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In a bid to explore the on-site biorefinery approach for conversion of forestry residues, lignocellulosic biomass into value-added products was studied. The bark white pine wood was subjected to the microwave technique of fast and slow hydrolysis under varying acid and biomass concentrations to produce levulinic acid (LA). The HCl (2% v/v) and plant biomass (1% w/v) were identified as the optimum conditions for fast wood hydrolysis (270 ºC for 12 sec), which led to maximum LA yield of 446.68 g/kg PB. The proposed sustainable approach is mild, quick, and utilized a very low concentration of the HCl for the production of LA. The hydrolysate was used as a medium for Kluyveromyces marxianus growth to produce 2-phenylethanol (2-PE). K. marxianus used 74–95% of furfural from hydrolysate as a co-substrate to grow. The proposed model of the integrated biorefinery is an affordable on-site approach of using forest waste into localized solutions to produce LA and 2-PE. [Display omitted] • Levulinic acid was produced using microwave-based hydrolysis of pine wood. • 2% HCl resulted in maximum levulinic acid production of 446.48 g/kg. • Kluyveromyces marxianus was able to grow on pine wood hydrolysate and produce 2-phenylethanol. • K. marxianus consumed 74–90% of furfural as co-substrate. • Pine wood can be an alternative option for Levulinic acid and 2-phenylethanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Unlike 'white rot' (WR) wood‐decomposing fungi that remove lignin to access cellulosic sugars, 'brown rot' (BR) fungi selectively extract sugars and leave lignin behind. The relative frequency and distribution of these fungal types (decay modes) have not been thoroughly assessed at a global scale; thus, the fate of one‐third of Earth's aboveground carbon, wood lignin, remains unclear.Using c. 1.5 million fungal sporocarp and c. 30 million tree records from publicly accessible databases, we mapped and compared decay mode and tree type (conifer vs angiosperm) distributions. Additionally, we mined fungal record metadata to assess substrate specificity per decay mode.The global average for BR fungi proportion (BR/(BR + WR records)) was 13% and geographic variation was positively correlated (R2 = 0.45) with conifer trees proportion (conifer/(conifer + angiosperm records)). Most BR species (61%) were conifer, rather than angiosperm (22%), specialists. The reverse was true for WR (conifer: 19%; angiosperm: 62%). Global BR proportion patterns were predicted with greater accuracy using the relative distributions of individual tree species (R2 = 0.82), rather than tree type.Fungal decay mode distributions can be explained by tree type and, more importantly, tree species distributions, which our data suggest is due to strong substrate specificities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Different configurations were tested for producing biogas from roadside grass. • Dry digestion succeeded at pilot and large scale, but the latter can be improved. • Digested fibers performed better than undigested fibers for biomaterial production. • Anaerobic digestion might be stopped midway for improved fiber recovery. • Market potential of roadside grass for biomaterials production was significant. Roadside grass clippings hold potential as a sustainable source of bioenergy as they do not compete with crops for land use, and are only partially utilized for low-value applications. In this study, we proposed using roadside grass as a sole feedstock for anaerobic digestion (AD) in three different settings, and assessed the potential of producing biomaterials and fertilizers from grass-based digestate. Wet continuous digestion at pilot scale and dry batch digestion at pilot and large scales resulted in biogas yields up to 700 Nm3.t−1 DOM with a methane content of 49–55 %. Despite promising results, wet AD had operational problems such as clogging and poor mixing; once upscaled, the dry digestion initially also presented an operational problem with acidification, which was overcome by the second trial. Digested grass fibers from the pilot dry AD were processed into biomaterials and performed similarly or better than the undigested fibers, while around 20 % performance reduction was observed when compared to reference wood fibers. A mass balance indicated reduced fiber recovery when higher biogas production was obtained. The liquid fraction from the pilot dry AD was characterized for its nutrient content and used as a biofertilizer in another study. In contrast, the leachate collected from the large-scale dry AD had a low nitrogen content and high chloride content that could hinder its further use. Finally, a regional market analysis was conducted showing that the biocomposites produced with the available grass fibers could substitute at least half of the current European market based on our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amongst water-based emulsion adhesives, polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) emulsion is majorly employed in the non-structural bonding of interior or exterior furniture and joinery industries. However, PVAc emulsion requires plasticizers, which inherently have challenges resulting in deteriorating thermal and mechanical properties. Hence, the present work focuses on formulating a plasticizer-free adhesive by copolymerizing vinyl acetate with butyl acrylate (BA). The physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of BA-incorporated adhesives were analyzed by viscosity, pH, water contact angle, pencil hardness test of films, and differential scanning calorimetry. Optimizing strategy by varying the content of BA was evaluated. The shear strength of the samples on the wood specimen was verified in dry conditions at various intervals, and in wet conditions as per EN 204 standard. The viscosity of the adhesives exhibited a positive shift, as the concentration BA increased. The hardness of PVAc films was also altered positively by the addition of BA. Water contact angle measurement unveiled the hydrophobic nature of BA incorporation. The performance of the newly formulated adhesive tested on dry conditions showed enhanced tensile shear strength, and the values were maximum for 1 wt. % BA sample. Tensile shear strength value measured at dry conditions after 7 d of drying displayed an increment of ∼5.5% on 1 wt. % BA sample, compared to pristine adhesive. Analysis at wet conditions also corroborated enhanced performance with BA incorporation. Hence by optimizing the content of BA, a new concept of PVAc emulsion adhesive without any plasticizer can be formulated, with enhanced water resistance and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porosity of cell walls, as indicated by diffusion of rhodamine B dye, in the wood of Douglas fir, radiata pine, New Zealand red beech and Shining gum was compared under dynamic conditions using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. The comparative diffusion rate was estimated using the half-life of fluorescence recovery under water-saturated conditions performed on transverse sections. All four wood species showed similar diffusion behaviour in tracheid or fibre cell walls with slower diffusion in the middle lamella layer compared to the secondary cell wall. Within the S2 layer of the secondary wall two regions were observed, an outer region with a slow diffusion rate and an inner region with a higher diffusion rate. Vessel cell walls showed slightly slower diffusion rates. Diffusion of rhodamine B dye appears to occur primarily along the fibre axis and is probably somewhat different to water in its behaviour. This suggests that pores are aligned with cellulose microfibrils. The dye diffusion rate was estimated to be in the range of 50–100 nm2 s−1. This has implications for understanding wood drying behaviour and chemical modification of wood by infiltration with small molecules as well as water storage in living trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terahertz waves hold significant potential for applications in wood identification, owing to their good penetration and distinctive fingerprints in wood. This study focuses on wood samples from five different Guibourtia species as the research objects. The terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is employed to acquire the spectroscopic signals of the wood samples and to extract their optical parameter data. The THz refractive indices are dimensionally reduced through principal component analysis (PCA), and three machine learning models, namely partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM), are employed to classify the wood of five different Guibourtia species. Time delays of the wood samples from five different Guibourtia species are concentrated in the range of 60–62 ps and exhibit different amplitudes in the frequency domain. Refractive indices showed significant variations within the THz band. PCA for dimensionality reduction of terahertz time-domain spectral data significantly improves the recognition rate of machine learning models. Applying PCA to the refractive index data, the RF model achieves a highest recognition rate of 96.9 % and an overall classification accuracy of 98 %. Current results demonstrate that THz-TDS enables rapid, accurate, and non-destructive classification and identification of wood from the Guibourtia species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretreatment serves as an important step in maximizing the efficient utilization of woody biomass feedstock. This study focused on enhancing the component and structural properties of apple wood to optimize the utilization of apple wood resources effectively. This study presents the optimization of, the apple wood pretreatment system, combining bioenzyme and hydrothermal treatments. