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Abstract This work presents a novel method for the sensitive and selective detection of atmospheric hydroxyl radicals (OH). After activation by a hydrothermal method in the presence of sodium citrate, carbon fiber paper (CFP) with good conductivity and hydrophilicity was impregnated with salicylic acid (SA) and used as a detector to monitor OH. The impregnated SA can trap atmospheric OH, producing 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHBA), an electroactive species. The concentration of 2,5-DHBA was quantified using a simple electrochemical method to estimate the number of OH radicals that have participated in the reaction. This method provided a linear correlation for 2,5-DHBA concentrations from 1.0 × 10−13 to 3.0 × 10−10 M with a detection limit of 2.09 × 10−14 M, which corresponds to an OH range from 1.0 × 105 to 3.0 × 108 molecules/cm3 with a detection limit of 2.1 × 104 molecules/cm3. This method has been used to measure the atmospheric OH levels in Yangzhou. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Carbon fiber paper (CFP) plays two roles in the measurement of atmospheric OH: collection and detection. • C O was introduced to improve the CFP affinity for salicylic acid (SA). • Atmospheric OH was detected by a SA-impregnated CFP via measurement of 2,5-DHBA. • The OH detection limit is 2.1 × 104 molecules/cm3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, many summarization models are based on Transformer architectures, which regard text as a connected graph of words and tokens, thus fail to fully leverage the text's hierarchical structure. However, hierarchical structural information is crucial in understanding long documents, especially scientific papers. To exploit the structural information, we propose a H eterogeneous T ree structure augmented with T riplet P ositions for extractive Sum marization of scientific papers (HTPosum). The proposed model constructs a heterogeneous tree for each document, introducing section nodes and a global node to capture the documents' structural information. The tree is then augmented with a novel triplet position, which consists of three values that represent the depth, parent width position, and sibling width position of each node in a tree. The triplet position provides a unified view of the document structure. Experimental results show that the proposed model achieves state-of-the-art extractive performance on the PubMed and arXiv datasets compared with the latest scientific paper summarization models. • A heterogeneous tree is built to model scientific papers' hierarchical structure. • A triplet position and unique triplet position encoding method is proposed. • The proposed model achieves competitive results compared to latest baselines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global food systems can benefit significantly from continuous monitoring of microbial food safety, a task for which tedious operations, destructive sampling, and the inability to monitor multiple pathogens remain challenging. This study reports significant improvements to a paper chromogenic array sensor - machine learning (PCA-ML) methodology sensing concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted on a species-specific basis by pathogens by streamlining dye selection, sensor fabrication, database construction, and machine learning and validation. This approach enables noncontact, time-dependent, simultaneous monitoring of multiple pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes , Salmonella , and E. coli O157:H7) at levels as low as 1 log CFU/g with over 90% accuracy. The report provides theoretical and practical frameworks demonstrating that chromogenic response, including limits of detection, depends on time integrals of VOC concentrations. The paper also discusses the potential for implementing PCA-ML in the food supply chain for different food matrices and pathogens, with species- and strain-specific identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne pathogen infection poses a significant threat to public health and is considered as one of the most serious hazards in global food safety. Herein, a sensitive and efficient method for on-site monitoring of foodborne pathogens was developed by using a smartphone-assisted paper-sensor combined with phage-derived bacterial-binding proteins-nano magnetic beads (PBPs-MBs). PBPs including tail fiber protein (TFP:gp13), cell-wall binding domain (CBD) of endolysin and tailspike protein (TSP) coated on the surface of MBs were applied for rapid separation and enrichment of targeted bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium , respectively) from food samples in 20 min before detection on paper-based sensors. The paper-based sensor was loaded with the lytic agent (polymyxin B) to induce bacterial lysis and release specific endogenous enzymes. Subsequently, three distinct chromogenic substrates were hydrolyzed by their corresponding enzymes, resulting in characteristic color changes on the paper, respectively. In addition, a smartphone APP for red-green-blue (RGB) color analysis of paper was able to directly detect three foodborne pathogens. As a result, the limit of detection (LOD) values for three foodborne pathogens were found to be 2.44 × 102, 2.68 × 104 and 4.62 × 103 CFU/mL, respectively, which were much lower than other studies (106–108 CFU/mL) based on enzymes. Moreover, the feasibility of this approach was further assessed through the successful detection of targeted bacteria in real samples with satisfactory recovery rates. In conclusion, this smartphone-assisted biosensor offers promising application potential for point-of-care testing (POCT) of foodborne pathogens in resource-scarce areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Honeycomb-like porous paper platform obtained by the laser direct writting. • Simultaneous and accurate monitoring physical and chemical index during exercise. • Exceptional sensitivity (68 mV pH-1) by confined enrichment from cellulose. • On-demand analysis of sweat by joule heating from conducting polymers. Paper-based wearable sensors have gained significant attention in sweat analysis due to their widespread availability, comfortable wearability, and hygroscopic behavior. However, integrating functional components such as the conducting polymers in one sensor to realize the simultaneous and on-demand detection for the physical and chemical indexes compromises their stable performance under operation due to mismatch among various functional parts. We report a stable, multifunctional, and scalable paper-based flexible sensing platform for improved performance for in-situ sweat stimulating and analyzing of sweat as well as the monitoring of body motion. The welded honeycomb structure of composite paper formed in direct laser writing can provide a reversible and precise response in resistance during bending. The internal confined space containing the bacterial cellulose can induce an electrostatic enrichment of hydrogen ions in sweat, thus enhancing the pH-sensing sensitivity (68 mV pH-1). This spatial separating design for the two detections can further isolate the interfering, thus enabling the simultaneous and highly sensitive analysis of pH and movement. In addition, the controlled joule heating effect and the nano-fluid channels of the papers can help generate and rapidly transfer the sweat, further facilitating an on-demand and rapid responsive detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illustration of the assembly, distribution, and point-of-care use of a rapidly-deployable, cell-free COVID-19 biosensor: 1) Assemble: Assembling CFPS reagents by mixing E. coli lysate, murine RNase Inhibitor (mRI), energy sources, cofactors, and toehold switch riboregulator plasmid. 2) Print: aliquoting CFPS reagents onto paper substrates housed in a plastic test cassette. 3) Dehydrate: lyophilizing CFPS reagents on paper substrates. 4) Distribute. 5) Saliva sample: applying saliva samples onto cassette without pretreatments. 6) Reaction: bioluminescent protein expression in presence of target RNA (+), or ribosome detachment in absence of target RNA (-). 7) Visual result: bioluminescent output in the presence of target RNA and NanoLuc luciferase expression. [Display omitted] • Progress towards a rapid, low-cost, point-of-care Covid-19 biosensor. • Engineered toehold switches respond to saliva enriched with SARS-CoV-2 RNA. • mRI enables robust paper-based cell-free protein synthesis in the presence of saliva. • Plastic cassette houses paper-based diagnostic test for simple distribution and use. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the global demand for rapid, low-cost, widely distributable and point-of-care nucleic acid diagnostic technologies. Such technologies could help disrupt transmission, sustain economies and preserve health and lives during widespread infection. In contrast, conventional nucleic acid diagnostic procedures require trained personnel, complex laboratories, expensive equipment, and protracted processing times. In this work, lyophilized cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) and toehold switch riboregulators are employed to develop a promising paper-based nucleic acid diagnostic platform activated simply by the addition of saliva. First, to facilitate distribution and deployment, an economical paper support matrix is identified and a mass-producible test cassette designed with integral saliva sample receptacles. Next, CFPS is optimized in the presence of saliva using murine RNase inhibitor. Finally, original toehold switch riboregulators are engineered to express the bioluminescent reporter NanoLuc in response to SARS-CoV-2 RNA sequences present in saliva samples. The biosensor generates a visible signal in as few as seven minutes following administration of 15 μL saliva enriched with high concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA sequences. The estimated cost of this test is less than 0.50 USD, which could make this platform readily accessible to both the developed and developing world. While additional research is needed to decrease the limit of detection, this work represents important progress toward developing a diagnostic technology that is rapid, low-cost, distributable and deployable at the point-of-care by a layperson. