Use of non-degradable plastics in food packaging is alarming for the environment as they are often thrown away after short consumption. Though papers are replacing plastics in different sectors, their low water resistance limits their use in food packaging. in the past, water-resistant papers have been fabricated, but the natural degradability of the paper has been compensated. This study proposes water-resistant yet biodegradable papers from naturally abundant wastes, such as banana plant (BP) and water hyacinth (WH) and validates their properties for practical packaging uses. The resources were completely used, avoiding generation of any in-process biomass residue. This study for the first time reports the impact of ethyl cellulose (EC) coating (∼10 μm) on paper surfaces. The morphology and chemical analysis of the coated papers confirmed the consistent formation of EC layer on paper surfaces. The presence of EC significantly reduced the vapour transmission (22–30%) and moisture content (6–11%) of the papers. Water drops were stable on the coated surfaces at least for 20 min and then were wiped off leaving a dry surface. EC coating considerably increased the tensile index, i.e., 13–17% for BP and 20–35% for WH, though elongation and modulus properties remained almost unchanged. All the papers showed ultraviolet (UV)-resistance, while the coated papers were more transparent in the visible light region. Overall results confirmed the potential of the proposed EC-coated papers as a promising alternative to single-use plastics in food packaging.

1. Three experiments were conducted to investigate the diurnal variation of blood viscosity in broilers. In experiment 1 food and water were supplied freely at 20 degrees C (20-FW). In experiment 2 food and water were withdrawn at 20 degrees C (20-NFW), while in experiment 3 food and water withdrawn at 30 degrees C (30-NFW). 2. Blood sampling time points were 09.00 h, 15.00 h, 21.00 h, 03.00 h and 09.00 h the next day in each experiment. 3. In all experiments, whole blood viscosity (WBV), red blood cell count (RBC) and haematocrit (HCT) were greater during the dark (21.00 h and 03.00 h) than during the light period. During the dark period, there were no differences in WBV, RBC and HCT between 20-FW and 20-NFW, or between 20-NFW and 30-NFW. At 09.00 h, WBV and HCT were higher in 20-FW than in 20-NFW. At 15.00 h and 09.00 h (day 2), WBV and HCT were greater in 20-NFW than in 30-NFW. 4. There were no light-dark differences in plasma viscosity (PV), plasma protein concentration (PPC) or mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in any experiment. However, 20-NFW birds had a lower PPC and higher MCV compared with 20-FW, and a higher PPC and lower MCV compared with 30-NFW, while no difference was found in PV. 5. WBV increased linearly with RBC and HCT. PV increased with PPC, while MCV decreased. 6. These results indicate that there is diurnal variation in whole blood viscosity, which is greater during the dark than during the light period. During the light period it is strongly influenced by high environmental temperature and food and water withdrawal.