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different bioenzyme pretreatment conditions on the components and structural properties of apple wood extract and to analyze the feasibility of enzyme solution reuse. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed an increase in cellulose content in the wood flour following enzyme treatment. Concurrently, changes in characteristic peaks indicated an increased hemicellulose content and a reduction in lignin content after the pretreatment, correlating with fraction analysis results. Scanning electron microscopy illustrated that the dense structure of the fiber surface was disrupted after treatment. Notably, the results indicated that the recovered biocomposite enzymes exhibited excellent activity, suggesting their potential for reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with both acute and chronic cardiopulmonary illnesses, which are of special concern for wildland firefighters who experience repeated exposure to wood smoke. It is necessary to better understand the underlying pathophysiology by which wood smoke exposure increases pulmonary disease burdens in this population. We hypothesize that wood smoke exposure produces pulmonary dysfunction, lung inflammation, and gene expression profiles associated with future pulmonary complications. Male Long-Evans rats were intermittently exposed to smoldering eucalyptus wood smoke at 2 concentrations, low (11.0 ± 1.89 mg/m3) and high (23.7 ± 0.077 mg/m3), over a 2-week period. Whole-body plethysmography was measured intermittently throughout. Lung tissue and lavage fluid were collected 24 h after the final exposure for transcriptomics and metabolomics. Increasing smoke exposure upregulated neutrophils and select cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In total, 3446 genes were differentially expressed in the lungs of rats in the high smoke exposure and only 1 gene in the low smoke exposure (Cd151). Genes altered in the high smoke group reflected changes to the Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 stress and oxidative stress responses, which mirrored metabolomics analyses. xMWAS-integrated analysis revealed that smoke exposure significantly altered pathways associated with oxidative stress, lung morphogenesis, and tumor proliferation pathways. These results indicate that intermittent, 2-week exposure to eucalyptus wood smoke leads to transcriptomic and metabolic changes in the lung that may predict future lung disease development. Collectively, these findings provide insight into cellular signaling pathways that may contribute to the chronic pulmonary conditions observed in wildland firefighters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wood anatomy of Gymnanthes klotzschiana was studied, to assess whether there are variations in the secondary xylem under different geopedological conditions. The species is dominant in subtropical alluvial forests and can be established in different ecological conditions, especially regarding soil water regime. Wood samples were collected in the plain of the Iguaçu River, in Paraná, Brazil, encompassing three geopedological conditions: gleysol, fluvisol and psamment, characterized by varying degrees of water saturation, ranging from very poorly drained to heavily drained. Considerable intraspecific variations were found in the xylem in response to geopedological conditions. Most of the variation occurs in attributes related to the biomechanical and hydraulic functions (e.g. fibers and vessels), with cells smaller in gleysol, larger in fluvisol and intermediate in psamment. For some variables, the xylem has similar responses in conditions of water deficit and permanent water saturation, indicating a probable influence of physiological drought. The phenotypic plasticity of the species explains its high adaptability to the selective and variable conditions of riparian environments. The study contributes to understanding the species' ecological responses, highlighting its relevance as a keystone species in the dynamic and fragile ecosystems of the floodplains, fundamental for the maintenance of many ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repercussion of overutilizing the fossil fuels and petrochemicals resulted in global warming and polluted environment. Hence, in the quest for alternative sources of raw materials for developing greener adhesives, renewable and natural polymers like polysaccharides have a huge potential. In particular, the traditional water-based emulsion wood adhesive employs colloid-like polyvinyl alcohol for stabilizing polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) emulsion. Researchers have recently become interested in utilizing xanthan gum, a naturally occurring polymer, in place of stabilizers. Here, the effects of xanthan gum addition as a stabilizer for PVAc homopolymer-based wood adhesives on performance properties were investigated. Emulsion polymerization technique was employed to synthesize xanthan gum stabilized PVAc homopolymer emulsion. Hence, the present work investigates the applicability of xanthan gum added 0.5% and 1% as a colloid for the synthesis of PVAc wood adhesives. Effect of the addition of xanthan gum as a colloid on physical, thermal, and mechanical properties was studied by viscosity, pH, contact angle measurement, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and pencil hardness test of films. Emulsions in varying xanthan gum concentrations were prepared, and a universal tensile machine was utilized to measure the shear strength of the PVAc homopolymers applied to wood. As the concentration of xanthan gum increased, the adhesives' viscosity increased. The drastic increase in water resistance with increasing xanthan gum content was confirmed by water contact angle measurement. The use of xanthan gum improved the PVAc films' hardness as well. When compared to a pristine sample, the tensile shear strength with 1 wt% of xanthan increased by 50% after 6 h of bonding in dry environment and by 61% in wet conditions (as per EN 204). The study's overall conclusion highlights the enhanced adhesive performance of xanthan gum stabilized PVAc emulsion-based adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcement is a critical aspect in the preservation of waterlogged wooden artifacts to ensure their long‐term stability. In this study, we investigated the use of bacterial cellulose compounded with xylitol as a reinforcement material for simulated waterlogged wooden artifacts at varying concentrations. Evaluation of the reinforcement effects was based on indicators such as antishrinking efficacy, mechanical strength, and microscopic morphology. Our findings revealed that bacterial cellulose alone had limited effectiveness but showed enhanced reinforcement when mixed with xylitol. Optimized conditions resulted in remarkable improvements in bending strength (94.5 MPa) and deformation (20 mm) of the reinforced wood. This study offers novel insights and a scientific foundation for the reinforcement of waterlogged wooden artifacts, with potential implications for their preservation in cultural heritage conservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Year after year, there are alarming data concerning the excessive release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, especially CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels. In this context, the development of renewable energy sources has evolved considerably, mainly due to the incentive use of biofuels, such as bioethanol. The second-generation bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomasses has interesting potential to meet this energy demand. The Eucalyptus tree stands as a primary example of cultivated hardwoods, owing to its lignocellulosic structure and the biomass residues generated during its processing, where these attributes make it a significant candidate for the production of fuels. The industrial potential of these materials can be explored in the fractionation of their components to reduce their recalcitrance due to the triad formed by cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, for further processing and obtaining the products of interest. This paper comprehensively gathers the current technological progress employed for processing Eucalyptus wood biomasses for second-generation bioethanol production. Discussion regarding their chemical composition, the main forms of pretreatments that are being applied, and ways to minimize the generation of fermentative inhibitors during these processes is addressed. Finally, recent researches focused on Eucalyptus biomass-based bioethanol production and techno-economic considerations are discussed. The feasibility of the process is closely tied to the comprehensive utilization of products derived from this biomass. While production appears relatively effective at the laboratory scale, further research is required to develop a cost-effective process that fully harnesses the potential of the biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood pellet is an important biomass-based source of cleaner and renewable energy with a growing global demand. Populus