ,الاختبار الورقي ,الاختبار المستند على الويب ,التقييم المتواصل ,web-based exam - Abstract
الملخص: أهداف البحث: تصف هذه الورقة عملية تقييم الطلبة عن بعد في التعليم الطبي أثناء فترة الحظر في جائحة كوفيد-١٩، وتشارك الخبرات المستندة إلى البيانات في حل المشكلات الناشئة عن ذلك. طرق البحث: قمنا بتحليل بيانات الاختبارات الورقية النهائية والاختبارات المستندة على الويب، التي أجريت على مدار العام الدراسي ٢٠١٩/٢٠٢٠. وتم تضمين اثني عشر اختبارا، أربعة اختبارات لكل مستوى دراسي، من السنة الأولى وحتى الثالثة. منها ثمانية اختبارات كانت ورقية، وأربعة اختبارات مستندة على الويب. قارنا متوسط درجات كل نوع من الاختبارات، وبين الاختبارات والمستوى الدراسي. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، قمنا بمقارنة درجات الاختبارين الورقي والمستند على الويب التي حصل عليها الطلاب العشرة الأوائل والعشرة الطلاب الأدنى تحصيلا. النتائج: تم العثور على اختلافات في درجات الطلاب من كل دفعة من المجموعات الثلاث في الاختبارات المختلفة، سواء كانت ورقية أو مستندة على الويب. في بعض الحالات، كان الفرق ذا دلالة إحصائية. ولم يتم العثور على اتجاه / نمط محدد للاختلاف بين الدرجات في أي نوع من الاختبارات. كما كان متوسط الدرجات في الاختبارات المستندة على الويب وسطا بين المتوسطات الحسابية لطلاب السنة الأولى والثانية، ولكن أقل بالنسبة لطلاب السنة الثالثة. وأظهرت علامات الطلاب الفردية في الاختبارات المختلفة ارتباطا إيجابيا. وكان معامل الارتباط للاختبارات الورقية مرتفعا دائما. الاستنتاجات: كشفت الدراسة الحالية عن عدم وجود فرق ملحوظ في نتائج الاختبارات الورقية والمستندة على الويب، سواء في متوسط الفصل أو لنتائج الطلاب الفرديين. على الرغم من وجود بعض الاختلافات بين نتائج نهجي التقييم، لم يكن هناك اتجاه ملحوظ.. ستوفر الاختبارات المستندة على الويب نهجا مثاليا للتقييم التكويني، والاختبار التحصيلي، والتقييم المتواصل. Abstract: Objectives: This study describes the process of remote assessment in medical education during the COVID-19 lockdown and shares data-driven experiences in resolving emerging concerns. Methods: We analysed the data of end-of-course paper-based exams (PBEs) and web-based exams (WBEs) conducted during the academic year 2019/2020. Twelve end-of-block exams were included. There were four exams each for the first-, second-, and third-year students. Eight exams were conducted as PBEs, and four were administered as WBEs. We compared the mean scores of PBEs and WBEs between exams and batches. Additionally, we compared the PBE and WBE scores obtained by 10 high-performance and 10 lowest-achieving students. Results: Variations were found in the scores of students from each of the three batches in PBEs or WBEs. In a few instances, the difference was statistically significant. No specific trend or pattern was detected in the difference between the scores of PBEs and WBEs. The mean score for the WBEs was intermediate among the means of PBEs for the first- and second-year students, but lower for the third-year students. Individual students’ marks in different exams consistently showed a positive correlation. The correlation was always high for PBEs (r = 0.782, 0.847). Conclusion: The present study showed that average and individual scores in WBEs and PBEs are comparable. Although there were some variations between the results of the two assessment modalities, no remarkable trend or pattern was observed. WBEs offer an ideal approach for formative assessment, progress testing, and the low-weight, but frequent, nature of continuous assessment.
