How to understand this implication? If the research topic is similar, but the technical scheme is different, you can still apply for novelty and creativity. If it's almost the same, you'll lack freshness if you apply. Of course, you can apply for the exam, and the examiner may not be able to find this paper. The patent application may also be authorized, but you know that if this patent is used in the future, there will be problems (it may be invalid). Theoretically speaking, no matter how many papers there are, as long as one of them discloses the technology you want to apply for a patent (the comparison results of technical schemes are the same), then the application is not novel. It depends on the purpose of your application. You'd better compare and analyze your technology with that of this paper to see if there is any substantial difference before applying for a patent.