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cellulose derived carbon/graphene/ZnO aerogel composite was prepared as an electrode in order to investigate the electrochemical properties. Carbon aerogel was synthesized using paper as an available cellulose source, and the composite was obtained through a new and simple preparation method including the immersion of monolithic carbon aerogel in graphene oxide/Zn2+ suspension and subsequent chemical reduction and freeze drying. The morphology, functional groups and crystalline structure of the samples were studied with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD), respectively. Electrochemical performance of the prepared binder free electrodes was examined using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic Charge-Discharge (GCD) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The data revealed that flexible carbon/graphene/ZnO composite resulted in a low density (0.035 g cm−3) electrode with the capacitance of 900 mF cm−2 at a high current density of 10 mA cm−2, lower IR drop and high cyclic stability (capacitance retention of 96%) after 1000 cycles, at 10 mA cm−2. These features were due to the presence of 3D porous conductive network, highly reduced graphene oxide, and the formation of ZnO nanoparticles on graphene sheets. Moreover, polyaniline (PANI) was introduced to carbon/graphene/ZnO composite electrode using electro-oxidation method at different reaction time and aniline concentration in order to achieve remarkably improved capacitance of 2500 mF cm−2 (at 10 mA cm−2) and low charge transfer resistance. Also, after the supercapacitor device assembly, the capacitance was retained. Based on the results, the synthesized composite is a promising material for new generation of lightweight freestanding electrodes with the high electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the exponential growth in the number of academic researchers, it is crucial for editors of scientific journals to identify the highest-quality papers. While several measures exist to evaluate a paper's impact post-publication, the challenge of determining the potential impact of a manuscript during the review process remains an understudied issue. In this paper, we propose a reviewer-reputation ranking algorithm to identify high-quality papers based on paper citations, where a reviewer's reputation is computed from the correlation between their past ratings and the current number of citations received by the papers they have evaluated. During the review process, reviewers with high reputation scores are given more weight to determine the quality of papers. We test the algorithm on an artificial network with 200 reviewers and 600 papers, as well as on the American Physical Society (APS) data set, including in the analysis 308,243 papers and 274,154 mutual citations. We compare our approach with two existing methods, demonstrating that our algorithm significantly outperforms the others in identifying manuscripts with the highest quality. Our findings can help improve the impact of scientific journals, thereby contributing to academic and scientific progress. • We propose an algorithm to identify the papers with the highest quality from a large number of submissions. • We compare our new algorithm with other existing methods of aggregating user ratings in various online services. • We test our algorithm both with an artificial network and with the empirical data of the APS data set. • We show that our algorithm outperforms the other methods in identifying the papers with the highest quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a simple, bottom up, bioinspired technique is proposed for the synthesis of highly stable colloids of silica supported spherical silver nanoparticles (SiO 2 @Ag) that act as efficient catalytic and antimicrobial coatings for an organic substrate, filter paper. The core – shell structure and the highly branched dendritic polymer, poly(ethylene)imine, enabled the precise control of growth rate and morphology of silica and silver nanoparticles. The polymer also enabled the deposition of these nanoparticles onto an organic substrate, filter paper, through immersion by modifying its surface. The catalytic and antibacterial properties of these samples were assessed. The results obtained from this analysis showed a complete degradation of an aqueous pollutant, 4-nitrophenol, for 6 successive catalytic cycles without intermediate purification steps. Furthermore, the polymeric silica-silver suspension proved to express antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The antibacterial properties were evaluated according to the disk diffusion method, whereas the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration was also determined. The samples were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, z-potential analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Ultraviolet-visible Spectroscopy. [Display omitted] • In situ bioispired synthesis of nanosized core-shell silica-silver highly stable suspensions. • SiO 2 @Ag multifunctional coatings with catalytic and antibacterial properties. • Multifunctional and efficient hybrid organic/inorganic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing simple, inexpensive, fast, sensitive, and specific probes for antibiotic-resistant bacteria is crucial for the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs). We here propose a paper-based sensor for the rapid detection of β -lactamase-producing bacteria in the urine samples of UTI patients. By conjugating a strongly electronegative group –N+(CH 3) 3 with the core structures of cephalosporin and carbapenem antibiotics, two visual probes were achieved to respectively target the extended-spectrum/AmpC β -lactamases (ESBL/AmpC) and carbapenemase, the two most prevalent factors causing antibiotic resistance. By integrating these probes into a portable paper sensor, we confirmed 10 and 8 cases out of 30 clinical urine samples as ESBL/AmpC- and carbapenemase-positive, respectively, demonstrating 100% clinical sensitivity and specificity. This paper sensor can be easily conducted on-site, without resorting to bacterial culture, providing a solution to the challenge of rapid detection of β -lactamase-producing bacteria, particularly in resource-limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Description: A multi-layer wrinkled structure of MWCNTs/polyimide aerogel-based paper was prepared using a simple method. This paper exhibits excellent responsiveness, thermal stability, and mechanical properties, and can detect the movement of mechanical devices through generated responsiveness. [Display omitted] • Multilayer wrinkled structure MWCNTs/polyimide aerogel-based paper (CPs) was prepared via a single freeze-drying-thermal extrusion-thermal imidization method. • CPs can stably generate electrical responses in high-temperature environments up to 300 °C. • CPs exhibit good tensile strength (CP-1: 117.1 MPa at 25 °C) and stability (1000 cycles). • The response generated by CPs can be utilized to monitor changes in the mechanical device. In recent years, as the electronics industry has driven the development of human civilization, flexible responsive materials have become highly favored in sensing applications. However, most flexible materials are not stable under high-temperature conditions, so only a few flexible responsive materials are suitable for high-temperature and high-strength applications. In this paper, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added as conductive material into poly(amic acid) ammonium salt (PAAS) solutions to prepare MWCNTs/polyimide aerogel-based papers (CPs) by a simple method. The introduction of MWCNTs into the ordered multilayer folded structure of the CPs provided a conductive pathway and improved their thermal stability. When the multilayer folded structure was deformed, the MWCNTs between the layers contacted each other, increasing the number of electron transport channels and providing a larger contact area for the conductive network. When the deformation was removed, the MWCNTs in the interlayer contact zone rapidly separated, providing stable and excellent responsiveness at high temperatures (CP-2: ΔR/R 0 value of up to −0.45 at 300 °C) and favorable stability after 1000 cycles (CP-2: RV retention of 92.4 % at 25 °C and 80.5 % at 300 °C). Therefore, the prepared CPs have great application prospects in the fields of high-temperature mechanical device monitoring, sensing, and alarms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the production of paper cups in industrial factories, it is tried to print high quality cups with less waste loss with the help of sensors and heating resistances mounted on the paper cup machine. In this study, a system that detects faulty products based on image processing and removes it by controlling the machine with servo motors, asynchronous motors and programmable logic controller (PLC) is designed. For fault product detection, classification has been performed using real-time Haarcascade algorithm and You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithm which is a deep learning methods, and real-time object detection has been carried out using the OpenCv library. With this study, an effective faulty product detection and removing hardware system was realized by adapting artificial intelligence algorithms to a machine used in industry. Based on the results, a whole system can be applied to systems that involve removing a faulty product from a band in any production, packaging etc. facility is proposed. A hardware consisting of servo motors, asynchronous motors and PLC was designed to separate faulty cups from the existing paper cup production machine in this study. Then, a data set composed of 1068 images was created with images taken from the camera for faulty and faultless paper cups. Using this dataset, the effect of different deep learning methods on performance in the real-time system has been examined and successful results have been obtained. The optimal outcome was achieved, yielding a real-time application accuracy rate of 90.8% through the utilization of the Yolov5x architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasingly strict supervision of the ecological environment and the continuous improvement of pollution control requirements, there are many options for water pollution control technology in the pulp and paper industry. How to choose reasonable and effective control technology has become the focus of attention. In this paper, a water pollution control technology evaluation model based on the Pythagorean language neutrosophic set (PLNS) is proposed for the first time. Firstly, the concept of PLNS is defined and its characteristics are discussed. Then the score function and accuracy function of the Pythagorean language neutral number (PLNN) are defined. To apply PLNNs to multi-attribute decision-making, PLNN power-weighted geometric operator (PLNNPWG) and PLNNPWG geometric Heronian mean operator (PLNNPWG-GHM) are proposed and a multi-attribute decision-making method is proposed. Finally, this method is used to evaluate the water pollution control technology of the pulp and paper industry. Through the experimental results, it can be seen that if the comprehensive weights are used, elemental chlorine-free (ECF) clean bleaching technology is the best choice, when using single weights to calculate, in technical characteristics, ECF clean bleaching performed best. In economic cost, chlorination, enhanced alkali treatment, hypochlorite (CEH) three-stage bleaching performed best. In operation management and environmental impact, ECF clean bleaching and total chlorine-free (TCF) clean bleaching had almost the same score. This model can provide a reliable basis for enterprises to choose the appropriate water pollution control technology and also provide strong support for the management department to recommend the best feasible technology. [Display omitted] • Propose the Pythagorean language neutrosophic set (PLNS). • Define the score function and accuracy function of Pythagorean language