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- 2022
6. An ESPGHAN Position Paper on the Use of Breath Testing in Paediatric Gastroenterology
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Osvaldo Borrelli, Jernej Dolinsek, Javier Martín-de-Carpi, Mike Thomson, Emmanuel Mas, Rut Ann Thomassen, Carmen Ribes-Koninckx, Ilse Broekaert, Marc A. Benninga, Corina Pienar, Christos Tzivinikos, Erasmo Miele, University Hospital of Cologne [Cologne], Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children [London] (GOSH), University medical centre Maribor (UKC Maribor), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu [Barcelona], Institut de Recherche en Santé Digestive (IRSD ), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT), Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), 'Federico II' University of Naples Medical School, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMFT), Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe = University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Oslo University Hospital [Oslo], Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, VU University Medical Center [Amsterdam], and Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe
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Breath testing ,Carbohydrate malabsorption ,Children ,Helicobacter pylori infection ,Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth ,breath testing ,carbohydrate malabsorption ,children ,small intestinal bacterial overgrowth ,[SDV.MHEP]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology ,[SDV.MHEP.PED]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Pediatrics ,[SDV.MHEP.HEG]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Hépatology and Gastroenterology ,Gastroenterology ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Internal medicine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine ,Intensive care medicine ,Hepatology ,medicine.disease ,Position paper ,Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency ,MEDLINE ,business.industry ,business ,Systematic review ,Malabsorption ,Fat malabsorption - Abstract
International audience; Objectives: Given a lack of a systematic approach to the use of breath testing in paediatric patients, the aim of this position paper is to provide expert guidance regarding the indications for its use and practical considerations to optimise its utility and safety. Methods: Nine clinical questions regarding methodology, interpretation, and specific indications of breath testing and treatment of carbohydrate malabsorption were addressed by members of the Gastroenterology Committee (GIC) of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). A systematic literature search was performed from 1983 to 2020 using PubMed, the MEDLINE and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation was applied to evaluate the outcomes. During a consensus meeting, all recommendations were discussed and finalised. In the absence of evidence from randomised controlled trials, recommendations reflect the expert opinion of the authors. Results: A total of 22 recommendations were voted on using the nominal voting technique. At first, recommendations on prerequisites and preparation for as well as on interpretation of breath tests are given. Then, recommendations on the usefulness of H2-lactose breath testing, H2-fructose breath testing as well as of breath tests for other types of carbohydrate malabsorption are provided. Furthermore, breath testing is recommended to diagnose small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), to control for success of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy and to diagnose and monitor therapy of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, but not to estimate oro-caecal transit time (OCTT) or to diagnose and follow-up on celiac disease. Conclusions: Breath tests are frequently used in paediatric gastroenterology mainly assessing carbohydrate malabsorption, but also in the diagnosis of small intestinal overgrowth, fat malabsorption, H. pylori infection as well as for measuring gastrointestinal transit times. Interpretation of the results can be challenging and in addition, pertinent symptoms should be considered to evaluate clinical tolerance.
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- 2022
7. Rapid repurposing of pulp and paper mills, biorefineries, and breweries for lignocellulosic sugar production in global food catastrophes
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James Throup, Juan B. García Martínez, David Denkenberger, Jacob Cates, Bryan Bals, and Joshua M. Pearce
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General Chemical Engineering ,Biochemistry ,Food Science ,Biotechnology ,Food safety ,business.industry ,business ,Pulp and paper industry ,Environmental science ,Sugar ,ISBL ,Production (economics) ,Food processing ,Lignocellulosic biomass ,Agriculture ,Repurposing - Abstract
Producing sugar from lignocellulosic biomass is a promising resilient food solution to counter the near-total global failure of food production due to the agricultural collapse that would likely follow an abrupt sunlight reduction catastrophe such as a nuclear winter, a supervolcanic eruption, or a large asteroid or comet impact. This study examines how quickly edible sugar production could be ramped up globally by repurposing pulp and paper mills, sugarcane biorefineries, corn biorefineries, and breweries for lignocellulosic sugar production. A sub-unit component comparison to the NREL 2017 Biochemical Sugar Model indicates that 84%, 65%, 37%, and 39% of ISBL unit components are present, respectively. Fast construction methods were studied to analyze how this and other industrial foods could be rapidly leveraged in a catastrophe. Results suggest that the world’s current sugar demand could quickly be fulfilled by repurposing pulp and paper mills for lignocellulosic sugar production, given 5 months of production ramp-up and 24/7 construction. This method could reduce construction time to an estimated 32% of the original at an increased labor cost of 1.47 times, resulting in sugar production beginning 5 months after the catastrophe at a retail cost of $0.82 USD/kg. This could not only contribute a significant share of the food requirement after the catastrophe (∼28% within the first year), but also be key to preventing global starvation between the time at which global food storages run dry and other resilient food solutions can scale up significantly. This study aims to serve as the basis for more comprehensive scenario analyses. More research is needed to characterize material and labor constraints to fast response in more depth; repurposing and fast construction pilot studies and food safety studies are recommended.