spp. (poplars) are fast-growing trees with high productivity potential in the southeastern US. Selected pellet-quality parameters were examined as a proxy for assessing if the feedstock quality of poplar stem wood was affected by stand location (Coastal, Piedmont, Mountains of North Carolina, clone "140"), stand age (five vs. seven years, clone-"140"), clones ("140", "176", "230", "185", "356") and stem sections (clone-"356") by examining sulfur, ash, volatile-matter, fixed-carbon, gross caloric, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen contents of moisture-free samples. Location-study samples significantly varied (p≤0.027) in ash (0.6–0.9 wt%), and gross caloric (19.75–19.89 MJ/kg) contents and study clones significantly differed (p≤0.0271) in ash (means: 0.75–0.97 wt%), volatile-matter (means: 80.5–82.7 wt%), fixed-carbon (means: 16.5–18.7 wt%) and hydrogen (means: 4.19–4.78 wt%) contents. The only other significant variations were hydrogen (mean: 4.19–4.67 wt%) content with stand age (p≤0.009) and gross caloric values (19.5–19.9 MJ/kg) among stem sections (p = 0.0003). This study showed that poplars have stem-wood quality suitable for pellet production and most of the studied feedstock samples had ash, nitrogen, sulfur, and caloric (at 10% moisture content) contents that would meet the ENplus pellet-quality standards. Results from this study can be used for facilitating decisions about managing poplar stands for sustainable pellet feedstock production in the southeastern US, including selecting optimum rotation length, pellet-suitable clones, and sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue light photoreceptor cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) in herbaceous plants plays crucial roles in various developmental processes, including cotyledon expansion, hypocotyl elongation and anthocyanin biosynthesis. However, the function of CRY1 in perennial trees is unclear. In this study, we identified two ortholog genes of CRY1 (PagCRY1a and PagCRY1b) from Populus, which displayed high sequence similarity to Arabidopsis CRY1. Overexpression of PagCRY1 substantially inhibited plant growth and promoted secondary xylem development in Populus, while CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated knockout of PagCRY1 enhanced plant growth and delayed secondary xylem development. Moreover, overexpression of PagCRY1 dramatically increased anthocyanin accumulation. The further analysis supported that PagCRY1 functions specifically in response to blue light. Taken together, our results demonstrated that modulating the expression of blue light photoreceptor CRY1 ortholog gene in Populus could significantly influence plant biomass production and the process of wood formation, laying a foundation for further investigating the light‐regulated tree growth. Summary statement: Light is one of the most important environmental signals that govern plant growth and development. This study demonstrated that the blue light photoreceptor PagCRY1 substantially promotes wood formation and anthocyanin biosynthesis in Populus, and provides evidence showing that HY5 and BBX6 may act downstream of PagCRY1 to activate lignin and anthocyanin biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we are interested in the prediction of the macroscopic thermal conductivity of three-phasic composite materials such as wood fibers. The main idea is to make use of up-scaling such as homogenization to link the pore scale and the sample scale. The studied wood species incorporates three phases: the air, the lumen or matrix and the fibers. Image processing is preformed on a tomographic acquisition with high resolution of some micrometers. It serves to identify the present phases and generates the morphology mesh. The 2D diamond scheme is employed to discretize Fourier's model posed on the segmented morphology. The resulting algorithm is validated using an exact solution. Optimal numerical convergence rates of second order are recorded. The thermal conductivity is therefore estimated following the 2D orthotropic directions. An emphasis is set on the impact of the orientation of fibers on this thermal property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a phenol–formaldehyde resin–montmorillonite intercalation composite solution was used as a modifier to treat Chinese fir via impregnation and compression. The basic characteristics and wettability of the PF (phenol–formaldehyde)–montmorillonite impregnation solution were analyzed. The effects of the solid content of PF, the quantity of montmorillonite, and the impregnation time on the impregnation weight gain of Chinese fir were studied through orthogonal experiments. The results showed that when the amount of montmorillonite was 1%, the wettability of the PF–montmorillonite impregnation solution performed the best, the curing time was short, and the curing strength was high. The optimal impregnation process consists of a PF solid content of 25%, an impregnation time of 120 min, and a montmorillonite ratio of 1%. Under these conditions, the modified Chinese fir was prepared via hot pressing. The effects of the addition of montmorillonite and different levels of compressibility on the physical and mechanical properties of modified wood were studied. The physical and mechanical properties were found to be better when the compression ratio was 33%: the density increased from 0.33 g/cm3 to 0.58 g/cm3; the surface hardness increased from 33.6 HD to 70.9 HD; the static bending strength increased from 60.4 MPa to 98.7 MPa; and the elastic modulus increased from 6 390 MPa to 11 498 MPa. After 30 days of release, the compression rebound rate was 3.97%. Meanwhile, the micromorphology and heat resistance of the impregnated compressed Chinese fir showed that the PF–montmorillonite impregnation solution entered into the cell cavity and intercellular space of the Chinese fir and formed a good composite, thus improving the water resistance, heat resistance, and physical and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The damping of spruce wood is analysed at different moisture content levels for the first three vibration modes of tangentially and radially vibrating samples. Two methods were used to determine the damping. The first was the vibration envelope fitting as an improved version of the well-known logarithmic decrement, and the second was the newer and recently increasingly used wavelet transform. Both methods showed that the damping of spruce wood first decreases and then increases with moisture content, with the damping in the first vibration mode being about 9% higher in the radial direction than in the tangential direction. In the second and third vibration modes, the damping in the tangential direction was higher than in the radial direction by about 10% and 8.8%, respectively. The measured damping factors from the envelope fitting had, on average, 15.9% higher values than those from the wavelet transform. It can be concluded from the results that the wavelet transform is more accurate for determining the damping factor, as it enables the decoupling of multi-degree of freedom systems if mode coupling is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous research, we presented an apparatus designed for comprehensive and systematic surveillance of trees against borers. This apparatus entailed the insertion of an uncoated waveguide into the tree trunk, enabling the transmission of micro-vibrations generated by moving or digging larvae to a piezoelectric probe. Subsequent recordings were then transmitted at predetermined intervals to a server, where analysis was conducted manually to assess the infestation status of the tree. However, this method is hampered by significant limitations when scaling to monitor thousands of trees across extensive spatial domains. In this study, we address this challenge by integrating signal processing techniques capable of distinguishing vibrations attributable to borers from those originating externally to the tree. Our primary innovation involves quantifying the impulses resulting from the fracturing of wood fibers due to borer activity. The device employs criteria such as impulse duration and a strategy of waiting for periods of relative quietness before commencing the counting of impulses. Additionally, we provide an annotated large-scale database comprising laboratory and field vibrational recordings, which will facilitate further advancements in this research domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonization of biomass residues followed by activation has great potential to become a safe process for the production of various carbon materials for various applications. Demand for commercial use of biomass-based carbon materials is growing rapidly in advanced technologies, including in the energy sector, as catalysts, batteries and capacitor electrodes. In this study, carbon materials were synthesized from hardwood using two carbonization methods, followed by activation with H3PO4, KOH and NaOH and doping with nitrogen. Their chemical composition, porous structure, thermal stability and structural order of samples were studied. It was shown that, despite the differences, the synthesized carbon materials are active catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions. Among the investigated carbon materials, NaOH-activated samples exhibited the lowest Tafel slope values, of −90.6 and −88.0 mV dec–1, which are very close to the values of commercial Pt/C at −86.6 