neutral number (PLNN). • Propose the PLNN power-weighted geometric (PLNNPWG) and PLNNPWG geometric Heronian mean (PLNNPWG-GHM) operators. • Propose a decision-making method to evaluate the water pollution control technology of pulp and paper industry. • Provide strong support for the management department to recommend the best feasible technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) nanozyme-mediated paper-based analytical devices (PADs) have shown great potential in portable visual determination of phenolic compounds in the environment. However, most MOF nanozymes suffer from poor dispersibility and block-like structure, which often prompts deposition and results in diminished enzymatic activity, severely hindering their environmental applications. Here, we proposed colorimetric PADs for the visual detection of dichlorophen (Dcp) based on its significant inhibitory effect on the two-dimensional (2D) MOF nanozyme activity. Specifically, we synthesized a 2D Cu TCPP (Fe) (defined as 2D-CTF) MOF nanozyme exhibiting excellent dispersibility and remarkable peroxidase-like (POD-like) activity, which could catalyze the oxidation and subsequent color change of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine even under neutral conditions. Notably, the POD-like activity of 2D-CTF demonstrated a unique response to Dcp because of the occupation of Fe–N 4 active sites on the 2D-CTF. This property enables the use of 2D-CTF as a highly efficient catalyst to develop colorimetric PADs for naked-eye and portable detection of Dcp. We believe that the proposed colorimetric PADs offer an efficient method for Dcp assay and open fresh avenues for the advancement of colorimetric sensors for analyzing of phenolic toxic substances in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fermentations with SSL resulted in the upregulation of pepck and mdh that participate in the reductive TCA cycle. • Fumarate reductase that participates in oxidative phosphorylation and TCA cycle was significantly upregulated in SSL fermentations compared to pure substrates. • SSL and xylose resulted in similar and significant downregulation of ATP synthase compared to glucose. The fermentative production of biobased chemicals and polymers using crude lignocellulose hydrolysates is challenging due to the presence of various inhibitory compounds and multiple sugars. This study evaluates the metabolic response of Actinobacillus succinogenes for the production of succinic acid using spent sulphite liquor (SSL) as feedstock derived from industrial acidic sulphite pulping of Eucalyptus globulus hardwood. A transcriptomic approach led to significant insights on gene regulation of the major metabolic pathways (glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle, pyruvate metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation) in batch cultures carried out on SSL and compared with glucose and xylose. Significantly overexpressed genes in SSL compared to glucose and xylose were fructose biphosphate aldolase (> 1.18-fold change) in the catabolism, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (> 1.59-fold change) and malate dehydrogenase (> 1.49-fold change) in the TCA cycle, citrate lyase (> 1.7-fold change), dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (> 0.88-fold change), pyruvate dehydrogenase E2 (> 1.63-fold change) and pyruvate formate lyase (> 0.61-fold change), involved in acetyl-CoA pathways. Finally, C4 tricarboxylic transporters were overexpressed (DCU (> 1.61-fold change) and 0079 (> 4.19-fold change). SSL was responsible for the upregulation of genes involved in the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, while xylose showed similar results with SSL in the oxidative phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the conductivity of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) is an important way to improve the output performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, the complex porous fiber structures of GDLs significantly enhances the difficulty of quantitatively altering their conductivity which is determined by the carbon fibers and the conduction characteristics between fibers. In addition, the microstructures of various types of GDLs are different. Thus, it is a considerable challenge to explore the conductive mechanisms of these porous materials and optimize their structures to reduce their bulk resistances. In this work, a mathematical graph theory model that applies to the through-plane (T-P) bulk resistance prediction of two types of commonly used GDLs, carbon paper and carbon felt, is established to explain their different micro conduction mechanisms in depth. In addition to the number of fiber contact points, their distribution, as well as the resistance of the carbon fibers, are all important factors affecting the T-P conductivity. Optimizing fiber density and fiber diameter can significantly improve the T-P conductivity of carbon paper. In comparison, making the structure of carbon felt more compact so that the distribution of its contact points in the T-P direction can be more uniform will be more effective for the reduction of its T-P bulk resistance. Meanwhile, the T-P bulk resistance of carbon paper can also be effectively improved by optimizing the content and distribution of the binders. A method to decline the bulk resistance of carbon paper by aggregating the binders in the in-plane (I P) direction is proposed. The simulation results show that it can reduce the T-P bulk resistance of carbon paper by about 19.9% at a compressive stress of 1.5 MPa. This study provides further guidance for optimizing the structural designs of GDLs to optimize their conduction performance. • T-P bulk resistance prediction model suitable for different GDLs is constructed. • Micro conductivity mechanisms of carbon paper and carbon felt are compared. • Increasing fiber density and diameter improves carbon paper's T-P conductivity. • Making carbon felt's structure more compact can optimize its T-P conductivity. • To promote carbon paper's T-P conductivity by optimizing the binders inside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper mills are among the most polluting industries, responsible for many organic and inorganic compounds emissions. The fibres electro-kinetic features strongly affect the ability to retain fillers since the fillers–fibres interactions are charge induced. The control and the prediction of these parameters would represent a precious aid for process management, allowing the fillers retention enhancement, a lower environmental impact and the paper sheet properties streamlining. The work presented deals with the implementation and training of four artificial neural networks (ANNs) for the prediction of the main electrochemical and physical features of cellulose pulp and paper. First, two ANNs predict the electrochemical parameters. Following, they were applied to predict the paper sheet properties and fillers retention. The neural models implemented showed outstanding prediction performance, with R2 in the order of 0.999 and a low mean error. The results demonstrate how Artificial Neural Networks may be a valuable instrument for paper mill pollutant reduction. However, they suggest a more inclusive investigation for a better fibres behaviour representation. • Main process parameters of an industrial papermaking process were identified. • Experimental datasets were achieved during industrial production. • Artificial Neural Networks were trained for process parameters prediction. • Accurate predictions of papermaking process were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To counteract expensive cathodes, a single chamber microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) equipped with nanoporous oxide coating on a carbon paper electrode as a cathode was explored. The performance of the MEC was evaluated based on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, catalytic activity, and hydrogen production. The obtained results indicated that nanoporous oxide coated carbon electrode with TiO 2 achieved maximum H 2 yield (3.0 mol H 2 mol−1 acetate), followed by ZrO 2 and SiO 2. In contrast, the uncoated carbon electrode achieved lower hydrogen yield (0.08 mol H 2 mol−1 acetate). A maximum COD removal of 82% was achieved from the carbon electrode coated with TiO 2 followed by 80.5% from SiO 2 and 79% from ZrO 2. Additionally, based on linear sweep voltammetry, nanoporous oxide coated electrodes started H 2 evolution at a lower potential than the uncoated electrode, thereby exhibiting a higher catalytic rate. This investigation showed that carbon electrodes with nanoporous coating can be one of the economical (low cost) and potential electrodes to be used as a cathode in the MEC for hydrogen production instead of expensive metallic electrodes. [Display omitted] • Low-cost, high potential cathode electrodes were explored. • Nanoporous oxide coated electrodes exhibited high catalytic activity. • Efficient H 2 production with low applied potential. • H 2 yield was higher for nanoporous coated electrodes than uncoated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mercerization allows poly(butylene succinate- co -adipate) (PBSA) oligomer pervasion. • Introduction of the PBSA oligomer bridges the gaps between coating layers. • High-molecular-weight PBSA coating enhances gas/moisture barrier performance. • PBSA/paper composite exhibits deformation resistance under repeated external forces. • All the ingredients constituting the composite are fully bio-based and compostable. Currently, the world is facing a major plastic waste problem. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polyolefins are primary base materials in the beverage packaging industry, constituting a significant portion of plastic waste. These materials are often processed as multilayered films to meet high-barrier requirements, rendering their recycling difficult. Furthermore, these petroleum-based plastics persist in landfills without undergoing degradation. Accordingly, herein, we developed compostable plastic/paper composite-based bottles that can replace non-degradable plastic bottles. Crystalline structure of bio-based paper was rearranged by mercerization that modifies the cellulose surface to enhance its pervasive ability with poly(butylene succinate- co -butylene adipate) (PBSA). Introduction and combination of the oligomer and polymer states of PBSA facilitated strong paper-polymer interactions and resulted in superior gas/moisture barrier properties. Unlike the cases of conventional paper-based containers, which are prone to deformation under external forces, the flexible yet robust coating layer of this composite provides resistance to deformation, minimizing deterioration of properties under repeated bending forces. Moreover, all ingredients used in this composite are fully bio-based, and the composite demonstrates approximately 70 % decomposition during an 18-week composting test. Given its significant potential to contribute to the realization of a plastic-free lifestyle in the near future, conducting comprehensive evaluations on biodegradability and toxicity in real environments remains as the crucial step towards the successful commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fe-containing waste (paper mill sludge, PS) was pyrolyzed in the N 2 atmosphere. • Fe in PS changed into Fe0 during pyrolysis to form Fe0-carbon composite (PS/BC-750). • PS/BC-750 exhibited high adsorption capacity for Se(VI) and Se(IV). • Se(VI) and Se(IV) were chemisorbed onto different binding sites on PS/BC-750. This study aimed to fabricate zero-valent iron (Fe0)-loaded biochar from an industrial waste and further demonstrate its applicability as an environmental medium to remove Se(VI) and Se(IV). The biochar (PS/BC-750) was produced via the pyrolysis of paper-mill sludge under N 2 atmosphere. The characterization revealed that PS/BC-750 has a porous carbon structure embedded with reduced Fe phases (Fe0 and FeO). The adsorptive removal of Se(VI) and Se(IV) by PS/BC-750 was highly dependent on pH condition and progressively decreased with the pH increase. The adsorption kinetics of Se(VI) and Se(IV) reached equilibrium within 1440 and 60 min, respectively, following a pseudo-second-order kinetics. Se(VI) and Se(IV) adsorption isotherms fit to the Freundlich and Langmuir models, respectively, highlighting the importance of chemisorption in the adsorption processes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and competing anions experiments revealed that Se(VI) was adsorbed mainly on the Fe phases while Se(IV) was adsorbed on both Fe phases and carbon surface by specific binding mechanisms, with those adsorbed on Fe phases being subsequently reduced to Se0. The results demonstrated that the pyrolytic process can be of a viable platform for converting Fe-containing waste materials into environmental media with a wide application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictive models for the transport of volatile organic compounds in paper need to consider the complex interplay of diffusion, adsorption, desorption, or chemical reactions. The relative importance of each of these processes is determined by the polarity of the volatile. Hence, it is challenging to pick a valid theoretical model that correctly predicts transport regardless of the polarity. Here, physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) assess which of five different models correctly describe transport of DMSO as polar and n-tetradecane as apolar model compound: (i) a pseudo first-order adsorption model for an irreversible sorption process, (ii) a first-order kinetics model allowing reversible sorption, (iii) a second-order model with a reversible process, and an effective diffusion model accounting for a constant (iv) and for a variable effective diffusivity (v). Each tested model is given as set of partial differential equations (PDE). Considering the model under testing and experimentally obtained spatially and temporally resolved concentration profiles through stacks of paper sheets, PINNs predict concentration of the volatiles and associated material constants such as sorption constants and effective diffusion coefficients by solving the inverse problem. Our PINNs revealed two models, pseudo first-order sorption and second-order reversible sorption, that correctly predict concentration profiles and polarity-driven differences in sorption times. While a PINN-based picking of valid transport models has important implications for the development of effective methods for controlling emission of volatiles from paper materials, PINNs represent a versatile mathematical tool to validate or refute the capability of PDE-based theoretical models to describe experimental data. • PINNs evaluate sorption kinetics in porous materials. • Focus: Transport of organic volatiles in cellulose. • Pseudo first-order model suits organic volatiles. • Predicting transport of volatiles through paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific papers, as pivotal tools for academic communication, should be articulated with clarity and precision to ensure the effective conveyance of scholarly ideas and to prevent reader confusion. Yet, many such papers conspicuously lack in-depth research, and their core content is often ambiguously presented. This pattern poses a significant impediment to the progressive evolution of science and technology. While numerous researchers have recognized this widespread challenge, a holistic theoretical or methodological solution remains elusive in the academic realm. To bridge this gap, we introduce the INTEGrity vERification (INTEGER) task. This task aids researchers in assessing the integrity of their papers by verifying the clarity of each knowledge unit. To implement this task on text, we propose a multi-task learning model that utilizes the Tucker decomposition and span-level attention mechanism to identify terms and their integrity precisely. More specifically, to provide insights into the INTEGER task and validate the effectiveness of the proposed model, we collect 8076 sentences and construct three new datasets containing various types of terms and descriptions in different domains. Extensive experimental results show that our proposed model has an average performance improvement of 1.1% F1 over the three datasets compared to a series of state-of-the-art baseline methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Gentle power of laser was used to do surface modification of paper substrates. • Effects of different types of lasers including CWL, NS, and FS were studies. • Physical and chemical changes of laser-ablated paper were investigated. • Aldehydes were produced by laser ablation and raised the paper's chemical reactivity. • Aldehydes-related color chemical reactions were performed with acoustofluidic PADs. Paper-based analytical devices (PADs) have rapidly thrived in the last decade for their easy operation and rapid response. However, because of its low chemical reactivity, it's still challenging to endow the paper substrate with more functions and expand its application field. Here, this work leverages lasers to do surface modifications of paper to raise its chemical reactivity. A gentle power of laser was utilized to ablate a part thickness of the paper. The effect of laser types was studied, including continuous-wave, nanosecond, and femtosecond lasers. Continuous-wave laser caused severe photothermal effects and produced more pyrolytic oil. The physical changes including mechanical strength and fluid wicking were studied. The chemical changes were analyzed by XPS and FTIR. Because of the produced aldehydes by laser ablation, the laser-modified papers were endowed with more functions and we experimented with aldehyde-related color reactions on them, which might promote the color printing industry. In addition, to fully exploit the produced aldehydes, our recently developed acoustofluidic PADs were employed for flow intensification and homogeneous mixing. This work demonstrates an economical and effective method for a new type of functional paper substrates which holds potential for various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • For the first time the root cause for paper curl developing over days and weeks is described. • The curl of the paper sheets is caused by migration of co-solvents (e.g., glycerol) from the inkjet ink. • A 2D-laser scanner is utilized to investigate short- and long-term paper curl. • Glycerol migration in paper sheets is monitored using a combination of sheet splitting and subsequent HPLC analysis. The dimensional stability of paper during printing is crucial for ensuring production quality and runnability. However, inkjet printing faces inherent challenges due to the hygroscopic nature of paper and the use of water-based inks. Despite freshly printed sheets are flat, a considerable development of paper curl is often observed during storage. In this study, we establish the link between the migration of ink co-solvents and the long-term curl development of printed paper. A4 paper sheets were sprayed with a water-glycerol model ink and changes in the sheet's curvature were monitored using a 2D-laser sensor. We also investigated glycerol migration by splitting the sheets into layers and determining the glycerol distribution using high-performance liquid chromatography. Our results demonstrate the development of curl during storage as well as glycerol migration in thickness direction of the sheet, both on a comparable timescale. We thus propose that long term curl in inkjet printing can be caused by z-directional migration of the co-solvent (glycerol) over time. This study enhances understanding of the physical mechanisms that drive the long-term curl phenomenon in inkjet-printed sheets. The results can be used to optimize printing processes, allowing for the production of higher quality printed products with greater dimensional stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial solid waste generation and its stockpile disposal have major environmental consequences. These consequences could be minimized through the solid waste application as a raw material in other industries. The current study focusses on the utilization of lime sludge with boiler ash synthesized nanosilica for production of belite based clinker at relatively lower temperature. Lime sludge was also used in combination with fly ash and boiler ash to check the synthesis of compounds at varying temperatures. Nanosilica was synthesized from pretreated boiler ash through alkali treatment and acid precipitation. The synthesized nanosilica has been characterized for specific surface area, crystallinity, surface functional groups and size. Three different mixtures, containing lime sludge with nanosilica, fly ash, and boiler ash are fired at temperatures ranging from 900 °C to 1200 °C and characterized for the synthesis of belite. Conventionally, belite is synthesized above 1200 °C, whereas the combined application of lime sludge and nanosilica reduces the temperature of belite synthesis to 900 °C without pre calcination or addition of any chemical stabilizer. In the case of lime sludge and boiler ash blend, belite formation takes place at the higher temperature (1100–1200 °C). Anorthite synthesis takes place in case of lime sludge and fly ash blend, due to high percentage of alumina present in fly ash. Lime sludge and nanosilica based belite clinker are used to develop newer cementitious binder. Hydration and strength properties of developed binder proved worthy as building materials. This study will present alternatives for sustainable utilization of lime sludge, fly ash and boiler ash in construction. Image 1079591 • Nano silica is synthesized from boiler ash. • Lime sludge and Nanosilica are utilized for belite based clinker synthesis at low temperature. • Blends of lime sludge with boiler ash and fly ash are also checked for clinker synthesis. • The binder is prepared for the product development from synthesized belite clinker. • This prepared binder is tested for hydration and strength properties and found sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era of modern smart technology, flexible electrodes are of great interest for different energy conversion as well as energy storage applications like solar cells, all solid-state batteries, and supercapacitors. Flexible metal oxide-based paper electrodes are advantageous in comparison to conventional electrodes due to their economical synthesis, biocompatibility, and environment-friendly characteristics. However, the electrical conductivity of paper electrodes is limited because of the insulating nature of natural fibers employed as a binder for the flexible matrix of metal oxides. The current study is an attempt to tune the electrical properties of lignocelluloses (natural fibers) and titanium dioxide (TiO 2) based paper electrodes by facile electrodeposition technique. The crystalline parts (e.g., TiO 2 , Ag, and Au) of the prepared composite sheets were characterized by XRD analysis while the surface morphology was studied by SEM. FTIR was used to characterize the organic matter in LC fibers by identifying various molecular stretching and vibrational modes of C, H, and O-containing molecules. Electric permittivity was measured as a function of electric field frequency at room temperature which revealed the value of 23. 