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- 2022
8. Co-application of wood biochar and paper mill biosolids affects yield and short-term nitrogen and phosphorus availability in temperate loamy soils
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Bernard Gagnon, Eric Manirakiza, and Noura Ziadi
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Soil Science ,Nitrogen ,chemistry.chemical_element ,chemistry ,Environmental science ,Biosolids ,Phosphorus ,Land management ,Temperate climate ,Biochar ,Paper mill ,business.industry ,business ,Agronomy ,Loam - Abstract
Amending croplands with forest residues may help in restoring soil properties in fields subject to intensive land management. Despite their known benefits when applied separately, co-application of wood biochar with paper mill biosolids (PB) has seen little investigation under field conditions. A study was initiated in Québec, QC, Canada, to determine the effect of a single application of wood biochar with and without PB on the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability of two pH-neutral to alkaline loamy soils. Biochar at 0, 10, and 20 Mg dry weight·ha−1 and PB at 30 Mg wet weight·ha−1 were applied before planting of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in 2018. Residual effect of this co-application was determined under soybean and corn in the subsequent year. In both years, corn received supplemental N and P from mineral fertilizers according to local agronomic recommendations. Co-applying biochar and PB reduced soil NO3-N availability in the year of application and decreased corn yield by 1.0 Mg·ha−1 compared with biochar or PB applied alone, but these amendments did not affect soybean yields. In the following year, the previous biochar addition increased soybean yield by 0.6 Mg·ha−1 but had little effect on corn. For both years, biochar addition induced a large increase in soil Mehlich-3 P. This study revealed that wood biochar positively impacted P status of these soils but was not a source of N to crops even when co-applied with PB.
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- 2022
9. Changes in soil pH and nutrient extractability after co-applying biochar and paper mill biosolids
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Mervin St. Luce, Eric Manirakiza, Noura Ziadi, Chantal Hamel, Hani Antoun, and Antoine Karam
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Soil Science ,Environmental science ,Nutrient ,Biosolids ,Soil pH ,Biochar ,Environmental chemistry ,Paper mill ,business.industry ,business - Abstract
Acidification and metal mobility may present challenges in soil receiving paper mill biosolids (PB). Co-applying biochar and PB could help prevent these issues, but its effect must be assessed. The objective of this 224 d incubation study was to evaluate the effect of amending two acidic soils, a clay and sandy loam, with two PB types varying in pH (PB1, pH = 7.80; and PB2, pH = 4.51) co-applied with three rates (0%, 2.5%, and 5% w/w) of pine (Pinus strobus L.) biochar on soil pH and macro- (P, K, Ca, and Mg) and micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn). In both soils, co-applying biochar and PB significantly increased soil pH and extractable K concentration compared with PB-only application, whereas amending with PB significantly increased soil extractable P concentration compared with the unamended soil. In comparison with PB only, co-applying 5% biochar and PB decreased extractable Cu concentration in both soils and extractable Fe concentration in the sandy loam soil. This study showed that co-applying biochar and PB can be more beneficial to agricultural soils than application of PB alone by supplying nutrients and helping prevent metal toxicity by raising pH, especially in acidic sandy soils.