mV dec–1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood, a natural material with versatile industrial applications, faces limitations such as low dimensional stability and decay resistance. To address these issues, there has been significant progress in wood modification research. Oil heat treatment has emerged as an effective method among environmentally friendly wood treatment options. Studies have indicated that treating wood with hot vegetable oils yields superior properties compared to traditional methods involving gaseous atmospheres, which is attributed to the synergistic effect of oils and heat. This comprehensive review investigates the physical, chemical, and mechanical modifications induced by the oil heat treatment of wood, along with its impact on biological durability against biotic agents. The review synthesizes recent research findings, elucidates underlying mechanisms, and discusses the implications for wood material science and engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vector control using insecticides is a key prevention strategy against malaria. Unfortunately, insecticide resistance in mosquitoes threatens all progress in malaria control. In the perspective of managing this resistance, new insecticide formulations are being tested to improve the effectiveness of vector control tools. Methods: The efficacy and residual activity of Pirikool® 300 CS was evaluated in comparison with Actellic® 300 CS in experimental huts at the Tiassalé experimental station on three substrates including cement, wood and mud. The mortality, blood-feeding inhibition, exiting behaviour and deterrency of free-flying wild mosquitoes was evaluated. Cone bioassay tests with susceptible and resistant mosquito strains were conducted in the huts to determine residual efficacy. Results: A total of 20,505 mosquitoes of which 10,979 (53%) wild female Anopheles gambiae were collected for 112 nights. Residual efficacy obtained from monthly cone bioassay was higher than 80% with the susceptible, laboratory-maintained An. gambiae Kisumu strain, from the first to the tenth study period on all three types of treated substrate for both Actellic® 300CS and Pirikool® 300CS. This residual efficacy on the wild Tiassalé strain was over 80% until the 4th month of study on Pirikool® 300CS S treated substrates. Overall 24-h mortalities of wild free-flying An. gambiae sensu lato which entered in the experimental huts over the 8-months trial on Pirikool® 300CS treatment was 50.5%, 75.9% and 52.7%, respectively, on cement wall, wood wall and mud wall. The positive reference product Actellic® 300CS treatment induced mortalities of 42.0%, 51.8% and 41.8% on cement wall, wood wall and mud wall. Conclusion: Pirikool® 300CS has performed really well against resistant strains of An. gambiae using indoor residual spraying method in experimental huts. It could be an alternative product for indoor residual spraying in response to the vectors' resistance to insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Wood-conducting polymer materials have been widely used as supercapacitor electrode; however, it remains challenging to achieve a simple method to improve the homogeneity of the conductive material on wood and to reach high mass loading. Herein, a novel "pore-making, active substance-filling, densification (dissolution, in-situ polymerization of polyaniline (PANI), self-shrinking)" strategy is proposed for the preparation of wood electrodes with a high mass loading (41.4 wt%) and homogeneity. Ingeniously, ZnCl 2 as a dissolving agent and pore-making agent to treat delignified wood can generate more pores on the wood, which is more conducive to the penetration of aniline small molecules, besides, the dissolved fine fibers can be entangled with more PANI, which can improve the loading and homogeneity of PANI. After drying treatment, there will be shrinkage again, playing a certain physical densification effect on the large lumen. The optical electrode was RWP2 showing high electrochemical performance (2328.9 mF/cm2, 1 mA/cm2), and stability (5000 cycles, 89.3 %). Moving forward, the RWP2//RWP2 SSC showed an excellent energy density of 164.24 μwh/cm2 at a power density of 250 μw/cm2. Remarkably, the simple and versatile strategy of designing wood-based materials with high mass loading provides new research ideas for realizing multifunctional applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to evaluate two quantitative methods, based on the external calibration applied in laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis, known as (i) analytical curve and (ii) one-point calibration, using the concept of matrix matching to quantify three potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in wood samples. These can biologically register changes in the abiotic environment and be applied to monitoring climate change or environmental toxicity. In this case, standard sample preparation was evaluated to prepare the standard pellets using Pinus taeda species as a matrix-matching concept. Six pellets of P. taeda, with different Pb, Cd, and Ba concentrations, were prepared to build the analytical curve and one-point calibration strategies. The LA-ICP-MS parameters were optimised for 206Pb, 208Pb, 112Cd, 114Cd, 137Ba, and 138Ba isotope analysis in wood samples. The two calibration strategies provided 74–110% analytical recovery from certified reference materials and similar results to those obtained by ICP-MS through the acid digestion of environmental wood samples from São Paulo City (Brazil). This demonstrated the applicability of the one-point calibration strategy in quantifying PTEs in wood samples, which could be used with environmental analyses. Differences observed between the Ba isotope results obtained via LA-ICP-MS and ICP-MS quantification were related to sampling by LA-ICP-MS and the ICP-MS sample introduction, as well as to laser matrix and transport effects because of the difference between the wood species evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe purpose of this work was to study the synthesis and characterization of an adhesive based on a glucose stabilized polyvinyl acetate homopolymer. Vinyl acetate monomer was stabilised onto liquid glucose using emulsion polymerization, and polymerization happened using potassium persulfate as an initiator. Here, the effects of adding liquid glucose as a stabiliser for adhesives were studied. Therefore, the current research examines whether liquid glucose, introduced at weight-based concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0%, is suitable as a colloid to produce PVAc adhesives for wood. By measuring viscosity, pH, contact angle, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the pencil hardness test of films, the effect of adding liquid glucose as a colloid on physical, thermal, and mechanical properties was investigated. The shear strength of the PVAc homopolymers applied to wood using emulsions with varied liquid glucose concentrations was measured using a universal tensile machine. As the concentration of liquid glucose increased, the viscosity of the adhesives also considerably increased. Water resistance significantly rose when liquid glucose content increased, as was found by measuring the water contact angle. The use of liquid glucose increased the hardness of PVAc films, which was supported by the glass transition temperature. According to EN 204-205, the tensile shear strength with 1.0% of liquid glucose increased by 63.88% and 45.67%, respectively, over a pristine sample after 6 h of bonding in a dry environment and 24 h in a wet environment. The study’s overall conclusion highlights the higher adhesion capability of PVAc emulsion-based adhesives stabilized by liquid glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the crucial consideration of log end splitting in breeding programmes for treated wood. There is a paucity of research focused on efficiently optimizing the phenotyping process for this particular trait. The study aimed to compare methodologies for log end splitting phenotyping and develop an image‐based crack evaluation approach. Initially, 32 eucalyptus clones underwent phenotyping using manual measurement, digital image analysis and visual evaluation. Results showed similar phenotypic values, but image analysis demonstrated better clone discrimination, reducing evaluation time to 78 h compared to manual measurement. The second part focused on testing convolutional neural network architectures (UNet, LinkNet and FPN) using real and synthetic images. U‐Net exhibited slight superiority based on higher Intersection over Union (IoU) values, exhibiting a high correlation (.89) with true values. This approach significantly reduced evaluation time to approximately 10.15 h, emphasizing its efficiency compared to traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood‐derived carbons demonstrate great potential as self‐standing electrodes in energy storage/conversion applications, including supercapacitors and water‐splitting devices. However, the key challenge remains the rational customization of surface functionalities for optimized performance. This study introduces an innovative approach to self‐standing wood‐derived carbons with tailored nitrogen and metal functionalities. In contrast to traditional impregnation techniques, which offer limited precision in surface modification, this approach entails the intentional attachment of amidoxime groups to the wood substrates. These