5 (at 1 kHz) for the sample LC/TiO 2 /Ag 9000s indicating the best charge storing capability of the sample. Impedance analysis was employed to identify various charge carrier mechanisms active in the sheets. It was found through impedance analysis that there is an active diffusion-controlled impedance mechanism of Au-coated samples causing an increased conductivity via the ionic diffusion. This diffusion-controlled conduction was modeled by the Warburg element. The enhanced conductivity due to ionic diffusion makes these samples more useful as electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements of the electrodeposited samples established the increase in conductive properties and efficient kinetics of LC/TiO 2 paper sheets. The current study suggests that Ag and Au-coated paper electrodes can be potential candidates for energy conversion and storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expert recommendation systems recommend specialized experts in a particular field to users based on the knowledge of those experts. However, these systems are limited by the number of experts available and the potential for subjective evaluation, which may result in inappropriate recommendations. Furthermore, we explore the evolution from traditional to deep learning-based recommendation systems, emphasizing graph-based recommendation systems. Nonetheless, deep learning-based systems require large amounts of data, and marine expert recommendation training data are scarce. To address these issues, we constructed and utilized marine expert data in this study. The dataset contains abstracts of marine-related papers and information on their authors. Graphs were generated by assessing the similarity among the abstracts, representing them in a graph format indicative of this similarity, and using the author contribution index to depict the relationship between the abstracts and their respective authors. Various similarity methods and abstract embedding techniques were experimentally explored to realize performance optimization. In the experiments, the optimized model achieved a mean absolute error of 0.7556 and a root-mean-squared error of 1.0421. Notably, this study highlights the limitations of traditional evaluation metrics and proposes the averaged mean reciprocal rank as a suitable alternative. This metric facilitates the quantitative evaluation of model performance on newly created data, obviating a comparison model. Finally, applying the newly constructed data to the GraphRec model by using their graphical representation significantly improves the system performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Impinging paper-thin sheets of liquids produces high energy dissipation rates. • The volume of energy dissipation is equal to the volume of the impingement zone. • A new expression for the energy dissipation rate was derived and compared with turbulence theory. • Large-eddy turnover time is approximately equal to liquid residence time in impingement zone. • Large-eddy kinetic energy decays exponentially in the impingement zone. The micromixing time of impinging thin liquid sheets depends upon the energy dissipation rate (∊). The kinetic energy released by the impingement has been previously studied and was found to be a function of the coefficient of restitution of the collision. In this work, the volume within which the released kinetic energy is dissipated was investigated. The volume of energy dissipation was determined by measuring the time required for the velocity of the liquid prior to the collision to be reduced to the velocity after the collision. High-speed video was used to measure the velocity of features, generated in the front single sheet, as they passed through the impingement zone and into the mixed sheet. The experimental results showed that the time required for the velocity change was approximately equal to the residence time of liquid in the impingement zone (t r). A new equation for ∊ was developed and compared with ∊ derived from turbulence energy-cascade theory. This comparison showed that the large-eddy turnover time (t Λ) was approximately equal to t r ; a result that is in accordance with the notion from turbulence energy-cascade theory that large, energy-containing eddies lose their energy within t Λ. Within the impingement zone, the large-eddy kinetic energy was found to decay exponentially with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expert recommendation systems recommend specialized experts in a particular field to users based on the knowledge of those experts. However, these systems are limited by the number of experts available and the potential for subjective evaluation, which may result in inappropriate recommendations. Furthermore, we explore the evolution from traditional to deep learning-based recommendation systems, emphasizing graph-based recommendation systems. Nonetheless, deep learning-based systems require large amounts of data, and marine expert recommendation training data are scarce. To address these issues, we constructed and utilized marine expert data in this study. The dataset contains abstracts of marine-related papers and information on their authors. Graphs were generated by assessing the similarity among the abstracts, representing them in a graph format indicative of this similarity, and using the author contribution index to depict the relationship between the abstracts and their respective authors. Various similarity methods and abstract embedding techniques were experimentally explored to realize performance optimization. In the experiments, the optimized model achieved a mean absolute error of 0.7556 and a root-mean-squared error of 1.0421. Notably, this study highlights the limitations of traditional evaluation metrics and proposes the averaged mean reciprocal rank as a suitable alternative. This metric facilitates the quantitative evaluation of model performance on newly created data, obviating a comparison model. Finally, applying the newly constructed data to the GraphRec model by using their graphical representation significantly improves the system performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Manuscript has highlighted the recovery process of various chemicals and gaseous pollutants which are health hazards. • Abundance of resin and fatty acids in pulp paper mill effluent after secondary treatment. • Manuscript has described the persistent organic pollutants after secondary treatment of effluent, which acts as androgenic and mutagenic pollutants. • Majority of pollutants of pulp paper mill effluent causes masculinization and reduction of gonad size in fish population. • The pulp paper mill effluent also showed the phytotoxicity and chromosomal aberration in Phaseolus mungo and Allium cepa. The pulp paper industries release wastewater containing very complex organic and inorganic pollutants. These pollutants are discharged mainly pulping and bleaching process during paper manufacturing. The main gaseous pollutants hydrogen sulfides, sodium sulfide, methyl mercaptan, sulfur, and chlorine dioxide is reported for chronic, respiratory disorder and irritation to skin, eyes and cardiac problem along with nausea and headache. The major inorganic pollutants include ferrous, copper, zinc, nickel, and magnesium, which is reported for neurotoxicity, toxic to juvenile channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and Accumulation to gill > liver > ovary > muscle. The detected major organic and inorganic pollutants are hexadecanoic acids, octacosane, β-sitosterol trimethylsilyl ether, 1-tetradecane, 2-methoxy phenol, trichlorocatechol, tetrachlorocatechol, chlorophenols, chloroguaiacols, chlorosyringols, chlorocatechols, terpenes, methanol, phenol, alkylated phenols, decalone, benzoic acid, abietic acid, and dehydroabietic acid. Several of these compounds are reported as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Therefore, direct toxicity of effluent to the reproductive system in aquatic flora and fauna are reported. Several reports have highlighted reduced gonad size, change in secondary sexual character, delayed maturity and suppression of sex hormone in fish rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) further the in-vitro studies of organic compounds on fish, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio fischeri, and Saccharomyces have shown inhibition in growth and luminescence properties. The presence of organic and inorganic pollutants in pulp paper industry wastewater causes phytotoxicity chromosomal aberration in Allium cepa. Thus the manuscript has concluded that detected pollutants produced foul odors and cause hermaphroditism in fish, hepatotoxicity and mutagenic effect. In addition, the growth of coliform bacteria in River and other aquatic resources has been reported due to contamination of PPI effluent. The studies also highlighted the presence of tannins, chlorophenols, dioxins, furans, biocide, fatty acids, and resin acids along with chlorolignine compounds as persistent organic pollutants (POP), which needs special attention for pollution prevention of rivers, lakes and other aquatic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pulp and paper industry is one of the high priority sectors that generates large amount of solid (sludge) and liquid (paper mill effluent) wastes. Making use of this huge quantity of paper mill sludge (PMS) in an environment friendly manner is challenging and cost involving. Similarly the present wastewater treatment strategies based on physical and chemical methods encounter certain serious setbacks including secondary pollution generation with expensive mode of abatement processes. The present study aims at a "waste treats waste" strategy for the bioremediation of paper mill effluent in fluidized bed reactor (FBR) using another waste of the same industry, PMS as immobilizing matrix for Planococcus sp. TRC1, a wastewater bacterial isolate. This study simultaneously explores this isolate for the yellowish orange pigment it produces (2.3 ± 0.2 mg/gm of dry bacterial biomass) and characterizes it as a member of the pharmacologically important carotenoid pigment family via UV-Vis spectrophotometry, TLC, FT-IR and 13C NMR. The antioxidant potential of this pigment was studied by DPPH assay (IC 50 = 33 ± 0.4 μg/ml) and H 2 O 2 assay (IC 50 = 147.4 ± 2.2 μg/ml). In FBR, the PMS immobilized bacteria showed removal of phenol, lignin, colour and COD from the effluent by 96%, 74%, 81% and 85% respectively after 60hr of treatment. The experimental data on immobilization fitted well with pseudo second-order (R2 = 0.955) and Freundlich adsorption isotherm (R2 = 0.996) models. The alterations in PMS before and after bacterial immobilization, as revealed by SEM and FT-IR, depicted the success of PMS as immobilization matrix. Phytotoxicity (90% seed germination) and mutagenicity studies confirmed that the treated effluent was substantially less toxic than its raw state. This study highlights a novel utilization possibility of PMS in an eco-friendly and economic way as immobilization matrix for Planococcus sp.TRC1 for paper pulp mill effluent treatment along with production of carotenoid pigment from this potential bacterial isolate as value added product. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Carotenoid production and abatement of paper pulp mill effluent by Planococcus sp.TRC1 was studied. • Paper mill sludge (PMS) was characterized for immobilizing the bacteria to be used in fluidized bed reactor. • Reusability of PMS and scale up possibility was described. • Toxicity studies revealed reduced phytotoxicity and mutagenicity of the effluent by this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Building bricks were produced by utilizing deinking paper mill sludge (DPMS) and alluvial soil by varying percentage of sludge at different firing temperatures. Different mix proportions were prepared with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% of DPMS incorporation in alluvial soil by weight. Three firing temperatures of 900 °C, 950 °C and 1000 °C were investigated to simulate the typical condition of kiln. The density, firing shrinkage, water absorption, efflorescence, apparent porosity, compressive strength and thermal conductivity of the bricks were determined. The XRD and microstructural analysis of brick specimens were also studied. The optimum firing temperature was 950 °C. The thermal conductivity decreases with increase in percentage of deinking paper mill sludge. It was found that 15% deinking paper mill sludge gives optimum strength at firing temperature of 950 °C. Developed bricks satisfy the requirements of class 10 of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), in terms of efflorescence, compressive strength and water absorption. Thermal conductivity results show that the developed brick was thermally more insulated than the conventional bricks and can be used as alternative to conventional bricks. This will address the issue of waste management through cleaner production and show the ways towards sustainable, economical and energy efficient construction. Highlights • Building bricks were developed utilizing deinking paper mill sludge (DPMS) & soil. • Maximum level of DPMS in production brick is 15% at firing temperature of 950 °C. • The developed bricks satisfies the requirement of class 10 bricks of BIS. • Developed bricks are sustainable and thermally insulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Superstructure of integrated biorefinery in pulp and paper industry was developed. • It includes pulping, biochemical production and black liquor utilization sections. • Lignocellulosic biomass extracted from eucalyptus and bagasse are the feedstocks. • Potential of integrated biorefinery process was illustrated in three scenarios. • Integrated succinic acid and lactic acid can improve profitability. Abstract This work aims at developing sustainable processes for pulp and paper industry by integration of the biorefinery concept to an existing pulp and paper process. A systematic methodology employing a superstructure-based process synthesis approach is employed with support from computer-aided tools to determine potential pathways for a long-term sustainable growth objective. A superstructure of the multi-product biorefinery process network for the pulp and paper industry is developed. It is divided into three sub-networks, a chemical pulping section, a biochemical production section and a black liquor utilization section. Superstructure optimization is performed with the objective to maximize profit to determine optimal integrated networks for three scenarios. The obtained results provide useful insights for further development of the optimal networks as sustainable integrated biorefinery combined with pulp and paper mills. Graphical abstract Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core of decorative laminates is generally made of stacked Kraft paper sheets impregnated with a phenolic resin. As the impregnation process in industry is relatively fast, new methods need to be developed to characterize it for different paper-resin systems. Several phenolic resins were synthesized with the same Phenol:Formaldehyde ratio of 1:1.8 and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) as well as Size-Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). In addition, their viscosities and surface tensions when diluted in methanol to 45% of solid content were measured. The capacity of each resin to penetrate a Kraft paper sheet was characterized using a new method, which measures the conductivities induced by the liquid resin crossing the paper substrate. With this method, crossing times could be measured with a good accuracy. Surprisingly, the results showed that the penetration time of the resin samples is not correlated to the viscosity values, but rather to the surface tension characteristics and the chemical characteristics of paper. Furthermore, some resins had a higher swelling effect on the fibers that delayed the crossing of the liquid through the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By this commentary, we showed that the claimed compound, (Bi 1/2 K 1/2)(Fe 1/2 W 1/2)O 3 , does not exist. We tried to reproduce the claimed compound through the synthesis in air at 1053 K (similar to the synthesis conditions used in the commented paper), and we obtained a mixture of Bi 2 WO 6 , K 2 WO 4 , and Fe 2 O 3. The X-ray diffraction pattern of this mixture partly matches with the X-ray diffraction pattern of the claimed compound reported in the commented paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simplified fabrication technology and excellent sensing performance are highly desired for the development of flexible and user-friendly wearable sensors. However, there is usually a trade-off between the simplicity of the fabrication technology and the sensing performance of the device. Recently, paper-based wearable sensors have attracted much attention due to their excellent flexibility, simplified preparation, and low cost etc. However, the pressure sensitivity of the paper-derived sensors is far from satisfactory. In this work, a strategy of pencil graphite frottage (PGF) is reported by employing sandpaper as template and a pencil sketch technique to achieve functional printing paper as pressure-sensitive layers for electronic skin (e-skin). As a result, the e-skin prepared by our PGF technique shows excellent reproducibility and pressure sensing performance, including a maximum sensitivity of 7202.2 kPa−1, a fast response time of 25.0 ms, and an excellent durability over 20,000 loading/unloading cycles, and high ambient stability (> 6 months). For application demonstration, the e-skins are applied to monitor human wrist pulses, acoustical vibration and information encryption. Furthermore, pressure sensing arrays are developed and employed to map the spatial pressure distribution, indicating potential application in intelligent robots and prosthetics. It is believed that the fabrication strategies proposed in this work can bring insight onto the other area of bionic e-skin and multifunctional sensor devices. • Simplified fabrication technology and excellent sensing performance of paper-derived tactile sensors. • High performance tactile sensors achieving a high sensitivity of 7202.2 kPa−1. • E-Skin for health monitoring and information encryption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic molecule stabilized manganese stannate (MnSnO 3) perovskite nanoparticles were synthesized using a complexion strategy route. The Rietveld refinement analysis confirmed the formation of orthorhombic structure of manganese stannate with the space group of Pnma. Free standing manganese stannate electrode was fabricated on paper based flexible substrate and investigated the electrochemical performances. The maximum specific capacitance and areal capacitance delivered by electrode were ∼ 183 F/g and ∼ 487 mF/cm2, respectively, at the current density of 0.2 A/g, with an excellent capacitance retention ∼ 93% for 103 cycles at 0.6 A/g. A symmetric supercapacitor was fabricated using the MnSnO 3 as active material on positive and negative electrodes in solid state gel electrolyte configuration. The device achieved the specific capacity value ∼ 156 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g with the energy density and power density of ∼ 10 Wh/kg and ∼ 22 kW/kg, respectively, at 0.5 A/g. These results suggested that manganese stannate nanoparticles are promising candidates for high-performance supercapacitor application. [Display omitted] • Organic molecule stabilized manganese stannate perovskite nanoparticles. • Flexible Au-coated paper based free-standing electrode and symmetric device were fabricated for supercapacitor applications. • Diffusive control mechanism dominated the overall charge storage process. • The fabricated device exhibited excellent stability for energy and power storage performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerated cellulose (RC) was prepared from pineapple crown waste fiber (PCWF) with a yield of about 45 %. The RC was blended with hardwood pulp (HP) to improve the mechanical properties of the paper. The composite paper with improved tensile index from 16.87 ± 0.75 NN mm/g to 28.98 ± 1.2 NN mm/g and burst index from 0.974 ±0.083 kkPaPa mm22/g to 1.827 ±0.153 kkPaPa mm22/g was developed by blending 20 % RC with 80 % HP. It was calculated that the production of one tonne of RC generates about 130 m3 of wastewater and it can be recycled after treatment with electrocoagulation technique. After wastewater treatment, chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced 84.8 %, total suspended solid (TSS) by 95.6 %, total dissolved solids (TDS) by 30.4 %, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) by 95.8 %. Importantly, the recycling behavior by reusing/recycling the treated wastewater for the regeneration process was investigated and a yield of about 42 % of the RC was observed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient control loop performance is pivotal in process industries to ensure optimal production, maintain product quality, and adhere to regulatory standards. Poorly tuned controllers can disrupt these objectives, necessitating accurate detection methods. This paper introduces a novel approach for detecting poor controller tuning through advanced techniques: the Gramian Angular Field (GAF) and Stack Auto-Encoder (SAE). Unlike manual methods, this automated