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- 2022
10. Pulp and paper industry in energy transition: Towards energy-efficient and low carbon operation in Finland and Sweden
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Esa Vakkilainen, Ekaterina Sermyagina, Satu Lipiäinen, and Katja Kuparinen
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Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,Environmental Chemistry ,Environmental Engineering ,Environmental science ,Pulp and paper industry ,Renewable energy ,business.industry ,business ,Energy consumption ,Fossil fuel ,Efficient energy use ,Energy security ,Energy transition ,Climate change mitigation ,Biofuel - Abstract
Mitigation of global warming, energy security and industrial competitiveness urge the energy-intensive pulp and paper industry (PPI) to transform energy use practices. This study investigates how the PPI has responded to the need for the energy transition in the 2000s. Finland and Sweden as forerunners of energy-efficient operation and decarbonization of the PPI are used as target countries. Understanding of changes in energy consumption is complemented using decomposition analysis (Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index Method) and the energy efficiency index approach. Analysis of companies’ investments in energy technologies is used for explaining changes in energy production. Evidence of significant development towards the more sustainable operation of the PPI was found. Energy consumption per produced unit has decreased, i.e., energy efficiency has improved. Fossil fuels have been partially replaced with bio-based alternatives. Thus, the CO2 intensity has decreased substantially. The generation of renewable electricity has increased in both countries. Examples of Finland and Sweden indicate that the PPI has great potential to contribute to CO2 emission reduction worldwide in the future as energy efficiency can be further improved, and the share of fossil fuels can be decreased increasing the use of biofuels and self-generated green electricity at least in kraft pulp mills.
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- 2022
11. In-situ joule heating-triggered nanopores generation in laser-induced graphene papers for capacitive enhancement
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Guantao Wang, Fu Liu, Sida Luo, Yuxiang Zhu, Yanan Wang, and Meihong He
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General Chemistry ,General Materials Science ,Nanopore ,Graphene oxide paper ,Graphene ,law.invention ,law ,Capacitive sensing ,Joule heating ,Amorphous carbon ,Materials science ,Capacitance ,Optoelectronics ,business.industry ,business ,Fabrication - Abstract
Laser-induced graphene (LIG) technology featuring low-cost, high-efficiency and scalability has presented great advantages in micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) fabrication. However, the limited capacitance of LIG based MSCs is still hindering their further development. Herein, we introduce joule heating as a critical in-situ treatment merged with the assembly of laser-induced graphene paper based MSCs (LIGP-MSCs) toward capacitive enhancement. By increasing heating-treatment temperature from ∼20 to 500 °C, the number of nanopores in LIGP continuously increases, attributed to the gradual decomposition of amorphous carbon components. The resulting joule-heated LIGP (J-LIGP) with improved specific surface area (160.97–533.49 m2/g) and pore volume (0.179–0.553 cm3/g) as well as superhydrophilic surface is highly suitable to be employed as J-LIGP-MSCs microelectrodes. By investigating process dependent performance, the J-LIGP-MSCs heated at 500 °C for 60 min delivers a significantly improved specific areal capacitance (CA) of 13.71 mF/cm2 at 10 mV/s, which is approximately six-fold higher than that of unheated LIGP-MSCs. By further exploring and optimizing the process efficiency, J-LIGP-MSCs with a CA of 12.61 mF/cm2 has been achieved by 550 °C heating for only 5 min. Along with superior mechanical flexibility, cyclability and structural modularity, the proposed in-situ joule heating treatment is finally proved to be a universal approach for consistently enhancing the CA of LIG based MSCs processed under various chemical modifications.