groups serve as nitrogen sources, and create abundant surface anchoring sites for metal ions due to the chelation between the amidoxime groups and metals. The resulting carbons feature uniform and high dispersion of nitrogen and metal functionalities, along with a distinctive hierarchical porosity combining interconnected open channels with abundant mesopores. As a proof‐of‐concept, different metals are incorporated (i.e., Mn, Co, Ni) into the amidoximated‐wood precursors, and the resulting self‐standing carbons showcase excellent performance in both supercapacitors and water‐splitting applications. Leveraging the specific chelating ability of amidoxime groups toward metal ions, this strategy holds great potential as a generic approach to systematically tailoring the surface functionalities of carbon‐based materials for various electrochemical energy storage/conversion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sinonasal adenocarcinoma is a rare cancer, encompassing two different entities, the intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma (ITAC) and the non-intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma (non-ITAC). Occurrence of ITAC is strongly associated with exposure to hardwood dusts. In countries with predominant exposure to softwood dust the occurrence of sinonasal adenocarcinomas is lower and the relative amount of non-ITACs to ITACs is higher. The molecular mechanisms behind the tumorigenic effects of wood dust remain largely unknown. Methods: We carried out whole-genome sequencing of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of sinonasal adenocarcinomas from ten wood dust-exposed and six non-exposed individuals, with partial tobacco exposure data. Sequences were analyzed for the presence of mutational signatures matching COSMIC database signatures. Driver mutations and CN variant regions were characterized. Results: Mutation burden was higher in samples of wood dust-exposed patients (p = 0.016). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage-related mutational signatures were almost exclusively identified in ITAC subtype samples (p = 0.00055). Tobacco smoke mutational signatures were observed in samples of patients with tobacco exposure or missing information, but not in samples from non-exposed patients. A tetraploidy copy number (CN) signature was enriched in ITAC subtype (p = 0.042). CN variation included recurrent gains in COSMIC Cancer Gene Census genes TERT, SDHA, RAC1, ETV1, PCM1, and MYC. Pathogenic variants were observed most frequently in TP53, NF1, CHD2, BRAF, APC, and LRP1B. Driver mutations and copy number gains did not segregate by subtype. Conclusions: Our analysis identified distinct mutational characteristics in ITAC and non-ITAC. Mutational signature analysis may eventually become useful for documentation of occupation-related cancer, while the exact mechanisms behind wood dust-driven carcinogenesis remain elusive. The presence of homologous recombination deficiency signatures implies a novel opportunity for treatment, but further studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of wood-inhabiting fungi on nutrient cycling and ecosystem functions, their ecology, especially related to their community assembly, is still highly unexplored. In this study, we analyzed the wood-inhabiting fungal richness, community composition, and phylogenetics using PacBio sequencing. Opposite to what has been expected that deterministic processes especially environmental filtering through wood-physicochemical properties controls the community assembly of wood-inhabiting fungal communities, here we showed that both deterministic and stochastic processes can highly contribute to the community assembly processes of wood-inhabiting fungi in this tropical forest. We demonstrated that the dynamics of stochastic and deterministic processes varied with wood decomposition stages. The initial stage was mainly governed by a deterministic process (homogenous selection), whereas the early and later decomposition stages were governed by the stochastic processes (ecological drift). Deterministic processes were highly contributed by wood physicochemical properties (especially macronutrients and hemicellulose) rather than soil physicochemical factors. We elucidated that fine-scale fungal-fungal interactions, especially the network topology, modularity, and keystone taxa of wood-inhabiting fungal communities, strongly differed in an initial and decomposing deadwood. This current study contributes to a better understanding of the ecological processes of wood-inhabiting fungi in tropical regions where the knowledge of wood-inhabiting fungi is highly limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• risk analysis of climate-induced fatigue on wooden surfaces inside six rural Swedish churches. • Past monitoring campaigns used for gathering info about number/entity of thermal fluctuations. • Investigated constant- and variable-amplitude climate-induced fatigue behaviors. ○ Assessed possible damage accumulation caused by repeated thermal fluctuations over time. ○ Compared results with surface decay level from in-situ conservation surveys. Environmental variations of Temperature (T) and Relative Humidity (RH) in air cause a superficial and/or sub-surface deformation (shrinkage/swelling) of organic hygroscopic objects, as for example wood. These environmental variations may be due to the natural variability of climate, to the use of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems and to the presence of people. This contribution focuses on a group of wooden rural churches located in harsh climates in Sweden. The churches, which are still in use for the local communities, are heated during wintertime to reach acceptable indoor comfort levels causing potentially risky T and RH fluctuations for hygroscopic objects. In this framework, the main goal is assessing the risk of fracture on wooden structural elements caused by hygrothermal fluctuations. The method is based on a preliminary approach for reconstructing the climate history experienced by a typical wooden structural element of these churches and that, over time, results in a cyclic fatigue loading, naturally induced by the outdoor climate. Then, the effect of the artificial heating on the indoor microclimate and, therefore, on the reconstructed fatigue curve is assessed. Main outcomes were obtained by using a methodology that is preliminary based on simplifying assumptions, due to a severe lack of knowledge, in literature, about the fatigue behavior of wood. Finally, main considerations on the fatigue behavior of exposed wooden elements are drawn up, namely the estimation of their residual life (or "life-to-damage"), which may support conservators or church managers in better managing the microclimate to reduce the risk of fracture on valuable objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large and downed woody fuels remaining behind a wildfire's flame front tend to burn in a smoldering regime, producing large quantities of toxic gases and particulate emissions, which deteriorates air quality and compromises human health. Smoldering burning rates are affected by fuel type and size, the amount of oxygen reaching the surface, and heat losses to the surroundings. An external wind has the dual effects of bringing fresh oxidizer to the fuel surface and porous interior, while at the same time enhancing convective cooling. In this work, a series of experiments were conducted on single and adjacent poplar dowels to investigate the effect of fuel geometry and wind speed on smoldering of woody fuels, including its burning rate and combustion products. Dowels had variable thickness (19.1 and 25.4 mm), aspect ratios, and arrangement (number of dowels and spacing between them). Using measurement of mass loss, CO, and HC production as indicators of the smoldering intensity, the results indicate that the arrangement of smoldering objects significantly affects burning rates and emissions. Specifically, spacings of 1/8 and 1/4 of the dowel thickness enhanced the smoldering process. The smoldering intensity was also enhanced by increased external wind (ranging between 0.3 m/s and 1.5 m/s), but its effect was dependent upon the spacing between the dowels. The convective losses associated with the spacing were further investigated with a simplified computational model. The simulations show that the wind significantly increases convective losses from the smoldering surfaces, which in turn may offset the increase in smoldering intensity related to the higher oxygen flux at higher wind speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wooden Cultural Heritage (WCH) represents a significant portion of the world's historical and artistic heritage, consisting of immovable and movable artefacts. Despite the expertise developed since ancient times to enhance its durability, wooden artefacts are inevitably prone to degradation. Fungi play a pivotal role in the deterioration of WCH in terrestrial ecosystems, accelerating its decay and leading to alterations in color and strength. Reviewing the literature of the last 25 years, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of fungal diversity affecting WCH, the biochemical processes involved in wood decay, and the diagnostic tools available for fungal identification and damage evaluation. Climatic conditions influence the occurrence of fungal species in threatened WCH, characterized by a prevalence of wood-rot fungi (e.g., Serpula