system promptly identifies poorly tuned controllers, offering real-time monitoring and timely alerts to operators. The proposed methodology is substantiated through two case studies: the ISDB dataset and the pulp and paper dataset. The outcomes illustrate that the proposed approach correctly determines the appropriate outcome for the majority of the analyzed control loops across diverse industries. • New method detects poorly tuned controllers via Gramian angular field and SAE. • PV and OP images help SAE distinguish poor tuning from other oscillation causes. • Transfer learning has been used to improve methodology's effectiveness. • Tested on benchmark control loops, yielding accurate verdicts for most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has revealed the existence of an energy-efficiency gap – the difference between optimal and actual energy end-use, suggesting that energy efficiency can be improved. Energy management (EnM) is a means for improving industrial energy efficiency. However, due to various barriers, the full potential of EnM is not realised. Several studies have addressed drivers and barriers to energy efficiency but few to EnM. This study aims to identify EnM practices, the most important perceived drivers and barriers for EnM, and relations among them in the energy-intensive Swedish pulp and paper industry (PPI), which has the longest experience internationally of practising EnM systems, and has worked according to the standards since 2004. Our results show that, altogether, the PPI works regularly and continuously with EnM, with a clear division of responsibilities. The highest maturity for EnM practices was for energy policy, followed by organization, investments, and performance measurement. The study also shows that communication between middle management and operations personnel has potential for improvement. The most important categories of drivers were economic, whereas for barriers they were organizational. Nevertheless, knowledge-related barriers and drivers were amongst the most important, suggesting that the absorptive capacity for energy issues could be improved. Image 1029 • Energy is managed continuously, with clear policies and responsibilities. • The main drivers are economical while main barriers are organizational. • Knowledge related barriers and drivers are amongst the next most important. • Employees' absorptive capacity for energy issues could be improved. • Link between energy policy and performance measurement could be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The biological deinking method using microbial enzymes is quite promising and rather eco-friendly. In this paper, we discuss about the impact of enzymatic deinking of newspaper pulp using ligno-cellulosic (cellulase, xylanase and laccase) and lipolytic enzymes. The individual treatment of paper pulp with enzymes (cellulase/xylanase) could enhance the paper brightness to about 32.86% whereas combinational effect could enhance only about 28.67%. There was a release of chromophores from phenolic and hydrophobic compounds released during the deinking process. Physico-chemical parameters of effluents were also found to be within the standard limits and the metals like iron, lead and zinc were not detected in the enzyme assisted deinking effluent sample. The heavy metals in the paper pulp was found to be reduced after enzyme treatment. The obtained effluent was found have low phytotoxicity and was safe for agricultural applications. Hence, the present report was found to be a suitable enzymatic deinking process which was eco-friendly that results in non-toxic effluents. The method also provides an avenue in water resource recycling within industries. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Individual enzyme treatment was effective for increasing brightness upto 10%. • Combinational enzyme treatment improved 8.2% brightness of recycled paper. • Ligno-cellulosic enzyme along with lipase was effective in deinking. • Effluent was non-toxic and had very low heavy metals detected. • The effluent fit for irrigational purposes due to low phytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A laboratory scale (LS) and a field-based pilot plant (PP), designed to simulate aerobic stabilization basin (ASB) operation, were utilized to assess the potential impacts of changes in pulp and paper (P&P) mill operations on full-scale (FS) ASB performance. Two stages of investigation were conducted. The first was undertaken to determine the potential of pre-alum treatment of pulp mill wastewaters on ASB performance. The second investigation was conducted to assess ASB performance where wastewaters transitioned from being coagulated pulp and paper mill wastewaters to paper mill wastewaters only. Simulation ASB performance was assessed based on removals of BOD 5 , colour, UV@254 nm and nutrients [total phosphorus (TP) and nitrogen compounds (TN)]. Pre-alum treatment of pulp mill wastewaters with subsequent ASB treatment following mixing with paper mill wastewaters showed high percentage removals of BOD 5. Despite low TP concentrations (≤0.05 mg/L) and low nutrient to BOD 5 ratios of wastewaters in the LS-ASB trial, the high % BOD 5 removal indicated recycling of nutrients from sludge [sourced from the FS-ASB]. Despite coagulation of pulp mill wastewater being performed using a very high alum dose (∼2000 mg/L) to remove colour and its precursors, colour formation remained high throughout the simulated ASB trials. Simulation of discontinuation of pulping indicated that colour would reduce rapidly to low levels in ASB wastewaters, but that TP and TN concentrations would persist for longer periods of time and decline slowly. Survey data of water qualities of the FS-ASB system obtained before, during and 2 years after discontinuation of pulping are presented. Highlights • Lab-scale and field pilot plant designed to simulate aerobic stabilization basin, ASB. • Impacts of changes in pulp and paper mill operations on ASB performance were assessed. • High colour formation potential in ASB after coagulation of pulp mill wastewaters. • High %BOD 5 removal achieved by ASB despite the relatively low nutrients to BOD 5 ratio. • As pulping was phased out, risk of extensive growth of blue green algae is evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To reduce pollution emissions and achieve a cleaner production in paper industry, it is essential to understand the inner links between concentrations of gaseous pollutants, types of final products and production techniques. In this study, the concentrations of four potential gaseous pollutants, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde (HCHO), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), and hydrocarbon compounds (C x H y), in the ambient air on thirty sampling points of five pulp and paper mills were detected and analyzed. The results were summarized with respect to the following aspects: (1) Levels of four gaseous pollutants on all the sampling points in five mills. It was obvious that the situation of gaseous pollution from pulp mill was much more serious than those from paper mills. (2) Gaseous pollutant distinctions due to different production processes. The levels of gaseous pollutants from five mills were greatly influenced by the utilized raw materials and the applied paper chemical agents (flavor, coating materials and additives) in mills. (3) Gaseous pollution comparisons at common points. At the two common points in five mills, i.e. the wet end of paper machine and the wastewater treatment process, TVOC and HCHO, C x H y and H 2 S were the main gaseous pollutants, respectively. In addition, some feasible measures to realize a cleaner production in pulping and papermaking process were also put forward in the article. Highlights • We analyze the levels of 4 gaseous pollutants on 30 sites of 5 pulp & paper mills. • Gaseous pollution distinctions due to different production processes are studied. • Feasible measures to realize the cleaner production in the processes are suggested. • Gaseous pollution are greatly affected by raw materials and added paper chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the surging energy price and environmental concerns, measures to improve energy efficiency have attracted increasing concerns of the manufacture sector, especially energy-intensive manufacturing industries such as tissue paper mills. Energy-efficiency scheduling, as a novel energy-efficient method, has attracted the attention of an increasing number of researchers in recent years. Drying process is the most energy-intensive production process in tissue paper mills, which has a great energy-saving potential. This paper aims to reduce the energy costs for the tissue paper mill, consisting of processing energy cost and set-up energy cost, through integrating drying process optimization with energy-efficient scheduling. First, the energy cost model and the scheduling model were built. Then, the energy cost of the drying process of every job in a given scheduling problem was optimized using particle swarm optimization (PSO). Afterwards, the energy cost was further optimized using energy-efficiency scheduling. In addition, a hybrid non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) was utilized to solve the energy-efficiency scheduling problem. Finally, several real scheduling problems from a real tissue paper mill were addressed using the proposed approach to demonstrate its effectiveness in energy saving. The experiment result showed that there is a great energy-saving potential in the drying process, accounting for up to 12.53% of the total energy consumption. Moreover, the maximum energy saving ratio of the proposed approach could reach 9.03%. On the whole, the proposed approach can provide a new energy-saving method for tissue paper mills or other manufacturing industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-sensitive paper-based molecularly imprinted sensor for detection of H5N1 was described. The results can not only be detected quantitatively by fluorescence, but also can be directly read with naked eyes under visible light or ultraviolet light within 10 min. With naked eye detection, its sensitivity is obviously better than that of commercial kits. In particular, the cost of the sensor is cheap (Original size: RMB 1.53 Yuan each; Smaller size: RMB 0.08 Yuan each), which is beneficial to application. [Display omitted] • Paper-based molecularly imprinted sensor; • Ultra-sensitive detection of H5N1 (LOD, 0.58 fM); • Rapid visual detection of influenza H5N1 within 10 min; • More intuitive and sensitive results than commercially available kit; • Low cost (Original size, 1.53 yuan/piece; Smaller size, 0.08 yuan/piece). The rapid detection of pathogens is important to the control of epidemics. Here, a paper-based molecularly imprinted sensor has been developed for the visual detection of influenza H5N1 virus. Firstly, the paper-based molecularly imprinted was prepared by a sol–gel reaction. Then, H5N1 ∼ Apt was covalently bound to the surface of the ZIF-8-NH 2 coated with rhodamine B (RhB) through an amide bond, to produce the fluorescent and colorimetric probe ZIF-8-NH 2 @RhB ∼ Apt. When H5N1 and ZIF-8-NH 2 @RhB ∼ Apt