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- 2022
12. How Different Carryover Pitch Extractive Components are Affecting Kraft Paper Strength
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Erich Leitner, Stefan Spirk, Roman Poschner, Andrea Hochegger, Jussi Antero Lahti, Werner Schlemmer, and Ulrich Hirn
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Chemistry ,QD1-999 ,Article ,General Chemical Engineering ,General Chemistry ,Pulp (paper) ,engineering.material ,engineering ,Kraft process ,Starch ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Unsaturated fatty acid ,Papermaking ,Pulp and paper industry ,Softwood ,Paper mill ,business.industry ,business ,Kraft paper - Abstract
We present how harmful different wood extractives carried over to paper mill with unbleached softwood Kraft pulp are for the strength of packaging papers and boards. The investigations were done by simulating industrial papermaking conditions in laboratory-scale trials for handsheet production. It was found that fatty acids are the most relevant compounds in the carryover pitch extractives (CPEs), as they readily interfere in fiber-fiber bonding strength, control the properties of CPE micelles, and are furthermore the most abundant compounds. Addition of cationic starch improved strength and evened out the strength differences of handsheets with different CPE compounds. Oleic acid (unsaturated fatty acid) was an exception, as it was above average harmful for paper strength without cationic starch and also heavily impaired the functioning of cationic starch. As a whole, these findings demonstrate that fatty acids, especially unsaturated ones, are the most relevant CPE compounds contributing to the reduced efficiency of cationic starch and decreased strength of unbleached softwood Kraft paper. This makes the cleaning of process waters by precipitating CPEs on the pulp fibers harmful for paper strength.
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- 2021
13. The ideal effect of Gabor filters and Uniform Local Binary Pattern combinations on deformed scanned paper images
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Aida Mustapha, Shihab Hamad Khaleefah, Salama A. Mostafa, and Mohammad Faidzul Nasrudin
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General Computer Science ,Feature (computer vision) ,Rotation (mathematics) ,Noise (video) ,Scanner ,Orientation (computer vision) ,Local binary patterns ,Feature extraction ,Computer science ,Pattern recognition ,Artificial intelligence ,business.industry ,business ,Image (mathematics) ,Paper fingerprinting ,Document authentication ,Gabor filters (GF) ,Uniform Local Binary Pattern (ULBP) ,Electronic computers. Computer science ,QA75.5-76.95 - Abstract
Existing scanners produce paper images with different types of deformations such as noise, rotation and shear. These deformations affect the accuracy of the fingerprinting the document images, which entails utilizing advanced feature extraction operators. Existing feature extractor such as the Uniform Local Binary Patterns (ULBP) has been found to be limited in dealing with the global view of the texture and neglecting useful information about the images. This article presents an Automated Paper Fingerprinting (APF) method that deploys a combination approach for Gabor Filters (GF) and Uniform Local Binary Patterns (ULBP) called the GFULBP operator to cater for both local and global image information during the feature extraction process for higher texture classification accuracy. The APF method is evaluated by a standard dataset of 306 blank paper images derived from pre-existing scanner image dataset from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) with properties ranges from 50 DPI, 100 DPI, and 150 DPI respectively. The images are captured by a flatbed scanner with 50 DPI, 100 DPI, and 150 DPI resolutions. Each image is represented by four patches that are segmented from specific locations of the image. The test results of the APF show that GFULBP is able to outperform the ULBP alone by 30.68% when the GF has a 5 scale and π/2 orientation degree. This work finds that the integration of Gabor filters and ULBP significantly enhances the feature extraction quality and fingerprinting accuracy.
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- 2021
14. Paper-based microfluidics for food safety and quality analysis
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Azadeh Nilghaz, Miaosi Li, Rong Cao, Xungai Wang, Junfei Tian, and Seyed Mahdi Mousavi
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Food Science ,Biotechnology ,Food Analysis ,Paper based ,Biological hazard ,Risk analysis (engineering) ,Food safety ,business.industry ,business ,Quality (business) ,media_common.quotation_subject ,media_common ,Chemical contaminants ,Food industry ,Scope (project management) ,Computer science - Abstract
Background The screening of biological hazards, chemical contaminants and allergens in food products is a major concern of food industry since they can cause serious illnesses and even lead to death. Therefore, there is a significant interest in developing low-cost, robust, and rapid detection methods for food safety and quality analysis. Conventional methods provide accurate analytical characteristics, but require well-equipped laboratories, trained personnel, costly reagents, and complicated sample preparation procedures prior to the detection in order to obtain reliable results. Hence, they are not always ideal for on-site food surveillance. Scope and approach This paper discusses the fundamentals of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) and reviews the recent progress in their usage for screening biological hazards, harmful chemical residues, and allergens in food products to systematically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this technology. It then covers future trends and useful strategies that could be employed in μPADs design and fabrication procedures to address the critical challenges in equipment-free food analysis. Key findings and conclusions μPADs offer promising avenues to revolutionize food safety and quality analysis with merits of equipment-free sample preparation and detection at low-cost. Despite the advancement in the microfluidic technology, the manufacturing of user-friendly sample-to-answer μPADs still requires intensive research studies to be employed for robust and sensitive food safety and quality analysis.