lacrymans, Coniophora puteana) in architectural heritage in temperate and continental climates and Ascomycota in indoor and harsh environments. More efforts are needed to address the knowledge fragmentation concerning biodiversity, the biology of the fungi involved, and succession in the degradative process, which is frequently centered solely on the main actors. Multidisciplinary collaboration among engineers, restorers, and life sciences scientists is vital for tackling the challenges posed by climate change with increased awareness. Traditional microbiology and culture collections are fundamental in laying solid foundations for a more comprehensive interpretation of big data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring systems are recognized worldwide as fundamental tools for landslide risk management. However, monitoring can be difficult when dealing with large slopes in forested areas. In these situations, dendrogeomorphology can offer a low-cost and low-impact alternative for providing distributed information with an annual temporal resolution. The present study is a first attempt to integrate dendrometric and dendrogeomorphic data into a numerical finite difference model, in order to simulate the stress–strain behavior of the tree-slope system. By using a parametrical approach, the capability of the numerical model to effectively reproduce the tree stem anomalies (i.e., tilting angle, J-shaped feature, and internal stresses causing tree-ring growth anomalies such as eccentric growth and reaction wood) was verified, and the target parameters for the model calibration were identified based on a sensitivity analysis, which emphasized the relevance of the wood deformability; moreover, the interpretation of results allowed to point out different peculiarities (in terms of type of deformation, falling direction, and distribution of internal stresses) for different slope conditions (kinematics and depth of the failure surface) and different zones of the landslide (head scarp, main body, and toe). Afterwards, the modeling approach was applied to the Val Roncaglia landslide (Northen Italy), which involves a complex roto-translational kinematics, characterized by multiple sliding surfaces. The simulated stem anomalies showed good agreement with the ones arising from onsite dendrometric surveys, and they confirmed the conceptual model of the landslide, enabling the planning of further specific investigations. Moreover, the capability of the model in reproducing the tilting angle of trees, if correlated to their eccentricity, could provide a quite long time series (over more than 50–60 years) of the landslide reactivation and allow the use of dendrochronological data for the model calibration, thereby enhancing slope dynamic monitoring and landslide risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyse the hygienic suitability of wood often used in animal husbandry. To this end, the inactivation of viruses (Enterovirus E as a surrogate for non-enveloped viruses and Newcastle disease virus as a surrogate for enveloped viruses) on germ carriers consisting of various types of wood was studied over an extended period to assess the biosafety of wood as an agricultural building material. The study was designed to assess the intrinsic biocidal activity of the wood itself, without the use of a disinfectant. The laboratory tests were based on German test guidelines and current European standards. Five different types of wood germ carriers, i.e., spruce (Picea abies), pine (Pinus sylvestris), poplar (Populus sp.), beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), as well as stainless-steel carriers, were inoculated with enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and stored for up to four months, and the remaining infectivity of the viruses was continuously assessed. The results showed that intact, finely sawn timber with a low depth of roughness had an inactivating effect on the viruses up to 7.5 decadal logarithmic levels. For the non-enveloped virus, inactivation was fastest on Douglas fir wood, with the target reduction for effective inactivation (reduction by factor 4.0 log10) being achieved after two weeks, and for the enveloped virus on pine wood, it was already achieved from the day of drying. The hygienic effects of the wood carriers may be due to their hygroscopic properties and wood constituents. These effects offer potential for further investigation, including tests with other wood species rich in extractives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the mechanical properties of coconut sawdust powder combined with polypropylene (PP). The effect of compatibility content, wood powder (WP) content, and injection molding parameters on the properties of coconut wood powder composite (WPC) is evaluated. The results could be used to figure out the optimal mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, elastic modulus, and flexural strength by selecting suitable parameters and composition. The bonding between the WP particles and the PP matrix is good, and the WP is uniformly distributed across the composite matrix, as indicated in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results. Interestingly, with the presence of the compatibilizer oleamide, increasing the WP content from 20 wt.% to 40 wt.% did not result in WP accumulation in the composite matrix. Notably, at 20 wt.% WP, the elongation is the highest (at 7.40 wt.%), while at 30 wt.% WP, the elastic modulus reaches the highest value. The maximum ultimate tensile strength (UTS) value is obtained at 35 wt.% WP. Higher WP mostly results in greater flexural strength and shore D hardness. At 40 wt.% WP, the WPC achieves its peak shore D hardness of 77.6. The Taguchi results suggest that WP content is the most critical factor in the UTS value of coconut WPCs. The filling pressure ranks second, followed by the packing pressure. Finally, unlike the other characteristics, the melt temperature has a minimal impact on the UTS value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood possesses several advantageous qualities including innocuity, low cost, aesthetic appeal, and excellent biocompatibility, and its naturally abundant functional groups and diverse structural forms facilitate functionalization modification. As the most sustainable bio-based material, the combination of wood with triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) stands poised to significantly advance the cause of green sustainable production while mitigating the escalating challenges of energy consumption. However, the inherent weak polarizability of natural wood limits its development for TENGs. Herein, we present the pioneering development of a flexible transparent wood-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TW-TENG) combining excellent triboelectrical properties, optical properties, and wood aesthetics through sodium chlorite delignification and epoxy resin impregnation. Thanks to the strong electron-donating groups in the epoxy resin, the TW-TENG obtained an open-circuit voltage of up to ~127 V, marking a remarkable 530% enhancement compared to the original wood. Furthermore, durability and stability were substantiated through 10,000 working cycles. In addition, the introduction of epoxy resin and lignin removal endowed the TW-TENG with excellent optical characteristics, with optical transmittance of up to 88.8%, while preserving the unique texture and aesthetics of the wood completely. Finally, we show the application prospects of TW-TENGs in the fields of self-power supply, motion sensing, and smart home through the demonstration of a TW-TENG in the charging and discharging of capacitors and the output of electrical signals in different scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spruce wood is widely used in outdoor applications, but its susceptibility to degradation under exposure to sunlight and moisture is a major concern. This study investigates the impact of accelerated aging on spruce wood's surface chemistry, microstructure, geometry, and discoloration. The study was performed in two outdoor aging modes: dry and wet. The accelerated aging effects were evident in the changes in spruce wood structure, as well as in the other studied properties. During aging, it developed significant discoloration. Under simulated rainless outdoor conditions (dry mode), spruce wood gradually became dark brown. Under conditions involving rain (wet mode), the discoloration was qualitatively different from the dry mode. FTIR spectroscopy showed that during the accelerated aging of wood, lignin was mainly degraded, especially in the early stages of the process. A linear correlation was found between the changes in lignin and the color changes in the wood. There was an increase in carbonyl groups in the dry mode, which contributed to the color change and was also influenced by changes in extractives. The wet mode caused the leaching out of carbonyl groups. The observed decrease in cellulose crystallinity, together with the degradation of hydrophobic lignin, may result in the increased hydrophilicity of photodegraded wood. For both modes, there were different changes in the wood micro- and macrostructure, reflected in the surface morphology. The roughness increased during the aging process in both modes. The slightest changes in the roughness parameters were identified in the grain direction in the dry mode; the most evident was that the roughness parameters increased perpendicular to the