are added to the paper-based MIPs, the H5N1 will be combined with MIPs through the synergistic effects of shape and size compatibility and interaction with the functional groups of the monomers, and ZIF-8-NH 2 @RhB ∼ Apt will bind to H5N1 through its aptamers to form a sandwich structure. The sensor has ultra-high sensitivity and the detection limit is 0.58 fmol/L by using fluorescence spectroscopy. A semi-quantitative signal can also be observed with the naked eye within 10 min. A comparative study showed that direct visual detection was highly reliable, and the sensitivity was better than that achieved with a commercially available kit. Importantly, the paper-based sensor is low in produce cost (Original size: RMB 1.53 Yuan each; Smaller size: RMB 0.08 Yuan each) and is easy to cut, store and carry. This sensor is expected to allow self-service, visual, high-throughput, and real-time virus detection, which is of great significance for epidemic prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A practicable strategy for large-scale fabrication of highly flexible, durable, mechanically strong, and flame-retardant MXene-coated aramid paper (MAP) with outstanding EMI shielding and desirable electrical heating performance is proposed, indicating the promising potential applied in strict EMI shielding application scenarios. [Display omitted] • A flexible, durable, and multifunctional MXene-coated aramid paper (MAP) is prepared. • The EMI SE and structure of MAP are regulated by single/dual coating and optional hot-calendering. • MAP exhibits excellent EMI shielding with an EMI SE/t of 422.2 dB mm−1 at a low MXene content (9 wt%). • MAP demonstrates great potential in electromagnetic shielding and thermal management. Undesirable electromagnetic interference (EMI) created by modern electronic devices has detrimental effects on the performance of high-precision electronic devices, information security, and human health. Therefore, lightweight, flexible, robust, and easy-to-fabricate EMI shielding materials with integrated functions are highly desirable to combat electromagnetic pollution. Herein, we report a scalable and facile strategy to prepare a flexible Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene-coated aramid paper (MAP) with high-efficiency EMI shielding and excellent electrical heating performance. The intertwined network by aramid fibers endows the aramid paper (AP) with superior mechanical properties. After selectively single/dual coating with MXene onto AP, the MAP maintains a superior tensile strength of 73.6 MPa and enormous folding endurance of 4156 times. Owing to the exceptional electrical conductivity of MXene, the MAP with a relatively low MXene content (∼9.0 wt%) exhibits excellent overall performance with an EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 38 dB and SE/t of 422.2 dB mm−1. It's noteworthy that the EMI SE of the MAP remains almost unchanged (37.4 dB) even after experiencing 5,000 repeated bending cycles. Additionally, the MAP shows satisfactory Joule electric-heating capability (a heating temperature rise of 130 °C at a low driving voltage of 5 V) and excellent flame-retardancy. This work provides a feasible strategy for large-scale production of flexible EMI shielding paper with multifunctional properties for future wearable facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All socioeconomic classes are impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic, with stress being one of the biggest symptoms causing indigestion, breathlessness, heart disease, obesity, and many more. The most commonly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) drugs include, escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine, and fluoxetine are provided by doctors. If the medicines are not taken in the recommended dosage, at the correct intervals, which can occasionally be fatal because persons with depression are susceptible to mood fluctuations. There are no appropriate ways to monitor high dosages in clinical laboratories, the requirement for simple, novel material with cutting-edge technology to do so is essential. Herein, we report the application of a single fluorescent probe, Tyrosine-GQDs for the detection of SSRI drugs. Upon addition of SSRI drugs into the Tyrosine-GQDs, the fluorescence emission intensity of Tyrosine-GQDs decreased due to the complex formation through H-bonding which is evidenced by the rise of new peaks in fluorescence spectra and lifetime measurements. The calculated detection limit proves that the designed nanoprobe is highly sensitive and selective towards escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine, and fluoxetine are 0.13 × 10−6 M, 0.15 × 10−6 M, 0.07 × 10−6 M, and 0.07 × 10−6 M, respectively. A paper-based fluorescent sensor is fabricated using the designed probe which is efficient in the detection of the dosage of SSRI drugs. [Display omitted] • Tyrosine-GQDs are employed for the spectrophotometric detection of SSRI drugs. • The limit of detection for the SSRI drugs is quantified in sub-micromolar concentration. • The effect of interference shows that the complex formed between the Tyrosine-GQDs and drugs is highly stable. • The H-bond formation between the drugs and Tyrosine-GQDs dominates the mechanism responsible for the fluorescence quenching. • The fluorescent paper sensor is effective in determining the SSRI drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A groundbreaking approach was proposed to produce phosphorylated cellulosic paper. • Cellulose phosphorylation by thermo-compression induces a hornification phenomenon. • Hornification increases the paper crystallinity (91%) and thus the overall quality. • Coating the papers with EVA polymer strongly increase their specific properties. • The new phosphorylation approach produced an effective paper for packaging. With the increasing demand for environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastic packaging, the development of sustainable cellulosic-based materials has become a strategic research topic. In this concept, a groundbreaking approach was adopted herein to produce phosphorylated cellulose microfibers (CMFs)-based paper packaging via a one-pot preparation step using a thermo-compression process (150 °C under pression for 45 min) in the presence of diammonium hydrogen phosphate ((NH 4) 2 HPO 4 , denoted DAP) and urea. This process involves a chemical mechanism leading to the production of phosphorylated cellulosic paper with a very compacted structure induced by the hornification phenomenon. This phenomenon reveals the formation of additional and irreversible strong hydrogen bonds leading thus to an increase of the materials' crystallinity up to 91%, and to an enhancement of their morphological, thermal stability, flame retardancy, hydrophobicity, water vapor permeability, and mechanical strength properties. To further enhance these properties, and thus their potential applications, the as-produced phosphorylated CMF paper samples were then coated with a thin layer (40 ± 1.11 µm) of poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] (EVA) polymer. A comparison of collected properties with those from non-phosphorylated CMFs or from materials prepared using the conventional phosphorylation process clearly demonstrates that the proposed one-pot preparation method led to the production of advanced materials more effective for packaging applications. Overall, the findings associated to this work could be used as a proof-of-concept for the development of sustainable packaging materials, which could be made by following a more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing procedure than current benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin-walled tubular deployable composite boom (DCB) has gained significant attention due to its lightweight, simple structure and high packaging efficiency. The experimental and numerical simulation methods were employed in this paper to investigate the folding behavior of the DCB. Using T700/epoxy unidirectional reinforced prepreg as raw material, DCB specimens were prepared by the vacuum bag method. To complete the folding experiments of DCB specimens, a folding mechanism was designed and manufactured. Folding experiments of DCB specimens were conducted and folding moment versus rotational displacement curves were measured. In addition, a Finite Element Model (FEM) was established to predict the folding behavior of the DCB. Different failure criteria were considered in the numerical analysis, including the Tsai‐Hill criterion and maximum stress criterion. Prediction results using the FEM were compared with experimental results, and both sets of results were in good agreement. It is shown that the DCB can achieve the folding function without failure. The research results in this paper are of great significance to the practical engineering application of the DCB. [Display omitted] • Six tubular deployable composite boom specimens and a precise folding mechanism were designed and prepared. • Folding experiments were conducted to measure the folding moment and rotational displacement curves. • A finite element model for predicting the folding behavior of the tubular deployable composite boom was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Schematic illustration of graphene cellulose (G-C) paper fabrication, application for 3D multilayered laminate cell-laden constructs, and ensuing "origami-inspired" sculpting for 3D tissue engineering and regeneration. Highlights • Efficient method for graphene-cellulose (G-C) paper fabrication. • G-C paper is electroconductive, mechanically robust, flexible and biocompatible. • G-C paper can be employed for 2D or 3D stem cell support and differentiation. • G-C papers with cell-laden alginate can be stacked as 3D multilayered constructs. • Multilayered cell-laden constructs can be further configured by folding or rolling. Abstract Graphene-based materials represent advanced platforms for tissue engineering and implantable medical devices. From a clinical standpoint, it is essential that these materials are produced using non-toxic and non-hazardous methods, and have predictable properties and reliable performance under variable physiological conditions; especially when used with a cellular component. Here we describe such a biomaterial, namely smart graphene-cellulose (G-C) paper, and its suitability for traditional planar two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) human cell support, verified by adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) culture and osteogenic differentiation. G-C paper is prepared using commercially available cellulose tissue paper as a substrate that is coated by immersion-deposition with graphene oxide (GO) followed by reduction to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) without the use of toxic organic solvents. The fabrication process is amenable to large scale production and the resultant papers have low electrical resistivity (up to ∼300 Ω/sq). Importantly, G-C papers can be configured to 3D constructs by lamination with alginate and further modified by folding and rolling for 3D "origami-inspired" cell-laden structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]