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- 2021
15. Mechanical and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of PBO Paper-based Composites
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Yi Wang, Jin Long, Jian Hu, and Ziqi Huang
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Polymers and Plastics ,Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous) ,Paper based ,Aerospace ,business.industry ,business ,Raw material ,Composite material ,Honeycomb ,Dynamic mechanical analysis ,Materials science - Abstract
Poly ( p-phenylene benzoisoxazole; PBO) paper is a potential raw material for use in honeycomb sandwich composites in the aerospace industry, which are able to sustain high temperatures exceeding 300°C. This work presents a wet-forming method of making PBO paper, consisting of PBO chopped fibers. The paper was impregnated with phenolic resin to simulate honeycomb wall material. The structure and mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the raw and impregnated paper were characterized. The performance of PBO paper was tested against p-aramid paper. The comparative results showed the tensile strength of PBO raw paper was 2.17 kN/m, which was slightly worse than p-aramid raw paper: 2.66 kN/m. After impregnation, the tensile strength of the PBO paper was 13.93 kN/m due to the increase in the number of bonding points—better than p-aramid paper: 7.99 kN/m. The tearing resistance value for PBO raw paper versus p-aramid raw paper was 3252 mN against 845 mN. The morphology of the torn samples in the impregnated paper revealed higher levels of PBO fiber pullout than p-aramid fiber, therefore the tearing resistance value was 6000 mN for PBO impregnated paper, which was again superior to p-aramid impregnated paper: 675 mN. The PBO paper also showed higher storage modulus than p-aramid paper after impregnation. Experimental studies showed that PBO paper could be used in load-bearing structures and in honeycomb components where high resistance to deformation and thermal stability is necessary.
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- 2021
16. Under the spotlight: A new tool (artificial light radiation) to bleach paper documents
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Amparo Escolano, María del Rosario Blanc García, Teresa Espejo Arias, Nuria Gómez Hernández, and Ana Reyes Pérez
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Chemistry (miscellaneous) ,Conservation ,Archeology ,Spectroscopy ,Materials Science (miscellaneous) ,General Economics, Econometrics and Finance ,Specular reflection ,Digital printing ,business.industry ,business ,Engraving ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,visual_art ,Computer science ,Artificial light ,Bleach ,Process engineering ,Grammage ,Gloss (optics) ,Permeance ,Paper ,Bleaching ,Artificial light radiation ,Calcium hydroxide ,Hydrogen peroxide - Abstract
This work was supported by the research group "Ciencia y Cultura del Patrimonio"(HUM-1057) and the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad in the framework of the I + D research project "Nuevas alternativas al conocimiento de los materiales y los procesos de conservacion y restauracion de obra grafica y patrimonio documental"(REF.MAT2014-58659-P). Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA., This study offers a new tool to restorers to bleach paper documents: artificial light radiation (ALR). It is a controlled method that is an alternative to other highly aggressive procedures that have been applied to cellulose based media. Its main novelty is its intrinsic lighting characteristics which guarantee uniformity and avoid heating the paper. The results of testing this new tool were compared to those of bleaching with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Each of the two methods was applied to five different types of widely used paper: Arches and Somerset (brands serving for engraving and digital printing), Ingres (drawing), press-type (magazines and newspapers) and Bible-type (historical documents). Once characterised by physico-mechanical, chemical and optical parameters (grammage, thickness, specular gloss, optical properties, air permeance, tensile properties, determining the pH of both surface and aqueous extracts), the different papers were bleached by the two methods according to pre-established criteria. Finally, to determine the evolution and effects of the two treatments, the papers were subjected to accelerated ageing., Research group "Ciencia y Cultura del Patrimonio" HUM-1057, Spanish Government MAT2014-58659-P, Universidad de Granada/CBUA
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- 2021
17. Energy efficiency challenges in pulp and paper manufacturing: A tutorial review
- Author
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Martin A. Hubbe
- Subjects
Waste Management and Disposal ,Bioengineering ,Environmental Engineering ,Pinch analysis ,Efficient energy use ,Process engineering ,business.industry ,business ,Product (business) ,Process integration ,Cellulosic ethanol ,Computer science ,Electricity ,Exergy ,Pulp (paper) ,engineering.material ,engineering - Abstract
The pulp and paper industry is highly energy-intensive. In mills that use chemical pulping, roughly half of the higher heating value of the cellulosic material used to manufacture the product typically is incinerated to generate steam and electricity that is needed to run the processes. Additional energy, much of it non-renewable, needs to be purchased. This review considers publications describing steps that pulp and paper facilities can take to operate more efficiently. Savings can be achieved, for instance, by minimizing unnecessary losses in exergy, which can be defined as the energy content relative to a standard ambient condition. Throughout the long series of unit operations comprising the conversion of wood material to sheets of paper, there are large opportunities to more closely approach a hypothetical ideal performance by following established best-practices.