grain in the wet mode. The demonstrated mechanism backing up the aging-related changes to the spruce wood structure and the relations unveiled between these changes and the changes in the spruce wood surface properties can provide an issue point for seeking ways how to mitigate the negative effects of the environmental factors the wood is exposed to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane emulsification technology has garnered increasing interest in emulsion preparation due to controllable droplet size, narrower droplet size distribution, low energy consumption, simple process design and excellent reproducibility. Nevertheless, the pore structure and surface engineering in membrane materials design play a crucial role in achieving high-quality emulsions with high throughput simultaneously. In this work, an oriented interpenetrating capillary network composed of highly aligned and interconnected wood cell lumens has been utilized to fabricate an emulsion membrane. A novel honeycomb porous ZnO layer obtained by a seed prefabrication–hydrothermal growth method was designed to reconstruct wood channel surfaces for enhanced microfluid mixing. The results show that through the unique capillary mesh microstructure of wood, the emulsion droplets were smaller in size, had narrower pore-size distribution, and were easy to obtain under high throughput conditions. Meanwhile, a well-designed ZnO layer could further improve the emulsion quality of a wood membrane, while the emulsifying throughput is still maintained at a higher level. This demonstrates that the convection process of the microfluid in these wood capillary channels was intensified markedly. This study not only develops advanced membrane materials in emulsion preparation, but also introduces a brand-new field for functional applications of wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a large number of harmful chemicals flowing into the water source in production and life, the water quality deteriorates, and the use value of water is reduced or lost. Biochar has a strong physical adsorption effect, but it can only separate pollutants from water and cannot eliminate pollutants fundamentally. Photocatalytic degradation technology using photocatalysts uses chemical methods to degrade or mineralize organic pollutants, but it is difficult to recover and reuse. Woody biomass has the advantages of huge reserves, convenient access and a low price. Processing woody biomass into biochar and then combining it with photocatalysts has played a complementary role. In this paper, the shortcomings of a photocatalyst and biochar in water treatment are introduced, respectively, and the advantages of a woody biochar-based photocatalyst made by combining them are summarized. The preparation and assembly methods of the woody biochar-based photocatalyst starting from the preparation of biochar are listed, and the water treatment efficiency of the woody biochar-based photocatalyst using different photocatalysts is listed. Finally, the future development of the woody biochar-based photocatalyst is summarized and prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent wood (TW) combining unique anisotropic structure has broad application prospects in the field of advanced building furniture materials. Many efforts have been made to add quantum dots or nanoparticles to TW to endow it with additional functionality, such as luminescent, electrochromic, and thermochromic TW. However, luminous TW with shape‐editable functionality and its new applications have yet to be explored. Benefiting from the excellent luminescence performance in a diluted solution state, BODIPY (4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diazas‐indacene) dyes have been widely used for bio‐sensing and bioimaging. In addition, vitrimers exhibit excellent stimuli‐responsive, shape‐memory, and reprocessing properties thanks to exchangeable dynamic covalent crosslinking networks, which are suitable for fabricating smart TW. Herein, combing these advantages, a dual‐functional transparent wood composite (P‐SEFTW) with photoluminescent and shape editable function was developed by introducing BODIPY dyes and vitrimers into the delignified wood (DW) templates. P‐SEFTW displays good UV luminescence, unique light guiding and directional scattering effects. Meanwhile, it shows excellent shape‐recovery, shape‐programming, shape‐erasing, and re‐programming capability under thermal‐stimulus. These characteristics enable TW to exhibit great prospect as an advanced smart and functional building material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term pyric herbivory was first introduced in 2009, describing how fire shapes herbivory as burned areas attract herbivores and, simultaneously, herbivory shapes fuel load and fire behaviour. Pyric herbivory results in a mosaic of patches with varying levels of herbivory and grazing intensity fire intensity and frequency. The importance of pyric herbivory for ecosystem heterogeneity and biodiversity has been described for North American, Australian and African systems, but the concept remains largely untested in a European context.We introduced fire and herbivory in a full‐factorial experiment in a temperate European wood‐pasture system to test whether pyric herbivory operates in ways comparable to grassy systems elsewhere in the world. Using camera traps, we observed the behaviour of cattle in burned subplots (49 m2) compared with unburned subplots. We measured grass height and the proportion of the subplot that burned as variables affecting cattle preference and to assess how grazing affects fire behaviour. We also examined the effect on plant species and life‐form composition after six seasons of treatment.Cattle spent more time grazing in burned than in unburned subplots in the most productive paddock, where a larger proportion of the subplot burned. The proportion of a subplot that burned was positively related to pre‐fire grass height. Moreover, both grass height and the proportion of subplot burned declined in the burned subplots during the 6‐year study period and fire and cattle grazing altered the relative cover of graminoids and shrubs (Rubus spp.), with more graminoids in grazed and/or burned subplots and more shrubs in ungrazed subplots at the end of the study.Synthesis and applications. In our temperate European wood pasture, fire and (cattle) grazing interacted in ways comparable to pyric herbivory in grassy ecosystems elsewhere in the world, especially in the most productive paddock. Fire attracted grazing, with cattle grazing longer on subplots that burned more fully. Grazing also affected fire, where over the course of our experiment cattle grazing reduced grass height and the proportion of a subplot that burned. We suggest that pyric herbivory is an interesting management method to further explore in the European context to address the loss of biodiversity in open ecosystems, particularly in more productive sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humins are heterogeneous and polydisperse furanic macromolecules derived from sugar biorefinery. Improving wood properties by humination has become of interest recently. This study examined the photodegradation stability of European pine sapwood microveneers modified with humins at different concentrations of citric acid (CA) and succinic acid (SA) as reaction catalysts, e.g., 1.5 %, 3 %, and 4.5 % wt.%. The photostability of huminated wood was assessed after 48 h, 96 h, and 144 h of exposure to the accelerated weathering test by means of mass loss and finite-span tensile strength. The results were compared with unmodified and also unweathered samples. The FT-IR spectroscopy showed apparent changes in the chemical structure of wood by humination modifications. The weight percentage gains of the samples increased with increasing the concentration of the catalyst. While no differences were observed between the samples after two weeks of the water leaching. The strength losses of weathered microveneers were, however, mostly reduced by humin-based formulas containing catalysts, where the microveneers modified with 1.5 % and 3 % CA showed respectively 32 % and 41 % lower strength loss values than the unmodified samples after 144 h of weathering. Overall, the results showed a high potential for humins to protect wood against photodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the inhibition effect of nanoscale silver–copper particle (20 nm) against Coriolus versicolor and Gloeophyllumtrabeum. Poplar wood samples (Populus L.) were vacuum-impregnated using aqueous nano-AgCu solutions at concentrations of 0.01 %, 0.02 %, 0.03 %, 0.05 %, 0.075 %, and 0.1 %. Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ, 0.1 %), boric acid (0.2 %) and untreated control group (CK) were employed for comparisons. Decay resistance and leachability were studied. The anti-fungi effects were compared between nano-AgCu, nano-Ag, Ag+ (silver nitrate), Cu2+ (copper nitrate), and a composite of Ag+–Cu2+. Nano-AgCu particle exhibited effective resistance to fungi after 12 weeks of exposure. The threshold retention of the nano-AgCu against C. versicolor and G. trabeum on poplar wood was 0.19 kg m−3 and 0.62 kg m−3, respectively. The silver–copper nanoparticles demonstrated excellent leach resistance, and the inhibition effect was retained after leaching. The nano-AgCu particle provided better antifungal effects than single ions or metal nanoparticles. This study illustrates the potential of using nano-AgCu particle as an efficient wood preservative compared to commercial water-soluble preservatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the lipophilic component that affects the quality of pulp and paper products in wood of 10-year-old Anthocephalus cadamba (families 23, 11 and 6) and 5-year-old Anthocepalus macrophyllus (families 75, 85 and 2). The results showed that the main group of compounds that appeared frequently and were identified in the lipophilic fraction were fatty acids (palmitic, oleic, linoleic and stearic acids), fatty alcohols (eicosanol, heneicosanol and tetracosanol), sterols (β-sitosterol and campasterol), hydrocarbons (hexadecane, tricosene and cyclotetracosane), aldehydes, alongside minor amounts of triterpenoid. F11 and F2 can be promoted as raw materials for pulp and paper, while F6 and F75 are not recommended because of the high levels of lipids such as sterols, triterpenoids, hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and fatty alcohols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a facile and environmentally friendly strategy was proposed for the production of reducing sugars from enzymatic hydrolysis of rubber wood by surfactant-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment. Compared with hydrothermal pretreatment, the addition of surfactants (Tween 40) significantly increased the reducing sugars concentration, the highest reducing sugars concentration was up to 22.47 g/L. After surfactant-assisted pretreatment, the crystallinity index of rubber wood hydrolysis residues increased and then decreased with the addition amount of Tween 40. The surfactant-assisted pretreated rubber wood featured high cellulose and hemicellulose conversion rates of 95.1% and 95.4% respectively, which was 122.2% and 41.1% higher than the hydrothermally pretreated rubber wood. It was also found that surfactant-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment had the same improvement effect on increasing the sugar production of other lignocellulose. The results showed that surfactant-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment is a promising and universal method for developing biomass-based products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin is a common adhesive in the plywood industry with the main advantage of its water resistance and high bonding strength. However, PF has unfavorable high curing temperatures which becomes of cost concern. In the present work, sodium silicate was used to modify the resin properties to lower its curing temperature. The amount of sodium silicate was varied in a range of 0% to 25% (w/w) in terms of sodium silicate to phenol. The thermal properties of the modified resin and its bonding strength were investigated. The experimental result showed that the presence of sodium silicate can increase crosslink density which leads to higher bonding strength. In addition, the presence of sodium silicate resulted in a lower curing temperature and reduced curing activation energy. The addition of 25% (w/w) sodium silicate could increase the bonding strength by more than 200% and decrease the curing temperature by about 35 °C. The improved processability and energy consumption offer advantages for the effective application of phenol-formaldehyde, particularly in the wood industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new eyeless species of Nereis from organic falls (whale bones and wood parcels) in the Southwestern Atlantic from depths between 550 and 3285 m are described, and the eyeless species Neanthes shinkai is transferred to Nereis. All new species and Nereis shinkai comb. nov. can be distinguished from the majority of Nereis species by the absence of eyes and by the presence of small and delicate paragnaths. Interestingly, the species Nereis anoculepitoka sp. nov. presents epitoky, with sexual dimorphism and the morphological variations described herein. This is the first description of an eyeless epitoke form from organic falls in the deep ocean. We conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses using COI and 16S mitochondrial genes, confirmed the morphological identification and established an eyeless clade within Nereis including the three new species and Nereis shinkai comb. nov. The presence of different species in a relatively small geographical area can be explained, in part, by the action of different water masses in each sampling site and suggests that organic islands are potential hotspots for specialization of Nereis in the deep sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New wood uses of Japanese white birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica) have attracted much attention in recent years, but false heartwood has led to a decline in commercial value due to its irregular wood color. In this study, we assessed the occurrence of false heartwood and its proportion to stem cross-sectional area (PFH) in individual Japanese white birch (482 trees) in a ca. 70-year-old natural secondary forest. Specifically, we investigated the relative strength of the direct/indirect effects of individual size (BA), growth rate (GR), crown ratio (CR), number of branch scars (NBS), basal area sum of neighboring trees (BAS) and topographic wetness index (TWI) on PFH. In total, 80.3% of trees had false heartwood. CR was found to be the most important factor, acting through direct and indirect negative effects. BA and NBS had a positive effect, and TWI had a negative effect on PFH. BA had a positive correlation with tree age, indicating that PFH can be reduced in trees with faster growth. Simultaneously, BAS had an indirect positive effect on PFH. These results suggested that thinning, which reduces BAS and increases CR, can reduce false heartwood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerodermus sichuanensis Xiao is an important natural enemy of forest boring pests. We used a two-way selection test to investigate the behavioral mechanisms used by S. sichuanensis when searching for hosts. Y-tube olfactometers and electroantennogram recordings were used to study learning by S. sichuanensis exposed continuously or discontinuously to a mixture of longhorn beetle (Anoplophora chinensis Forster) fecula and wood meal, and to mixtures of A. chinensis fecula and wood meal from different trees, either successively or simultaneously. Following exposure of 4-day-old adult S. sichuanensis to a mixture of A. chinensis fecula and wood meal for 3 d, tropism toward this odor did not improve significantly. After discontinuous exposure to a mixture of A. chinensis fecula and wood meal, adult S. sichuanensis exhibited a habitual response and its tropism to this odor decreased markedly. Five-day-old female S. sichuanensis that previously experienced a mixture of A. chinensis fecula and wood meal from two different host trees (willows, Salix sp., and oriental parasol, Platanus orientalis) or a mixture of A. chinensis fecula and wood meal (willows) during the eclosion period and were then stimulated by the mixture of A. chinensis fecula and wood meal (oriental parasol) at 4 days old exhibited a relatively strong behavioral reaction to mixed stimulation by the two types of substrate information. These observations suggest that the learning behavior of S. sichuanensis is cumulative. The parasitoid can differentiate between two kinds of chemical information experienced simultaneously and recognize the two odors when they are experienced successively. This discovery is important for elucidating the behavioral mechanisms of learning in parasitoids and for the development and application of natural enemy insects for pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In wheat‐derived bakery products, the quantity of free asparagine (fAsn) has been identified as a key factor in acrylamide (AA) formation. Based on this assumption, four varieties of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Stromboli, Montecarlo, Sothys and Cosmic, selected for their different fAsn content inside the grain, were studied to evaluate their potential in the production of pizza with reduced AA levels. To this purpose, wholemeal and refined flours were obtained from each variety. Results: The fAsn content ranged from 0.25 to 3.30 mmol kg−1, with higher values for wholemeal flours which also showed greater amount of ash, fibre and damaged starch than refined wheat flours. All types of flours were separately used to produce wood oven baked pizza base, according to the Traditional Speciality Guaranteed EU Regulation (97/2010). AA reduction in the range 47–68% was found for all the selected wheat cultivars, compared with a commercial flour, with significantly lower values registered when refined flour was used. Moreover, refined leavened dough samples showed decreased levels of fAsn and reducing sugars due to the fermentation activity of yeasts. Furthermore, it was confirmed that pizza made with wholemeal flours exhibited lower rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and rapidly available glucose (RAG) values compared to that prepared with the refined flour. Conclusion: This study clearly shows that a reduced asparagine content in wheat flour is a key factor in the mitigation of AA formation in pizza base. Unfortunately, at the same time, it is highlighted how it is necessary to sacrifice the beneficial effects of fibre intake, such as lowering the glycaemic index, in order to reduce AA. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]