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- 2021
18. Preparation and application of water-based nano-silver conductive ink in paper-based 3D printing
- Author
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Jun Wang, Chenfei Zhao, and Lini Lu
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Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,Mechanical Engineering ,Water based ,3D printing ,business.industry ,business ,Conductive ink ,Paper based ,Nanotechnology ,Materials science ,Silver Nano ,Rapid prototyping - Abstract
Purpose In flexible electronics applications, organic inks are mostly used for inkjet printing. Three-dimensional (3 D) printing technology has the advantages of low cost, high speed and good precision in modern electronic printing. The purpose of this study is to solve the high cost of traditional printing and the pollution emissions of organic ink. It is necessary to develop a water-based conductive ink that is easily degradable and can be 3 D printed. A nano-silver ink printed circuit pattern with high precision, high conductivity and good mechanical properties is a promising strategy. Design/methodology/approach The researched nano-silver conductive ink is mainly composed of silver nanoparticles and resin. The effect of adding methyl cellulose on the ink was also explored. A simple 3 D circuit pattern was printed on photographic paper. The line width, line length, line thickness and conductivity of the printed circuit were tested. The influence of sintering temperature and sintering time on pattern resistivity was studied. The relationship between circuit pattern bending performance and electrical conductivity is analyzed. Findings The experimental results show that the ink has the characteristics of low silver content and good environmental protection effect. The printing feasibility of 3 D printing circuit patterns on paper substrates was confirmed. The best printing temperature is 160°C–180°C, and the best sintering time is 30 min. The circuit pattern can be folded 120°, and the cycle is folded more than 60 times. The minimum resistivity of the circuit pattern is 6.07 µΩ·cm. Methyl cellulose can control the viscosity of the ink. The mechanical properties of the pattern have been improved. The printing method of 3 D printing can significantly reduce the sintering time and temperature of the conductive ink. These findings may provide innovation for the flexible electronics industry and pave the way for alternatives to cost-effective solutions. Originality/value In this study, direct ink writing technology was used to print circuit patterns on paper substrates. This process is simple and convenient and can control the thickness of the ink layer. The ink material is nonpolluting to the environment. Nano-silver ink has suitable viscosity and pH value. It can meet the requirements of pneumatic 3 D printers. The method has the characteristics of simple process, fast forming, low cost and high environmental friendliness.
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- 2021
19. Importance of public‐private partnerships for nutrition support research: An ASPEN Position Paper
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Allison Blackmer, Satya Jonnalagadda, Faith Ottery, Wes Cetnarowski, Seema Kumbhat, Van S. Hubbard, Gordon S. Sacks, Krysmaru Araujo Torres, Sandra Wolfe Citty, Yimin Chen, Mary E. Russell, Charles M. Mueller, Justine M. Turner, and Elizabeth J. Dye
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Nutrition and Dietetics ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Position paper ,Government ,Development studies ,Parenteral nutrition ,Conflict of interest ,Public relations ,business.industry ,business ,Public–private partnership ,Transparency (behavior) ,Public trust ,health care economics and organizations - Abstract
Parenteral and enteral nutrition support are key components of care for various medical and physiological conditions in infants, children, and adults. Nutrition support practices have advanced over time, driven by the goals of safe and sufficient delivery of needed nutrients and improved patient outcomes. These advances have been, and continue to be, dependent on research and development studies. Such studies address aspects of enteral and parenteral nutrition support: formulations, delivery devices, health outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and related metabolism. The studies are supported by public funding from the government and by private funding from foundations and from the nutrition support industry. To build public trust in nutrition support research findings, it is important to underscore ethical research conduct and reporting of results for all studies, including those with industry sponsors. In 2019, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition's (ASPEN's) Board of Directors established a task force to ensure integrity in nutrition support research that is done as collaborative partnerships between the public (government and individuals) and private groups (foundations, academia, and industry). In this ASPEN Position Paper, the Task Force presents principles of ethical research to guide administrators, researchers, and funders. The Task Force identifies ways to curtail bias and to minimize actual or perceived conflict of interests, as related to funding sources and research conduct. Notably, this paper includes a Position Statement to describe the Task Force's guidance on Public-Private Partnerships for research and funding. This paper has been approved by the ASPEN Board of Directors.
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- 2021
20. Migrant workers occupational health research: an OMEGA-NET working group position paper
- Author
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Ingrid Sivesind Mehlum, Bertina Kreshpaj, Dana Mates, Barbara Bergbom, Deborah Catherine Glass, Valentina Milenkova, Evangelia Nena, Mario Marinov, Damien McElvenny, Emine Aktas, and Lode Godderis
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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Work (electrical) ,Qualitative research ,Demographic economics ,Sociology ,Ethnic group ,Position paper ,Health care ,business.industry ,business ,Cohort study ,Occupational safety and health ,Systematic review ,Review Article ,Migrant workers ,Native workers ,Occupational health ,Study design ,Working conditions ,Work-related health ,population characteristics ,geographic locations ,social sciences ,behavior and behavior mechanisms ,female genital diseases and pregnancy complications ,Science & Technology ,Life Sciences & Biomedicine ,Public, Environmental & Occupational Health ,IMMIGRANT WORKERS ,MENTAL-HEALTH ,RISK ,PREVALENCE ,PRECARIAT ,MIGRATION - Abstract
Objective The aims of the study were: (1) to clarify the definitions of “migrant” used in occupational health research; (2) to summarize migrant workers’ industry sectors, occupations and employment conditions; (3) to identify the occupational health and safety services available to migrant workers; (4) to summarize work-related health problems found among migrant workers; (5) to identify the methodological challenges to research into occupational health of migrant workers; and (6) to recommend improvements in migrant occupational health research. Methods This position paper was prepared by researchers from several European countries and Australia, working within the EU COST Action OMEGA-NET. The paper drew on two recent systematic reviews on the occupational health of international migrant workers and other literature, and also identified uncertainties and gaps in the research literature. Migrants may, for example, be temporary or permanent, moving for specific jobs migrants or other reasons. Their ethnicity and language capabilities will affect their work opportunities. Results The occupational health literature seldom adequately identifies the heterogeneity or characteristics of the migrant group being studied. Migrants tend to work in more physically and mentally demanding environments with higher exposures than native workers. Migrants tend to have an increased risk of physical and mental ill health, but less access to health care services. This has been demonstrated recently by high rates of COVID-19 and less access to health care. There have been a number of cross-sectional studies of migrant health but few long-term cohort studies were identified. Other study designs, such as registry-based studies, surveys and qualitative studies may complement cross-sectional studies. Mixed-methodology studies would be valuable in research on migrants’ occupational health. Language and lack of trust are barriers to migrant research participation. Conclusion Targeted research, especially longitudinal, identifying how these economically important but often-vulnerable workers can be best assisted is needed. Researchers should identify the characteristics of the migrant workers that they are studying including visa/migration circumstances (temporary, permanent, undocumented), racial and ethnic characteristics, existing skills and language abilities.
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- 2021
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